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Easy as Christmas Pie: a heartwarming, holiday romance
When Carter Hayes has the chance to leave town and his family behind, he can't jump on the opportunity fast enough.
Now he's working for his best friend and living in a seaside cottage left to him by his grandmother.
Rosie Parker is living the life she's always dreamed of...or so she thought. After getting fired and dumped on the same day, she's back in her hometown starting from square one again and thrown into planning the town's annual Yule Tides Festival.
The only problem?
There's one major missing piece to planning the big event and it lies within Carter's grandmother's journal.
Forced into planning the event together, the two have to work on decoding a secret message hidden throughout its pages... and discover more than they bargained for in the process.
Now he's working for his best friend and living in a seaside cottage left to him by his grandmother.
Rosie Parker is living the life she's always dreamed of...or so she thought. After getting fired and dumped on the same day, she's back in her hometown starting from square one again and thrown into planning the town's annual Yule Tides Festival.
The only problem?
There's one major missing piece to planning the big event and it lies within Carter's grandmother's journal.
Forced into planning the event together, the two have to work on decoding a secret message hidden throughout its pages... and discover more than they bargained for in the process.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 15, 2025
45 people are currently reading
218 people want to read
About the author
Kelsey Whitney
5 books96 followersKelsey Whitney is a West Virginian with a heart for the coast. In her debut novel, Whitney joins the ranks of authors who know for certain, the Carolinas are a place to call home.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
November 10, 2025
Firstly, thank you for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. So get ready, because I am honest.
Everything was right there, an amazing plot line, the characters, the cozy mystery of how to make pie, and somehow… it just missed.
This is a clean romance with only kissing as spice and that was wonderful, also no cursing!
Worldbuilding: okay, first off, there wasn’t truly any needed because it’s set in a small beach town in North Carolina, HOWEVER; it would have been nice to have a few more details to really flesh the location out. Our FMC Rosie comes back to her hometown after she was living for years in New York City, there will be changes to scenery as well as staples that would have been nice for her to reflect on. Even just describing the house that burnt down, besides the fact that it was creepy but had flowers everywhere, I couldn’t tell you anything else about it. Just some things could have been given details. ”Rosie stepped out of her brother’s rusting truck with a groan. She missed the smell of fresh coffee from the local coffee shop. The old chipped paint that once was rumored to be red, now due to the sun and zero upkeep, looked nearly pink, stood in front of her as she recalled the times she sat there, laptop open and dreams ready to come to life.” like that would have been a great line to add instead of “coffee shop, right there, somewhere in town semi close to the flower shop… I think, sometimes it’s actually around the corner.” Like… come on dude! Another addition would have been the town quirks. The author tried to make it similar to Stars Hollow but it fell flat because everything didn’t have a nonsensical purpose. Ms. Patty works in Stars Hollow because nothing makes sense but also perfectly makes sense at the same time. Of course Babbett has gnomes, why wouldn’t she? But in this small beach town, everything had a purpose and somehow lost its charm.
Characters: Rosie and Carter were the most 2D characters I have ever come across. Boy has feelings, he shares them. Girl has feelings, she shares them. Nothing was very fleshed out. Like Rosie has really bad anxiety, and yet how does she have anxiety medication without seeing a doctor and sharing her trauma? Her friend tells her to see a therapist. If she has medication for a mental health issue, she has to be seeing someone. She also has coping techniques that they teach in therapy as well, where did she learn these if she isn’t going? I understand that with the rise of TikTok, everyone thinks they can cure whatever but please, as someone who went to school to become a psychiatrist who would have been prescribing these types of medications, it’s not as easy as “breathe in for 4, hold, breathe out for 7” you actually do need a professional to help you because psychiatry is not a one size fits all and some exercises could actually make your anxiety worse! And then Carter is out there living his best life without once acknowledging the trauma he has. His grandmother passed away and it took 2/3 of the book for him to even tell when it happened. He says his parents aren’t bad people, just neglectful and unsupportive, no biggie. I felt like Carter had some very interesting traits that could have been fleshed out more. For instance, he clearly is a healer with all the first aid kits everywhere. He had one in the flower shop, his home, and his truck! It would have been nice if it came out that he has a bunch stashed because his grandmother needed medical attention frequently towards the end and he just kept up the habit. Maybe he learned how to treat wounds because his grandmother fell frequently or something. GIVE US SOMETHING!!!
Plot Line: Rosie gets laid off and dumped in the same day. She flies home to North Carolina, gets roped into putting together this festival for the town, and starts up a romance with her brother’s best friend. Carter leaves his family in Connecticut to take care of his grandmother before she passes away. He is stuck with all her stuff, trying to sort it and figure out what to keep and sell. He dreams of being a landscaper but currently works in construction. He wants to settle down when he meets his best friend’s sister and falls for her. THERE WAS SO MUCH FOR THE PLOT TO WORK WITH!!!!!!! Why did we only get 177 pages???? There needed to be more added in! SO. MUCH. MORE. the plot was fine, I actually was very interested in the plot. The execution? Well….
