Christmas at the Women’s Hotel: Great for Holiday and Christmas Reading or Gifting

Women's Hotel #1.5

by Daniel M. Lavery

New York Times bestselling author Daniel M. Lavery returns to the world of Women’s Hotel in this delightful and heartwarming novella about one especially lively Christmastime at the Biedermeier.

Christmas at the Biedermeier Hotel means work. For much of the year, employment comes infrequently to Biedermeier residents. But during the Advent season, they're in high demand all over the as holiday window dressers, sales-girls at the card stores on Forty-Second Street, Broadway usherettes, assisting the Lincoln Center laundress at the Nutcracker, or working for Pinkerton as off-season security guards at the World’s Fair.

Katherine explores the possibility of reconnecting with a younger sister moving to New York. Lucianne goes into business for herself, running a telephone-order, strictly Social Register male escort agency out of her room, while Mrs. Mossler attempts to solve the mystery of the Biedermeier’s skyrocketing phone bill and frets over Christmas tips for the hotel’s few remaining employees.

And while the three gem thieves who broke into the American Museum of Natural History have recently been apprehended, not all of the stolen jewels have been recovered—and Patricia and Carol have been behaving very strangely recently. Christmas is a season of wonder and mystery, after all.

A touching holiday read Perfect for fans of uplifting winter romancesA delightful Christmas gift

Genres: Christmas, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Holiday, Historical, Audiobook, Adult

144 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 13, 2025

About the author

Also see Mallory Ortberg and Daniel Mallory Ortberg.

Reviews

[Donne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this short story would be a good read for my holiday reading binge. The book summary pretty much lays out most of the storylines of some of the residents of the Biedermeier Hotel, a place with single women from their 20’s to their 70’s. However, there is another storyline that the book summary didn’t mention. One of the oldest and longest standing residents, Josephine, a woman in her 70’s supplements her paltry retirement savings with her trusty old pickpocketing skills. I also liked the author’s notes at the beginning and end about the history of these types of hotels.

I want to thank NetGalley and Harper Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #HarperAudio #ChristmasattheWomensHotel

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Christmas at the Women's Hotel, by Daniel M. Lavery, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. There is a lot going on at The Biedermeier's Hotel in New York at Christmas time. This is a sweet short story.

[SJARR ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a bit conflicted about how to review this.
When i requested to read this ARC, I knew that it was a novella in a series- but based on the synopsis I assumed it could read as a standalone. However, I quickly realized it would probably be much better to have read book one “Women’s Hotel” prior.
Since i did not, i had no connection to the characters, and was somewhat confused throughout.
A fault that is entirely my own!

Given the mistake on my part, I do not want to rate this poorly- because that would be quite unfair.

I am giving it 4 stars, as I think this could be a nice story for anyone that has read the first book.
It seems interesting, and there were several throughout that caught my attention.
I have deducted a star because of the writing style.

It is historical fiction- so i can understand why it is written the way it is. But, the writing feels quite heavy. It requires a fair amount of focus to read it, and does not always flow smoothly.

Overall, I would like to go read the first book and then come back to this one.
I think it has a lot of potential, and I am curious to get the necessary background on these characters.
I am sorry that I cannot give a more in depth review, it is my mistake- but I hope that others are able to enjoy the book!

Thank you to Netgalley, HarperVia and author Daniel M. Lavery for providing me with the eARC of “Christmas at the Women’s Hotel”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: October 14th, 2025

[Beth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Baffling. Pointless.
I have the feeling there was another book that preceded this that might make sense of it all. Not very Christmas-y either. It seems like a hotel for escorts and pickpockets. Lots of characters but no character development. Plus the main character did something to alienate most of her family, but it’s never spelled out.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short, seasonal follow up to the Women's Hotel. Similarly middling plot (if anything this one has a little more direction) but a nice revisit with familiar characters. I appreciate that Lucianne has some kind of story arc/resolution. Several scenes with Tom and Josephine are funny. It's pleasantly nostalgic along the lines of an Edward Streeter novel (I mean, it name checks Rona Jaffe) or similar. My main beef is the same as the previous title - it's somehow extremely dense for the subject and form - this being shorter helped some. I have a hard time getting into Lavery's fiction, which is a bummer because I absolutely worship his Prudence.
Anyhoo, this was a pleasant enough little visit to wintertime New York - short and sweet. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

[Danika at The Lesbrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this better than The Women's Hotel, because it is lighter. Some of the reviews don't seem to realize this is the second book in a series, though it does say it at the beginning of the book description. These are just little vignettes of different characters, not one overarching plot, but it was a fun Christmas read.

