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25 Dates of Christmas: An Advent Love Story
Not yet published
Expected 27 Oct 26A festive and heartwarming enemies-to-lovers Christmas advent novel told in 25 chapters.
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…
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…
Audible Audio
Expected publication October 27, 2026
About the author
Kathryn Freeman
31 books459 followersI 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
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
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a free copy of, 25 Dates of Christmas, by Kathryn Freeman from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. My biggest pet peeve in books are people taking the Lords name in vain, there is no reason for anyone to say Jesus Christ, unless they are praying and Luke was not. There are so many words in the English language, to only use Jesus Christ. It ruins the story for me, as it did with this book, which actually started out great!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Following the tragic and sudden loss of her brother, Tom, Anna, is deeply grieving. As December approaches, she wants nothing more than to completely skip Christmas and avoid any festive celebrations, but then she receives a package from Tom's lawyer. Before he died, Tom created a physical Christmas Advent calendar specifically for Anna. It contains 25 envelopes, each containing a festive daily challenge—or "date"—designed to force her to rediscover her joy, embrace life, and experience the magic of the holiday season one last time. There is a twist, Tom included one major condition: Anna cannot complete these challenges alone. She must do them with Luke, Tom’s best friend. This could be a problem as Anna views Luke as arrogant, annoying, and frustratingly close to her family, while he sees her as overly stubborn. Forced into close proximity by Tom's final wish, they begin checking off the daily challenges together, which range from ice skating and drinking mulled wine to decorating a tree. Will it bring back Anna's love of Christmas? Will it help Luke to finally enjoy Christmas, something he hasn't done in years?
Anna was a lovely grief stricken young woman, who didn't want to celebrate Christmas without her brother. She did all the festive things with him each year, and it wouldn't be the same without him. I felt for her, but was glad that she was going to give it the college try. Luke was lovely. He had no family since his mother died while he was in university, so Tom's family became all he had. Because he loved Tom, he agreed to do all the things in the calendar. Of course, the more time they spent together doing fun things, the more they began to become friends and more. I listened to the audiobook, but apparently the physical book has 24 chapters, each sealed with a sticker, to be opened each day during advent. What a great concept. Although there were some fun and cute things happening in this book, there was also some deep discussions of loss and grief as well. Because of their issues, both Anna and Luke resisted how they felt towards one another, which at times was a bit frustrating. It has romantic tension and a few open door scenes, but it relies much more heavily on emotional intimacy and slow-burn romance. This is a heartwarming story about friendship, family, love, grief, loss, self-forgiveness and moving forward. The audiobook was well narrated by Cassandra. I missed out on physically opening each chapter, but her excellent delivery of the shifting tension between Anna and Luke, the voices she gave them and the pacing made up for it. I enjoyed listening to this one.
Anna was a lovely grief stricken young woman, who didn't want to celebrate Christmas without her brother. She did all the festive things with him each year, and it wouldn't be the same without him. I felt for her, but was glad that she was going to give it the college try. Luke was lovely. He had no family since his mother died while he was in university, so Tom's family became all he had. Because he loved Tom, he agreed to do all the things in the calendar. Of course, the more time they spent together doing fun things, the more they began to become friends and more. I listened to the audiobook, but apparently the physical book has 24 chapters, each sealed with a sticker, to be opened each day during advent. What a great concept. Although there were some fun and cute things happening in this book, there was also some deep discussions of loss and grief as well. Because of their issues, both Anna and Luke resisted how they felt towards one another, which at times was a bit frustrating. It has romantic tension and a few open door scenes, but it relies much more heavily on emotional intimacy and slow-burn romance. This is a heartwarming story about friendship, family, love, grief, loss, self-forgiveness and moving forward. The audiobook was well narrated by Cassandra. I missed out on physically opening each chapter, but her excellent delivery of the shifting tension between Anna and Luke, the voices she gave them and the pacing made up for it. I enjoyed listening to this one.
October 13, 2026
25 Dates of Christmas: An Advent Love Story by Kathryn Freeman
Book Blurb: 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!
Rating: ****
Feels: Curisority, Snark, Cuddles, Joy
Style: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Contemporary Romance
First published October 27, 2026: 368 pages
Themes & Setting: A really cute read where you get to open each chapter and follow along on a day in the life of Anna and Luke as they open an advent calendar left by her brother and his best friend and complete his last wishes. Definitely themes of grieving and overcoming grief in this read with both of the main characters handling it differently and that being a source of conflict.
FMC: Anna does not like Luke and honestly I really was concerned if she was ever going to get to warm up to him. She definitely has that frosty exterior that I love to see melted in these types of stories.
MMC: Luke really kinda grew on me as the days wore on and we really got to see more into who he really was. At first we really saw him only threw the lens of her dislike so it was fun to get to know him more as she did.
Conclusion: Love the concept of an advent calendar in and advent calendar and this was a super cute read. Heartwarming and full of a cast of wonderful souls that I really enjoyed. The romance between Anna and Luke was slow and sweet yet also definitely spicy !! The tension kept building and you just really wanted them to have their moment but also love all the cute sweet moments as well. Would totally recommend this for a sweet, spicy fun holiday romance read !
Favorite Quote: "I want a soulmate. Someone I can laugh with and cry with. A calm to my storm. A rock to withstand my wobbles," she added with a wry smile. "A guy I'm still in love with after thirty years together. "
Book Vibes:
Enemies to Lovers
Brothers Best Friend
Holiday Themes
Forced Proximity
Book Blurb: 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!
Rating: ****
Feels: Curisority, Snark, Cuddles, Joy
Style: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Contemporary Romance
First published October 27, 2026: 368 pages
Themes & Setting: A really cute read where you get to open each chapter and follow along on a day in the life of Anna and Luke as they open an advent calendar left by her brother and his best friend and complete his last wishes. Definitely themes of grieving and overcoming grief in this read with both of the main characters handling it differently and that being a source of conflict.
FMC: Anna does not like Luke and honestly I really was concerned if she was ever going to get to warm up to him. She definitely has that frosty exterior that I love to see melted in these types of stories.
MMC: Luke really kinda grew on me as the days wore on and we really got to see more into who he really was. At first we really saw him only threw the lens of her dislike so it was fun to get to know him more as she did.