Writing Style: It sucked. There was all this telling and zero showing. My favorite was when in the first chapter she gets laid off and dumped and keeps thinking about home the entire time and how much she misses it and then a plane goes over her head so she buys a ticket. The first two chapters should have been deleted and start on chapter 3 like this ”I stood, tapping my knockoff loafers I could barely afford, on the sterile airport floor as I anxiously waited for my bag to come around. I couldn’t believe I was doing this. I checked my phone for the billionth time. My uber was supposed to pick me up in less than 5 minutes and my bag still hadn’t been unloaded. I’ve never in my life been this reckless. I just… jumped on a plane from JFK to Charleston North Carolina. What was I thinking? I wasn’t, that was the problem. After getting laid off and stupid Tyler dumping me through text on the same day, I just blinked and now I’m here. What was gram going to think? Nothing good probably, I only left 10 years ago and couldn’t be bothered to come back for a single holiday.” all of that was what was needed. Not an entire 3 chapters of saying the same thing over and over again.
Overall: If you just need or want a Christmas novella, sure. I guess? I just felt like this needed much more editing. I don’t want the author to be discouraged, I do want her to invest in an editor because they could do wonders for her stories.
Everything was right there, an amazing plot line, the characters, the cozy mystery of how to make pie, and somehow… it just missed.
This is a clean romance with only kissing as spice and that was wonderful, also no cursing!
Worldbuilding: okay, first off, there wasn’t truly any needed because it’s set in a small beach town in North Carolina, HOWEVER; it would have been nice to have a few more details to really flesh the location out. Our FMC Rosie comes back to her hometown after she was living for years in New York City, there will be changes to scenery as well as staples that would have been nice for her to reflect on. Even just describing the house that burnt down, besides the fact that it was creepy but had flowers everywhere, I couldn’t tell you anything else about it. Just some things could have been given details. ”Rosie stepped out of her brother’s rusting truck with a groan. She missed the smell of fresh coffee from the local coffee shop. The old chipped paint that once was rumored to be red, now due to the sun and zero upkeep, looked nearly pink, stood in front of her as she recalled the times she sat there, laptop open and dreams ready to come to life.” like that would have been a great line to add instead of “coffee shop, right there, somewhere in town semi close to the flower shop… I think, sometimes it’s actually around the corner.” Like… come on dude! Another addition would have been the town quirks. The author tried to make it similar to Stars Hollow but it fell flat because everything didn’t have a nonsensical purpose. Ms. Patty works in Stars Hollow because nothing makes sense but also perfectly makes sense at the same time. Of course Babbett has gnomes, why wouldn’t she? But in this small beach town, everything had a purpose and somehow lost its charm.
Characters: Rosie and Carter were the most 2D characters I have ever come across. Boy has feelings, he shares them. Girl has feelings, she shares them. Nothing was very fleshed out. Like Rosie has really bad anxiety, and yet how does she have anxiety medication without seeing a doctor and sharing her trauma? Her friend tells her to see a therapist. If she has medication for a mental health issue, she has to be seeing someone. She also has coping techniques that they teach in therapy as well, where did she learn these if she isn’t going? I understand that with the rise of TikTok, everyone thinks they can cure whatever but please, as someone who went to school to become a psychiatrist who would have been prescribing these types of medications, it’s not as easy as “breathe in for 4, hold, breathe out for 7” you actually do need a professional to help you because psychiatry is not a one size fits all and some exercises could actually make your anxiety worse! And then Carter is out there living his best life without once acknowledging the trauma he has. His grandmother passed away and it took 2/3 of the book for him to even tell when it happened. He says his parents aren’t bad people, just neglectful and unsupportive, no biggie. I felt like Carter had some very interesting traits that could have been fleshed out more. For instance, he clearly is a healer with all the first aid kits everywhere. He had one in the flower shop, his home, and his truck! It would have been nice if it came out that he has a bunch stashed because his grandmother needed medical attention frequently towards the end and he just kept up the habit. Maybe he learned how to treat wounds because his grandmother fell frequently or something. GIVE US SOMETHING!!!
Plot Line: Rosie gets laid off and dumped in the same day. She flies home to North Carolina, gets roped into putting together this festival for the town, and starts up a romance with her brother’s best friend. Carter leaves his family in Connecticut to take care of his grandmother before she passes away. He is stuck with all her stuff, trying to sort it and figure out what to keep and sell. He dreams of being a landscaper but currently works in construction. He wants to settle down when he meets his best friend’s sister and falls for her. THERE WAS SO MUCH FOR THE PLOT TO WORK WITH!!!!!!! Why did we only get 177 pages???? There needed to be more added in! SO. MUCH. MORE. the plot was fine, I actually was very interested in the plot. The execution? Well….
Writing Style: It sucked. There was all this telling and zero showing. My favorite was when in the first chapter she gets laid off and dumped and keeps thinking about home the entire time and how much she misses it and then a plane goes over her head so she buys a ticket. The first two chapters should have been deleted and start on chapter 3 like this ”I stood, tapping my knockoff loafers I could barely afford, on the sterile airport floor as I anxiously waited for my bag to come around. I couldn’t believe I was doing this. I checked my phone for the billionth time. My uber was supposed to pick me up in less than 5 minutes and my bag still hadn’t been unloaded. I’ve never in my life been this reckless. I just… jumped on a plane from JFK to Charleston North Carolina. What was I thinking? I wasn’t, that was the problem. After getting laid off and stupid Tyler dumping me through text on the same day, I just blinked and now I’m here. What was gram going to think? Nothing good probably, I only left 10 years ago and couldn’t be bothered to come back for a single holiday.” all of that was what was needed. Not an entire 3 chapters of saying the same thing over and over again.
