25 Dates of Christmas: Countdown to Christmas with a Chapter Each Day in this Advent Inspired Enemies to Lovers Romance

by Kathryn Freeman

Count down to Christmas Day with 24 sealed chapters in this festive and heartwarming enemies-to-lovers Advent novel.

Christmas is just around the corner, but Anna has not been in a festive mood after the recent passing of her brother. When she discovers that her brother has left one final request— to work together with Luke, his handsome but arrogant best friend, on an Advent-style series of daily adventures leading up to December 25th— she agrees to fulfill his dying wish.

The two create an unlikely pair, with each day bringing a new and surprisingly delightful discovery. And as the Christmas spirit slowly warms Anna and Luke’s initial icy feelings towards one another, it seems like the holiday season has one more gift to give…

With a delightfully unique Advent calendar format, this book contains twenty-four chapters sealed with an individual sticker. Readers can gently open each chapter so they can follow the love story day-by-day in the weeks leading up to Christmas!

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

368 pages, Paperback

Expected publication October 27, 2026

About the author

I was born in Wallingford, England and have spent most of my life living in a village outside Windsor. A former pharmacist, former pharmaceutical industry employee I’m now a self-employed medical writer who also loves to write romance. Some days a racing heart is a medical condition, others it’s the reaction to a hunky hero…

I’ve two teenage boys and a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to bother buying a card again this year (yes, he does) so the romance in my life is all in my head. Then again, my husband’s unstinting support of my career change goes to prove that love isn't always about hearts and flowers - and heroes can come in many disguises

Reviews

[Natalie]

Unfortunately, I enjoyed this much more in theory than in execution.

I’ll start with the positives.

I thought the advent calendar format was so fun! I didn’t read one chapter per day obviously since I read the ARC, but each activity for the calendar was kind of its own little story and would work perfectly to read each day. There were different activities designed to challenge both characters and I liked seeing both of their reactions.

However.

This didn’t really feel Christmassy at all. Most of the activities were not about Christmas. I liked the festive challenges in the calendar but a lot of the others were just ok. I also didn’t really like either one of the characters mostly because of the way they interacted with each other. They were constantly checking each other out and thinking dirty thoughts about the other character. Their conversations were often filled with innuendos as well. Their connection to each other definitely felt like it was based on physical attraction, at least at first, and that really detracted for me. Even the elderly neighbor had innuendos in her dialogue as well. For all the dirty talk and thoughts, the romance itself is closed door.

I also didn’t like that the brother/best friend had JUST died 2 weeks prior to the book starting and was giving Anna and Luke tasks to help them get over his death. It was sweet, but at the same time, each person handles grief differently and it shouldn’t be rushed.

Sadly, this book was a bit of a miss for me. If the two characters had had more of a connection other than lust, I probably would have rated it higher.



thank you to the publisher, Avon and Harper Voyager, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Amity Bailey]

This was an enemies to lovers romance in the style of an advent book! It was cute, fun, but also heavy on the grief & healing! I had a good time reading this one I going through the healing journey with Anna & Luke and also watching their relationship & friendship grow. Heart, heat, and all the festive vibes!

If you enjoy the idea of advent read romance mixed with emotional depth, this would be a good one for you!!

Thank you NetGalley & Kathryn Freeman for the early copy!

[Brittany | the nerdy fox]

3.5 stars

I enjoyed this more than I anticipated. I read a very similar book in February and wasn’t sure if this would fare the same.

Anna’s older brother Colin dies of Cancer and leaves a homemade Advent Calendar for her to complete with his best friend Luke. Each day is a new chapter and a new activity to complete. This was a little far-fetched as most people can’t spend multiple weeks unemployed/on leave from their job. In the book version you will “open” each new chapter like an advent calendar, so that sounds like a fun little addition I didn’t get to experience in the ebook format.

All of the activities show a side of Anna or Luke and as the days go on get more intimate, as if all along Colin is trying to bring them together. Prior to Colin getting sick Anna & Luke don’t really know each other so the romance aspect felt a little fast and was heavy on the physical attraction not so much the emotional.