Conclusion: Love the concept of an advent calendar in and advent calendar and this was a super cute read. Heartwarming and full of a cast of wonderful souls that I really enjoyed. The romance between Anna and Luke was slow and sweet yet also definitely spicy !! The tension kept building and you just really wanted them to have their moment but also love all the cute sweet moments as well. Would totally recommend this for a sweet, spicy fun holiday romance read !
Favorite Quote: "I want a soulmate. Someone I can laugh with and cry with. A calm to my storm. A rock to withstand my wobbles," she added with a wry smile. "A guy I'm still in love with after thirty years together. "
Book Vibes:
Enemies to Lovers
Brothers Best Friend
Holiday Themes
Forced Proximity
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
September 28, 2026
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!
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!
July 27, 2026
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was such a cute, sweet, and emotional story! I loved watching Luke and Anna work their way through the advent her brother had set up for them. Anna wasn't exactly Luke's biggest fan at first, but as they spent more time together, she began to realize there was so much more to him than she'd initially thought. But what made their journey so special was watching them both find healing after the loss of her brother while unexpectedly finding love with each other. Cassandra York did a wonderful job bringing their heartfelt story to life, balancing the sweet moments with the more emotional ones.
One thing worth mentioning is that while the story has some Christmas elements, they're mostly just a backdrop rather than a major part of the plot.
Thank you, Kathryn Freeman and Harper Audio for the ALC.
One thing worth mentioning is that while the story has some Christmas elements, they're mostly just a backdrop rather than a major part of the plot.
Thank you, Kathryn Freeman and Harper Audio for the ALC.
October 16, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Kathryn Freeman, and Avon a for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Okay OBVIOUSLY I did not read as intended: I marathoned the advent calendar. I will accept my punishment accordingly. But I couldn’t help myself because this book is an absolute snack and I ate it up.
Were there moments of the cheesiest, cringiest dialogue? Yes, of course. Did their miscommunication frustrate me to the point of me growling at them “just say what you mean???” Not literally but spiritually. But overall it was so fun despite the heavy subject matter that I had a good time.
Looking forward to the holiday season now more than ever!
Okay OBVIOUSLY I did not read as intended: I marathoned the advent calendar. I will accept my punishment accordingly. But I couldn’t help myself because this book is an absolute snack and I ate it up.
Were there moments of the cheesiest, cringiest dialogue? Yes, of course. Did their miscommunication frustrate me to the point of me growling at them “just say what you mean???” Not literally but spiritually. But overall it was so fun despite the heavy subject matter that I had a good time.
Looking forward to the holiday season now more than ever!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
25 Dates of Christmas: An Advent Love Story by Kathryn Freeman (2026)
7h 47m narrated by Cassandra York, 368 pages
Genre: Romantic Comedy, Holiday > Christmas; Advent Calendar
Movie Rating Equivalent: NC-17 for adult content
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️¾🗽🇺🇸🏴🇬🇧💌📆🎄
Grief, Healing, and a Sweet Advent Calendar
25 Dates of Christmas is my third Kathryn Freeman story, and it is easily the best so far. While my past experiences with her books left me wanting (I rated the previous two 2.5+ and 3.5 stars), this one is a massive improvement. As a British author writing American settings, the previous books I have read occasionally showed a lack of on-the-ground familiarity, but the dynamic here feels much more natural. This story handles its New York and New Jersey settings much better, even if Anna's exact Brooklynite or Jersey Girl background was slightly confusing.
The story follows a woman mourning the loss of her brother. She is forced to share her newly inherited condo for December with her childhood friend, an English-American man she has never gotten along with. Per her late brother's wishes, they must complete activities from an Advent calendar he created. Historically with this author, the blurbs have sounded better than the execution, but this book completely delivers. While the characters were a little corny and the humor did not completely land for me, the tone was lighthearted and handled grief and past guilt in a genuinely heartfelt way. I am giving it 3.75 stars and rounding up to a 4, as this is a great pick for Christmas readers who enjoy the Advent calendar scene.
Recommend to others: Yes, I think this story is definitely a hit. I wish I was doing these activities with them, well, except for the intimate one.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from HarperAudio Adult and Avon a via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Featuring: Deceasd Brother's Best Friend, Deathbed Request, New Jersey Condo, Advent Calendar, Brooklyn, New York; English American LI, Cancer - Past, Close Proximity, Nurse, Temporary Roommates, Mourning, Grief, Grumpy/Sunshine, Enemies-to-Lovers, Traveling Parents, Reminiscing, Guilt, Manchester, England; New York City, New York; Crossroads, Healing, Sex - Detailed, Profanity
Live Status Updates: 📱33% 5h 1m left December 9th - It's a bit on the bland side, but fun. I'm stopping to catch up on The Amazing Race.
7h 47m narrated by Cassandra York, 368 pages
Genre: Romantic Comedy, Holiday > Christmas; Advent Calendar
Movie Rating Equivalent: NC-17 for adult content
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️¾🗽🇺🇸🏴🇬🇧💌📆🎄
Grief, Healing, and a Sweet Advent Calendar
25 Dates of Christmas is my third Kathryn Freeman story, and it is easily the best so far. While my past experiences with her books left me wanting (I rated the previous two 2.5+ and 3.5 stars), this one is a massive improvement. As a British author writing American settings, the previous books I have read occasionally showed a lack of on-the-ground familiarity, but the dynamic here feels much more natural. This story handles its New York and New Jersey settings much better, even if Anna's exact Brooklynite or Jersey Girl background was slightly confusing.
The story follows a woman mourning the loss of her brother. She is forced to share her newly inherited condo for December with her childhood friend, an English-American man she has never gotten along with. Per her late brother's wishes, they must complete activities from an Advent calendar he created. Historically with this author, the blurbs have sounded better than the execution, but this book completely delivers. While the characters were a little corny and the humor did not completely land for me, the tone was lighthearted and handled grief and past guilt in a genuinely heartfelt way. I am giving it 3.75 stars and rounding up to a 4, as this is a great pick for Christmas readers who enjoy the Advent calendar scene.
