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Can This Be Christmas?
Enjoy this beloved classic holiday tale from #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber.
On a cold and snowy December 24, a crowded train is taking holiday travelers home for Christmas. But because of the storm, a group of strangers is stranded together in a small, ramshackle New Hampshire station. Despite their disappointment over the breakdown in their holiday plans, they come together with local townspeople, who open up their hearts to the travelers and create a celebration that reminds them all what Christmas really means.
On a cold and snowy December 24, a crowded train is taking holiday travelers home for Christmas. But because of the storm, a group of strangers is stranded together in a small, ramshackle New Hampshire station. Despite their disappointment over the breakdown in their holiday plans, they come together with local townspeople, who open up their hearts to the travelers and create a celebration that reminds them all what Christmas really means.
Audible Audio
First published September 24, 1998
295 people are currently reading
1203 people want to read
About the author
Debbie Macomber
908 books20.7k followersDebbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot.
In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.
Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.
She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.
In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.
Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.
She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 356 reviews
February 2, 2016
This book was lovely and really honed in on the true meaning of Christmas. All of these strangers end up stranded in an old train depot on Christmas Eve in sour moods, arguing, fighting, and cursing about their troubles and no one wants to be in this place on this day. The true miracle of Christmas arrives in funny form though for all these strangers and they end up learning from one another. Such a fun book and great for the season. Definitely recommend!! It will put you in the mood for a season to remember!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2023
2.5 stars rounded up
A cute, short Christmas story and a fun listen. A group of strangers gets stranded together on Christmas Eve in a train due to weather conditions. At first, they are all upset by the unideal situation. They soon learn lessons from one another and begin to see the good in their circumstances. Overall, a lovely holiday story of friendship and making the best when life throws you curve balls.
A cute, short Christmas story and a fun listen. A group of strangers gets stranded together on Christmas Eve in a train due to weather conditions. At first, they are all upset by the unideal situation. They soon learn lessons from one another and begin to see the good in their circumstances. Overall, a lovely holiday story of friendship and making the best when life throws you curve balls.
December 22, 2024
True Macomber style here, wholesome, relationship focused, a sailor, an unhappy salesman in a rocky marriage, traditional family values, a struggling couple with an adopted baby, a widow, a single mum.. all trying to get home on a snow stormy Christmas Eve.
I was perplexed as it was written in 2022 and a public phone was the way to communicate, it's like she doesn't want to completely bow down to the way we do things now with smart phones and instant communication. I guess it suits the narrative.
Happy ever after as the motley crue of strangers come together, even sleeping in the train station waiting area.. and decorating a tree with mismatched belongings, and mysterious food turning up out of folks bags.
They also use both names when introducing each other, a little formal, I feel like things don't go this way in the real world. But it does suit the author's style.
I listened to this via the BorrowBox app and my public libary.
I was perplexed as it was written in 2022 and a public phone was the way to communicate, it's like she doesn't want to completely bow down to the way we do things now with smart phones and instant communication. I guess it suits the narrative.
Happy ever after as the motley crue of strangers come together, even sleeping in the train station waiting area.. and decorating a tree with mismatched belongings, and mysterious food turning up out of folks bags.
They also use both names when introducing each other, a little formal, I feel like things don't go this way in the real world. But it does suit the author's style.
I listened to this via the BorrowBox app and my public libary.
December 6, 2022
I've recently started listening to audiobooks more frequently and Can This Be Christmas is my latest "read". I really enjoyed it. Even with it being a short book, it was well developed and packed a punch when it comes to feeling and experiencing the Christmas time joys.
And to answer the question: Yes, it can be Christmas! :-)
Rating: PG
Language: some cussing, overall decent
Recommend: yes
And to answer the question: Yes, it can be Christmas! :-)
Rating: PG
Language: some cussing, overall decent
Recommend: yes
January 10, 2026
Can This Be Christmas by Debbie Macomber
Holiday romance novella.
A train traveling on Christmas Eve gets stranded by a snowstorm in a New Hampshire depot.
They started out as strangers. Unaware or uninterested in their fellow passengers but by the end of their forced time-out sitting on the train, they became co-conspirators on behalf of the holiday where kindness, and open hearts make the night a special journey to remember.
Touching and beautiful. The group shares in the spirits of the holiday even though they all had personal plans or troubles.
A small miracle of the season that particular night. Sweet and lovely.
Holiday romance novella.
A train traveling on Christmas Eve gets stranded by a snowstorm in a New Hampshire depot.
