Unfortunately this book just wasn't for me. I think it would be perfect for someone who loves Christmas Hallmark movies and loves books that go into fine details on the 'little things' like descriptions of foods and places. However, for me I just couldn't get into the book. There seemed to be new characters introduced often that played small roles but spent a lot of time detailing. I just wanted to read the main story between the main three characters and get to where they find out the truths of each other.

I am sure this book will find the right audience for it

This was an entertaining read. It actually had three romances in one story. The main story was a contemporary romance, the other two were in the past. It was enjoyable to see how the three came together.

In this book, things were repeated - you were there when something happened, then a character would tell someone else and the whole thing was repeated. This happened over and over again.

I loved the setting and the description of the snow falling on the lake and little town. All of that made me feel like getting in the holiday spirit.

You just can never go from with an Anita Hughes Christmas book! Full of sweet charm and holiday magic, this is one of those books that you finish and wish it became a Hallmark movie! A Christmas story about second chances, new dreams, and of course love, with the most lovely cast of characters, Christmas at the Lake was a holiday read at its finest! I loved it from start to finish. My recommendation is to read this one curled up in front a fire, wrapped in a blanket, and with your favorite hot drink in hand!

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the gifted e-copy!

I just wrapped up "Christmas at the Lake" by Anita Hughes, and while it had its moments, it didn’t fully capture the holiday magic I was hoping for. The story is set against the picturesque backdrop of Lake Tahoe, which I absolutely loved—Hughes knows how to paint a scene. However, the plot itself felt a bit predictable and didn’t dive as deep into the characters as I would have liked.

The premise is intriguing—Rebecca is left at the altar on Christmas Eve, which sets the stage for a journey of self-discovery and second chances. But as much as I wanted to be swept away, I found some of the emotional beats a little too familiar, making it hard to stay fully engaged.

That said, if you’re in the mood for a light, scenic holiday read, "Christmas at the Lake" offers a cozy escape, even if it doesn’t break any new ground. It’s perfect for a quiet afternoon by the fire, but don’t expect too many surprises along the way.

Christmas at the Lake was such a sweet and fun book. I loved the descriptions that Anita Hughes uses to describe the setting. This book starts off with you sympathizing with her because she is left on her wedding day. She decides to go on the planned honeymoon trip and meets some great people along the way. I was pulling for her the entire book. She has been hurt and continues to try and help others. She runs into Zach and they both end up telling white lies. As this book progresses, you begin to want all of the characters to find their second chance at love.
You will find these characters very relatable.
I loved this book and this is a story that I could see myself watching on Hallmark. I look forward to reading more books by Anita Hughes.

Christmas + Romance equals a winner for me. Who does not love a good Hallmark movie which this book made me feels very similar about! Rebecca is left picking up the pieces after her fiance and business partner leaves her at the alter. Enter our main man, Zach, whose feelings for Rebecca never truly left. Such a fun read that is perfect for the holidays.

~ Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for an advanced copy ~

Listen, this one was a struggle for me. I understand this is an ARC but I had such a hard time with the grammar and the forced timeline of this book. It had so much potential but just fell flat. I also really struggled with the miscommunication trope.

What could possibly be more devastating than being stood up at the altar? How about being abandoned by your fiancé and business partner on Christmas Eve?

Rebecca and Ben, who've been dating since college, launched a dating app together that matches people based on their dislikes. To their surprise, the app becomes a massive success. When the shock of Ben's betrayal wears off, Rebecca realizes she should have seen it coming – he was consumed by the allure of success, while she was content with a simpler life.

Choosing to embark on her honeymoon solo, Rebecca finds herself in the picturesque Lake Tahoe town of Christmas Cove. There, she unexpectedly crosses paths with a college friend named Ben, who mistakenly assumes Rebecca and her ex got married, while she assumes he's in a relationship with an older woman.

As the week progresses, both Rebecca and Ben's secrets unravel, and despite their growing feelings for each other, they're hurt by the deception. Will they be able to overcome their pasts and forge a future together, or is their budding romance destined to be nothing more than a holiday fling?

Although "Christmas at the Lake?" wasn't my top pick among Anita Hughes' novels, it was still an engaging read. My main gripe was that everything seemed to resolve a bit too conveniently, making the storyline feel somewhat simplistic.

A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book offers a fun story about how “the course of true love” does not always “run smooth” to paraphrase Shakespeare. Readers will turn the pages waiting to see if there is a happy ending. For a book with Christmas in its title, they will surely hope for the best.

Imagine a dating app that matches folks by their hates, not their likes. Would you sign up? Regardless, this is what Rebecca and Ben’s company does. They were a couple about to marry but things went sour.

Rebecca decides to take the honeymoon trip that they were planning. While on this, she sees someone from her past. With lots of tangles, they are somewhat misinformed about one another. Will truths be revealed? Will they lead to happiness? Readers will hope so.

This is a good read for a time when relaxing with a book is on the agenda. Those who like sweet romances set in small places will want to take a look.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin for this title. All opinions are my own.

