The Christmas Yes List

by Melissa Ferguson

Chronic people-pleaser Chloe Hollis is determined to finally learn how to get over her fear of rejection. Her unconventional solution? She must collect ten "nos" before Christmas Day by asking strangers for the most ridiculous favors she can dream up. But her plan goes hilariously off-track when she meets James Dutton.

James, a rule-following workaholic, has decided to do the exact opposite of he's saying "yes" to every opportunity that comes his way in hopes of finally embracing life--and maybe a little Christmas spirit.

As they continue to get tangled up in each other's wild experiment, Chloe and James find themselves in a whirlwind of festive, awkward, and delightful situations. But no one is more surprised than they are to realize they're falling in love.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Audiobook, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Clean Romance

Audible Audio

First published October 6, 2026

About the author

Melissa Ferguson is a bestselling author of romantic comedies and cozy mystery rom-coms, including Meet Me in the Margins, How to Plot a Payback, On the Way to Christmas, and The Perfect Rom-Com. Her debut picture book, Our Friendly Farmhouse, introduced young readers to her signature warmth and charm beyond the rom-com page. Two of her novels are currently being adapted for film with Melissa serving as Executive Producer.

Come join over one million followers as she shares glimpses of farmhouse life with her husband and five children and bookish joy at @ourfriendlyfarmhouse.

Reviews

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Happy publication day!
Just saw this is being made into a streaming movie.
3.5⭐
Genre ~ holiday fiction
Setting ~ West Virginia
Publication date ~ October 6, 2026
Publisher ~ Thomas Nelson
Est Page Count ~ 352 (16 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 7 hours 0 minutes
Narrator ~ Karissa Vacker
POV ~ single 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ people pleaser, small town, opposites attract, miscommunication, no steamage, long chapters

Chloe has a hard time saying no until she's had enough of her boss walking all over her, so she walks out and heads back home to West Virginia. She derives a plan to try to make people say no to her, but it doesn't seem to work out great when a handsome fella named James says yes to everything, even to the most outlandish requests.

Opposites attract ~ she has trouble saying no and he has trouble saying yes, she cares what people think of her and he couldn't care less. They end up spending quite a bit of time together, and even though the book essentially takes place for about 2 weeks it still felt like a slow burn. A slow burn and yet strong feelings develop in that time. I absolutely hated the miscommunication from her, and I was hoping he'd actually run as fast as he could in his office meeting attire to the airport and hightail it outta there.

I've got to talk about her bff, Genie, for a moment. Wow, and not necessarily in a good way. She was way over the top in some of the things she did. I can see how she thought she had Chloe's best interests at heart, but whew she was exhausting. Good luck to her boyfriend, Peter.

Overall, the small town vibe was vibing, the festiveness was festive, but the chapters were super long. I did enjoy her coming up with some crazy ideas, the dinner one was a bit much, but some were fun like the snow song dance. Also, liked how he so effortlessly was along for the ride without much qualms because really you shouldn't care what people think. Gotta live the one life you're given. Lastly, how her family, and the town, welcomed him was nice.

Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the above info for reference.

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a metaphorical tug-of-war in Maple Hills, WV. (Take me home, country roads.😎)

She wants him to say NO. All he seems to say is YES.

Who will win?

Our Terrific Darling Book Club chose this as a Christmas in July read. We had an excellent discussion this week. Watch for reviews from the our terrific Tina and Barbara coming soon.

Here are some things I loved about this one:

🤗Chloe has found herself to have the tendency to bend over backwards to please others without any regard for her own wellbeing. She has gone to far in giving of herself. Her determination to start saying NO more often collides with a meet cute in baggage claim.

🕺James is on vacation for the holidays and happy to accomodate this beautiful woman with so many demands. Is he being polite? Or is he on a self-help journey on the other side of the spectrum?

🎄Lucky us. We are along for the ride. There are many fun Christmas activities, but the tone of the book is humorous and heartwarming -- not cheesy. I thought it was pitch perfect!