They started out as strangers. Unaware or uninterested in their fellow passengers but by the end of their forced time-out sitting on the train, they became co-conspirators on behalf of the holiday where kindness, and open hearts make the night a special journey to remember.
Touching and beautiful. The group shares in the spirits of the holiday even though they all had personal plans or troubles.
A small miracle of the season that particular night. Sweet and lovely.
November 29, 2025
Cute and wholesome, regular fashion Debbie Macomber book🎄💗
January 31, 2024
I liked the premise of this book: a bunch of grumpy strangers are stuck in a snowstorm at a train station during Christmas.
I got the characters mixed up so much throughout. There’s a lot of them. It’s a TWO HOUR audiobook and I restarted after 20 minutes because I couldn’t keep anyone straight 😄
One use of the b-word that felt unnecessary.
I liked the wrap up but it felt rushed. Why such a short book? It had good bones, but the execution was messy for me.
I got the characters mixed up so much throughout. There’s a lot of them. It’s a TWO HOUR audiobook and I restarted after 20 minutes because I couldn’t keep anyone straight 😄
One use of the b-word that felt unnecessary.
I liked the wrap up but it felt rushed. Why such a short book? It had good bones, but the execution was messy for me.
December 19, 2011
I work at my local library and I see Debbie's books on the shelving carts every time I shelve.
She is popular as hell and I wanted to know why her books are so great. So I picked this up from the library and devoured it in one-sitting. It was a wonderful Christmas story and the characters couldn't be more real. This is about some strangers who end up being stuck at a train depot for christmas eve and they all begin to become friends and enjoy christmas together. I loved this book and I will be picking up another Macomber book in the near future. Perfect for Christmas.
-R.D.
She is popular as hell and I wanted to know why her books are so great. So I picked this up from the library and devoured it in one-sitting. It was a wonderful Christmas story and the characters couldn't be more real. This is about some strangers who end up being stuck at a train depot for christmas eve and they all begin to become friends and enjoy christmas together. I loved this book and I will be picking up another Macomber book in the near future. Perfect for Christmas.
-R.D.
November 16, 2017
great short story by debbie I have come to love all the characters in each and every story This one shows how people can come together at such a horrible time!
December 11, 2023
I enjoyed this short story!
December 16, 2024
this was terrible, an advertisement for zero communication skills, depressing too🫣
December 28, 2023
Reread, Dec 19—27, 2023
Nov 19, 2017: This is an older novella, written in a much different style from Macomber's other works. I enjoyed this holiday story about several travelers who are stranded at a train station in a storm. All have their own personal struggles of some sort, all struggle to keep the spirit of Christmas as they deal with trying circumstances, and they all end up mutually helping each other and coming to resolutions in regards to their struggles. There is a recently widowed grandmother, a young military man ready to propose to his girlfriend, new parents who have adopted and are struggling with their baby, a man unsuccessfully juggling the demands of work and family, and more. The sense of peace at the conclusion makes this novella a worthy read.
Nov 19, 2017: This is an older novella, written in a much different style from Macomber's other works. I enjoyed this holiday story about several travelers who are stranded at a train station in a storm. All have their own personal struggles of some sort, all struggle to keep the spirit of Christmas as they deal with trying circumstances, and they all end up mutually helping each other and coming to resolutions in regards to their struggles. There is a recently widowed grandmother, a young military man ready to propose to his girlfriend, new parents who have adopted and are struggling with their baby, a man unsuccessfully juggling the demands of work and family, and more. The sense of peace at the conclusion makes this novella a worthy read.
December 5, 2023
An adorable Christmas story! It’s a novella so it’s a quick and easy read that’s still chock full of Christmas spirit. Loved this one!!
December 2, 2025
Quick read and a feel good one, too. Found this in my mom’s cabinet over Thanksgiving weekend. A lovely little way to ring in the Christmas season!
December 12, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this novella about travellers trapped in a old trainstation during a snowstorm. It combines the stories of a young soldier on his way to propose to his girlfriend, a salesman with marital problems, a recently widowed grandmother, and a couple who has adopted their first child. As usual, Macomber does a beautiful job of bringing their stories together in heartwarming ways. The travelers at first are tense and irritable but as their personalities work on each other, they rise to become their better selves and change the worst Christmas ever into one they will never forget.
October 15, 2023
Sweet Christmas novella with a simple plot and fun characters.
December 3, 2023
Very cute happy Christmas book to put you in the mood!
