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Christmas People
Some people are Christmas people, but Jill Jacobs is most certainly not. She hasn’t been ever since her hometown love broke her heart on Christmas Day three years ago. After that, Jill moved to L.A. to pursue her dream of becoming a screenwriter. She hasn’t been home in years to avoid her ex, but this winter she finds herself back in drab, suburban Illinois for the holidays.
After one very hazy night, Jill wakes up to a hometown that's filled with jolly neighbors, covered in pristine white snow, and seasoned with the smell of peppermint. She realizes that this is more than just a bad hangover… she's stuck in a Heartfelt movie. One set in her town, starring real people from her life, including her family, her high school crush (uber perfect, owns a bakery, and definitely a Christmas Person), and of course, her ex—handsome as ever and now exclusively clad in plaid flannel.
The only way out of this bizarro world is to complete the plot of the movie, including a holiday bake off and a cookie-sweet love story. To get home in time for Christmas, Jill must act out a picture-perfect holiday romance with the one that got away, all while her ex watches on. Fa la la la freaking la….
10 hr. 18 min.
After one very hazy night, Jill wakes up to a hometown that's filled with jolly neighbors, covered in pristine white snow, and seasoned with the smell of peppermint. She realizes that this is more than just a bad hangover… she's stuck in a Heartfelt movie. One set in her town, starring real people from her life, including her family, her high school crush (uber perfect, owns a bakery, and definitely a Christmas Person), and of course, her ex—handsome as ever and now exclusively clad in plaid flannel.
The only way out of this bizarro world is to complete the plot of the movie, including a holiday bake off and a cookie-sweet love story. To get home in time for Christmas, Jill must act out a picture-perfect holiday romance with the one that got away, all while her ex watches on. Fa la la la freaking la….
10 hr. 18 min.
11 pages, Audible Audio
First published September 30, 2025
316 people are currently reading
22300 people want to read
About the author
Iva-Marie Palmer
11 books270 followersIva-Marie Palmer is the author of the young adult novels Gimme Everything You Got and The End of the World as We Know It. She also wrote the Gabby Garcia's Ultimate Playbook series and Oh My Dog! for middle grade readers, as well as the books Romeo, Juliet and Jim and the Edgar Award-nominated The Jules Verne Prophecy with co-writer Larry Schwarz. Christmas People is her first adult novel.
Before writing professionally, Palmer worked as an award-winning community news reporter in Chicago's South Suburbs and as a web editor for the Walt Disney Company. She also got to know many a Christmas person working at a Hallmark store through high school and college.
Palmer now resides in Burbank, California with her husband and two sons.
Before writing professionally, Palmer worked as an award-winning community news reporter in Chicago's South Suburbs and as a web editor for the Walt Disney Company. She also got to know many a Christmas person working at a Hallmark store through high school and college.
Palmer now resides in Burbank, California with her husband and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 750 reviews
October 22, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up, cute and a bit spicy.
Jill is a struggling screenwriter in LA. She wants to be taken seriously for her quirky screenplays, but no one seems to be interested. Her only possibility is writing for the Heartfelt (read Hallmark) channel, and Jill doesn't want to stoop to that. She had a bad breakup back home with her ex, Grant, who went to New York to become a chef while she went to LA to pursue her own dreams. When she gets back home for the holidays, she gets quite drunk and wakes up in an alternate reality: Sweetville, where everything is holiday themed and full of Heartfelt channel tropes, including a baking contest.
I did enjoy this book, I listened to the audiobook narrated by Patti Murin and she is the absolute best at narrating snarky romcoms. I wasn't always the biggest fan of Jill or her hang ups, but I also appreciated her character growth and the realizations she came to after everything she experienced. The romance did not turn out the way I was expecting at first, it didn't go the typical way a Hallmark movie would go. I adored the way it ended and found some of the parts really touching, particularly when Jill reconnects with her best friend. I liked that Jill eventually took the time to examine some of her past actions, although it took the book a while to get going with that. The reason for my 3.5 stars was because the pacing was a bit slow to get going but once it did I enjoyed the book.
This is a fun book, not particularly Christmassy but definitely holiday themed. If you love Hallmark Christmas movies you should definitely give this one a chance. Just be forewarned it's a lot spicier than your average Hallmark tale.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Jill is a struggling screenwriter in LA. She wants to be taken seriously for her quirky screenplays, but no one seems to be interested. Her only possibility is writing for the Heartfelt (read Hallmark) channel, and Jill doesn't want to stoop to that. She had a bad breakup back home with her ex, Grant, who went to New York to become a chef while she went to LA to pursue her own dreams. When she gets back home for the holidays, she gets quite drunk and wakes up in an alternate reality: Sweetville, where everything is holiday themed and full of Heartfelt channel tropes, including a baking contest.
I did enjoy this book, I listened to the audiobook narrated by Patti Murin and she is the absolute best at narrating snarky romcoms. I wasn't always the biggest fan of Jill or her hang ups, but I also appreciated her character growth and the realizations she came to after everything she experienced. The romance did not turn out the way I was expecting at first, it didn't go the typical way a Hallmark movie would go. I adored the way it ended and found some of the parts really touching, particularly when Jill reconnects with her best friend. I liked that Jill eventually took the time to examine some of her past actions, although it took the book a while to get going with that. The reason for my 3.5 stars was because the pacing was a bit slow to get going but once it did I enjoyed the book.