This book is deemed enemies to lovers, but I feel like it was more grumpy sunshine as Anna and Luke were never really “enemies” - they started to get to know each other only in Colin’s last month.

Overall the story is sweet and predictable, as most romances are. It does delve into some deeper topics of grief and loss, so keep that in mind as Christmas time can be difficult for some.

Thanks @NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this eARC, in exchange for an honest review.

[Lindsey Domokur]

This was a really fun read and would have been funner had I actually read it over the course of 25 days. Alas, I wasn't able to do that, but it would have made the tension just that much thicker. Luke and Anna have to do 24 days of things that her brother put into an advent calendar after his passing. He wants them to have one another after he is gone. They are opposites and Luke thinks he never will be good enough for Anna but their attraction is growing. It takes the whole 25 days for them to realize what Luke saw straight away.

[Mary HauntedHeartReads]

I've always been intrigued by the concept of an advent calendar-style holiday romance, so I decided to read this ARC for "Christmas in July." For the majority of the book, I read it in its intended one-chapter-a-day format, but—just as I do with other advent calendars—I would miss or forget a day here or there and play catch-up. Even still, I found the format fun as I read through the book roughly on pace with the time passing for the characters.

This story is as much about the two main characters' shared grief as it is about them finding their happily ever after together, and I found there to be sufficient balance between the two emotional weights. I was invested in the romance while also moved by the relatable portrayal of working through a heavy personal loss. I'm also a sucker for dual-POV romances, which this book delivered on.

My only gripe that comes to mind is that I often found myself frustrated with both characters—Anna for her abrasive approach to communication, Luke for his self-defeatist attitude. Nearly every chapter felt like I was bracing myself for whatever argument the two would get into that day, which made it a bit difficult at times to appreciate the fluffier moments.

Ultimately, I still enjoyed this book a lot and found the advent calendar-format charming. I will definitely be recommending it to friends this holiday season, as I feel that the one-short-chapter-a-day format works well for readers of all interest-levels.

I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

4/5 stars | ⭐⭐⭐⭐


📚 INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK 📚

[Monique Costella]

ALC Review

Audio: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

25 Dates of Christmas by Katheryn Freeman with Cassandra York (Narrator)

Release Date: October 27, 2026

🎄 Christmas novel
🎁 Advent Christmas Book
🎄 Grief/Loss
🎁 Roomates
🎄 Grumpy/Sunshine

When I first started listening to this book I thought oh man this book starts off so sad. Anna's brother had lung cancer and sadly passed away. Anna was roomates with her brother and his best friend Luke. After her brother passed away she was stuck living with Luke and her brother had one small request to complete the advent calender he made for them. 25 days and 25 challenges. The first one was to buy a Christmas tree together. This book discusses grief and loss and it's kind of a nice change to read a Christmas book about real life challenges that people face about loss. I thought this book was a super fun concept since it's a Christmas advent book and this book is about the two main characters completing a 25 day advent calendar challenge. I had wished this book had more Christmasy themes to it. The tasks in the advent challenge her brother Colin made seemed a bit mundane, like go skateboarding or rockclimbing. I had wished instead they went to a Christmas market or had to make a fancy hot chocolate. Something more Christmasy. I also found that the MMC and FMC didn't have much or any chemistry. Most romance novels from the very beginning they have an adorable meet cute and most of the book the tension and sexual chemistry is overwhelming but in this book I found it lacking. I didn't really care if they got together or not. I also didn't connect to any of the characters in this book. I felt this book fell a little flat for me but I loved the narrator and the audio. Usually I prefer duet narration where the guy does the MMC and so on but this one I felt Cassandra did a wonderful job of both.

I really enjoyed this AlC. The narrator, Cassandra York has a really nice and calming voice. I found it so relaxing to come from work after a long day and listen to this advent Christmas novel. I really enjoyed this audio. I will have to check out more books that Cassandra narrates. I am the type of person who buys Christmas advent novels and reads the entire book in 3 days and cheats. I find it hard to wait and only read 1 chapter a day. I have no self control. I think that's why I enjoyed this early ALC because I could listen at my own pace and not have to keep opening chapter after chapter.