[L.S. Kemmerer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just OK. The cover is much better than the story.

[Lyon.Brit.andthebookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Report: Christmas at the Women’s Hotel

The holidays at the Biedermeier Hotel are anything but quiet 🎁🎄The women who call it home find themselves swept into seasonal work across the city. This follow-up to Women’s Hotel is every bit as charming 💫 brimming with the small dramas…mischief and companionship that make the Biedermeier such a vivid place. I found it both nostalgic and comforting ☕🕯️like slipping back into a familiar rhythm with old friends. It’s a busy…bustling slice of holiday life and I know I’ll be picking up a physical copy 📚 because it feels like the kind of book I’ll want to revisit whenever I need a seasonal comfort read ❄️🎄 If you loved the first book I think you’ll adore returning to the Biedermeier at Christmastime ✨

Thank you Harper Audio Audit & Harper Via

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...

[Alejandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t know what I read and I’m very confused. There was no plot, just a window into what the December snapshot of these women’s lives is. Confusing and not particular Christmassy.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

My local public library displayed a number of holiday-related books recently, and I chose a few from authors I didn’t know. Just a word about the context of the story: “Women’s hotels” allowed single women to live safely, independently, and privately, if desired, in the mid-twentieth century. This novella tells the story of a number of women living in the fictional Biedermeier Hotel in New York City in 1964, some working, some avoiding work, some retired, smart, enterprising, and worth getting to know. Their stories, all so different, drew me in, immersing me in a way of life for women, choices, and culture that seems like a hundred years ago, not 60 years ago.

[Ashli Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

With all my cozy Christmas love: this novella is charm, wit, and heart wrapped up in tinsel and mystery. Daniel M. Lavery returns to the world of the Biedermeier with a story that feels like classic New York nostalgia and a found-family holiday movie rolled into one.

The characters are delightful—hustling through the holidays with joy, grit, and just enough chaos. From Katherine’s hope for reconnection to Lucianne’s “slightly illegal but well-organized” escort agency (😂), every storyline is laced with heart and holiday hijinks. And yes, there’s even a touch of jewel heist mystery to keep things sparkly.

It gave me that vintage Christmas movie meets literary comfort feeling I crave every December.
Highly recommend reading with twinkle lights on and cocoa in hand.
✨🎁🗽

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. I was hoping for a cozy wonder and mystery story based on the book jacket, and instead I got a vague collection of various plotlines without a lot of continuity or resolution. I think a better anticipation than an execution.

[bigmia]

literally wtf were they talking about (i didn't read the first one)

[Sacha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

The residents of the Biedermeier are always up to something, and the holiday season gives them added reason to get into more of their usual shenanigans.

I was glad I had read _Women's Hotel_ prior to cracking this seasonally oriented novella as the first installment provides much more insight into the characters, relationships, and social structure of the residence and its community. This is a speedy read and put me in the mood for holiday cheer, which is no small accomplishment here on a sizzling late August day!

These characters are charming and the sense of place is extremely well devised. I look forward to seeing what these ladies get up to next!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and HarperVia for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Sophia]

Picture it, the nineteen-sixties in New York City for the Christmas season, but instead of being the stroller along the festively decorated streets, you’re the working gal at the counter going back to a cheap hotel rather than the Waldorf-Astoria. Daniel Lavery introduced his Biedermeier Hotel and the plucky working-class women residing there in earlier release Women’s Hotel and now sends along the follow-up Christmas at the Women’s Hotel taking up the story where the first left off.

My full review will post at The Quill Ink TBA.

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmas at the Women’s Hotel does not care if you remember anyone’s name. It will not help you. It will not pause to catch you up. It simply yeets you into the Biedermeier Hotel with a string of garland, one working phone, a seasonal side hustle, and exactly zero apologies. The halls are decked, the pay is low, and every woman in this place is either selling something, hiding something, or emotionally repressing something, sometimes all three before breakfast.

We’ve got Katherine spiraling over maybe reconnecting with her estranged sister, which is both tender and exactly the kind of quiet emotional catastrophe that happens around the holidays when you're just trying to wrap presents and not cry in the pantry. Lucianne? Oh, she's out here casually running a telephone-order male escort service from her bedroom like it's no big deal. She said, “What if capitalism… but hot?” Mrs. Mossler is waging a one-woman war against the Biedermeier’s mystery phone bill and slowly unraveling over holiday tipping etiquette, which honestly? Feels like a personal attack.

Meanwhile, Patricia and Carol are giving serious “we accidentally stole a cursed diamond and now it lives in the breadbox” energy. There’s been a whole museum heist situation, thieves arrested, but the jewels are missing, and these two are acting twitchy. I’m not saying they did it. I’m just saying they definitely know who did and they’re probably related.