😎Melissa Ferguson's writing also oozes with cultural references. Her comedic timing is spot on: Love You Forever, Elf, Titanic, and the Rockettes are just a few.

🎁And that Epilogue. What a gift. Actually this entire book was a wonderful way to enjoy Christmas in July. This is my favorite book yet from Melissa Ferguson.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Available October 6, 2026.

[Kaceey · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

🎧Audio Review🎧
Chloe is determined once and for all to break the cycle of chronic people pleasing. She struggles to say no. But in a moment of lucidity, Chloe says no to her boss and quits her job. That was a first! Let’s go with that flow of feeling free.
She decides to embrace Rejection Therapy. Collect rejections. In other words, get people to say NO to her.

Wait..what? I didn’t understand.🫠 I felt like I was missing something.
Sorry, my brain hurt trying to figure out how that worked. Yes, it was a ME thing💁🏻‍♀️

Moving on…
Let’s meet our MMC, James. The polar opposite of Chloe, he is completely self-centered, always saying NO to everyone. His NEW goal is to put others in front of his own needs and start saying YES!

He always says NO
She always says YES
Time to turn the tables.
Cute…right!

I give you… the opposites attract, small town romance, Christmas theme, and insta-love.🙌

I think I spent too much time in my own head trying to understand Chloe to embrace her budding romance with James.
So please check out other glowing reviews where readers grasped the plot better than I did!🙃

🎧I listened to the audio, and Karissa Vacker was amazing as always.

✍️ Melissa Ferguson
🎧 8 hours 11 minutes
🎤 Karissa Vacker
🗓️ Available Now
📈 3.5/5🌟🌟🌟💫
👉 Holiday Romance, opposites attract

Thank you to Libro.fm and Thomas Nelson for the complimentary audiobook.

[Dorie - Cats&Books :) · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

**I had both the audiobook and the Kindle copy of this novel. I enjoyed the audiobook more!!

I think I may have not finished this one if I hadn’t had the audiobook to back it up. I had trouble understanding how Chloe, at age 25, had so many self esteem issues. It seemed that when her high school boyfriend broke up with her at age 17 - she never recovered, Hmmm.

Chloe is on her way back home, to the small town of Maple Hills, WV, probably for good. She has read a “self help” book about becoming less of a people pleaser. Because of this book she is trying to get people to say “no” to her.

She asks a man to help get her suitcases from the round about and he says yes. This is James who is in town to visit his family.

Chloe and James hit it off but Chloe continues to try to get him to say “no” to her outrageous suggestions. Lots of the situations she puts them in turn out to be quite funny and I had some laughs, especially with the camping in the snow, on the mountain, in a tent!!!

You can get the idea of this one and probably guess the conclusion. This is definitely a light read with a Christmasy feel.

Instead of rooting for Chloe in this one, I felt myself liking James much more. He so obviously had fallen for Chloe and will do anything to please her. Hard not to like a man like that!!

I received the ARC of this novel from NetGalley and the audiobook through NetGalley and from Thomas Nelson audio. It was my pleasure to listen to and read this novel.

[Kristie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute Christmas story. I can see how people could relate to Chloe being a people pleaser. She had great difficulty saying no and worried a lot about what people thought of her. The task of getting people to tell her "no" didn't make a lot of sense to me, though it was explained pretty well in the book. You just had to go with it.

The story was enjoyable and a quick read. It is a clean romance with just some kissing. Though, I was thrown off a bit by the sudden inclusion of some God-speak, such as "I've already got a Savior" thrown in at the end. It just seemed to come out of the blue. I don't have any qualms about reading Christian fiction and this is a Christmas story, so it would have been expected if it had been included from the beginning, but the characters didn't seem particularly religious before that so it felt thrown in to help with the conclusion.

I also didn't love Chloe's take on the "problem" in the relationship (or her best friend's "help"!). James told her some things early on and what she found out or thought she found out shouldn't have been a big deal if she actually listened to anything he said. I get that we need a problem for the couple to overcome, so this was as good as any I suppose and her best friend really stoked that fire. Again, I think you just need to go with it.