This is a fun book, not particularly Christmassy but definitely holiday themed. If you love Hallmark Christmas movies you should definitely give this one a chance. Just be forewarned it's a lot spicier than your average Hallmark tale.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
May 26, 2025
What a great cozy Christmas story! This book will be perfect to read around Christmas time. I found it to be funny, emotional, lighthearted, reflective and hopeful! It really pulled me into the magical realism aspect of this story. It is easy to read and entertaining! This comes with lovable characters and is character driven. It just had me feeling like I was by a fireplace, drinking some hot cocoa and watching a lighthearted movie. I found that it did start off a little slow for me, but it did pick up towards the middle of the book. It comes with a clear thesis, a well executed plot, twists, a romance and a wonderful holiday story! It comes with a little spice and a feel good ending! I really enjoyed this author and I will be reading more of her books!
“Christmas People” is a novel about a woman named Jill that moves to Los Angeles from her hometown to pursue her passion of becoming a screenwriter. She had her heart broken on Christmas Eve in her hometown of Illinois, three years ago. However, she ends up going back to her hometown years later. While she’s in her hometown, she falls asleep and wakes up in a heartwarming Christmas story! It’s full of love, sweetness and joy! This book is just wonderful! Overall, I rate this a 4 out of 5 stars!
I would recommend this book to anyone that loves watching Christmas Hallmark movies! This book is a very clean read and full of happiness!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Iva-Marie Palmer and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be published on September 30, 2025!
“Christmas People” is a novel about a woman named Jill that moves to Los Angeles from her hometown to pursue her passion of becoming a screenwriter. She had her heart broken on Christmas Eve in her hometown of Illinois, three years ago. However, she ends up going back to her hometown years later. While she’s in her hometown, she falls asleep and wakes up in a heartwarming Christmas story! It’s full of love, sweetness and joy! This book is just wonderful! Overall, I rate this a 4 out of 5 stars!
I would recommend this book to anyone that loves watching Christmas Hallmark movies! This book is a very clean read and full of happiness!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Iva-Marie Palmer and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be published on September 30, 2025!
August 8, 2025
This was such a cheerful, feel good holiday read. I compare it to Hallmark Christmas movies, and I can't complain about it. The audiobook was a joy to listen to, even when it was 90° outside. The main character, Jill Jacobs, heads back to her hometown, reluctantly. After a night of drinking, she wakes up trapped in a heartfelt movie, in her own town, with the real people in her life. In order to get back to her life, and out of this bizarre world is to complete the holiday romance. A really cute audiobook.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
June 8, 2025
I received a free copy of, Christmas People, by Iva-Marie Palmer, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Jill does not care for Christmas after having her heart broken on Christmas. Jill is back home for Christmas this year, and is not that happy about it. What should of been a great read is not, it sound like it would be, Christmas hater finds herself in a hallmark movie, though people dont swear in Hallmark movies, which is why I love them.
September 22, 2025
On the plus side, this was super festive! I love magical realism, especially in a holiday read. Jill is a screenwriter who’s hated Christmas ever since she was dumped on Christmas Day three years ago. Heading home for the first time since, a drunken night in a sleigh lands her trapped inside a Hallmark-style Christmas movie set in her own town. And Sweetville has it all. Her handsome ex, her high school crush, and even a Christmas baking competition!
The whole setup pokes fun at Hallmark tropes in a really fun way, and I thought the celebration of love stories, including the life lessons Jill learns along the way, was incredibly sweet. The ending itself was really cute, too! But I struggled with Jill the majority of the time. She’s grumpy, snarky, and extremely self-pitying in a way that wasn’t endearing for me. I can appreciate her scrappy and determined attitude, but the constant wallowing got a little exhausting after a while.
If you know me, I absolutely love a good love triangle. But though I was happy enough with the endgame pairing, I didn’t really feel the chemistry with either guy. Part of the problem was that so much of the relationship development happened in the alternate reality. The conflicts in Sweetville mirrored the conflicts in Jill’s real life, but once they were “fixed” there, it felt a little too easy to just carry those solutions into the real world. It left the romance feeling a bit unsatisfying to me.
10/10 for the overall festive vibes. But sadly, everything else was just ok for me.
(heat level: 1 open-door scene, moderate details)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The whole setup pokes fun at Hallmark tropes in a really fun way, and I thought the celebration of love stories, including the life lessons Jill learns along the way, was incredibly sweet. The ending itself was really cute, too! But I struggled with Jill the majority of the time. She’s grumpy, snarky, and extremely self-pitying in a way that wasn’t endearing for me. I can appreciate her scrappy and determined attitude, but the constant wallowing got a little exhausting after a while.
If you know me, I absolutely love a good love triangle. But though I was happy enough with the endgame pairing, I didn’t really feel the chemistry with either guy. Part of the problem was that so much of the relationship development happened in the alternate reality. The conflicts in Sweetville mirrored the conflicts in Jill’s real life, but once they were “fixed” there, it felt a little too easy to just carry those solutions into the real world. It left the romance feeling a bit unsatisfying to me.
10/10 for the overall festive vibes. But sadly, everything else was just ok for me.
(heat level: 1 open-door scene, moderate details)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 20, 2025
This one sounded like a great candidate for my holiday reading binge. Jill, a struggling screenwriter, who has nothing to show for her years out in LA, has now been reduced to writing a sappy Hallmark Heartfelt Christmas story. She heads back home to IL, a place she’s avoided for way too many years and embarrassed of being such a failure to her family as well as fear of her running into her ex, Grant, who left her for a great chef job in NY, and she left for LA with a dream of writing films.