The whole novella feels like if A Christmas Carol threw out the ghosts and said, “What if the real haunting was economic precarity and intergenerational regret?” The pacing is pure chaotic holiday energy — like someone trying to tell you five stories at once while the kettle boils over and Carolers are screaming outside. It’s short. It’s messy. It’s kind of brilliant. It also assumes you’ve read Women’s Hotel, and if you haven’t, well... welcome to your new full-time job: remembering 20 characters introduced mid-conversation with zero explanation.

And yet. There are moments that hit. Josephine, who is 70 and literally out here PICKPOCKETING HER WAY THROUGH RETIREMENT like she’s in Oliver! but with better shoes. I would read an entire spin-off about her grifting wealthy uptown ladies while quoting Oscar Wilde and committing light fraud. Mara Wilson voices her (and everyone else) with that perfectly droll, quietly mischievous tone like she knows something you don’t and probably stole it from your purse.

Daniel M. Lavery’s writing is like... if a vintage screwball comedy and a stage play about class consciousness had a love child in a snowstorm. It’s wry. It’s observant. It absolutely doesn’t care if you’re following every thread, because the characters are too busy chasing side gigs and existential closure to slow down for you. It’s got that mid-century theatrical snappiness, but buried under the jokes are these little moments of grief and longing that sneak in like glitter in your bra after a party.

Is it structurally all over the place? Sure. Is that kind of the point? Also yes. It’s a portrait of messy lives in a messy world, dressed up in holiday drag. Not every subplot hits, and if you’re not familiar with the first book, good luck figuring out who’s related to who, who works where, and who’s possibly stashing sapphires in the umbrella stand.

But if you’re in the mood for something that’s festive, literary, a little weird, and absolutely drenched in that very specific “trying to feel joy while the walls of your life gently crumble” December feeling, Christmas at the Women’s Hotel is it.

Three stars, but if Josephine ever headlines a jewel heist, I’m showing up in a trench coat and fake mustache ready to assist.

Merry Mayhem Prize: For Making Me Care Deeply About a Phone Bill and a Possibly Cursed Socialite Escort Ring

Huge thanks to HarperAudio Adult and NetGalley for the advanced audiobook. And for enabling my holiday addiction to emotionally complex women, crime-adjacent capitalism, and for casting Mara Wilson as the voice of every cigarette-holding, jewel-hiding, emotionally withholding woman I wish would ruin my life just a little.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, I’m glad I didn’t realize how low this book rated on Goodreads cause it might have swayed me away. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and gave it 4 stars. It’s both a novella and a prequel so it’s super short. I don’t think it has to be a big storyline when the story has 125 pages. I loved the writing style, choice of words, enjoyed the setting, found the storyline amusing and the characters pleasantly quirky.

This is set in a women’s hotel at Christmastime. It’s the 1950’s. Most of the women are in their 20s or 30s with a few older ladies as longer term residents.

One of the characters is trying to make some extra money and she thinks back on an idea she heard about from the 1930’s. The women in the hotel ran a respectable escort agency. By respectable, I mean that there were clear rules in place that the men were supposed to be stand in dates at social events with young women. They weren’t on dates. And nothing was allowed to happen after the gentleman dropped the young woman off at her door.

I wanted to set that tone and make it clear.
The women in the 50’s decided to do the same. They set respectable gentlemen up with young women looking for dates for social events.
They knew a ton of women who were interested in the service and started making money quite easily.

One of the characters has a storyline about how she is in AA and is trying to reconnect with her family.

I can’t quite describe what makes this a Christmas story beyond it taking place at that time of year. But you can feel that hope in the story. And characters reference Christmas events and Christmas passages from the Bible.

I enjoyed this novella enough to decide that I definitely want to read another book in this series. I’d love to get to know what else goes on at the hotel and maybe get to know these characters more.

I’d recommend this story for sure but keep in mind it’s a novella and it doesn’t wrap all the stories up.

[Laura Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Out October 14th, 2025 Book 1.5 in the Beidermeier series
The Biedermeier Hotel comes alive in December, its halls humming with the bustle of women preparing for the holiday season. For much of the year, work is scarce, but Christmastime brings opportunity: some dress the glittering windows of Fifth Avenue, others usher theatergoers into velvet-lined seats, while a few take on odd jobs that keep the city’s festivities running smoothly. Amid the scent of pine and the glow of shopfront lights, the residents weave their own stories of survival, ambition, and quiet longing.

