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Merry: A Novel
A mother’s valiant efforts to bring her family the joy of Christmas go haywire when she finds herself haunted by the angry ghost of Charles Dickens.
This sparkling, cozy novel is perfect for readers of Emma Straub’s This Time Tomorrow and anyone who looks forward to watching It’s a Wonderful Life each December!
Merry Bingham used to love Christmas—until she started worrying all the time about family, money, and death. The only thing that continues to bring her joy is reading from her heirloom edition of A Christmas Carol, autographed by Charles Dickens himself and passed down through five generations of her family. Now, as she waits for the results of the medical tests that will tell her whether this Christmas season will be her last, Merry prepares to give her book to the next generation. Except none of her three children wants it.
Merry refuses to surrender Christmas or Dickens without a fight, so she sells the book and uses the money to take her family to London. She will fill them with Christmas joy even if she has to cram it down their throats.
But the harder Merry pushes, the worse everything gets. Her children erupt into vicious arguments, her gentle husband stops talking to her, her deluxe rental apartment is not what was promised. Oh, and she keeps seeing the ghost of Charles Dickens around town—and he is not happy with her.
Fans of family stories, classic literature, Christmas novels, and holiday season magic will adore Merry.
This sparkling, cozy novel is perfect for readers of Emma Straub’s This Time Tomorrow and anyone who looks forward to watching It’s a Wonderful Life each December!
Merry Bingham used to love Christmas—until she started worrying all the time about family, money, and death. The only thing that continues to bring her joy is reading from her heirloom edition of A Christmas Carol, autographed by Charles Dickens himself and passed down through five generations of her family. Now, as she waits for the results of the medical tests that will tell her whether this Christmas season will be her last, Merry prepares to give her book to the next generation. Except none of her three children wants it.
Merry refuses to surrender Christmas or Dickens without a fight, so she sells the book and uses the money to take her family to London. She will fill them with Christmas joy even if she has to cram it down their throats.
But the harder Merry pushes, the worse everything gets. Her children erupt into vicious arguments, her gentle husband stops talking to her, her deluxe rental apartment is not what was promised. Oh, and she keeps seeing the ghost of Charles Dickens around town—and he is not happy with her.
Fans of family stories, classic literature, Christmas novels, and holiday season magic will adore Merry.
328 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 23, 2025
30 people are currently reading
5782 people want to read
About the author
Susan Breen
6 books195 followersSUSAN BREEN is the award-winning author of The Fiction Class and the Maggie Dove mystery series. She is the 2024 winner of the Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition. She is especially honored to have won the Westchester Library Association's Washington Irving Award for "readability, literary quality, and wide general appeal."
Her new novel, MERRY, is about Charles Dickens, dogs, family, London, vacations gone wrong, love, guilt and books. Not in that order.
Susan teaches novel-writing at Gotham Writers in New York City. You can read more about her, and download many wonderful things, at www.susanbreenauthor.com
Her new novel, MERRY, is about Charles Dickens, dogs, family, London, vacations gone wrong, love, guilt and books. Not in that order.
Susan teaches novel-writing at Gotham Writers in New York City. You can read more about her, and download many wonderful things, at www.susanbreenauthor.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
September 9, 2025
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The Book Review Crew Blog
Merry Bingham used to love Christmas, but after receiving some medical news, she decides to give up her autographed copy of A Christmas Carol. When none of her kids want the book, Merry sells it and uses the money to take her family to London for her dream of a magical Christmas. Despite her best intentions, her plans quickly unravel due to family tensions and less-than-ideal accommodations. Then Merry begins to see the ghost of Charles Dickens, who is very displeased to say the least.
I liked this book a lot because it was both funny and heartwarming. What mother hasn’t wanted the perfect Christmas for her family? This had a lot more emotional depth than I thought it would. I loved how the author showed that you can find happiness in unexpected places. The characters were real and relatable, especially Merry. I didn’t like her children’s behaviour very much, but I can see it happening in real life. The pacing was balanced, allowing me to fully enjoy what was happening in the moment. It is very character-driven with lots of charm. The book left me feeling hopeful, with a smile on my face and an appreciation for my boys.
If you enjoy holiday stories that aren’t focused on romance and that blend humour, heartache, and hope, this one is for you. It’s a delightful story about the joy of connection, family, and life’s small but meaningful moments.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
The Book Review Crew Blog
Merry Bingham used to love Christmas, but after receiving some medical news, she decides to give up her autographed copy of A Christmas Carol. When none of her kids want the book, Merry sells it and uses the money to take her family to London for her dream of a magical Christmas. Despite her best intentions, her plans quickly unravel due to family tensions and less-than-ideal accommodations. Then Merry begins to see the ghost of Charles Dickens, who is very displeased to say the least.
I liked this book a lot because it was both funny and heartwarming. What mother hasn’t wanted the perfect Christmas for her family? This had a lot more emotional depth than I thought it would. I loved how the author showed that you can find happiness in unexpected places. The characters were real and relatable, especially Merry. I didn’t like her children’s behaviour very much, but I can see it happening in real life. The pacing was balanced, allowing me to fully enjoy what was happening in the moment. It is very character-driven with lots of charm. The book left me feeling hopeful, with a smile on my face and an appreciation for my boys.
If you enjoy holiday stories that aren’t focused on romance and that blend humour, heartache, and hope, this one is for you. It’s a delightful story about the joy of connection, family, and life’s small but meaningful moments.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
April 3, 2025
I received a free copy of, Merry, by Susan Breen, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Merry Bingham loves Christmas and Charles Dickens. This year is not like other years, Merry is waiting on words from her doctor. Merry decides to bring her family to London for the holidays. This was a sad read.
September 22, 2025
“This could be the year that Merry Bingham is sensible about Christmas.”
This story reinforced for me the potential for misunderstandings and relationship damage when we aren’t upfront and honest with those we love. It also reminded me of the importance of sharing our values with loved ones. Had Merry approached the sale of her treasure differently, she could have avoided further heartache.
Spotlighting the different ways we cope with guilt and shame was a wonderful thread that ran through this story. It’s good to be reminded to step back and see others’ reactions through the lens of THEIR coping mechanisms.
Finally, it was good to see that family is elevated and bonds strengthened despite forces that work to tear it apart. I may have wanted to take some of the characters aside and ‘talk to them’ for their thoughtless comments/reactions, but my viewpoint is with as many years behind me as their mother has! Treading delicately with intergenerational interactions is the best policy; Merry could have used some of that advice.
As a result of this book, I made sure that my family knows the value I place on my treasures so that there are no misunderstandings ‘when the time comes.’
I was gifted this book by Alcove Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
This story reinforced for me the potential for misunderstandings and relationship damage when we aren’t upfront and honest with those we love. It also reminded me of the importance of sharing our values with loved ones. Had Merry approached the sale of her treasure differently, she could have avoided further heartache.
Spotlighting the different ways we cope with guilt and shame was a wonderful thread that ran through this story. It’s good to be reminded to step back and see others’ reactions through the lens of THEIR coping mechanisms.
Finally, it was good to see that family is elevated and bonds strengthened despite forces that work to tear it apart. I may have wanted to take some of the characters aside and ‘talk to them’ for their thoughtless comments/reactions, but my viewpoint is with as many years behind me as their mother has! Treading delicately with intergenerational interactions is the best policy; Merry could have used some of that advice.
As a result of this book, I made sure that my family knows the value I place on my treasures so that there are no misunderstandings ‘when the time comes.’
I was gifted this book by Alcove Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
September 17, 2025
Merry was a love letter to Charles Dickens' Christmas classic, A Christmas Carol, and also a holiday story of the complexities of families.
Merry has a prized edition of Charles Dickens - A Christmas Carol, which has been in her family ever since Charles Dickens himself was alive and passed on to various family members. While decorating her home for Christmas, Merry suffers a fall and, as a result, is made aware of a much more serious health issue. Merry greatly fears that this could be her last Christmas with her family and makes a drastic decision to sell her copy of A Christmas Carol and take her family to London for an unforgettable Christmas. The family is struggling with many issues, and Merry hopes that a Christmas in London will be just the thing that will heal her family and bring them all back together again, but that's not quite how things go and the harder Merry tries for the perfect family Christmas, the more things go wrong.
