THE CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN
From the author of The Christmas Wager, Holly Cassidy is back with another heartwarming holiday romance, The Christmas Countdown.
Newly dumped by the boy next door and her childhood sweetheart, Callie is ready to write off the whole holiday season. The worst part? She still has to see her ex at work every day and can’t go home for the holidays because he’ll be there. Moving on shouldn’t be this hard. To get Callie out of Grinch mode, her sister Anita creates an incentive to rescue Callie from a “flatlining” social life and reinstates a childhood tradition of a task-’n’-treat-style Advent calendar.
The plot flows seamlessly with the Advent calendar activities as Callie rediscovers herself and meets a handsome chef named Marco along the way. Their relationship gradually builds over time, and you can’t help but root for them as they bond over silly puns and Swedish treats.
The character development and vivid seasonal descriptions add texture to the story and deepen the festive magic unique to Christmas. I loved seeing Callie’s initial aversion to the Advent calendar transform into childlike excitement for the next task. After all, what is Christmas without a bit of nostalgia?
Another element I loved is Callie’s sisterly bond with Anita. Yes, it borders on meddling as Anita oversteps some boundaries in order to see her sister smile again, but it adds a special aspect for readers who value family dynamics in their holiday books.
The Christmas Countdown is a delightfully cozy read that will chase away any bah humbug attitude and warm you from the inside out.
LOVE YOU A LATKE
(Berkley)
“I just didn’t want Christmas in my Hanukkah, the same way I didn’t want to dip a grilled cheese in my cinnamon roll latte. Both were delicious, but I didn’t want them together.”
Amanda Elliot checks all the boxes for romance readers in her newest holiday release, Love You a Latke. It’s a delightful blend of fake dating, the one-bed trope, impeccable holiday vibes, mouth-watering desserts, and a grouchy sunshine romance.
Abby is the local grump and the owner of the only decent coffee shop in a small town in Vermont. Being the only Jew on the tourism board and, most likely, the whole town, Abby is elected as planner of the upcoming Hanukkah-themed holiday business festival.
Seth is optimistic, perpetually happy, and, much to Abby’s chagrin, addicted to her pumpkin spice lattes, making him her most loyal customer.
In a twist of fate and a right swipe on a Jewish dating app, the two strike a mutually beneficial deal: Seth will help Abby find vendors for the festival if she pretends to be his girlfriend for Hanukkah.
Although the pace is slow initially, the plot picks up as Abby’s aversion to Seth transforms into understanding then into a budding friendship that slowly deepens as the story unfolds. Abby’s character development is a beautiful journey to witness. As she reconnects to the Jewish community through Seth, she realizes how much she has missed that connection. Amanda Elliot’s writing is intentional. She offers easy explanations for people unfamiliar with Jewish traditions and offers representation that will resonate with practicing and nonpracticing Jews, which makes it a read for everyone.
Hanukkah and other holidays surrounding the winter season are often overshadowed by their commercialized counterpart, Christmas. Love You a Latke shines a spotlight on Hanukkah and provides a refreshing, new, heartwarming perspective on the holiday season.
Top Image Via G.P. Putnam’s Sons, Love You A Latke Imige Via Berkley