Katherine, the manager, steels herself for another winter of estrangement from her family, only to be surprised by a letter that stirs old emotions. Lucianne, ever resourceful, launches a daring new business venture from her room, while Mrs. Mossler frets over the hotel’s ballooning phone bill and the delicate etiquette of Christmas tipping. Meanwhile, Patricia and Carol behave strangely, their secrets wrapped as tightly as the packages piling up under the lobby’s modest tree. The air is thick with mystery, laughter, and the occasional whiff of scandal.

As snow drifts against the windows and carols echo faintly from the streets below, the women of the Biedermeier find themselves drawn together by both mischief and tenderness. Small dramas unfold like ornaments on a tree—glittering, fragile, and full of meaning. By the time Christmas morning arrives, the hotel has become more than a place to live; it is a sanctuary of resilience, connection, and the kind of holiday magic that lingers long after the season fades.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVia for this holiday ARC!

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first Biedermeier book and it was overall okay. Not sure if I was just missing pieced starting out of order or if its a just okay book. Will definitely check out more.

Christmas at the Biedermeier Hotel means employment, and employment means walking-around money. For ten months out of the year, jobs come fitfully and infrequently to Biedermeier residents, but between Advent and Epiphany any girl who wants something to do between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. has her pick of Holiday window dresser, salesgirl at the card stores on 42nd Street, Broadway usherette, assistant laundress at the Lincoln Center Nutcracker, Pinkerton security at the World’s Fair exhibition halls in Queens.

Katherine considers the possibility of making amends with her siblings in Ohio after a Gaudete Sunday service at Old First Presbyterian. Lucianne goes into business for herself at last, trying to run a telephone-order male escort agency (strictly above-board and Social Register only) out of her room, while Mrs. Mossler attempts to solve the mystery of the Biedermeier’s skyrocketing phone bill and frets over Christmas tips for the hotel’s few remaining employees.

And while the three thieves who stole twenty-four gems worth three million dollars from the American Museum of Natural History on October 29th have recently been caught, not all of the jewels have been recovered—and Patricia and Carol have behaved terribly strangely for the better part of a month. Christmas is a season of wonder and mystery, after all.

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In some respects, Mrs. Mossler, the manager of the Biedermeier Hotel for Women in New York, could tell that when the residents' accounts were in the black—particularly between November 1 and Epiphany in January—seasonal employment was readily available. However, there is a difference between the usual seasonal pattern and the timing and scale of account corrections from arrears. She is particularly suspicious about the accounts and behavior changes of Carol Lipscomb, Patricia De Boer, J.D. Boatright, and Lucianne Caruso. Life with the residents is never dull.

The Biedermeier is a fictional setting that serves as a backdrop for this historical novella, becoming a character in its own right. The story revolves around the manager, residents, and elevator operator, as well as the interactions between friends living in the residence. It also briefly explores the relationships with men who visit these women or with whom at least one woman feels comfortable initiating phone calls. This engaging narrative evokes the feel of a classic holiday movie. There are numerous characters, but the author brings them to life with vivid descriptions. Even as the storyline nears its conclusion, I found myself eager to turn the page, wanting to spend more time at the Biedermeier.

Thank you to Publishers Weekly for the opportunity to "Grab a Galley" during the Summer-Fall edition and discover this book.

[Dianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

As soon as I started reading this novella, I sensed something odd. It was almost like I had already read this book. Well, of course I hadn't; however, I had read the first book about this hotel, and in my opinion, this novella wasn't any better. Oh, it had its moments, but not enough of them. I'm sure you already read the summary. If you have, put it out of your mind since this book is nothing like the summary.


This heavy-handed short novel does not make me feel like I'm living these women's lives. I fully expected an amusing, nice, holiday-themed story about the women who used to stay in places of this sort. Instead, I got endless paragraphs of repetitive drivel that did nothing but ramble. There is nothing cohesive about this novel. We do get an extensive look at one of the women staying, and while she had her amusing moments, it was still unengaging.


What should have taken me a couple of hours to read (144 pages) took me two days of rather unhappy reading.

*ARC provided by the publisher HarperVia, the author, and ATTL/Edelweiss.

[Resh (The Book Satchel)]

i picked this up as a seasonal read for the holiday month! it's a cozy short read about the residents of Biedermeier hotel and a couple of women, each with a mission in mind, be it to mend relationships or take up more jobs. there are also some missing jewels. so overall, a cozy read for winter. but it might disappoint any other time of the year.

i should mention that this is not the first book in a series. i had no idea this was part of a series when i received the ARC, i did not feel lost while reading, so you do not need to start at the beginning of the series.

