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The Best Christmas Choir Ever
The Best Christmas Choir Ever has descriptive copy which is not yet available from the Publisher.
Audible Audio
Published October 28, 2025
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About the author
Elizabeth Hrib
19 books98 followersElizabeth Hrib was born and raised in London, Ontario where she studied nursing at Western University. When she’s not working or writing, she can be found at the piano, planning her next Netflix binge, or attempting to keep her small, windowsill garden alive.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
December 18, 2025
3.5 stars
The Best Christmas Choir Ever is a short and sweet holiday romance. I liked the foundation of the romance, and I thought there were some very nice moments exploring the complexities of grief. I do wish the novel was a bit longer, as it sometimes felt a little rushed, but overall I had a really god time with this book. The benefit to it being quite short is that it's easy to squeeze this holiday read in before Christmas.
Thank you to Harlequin Audio and Harlequin Romance for the eARCs in exchange for an honest review!
The Best Christmas Choir Ever is a short and sweet holiday romance. I liked the foundation of the romance, and I thought there were some very nice moments exploring the complexities of grief. I do wish the novel was a bit longer, as it sometimes felt a little rushed, but overall I had a really god time with this book. The benefit to it being quite short is that it's easy to squeeze this holiday read in before Christmas.
Thank you to Harlequin Audio and Harlequin Romance for the eARCs in exchange for an honest review!
October 20, 2025
At just under 300 pages, this was surprisingly very cute and heartfelt. It does move at a pretty quick pace, and Julian’s expectations for his relationship with Charlie felt a little unrealistic considering they’d just reconnected—but Christmas settings just have a way of softening my nitpicking tendencies.
Helping her grandmother move into a new retirement facility, Charlie is surprised to discover that Julian, her former fling, is the activity director. Before she knows it, she’s reluctantly roped into volunteering as the music director for the residents, forming a choir to compete in the Twentieth Annual Christmas Choir Competition. And with a $20k grand prize on the line, the win could make a real difference for the community!
There’s a bit of miscommunication history between Charlie and Julian, but it’s all in good fun. Julian was so sweet and thoughtful, especially in his role at Glendale Retirement Village. He truly cared about the residents. I also really enjoyed the emotional grief subplot, with Charlie opening herself back up to music after losing her brother, who was also her performance partner.
And as you’d expect from a cast of elderly characters, the residents were the shining stars. Completely unfiltered and living their best lives, they brought so much humour and sass as they prepped for their performance, with plenty of festive fun along the way!
(heat level: 4 open-door scenes, explicit details)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Helping her grandmother move into a new retirement facility, Charlie is surprised to discover that Julian, her former fling, is the activity director. Before she knows it, she’s reluctantly roped into volunteering as the music director for the residents, forming a choir to compete in the Twentieth Annual Christmas Choir Competition. And with a $20k grand prize on the line, the win could make a real difference for the community!
There’s a bit of miscommunication history between Charlie and Julian, but it’s all in good fun. Julian was so sweet and thoughtful, especially in his role at Glendale Retirement Village. He truly cared about the residents. I also really enjoyed the emotional grief subplot, with Charlie opening herself back up to music after losing her brother, who was also her performance partner.
And as you’d expect from a cast of elderly characters, the residents were the shining stars. Completely unfiltered and living their best lives, they brought so much humour and sass as they prepped for their performance, with plenty of festive fun along the way!
(heat level: 4 open-door scenes, explicit details)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 15, 2025
a lovely audiobook listen; the meddling senior citizens who joined the choir were my favorite. This riff on the best christmas pageant ever was a bit grief heavy for me (heroine is deeply grieving her deceased brother, killed by cancer) but overall was a solid good time. I appreciated the heat and humor that helped balanced out the heavier parts of the story. Pacing was tight and felt like a category in the most positive sense of the word. would read more by the author!
October 16, 2025
Thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley for the complimentary early copy of The Best Christmas Choir Ever.
I requested this book because I’m a professional classical singer, and I was immediately intrigued that the heroine is a working soprano. I also usually enjoy Harlequin’s Afterglow line, so this one seemed like a great fit. Unfortunately, I ended up struggling with both the musical details and the romance.
Charlie Ward is avoiding her life and career after her brother’s death by helping her grandmother move into the Glendale Retirement Village. She’s a professional singer who used to perform with her conductor brother, and since his passing, she’s lost her motivation to make music. When she runs into Julian Guerrero—the retirement home’s activities director and her college summer fling—it’s an awkward reunion made worse when he pretends not to remember her.
The home’s music program has lost funding, so Julian comes up with a plan: enter the local Christmas choir competition, where the $20,000 grand prize could help keep the program alive. With a professional soprano now conveniently in town, he persuades Charlie to volunteer as the choir’s director.
It’s a cute setup, but there were a few things that didn’t quite add up for me, especially from a musician’s perspective:
- The idea that Charlie could transfer from Juilliard’s music program to its drama program isn’t realistic at all. Those are completely separate degrees that would require a full re-audition and a fresh start.
- My Fair Lady premiered on Broadway in 1956, not 1964 (that was the movie).
- The choice to move her grandmother’s piano into the retirement home rather than service the one already there felt impractical, especially for a program with no budget.
- Charlie hasn’t performed in years but somehow still has an active agent, which doesn’t align with how professional representation usually works.
- And the big conflict: Julian getting upset about Charlie accepting a prestigious New Year’s Eve concert with the New York Philharmonic instead of staying to volunteer—felt unrealistic and frustrating.
On the romance side, I wanted to root for Charlie and Julian, but it was tough. Julian’s emotional immaturity and insecurity made it hard to see what Charlie saw in him, and I found myself wishing the story leaned more toward her rediscovering her love of music than on rekindling this particular relationship.
I really enjoyed Elizabeth Hrib’s last book, which is why this one was disappointing for me. I think the premise had a lot of heart, but it needed more research and emotional balance between the leads to really land.
⭐️ 1.5 stars, rounded up for the premise and seasonal charm.
I requested this book because I’m a professional classical singer, and I was immediately intrigued that the heroine is a working soprano. I also usually enjoy Harlequin’s Afterglow line, so this one seemed like a great fit. Unfortunately, I ended up struggling with both the musical details and the romance.
Charlie Ward is avoiding her life and career after her brother’s death by helping her grandmother move into the Glendale Retirement Village. She’s a professional singer who used to perform with her conductor brother, and since his passing, she’s lost her motivation to make music. When she runs into Julian Guerrero—the retirement home’s activities director and her college summer fling—it’s an awkward reunion made worse when he pretends not to remember her.