[Nicole]

When her brother announced he was terminally ill, he asked Anna and his best friend to move into his condo with him, and told them that after his passing, they would need to remain there together until at least Christmas, having prepared an Advent-style challenge for them to complete together. While she hadn’t known much about his friend over the course of their friendship, their daily assignments find her feeling towards her broody roommate thawing, although the mixed signals he keeps giving her leave her feeling lost.

Having moved to the US with his mother when he was 10, only to lose her to cancer while he was still a teenager, Caleb had been Luke’s only family for longer than he’d care to admit, so losing him feels like just one more thing he has to overcome. While he never had anything against Anna, living with her proves to be easier said than done, and while he’s willing to do anything in his best friend’s memory, he’s sure that making a move on his sister is the last thing he would have wanted.

I received an early copy of this audiobook from @Netgalley and really enjoyed it. The chapters are dated so you know exactly when to stop to keep the surprise for the next day, and I loved that the story itself was in advent format, with a different “date” every day leading up to Christmas. While Anna and Luke were both the closest people to Caleb, they had never really interacted, so from the beginning this felt like him trying to bring his favourite people together to make sure they had someone to lean on, but as their assignments become personal, they both begin to wonder whether Caleb meant for them to become more. I loved how they helped each other through such a difficult time, but still managed to have fun, and the slow burn between them was agonizing until they just couldn’t hold back. Although Caleb wasn’t technically in the book, he was still such a huge part of the story, I loved the way he loved Luke and Anna and knew what they could become.

[Lacey]

3.75 🌟

Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

This was a cute holiday rom-com that had low emotional stakes, which is exactly what I'd hoped for. I have been reading a lot of heavy books lately and was excited for something I could listen to without focusing on world building or emotional disasters. I love the concept of the 25 day Advent Calendar, and even at the beginning of the book, it's suggested you can listen to one per day. I didn't purposely split up the chapters, but I did listen to it over the course of several days. I like that it was interesting enough to keep my attention but I wasn't dying when I couldn't keep reading.
I expected a bit of a holiday themed "PS I Hate You" (by Lauren Connolly), which is one of my fave books. This was very similar in that the couple had to follow an advent calendar of activities that her now dead brother made before he passed away. Thankfully, this was a lot less emotional. There was still some emotion because both characters are grieving the loss of Colin. And Luke is still batting with grief and guilt over losing his mother years prior. I am experiencing a different kind of grief the last few months, and part of me found this a bit cathartic and made me a teensy bit emotional.

I kept picturing Luke as a Roy Kent mini-me who happens to drop less F bombs. Not sure why that kept coming to mind... but it did. Especially when they were at the spa and doing similar things that were outside of his comfort zone.

The narrator did a great job and I have no complaints.

I'd suggest this for anyone who likes easy Christmas movies/books. Not really Hallmark, but definitely not Lifetime. An in-between. I'd consider it low spice.

[Brittany Lynn]

⭐️ 4/5 Story | 🎧 3.5/5 Audio

This was such a cute holiday read! 🎄❤️

I loved the concept of an Advent calendar-style Romance, and 25 Dates of Christmas delivered a sweet, heartwarming story with a little more emotional depth than I initially expected.

Anna and Luke’s relationship is complicated by their shared grief, and I appreciated that the story wasn’t just about falling in love. It was also about healing, finding joy again, and learning how to move forward after loss. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic and their Christmas adventures made this a really enjoyable read, even when I occasionally wanted to shake some sense into both of them. 😂

I also thought the Advent calendar concept was such a fun touch! The shorter chapters and daily adventures made it feel especially festive, and I can absolutely see this being a fun book to read throughout December.

As for the audiobook, this is where I felt a little let down. While I enjoyed the narration overall, this one DESPERATELY needed a male narrator. With both Anna and Luke playing such important roles in the story, having two narrators would have made their perspectives and chemistry feel so much more distinct. I’m always going to prefer duet narration, but even dual narration would have elevated this production for me.