This was much more than a holiday read and wasn't of the lighthearted variety. This book dives into the complexities of family relationships, especially those that are marked by grief. The book is much sadder than I anticipated it to be, but there was also a glimmer of hope in the background. The story also highlights how important communication is within a family.
Merry was one of my most anticipated Christmas reads for 2025, and I really enjoyed it, regardless of it not being a lighthearted tale. I think it's a definite must-read for the upcoming holiday season.
Expected Publication Date: September 23rd, 2025.
Thank you to NetGalley, Alcove Press, and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Merry has a prized edition of Charles Dickens - A Christmas Carol, which has been in her family ever since Charles Dickens himself was alive and passed on to various family members. While decorating her home for Christmas, Merry suffers a fall and, as a result, is made aware of a much more serious health issue. Merry greatly fears that this could be her last Christmas with her family and makes a drastic decision to sell her copy of A Christmas Carol and take her family to London for an unforgettable Christmas. The family is struggling with many issues, and Merry hopes that a Christmas in London will be just the thing that will heal her family and bring them all back together again, but that's not quite how things go and the harder Merry tries for the perfect family Christmas, the more things go wrong.
This was much more than a holiday read and wasn't of the lighthearted variety. This book dives into the complexities of family relationships, especially those that are marked by grief. The book is much sadder than I anticipated it to be, but there was also a glimmer of hope in the background. The story also highlights how important communication is within a family.
Merry was one of my most anticipated Christmas reads for 2025, and I really enjoyed it, regardless of it not being a lighthearted tale. I think it's a definite must-read for the upcoming holiday season.
Expected Publication Date: September 23rd, 2025.
Thank you to NetGalley, Alcove Press, and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 23, 2025
I read quite a few chapters and then decided to give up on it; it’s just not a good fit for me. It starts off witty with a fast paced dialog that made me smile but quickly delves into sad and emotional topics. Merry is having medical issues, the kids are all hot messes, and that’s the entire tone of the book. Not what I’m looking for in a Christmas read.
The concept is an interesting start - if we could have done without the whole neck nodule scare overhanging the entire story I think I may have enjoyed it more. 71 chapters is also entirely too much - too repetitive, it dragged on and on too slowly and just kept getting more bizarre.
The spoiler is that I skipped to the end and it did not get happier or have a good storybook ending or closure which is, I think, critical to a Christmas book that absolutely looks like an escape from the cover art.
Thank you to NetGalley for a chance to read an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
The concept is an interesting start - if we could have done without the whole neck nodule scare overhanging the entire story I think I may have enjoyed it more. 71 chapters is also entirely too much - too repetitive, it dragged on and on too slowly and just kept getting more bizarre.
The spoiler is that I skipped to the end and it did not get happier or have a good storybook ending or closure which is, I think, critical to a Christmas book that absolutely looks like an escape from the cover art.
Thank you to NetGalley for a chance to read an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2025
All the joy and magic of a Hallmark holiday tale with the added depth and urgency of a modern family novel. Rare book dealer Merry Bingham is determined to fix her fractious family by taking them all to London for the best Christmas ever, even as she grapples with her own guilt and faces an uncertain diagnosis. This fresh and clever reimagining of Dickens's A Christmas Carol drew me in with its astute and empathetic exploration of the complex family dynamics at play between adult children and their imperfect parents.
September 25, 2025
So thankful to have received an ARC of this book. Our main character, Merry, tries so hard to recapture the Christmas spirit, even though real life and real people with their real issues are getting in the way. She’s determined to make THIS year big in holiday spirit.
Between old friends and old enemies, a complex family, a talking dog, some friendly holiday ghosts, and a looming diagnosis, Merry grabs hold of the holiday spirit (spirits???). :)
There were times I wanted to shake Merry… her own innate drama and avoidance and stubbornness just see to make things harder for herself. And then I thought, “Oh wait. That’s me.” You know, it’s soooo much easier to see someone else’s flaws and some introspection is good. That’s why we like fiction over here!
The ending seemed to happen fast, but that was ok. This was a cute story and I learned quite a bit about Charles Dickens. If you’re trying to find some holiday spirit this Christmas, definitely consider this book. ❤️
Between old friends and old enemies, a complex family, a talking dog, some friendly holiday ghosts, and a looming diagnosis, Merry grabs hold of the holiday spirit (spirits???). :)
There were times I wanted to shake Merry… her own innate drama and avoidance and stubbornness just see to make things harder for herself. And then I thought, “Oh wait. That’s me.” You know, it’s soooo much easier to see someone else’s flaws and some introspection is good. That’s why we like fiction over here!
The ending seemed to happen fast, but that was ok. This was a cute story and I learned quite a bit about Charles Dickens. If you’re trying to find some holiday spirit this Christmas, definitely consider this book. ❤️
September 3, 2025
I really struggled to connect with this book. When I picked it up, I was hoping it would be a dynamic family holiday book with a fun connection to Charles Dickens and A Christmas Carol. For the first little bit of the book, I felt for Merry and her struggle with scary health news. I was also intrigued by the history of her family heirloom copy of A Christmas Carol. But once I got to know Merry and the other characters more, I struggled to connect with any of them. The writing felt repetitive in many ways. Family drama and characters’ struggles are brought up repeatedly without any real progress toward any of the relationships growing or changing. The family goes from spitting mean and petty insults at one another in one moment, to laughing and acting like nothing is wrong the next moment, and then back again. It doesn’t seem like anyone in this book has a healthy relationship with anyone else and there is no character development that gives hope towards these relationships improving. There are also too many side stories to keep track of throughout the book, which cause the focus to be lost on the main storyline.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 10, 2025
Merry by Susan Breen is a thoughtful holiday read that transcends time and location.
This is a unique and different holiday read. I was not quite sure what I was expecting, but I was quite surprised. In ways this book was painted with sadness, but in others, hope.
This book is about life, mortality, family, second chances, finding out what really matters, communication and miscommunication, and not waiting until it is too late to let someone know how much they mean to you.
This is what I pulled out from Merry Bingham’s Christmas story. I enjoyed the association with one of my favorite books of all time, A Christmas Carol, and also the backdrop of the bustling city of London.
A very interesting, thoughtful, and introspective read.
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and Alcove Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 9/23/25.
This is a unique and different holiday read. I was not quite sure what I was expecting, but I was quite surprised. In ways this book was painted with sadness, but in others, hope.
This book is about life, mortality, family, second chances, finding out what really matters, communication and miscommunication, and not waiting until it is too late to let someone know how much they mean to you.
This is what I pulled out from Merry Bingham’s Christmas story. I enjoyed the association with one of my favorite books of all time, A Christmas Carol, and also the backdrop of the bustling city of London.
A very interesting, thoughtful, and introspective read.
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and Alcove Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 9/23/25.
August 1, 2025
Merry was a book the I was hoping would be a cozy Christmas family adventure to London and it turned out to be far too repetitive to enjoy. While the novel follows Merry and her highly dysfunctional family to London, nothing goes right with anything and Merry fights an internal battle with a nodule found by her doctor.
Without spoilers, we learn all about the wrongdoings of her family and I didn’t find any of it to be realistic, especially with a Dickens ghost randomly appearing. I almost gave up reading it five times but wanted to complete it to see if it had a decent ending and a talking dog just doesn’t make for a good ending. Could it be left open to a second book? Maybe, but it isn’t one I’ll be considering.
If you’re looking for a Christmas book, this is adjacent and takes time at the holidays, but leaves a lot to be desired and I hope a lot of editing takes place before the final release.
I do appreciate the opportunity to read and review this book and for the approval by NetGalley and Alcove Press.
Without spoilers, we learn all about the wrongdoings of her family and I didn’t find any of it to be realistic, especially with a Dickens ghost randomly appearing. I almost gave up reading it five times but wanted to complete it to see if it had a decent ending and a talking dog just doesn’t make for a good ending. Could it be left open to a second book? Maybe, but it isn’t one I’ll be considering.