The home’s music program has lost funding, so Julian comes up with a plan: enter the local Christmas choir competition, where the $20,000 grand prize could help keep the program alive. With a professional soprano now conveniently in town, he persuades Charlie to volunteer as the choir’s director.
It’s a cute setup, but there were a few things that didn’t quite add up for me, especially from a musician’s perspective:
- The idea that Charlie could transfer from Juilliard’s music program to its drama program isn’t realistic at all. Those are completely separate degrees that would require a full re-audition and a fresh start.
- My Fair Lady premiered on Broadway in 1956, not 1964 (that was the movie).
- The choice to move her grandmother’s piano into the retirement home rather than service the one already there felt impractical, especially for a program with no budget.
- Charlie hasn’t performed in years but somehow still has an active agent, which doesn’t align with how professional representation usually works.
- And the big conflict: Julian getting upset about Charlie accepting a prestigious New Year’s Eve concert with the New York Philharmonic instead of staying to volunteer—felt unrealistic and frustrating.
On the romance side, I wanted to root for Charlie and Julian, but it was tough. Julian’s emotional immaturity and insecurity made it hard to see what Charlie saw in him, and I found myself wishing the story leaned more toward her rediscovering her love of music than on rekindling this particular relationship.
I really enjoyed Elizabeth Hrib’s last book, which is why this one was disappointing for me. I think the premise had a lot of heart, but it needed more research and emotional balance between the leads to really land.
⭐️ 1.5 stars, rounded up for the premise and seasonal charm.
October 21, 2025
The Best Christmas Choir Ever by Elizabeth Hrib
Narrated by Ferdelle Capistrano
Thank you to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for this ALC — this is my honest review.
Charlie has returned home to move her grandmother into a retirement community while her parents are away in Europe. She’s staying at her grandmother’s house until Christmas, packing up memories she’s not ready to face, especially those tied to her late brother, Tom. Once a Broadway performer, Charlie has locked her love of music away with her grief. When her grandmother guilts her into volunteering with the community’s choir, Charlie finds herself working with Adrian, an old summer fling who claims he doesn’t remember her.
Tropes:
-Dual 3rd-person POV (Charlie & Adrian)
-Forced proximity
-Second chance romance
-Found family
TW: death of a sibling, dementia, abandonment
I wish that the trigger warnings were addressed at the beginning of the book because this book does contain some topics that might be upsetting to certain readers.
Let me start by saying that this was a fun holiday read. I really enjoyed it and went through it quickly. I think the pacing really works and no part of the story seemed to drag or felt too rushed.
There’s a lot of build-up around Charlie’s brother Tom. His memory plays a large role throughout the story without being fully explored for a long time. While I appreciated the emotional tension, I found myself getting anxious waiting for the inevitable reveal. I almost wish we’d learned about him earlier so I could sit with the grief rather than brace for it. However, when we finally got to this part, it was incredibly satisfying.
The early banter between Charlie and Adrian is fun but sometimes feels too intimate for where their relationship starts. It’s flirty and sharp, but a little too familiar too soon. That said, I liked how their dynamic evolved— they’re great foils for each other as they both work through different kinds of loss and fear.
I also wish we’d gotten to know the older residents of Glendale a bit more; their personalities peek through, but I wanted more personality and silliness from them. Still, the ending absolutely delivered. It’s warm, emotional, and tear-inducing (happy tears, don’t worry). That final quarter of the book boosted my rating from a 3.5 to a solid 4 stars.
The narration by Ferdelle Capistrano was excellent. She gave distinct voices and energy to both leads , especially Julian. Female narrators voicing male characters can sometimes pull me out of a story, but her performance felt natural and expressive. I also loved how she brought the residents of Glendale to life with just her tone and inflection. She gave them some of the personality that I thought they were missing.
In all, The Best Christmas Choir Ever is a heartwarming, holiday read with love, growth, and music at its core. This is a must read if you’re a sucker for a feel good holiday romance.
Narrated by Ferdelle Capistrano
Thank you to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for this ALC — this is my honest review.
Charlie has returned home to move her grandmother into a retirement community while her parents are away in Europe. She’s staying at her grandmother’s house until Christmas, packing up memories she’s not ready to face, especially those tied to her late brother, Tom. Once a Broadway performer, Charlie has locked her love of music away with her grief. When her grandmother guilts her into volunteering with the community’s choir, Charlie finds herself working with Adrian, an old summer fling who claims he doesn’t remember her.
Tropes:
-Dual 3rd-person POV (Charlie & Adrian)
-Forced proximity
-Second chance romance
-Found family
TW: death of a sibling, dementia, abandonment
I wish that the trigger warnings were addressed at the beginning of the book because this book does contain some topics that might be upsetting to certain readers.
Let me start by saying that this was a fun holiday read. I really enjoyed it and went through it quickly. I think the pacing really works and no part of the story seemed to drag or felt too rushed.
There’s a lot of build-up around Charlie’s brother Tom. His memory plays a large role throughout the story without being fully explored for a long time. While I appreciated the emotional tension, I found myself getting anxious waiting for the inevitable reveal. I almost wish we’d learned about him earlier so I could sit with the grief rather than brace for it. However, when we finally got to this part, it was incredibly satisfying.
The early banter between Charlie and Adrian is fun but sometimes feels too intimate for where their relationship starts. It’s flirty and sharp, but a little too familiar too soon. That said, I liked how their dynamic evolved— they’re great foils for each other as they both work through different kinds of loss and fear.
I also wish we’d gotten to know the older residents of Glendale a bit more; their personalities peek through, but I wanted more personality and silliness from them. Still, the ending absolutely delivered. It’s warm, emotional, and tear-inducing (happy tears, don’t worry). That final quarter of the book boosted my rating from a 3.5 to a solid 4 stars.
The narration by Ferdelle Capistrano was excellent. She gave distinct voices and energy to both leads , especially Julian. Female narrators voicing male characters can sometimes pull me out of a story, but her performance felt natural and expressive. I also loved how she brought the residents of Glendale to life with just her tone and inflection. She gave them some of the personality that I thought they were missing.
In all, The Best Christmas Choir Ever is a heartwarming, holiday read with love, growth, and music at its core. This is a must read if you’re a sucker for a feel good holiday romance.
