| Title | : | Holiday Romance (Catherine Walsh Christmas Books, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1803145455 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 354 |
| Publication | : | First published September 29, 2022 |
Molly and Andrew are just trying to get home to Ireland for the holidays, when a freak snowstorm grounds their flight.
Nothing romantic has ever happened between them: they’re friends and that’s all. But once a year, for the last ten years, Molly has spent seven hours and fifteen minutes sitting next to Andrew on the last flight before Christmas from Chicago to Dublin, drinking terrible airplane wine and catching up on each other’s lives. In spite of all the ways the two friends are different, it’s the holiday tradition neither of them has ever wanted to give up.
Molly isn’t that bothered by Christmas, but—in yet another way they’re total opposites—Andrew is a full-on fanatic for the festive season and she knows how much getting back to Ireland means to him. So, instead of doing the sane thing and just celebrating the holidays together in America, she does the stupid thing. The irrational thing. She vows to get him home. And in time for his mam’s famous Christmas dinner.
The clock is ticking. But Molly always has a plan. And—as long as the highly-specific combination of taxis, planes, boats, and trains all run on time—it can’t possibly go wrong.
What she doesn’t know is that, as the snow falls over the city and over the heads of two friends who are sure they’re not meant to be together, the universe might just have a plan of its own…
A totally gorgeous and escapist friends-to-lovers festive romance with a swoon-worthy hero. Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella, Mhairi Macfarlane, and Christina Lauren.
Holiday Romance (Catherine Walsh Christmas Books, #1) Reviews
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HAPPY PUB DAY TO THIS ABSOLUTE BANGERRRRR!!!
Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.
SOUND THE ALARM!!! IT'S A BANGER ALERT!!!!
Synopsis
10 years. 10 flights. Andrew and Molly both live in Chicago and take a yearly flight to their mother country Ireland. But this year, will Andrew and Molly go from plane friends to naked in love friends??
Ho ho ho!
MY OPINION
AIHNWUTWTBOWOVMOWV!!!! THIS SHIT RIGHT HERE IS THE CUTEST AND FUNNIEST ROMCOM I'VE EVER READ!!! I literally was smiling when I put it down... Imagine THAT!! (kinda scary thought isn't it?)
The bants? Bantering. I literally laughed out loud multiple times. It was genuinely funny, not pander express humour.
The chemistry? Even Marie Curie couldn't handle it.
The sexual tension? Me outside of a Krispy Kreme when they light the sign up.
This is "closed door" steam (am I using that correctly?), which is my jam. I don't ever wanna read about slop top even in a romance book. Just a personal ting. I like my romcoms more com with a splash of earnest rom.
I appreciated the serious life issues Walsh incorporated like Molly's career crises and Andrew's journey with sobriety. It may come as a surprise, but I am a sober gopher who raw dawgs life. There's a lot of societal pressure to drink (which I def contributed to on $1 drink night at Moose's Bar) so I like to see some sober rep in books instead of liquid courage leading to a drunken first bang. No shade to that either.
Lastly, MY HEART (or the lump of coal that stands in for a heart)!!!!!! I don't wanna give any spoilies but it was possibly the cutest thing I've ever heard.
Overall a hilarious, well-written novel that I will recommend to everyone who dares to make eye contact with me. Congrats Catherine Walsh on the perfect Christmas romcom! READ THIS!!!!
PROS AND CONS
Pros: genuinely funny, no pander express boo boo, great characters, fantastic chemistry, closed door romance, serious topics incorporated and well-handled
Cons: NADAAA!!! ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS FOR THIS BOOK TO GET THE RECOGNITION IT DESERVES!!!!!! -
Back when I started this book there were 27 ratings for it…and 24 of them were 5 ⭐️!
Why? Because it’s ADORBS!
Yes, it’s that kind of Rom-Com, the kind that has me thinking of words like ADORBS, when I rarely even use the word adorable to describe anything other than kittens!
For the last ten years, Molly and Andrew have been traveling home for the holidays, from Chicago to Dublin, where each was born.
The first time was by accident-Andrew was dating Molly’s college roommate Hayley, at the time-so they ended up sitting next to each other for the seven hour and 15 minute flight.
Turns out-Molly and Andrew’s friendship would far outlast his relationship or her friendship with Hayley, so the two friends decided to make it a tradition to book the same flight back to Ireland, and use the time to catch up on each other’s lives and loves.
We follow the growth of their friendship by getting a glimpse into each flight they share over the years, moving between PAST and PRESENT but spending the majority of the time in the current holiday season.
Molly THINKS she isn’t the sentimental type, and that she doesn’t care much about Christmas, but in reality she often bursts into tears when moved-or when she is stressed and can’t drown her sorrows in cheese fries.
Andrew LOVES the holidays and even buys an “ugly” Christmas sweater each year, The man smells like that “sandalwood/pine/take you into the woods and kiss you” soap AND he has a dimple.
Swoon!
BUT this Christmas-there is a snowstorm to end all snowstorms, and the monitors in the airport on Christmas Eve show all flights scheduled to cross the Atlantic are: CANCELLED!!!
Andrew is CRUSHED!
So Molly does what ANY friend with NO romantic feelings for their traveling companion would do -she comes up with a Planes, Trains and Automobiles plan to get him home!! (ok, this time it’s Planes, Trains, Automobiles and Ferries but you get the point)
That will give them plenty of time to figure out just what they DO or DON’T mean to one another!