That said, I still had a really good time with this one! It’s a sweet, festive Romance with plenty of Christmas charm and a surprisingly emotional storyline. Definitely one I’d recommend for anyone looking for a cozy holiday read.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for the advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Jen Lindsey]

I love the advent style books where we get a chapter a day, and from the synopsis, I thought this was going to be wonderful and heartfelt book of healing over the holidays. I did not only read a chapter per day, but I think I would have actually been much more frustrated with this story if I had. I knew this would take us on a journey of healing with grief, but the push and pull between lust and frustration with two people who were barely even friends and recovering from such a massive loss threw me.

Luke was Colin's best friend and Anna was his sister, but they barely interacted prior to his death when Colin's final request was for them to live together and complete an advent daily adventure together. Luke doesn't like the holidays following his mom's death years ago, but would do anything for his best friend. Anna loves the holidays and all of the memories and traditions she used to do with her brother. Both are faced with situations that opened up their heart to healing and facing old and current demons of their past.

Ultimately, even though they spent the days grieving and healing together, it was hard to see them move past friendship. I was happy to see them have peace and a connection for each other through Colin and would always have the heartfelt memories of their advent dates from him.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an arc of 25 Dates of Christmas in exchange for an honest review.

[Julianne Harkleroad]

Spicy, emotional, slow burn 💔🥵

I love the concept of reading a chapter a day starting on December 1st and finishing on Christmas, but definitely did not have the strength to put this one down 😅

What a heartbreaking story! But there's so much emotional growth and hope! GAH! Readers open to Anna and Luke, heartbroken over the death of Anna's brother Colin. They only had a month's notice of his cancer diagnosis before he tragically passed. Luke was Colin's long time best friend and Luke even calls him a brother. After his passing, Anna and Luke set out to fulfill Colin's dying wish: an Advent checklist for his two favorite humans, no matter how hard the tasks are.

Emotions are already high as these two prove the depth of the love they had for Colin. They grow emotionally and mentally, find peace with his death, hope for the future, and slowly lower walls and defense mechanisms they had built overtime. Anna shares why she is prickly towards Luke. Luke eventually opens up regarding something he never even told Colin. Y'all, get ready to be INVESTED. I had no chill and can't pretend to suggest you do because it was SO GOOD! Brava to those who only enjoy one chapter a day! You are a more patient reader than I 🤣

Tropes: Christmas themed, enemies to lovers, slow burn, adventure / checklist, forced proximity, One bed, emotional growth, hea
Spice: 4/5 🌶️
Gore: 1/5 🩸
Language: 4/5 👀
Triggers: cancer death (off page)

Thank you to HarperAudio Adult and NetGalley for this ARC!

[Jacquie]

25 Dates of Christmas was written by Kathryn Freeman and was designed as an advent book. Open and read a chapter a night, all through out advent. But I knew when I received this advanced reader version for my kindle, there was no way I was only going to do a chapter a night. I just read a similar premise and I was worried that this book would be redundant or not hold up to the last book, but this novel was different in the best of ways and I really really enjoyed it. Anna is grieving the loss of her brother and Luke is grieving the loss of his best friend. Luke, before he died, created an advent calendar of challenges for Anna and Luke to do together. Some Christmassy, like cutting down a tree, decorating for the holidays and ice skating, but some challenges really pushed the boundaries. Was Anna's brother trying to push them together romantically? Will they go their separate ways come the 25th? Will these two grieving adults lean on each other? This book had a lot of heart, a lot of heat, and definitely the sad moments when dealing with death. I loved how Anna brought Luke out of his shell and helped him deal with more than one death in his past. My advice, read this book, but know their are some deep feels that go along with all the fun and festive fun that is had.

[Lea Ann’s Library]

I LOVE a good advent-calendar themed book and let me tell you, this is the perfect festive, but also reflective Christmas version of that.