If you’re looking for a Christmas book, this is adjacent and takes time at the holidays, but leaves a lot to be desired and I hope a lot of editing takes place before the final release.
I do appreciate the opportunity to read and review this book and for the approval by NetGalley and Alcove Press.
December 20, 2025
I devoured this book within two days even though there were papers to grade, presents to buy and wrap and all sorts of house-cleaning that was overdue.
Merry is a 50-something year old woman with a less-than-stellar family. Each of her three children have issues of their own and they can’t stand to be in the same room with each other. Her love of Christmas usually sees her through the hard times, but when she falls from the roof as she’s putting up Christmas life and the x-rays reveal something concerning, Merry starts to fall apart.
On a whim, she sells her family heirloom to bring her entire family to London for Christmas, a place she feels a deep connection to. This book has such a strong sense of place, that I felt like I was there, too.
Christmas can feel joyous, but can also bring a lot of stress and highlight fissures within the family. This book doesn’t shy away from them and reminds us that each of our unique families are perfectly imperfect and it’s never too late to reconnect.
Merry is a 50-something year old woman with a less-than-stellar family. Each of her three children have issues of their own and they can’t stand to be in the same room with each other. Her love of Christmas usually sees her through the hard times, but when she falls from the roof as she’s putting up Christmas life and the x-rays reveal something concerning, Merry starts to fall apart.
On a whim, she sells her family heirloom to bring her entire family to London for Christmas, a place she feels a deep connection to. This book has such a strong sense of place, that I felt like I was there, too.
Christmas can feel joyous, but can also bring a lot of stress and highlight fissures within the family. This book doesn’t shy away from them and reminds us that each of our unique families are perfectly imperfect and it’s never too late to reconnect.
October 3, 2025
Merry is a story about evaluating your life and deciding your future. Reeling from a new medical diagnosis, Merideth "Merry" Bingham begins to unravel. Her whole life has been shaped by her connection with her father, who passed away, and the family's inherited valuable editions of "The Christmas Carol." After a chance encounter with one of her former clients, Merry sells this beloved book to send her entire family to England for a magical and extended trip together. Once in London, Merry sees the ghost of Charles Dickens and believes he is trying to tell her something.
I wanted to like this book more than I did. I appreciate the plot parallels between Merry reexamining her life as Scrooge does in the story, but the rest fell flat. None of the children's problems seemed relatable, and the drama surrounding the broken phone was somewhat exaggerated. That said, the story ends on a warm, uplifting note that will leave readers with the holiday spirit they desire.
Advanced copy provided by Alcove Press. All opinions are my own.
I wanted to like this book more than I did. I appreciate the plot parallels between Merry reexamining her life as Scrooge does in the story, but the rest fell flat. None of the children's problems seemed relatable, and the drama surrounding the broken phone was somewhat exaggerated. That said, the story ends on a warm, uplifting note that will leave readers with the holiday spirit they desire.
Advanced copy provided by Alcove Press. All opinions are my own.
November 12, 2025
If you’re looking for a Christmas story with a twist, this one might be for you. Merry takes the traditional holiday tale and spins it on its head — featuring none other than the ghost of Charles Dickens himself, haunting the protagonist to remind her what the true meaning of Christmas really is. It’s a clever, whimsical premise that immediately drew me in and stood apart from the usual festive fiction.
The story balances humor and heartbreak in equal measure — filled with family drama, chaos and moments that will genuinely warm your heart. I really liked the first half of the book; the writing was engaging and I found myself flying through the pages. Around the midpoint, though, the plot began to lose some of its spark and the frequent Dickens references started to feel a bit overdone for my taste. Still, I appreciated the ambition behind the idea and how Breen wasn’t afraid to take creative risks.
Merry is undeniably unique — a blend of cozy Christmas charm, bittersweet reflection and a dash of the supernatural that makes it memorable in its own way.
*Huge thanks to Alcove Press for the gifted ARC.
The story balances humor and heartbreak in equal measure — filled with family drama, chaos and moments that will genuinely warm your heart. I really liked the first half of the book; the writing was engaging and I found myself flying through the pages. Around the midpoint, though, the plot began to lose some of its spark and the frequent Dickens references started to feel a bit overdone for my taste. Still, I appreciated the ambition behind the idea and how Breen wasn’t afraid to take creative risks.
Merry is undeniably unique — a blend of cozy Christmas charm, bittersweet reflection and a dash of the supernatural that makes it memorable in its own way.
*Huge thanks to Alcove Press for the gifted ARC.
January 3, 2026
3.5
Very nice book to read during the holidays. Not a typical "holly-jolly" story but a serious, deep one.
This Christmas, I realized that change is hard, and it will make traditions shift from what I wanted or expected. Merry realizes this too in her story, wanting everything to go the way she planed, like it does every year, but her kids are getting older and have their own lives and it's hard to keep those traditions the same. At the end, she realizes the joy in change and how new memories can be formed out of it. Something I had to realize too.
Very nice book to read during the holidays. Not a typical "holly-jolly" story but a serious, deep one.
This Christmas, I realized that change is hard, and it will make traditions shift from what I wanted or expected. Merry realizes this too in her story, wanting everything to go the way she planed, like it does every year, but her kids are getting older and have their own lives and it's hard to keep those traditions the same. At the end, she realizes the joy in change and how new memories can be formed out of it. Something I had to realize too.
December 23, 2025
Thank you @booksparks for gifting me Merry to read & review!! #merryreviewtour
This wasn’t the typical holiday book I read, but it was still enjoyable despite Merry’s bad news and chaotic family trip to London. Overall, it was a sadder holiday read and I did really enjoyed the ghost of Charles Dickens aspect! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This wasn’t the typical holiday book I read, but it was still enjoyable despite Merry’s bad news and chaotic family trip to London. Overall, it was a sadder holiday read and I did really enjoyed the ghost of Charles Dickens aspect! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 24, 2026
I found every single character in this book completely insufferable.
I liked the Christmas in London setting, and I enjoyed most of the callbacks to A Christmas Carol.
In the end, I'm not sure this was worth the time spent listening, although the audiobook was lovely.
I liked the Christmas in London setting, and I enjoyed most of the callbacks to A Christmas Carol.
In the end, I'm not sure this was worth the time spent listening, although the audiobook was lovely.
January 19, 2026
A health scare leads a woman to take drastic measures to spend what she is afraid might be her last Christmas with family. Susan Breen is a new to me author and I was dizzy with delight to give her Merry a go when I saw the deep connection it has with Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol complete with Dickensonian spots around London and Christmas ghosts.
Merry has an accident and while being treated learns of a deeper concern. She takes this as a sign that she needs to pull together her kids and drag them off to London for the perfect traditional family Christmas as her last hurrah. She has a family heirloom, an original copy of A Christmas Carol and she is ready to sell it to finance this chance to get her struggling kids back on track.
Disasters at every turn, messy family dysfunction, wise Christmas ghosts, and Merry’s gritty determination to fix all bring not so surprising results. It was indeed a not so Merry Christmas had by all. It got over the top and hilarious as well as emotional and dramatic as people who probably shouldn’t come together just because they share DNA are miserable and act it, but slowly the soul-searching and mishaps lead to an understanding for Merry to have her own A Christmas Carol Scroogish epiphany about her own life stepping outside the traditional lines and accepting rather than forcing things.
All in all, Merry was not a comfy coze with Christmas sugary sweet moments, but one of those hard-fought, patched up disasters that came out where it needed to be in the end. I struggled reading it and had to put it down a few times, but wanted to see it through and see Merry find her way in the end. I’ll have to keep a watch out for Susan Breen’s stuff with this deep, thoughtful holiday women’s fiction surprise I got in my stocking. Want something that digs deep and misses the holiday sugar, give Merry a try.
I rec'd an eARC from Crooked Lane Books to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer 12.24.25.
Merry has an accident and while being treated learns of a deeper concern. She takes this as a sign that she needs to pull together her kids and drag them off to London for the perfect traditional family Christmas as her last hurrah. She has a family heirloom, an original copy of A Christmas Carol and she is ready to sell it to finance this chance to get her struggling kids back on track.