From there, the story takes off into a very familiar Hallmark Heartfelt storyline: girl falls asleep and wakes up in the past in time to correct some mistakes and change her future. It’s an entertaining trope and one that has a lot of opportunities for laughs and some cringe worthy moments. I like Jill, she’s snarky and self-deprecating that produces some hilarious moments. Both Grant, as the hunky stud, in his role of “the one that got away” and Cory, as the former crush and current widower, as the potential love interests were good characters. Deep into the second half, the story veers off the Hallmark/Heartfelt track with a load of hot and steamy, if you know what I mean.
The character development for Jill, Grant and one or two other characters was good; the rest were just talking heads. The pacing was steady and the story entertaining. The writing was on par for a sappy Christmas story. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.9 that I will round up to a 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #MacmillanAudio #ChristmasPeople
From there, the story takes off into a very familiar Hallmark Heartfelt storyline: girl falls asleep and wakes up in the past in time to correct some mistakes and change her future. It’s an entertaining trope and one that has a lot of opportunities for laughs and some cringe worthy moments. I like Jill, she’s snarky and self-deprecating that produces some hilarious moments. Both Grant, as the hunky stud, in his role of “the one that got away” and Cory, as the former crush and current widower, as the potential love interests were good characters. Deep into the second half, the story veers off the Hallmark/Heartfelt track with a load of hot and steamy, if you know what I mean.
The character development for Jill, Grant and one or two other characters was good; the rest were just talking heads. The pacing was steady and the story entertaining. The writing was on par for a sappy Christmas story. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.9 that I will round up to a 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #MacmillanAudio #ChristmasPeople
December 4, 2025
2.5 Stars
This had a fantastic premise. A Christmas hating, failed screenwriter is magically transported to a Hallmark movie....I'm sorry a Heartfelt movie.
I should have loved it...I did love it.
The main character Jill, really ruined this book. She's not only annoying but she is so insecure with such low self esteem that I didn't want her to find happiness, because I liked the 2 potential love interest and I didn't want them stuck with her.
Jill kept wondering why anyone would want to be with her....
I was wondering the same thing.
I don't recommend but it wasn't awful.
This had a fantastic premise. A Christmas hating, failed screenwriter is magically transported to a Hallmark movie....I'm sorry a Heartfelt movie.
I should have loved it...I did love it.
The main character Jill, really ruined this book. She's not only annoying but she is so insecure with such low self esteem that I didn't want her to find happiness, because I liked the 2 potential love interest and I didn't want them stuck with her.
Jill kept wondering why anyone would want to be with her....
I was wondering the same thing.
I don't recommend but it wasn't awful.
October 1, 2025
ARC - 2/5⭐️ Jill, an L.A. screenwriter and Christmas hater, goes home for the holidays and the situation she finds herself in is nothing short of a hallmark movie. 🎄🎥💚
I wanted to love this one sooo bad!! I love Christmas and holiday romances…but this one just didn’t do it for me. I couldn’t stand Jill, I found her to be insufferable and annoying. I did appreciate how the plot was somewhat different than most holiday romances (at least compared to what I’ve read); it kept it interesting for me.
The writing was decent; some things just really turned me off. Overall, it was just painful for me to get through.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC 💚🍿
I wanted to love this one sooo bad!! I love Christmas and holiday romances…but this one just didn’t do it for me. I couldn’t stand Jill, I found her to be insufferable and annoying. I did appreciate how the plot was somewhat different than most holiday romances (at least compared to what I’ve read); it kept it interesting for me.
The writing was decent; some things just really turned me off. Overall, it was just painful for me to get through.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC 💚🍿
September 15, 2025
So... what would happen if you could live your life differently?
What about... if you could live like you were in something like a Hallmark Movie???
Think about that for a minute...
Now we have Jill Jacobs. She's a screenwriter... with a block. She hasn't been able to write anything good now for a while... so, she's working in a side job... just to make a little bit of money.
So, when her Mom calls and kind of guilt trips her into coming home to Illinois for the holidays, well... Jill FINALLY gives in.
She left there a few years ago after a split with her boyfriend/love of her life... and has never returned since.
So of course, she is going to STEER CLEAR of anywhere he might be when she gets there, right?
Yes!! And then, who's the first person she runs into? You got it! Grant!! Her ex!!
This one made me LOL multiple times! It was funny. It was real. It was also a bit dreamy and far fetched... but, that's what we love about the holidays... isn't it?? You never know what might be waiting for you around the corner at Christmastime!!!
And I loved how she ran into multiple love interests while there too!! Just a sweet story. (If you tune out Jill's cursing when she gets upset! LOL... )
Makes you think about what could have been... and maybe even, what still might be! ❤️
4 Big, Bright, Heartfelt 🌟❤️🌟❤️🌟❤️🌟❤️ stars for me!!
#ChristmasPeople by @IvaMariePalmer and narrated nicely by @PattiMurin.
*** This one has NOT BEEN RELEASED YET!! Please, look 👀 for it in a few weeks on 9/30/25! ***
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
What about... if you could live like you were in something like a Hallmark Movie???
Think about that for a minute...
Now we have Jill Jacobs. She's a screenwriter... with a block. She hasn't been able to write anything good now for a while... so, she's working in a side job... just to make a little bit of money.
So, when her Mom calls and kind of guilt trips her into coming home to Illinois for the holidays, well... Jill FINALLY gives in.
She left there a few years ago after a split with her boyfriend/love of her life... and has never returned since.
So of course, she is going to STEER CLEAR of anywhere he might be when she gets there, right?
Yes!! And then, who's the first person she runs into? You got it! Grant!! Her ex!!
This one made me LOL multiple times! It was funny. It was real. It was also a bit dreamy and far fetched... but, that's what we love about the holidays... isn't it?? You never know what might be waiting for you around the corner at Christmastime!!!
