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Not Another Christmas Movie
When Annie Meyers wakes up in a made-for-TV Christmas movie starring her ex-situationship and a now not-so-dorky childhood neighbor, her plans to swear off love—and Christmas—begin to unravel.
Perfect for fans of A Merry Little Meet Cute, this holiday rom-com will enchant readers who have a love-hate relationship with Christmas movies.
Thirtysomething Annie Meyers is having a rough year. Her situationship with the noncommittal Chris fizzled out, and her best friend’s impending engagement is the final crunch of the candy cane. Her solution: to spend the holiday slugging boxed rosé and ignoring the rest of the world.
That is, until she falls asleep and wakes up in her worst nightmare: a made-for-TV Christmas movie version of her quaint hometown. To make matters worse, Chris is now the town’s hunky widower and owner of a Christmas tree farm. But Annie isn’t trapped alone: Her dorky childhood neighbor, Nick, is here too. Only, he’s not quite as dorky as she remembers.
After some mild panic, Annie and Nick realize their escape hinges on playing into classic rom-com tropes. The plan is simple: Annie will woo Chris—the now “perfect boyfriend”—and Nick, his childhood sweetheart, Bailey.
But after holiday hoedowns, ice-skating dates, and cookie-baking montages, Annie begins to wonder if the real magic of Christmas—and love—is much closer to home.
Perfect for fans of A Merry Little Meet Cute, this holiday rom-com will enchant readers who have a love-hate relationship with Christmas movies.
Thirtysomething Annie Meyers is having a rough year. Her situationship with the noncommittal Chris fizzled out, and her best friend’s impending engagement is the final crunch of the candy cane. Her solution: to spend the holiday slugging boxed rosé and ignoring the rest of the world.
That is, until she falls asleep and wakes up in her worst nightmare: a made-for-TV Christmas movie version of her quaint hometown. To make matters worse, Chris is now the town’s hunky widower and owner of a Christmas tree farm. But Annie isn’t trapped alone: Her dorky childhood neighbor, Nick, is here too. Only, he’s not quite as dorky as she remembers.
After some mild panic, Annie and Nick realize their escape hinges on playing into classic rom-com tropes. The plan is simple: Annie will woo Chris—the now “perfect boyfriend”—and Nick, his childhood sweetheart, Bailey.
But after holiday hoedowns, ice-skating dates, and cookie-baking montages, Annie begins to wonder if the real magic of Christmas—and love—is much closer to home.
317 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 6, 2026
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August 5, 2026
Not Another Christmas Movie: A Novel was such a fun and hilarious read! From the very beginning, I found myself laughing out loud—whether it was the absurdly named events or the ridiculous situations Nick and Annie kept stumbling into.
The story follows Annie, who is feeling completely over life and especially Christmas, as she house-sits for her parents. At the same time, her neighbour Nick is doing the same next door. But things take a wild turn when they both wake up the next day… inside a Christmas movie. What follows is a chaotic, laugh-out-loud adventure full of holiday clichés and unexpected twists.
This book doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s exactly what makes it so enjoyable. It’s the perfect read if you’re looking for something light, funny, and full of festive charm.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Highly recommend for anyone who wants a good holiday laugh!
The story follows Annie, who is feeling completely over life and especially Christmas, as she house-sits for her parents. At the same time, her neighbour Nick is doing the same next door. But things take a wild turn when they both wake up the next day… inside a Christmas movie. What follows is a chaotic, laugh-out-loud adventure full of holiday clichés and unexpected twists.
This book doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s exactly what makes it so enjoyable. It’s the perfect read if you’re looking for something light, funny, and full of festive charm.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Highly recommend for anyone who wants a good holiday laugh!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars.
"Not Another Christmas Movie" by Ashley Cowan is a pun-filled holiday romp that mirrors a Hallmark Christmas movie to the tee! If is ever watched a Hallmark christmas movie, you will identify most of the plot of this book, which makes it fairly predictable. I have to assume Cowan had her work cut out for her and watched her fair share of them before writing this book because she nailed it! I laughed a lot at the goofy play on words, tropes, puns, and jokes throughout this book. Sure, it gets to be a bit much, but I am a pun queen! I loved the creative, fun concept of people being transported into a Hallmark movie. Annie (FMC), a grinchy Christmas disliker who is having a terrible year, wakes up in an alternate reality Hallmark movie version of her hometown, and all of the people that she knows live different Christmas-themed lives. It turns out that Nick (MMC), who lived next door to Annie growing up, also got swept away into this Hallmark Christmas village, too. However, Nick is not the dorky theater nerd, he was when they went to school together. They both figure out quickly that they are stuck in a movie because not everything is as it seems. They are unable to do certain things like curse or kiss because those things don't follow the stereotypical plot points of a Hallmark movie. Annie and Nick acknowledge the absurdity and borderline insanity of their situation, which leads to a lot of laughs. We're talking cookie competitions, ugly sweaters, ice skating, coziness by the fire with a big cup of cocoa, the works! Unfortunately, I did not think they had a whole lot of chemistry apart from a goof or a gaff here and there. Maybe it's because I tend to assume most Christmas books, by default, are going to be full of joy and merriment, and Annie is just not that. She is quite cynical when she wants to be, and I think her grumpiness is almost a detriment at times, even in such a weird situation. I would have felt the same if Nick had been the grump. Nick, on the other hand, is kind and patient and adorable and has clearly been in love with Annie forever. I just felt like she was willfully ignorant to the fact that that Nick was a good guy and was oblivious to how much he liked her! This book does have its moments of cuteness and humor, but I think there are other, better christmas books out there to put you in the spirit of the season.
Thank you to NetGalley, Ashley Cowan, and Alcove Press for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
"Not Another Christmas Movie" by Ashley Cowan is a pun-filled holiday romp that mirrors a Hallmark Christmas movie to the tee! If is ever watched a Hallmark christmas movie, you will identify most of the plot of this book, which makes it fairly predictable. I have to assume Cowan had her work cut out for her and watched her fair share of them before writing this book because she nailed it! I laughed a lot at the goofy play on words, tropes, puns, and jokes throughout this book. Sure, it gets to be a bit much, but I am a pun queen! I loved the creative, fun concept of people being transported into a Hallmark movie. Annie (FMC), a grinchy Christmas disliker who is having a terrible year, wakes up in an alternate reality Hallmark movie version of her hometown, and all of the people that she knows live different Christmas-themed lives. It turns out that Nick (MMC), who lived next door to Annie growing up, also got swept away into this Hallmark Christmas village, too. However, Nick is not the dorky theater nerd, he was when they went to school together. They both figure out quickly that they are stuck in a movie because not everything is as it seems. They are unable to do certain things like curse or kiss because those things don't follow the stereotypical plot points of a Hallmark movie. Annie and Nick acknowledge the absurdity and borderline insanity of their situation, which leads to a lot of laughs. We're talking cookie competitions, ugly sweaters, ice skating, coziness by the fire with a big cup of cocoa, the works! Unfortunately, I did not think they had a whole lot of chemistry apart from a goof or a gaff here and there. Maybe it's because I tend to assume most Christmas books, by default, are going to be full of joy and merriment, and Annie is just not that. She is quite cynical when she wants to be, and I think her grumpiness is almost a detriment at times, even in such a weird situation. I would have felt the same if Nick had been the grump. Nick, on the other hand, is kind and patient and adorable and has clearly been in love with Annie forever. I just felt like she was willfully ignorant to the fact that that Nick was a good guy and was oblivious to how much he liked her! This book does have its moments of cuteness and humor, but I think there are other, better christmas books out there to put you in the spirit of the season.