Disasters at every turn, messy family dysfunction, wise Christmas ghosts, and Merry’s gritty determination to fix all bring not so surprising results. It was indeed a not so Merry Christmas had by all. It got over the top and hilarious as well as emotional and dramatic as people who probably shouldn’t come together just because they share DNA are miserable and act it, but slowly the soul-searching and mishaps lead to an understanding for Merry to have her own A Christmas Carol Scroogish epiphany about her own life stepping outside the traditional lines and accepting rather than forcing things.
All in all, Merry was not a comfy coze with Christmas sugary sweet moments, but one of those hard-fought, patched up disasters that came out where it needed to be in the end. I struggled reading it and had to put it down a few times, but wanted to see it through and see Merry find her way in the end. I’ll have to keep a watch out for Susan Breen’s stuff with this deep, thoughtful holiday women’s fiction surprise I got in my stocking. Want something that digs deep and misses the holiday sugar, give Merry a try.
I rec'd an eARC from Crooked Lane Books to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer 12.24.25.
June 24, 2025
I was initially drawn to Merry by Susan Breen because of its gorgeous, festive cover and the promise of a cozy Christmas story. However, I found that the subject matter took a much heavier turn than I expected, including themes of terminal illness and a cancer scare.
While I appreciate the author’s effort to explore deeper emotional territory, it was unfortunately too triggering for me due to personal experiences, and I ended up not finishing the book. This simply wasn’t the light-hearted holiday read I was hoping for.
That said, readers who are looking for a more poignant and emotionally complex Christmas story may find meaning in it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review read on kindle for NetGalley
While I appreciate the author’s effort to explore deeper emotional territory, it was unfortunately too triggering for me due to personal experiences, and I ended up not finishing the book. This simply wasn’t the light-hearted holiday read I was hoping for.
That said, readers who are looking for a more poignant and emotionally complex Christmas story may find meaning in it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review read on kindle for NetGalley
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2025
This is a well-written story that I’d suggest to anyone who’s into books about books—especially Dickens fans. It’s set in London at Christmas and feels like a “middle-aged coming of age” tale. There’s also unresolved guilt, a messy but loving family, and a dash of the supernatural.
The book got a little sadder than I expected for a holiday story, but it still stayed hopeful. London feels super alive in the telling—I’ve never been, but it pulled me in anyway. I’m guessing people who know the city would enjoy it even more.
Note: I was happy to receive this as a free ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are my own.
September 7, 2025
Merry by Susan Breen
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.
This book caught me off guard—in the best way. I expected a cozy little Christmas tale to read with a hot drink and some twinkle lights. What I got was a full-blown festive meltdown with ghosts, guilt, grief, and one woman’s absolute refusal to let her family ruin Christmas. It’s messy, it’s magical, and it made me laugh and wince at the same time. Merry by Susan Breen is like A Christmas Carol wrapped in a dysfunctional family dramedy, sprinkled with ghost sightings and served with a side of “what the hell is happening.”
Merry Bingham is in her fifties, emotionally fraying at the edges, and still trying to orchestrate the perfect holiday. Christmas used to be her thing. Her calling. Her core identity. But lately, between her health scare, her kids becoming semi-strangers, and the looming fear of mortality, the sparkle has dimmed. The one thing still bringing her joy is her family’s heirloom: a first edition of A Christmas Carol signed by Charles freaking Dickens. This isn’t just any old book—it’s basically her emotional security blanket, her legacy, her holy grail.
So when she decides it’s time to pass it down and her three adult children react with something between indifference and low-key horror, she breaks. And then sells it. For cash. Which she uses to fund a surprise family Christmas trip to London. Because nothing says holiday healing like dragging your emotionally distant children and your emotionally shutdown husband halfway across the world to relive the life of Charles Dickens.
Let me pause here to say: what I wouldn’t kill for a signed edition of Dickens. That is not just a book—it’s a historical treasure. A national artifact. If I owned something like that, it would live in a vault, not under my arm on a plane next to someone snoring into a neck pillow. And yet Merry sells it. I mean, sure, it’s for a heartfelt cause, but still. She sold Dickens. I gasped.
What follows in London is a chaotic spiral of forced fun, family resentment, wildly awkward sightseeing, and the growing sense that Charles Dickens himself is haunting her—and not in a friendly, glowy, Muppet sort of way. More like, “You sold my book and dragged your family across the ocean and now I’m going to appear at random intervals and judge you.” Fair.
The book toes a strange line: half cozy holiday romp, half emotional excavation. It’s filled with festive touches (yes, Dickensian walking tours are included), but it’s also about what happens when people stop pretending everything’s fine. Merry’s children are a mess. Her marriage is cracked. Her body might be failing her. Her mind definitely is—unless you believe the ghost is real. Either way, she’s unraveling, and trying to tie everyone together with the glittering ribbon of Christmas nostalgia.
What I loved most was how sharply Breen nails the weird emotional terrain of family. The passive-aggressive conversations, the unspoken resentments, the “I’m fine”s that clearly mean “I’m dying inside.” And despite how outrageous the premise is, the emotional truth feels spot on. Anyone who has ever tried to force a “magical holiday experience” on people who are barely holding it together will recognize Merry’s desperate optimism. “Joy doesn’t always look like joy when you’re living it,” the ghost tells her. That one stopped me cold.
Is it too much? Sometimes. The plot goes off the rails more than once, and the mix of magical realism, family drama, and ghostly shenanigans can feel like a literary fruitcake—dense, oddly sweet, and maybe containing ingredients you weren’t expecting. But honestly? I didn’t mind. Because it works. Somehow. Against all odds.
Merry is not a Hallmark movie. It’s not tidy. It’s not even all that “cozy,” despite the London setting and Dickens references. What it is, though, is a heartfelt, messy, wonderfully offbeat meditation on love, legacy, disappointment, and the fantasy of a perfect Christmas. It dares to ask what happens when the traditions you built your life on suddenly don’t fit anymore. And it gives its flawed, relentless protagonist a fighting chance to rewrite her story.
Read this if you’ve ever tried to save your family with matching pajamas and a carefully curated holiday playlist. Read it if you’ve ever sat through a Christmas dinner wondering if anyone at the table even likes each other anymore. Read it if you believe ghosts might show up not to scare you, but to set you straight.
Four stars from me, and a begrudging nod of respect to Merry Bingham for having the sheer audacity to make Christmas happen—even if she had to sell literary gold to do it.
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.
This book caught me off guard—in the best way. I expected a cozy little Christmas tale to read with a hot drink and some twinkle lights. What I got was a full-blown festive meltdown with ghosts, guilt, grief, and one woman’s absolute refusal to let her family ruin Christmas. It’s messy, it’s magical, and it made me laugh and wince at the same time. Merry by Susan Breen is like A Christmas Carol wrapped in a dysfunctional family dramedy, sprinkled with ghost sightings and served with a side of “what the hell is happening.”
Merry Bingham is in her fifties, emotionally fraying at the edges, and still trying to orchestrate the perfect holiday. Christmas used to be her thing. Her calling. Her core identity. But lately, between her health scare, her kids becoming semi-strangers, and the looming fear of mortality, the sparkle has dimmed. The one thing still bringing her joy is her family’s heirloom: a first edition of A Christmas Carol signed by Charles freaking Dickens. This isn’t just any old book—it’s basically her emotional security blanket, her legacy, her holy grail.
So when she decides it’s time to pass it down and her three adult children react with something between indifference and low-key horror, she breaks. And then sells it. For cash. Which she uses to fund a surprise family Christmas trip to London. Because nothing says holiday healing like dragging your emotionally distant children and your emotionally shutdown husband halfway across the world to relive the life of Charles Dickens.
Let me pause here to say: what I wouldn’t kill for a signed edition of Dickens. That is not just a book—it’s a historical treasure. A national artifact. If I owned something like that, it would live in a vault, not under my arm on a plane next to someone snoring into a neck pillow. And yet Merry sells it. I mean, sure, it’s for a heartfelt cause, but still. She sold Dickens. I gasped.
What follows in London is a chaotic spiral of forced fun, family resentment, wildly awkward sightseeing, and the growing sense that Charles Dickens himself is haunting her—and not in a friendly, glowy, Muppet sort of way. More like, “You sold my book and dragged your family across the ocean and now I’m going to appear at random intervals and judge you.” Fair.