December 14, 2024
Cute little story for Christmas showing the real meaning of 🎄
January 6, 2025
A short Christmas story about strangers stranger in a train station on Christmas Eve
August 30, 2024
I think my rating has more to do with the audio narration. Just very cheesy and too predictable. It was a typical story for Christmas, overcoming grumpiness and strife and feeling the Christmas spirit. Not an audiobook I’ve enjoyed as much as some others lately.
June 12, 2012
Can this be Christmas? A handful of people have been rerouted from a plane to a train to get from Maine to Boston. They made it as far as New Hampshire and the train no longer can go further.
Rather than telling you about all the people involved I think this book is more about how the all come together and make the celebration a good one. How they can take
just the bare essentials and make them glorious. Not only do they each step up but the community come to the rescue as well as all of them are not going to make it home
for the holiday. The time also gives them each the hours they need to think things through to make changes in their lives, once they are back home.
Love how this story really happened, in a different location to Debbie's parent. I know Snoqualmie area and I can see this happening. Glad she can write such a touching story.
Rather than telling you about all the people involved I think this book is more about how the all come together and make the celebration a good one. How they can take
just the bare essentials and make them glorious. Not only do they each step up but the community come to the rescue as well as all of them are not going to make it home
for the holiday. The time also gives them each the hours they need to think things through to make changes in their lives, once they are back home.
Love how this story really happened, in a different location to Debbie's parent. I know Snoqualmie area and I can see this happening. Glad she can write such a touching story.
December 28, 2022
This short little book was quite nice. It’s a story about a group of strangers getting stuck on a train on Christmas Eve due to a snowstorm and being forced to spend it with each other. As the story moves along they slowly get to know each other and find different ways to pass the time. One thing I particularly enjoyed about this book is how it switches point of views. We’ll get a couple paragraphs about a young sailor trying to get home from the Navy to propose to his girlfriend and then we’ll get a paragraph about an elderly women mourning the loss of her late husband. We meet each individual person. This book poses the question ‘what is the true meaning of Christmas?’ in a very subtle yet impactful way. Definitely recommend ♥️🎄🚂
October 11, 2011
A little early for getting into the Christmas spirit, but that us exactly what this book has done for me. Macomber's characters took a bleak situation and were able to recognize the true meaning of Christmas within one another! Way to go -- more people need to look at things through "red and green glasses"!
Now, I'm off to do some Christmas baking!
Now, I'm off to do some Christmas baking!
December 20, 2016
No Christmas is perfect and this motley group of characters finds that out when their train is delayed and they are forced to spend Christmas Eve in a train depot. However, it is a story that makes the characters (and perhaps even the reader) stop and count their blessings and realize that things could be a lot worse.
very enjoyable and a clean read.
very enjoyable and a clean read.
December 3, 2020
I am overly emotional about Christmas this year, being that we can’t go home and spend it with our families. Maybe that’s why I’m so obsessed with Christmas books this year?? This little novella was heartfelt and wholesome. And it took place mostly in my home state of New Hampshire. I really enjoyed this one!
November 5, 2022
This was a great read to kick off the winter/Christmas season. After seeing this on Scribd and how short it was, I decided to pick it up and I’m so glad I listened to this. It’s exactly the type of thing I needed. While this is nothing new or exciting, it is the exact type of sweet, short and heartfelt story that will help lift your spirits.
December 27, 2013
Very cute Christmas story. Looking into the lives of several people who have problems in their lives unique to themselves, each reach within themselves to make the best of spending Christmas Eve in a train depot. Really cute and examines the true spirit of Christmas.
August 1, 2015
What a charming little story! It was a quick read (only about 90 pages) and easily finished in one sitting. I'd recommend this one to anyone looking for a cute Christmas story with a few "romantic" aspects. Lovely introduction to Debbie Macomber!
December 24, 2016
Took me 9 years but I finished...
Love this story I liked how all the snowed in passengers of the train made the most out of what they had, especially for all the children and older folks being stranded in a strange place. This was a feel good about Christmas kind of book!!
Love this story I liked how all the snowed in passengers of the train made the most out of what they had, especially for all the children and older folks being stranded in a strange place. This was a feel good about Christmas kind of book!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2022
3.7 - A quick little story to put you on the Christmas mood. Follows several people on their journey to Christmas Day. Bad weather and a broken train they are forced to make the best of a not so pleasant situation. They each have time to reflect on their relationship with loved ones.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 356 reviews