Overall, this was a sweet read and enjoyable. I loved the Christmas in a small town atmosphere. I think this may be a story well-loved by those that enjoy all the Hallmark Christmas movies.

Maybe 3.5 star

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars-
I got an inkling of how this story would be from the intro. The most important part of the book is to capture your readers’ attention, and I was a little shocked, to be honest. The author introduced us to the female lead character, and I didn’t like her.

She was mean, obnoxious, and annoying to other people. That was just the first encounter. We’re then introduced to the male lead character, who seems to be a very good and kind person at heart. He balanced the female lead positively.

Of course, throughout the story, we learn why she is the way she is and that she’s working to better herself. Kudos. She needs it. I found her exhausting in parts of the story.

The author treated us with the story, the descriptions, the experience of the location, and the wonderful Christmas events and activities. But beneath it all, we would see little pieces pop up where she was manipulative, and that is one thing I cannot stand in people or book characters.

We do get our happily ever after because James is a kind and forgiving soul. He is fun and goes along with pretty much anything for the experience. He definitely falls first, and that is really special.

Overall, The Christmas Yes List offers that beautiful Christmas romance we love, but for me, the downfall is the female lead and her treatment of other people, which did not make her a fan fave.

While this is written in a tongue-in-cheek manner, I hated the manipulative method the author chose to give Chloe. Her bff – also over the top. James was a victim and overly kind.

~~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-christma...

[Patricia Rupell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this one. I loved all the Christmas activities, the cozy small-town setting, and James.

What didn't work for me was Chloe. Some of the things she did made her seem completely unhinged, and everything was just so over-the-top. I also really didn't like her best friend.

That said, if you enjoy crazy antics and great Christmas vibes, this one might be for you.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Anahita ❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so cute!
A people-pleaser whose only wish for Christmas is rejection!!

Felt just like a fun Hallmark Christmas movie, with all the family gatherings, holiday spirit, and some crazy ideas! ·꙳⋆𖢔𖠰𖢔·꙳⋆

Spice🌶: null/clean (kissing)
Pacing: medium to fast-paced
Narrator🗣: Female—first-person POV
Tropes: opposites attract, small town
Chapter style: long & descriptive
Chemistry⚛️: 9/10
Vibes⋆꙳⋆⁺₊: cozy warm homes, hot chocolates, Christmas tree lighting, Christmas carols, family gatherings, kids, snow, toboggans, festive & decorated towns and houses, funny Christmas attire, small-town quirky characters, traditions, nothing too serious, and mostly outlandish ideas! 🦌⋆·˚ ༘ 🧤 ⊹˚꙳🧣⁺⋆🛷₊･*❅


This was my second book by this author, and I am slowly thinking she will be my go-to cozy reading pick from now on! I had the best experience listening to this audiobook. This one had me giggle, smile, laugh out loud, and audibly react until the end! The kind of Christmas romance/rom-com that I can easily recommend to anyone who wants a silly, goofy time, especially during the holidays. Can’t wait to see the movie!!

Even though we are a long way from Christmas, this book felt so easy to read/ listen to and get in the spirit! I have to say, Karissa Vacker does a great job narrating the story. I have always liked her work, and apart from liking Melissa Ferguson's previous work, she was one of the reasons I requested this audiobook on NetGalley. I especially liked how she was able to show different emotions, especially when it came to the inner monologue of the FMC! I believe it made my experience even more immersive and delightful.

I do recommend listening to this, since some characters' personalities, accents, and jokes might land better in this format! Also, I believe it would've been less enjoyable to read the long chapters physically.