The book toes a strange line: half cozy holiday romp, half emotional excavation. It’s filled with festive touches (yes, Dickensian walking tours are included), but it’s also about what happens when people stop pretending everything’s fine. Merry’s children are a mess. Her marriage is cracked. Her body might be failing her. Her mind definitely is—unless you believe the ghost is real. Either way, she’s unraveling, and trying to tie everyone together with the glittering ribbon of Christmas nostalgia.
What I loved most was how sharply Breen nails the weird emotional terrain of family. The passive-aggressive conversations, the unspoken resentments, the “I’m fine”s that clearly mean “I’m dying inside.” And despite how outrageous the premise is, the emotional truth feels spot on. Anyone who has ever tried to force a “magical holiday experience” on people who are barely holding it together will recognize Merry’s desperate optimism. “Joy doesn’t always look like joy when you’re living it,” the ghost tells her. That one stopped me cold.
Is it too much? Sometimes. The plot goes off the rails more than once, and the mix of magical realism, family drama, and ghostly shenanigans can feel like a literary fruitcake—dense, oddly sweet, and maybe containing ingredients you weren’t expecting. But honestly? I didn’t mind. Because it works. Somehow. Against all odds.
Merry is not a Hallmark movie. It’s not tidy. It’s not even all that “cozy,” despite the London setting and Dickens references. What it is, though, is a heartfelt, messy, wonderfully offbeat meditation on love, legacy, disappointment, and the fantasy of a perfect Christmas. It dares to ask what happens when the traditions you built your life on suddenly don’t fit anymore. And it gives its flawed, relentless protagonist a fighting chance to rewrite her story.
Read this if you’ve ever tried to save your family with matching pajamas and a carefully curated holiday playlist. Read it if you’ve ever sat through a Christmas dinner wondering if anyone at the table even likes each other anymore. Read it if you believe ghosts might show up not to scare you, but to set you straight.
Four stars from me, and a begrudging nod of respect to Merry Bingham for having the sheer audacity to make Christmas happen—even if she had to sell literary gold to do it.
September 23, 2025
Congratulations to Susan Breen on today’s launch of Merry, a holiday book that said “trauma but make it Dickensian.” It’s family dysfunction, ghostly judgment, and one woman’s glittery breakdown in London.
Merry Bingham is not okay, and frankly, neither is her family, the ghost of Charles Dickens, or the haunted Airbnb they all emotionally combust inside. If you’re looking for a cozy little gingerbread-scented holiday romp, this is not that. This is what happens when your mom has one mental breakdown, one haunted literary heirloom, and one suitcase packed with delusional Christmas optimism and drags you across the Atlantic to fix your unresolved trauma using British tourism and aggressive caroling.
And listen. I wanted to root for Merry. She’s fifty-five, she’s spiraling, she’s got a mysterious lung nodule and a death grip on a signed edition of A Christmas Carol that she’s ready to turn into cash because her three adult children all reject it like it’s a cursed monkey paw. Relatable. Tragic. Unhinged. She decides that if no one values the family legacy, she’ll use it to fund an epic Dickens-themed Christmas in London, the kind of move that screams “matriarchal last stand” but with twinkle lights and emotional landmines.
What unfolds is part Dickensian fever dream, part holiday hostage situation. The kids are awful (Bessie is out here giving entitled older millennial vibes, Nick disappears emotionally like he’s on a witness protection program, and Song Lee is spiraling into HR-violating chaos). Her husband Sully is...there. Emotionally present like a houseplant. And poor Merry is trying to brute-force cheer into this group like it’s a hostage negotiation led by a choir of ghosts.
Oh right, the ghosts. Specifically, Charles Dickens. Who starts haunting her. Like, full-on “I’m mad you sold my book” hauntings, as if that’s the most pressing injustice in the 21st century. Every time he appeared I couldn’t tell if we were leaning into magical realism or if Merry was one bad day away from entering her Sylvia Plath bathtub arc. It’s weird. But it’s also kind of brilliant? The man’s not subtle. He’s like a moral compass with sideburns.
Here’s the thing: I don’t think this book knew what it wanted to be. It’s not cozy, but it’s not quite dark. It’s chaotic, but not in the fun way, more in the “mom is emotionally unraveling in front of the London Eye and the kids are yelling about who ruined whose childhood” kind of way. And while some moments are surprisingly heartfelt (there are beautiful, devastating moments), others feel wildly tone-deaf. Like, we’ve got talking dogs, petty family drama, and ghost apparitions back-to-back with end-of-life anxiety and generations of repressed resentment.
This was like watching a Hallmark movie that suddenly turns into an indie drama halfway through, but you’re too far in to back out so you’re just emotionally held hostage with your eggnog, hoping it all wraps up before someone throws a snow globe.
Three stars because the concept was bonkers in the best way, and Merry herself is a kind of chaos goblin I lowkey respect. But the tonal whiplash is real. I came for holiday healing and left wondering if Charles Dickens was about to file an emotional restraining order.
Merry Mayhem Prize: For Successfully Weaponizing Dickensian Nostalgia in a Family Meltdown Scenario
Huge thanks to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the ARC and for enabling this festive descent into literary madness. I didn’t know I needed a ghostly Dickens intervention in my life, but now I’m side-eyeing every antique book in my house.
Merry Bingham is not okay, and frankly, neither is her family, the ghost of Charles Dickens, or the haunted Airbnb they all emotionally combust inside. If you’re looking for a cozy little gingerbread-scented holiday romp, this is not that. This is what happens when your mom has one mental breakdown, one haunted literary heirloom, and one suitcase packed with delusional Christmas optimism and drags you across the Atlantic to fix your unresolved trauma using British tourism and aggressive caroling.
And listen. I wanted to root for Merry. She’s fifty-five, she’s spiraling, she’s got a mysterious lung nodule and a death grip on a signed edition of A Christmas Carol that she’s ready to turn into cash because her three adult children all reject it like it’s a cursed monkey paw. Relatable. Tragic. Unhinged. She decides that if no one values the family legacy, she’ll use it to fund an epic Dickens-themed Christmas in London, the kind of move that screams “matriarchal last stand” but with twinkle lights and emotional landmines.
What unfolds is part Dickensian fever dream, part holiday hostage situation. The kids are awful (Bessie is out here giving entitled older millennial vibes, Nick disappears emotionally like he’s on a witness protection program, and Song Lee is spiraling into HR-violating chaos). Her husband Sully is...there. Emotionally present like a houseplant. And poor Merry is trying to brute-force cheer into this group like it’s a hostage negotiation led by a choir of ghosts.
Oh right, the ghosts. Specifically, Charles Dickens. Who starts haunting her. Like, full-on “I’m mad you sold my book” hauntings, as if that’s the most pressing injustice in the 21st century. Every time he appeared I couldn’t tell if we were leaning into magical realism or if Merry was one bad day away from entering her Sylvia Plath bathtub arc. It’s weird. But it’s also kind of brilliant? The man’s not subtle. He’s like a moral compass with sideburns.
Here’s the thing: I don’t think this book knew what it wanted to be. It’s not cozy, but it’s not quite dark. It’s chaotic, but not in the fun way, more in the “mom is emotionally unraveling in front of the London Eye and the kids are yelling about who ruined whose childhood” kind of way. And while some moments are surprisingly heartfelt (there are beautiful, devastating moments), others feel wildly tone-deaf. Like, we’ve got talking dogs, petty family drama, and ghost apparitions back-to-back with end-of-life anxiety and generations of repressed resentment.
This was like watching a Hallmark movie that suddenly turns into an indie drama halfway through, but you’re too far in to back out so you’re just emotionally held hostage with your eggnog, hoping it all wraps up before someone throws a snow globe.
Three stars because the concept was bonkers in the best way, and Merry herself is a kind of chaos goblin I lowkey respect. But the tonal whiplash is real. I came for holiday healing and left wondering if Charles Dickens was about to file an emotional restraining order.