This “friends to lovers” ROM COM truly DID have it all!
Likable leads, sexual tension, and EXTREMELY playful and witty banter. There is one “open door” scene for some spice which may put them on Santa’s naughty list. Or is that the “NICE list”?
PICK this one up and put it in the Christmas stockings of all of your romance loving friends.
PICK this one up if you are sitting in an airport experiencing a flight delay at any time of year.
PICK this one up if you love holiday romance.
PICK this one up in spite of it being a holiday romance, if you don’t!
In other words, if you love reading a ROM-COM, even only occasionally-PICK this one up!
AVAILABLE NOW!!
Also a big Thank You to Bookouture for the gifted copy. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review! -
Kinda disappointed with the way it turned out in the end but still a decent enough read.
The first half was much enjoyable even tho it took some time to build on. But the second half kept dragging on and on unnecessarily and the negative effect it had was- bore me and the characters lost their charm.
It's a friends to lovers romance. The chemistry between Molly and Andrew is great BUT as friends. Even tho they have their cute moments, I personally didn't feel any romance.
Molly is a quirky character, either you'll like her or straight up hate her. Trust me, there will be no in between. I did find her entertaining so her quirks didn't mind me much. Andrew is cute but that's all there is to his personality.
Another thing that disappointed me was that there were too many dialogues. I think that took a lot away from the story. As there was NO space for feeling any romance, cause it's told from Molly's POV- there was zero space for her to think/feel anything. In my opinion, that's a big let down. The flashbacks started to grow old at one point.
It's a decent read. It has its cute moments and good humor but sadly, it doesn't do much for me. If you want to give it a shot please do, you might like it more. I think the author has a lot of potential, I'll keep an eye on her other works. -
Be still my heart, this book grabbed me in ALL my holiday feels!
Molly Kinsella and Andrew Fitzpatrick have been at each others’ sides for their Christmas trip back home to their families in Ireland every year for ten years. Despite living largely separate lives in their adopted city, Chicago, they’ve stayed in touch and supported one another as best friends through jobs, life events and both of their strings of failed relationships.
This year - their 10th trip - plans get shaken up by a winter storm that threatens to ground them at the airport. Molly knows how important it is to Andrew to spend Christmas with his family, and her sister, Zoe, is about to give birth, so she’s not about to let Mother Nature ruin things.
What starts out looking like a trip from hell, though, may just be the best journey they’ve ever gone on together …
I adored Molly and Andrew! These two are hilarious together. They’re sweet, snarky, playful, sometimes grumpy, but always there for each other. I won’t say that there was no sap whatsoever, but I didn’t think the book suffered from “Hallmark syndrome” (I made that up), and Molly and Andrew’s interactions and thoughts felt real in a way that I haven’t often felt about other book characters. I also loved their families - especially Zoe, and Andrew’s sister, Hannah.
As for romance, there’s a little bit of spice in that holiday punch, if you know what I mean, but it stays reasonably tasteful. You can skip a couple pages if that stuff bothers you.
My only tiny disappointment was that I got almost to the end without the predictable "problem that threatens the relationship", and I really hoped this one might refreshingly not go there, but alas it did. Honestly, though, the book's good points far outweighed that minor gripe, and the ending made my heart smile!
If you want a charming story that will make you laugh, smile and maybe make your heart beat a little faster, this is a perfect choice!
★★★★ ½ (rounded to 5) ❤️
Thanks to Bookouture, NetGalley and author Catherine Walsh for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s now available. -
3 ☆
“I’m in love with you, in an extremely non-platonic, never-leave-me way.”
“I won’t,” he murmurs. His gaze softens as he wipes a snowflake from my cheek. “For as long you’ll have me.” Forever.
I wanted something that was light, fluffy, and gave me festive vibes. It did exactly that in the first half, but by the second half, I became bored. It just felt like it was dragging and honestly started putting me in a slump.
Holiday Romance is the first book in the Fitzpatrick Chirstmas series. It is written with a past and present timeline. While I enjoyed this at first, I began to not enjoy the flashbacks much. I found them not holding my interest as they continued and started to become tiring to me. It's a best friend's to lovers romance with playful and witty banter, sexual tension, and humor that I did find myself cackling out loud at times.
Molly Kinsella and Andrew Fitzpatrick have been traveling back home together for Christmas the last 10 years from Chicago to Ireland. The first year was accidental, but they continued the annual tradition. Well, this year, their tenth trip, their plans are interrupted when a snow storm hits Chicago and threatens to ground them. Molly is determined to find a way to get Andrew home. Her friend Gabriela may have found them a flight to at least get them to Europe. The problem is they are at the wrong airport in Chicago. Will they be able to make it to the flight they need to catch to try to get home?
Molly is a bit of a grinch at times. Maybe grinch is a little too strong. Her family just celebrates Christmas differently, and they don't go all out. I kind of enjoyed how different she is. Let me tell you, she is a bit quirky, and I honestly enjoyed it. Her humor and sarcastic remarks were my favorite parts of her. Though I did find her random boghts of tears to be like me in a sense. I mean, she cries when she's happy, sad, and angry. I can relate to this as a Cancer lol. One thing that I can give her is her growth because she grew so much from the beginning. Watching her go from bad friends who do nothing for her to friends that are actually there and care was so enlightening. She also finally gave up a career that she didn't enjoy and did something that she was passionate about. This made me so happy for her.