。*
˛°_██_*.。./ \ .˛* .˛。.˛.*.★* *★ 。*
˛. (´• ̮•)*.。*/♫.♫\*˛.* ˛_Π_____.e ˛* ˛*
.°( . • . ) ˛°./• '♫ ' •\.˛*./______/~＼*. ˛*.。˛* ˛.*。
*(...'•'.. ) *˛╬╬╬╬╬˛°.｜田田 ｜門｜╬╬╬╬╬*˚ .˛

The MCs were both fun, with opposite traits that, in this case, helped the story gain momentum and wit.✨

❄️ Chloe: She asks the funniest and most ridiculous questions/favors of James! James, well, he says yes to the most absurd things she could ask of him!!
She struggles to say no, to disappoint people, and does not know how to handle it when people

❄️ James: A charming and handsome man who is traveling to see his family in this small town that Chloe is from! He is also trying to change his lifestyle and choices, and is trying to be more agreeable, optimistic, and open to risks! Even though here he went to extreme lengths to say yes to Chloe, and in real life probably no one ever would/could!!

Two of them start to test each other's limits and carry on playing this game of working outside their comfort zone! However, one might be a better actor or player than the other! As they continue to see each other for different activities and on different days during the holidays, they start to develop feelings for one another.

My major critique here is it might've been a bit more fun to have slightly shorter chapters and get at least 4,5 chapters in James (MMC) POV. I think this could've broken up the repetition between tasks and character styles. Additionally, at times around the 60% mark, Chloe and her thoughts about James started to annoy me a tiny bit! However, the book manages to show character growth, a deep emotional connection, that you will find your person, and that the right person will like you despite (or in spite of) your silly/ wild ideas and actions!!

Overall, a humor-heavy, fun rom-com to pick up!! #TheChristmasYesList #NetGalley

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio | Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

[Renee · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

Thank you to libro.fm for the gift an ALC of this book.

This was such a delightful and fun Christmas book. So you have Chloe who has severe people pleasing problems. She, having just lost her job, is on her way to move back home. After reading a self-help book that's supposed to teach her how to say no, she decides to come up with a game of sorts. She has to get 10 no's from people even though the idea makes her want to have a panic attack. As a result she comes up with some pretty ridiculous and pretty funny requests just to ensure she can get those coveted no's from people. Then she meets James at the airport.

James seems to say yes to everything even if it's absurd and slightly unhinged. However, something starts to happen. They have fun in the unexpected. She starts to see him less as part of her game and more as James. Except when she finds out that he may be playing his own game, it threatens to derail everything.

If you're looking for something sweet and feels like Christmas but also have a good deal of comedy, this is a great pick. The narrator Karissa Vacker was superb. She had just the right inflection and her ability to convey the comedy and at times neurotic behavior with her voice really added to the overall enjoyment of the book.

[Amy Clipston · Rating 5 out of 5]

With its festive and snowy small-town setting, fun and hilarious holiday traditions, quirky characters, and charming romance, The Christmas Yes List is the perfect book to curl up with during the holiday season or when you just need a little bit of Christmas. I was swept away by Melissa’s detailed descriptions of the small West Virginia town, and I enjoyed some belly laughs throughout. I can’t wait to see it come alive on screen when I stream the movie!

[Jo|Ruth Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook of this one and it really brought the story to life. I never usually listen to my books, but I think that format really added to my enjoyment of this one.

Chloe is trying to make a change in her life and stop worrying so much about what other people think. She takes on a challenge to get ten full on rejections to break her people pleasing ways. James, meanwhile, is trying to do the opposite by saying yes to life and not missing out anymore. So Chloe has met her match with James, each challenge she gets more and more creative, but he just keeps saying yes! As they spend more time together, sparks start to fly, but with both of them changing their normal responses because of their challenges, it’s hard to know what is real and what isn’t.

I liked this one a lot. A few things held it back for me, though: Some parts didn’t feel completely realistic, miscommunication was a large part of the storyline, and the (romance)pacing felt a little off for me at times.That said, this was still a great read and a really fun romance. The audio really made me enjoy the story more.

I'm excited to see this story played out on screen because I feel like it will really shine in that format!

I gave this a 4.5 rounded to a 5!

I recieved a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.