Recommend to others: Yes, I think this story is definitely a hit. I wish I was doing these activities with them, well, except for the intimate one.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from HarperAudio Adult and Avon a via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Featuring: Deceasd Brother's Best Friend, Deathbed Request, New Jersey Condo, Advent Calendar, Brooklyn, New York; English American LI, Cancer - Past, Close Proximity, Nurse, Temporary Roommates, Mourning, Grief, Grumpy/Sunshine, Enemies-to-Lovers, Traveling Parents, Reminiscing, Guilt, Manchester, England; New York City, New York; Crossroads, Healing, Sex - Detailed, Profanity
Live Status Updates: 📱33% 5h 1m left December 9th - It's a bit on the bland side, but fun. I'm stopping to catch up on The Amazing Race.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🔎 ARC Book Review
@kathryn.freeman_author
@avonbooks
@netgalley
Publication Date: October 27th, 2026
My Rating:
🌟 4/5
👀Read if you like
Holiday Romance
Grumpy X Sunshine
Enemies to Lovers
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!
🔎 My review
🎁📚 I received a digital copy of this book and ended up finishing it in ONE DAY! 😍 I couldn't resist this cute holiday romance!
I absolutely loved the concept of an advent-style countdown to Christmas! 🎄✨ What better way to get into the holiday spirit than with a festive romance and a little countdown magic?! 🎅💕
This was such a cute, fun holiday read, but it also had some deeper moments with themes of grief, healing, and finding your way forward. 🥹❤️ I enjoyed getting to know Anna and Luke and spending time with their story. Sometimes you just need a feel-good romance that brings a little holiday cheer while still tugging at your heartstrings! 💗❄️
If you're looking for a festive romance to curl up with during the Christmas season, add this one to your holiday TBR! ☕🎄📖
Thank you @kathryn.freeman_author @avonbooks @netgalley for the ARC!
#NetGalley
#25DatesOfChristmas 🎄
#KathrynFreeman 📚
#HolidayRomance ❤️ #ChristmasBookstagram 🎁
@kathryn.freeman_author
@avonbooks
@netgalley
Publication Date: October 27th, 2026
My Rating:
🌟 4/5
👀Read if you like
Holiday Romance
Grumpy X Sunshine
Enemies to Lovers
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!
🔎 My review
🎁📚 I received a digital copy of this book and ended up finishing it in ONE DAY! 😍 I couldn't resist this cute holiday romance!
I absolutely loved the concept of an advent-style countdown to Christmas! 🎄✨ What better way to get into the holiday spirit than with a festive romance and a little countdown magic?! 🎅💕
This was such a cute, fun holiday read, but it also had some deeper moments with themes of grief, healing, and finding your way forward. 🥹❤️ I enjoyed getting to know Anna and Luke and spending time with their story. Sometimes you just need a feel-good romance that brings a little holiday cheer while still tugging at your heartstrings! 💗❄️
If you're looking for a festive romance to curl up with during the Christmas season, add this one to your holiday TBR! ☕🎄📖
Thank you @kathryn.freeman_author @avonbooks @netgalley for the ARC!
#NetGalley
#25DatesOfChristmas 🎄
#KathrynFreeman 📚
#HolidayRomance ❤️ #ChristmasBookstagram 🎁
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the E-ARC of 25 Dates of Christmas, by Kathryn Freeman via NetGalley. All opinions are mine.
This book was an exciting premise. And advent calender book. Love the idea. Really enjoyed the overall story. The romance in the story was not, for me, great.
Anna and Luke have one thing in common, Colin. Colin is Anna's brother and Luke's best friend. When Colin dies, his life cut devastatingly short from an aggressive cancer, Anna and Luke are lost in their own personal grief, but brought together by Colin's last wish, an advent calendar, which they both have to do together. Each day brings a new activity that bonds them closer and helps them deal with the grieving process.
Loved this premise, because grief is hard and it is difficult and most importantly, different for everyone.
Anna is so mercurial in her moods. She's also all over the place with her liking Luke, lusting after him, and just being a complete asshole to him. Luke, the book description called him "arrogant" which is not the vibe I got at all. Luke, to me, has a past and a lot of emotions that he hasn't felt with and he's a bit closed off and protective of his heart, as we learn, for good reason. But Anna doesn't really care because she's wrapped up in herself.
We do all grieve differently, but being insensitive and belligerent is not respectful. Not being aware that others may not necessarily grieve outwardly. Truly, Anna is insufferable and insensitive to Luke all while lusting after him in the aftermath of her brother's death. Luke is also very into her and it seems that every single thing he does is the wrong thing and he has to carefully guard himself so he doesn't say or do the wrong thing. This has toxic relationship written all over it.
This book was an exciting premise. And advent calender book. Love the idea. Really enjoyed the overall story. The romance in the story was not, for me, great.
Anna and Luke have one thing in common, Colin. Colin is Anna's brother and Luke's best friend. When Colin dies, his life cut devastatingly short from an aggressive cancer, Anna and Luke are lost in their own personal grief, but brought together by Colin's last wish, an advent calendar, which they both have to do together. Each day brings a new activity that bonds them closer and helps them deal with the grieving process.
Loved this premise, because grief is hard and it is difficult and most importantly, different for everyone.
Anna is so mercurial in her moods. She's also all over the place with her liking Luke, lusting after him, and just being a complete asshole to him. Luke, the book description called him "arrogant" which is not the vibe I got at all. Luke, to me, has a past and a lot of emotions that he hasn't felt with and he's a bit closed off and protective of his heart, as we learn, for good reason. But Anna doesn't really care because she's wrapped up in herself.
We do all grieve differently, but being insensitive and belligerent is not respectful. Not being aware that others may not necessarily grieve outwardly. Truly, Anna is insufferable and insensitive to Luke all while lusting after him in the aftermath of her brother's death. Luke is also very into her and it seems that every single thing he does is the wrong thing and he has to carefully guard himself so he doesn't say or do the wrong thing. This has toxic relationship written all over it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A fun holiday dating concept that unfortunately left me wanting more romance, more chemistry, and a whole lot more Christmas magic.
I absolutely loved the concept behind "25 Dates of Christmas," and of course I was rooting for Luke and Anna to find their happily ever after. Unfortunately, their relationship just never quite clicked for me. Anna came across as a little too desperate, while Luke wasn't particularly likable, and I struggled to believe in their connection. Rather than a natural progression toward love, the romance often felt forced.