November 20, 2025
⅘ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Best Christmas Choir Ever
Author: Elizabeth Hrib
Thank you to Harlequin Audio for my copy of this read! This was the perfect setup to get into the Christmas spirit, and bonus points for it being spicy 🥵 Charlie is helping her grandmother move into a new retirement home when she gets pulled into assisting with their annual Christmas choir. The twist? The activities director she’s working with is her ex. Here comes the tension, second chances, and plenty of holiday chaos. The audiobook was great! I really enjoyed the dual POV, even though it wasn’t duet-style and had only one narrator, the performance was still really well done and easy to follow. This was the perfect blend of funny, spicy, festive, and heartfelt. It just released on 10/28/25, and I highly recommend adding it to your holiday romance rotation!
The Best Christmas Choir Ever
Author: Elizabeth Hrib
Thank you to Harlequin Audio for my copy of this read! This was the perfect setup to get into the Christmas spirit, and bonus points for it being spicy 🥵 Charlie is helping her grandmother move into a new retirement home when she gets pulled into assisting with their annual Christmas choir. The twist? The activities director she’s working with is her ex. Here comes the tension, second chances, and plenty of holiday chaos. The audiobook was great! I really enjoyed the dual POV, even though it wasn’t duet-style and had only one narrator, the performance was still really well done and easy to follow. This was the perfect blend of funny, spicy, festive, and heartfelt. It just released on 10/28/25, and I highly recommend adding it to your holiday romance rotation!
November 29, 2025
This is exactly the audiobook I needed to kick off the Christmas Season. This is a cute little second chance romance novel. Most of the story revolves around a care facility that Charlie’s grandma was admitted to. She finds that the activities director is a man that she had a summer fling with back in the younger days. They had drifted apart at the end of the summer.
Charlie is asked and coerced to lead a group of residents in a newly formed choir. I think this touched me a lot because my mother recently passed on in a nursing home. She loved her friends and to participate in all the activities. In the book, Charlie’s brother also passed away.
I liked the story and the characters. There are a few spicy scenes in this book. When I finished the audiobook it made me smile. The romance was sweet too.
I want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the free early advanced copy of the audiobook. My review is voluntary.
Charlie is asked and coerced to lead a group of residents in a newly formed choir. I think this touched me a lot because my mother recently passed on in a nursing home. She loved her friends and to participate in all the activities. In the book, Charlie’s brother also passed away.
I liked the story and the characters. There are a few spicy scenes in this book. When I finished the audiobook it made me smile. The romance was sweet too.
I want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the free early advanced copy of the audiobook. My review is voluntary.
October 19, 2025
This was my first book by this author and I will more than likey read a few more from her.
I love second-chance romance books and this one did not disappoint. FMC, Charlie, is dealing with the grief of losing her brother and starts volunterring at the retirement home that her grandmother just moved into.
MMC, Julian, is also working at the retirement home as the activities director and this is not her first time meeting him.
Although I loved the book, I did not like the added spicy scenes. I feel like the book was already a cute enough story with the elders forming a choir to be able to hire a new activities director, so the added spice scene's for this book in particular were unnecessary in my opinion.
I listened to the audiobook and the narration was amazing.
This is definitely a cute, quick, Christmas read.
Thank you Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for this ALC!
I love second-chance romance books and this one did not disappoint. FMC, Charlie, is dealing with the grief of losing her brother and starts volunterring at the retirement home that her grandmother just moved into.
MMC, Julian, is also working at the retirement home as the activities director and this is not her first time meeting him.
Although I loved the book, I did not like the added spicy scenes. I feel like the book was already a cute enough story with the elders forming a choir to be able to hire a new activities director, so the added spice scene's for this book in particular were unnecessary in my opinion.
I listened to the audiobook and the narration was amazing.
This is definitely a cute, quick, Christmas read.
Thank you Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for this ALC!
August 7, 2025
Out October 28th, 2025
If Hallmark movies ever decided to spike the eggnog and crank up the sass, they'd end up with something like this festive romp. Elizabeth Hrib delivers a holiday romance that’s equal parts cinnamon-sweet and chili-pepper hot, with a choir that hits all the high notes—musically and emotionally. The small-town charm is dialed up to eleven, the banter is snappy enough to make your cocoa curdle, and the chemistry between the leads could melt the North Pole. It’s cozy, yes, but don’t let the knit sweaters fool you—this story has spice, and it’s not just in the gingerbread.
The plot? Think “Pitch Perfect” meets “Love Actually” with a dash of peppermint mischief. There’s drama in the alto section, secrets behind the soprano smiles, and a romance that crescendos like a well-timed key change. Hrib knows her tropes and plays them like a maestro, but she also sneaks in just enough originality to keep things fresh. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to belt out carols in July and text your ex just to see if they’ve joined a choir. In short: it’s merry, it’s spicy, and it’s absolutely worth singing about.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for this ARC!
If Hallmark movies ever decided to spike the eggnog and crank up the sass, they'd end up with something like this festive romp. Elizabeth Hrib delivers a holiday romance that’s equal parts cinnamon-sweet and chili-pepper hot, with a choir that hits all the high notes—musically and emotionally. The small-town charm is dialed up to eleven, the banter is snappy enough to make your cocoa curdle, and the chemistry between the leads could melt the North Pole. It’s cozy, yes, but don’t let the knit sweaters fool you—this story has spice, and it’s not just in the gingerbread.
The plot? Think “Pitch Perfect” meets “Love Actually” with a dash of peppermint mischief. There’s drama in the alto section, secrets behind the soprano smiles, and a romance that crescendos like a well-timed key change. Hrib knows her tropes and plays them like a maestro, but she also sneaks in just enough originality to keep things fresh. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to belt out carols in July and text your ex just to see if they’ve joined a choir. In short: it’s merry, it’s spicy, and it’s absolutely worth singing about.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for this ARC!
November 12, 2025
This was a quick read, which is a nice palate cleanser.
The banter in this book was well done. There were a lot of cheeky lines and fun holiday metaphors which I enjoyed greatly.
The setup is a good one and I liked the general plot of the story.
I did think the writing was rather stiff overall outside of the zinger lines, however, and the romance between the two characters was strictly sexual in nature. I did wish there was a little more actual romance/love there.
The falling out between the two characters was frustrating and made me dislike Julian quite a bit at the end. I do wish there had been a little more maturity there.
The narrator, Ferdelle Capistrano, did wonderful. I think if there had been two narrators, it would've elevated the audiobook.
The banter in this book was well done. There were a lot of cheeky lines and fun holiday metaphors which I enjoyed greatly.
The setup is a good one and I liked the general plot of the story.