[Sim-fully Ever After · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

3.5🌟 | 1🌶️

A people-pleaser trying to collect ten rejections for Christmas is such a wonderfully strange premise, and somehow it works.

The small-town Christmas setting added so much charm too, with the festive traditions, snow, family gatherings, and all the quirky little activities.

I liked how well Chloe and James balanced each other. Chloe is constantly worried about disappointing people, while James is much more willing to ignore everyone’s opinions and just enjoy himself. Their chemistry grew nicely as they spent more time together, and I especially liked how they each pushed the other to loosen up and try things differently.

I did have a few moments where the long chapters and Chloe’s overthinking made the story feel a little slower, and some of the miscommunication toward the end took me out of the romance slightly. Still, the humor, cozy atmosphere, character growth, and sweet relationship kept me invested.

This was a cute, slightly chaotic holiday romance that gave me plenty of cozy Christmas vibes along the way.

~~~~

A sincere thank you to Melissa Ferguson, Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for the ARC! 🥰📚

I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨

[Anita · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

This is a looooong stream of consciences narrative by Chloe who is a perpetual people pleaser. But just stay with it even if you want to DNF it after the first page. Quirky? Definitely. Funny? Yeah, that too. Sweet and yummy? All right, it is all that and more. It took me a while to figure it all out, but if you want something with characters to root for, this one is for you.

The Christmas No List is Chloe Hollis's answer to her problem of always saying yes to everyone about everything. She is determined to break this cycle of people pleasing and regain control of her life. After quitting her job in Seattle, Chloe is going back home to Maple Hills, West Virginia and trying to reprogram her instinctive responses to please people. She has an inventive solution and is making ridiculous requests of strangers just to get turned down. It's supposed to train her to say no to people.

Her plan goes haywire when she meets James Dutton at the airport, and he is more than amenable to any strange request she makes. Not only that, but he also seems to actually get Chloe, and she is more than intrigued by him. Now James has his own personality quirk. He is a rule follower and has decided to say yes to things that would ordinarily make him uncomfortable, like Chole and her off-beat requests.

Suprise! They each take a chance on each other this magical Christmas time and fall in love.

3 1/2-Stars

My thanks to the Publisher and Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

[Susan Z (webreakforbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect book to start my Christmas anticipation clock. It was LOL funny and an overall feel good romance. Small town charm, good humans big hearts. I couldn't ask for anything more!

[Michaela · Rating 2 out of 5]

No one is more upset than I am about this. While the two leads have the fantastic chemistry I've come to associate with Melissa Ferguson's books, The Christmas Yes List fell flat for me in several ways.

First, this plot is nonsensical. I truly don't understand how getting rejected by strangers in manufactured scenarios will help Chloe overcome her people-pleasing tendencies. She clearly struggles with anxiety (as do I!), but this is not the way. I wish Chloe had gotten the help she needed and that Christian publishers would like a deep look at how they frequently portray mental health in fiction. Even in silly goofy rom-coms, it matters.

Second, the "conflict" that arises between Chloe and James made no sense. I read the passage twice to see what I was missing. Chloe jumps to a wild conclusion and immediately engages in psychological warfare. I felt terrible for James. It boggles my mind because I felt Chloe was doing the same thing that she was mad at James for supposedly doing. They were both trying to grow!

Thirdly, the pacing threw me off. The chapters were all very long, but only covered a very short amount of time. I think the first three chapters covered several hours of time but amounted to 37% of the book! It was hard to believe that they grew close over such a short period of time.

Now, I don't expect every book from a Christian publisher to have faith content. Most of their fiction releases that I've read focus on no spice and no language, which is fine by me as stories can show the truth of Scripture without beating you over the head with it. However, if books *do* bring up Christianity, I take note. Throwaway lines about Bibles and "already having a Savior" irked me because never once does Chloe consider her supposed faith while going through this intense emotional crisis. What was the point of mentioning it at all?

All in all, I'm bummed that this book didn't work for me. I will still check out the author's future works as I enjoy her writing style. Thank you to Thomas Nelson for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

[aribooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lord this was so funny and lovely at the same time… I know we’re in summer but here am I reading Christmas setting books, but I promise you, this was really good!!

I had so much fun reading this, and Christmas setting, small town vibe, Christmas miracle romance ? Sign me in directly.
Also sorry I laughed so much in the beginning when Chloe asked James many different things for him to reject her and he kept saying yes to everything HAHAHA…poor girl was trying to get all of her 10 rejection and still couldn’t….

I really like Chloe character so much…maybe because I could identify a lot to her, and the problem of saying NO to people, and overthinking everything…. Which is very relatable.

I loved Chloe and James relationship, for me they fit so well with each other. On one hand we have, Chloe who have a hard time saying no to people and overthinks everything and, on the other side, we have James who doesn’t care at all about what people think.
James is so perfect for her, because he, in a way helped her care less about people opinion. And Chloe helped him have more fun and try new things.

Usually I wouldn’t have liked the angst in the ending even but honestly it didn’t really bother me and I think it was necessary for them to have this “moment” I think.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc!

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe I haven't read this author yet with how many books she's written. Then I console myself by saying, well you can't try all the authors. I sure have fun trying though.
Grab your hot chocolate, cozy blanket and your pets, once you start this one you're not going to want to stop.
A cute and humorous rom com filled with Christmas joy.
Of all places to meet they met at the airport.
After reading a book on self-improvement she makes a pact with herself to learn how to stop being a people pleaser.
What started out as a game gets confusing when she assumes he's read the same book and is doing the same thing but learning how to say yes to things.
I loved the dialogue James and Chloe had, so much fun and humor in the story.
Great read.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

This story follows Chloe Hollis, a recovering people-pleaser who tries to get ten rejections from strangers before Christmas, only to meet James, an out-of-towner who messes up her plan by saying yes to everything crazy that she suggests.

This story focuses on learning to standup for yourself and becoming the truest version of yourself. It is a sweet, character-driven Christmas romance.

The pacing, long chapters, and Chloe’s internal monologue took me out of the story a few times, but fans of Hallmark movies will likely enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the advance copy of this ebook. All opinions are my own.

[Sheila · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, The Christmas Yes List, by Melissa Ferguson, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Chloe has decided to get tougher with herself and others and receive 10 nos from people. James has decided o do the opposite and get yes. I just did not care for Chloe at all, or her so called friend Genie.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 ⭐️⭐️ 📚

​The story follows Chloe, a woman who decides to conquer her fear of rejection by trying to collect 10 "nos" before Christmas. Her plan gets thrown off when she meets James, who gets pulled into her holiday challenge, leading to unexpected chaos by saying yes to every crazy request.

​I was really excited to read this book because the setup sounded like a fresh idea for a holiday romance, but it just didn't work for me. The concept was fun on paper, but the actual story dragged a lot in the middle and felt very repetitive as Chloe kept trying to get rejected. I also had a hard time connecting with Chloe because a lot of her choices didn't make sense to me. Most of all, I couldn't feel any real chemistry or spark between Chloe and James, so their romance felt forced instead of sweet. A lot of the situations felt too unrealistic, even for a lighthearted holiday book.

Overall, it had a few cute festive moments, but it ended up feeling slow and frustrating to get through.

Thank you Netgalley, Thomas Nelson fiction and the author for providing an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Megan Sampson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This felt too Hallmark movie of a book in a bad way. And I say that as a girl who likes hallmark movies! This just read like a bad script. I saw that it was already adapted for a movie, and it sort of seems like the author wrote a hallmark movie and then said hold on let me turn it into a subpar book. I thought the premise was promising, but the execution was petty and lasted too long. Because of that, I couldn’t really get behind the romance. I didn’t like either of the main characters much, and so there wasn’t anything to root for with them. I’ve read other Melissa Ferguson books and enjoyed them, but this was a miss for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this ARC!

