What do you think?
Rate this book
The Christmas Yes List
Not yet published
Expected 6 Oct 26SOON TO BE A STREAMING ORIGINAL MOVIE!
Get ready for a laugh-out-loud holiday romance that's brimming with witty banter and heartwarming cheer by the bestselling author of Meet Me in the Margins, 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.
With sparkling humor and swoon-worthy heart, this delightful Christmas rom-com is a feel-good story about facing fear head-on, choosing growth over comfort, and finding the courage to say "yes" to the things--and the people--that truly matter.
Get ready for a laugh-out-loud holiday romance that's brimming with witty banter and heartwarming cheer by the bestselling author of Meet Me in the Margins, 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.
With sparkling humor and swoon-worthy heart, this delightful Christmas rom-com is a feel-good story about facing fear head-on, choosing growth over comfort, and finding the courage to say "yes" to the things--and the people--that truly matter.
352 pages, Paperback
Expected publication October 6, 2026
About the author
Melissa Ferguson
16 books3,017 followersBestselling author Melissa Ferguson lives in Tennessee, where she enjoys chasing her children and writing romantic comedies full of humor and heart. Her favorite hobby is taking friends and acquaintances and turning them into characters in her books without their knowledge.
Connect with her (and prepare for the possibility of becoming her next character) at:
Instagram: @our_friendly_farmhouse
TikTok: @ourfriendlyfarmhouse
Website: https://melissaferguson.com/
Connect with her (and prepare for the possibility of becoming her next character) at:
Instagram: @our_friendly_farmhouse
TikTok: @ourfriendlyfarmhouse
Website: https://melissaferguson.com/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 348 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
‘Twas cute. Review up soon~ish
West Virginia for my state challenge
West Virginia for my state challenge
July 17, 2026
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!
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!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2026
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.
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.
July 19, 2026
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.
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.
June 24, 2026
2.5 Stars.
The vibes:
- She’s people pleaser
- He doesn’t care what anyone thinks
- Holiday / Christmas setting
- Silly / light
- Closed door (kisses only)
My thoughts:
Chloe is a people pleaser who challenges herself to get 10 rejections in the week leading up to Christmas. When she runs into James, a man who has no problem humiliating himself in public, it creates a very entertaining dynamic as Chloe keeps trying to get a rejection from James.
In the first half, I enjoyed the set up. We have both extremes of personality, but I found it both ridiculous while still being fun.
As Chloe kept making up nonsense requests, and he kept saying yes, there were definitely some festive shenanigans involved. I enjoyed the first half ok but I was really hoping we would go from silly and fun towards more depth and more emotional connection building.
Instead I felt like the plot got even more outlandish and less serious. Chloe’s antics pushed it all over the edge for me. It was giving How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days (which I love that movie but did not love that execution here).
I was asking myself who is Chloe? It almost seemed like her challenge should’ve been for herself to be saying no to things because that seemed to be the ultimate problem in a lot of situations. Right when the book is almost wrapping up, we find out about this supposed hobby that she loves so much that hasn’t really been mentioned once this entire time. And then we get another shift about her dream job. At that point, I truly felt like I had no idea who Chloe was and didn’t think any of these revelations came across organically.
Meanwhile, James is just putting up with absolute insanity. Why? He meets this woman acting insane, and somehow he has fallen for her? I really struggled with the execution her, but if you enjoy a heavy humor Christmas romcom with a fast moving relationship, you might enjoy this one!
Note / spice content: closed door (kisses only)
Release date: October 6, 2026.
Thank you so much to Melissa Ferguson, Thomas Nelson, and NetGalley for the gifted copy. I received this eARC from the author/publisher, but this honest review is voluntary.
The vibes:
- She’s people pleaser
- He doesn’t care what anyone thinks
- Holiday / Christmas setting
- Silly / light
- Closed door (kisses only)
My thoughts:
Chloe is a people pleaser who challenges herself to get 10 rejections in the week leading up to Christmas. When she runs into James, a man who has no problem humiliating himself in public, it creates a very entertaining dynamic as Chloe keeps trying to get a rejection from James.
In the first half, I enjoyed the set up. We have both extremes of personality, but I found it both ridiculous while still being fun.
As Chloe kept making up nonsense requests, and he kept saying yes, there were definitely some festive shenanigans involved. I enjoyed the first half ok but I was really hoping we would go from silly and fun towards more depth and more emotional connection building.
Instead I felt like the plot got even more outlandish and less serious. Chloe’s antics pushed it all over the edge for me. It was giving How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days (which I love that movie but did not love that execution here).
I was asking myself who is Chloe? It almost seemed like her challenge should’ve been for herself to be saying no to things because that seemed to be the ultimate problem in a lot of situations. Right when the book is almost wrapping up, we find out about this supposed hobby that she loves so much that hasn’t really been mentioned once this entire time. And then we get another shift about her dream job. At that point, I truly felt like I had no idea who Chloe was and didn’t think any of these revelations came across organically.
Meanwhile, James is just putting up with absolute insanity. Why? He meets this woman acting insane, and somehow he has fallen for her? I really struggled with the execution her, but if you enjoy a heavy humor Christmas romcom with a fast moving relationship, you might enjoy this one!
Note / spice content: closed door (kisses only)
Release date: October 6, 2026.
Thank you so much to Melissa Ferguson, Thomas Nelson, and NetGalley for the gifted copy. I received this eARC from the author/publisher, but this honest review is voluntary.
August 2, 2026
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
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
August 4, 2026
Pure Christmas in July and some of August comfort. Very wholesome & sweet! 💚❤️
July 27, 2026
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!
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this ARC!
July 27, 2026
4.25⭐️!
LOVED this one!! Yes I’m reading Christmas romances already, mind ya business haha😅
The Christmas Yes List was the epitome of a Hallmark movie. It was so nostalgic and made me feel like I was 12 years old again watching the newest one with my mom while drinking hot chocolate. It was so funny watching Chloe see how far she could push James before he’d give her a no😂 I almost felt bad for the guy at some points haha, but it just shows how down bad for her he was🥹 and Chloe’s dad? I think he wins my favorite side character, because he was giving some of the best advice👏🏻
A huge thank you to NetGalley for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!
You’ll love this if you love:
📖 strangers to lovers
📖 he falls first
📖 faith elements
📖 small town
✨TW: this book contains topics of narcissistic ex and death of a parent.
📖 Sexual Content: PG: affection is limited to kissing
🩸Violence: G: no real violence
💬 Language: no strong language; no sexual innuendos
LOVED this one!! Yes I’m reading Christmas romances already, mind ya business haha😅
The Christmas Yes List was the epitome of a Hallmark movie. It was so nostalgic and made me feel like I was 12 years old again watching the newest one with my mom while drinking hot chocolate. It was so funny watching Chloe see how far she could push James before he’d give her a no😂 I almost felt bad for the guy at some points haha, but it just shows how down bad for her he was🥹 and Chloe’s dad? I think he wins my favorite side character, because he was giving some of the best advice👏🏻
A huge thank you to NetGalley for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!
You’ll love this if you love:
📖 strangers to lovers
📖 he falls first
📖 faith elements
📖 small town
✨TW: this book contains topics of narcissistic ex and death of a parent.
📖 Sexual Content: PG: affection is limited to kissing
🩸Violence: G: no real violence
💬 Language: no strong language; no sexual innuendos
July 21, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up, this was a cute little small town romance with a silly premise of trying to get rid of your baggage around people pleasing and not being able to say no leading to a very surprising but fitting relationship.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the ARC!
July 20, 2026
This is killing me inside cause I love everything Christmas but this was a huge miss for me. It really just felt like I was reading a bunch of nothing. This reminds me of those Hallmark Christmas movies that’s trying to be so cute and wants so badly to get the vibe and just ends up feeling cringey and hard to watch. I think this was trying to have the vibes of The Holiday Calendar and it just didn’t make it there. Plus the way it was written and the unbearably long chapters made the book a struggle for me as well. Hopefully the movie is better than the book.
August 6, 2026
“The Christmas Yes List” by Melissa Ferguson
📘 Format: Digital Book
📚 Pub Date: 10.06.26
⭐️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
“The Christmas Yes List” by Melissa Ferguson is a delightful romance full of Christmas Cheer and so much laughter!
Chloe Hollis is a perpetual people pleaser who has fled Seattle and is moving back home with almost no possessions. She believes that much of her unhappiness in life is due to her inability to say no and stand up for herself.
Her best friend, Genie, still lives in her hometown and a highlight of Chloe returning home to Maple Hills, West Virginia in time for the holiday season is that they get to spend more time together.
Chloe becomes convinced that the best way to try to break her compulsive people pleasing ways is with a popular self-help book that encourages putting yourself out there to invite rejection, which is the way to “cure” people pleasing ways. It is referred to as “Rejection Therapy”.
While undertaking this self-imposed form of therapy, Chloe mistakenly assumes some ideas as truths. This leads to all kinds of misunderstandings and misconceptions; mostly supported and encouraged by Genie.
The romance made me swoon (I so enjoy a clean romance) and the sense of humour had me laughing throughout.
I adored “The Christmas Yes List” and would highly recommend it. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book during the middle of my summer! I would ordinarily never have chosen a Christmas book to read in the middle of the summer, but I am so glad that I did! I am going to put this on my “to re-read list” during the winter as Christmas approaches.
Thank you to Melissa Ferguson, NetGalley & Thomas Nelson Fiction for the Advance Review Copy. All opinions are my own.