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC. All opinions are my own
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[Valerie D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas at the Women’s Hotel is a charming, witty little novella that perfectly captures the warmth and chaos of the holidays in a bygone New York. Daniel M. Lavery brings the beloved Biedermeier Hotel back to life with all its eccentric residents, each one trying to find a bit of joy, money, or redemption during the festive season.

What I loved most is how full of life these women are. They hustle, gossip, and dream while navigating small jobs and big emotions. There’s humor, mystery, and just enough heart to make it feel like a cozy Christmas movie with a literary touch.

The dialogue sparkles, the characters are vividly drawn, and the setting feels almost magical with its wintry city backdrop. It’s not a heavy story but one that leaves you smiling, maybe even nostalgic for a time when people gathered under twinkling lights and simple joys meant everything.

[Dan Burkett · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title is a complete misnomer. I was excited to return to the Biedermeier at Christmastime, but honestly, it just feels like these were storylines that perhaps didn’t fit into the narrative of Women’s Hotel, so instead they were reworked to take place in November and December to be able to market this as a Christmas story. It is not.

If you liked Women’s Hotel, this is an okay installment, but truly, only okay. In this installment, Lavery is able to just scratch the surface of the charming idiosyncrasies that made Women’s Hotel sing, but overall, the tales are deeply shallow, and I’m left asking myself what was the point?

Similar to the first installment, Katherine’s arc is the most developed, and I did enjoy spending more time with her, but aside from the very occasional allusion to the season, this story being set at Christmastime had no impact on the stories that were shared.

[Gabby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not a very long story but it was such a boring story for me. I picked up this book because I really loved the cover and it's coming to Christmas time. I tried so many time to get into this book but it was so depressing for me. I liked the stories of Lucianne and Katherine. Its too bad that Katherine couldn't reconnect with her family because of her past and unfortunately her sister, Helene, only wanted her to use her address so that she can go off on this pretend college that looks like it was the makings of a future cult. I hope that Lucianna and Tom (or Eugene Bolton) can live happily ever after so that Lucianne can give up this male escort service that for sure was only going to bring legal repercussions in the future.

[AM · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Christmas at the Women’s Hotel* is a quirky, atmospheric little story that blends Lavery’s signature wit with a touch of melancholy. The setting—a slightly offbeat hotel filled with even more offbeat guests—creates a cozy-but-strange holiday backdrop that’s enjoyable to sink into. Lavery’s writing shines brightest in the sharp dialogue and clever observations that give the novella its charm.

That said, the story feels a bit uneven. The emotional threads don’t always land as strongly as they seem meant to, and the pacing wavers between whimsical and wandering. By the end, I was left wishing for just a bit more depth and cohesion.

Still, its humour, holiday mood, and unique voice make it a pleasant seasonal read.

[Cindi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher and Net Galley for providing an ALC!

This is book 1.5 of a series. I haven't read book 1, nor anything else by the author. And, this is a Christmas book! So get ready for holiday hijinks.

This book reminded me of a nice holiday newsletter an old friend or family member included with a card for a catch up. Pleasant, but if you don't remember all of the characters from previous interactions, it's not going to be as much fun.

I didn't love it, and I didn't hate it. I would consider reading book 1 and others by the author, but this is very much the 'cozy' sort.

3 stars.

[Holly Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters of Biedermeier, a women’s only boarding room hotel, in NYC are back in this delightful novella. Follow up to Women’s Hotel in time for the holiday season. Author Daniel Lavery has written a cozy mystery with several storylines that intersect with each characters odd jobs. Several tenants and workers are not as they appear. Behind closed door is a jewelry burglar, escort operator, and money schemer. This was a charming quick read. If you enjoy women’s fiction and NYC nostalgia of a bustling city during winter then give this one a read.

I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming and quick read, great for fans of Rona Jaffe or early Fiona Davis.

The midcentury women’s boarding house is a favorite in women’s fiction, and it’s done relatively well here. I do think it helps to have read the original novel, as this is a novella focused on the same group of people and doesn’t work quite as well as a standalone.

It’s also not really all that Christmasy, which was disappointing. But otherwise it’s aesthetically and atmospherically pleasing, and captures the experience of the historical women’s hotel fairly well.

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[Lisa Clark · Rating 1 out of 5]

I listened to this book two times. I felt that I didn't get anything out of it the first time I listened to it. It was as if I was hearing the words, but not processing what they were saying. So I decided to wait a week and listen to it again. I remember hearing the words--I told myself--oh yeah, this happens at this part of the story. Can I tell you what the book was about? No. I haven't a clue.
I love the cover and title of the book, and I have another Women's Hotel book (that I have not yet read).
I am not going to recommend this book to anyone, and if asked, I will just have to tell them, I have no clue what this book was about.