[Mary Jackson _TheMaryReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun holiday read. Ferguson is so talented. I would never have thought of the whole getting people to tell you No idea, but it worked out so well. I enjoyed this cute read. I can't wait to see it hit the screen. I loved the West Virgina setting.
Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

[Chantal · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

🎄christmas romance
❄️ opposites attract

Chloe is a people pleaser and when her boss asked her to commit fraud, she was thinking of doing it. This opened her eyes and made her start her Christmas no-list. For her Christmas no-list she had to get rejected by 10 people without trying to people please.
She tries to get a rejection from James but he says yes to every weird request she makes. But then Chloe doesn’t want to get a rejection from him. She just wanted to be with him.

I really liked this book. It got me into the Christmas spirit. I liked the idea of the book and the no-list.
I liked the characters and how they got together and worked through their problems together.
I also listened to the audiobook and the production was great. I really liked the narrator.
Overall I really recommend this book if you are looking for a fun and sweet Christmas romance.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

⭐️: 3,4
🌶: no spice

[ryliekate_reads · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

Review of Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing.
Publication Date: October 6, 2026

3.25 stars!
This was such a cozy, Christmasy, Hallmark-esq. book! Very insta-love with an airport “meet-cute” and a classic small town girl meets big city boy. Chloe’s people-pleasing struggles feel relatable, and her arc at the very end was quite sweet, and James was an overall great MMC. But personally, their chemistry at times felt a little difficult to find, though also really adorable at times— such as during the Christmas sweater hunt! Now, his confession to her… oh my gracious 🥰 I adored how he was honest in telling her that he didn’t need someone perfect to fit in his life because he already has a Savior, and I feel that is SUCH an important distinction in relationships. God is in whom we are complete by the sacrifice of Christ Jesus. So, it was really special to see that portrayed in a novel. The family aspect was sweet too!
The premise of this book was really cute, however there were definitely some parts that, for me, felt a little uncomfortable. Chloe’s “no list” results in her almost manipulating James after she suspects him of actually being a narcissist and having his own “yes list”. She gets quite upset with him, and that whole situation felt off and a bit hypocritical (though she grows from it). Also, Chloe’s best friend, Genie, I found to be a bit toxic at times and honestly not respectful of Chloe. Though she was supposedly helping Chloe get the “nos”, she wouldn’t take a no from Chloe.
~Content~
Romance: Clean! Non-descriptive kisses and very mild innuendo (Chloe’s toxic ex— who’s now married— is obsessed with Chloe and also flirts with another woman). A very brief mention of romantic advances by Chloe’s second cousin.
Violence: Chloe almost falls from a cliff, but otherwise, none.
Other: Chloe follows advice from an internet-famous therapist to “heal” her people-pleasing tendencies, brief mention of past death, deception, mild manipulation, vomit, anxiety disorder, and panic attacks.
Christian: God and the Bible are mentioned as is praying, however certain things such as lying are fairly normalized in the book. Themes of healing, hope, family, love, and joy are present.
~Final Thoughts~
Overall, The Christmas Yes List by Melissa Ferguson is a sweet and cozy read! Did not love this one as much as I had hoped, however I still enjoyed this book. I would recommend checking it out if you enjoy stories that give that Christmasy, nostalgic Hallmark movie, insta-love, rom-com, cozy small-town feel in a book that’s also clean and has faith elements.
Happy reading :)

I received a complimentary copy of this book provided by NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

[Shelly | VixenReads · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sigh. This was a flop for me.

While this is a clean romance, leaning Christian romance (which I’m fine with), this was painfully slow & a bit juvenile in my opinion.
I struggled through this book and was extremely ready to be done reading it.
I honestly am not sure how to describe what bothered me the most but I think I can adequately say this was a book that I will quickly forget as I feel there was nothing memorable.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc of this book.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of a ARC I received from NetGalley.

This book was everything I want in a holiday romance. I absolutely loved every second of this book! From the very first chapter, I was completely hooked and found it nearly impossible to put down.