And I loved how she ran into multiple love interests while there too!! Just a sweet story. (If you tune out Jill's cursing when she gets upset! LOL... )
Makes you think about what could have been... and maybe even, what still might be! ❤️
4 Big, Bright, Heartfelt 🌟❤️🌟❤️🌟❤️🌟❤️ stars for me!!
#ChristmasPeople by @IvaMariePalmer and narrated nicely by @PattiMurin.
*** This one has NOT BEEN RELEASED YET!! Please, look 👀 for it in a few weeks on 9/30/25! ***
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
October 6, 2025
Christmas People by Iva-Marie Palmer
Contemporary holiday romance with time slip. Second chance troupe.
Jill Jacobs is not fond of the Christmas holiday. She’d avoid it if she could. But life isn’t that easy and she finds herself in a fake small town movie situation where she has to choose between the hometown widower who needs to win the cookie contest for his family and her ex who also needs the prize. It’s not real, is it? How can she get home? Does she want to go home to her single life?
🎧 I alternated between an ebook and audiobook for this story. The narration is performed by Patti Murin who does a wonderful portrayal of Jill and her changing attitude and feelings as the story progresses. I was able to feel and hear her disbelief, careful hope and confusion in the playback. I did listen at a higher speed so I could read along with the ecopy and didn’t notice any degradation at local conversational speed.
I didn’t think I wanted to read another time alternative story but really ended up enjoying this. Jill is disillusioned with the holiday, small town and love. Going back to an alternative fake small town and playing in the baking contest with a hunky good guy and not being able to keep her eyes or hands off her ex is amusing. Troupes and set up of a holiday movie. Family little ones, business problems, flannel and Santa include some of the storyline that Jill has to consider - stay or go? Grant or Cory? We know she’s going to try again with Grant but can they get it right? I was a bit disappointed with the hero but the ending pulls it all together.
A little too raunchy (language and steam) for a holiday movie but that’s what made it fun. Her waking up in the sleigh was hilarious.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.
Contemporary holiday romance with time slip. Second chance troupe.
Jill Jacobs is not fond of the Christmas holiday. She’d avoid it if she could. But life isn’t that easy and she finds herself in a fake small town movie situation where she has to choose between the hometown widower who needs to win the cookie contest for his family and her ex who also needs the prize. It’s not real, is it? How can she get home? Does she want to go home to her single life?
🎧 I alternated between an ebook and audiobook for this story. The narration is performed by Patti Murin who does a wonderful portrayal of Jill and her changing attitude and feelings as the story progresses. I was able to feel and hear her disbelief, careful hope and confusion in the playback. I did listen at a higher speed so I could read along with the ecopy and didn’t notice any degradation at local conversational speed.
I didn’t think I wanted to read another time alternative story but really ended up enjoying this. Jill is disillusioned with the holiday, small town and love. Going back to an alternative fake small town and playing in the baking contest with a hunky good guy and not being able to keep her eyes or hands off her ex is amusing. Troupes and set up of a holiday movie. Family little ones, business problems, flannel and Santa include some of the storyline that Jill has to consider - stay or go? Grant or Cory? We know she’s going to try again with Grant but can they get it right? I was a bit disappointed with the hero but the ending pulls it all together.
A little too raunchy (language and steam) for a holiday movie but that’s what made it fun. Her waking up in the sleigh was hilarious.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.
October 3, 2025
*3.5 stars rounded up
Cute holiday romance with a bit of magical realism mixed in. Jill Jacobs is NOT a Christmas person. After her heart was broken on Christmas Eve three years ago, she moved to LA to try to find work as a screenwriter, but has had little success. This Christmas her mother has talked her into coming home to Illinois for the holidays...but will she run into the man who broke her heart?
The magical twist to the plot adds charm and holiday sparkle to the story. Be aware though there is some profanity and one fairly explicit sexual scene.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new novel. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Cute holiday romance with a bit of magical realism mixed in. Jill Jacobs is NOT a Christmas person. After her heart was broken on Christmas Eve three years ago, she moved to LA to try to find work as a screenwriter, but has had little success. This Christmas her mother has talked her into coming home to Illinois for the holidays...but will she run into the man who broke her heart?
The magical twist to the plot adds charm and holiday sparkle to the story. Be aware though there is some profanity and one fairly explicit sexual scene.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new novel. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
May 20, 2025
Cosy and cute read. If you want something easy to read I say give this a try.
December 12, 2025
Jill Jacobs hates Christmas ever since her ex broke her heart on Christmas Day. Now living in L.A. as an aspiring screenwriter, she reluctantly returns home to Illinois for the holidays. After a blurry night out, she wakes up to find herself trapped in a cheesy Heartfelt holiday movie version of her town—complete with snow, festive neighbors, her perfect high school crush, and her flannel-wearing ex. To escape, Jill must play out the movie’s plot, including a holiday bake-off and a sugary romance, forcing her to fake a picture-perfect love story with her old crush while her ex looks on.
Unfortunately I could not finish this one, Jill drove me nuts. She was selfish and whiny and so immature that it ruined all the holiday vibes I was hoping this book would bring. Not the feel good holiday book I was looking for at all!
Unfortunately I could not finish this one, Jill drove me nuts. She was selfish and whiny and so immature that it ruined all the holiday vibes I was hoping this book would bring. Not the feel good holiday book I was looking for at all!
December 11, 2025
4.5 stars
Fa la la la freaking la…. Thank you @macmillan.audio for the complimentary audiobook! All thoughts are my own.