Because I received this as an advanced copy, I was able to treat myself to a month-long Christmas in July style read of it, as I wanted to read it true to the intention of a chapter a day. And let me tell you, some of them had me STRUGGLING to keep to it and not blow through the whole thing because the story was that good.

It’s flirty, it’s festive, it’s a little forbidden, and it’s so family oriented it makes my heart ache for the both of them.

I loved the development of their relationship and their dynamic as the dates progressed, and seeing them get closer in stages but also drift back apart felt very true to their situation. Grief isn’t linear, and seeing them both go from not okay to very not okay, to okayish felt so genuine.
This was a tough plot to take on, balancing both the cheerful, happy go-lucky attitude of Christmas and the death of a loved one in the same go, and Kathryn Freeman managed to capture both while not taking away from either one.

If you’re looking for an advent holiday read, I definitely recommend picking this one up for the 2026 season.

I received an advanced ebook copy from Avon and Haper Voyage via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[books.n.ash]

This was such a great Holiday Story! I went in completely blind so I was expecting it to be super cutesy, based on the cover and title, but it had SO MUCH depth about life and love and grief. Anna and Luke are thrust into each others lives when the person they each care about most passes away. Anna's brother and Luke's best friend, Colin, leaves them an advent calendar filled with activities they must do together by Christmas. Each day is filled with a new adventure, hard conversations and having to navigate grief over losing the same shared loved one, while also fighting the mounting attraction to each other.

I honestly want this to be optioned for a movie, if it hasn't been already. I feel like it could be AMAZING on screen too!

There was a lot of slow burn and refusing to give into attraction for the sake of honoring a loved one, but when the rubber band does snap...it's delicious. It's not crazy spicy as it's not super descriptive, but it's spicy enough for sure. I think the spice is great, because I love a good spicy book, but honestly it wouldn't even need to be in here for me to really enjoy the story. That's how good and honest and raw of a love story this was.

The narrator Cassandra York was also PHENOMENAL! How did she not only narrate as Anna, but ALSO a sexy British guy!? and an American one!? Mind blown!

[Jenny]

25 Dates of Christmas is an emotional story.

Anna just lost her brother and Luke just lost his best friend. After Colin's passing they find that he has created an Advent for them to do together. There's only one problem. They don't really like each other. 25 days is sure going to be interesting.

I tried to read this Advent style. 1 chapter a day. I have absolutely no willpower. At all. I made it to day 8 and then I broke. I'm 100% positive that others will be able to do this at Christmas time with no problem at all. I however could not.

I knew the story would be emotional. We know from the description that this Advent comes about because of a death. I just didn't realize how much of the story would revolve around Anna and Luke not getting along. It was hard for me to really see them as a couple by the end of the story. They just spent too much time bickering and not in a fun way. I just didn't feel their connection. Which made the loves scenes a bit awkward in my opinion. I also would have really liked to see more in-depth writing of the Advent challenges. They were good adventures, I just wanted more page time to see the adventures.

*Thank you NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with an advanced readers copy for a honest review*

[Mrs. G]

If you love advent calendars, this book is a great option for you. Each day is sealed for you to open your gift of a chapter each day leading up to Christmas. Follow Luke and Anna as they embark on the advent calendar that has been left behind for them by the one person they both love the most, Colin. The lose of Colin brings them together in very unexpected ways and helps them not only grieve, but find happiness in ways they would never have imagined.

While many would not think the death of a loved one is a fitting topic for a Christmas story, Christmas can often be one of the saddest times of the year, so this book looks at that side of the season. If you have ever lost a loved one, this romance can help you find some hope that things can and will get better. I love the concept of this book and the overall plot line. Freeman's book is adult oriented, I would not recommend teens read this, there is quite a bit of sexual content. I have read advent books before and this one is a bit spicer than others, so that that into account before you select this one specifically this season.

One last tip when you buy advent books - be gentle with the pages when you rip them open, or you may end up crying...

***Thanks NetGalley for this ARC***

[Hannah Burke]

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC of this book!

