I like the concept of the book, not too cliche but help drives the plot. Eloise was hurt and serendipitously met the guy that be THE One. Seemingly perfect, she's hurt, he's damage, one night and move on type deal. Who knew that he's her best friend's brother. Eloise was invited to spend Xmas with her bestie and her family and as you can imagine all the close proximity force them to face the music.

I love how Trevor & Susie's family took her in, and even though they had hoped Trevor reunite with his bestie from childhood, he already gave his heart to Eloise. The family is warm and kind, unlike her own which is cold and stoic. By the way, love Grandpa, who sees but don't speak unless is needed to be said. You can see how Eloise can fit into Trevor's life that he's running from so perfectly. But he's trying to give her space and she can't make up her mind.

I will say, her miscommunications skill stinks and he's too patience and giving her too much space where he gets frustrated. I don't mind a bit of that, but the going back and forth and the indecisiveness dragged on a bit longer than it needs to. The antithesis was very anti-climatic, and how they got back together wasn't as excited as a grand gesture should be. I want to love this book, but it is missing something.

Thank you NetGally & Xpresso Book Tour for the ARC.

This wasn't really my type of book. It felt really rushed and unnatural. The characters were boring and had no substance, and there was no plot at all. I love the cover though, and the cover alone would get 5 stars. I do feel like the book could've been so much better if the characters had actually known each other. Additionally, I feel like there were a lot of clichés in this book that I'm not a fan of.

One kiss from you only made me want more. One night with you made me need more. And one Christmas with you sure as hell wasn’t enough.”

This Christmas romcom by Mari Suggs was absolutely adorable! If you are looking for the perfect Hallmark vibe story with a a fun Christmas town, an amazing family, and a couple that you can’t help but root for, look no further! I related so strongly to Eloise’s desire to make her family happy, even if it’s making you actively unhappy. As an oldest daughter, we want to make our family happy and proud. And it is hard to make that decision to step off the path that they choose for us and follow the dreams that we have for ourselves. Trevor was literally the perfect person to help her make that decision. Maple Hollow is the sweetest town and I loved how they go all out for Christmas. If this is a real town, I simply must visit. Trevor and his family are amazing and I loved how they just accepted Eloise instantly and how much they supported her. The banter between Trevor and Eloise (I loved Eloise book when I was a kid, by the way!) and how hard Trevor tried to let her know that he was truly interested in her as a person. If this book isn’t on your tbr, you need to add it right now!

Cute book! Perfect for the holiday atmosphere. Definitely one to read but seems very similar to other holiday romance books.

Eloise is a medical doctor in residency, burnt out and unable to face celebrating Christmas with her family and her boyfriend, a fellow doctor who is a bit of a egotistical jerk but meets her parents approval. She accepts an invitation to spend the holidays with her bestie's family in the cosy Maple Hollow. Only when they arrive she finds the one-night-stand she has been pining for over the last 6 months is her best friend's brother Trevor, who is about to take off traveling the world. So while she tries to avoid falling for him, she falls for his family - his mum is such a sweetheart and brings out Eloise's joy in baking and makes her rethink her future.

It's definitely got hallmark romance vibes, but with some spice. I'm not usually a fan of cheating, even if the partner is a jerk, but it did bring the tension and conflict. Overall a cosy holiday romance that I enjoyed.

Last Summer's Secret delivers all the heartwarming charm and emotional resonance readers could ask for in a holiday romance. Eloise Parker and Trevor Hall’s story is a delightful blend of second chances, personal growth, and holiday magic that will leave readers swooning and smiling long after the final page.

Dr. Eloise Parker is a protagonist many will relate to—a woman torn between familial expectations, the demands of her career, and her own sidelined dreams. Her journey is as much about rediscovering herself as it is about finding love, and her passion for baking adds a cozy, festive warmth to the narrative. Trevor, on the other hand, brings a laid-back charm and emotional depth that make him the perfect counterpart to Eloise’s structured life. His nomadic tendencies clash beautifully with Eloise’s need for stability, creating plenty of romantic tension and meaningful conversations.

The setting of Maple Hollow feels like a character in itself, a picturesque small town that brims with holiday spirit and creates the perfect backdrop for their rediscovery of each other. Told through alternating perspectives, readers are given a glimpse into both Eloise and Trevor’s vulnerabilities and desires, making their eventual connection all the more satisfying.

What sets this book apart is its balance of romance and introspection. While Eloise and Trevor’s chemistry is undeniable, their story also explores themes of self-discovery, taking risks, and embracing life’s unexpected gifts. It’s a reminder that sometimes love shows up when we least expect it—just in time to change everything.

Perfect for fans of heartfelt holiday romances and second-chance love stories, Last Summer's Secret is a beautifully written tale about finding joy, connection, and the courage to follow your heart. It’s the kind of book that feels like a warm hug on a cold winter night—full of charm, emotion, and just the right amount of festive cheer.