“Not to clear my mind. Not because you thought I was being funny. You kissed me back because you wanted to.”
Andrew is the complete oppostie of Molly when it comes to Christmas. Him and his family go all out. He wears Christmas sweaters. He may be a bit goofy in this sense, but I absolutely adored it. Who doesn't love a cute or funny Christmas sweater? I know that I sure do. The way that he will take any of the humpr and sarcastic comments from Molly and give it right back to her. I was eating that up he is such a golden retriever and will do anything for Molly. The one thing that bothers me is that he knew that he wanted to be more than friends with her since their second flight together and never once said anything. I get that they each went through relationships at times, but just speak up and try to go after what you want. Aside from this one miniscule complaint, I really did love Andrew.
"In fact, if anyone ever makes you think you are less than what you are, or that you don’t deserve everything that you reach for, I will make their lives as miserable as you want me to.”
Molly and Andrew have chemistry, but I don't feel like it stretches beyond their friendship. They seemed awkward to me as more. I just wasn't feeling the romance between them. Don't get me wrong, they had some cute moments. I did love how Molly wouldn't stop at anything to make sure that Andrew got home for Christmas. I absolutely adored that Andrew wouldn't leave Molly's side while at the hospital for her sister, even if it meant he missed Christmas with his family. There is one closed door scene that didn't give much in case you're looking for something spicy. Maybe that's what was missing for me is the spice, though if written a certain way, it doesn't bother me without it.
“You,” I say. “I want you. All of you.” Heat fills his gaze, as though charged by the same electricity I feel running through my own body. “You have me, Moll. You’ve had me for years.”
“It was always going to happen,” he murmurs. “But trust you to choose the most stressful three days ever to do it.”
Oh my gosh, I just want to say that there wasn't a third act breakup. This made me happy, and I honestly couldn't believe it. They are just so common in almost every contemporary romance book. The ending was cute, and I was happy to see them doing everything they each loved so dearly. I did enjoy this, but not as much as I would have liked. It just wasn't for me or my maybe my mood wasn't right for it. So I would say to give it a try, you might fall in love with it as many others have.
“I don’t think I’ll get tired of that.” “Kissing your girlfriend?”
“I hope not.”
“More like getting to do it whenever I want.”
Favorite moments and Quotes
“I’m in love with you and I’m sorry it took me so long to figure it out. I’m sorry I wasted so many years trying to find someone else, when the only one I wanted was you.”
“You know,” he says. “I was really, really looking forward to seeing my family and being a good second son, and yet ever since I’ve come home, all I am is annoyed that I can’t spend every second alone with you.”
“You’re sick,” he says firmly. “Let me look after you. I’ll always look after you.”
~Love when a man takes care of you when you're sick. Swooning
~~~~~~~~
Pre-review Please give me all the fluffy, cute, and festive vibes 💚🎄 -
This is now officially my new favorite Christmas book. It is perfection!! I’ve read two of Catherine Walsh’s previous books and really enjoyed them. So when I saw she wrote a Christmas rom-com, I was over the moon because I am obsessed with Christmas books and I love this author, too! Im so glad I read it because I just loved everything about this book. You can feel Molly and Andrews chemistry and their banter with each other is so funny. It keeps you smiling the whole book. The storyline, the characters, the different settings, the banter, etc., it was all done amazingly well and made this a super enjoyable read. Be sure to pick this one up!! I’ll be recommending this one to all my friends this season.
Thank you Net Galley and Bookouture for a copy in return for my honest review. -
I recently read Snowed In, which is the sequel to this novel that I haven’t read prior, and right after I finished it, I knew I didn’t want to say goodbye to the characters I happen’ to like so much. Snowed In was my “book to close the season with”, but it felt like torture waiting until November to read Holiday Romance, so season was longer than planned, because Holiday Romance had to be read ASAP.
The writing style was amazing. Fun and pure escapism in a tiny little book. It’s not a remedy, but I would call it a cure for bad days.
I mean, if you had a bad day, I am sure this book would make it a little better.
What is different with this book when I compare it to Snowed In, this one was written only following one POV, Molly’s, and it was written in first person (my personal preference).
We follow Molly and Andrew, their story being told in two different time frames, one following present and the other following a decade of Molly and Andrew’s travelling to Ireland for Christmases.
It was such a good experience to witness how these two people that knew each other developed their relationship into friendship, and than into romance.
The only thing I had hard time to understand was how Molly, even though she traveled all the way to Ireland to her family, had no problem to ditch them to be with Andrew. Like, wasn’t she out of her mind to be with them??
But than again, when it comes to true love, I guess the need to be with your guy is even bigger than to see your mum or sister who you didn’t see for sooooooo long.
I also want to mention that my favorite person in this book was Andrew’s causin who’s name I already forgot, but his personality will stay with me for (I hope) long.
Chapters with him were the funniest.
In the end, I want to say that Holiday Romance was the perfect book to ’tis the season with, and is example how a good holiday romance should be written. -
couldn't have picked a better book to be my 200th book of the year!! 🥳🥳🥳🥳🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊💃
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5 ⭐️ This book makes my heart happy ❤️
"I'm in love with you, in an extremely non-platonic, never-leave-me way."