I also went into this expecting all the cozy, festive Christmas vibes, but those were surprisingly lacking. I wanted holiday magic, swoon-worthy moments, and characters I could fall in love with, but the story never quite delivered on those expectations.
The narration was another challenge. Cassandra York did a phenomenal job voicing the female characters, but her interpretation of Luke nearly had me turning off the audiobook after the first chapter. I'm glad I persevered because I did enjoy aspects of the story, but this is one romance I genuinely believe would have benefited from duet narration. Having a male narrator bring Luke to life might have made a significant difference in how I connected with him.
Ultimately, "25 Dates of Christmas" had a promising premise, but the romance and holiday atmosphere didn't quite live up to what I'd hoped for.
📖 25 Dates of Christmas
✍️ Kathryn Freeman
🎙️ Cassandra York
🎁 HarperAudio Adult
📅 10/27/26
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely loved the concept behind "25 Dates of Christmas," and of course I was rooting for Luke and Anna to find their happily ever after. Unfortunately, their relationship just never quite clicked for me. Anna came across as a little too desperate, while Luke wasn't particularly likable, and I struggled to believe in their connection. Rather than a natural progression toward love, the romance often felt forced.
I also went into this expecting all the cozy, festive Christmas vibes, but those were surprisingly lacking. I wanted holiday magic, swoon-worthy moments, and characters I could fall in love with, but the story never quite delivered on those expectations.
The narration was another challenge. Cassandra York did a phenomenal job voicing the female characters, but her interpretation of Luke nearly had me turning off the audiobook after the first chapter. I'm glad I persevered because I did enjoy aspects of the story, but this is one romance I genuinely believe would have benefited from duet narration. Having a male narrator bring Luke to life might have made a significant difference in how I connected with him.
Ultimately, "25 Dates of Christmas" had a promising premise, but the romance and holiday atmosphere didn't quite live up to what I'd hoped for.
📖 25 Dates of Christmas
✍️ Kathryn Freeman
🎙️ Cassandra York
🎁 HarperAudio Adult
📅 10/27/26
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
THIS ONE CAME WITH A LITTLE CHRISTMAS HEALING.
Anna’s first Christmas without her brother comes with one final gift from him: a homemade Advent calendar filled with daily activities.... and one very important rule. His best friend Luke has to be part of every single one.
The problem? Anna and Luke don’t exactly see eye to eye. But between holiday traditions, shared grief, and moments that bring them closer, those prickly feelings start melting into something a whole lot warmer.
Think grumpy sunshine, a tender slow burn, emotional healing, and just enough spice to warm up those chilly December nights. It has its bittersweet moments, but underneath the sadness is a reminder that love can find us in unexpected places..... even when our hearts are still learning how to heal.
And yes, there’s a CAT. Honestly, the festive vibes were already working, but the cat sealed the deal.
My final confession? I was meant to savor this one like a daily Advent treat. Instead, I tore through the whole thing like a kid opening presents before Christmas morning. NO REGRETS.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for the free advance audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Confession: I was supposed to read one chapter a day… but my mood reader heart said, “We’re finishing this TODAY
Anna’s first Christmas without her brother comes with one final gift from him: a homemade Advent calendar filled with daily activities.... and one very important rule. His best friend Luke has to be part of every single one.
The problem? Anna and Luke don’t exactly see eye to eye. But between holiday traditions, shared grief, and moments that bring them closer, those prickly feelings start melting into something a whole lot warmer.
Think grumpy sunshine, a tender slow burn, emotional healing, and just enough spice to warm up those chilly December nights. It has its bittersweet moments, but underneath the sadness is a reminder that love can find us in unexpected places..... even when our hearts are still learning how to heal.
And yes, there’s a CAT. Honestly, the festive vibes were already working, but the cat sealed the deal.
My final confession? I was meant to savor this one like a daily Advent treat. Instead, I tore through the whole thing like a kid opening presents before Christmas morning. NO REGRETS.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for the free advance audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Confession: I was supposed to read one chapter a day… but my mood reader heart said, “We’re finishing this TODAY
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
25 Dates of Christmas is a heartwarming book about two people who have lost someone very important to them coming together. This book can be read as an Adevnt calendar with a chapter a day but I flew through it in less than a day. It was that good.
Anna and Luke have lost Colin, Anna's brother and Luke's best friend. Colin leaves them an advent calendar to do together. As they do the activities, they start to grow closer. With Christmas closing in, will they each have a bigger gift to unwrap?
This is a grumpy/sunshine trope at face value. It is deeper than that for both Anna and Luke. They have both just been dealt a hard hand. Luke is not new to loss but it is harder for Anna. They play off each other well. Anna is not afraid to express herself which I really liked. There was a lot of tension between the two of them. I really enjoyed the spice and the longing. There were some side characters but this book is really just about Anna and Luke.
Trigger warning: there is loss to cancer mentioned a lot in this book. It is talked about freely and it really hit me how open and raw the emotions are. I cried several times.
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper, and Kathryn Freeman for the e-ARC. This review is my own opinion.
Anna and Luke have lost Colin, Anna's brother and Luke's best friend. Colin leaves them an advent calendar to do together. As they do the activities, they start to grow closer. With Christmas closing in, will they each have a bigger gift to unwrap?
This is a grumpy/sunshine trope at face value. It is deeper than that for both Anna and Luke. They have both just been dealt a hard hand. Luke is not new to loss but it is harder for Anna. They play off each other well. Anna is not afraid to express herself which I really liked. There was a lot of tension between the two of them. I really enjoyed the spice and the longing. There were some side characters but this book is really just about Anna and Luke.
Trigger warning: there is loss to cancer mentioned a lot in this book. It is talked about freely and it really hit me how open and raw the emotions are. I cried several times.
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper, and Kathryn Freeman for the e-ARC. This review is my own opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for a free advance copy audiobook (written by Kathryn Freeman and narrated by Cassandra York) in exchange for an honest review ❤️
This is a heartwarming Christmas novel meant to be enjoyed one chapter a day leading up until Christmas. Or, you can be like me and completely devour it in one day!
Anna's late brother left a homemade Advent calendar of activities for her to do during the first Christmas season without him, but his dying wish insisted that his best friend Luke is a part of each day's activity too. There is friction at first as Anna and Luke battle their differences and deal with their grief, but soon they find themselves growing closer to each other...