#TheChristmasYesList
#MelissaFerguson
#NetGalley
#ThomasNelsonFiction
📘 Format: Digital Book
📚 Pub Date: 10.06.26
⭐️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
“The Christmas Yes List” by Melissa Ferguson is a delightful romance full of Christmas Cheer and so much laughter!
Chloe Hollis is a perpetual people pleaser who has fled Seattle and is moving back home with almost no possessions. She believes that much of her unhappiness in life is due to her inability to say no and stand up for herself.
Her best friend, Genie, still lives in her hometown and a highlight of Chloe returning home to Maple Hills, West Virginia in time for the holiday season is that they get to spend more time together.
Chloe becomes convinced that the best way to try to break her compulsive people pleasing ways is with a popular self-help book that encourages putting yourself out there to invite rejection, which is the way to “cure” people pleasing ways. It is referred to as “Rejection Therapy”.
While undertaking this self-imposed form of therapy, Chloe mistakenly assumes some ideas as truths. This leads to all kinds of misunderstandings and misconceptions; mostly supported and encouraged by Genie.
The romance made me swoon (I so enjoy a clean romance) and the sense of humour had me laughing throughout.
I adored “The Christmas Yes List” and would highly recommend it. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book during the middle of my summer! I would ordinarily never have chosen a Christmas book to read in the middle of the summer, but I am so glad that I did! I am going to put this on my “to re-read list” during the winter as Christmas approaches.
Thank you to Melissa Ferguson, NetGalley & Thomas Nelson Fiction for the Advance Review Copy. All opinions are my own.
#TheChristmasYesList
#MelissaFerguson
#NetGalley
#ThomasNelsonFiction
August 9, 2026
First, I want to thank NetGalley for this ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) for NetGalley Camp. The following are my own and honest opinions.
This book started off on such a fun note! I loved the opening, not because of what she thought would “cure” her, but because the whole situation was hilarious.
Unfortunately, I struggled with the flow of the story. I’m not sure if it was the formatting of the e-ARC or the writing itself, but everything felt a little all over the place. It felt like we were in the FMC’s head, and her thoughts jumped around a lot. The flashbacks didn’t help.
The chapters felt really long. We were four chapters and maybe like 100 pages in and still on Day 1! I wanted the story to move along a little faster. I also had a hard time investing in the romance because there were several comments about the characters being “like family.”
When everything was revealed, I was surprised by his words. I wasn’t expecting that! The ending was rushed, compared with the whole story.
This book started off on such a fun note! I loved the opening, not because of what she thought would “cure” her, but because the whole situation was hilarious.
Unfortunately, I struggled with the flow of the story. I’m not sure if it was the formatting of the e-ARC or the writing itself, but everything felt a little all over the place. It felt like we were in the FMC’s head, and her thoughts jumped around a lot. The flashbacks didn’t help.
The chapters felt really long. We were four chapters and maybe like 100 pages in and still on Day 1! I wanted the story to move along a little faster. I also had a hard time investing in the romance because there were several comments about the characters being “like family.”
When everything was revealed, I was surprised by his words. I wasn’t expecting that! The ending was rushed, compared with the whole story.
July 14, 2026
Thank you Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the ARC
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Christmas Yes List by Melissa Ferguson was such a fun and festive Christmas rom com! I gave it 4 stars because it had the perfect mix of humor, heart, and holiday charm.
The idea of Chloe trying to collect ten “no’s” while James is committed to saying “yes” to everything made for so many hilarious and awkward moments. Their banter was witty, their chemistry was sweet, and I found myself smiling through so much of the story. Watching them push outside their comfort zones and grow together made their romance even more enjoyable.
If you’re looking for a lighthearted holiday romance filled with laughs, swoony moments, and a reminder that sometimes the best things happen when we take a chance, this is a great one to add to your Christmas reading list.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Christmas Yes List by Melissa Ferguson was such a fun and festive Christmas rom com! I gave it 4 stars because it had the perfect mix of humor, heart, and holiday charm.
The idea of Chloe trying to collect ten “no’s” while James is committed to saying “yes” to everything made for so many hilarious and awkward moments. Their banter was witty, their chemistry was sweet, and I found myself smiling through so much of the story. Watching them push outside their comfort zones and grow together made their romance even more enjoyable.
If you’re looking for a lighthearted holiday romance filled with laughs, swoony moments, and a reminder that sometimes the best things happen when we take a chance, this is a great one to add to your Christmas reading list.
July 28, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Melissa for this arc!
I want to say that I wasn’t expecting to feel the Christmas vibes this early, but it worked perfectly with this book. At first it was a little difficult for me to understand Chloe, and I don’t know why, because I’m the same hahahah to say no it’s hard for me too, and she portrayed perfectly how you can change that.
I had a lot of fun with the dynamic, but I really fell into thinking that James was also doing it for a personal challenge hahaha. I liked that he later confessed the reason for his way of being, and that despite everything, both spent fun moments together, because there something nice began to form. I don’t complain about Genie because I have been that friend and I have had that friend.
I liked it a lot, what a nice clean romance 💖
I want to say that I wasn’t expecting to feel the Christmas vibes this early, but it worked perfectly with this book. At first it was a little difficult for me to understand Chloe, and I don’t know why, because I’m the same hahahah to say no it’s hard for me too, and she portrayed perfectly how you can change that.
I had a lot of fun with the dynamic, but I really fell into thinking that James was also doing it for a personal challenge hahaha. I liked that he later confessed the reason for his way of being, and that despite everything, both spent fun moments together, because there something nice began to form. I don’t complain about Genie because I have been that friend and I have had that friend.
I liked it a lot, what a nice clean romance 💖
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2026
ARC read - Camp NetGalley submission
The Christmas Yes List is a short and sweet story set in a small town the week leading up to Christmas.
When an ultimate people pleaser goes on a quest to face rejection head on meets a man who never seems to say the word, “no” funny and quirky moments ensue.
My only complaint is how abruptly we ended. We kind of are left standing on a snow-covered road in the middle of West Virginia asking ourselves, “what just happened?” We do get an epilogue but, it all felt a little rushed at the end. It was so short I feel like we could have gotten a few more pages in between.
The Christmas Yes List gives all the Hallmark Christmas movie vibes; it is a light, airy, 0 spice, insta-love romance. Pour yourself a cup of hot chocolate, cozy up and enjoy!
The Christmas Yes List is a short and sweet story set in a small town the week leading up to Christmas.
When an ultimate people pleaser goes on a quest to face rejection head on meets a man who never seems to say the word, “no” funny and quirky moments ensue.
My only complaint is how abruptly we ended. We kind of are left standing on a snow-covered road in the middle of West Virginia asking ourselves, “what just happened?” We do get an epilogue but, it all felt a little rushed at the end. It was so short I feel like we could have gotten a few more pages in between.
The Christmas Yes List gives all the Hallmark Christmas movie vibes; it is a light, airy, 0 spice, insta-love romance. Pour yourself a cup of hot chocolate, cozy up and enjoy!
July 28, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
This was a cute book with an interesting premise. A people pleasing FMC who wants to get better at facing rejection sets out to receive ten NOs by Christmas but when she meets a handsome man at the airport who just continues saying yes, even to her craziest requests, she ends up falling for him. I really relate to the FMC a lot in terms of constantly being in your head worrying what other people think and wanting to please others. I thought this was a sweet little holiday romance but the characters were a bit immature and there were parts that were a bit cheesy. I still enjoyed it though!
This was a cute book with an interesting premise. A people pleasing FMC who wants to get better at facing rejection sets out to receive ten NOs by Christmas but when she meets a handsome man at the airport who just continues saying yes, even to her craziest requests, she ends up falling for him. I really relate to the FMC a lot in terms of constantly being in your head worrying what other people think and wanting to please others. I thought this was a sweet little holiday romance but the characters were a bit immature and there were parts that were a bit cheesy. I still enjoyed it though!
July 31, 2026
Just how I like my Christmas romcoms. Cute & corny 👏🏻👏🏻
This was funny, sweet, cozy & a little ridiculous.
The romance between James, who doesn't care a luck what people think of him, & Chloe, who is a chronic people pleaser, was such a fun balance. I absolutely loved James. Chloe got on my nerves sometimes, but in my defense, she got on her own nerves too 🤣
I honestly want a book about Chloe's parents and her mama bein a floozy for a hot second.
I'm excited to watch The Christmas Yes List once it becomes a movie.
📖: 1st person, single POV
🤬: no foul language
🌶️: kisses only
⚠️: n/a
Thank you to NetGalley, Melissa Ferguson, & Thomas Nelson Publishing for the advanced reader copy.
This was funny, sweet, cozy & a little ridiculous.
The romance between James, who doesn't care a luck what people think of him, & Chloe, who is a chronic people pleaser, was such a fun balance. I absolutely loved James. Chloe got on my nerves sometimes, but in my defense, she got on her own nerves too 🤣
I honestly want a book about Chloe's parents and her mama bein a floozy for a hot second.
I'm excited to watch The Christmas Yes List once it becomes a movie.
📖: 1st person, single POV
🤬: no foul language
🌶️: kisses only
⚠️: n/a
Thank you to NetGalley, Melissa Ferguson, & Thomas Nelson Publishing for the advanced reader copy.
June 26, 2026
Review of advance reader copy received from NetGalley
4.75 stars
This book was so freaking cute. I loved Chloe and James. They were so adorable together and the ending was just so wholesome. I loved the way how James was so considerate and supportive to Chloe. I was able to relate to Chloe because I also am a people-pleaser and tend to overthink a lot. Their first meet was so cute. I also loved Chloe’s dad. He reminds me of my dad. His advice to Chloe was awesome. I loved the small town, big family vibes. The writing was amazing and very easy to follow along.