I read this book a second time and enjoyed it even more then. It is full of real-life emotional situations with a myriad of characters and back stories. Although it is titled as a Christmas story, it is enjoyable even in February. I actually would love a sequel to follow up on all of the stories contained within.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

3.5 stars

Christmas at the Lake by Anita Hughes is a cozy romance full of Christmas vibes. If you like sweet romance books at a lake setting with lots of great characters, you will love this novel. Overall, I enjoyed this book even though it centered around a lot of miscommunication (which is super frustrating for me). I liked the characters and the interactions between Rebecca and her college friend Zach. I did feel like the timeline was a little clunky. It was supposed to be set between Christmas and New Years and some of the timeline just didn't add up. Other than that, this was an easy book to get swept up in and I found it to be a quick, cute, easy read.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

On Christmas Eve, just hours before their wedding, Rebecca is left at the altar. Rebecca decides to go on their honeymoon in the charming small town of Christmas Cove on the shores of Lake Tahoe. There, she runs into an old college friend, Zach, who always had a crush on her. 

So I read three Anita Hughes books in a row, and they all felt very formulaic. I love a Christmas book - and I understand that Christmas books need to be a little cheesy, a little predictable, and little insta-love. I also feel like you need a bit of time before you jump in a relationship after you get left at the altar.

If you like cozy stories then curl yourself up with a cup of tea and enjoy. If not, feel free to take a drink and just jump right into it for that daily dose of serotonin!

Rebecca’s life is perfect. She has a successful business that she’s running with her fiancé and life is good. When she is left at the altar for one of their employees, her life is sent on a tailspin. As she looks back, she realizes her life wasn’t as perfect as she thought and she is reevaluating her priorities in life. She bites the bullet and going on her honeymoon alone in quaint Christmas Cove. There she finds an old friend and we watch their misunderstandings unravel in this sweet romance. A great book at Christmas time.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Happy to see a seemingly diverse cast and it is another festive, feel good read from this author. It's an easy read, a little repetitive but good if you don't want anything too difficult or thought provoking.

This book was very cute and an enjoyable holiday read. All the characters were very nice and things wrapped up nicely. It is the book form of a Hallmark Christmas movie.

If Hallmark and authors collided, Christmas at the Lake would be the outcome. Anita Hughes writes a story that brings you hope, happiness, and ease of reading.

The story was what you would expect from a holiday romance novel. It contained all the elements that make it perfect for the genre. There was love, a little heartbreak, hope, and lots and lots of fluff. I love reading fluffy romance novels at Christmas because they make you happy and hopeful for the year to come.

My only takeaway from this book was that it was so predictable, which I suppose is fine, but also was a slow story. I loved the plot and the character development with the main characters, but at some points, I felt I was just reading the same thing over and over and I wanted just a little bit more movement in the story. My absolute favorite character was Meredith and I would read an entire book about Meredith’s love story she shares. That sounded so good. I think I loved the flashbacks the most.

While it’s not the type of book I would read all year round, I truly appreciate Christmas at the Lake. Hughes made me want to visit such a town and find my own Christmas romance! I’ll be checking out her other novels next December.

Anita Hughes' "Christmas at the Lake" marked my introduction to her writing, and I was pleasantly surprised by the seamless flow of words within its 320 pages. The narrative exuded an effortless quality, delivering a Hallmark movie-like experience.

Rebecca seemingly had it all—an accomplished career, a thriving business, and a soon-to-be husband, Ben. However, her world shattered when Ben called off their wedding just hours before, confessing his unhappiness and newfound love interest.

Heartbroken yet determined, Rebecca embarked on their honeymoon destination solo. There, a chance encounter reunited her with Zach, a college friend from eight years ago, now a struggling filmmaker.

The story beautifully captured the essence of embracing love and personal authenticity. Would Rebecca forgive Zach for his web of lies? Could Zach see beyond Rebecca's success and rediscover the girl he once knew in college?

This book, with its enthralling side stories interwoven amidst the main narrative, provided depth and context to Rebecca and Zach's emotional journeys. Hughes' vivid portrayal of the wintry charm of Christmas Cove evoked a desire to experience such a magical setting firsthand.

The characters, flawed yet relatable, underwent profound development. The secondary characters added layers to the tale, enhancing the growth of the main protagonists.

The book's Hallmark movie-like ambiance renders it a timely and heartwarming holiday read. Brimming with charm and tender moments, "Christmas at the Lake" reaffirms the sentiment that the festive season is indeed the most magical time of the year.

Rebecca and her college boyfriend Ben started an app called Dealbreakers that matches couples on the things they dislike. It’s become an enormous success, and now they’re getting married. Or they were until Ben left Rebecca at the altar on Christmas Eve and goes on vacation with another woman. Rebecca isn’t really shocked because she and Ben always wanted different things out of life.

Rebecca decides to go on her honeymoon to Lake Tahoe, where she runs into Zach, an old college friend who had a crush on her. He thinks she’ actually honeymooning with Ben, and Rebecca sees him with a gorgeous older woman and assumes they’re together. Zach can’t seem to tell her the truth , that he’s a waiter at the hotel and the woman is a guest.

Can they get to the truth and discuss their feelings for each other?
This is a well done friends to lovers, second chance romance that I enjoyed very much, 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

While parts of this were enjoyable, most of it felt inauthentic and repetitive. I appreciate the sentiment of including a seemingly diverse cast of supporting characters, but explaining what each dish is after naming it in its native language is both annoying and ridiculous. If people care, they can research. And really, IYKYK. I guess the target audience for this doesn't know.

This reads like a terrible Hallmark movie. All of the what-ifs culminate into a disaster of the most profound kind. If a man left me at the altar, cheated on me with an employee, and tried to win me back, he'd be dead. Kidding. Maybe.

And that's not to say I enjoyed the other option, either. I know we're not supposed to judge if someone is not making enough to live on their own, but if you're thirty and living with your parents, that's going to be a no from me. It's probably time to change careers.