This book is filled with holiday activities, character growth and healing, and slow burn heated chemistry. It does get a little sad at times, but overall it is uplifting and reflective. Extra bonus points: there's a cat.
I give this contemporary holiday romance 4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐ and recommend it for those who like a little spice and grumpy sunshine with their Christmas spirit! 🎄
This is a heartwarming Christmas novel meant to be enjoyed one chapter a day leading up until Christmas. Or, you can be like me and completely devour it in one day!
Anna's late brother left a homemade Advent calendar of activities for her to do during the first Christmas season without him, but his dying wish insisted that his best friend Luke is a part of each day's activity too. There is friction at first as Anna and Luke battle their differences and deal with their grief, but soon they find themselves growing closer to each other...
This book is filled with holiday activities, character growth and healing, and slow burn heated chemistry. It does get a little sad at times, but overall it is uplifting and reflective. Extra bonus points: there's a cat.
I give this contemporary holiday romance 4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐ and recommend it for those who like a little spice and grumpy sunshine with their Christmas spirit! 🎄
October 4, 2026
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5/5
The thing that immediately sold me on 25 Dates of Christmas was the format. The book is designed like an advent calendar, with one chapter meant to be read each day leading up to Christmas. It’s such a fun and creative idea for a holiday romance, and I can absolutely see this being a really cute December reading experience. I read it all at once because I had an early copy, but I do think the daily format could add something special to the story.
That said, I think the advent format ended up being a bit of a mixed bag for me. Because every chapter had to correspond to a specific day, a lot of the story felt somewhat disjointed. There were several moments where something would just be getting interesting or an interaction felt like it needed a little more time to play out, only for the chapter to end and suddenly we'd jump to the next day. Some scenes felt abbreviated or left hanging simply because the story had to move on to the next date. I can see how this might feel more natural when reading one chapter each day, but reading it all at once made those abrupt transitions stand out even more.
I also wasn't completely sold on the conflict keeping Anna and Luke apart. There was clearly chemistry between them, and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop, but the reason they couldn't just be together felt a little forced at times. I wanted a bit more development there to really understand why they were holding themselves back (or, more accurately, Luke was holding himself back).
There were still plenty of things I enjoyed, though. The book made me laugh more than I expected, and Pearl was easily one of my favorite characters. Every time she showed up, she brought so much personality and humor to the story.
I also appreciated how grief was handled throughout the book. Colin's absence is really at the heart of the story, and I liked that the romance didn't completely overshadow the emotional journey Anna was going through.
Overall, this was a cute and cozy holiday romance with a genuinely unique concept. I think the advent-calendar structure is both its biggest strength and, unfortunately, one of its biggest weaknesses. There were moments when I wished the story could slow down and let certain scenes and relationships breathe a little more. Still, there was plenty of charm, humor, chemistry, and holiday atmosphere to make this an enjoyable read—especially if you're looking for something different to read during the holiday season.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy!
The thing that immediately sold me on 25 Dates of Christmas was the format. The book is designed like an advent calendar, with one chapter meant to be read each day leading up to Christmas. It’s such a fun and creative idea for a holiday romance, and I can absolutely see this being a really cute December reading experience. I read it all at once because I had an early copy, but I do think the daily format could add something special to the story.
That said, I think the advent format ended up being a bit of a mixed bag for me. Because every chapter had to correspond to a specific day, a lot of the story felt somewhat disjointed. There were several moments where something would just be getting interesting or an interaction felt like it needed a little more time to play out, only for the chapter to end and suddenly we'd jump to the next day. Some scenes felt abbreviated or left hanging simply because the story had to move on to the next date. I can see how this might feel more natural when reading one chapter each day, but reading it all at once made those abrupt transitions stand out even more.
I also wasn't completely sold on the conflict keeping Anna and Luke apart. There was clearly chemistry between them, and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop, but the reason they couldn't just be together felt a little forced at times. I wanted a bit more development there to really understand why they were holding themselves back (or, more accurately, Luke was holding himself back).
There were still plenty of things I enjoyed, though. The book made me laugh more than I expected, and Pearl was easily one of my favorite characters. Every time she showed up, she brought so much personality and humor to the story.
I also appreciated how grief was handled throughout the book. Colin's absence is really at the heart of the story, and I liked that the romance didn't completely overshadow the emotional journey Anna was going through.
Overall, this was a cute and cozy holiday romance with a genuinely unique concept. I think the advent-calendar structure is both its biggest strength and, unfortunately, one of its biggest weaknesses. There were moments when I wished the story could slow down and let certain scenes and relationships breathe a little more. Still, there was plenty of charm, humor, chemistry, and holiday atmosphere to make this an enjoyable read—especially if you're looking for something different to read during the holiday season.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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 📚
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Colin spends this entire book not technically being in it, and somehow he's still the busiest character. This man had exactly one dying wish, and it was apparently, "I'm tired of watching my favorite idiots avoid their feelings." So now Anna and Luke have twenty-five Christmas activities to survive together, despite the fact that they can barely make it through a conversation without somebody getting annoyed.
Anna and Luke have the exact dynamic where everyone else can see they're grieving the same person while they're busy arguing over literally everything else. Luke walks around acting like emotions are a communicable disease, and Anna is trying so hard to hold herself together that she's running on fumes. Neither one of them knows what to do with the fact that the only person who truly understood their grief... is the reason they're together in the first place.
I actually loved the advent calendar idea. Every day Colin has another little challenge waiting for them, and it feels less like he's playing matchmaker and more like he's refusing to let either of them disappear into their sadness. Some of the dates are funny, some are awkward, some force them completely out of their comfort zones, and every single one comes with this bittersweet reminder that Colin knew these two so well. It honestly made me emotional more than once.
Now... I also have to admit I possessed exactly zero self-control. This book politely asks you to read one chapter a day like a proper advent calendar. Reader, I lasted approximately no time at all. The stickers became less of a reading schedule and more of a personal challenge that I immediately failed. Apparently delayed gratification is not one of my Christmas virtues.