"I won't," he murmurs. "For as long as you'll have me."
Forever.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ Holiday romantic comedy
✨ Best friends to lovers
✨ Quirky, stressed-out lawyer FMC
✨ Sweet, family-centered photographer MMC
✨ Grinch x Christmas lover
✨ 'It's always been you'
✨ 'Trying to get home for Christmas' plot
✨ Flashbacks over the past 10 year
Summary:
Molly and Andrew have been catching the same flight home back to Ireland for the last ten years. It's a tradition they look forward. But this year, due to a bad winter storm, their original flight is canceled. Even though Molly doesn't particularly care for Christmas, she knows how important it is to Andrew to spend it at home with his family. So she makes it her mission to get Andrew home, no matter how many flights, trains, ferries, and automobiles they might have to catch. And along the way, something magical happens between these two friends that will change their lives forever.
My Thoughts:
I absolutely ADORE this story!!!! And this is coming from someone who usually dislikes Christmas-themed books and friends-to-lovers.
Molly was the perfect FMC and Andrew was the perfect MMC. I love them alone, but I love them even more together! They know each other so well that they know what the other needs and aren't afraid of being honest.
I also really enjoyed seeing Molly come to terms with her unhappiness with her career and do something about it by the end. It was also so sweet seeing how supportive and encouraging Andrew was the entire time.
The banter was everything! Molly was so sarcastic and Andrew adorably takes it all in good fun, but he can dish it back when he wants. I loved the playfulness of their relationship.
Time jumps (flashbacks) can be tricky, but this was done so well. With these kinds of books, I usually get antsy to move back to the present, but I had a lot of fun seeing Molly and Andrew's relationship develop over the years, and I ended up looking forward to the flashbacks!
I am obsessed with the side characters, specifically Oliver and Zoe. They were a riot and I laughed so many times whenever they were around. And I just have to share this funny line between Zoe and Molly when Zoe goes into labor:
"I can't have a December Capricorn."
"It turned out okay for Jesus."'
"The man was crucified, Molly!"
PS: Did anyone else think maybe Zoe and Christian could have a book together?????
The romance was sweet, nurturing, endearing, and fun. I was rooting for Molly and Andrew from the very beginning, and I hope they're living their best fictional lives.
There isn't much spice, but don't let that deter you. The romance is more than enough. Once the line between friends and lovers is crossed, the tension is so strong, and their chemistry sores! My spice rating is 1/5🌶️. There’s some spice but nothing graphic. Not quite closed doors but not detailed. There’s more tension than anything and only one official sex scene.
Overall, Holiday Romance is one of my favorite books from 2022, a must-read! Catherine Walsh is easily becoming one of my favorite contemporary romance writers. Her stories are sweet and charming, with lovable characters, great romantic tension, and low stakes. I know every time I pick up one of her books, I’m guaranteed to have a good time.
So if you're looking for a fun, non-cheesy Christmas-themed romance, read this immediately!
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Reviews for books by Catherine Walsh:
One Night Only - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Rebound - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Holiday Romance - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Matchmaker - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Snowed In - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
---------- -
This romance was perfection!!
I love everything about it. This is one of the best friend-to-lovers books I have read. And that is saying a lot!
Would I change anything from the storyline?
NOPE, nothing, nada, zilch.
So what is this fabulous romance about?
Molly and Andrew meet on a plane flying home back to Ireland but they already know each other.
Lucas is dating Molly's friend and he is excited to have her as his next seat passenger. Molly is mortified because she knows her best friend wants to break up with him. She is avoiding talking to him about her when her friend texts him and breaks up with Andrew. An awkward situation can't even begin to explain it! Then, the year after, they meet again on the flight before Christmas. Soon after, it becomes their yearly ritual to fly back to Ireland together.
A decade has passed and on their tenth flight, the chocolate and the first-class tickets are ready when a storm cancels their trip. Mollie knows how important is for Andrew to spend Christmas with his family. Molly will do anything to get him back home and to see her twin pregnant sister before she delivers.
I loved this book so much!! Both characters felt real to me, the same with their ordeal. Who's flight has not been canceled around the holidays due to a storm? I'm raising my hand real high here.
I also fell in love with Andrew's family and Molly's twin sister. I wish they could get their own books. It will be so worth it.
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Bookouture via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It |
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Be still my heart! 💖
Molly and Andrew both live in Chicago but both hail from Ireland originally. For the last ten years they have flown back to Ireland for Christmas together and once they arrive they part ways to reunite with their families. She to Dublin and he to Cork. Andrew, a lover of all things Christmas, and Molly, who could give the Grinch a run for his money, seem to really balance each other out and over the years their friendship really blossoms.
Year 10 has thrown a wrench in their plans when an unexpected snowstorm grounds their flight. Having seen how sad Andrew is to not spend the holiday with his family Molly becomes determined to get them home one way or another.