Thank you to NetGalley, Ashley Cowan, and Alcove Press for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Huge thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. It was my first ever ARC and I was determined to make a good first impression by reading it as soon as I could.
I want to preface this by saying that I am not a Christmas themed novel fan at all but the blurb was enticing and when I noticed it was on the ‘read now’ section I knew I just had to try it.
I thought it was a quick and easy read despite not being my favourite. The plot was predictable and fast paced. I feel like 20% into the book I already knew what was going to happen and how- what did kind of shock me though was that Bailey and Chris were dating IRL and not just in their little dream-town. That was pretty surreal- knowing that there was some sort of correlation between dream-characters and then real-characters. The part about Pete’s middle name being Ferguson and them wanting to name their daughter Eve was particularly sweet for me.
The writing was simplistic and didn’t take a lot of effort to decode so it made for an easy quick read. Although I will say that I wasn’t the biggest fan of the modern dialogue used. Nick and Annie did have some really sweet moments that were quite enjoyable- namely the sledding and watching an old movie scene.
I was not at all a fan of LaundryBae- as soon as I read the description of it I had to put my iPad down and take a lap and then take a day off reading before I could get back into it and then subsequently having to skip over any mentions of her business.
I found dream Simsbury to be quite charming and I liked the little element of empty hot-cocoa cups and Nick and Annie not really eating or sleeping- it really made the whole thing feel like a scripted movie.
I do think that their relationship was a bit rushed despite Nick having had a crush on her for years and I feel like Annie should’ve had a lot more than a few days to fall in love with Nick.
I was a bit perplexed when I read the reason why Annie was so against Christmas and I truly believed that it shouldn’t have taken 16 years for her to get over it but I’m glad that she did.
I thought that it was really messy when Annie thought she had to get Chris (her situationship- if you can really call it that- more like continuous one-night-stand) to fall in love with her or kiss her. It was sorta like… we want Annie to move on but now she has to be with the better, dreamier version of her ‘ex’ but Nick got to rekindle things with his highschool girlfriend?
Yeah! It was a decent read but I feel like it wasn’t exactly up my alley or my style of romance books.
I want to preface this by saying that I am not a Christmas themed novel fan at all but the blurb was enticing and when I noticed it was on the ‘read now’ section I knew I just had to try it.
I thought it was a quick and easy read despite not being my favourite. The plot was predictable and fast paced. I feel like 20% into the book I already knew what was going to happen and how- what did kind of shock me though was that Bailey and Chris were dating IRL and not just in their little dream-town. That was pretty surreal- knowing that there was some sort of correlation between dream-characters and then real-characters. The part about Pete’s middle name being Ferguson and them wanting to name their daughter Eve was particularly sweet for me.
The writing was simplistic and didn’t take a lot of effort to decode so it made for an easy quick read. Although I will say that I wasn’t the biggest fan of the modern dialogue used. Nick and Annie did have some really sweet moments that were quite enjoyable- namely the sledding and watching an old movie scene.
I was not at all a fan of LaundryBae- as soon as I read the description of it I had to put my iPad down and take a lap and then take a day off reading before I could get back into it and then subsequently having to skip over any mentions of her business.
I found dream Simsbury to be quite charming and I liked the little element of empty hot-cocoa cups and Nick and Annie not really eating or sleeping- it really made the whole thing feel like a scripted movie.
I do think that their relationship was a bit rushed despite Nick having had a crush on her for years and I feel like Annie should’ve had a lot more than a few days to fall in love with Nick.
I was a bit perplexed when I read the reason why Annie was so against Christmas and I truly believed that it shouldn’t have taken 16 years for her to get over it but I’m glad that she did.
I thought that it was really messy when Annie thought she had to get Chris (her situationship- if you can really call it that- more like continuous one-night-stand) to fall in love with her or kiss her. It was sorta like… we want Annie to move on but now she has to be with the better, dreamier version of her ‘ex’ but Nick got to rekindle things with his highschool girlfriend?
Yeah! It was a decent read but I feel like it wasn’t exactly up my alley or my style of romance books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Annie wakes up in a made-for-TV version of her Connecticut hometown where swearing is basically illegal, alcohol has vanished, hot chocolate has apparently replaced the entire beverage industry, and every resident is carrying around the kind of aggressively tragic holiday backstory that would normally be delivered right before a commercial break. Her former situationship Chris is now a handsome widower who owns a Christmas tree farm because of course he does. His daughter is named Holly. His wife died in a chestnut-roasting accident. At a certain point, you have to respect how thoroughly this universe has committed to the bit.
And Annie is absolutely the wrong woman to put here. She came home wanting boxed rosé, isolation, and permission to hate Christmas in peace after Chris spent their situationship treating commitment like an optional software update. Instead she gets trapped in festive purgatory with Nick, her childhood neighbor, after the two of them share a cannabis cookie. Nick, importantly, understands Christmas movies well enough to realize they probably need to follow the formula to escape. Annie mostly understands that she cannot swear properly or get a drink, and frankly I found her priorities extremely relatable.
Their escape plan is where these two really lose me in the most entertaining way. Annie decides she needs to romance Christmas-Movie Chris, who has received the full Holiday Boyfriend Upgrade Package, while Nick is supposed to rekindle things with his childhood sweetheart Bailey. They just need to hit the tropes, get the appropriate romances moving, presumably trigger the required Christmas magic, and go home. Very sensible plan devised by two people currently trapped in a world where beverages mysteriously empty themselves and nobody appears to require normal human functions like eating or sleeping.
Except Annie trying to convince herself that Chris 2.0 is what she wants becomes increasingly ridiculous once Nick is standing right there. Nick is sweet, game for the insanity, knows how this bizarre little Christmas ecosystem operates, and has grown considerably beyond the dorky neighbor Annie remembers. Meanwhile Annie keeps marching toward Chris because she thinks that's the assignment, even though spending time with Nick starts feeling suspiciously less like two hostages cooperating and more like the movie has accidentally cast the correct couple in the wrong roles.
And dream Simsbury is doing THE MOST around them. Holiday hoedowns. Ice skating. Cookie baking. Christmas events with names that sound like somebody lost a bet. There is a café situation where hot chocolate has apparently conquered capitalism. Everyone has the slightly unsettling energy of a side character who knows exactly when they're supposed to enter the scene. I especially enjoyed the little cracks in the world where Annie and Nick notice that none of this functions like actual life. The empty cups, the weird rules, the relentlessly PG behavior. They're essentially trapped inside a snow globe run by network standards and practices.
The thing is, Annie can be a lot. She second-guesses herself until the second-guessing needs its own second-guessing, and after a while I wanted to reach into the book and confiscate several of her thoughts. Nick also could have used more room to exist outside Annie's view of him because there were moments when I desperately wanted access to whatever was happening inside that man's head. Sir, you are participating in some extremely suspicious behavior for a childhood neighbor, and I have follow-up questions.
But underneath all the Christmas-movie nonsense, Annie's loneliness worked on me. She's watching other people move forward while she feels stuck, and Chris wasn't really a relationship so much as something she kept hoping might eventually become one. That's a miserable little place to live emotionally. Sometimes you aren't heartbroken because somebody was the love of your life. You're heartbroken because you finally have to admit they were never going to become the person you kept waiting for. Anyway. Rude.