I give my thanks to the author and to NetGalley for the ARC
4.75 stars
This book was so freaking cute. I loved Chloe and James. They were so adorable together and the ending was just so wholesome. I loved the way how James was so considerate and supportive to Chloe. I was able to relate to Chloe because I also am a people-pleaser and tend to overthink a lot. Their first meet was so cute. I also loved Chloe’s dad. He reminds me of my dad. His advice to Chloe was awesome. I loved the small town, big family vibes. The writing was amazing and very easy to follow along.
I give my thanks to the author and to NetGalley for the ARC
July 25, 2026
Chloe is headed back home to stay with her parents and try to recover from her people pleasing ways. Then she meets James, who has a reason to say yes to everything. Will these two opposites be able to make things work?
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in this book! This has the total Christmas romance movie feels, but also had me laughing out loud. I am so excited this is being turned into a movie! 🍿 🎬
Thank you Net Galley and Thomas Nelson for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in this book! This has the total Christmas romance movie feels, but also had me laughing out loud. I am so excited this is being turned into a movie! 🍿 🎬
Thank you Net Galley and Thomas Nelson for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 17, 2026
This was fine. A very simple, basic read. Funny concept, low fall out / conflict which i appreciate
Thank you NetGalley for the arc
Thank you NetGalley for the arc
July 31, 2026
I loved this book! It is my new favorite by Melissa Ferguson! I really enjoyed all of the characters. I think a lot of people can relate to Chloe and her issues with wanting to please people. I love the ridiculous things she gets him to say yes too. Super cute and I cannot wait to see the movie on Great American Family this Christmas.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Christmas Yes List by Melissa Ferguson (Oct. 2026) [reading in July]
xv+257-page Paperback
ADC courtesy of Thomas Nelson and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Genre: Holiday Rom Com, Contemporary Romance, Holiday > Christmas, Holiday Romance
Movie Rating Equivalent: PG-10
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️🛬🎤🛍🏕🐊🌲🎄
Featuring: Praise, Bibliography for Melissa Ferguson, Fictional Small Town in West Virginia; Rejection Therapy, Yes vs No, People Pleaser, Personal Growth, Fear of Rejection, Fear of Loss of Control, Christmas Countdown, Ex, Homecoming, Slow Burn, Family Dynamics, Friendships, Seattle, Washington; New York City, New York
Live Status Updates: 🔖Page 30 of 257 Chapter 2 -Honestly, this is a bit dull and I barely even knew what was going on. I was expecting a lot more humor. I do not want to reread this first chapter because it just seems so odd, but I might have to.
🔖87 Chapter 4 - These chapters are so long because I could have sworn I was further along than this, but I don't care. The story did get a little better however I deserve a break. I'm going back to my rom-com book.
🔖137 Chapter 7 - If I don't do anything else, I'll finish this book on Monday. It's becoming repetitive. The book stack in chapter 4 on page 88 with the Bible and the journal and the self-help book was a bit awkward, I'm still trying to figure out what the point of it was.
🔖Restart - I just could not go to bed and wait till Monday I decided to start the book over from the beginning.
Final Thoughts: I was so excited to dive into this one! The Christmas Yes List has all the classic makings of a holiday rom-com. Chloe is a pathologically conflict-averse people-pleaser—so much so that when her boss pressures her to do something unethical at work, she panics and quits instead of saying "no" to his face. James, on the other hand, is an out-of-towner who has spent his life being overly cautious, rigid, and closed off. When Chloe decides to try "rejection therapy" by asking outrageous favors to collect 10 "No's," James ends up agreeing to everything.
It did take a bit to find its footing. The first chapter spends a massive chunk dumping Chloe's internal anxiety, career backstory, and the mechanics of her "10 No's" rule before the characters actually interact, so I had to re-read the first 30 pages just to digest all the setup. At first, Chloe felt a little hard to connect with, even as a fellow people-pleaser. Around Chapter 3 is where I started to get into it. Nearly halfway in, the dynamic shifts. They stop being "weird strangers with rules" and start opening up about why they are the way they are—her fear of standing up for herself and his struggle with letting go of control. That's where the actual romantic banter finally kicks in.
I’m a big mood reader, and a rough start can really affect my reading experience. It originally took me three days to crawl to Chapter 7 (page 138), so I decided to hit reset and start over from page one. I’m so glad I did! The second time around, I finished the entire book in just a couple of hours. It reminded me of reading Pride and Prejudice—where the first few chapters feel overwhelming until the writing style clicks, and once you start fresh with proper perspective, everything flows much better.
While the second read was an improvement, the book was still a bit of a mixed bag for me. The premise, banter, and gags felt a little awkward at times (though no longer clunky), and there were oddly placed time jumps that threw off the pacing. I also kept wondering why Chloe didn't just ask someone other than James for her "No's." At one point, Chloe reads a Christmas romance and notes that it promised "happy thoughts" and delivered—and while I didn't quite get that same magic, it still had its charming moments. This might actually be a case where the movie adaptation (currently filming) works better than the book, and this could be great as an audiobook.
I’ve had varied experiences with Melissa Ferguson’s books—I set aside The Cul-de-Sac War, absolutely loved Meet Me in the Margins, and thought How to Plot a Payback was decent. The Christmas Yes List falls somewhere in the middle, but I’m glad I stuck with it and restarted. It turned out to be a fun story overall, and I’d be really interested to see if the screen adaptation does it justice.
Recommend to others: Sure! If you’re looking for a holiday read full of festive hijinks, this fits the bill. Like tea vs. coffee, it really depends on your personal taste, but it’s definitely worth giving a try!
Songs for the Soundtrack: "Jingle Bells" by Julie Andrews and André Previn, "I'll Be Home for Christmas" by Dean Martin, "Winter Wonderland" by Bing Crosby, "White Christmas" by Stacie Orrico, "Santa Baby" by Etta James, "Blue Christmas" by Elvis Presley, "Tennessee Christmas" by Amy Grant, "The First Noel" by Marian McPartland and The Bill Charlap Trio, "Joy To The World" by Bobby Womack, "Deck The Halls" by Nat King Cole, "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" by Ashanti
Books and Authors Mentioned: Without a Clue by Melissa Ferguson, Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder by Bellamy Rose, The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson, How to Plot a Payback by Melissa Ferguson, RaeAnne Thayne, The Best Life Book Club by Sheila Roberts, The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter, Cole and Laila Are Just Friends by Bethany Turner, The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden, Mr. Malcolm's List by Suzanne Allain, Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan, All's Fair in Love and Christmas by Sarah Monzon, Courtney Walsh, Famous for a Living
Book by Melissa FergusonThe Cul-De-Sac War by Melissa Ferguson, Meet Me in the Marginsby Melissa Ferguson, Emma St Clair,Without a Hitch by Mary Hollis Huddleston and Asher Fogle Paul, Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan Henry, Carolina Breeze by Denise Hunter, The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner, The Key to Love by Betsy St. Amant, The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson, The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reayall, The Enlightenment of Bees by Rachel Linden, A Moonlight Harbor series by Sheila Roberts, The Hideaway by Lauren K. Denton, Glory Road by Lauren K. Denton, Three Quarter Time Series by Rachel McMillan, The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss, Love You Forever by Robert Munsch, White Christmas by Norman Krasna, Norman Panama, and Melvin Frank; Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Clueless by Amy Heckerling [based on Emma by Jane Austen]
xv+257-page Paperback
ADC courtesy of Thomas Nelson and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Genre: Holiday Rom Com, Contemporary Romance, Holiday > Christmas, Holiday Romance
Movie Rating Equivalent: PG-10
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️🛬🎤🛍🏕🐊🌲🎄
Featuring: Praise, Bibliography for Melissa Ferguson, Fictional Small Town in West Virginia; Rejection Therapy, Yes vs No, People Pleaser, Personal Growth, Fear of Rejection, Fear of Loss of Control, Christmas Countdown, Ex, Homecoming, Slow Burn, Family Dynamics, Friendships, Seattle, Washington; New York City, New York
Live Status Updates: 🔖Page 30 of 257 Chapter 2 -Honestly, this is a bit dull and I barely even knew what was going on. I was expecting a lot more humor. I do not want to reread this first chapter because it just seems so odd, but I might have to.
🔖87 Chapter 4 - These chapters are so long because I could have sworn I was further along than this, but I don't care. The story did get a little better however I deserve a break. I'm going back to my rom-com book.
🔖137 Chapter 7 - If I don't do anything else, I'll finish this book on Monday. It's becoming repetitive. The book stack in chapter 4 on page 88 with the Bible and the journal and the self-help book was a bit awkward, I'm still trying to figure out what the point of it was.
🔖Restart - I just could not go to bed and wait till Monday I decided to start the book over from the beginning.
Final Thoughts: I was so excited to dive into this one! The Christmas Yes List has all the classic makings of a holiday rom-com. Chloe is a pathologically conflict-averse people-pleaser—so much so that when her boss pressures her to do something unethical at work, she panics and quits instead of saying "no" to his face. James, on the other hand, is an out-of-towner who has spent his life being overly cautious, rigid, and closed off. When Chloe decides to try "rejection therapy" by asking outrageous favors to collect 10 "No's," James ends up agreeing to everything.