Get ready for the sweetest Christmas adventure ever!!! 🎄💘🥰
Oh my heart I loved this book and all of the characters. That's right, ALL OF THEM. This book is like a warm hug. The banter and humor was spot on. The Christmas vibes will have you ho, ho, ho-ing right into the New Year. If you like laughing, cheering, traveling, friends to lovers, and Christmas then this is a book for you! A spectacular Christmas rom-com! ALL THE STARS!!! -
![©hrissie ❁ [1st week on campus-somewhat run-down]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1610034740i/49071166._UX200_CR0,20,200,200_.jpg)
✅ Festive Vibes 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄
✅ Original, Well-executed Premise 🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡
⚠️ Romance Radar ⭐⭐ (Irreparably Faulty towards the end, unless you like Super Sweet)
⚠️ Likeable Characters, until they are Flattened ⭐⭐⭐
Holiday Romance is a case in point of when a potentially solid story starts going downhill midway through the book -- and the trouble, of course, is with the faulty Romance radar. The premise, though simple, is initially developed into a thrilling to-and-fro between past flights and the Now: the yearly airport encounters between Molly and Andrew, who travel from Chicago to Ireland in order to spend Christmastime with their respective families. This build up serves to reconstruct the burgeoning intimacy, honesty, and closeness of their friendship, only to then miserably fail the elemental transition -- the friends-to-lovers trope -- in the second half, when their enjoyable dialogue and the comfortable pleasantness of the story exit the pages, taking with them my interest in finishing the book.
Sure, the story does have some redeeming qualities, even beyond the intriguing chapter alignment. What is particularly successful, I would say, is the investment in 'a Christmas spirit' -- even through the amusing cousin, Oliver. Andrew's family also reminded me of the Weasleys, which is always a good thing. But it was rather heart-warming to assist to Molly's -- not Weasley, the Molly of this book -- own change of heart and perspective on her family.
In what I am here referring to as Part 1, Walsh also proved to be fully able not to succumb to unappetising, over-sentimental, unidimensional relational exchange. Which therefore begs the question: why the unnecessary OTT-ness of part 2? Why hollow out her characters and their romantic experience to that extent? What makes it all the more frustrating is that this book has all the makings of a romance right from the outset, which means that the sweetness intoxication taking over by the end of it was ultimately unproductive and completely avoidable. It also regrettably reframes the perceived enjoyment of what at first seems to be a decently well turned story.
In other words, the happy ending did not need to do as much as it forced itself to.
Thanks go to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC of this book. -
A Romance to swoon Over!
Traveling during the holidays can be a nightmare. But having someone to travel with makes things more bearable. In fact, having someone to travel with can be the perfect gift! This was such a feel good, heartwarming, and lovely book. The characters are fantastic! The humor is delightful and put a smile on face many times while reading this.
Molly and Andrew are traveling home to Ireland for the holidays. They are two friends who have taken 10 flights together in the past 10 years. They look forward to their shared flights. Neither ever takes a plus one home. Their travel time is for them. Both are opposites. Molly is not into the holiday season where Andrew can't get enough. This makes for some fun, sarcastic remarks, and witty banter.
This last trip home has been a disaster, but Molly is determined to get Andrew home for the holidays!
What a joy this book was. I loved the witty banter between Molly and Andrew. I enjoyed their families, and I enjoyed how Catherine Walsh told the story through the present and through flashbacks to earlier flights. This allows readers to get to know them both better and how they relate to each other. I always say, romance books are about the journey. This was one a delightful, heartwarming, I'm-rooting-for-them-the-entire-way journey. Will they make it home for the holidays? One must read to find out!
Reading this book was like a present! It put a smile on my face and had me wishing for a White Christmas for the characters in the book.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at
www.openbookposts.com -
A joyful and cheery Christmas romance with all the feels. A little too sweet for my taste, but because it’s set at Christmas, I’m more forgiving when it comes to light and fluffy. Packed with amusement and fun, and many an adventurous obstacle for this pair to make it home, and amp up the romance. I thought Molly and Andrew’s first real encounter on flight one was very unique and memorable - but talk about awkward! I enjoyed the side characters, and am wondering whether this is going to be the first in a series, as there were a couple of characters that stood out for me as needing romance in their lives. And to top it all off there was an open door bedroom scene - yes! I’d definitely read more by this author.
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4.5⭐️ (rounded up)
Oh my god, this is probably my favorite holiday rom-com I've ever read! This is the perfect fluff piece to get you in the festive spirit🤭
THE PLOT
Molly and Andrew have an annual tradition of booking the last flight before Christmas to go back to Ireland to visit family. On their ten year flight anniversary, things quickly start to go awry when their flight is cancelled. Molly is determined to get Andrew home to his family before Christmas. This book follows their hilarious ups and down, traveling through Europe to make it home in time. It isn't until their tenth year of flying and a crazy trip around Europe to really put the spark between them.
MY THOUGHTS
This is probably going to be short because this book has left me speechless. I absolutely ADORED this entire book. The friends to lovers trope was hitting so hard the giggles that escaped my body were so justified. Andrew gives off such golden retriever boyfriend vibes the whole book and I fell in love with him. And I can confirm that there is NO THIRD ACT BREAK UP!! HALLELUJAH! This made me so happy. And the one bed trop too? This book just kept giving and giving and giving. It felt like Christmas time was already here. This book is just filled with so much love it's so hard not to love everyone. The length of this book was also perfect. Not too much that it felt like dragging on but just enough so that the plot fully developed. Also can we talk about Molly's character development? From the first flight she ever took with Andrew she was surrounding herself with bad people and to see over the years her coming to her true self ugh I loved it. Whoever said book characters aren't real LIED because Andrew HAS to be real. I need him like yesterday. At this point I should just make a book dedicated to book boyfriends because I have too many at this point. Thank you Andrew for the addition to this list. ✍🏼
If you were ever going to read a holiday romance book, THIS is the one! I strongly urge everyone to read this it will not disappoint. 🫡
FAVORITE SCENES AND QUOTES
He grins up at me with those hazel eyes as if I'm the best thing that's happened to his day. I know he's the best thing that's happened to mine.