Jill finds herself trapped in a movie set in her hometown she never wanted to go back to. It's Hallmark Christmas nightmare haunting her and she just has to make it through the plot before she can return home. A baking competition with a childhood crush AND her ex nemesis isn't exactly what she expected or wants but needs must.
There have been a few magical realism small town novels over the last few years and I have to say... This is my favorite! I love that Jill is a Grinch forced to deal with constant jolly on top of facing some big what ifs. She's sarcastic and snarky to some degree and I thought it was chuckle out loud worthy. It's the perfect type of book to make our hearts grow three sizes right along with Jill.
Patti Murin's take on Jill's character is a delight. I very much enjoyed her performance during the whole of it.
Fa la la la freaking la…. Thank you @macmillan.audio for the complimentary audiobook! All thoughts are my own.
Jill finds herself trapped in a movie set in her hometown she never wanted to go back to. It's Hallmark Christmas nightmare haunting her and she just has to make it through the plot before she can return home. A baking competition with a childhood crush AND her ex nemesis isn't exactly what she expected or wants but needs must.
There have been a few magical realism small town novels over the last few years and I have to say... This is my favorite! I love that Jill is a Grinch forced to deal with constant jolly on top of facing some big what ifs. She's sarcastic and snarky to some degree and I thought it was chuckle out loud worthy. It's the perfect type of book to make our hearts grow three sizes right along with Jill.
Patti Murin's take on Jill's character is a delight. I very much enjoyed her performance during the whole of it.
October 5, 2025
3.5 stars. I would have no issues with waking up in a Heartfelt movie.
I really enjoyed the separation of the real world and the movie world: Palmer shows that the real world is complicated and messy but there is still magic if you know where to look. Jill struggles in the “perfect” world because it’s a little too perfect - and working to be successful and perfect all the time is exhausting.
I probably would’ve rated this higher if Jill wasn’t so frustrating. She got in her own way constantly! In true real world fashion though, it didn’t work out for her. Because it took so long for her to get her head out of her ass, the ending with Grant felt rushed.
Overall a cute book to kick off the Christmas season (btw the Christmas season in my house starts earlyyyyyy)
Thank you to NetGalley, Iva-Marie Palmer, and St. Martin’s Griffin for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the separation of the real world and the movie world: Palmer shows that the real world is complicated and messy but there is still magic if you know where to look. Jill struggles in the “perfect” world because it’s a little too perfect - and working to be successful and perfect all the time is exhausting.
I probably would’ve rated this higher if Jill wasn’t so frustrating. She got in her own way constantly! In true real world fashion though, it didn’t work out for her. Because it took so long for her to get her head out of her ass, the ending with Grant felt rushed.
Overall a cute book to kick off the Christmas season (btw the Christmas season in my house starts earlyyyyyy)
Thank you to NetGalley, Iva-Marie Palmer, and St. Martin’s Griffin for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 1, 2025
This story has everything I absolutely love about rom-coms. The banter but also the sincerity. I was laughing from the first chapter. Jill is hilarious in a sometimes snarky, but mostly self deprecating way. Flawed in a relatable way. But also genuine. Genuinely loving. Genuinely generous. Genuinely awkward. So it was also touching. Heart wrenching. Heartwarming. Heartfelt…speaking of. Heartfelt movies is the pseudonym for Hallmark movies. (It made me cry. A few times. Which I am in for in a rom-com!)
I also really appreciated the take on Hallmark (Heartfelt) movies as a cultural phenomenon. It’s not a mockery of the genre but there is a gentle teasing.
A nod to how all of the things that real messy (ahem horny) people do in real life don’t show up in a made for TV movie. It’s so much fun to watch Jill bring her real, imperfect self to “Sweetville.”
Loved it loved it. All the stars! ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I also really appreciated the take on Hallmark (Heartfelt) movies as a cultural phenomenon. It’s not a mockery of the genre but there is a gentle teasing.
A nod to how all of the things that real messy (ahem horny) people do in real life don’t show up in a made for TV movie. It’s so much fun to watch Jill bring her real, imperfect self to “Sweetville.”
Loved it loved it. All the stars! ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 10, 2025
This was an okay Christmas romance. I loved the overall concept of the main character getting trapped in a Christmas movie, however I wasn’t the biggest fan of the main character, Jill. This book does have some cute moments and great Christmas movie vibes but it wasn’t a favorite read of mine.
Read this if you like:
🎄 Small town
🎄 Love triangle
🎄 Second chance
🎄 Christmas baking competitions
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted copy.
Read this if you like:
🎄 Small town
🎄 Love triangle
🎄 Second chance
🎄 Christmas baking competitions
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted copy.
Read
November 15, 2025Cute tale about Jill, who is most decidedly not a Christmas person, and the rest of her immediate world who is. She’s back in her hometown this year at Christmastime after living and working in Los Angeles as a screenwriter, and her family and childhood friends are there. She wakes up one morning after a night of drinking and finds herself in the middle of a heartwarming Christmas story! Her old boyfriend is there as well as other old friends, and it really had the flavor of a Hallmark movie. It did not have the stereotypical ending, but I liked it.
Four delightful stars! I switched back and forth between the book and the audiobook, the narrator was excellent.
I received a copy of the digital ARC and ALC via the publisher and NetGalley. My review is voluntary.
Four delightful stars! I switched back and forth between the book and the audiobook, the narrator was excellent.
I received a copy of the digital ARC and ALC via the publisher and NetGalley. My review is voluntary.
November 22, 2025
A perfect Christmas story.