This was such a heavy subject matter but had a very sweet story underneath it. I know the holidays can be a really hard time for people, and I think this advent book is perfect for those who may be struggling with loss or are grieving with what the holidays used to look like. Anna and Luke have both suffered a heavy loss right before Christmas time and need to lean on each other to get through it. Luke has battled something similar in his childhood so he has his own demons to battle with this loss. Anna, on the other hand, has to deal with this loss in a different way. She felt a lack of transparency in the final days and feels she missed out on more time with him.

I really felt for both Luke and Anna as they worked through this advent calendar with special things he thought of for them to connect them during the holiday season. Even through the sadness, they were able to make new memories, share new traditions, and find love in their own ways through their grief and loss.

I love these advent books and how you get to open a new chapter every day leading up to Christmas! This can be a fun tradition with a spouse or family member as you anticipate Christmas!

[MrsHarvieReads]

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for a #gifted advanced reader copy of 25 Dates to Christmas by Kathryn Freeman in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

25 Dates to Christmas is an advent calendar themed holiday romcom and journey of grief story featuring Anna and Luke. Anna is grieving the loss of her brother Colin after his brief battle with colon cancer. And Luke, Colin’s best friend, is also grieving the loss of Colin and the loss of his mother to cancer when he was 17. Colin created an advent calendar of activities for Anna and Luke in order to help them with their grief and to learn to lean on each other. “Increasingly, it felt like her brother was building up to something. That he was slowly bringing them together.”

I had high hopes for this novel based on its creative concept. It’s billed as an enemies to lovers story but it’s more of a brother’s best friend, grumpy-sunshine, forced proximity romance. It does not attempt to be more than it is; it’s a breezy, predictable romance. I didn’t feel a strong connection to either character and thought their grief journeys felt a bit rushed. And the final letter from Colin wrapped up the story a bit too neatly for my taste. But I think traditional romance readers looking for a holiday romance will find a lot to enjoy 2.75/5⭐️

[Peggy Jaeger]

Kathryn Freeman’s new holiday offering is a sweet with heat, heartbreaking and heartwarming story of two opposites who share one thing in common: love for the FMCs recently departed brother.
Although we never meet Colin, the man who has died, he is integral to this love story because he leaves one request behind after he dies: for his sister and best friend to complete an advent calendar he has devised. Anna, his sister, is a lover of all things Christmas, while Luke, his bff, isn’t. So, throwing these two together to help them grieve is a wonderful way for both of them to work through their loss.
What unfolds is a Christmas grumpy/sunshine tale of two people whose shared love helps them fall in love.
For 24 days, they embark on every single message and task Colin has left behind in the Advent calendar. Most of the tasks in one way or another force the two to face their fears, their past decisions, and their futures.
I loved this story so much. It was the perfect antidote for all the darkness in the world right now, because it brought light to my days.
Even from the grave, the power of love cannot be contained.
5 stars. Wonderful read.

[Angela Kaskalavich]

This ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
- No part of this review was created through AI -

This story begins shortly after the passing of Anna’s brother, Colin. He had cancer and had asked that his sister and best friend spend the remaining few months with him. His best friend, Luke, is all about adventure and experiences while Anna is a nurse.

Colin has created a 25-day advent, asking that Anna and Luke do the daily activity together until Christmas. Luke is the grump and has experienced loss as a teenager, while Anna’s struggling with the loss of her brother and parents that are overseas.

The activities were a mixture of things that are meaningful and ultimately allowed them both to heal from the loss of their best friend / brother. There were certain parts of the book where like the language would not be consistent for an American (Anna), but overall, I really liked the story. Colin’s neighbor, Pearl, was one of my favorite characters. She was a fun mixture of grandmotherly & sass.

The book suggests reading 1 chapter a day for 25 days; there’s absolutely NO WAY that I could do that. It was too cute to put down after just one chapter.

Happy reading!

