I have to DNF. Page of death: 118.

I always give a book at least 100 pages because I feel like that’s a fair go, and this book is just not for me. The second chance trope isn’t working for me, because I can’t see a reason why you would get back together with someone that left you at the altar. That info being dropped from the get go was wild. I did consider slogging through to find out the reason, but I ended up deciding that there’s no ‘good’ reason to leave your partner at the altar! That plot point aside, I did not feel the chemistry between the main characters at all, and found both of their personalities as dry as unbuttered toast.

Thank you to Hachette & NetGalley for the ARC.

A cheery queery Christmas indeed!

What a genuinely wholesome, funny, swoony REAL LIFE story.

I adored this.
The dual pov, the descriptors, the length of time the story panned through, the ups and downs…
This was a really beautiful read.

I really loved how each of the main characters developed their self awareness and grew from their mistakes.

ADORED the queer representation- ‘are the straights okay?!’ - cackled.

This would truly make such a magical Christmas movie that I would watch on repeat the entire season.

A delightful queer seasonal romance. The cast of side characters were great. The Christmas vibes were vibing. This is second-chance, friends-to-lovers, with forced proximity and music woven through it. 3* because although solid, the relationship development itself felt a little underdone. Still, glad I read it, and glad Ashley Herring Blake continues to give us more sapphic romance.

And thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc, I was stoked to get my hands on a copy of this ASAP.

This was really well done!

Only Ashley Herring Blake could write a second chance romance (that had one of them leaving the other at the altar on their wedding day!) and make me actually care about them getting back together.

AHB's writing is wonderful, evocative, and has me hooked every single time.

The characters were wonderful, the scenes and imagery were spot on - I could picture everything so perfectly.

“Too much? ” Brighton shook her head “Good girl,”

Five years ago Charlotte was left at the altar by her fiancé, since then she’s hit rock bottom, moved to New York and put herself back together. No thanks to her mother but thanks to her strings ensemble, the Rosalind Quarter.

The holidays aren’t one for her, so Sloane persuades her and the rest of the quartet to spend Christmas with her family in Colorado. They can escape the hustle and bustle of the city and spend more time practicing for her upcoming tour.

When they arrive Charlotte discovers Sloane’s sister also brought a friend home for Chritmas and it’s none other than Brighton, her ex fiancée.

Brighton just wanted to have a quiet Christmas, leave the drama of her former band (how kicked her out) behind her. Instead she’s pretending like she’s never met her ex. Which doesn’t go as smoothly as anticipated when Sloane’s mothers tried to set with all up in a series of dating events.

As time goes on their guards begin to slip down and their memories take over. Until reality sinks in and they realise it’s all in the past for a reason, but is it?

I’d read anything and everything Ashley writes and when I saw a Christmas novel I jumped at it. Thank you for this advance copy of Make the Season Bright. I know it’s Christmas books in October but this is the one you want on your shelf come December first.

It’s got Ashley’s signature sapphic romance with childhood friends, second chance romances, snowed in only one bed, musicians and a whole lot of Christmas, and did I mention it’s spicy! It’s in stores now and is a must read!

Make the Season Bright is a sapphic second chance holiday romance.

Unfortunately, this was at times frustrating with characters that I didn't connect to and that were at times quite unlikeable.

Some cute enough elements and plot points but I just was not rooting for these characters to get back together.

I did not enjoy this as much as her Bright Falls series.
Unfortunately I found Lola unlikeable but gave her a chance. I just didn’t see any chemistry between her and Bright.
I also really didn’t like Herring Blake’s writing in this one. So much info dumping but also too much dialogue???
I think there were meant to be funny moments but I didn’t laugh out loud.
Also, the supporting characters seemed immature.
Sorry, this one just wasn’t for me!

This delivered absolutely everything it promised. Hallmark vibes, second chance romance, sapphic, humour and forced dating.
Oh, its also an emotional rollercoster.

Oh my gosh! This was a wonderful Christmas read! I absolutely adored this book and I would recommend for a fun, easy to read Christmas story.

A super fun holiday rom-com that follows ex-fiancees Brighton and Charlotte as they unexpectedly reconnect five years after Brighton left Charlotte at the altar, as they both wind up invited to the same family Christmas ... lots of music and winter activities, Christmas cheer, and angst. I really loved these characters, and their stories both individuals and together. Wonderful supporting cast too!! (Sloane and Wes have my heart <3)

If you like complex, at times messy characters, second-chance romance and Christmas rom-coms, I'd definitely recommend Make The Season Bright :)

🎄 make the season bright review 🎄

A queer, Christmas, hallmark style rom-com is exactly what my brain needed 😍

Charlotte (Lola) and Brighton share a messy history and never thought they’d see each other again. Being somewhat forced together at their friends’ family’s place in Colorado for the holidays was not in either of their plans💞

Cue so many adorable laugh out loud moments, cheesy rom-com style set ups, and a perfect writing style, everything in this story just works so well!
I loved reading about their history that was slowly unveiled and the “cheery queery” gang of friends made for an amusing read ☺️

This was the first story by Ashley that I’ve read, and I will DEFINITELY be reading more!! The writing and the plot and everything was just perfect💖

Tropes:
🎄 forced proximity
🕊️ lovers to exes to lovers
🎄 one true love
🕊️ queer rep

Make The Season Bright is an adult, second-chance sapphic Christmas romance with a phenomenal cast of characters. Anything written by Ashley Herring Blake is an immediate read for me – I loved the Bright Falls series and am eagerly awaiting their next novel, “Dream On, Ramona Riley”.

In this story we meet Charlotte and Brighton; childhood best friends turned lovers. The two were about to be married, but in a last-minute choice, Brighton left Charlotte at the altar. Both go their separate ways, forming their own paths – In fact, neither have spoken a word to each other since. This part of their lives has almost become a fictional memory. This is, of course, until we rejoin Charlotte and Brighton five years later, where they have unintentially landed themselves in the same household for Christmas, thanks to their unknowing friends. The story follows these characters as they attempt to reconcile and move on. This is made rather difficult through the romance of Two Turtledoves, an annual Christmas matchmaking event they are both participating in, and the misplaced encouragement by each of their respective friend groups, both of which seem to continue to forcibly place them together.

Herring Blake has a unique talent in writing group dynamics – I loved each character within the supporting cast, often enjoying their portrayal more than the main characters themselves! Despite my love of some characters, I found it difficult to connect to the main characters, Charlotte and Brighton. These characters are flawed and messy, leading to tension filled chapters which oftentimes I found to be unresolved and bittersweet. They do, by the end of the novel, experience significant personal growth respectively, which made them far more palatable as characters.

Overall, this novel was an easy read, and while not my favourite by this author, I do think this is a worthwhile read during the festive season if you are looking for a sapphic second-chance romance.

I love Christmas romances and I’m glad to continue adding sapphic Christmas romances to my reading list. I am not the biggest fan of second chance romance and this one just didn’t convince me to love it. I also really did not like the miscommunication trope and the third act breakup really just made me sigh in frustration. While I am complaining about the dislikes, there were also parts of the book I did like. I am a big AHB fan and will continue to read future published books.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

queer? check! christmas? check! angst, tension, and pining? CHECK!!!

It’s been five years since Charlotte Donovan was ditched at the altar by her ex-fiancée, and she’s doing more than okay. She has her strings ensemble, the Rosalind Quartet, and her life in New York is a dream come true. Charlottes friend/bandmate (Sloane) convinces her to spend Christmas with her and her family. But we she arrives she discovers that Sloane’s sister Adele also brought a friend home - and that friend is her Charlottes ex-fiancée, Brighton. Now they are both stuck pretending to be strangers, all the while partaking in all sorts of Christmassy adventures.

i really really enjoyed this book, it’s so perfect for heading into the christmas season (which started like at the beginning of september for me by the way). I will always devour a second chance romance, add in a sprinkle of found family, and a dash of yearning. AND IM THERE!!!!!!

ALSO they are both musicians, Charlotte is a violinist and Brighton is a Singer/Guitarist, which honestly made my band kid heart sing.

4 stars
TW; toxic parent and childhood environment, trauma from upbringing, struggles with mental health and feeling lost

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy to review. All thoughts of my own.

A cheery, queery Christmas is a great slogan for this book. Does it read like a Hallmark movie when they reach the small Colorado township for Christmas? You bet. So if you enjoy those types of movies, but with some fabulous queer protagonists, then you're going to have a blast with Make the Season Bright.

Whilst there is a lot to unpack in this novel, the overall wholesome "I never stopped loving her" vibes with the adorable Christmas backdrop makes for a delightful read. Exes Brighton and Charlotte end up at the same house for Christmas without knowing the other would be there, and it's very evident from the get-go that these two women are still so in love with each other. There's a lot of hurt from their messy departure at the altar five years previously to work through, and when they both start talking about what happened and healing together, their romance blooms beautifully.

I appreciated the supporting cast a lot, for not only offering a lot of humour and hijinks but for the developing friendships that complimented the main romantic storyline. Charlotte and Brighton really grew as individuals during this journey, and it felt rewarding to be along for the ride.

I will say, this is the author's steamiest book that I've read, and I was pleasantly surprised by how well the intimacy worked alongside some of the more emotional portions of this read. Ashley Herring Blake captured two people in love and rediscovering who they left behind in a way that felt real and fulfilling, and I'm eager to read what this author will pen next.

I am obsessed with all things Ashley Herring Blake and this book does not dissapoint!

The dynamic with the two FMC’s are incredible, the time of year the story is set! Obviously makes it fun! You could feel the chemistry the FMC’s had!

I completely inhaled this series! ♥️

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hachette for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a beautiful story, the second chance romance, a fun loving queer cast of characters (and the aro rep omg) was a good recipe for a fun and very enjoyable reading experience!

I highly recommend checking this out, to get into the spirit of the festive season, and to feel all warm and fuzzy!

In this house, we live for the holigays and Ashley Herring Blake did not mess around!

A second chance at love at Christmastime blesses exes Charlotte and Brighton when they find themselves in a situation neither of themselves thought they would ever be in - especially with it ended.

Make the Seasons Bright was an absolute delight to read and I'll probably be making it a tradition to revisit the turtledove traditions of this little universe.

In "Make the Season Bright," Ashley Herring Blake crafts a heartfelt holiday romance that navigates the complexities of love, regret, and the possibility of second chances. The story revolves around Charlotte Donovan, who, five years after being left at the altar, has built a fulfilling life as a musician in New York. However, her plans for a cozy Christmas with her quartet in Colorado take an unexpected turn when she finds herself sharing space with her ex-fiancée, Brighton Fairbrook.

Blake's writing shines in its exploration of the characters' emotional landscapes. The tension between Charlotte and Brighton is palpable as they grapple with their shared past while being thrust into festive activities that force them to confront their unresolved feelings. The author skillfully balances humor and poignancy, particularly through the awkwardness of their interactions and the backdrop of holiday traditions like cookie decorating and horseback riding.

The narrative's strength lies in its ability to reveal that relationships are often more intricate than they appear. As Charlotte and Brighton navigate their feelings amidst family dynamics and holiday cheer, readers are treated to a nuanced portrayal of how love can be both a source of joy and heartache. The book resonates with themes of forgiveness and understanding, ultimately suggesting that healing is possible even when the past looms large.

Overall, "Make the Season Bright" is a charming read that captures the spirit of the holidays while delving into the complexities of rekindled romance. It is a reminder that sometimes, what we think we know about love can change when faced with the realities of our shared histories.

𝓜𝓪𝓴𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓢𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓸𝓷 𝓑𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽

This super cosy Christmas second chance romance story is an absolute treat.

Charlotte and Brighton were childhood friends, turning into each others firsts everything. They are now musicians, Charlotte is now a wildly successful violinist and Brighton is/was a singer songwriter who plays the guitar. When they decided to get married, being in love was never in doubt, but Brighton left Charlotte at the altar anyway. After five years of no contact and living in different cities, these two found themselves being temporarily adopted by their closest friends (who are sisters) during the Christmas holiday so they weren't alone. Cue the forced proximity!!!

The group of friends were so fun, they made every scene they were in interesting and their dialogue was realistic and relatable, and helped Charlotte and Brighton grow and overcome their individual barriers to come together.

I think I might be in the minority (so far at least), because I think Charlotte didn't need to apologise for anything and Brighton should have done way way more grovelling. Charlotte didn't need to apologise for Brighton not communicating about her feelings and reservations but that just might be me. She may have not pushed Brighton for information but she was not at equal fault for being LEFT AT THE ALTAR?!

However, I am very happy with the ending, it wrapped all characters up in a nice little bow (pun intended)

𝘙𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘥𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘢 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘠𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘕𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴. 𝘛𝘸𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘮.

Rating: 3.75/5

What to expect:
- Betrayal
- Forced proximity
- Fake dating (mild)
- LGBTQ+ representation
- Sapphic romance
- Second chance romance
- Miscommunication (mostly off page or in flash backs)
- Holiday
- Super cosy
- Flashbacks

Thank you to Hachette ANZ | Piatkus for approving this arc for a review!