Imagine waking up in your own personalized version of a Hallmark Christmas movie. That's exactly what happened to the MC Jill.
The book was full of perfect Christmas cheer, but a fictional life can't go on forever. Once Jill ends up back in reality, it's truly magical. I loved the connection between fiction and life. I do wish there were more of those magical little moments.
Imagine waking up in your own personalized version of a Hallmark Christmas movie. That's exactly what happened to the MC Jill.
The book was full of perfect Christmas cheer, but a fictional life can't go on forever. Once Jill ends up back in reality, it's truly magical. I loved the connection between fiction and life. I do wish there were more of those magical little moments.
December 16, 2025
i love holiday magic and second chance romances!!!
December 26, 2025
Christmas People by Iva-Marie Palmer is a charming holiday romance with a light magical twist—cozy, heartfelt, and gently whimsical. Jill, our main character, is firmly anti-Christmas and anti-hometown, thanks to a heartbreak a few years back that took the joy with it and never returned the ornaments.
As Jill’s defenses thaw (slowly, like frozen sidewalks in March), the story leans into found family, second chances, and just enough magic to keep things sparkly without getting complicated. It gave me strong Ashley Poston vibes—warm, emotionally sincere, and designed to make you believe in holiday miracles again… reluctantly.
⭐️⭐️⭐️¾
Comforting, festive, and lightly enchanted. Predictable in the best way—like rewatching a holiday movie you pretend you’re “not in the mood for” and then finishing with a smile anyway.
As Jill’s defenses thaw (slowly, like frozen sidewalks in March), the story leans into found family, second chances, and just enough magic to keep things sparkly without getting complicated. It gave me strong Ashley Poston vibes—warm, emotionally sincere, and designed to make you believe in holiday miracles again… reluctantly.
⭐️⭐️⭐️¾
Comforting, festive, and lightly enchanted. Predictable in the best way—like rewatching a holiday movie you pretend you’re “not in the mood for” and then finishing with a smile anyway.
July 6, 2025
Christmas People is a cozy, wink-at-the-audience kind of holiday romance that plays with all the classic tropes while giving the main character a surprisingly heartfelt journey. Jill, who’s totally over Christmas, finds herself stuck in a holiday movie version of her hometown, and watching her try to resist the magic (and the man) is a lot of fun.
It’s witty, warm, and just the right amount of ridiculous. Think Hallmark with a self-aware twist, but underneath all the festive fluff is a solid story about grief, healing, and choosing joy again.
Perfect for readers who love their holiday reads with a little sass, a little sparkle, and a lot of heart.
Note that while this is a cute holiday romance, and a lot of reviewers are comparing it to a Hallmark type feel, there is language and spice to this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and author Iva-Marie Palmer for this ARC.
It’s witty, warm, and just the right amount of ridiculous. Think Hallmark with a self-aware twist, but underneath all the festive fluff is a solid story about grief, healing, and choosing joy again.
Perfect for readers who love their holiday reads with a little sass, a little sparkle, and a lot of heart.
Note that while this is a cute holiday romance, and a lot of reviewers are comparing it to a Hallmark type feel, there is language and spice to this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and author Iva-Marie Palmer for this ARC.
June 21, 2025
This was cute!! Hallmark/Netflix Christmas movies hold a special place in my heart so I was definitely the target audience for this book. By the middle of the book, I had some doubts about how this was all going to come together. It got pretty depressing and I felt bad for Jill being so lonely and sad. However, the last few chapters really turned the story around and upped my rating from 3 to 4 stars! I also really liked how descriptive the writing was, especially for the setting and all the desserts! I’m already excited for Christmas despite the fact that it’s June LOL.
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC!
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC!
July 1, 2025
I was really excited for this Christmas book because it has a slight fantasy element which most Christmas books lack. I also happen to love Hallmark movies, and this main character finds herself trapped in her hometown which has gone from drab and boring to completely Hallmark-ified!
While I loved the premise of this, I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I was expecting to, mostly because of the main character Jill. She was pretty selfish and fatalistic and honestly didn’t treat any of her friends/family members/love interests very well. I also didn’t like that her interior monologue had so many innuendos and crude thoughts. I guess because the town is Hallmark inspired I was expecting this to be a clean read but it is not. There’s quite a bit of language and I don’t like seeing F-bombs in my Christmas books. There’s also a steamy scene which I wasn’t expecting.
I did like all the Christmas feels of the little town (I certainly liked them more than Jill who was quite a grump about being there) like all the hot chocolate and cookies. I also liked that Jill found herself identifying the tropes (a secret royal, developer coming to take over the small town, etc). Those were quite amusing and poked a little fun at the hallmark movies we all love.
If this had been a cleaner read though, I definitely would have liked it more.
While I loved the premise of this, I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I was expecting to, mostly because of the main character Jill. She was pretty selfish and fatalistic and honestly didn’t treat any of her friends/family members/love interests very well. I also didn’t like that her interior monologue had so many innuendos and crude thoughts. I guess because the town is Hallmark inspired I was expecting this to be a clean read but it is not. There’s quite a bit of language and I don’t like seeing F-bombs in my Christmas books. There’s also a steamy scene which I wasn’t expecting.
I did like all the Christmas feels of the little town (I certainly liked them more than Jill who was quite a grump about being there) like all the hot chocolate and cookies. I also liked that Jill found herself identifying the tropes (a secret royal, developer coming to take over the small town, etc). Those were quite amusing and poked a little fun at the hallmark movies we all love.
If this had been a cleaner read though, I definitely would have liked it more.
