The Christmas Countdown

This is a fun, flirty and festive rom-com!

Callie recently moved to a new city when her long-term boyfriend Oliver got a new job. But when Oliver suddenly dumps Callie right before the holidays, she isn't in a festive mood and decides she doesn't want to celebrate Christmas this year. Her sister Anita has other plans and creates an advent calendar filled with wee gifts and holiday challenges that Callie agrees to do (if only to get her sister off her back about going home for Christmas). It also doesn't hurt that swoony Marco, a local pastry chef, offers to help Callie complete her daily advent tasks.

Holly Cassidy (aka Hannah Mary McKinnon) blends a sweet romance with a story full of delightful Christmas pastimes, treats and other festive elements giving it a strong Hallmark Christmas movie vibe. It has cute banter and if you enjoy puns, this is the book for you. 

This was a charming closed-door romance that was as comfy and satisfying as a peppermint hot chocolate on a wintery day. Treat yourself to an early gift and kickstart your holiday cheer by ordering this book when it hits stores October 22, 2024!

Note: Southwestern Ontario readers - you may recognize a few Oakville references, and I particularly loved the nod to Burlington's A Different Drummer bookshop.

Disclaimer: Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary digital copy of this book which was given in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 4 stars

Author: Holly Cassidy

Genre: Holiday Romance, Canadian

Type and Source: ebook from publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: Viking (Penguin Random House Canada)

First Published: October 22, 2024

Read: October 7 - 11, 2024

Book Description from GoodReads: From the author of The Christmas Wager comes a charming holiday rom-com about a young, recently heartbroken woman who is tasked by her sister to complete Advent calendar challenges in the lead up to Christmas to reignite her belief in herself, the holidays, and love again.

She’s given up on love and Christmas…but fate has other plans.

All Callie wants for Christmas is to hibernate. She's still reeling from being dumped by her childhood sweetheart, and under no circumstances will she go home for the holidays considering her ex will be right next door with his new, perfect partner. Callie is officially in grinch mode, but her meddling sister, Anita, won’t let her give up on life, love, and Christmas quite so easily.

Anita stages a Christmas intervention for Callie with a homemade Advent calendar challenge—cheerful tasks to push Callie out of her comfort zone and into the holiday spirit, inspired by a childhood tradition. Callie reluctantly plays along, but when she comes face-to-face with a charming baker who just might be the spoonful of sugar she needs, her strict rules on love and the holidays are tested.

As they strike a deal to do the activities together, could the twenty four little doors on Callie’s Advent calendar not only open up one, but two closed-off hearts?