I did think the writing was rather stiff overall outside of the zinger lines, however, and the romance between the two characters was strictly sexual in nature. I did wish there was a little more actual romance/love there.
The falling out between the two characters was frustrating and made me dislike Julian quite a bit at the end. I do wish there had been a little more maturity there.
The narrator, Ferdelle Capistrano, did wonderful. I think if there had been two narrators, it would've elevated the audiobook.
December 26, 2025
I prefer to watch cringey hallmark plots, not read them 🤷♀️
November 21, 2025
I told my aunt the name of this book I was reading and she asked if it was written by the same author as the Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Nope, definitely not!
This book was way more steam than plot. Which would definitely work for some people, but not for me. Even though it’s a second chance romance, the relationship felt too insta love for me and I didn’t buy it.
I was also surprised to find how little in this book was actually about music. I did feel the tension towards the end, which was great, but we spent the whole book building up to this choir concert, and then the author just completely skipped over it. I was very annoyed.
I also did not love the character arc of our female lead. I wanted her to regain her ambition, but she continues to just follow along with the career choices other people want her to do.
This book was way more steam than plot. Which would definitely work for some people, but not for me. Even though it’s a second chance romance, the relationship felt too insta love for me and I didn’t buy it.
I was also surprised to find how little in this book was actually about music. I did feel the tension towards the end, which was great, but we spent the whole book building up to this choir concert, and then the author just completely skipped over it. I was very annoyed.
I also did not love the character arc of our female lead. I wanted her to regain her ambition, but she continues to just follow along with the career choices other people want her to do.
did-not-finish
October 25, 2025I stopped reading at 27% when my incandescent rage overtook my ability to read this author's abuse of her poor heroine.
Look, I know not everyone knows what healthy love looks like, but the level of casual this author deals with grief, overwhelm, depression, and some other heavy topics makes me so angry on behalf of the heroine.
We meet the heroine, Charlie, when she's back in her grandma's hometown to help her move to a retirement home. Her parents are out of the country and her brother died 3 years ago, so it's just Charlie who has to help her grandma settle in and ALSO, somehow, get her grandma's large Victorian home ready for sale by January (a little over a month away).
Do you know how F'ing hard it is to go through a loved one's house, even while they're still alive? The idea that the whole family takes it for granted that Charlie can totally do it, not waiting for her parents to come home to help OR hiring her some help? That's F'd up. And this is treated like no big deal, over and over and over again.
When we meet the "hero", Julian, he acts like he doesn't remember Charlie. She remembers him fondly. They dated a summer during college but drifted apart after they both went back to college. Julian is dismissive and kinda an asshole. She tries to jog his memory by telling him how he asked her out and he's all "oh, I was asking out a lot of girls. I guess my method worked if you went with it".
OUCH!
Thankfully, it's not long before we get his POV and learn he felt like she abandoned him and he's trying to act like she didn't mean anything to him, even though she did. Do we ever get an apology from him to her for acting like a dick? Nope (at least not by the point where I stopped reading). Instead, we get him constantly thinking about how much her abandonment affected him.
Charlie is a talented singer/performer. Her brother and she used to perform together when he was alive and she's been severely affected by his death. It's obvious that she's dealing with some major depression as she tries to fight her grief. She hasn't performed in about 3 years, since he first got ill.
But, this author decides to put her in the situation where she needs to because "guilt". Her grandma insists that she help the retirement home (and Julian) by volunteering as their temporary music director. And this is when I started to get even angrier. When she says, "I have a lot to take care of with your house, grandma", her grandma is like "nah, you have plenty of hours in the day to be part of this music thing".
And Julian doesn't seem to have an empathetic bone in his body because he's like "ya! You can work for free even though you have this huge thing going on which I'm not going to even ask about but I could actually provide you some support but I'm forgetting that I was ever your friend and instead all I think about is myself but in a really 'nice' guy way who seemingly cares about the residents but not about the woman who I'm supposed to fall in love in during this book".
Like, author, you couldn't make him be aware AT ALL of the burden he's putting on the heroine? You couldn't give him a little empathy to see her side? I get it that you want to build up all this misunderstanding in the beginning, but you're losing me.
I kept going because nothing was TOO egregious... until this guy sees a flyer for a choir competition and decides that's how he's going to get the money to make their music program work. (for one, this is absolutely STUPID to think they could win a competition for a nonexistent choir) And instead of talking to the heroine in private and sharing his concerns and this idea, HE ANNOUNCES IT IN FRONT OVER EVERYONE AND WORKS TO SHAME THE HEROINE INTO HELPING THEM!!!
Let's recap. The heroine is ALONE in taking care of her grandma's house and getting it ready to sell in about a month. At the same time, she's supposed to whip a choir out of a bunch of rando old people!?
I was SO MAD. How dare the author be so obtuse and cruel to her heroine. THIS douche bag is supposed to be the hero!?
NO. Absolutely not.
I received this as an audiobook advanced reader copy and the narrator is fine. Not great... but not terrible. The story? NOT GOOD. In a romance, I want the partner to be someone I'm happy to see with my main character. This dude? Nope.
Look, I know not everyone knows what healthy love looks like, but the level of casual this author deals with grief, overwhelm, depression, and some other heavy topics makes me so angry on behalf of the heroine.
We meet the heroine, Charlie, when she's back in her grandma's hometown to help her move to a retirement home. Her parents are out of the country and her brother died 3 years ago, so it's just Charlie who has to help her grandma settle in and ALSO, somehow, get her grandma's large Victorian home ready for sale by January (a little over a month away).
Do you know how F'ing hard it is to go through a loved one's house, even while they're still alive? The idea that the whole family takes it for granted that Charlie can totally do it, not waiting for her parents to come home to help OR hiring her some help? That's F'd up. And this is treated like no big deal, over and over and over again.
When we meet the "hero", Julian, he acts like he doesn't remember Charlie. She remembers him fondly. They dated a summer during college but drifted apart after they both went back to college. Julian is dismissive and kinda an asshole. She tries to jog his memory by telling him how he asked her out and he's all "oh, I was asking out a lot of girls. I guess my method worked if you went with it".
OUCH!
Thankfully, it's not long before we get his POV and learn he felt like she abandoned him and he's trying to act like she didn't mean anything to him, even though she did. Do we ever get an apology from him to her for acting like a dick? Nope (at least not by the point where I stopped reading). Instead, we get him constantly thinking about how much her abandonment affected him.
Charlie is a talented singer/performer. Her brother and she used to perform together when he was alive and she's been severely affected by his death. It's obvious that she's dealing with some major depression as she tries to fight her grief. She hasn't performed in about 3 years, since he first got ill.