July 13, 2025
Unfortunately, Christmas People didn’t work for me. I went in expecting a heartwarming, Hallmark-style holiday romance, but what I got felt far from that. The tone was cruder and more sexual than I anticipated, which really pulled me out of the festive spirit I was hoping for.
I struggled a lot with the main character, who also serves as the narrator. She came across as selfish, whiny, and honestly quite dull. Her attitude made it hard to root for her or care about her journey, and I found it difficult to believe in the romance because I couldn't understand what anyone would see in her. There was little chemistry or development that made the relationship feel earned or compelling.
The plot also stretched believability, especially the rushed emotional beats, like how quickly she accepted the movie as “heartfelt” and meaningful. It just didn’t land for me. Finishing the book felt more like a chore than a joy.
That said, I did appreciate some of the descriptions of the town and Christmas decor, they were charming and added a nice visual touch. But overall, this one missed the mark for me.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
I struggled a lot with the main character, who also serves as the narrator. She came across as selfish, whiny, and honestly quite dull. Her attitude made it hard to root for her or care about her journey, and I found it difficult to believe in the romance because I couldn't understand what anyone would see in her. There was little chemistry or development that made the relationship feel earned or compelling.
The plot also stretched believability, especially the rushed emotional beats, like how quickly she accepted the movie as “heartfelt” and meaningful. It just didn’t land for me. Finishing the book felt more like a chore than a joy.
That said, I did appreciate some of the descriptions of the town and Christmas decor, they were charming and added a nice visual touch. But overall, this one missed the mark for me.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
September 4, 2025
This book did not hit the spot for me. I don’t know if it was because of the insufferable main character or the fact that I listened to this in the summertime.
What really set me off was the sexualization of Santa and Mrs. Claus. Like these people do not need to be sexualized/their sex life does not need to be talked about. It felt icky.
The humor was also a miss. I didn’t find Jill funny; I found her annoying (sorry).
This book was just not it.
What really set me off was the sexualization of Santa and Mrs. Claus. Like these people do not need to be sexualized/their sex life does not need to be talked about. It felt icky.
The humor was also a miss. I didn’t find Jill funny; I found her annoying (sorry).
This book was just not it.
October 8, 2025
Christmas People by Iva-Marie Palmer
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🎄🌟 Jumping the Gun or Just Spreading Cheer? A Review of Christmas People by Iva-Marie Palmer! 🌟🎄
Let's be honest, we're all a little bit early, but hey, Christmas in October is a thing, right? 😉 Getting into the holiday spirit while the pumpkins are still on the porch is a struggle I can relate to, especially when the TBR pile is screaming spooky season! 👻📚 Maybe I'll stick to a "no-Christmas-before-November" rule for my reading requests next year, but as much as I want to read all the holly jolly joy, my inner ghoul needs its fix first. 😅
🎁 The Book Itself: A Sleigh Ride into Hallmark Heaven 🎬
Now, onto Christmas People! This book is an absolute sweet treat that delivers on its promise of cozy, classic holiday charm. Seriously, if you've ever watched a Hallmark Christmas movie and thought, "I wish I could live there," then buckle up! Our protagonist, Jill, literally finds herself dropped right into the middle of one. 🤯
Jill is a self-proclaimed Christmas hater (which, I mean, who hurt you, Jill? 😂), and watching her begrudgingly wade through a sea of small-town cheer, festive lights, and hot cocoa is half the fun! She's determined to remain miserable, but you know the drill,the magic of the season is hard to resist! It's the perfect recipe for a feel-good, predictable, and totally charming escape. It's cute with a capital C and exactly what you need for some low-stakes, high-cheer reading. ✨
🤔 QOTD: Are you a Christmas Lover or a Hater? 🤷♀️
Drop a 🎅 if you're already listening to carols, or a Bah Humbug! if you agree with Jill (but seriously, why?!). 😉
#ChristmasPeopleReview #IvaMariePalmer #BookReview #NetGalley #ChristmasInOctober #HallmarkMovieVibes #CozyReads #HolidayBooks #3Stars
Keywords: Cute, Christmas Hater, Small Town, Festive, Hallmark, Predictable, Charming, Feel-Good.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🎄🌟 Jumping the Gun or Just Spreading Cheer? A Review of Christmas People by Iva-Marie Palmer! 🌟🎄
Let's be honest, we're all a little bit early, but hey, Christmas in October is a thing, right? 😉 Getting into the holiday spirit while the pumpkins are still on the porch is a struggle I can relate to, especially when the TBR pile is screaming spooky season! 👻📚 Maybe I'll stick to a "no-Christmas-before-November" rule for my reading requests next year, but as much as I want to read all the holly jolly joy, my inner ghoul needs its fix first. 😅
🎁 The Book Itself: A Sleigh Ride into Hallmark Heaven 🎬
Now, onto Christmas People! This book is an absolute sweet treat that delivers on its promise of cozy, classic holiday charm. Seriously, if you've ever watched a Hallmark Christmas movie and thought, "I wish I could live there," then buckle up! Our protagonist, Jill, literally finds herself dropped right into the middle of one. 🤯
Jill is a self-proclaimed Christmas hater (which, I mean, who hurt you, Jill? 😂), and watching her begrudgingly wade through a sea of small-town cheer, festive lights, and hot cocoa is half the fun! She's determined to remain miserable, but you know the drill,the magic of the season is hard to resist! It's the perfect recipe for a feel-good, predictable, and totally charming escape. It's cute with a capital C and exactly what you need for some low-stakes, high-cheer reading. ✨
🤔 QOTD: Are you a Christmas Lover or a Hater? 🤷♀️
Drop a 🎅 if you're already listening to carols, or a Bah Humbug! if you agree with Jill (but seriously, why?!). 😉
#ChristmasPeopleReview #IvaMariePalmer #BookReview #NetGalley #ChristmasInOctober #HallmarkMovieVibes #CozyReads #HolidayBooks #3Stars
Keywords: Cute, Christmas Hater, Small Town, Festive, Hallmark, Predictable, Charming, Feel-Good.