Merry Mayhem Prize: For Successfully Weaponizing Dickensian Nostalgia in a Family Meltdown Scenario
Huge thanks to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the ARC and for enabling this festive descent into literary madness. I didn’t know I needed a ghostly Dickens intervention in my life, but now I’m side-eyeing every antique book in my house.
September 4, 2025
Title: Merry
Author: Susan Breen
Publisher: Alcove Press
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Pub Date: September 23, 2025
My Rating: 4.2 Stars
Pages: 320
Meredith aka Merry Bingham is fifty-five years old married to Sully and they have three adult children Nick, Bessie and Song Lee. She is also a rare book dealer and with a name like Merry goes overboard with decorating for Christmas. This year she is on a roof of her Victoria home decorating but it is a bit too winds and she loses her balance and falls. Luckily she fell into bushes but sent to the hospital for X-Rays. Doctor assures her the bruises will heal by Christmas. However, Dr. Fiedler calls later that the X-ray found something else -a nodule on her lungs and more tests are needs. She immediately fears cancer. Her doctor tries to tell her she needs to wait for the test results.
Merry now comes up with a great idea for the best Christmas and wants to take her family to London for an old fashion Dickens Christmas! (She decided to sell her family’s beloved copy of “A Christmas Carol” to fund this trip as it may be their last Christmas together. She also remember a quote by Samuel E. Jackson ~ I don’t mind dying, I just don’t want to go out like a punk,)
London turns out very interesting!!!!
This story has been on my TBR list since early March. I thought I would check reviews before starting. I read several that were not positive and I got discouraged thinking I made a mistake.
I did not make a mistake – I liked this story.
I too goa bit over board decorating for Christmas only was decorating is all indoors. I have a Dicken’s Village that I love arranging. I have many pieces including Dickens characters that my daughter gave me... Only I don’t want the ghosts to be’ in’ my village scene. However, I know it would disappoint my daughter. So every year I hide them somewhere in my other decorations for on the bookshelf someplace not obvious and the children need to find them. It is now a Christmas custom...
This was my first Susan Breen and I look forward to reading another,
About the Author Susan Breen - She is the award-winning author of The Fiction Class and the Maggie Dove mystery series. She is the 2024 winner of the Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition. She is especially honored to have won the Westchester Library Association's Washington Irving Award for "readability, literary quality, and wide general appeal."
Her new novel, MERRY, is about Charles Dickens, dogs, family, London, vacations gone wrong, love, guilt and books. Not in that order.
Susan teaches novel-writing at Gotham Writers in New York City. You can read more about her, and download many wonderful things, at www.susanbreenauthor.com
Want to thank NetGalley and Alcove Press for granting me this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 23, 2025.
Author: Susan Breen
Publisher: Alcove Press
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Pub Date: September 23, 2025
My Rating: 4.2 Stars
Pages: 320
Meredith aka Merry Bingham is fifty-five years old married to Sully and they have three adult children Nick, Bessie and Song Lee. She is also a rare book dealer and with a name like Merry goes overboard with decorating for Christmas. This year she is on a roof of her Victoria home decorating but it is a bit too winds and she loses her balance and falls. Luckily she fell into bushes but sent to the hospital for X-Rays. Doctor assures her the bruises will heal by Christmas. However, Dr. Fiedler calls later that the X-ray found something else -a nodule on her lungs and more tests are needs. She immediately fears cancer. Her doctor tries to tell her she needs to wait for the test results.
Merry now comes up with a great idea for the best Christmas and wants to take her family to London for an old fashion Dickens Christmas! (She decided to sell her family’s beloved copy of “A Christmas Carol” to fund this trip as it may be their last Christmas together. She also remember a quote by Samuel E. Jackson ~ I don’t mind dying, I just don’t want to go out like a punk,)
London turns out very interesting!!!!
This story has been on my TBR list since early March. I thought I would check reviews before starting. I read several that were not positive and I got discouraged thinking I made a mistake.
I did not make a mistake – I liked this story.
I too goa bit over board decorating for Christmas only was decorating is all indoors. I have a Dicken’s Village that I love arranging. I have many pieces including Dickens characters that my daughter gave me... Only I don’t want the ghosts to be’ in’ my village scene. However, I know it would disappoint my daughter. So every year I hide them somewhere in my other decorations for on the bookshelf someplace not obvious and the children need to find them. It is now a Christmas custom...
This was my first Susan Breen and I look forward to reading another,
About the Author Susan Breen - She is the award-winning author of The Fiction Class and the Maggie Dove mystery series. She is the 2024 winner of the Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition. She is especially honored to have won the Westchester Library Association's Washington Irving Award for "readability, literary quality, and wide general appeal."
Her new novel, MERRY, is about Charles Dickens, dogs, family, London, vacations gone wrong, love, guilt and books. Not in that order.
Susan teaches novel-writing at Gotham Writers in New York City. You can read more about her, and download many wonderful things, at www.susanbreenauthor.com
Want to thank NetGalley and Alcove Press for granting me this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 23, 2025.
June 4, 2025
Merry by Susan Breen is a story for those you love Christmas. It is a twist on the favourite Charles Dickens novel.
It’s the story of Merry Bingham a book scout with world wide clients and her heirloom copy of ‘A Christmas Carol’ that was signed by Charles Dickens himself. This book has been handed down from one generation to the next in her family. This heirloom is her prized possession and she treasures it with all her heart. She loves the Christmas Season and all the joys it brings.
That is until this year when her family doctor delivers bad news advising her of nodules they found in her lungs and an urgent PET Scan is required to see how badly her lungs are damaged and to see the progression of her cancer.
Merry is married to her loving husband Sully and has three grown up children Nick, Bessie and Song Lee. She has a difficult time with her diagnosis and is unable to speak to them about it. Her only wish is to be able to pass on the family heirloom, but to who?
Nick is the eldest and technically should have the book. He lives a life well traveled with work and Merry is unsure about his interests in the book. He suggests that Song Lee should have it instead.
Bessie her second child has never really showed much concern about the family keepsake especially as a child. Merry decides to contact Song Lee first.
Song Lee is a hardworking young adult she seems the right choice to give her book too. However, Song Lee recently has had troubles with her employment. Accused of fraud and Merry is worried about her.
Then Bessie finds out that Song Lee was offered the heirloom book first and was upset that it wasn’t offered to her. Merry is even more confused and doesn’t know what to do next.
Merry decides to take them all on Christmas Trip to London. It might be their last family Christmas trip together.
As Merry starts worrying about her family, financial problems, her health and death. Family disagreements emerge and things go horribly wrong. Merry wants Christmas to be a happy holiday for her family but she can’t seem to find a way to peace and joy of the season. The Ghosts of Christmas and that of Charles Dickens seem to appear everywhere Merry is…..He is not happy with her and with what is happening.
Will she find her happy ending and will the book be retained by her family and preserved for future generations?
I thank the publishers and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. A beloved tale of the classic….. A Christmas Carol from the point of view of his future family member. The book shows how much love future generations have for their ancestors and family history and heritage. I rate this book 4 star.
It’s the story of Merry Bingham a book scout with world wide clients and her heirloom copy of ‘A Christmas Carol’ that was signed by Charles Dickens himself. This book has been handed down from one generation to the next in her family. This heirloom is her prized possession and she treasures it with all her heart. She loves the Christmas Season and all the joys it brings.
That is until this year when her family doctor delivers bad news advising her of nodules they found in her lungs and an urgent PET Scan is required to see how badly her lungs are damaged and to see the progression of her cancer.
Merry is married to her loving husband Sully and has three grown up children Nick, Bessie and Song Lee. She has a difficult time with her diagnosis and is unable to speak to them about it. Her only wish is to be able to pass on the family heirloom, but to who?
Nick is the eldest and technically should have the book. He lives a life well traveled with work and Merry is unsure about his interests in the book. He suggests that Song Lee should have it instead.
Bessie her second child has never really showed much concern about the family keepsake especially as a child. Merry decides to contact Song Lee first.
Song Lee is a hardworking young adult she seems the right choice to give her book too. However, Song Lee recently has had troubles with her employment. Accused of fraud and Merry is worried about her.