But, this author decides to put her in the situation where she needs to because "guilt". Her grandma insists that she help the retirement home (and Julian) by volunteering as their temporary music director. And this is when I started to get even angrier. When she says, "I have a lot to take care of with your house, grandma", her grandma is like "nah, you have plenty of hours in the day to be part of this music thing".
And Julian doesn't seem to have an empathetic bone in his body because he's like "ya! You can work for free even though you have this huge thing going on which I'm not going to even ask about but I could actually provide you some support but I'm forgetting that I was ever your friend and instead all I think about is myself but in a really 'nice' guy way who seemingly cares about the residents but not about the woman who I'm supposed to fall in love in during this book".
Like, author, you couldn't make him be aware AT ALL of the burden he's putting on the heroine? You couldn't give him a little empathy to see her side? I get it that you want to build up all this misunderstanding in the beginning, but you're losing me.
I kept going because nothing was TOO egregious... until this guy sees a flyer for a choir competition and decides that's how he's going to get the money to make their music program work. (for one, this is absolutely STUPID to think they could win a competition for a nonexistent choir) And instead of talking to the heroine in private and sharing his concerns and this idea, HE ANNOUNCES IT IN FRONT OVER EVERYONE AND WORKS TO SHAME THE HEROINE INTO HELPING THEM!!!
Let's recap. The heroine is ALONE in taking care of her grandma's house and getting it ready to sell in about a month. At the same time, she's supposed to whip a choir out of a bunch of rando old people!?
I was SO MAD. How dare the author be so obtuse and cruel to her heroine. THIS douche bag is supposed to be the hero!?
NO. Absolutely not.
I received this as an audiobook advanced reader copy and the narrator is fine. Not great... but not terrible. The story? NOT GOOD. In a romance, I want the partner to be someone I'm happy to see with my main character. This dude? Nope.
November 15, 2025
3.75⭐️
This one was sweet, festive, and surprisingly emotional. It’s under 300 pages and moves fast, which worked well overall, though some moments could’ve used a little more breathing room.
The premise is cute, and the stakes feel fun without being over-the-top.
One of the most moving parts of the book was Charlie reconnecting with music after losing her brother. That emotional thread was handled well and gave the story some real heart. It added depth without making things feel too heavy.
The seniors at Glendale easily stole the show. Their banter, energy, and no-filter attitudes were hilarious, and I wanted even more of them. Their personalities started to shine more in the second half, but I definitely would’ve loved a few extra scenes just for them.
As for the spice — yes, there are open door moments, but they felt kind of half-hearted. They didn’t quite bring the heat, and I honestly think the story could have worked just as well without them.
The ending brought it all home. It was warm, emotional, and had just the right amount of feel-good energy. That last section is what bumped my rating from a 3.5 to a 3.75.
Perfect for a cozy holiday read if you want light romance, heartwarming moments, and a lively cast of older characters who are absolutely living their best lives.
This one was sweet, festive, and surprisingly emotional. It’s under 300 pages and moves fast, which worked well overall, though some moments could’ve used a little more breathing room.
The premise is cute, and the stakes feel fun without being over-the-top.
One of the most moving parts of the book was Charlie reconnecting with music after losing her brother. That emotional thread was handled well and gave the story some real heart. It added depth without making things feel too heavy.
The seniors at Glendale easily stole the show. Their banter, energy, and no-filter attitudes were hilarious, and I wanted even more of them. Their personalities started to shine more in the second half, but I definitely would’ve loved a few extra scenes just for them.
As for the spice — yes, there are open door moments, but they felt kind of half-hearted. They didn’t quite bring the heat, and I honestly think the story could have worked just as well without them.
The ending brought it all home. It was warm, emotional, and had just the right amount of feel-good energy. That last section is what bumped my rating from a 3.5 to a 3.75.
Perfect for a cozy holiday read if you want light romance, heartwarming moments, and a lively cast of older characters who are absolutely living their best lives.
October 19, 2025
The Best Christmas Choir Ever was my first Christmas book of the 2025 holiday season, and it did not disappoint! Charlie and Julian falling in love again among a hilarious cast of senior citizens felt like listening to a more funny, spicier Hallmark movie. While funny and spicy, there is also an emotional element to the story as Charlie is learning to deal with her grief of losing her brother. Doris, Maggie, and Harriet steal the show throughout the book. The narrator, Ferdelle Capistrano, did an excellent job with all the different voices!
Thank you to Harlequin, NetGalley, and Elizabeth Hrib for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Harlequin, NetGalley, and Elizabeth Hrib for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 7, 2025
Loved this book! Such a cute fun Christmas romance! Charlie and her retirement home choir! This book takes you through Charlie finding herself again after the loss of her brother and finding her way back to the music she used to love.
Thank you NetGalley & Harlequin Audio for giving me the opportunity to listen to this audiobook!
4⭐️
Thank you NetGalley & Harlequin Audio for giving me the opportunity to listen to this audiobook!
4⭐️
November 20, 2025
3.5 stars
A reconnection sparks when Charlie is moving her gram to an assisted living facility. She somehow manages to get herself roped into volunteering with the home for a choir competition.
Little did she know she’d cross paths with Julian again. This story has so many levels and I always love meddling retirees. The aspects of grief from the past had mad it hard for Charlie to find her love in music but this was the perfect opportunity find joy in herself and music again,
A reconnection sparks when Charlie is moving her gram to an assisted living facility. She somehow manages to get herself roped into volunteering with the home for a choir competition.
Little did she know she’d cross paths with Julian again. This story has so many levels and I always love meddling retirees. The aspects of grief from the past had mad it hard for Charlie to find her love in music but this was the perfect opportunity find joy in herself and music again,
December 16, 2025
A quick little novel about a choir, sweet elderly folks, second chance love and well written spice? These are a few of my favorite things! (See what I did there…💚🤍❤️)
October 24, 2025
A Christmas Hallmark movie in the making. All the love You experience from your grandparents and the humor brought by the feistiness of seniors in the retirement center. A book about healing after loss and finding yourself and what is important to you. Thank you Net galley for the advanced copy of this audiobook. The narrator did a good job with the various characters giving them depth and feeling. Put this on your holiday read list!
October 22, 2025
Thank you Net Galley for the ARC in return for my honest opinion.
It was cute. It had funny moments. However, it just was not for me.
It was cute. It had funny moments. However, it just was not for me.