October 7, 2025
Christmas is not Jill Jacobs’ favorite time of the year. Not by a long shot. Three years ago the love of her life broke up with her on Christmas Day. He went to pursue a culinary career in New York, while she went off to Los Angeles to be a screenwriter.
To avoid seeing her former lover ever again, Jill hasn’t returned to her hometown in Illinois for the Christmas holidays. This year, however, she returns home with no job prospects in sight. Her parents suspect things aren’t going well for Jill, but they are so happy to have her home, they welcome her with open arms.
Unfortunately, things don’t go well for Jill and she ends up getting very drunk. When she wakes up, she finds that everything has changed. It’s as if she’s in a Heartfelt movie. Her hometown has suddenly become the perfect Christmas town.
Jill doesn’t know how or why this is happening, but she has no choice but to go along with it. In fact, she suddenly finds herself between two men, including her former lover.
The premise of this book is quite unusual. I can easily see this as a Hallmark movie. The cast of characters are well-written and fun. I could picture each one in real life.
My one problem is that sometimes I loved the heroine and sometimes not. There were a few times she made me want to shake some sense into her. She spent too much time making wrong assumptions about people instead of just talking through things. However, it didn’t take away my enjoyment of the book. I love the idea of finding yourself in the middle of a book.
It’s fun, light-hearted, and it made me laugh. It’s a “feel good” type of book. I’ll keep an eye out for future releases by this author.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
To avoid seeing her former lover ever again, Jill hasn’t returned to her hometown in Illinois for the Christmas holidays. This year, however, she returns home with no job prospects in sight. Her parents suspect things aren’t going well for Jill, but they are so happy to have her home, they welcome her with open arms.
Unfortunately, things don’t go well for Jill and she ends up getting very drunk. When she wakes up, she finds that everything has changed. It’s as if she’s in a Heartfelt movie. Her hometown has suddenly become the perfect Christmas town.
Jill doesn’t know how or why this is happening, but she has no choice but to go along with it. In fact, she suddenly finds herself between two men, including her former lover.
The premise of this book is quite unusual. I can easily see this as a Hallmark movie. The cast of characters are well-written and fun. I could picture each one in real life.
My one problem is that sometimes I loved the heroine and sometimes not. There were a few times she made me want to shake some sense into her. She spent too much time making wrong assumptions about people instead of just talking through things. However, it didn’t take away my enjoyment of the book. I love the idea of finding yourself in the middle of a book.
It’s fun, light-hearted, and it made me laugh. It’s a “feel good” type of book. I’ll keep an eye out for future releases by this author.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 13, 2025
Thank you so much st.martins press and Macmillan audio for the gifted copy and ALC
This one reminded me so much of a Netflix Christmas film lol who doesn’t love a little disguised Santa magic every now and then?
The one thing I loved about this book is that it wasn’t necessarily just a second chance romance between two people, but more so a second chance romance with yourself. Finding your self love to then give it to others how you want and how you want to receive it.
We have Jill, aspiring screenwriter in L.A. who is still hoping for her big break. Nothing seems to be going right for her so she decides to go back home for Christmas for the first time in 3 years since her and the love of her life broke up. Her expectations were low, as they should be because everything was a shitshow, mostly of her own doing lol but she wasn’t expecting to get drunk and end up in an alternate Christmas reality. Can she finally get it right this time?
“The problem with moving forward isn’t that you can’t look back; it’s that sometimes you’re looking back but the people you’re looking for aren’t looking for you.” - pg. 128
This one reminded me so much of a Netflix Christmas film lol who doesn’t love a little disguised Santa magic every now and then?
The one thing I loved about this book is that it wasn’t necessarily just a second chance romance between two people, but more so a second chance romance with yourself. Finding your self love to then give it to others how you want and how you want to receive it.
We have Jill, aspiring screenwriter in L.A. who is still hoping for her big break. Nothing seems to be going right for her so she decides to go back home for Christmas for the first time in 3 years since her and the love of her life broke up. Her expectations were low, as they should be because everything was a shitshow, mostly of her own doing lol but she wasn’t expecting to get drunk and end up in an alternate Christmas reality. Can she finally get it right this time?
“The problem with moving forward isn’t that you can’t look back; it’s that sometimes you’re looking back but the people you’re looking for aren’t looking for you.” - pg. 128
December 26, 2025
DNF at 37% - couldn’t do it. You know how there are really good, well made Hallmark movies with really good actors and then there are truly terrible ones that are just a train wreck and you just can’t believe they even produced it and put it on tv? This book is almost the second type.
The idea of the book is cute and the banter is light but it just has very little story line and I’m not at all connected with the characters. I’m just so bored and not wanting to read because of it. Time to move on.
TW:
- Language
- Lewd comments
- The writing is on the wall for spice but I didn’t get far enough to say for sure
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this review, all opinions are my own.
The idea of the book is cute and the banter is light but it just has very little story line and I’m not at all connected with the characters. I’m just so bored and not wanting to read because of it. Time to move on.
TW:
- Language
- Lewd comments
- The writing is on the wall for spice but I didn’t get far enough to say for sure
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this review, all opinions are my own.
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