When this man became my weakness, I do not know. But tonight, it's like he's got me wrapped around his little finger.
In fact, if anyone every makes you think you are less than what you are, or that you don't deserve everything that you reach for, I will make their lives as miserable as you want me to.
"When you say taking it slow," I mutter and he smiles before kissing me again.
"You want to make out on your bed?"
"And make all my teenage dreams come true?"
Yes, yes I do.
"This can't be happening," Zoe repeats for the twelfth time. She passes the clipboard back and turns her wild gaze to me.
"I can't have a December Capricorn."
"It turned out okay for Jesus."
"The man was crucified, Molly!"
"I kind of want to eat him. That's a thing, right? Like I see his little fists and I just want to...eat him."
"How about you hold him instead?"
I make a face. "No."
"You're sick," he says firmly. "Let me look after you. I'll always look after you."
"You know," he says. "I was really, really looking forward to seeing my family and being a good second son, and yet ever since I've come home, all I am is annoyed that I can't spend every second alone with you."
I am officially obsessed with kissing Andrew Fitzpatrick.
"You," I say. "I want you. All of you."
"You have me, Moll. You've had me for years."
I just came up the escalator and you were sitting by the gate and I felt like I was home already.
"Flight ten when you kissed me under the mistletoe and became the only girl I've ever truly wanted. Don't tell me I don't know what this is. Don't tell me I don't know what I want."
"I'm in love with you and I'm sorry it took me so long to figure it out. I'm sorry I wasted so many years trying to find someone else, when the only one I wanted was you."
"I'm in love with you. In an extremely non-platonic, never-leave-me-way."
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tis the season! holidays are just around the corner so why not go for something festive 😌🎄 -
3.75
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Let’s backtrack to Christmas Eve nine years ago where shock horror, Molly Kinsella find herself accompanied on her flight home from Chicago to Dublin by her friend Hayley’s soon to be dumped boyfriend Andrew Fitzpatrick. In fact, the bye-bye text comes just before departure from O’Hare. Way to dampen the Christmas spirit Hayley. Not that Molly is big into Christmas anyway though she’s not quite The Grinch. She and her sister do have one Christmas tradition though it might not fit with yours and mine!!! Andrew and his family embrace the festivities with enthusiasm, matching pyjamas, sweaters and all.
It’s December 21, present day, also Chicago and Molly is thinking of quitting her law job as she’s miserable. Blow me down if Andrew isn’t on the same flight, maybe he’ll cheer her up? However, the weather isn’t great the flight gets delayed and delayed and ultimately it’s cancelled. Andrew is gutted, he loves his Christmases in Cork but fret not as plans are afoot to get them both home. Yes, it’s a bit circuitous, okay, it’s a lot circuitous and involves several modes of transport but what an adventure for them both! Oh, I should perhaps mention thanks to a guy at O’Hare with a sprig of mistletoe they exchange their first kiss……. The story is told in the present day and via a countdown narrative of the intervening flights over the last nine years.
Do you know what, I’d probably fall for Andrew too, he’s a lovely guy with that dimple and all. Molly can weep for Ireland but she’s terrific and a girl after my own heart in the food department! The chemistry between them is tangible, the dialogue is smart and makes me smile. I don’t laugh out loud much but there’s oodles and oodles of charm with plenty of really good characters. The settings are fantastic for example Paris to London (mulled wine in Portobello Road, yes please) and Christmas in Ireland which I can confirm has yet to be beaten in this English household. (2007 Co Clare. Marvellous!)
It’s lovely and sweet but not saccharine with the array of characters keeping feet firmly on ground it couldn’t be too sugar rushy! You feel the Christmas spirit so it’s a perfect seasonal read even down to frost and a bit of snow. It’s a heartwarming story, very well written and satisfyingly enjoyable. It’s more ROM than COM for me with a little added steam but I have no hesitation in recommending this. I’ll definitely want to read more by Catherine Walsh.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Bookouture for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review. -
Christmas book 3: on the nice list 🎅🏻
this book was exactly as i expected… a quick, decent holiday read. it was cute, but it was also pretty basic.
i don’t have much to say because this novel doesn’t particularly stick out in my mind. i’d still recommend it as a quick, cute holiday read, though it’s one of those books where i probably won’t remember the characters’ names for more than a few days. 🤷🏼♀️ -
This is officially my favorite holiday romance. I loved every single minute of it, and wished it never had to end. In fact, I found myself reading it in smaller increments as I neared the end, in order to delay the inevitable.
Holiday Romance is such unique story even though it has your typical tropes such as friends to lovers, close proximity, etc. I found the dual timelines and how she presented the countdown, to be fun and easy to follow, while also helping the reader to fully understand the history of our MCs, both together and individually. I developed a very strong connection to each of the characters for different reasons and because very invested in where the story took them.
One of my favorite things about this book, is the inclusion of the two families and how we are able to visit each of them, first meeting Molly’s sister and parents in Dublin and experiencing all of their quirkiness, and then heading to the countryside for a day with Andrew’s slightly more traditional and boisterous family. In every moment, I felt a part of the story.