Overall: If you just need or want a Christmas novella, sure. I guess? I just felt like this needed much more editing. I don’t want the author to be discouraged, I do want her to invest in an editor because they could do wonders for her stories.
November 24, 2025
My thoughts: Look no further for a warm-hearted, cosy Christmassy read. Kelsey Whitney delivers a feel good festive novella that still manages to explore emotionally deep topics and meaningful conversations.
Carter was an absolute standout for me: kind, compassionate, and protective of the people and things that matter to him. Rosie’s character meanwhile is beautifully complex. Her emotional tug-of-war — should she stay or should she go — and her tendency to deny herself happiness made her someone you just wanted to wrap in a massive hug to reassure her that everything would be okay.
This is a sweet closed door romance, and while there’s no spice, it’s absolutely full of heart. The added storyline of Carter’s grandmother’s past romance is such an added bonus, honestly I could have happily read an entire novel just about her love story.
A fantastic brothers-best-friend, small-town romance with a sprinkle of Christmas magic. Perfect for a cosy winter evening.
Carter was an absolute standout for me: kind, compassionate, and protective of the people and things that matter to him. Rosie’s character meanwhile is beautifully complex. Her emotional tug-of-war — should she stay or should she go — and her tendency to deny herself happiness made her someone you just wanted to wrap in a massive hug to reassure her that everything would be okay.
This is a sweet closed door romance, and while there’s no spice, it’s absolutely full of heart. The added storyline of Carter’s grandmother’s past romance is such an added bonus, honestly I could have happily read an entire novel just about her love story.
A fantastic brothers-best-friend, small-town romance with a sprinkle of Christmas magic. Perfect for a cosy winter evening.
November 16, 2025
I loved this book 🥹
November 6, 2025
my heart is hurting while i say this, because whenever a year is coming to an end i LOVE to read holiday romances and i eat it up all the time, but unfortunately this one didn’t work very well for me. it’s going to be a long one, so bear with me…
rosie goes back to her small town after several years away because she was just fired and her boyfriend broke up with her on the same day. that seemed like the classic lead-up to her connecting again with her small-town life and finding things she loved until she eventually (spoiler alert) decided to stay there forever. however, i was highly disappointed with how it was written. her relationships there, her connection to the community… it was highly underdeveloped. one of the main things that made me not enjoy this story so much was the insane amount of telling instead of showing, and in regards to rosie’s connection to her town and its people this was specially present. her brother, ben, says “The kids have really enjoyed having her around. Heck, I think all of Sandpiper Shores loved having her back.” but… why? and have they really? there was literally one scene of rosie with ben’s kids, which we barely see them interacting, since it’s from carter’s pov and she’s putting them to bed. she also spent all these years away from her brother and we don’t see any effort into showing their relationship evolve whatsoever. i felt like so much was spent trying to focus solely on carter and rosie’s relationship, that we lacked seeing rosie’s other relationship have any real attention that would make the whole story feel tangible. the best part about small town romances is seeing the interfering, the tight-knit community, the gossiping… and i felt deprived of that. carter’s playboy reputation also felt nonexistent for this exact same reason. the only person who ever expressed seeing him in this light was ben, and i’m supposed to believe the whole town sees him as the player type? once again, one thing is being told to me, but nothing i’m seeing is making me believe it.
the festival, which was basically the main event the whole book was leading towards, lasted one sentence. we see them setting it up, and then, once again, it’s being told to me that they pulled it off, and people loved the pie. why would you choose not to let the reader be a part of the most important part of your story? all the effort into… nothing?
i wish i could say carter and rosie’s relationship salvaged this for me, but it didn’t. making them kiss at the very last page didn’t make their dynamic feel any less insta-love/fast burn for me. she was asking him to move to the city with her when they didn’t even know each other for a month and hadn’t even kissed yet. i could’ve excused how their pacing happened if it was a ya romance or maybe they knew each other since their childhood, but that wasn’t the case. they were both grown adults who had just met and were making unbelievable claims.
and that’s what bummed me the most about it all, everything felt unbelievable. note how i didn’t say unrealistic, because that’s not the issue. it felt unbelievable because the things that were happening weren’t convincing enough for me as a reader to buy into the fairytale. every romance is unrealistic in a way, but the good ones manage to make you believe in the magic.
i have to say, though, it wasn't an all negative experience for me. the story as a whole was cute and heartwarming. i liked scout's role in the book, i really liked carter too and rosie as characters. but it's because i liked them that i wish that was more to it.
honestly, with a book this short all of those things could’ve been easily worked on to improve the story as a whole. and that’s why it pains me not to have really enjoyed this one as i was expecting. it had a winning formula, but the finished product wasn’t good for me. i would trade the grandma's subplot in exchange for good pacing and developed relationships any day.