It did take a bit to find its footing. The first chapter spends a massive chunk dumping Chloe's internal anxiety, career backstory, and the mechanics of her "10 No's" rule before the characters actually interact, so I had to re-read the first 30 pages just to digest all the setup. At first, Chloe felt a little hard to connect with, even as a fellow people-pleaser. Around Chapter 3 is where I started to get into it. Nearly halfway in, the dynamic shifts. They stop being "weird strangers with rules" and start opening up about why they are the way they are—her fear of standing up for herself and his struggle with letting go of control. That's where the actual romantic banter finally kicks in.
I’m a big mood reader, and a rough start can really affect my reading experience. It originally took me three days to crawl to Chapter 7 (page 138), so I decided to hit reset and start over from page one. I’m so glad I did! The second time around, I finished the entire book in just a couple of hours. It reminded me of reading Pride and Prejudice—where the first few chapters feel overwhelming until the writing style clicks, and once you start fresh with proper perspective, everything flows much better.
While the second read was an improvement, the book was still a bit of a mixed bag for me. The premise, banter, and gags felt a little awkward at times (though no longer clunky), and there were oddly placed time jumps that threw off the pacing. I also kept wondering why Chloe didn't just ask someone other than James for her "No's." At one point, Chloe reads a Christmas romance and notes that it promised "happy thoughts" and delivered—and while I didn't quite get that same magic, it still had its charming moments. This might actually be a case where the movie adaptation (currently filming) works better than the book, and this could be great as an audiobook.
I’ve had varied experiences with Melissa Ferguson’s books—I set aside The Cul-de-Sac War, absolutely loved Meet Me in the Margins, and thought How to Plot a Payback was decent. The Christmas Yes List falls somewhere in the middle, but I’m glad I stuck with it and restarted. It turned out to be a fun story overall, and I’d be really interested to see if the screen adaptation does it justice.
Recommend to others: Sure! If you’re looking for a holiday read full of festive hijinks, this fits the bill. Like tea vs. coffee, it really depends on your personal taste, but it’s definitely worth giving a try!
Songs for the Soundtrack: "Jingle Bells" by Julie Andrews and André Previn, "I'll Be Home for Christmas" by Dean Martin, "Winter Wonderland" by Bing Crosby, "White Christmas" by Stacie Orrico, "Santa Baby" by Etta James, "Blue Christmas" by Elvis Presley, "Tennessee Christmas" by Amy Grant, "The First Noel" by Marian McPartland and The Bill Charlap Trio, "Joy To The World" by Bobby Womack, "Deck The Halls" by Nat King Cole, "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" by Ashanti
Books and Authors Mentioned: Without a Clue by Melissa Ferguson, Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder by Bellamy Rose, The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson, How to Plot a Payback by Melissa Ferguson, RaeAnne Thayne, The Best Life Book Club by Sheila Roberts, The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter, Cole and Laila Are Just Friends by Bethany Turner, The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden, Mr. Malcolm's List by Suzanne Allain, Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan, All's Fair in Love and Christmas by Sarah Monzon, Courtney Walsh, Famous for a Living
Book by Melissa FergusonThe Cul-De-Sac War by Melissa Ferguson, Meet Me in the Marginsby Melissa Ferguson, Emma St Clair,Without a Hitch by Mary Hollis Huddleston and Asher Fogle Paul, Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan Henry, Carolina Breeze by Denise Hunter, The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner, The Key to Love by Betsy St. Amant, The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson, The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reayall, The Enlightenment of Bees by Rachel Linden, A Moonlight Harbor series by Sheila Roberts, The Hideaway by Lauren K. Denton, Glory Road by Lauren K. Denton, Three Quarter Time Series by Rachel McMillan, The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss, Love You Forever by Robert Munsch, White Christmas by Norman Krasna, Norman Panama, and Melvin Frank; Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Clueless by Amy Heckerling [based on Emma by Jane Austen]
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I wanted to quit reading this book multiple times. Once after I finished chapter 1, again after chapter 7, and then all through the dinner date scenes. I only finished it because I was granted early access to the book via Netgalley and Thomas Nelson. Thank you to both.
This review contains spoilers.
Chloe is such a people-pleaser that she spirals in her thoughts anytime she tries to say “no” to nearly anyone. Because of this, she quit college at her boyfriend's request. She worked a dead-end, data entry job without any pay raise or promotion for 6 years because she didn’t want to hurt her boss’s feelings. After he asked her to commit fraud, she agreed to do so to his face, but then sneaked out after he left and quit via email. If Chloe met the wrong person, I’m sure she would be penniless, raped, and possibly trafficked. I truly fear for her safety.
While doomscrolling, Chloe comes across an influencer who wrote a book about rejection therapy and decides to challenge herself to say “no” to people by getting 10 nos from strangers in the next 7 days before Christmas. Okay. So, this is where I want to stop reading. Getting someone else to say “No” to you isn’t what she needs to do. I’m sure people rejected her all the time. What she needs to do is stand up for herself and talk back. Say “No” to others. So, this whole premise is stupid, but necessary because if the MFC’s goal is to say “No” and she’s successful, then how does she end up spending time with the hero, James?
Chloe flies home to Maple Hills, West Virginia, where she meets James at the airport. He asks if she needs a lift, which to me means if she wants a ride somewhere. He clarifies he meant he’d help her lift her luggage off the carousel. She politely refuses, spins a wild tale in her head, repents for being so appropriate, and agrees to have him get her luggage for her. In a different story that isn’t destined for Hallmark (it is going to be a movie and it will totally be on Hallmark), James slips something into her luggage or takes something from it. Airports are very clear about letting other people handle your luggage. Anyway, with that awkwardness over, James proceeds to his rental car when Chloe gets the bright idea to offer him a ride. She assumes he’d say “No” since it is clear he has a car waiting for him. He says “Yes,” and then they have 6 super sweet chapters of him always saying “Yes” to all her suggestions. He even defends her when her sly, abusive ex-boyfriend tries to manipulate her and saves her from falling off a frozen, slippery, rocky hillside into a waterfall, because he willingly went camping with strangers on a frozen mountainside. (I would have said No.)
After hearing a touching family story from her dad, Chloe realizes that her favorite author also wrote a book for people who are too self-centered. In that book, the author challenges his readers to always say “Yes” and writes the exact same phrase that James had previously used, which leads Chloe to assume the only reason this guy has been around her is because he’s playing the same but opposite game she is. Not because he could’ve stepped away from the crazy lady at any time and gotten more Yes’s from other people, or because even if he is playing the same game, he actually enjoys being with her. So, she assumes the worst about him, based on her own actions. Her logic is SOOO bad and frustrating! She pours out her theories to her BFF, who doesn’t speak any kind of reason into her, but offers to either a) take care of him or b) have Chloe go on their date and win this game by getting him to say “No.” Since my preferred option of having her bring the book and have an adult conversation about the possibility of “Oh how funny, we’re both reading the same author, and you must be saying yes to all my crazy attempts to get a no, right?” wasn’t suggested, I again want to quit reading this book. Instead, Chloe creates a date from hell for James, who amazingly sticks it out. Afterward, Chloe gives up her quests for No’s and the story becomes somewhat sweet again, except for the BFF, who is holding an unwarranted grudge against James.
Finally, the BFF has an honest conversation with Chloe about her past failings. This motivates Chloe to step up and have the hard conversation with James. Surprise! He’s never heard about the author and has been saying “Yes” because he simply likes her and wants to spend time with her. Then he realizes she’s been playing him, but is a little more aware that her motives weren’t to intentionally hurt him, most of the time, but that she was trying to improve herself. She also confronts the ex-boyfriend with support from her BFF and her mom, and writes the HR department at her previous employer to tell them about the fraud request. James, of course, forgives her, and they end up married, living in West Virginia.
Because the author has Chloe actually adult at the end of the book and because some of the scenes are really nice, I’m giving the book 2 stars. However, the premise is flawed, and some of the choices Chloe makes are so cringe-worthy that I’m not recommending this book. As I read it, I could totally see how Hallmark will easily be able to turn this into a classic.
This review contains spoilers.
Chloe is such a people-pleaser that she spirals in her thoughts anytime she tries to say “no” to nearly anyone. Because of this, she quit college at her boyfriend's request. She worked a dead-end, data entry job without any pay raise or promotion for 6 years because she didn’t want to hurt her boss’s feelings. After he asked her to commit fraud, she agreed to do so to his face, but then sneaked out after he left and quit via email. If Chloe met the wrong person, I’m sure she would be penniless, raped, and possibly trafficked. I truly fear for her safety.
While doomscrolling, Chloe comes across an influencer who wrote a book about rejection therapy and decides to challenge herself to say “no” to people by getting 10 nos from strangers in the next 7 days before Christmas. Okay. So, this is where I want to stop reading. Getting someone else to say “No” to you isn’t what she needs to do. I’m sure people rejected her all the time. What she needs to do is stand up for herself and talk back. Say “No” to others. So, this whole premise is stupid, but necessary because if the MFC’s goal is to say “No” and she’s successful, then how does she end up spending time with the hero, James?
Chloe flies home to Maple Hills, West Virginia, where she meets James at the airport. He asks if she needs a lift, which to me means if she wants a ride somewhere. He clarifies he meant he’d help her lift her luggage off the carousel. She politely refuses, spins a wild tale in her head, repents for being so appropriate, and agrees to have him get her luggage for her. In a different story that isn’t destined for Hallmark (it is going to be a movie and it will totally be on Hallmark), James slips something into her luggage or takes something from it. Airports are very clear about letting other people handle your luggage. Anyway, with that awkwardness over, James proceeds to his rental car when Chloe gets the bright idea to offer him a ride. She assumes he’d say “No” since it is clear he has a car waiting for him. He says “Yes,” and then they have 6 super sweet chapters of him always saying “Yes” to all her suggestions. He even defends her when her sly, abusive ex-boyfriend tries to manipulate her and saves her from falling off a frozen, slippery, rocky hillside into a waterfall, because he willingly went camping with strangers on a frozen mountainside. (I would have said No.)