This will be added to my reread list to be read every December going forward. To me, it is the epitome of the Christmas Romance, with the perfect ration of love story to holiday fun. I cannot recommend this book enough. Pre-order today, and available October 4.
Read if you like:
•friends to lovers
•christmas romance
•Ireland setting
•just haven’t met you yet
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. -
3.5 stars
I really enjoyed the first half of the book with all the travelling and trying to get home for Christmas. I liked the friendship between Molly and Andrew and their banter was fun. And Andrew seemed so swoony.
Sadly, I started to lose interest in the second half of the story. I didn't find it as exciting anymore and I feel the story started dragging a bit. I appreciated getting to know Andrew's family, but Zoe not so much.
Even though I didn't end up loving it as much as I expected, it was still an enjoyable read overall. -
4.5 ⭐️ A PERFECT HALLMARK CHRISTMAS ROMANCE!!
i didn’t expect to love this book but wow it was so cute. Molly was funny and relatable. Andrew was the sweetest and matched her energy perfectly. The fact that he was sunshine & she was a bit of a grump really got me.
loved both family dynamics so much & i adored going on their entire chaotic trip (even tho i’d be an anxious mess if it was me) i honestly cackled the entire book & there were many swoon worthy moments. really put me in the falalalala mood✨
+ the epilogue was adorable.
“don’t tell me i don’t know what this is.” <3 -
4.5 stars
This was so cute! It's a traveling romance and we explore the friends to lovers relationship between Molly and Andrew. They've spent the last 10 years (I think?) flying home to Ireland every Christmas. Throughout the book, we get flashbacks to various flights and when things started to feel more for each other them (I love a hero who falls first!!). This time, there's a huge snowstorm and their flight is canceled. Molly is determined to get Andrew home for Christmas, so they go on a whirlwind journey to Ireland and fall in love along the way. I love how this book was told with flashbacks to the different flights they've shared and how Andrew was falling for Molly the whole time. Their journey was full of shenanigans and fun side characters and I just had so much fun reading this! I do think the ending dragged a bit because there were about 100 pages left and I had no idea what else could happen. But the romance was so adorable and the characters were all so charming and fun. I highly recommend picking this one up during the holidays! -
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I loved this book, it was a little different than your usual friends-to-lovers romantic comedy. Andrew and Molly have been plane mates every Christmas for the past ten years. Molly finds herself at a crossroads regarding her career and is going home for Christmas to think things through as her family isn't big on the holiday and she wants to be there for her pregnant sister. Andrew and his family adore the holiday and go out big every year to celebrate it and he can't wait to join them.
This year a winter storm cancels their flight and Molly makes it her mission to get Andrew home to Ireland from Chicago. I really enjoyed how we got chapters from the other flights they shared, it really gave me a deep look into where their relationship started and how it changed over the years and how each of them evolved and matured. I could also see them falling in love as the years went by.
I loved Andrew's family so much, they are the type of family everyone wishes they had. The banter between the two main characters was fresh, fun and swoon-worthy. The side characters added to the story, which doesn't always happen, so I appreciated that. I also loved the moral of the story, the true meaning of Christmas is being with those you love and Molly and Andrew obviously love each other. This one gave me all the feels, holiday and otherwise and I highly recommend it to holiday read lovers everywhere.
This title is currently available for purchase. -
➥ 1 Star *:･ﾟ✧
"I'm fine. Honestly, I'm so used to being alone now I don't know if I'll even like it when I find someone I do want to be with. I'm not sure I know how to bend like that anymore."
"I don't want to hear about your sex life." (❓❓❓)
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Netgalley, please, I sincerely promise that I don't hate every book out there. It's only coincidentally my 2 approved netgalley arcs. I feel like all my requests from now on will be rejected, damn. Anyway, let's briefly digest the featured quote above. Imagine having a male best friend (rare but still a possibility I suppose) and you're pouring your heart out about how you're feeling, hoping he'll empathise or help, and he turns it into some bad joke. I felt like this whole book severely lacked execution. It's clear that this author was going for a very similar dynamic as
People We Meet on Vacation but cheaper. I was also particularly looking to enjoy the Christmas aspect because I love Christmas but the bad quality took away from every aspect.➥ Molly (h), the typical short, goofy, childish, sunshine girl. Truly insufferable. She's not even that extraordinarily bad, but I'm just so tired of this character archetype that I see it and it's an automatic star deduction on both my rating and, more importantly, my enjoyment. I find it incredible that it's so impossible to relate to characters that are women because it should be easy, but reading about these types of characters is so exhausting and genuinely convinces you that her prefrontal cortex hasn't developed since she popped out the womb, sorry.
"What's that?" I ask, confused.
Andrew's eyes drop to mine. "It's mistletoe, you idiot."
"That's mistletoe?" No way. "It looks like spinach. Like a sprig of spinach."
"How do you not know what-"
"I know what it is, I just haven't seen it before. It's not like I spend December looking up the whole time, is it?"
"You're five foot nothing, you spend most of your life looking up."
