Published By: Headline Review
Pages: 416
Released On: 08/10/2026
Ali has always loved Christmas. She and her best friend Robyn had a tradition to exchange advent calendars filled, not with chocolate, but with fun challenges to complete.
Only this year, there is no Robyn. Ali would rather skip December altogether, and the reminders it will bring.
But before she died, Robyn left Ali one last calendar. The first challenge? Book a flight to Chatel, in the French Alps.
The second challenge? Post a selfie with an attractive man to make your ex jealous.
Determined to give Robyn’s calendar her all, Ali takes a position in a hotel in Chatel, nestled in the snowcapped mountains, and snaps a selfie with a gorgeous stranger on the way.
But when she arrives, Ali is shocked to realise the surly hotel manager is the man from her photo. And now everyone already thinks she’s dating the boss…
Suddenly the season looks a lot more complicated than she’d planned. But as the snow falls, will this be the Christmas to thaw Ali’s heart?
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Headline Review for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I think I’ve read two of Emily’s books before and they’re warm and comforting and give me what I expect from a festive story.
This is an odd plot, this idea that you could just waltz in and do whatever without any questions, no qualifications, no experience etc. Some of the things Ali had to do just felt a little awkward.
I’ve read a lot of Christmas books recently and some are full on festive and some are more romance novels that just happen to be set around Christmas. This felt more like the latter. Yes it’s set in December and it’s snowy and there’s an advent calendar etc. but that’s all background, propping up the story of Ali’s grief. That’s not inherently a negative, but given the cover and the blurb etc. I was expecting a lot more Christmasyyness about it so that was a bit disappointing.
The romance storyline was predictable but enjoyable, and I think the two characters in question were well written individually. I did want a bit more from their romance, it all happens quite suddenly and there’s not much depth to the romantic storyline. Having said that, I did enjoy following their story.
I felt her depiction of grief was well done. As someone who has lost a lot of people, I know grief far too well, and it can be difficult to write about. You have to find that balance between being honest about it but sensitive and not sensationalise is, and I think she’s found that balance.
It was quick and easy to read, which was surprising given it’s a relatively long book for its genre.
If you like your Christmas stories to be about character and emotion rather than festivities, then you’ll enjoy this. If you want more festivities and a stronger romance, then you might not enjoy it as much. I’d recommend it but I probably won’t rush to reread it.
It’s not my favourite of her books. It felt uncomfortable and a bit forced at times.