The charming small-town setting was pure Christmas magic. Between the bustling town square with its glowing Christmas tree, cozy mugs of hot chocolate, festive carols, sledding hills packed with toboggans, and magical nights spent stargazing, Melissa Ferguson created an idyllic holiday atmosphere that made me wish I could pack my bags and move there for the season.

The romance was equally delightful. I loved the opposites-attract dynamic, and watching these two characters slowly challenge and complement one another was such a joy. The humor was another standout. It wasn’t just cute or quirky—it genuinely made me laugh out loud multiple times.

The character development was fantastic across the board, especially for the FMC. She was an endearing mix of eccentric, fun, and relatable as a recovering people-pleaser who constantly overthinks everything. Watching her learn to embrace herself and take chances made her journey incredibly satisfying.

Heartwarming, hilarious, and full of festive charm, The Christmas Yes List is the kind of Christmas romance that leaves you smiling long after you’ve turned the last page. If you’re looking for a cozy, feel-good holiday read filled with laughter, swoony romance, and all the Christmas magic you could hope for, this one belongs at the top of your holiday TBR.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Christmas Yes List has such a funny premise! The main character Chloe is a chronic people pleaser who tries to break herself of the habit by asking 10 random people outlandish requests and getting 10 “nos” in response. She meets James, who ends up agreeing to her requests which she definitely isn’t expecting.

As you can imagine from the premise, there were quite a few humorous moments. I enjoyed the scene with Chloe on the plane talking to the guy in the seat next to her own, and her meeting with James was quite funny as well.

Unfortunately, I didn’t find Chloe terribly relatable as a character and she could be very over the top at times. James’s reason for the way he acted was a little strange too. The book started out funny but it got a little repetitive after a while. I also had some trouble connecting to the characters which I think was due to the writing style.

This is published by Thomas Nelson, a Christian publisher, but there wasn’t very much Christian content at all other than a Bible on Chloe’s nightstand and one or two other references. I would call it more of a clean read.

Overall this was a cute Christmas read that I mostly enjoyed. The cover is adorable too!




I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I can confirm that my review and comments are all my own.

Chloe Hollis is a chronic people-pleaser, a cycle she wants to break. So her goal is to collect ten rejections by Christmas Day. Flying home for Christmas to Maple Hills, Chloe unexpectedly meets James Dutton. James is the opposite of Chloe and is on his own mission to say yes to every opportunity in the hope of embracing life.

This book started off quite slowly. From landing at the airport to arriving at her family home, took up the first 40% of the book. Unfortunately the pacing never really picked up.

I liked both the main characters but there was nothing special about either, so I didn’t feel that connection with them.

I see that this book has already been picked up for a movie release. I rarely say this, but I think this would work better as a film rather than a book. It’s a shame as there is nothing wrong with the storyline or characters, but it read more like a novella so there was no real character depth or growth.

Nevertheless I did enjoy this book but it hasn’t been one of my favourites.

Tropes:

* small town charm
* zero spice (kissing)
* family
* opposites attract
* christmas traditions

[Shannon Kelepolo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely amazing! Like a giant hug! It was also hilarious! I loved it so much! I can’t wait to see the movie. Thank you so much NetGalley & Thomas Nelson Fiction for the early copy. I adore Melissa Ferguson so much! ❤️

[Tarissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A girl who can't seem to say no to others.
And a guy who has a hard time saying yes to things.

Chloe is a bit of an overthinker. She's leaving Seattle behind, and trying to also kick her people-pleasing habit. She's headed back home, to Maple Hills, West Virginia.

This is a quick-paced novel. The characters and plot kept me on my toes, because I never knew what was going to happen next.

If you enjoyed Melody Carlson's "Once Upon a Christmas Carol", you might like this one too. A few elements in there are similar, although "The Christmas Yes List" is more light-hearted.

Another great CLEAN read from Thomas Nelson!

For audio listeners: Karissa Vacker does a superb job narrating. She really showcases all of Chloe's personality in her voice.

I am excited for the movie coming out this holiday season!


I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley, but was not required to leave a positive review.