By the time everything started clicking into place, I knew exactly where this sleigh was headed, but that's almost beside the point when the entire book is standing there pointing at Christmas movies and yelling, "YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT." I just wish Annie and Nick's shift from childhood neighbors to oh-wait-a-damn-minute had gotten a little more breathing room. There were moments I was completely with them, and moments when I felt like the Christmas movie itself had grabbed both of them by the shoulders and yelled, "WE HAVE EIGHT MINUTES UNTIL CREDITS, KISS."
Not Another Christmas Movie is 3 stars for me. I had fun with the ridiculous movie-world rules, Annie's absolute refusal to accept forced Christmas cheer quietly, and Nick knowing far too much about how these movies work. I just wanted a little more time for the actual feelings to catch up with all that manufactured mistletoe.
Merry Mayhem Prize: For Best Use of a Chestnut-Roasting Fatality to Inform Two Grown Adults That They Are Absolutely Trapped in a Christmas Movie
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the ARC and for temporarily relocating me to a town where wine is unavailable, profanity is censored, every eligible man has received a seasonal career makeover, and apparently nobody thought the chestnut-related widowhood was suspicious enough to call for help.
And Annie is absolutely the wrong woman to put here. She came home wanting boxed rosé, isolation, and permission to hate Christmas in peace after Chris spent their situationship treating commitment like an optional software update. Instead she gets trapped in festive purgatory with Nick, her childhood neighbor, after the two of them share a cannabis cookie. Nick, importantly, understands Christmas movies well enough to realize they probably need to follow the formula to escape. Annie mostly understands that she cannot swear properly or get a drink, and frankly I found her priorities extremely relatable.
Their escape plan is where these two really lose me in the most entertaining way. Annie decides she needs to romance Christmas-Movie Chris, who has received the full Holiday Boyfriend Upgrade Package, while Nick is supposed to rekindle things with his childhood sweetheart Bailey. They just need to hit the tropes, get the appropriate romances moving, presumably trigger the required Christmas magic, and go home. Very sensible plan devised by two people currently trapped in a world where beverages mysteriously empty themselves and nobody appears to require normal human functions like eating or sleeping.
Except Annie trying to convince herself that Chris 2.0 is what she wants becomes increasingly ridiculous once Nick is standing right there. Nick is sweet, game for the insanity, knows how this bizarre little Christmas ecosystem operates, and has grown considerably beyond the dorky neighbor Annie remembers. Meanwhile Annie keeps marching toward Chris because she thinks that's the assignment, even though spending time with Nick starts feeling suspiciously less like two hostages cooperating and more like the movie has accidentally cast the correct couple in the wrong roles.
And dream Simsbury is doing THE MOST around them. Holiday hoedowns. Ice skating. Cookie baking. Christmas events with names that sound like somebody lost a bet. There is a café situation where hot chocolate has apparently conquered capitalism. Everyone has the slightly unsettling energy of a side character who knows exactly when they're supposed to enter the scene. I especially enjoyed the little cracks in the world where Annie and Nick notice that none of this functions like actual life. The empty cups, the weird rules, the relentlessly PG behavior. They're essentially trapped inside a snow globe run by network standards and practices.
The thing is, Annie can be a lot. She second-guesses herself until the second-guessing needs its own second-guessing, and after a while I wanted to reach into the book and confiscate several of her thoughts. Nick also could have used more room to exist outside Annie's view of him because there were moments when I desperately wanted access to whatever was happening inside that man's head. Sir, you are participating in some extremely suspicious behavior for a childhood neighbor, and I have follow-up questions.
But underneath all the Christmas-movie nonsense, Annie's loneliness worked on me. She's watching other people move forward while she feels stuck, and Chris wasn't really a relationship so much as something she kept hoping might eventually become one. That's a miserable little place to live emotionally. Sometimes you aren't heartbroken because somebody was the love of your life. You're heartbroken because you finally have to admit they were never going to become the person you kept waiting for. Anyway. Rude.
By the time everything started clicking into place, I knew exactly where this sleigh was headed, but that's almost beside the point when the entire book is standing there pointing at Christmas movies and yelling, "YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT." I just wish Annie and Nick's shift from childhood neighbors to oh-wait-a-damn-minute had gotten a little more breathing room. There were moments I was completely with them, and moments when I felt like the Christmas movie itself had grabbed both of them by the shoulders and yelled, "WE HAVE EIGHT MINUTES UNTIL CREDITS, KISS."
Not Another Christmas Movie is 3 stars for me. I had fun with the ridiculous movie-world rules, Annie's absolute refusal to accept forced Christmas cheer quietly, and Nick knowing far too much about how these movies work. I just wanted a little more time for the actual feelings to catch up with all that manufactured mistletoe.
Merry Mayhem Prize: For Best Use of a Chestnut-Roasting Fatality to Inform Two Grown Adults That They Are Absolutely Trapped in a Christmas Movie
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the ARC and for temporarily relocating me to a town where wine is unavailable, profanity is censored, every eligible man has received a seasonal career makeover, and apparently nobody thought the chestnut-related widowhood was suspicious enough to call for help.
Read
September 16, 2026What if one could live inside a heartwarming, sweet Christmas holiday romance movie plot for real? A woman set on an anti-holiday swoon finds herself dropped into such a sitch, but she resists the sugary allure.
Ashley Cowan is a new to me author, but Not Another Christmas Movie has a scenario that I have read and loved before so when I was ready to immerse myself in a candy cane fresh and sweet holiday romance world, I took this one up and settled in for the treat.
My full review will post at That's What I'm Talking About on 11.12.26.
Ashley Cowan is a new to me author, but Not Another Christmas Movie has a scenario that I have read and loved before so when I was ready to immerse myself in a candy cane fresh and sweet holiday romance world, I took this one up and settled in for the treat.
My full review will post at That's What I'm Talking About on 11.12.26.
October 4, 2026
3.5 stars. This book is cheesy and silly and I cackled with delight.
I really enjoyed Annie & Nick’s romance - their past friendship felt bland but their chemistry in TV Simsbury is excellent. Sometimes a predictable happily ever after is just what you need, and this book has it in spades.
I giggled throughout. It’s a hoot. It does exactly what it intends to: give you a good time at the holidays.
Thank you to NetGalley, Ashley Cowan, and Alcove Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed Annie & Nick’s romance - their past friendship felt bland but their chemistry in TV Simsbury is excellent. Sometimes a predictable happily ever after is just what you need, and this book has it in spades.
I giggled throughout. It’s a hoot. It does exactly what it intends to: give you a good time at the holidays.
Thank you to NetGalley, Ashley Cowan, and Alcove Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 15, 2026
I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. Not Another Christmas Movie had some cute moments, and I enjoyed the festive atmosphere and lighthearted feel. There was also some good humor! However, the story the pacing dragged in places, and I never felt fully invested in the characters. It was an easy enough read, but not an oh my gosh you have to read.
Thank you Ashley Cowan, Net Galley & Alcove Press for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. It's out now if you think it sounds good to you!
Thank you Ashley Cowan, Net Galley & Alcove Press for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. It's out now if you think it sounds good to you!
September 16, 2026
A big thank you to NetGalley, Alcove Press and Ashley Gowan for the opportunity to read this ARC, all opinions are my own!
3.5/5⭐️
2/5🌶️
I wasn’t fully sold on reading a Christmas novel during fall, as this one is out October 6th 2026, but it’s the middle of September and this definitely put me in a bit of a Christmasey mood!
