Have Yourself a Merry Little Meltdown: A Novel

by Sheila Roberts

USA TODAY and PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY bestselling author Sheila Roberts is back with another crowd-pleasing and heartwarming holiday romance full of family, love, and a little bit of intrigue, as a debut novelist tries to keep her author identity secret from the family members who inspired her offbeat characters.

Jordan Frost had to do it. Her family was simply too perfectly eccentric not to put in a novel. She was thrilled when she got an agent and then a publishing deal. For two books. Two! Then reality set in. The book about an oddball family who goes on a Christmas vacation together is coming out in November. Just in time for her trip home to Port Carol, Washington, from the big city. Jordan is desperately hoping she can keep her pseudonym a secret so she can stay in her family's good graces. She wrote the book under a pen name and when it was time for an author picture, she wore a wig and glasses. No one will know it was her, right?
 
Wrong. Charles Pine, her high school friend who always hoped for more, recognizes the woman he's never gotten over as soon as he unpacks her book to shelve at the bookstore where he works. He knows this is the perfect opportunity to get Jordan to see him in a new light and he makes sure to run into her when she arrives home. She never thought of him as anything more than a shoulder to cry on back then, but he's determined to make her see him as boyfriend material, even if that means threatening to reveal her secret identity. As the holiday season sets in, Jordan tries to juggle writing, her family's mishaps, and the stress of keeping a secret. 
 
When a series of minor family emergencies threatens to add even more chaos to Jordan's already hectic life, Charles tries to help her find the true meaning of the holiday. Maybe coming home wasn't a bad idea after all... 

Genres: Holiday, Christmas, Romance

Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 13, 2026

About the author

With fifty books to her credit, both fiction and non-fiction, Sheila Roberts is a frequent USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestseller - and a fan favorite. Her books have sold over three million copies and have been turned into movies for the Hallmark, Lifetime and Great American Family channels. Before settling into her writing career, Sheila owned a singing telegram company and played in band. When she's not traveling, Sheila can be found hanging out with friends, playing tennis, and, of course, writing and reading. Sometimes she even remembers to post books she's read!

Reviews

[ashlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎄NETGALLEY BOOK REVIEW🎄

Title: Have Yourself A Merry Little Meltdown
ARC Provided By: Netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing
Author: Sheila Roberts
Expected Release Date: 10|13|2026
Genre: Christmas Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book Type: Standalone

This was such a cute Christmas read. (Yes, even in June)

Jordan was such a fun main character. She’s trying to balance her dreams, her career, and a big secret while dealing with her wild family. I loved the whole “secret author identity” and the tension it created. It added just the right amount of drama without taking away from the other parts in the book.

I absolutely loved Charles. He was supportive, persistent (in the best way), and just genuinely sweet. His and Jordan’s chemistry was so cute and I really enjoyed seeing them grow closer to each other.

Between the humor, the romance, and the emotional moments, this book felt like the perfect Christmas movie in novel form. Maybe Hallmark or Lifetime needs to be made aware of this book so it can be on the big screen 😉

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Author Sheila Roberts for the arc. All thoughts in this review are my own.

[Lisa Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have Yourself a Merry Little Meltdown is a warm, cozy holiday read that perfectly captures the chaos, charm, and heart of the Christmas season. Sheila Roberts balances humor, family dynamics, friendship, and romance in a way that feels both comforting and relatable. While the story has its share of holiday mishaps and emotional moments, it’s ultimately an uplifting reminder that perfection isn’t what makes the holidays memorable it’s the people we share them with.

This was exactly the kind of feel-good holiday novel I was hoping for.

A special thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

And an extra thank you for including Gram’s Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies recipe at the end! I can’t wait to bake them this holiday season they sound like the perfect sweet treat to accompany this cozy read.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is extremely funny! Jordan Frost wrote a funny book about her family under a pseudonym and didn’t mention their actual names but she’s stressing out about them buying it and reading it.She doesn’t want them to be upset with her for writing it.One part of the book mentions regifting and giving it back to the same person who gave it to you.That actually happened to me! My grandma lived to be 99.She died in 2024.She was my person! Her birthday was November 23.She gave me back the same gift for Christmas I’d given her at her birthday one year.My family all picked on her.She told us she hadn’t remembered who gave it to her.

[steph · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could have been 50 pages shorter with the repetitiveness :(