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25 Dates of Christmas: An Advent Love Story
Not yet published
Expected 6 Oct 26Count 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!
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!
368 pages, Paperback
Expected publication October 6, 2026
About the author
Kathryn Freeman
21 books29 followersThere is more than one Kathryn Freeman on Goodreads
Kathryn Freeman is a narrative painter who combines classical composition with magic realism. Freeman’s paintings have been exhibited in galleries in Europe and across the United States, including New York, Los Angeles, London, Boston, Washington and Baltimore. Her paintings are in numerous private and public collections, and she has completed several large-scale public mural commissions including two, three-story murals for the Main Public Library in Jacksonville, Florida designed by AM Stern Architects, which opened in November 2005. Freeman has been the recipient of an Ingram Merrill Fellowship, an Elizabeth Greenshield Foundation Fellowship and three, Maryland State Council of the Arts Individual Artist Awards. Her work has been reviewed in The New York Times, Arts Magazine, Art Forum, American Artist and numerous other publications. Freeman has also illustrated several children’s picture books including Loon Chase, by Jean Heilprin Diehl, published by Sylvan Dell. Freeman has taught drawing and painting at the Corcoran since 1996. Previous to that she taught at the New York Academy of Art and Brooklyn College. She received her MFA from Brooklyn College and BFA from the University of New Hampshire. She also studied at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. See her paintings at www.kathrynfreeman.com
Kathryn Freeman is a narrative painter who combines classical composition with magic realism. Freeman’s paintings have been exhibited in galleries in Europe and across the United States, including New York, Los Angeles, London, Boston, Washington and Baltimore. Her paintings are in numerous private and public collections, and she has completed several large-scale public mural commissions including two, three-story murals for the Main Public Library in Jacksonville, Florida designed by AM Stern Architects, which opened in November 2005. Freeman has been the recipient of an Ingram Merrill Fellowship, an Elizabeth Greenshield Foundation Fellowship and three, Maryland State Council of the Arts Individual Artist Awards. Her work has been reviewed in The New York Times, Arts Magazine, Art Forum, American Artist and numerous other publications. Freeman has also illustrated several children’s picture books including Loon Chase, by Jean Heilprin Diehl, published by Sylvan Dell. Freeman has taught drawing and painting at the Corcoran since 1996. Previous to that she taught at the New York Academy of Art and Brooklyn College. She received her MFA from Brooklyn College and BFA from the University of New Hampshire. She also studied at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. See her paintings at www.kathrynfreeman.com
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
May 26, 2026
25 Dates of Christmas: An Advent Love Story by Kathryn Freeman is a fun and festive holiday romance.
This is a cute concept for a Christmas holiday contemporary romance.
Each chapter is supposed to be read on each consecutive day in December, and just like opening that calendar each morning, the reader finds out a little but more on the healing process and romance development between the two main characters.
Anna and Luke have chemistry and witty dialogue that keeps this book moving at a solid pace. I enjoyed this light read.
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 10/6/26.
This is a cute concept for a Christmas holiday contemporary romance.
Each chapter is supposed to be read on each consecutive day in December, and just like opening that calendar each morning, the reader finds out a little but more on the healing process and romance development between the two main characters.
Anna and Luke have chemistry and witty dialogue that keeps this book moving at a solid pace. I enjoyed this light read.
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 10/6/26.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is cute, cozy, and adorable. The banter between the characters is adorable.
Anna’s brother Colin has recently passed away. Colin has asked for Anna and his best friend Luke to spend the 25 days before Christmas together in his condo completing an advent calendar he designed for them.
The chemistry between Anna and Luke is wild the yearning between Anna and Luke is wild and their relationship is lovely. Luke has a bit of a dirty mouth, which I loved and Anna doesn’t back down from him which I love to see in a FMC.
The first few chapters of this book felt like it was trying a bit hard to cram back story in too quickly, but that ends quickly and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. A very cute, cozy Christmas read.
Anna’s brother Colin has recently passed away. Colin has asked for Anna and his best friend Luke to spend the 25 days before Christmas together in his condo completing an advent calendar he designed for them.
The chemistry between Anna and Luke is wild the yearning between Anna and Luke is wild and their relationship is lovely. Luke has a bit of a dirty mouth, which I loved and Anna doesn’t back down from him which I love to see in a FMC.
The first few chapters of this book felt like it was trying a bit hard to cram back story in too quickly, but that ends quickly and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. A very cute, cozy Christmas read.
May 24, 2026
I read this in May so I didn’t stick to the “advent calendar schedule” BUT the premise of reading it like an advent calendar is actually the cutest thing ever, and if I were to have read this in December I would have 100% read it like that! I love a good insta lust/slow burn tension book and this definitely delivered and the tension was insane WHEWWWWW 🔥. I liked the grumpy sunshine dynamic plus semi forced prox as well! Okay but serious topic here, the emotional depth was really nice when it came to grief and how people cope with it in natural ways even when it’s new and older losses. I definitely shed some tears along the way that felt very cathartic. 🥹
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is just the sweetest book ever!!! It had me in all my feels, grief, happiness, laughter. I think I laughed more in this book than any other in awhile. Their uncomfortablness around each other made me chuckle, and then there was Pearl lol her cougar azz!!! I loved this book
Come back to your Review on the pub date,
Come back to your Review on the pub date,
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews