Eli Thomas returns to her home town to attend the funeral of her beloved grandmother who raised her. Eli, who is a successful writer, usually only visits for Christmas. Because of circumstances with the will and her brother she decides to stay on through the holidays a few weeks away.

This cute cover doesn’t quite capture the tone of the book, but it is still accurate. For a heartwarming Christmas, second chance, romance there is a good deal of drama. Eli and her brother Tommy are both in their 40s and a bit broken. Tommy still lived with grandma and I never saw mention of him having a job. Although he does date. Eli still has a lot of anger directed towards her mother who doesn’t live far away. And she wasn’t expecting the girl who broke her heart, Aracely Hernandez, to show up at the funeral, or learn that she has lived in town for the last six years.

The writing is top notch and doesn’t and a good reminder that holidays can be melancholy for many people. The small town traditions fit and it was nice to have flashback scenes between Eli and her grandmother and Eli and Aracely. For me the story leans towards women’s fiction as this is Eli’s journey of grief, anger and forgiveness. But the romance is there and Aracely adds to every scene she is a part of.

If you want a Christmas romance with a little more heft this is easy to recommend.

Close to Home will have you sitting with your feelings all night long. It's tenderly emotive; the layout of the plot gorgeously engaging.

A second chance romance built on a rich history, provides the perfect fuel by which to feed a slow burn relationship between the main characters.

Eli Thomas goes home once a year for Christmas. A twenty four hour round trip that she hates, because it fills her every sense with the love she lost, and the broken family that's never been the same. But when Eli's Grandma suddenly dies, and the reading of her will gets complicated, Eli looks set to be staying for much more than her usual 24 hour stint.

Twenty years of avoidance is a lot to deal with, and as Eli makes a start there is one person she didn't bargain on seeing again.
Aracely Hernandez was the teenage love of Eli's life, but when Aracely made a devastating choice for the both of them, the abandonment ripped Eli apart, leaving a hole she's never been able to fill. As Aracely tries to make amends, it's down to Eli to decide whether she can risk her heart and the place she calls home for a second time.

So many aspects of this story deeply resonated with me, particularly the loss of a parent at a young age and exactly how that continues to impact Eli even as an adult. Alongside the devastating aftermath, the kind that wreaks havoc with your idea of happily ever after, when the person you had unwavering belief in abandons you for the "greater good".

The story really is an exploration in second chances, not just when it comes to romantic love, but also that of the family unit. It's equally difficult and fulfilling to watch Eli's journey with both her mum and her brother Tommy. To see each of them begin to understand how the past continues to impact their present and their relationships with each other. I loved how Eli and Tommy's Grandma's death and will, is used as the catalyst for change. An opportunity for their Grandma to remind them of what's important, even from the grave!

As Close to Home is a December release, you won't be surprised to find plenty of festive spirit sprinkled throughout the book. The description of Santa Day, complete with parade, memorial tree, snowman building, and sugary snacks is exactly how I'd imagine small town holiday celebrations to be.

As far as I'm aware this is Bahney's first solo story, having previously co-authored the Badlands series, and I genuinely hope it won't be the last. The author clearly has a knack for painting a picture that weaves an abundance of depth and feeling, where each colour palette is a different snippet of the story, and when taken as a whole the result is breathtakingly in its beautiful.

An excellent slow burn romance that exposes the many vulnerabilties required of giving, and receiving, second chances. I can't wait to see what Allisa Bahney writes next.

Very sweet romance

Eli’s was only supposed to be going home for Christmas, but following the death of her grandmother and a term in her will that means Eli has to stay a bit longer, has her facing her family and her past. When she bumps into Aracely, she realises her attraction to the girl who got away has never left her but worries about getting her heart broken again when fate keeps pushing her and Aracely together.

Such an emotional story with a lot of heart and soul-searching to be done. It was no surprise when we learn about Eli’s past as to why she is so closed and keeping to herself when she gets home. What I loved was the range of perspectives covered in the story to provide everything we need to understand the emotional journey she is now on. And the way it was cleverly interwoven with Eli’s carer as an author was a really lovely surprise. Even though this is quite a sad story in terms of what has just happened for Eli, it’s also one that made me smile and brought warmth because it is packed with loving moments and memories that then really help Eli to grow into the person I think she always wanted to be.

Aracely surprised me. She wasn’t what I thought she might be from the first meeting and the more I learned about her and Eli’s past, the more I grew to love her and could understand why Eli had never been able to let that attraction go. She was kind and caring, and had made decisions only because she’d wanted Eli to succeed and achieve her dreams. The more I learned the more I fell in love with the idea of them being together, and Eli sticking around because in the end, even her family weren’t that bad and she had a real chance at happiness by trying something different.

A great story with a little bit of holiday cheer to remind of the importance of family, no matter who is a part of your family, and that taking risks and chances comes with rewards. Sad but uplifting and an enjoyable read.

This second chance romance is a wonderful debut for Allisa. The family dynamics in the story is very complicated. I loved the characters growth throughout the story. Overall, very heartfelt and a wonderful Christmas read.

Thanks to the Publisher Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for this ARC copy.

Very kind of 'okay' book.

Eli Thomas is reluctantly returning to her small Iowa small town for Christmas. And staying much longer than she planned because of her Grandmother's death.

(Also her fool brother has knocked up two women, babies due NOW.)

Aracely Hernandez was Eli's first love, but they broke up before Eli left town. Now that complications with her Granny's will are keeping Eli in town, she might have to deal with her too.

I did feel the flashbacks and the bits with Eli's novel didn't help the book, and felt like I'd rather have the page count be put to the main plot.
3 out of 5 stars.

SUBLIME from page one all the way to the ending, Close to Home is a wonderful solo debut by Allisa Bahney, resting and building on the theme of loss. Loss of a loved one, loss of parents (in differing ways), loss of a sibling relationship, and finally—and centrally—that oh-so-painful loss of first love.

Can Eli somehow find a way to come to terms with all the things she has lost in her life while grieving the recent death of her beloved grandmother? Matters are complicated when Eli unexpectedly bumps into her first love, Aracely. And, oops, there is an unexpected forced proximity. One girl is closed off, one is open; both are in pain after a decision made nearly 20 years before.

This novel is only 240 pages or so, and Ms. Bahney has set herself the lofty target of fitting in a lot of events and consequences to deal with, not to mention the story being packed with a ton of emotions! And even setting aside all the difficult emotions of loss and anger and regret, for example, this book is actually an uplifting novel full of joy, populated with 3 or 4 strong supporting characters. The sense of a small-town Christmas community and how Eli can find a way to fit within that, whether temporarily or permanently, is brought wonderfully to life on the page.

With just the right amount of angst, organically constructed, this is as good a solo debut as you could hope for. It sucks you in very early on and begs you not to leave it alone. Quite frankly, THIS is how a Christmas-set romance should be done.

I have become an instant fan of Allisa Bahney, and I’ll follow her to the ends of the earth for more stories from her!

Thank you to the author and the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to revel in the joy of this ARC.

Close to Home is not a typical "person returns to hometown and reunites with a past love" story. The main character of Eli grew up to become a successful writer, and Allisa Bahney wrote excerpts from Eli's books to parallel her life. It was quite fascinating! 

Bahney almost seamlessly wove in pieces of Eli's past for chapters throughout this book. This could have been confusing, but the chapter titles and the way it related to the present time made sense. I felt that the Eli/Aracely relationship was slightly idealized...but that is a reason I like to read fiction.

I would suggest this book if you are a fan of:
* second-chance romance
* one chili pepper of spice
* complicated family dynamics
* a wise grandparent
* Christmas
* character growth
* a happily ever after

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the arc!

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

its like a hallmark movie.... coming home after years of being away and realising that maybe you didnt need to stay away for so long....

have to say i was hooked from the first page with this one.... and had to finish it... and boy i wasnt disappointed at all.... and it has a lovely christmassy feel to it....

will be keeping an eye out for more of this authors works

Close to Home was an enjoyable Christmas-themed WLW romance. One unique piece to this novel that I enjoyed was the minimal angst between the two main characters as they have a second chance at romance. They were young lovers when they were teens, but when they met again after the death of Eli's grandmother, they can't resist being together. The real angst of the story is in regards to Eli's past, her relationship with her brother and her mother, her regret of shutting out the small town she grew up in and not visiting her grandmother that raised her. This made for a more enjoyable story. The author did a good job of revealing the couple's past through flashbacks and excerpts from the novel that Eli was writing. This will give you the warm fuzzies leading into the holiday season.

Close to home reflected how much eli missed her home , town, friends and the love of her life from which she ran. Her Grandma's heavenly abode pulls her back home and makes her realise how precious things are around. She becomes a successful writer wherein the glimpse of her past and her relationships sparkle a lot and even as a reader I could relate to it. It was a heartfelt, sweet yet perfect holiday read.

Great Christmas romance. This was a really good book, the main characters were made for each other. I liked all the family drama that comes along with going home for Christmas. The romance was well written and this had all the angst and drama that I like. I would recommend this book and I look forward to what's next from this author.

I want to thank Bold Stroke Books and Netgalley for giving me a chance to read Close to Home by Allisa Bahney. This review is solely my own opinion. This book was an interesting read, not necessarily in a bad way. First, the story follows Eli, an author who made it big after leaving home and Aracely, the woman who broke Eli's heart in high school. After the breakup with Aracely, Eli never wanted to go home, but that changed this year because Eli's grandmother, who raised her, died. Eli goes home and has to deal with her childhood trauma, her estranged family, the death of her grandmother, and running into Aracely repeatedly while home. The story is pretty solid, and there are exerpts from Eli's books that parallel her life. The subject matter is just a little heavy, especially for a holiday read. I gave it 3 stars and will recommend it, with the caveat that it's not all rainbows and sunshine.

This review has been posted to Goodreads and Storygraph on December 10th, 2024. Links provided.

Close to Home is a poignant yet heartwarming tale that explores the tangled emotions of loss, love, and family reconciliation during the holiday season. When Eli Thomas returns to her hometown for Christmas, she’s faced with the painful reality of her grandmother’s death and the unresolved tensions that have kept her distant from her family for years. A twist in her grandmother’s will forces Eli to stay longer than planned, bringing long-avoided conversations to the surface and reigniting feelings for Aracely Hernandez, her first love and the one who got away. Balancing raw emotions with moments of humor and warmth, the story delves into Eli’s fractured relationship with her brother Tommy and their mother, confronting old wounds while embracing the possibility of healing. Against the backdrop of festive small-town traditions, Eli must decide whether mending these ties - and her heart - is worth the risk. Told from alternating chapters set in the past and present, this book captures the complexities of family and the enduring hope for forgiveness and love.

I really enjoyed Close to Home and would definitely recommend it! This book will pull on your heartstrings with its emotional depth and relatable themes. Eli’s journey is raw and honest. Coming home for Christmas after her grandmother’s death forces her to confront everything she’s been running from for years: fractured family relationships, unhealed childhood wounds, and the lingering feelings for Aracely, the love she never quite let go of. While I understand the complexities of certain relationships, I did sometimes struggle with Eli’s treatment of those around her, which made it hard for me to like her at times. (This is minor but) I also really struggled with the decision to adopt a puppy that she clearly was not focused on taking care of. I recognize that is a very minor grievance against the book, but I just felt like it was unnecessary to the plot and unfair to to the fictional puppy. But, I did appreciate her personal growth by the end of the novel. She starts out guarded and weighed down by her past yet gradually opens herself up to forgiveness, reconnection, and the possibility of love. What I really appreciated was how the book balanced the heavy emotional moments with warmth and humor. Eli’s brother Tommy adds a lot of heart, and the festive small-town traditions like Santa Day made me smile. While the resolution with her mom seemed a bit abrupt and lacked meaningful dialogue in my opinion, it’s the underlying message that stuck with me: that healing takes effort, and sometimes the hardest things to face are exactly what you need to move forward. Lastly, while this book is set around Christmastime, it also centers around heavy themes that may be triggering to some. Trigger warnings include: death of a family member (grandmother and father), alcoholism/addiction, abandonment, and childhood trauma. If you’re looking for a holiday read that’s full of depth, heart, and a touch of romance, Close to Home is a great choice!

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books, Inc. and NetGalley for the opportunity to read to an ARC of Close to Home in return for my honest review.

Small town in winter celebrating holiday traditions✅
sapphic friends to lovers (foodie and author)✅
Real life legitimate scientific SNL skit part 2 situation✅
exploration of grief and mental health ✅
The writing captures the humanity of the characters in a lovely manner.
Thank you to the author and publisher for this e-arc!

Three books in one, Eli is an author of Romantasy books, returning home following the death of her grandmother, where she bumps into her childhood girlfriend Aracely. One book is section of the latest Romantasy that Eli is working on, second is the story of Eli and Aracely's past and third is the current day story. Each chapter is from a different book, which can be slightly distracting but is an effective way of keeping you engaged. There are some difficult family dynamics, an irresponsible puppy adoption, amusing running gag with Eli's brother and a grumpy reunion that is resolved in the lightening fast ending. This is not a cosy Christmas read but a more realistic Christmas book(s) dealing with grief and complex family dynamics.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a sweet holiday-themed romance that goes beyond the classic ‘girl returns home and falls in love’ plot, emphasizing topics of grief, family, introspection and emotional healing, friendship and community. This is a second chance story in more ways than one. It follows Eli, who left her small hometown with a broken heart as she returns to said small hometown and becomes reacquainted with the girl who broke her heart. But it is also the story of giving your town and community a second chance and realizing that your original perspective is not the only one and can change with time.

I would recommend this book to someone looking for a holiday, second chance romance filled with emotion, friends, and a touch of sibling drama.

I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.


Eli is reluctant to go home but is force to when her beloved grandmother dies who has raise her and brother Tommy after death of their father and their mother falling apart. Eli is planning on settle her grandmother affairs and leaving hits a snag when her grandmother will has her staying longer and involving her ex Aracely. They reunite after breaking up in their senior year of college as they get to know who they are now will they be able to let go of the past and be in the present and to have a better future. This enjoyable read about letting go and forgiveness.

Close to Home captures the joy of the holiday but also the melancholy feelings of loss that the season brings to many people. For Eli Thomas, it’s the void of a disconnect from family and a broken heart that’s never healed. Now instead of coming home for Christmas to the only person who seemingly loved her unconditionally, her grandmother, Eli has to bury her and deal with the aftermath.

I’ve heard other reviewers mention the movie, Home for the Holidays, and although the storylines are different, they both deal with families that are fractured. Eli and her brother Tommy are 40ish and yet those old wounds from childhood are still painful. When their beloved father died years ago, their mother fell apart so that’s why they grew up with their grandmother. Meanwhile, Eli’s first love, Aracely, is also back home and her presence is a bittersweet reminder of what could have been.

The book deals with the complexities of family relationships and the oftentimes long term damage on people’s lives. But it’s also a story about reconciliation and forgiveness. The holidays tend to exacerbate tensions and the story meets them head on. Eli, Tommy, and their mother confront the past together in a way that makes sense. They keep repeating their grandmother’s saying, “The only way out is through.”

I want to add that the book is also full of warmth and humor. It’s not just tough drama. Tommy is a good brother, Aracely and Eli have plenty of chemistry, and Santa Day in Small Town USA is a hoot. There are many great scenes of love and affection amongst the family and their friends as well. A few surprises too.

This is my first book by Allisa Bahney. It was good, I enjoy second chance romances. I felt like it dragged. I appreciate the flashbacks. The MC showed growth.
There was a couple of things that felt unresolved. I appreciated that there was no additional angst between the MCs as a 3rd act breakup. However angst between the other relationships were understandable.
I will look forward to additional books by this author.

Thank you Allisa Bahney, Net Galley and Bold Strokes Books for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

Close to Home was a beautiful story about love, loss, grief and forgiveness. I think most people will be able to relate to everything from life, death, relationships, challenges and changes.

I had a love/hate relationship with Eli and Aracely’s story line, but in the end, I thought it played out well. I loved the back and forth story lines that painted the full picture of Eli’s life.

One of my favorite quotes from the book was “The only way out is through.” Having lost my mom not so long ago, that quote resonates with me and is 100% accurate.