Then Bessie finds out that Song Lee was offered the heirloom book first and was upset that it wasn’t offered to her. Merry is even more confused and doesn’t know what to do next.
Merry decides to take them all on Christmas Trip to London. It might be their last family Christmas trip together.
As Merry starts worrying about her family, financial problems, her health and death. Family disagreements emerge and things go horribly wrong. Merry wants Christmas to be a happy holiday for her family but she can’t seem to find a way to peace and joy of the season. The Ghosts of Christmas and that of Charles Dickens seem to appear everywhere Merry is…..He is not happy with her and with what is happening.
Will she find her happy ending and will the book be retained by her family and preserved for future generations?
I thank the publishers and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. A beloved tale of the classic….. A Christmas Carol from the point of view of his future family member. The book shows how much love future generations have for their ancestors and family history and heritage. I rate this book 4 star.
December 27, 2025
I started Merry by Susan Breen with a lot of expectations and genuine excitement, mostly because it revolves around one of my all time favourite books, A Christmas Carol. Any story that promises a love letter to Dickens and Christmas instantly has my attention, so I went in expecting something warm, festive, and emotionally satisfying. And while the book does start strong, with an energy that mirrors Merry’s own enthusiasm for Christmas and literature, that initial spark sadly doesn’t sustain itself.
I related to Merry almost immediately. Her excitement for books, her attachment to a story that clearly means the world to her, and her love for the Christmas season all felt very familiar. However, as the story progressed, it began to feel repetitive. Much of the narrative revolves around the same concerns over and over again, particularly Merry’s anxiety about her test results, ongoing family conflicts, and reflections on her past. While these themes are important, they end up dominating the book in a way that makes the story feel stagnant rather than evolving.
One of my biggest disappointments was how little of the book actually felt festive. Going in, I expected a cozy, Christmas filled read, but the holiday atmosphere is mostly limited to the final few pages. The majority of the story leans heavily into stress, unresolved family tension, and emotional baggage. Because of this, it never fully delivers on the promise of being a joyful or comforting Christmas story. On top of that, there is very little character development throughout the book, which made it hard to feel like Merry or the people around her were truly growing or changing by the end.
That said, there were elements I genuinely enjoyed. The references to books and bookstores were a highlight, especially the shared love for reading between multiple characters. The way books are portrayed as sources of comfort, connection, and joy was beautifully done and felt very authentic. I also loved the descriptions of London during the festive season. Those moments were vivid and atmospheric enough to make me want to experience Christmas in London myself.
Overall, I would recommend Merry to readers who enjoy family drama and stories set around Christmas, books, and literary characters. If you are looking for something introspective with a literary focus, this might work for you. However, if you are in the mood for a joyful, cozy, Christmas or winter read that fully embraces the festive spirit, this book might not be the right choice.
I related to Merry almost immediately. Her excitement for books, her attachment to a story that clearly means the world to her, and her love for the Christmas season all felt very familiar. However, as the story progressed, it began to feel repetitive. Much of the narrative revolves around the same concerns over and over again, particularly Merry’s anxiety about her test results, ongoing family conflicts, and reflections on her past. While these themes are important, they end up dominating the book in a way that makes the story feel stagnant rather than evolving.
One of my biggest disappointments was how little of the book actually felt festive. Going in, I expected a cozy, Christmas filled read, but the holiday atmosphere is mostly limited to the final few pages. The majority of the story leans heavily into stress, unresolved family tension, and emotional baggage. Because of this, it never fully delivers on the promise of being a joyful or comforting Christmas story. On top of that, there is very little character development throughout the book, which made it hard to feel like Merry or the people around her were truly growing or changing by the end.
That said, there were elements I genuinely enjoyed. The references to books and bookstores were a highlight, especially the shared love for reading between multiple characters. The way books are portrayed as sources of comfort, connection, and joy was beautifully done and felt very authentic. I also loved the descriptions of London during the festive season. Those moments were vivid and atmospheric enough to make me want to experience Christmas in London myself.
Overall, I would recommend Merry to readers who enjoy family drama and stories set around Christmas, books, and literary characters. If you are looking for something introspective with a literary focus, this might work for you. However, if you are in the mood for a joyful, cozy, Christmas or winter read that fully embraces the festive spirit, this book might not be the right choice.
November 23, 2025
👻I picked up a cozy Christmas book and got a judgmental Charles Dickens ghost instead.
That's why I adored every chaotic minute of Merry by Susan Breen! Reading Merry Bingham’s story felt like peeking into the mind of someone who loves Christmas so fiercely that she starts to lose sight of everything else including the fact that her family is, uh, not exactly on the same page about her Dickensian-level enthusiasm. I mean, when your grown kids don’t even want the family’s autographed Charles Dickens heirloom? The scandal. The betrayal. The sheer audacity!
But what really got me was how raw and real Merry feels. She’s terrified as she waits for medical test results, desperate to rekindle the magic she’s losing, and clinging so tightly to tradition it’s practically cracking in her grip. So when she sells the beloved book and drags the whole family to London Christmas joy by force! I was right there with her, shaking my head and whispering, “Oh Merry, oh honey, no, stop,” while eagerly turning the page to watch what disaster she’d trip into next.
And then Dickens shows up. As an annoyed ghost. Judging her life choices.
That’s when I knew this book had me completely. I laughed at the petty family arguments, felt the sting of the quiet moments, and even teared up when the story dug into what we hold onto.and what we have to let go of to keep love alive. It’s messy, heartfelt, and surprisingly healing, kind of like real holidays usually are.
By the end, I wanted to give Merry a hug and maybe also hide her passport so she can’t impulsively plan any more transformative family trips.
⚡��Thank you Book Sparks and Susan Breen for sharing this book with me!
That's why I adored every chaotic minute of Merry by Susan Breen! Reading Merry Bingham’s story felt like peeking into the mind of someone who loves Christmas so fiercely that she starts to lose sight of everything else including the fact that her family is, uh, not exactly on the same page about her Dickensian-level enthusiasm. I mean, when your grown kids don’t even want the family’s autographed Charles Dickens heirloom? The scandal. The betrayal. The sheer audacity!
But what really got me was how raw and real Merry feels. She’s terrified as she waits for medical test results, desperate to rekindle the magic she’s losing, and clinging so tightly to tradition it’s practically cracking in her grip. So when she sells the beloved book and drags the whole family to London Christmas joy by force! I was right there with her, shaking my head and whispering, “Oh Merry, oh honey, no, stop,” while eagerly turning the page to watch what disaster she’d trip into next.
And then Dickens shows up. As an annoyed ghost. Judging her life choices.
That’s when I knew this book had me completely. I laughed at the petty family arguments, felt the sting of the quiet moments, and even teared up when the story dug into what we hold onto.and what we have to let go of to keep love alive. It’s messy, heartfelt, and surprisingly healing, kind of like real holidays usually are.
By the end, I wanted to give Merry a hug and maybe also hide her passport so she can’t impulsively plan any more transformative family trips.
⚡��Thank you Book Sparks and Susan Breen for sharing this book with me!
September 28, 2025
Merry has the setup, cosiness, family drama and emotions of a hallmark movie with a touch magical realism (or real magic?) to create a very uniquely interesting Christmas tale.
Definitely a laugh and cry kinda book, it's a beautiful little story about the importance of telling people you love them and how we can impact each other. Despite the name, it's not a particularly Merry book (duh, it says that in the blurb) but it's definitely a weird one with a potential terminal diagnoses hanging over the story and touching on sad subjects like how terminal, chronic illnesses can affect not only the victim of it, but their families. This side of the story was done with great care and authenticity though and Breen wrote it very well.
It's a great mixture of mundanity, real life drama and a potentially supernatural shenanigans in a well-paced, witty style that (as much as I try to avoid the word) can only be described as quirky. It moves slowly and I found the timeline slightly disjointed, which when mixed with some quite repetitive sections, characters who I couldn't particularly connect with as they seemed to change their personalities from absolute monster children to postcard-perfect and then back again, and a loose plot meant I couldn't really find a solid foothold in the story.
That being said, I absolutely think this eccentric, endearing little number will be a hit with some readers and there's definitely enjoyable elements for people who like a bittersweet read, complicated family dramas and books about book lovers.