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
rosie goes back to her small town after several years away because she was just fired and her boyfriend broke up with her on the same day. that seemed like the classic lead-up to her connecting again with her small-town life and finding things she loved until she eventually (spoiler alert) decided to stay there forever. however, i was highly disappointed with how it was written. her relationships there, her connection to the community… it was highly underdeveloped. one of the main things that made me not enjoy this story so much was the insane amount of telling instead of showing, and in regards to rosie’s connection to her town and its people this was specially present. her brother, ben, says “The kids have really enjoyed having her around. Heck, I think all of Sandpiper Shores loved having her back.” but… why? and have they really? there was literally one scene of rosie with ben’s kids, which we barely see them interacting, since it’s from carter’s pov and she’s putting them to bed. she also spent all these years away from her brother and we don’t see any effort into showing their relationship evolve whatsoever. i felt like so much was spent trying to focus solely on carter and rosie’s relationship, that we lacked seeing rosie’s other relationship have any real attention that would make the whole story feel tangible. the best part about small town romances is seeing the interfering, the tight-knit community, the gossiping… and i felt deprived of that. carter’s playboy reputation also felt nonexistent for this exact same reason. the only person who ever expressed seeing him in this light was ben, and i’m supposed to believe the whole town sees him as the player type? once again, one thing is being told to me, but nothing i’m seeing is making me believe it.
the festival, which was basically the main event the whole book was leading towards, lasted one sentence. we see them setting it up, and then, once again, it’s being told to me that they pulled it off, and people loved the pie. why would you choose not to let the reader be a part of the most important part of your story? all the effort into… nothing?
i wish i could say carter and rosie’s relationship salvaged this for me, but it didn’t. making them kiss at the very last page didn’t make their dynamic feel any less insta-love/fast burn for me. she was asking him to move to the city with her when they didn’t even know each other for a month and hadn’t even kissed yet. i could’ve excused how their pacing happened if it was a ya romance or maybe they knew each other since their childhood, but that wasn’t the case. they were both grown adults who had just met and were making unbelievable claims.
and that’s what bummed me the most about it all, everything felt unbelievable. note how i didn’t say unrealistic, because that’s not the issue. it felt unbelievable because the things that were happening weren’t convincing enough for me as a reader to buy into the fairytale. every romance is unrealistic in a way, but the good ones manage to make you believe in the magic.
i have to say, though, it wasn't an all negative experience for me. the story as a whole was cute and heartwarming. i liked scout's role in the book, i really liked carter too and rosie as characters. but it's because i liked them that i wish that was more to it.
honestly, with a book this short all of those things could’ve been easily worked on to improve the story as a whole. and that’s why it pains me not to have really enjoyed this one as i was expecting. it had a winning formula, but the finished product wasn’t good for me. i would trade the grandma's subplot in exchange for good pacing and developed relationships any day.
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
November 3, 2025
When I think about the books that made me fall in love with reading as a child, it was always those books that had a little hint of mystery or hidden secrets to be uncovered... secret passageways, old journals, etc... so this idea of a secret message hidden in a grandmother's journal? Yes, this was very reminiscent of those stories for me... and only made me love this cozy, beachside Christmas romance all that much more! Carter and Rosie drew me in with their undeniable chemistry right away. I loved seeing them work together to figure out this secret message... and though Carter's grandmother had already passed before the story ever begins, I loved getting to know this quirky character throughout as well. There was something about this story that just felt like the perfect, cozy holiday romance- a hug in story form... and I couldn't help but enjoy every single moment. If you love small towns, Christmas and just a hint of mystery (and also, pie), you will definitely want to add this one to your holiday TBR.
Easy As Pie is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language.
**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
Easy As Pie is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language.
**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
December 21, 2025
Easy as Christmas Pie is a cozy, heart-filled holiday romance that feels like a warm hug. Kelsey Whitney blends small-town charm, meaningful emotional growth, and just the right touch of Christmas magic. Carter is steady, kind, and impossible not to love, while Rosie’s inner conflict felt real and relatable. A sweet closed-door romance with a beautiful secondary storyline that adds depth and nostalgia. Perfect for a cozy winter read.
November 13, 2025
This book was such a feel good hallmark vibe story! Coastal Carolina at Christmas time is my favorite so the setting I was hooked on! I adored this story so much
November 5, 2025
Thank you so much for reading Easy as Christmas Pie! I hope you enjoy reading Rosie & Carter’s love story and fall in love with the town of Sandpiper Shores as much as I loved writing it.
November 28, 2025
Rosie returns to her downtown after getting fired and dumped on the same day. She needs a break from the city to regroup and figure out her next step and there is no better comfort than her grandma's house. After her return, she gets “voluntold” into organizing the Yule Tide Festival, but she needs help and it comes from Carter, her brother's best friend. His grandmother, who recently passed, was the previous organizer of the festival and she made all the pies to sell. Her recipe was so good, people came from all over to get a taste but with the recipe being lost after her death, Carter and Rosie must work together to piece together the recipe from a secret code in her journal. They also have to fight the growing attraction between them but Rosie is only in town temporarily. Can she face her fears and stay in town or will she drive back to NY for a new job opportunity?