"I am five foot three, thank you very much. And I can see the world just fine from here-"
➥ Andrew (H) is actually worse than Molly. He's not funny, but he thinks he is. He's shallow, immature and disrespectful. With love interests that are supposed to be 'best friends', they have to have this very respectful, kind, down to earth air, you know? Andrew was not. Andrew was Andrew when he should have been an Alex. He's just bland and disappointing. How are Molly and him even friends? He doesn't even engage well in conversation with her ever - no emotional maturity or even acknowledgment. For reference to his character, the quote featured at the top does it best, I'd say.
Just to get some basics out the way. This was written in 1st person, like most contemporary romance books are, but it's annoying and would just generally be so much better in 3rd person or more formal/concise 1st person.
More on the writing, we get to read texts between the characters and they are so disturbingly millennial. I have many millennial friends that I know and love on here but I simply cannot suffer through another "#glamour" being randomly written into a text.
There's the dual timeline, another aspect similar to PWMOV, but it was confusing because it's not just one moment in the past and one in the present, it's like all these different Christmases they spent together and bleh.He gives me a fond look. “You’re such a bitch.”
The "fondly" doesn't soften any blows, if a man feels entitled enough to playfully call you a bitch...I mean me personally...I'd be gone. Alex would never."What?" he asks now, and I realise I'm smiling at the memory.
"You're a good friend, you know that?"
He eyes me suspiciously. "You need a kidney or something?"
This quote in itself doesn't seem so bad but when you put it in the context of how terribly it was executed and how embarrassing and gross it would be for a man like the love interest to say that... Again, it's not horrendous but their "friendship" has no substance.
The fmc also has another "bff" that she get's walked over by but I guess that's part of the hallmark aesthetic we're going for here. Still irksome.He looks different up close. Older. Granted, I'm older too, but some days I still think I look like a teenager. So does every bouncer and barman in Chicago apparently.
Girl. I just dfc.
Anyway, then the kissed under the mistletoe because blah blah and then both of them can't stop thinking about it but idc. I don't hate the concept, it could have been done well, but it wasn't. The kiss wasn't that well written, I felt nothing. I was so horribly bored, I had to force myself to pick up this book. I also vividly remember him asking her if she's on her period because she was being "weird", smh.
If you feel like my tastes and yours align, I'd skip this one, but if you like authors like Sarah Hogle, you just might enjoy this, give it a try. I'm sad it didn't work for me, hopefully it'll work for someone else. I feel like my review was a bit harshly expressed, so I just want to mention that I know many people have enjoyed this author's past books, so it's certainly still valuable to be writing these stories that we know many enjoy, irrespective of my opinion.
Thankyou Netgalley for giving me the advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for a review!━━━━━━━━━━━ ♡ ━━━━━━━━━━━
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3 festive stars 🎄🥰
A charming friends to lovers story, set in the past and present. The flashbacks scenes were great and really sold the MCs friendship. Then we have the now scenes to show how their relationship develops into something more. However, I didn’t really feel the lovers part so much, as I thought it was lacking in actual romance. Definitely dialogue driven, so maybe if there were more internal thoughts then that would have helped to make it more believable. But it could also just be a me problem, as I wasn’t that invested in it since I did mainly listen to the audiobook.
Overall it was an enjoyable read, it was cute and light which is was I wanted. Just could have been better on the romance side. -
It was a cute decent holiday read where two long time friend suddenly develop feelings for each other.
The MC, Molly, felt like a character you can either like or not, I did not care much for her but I thought Andrew and her worked well. I would’ve love to see more of their relationship development from when they first met.
There isn’t really any surprises in the story, it slowly goes one way and continues to follow a predictable direction. Notheless it was was still a satisfying read.
Thanks to my GoodReads friend Rich for reading this novel with me! 😎 -
Sooo cute 🥰 Review to come
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4.5 perfect Christmas Eve stars
This one made for the perfect Christmas Eve read. I do like some foreign flair in my books, in this case, Ireland. And I've discovered a new author that I like!
Molly and Andrew start out as friends, seeing each other at least annually as they fly home to Ireland from Chicago. They continue in this fashion for 10 years until the last year when Atlantic storms mean they can't fly and will miss Christmas in Ireland. That isn't a big deal for Molly as she tolerates Christmas, but Andrew and his family make a big production every year and he's devastated.
Molly attempts to save the day with a circuitous route to Ireland and along the way she discovers that she rather enjoyed that kiss under the mistletoe with Andrew. Will it be a happy ending for the couple?
This made for a very enjoyable holiday read and I'm excited to read other books from this author! -
About to scream from the rooftops because this was such a surprising read for me!! I will say I’m not the biggest fan of Xmas books, I enjoy them but they don’t do it for me the same way other books do but THIS?! AMAZING!! This straight up felt like I was watching a Christmas movie and it gave me all the warmest and cozy feels , it truly felt a big ole warm hug!! I picked this up and truly couldn’t put it down for the life of me! Like dare I say this might even be 5 stars?
Andrew and Molly have the cutest friendship , they truly felt like two pieces of a puzzle that just fit each other perfectly and I am officially obsessed with the friends to lovers trope because the serial tension pops off so hard!! I went in to this blind and I think it was so fun to do it that way!
I SOOOOO SUGGEST THIS!!!
What to expect:
Friends to lovers
Forced proximity
Holiday book -
This was the perfect start to my holiday reading! I loved everything about this story 💚. Looking forward to reading more by this author.
Full review at
LucyKnowsThings.com.