Luke spends a good chunk of this book pretending he's just naturally grumpy, but this man is carrying enough emotional baggage to qualify for excess luggage fees. Anna isn't fooled, even when she'd probably like to be. The banter between them eventually finds its rhythm, and once they stop treating every conversation like a competition, you finally get to see why Colin believed they needed each other in the first place.
Can we also please talk about Pearl? Every time she wandered onto the page I perked up because she has absolutely decided that being an elderly neighbor means she gets front-row seats to everyone else's romantic nonsense. She is having the time of her life while these two are overthinking eye contact, and honestly, good for her.
I did find myself wishing the adventures had a little more room to breathe. A few of them were so sweet that I wanted to linger there longer before we were already opening the next day. And early on, Anna and Luke spend so much time circling each other that I kept wanting to lock them in Colin's apartment until somebody admitted an actual feeling instead of another sarcastic comment.
But the thing that stayed with me wasn't even the romance. It was grief. Fresh grief is weird. It doesn't care that it's Christmas. It doesn't care that there are lights everywhere or cookies in the oven. This book lets both Anna and Luke be messy about it in completely different ways, and I really liked that neither one was treated as the "right" way to mourn. Colin's final gift wasn't really twenty-five dates. It was permission to keep living without feeling guilty about it.
This ended up being cozy, emotional, a little uneven in places, and full of enough Christmas magic to make me smile anyway. I loved the concept, I loved Colin's posthumous meddling, and by the end I was completely rooting for these two emotionally constipated disasters. A cozy 3.5 stars from me.
Merry Mayhem Prize: For Most Elaborate Posthumous Matchmaking Scheme and Proving That Even Death Couldn't Stop One Man From Meddling.
And thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC. I came expecting a cute Christmas romance and instead got emotionally manipulated by a dead brother with an advent calendar. Respectfully... that was incredibly rude of all of you.
Anna and Luke have the exact dynamic where everyone else can see they're grieving the same person while they're busy arguing over literally everything else. Luke walks around acting like emotions are a communicable disease, and Anna is trying so hard to hold herself together that she's running on fumes. Neither one of them knows what to do with the fact that the only person who truly understood their grief... is the reason they're together in the first place.
I actually loved the advent calendar idea. Every day Colin has another little challenge waiting for them, and it feels less like he's playing matchmaker and more like he's refusing to let either of them disappear into their sadness. Some of the dates are funny, some are awkward, some force them completely out of their comfort zones, and every single one comes with this bittersweet reminder that Colin knew these two so well. It honestly made me emotional more than once.
Now... I also have to admit I possessed exactly zero self-control. This book politely asks you to read one chapter a day like a proper advent calendar. Reader, I lasted approximately no time at all. The stickers became less of a reading schedule and more of a personal challenge that I immediately failed. Apparently delayed gratification is not one of my Christmas virtues.
Luke spends a good chunk of this book pretending he's just naturally grumpy, but this man is carrying enough emotional baggage to qualify for excess luggage fees. Anna isn't fooled, even when she'd probably like to be. The banter between them eventually finds its rhythm, and once they stop treating every conversation like a competition, you finally get to see why Colin believed they needed each other in the first place.
Can we also please talk about Pearl? Every time she wandered onto the page I perked up because she has absolutely decided that being an elderly neighbor means she gets front-row seats to everyone else's romantic nonsense. She is having the time of her life while these two are overthinking eye contact, and honestly, good for her.
I did find myself wishing the adventures had a little more room to breathe. A few of them were so sweet that I wanted to linger there longer before we were already opening the next day. And early on, Anna and Luke spend so much time circling each other that I kept wanting to lock them in Colin's apartment until somebody admitted an actual feeling instead of another sarcastic comment.
But the thing that stayed with me wasn't even the romance. It was grief. Fresh grief is weird. It doesn't care that it's Christmas. It doesn't care that there are lights everywhere or cookies in the oven. This book lets both Anna and Luke be messy about it in completely different ways, and I really liked that neither one was treated as the "right" way to mourn. Colin's final gift wasn't really twenty-five dates. It was permission to keep living without feeling guilty about it.
This ended up being cozy, emotional, a little uneven in places, and full of enough Christmas magic to make me smile anyway. I loved the concept, I loved Colin's posthumous meddling, and by the end I was completely rooting for these two emotionally constipated disasters. A cozy 3.5 stars from me.
Merry Mayhem Prize: For Most Elaborate Posthumous Matchmaking Scheme and Proving That Even Death Couldn't Stop One Man From Meddling.
And thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC. I came expecting a cute Christmas romance and instead got emotionally manipulated by a dead brother with an advent calendar. Respectfully... that was incredibly rude of all of you.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🎄❤️ 25 Dates of Christmas by Kathryn Freeman 🎁✨
25 days. One Christmas countdown. Two people who can barely tolerate each other. And a whole lot of unexpected feelings! 🎅🏻💕
Someone grab me a peppermint mocha, a fuzzy blanket, and my Christmas pajamas because this book is giving me ALL the holiday feels! ☕❄️
Meet Anna, a woman who normally loves Christmas but is struggling to find any holiday cheer after losing her beloved brother, Colin. 💔
Then there's Luke, Colin's handsome, arrogant, emotionally unavailable best friend. You know the type. The kind of fictional man who makes you want to shake him by the shoulders while simultaneously wondering why he's so attractive. 😂🔥
Before passing away, Colin leaves them one final gift: an Advent calendar filled with daily adventures they must complete together leading up to Christmas.
Sounds adorable, right?
Well, there's just one tiny problem.
ANNA AND LUKE DON'T EXACTLY LIKE EACH OTHER. 🤣
Nothing screams Christmas spirit quite like being forced to spend 25 days with someone who gets on your last nerve!
But as they work through Colin's thoughtful challenges, something begins to change. Between the awkward moments, playful banter, emotional conversations, and unexpected sparks, these two slowly discover that maybe they've misunderstood each other all along. 🥹❤️
What makes this story especially sweet is that it's not just about falling in love. It's about grief, healing, finding joy again, and learning that even when someone we love is gone, the love they leave behind can still bring beautiful things into our lives.
And can we talk about the Advent calendar concept?! 🎁
The story is designed so you can read a chapter each day leading up to Christmas, which is such an adorable idea!
Although, let's be serious for a second. Me? Reading only ONE chapter a day?!