Definitely a laugh and cry kinda book, it's a beautiful little story about the importance of telling people you love them and how we can impact each other. Despite the name, it's not a particularly Merry book (duh, it says that in the blurb) but it's definitely a weird one with a potential terminal diagnoses hanging over the story and touching on sad subjects like how terminal, chronic illnesses can affect not only the victim of it, but their families. This side of the story was done with great care and authenticity though and Breen wrote it very well.
It's a great mixture of mundanity, real life drama and a potentially supernatural shenanigans in a well-paced, witty style that (as much as I try to avoid the word) can only be described as quirky. It moves slowly and I found the timeline slightly disjointed, which when mixed with some quite repetitive sections, characters who I couldn't particularly connect with as they seemed to change their personalities from absolute monster children to postcard-perfect and then back again, and a loose plot meant I couldn't really find a solid foothold in the story.
That being said, I absolutely think this eccentric, endearing little number will be a hit with some readers and there's definitely enjoyable elements for people who like a bittersweet read, complicated family dramas and books about book lovers.
November 11, 2025
I really did want to like this book. I love the author's writing style but the main character was so hard to enjoy reading about. I don't say this often or lightly but she definitely could use some therapy as she is not all there! Also, if I read the word nodule one more time I may have to remove some hair from my head in clumps!
This book revolves around a woman named Mary Bingham. She has always been a lover of Christmas but this year she's starting to worry about numerous things and isn't feeling it as much as usual. After getting a medical test and learning none of her children want the autographed A Christmas Carol book that has been passed down from generation to generation, she decides to take drastic action (that could be a spoiler so I won't say what it is). Now, she's seeing the ghost of Charles Dickens everywhere, and talking to him, and ignoring the results of her test that she could easily check in order to actually see what is going on instead of deciding she's dying and this is her last Christmas. I almost forgot to mention that she talks to her dog and he talks back, but only to her of course. The end of the book gets really weird as well but I can't really talk about that without giving things away.
All in all I really wanted to like this book but found that it fell short. The word nodule was used so often that I was growing more and more frustrated as I read on. I won't tell you not to read this because I do think it would appeal to many but it just wasn't for me.
This book revolves around a woman named Mary Bingham. She has always been a lover of Christmas but this year she's starting to worry about numerous things and isn't feeling it as much as usual. After getting a medical test and learning none of her children want the autographed A Christmas Carol book that has been passed down from generation to generation, she decides to take drastic action (that could be a spoiler so I won't say what it is). Now, she's seeing the ghost of Charles Dickens everywhere, and talking to him, and ignoring the results of her test that she could easily check in order to actually see what is going on instead of deciding she's dying and this is her last Christmas. I almost forgot to mention that she talks to her dog and he talks back, but only to her of course. The end of the book gets really weird as well but I can't really talk about that without giving things away.
All in all I really wanted to like this book but found that it fell short. The word nodule was used so often that I was growing more and more frustrated as I read on. I won't tell you not to read this because I do think it would appeal to many but it just wasn't for me.
March 11, 2025
ARC Review
Merry by Susan Breen is a Christmas story.
Merry Bingham comes from a family that adores Christmas. Their favorite book has always been A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
During her annual holiday decorating, an accident leads to the discovery of a serious health issue. Fearing this may be her last Christmas, Merry is determined to make it unforgettable for her family. When none of her children express interest in keeping a cherished family heirloom, she makes the difficult decision to sell it and take them all on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to London. She’s convinced that celebrating the season there will bring them closer together. However, the more she pushes for a perfect holiday, the more things fall apart. To make matters worse, the ghost of Dickens himself begins haunting her—and she has no idea why.
This is not a lighthearted Christmas story. Instead, it delves into the complexities of family relationships, especially during challenging times. It explores how people can support one another’s wishes, even when they don’t fully understand them. The novel carries a deep emotional weight, filled with moments of sadness and conflict, yet it ultimately delivers a poignant and meaningful ending. It reminded me of classic literature in its depth and storytelling.
If you’re looking for a heartfelt family novel to read during the holidays, this might be the perfect choice.
Merry by Susan Breen is a Christmas story.
Merry Bingham comes from a family that adores Christmas. Their favorite book has always been A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
During her annual holiday decorating, an accident leads to the discovery of a serious health issue. Fearing this may be her last Christmas, Merry is determined to make it unforgettable for her family. When none of her children express interest in keeping a cherished family heirloom, she makes the difficult decision to sell it and take them all on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to London. She’s convinced that celebrating the season there will bring them closer together. However, the more she pushes for a perfect holiday, the more things fall apart. To make matters worse, the ghost of Dickens himself begins haunting her—and she has no idea why.
This is not a lighthearted Christmas story. Instead, it delves into the complexities of family relationships, especially during challenging times. It explores how people can support one another’s wishes, even when they don’t fully understand them. The novel carries a deep emotional weight, filled with moments of sadness and conflict, yet it ultimately delivers a poignant and meaningful ending. It reminded me of classic literature in its depth and storytelling.
If you’re looking for a heartfelt family novel to read during the holidays, this might be the perfect choice.
July 13, 2025
I love Christmas and all things Christmas-related, so this was the perfect read for me! 🎄 🎁
Merry Bingham loves Christmas. Her most favourite thing in the world is her family's heirloom copy of A Christmas Carol personally signed by Charles Dickens and passed down to her through the generations. When she learns she must undergo some medical tests to determine if she has cancer, Merry decides to hand the much treasured book to her children. Much to her shock they aren't interested in the book so Merry sells it and takes her husband and 3 adult children to London for Christmas. She's determined to bring the joy of Christmas to them despite her children bickering, her husband not speaking to her, the apartment they've rented not being up to scratch and the ghost t of Charles Dickens appearing to her.
While this book may appear to be a cosy story about a family Christmas gone wrong in every possible way, it is so much more. There's a surprising depth to this story which explores the relationships between the adult children and the impact on the family dynamics when a parent is confronted with their mortality. The book is tinged with sadness but leaves you with a sense of hope that even in mixed-up families like this one, miss-communication can be worked through when people care for each other.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read and review this book. Publication date is 22 Sep 2025.
December 16, 2025
3.5⭐️ rounded up
Merry isn't your typical holiday read and I think that's why it drew me in. Merry is an older FMC who is married with grown children. Both her and her children's lives are messy and chaotic. She wants to spend one normal, happy, stress free Christmas together with her family, so she sells her precious family heirloom signed copy of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and takes her family to London. Except Merry's vision of a perfect trip turns into a disaster from the moment they arrive in London. This book is raw and real. It depicts how life is messy and things don't always go as planned, but it's what you make of it and how you preserve. I really liked Merry's character. She was one heck of a tropper. I'm not sure how she handled everything thrown at her as well as she did between the bad news she got before the trip, everything that went wrong on the trip, and the way her grown children were acting like complete toddlers. I probably would've had a meltdown if I were in her shoes. I do wish the ending wasn't left as open as it was, but other than that this was quite an enjoyable read. It's not your typical cozy holiday read, so don't go into it thinking that. It's about chaos and family drama, but also how that same family and the joy of the season can make things better just as they are falling apart.
Merry isn't your typical holiday read and I think that's why it drew me in. Merry is an older FMC who is married with grown children. Both her and her children's lives are messy and chaotic. She wants to spend one normal, happy, stress free Christmas together with her family, so she sells her precious family heirloom signed copy of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and takes her family to London. Except Merry's vision of a perfect trip turns into a disaster from the moment they arrive in London. This book is raw and real. It depicts how life is messy and things don't always go as planned, but it's what you make of it and how you preserve. I really liked Merry's character. She was one heck of a tropper. I'm not sure how she handled everything thrown at her as well as she did between the bad news she got before the trip, everything that went wrong on the trip, and the way her grown children were acting like complete toddlers. I probably would've had a meltdown if I were in her shoes. I do wish the ending wasn't left as open as it was, but other than that this was quite an enjoyable read. It's not your typical cozy holiday read, so don't go into it thinking that. It's about chaos and family drama, but also how that same family and the joy of the season can make things better just as they are falling apart.
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