To start with the positives, the premise of the book is creative! Imagine waking up in a made for tv Christmas movie/hallmark movie. Personally, my worst nightmare, I am not a huge hallmark movie fan, and find them incredibly cheesy and unbelievable. I know that’s most of the appeal, but I prefer a bit more realistic movie. However, the idea to write this as a romance novel is so fun! The other big positive for me was how funny and hilarious the authors voice and tone is. I laughed out loud many times reading the book. It is a quick, lighthearted read, and just like a hallmark movie, you don’t have to think too hard while reading, a great escape from reality.
My issues lie with the FMC, Annie is a bit of a grinch, and quite pessimistic. I found it hard to relate to her, and a lot of the time just wanted her to cheer up a bit. Obviously this was a big lesson for her throughout the novel, but I still felt she could’ve been a bit more happy!
There’s some spice near the end, nothing too crazy, so if you don’t enjoy smut, or don’t read too much, this is a great one for you! I also loved the found family, slow burn aspects of this read.
Overall, a fun and lighthearted holiday read. Definitely gave Dream Harbour vibes, if those books were up your alley, definitely read this one! Our October 6th 2026
3.5/5⭐️
2/5🌶️
I wasn’t fully sold on reading a Christmas novel during fall, as this one is out October 6th 2026, but it’s the middle of September and this definitely put me in a bit of a Christmasey mood!
To start with the positives, the premise of the book is creative! Imagine waking up in a made for tv Christmas movie/hallmark movie. Personally, my worst nightmare, I am not a huge hallmark movie fan, and find them incredibly cheesy and unbelievable. I know that’s most of the appeal, but I prefer a bit more realistic movie. However, the idea to write this as a romance novel is so fun! The other big positive for me was how funny and hilarious the authors voice and tone is. I laughed out loud many times reading the book. It is a quick, lighthearted read, and just like a hallmark movie, you don’t have to think too hard while reading, a great escape from reality.
My issues lie with the FMC, Annie is a bit of a grinch, and quite pessimistic. I found it hard to relate to her, and a lot of the time just wanted her to cheer up a bit. Obviously this was a big lesson for her throughout the novel, but I still felt she could’ve been a bit more happy!
There’s some spice near the end, nothing too crazy, so if you don’t enjoy smut, or don’t read too much, this is a great one for you! I also loved the found family, slow burn aspects of this read.
Overall, a fun and lighthearted holiday read. Definitely gave Dream Harbour vibes, if those books were up your alley, definitely read this one! Our October 6th 2026
Review of advance copy received from Author
I’m nearly finished with the book and I love it. I’ll admit that I know the author and was given an advanced reader copy from her, however, my review would be the same regardless. Overall, it’s so nice to spend time in the world that the novel creates. It’s filled with such sweet, seasonal joy! Just like the holidays, it’s hard to not want to wrap yourself up in the blanket of this book. Offsetting that sweetness is our main character, Annie, who has been a bit burned by life and so doesn’t immediately buy in to the cookie cutter Christmas tale that she’s trapped in. This allows the reader to indulge their sweet tooth without getting a toothache. Beyond that Annie’s slight curmudgeon-way lays the groundwork for some of the best humor in the book. I found myself laughing out loud often throughout my read. In the end, the charm and the heart and the kind connections found between the characters in the book, it’s infectious. Annie and Nick are a wonderful team as they bumble around this made for TV Christmas movie. The premise may seem like fluff, but you can tell that the author cares deeply for each and every one of her characters (Marsha, Grant, Bailey, Chris, Noelle (my fav), all of them) and that makes all the difference. Love the book. Love the slow burn of the character connections. In any season, I would recommend. :)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🎄 Not Another Christmas Movie by Ashley Cowan 🎄
⭐⭐⭐✨
Pub Date: Oct 6
Annie Meyers is having a rough year and has decided to spend Christmas avoiding both love and the holiday itself. But after falling asleep, she wakes up inside a cheesy made-for-TV Christmas movie version of her hometown with her childhood neighbor Nick by her side.
The two quickly realize that the only way to get back to reality is to follow all the classic Christmas rom-com tropes. So between Christmas tree farms, ice-skating dates, cookie-baking montages, and holiday hoedowns, they have to play along with the movie and its ridiculous plot. 😂🎄
This was definitely a funny and humorous read, and I loved how it played with all those classic Hallmark Christmas movie clichés. I was expecting a little more from the story, but overall, it was a cute Christmas read with plenty of Hallmark vibes.
If you're looking for something light, funny, and a little ridiculous to read during the Christmas season, this could be a fun one to pick up. ❤️
Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for granting me an arc of #notanotherchristmasmovie in exchange for my honest review.
Xoxo😘
⭐⭐⭐✨
Pub Date: Oct 6
Annie Meyers is having a rough year and has decided to spend Christmas avoiding both love and the holiday itself. But after falling asleep, she wakes up inside a cheesy made-for-TV Christmas movie version of her hometown with her childhood neighbor Nick by her side.
The two quickly realize that the only way to get back to reality is to follow all the classic Christmas rom-com tropes. So between Christmas tree farms, ice-skating dates, cookie-baking montages, and holiday hoedowns, they have to play along with the movie and its ridiculous plot. 😂🎄
This was definitely a funny and humorous read, and I loved how it played with all those classic Hallmark Christmas movie clichés. I was expecting a little more from the story, but overall, it was a cute Christmas read with plenty of Hallmark vibes.
If you're looking for something light, funny, and a little ridiculous to read during the Christmas season, this could be a fun one to pick up. ❤️
Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for granting me an arc of #notanotherchristmasmovie in exchange for my honest review.
Xoxo😘
October 6, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the eARC.
Time of death: 75%. I have never DNF'd an ARC before but I cannot bring myself to finish this book.
The FMC is the most 'pick me' I have ever read. From hating Christmas, to complaining about every single thing, to just being an unpleasant person. She was too hyper focused on sex and it was kind of awkward. She is stuck in a Hallmark movie and keeps making sex jokes? GTFO.
The FMC was so oblivious and try hard that it made it difficult to read this book, and therefore I cannot finish it. I do not care if she is stuck in this Hallmark simulation forever. When you finally realize why she hates Christmas- it did not need to carry this weight for 16 years. Just try therapy!
I came for the cheesy Hallmark movie vibes and left when the cheese went bad. The jokes didn't land and just made me feel icky. The FMC never realized her fate and the circumstances of being trapped in a Hallmark movie- just try to adapt and figure out how to get yourself out of there instead of whining and complaining through the whole thing. The weight of this story landed on the MMC's shoulders- he had to figure out they were trapped, he had to come up with the plot so they could try and break free.
Overall, this unfortunately did not work for me and did not put me in the holiday spirit. If you enjoy a truly grinchy character with practically no redeeming qualities, you can try this book.
Time of death: 75%. I have never DNF'd an ARC before but I cannot bring myself to finish this book.
The FMC is the most 'pick me' I have ever read. From hating Christmas, to complaining about every single thing, to just being an unpleasant person. She was too hyper focused on sex and it was kind of awkward. She is stuck in a Hallmark movie and keeps making sex jokes? GTFO.
The FMC was so oblivious and try hard that it made it difficult to read this book, and therefore I cannot finish it. I do not care if she is stuck in this Hallmark simulation forever. When you finally realize why she hates Christmas- it did not need to carry this weight for 16 years. Just try therapy!
I came for the cheesy Hallmark movie vibes and left when the cheese went bad. The jokes didn't land and just made me feel icky. The FMC never realized her fate and the circumstances of being trapped in a Hallmark movie- just try to adapt and figure out how to get yourself out of there instead of whining and complaining through the whole thing. The weight of this story landed on the MMC's shoulders- he had to figure out they were trapped, he had to come up with the plot so they could try and break free.
Overall, this unfortunately did not work for me and did not put me in the holiday spirit. If you enjoy a truly grinchy character with practically no redeeming qualities, you can try this book.
October 18, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
I love a good, cheesy Christmas story, but this one was just too much cheese and not enough heart for my taste. In full transparency, I picked this up fresh off one of my favorite books of the year and the mood change was severe. But in addition to that, there were several things working against this. First of all, the writing was really disjointed at times. There were multiple instances where I had to stop and reread a sentence because something was off. Hoping this one got fixed in final edits, but I can only review the advanced copy because that was the book I read. Secondly, the 180 when this book went from a rated-G made-for-TV movie to an open door romance book was really awkward. Third, I found the FMC to be completely unsympathetic as well as pretty unlikable overall. And their business was just ew.
Really struggled to give this one a rating but settled at 2 stars. It’s not the worst thing I’ve ever read and there were a few cute ideas, but it was a miss for me.
I love a good, cheesy Christmas story, but this one was just too much cheese and not enough heart for my taste. In full transparency, I picked this up fresh off one of my favorite books of the year and the mood change was severe. But in addition to that, there were several things working against this. First of all, the writing was really disjointed at times. There were multiple instances where I had to stop and reread a sentence because something was off. Hoping this one got fixed in final edits, but I can only review the advanced copy because that was the book I read. Secondly, the 180 when this book went from a rated-G made-for-TV movie to an open door romance book was really awkward. Third, I found the FMC to be completely unsympathetic as well as pretty unlikable overall. And their business was just ew.
Really struggled to give this one a rating but settled at 2 stars. It’s not the worst thing I’ve ever read and there were a few cute ideas, but it was a miss for me.
August 19, 2026
Thank you to Net Galley and Alcove Press for the ARC of this title.
I really wanted to love this one but it was just okay. Annie and Nick find themselves in a cheesy Christmas movie world and are trying to get out. The book started out very cute but it was just a little over kill with the Christmas jargon and the story. I also kept getting confused between Nick and Chris. The ending was okay but overall I felt like I’d read a very similar book before.
I really wanted to love this one but it was just okay. Annie and Nick find themselves in a cheesy Christmas movie world and are trying to get out. The book started out very cute but it was just a little over kill with the Christmas jargon and the story. I also kept getting confused between Nick and Chris. The ending was okay but overall I felt like I’d read a very similar book before.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
That book is a holiday rom-com with a twist as the protagonists wake up and find themself in the epitome of a Hallmark Christmas movie.
Annie and Nick end up into a magical chaos which follows each and every one clichés of the genre and it is very funny to read. They also share a genuine connection and it was a real pleasure to follow their adventures.
That book put me right on a cheerful Christmasy mood, and it's still August outside.
Annie and Nick end up into a magical chaos which follows each and every one clichés of the genre and it is very funny to read. They also share a genuine connection and it was a real pleasure to follow their adventures.
That book put me right on a cheerful Christmasy mood, and it's still August outside.
May 28, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you Netgalley and Alcove Press for this arc!
Not Another Christmas Movie by Ashley Cowan was the perfect mix of funny, cozy, and heartwarming. It had all the chaotic holiday rom-com vibes I love, with amazing banter, great chemistry, and the perfect amount of festive charm. Such a fun and comforting read — definitely a new holiday favourite for me! It was magical! 🎄✨
Annie and the boy next door wake up in a cheesy Christmas rom com movie and they think they have to kiss other characters to get out until they fall in love with each other (little does Annie know nick has always loved her).
Definitely add this one to your Christmas list this year to read! Published on the 6th of October 🤗
Thank you Netgalley and Alcove Press for this arc!
Not Another Christmas Movie by Ashley Cowan was the perfect mix of funny, cozy, and heartwarming. It had all the chaotic holiday rom-com vibes I love, with amazing banter, great chemistry, and the perfect amount of festive charm. Such a fun and comforting read — definitely a new holiday favourite for me! It was magical! 🎄✨
Annie and the boy next door wake up in a cheesy Christmas rom com movie and they think they have to kiss other characters to get out until they fall in love with each other (little does Annie know nick has always loved her).
Definitely add this one to your Christmas list this year to read! Published on the 6th of October 🤗
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🚨 SPOILER ALERT: READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!
I am giving Not Another Christmas Movie by Ashley Cowan a festive, delightfully magical 4-star review! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Get ready to wrap yourself in a blanket and sip some hot cocoa because this heartwarming story brings all the cozy magic of a holiday film straight to your Kindle screen!
ARC Disclosure: A massive thank you to NetGalley and author Ashley Cowan for providing me with an early digital review copy (eARC) of this charming book! All thoughts, giggles, and honest reflections shared in this review are entirely my own.
The Review
Not Another Christmas Movie is such a cute, enchanting holiday story that instantly makes you think of classic Hallmark Christmas movies, Charles Dickens vibes, and the pure, beautiful magic of the festive season. Ashley Cowan crafts a lighthearted and cozy world that captures the festive spirit effortlessly while delivering plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. The narrative flows with a bright, joyful energy that makes it completely irresistible for holiday romance lovers.
Annie and Nick make the absolute cutest couple and serve as fantastic main characters to anchor the plot. What really sets this read apart is the humor—the descriptions of the PG-rated moments were so funny to read and added such a witty, charming touch to their growing relationship! On top of that, the cast of secondary characters is just adorable, creating a warm and welcoming community feeling throughout the entire book. It is a delightfully fun, high-energy holiday read that will leave you smiling from ear to ear.
The Good
The festive atmosphere is pure magic! Combining nostalgic, Dickensian-style holiday magic with the feel-good tropes of a classic Hallmark film was a stroke of genius. Annie and Nick have wonderful chemistry, and their comedic interactions are genuinely hilarious. The PG-rated moments are written with such clever, lighthearted humor that you can't help but chuckle as you read!
The Not So Good
While it is an incredibly charming and fun holiday escape, it leans heavily into classic, cozy movie tropes, which means it stays relatively light on high emotional angst—perfect for a cozy afternoon, but something to note if you prefer deep drama
I am giving Not Another Christmas Movie by Ashley Cowan a festive, delightfully magical 4-star review! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Get ready to wrap yourself in a blanket and sip some hot cocoa because this heartwarming story brings all the cozy magic of a holiday film straight to your Kindle screen!
ARC Disclosure: A massive thank you to NetGalley and author Ashley Cowan for providing me with an early digital review copy (eARC) of this charming book! All thoughts, giggles, and honest reflections shared in this review are entirely my own.
The Review
Not Another Christmas Movie is such a cute, enchanting holiday story that instantly makes you think of classic Hallmark Christmas movies, Charles Dickens vibes, and the pure, beautiful magic of the festive season. Ashley Cowan crafts a lighthearted and cozy world that captures the festive spirit effortlessly while delivering plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. The narrative flows with a bright, joyful energy that makes it completely irresistible for holiday romance lovers.
Annie and Nick make the absolute cutest couple and serve as fantastic main characters to anchor the plot. What really sets this read apart is the humor—the descriptions of the PG-rated moments were so funny to read and added such a witty, charming touch to their growing relationship! On top of that, the cast of secondary characters is just adorable, creating a warm and welcoming community feeling throughout the entire book. It is a delightfully fun, high-energy holiday read that will leave you smiling from ear to ear.
The Good
The festive atmosphere is pure magic! Combining nostalgic, Dickensian-style holiday magic with the feel-good tropes of a classic Hallmark film was a stroke of genius. Annie and Nick have wonderful chemistry, and their comedic interactions are genuinely hilarious. The PG-rated moments are written with such clever, lighthearted humor that you can't help but chuckle as you read!
The Not So Good
While it is an incredibly charming and fun holiday escape, it leans heavily into classic, cozy movie tropes, which means it stays relatively light on high emotional angst—perfect for a cozy afternoon, but something to note if you prefer deep drama
October 8, 2026
I was drawn to the initial concept of this book - a cynical woman spending Christmas alone wakes up in a town turned into a Hallmark movie and must find her way back to reality. She is stuck there with her childhood friend Nick. They think they need to find true love with the people currently in their lives; for Annie that is her continuous one night stand Chris, and for Nick that means his high school sweetheart. This is really more of a love square, than a love triangle. The whole town, its setting and characters are turned into this movie version, not just the main character and her love interest. Every character has a sob story background and really needs therapy more than just holiday cheer. So many romance and holiday tropes are featured. This is where a lot of the humor takes place but it didn’t always land for me, frequently veering into over the top territory. A lot of time was spent on the setting and experiences to make us feel the festive hallmark movie magic. From Christmas tree farms and ice skating to cookie baking, and holiday festivals, the main characters engage in almost every holiday tradition you could think of. While Annie and Nick spend a lot of time together, most of that is spent pursuing their other love interests, so I didn’t really feel the chemistry between them. I wanted to see more of Annie and Nick once they actually got together. Admittedly, I’m not a big Hallmark movie watcher but thought this would be a fun Christmas read. This book is clearly intended to be a bit cheesy and fun, but it was just a bit too much for me. The silliness wasn’t balanced with enough depth to hold my interest. It needed some higher stakes to ground the story. There were some fun and humorous moments throughout but this is not my favorite Christmas book of the season.
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the complimentary arc.
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the complimentary arc.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved the initial premise of this novel: a woman at a crossroads spending a lonely Christmas wakes up trapped inside a Hallmark-style movie. The setting is an alternate version of her hometown, populated by familiar faces living completely different lives. Even better, her childhood neighbor, Nick, is dragged along for the ride, and together they have to navigate made-for-TV holiday tropes to figure out how to get home.
If you enjoy meta-romances like A Novel Love Story, If Books Could Kill, Prime Time Romance, or A Change of Heart, this operates in a similar space—though I’d strongly recommend reading any of those before picking this one up.
Unfortunately, I had a hard time finishing this. The protagonist, Annie, was so dense, unobservant, and unlikable that it was impossible to root for her. Her personality kept shifting jarringly between bawdy, stuck-up, and snide. On top of that, the details of her past "situationship" were a major turnoff—it's hard to feel sympathy for a character pining over a negging, Phish-obsessed bad guitarist who is selfish in bed and only reaches out for drunken one-night stands. Nick, the MMC, was perfectly nice, but he lacked development, and I never understood what he actually saw in Annie.
While Cowan clearly set out to spoof the classic Christmas movie landscape, the tone lands in an awkward middle ground. The town needed to either lean fully into absurd camp or stay grounded in reality. Instead, the heavy stack of 2000s movie references felt cobbled together rather than landing as a clever, winking homage.
Great concept, but flawed execution.
Rating: 2 / 5 stars
Thanks to Net Galley and Alcove Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
If you enjoy meta-romances like A Novel Love Story, If Books Could Kill, Prime Time Romance, or A Change of Heart, this operates in a similar space—though I’d strongly recommend reading any of those before picking this one up.
Unfortunately, I had a hard time finishing this. The protagonist, Annie, was so dense, unobservant, and unlikable that it was impossible to root for her. Her personality kept shifting jarringly between bawdy, stuck-up, and snide. On top of that, the details of her past "situationship" were a major turnoff—it's hard to feel sympathy for a character pining over a negging, Phish-obsessed bad guitarist who is selfish in bed and only reaches out for drunken one-night stands. Nick, the MMC, was perfectly nice, but he lacked development, and I never understood what he actually saw in Annie.
While Cowan clearly set out to spoof the classic Christmas movie landscape, the tone lands in an awkward middle ground. The town needed to either lean fully into absurd camp or stay grounded in reality. Instead, the heavy stack of 2000s movie references felt cobbled together rather than landing as a clever, winking homage.
Great concept, but flawed execution.
Rating: 2 / 5 stars
Thanks to Net Galley and Alcove Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Not Another Christmas Movie was a hilarious read from start to finish. I had no idea what to expect when I received the advanced NetGalley e book by Ashley Cowan. I had never read a book by her, but the title was intriguing. Annie, our leading lady, is going through a breakup and is alone on Christmas. She goes home to watch her parents cat and runs into her neighbor Nick, who was also house sitting. Annie is feeling very anti Christmas and her world is about to get turned upside down. She wakes up in a world fit for a made for TV Christmas movie. Her own personal hell. Nick is there and is feeling the same things and they both run into the exes there, but a movie version of them. From small town Christmas festivals, snowman building contests, to helping with the town's Christmas play, Annie is trying her hardest to get back to reality. Nick thinks that they need to follow the cookie cutter tropes of a Christmas movie, have an almost kiss, like in the movies, and they can then go home. But that would be far too boring and easy. Each trope, town name for an event, and outfit gets bigger, better, and more hilarious. This book really had a good laugh at the typical Christmas movies and turned them on their heads. I laughed a lot, even though the book was clearly making fun of people like me, the one who loves the made for Christmas movies.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A girl reluctantly pulled into a fictional world is a top-tier trope for me, so I knew going into this story I was going to have a good time!
When visiting her hometown to housesit for her parents while they are away for the holidays, Annie ends up running into her neighbor from school, Nick, who also happens to be housesitting at the same time. After a night of cannabis cookies, some whining about an ex situationship, and one stoned Santa sighting later, Annie and Nick wake up to discover they are no longer in the same version of Simsbury they grew up in.
While I LOVED the whole "being trapped in a Hallmark storyline," I do think the romance felt just a wee bit rushed. Luckily, that is my only complaint! The rest of the story was a BLAST, I loved seeing the side characters pop in as "actors" and I loved the little meddling done by Santa. I absolutely flew through this book, it was too much fun to put down! The short chapters also made it really easy and digestible. Some rom-coms are way more rom than com, but this was genuinely hilarious, I laughed out loud so many times!
Super cute, cozy Christmas story! Highly recommend for all my fans of rom-coms, Christmas romances, and stories where the characters are sucked into a fictional world! Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for the chance to read this early <3
When visiting her hometown to housesit for her parents while they are away for the holidays, Annie ends up running into her neighbor from school, Nick, who also happens to be housesitting at the same time. After a night of cannabis cookies, some whining about an ex situationship, and one stoned Santa sighting later, Annie and Nick wake up to discover they are no longer in the same version of Simsbury they grew up in.
While I LOVED the whole "being trapped in a Hallmark storyline," I do think the romance felt just a wee bit rushed. Luckily, that is my only complaint! The rest of the story was a BLAST, I loved seeing the side characters pop in as "actors" and I loved the little meddling done by Santa. I absolutely flew through this book, it was too much fun to put down! The short chapters also made it really easy and digestible. Some rom-coms are way more rom than com, but this was genuinely hilarious, I laughed out loud so many times!
Super cute, cozy Christmas story! Highly recommend for all my fans of rom-coms, Christmas romances, and stories where the characters are sucked into a fictional world! Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for the chance to read this early <3
Read
May 24, 2026Not Another Christmas Movie is a warm and emotionally engaging romance that captures the charm, humor, and comforting atmosphere readers love in holiday themed stories. Ashley Cowan creates a reading experience filled with heart, emotional connection, and feel good energy, delivering a romance that feels both uplifting and genuinely immersive.
What makes the novel especially enjoyable is the balance between emotional sincerity and lighthearted charm. The relationship dynamics feel natural and engaging, while the festive atmosphere adds warmth and personality throughout the story. Beneath the romance lies a thoughtful exploration of connection, vulnerability, and the magic of unexpected moments.
The storytelling also carries an inviting cinematic quality that makes the book especially easy to become immersed in. Ashley Cowan balances emotional depth, humor, romantic tension, and holiday charm with confidence, creating a story that feels comforting while still emotionally rewarding.
Sweet, entertaining, and emotionally satisfying, Not Another Christmas Movie is a delightful holiday romance that will strongly resonate with readers who enjoy cozy seasonal stories, heartfelt relationships, and uplifting romantic storytelling.
What makes the novel especially enjoyable is the balance between emotional sincerity and lighthearted charm. The relationship dynamics feel natural and engaging, while the festive atmosphere adds warmth and personality throughout the story. Beneath the romance lies a thoughtful exploration of connection, vulnerability, and the magic of unexpected moments.
The storytelling also carries an inviting cinematic quality that makes the book especially easy to become immersed in. Ashley Cowan balances emotional depth, humor, romantic tension, and holiday charm with confidence, creating a story that feels comforting while still emotionally rewarding.
Sweet, entertaining, and emotionally satisfying, Not Another Christmas Movie is a delightful holiday romance that will strongly resonate with readers who enjoy cozy seasonal stories, heartfelt relationships, and uplifting romantic storytelling.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I absolutely adored Not Another Christmas Movie. I laughed throughout the entire book. As an elder millennial, I love nothing more than a Christmas movie to help me escape the stress of work and home, so this story was right up my alley. I loved the idea of a woman getting trapped inside one and having to find her way out with the help of her male neighbor, who knows her so well.
It has all the stereotypical Christmas movie elements: a hunky lumberjack with a Christmas farm, a cookie bakery, a widowed father, a charming small-town setting, a woman with a "big fashion job in the city," and even a princess from an obscure country. My favorite part was the ever-growing list of town events every day, such as the "Annual Joyful Jingle Bell Ho-Ho Hoedown..." that would continue for another dozen words.
I loved the friendship and budding relationship between Annie and Nick, especially since Nick was a few years younger. I feel like we don't see that dynamic enough. It was a great feel-good novel that I will happily recommend to anyone. After reading this, I'm ready for summer to be over and to pull out the fall and winter blankets. 4.5 stars, rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for this ARC. My reviews are my own.
It has all the stereotypical Christmas movie elements: a hunky lumberjack with a Christmas farm, a cookie bakery, a widowed father, a charming small-town setting, a woman with a "big fashion job in the city," and even a princess from an obscure country. My favorite part was the ever-growing list of town events every day, such as the "Annual Joyful Jingle Bell Ho-Ho Hoedown..." that would continue for another dozen words.
I loved the friendship and budding relationship between Annie and Nick, especially since Nick was a few years younger. I feel like we don't see that dynamic enough. It was a great feel-good novel that I will happily recommend to anyone. After reading this, I'm ready for summer to be over and to pull out the fall and winter blankets. 4.5 stars, rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for this ARC. My reviews are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
So I feel like this book reads like a Hallmark Christmas movie satire, but with pot cookies. Very appropriate, since the main characters had shared a pot cookie prior to their adventure into their own made-for-TV Christmas movie nightmare sequence. As a recovering Hallmark Christmas movie junkie, I enjoyed every moment of this read and laughed heartily throughout at all of the many easter eggs that poked fun at the usual Christmas movie cliches. I might not necessarily recommend this book to anyone unfamiliar with this particular movie genre, as a lot of the references and jokes might not land well with the uninitiated, but I can definitely think of some friends I would send a copy to! I loved the gendered role reversal with Nick being the one who has obviously seen Christmas movies and has to instruct Annie on the “recipe”, as he puts it, whereas Annie is less knowledgeable and spends a great deal of time being confused by things like lack of alcohol, swearing and kissing. Overall, an entertaining read, that would appeal to a Hallmark Christmas movie-savvy audience.
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Annie hasn't been very lucky lately in the love department, and she's all geared up to have a quiet Christmas back in her home town house sitting for her parents who are off on a holiday cruise. The first night she's home, she runs into the cute (but younger) boy next door. When she wakes up the next morning in a cheesy Christmas romcom movie, they believe that they have to complete the hallmark mission of falling in love with each of their respective love interests and have that chaste first kiss to get out of this weird alter world.
A lot of ridiculousness ensues, through funny parodies of the hallmark Christmas movie formula. There's a weird mix of totally irreverent humor, while also staying quite a bit of time within this actual cheesy environment and all the stuff that goes along with that. At the end of the day, this one just didn't work for me. It ended on the wrong side of cheesy for me and I just never felt invested at all. It did have some funny moments, so if you're looking for that specifically, then it might be worth giving a try.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for access to this eARC.
A lot of ridiculousness ensues, through funny parodies of the hallmark Christmas movie formula. There's a weird mix of totally irreverent humor, while also staying quite a bit of time within this actual cheesy environment and all the stuff that goes along with that. At the end of the day, this one just didn't work for me. It ended on the wrong side of cheesy for me and I just never felt invested at all. It did have some funny moments, so if you're looking for that specifically, then it might be worth giving a try.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for access to this eARC.
October 11, 2026
Such a cute idea! Annie Meyers is a 30-something, single adult who is very cynical about love, life and the holidays. She is house sitting for her parents over the holidays and plans to hide from everyone and everything until the new year. Imagine her surprise when she wakes up in a Hallmark-type Christmas movie. The only other person that knows what happened is her nerdy next door neighbor, Chris, who always had a crush on her. Together they try to find their way through the cheesy Christmas plot and find their way back to reality.
I thought the premise was so good. It was fun to see them hampered by the stereotypical tv movie rules- no kissing and no swearing. And it was fun how Annie was always dressed perfectly, along with her hair and makeup- including striding easily through snow in her stilettos. Chris was sweet and likable. I did find Annie’s cynicism to be over the top which was a little hard to take. Overall, it was a fun holiday read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I thought the premise was so good. It was fun to see them hampered by the stereotypical tv movie rules- no kissing and no swearing. And it was fun how Annie was always dressed perfectly, along with her hair and makeup- including striding easily through snow in her stilettos. Chris was sweet and likable. I did find Annie’s cynicism to be over the top which was a little hard to take. Overall, it was a fun holiday read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was really excited to read this book, however, I had to DNF this at 48%.
The concept sounded so fun, but the more I read, the less I cared about the characters. I found Annie to be incredibly cynical, and it felt like complaining was her only personality trait. Nick, on the other hand, never really got much development.
On top of that, the misunderstanding where they both believe the other has a different love interest is one of my least favorite tropes, so that definitely didn't help. I also felt like they had almost no chemistry.
The Christmas vibes are definitely there, however there’s no enjoying it because of Annie’s constant negativity.
I think I might have enjoyed this book more if it had been written in dual POV, as it would have given Nick more depth. One thing I did enjoy, though, was the dialogue from the side characters. They added some much-needed humor, and I liked the way they made Annie and Nick feel like outsiders in the town.
Thank you Alcove Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
The concept sounded so fun, but the more I read, the less I cared about the characters. I found Annie to be incredibly cynical, and it felt like complaining was her only personality trait. Nick, on the other hand, never really got much development.
On top of that, the misunderstanding where they both believe the other has a different love interest is one of my least favorite tropes, so that definitely didn't help. I also felt like they had almost no chemistry.
The Christmas vibes are definitely there, however there’s no enjoying it because of Annie’s constant negativity.
I think I might have enjoyed this book more if it had been written in dual POV, as it would have given Nick more depth. One thing I did enjoy, though, was the dialogue from the side characters. They added some much-needed humor, and I liked the way they made Annie and Nick feel like outsiders in the town.
Thank you Alcove Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2026
3 🌟
Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
I love a good Hallmark Christmas movie. They are unrealistic and cheesy and impossibly cute, but sometimes that's what we want at the holidays. Sometimes putting myself in a fake happy world is just as diverting as a stressful and fast paced fantasy novel.
This was a fun parody of Christmas movies. If you can name a made-for-movie trope/theme, I can almost guarantee it was in this book. It was a hodge hodge of all Christmas movie tropes thrown together and somehow it worked.
It was cheesy, and it was cute, and it was *FULL* of puns. But it was a good time. Since I love Hallmark Christmas movies, I can absolutely appreciate some of the absurdity in this book and how it must have felt to wake up in that movie world.
Very fun if you can laugh at the absurd, and very predictable., because what Christmas movie isn't predictable?
All in all, pretty much exactly what I expected and would recommend it to those who love Christmas movies but don't take things too seriously.
Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
I love a good Hallmark Christmas movie. They are unrealistic and cheesy and impossibly cute, but sometimes that's what we want at the holidays. Sometimes putting myself in a fake happy world is just as diverting as a stressful and fast paced fantasy novel.
This was a fun parody of Christmas movies. If you can name a made-for-movie trope/theme, I can almost guarantee it was in this book. It was a hodge hodge of all Christmas movie tropes thrown together and somehow it worked.
It was cheesy, and it was cute, and it was *FULL* of puns. But it was a good time. Since I love Hallmark Christmas movies, I can absolutely appreciate some of the absurdity in this book and how it must have felt to wake up in that movie world.
Very fun if you can laugh at the absurd, and very predictable., because what Christmas movie isn't predictable?
All in all, pretty much exactly what I expected and would recommend it to those who love Christmas movies but don't take things too seriously.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book!
I absolutely love Christmas—it's my favorite holiday—so the festive setting immediately caught my attention. The premise of being trapped inside a Christmas movie version of her hometown was equally intriguing and gave off all the classic Hallmark movie vibes.
Overall, this was a cute and cozy holiday rom-com. I enjoyed Annie as the FMC, although she could be a bit much at times. Still, some of her moments had me laughing out loud, especially when she thought Chris was proposing to her and when she discovered she could finally cuss.
One thing I wish the story had done differently was give Annie and Nick more time to develop their relationship. I think a Nick POV would have helped with their relationship.
While the plot was fairly predictable, it delivered the heartwarming holiday romance I was looking for. It was a fun, festive read that left me feeling cheerful and entertained.
I absolutely love Christmas—it's my favorite holiday—so the festive setting immediately caught my attention. The premise of being trapped inside a Christmas movie version of her hometown was equally intriguing and gave off all the classic Hallmark movie vibes.
Overall, this was a cute and cozy holiday rom-com. I enjoyed Annie as the FMC, although she could be a bit much at times. Still, some of her moments had me laughing out loud, especially when she thought Chris was proposing to her and when she discovered she could finally cuss.
One thing I wish the story had done differently was give Annie and Nick more time to develop their relationship. I think a Nick POV would have helped with their relationship.
While the plot was fairly predictable, it delivered the heartwarming holiday romance I was looking for. It was a fun, festive read that left me feeling cheerful and entertained.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Christmas in July has never really been my thing but this book reminds me of my Great Aunt. She lloved Christmas even had a Christmas tree room. Most of all she loved the Hallmark movies, oozing charm and cliched romances. So when I had a chance to read one where the disillusioned city slicker finds herself and childhood neighbor in a Groundhog Day version of Christmas, I knew I had to try it. This town is full of surprises (everyone has a sad horror Christmas themed past), all the chocolate has been melted down for hot chocolate, and a girl can’t even drop a cuss word or get a drop of alcohol. But what she gets is an accomplice in trying to escape this Christmas narrative.
I enjoyed it up until about 90% when it just felt rushed and scripted. Overall an entertaining read that reminds of past Christmas and bringing the joy and light back into our own stories.
Christmas in July has never really been my thing but this book reminds me of my Great Aunt. She lloved Christmas even had a Christmas tree room. Most of all she loved the Hallmark movies, oozing charm and cliched romances. So when I had a chance to read one where the disillusioned city slicker finds herself and childhood neighbor in a Groundhog Day version of Christmas, I knew I had to try it. This town is full of surprises (everyone has a sad horror Christmas themed past), all the chocolate has been melted down for hot chocolate, and a girl can’t even drop a cuss word or get a drop of alcohol. But what she gets is an accomplice in trying to escape this Christmas narrative.
I enjoyed it up until about 90% when it just felt rushed and scripted. Overall an entertaining read that reminds of past Christmas and bringing the joy and light back into our own stories.
September 8, 2026
3.5 stars
This book follows Bah humbug, Annie, as she wakes up after her company Christmas party to find herself and her neighbor, Nick, in a made-for-tv Christmas movie. Everyone in town is jolly, all they drink is festive hot chocolate, and Annie is adorably clumsy throughout! It is written as a satire from Annie’s perspective. The names of the town’s events are long and ridiculous, the love interests are over the top with sweetness, and everyone misunderstands Annie’s snide remarks as funny jokes. Nick is Annie’s next door neighbor and confidant during this weird alternate reality. There is a bit of a love triangle throughout that ultimately ends in a true love’s kiss. Don’t all made-for-tv movies?!
Overall, I found the story to be a little too over the top and I found myself losing interest in the ridiculousness of it all. The story finally picked up speed and I did enjoy the last 10-15%.
Perfect for someone that hate-watches Hallmark movies!
This book follows Bah humbug, Annie, as she wakes up after her company Christmas party to find herself and her neighbor, Nick, in a made-for-tv Christmas movie. Everyone in town is jolly, all they drink is festive hot chocolate, and Annie is adorably clumsy throughout! It is written as a satire from Annie’s perspective. The names of the town’s events are long and ridiculous, the love interests are over the top with sweetness, and everyone misunderstands Annie’s snide remarks as funny jokes. Nick is Annie’s next door neighbor and confidant during this weird alternate reality. There is a bit of a love triangle throughout that ultimately ends in a true love’s kiss. Don’t all made-for-tv movies?!
Overall, I found the story to be a little too over the top and I found myself losing interest in the ridiculousness of it all. The story finally picked up speed and I did enjoy the last 10-15%.
Perfect for someone that hate-watches Hallmark movies!
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