👉🏻 Requested on Netgalley in return for an honest review! 👈🏻

Cute Christmas romance, but the Hallmark vibes are shooting through the roof! Not much depth, dialogue wasn't always great and hoped for a bit more spice. This is a typical romance set in a typical little town with typical experiences. Fun to read in between but don't expect uniqueness.

I liked the premise of this book, but the execution wasn't great

First of all, instead of telling the story through action and dialogue, there is a lot of info dumping and a lot of it isn't really relevant to the plot.

Secondly, it really annoyed me that every time there was a switch in perspective, the last scene had to be retold, even if it was just a mundane scene. It was maddening.

Feeling pressured by her parents and not so good boyfriend, Eloise decides to escape for the holidays and spend Christmas with her best friend's family. What she didn’t expect was to be spending Christmas with the one-night stand she had six months ago, who turned out to be her best friend’s brother. Trevor decides to spend the holidays with the family before starting new adventures in Europe after selling his business. When he arrives and bumps into Eloise, he begins to think that his holiday might just get a little sweeter, until she tells him to keep that they know each other a secret. Over Christmas, they both are forced to face the weight of their parent's expectations. Eloise must decide if she is willing to sacrifice her parent’s approval to follow her heart.
I really loved Eloise’s character growth. I don’t generally like the cheating trope but it did bring growth and tension into the story. I enjoyed the flashbacks to when Eloise and Trevor met as well as the relationships Eloise builds with Trevor’s family. This holiday romance has complex emotions, baking, and found family. The town of Maple Hallow sets the scene for this cute and cozy romance with Hallmark vibes.
Thank you Netgalley and Mari Suggs for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Second chance surprise during the holidays - cute cast of characters, over controlling family issues, learning to stand up for yourself, and finding real love and found family. An entertaining holiday romance.

Sweet one-night stand repercussions story. A light-weight Christmas version of "Part of Your World" without the the spice or character development.
Great book for a light holiday romance and to add to your holiday reading options instore.

It's really easy to fall for a story when you love the characters and the setting. Maple Hollow is a quaint town in Georgia that LOVES holidays. They go ALL out for Christmas and with the town as the backdrop, the magic of the season exudes throughout this adorable tale.

Dr. Eloise Parker is the quintessential people pleaser. All her choices revolve around making other people happy. She went to medical school to please her doctor dad and is now close to completing her residency. She's dating a doctor. And she's miserable. This isn't the life she would design for herself, but she feels too guilty to tell her family after all they've done for her.

When she finds out her boyfriend is to be attending Christmas with her parents, she balks. Things are already shaky between them and the LAST thing she wants is to spend her favorite time of year in an awkward position. Her best friend, Susie, invites her to spend Christmas with her and her family in a cabin in Maple Hollow. Eloise jumps at the chance and makes up an excuse that she has to work.

Enter Trevor, Susie's brother who had a fleeting encounter with Eloise 6 months ago. That she never mentioned to the bestie. And now he's here. At the cabin where she's supposed to spend the holiday.

I loved Susie & Trevor's mom Laura. She is the mom we all want. Grandpa Carl is quiet, but observant - popping in with the wisdom in clutch moments. The family is adorable as a unit. Christmas cookie baking & snowman making are tradition for the Hall clan.

Eloise & Trevor have playful banter. They make you want to root for them. Throughout the book, they both see growth. The only thing I was disappointed with was the lies from Eloise. She had multiple opportunities to open up, and she had me yelling at her to just let her people in. Let them see the mess. It's okay not to be perfect.

Thank you NetGalley & Mari Suggs for the ARC of One Christmas With You. I read it in a day & it hit on all this feels I needed for the holiday mood.

One Christmas with You by Mari Suggs | ARC Review

Thank you Mari Suggs and NetGalley for this book! It was a lovely read before the holiday season is upon us!

4⭐️//0🌶️

A sweet, wholesome holiday novel about second chances and an unexpected love story. Eloise and Trevor’s story is a delightful blend of past sparks reignited, unexpected revelations, and the kind of small-town coziness that feels like a warm cup of cocoa on a winter night. Eloise and Trevor's chemistry leaps off the page, particularly as their alternating dual pov brings humor, tension, and vulnerability to their interactions. The novel doesn’t shy away from deeper themes like personal growth, family pressure, and finding one’s true calling, all wrapped up in the festive magic of Christmas. Perfect for readers who enjoy Hallmark Christmas movies!

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

I wanted to like “One Christmas With You” as the beginning wasn’t too bad but unfortunately I did not care for the plot or the way the past and present goes back and forth. Not the worst book I read but I dnf at 37%.

3 stars

This was a lovely Christmas book. It gives a lot of Hallmark vibes but in a good way. I like the setting and the mmcs family was amazing.
The romance was the weakest part of the story. I didn't like how it started and how many lies the fmc said. I also didn't like the miscommunication and the fact that the heroine could have tell the truth so many times but didn't.
I liked the hero a bit more but still I wasn't fully in with them as a couple.
Overall this was a fun sweet read. Perfect for the season.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: One Christmas With You by Mari Suggs

It's December, which means I'm ready for Christmas time! Bring on the holiday books. 😃

Six months ago, Eloise had a one-night stand when she found out her boyfriend was cheating on her. When their flights were delayed, Eloise met Trevor at the airport. She thought she would never see him again. Flash forward to Christmas. Eloise is going to her best friend Susie's family cabin for Christmas. Who would have thought that Trevor was Susie's brother and that Eloise would see him again?