After hearing a touching family story from her dad, Chloe realizes that her favorite author also wrote a book for people who are too self-centered. In that book, the author challenges his readers to always say “Yes” and writes the exact same phrase that James had previously used, which leads Chloe to assume the only reason this guy has been around her is because he’s playing the same but opposite game she is. Not because he could’ve stepped away from the crazy lady at any time and gotten more Yes’s from other people, or because even if he is playing the same game, he actually enjoys being with her. So, she assumes the worst about him, based on her own actions. Her logic is SOOO bad and frustrating! She pours out her theories to her BFF, who doesn’t speak any kind of reason into her, but offers to either a) take care of him or b) have Chloe go on their date and win this game by getting him to say “No.” Since my preferred option of having her bring the book and have an adult conversation about the possibility of “Oh how funny, we’re both reading the same author, and you must be saying yes to all my crazy attempts to get a no, right?” wasn’t suggested, I again want to quit reading this book. Instead, Chloe creates a date from hell for James, who amazingly sticks it out. Afterward, Chloe gives up her quests for No’s and the story becomes somewhat sweet again, except for the BFF, who is holding an unwarranted grudge against James.
Finally, the BFF has an honest conversation with Chloe about her past failings. This motivates Chloe to step up and have the hard conversation with James. Surprise! He’s never heard about the author and has been saying “Yes” because he simply likes her and wants to spend time with her. Then he realizes she’s been playing him, but is a little more aware that her motives weren’t to intentionally hurt him, most of the time, but that she was trying to improve herself. She also confronts the ex-boyfriend with support from her BFF and her mom, and writes the HR department at her previous employer to tell them about the fraud request. James, of course, forgives her, and they end up married, living in West Virginia.
Because the author has Chloe actually adult at the end of the book and because some of the scenes are really nice, I’m giving the book 2 stars. However, the premise is flawed, and some of the choices Chloe makes are so cringe-worthy that I’m not recommending this book. As I read it, I could totally see how Hallmark will easily be able to turn this into a classic.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I would first like to thank Melissa Ferguson, and Thomas Nelson for offering advanced copies on NetGalley in exchange for honest reviews. Thank you!
To begin, this was my second book I have reviewed from Melissa, following Meet Me in the Margins. I enjoyed the former so I jumped at the opportunity to read The Christmas Yes List. It being extremely hot in July, I enjoy Christmas media this time of the year and there is plenty of Holiday cheer and cold weather in this story.
The Christmas Yes List follows the perspective of Chloe Hollis as she is trying to reinvent herself into less of a people pleaser. In order to accomplish that, she is choosing to take the advice from an influencer who convinces her to pick up the challenge of getting as many rejections as possible. Chloe changes the terms a bit, to getting 10 consecutive rejections by Christmas.
What follows is a hilarious and fast paced adventure of rediscovery that includes peculiar social interactions with one James Dutton, and questionable family holiday traditions. All within the scenic backdrop of a small town in December.
This story is set within the West Virginia town of Maple Hills. As mentioned, the community is deep in its Christmas spirit, all with a lovely blanket of snow covering the ground. We get multiple scenes within the main strip of the town with cafes fit with Christmas karaoke, shops full of people who procrastinated their holiday shopping, along with a snow riddled tree farm on the Hollis’s own family property. It truly felt like a Christmas wonderland that reminded me of similar style towns near where I live. I could smell the fireplaces and hot chocolate in the air!
My favorite characteristic of this book, is the humor between Chloe and James. I will admit that I do not laugh out loud too often when it comes to books. However, by the third request Chloe has for James (about the second chapter), I was laughing so hard it brought actual tears to me eyes. I had to tell my husband about it and he started cracking up as well so I put that down as a huge plus for sure.
I did find the humor diminishing as the book went on as Chloe’s antics became more ridiculous due to the misunderstanding plot that makes its unwanted appearance.
There are some light Christian themes in this book. Mainly through mentions of Chloe having a Bible and going to church. However the inserts do not happen too prevalently so anyone can enjoy this story regardless of religious affiliation.
The relationships between Chloe and James and Chloe and her father were my favorites in the story. The former felt so spontaneous and entertaining, mainly due to James’s willingness to be constantly dragged around all over the place. Chloe’s father being a man of very little words is only present in one scene but his patience and fatherly tenderness to Chloe was nice to experience.
On the flip side, there were certain characters that I personally feel should have been left out. Chloe’s BFF Genie being the main example. For this whole story being about Chloe essentially growing a backbone and being comfortable with saying ‘no’, she sure was not following this philosophy with those closest to her. When it came to the ‘drama’ of this story, you had Chloe taking this idea and running with it, mixing in with Genie’s completely overbearing nature who was just there to put a damper in Chloe’s relationship with James. All under false pretenses. The scenes with Genie were honestly a headache for me to get through and is the main reason behind my lower than 5-star rating.
The romance began as a happenstance humor laden acquaintance, but quickly started developing into more. I appreciated James’s honesty throughout the book. He has jumped up to one of my favorite male love interests due to his angelic patience with Chloe and her shenanigans. It took me longer to get on board with Chloe due to her propensity to be entirely too dramatic but James is the best levelheaded person to balance that out. The romance remains clean with some longing and sweet kisses here and there. The epilogue is pretty typical for a contemporary romance which I was glad to read as well.
All in all, I am really happy to have been given the opportunity to read this lovely holiday book by Melissa Ferguson. I definitely look forward to reading more from Melissa in the hopefully ear future!
Apparently The Christmas Yes List has been made into a movie, set to release this holiday season so if that is something you are interested in, keep a look out for that!
Once again, I would like to thank Melissa Ferguson, Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for allowing reviewers like myself access to this ARC in exchange for honest reviews. Thank you!
To begin, this was my second book I have reviewed from Melissa, following Meet Me in the Margins. I enjoyed the former so I jumped at the opportunity to read The Christmas Yes List. It being extremely hot in July, I enjoy Christmas media this time of the year and there is plenty of Holiday cheer and cold weather in this story.
The Christmas Yes List follows the perspective of Chloe Hollis as she is trying to reinvent herself into less of a people pleaser. In order to accomplish that, she is choosing to take the advice from an influencer who convinces her to pick up the challenge of getting as many rejections as possible. Chloe changes the terms a bit, to getting 10 consecutive rejections by Christmas.
What follows is a hilarious and fast paced adventure of rediscovery that includes peculiar social interactions with one James Dutton, and questionable family holiday traditions. All within the scenic backdrop of a small town in December.
This story is set within the West Virginia town of Maple Hills. As mentioned, the community is deep in its Christmas spirit, all with a lovely blanket of snow covering the ground. We get multiple scenes within the main strip of the town with cafes fit with Christmas karaoke, shops full of people who procrastinated their holiday shopping, along with a snow riddled tree farm on the Hollis’s own family property. It truly felt like a Christmas wonderland that reminded me of similar style towns near where I live. I could smell the fireplaces and hot chocolate in the air!
My favorite characteristic of this book, is the humor between Chloe and James. I will admit that I do not laugh out loud too often when it comes to books. However, by the third request Chloe has for James (about the second chapter), I was laughing so hard it brought actual tears to me eyes. I had to tell my husband about it and he started cracking up as well so I put that down as a huge plus for sure.
I did find the humor diminishing as the book went on as Chloe’s antics became more ridiculous due to the misunderstanding plot that makes its unwanted appearance.
There are some light Christian themes in this book. Mainly through mentions of Chloe having a Bible and going to church. However the inserts do not happen too prevalently so anyone can enjoy this story regardless of religious affiliation.
The relationships between Chloe and James and Chloe and her father were my favorites in the story. The former felt so spontaneous and entertaining, mainly due to James’s willingness to be constantly dragged around all over the place. Chloe’s father being a man of very little words is only present in one scene but his patience and fatherly tenderness to Chloe was nice to experience.
On the flip side, there were certain characters that I personally feel should have been left out. Chloe’s BFF Genie being the main example. For this whole story being about Chloe essentially growing a backbone and being comfortable with saying ‘no’, she sure was not following this philosophy with those closest to her. When it came to the ‘drama’ of this story, you had Chloe taking this idea and running with it, mixing in with Genie’s completely overbearing nature who was just there to put a damper in Chloe’s relationship with James. All under false pretenses. The scenes with Genie were honestly a headache for me to get through and is the main reason behind my lower than 5-star rating.
The romance began as a happenstance humor laden acquaintance, but quickly started developing into more. I appreciated James’s honesty throughout the book. He has jumped up to one of my favorite male love interests due to his angelic patience with Chloe and her shenanigans. It took me longer to get on board with Chloe due to her propensity to be entirely too dramatic but James is the best levelheaded person to balance that out. The romance remains clean with some longing and sweet kisses here and there. The epilogue is pretty typical for a contemporary romance which I was glad to read as well.
All in all, I am really happy to have been given the opportunity to read this lovely holiday book by Melissa Ferguson. I definitely look forward to reading more from Melissa in the hopefully ear future!
Apparently The Christmas Yes List has been made into a movie, set to release this holiday season so if that is something you are interested in, keep a look out for that!