December 3, 2025
This was a very gentle listen and was sweet. I would have loved a bit more of the choir and a bit more Christmas, but Charlie and Julian were a charming pair and I had fun listening to this.
October 1, 2025
The Best Christmas Choir Ever
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pub Date: Oct 23
The Best Christmas Choir Ever is exactly the kind of book that sweeps you up in holiday magic while tugging on your heartstrings.
It’s fast-paced, heartfelt, a little spicy, and filled with small-town Christmas charm that makes you want to sink right into its world ❤️😍❤️😍.
Charlie Ward, a Juilliard-trained soprano and concert artist, returns to Elm Springs after the heartbreaking loss of her brother. Overwhelmed with grief and trying to escape the memories tied to the town, she comes back only to help her grandmother settle into Glendale Retirement Village. What she doesn’t expect is to cross paths with her former summer fling, Julian — now the activity director at the village. From the very first moment they meet again, sparks fly, as if no time has passed.
Julian has spent years guarding his heart, afraid to love after being left behind too many times — especially by Charlie. Yet when a Christmas choir competition presents the chance to finally fund the long-dreamed-of music program for the residents, he knows Charlie is the only one who can lead it. Together, they set out to transform a group of elderly residents into a choir, all while facing their own fears, grief, and second-chance love.
This story has everything: emotional depth, romance, festive spirit, and just the right touch of spice. The characters are beautifully written, the setting is cozy and vibrant, and the choir competition adds a fun and heartwarming layer that makes the book shine. I laughed, I teared up, and by the end, I felt wrapped in the magic of Christmas.
Highly recommend to anyone looking for a holiday romance that’s emotional, romantic, and absolutely unforgettable. 🎄❤️
Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for granting me an ARC of #TheBestChristmasChoirEver in exchange for my honest review.
Xoxo😘
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pub Date: Oct 23
The Best Christmas Choir Ever is exactly the kind of book that sweeps you up in holiday magic while tugging on your heartstrings.
It’s fast-paced, heartfelt, a little spicy, and filled with small-town Christmas charm that makes you want to sink right into its world ❤️😍❤️😍.
Charlie Ward, a Juilliard-trained soprano and concert artist, returns to Elm Springs after the heartbreaking loss of her brother. Overwhelmed with grief and trying to escape the memories tied to the town, she comes back only to help her grandmother settle into Glendale Retirement Village. What she doesn’t expect is to cross paths with her former summer fling, Julian — now the activity director at the village. From the very first moment they meet again, sparks fly, as if no time has passed.
Julian has spent years guarding his heart, afraid to love after being left behind too many times — especially by Charlie. Yet when a Christmas choir competition presents the chance to finally fund the long-dreamed-of music program for the residents, he knows Charlie is the only one who can lead it. Together, they set out to transform a group of elderly residents into a choir, all while facing their own fears, grief, and second-chance love.
This story has everything: emotional depth, romance, festive spirit, and just the right touch of spice. The characters are beautifully written, the setting is cozy and vibrant, and the choir competition adds a fun and heartwarming layer that makes the book shine. I laughed, I teared up, and by the end, I felt wrapped in the magic of Christmas.
Highly recommend to anyone looking for a holiday romance that’s emotional, romantic, and absolutely unforgettable. 🎄❤️
Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for granting me an ARC of #TheBestChristmasChoirEver in exchange for my honest review.
Xoxo😘
November 18, 2025
Really enjoyed this second chance, forced proximity, dual POV, holiday romance that sees two former flames getting another chance and bonding over the grief they feel for lost loved ones (one from cancer and one from dementia). The story is set in a retirement home too and has a cast of quirky, hilarious characters trying to win a Christmas choir competition. Emotional, funny and heartfelt, this is a perfect Hallmark holiday movie in book form. I also enjoyed the narration by Ferdelle Capistrano. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
November 8, 2025
Boring and way too horny. Who gets fingered next to a room full of meddling seniors? Speaking of the seniors, how were there not more hijinks? They went viral and the FMC used to be on Broadway. I wanted diva energy, chaotic old folks on TikTok, and festive fun. Instead, we got attitude, immaturity, and grief. This book needed to pick a lane. It should have been about the loss of her brother and the grief that comes with that and rediscovering holiday joy with Grandma when she’s in a new phase of her life, helping a senior center choir, or a second chance romance with someone who acts like they don’t remember you after 8 years have gone by. It should not be all three.
October 16, 2025
Brief overview:
When her grandmother moves into a retirement home, Charlie offers to help as her parents are away in Europe. While she's helping her move in, she discovers her old summer fling Julian is an employee at the retirement home. In an effort to expand the music program at the home, the staff and tenants choose to create a choir to enter the annual Christmas competition in hopes to win the money to hire a new activities director.
My thoughts:
Not every book needs spice, and this is a prime example. A Christmas story about a group of retirees joining a choir is not the type of story that needs multiple open-door spice scenes. It absolutely took me out of the story and made it really uncomfortable to listen to, in my opinion. This would have been great if there was more focus on community building in the retirement home, and less about the smut.
On the plus side, the narrator did a great job and absolutely deserves a raise.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Audio for letting me check this out.
When her grandmother moves into a retirement home, Charlie offers to help as her parents are away in Europe. While she's helping her move in, she discovers her old summer fling Julian is an employee at the retirement home. In an effort to expand the music program at the home, the staff and tenants choose to create a choir to enter the annual Christmas competition in hopes to win the money to hire a new activities director.
My thoughts:
Not every book needs spice, and this is a prime example. A Christmas story about a group of retirees joining a choir is not the type of story that needs multiple open-door spice scenes. It absolutely took me out of the story and made it really uncomfortable to listen to, in my opinion. This would have been great if there was more focus on community building in the retirement home, and less about the smut.
On the plus side, the narrator did a great job and absolutely deserves a raise.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Audio for letting me check this out.
October 13, 2025
I showed up for chaos. Specifically, festive chaos involving senior citizens, choir competitions, and at least one emotional breakdown under a string of twinkle lights. The Best Christmas Choir Ever gave me all of that... plus some lightly spicy scenes, a soprano in crisis, and a romance arc that could’ve used a few more rehearsals.
Charlie Ward is a Juilliard-trained soprano whose life has been derailed by grief after losing her brother and performance partner. She’s back in her hometown to help her Gram, Doris, settle into Glendale Retirement Village. Sounds wholesome, right? Except guess who’s running the place? Julian Guerrero, the activities director and the man she once had a very memorable thing with. He's older now, hotter, and pretending not to remember her like that history didn’t end with feelings and probably some light trauma.