[Rachel]

*I received a free ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*

This has a really clever set-up and is perfect for reading in the weeks leading up to Christmas. I thought the dates set up in the advent calendar offered a variety of activities, not all of which were necessarily meant to ramp up the romance, some were really about Anna and Luke getting to know one another at a deeper level. My only problem with the novel was that because the author did not want to have the two characters really get together until right up at the end it often felt repetitive. They would start to get closer, then Luke would pull back (and I have never been a fan of the "you need something better than me"/"I am not worthy of you" types of tropes), then they would argue, and then the next day be back on track because of the advent calendar. I also felt like there were missed opportunities for deeper conversations between the two where they worked through their baggage. Instead, those moments were taken up by their physical attraction to one another. Also, Luke would also have benefitted from some actual therapy even after their happy ending.

[Jordan]

this was a bit of a letdown for me, i think i had just set my expectations a bit too high.

First, i loved the idea of a christmas romance that’s built like an advent calendar and is about an advent calendar. Super creative and I think could be such a fun way to travel through December.

The characters were likeable. I think they were the reason i continued through the story, but overall. It felt a bit bland in terms of feeling their chemistry on the page.

The biggest issue for me is that this is about an advent calendar that’s done for Christmas. It’s advertised as a Christmas/Holidsy romance, and the time of year that the book takes place is the holidays but it didn’t feel…. holiday-ish? I feel like the joy and cheer I normally get from reading a holiday romance was completely missing and that really took me out of the story quite a bit.

I really enjoyed the audiobook. I immersive read and really enjoyed the experience overall. I’d definitely recommend the audiobook for those wanting to pick this up.

Overall, this wasn’t bad. It was cute. I loved the idea, but if you’re looking for a HOLIDAY romance it missed the mark for me.

[Mathilde]

I love the concept behind this book! What a great idea to have a book set as an advent calendar that you can physically open daily. It helps the reader immerse themselves in the story.

As for the story, I am a huge fan of PS I Love You and I also more recently liked PS I Hate You. The plot is the same: someone from beyond the grave sends letters to a loved one to help them through their grief. This book is cute but rough around the edges. It took me a few chapters to really get into the story. and even then the different use of point of views within each chapter was slightly offsetting.

At first, the attraction and the banter between the characters didn't feel natural, it all felt forced. But after a few chapters they found their rhythm and it was much more believable. I am, however, a huge fan of the neighbor Pearl. She is having the best time in her life and I looked forward to all her interactions.

Overall it was a cute story, heartwarming, and I liked seeing Luke open up to Anna.

[Caitlyn Herbst]

This is such a cozy, creative holiday read. The Advent calendar format alone makes it feel special—opening a chapter a day really pulls you into the story and makes it perfect for the lead-up to Christmas.

At its core, it’s a mix of grief and healing wrapped in a festive setting. Anna’s sadness is very present, but it’s handled gently, and the story never feels too heavy. Watching her slowly reconnect with joy through the daily adventures is really touching.

Luke starts off a bit rough around the edges, but that tension works well for the enemies-to-lovers vibe. As they spend more time together, their dynamic softens in a believable, gradual way, and the shift feels earned.

The romance is sweet rather than overly dramatic, and the small, day-by-day moments are what make it stand out. It’s less about big twists and more about quiet connection and rediscovering warmth during a difficult time.

Overall, it’s a comforting, heartfelt read—perfect if you want something festive with a bit of emotional depth.

[Toni Thomason]

I am OBSESSED with the concept of this book! 😍 A Christmas countdown, sealed chapters you open one day at a time, enemies-to-lovers tension, and a whole lot of holiday magic? YES PLEASE. 🎄❤️

Anna is grieving the loss of her brother and definitely isn’t feeling the Christmas spirit. But when she discovers his final request—to spend the days leading up to Christmas completing an Advent-style series of adventures with Luke, his arrogant (but very handsome 👀) best friend, she agrees to honor his wishes.

And what starts as two people who would rather be anywhere but together slowly turns into something neither of them expected. Each adventure brings new discoveries, plenty of Christmas spirit, and a little more warmth between Anna and Luke. ❤️

I loved the unique Advent calendar format! Being able to physically open each sealed chapter and experience the story day by day makes this feel like the perfect book to read throughout December. It’s such a fun way to make the countdown to Christmas part of the reading experience. 🎁📚

[Mini Mo]

4 ⭐

This was such a cute advent calendar type of cozy Christmas story.