Once again, I would like to thank Melissa Ferguson, Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for allowing reviewers like myself access to this ARC in exchange for honest reviews. Thank you!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Christmas Yes List
~Melissa Ferguson
The Christmas Yes List by Melissa Ferguson will have even the most cynical holiday hater feeling a little warm and fuzzy while getting delightfully tangled in tinsel.
Chloe Hollis is heading home to Maple Falls, West Virginia, with her suitcases packed and absolutely no intention of returning to Seattle. A recent breakup and an eye-opening revelation at work have forced her into some much-needed self-reflection, leading her to realize she is a card-carrying member of the People Pleaser's Club. Determined to change before Christmas, she creates a plan she dubs "The Christmas No List."
After earning over half the points she needs to reach her goal during the flight home alone, Chloe figures finishing the challenge before Christmas should be easy. But when a handsome stranger offers to help retrieve her luggage at the airport, she instinctively turns him down, only to immediately begin worrying that his possible disappointment is somehow her fault. Slipping right back into old habits, she apologizes and accepts his help, mentally deducting all the points she had just earned.
When she later spots him outside heading toward a car, Chloe sees an opportunity to regain a few points and offers him a ride, fully expecting him to decline. To both of their surprise, he accepts. And from there, no matter how unusual the request, he simply goes along with it. Surely every man has his limits, right? Once Chloe discovers they are both headed to the same small town, she makes it her mission to find those limits and hopefully reclaim every point she has lost along the way.
Ferguson delivers the spirit of Christmas with a sleigh full of holly-jolly characters. But if Chloe and James are going to hear those Christmas bells ringing, they each have personal journeys they must complete first. The novel is packed with the cozy humor readers expect from a small-town holiday rom-com, where everyone knows everyone and nobody's business stays private for long.
Chloe is an overthinker through and through, constantly trying to make everyone around her happy regardless of the personal cost. James, meanwhile, is the strong, quiet type who appears indifferent to the opinions of others. Beneath that exterior, however, lies a sincerity that is both genuine and heartfelt. Both characters are relatable, and most readers can likely identify someone in their own lives who mirrors aspects of each.
Their relationship dynamic is unique, with James often serving as a grounding force for Chloe throughout much of the story. However, around the three-quarter mark, the narrative introduces an information dump that didn't entirely mesh with everything that came before it. Suddenly, I found myself questioning who Chloe really was and whether parts of her personality had been genuine all along. It created a bit of disconnect that left me uncertain.
Don't get me wrong, The Christmas Yes List is still a feel-good, meet-cute romance with solid bones. I rarely struggle to connect with characters, but I simply never formed that bond with Chloe. If you love charming meet-cutes and festive rom-coms, there is a very good chance you will thoroughly enjoy this story. I genuinely loved the premise and foundation of the novel; I simply struggled with the character connection, and the late information reveal threw me a bit.
Overall, The Christmas Yes List by Melissa Ferguson wraps up everything kitschy and cozy that readers have come to expect from a holiday rom-com and places it right into your hands with a beautiful velvet bow, ready to be enjoyed. Releasing on October 6, 2026, and available now for pre-order on Amazon!
I would like to thank author Melissa Ferguson and NetGalley for the opportunity to Alpha/Beta/ARC The Christmas Yes List. As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition – Karen Brooks aka The Tx Lit Chic. I have not been promised any compensation, current or future, by the author or publisher for a fair and honest review of The Christmas Yes List.
~Melissa Ferguson
The Christmas Yes List by Melissa Ferguson will have even the most cynical holiday hater feeling a little warm and fuzzy while getting delightfully tangled in tinsel.
Chloe Hollis is heading home to Maple Falls, West Virginia, with her suitcases packed and absolutely no intention of returning to Seattle. A recent breakup and an eye-opening revelation at work have forced her into some much-needed self-reflection, leading her to realize she is a card-carrying member of the People Pleaser's Club. Determined to change before Christmas, she creates a plan she dubs "The Christmas No List."
After earning over half the points she needs to reach her goal during the flight home alone, Chloe figures finishing the challenge before Christmas should be easy. But when a handsome stranger offers to help retrieve her luggage at the airport, she instinctively turns him down, only to immediately begin worrying that his possible disappointment is somehow her fault. Slipping right back into old habits, she apologizes and accepts his help, mentally deducting all the points she had just earned.
When she later spots him outside heading toward a car, Chloe sees an opportunity to regain a few points and offers him a ride, fully expecting him to decline. To both of their surprise, he accepts. And from there, no matter how unusual the request, he simply goes along with it. Surely every man has his limits, right? Once Chloe discovers they are both headed to the same small town, she makes it her mission to find those limits and hopefully reclaim every point she has lost along the way.
Ferguson delivers the spirit of Christmas with a sleigh full of holly-jolly characters. But if Chloe and James are going to hear those Christmas bells ringing, they each have personal journeys they must complete first. The novel is packed with the cozy humor readers expect from a small-town holiday rom-com, where everyone knows everyone and nobody's business stays private for long.
Chloe is an overthinker through and through, constantly trying to make everyone around her happy regardless of the personal cost. James, meanwhile, is the strong, quiet type who appears indifferent to the opinions of others. Beneath that exterior, however, lies a sincerity that is both genuine and heartfelt. Both characters are relatable, and most readers can likely identify someone in their own lives who mirrors aspects of each.
Their relationship dynamic is unique, with James often serving as a grounding force for Chloe throughout much of the story. However, around the three-quarter mark, the narrative introduces an information dump that didn't entirely mesh with everything that came before it. Suddenly, I found myself questioning who Chloe really was and whether parts of her personality had been genuine all along. It created a bit of disconnect that left me uncertain.
Don't get me wrong, The Christmas Yes List is still a feel-good, meet-cute romance with solid bones. I rarely struggle to connect with characters, but I simply never formed that bond with Chloe. If you love charming meet-cutes and festive rom-coms, there is a very good chance you will thoroughly enjoy this story. I genuinely loved the premise and foundation of the novel; I simply struggled with the character connection, and the late information reveal threw me a bit.
Overall, The Christmas Yes List by Melissa Ferguson wraps up everything kitschy and cozy that readers have come to expect from a holiday rom-com and places it right into your hands with a beautiful velvet bow, ready to be enjoyed. Releasing on October 6, 2026, and available now for pre-order on Amazon!
I would like to thank author Melissa Ferguson and NetGalley for the opportunity to Alpha/Beta/ARC The Christmas Yes List. As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition – Karen Brooks aka The Tx Lit Chic. I have not been promised any compensation, current or future, by the author or publisher for a fair and honest review of The Christmas Yes List.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"The Christmas Yes List" sounded like a sweet, fun romance. The premise – Chloe trying to get a rejection out of James who keeps saying 'yes' to her instead – promised amusing shenanigans and I’m always down for a good Christmas story, so I was excited to read the book. Unfortunately, it didn’t fulfil all of my expectations.
First of all, it would have made more sense if Chloe had tried to learn how to say 'no' to other people instead of collecting rejections, since she seemed to have a big problem with that. I get that it would have been hard to manufacture real situations in which she could practice saying 'no'. However, wanting to improve yourself while relying completely on the reactions of strangers is not the best idea. Still, I did enjoy the first half of the book. Some of the situations were a little bit over the top for me, but I had expected that going in, so it didn’t bother me and it was funny to see Chloe thinking of new things she could ask of James.
The Christmas vibes were very well done. There were cosy moments and the holiday atmosphere worked for me. The author further did a good job with showcasing the connection between the protagonists. There were sweet moments and I genuinely liked how their dynamic was developing, even though there were scenes where I just wanted more. For example, it’s mentioned that they are talking for hours and becoming more comfortable with each other over time, but I really would have liked to actually see what they were talking about and how they got closer through that. A bit more showing instead of telling would have been great.
That aside, Melissa Ferguson did sell me on the budding relationship between the main characters at first. Even though Chloe and James have known each other for only a short period of time, their interest in each other seemed believable and the author did a good job at showing that they seemed to get along well. They could talk to each other, they were not afraid to be a bit vulnerable and they had fun together, all of which was promising. I was interested in seeing how their relationship would develop and in discovering how the dynamic with her trying to get a rejection out of him would play out.
Sadly, the second half of the book didn’t quite land for me because I couldn’t relate to Chloe’s reaction. It was maybe understandable initially, given the circumstances. However, I didn’t like that she didn’t even question her first impulse and that she didn’t ask James about what was going on either. She just assumed something and ran with it. Even though she hadn’t known him for a long time at this point, all of this was completely preventable, and she went way too far in my eyes. I get the point the author was trying to make at the end, but the resolution was not satisfactory to me. It was difficult to read about the situations that arose because of that conflict, and I was really feeling sorry for James while losing what sympathy I had for Chloe. This in turn made it harder to root for them as a couple and for me, the resolution came way too late in the book. I would have preferred more focus on moving past what had happened and the character growth from this situation came across as hasty and undeveloped.
Finally, I want to note that Thomas Norton is a publisher for Christian fiction, which I didn’t know before reading this book. While the protagonists definitely have certain corresponding values, I would say that for the most part, the references to religion were small, like a bible on a nightstand or talking about the "good Lord". Still, it’s something to consider before choosing this book. The Salvation Army was also briefly mentioned uncritically. It’s not an important plot point, in fact it’s just one line of text, but considering their history and the controversies, it did bother me.
"The Christmas Yes List" gets 2.5 stars from me.