This was a heartwarming holiday romance but it left me wanting a little more- more depth of characters, more around the festival, more backstory in general. I think if we were able to dive more into these characters, I would have been more invested in them. I wanted more about Carter's family life, his parents and brother and how he never lived up to expectations. I wanted more of what drove Rosie to leave after school and make her want to stay in NYC.
I also wanted more of the festival. The whole book is spent organizing this pinnacle event and finding the secret recipe to the pie and we just get a small glance at it. I wanted to walk around and experience everything there was that they worked so hard together for. I wanted to go booth to booth, I wanted to see the events and have people alk about the pie and how good it was!
I did enjoy the mini side plot of Carter's grandmother and her long lost love reuniting in her journal entries. It was a fun plot that helped propel the story forward and keep the main characters working together.
Even though I wanted more from this story I did really enjoy it overall. It was cute and an easy Christmas read. Plus that epilogue from the dog was so adorable!
Huge thanks to Kelsey Whitney for sharing this book’s digital advanced review copy with me in exchange for an honest review.
This was a heartwarming holiday romance but it left me wanting a little more- more depth of characters, more around the festival, more backstory in general. I think if we were able to dive more into these characters, I would have been more invested in them. I wanted more about Carter's family life, his parents and brother and how he never lived up to expectations. I wanted more of what drove Rosie to leave after school and make her want to stay in NYC.
I also wanted more of the festival. The whole book is spent organizing this pinnacle event and finding the secret recipe to the pie and we just get a small glance at it. I wanted to walk around and experience everything there was that they worked so hard together for. I wanted to go booth to booth, I wanted to see the events and have people alk about the pie and how good it was!
I did enjoy the mini side plot of Carter's grandmother and her long lost love reuniting in her journal entries. It was a fun plot that helped propel the story forward and keep the main characters working together.
Even though I wanted more from this story I did really enjoy it overall. It was cute and an easy Christmas read. Plus that epilogue from the dog was so adorable!
Huge thanks to Kelsey Whitney for sharing this book’s digital advanced review copy with me in exchange for an honest review.
November 21, 2025
Easy as Christmas Pie by Kelsey Whitney
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Holiday Romance.
A grandmother’s journal and a hidden message.
Beautiful setting in a coastal town.
About the Book:
Rosie is living the life she thought she always wanted, until she loses her job and boyfriend all in the same day. She moves back to her hometown and is thrown into planning the town’s annual Yule Tide Festival. There’s only one big missing piece to planning the big event, which lies within Carter’s grandmother’s journal. Forced to plan the event together, they have to work together to decode the secret messages hidden in the pages, but they end up discovering more than they bargained for.
My Thoughts:
The whole time I was reading this, I just imagined I was on the beach listening to the waves. This book was like a warm hug. The whole time I was reading this, I was smiling. I honestly didn't want it to end. The town, the people, the grandmother, and the dog were just such sweethearts and I wanted it to just keep going. I wish there were more Christmas aspects though. I did feel like it was lacking in that department some, but it definitely made up for it in others.
Couple: Carter & Rosie
Spice: None - Clean Romance
Language: None
TW: Past hurts in relationships, Mentions Family issues
🩷ARC received, but all opinions are my own. Thank you to netgalley for this ARC.
Review on Instagram
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Holiday Romance.
A grandmother’s journal and a hidden message.
Beautiful setting in a coastal town.
About the Book:
Rosie is living the life she thought she always wanted, until she loses her job and boyfriend all in the same day. She moves back to her hometown and is thrown into planning the town’s annual Yule Tide Festival. There’s only one big missing piece to planning the big event, which lies within Carter’s grandmother’s journal. Forced to plan the event together, they have to work together to decode the secret messages hidden in the pages, but they end up discovering more than they bargained for.
My Thoughts:
The whole time I was reading this, I just imagined I was on the beach listening to the waves. This book was like a warm hug. The whole time I was reading this, I was smiling. I honestly didn't want it to end. The town, the people, the grandmother, and the dog were just such sweethearts and I wanted it to just keep going. I wish there were more Christmas aspects though. I did feel like it was lacking in that department some, but it definitely made up for it in others.
Couple: Carter & Rosie
Spice: None - Clean Romance
Language: None
TW: Past hurts in relationships, Mentions Family issues
🩷ARC received, but all opinions are my own. Thank you to netgalley for this ARC.
Review on Instagram
November 14, 2025
This book is basically a warm hug in paperback form. If you love small-town holiday romances with a dash of mystery and a whole lot of heart, Easy as Christmas Pie is the perfect seasonal treat.
Carter and Rosie are the kind of characters you root for from the start—him, the broody guy trying to outrun his past in a seaside cottage; her, freshly heartbroken and thrown into organizing the town’s Yule Tides Festival. Their chemistry is sweet and slow-burning, and the “brother’s best friend” trope is handled with just the right amount of tension and tenderness.
The real star, though, might be the setting. The coastal town, the festive vibes, the secret-filled journal from Carter’s grandmother—it all adds up to a story that feels like a Hallmark movie with a little extra depth. There’s a lovely undercurrent of healing and second chances, and the closed-door romance keeps things cozy without skimping on emotional payoff.
Perfect for curling up with a blanket, a cup of cocoa, and a twinkling tree nearby. It’s as comforting as the title suggests.