Julian, clearly still harboring every single emotion he’s ever had about Charlie, ropes her into starting a Christmas choir with the residents to win a local competition and fund the home’s struggling arts program. Cue reluctant teamwork, old wounds, and residents who are absolute gremlins in cardigans. I would die for Maggie, Harriet, and every other elderly menace in that choir. They are the highlight. They are why we’re here.
Now, the romance tries to hit that “second-chance, slow burn with unresolved tension” note, but it sort of fumbles the rhythm. There’s chemistry, yes, but it leans a lot on their past rather than building much new. Most reviewers agree: Charlie overcomplicates things emotionally, and Julian’s golden retriever energy is doing a lot of the work. Also, the “he pretends not to remember her” thing? Sir. Grow up and just pine like the rest of us.
The grief plot actually lands, and when the story lets Charlie sit with that pain, the fear of performing again, the guilt of feeling joy without her brother, it sings. It’s subtle but meaningful, and that emotional core does way more than the romance to ground the book. If anything, I wish we’d spent more time there and a little less on the conveniently timed miscommunications.
About the spice: It’s there. It’s open-door. But it kind of sneaks in like, surprise! Bedroom scene! It felt like a bonus track on a cozy holiday album. Not bad. Just a little out of sync with the tone, which otherwise sits squarely in Hallmark but funnier territory.
That said, if Pitch Perfect got old and retired into The Golden Girls Christmas Special, this would be the result. It’s got charm, grief, romance, meddling elders, and a deeply chaotic gingerbread subplot. It’s not reinventing anything, but it’ll wrap you in a warm blanket, shove cocoa into your hands, and yell at you to believe in the magic of community theater. 3.5 stars and a glitter bomb of peppermint feelings.
Merry Mayhem Prize: For Featuring the First Geriatric Flash Mob to Bring Me Actual Joy
Thanks to Harlequin, Romance and NetGalley for the ARC, and for enabling my annual tradition of crying over glitter, grief, and emotionally repressed men in Santa sweaters.
Charlie Ward is a Juilliard-trained soprano whose life has been derailed by grief after losing her brother and performance partner. She’s back in her hometown to help her Gram, Doris, settle into Glendale Retirement Village. Sounds wholesome, right? Except guess who’s running the place? Julian Guerrero, the activities director and the man she once had a very memorable thing with. He's older now, hotter, and pretending not to remember her like that history didn’t end with feelings and probably some light trauma.
Julian, clearly still harboring every single emotion he’s ever had about Charlie, ropes her into starting a Christmas choir with the residents to win a local competition and fund the home’s struggling arts program. Cue reluctant teamwork, old wounds, and residents who are absolute gremlins in cardigans. I would die for Maggie, Harriet, and every other elderly menace in that choir. They are the highlight. They are why we’re here.
Now, the romance tries to hit that “second-chance, slow burn with unresolved tension” note, but it sort of fumbles the rhythm. There’s chemistry, yes, but it leans a lot on their past rather than building much new. Most reviewers agree: Charlie overcomplicates things emotionally, and Julian’s golden retriever energy is doing a lot of the work. Also, the “he pretends not to remember her” thing? Sir. Grow up and just pine like the rest of us.
The grief plot actually lands, and when the story lets Charlie sit with that pain, the fear of performing again, the guilt of feeling joy without her brother, it sings. It’s subtle but meaningful, and that emotional core does way more than the romance to ground the book. If anything, I wish we’d spent more time there and a little less on the conveniently timed miscommunications.
About the spice: It’s there. It’s open-door. But it kind of sneaks in like, surprise! Bedroom scene! It felt like a bonus track on a cozy holiday album. Not bad. Just a little out of sync with the tone, which otherwise sits squarely in Hallmark but funnier territory.
That said, if Pitch Perfect got old and retired into The Golden Girls Christmas Special, this would be the result. It’s got charm, grief, romance, meddling elders, and a deeply chaotic gingerbread subplot. It’s not reinventing anything, but it’ll wrap you in a warm blanket, shove cocoa into your hands, and yell at you to believe in the magic of community theater. 3.5 stars and a glitter bomb of peppermint feelings.
Merry Mayhem Prize: For Featuring the First Geriatric Flash Mob to Bring Me Actual Joy
Thanks to Harlequin, Romance and NetGalley for the ARC, and for enabling my annual tradition of crying over glitter, grief, and emotionally repressed men in Santa sweaters.
November 3, 2025
The Best Christmas Choir Ever is an odd small-town romance. The returnee from the big city in this case is successful singer Charlie. The one she left behind is Julian, who now runs the local senior home’s entertainment program. When there’s a chance for the home to win a sizable sum from a choral contest, he enlists Charlie to lead his just-created geriatric choir (with a sizable push from Charlie’s grandma, who truly looks out for her).
The small-town elements of this story are adorable, especially the rogues’ gallery of senior citizens who interact with Charlie and Julien. There are a lot of stereotypes here, but they’re fun to read in the context of a holiday romance. I appreciated that Hrib gives a sense of the financial challenges senior homes face. Hrib also portrays the longing between Charlie and Julien so well. But I struggled with other elements.
I was excited to read this book because singers are so rarely protagonists of romances. But I was never sure what type of singer Charlie was. Broadway was mentioned and she trained at Juilliard, yet she toured and performed with her conductor brother regularly, which is more like what a classical singer would do.
However, Charlie hasn’t performed in years due to the death of her brother. Hrib writes about Charlie’s feelings well, and I could understand the trauma and disassociation she felt from that loss. But I truly wondered how these siblings could perform together as portrayed in this book at the start of both their careers.
Most young singers and conductors have to hustle for gigs that all are over the map. But somehow these two managed to work together consistently? Then Charlie is still getting offers from her agent (she has an agent!) for jobs despite not having performed in years. Again, I couldn’t see that happening with a young singer. There are so many fish in the sea when it comes to singers that companies (and agents) would just move on to others.
While I loved the longing between Charlie and Julien, Hrib makes it appear as if neither has dated anyone else, even though it’s close to a decade since their summer fling ended. That strained credulity for me. I would have liked to have seen references to past relationships, instead of it seeming like they were just waiting for the other all that time.
There were several errors about New York in the advance copy I read. Neither Macy’s nor Bloomingdale’s are on Fifth Avenue. And Hrib kept referring to it as “the Lincoln Center” and then had Charlie entering a building labeled that, when Lincoln Center (no “the”) is a complex of theaters, concert halls, and the Met Opera. For this former New Yorker, these errors were jarring.
With its charming side characters, The Best Christmas Choir Ever reads like a classic Hallmark movie. If what bothered me won’t bother you, this book will probably be a delight for you to read, and a great choice for the holiday season.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin/Afterglow Books for the chance to review!
The small-town elements of this story are adorable, especially the rogues’ gallery of senior citizens who interact with Charlie and Julien. There are a lot of stereotypes here, but they’re fun to read in the context of a holiday romance. I appreciated that Hrib gives a sense of the financial challenges senior homes face. Hrib also portrays the longing between Charlie and Julien so well. But I struggled with other elements.
I was excited to read this book because singers are so rarely protagonists of romances. But I was never sure what type of singer Charlie was. Broadway was mentioned and she trained at Juilliard, yet she toured and performed with her conductor brother regularly, which is more like what a classical singer would do.
However, Charlie hasn’t performed in years due to the death of her brother. Hrib writes about Charlie’s feelings well, and I could understand the trauma and disassociation she felt from that loss. But I truly wondered how these siblings could perform together as portrayed in this book at the start of both their careers.
Most young singers and conductors have to hustle for gigs that all are over the map. But somehow these two managed to work together consistently? Then Charlie is still getting offers from her agent (she has an agent!) for jobs despite not having performed in years. Again, I couldn’t see that happening with a young singer. There are so many fish in the sea when it comes to singers that companies (and agents) would just move on to others.
While I loved the longing between Charlie and Julien, Hrib makes it appear as if neither has dated anyone else, even though it’s close to a decade since their summer fling ended. That strained credulity for me. I would have liked to have seen references to past relationships, instead of it seeming like they were just waiting for the other all that time.
There were several errors about New York in the advance copy I read. Neither Macy’s nor Bloomingdale’s are on Fifth Avenue. And Hrib kept referring to it as “the Lincoln Center” and then had Charlie entering a building labeled that, when Lincoln Center (no “the”) is a complex of theaters, concert halls, and the Met Opera. For this former New Yorker, these errors were jarring.
With its charming side characters, The Best Christmas Choir Ever reads like a classic Hallmark movie. If what bothered me won’t bother you, this book will probably be a delight for you to read, and a great choice for the holiday season.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin/Afterglow Books for the chance to review!
November 10, 2025
The Best Christmas Choir Ever is an uplifting, but steamy second-chance holiday romance, which takes place in at a senior citizens home in New York. The story is told in alternating POV from Charlie and Julian. It contains profanity and graphic sex scenes.
29-year-old Charlotte “Charlie” Ward is a Juilliard-trained soprano who has been grief-stricken for the past three years, ever since her beloved older brother, Tom, was diagnosed with cancer. Tom was an orchestra director, and Charlie toured with him, singing at performances. She has been unable to perform without him, feeling guilt every time she even considers doing anything music-related. When their grandmother, Doris, falls and injures her hip, she decides to move into the Glendale Retirement Village. Doris convinces Charlie to spend a month cleaning out her four-bedroom home to prepare it for sale.
When Doris and Charlie are introduced to Glendale’s Activities Director, they are stunned to recognize Julian Guerrero, who Charlie had a summer affair with during college. Julian has been trying unsuccessfully for years to get funding for a Music Director position, and figures the only way is by entering a community Arts contest which will award $25,000 to the winner. He convinces Charlie to volunteer as the Choir Director, with hopes that she can transform the group of rowdy senior citizens into winners.
Charlie has her hands full, since Julian is a type-B dreamer. However, he is skilled at corralling the old folks and encouraging Charlie to lighten up. Julian pretends that he doesn’t even remember their past romance because he was hurt by her ghosting him. Once they finally talk about it, he learns that Charlie believed that they just drifted apart due to her college demands. Julian has real abandonment issues that colors his attitude, while Charlie can’t move forward with Tom gone.
Overall I enjoyed The Best Christmas Choir Ever, thanks to the antics of the senior citizens. I had a hard time identifying with Charlie, who acted like she couldn’t live without her brother. Julian was immature and emotionally stunted also, although he balanced Charlie out. The behind-the-scenes look at the senior community was informative, and all of the musical references were impressive. My favorite scene took place during the choir competition when the residents sang “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”. This book would appeal to fans of Glee, Pitch Perfect, and residents of senior living communities if it didn’t contain profanity and graphic sex scenes.
The audiobook is skillfully narrated by Ferdelle Capistrano, who does an excellent job bringing life to the characters. She gave the characters different accents.
I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) of the audiobook from NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
29-year-old Charlotte “Charlie” Ward is a Juilliard-trained soprano who has been grief-stricken for the past three years, ever since her beloved older brother, Tom, was diagnosed with cancer. Tom was an orchestra director, and Charlie toured with him, singing at performances. She has been unable to perform without him, feeling guilt every time she even considers doing anything music-related. When their grandmother, Doris, falls and injures her hip, she decides to move into the Glendale Retirement Village. Doris convinces Charlie to spend a month cleaning out her four-bedroom home to prepare it for sale.
When Doris and Charlie are introduced to Glendale’s Activities Director, they are stunned to recognize Julian Guerrero, who Charlie had a summer affair with during college. Julian has been trying unsuccessfully for years to get funding for a Music Director position, and figures the only way is by entering a community Arts contest which will award $25,000 to the winner. He convinces Charlie to volunteer as the Choir Director, with hopes that she can transform the group of rowdy senior citizens into winners.
Charlie has her hands full, since Julian is a type-B dreamer. However, he is skilled at corralling the old folks and encouraging Charlie to lighten up. Julian pretends that he doesn’t even remember their past romance because he was hurt by her ghosting him. Once they finally talk about it, he learns that Charlie believed that they just drifted apart due to her college demands. Julian has real abandonment issues that colors his attitude, while Charlie can’t move forward with Tom gone.
Overall I enjoyed The Best Christmas Choir Ever, thanks to the antics of the senior citizens. I had a hard time identifying with Charlie, who acted like she couldn’t live without her brother. Julian was immature and emotionally stunted also, although he balanced Charlie out. The behind-the-scenes look at the senior community was informative, and all of the musical references were impressive. My favorite scene took place during the choir competition when the residents sang “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”. This book would appeal to fans of Glee, Pitch Perfect, and residents of senior living communities if it didn’t contain profanity and graphic sex scenes.
The audiobook is skillfully narrated by Ferdelle Capistrano, who does an excellent job bringing life to the characters. She gave the characters different accents.
I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) of the audiobook from NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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