First of all, it would have made more sense if Chloe had tried to learn how to say 'no' to other people instead of collecting rejections, since she seemed to have a big problem with that. I get that it would have been hard to manufacture real situations in which she could practice saying 'no'. However, wanting to improve yourself while relying completely on the reactions of strangers is not the best idea. Still, I did enjoy the first half of the book. Some of the situations were a little bit over the top for me, but I had expected that going in, so it didn’t bother me and it was funny to see Chloe thinking of new things she could ask of James.
The Christmas vibes were very well done. There were cosy moments and the holiday atmosphere worked for me. The author further did a good job with showcasing the connection between the protagonists. There were sweet moments and I genuinely liked how their dynamic was developing, even though there were scenes where I just wanted more. For example, it’s mentioned that they are talking for hours and becoming more comfortable with each other over time, but I really would have liked to actually see what they were talking about and how they got closer through that. A bit more showing instead of telling would have been great.
That aside, Melissa Ferguson did sell me on the budding relationship between the main characters at first. Even though Chloe and James have known each other for only a short period of time, their interest in each other seemed believable and the author did a good job at showing that they seemed to get along well. They could talk to each other, they were not afraid to be a bit vulnerable and they had fun together, all of which was promising. I was interested in seeing how their relationship would develop and in discovering how the dynamic with her trying to get a rejection out of him would play out.
Sadly, the second half of the book didn’t quite land for me because I couldn’t relate to Chloe’s reaction. It was maybe understandable initially, given the circumstances. However, I didn’t like that she didn’t even question her first impulse and that she didn’t ask James about what was going on either. She just assumed something and ran with it. Even though she hadn’t known him for a long time at this point, all of this was completely preventable, and she went way too far in my eyes. I get the point the author was trying to make at the end, but the resolution was not satisfactory to me. It was difficult to read about the situations that arose because of that conflict, and I was really feeling sorry for James while losing what sympathy I had for Chloe. This in turn made it harder to root for them as a couple and for me, the resolution came way too late in the book. I would have preferred more focus on moving past what had happened and the character growth from this situation came across as hasty and undeveloped.
Finally, I want to note that Thomas Norton is a publisher for Christian fiction, which I didn’t know before reading this book. While the protagonists definitely have certain corresponding values, I would say that for the most part, the references to religion were small, like a bible on a nightstand or talking about the "good Lord". Still, it’s something to consider before choosing this book. The Salvation Army was also briefly mentioned uncritically. It’s not an important plot point, in fact it’s just one line of text, but considering their history and the controversies, it did bother me.
"The Christmas Yes List" gets 2.5 stars from me.
August 3, 2026
Review provided courtesy of an e-ARC I received from NetGalley.
Characters
"To get out of debt. To find a means of living I don't detest. Not to let people run over me anymore. And not to let the fear of thinking a person might disapprove of me run my life anymore. I need to take control of my life. I need to be the one in charge of my decisions."
Chloe Hollis, the female protagonist of The Christmas Yes List, perfectly encapsulates the woman in her mid-twenties who is actively discovering her identity while also trying to navigate the demands of adulthood. This aspect of her character is believable; in my recollection, that age brings a tension between feeling like you should be an "adult" who has it all together, but not quite feeling comfortable in your own skin. While Chloe provides realistic glimpses into a very specific age, Melissa Ferguson did not write her consistently throughout the novel. It was to the point where the only conclusion I could draw was that the author herself couldn't quite decide how she wanted Chloe represented in readers' minds; at times
Chloe appears anxious, needy, and paralyzed with indecision, while only a few pages later she vacillates to being self-assured and resolute in her decisions. That trend continued up until approximately the last five pages of the book, which left me feeling like Chloe's character arc wasn't totally explored, or a deadline needed to be met and all of the loose ends had to be tied up quickly.
Apart from Chloe, all of the rest of the characters, including James Stone (the male protagonist) seemed entirely one-dimensional. I finished the book feeling like I didn't really know or connect with any of the characters. There were some sweet moments between Chloe and her Dad, best friend Genie, and James, but they were so intermittent that it almost felt like the author forgot there needed to be plot points that involved other characters and not just Chloe's internal monologues.
The Christmas No List
"The objective was to collect 10 successive rejections by Christmas, and in doing so, experience a breakthrough in breaking the cycle of chronic people pleasing."
The concept of the game is interesting, but it's execution is convoluted. I could not figure out how Chloe obtaining 10 successive rejections was going to force her out of people pleasing. If anything, an anxious character would have ruminated on the rejection and what the person thought of her (which Chloe does for the entirety of the novel, save for the last approximately five pages). The more realistic route would have been for Chloe to have said "no" to people ten times by Christmas. For me, this was a confusing plot device because it went through several iterations as the novel progressed, so I found myself having to go back and remind myself of the original ask. Since the game was conceptualized by an online influencer that Chloe turned to at the outset of the novel, maybe it was meant as a comment on influencer culture? If it was, the larger commentary was lost on me as a reader.
Another effective narrative could have been to give more exploration to the relationship between Chloe and Dom in order to help her overcome people pleasing and gain confidence. I found that I couldn't even root against him as an antagonist because he appeared so infrequently.
Overall, I would give the book two stars. It's a cutesy Christmas story (although there's not a ton of Christmas in the novel other than a gift shopping trip, looking at a tree that lights up in a park, and a pre-Christmas family gathering) and it was somewhat entertaining.
Characters
"To get out of debt. To find a means of living I don't detest. Not to let people run over me anymore. And not to let the fear of thinking a person might disapprove of me run my life anymore. I need to take control of my life. I need to be the one in charge of my decisions."
Chloe Hollis, the female protagonist of The Christmas Yes List, perfectly encapsulates the woman in her mid-twenties who is actively discovering her identity while also trying to navigate the demands of adulthood. This aspect of her character is believable; in my recollection, that age brings a tension between feeling like you should be an "adult" who has it all together, but not quite feeling comfortable in your own skin. While Chloe provides realistic glimpses into a very specific age, Melissa Ferguson did not write her consistently throughout the novel. It was to the point where the only conclusion I could draw was that the author herself couldn't quite decide how she wanted Chloe represented in readers' minds; at times
Chloe appears anxious, needy, and paralyzed with indecision, while only a few pages later she vacillates to being self-assured and resolute in her decisions. That trend continued up until approximately the last five pages of the book, which left me feeling like Chloe's character arc wasn't totally explored, or a deadline needed to be met and all of the loose ends had to be tied up quickly.
Apart from Chloe, all of the rest of the characters, including James Stone (the male protagonist) seemed entirely one-dimensional. I finished the book feeling like I didn't really know or connect with any of the characters. There were some sweet moments between Chloe and her Dad, best friend Genie, and James, but they were so intermittent that it almost felt like the author forgot there needed to be plot points that involved other characters and not just Chloe's internal monologues.
The Christmas No List
"The objective was to collect 10 successive rejections by Christmas, and in doing so, experience a breakthrough in breaking the cycle of chronic people pleasing."
The concept of the game is interesting, but it's execution is convoluted. I could not figure out how Chloe obtaining 10 successive rejections was going to force her out of people pleasing. If anything, an anxious character would have ruminated on the rejection and what the person thought of her (which Chloe does for the entirety of the novel, save for the last approximately five pages). The more realistic route would have been for Chloe to have said "no" to people ten times by Christmas. For me, this was a confusing plot device because it went through several iterations as the novel progressed, so I found myself having to go back and remind myself of the original ask. Since the game was conceptualized by an online influencer that Chloe turned to at the outset of the novel, maybe it was meant as a comment on influencer culture? If it was, the larger commentary was lost on me as a reader.
Another effective narrative could have been to give more exploration to the relationship between Chloe and Dom in order to help her overcome people pleasing and gain confidence. I found that I couldn't even root against him as an antagonist because he appeared so infrequently.
Overall, I would give the book two stars. It's a cutesy Christmas story (although there's not a ton of Christmas in the novel other than a gift shopping trip, looking at a tree that lights up in a park, and a pre-Christmas family gathering) and it was somewhat entertaining.
July 29, 2026
3.5 Stars (Rounded Up)
Holiday Fiction
Holiday Romance
Small-Town Romance
From the prologue alone, this book had me laughing out loud!
Chloe Hollis is an exceedingly kind and considerate 30-year-old overthinker who is determined to stop being a people pleaser after reading a self-help book. Her solution? Spend ten days intentionally asking complete strangers for the most outrageous favors she can think of in hopes of collecting ten rejections. Obviously, things don’t go according to plan, or this wouldn’t be such a fun story.
One of the first people she tries it on is James, a confident, self-assured Executive Vice President of Reputation Management whom she meets at the airport on her way home after quitting her job. Expecting an immediate “no” when she offers him a ride in her dad’s beat-up old truck, she’s shocked when he says yes and agrees to get a ride from a complete stranger. James spends his career dealing with angry people and impossible situations without losing his cool, making him the complete opposite of People-Pleasing-Chloe.
As Chloe starts catching feelings and realizes James keeps agreeing to all of her bizarre requests, she and her BFF, Genie, become convinced he must be playing his own version of the game. Instead of trying to collect rejections like Chloe, they assume James is simply being a “yes man” and saying yes to absolutely everything. Determined to prove their theory, Chloe’s requests become even more outrageous and ridiculous than before.
This book is told from a single POV, but I think it would’ve benefited tremendously from a dual POV. Seriously… what was going through James’ mind while Chloe had him running around doing all these bizarre things? This plot practically begged for his perspective, and I couldn’t help feeling deprived of it.