With thanks to Kelsey Whitney, the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
Carter and Rosie are the kind of characters you root for from the start—him, the broody guy trying to outrun his past in a seaside cottage; her, freshly heartbroken and thrown into organizing the town’s Yule Tides Festival. Their chemistry is sweet and slow-burning, and the “brother’s best friend” trope is handled with just the right amount of tension and tenderness.
The real star, though, might be the setting. The coastal town, the festive vibes, the secret-filled journal from Carter’s grandmother—it all adds up to a story that feels like a Hallmark movie with a little extra depth. There’s a lovely undercurrent of healing and second chances, and the closed-door romance keeps things cozy without skimping on emotional payoff.
Perfect for curling up with a blanket, a cup of cocoa, and a twinkling tree nearby. It’s as comforting as the title suggests.
With thanks to Kelsey Whitney, the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
December 29, 2025
Rosie and Carter were so sweet together. Rosie has come home from NYC to find so many things have changed. Carter is one of those new things and he just happens to be her brother’s best friend. Rosie and Carter try to decode his grandma’s pie recipe for the Yuletide town event.
Favorite parts:
-decoding Carter’s grandma recipe in her journal.
-all their pie attempts and how they were so excited for the correct one.
-Scout the dog
-the way Carter helped Rosie see the potential for more.
-the epilogue! Loved it!
Favorite Quotes:
My stomach grumbles again, and it’s then I realize I never found any lunch.
What I did find was time with Rosie. And to me, that is everything.
But deep down, I know that just one kiss from Rosie isn’t what I want at all. I want her nights and her mornings, her smiles and laughs.
I want it all with her.
I want her heart.
I think of the way I feel dizzy with happiness every time I see Carter or someone mentions his name.
Favorite parts:
-decoding Carter’s grandma recipe in her journal.
-all their pie attempts and how they were so excited for the correct one.
-Scout the dog
-the way Carter helped Rosie see the potential for more.
-the epilogue! Loved it!
Favorite Quotes:
My stomach grumbles again, and it’s then I realize I never found any lunch.
What I did find was time with Rosie. And to me, that is everything.
But deep down, I know that just one kiss from Rosie isn’t what I want at all. I want her nights and her mornings, her smiles and laughs.
I want it all with her.
I want her heart.
I think of the way I feel dizzy with happiness every time I see Carter or someone mentions his name.
November 6, 2025
Some times, a book comes along at JUST the right time and everything feels so serendipitous as you read it. I had signed up to be an ARC reader for this book because the premise sounded delightful. I was so excited to start reading it and then as I was reading, I was completely taken by surprise when Rosie returned home to South Carolina. Having lived in SC for 30 years before I moved away, reading this book allowed me to feel like I was going “home” to SC with Rosie and filled me with so much joy and nostalgia.
This book was an absolute joy to read. Kelsey perfectly captures the low country of SC and shows us that we are all worthy of love and are “enough”. Rosie and Carter’s story was beautiful, Rosie’s grandmother is a delight and Scout stole my heart as well. The epilogue had me in tears but it was the “my heart is so full my eyes are leaking” kind of tears.
This book was an absolute joy to read. Kelsey perfectly captures the low country of SC and shows us that we are all worthy of love and are “enough”. Rosie and Carter’s story was beautiful, Rosie’s grandmother is a delight and Scout stole my heart as well. The epilogue had me in tears but it was the “my heart is so full my eyes are leaking” kind of tears.
November 18, 2025
Rosie’s life falls apart in a single day…fired from her job and dumped by her boyfriend…so she packs up and heads back to her hometown, hoping a reset might calm the anxiety that’s been eating her alive. What she doesn’t expect? Carter.
Carter wants the real thing…love, commitment, family…but thanks to an old reputation he can’t seem to outrun, everyone still sees him as the small-town playboy. Underneath that label, though, he’s soft, steady, and so ready to be someone’s forever.
One of my favorite parts of this story was the addition of Carter’s grandma’s journal. Those little entries were adorable and brought so much warmth and heart to their journey.
Overall, this is a sweet, closed-door holiday romance packed with charm, healing, and all the cozy feels. A true curl up with a hot cocoa read. 🎄✨
Carter wants the real thing…love, commitment, family…but thanks to an old reputation he can’t seem to outrun, everyone still sees him as the small-town playboy. Underneath that label, though, he’s soft, steady, and so ready to be someone’s forever.
One of my favorite parts of this story was the addition of Carter’s grandma’s journal. Those little entries were adorable and brought so much warmth and heart to their journey.
Overall, this is a sweet, closed-door holiday romance packed with charm, healing, and all the cozy feels. A true curl up with a hot cocoa read. 🎄✨
November 9, 2025
When Rosie’s lackluster city life unravels, she returns to Sandpiper Shores, hoping a visit will bring her peace. She enjoys time with her Gram and her brother, and there's even a tall, dark, and handsome man catching her eye. However, she refuses to get involved because her future lies in the city. The question is can they change her mind before it is too late?