I enjoyed all the Christmas feels in One Christmas With You. The setting is a perfect small town called Maple Hollow that loves Christmas. There are many traditions and cookies that will put you in the comfy holiday spirit. I especially liked that this book is in dual POVs between Trevor and Eloise. I love getting perspectives from both of the main characters. Trevor is so sweet and is just a darling character. I also enjoyed the side characters; they brought so much personality to the story. One Christmas With You is a shorter story with many sweet and spicy moments. This book gives best friend's brother, found family, second chance romance, and small-town tropes.

I didn't really like a few things about One Christmas With You. One plot element that plays a big part in the story is cheating and lying, making it harder to like some characters. One character also makes a lot of bad choices, which doesn't help the likeability. Many plot points were added towards the end, meaning they could only partially develop.

Although One Christmas With You is far from perfect, I still enjoyed it. It was a short, sweet holiday read that can get you in the holiday spirit.

Thank you, Netgalley and Mari Suggs, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

I was so hooked on Eloise and Trevor, following in their footsteps and slowly understanding where their feelings came from, but when I got halfway through the book they lost me.
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Eloise is in one of her last years of residency, completely exhausted from giving everything to meet the goals and obligations expected by others, her parents, her friends and her boyfriend. Struggling to make and have her decisions respected, she dedicates herself fully to work but when she finds out that the Christmas break she was going to spend with her family becomes a social event where she will have to face the situation, she simply cannot do it and her best friend decides to invite her to spend it with her family in her hometown that looks out of a Christmas book.
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What Trevor least expects, right after selling all his things and putting what he needs in a backpack to go around the world, is to find in his parents' house the woman he cannot forget, his one night stand that he never saw again. And who he shouldn't approach after discovering that she is his sister's best friend. But being in a cozy cabin spending magical moments and learning more about each other becomes impossible to keep their distance.
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A little spoiler alert, but I have to talk about it to explain why I didn’t love it: I couldn't get over the number of times she had the opportunity to explain herself, the opportunity to come clean about what happened that one night stand months ago and then my enthusiasm went down the hill. I can't get over the fact that they moved on. I think if she had talked about her problems and current situation, and given him time to work out his emotions I would have enjoyed the ending so much.
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But I enjoyed the setting, the small town who loves Christmas so much and sound wonderful, the characters around the story and the dynamics of the main characters with them, also...the chemistry between the two main characters it was really good, and this whole cheating situation lowers me one point, it's one of my big No in romance books, I don’t care for excuses it doesn’t work for me
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Thanks to Mari Suggs and her team for give me a copy of this book for my honest and voluntary opinion.

Unfortunately I had to DNF this book. I tried so hard fm enjoy it but I found the FMC and MMC pretty unlikeable. The setting was nice but I couldn’t look past the characters. :(

If you are looking for a lighthearted, quick holiday read that also has a best friends brother trope, check this one out!
The main characters meet for a one night stand, thinking that they would never meet again. Until the FMC realizes that her one night stand is her best friends brother. There is a lot of tension, enough that even the family is picking up on it, even when they believe they're clever enough with the sneaking around. I did want to smack both main characters for how stubborn they were with holding their feelings back from one another.

I do wish that there was more tension, something more gripping. The plot got a little lost, but overall, its a good palette cleanser.

Thank you Netgalley, the author, and publisher for the ARC

I’ve given this 🌟🌟 🌟 /5, because although I enjoyed it on the hole, there were elements I thought could have been improved.

Starting with what I liked:

- It felt very festive and I loved the setting of the book. It’s in a cute Christmas almost village and cabin which feels so cosy.
- The dynamic between Susies family melts your heart because it just feels so much like a warm loving family that you would love to visit.
- It was a very easy read and also short at 200 pages, so nice to get stuck into!
- It’s very wholesome, Eloise following her heart standing up for herself, following her dream job and mixing with the new family.

What I thought could be improved:

- Because it is such a short book obviously the pace of the book is pretty fast. This is not a bad thing, but it leaves gaps in character development to really get attached to them, although this is also probably an event of personal preference.
- It felt like there was a lot of different plot events thrown into the mix for such a short book so that each element was underdeveloped. This is partly because of the type of book that it is, which again, is not a bad thing. It just isn’t a book where you are going to feel very emotional and attached to characters I don’t believe.

Would I recommend this book? If you enjoy a Hallmark Christmas film then yes, I would. It will put you in a festive mood and it is a quick and easy read.
If you are looking for something with a little more depth and emotional attachment, then probably not. But overall it was a reasonably good, easy festive read!

Thank you for the opportunity NetGalley and Mari Suggs!