The romance is closed-door and doesn’t go beyond kissing, which I didn’t mind at all. What I did mind was the pacing after their first kiss. At the end of Chapter 6, they share this incredibly romantic moment under a waterfall during a meteor shower… and then Chapter 7 jumps ahead two days! I wanted those missing moments. Did they stick to sleeping in separate tents? Did they stay up talking all night? Was the next morning awkward with everyone else at the campground? It felt like we skipped some of the sweetest parts of watching their relationship develop.
By the time I got to Chapter 12, I was honestly over Genie. This is where the story started to lose me a bit. Chloe’s entire journey is supposed to be about learning to stop living for other people’s expectations, yet she continues with her ridiculous plan simply because Genie expects her to. It felt like she traded people-pleasing everyone else for people-pleasing Genie instead of finally making choices for herself. Genie… you can be a better BFF.
One thing I absolutely loved was the subtle faith element. I wasn’t aware this book was written by a Christian author, so I was pleasantly surprised when James says, “I don’t need you to save me. I already have a Savior.” I thought that line was so sweet and unexpected, and it made me even happier that I picked up this book. Thank you, Melissa!
Overall, this was a fun, lighthearted holiday romance filled with plenty of laughs and a lovable—albeit slightly chaotic—main character. While I think the story lost some of its comedy in the middle and would’ve been even stronger with James’ perspective, I still had a great time reading it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Melissa Ferguson for the eARC. As always, these are my honest thoughts and opinions.
Holiday Fiction
Holiday Romance
Small-Town Romance
From the prologue alone, this book had me laughing out loud!
Chloe Hollis is an exceedingly kind and considerate 30-year-old overthinker who is determined to stop being a people pleaser after reading a self-help book. Her solution? Spend ten days intentionally asking complete strangers for the most outrageous favors she can think of in hopes of collecting ten rejections. Obviously, things don’t go according to plan, or this wouldn’t be such a fun story.
One of the first people she tries it on is James, a confident, self-assured Executive Vice President of Reputation Management whom she meets at the airport on her way home after quitting her job. Expecting an immediate “no” when she offers him a ride in her dad’s beat-up old truck, she’s shocked when he says yes and agrees to get a ride from a complete stranger. James spends his career dealing with angry people and impossible situations without losing his cool, making him the complete opposite of People-Pleasing-Chloe.
As Chloe starts catching feelings and realizes James keeps agreeing to all of her bizarre requests, she and her BFF, Genie, become convinced he must be playing his own version of the game. Instead of trying to collect rejections like Chloe, they assume James is simply being a “yes man” and saying yes to absolutely everything. Determined to prove their theory, Chloe’s requests become even more outrageous and ridiculous than before.
This book is told from a single POV, but I think it would’ve benefited tremendously from a dual POV. Seriously… what was going through James’ mind while Chloe had him running around doing all these bizarre things? This plot practically begged for his perspective, and I couldn’t help feeling deprived of it.
The romance is closed-door and doesn’t go beyond kissing, which I didn’t mind at all. What I did mind was the pacing after their first kiss. At the end of Chapter 6, they share this incredibly romantic moment under a waterfall during a meteor shower… and then Chapter 7 jumps ahead two days! I wanted those missing moments. Did they stick to sleeping in separate tents? Did they stay up talking all night? Was the next morning awkward with everyone else at the campground? It felt like we skipped some of the sweetest parts of watching their relationship develop.
By the time I got to Chapter 12, I was honestly over Genie. This is where the story started to lose me a bit. Chloe’s entire journey is supposed to be about learning to stop living for other people’s expectations, yet she continues with her ridiculous plan simply because Genie expects her to. It felt like she traded people-pleasing everyone else for people-pleasing Genie instead of finally making choices for herself. Genie… you can be a better BFF.
One thing I absolutely loved was the subtle faith element. I wasn’t aware this book was written by a Christian author, so I was pleasantly surprised when James says, “I don’t need you to save me. I already have a Savior.” I thought that line was so sweet and unexpected, and it made me even happier that I picked up this book. Thank you, Melissa!
Overall, this was a fun, lighthearted holiday romance filled with plenty of laughs and a lovable—albeit slightly chaotic—main character. While I think the story lost some of its comedy in the middle and would’ve been even stronger with James’ perspective, I still had a great time reading it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Melissa Ferguson for the eARC. As always, these are my honest thoughts and opinions.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.75 stars
this one's for the ones who judge themselves more than others do to them
chloe hollis played by someone that looks incredibly similar to emma watson
This book's going to grace y'all's screens at some point in the future. Meaning that Chloe Hollis and her bundle of relatively-early-life-crisis will be showing up, too.
The description on the blurb kind of lied to everyone, as it paints Chloe out to be some hopelessly desperate people pleaser with no backbone whatsoever. Which just happens to be my least liked person to read about (of course the character arc changes it). So, I was pleasantly surprised to begin reading and see that Chloe is not actually as spineless as she's painted out to be!
The idea of individuals judging themselves too hard is really prevalent in this book, a condition that Chloe is terribly afflicted by. The relationship between Chloe and the MMC really is just him making sure she knows that she's a lot less terrible as she seems to think.
Which is really, really relatable.
the moral of the story is choose a better best friend
Obviously, Chloe has a BFF. Rite of passage in Christmas romances.
This BFF, named Genie, is also the worst person to ever grace my page.
When Chloe has her inevitable mental breakdown and begins questioning things, instead of helping her think clearly, Genie encourages her behavior. It's obvious that Chloe isn't thinking clearly, yet somehow Genie just goes along with it? I get the concept of having a ride or die, but isn't the point of one to nudge the friend off of the "die" path when necessary?
Genie is the definition of how NOT to be a best friend.
And a teacher, honestly, because why are we just having second graders watching a fucking flight map? That's just... unhinged. If my kid was in her class, I'd withdraw her immediately.
So, to summarize. The conflict was entirely Genie's fault. I hated her. Sure, Chloe worked her up, but Chloe has also been through a lot in the past week while Genie's the spectator.
but chloes not innocent
James is a great love interest. He's supportive, he's been nothing but nice, and he is so fucking caring and understanding that he could also double as a therapist.
Chloe, though, causes some trouble in their relationship on a whim. Instead of communicating and asking the fucking man about it, she makes some assumptions, which are celebrated by Genie, then undergoes an elaborately terrible plan that was the absolute worst choice she could've made.
Also, side note: By that point, her people pleasing tendencies are no longer the plot and to this day I still have no idea if she continues to be a people pleaser.
and we end with a... broken firework???
At 99% of the story, we get a resolution to the conflict. One page later, it's the one-page epilogue.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but epilogues are supposed to answer the "what happens next" question. In this book, the answer is a very hasty overview of the next ten years.
Hello, unfortunate long-distance relationship that they probably would've had to go through? Hello, employment (kind of touched on)? Hello, the inn? Hello, LIVING SITUATIONS???
I'm really hoping there's going to be another book because that just irked me.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
this one's for the ones who judge themselves more than others do to them
chloe hollis played by someone that looks incredibly similar to emma watson
This book's going to grace y'all's screens at some point in the future. Meaning that Chloe Hollis and her bundle of relatively-early-life-crisis will be showing up, too.
The description on the blurb kind of lied to everyone, as it paints Chloe out to be some hopelessly desperate people pleaser with no backbone whatsoever. Which just happens to be my least liked person to read about (of course the character arc changes it). So, I was pleasantly surprised to begin reading and see that Chloe is not actually as spineless as she's painted out to be!
The idea of individuals judging themselves too hard is really prevalent in this book, a condition that Chloe is terribly afflicted by. The relationship between Chloe and the MMC really is just him making sure she knows that she's a lot less terrible as she seems to think.
Which is really, really relatable.
the moral of the story is choose a better best friend
Obviously, Chloe has a BFF. Rite of passage in Christmas romances.
This BFF, named Genie, is also the worst person to ever grace my page.
When Chloe has her inevitable mental breakdown and begins questioning things, instead of helping her think clearly, Genie encourages her behavior. It's obvious that Chloe isn't thinking clearly, yet somehow Genie just goes along with it? I get the concept of having a ride or die, but isn't the point of one to nudge the friend off of the "die" path when necessary?
Genie is the definition of how NOT to be a best friend.
And a teacher, honestly, because why are we just having second graders watching a fucking flight map? That's just... unhinged. If my kid was in her class, I'd withdraw her immediately.
So, to summarize. The conflict was entirely Genie's fault. I hated her. Sure, Chloe worked her up, but Chloe has also been through a lot in the past week while Genie's the spectator.
but chloes not innocent
James is a great love interest. He's supportive, he's been nothing but nice, and he is so fucking caring and understanding that he could also double as a therapist.
Chloe, though, causes some trouble in their relationship on a whim. Instead of communicating and asking the fucking man about it, she makes some assumptions, which are celebrated by Genie, then undergoes an elaborately terrible plan that was the absolute worst choice she could've made.
Also, side note: By that point, her people pleasing tendencies are no longer the plot and to this day I still have no idea if she continues to be a people pleaser.
and we end with a... broken firework???
At 99% of the story, we get a resolution to the conflict. One page later, it's the one-page epilogue.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but epilogues are supposed to answer the "what happens next" question. In this book, the answer is a very hasty overview of the next ten years.
Hello, unfortunate long-distance relationship that they probably would've had to go through? Hello, employment (kind of touched on)? Hello, the inn? Hello, LIVING SITUATIONS???
I'm really hoping there's going to be another book because that just irked me.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 348 reviews