HAHAHAHA. That's cute. 😂📚
My Kindle and I have absolutely no self-control, especially when there's a grumpy man slowly developing feelings involved.
I also love that this isn't just a fluffy Christmas romance. There are some genuinely emotional moments woven between the festive adventures, giving the story a little extra heart. ❤️🩹
Final thoughts: A sweet, emotional holiday romance filled with grumpy-meets-sunshine energy, unexpected love, heartfelt moments, and a beautiful reminder that Christmas magic sometimes comes in the most unexpected packages. 🎄💕
And here I am, still in October, living in Florida where it's basically summer year-round, mentally putting up my Christmas decorations and wishing for snow. 😂🌴❄️
Moral of the story: Sometimes the best Christmas gift isn't wrapped under the tree. Sometimes it's an annoyingly handsome man who turns out to be exactly what your heart needed. 🎁💋
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Kathryn Freeman for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review! 💕
#25DatesOfChristmas #KathrynFreeman #NetGalley #ARCReview #Bookstagram #ChristmasRomance #HolidayReads2026 #EnemiesToLovers #GrumpySunshine #ChristmasBooks #HolidayRomance #FestiveReads #RomanceBooks #BookReview #ChristmasMagic
25 days. One Christmas countdown. Two people who can barely tolerate each other. And a whole lot of unexpected feelings! 🎅🏻💕
Someone grab me a peppermint mocha, a fuzzy blanket, and my Christmas pajamas because this book is giving me ALL the holiday feels! ☕❄️
Meet Anna, a woman who normally loves Christmas but is struggling to find any holiday cheer after losing her beloved brother, Colin. 💔
Then there's Luke, Colin's handsome, arrogant, emotionally unavailable best friend. You know the type. The kind of fictional man who makes you want to shake him by the shoulders while simultaneously wondering why he's so attractive. 😂🔥
Before passing away, Colin leaves them one final gift: an Advent calendar filled with daily adventures they must complete together leading up to Christmas.
Sounds adorable, right?
Well, there's just one tiny problem.
ANNA AND LUKE DON'T EXACTLY LIKE EACH OTHER. 🤣
Nothing screams Christmas spirit quite like being forced to spend 25 days with someone who gets on your last nerve!
But as they work through Colin's thoughtful challenges, something begins to change. Between the awkward moments, playful banter, emotional conversations, and unexpected sparks, these two slowly discover that maybe they've misunderstood each other all along. 🥹❤️
What makes this story especially sweet is that it's not just about falling in love. It's about grief, healing, finding joy again, and learning that even when someone we love is gone, the love they leave behind can still bring beautiful things into our lives.
And can we talk about the Advent calendar concept?! 🎁
The story is designed so you can read a chapter each day leading up to Christmas, which is such an adorable idea!
Although, let's be serious for a second. Me? Reading only ONE chapter a day?!
HAHAHAHA. That's cute. 😂📚
My Kindle and I have absolutely no self-control, especially when there's a grumpy man slowly developing feelings involved.
I also love that this isn't just a fluffy Christmas romance. There are some genuinely emotional moments woven between the festive adventures, giving the story a little extra heart. ❤️🩹
Final thoughts: A sweet, emotional holiday romance filled with grumpy-meets-sunshine energy, unexpected love, heartfelt moments, and a beautiful reminder that Christmas magic sometimes comes in the most unexpected packages. 🎄💕
And here I am, still in October, living in Florida where it's basically summer year-round, mentally putting up my Christmas decorations and wishing for snow. 😂🌴❄️
Moral of the story: Sometimes the best Christmas gift isn't wrapped under the tree. Sometimes it's an annoyingly handsome man who turns out to be exactly what your heart needed. 🎁💋
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Kathryn Freeman for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review! 💕
#25DatesOfChristmas #KathrynFreeman #NetGalley #ARCReview #Bookstagram #ChristmasRomance #HolidayReads2026 #EnemiesToLovers #GrumpySunshine #ChristmasBooks #HolidayRomance #FestiveReads #RomanceBooks #BookReview #ChristmasMagic
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
October 9, 2026
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️ 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!
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!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved this book. It's a cute, cozy Christmas romance, and the idea of reading one chapter a day through December is great. Each chapter felt like its own little holiday moment, and all the Christmas activities made me want to curl up under a blanket with a warm drink.
I didn't expect this much heart under the romance. The grief, the healing, and slowly letting yourself love again really got me. The relationship between a man's sister and his best friend had hurt and history in it, plus SO much tension. And when that tension started turning into something more... whew. The spice and chemistry were FIRE.
The audiobook made it even better. The British and American voices made the characters easy to tell apart, and each one had their own personality. I could hear their relationship change in the narration, from the hurt and almost-enemies feeling to the awkward little moments, then the attraction, and eventually something much deeper. I felt it, not just heard it.
I loved the pauses in the awkward and tense scenes. Sometimes that tiny hesitation said as much as the words. I laughed, I cried, I smiled like an idiot, and there were definitely moments when I was sitting there yelling JUST KISS ALREADY. 😂
It's also built well for audio. Every chapter has a clear start and finish, so I never got confused moving from one day to the next, and the short sections make it a fun Advent listen. I'd recommend the audiobook for this one. Hearing the characters' thoughts and chemistry made the romance feel more real.
Cozy, emotional, spicy, and I'm already thinking about making this a December tradition.
I didn't expect this much heart under the romance. The grief, the healing, and slowly letting yourself love again really got me. The relationship between a man's sister and his best friend had hurt and history in it, plus SO much tension. And when that tension started turning into something more... whew. The spice and chemistry were FIRE.
The audiobook made it even better. The British and American voices made the characters easy to tell apart, and each one had their own personality. I could hear their relationship change in the narration, from the hurt and almost-enemies feeling to the awkward little moments, then the attraction, and eventually something much deeper. I felt it, not just heard it.
I loved the pauses in the awkward and tense scenes. Sometimes that tiny hesitation said as much as the words. I laughed, I cried, I smiled like an idiot, and there were definitely moments when I was sitting there yelling JUST KISS ALREADY. 😂
It's also built well for audio. Every chapter has a clear start and finish, so I never got confused moving from one day to the next, and the short sections make it a fun Advent listen. I'd recommend the audiobook for this one. Hearing the characters' thoughts and chemistry made the romance feel more real.