This story follows Anna (FMC) and Luke (MMC).

Anna's brother recently died from cancer and his dying wish was for her to do an activity based advent calendar that he made. The catch? She has to do it with his best friend Luke.

Anna and Luke were never close, even thiugh Colin and Luke were friends from the age of 10. They are pushed together and have to engage in 24 dates together.

Is Colin trying to push them together or just make sure that neither of them is lonely on Christmas this year?

I loved watching Anna and Luke learn about each other and watch their friendship bud and bloom.

My only complaint is that during this month together they seem to only talk about Colin and yet simultaneously forget to grieve him. It feels too fast to get through the grieving process (IMO) and also too focused on his death.

That being said, I loved all the side characters and every single activity that these two were forced to endure.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for this eARC.

[Sheri Jelinek]

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book for free, and this is my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

25 Dates of Christmas was a heartwarming and emotional holiday romance that blended grief, healing, and festive magic beautifully. Anna's journey through loss felt genuine, and I loved watching her slowly rediscover joy as she honored her brother's final wish.

The enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Anna and Luke was both sweet and entertaining. Their daily adventures brought plenty of festive charm, and seeing their relationship grow through shared experiences made their connection feel natural and rewarding.

The standout feature was the unique Advent calendar format, which made the story feel extra special and immersive. Opening a new chapter each day added to the anticipation and perfectly captured the countdown to Christmas.

While I would have loved a little more depth in certain parts of the romance, this was still a cozy, uplifting read filled with holiday spirit, heartfelt moments, and second chances. A wonderful book to curl up with during the Christmas season. 🎄❤️📖

[Amethyst]

This was the first completed advent romance I’ve read. Since I was reading this as an arc, I tried to stick to one chapter a day so I could experience it the way it was meant to be read, but I found that challenging because I really loved this story.

The story follows Anna, a sister, and Luke, her best friend, who are both grieving the recent loss of Colin. It was surprisingly full of tender moments, some spice (spicier than other romance advents I’ve tried reading), and a bit of miscommunication that makes romances what they are. I found myself completely sucked into the story and really enjoyed all of the characters.

Parts of the book felt a little slow, but that made sense since the story is building from the beginning of the month in an advent format. I loved how the spirit of the holidays was woven into the story alongside the grief. It made for such a heartfelt read.

4.5 stars for me!

[Dana Sessa]

25 Dates of Christmas by Kathryn Freeman is a fun and heartwarming way to get into the holiday spirit this season. Reading a chapter each day brings readers a little extra cheer as they count down to Christmas. This emotional story follows Anna, a grieving woman who reluctantly teams up with Luke, her late brother’s best friend, to complete one final wish: an advent-style countdown of daily holiday adventures leading up to Christmas Day.

Kathryn Freeman creates engaging characters who feel genuine and relatable. The journey through the holiday dates brings healing, laughter, reflection, and heartfelt moments as Anna and Luke discover more about themselves and what they truly want. Their romance develops naturally, with careful attention given to the grieving process, allowing both characters the time and space to navigate their emotions while finding unexpected comfort and connection.

[Angela]

This holiday romance hits a lot of points but just seems to be missing that special something.

“ Christmas is just around the corner, but Anna has not been in a festive mood after the recent passing of her brother. When she discovers that her brother has left one final request— to work together with Luke, his handsome but arrogant best friend, on an Advent-style series of daily adventures leading up to December 25th— she agrees to fulfill his dying wish.

The two create an unlikely pair, with each day bringing a new and surprisingly delightful discovery. And as the Christmas spirit slowly warms Anna and Luke’s initial icy feelings towards one another, it seems like the holiday season has one more gift to give…

With a delightfully unique Advent calendar format, this book contains twenty-four chapters sealed with an individual sticker. Readers can gently open each chapter so they can follow the love story day-by-day in the weeks leading up to Christmas!”