It’s Emmy Brewer’s tenth Christmas since she lost her mom, and without her, Emmy’s floundering. Her job is pointless, and she struggles to find direction and passion. So when her sister invites Emmy’s childhood crush and former neighbor, Charlie Russell, to their family Christmas, and he shows up, given her state, Emmy is anything but excited.
Their meeting sets off a string of events that bring them together once a year at Christmas. Through trying moments, laughter, and bad timing, Emmy must face her life’s choices and decide what she actually wants. Will it be Charlie? Or will he be the catalyst for something else entirely?
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My Review
This is a heartwarming, emotional holiday story about grief, rediscovery, and second chances. Emmy returns home for Christmas, still mourning her mother’s passing ten years earlier and feeling directionless in both her career and life. Her journey takes a tender turn when she reconnects with Charlie, her childhood friend and once-close confidant. Their friendship slowly rekindles into something deeper, and Hale beautifully captures that quiet, hopeful magic of rediscovering love right when life feels most uncertain.
Both Emmy and Charlie are at crossroads, dissatisfied with their jobs and unsure of their futures, which makes their connection feel authentic and deeply relatable. Alongside them, Hale paints a cozy, family-filled holiday backdrop—complete with laughter, bickering, and the warmth of shared memories. Emmy’s discovery about her late mother adds an emotional layer that ties the story together with grace and closure.
Tender, nostalgic, and full of festive charm, this book is a lovely reminder that healing and love often bloom in the most familiar places—just in time for Christmas.
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