I really like how the author wrote this story from the view of both Rosie and Carter (Mr. tall, dark and handsome) It gave the story more depth. The last chapter really ties everything up and left me with a great happily ever after feeling.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really like how the author wrote this story from the view of both Rosie and Carter (Mr. tall, dark and handsome) It gave the story more depth. The last chapter really ties everything up and left me with a great happily ever after feeling.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 14, 2025
“Easy as Christmas Pie” 🎄🥧🫶
everything Kelsey Whitney writes is like a big warm hug, guaranteed to make you feel all ooey gooey and full of love 🥰 this christmas story is full of all that warmth and love, with a special dose of magic between friends, family, and coconut crème pie.
Rosie & Carter are both still figuring out how to be happy, how to grow in a way that fits their purpose and not just meet expectations of people around them. I love how they find such peace and comfort in each other and their little town. I love the way they reconnect as adults with so much in common. this story feels exactly how you want the holidays to feel— cozy, safe, and magical 🥰
coming out TOMORROW 11/15, I hope everyone goes and reads this cozy, magical story available on kindle unlimited 💃🫶
everything Kelsey Whitney writes is like a big warm hug, guaranteed to make you feel all ooey gooey and full of love 🥰 this christmas story is full of all that warmth and love, with a special dose of magic between friends, family, and coconut crème pie.
Rosie & Carter are both still figuring out how to be happy, how to grow in a way that fits their purpose and not just meet expectations of people around them. I love how they find such peace and comfort in each other and their little town. I love the way they reconnect as adults with so much in common. this story feels exactly how you want the holidays to feel— cozy, safe, and magical 🥰
coming out TOMORROW 11/15, I hope everyone goes and reads this cozy, magical story available on kindle unlimited 💃🫶
December 12, 2025
𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐏𝐢𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐊𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐲 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐲
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★★
I just loved this sweet story! This was the perfect holiday romance set in a small town with all the Christmas festive vibes, plus add in a beautifully captivating love story filled with depth, a hint of mystery, great side characters and all the warm fuzzies!
Carter and Rosie were the sweetest couple and I adored how well they meshed together. I adored Rosie’s grandmother and the importance of Carter’s late grandmother to the story. I felt like all of the characters came together so smoothly and purposely which was a breath of fresh air! If you are looking for a quick holiday read to bundle up to this holiday season then grab this one!
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩:
Brother’s Best Friend
Closed-Door
Slow Burn
Small Town
Christmas Romance
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★★
I just loved this sweet story! This was the perfect holiday romance set in a small town with all the Christmas festive vibes, plus add in a beautifully captivating love story filled with depth, a hint of mystery, great side characters and all the warm fuzzies!
Carter and Rosie were the sweetest couple and I adored how well they meshed together. I adored Rosie’s grandmother and the importance of Carter’s late grandmother to the story. I felt like all of the characters came together so smoothly and purposely which was a breath of fresh air! If you are looking for a quick holiday read to bundle up to this holiday season then grab this one!
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩:
Brother’s Best Friend
Closed-Door
Slow Burn
Small Town
Christmas Romance
December 15, 2025
Rosie is not having the best luck; she’s just been laid off her job of 9 years & her douche boyfriend has just dumped her. She goes back to her hometown of Sandpiper Shores to see her family. Her string of bad luck continues when she is basically pushed into planning/running the annual Yule Tide Festival.
Along the way she meets Carter the grandson of the woman who use to run the festival & her brother’s best friend. They work together to plan the festival with help from his Grandma’s journal. As they get to know each other some sparks fly :)
Overall, this story was adorable! When you know, you know. Carter & Rosie were it for each other. My only complaint was that I wish it was a longer!
I obtained a copy of the book via NetGalley & this is my honest review.
Along the way she meets Carter the grandson of the woman who use to run the festival & her brother’s best friend. They work together to plan the festival with help from his Grandma’s journal. As they get to know each other some sparks fly :)
Overall, this story was adorable! When you know, you know. Carter & Rosie were it for each other. My only complaint was that I wish it was a longer!
I obtained a copy of the book via NetGalley & this is my honest review.
November 5, 2025
This is a tender, emotionally layered romance that explains how love can heal old wounds and challenge long-held fears. In this Hallmark-like romance, Carter is a man from a childhood where success came before affection. He spent much of his life casually dating while yearning for something deeper. Rosie is haunted by loss. She’s built her adult life around control. Avoiding the things that make her happiest, she believed joy leads to heartbreak. Through their journey, the story captures the bittersweet tension between desire, vulnerability, and belonging.
November 15, 2025
Easy as Christmas Pie is the cutest coastal Christmas story. Kelsey always writes the sweetest stories with wholesome characters. I loved how Rosie and Carter work together to figure out not one, but two secrets. They are so cute together and I love their connection. It was so fun and I loved reading the diary entries. Sandpiper Shores is described so perfectly, I love reading about the Carolinas in books and Kelsey always brings out the beauty of the east coast. If Hallmark and The Notebook had a baby book- this would be it.
Thank you Kelsey for this arc!
Thank you Kelsey for this arc!
November 16, 2025
Oh my gosh I fell in love with this one🥹 I was pulled in immediately with Rosie leaving the city and coming back home. To South Carolina!! Which is where I live which made me love this even more! The whole town meeting was so fun and gave me Gilmore girls vibes, which we all know I love! Carter is such a good guy🥹 I love how they connected over their losses, and the figuring out the recipe was the cutest thing!! I love the whole aspect of the diary, it was done SO well. It was like a second story inside this one🥰 Gram is such a good character!! i literally love her so much!! Rosie and Carter are written so well, Rosie is quirky and down to earth and generous, and Carter is selfless and so kindhearted. Then Christmas tree scene was my favorite 🥹 This one gave you a classic hall mark movie in a book with alllll the warm cozy Christmas vibes and I just really enjoyed it🫶🏻 thank you @authorkelseywhitney for an ARC copy🫶🏻
November 11, 2025
Easy as Christmas Pie is an absolute holiday gem! Kelsey Whitney delivers a heartwarming story full of charm, second chances, and small-town magic. Rosie and Carter’s chemistry is genuine, the seaside setting sparkles with festive coziness, and the hidden journal mystery adds the perfect touch of intrigue. This book feels like a warm hug on a snowy day — sweet, hopeful, and impossible to put down. A five-star Christmas read I’ll be recommending to everyone! 🎄🥧❤️
December 2, 2025
A huge thank you to Netgalley for sending me this ARC!
I really wanted to like this more than I did. I felt that there needed to be more substance in this book then there was. I think it had the potential to be really good. I just think there needed to be some heavy editing and revisions. If you love cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies, and clean romance books, I do think this would be the book for you.
I really wanted to like this more than I did. I felt that there needed to be more substance in this book then there was. I think it had the potential to be really good. I just think there needed to be some heavy editing and revisions. If you love cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies, and clean romance books, I do think this would be the book for you.
December 5, 2025
For starters, I LOVE this book cover! This was an adorable, heartwarming, fun, holiday romance. There was romance and a mystery that made this an adventure as well. The setting was amazing and the story was so sweet but not without depth. Wonderful and heartfelt characters made this book hard to put down and I didn't really want it to end, then the ending pulled the ole heart strings. This was definitely a winner. I'm now going to go read all of Kelsey Whitney's books.
January 9, 2026
I thought this book was adorable. Rosie was such a sweetheart and it was so fun finding out Carter's grandma's story. I shed quite a few tears at the end & found this book to have my favorite epilogue out of any book I've read. What a precious perspective from the sweet stray dog they found.
LOVE - a great heart-warming read. I will also say it didn't feel super Christmas-y, but that was okay cause I read it after Christmas anyway!
LOVE - a great heart-warming read. I will also say it didn't feel super Christmas-y, but that was okay cause I read it after Christmas anyway!
November 15, 2025
Sweet closed door Christmas romance.
Rosie goes back to her hometown after being laid off and dumped on the same day. She gets volunteered to plan and run the town’s Christmas festival.
She meets Carter, who happens to work for and be best friends with her protective older brother, and they have an instant connection. His late grandmother used to run the festival and Carter and Rosie work together to pull it together with a little help from his grandmother’s journal while unsuccessfully trying to fight their growing feelings.
I really enjoyed that there was anxiety representation with Rosie and how Carter was patient when she pushed him away but also didn’t let her walk away for good.
** The two years later epilogue’s author almost did me in 🥺
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion.
Rosie goes back to her hometown after being laid off and dumped on the same day. She gets volunteered to plan and run the town’s Christmas festival.
She meets Carter, who happens to work for and be best friends with her protective older brother, and they have an instant connection. His late grandmother used to run the festival and Carter and Rosie work together to pull it together with a little help from his grandmother’s journal while unsuccessfully trying to fight their growing feelings.
I really enjoyed that there was anxiety representation with Rosie and how Carter was patient when she pushed him away but also didn’t let her walk away for good.
** The two years later epilogue’s author almost did me in 🥺
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion.
November 11, 2025
This cozy Christmas romance was such a fun and heartwarming read! The brother’s best friend trope added just the right amount of tension and sweetness. The family secret gave it a bit of mystery that kept me turning the pages! Perfect for curling up on a winter night - warm, festive, and full of heart!
December 7, 2025
Very much a Hallmark style Christmas book. I think there were a few too many parts of the story that the author tried to incorporate, particularly the grandmothers love story. It felt like a little too much and I probably would have given more stars if that wasn't there, but it was a cute book for the holiday season!
December 29, 2025
Easy as Christmas Pie is a perfectly paced cozy Christmas movie! It gives Hallmark vibes and the story is easy to follow. Rosie & Carter immediately hit it off but Rosie faces obstacles that threaten to destroy the bond she has with Carter. He helps her work through her thoughts as they hunt down his grandmother Ellen’s Christmas Coconut Crème Pie just in time for the Yule Tide’s Festival! If you love a cozy Hallmark movie this book is just for you!
January 1, 2026
I enjoyed this lighthearted, closed door, Christmas romance. It was a fun premise, and I was curious to see how things would turn out. I’m a sucker for a happy ending.
There were definitely some places where I thought things could be fleshed out more, but I thought it was a good story and worth a read. I am thankful to have gotten a copy as part of the arc team.
There were definitely some places where I thought things could be fleshed out more, but I thought it was a good story and worth a read. I am thankful to have gotten a copy as part of the arc team.
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