Cozy, emotional, spicy, and I'm already thinking about making this a December tradition.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Looking for a sweet holiday tale, with happy tears, lovable characters, moments of grief, gratitude, and growth with added moments of spice as a perfect complement the sweetest? Look no further than “25 Dates of Christmas”!
“25 Dates of Christmas” by Kathryn Freeman follows Anna and Luke who receive an advent calendar made by Anna’s late brother, Colin. Each day the pair is sent on mundane holiday activities, which quickly turn into adventures both physically and mentally. Each chapter is a new opportunity for Luke and Anna to grieve, grow, and learn to lean on each other throughout the process. I immensely enjoyed three enemies-to-lovers arc and both of their character growth.
I adore the concept of reading a chapter a day like the audiobook version of an advent calendar, but this book was far too addicting! I listened to it in one sitting! Certainly if I wasn’t listening as an ALC, I would have tried the cutest idea of a chapter a day to keep me in the holiday spirit!
The narration by Cassandra York had me smiling and laughing out loud throughout the whole novel! She hit every emotional beat with heart and soul while remaining upbeat and positive throughout the whole novel.
Thank you, Kathryn Freeman for highlighting the unfortunate fact that far too many young people are being diagnosed with late stage colon cancer.
Themes/Tropes:
-Cozy Holiday Romance
-Grumpy x Sunshine
-Brother’s Best Friend
-Broody British MMC
-Forced Proximity
-Enemies-to-Lovers
-So Much Banter
Thank you to Kathryn Freeman and HarperAudio for this advance listener copy! You’re certainly put me in the holiday spirit!
“25 Dates of Christmas” by Kathryn Freeman follows Anna and Luke who receive an advent calendar made by Anna’s late brother, Colin. Each day the pair is sent on mundane holiday activities, which quickly turn into adventures both physically and mentally. Each chapter is a new opportunity for Luke and Anna to grieve, grow, and learn to lean on each other throughout the process. I immensely enjoyed three enemies-to-lovers arc and both of their character growth.
I adore the concept of reading a chapter a day like the audiobook version of an advent calendar, but this book was far too addicting! I listened to it in one sitting! Certainly if I wasn’t listening as an ALC, I would have tried the cutest idea of a chapter a day to keep me in the holiday spirit!
The narration by Cassandra York had me smiling and laughing out loud throughout the whole novel! She hit every emotional beat with heart and soul while remaining upbeat and positive throughout the whole novel.
Thank you, Kathryn Freeman for highlighting the unfortunate fact that far too many young people are being diagnosed with late stage colon cancer.
Themes/Tropes:
-Cozy Holiday Romance
-Grumpy x Sunshine
-Brother’s Best Friend
-Broody British MMC
-Forced Proximity
-Enemies-to-Lovers
-So Much Banter
Thank you to Kathryn Freeman and HarperAudio for this advance listener copy! You’re certainly put me in the holiday spirit!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC audio- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 25 Dates of Christmas by Kathryn Freeman
Publication Date: October 27, 2026
Format: Audiobook 🎧
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Medium
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers • Slow Burn • Christmas Romance
This book was the perfect combination of cute, witty, and unexpectedly emotional! ❤️🎄
Anna and Luke are an enemies-to-lovers pairing that had me completely hooked. When Anna’s late brother Collin, who was also Luke’s best friend, leaves them an advent calendar filled with tasks he wanted them to complete before Christmas, they find themselves counting down the days in a way neither of them expected.
The slow burn was SO good, the banter was fantastic, and the chemistry was adorable! The romance had just the right amount of spice, and I absolutely fell in love with these characters.
And can we talk about the audiobook?! I LOVED the narrator, especially her British male accent! So good! 😍🎧 She made an already enjoyable story even better.
Beneath all the humor and Christmas charm was a thread of sadness that made the story even more meaningful. Collin’s presence was felt throughout, and the emotional moments added so much heart to the romance.
I was completely addicted to this one! It made me smile, gave me a few emotional moments, and reminded me how love and grief can exist alongside each other.
If you love slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romances, witty banter, medium spice, lovable characters, and a little emotional depth wrapped in a Christmas countdown, put this one on your holiday reading list! 🎅🏻❤️
Five stars from me! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Publication Date: October 27, 2026
Format: Audiobook 🎧
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Medium
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers • Slow Burn • Christmas Romance
This book was the perfect combination of cute, witty, and unexpectedly emotional! ❤️🎄
Anna and Luke are an enemies-to-lovers pairing that had me completely hooked. When Anna’s late brother Collin, who was also Luke’s best friend, leaves them an advent calendar filled with tasks he wanted them to complete before Christmas, they find themselves counting down the days in a way neither of them expected.
The slow burn was SO good, the banter was fantastic, and the chemistry was adorable! The romance had just the right amount of spice, and I absolutely fell in love with these characters.
And can we talk about the audiobook?! I LOVED the narrator, especially her British male accent! So good! 😍🎧 She made an already enjoyable story even better.
Beneath all the humor and Christmas charm was a thread of sadness that made the story even more meaningful. Collin’s presence was felt throughout, and the emotional moments added so much heart to the romance.
I was completely addicted to this one! It made me smile, gave me a few emotional moments, and reminded me how love and grief can exist alongside each other.
If you love slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romances, witty banter, medium spice, lovable characters, and a little emotional depth wrapped in a Christmas countdown, put this one on your holiday reading list! 🎅🏻❤️
Five stars from me! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Anna just lost her brother… a month before Christmas.
She is devastated. He was her best friend.
But she comes to find that he’s left her one final gift. An advent calendar that she needs to go through every day, with his best friend, Luke, and carry out all the things he’s set up for them to do. His last wish before he died,
And so, the two of them, who really don’t care for each other at all…set off to do this together.
They are both living in his old house, that he left to Anna.
The funny thing is, the more time they spend together, the more they learn about each other… and the closer they seem to be getting. Even though they are both still heavily grieving, they seem to be making a little bit of progress… and sometimes, they even seem to be making some happy memories!
This was sweet. Sad. Enlightening. Funny. And so much more!
#25DatesOfChristmas by @KathrynFreeman and narrated beautifully by @CassandraYork. (Wow. I thought it was more than one narrator, so kudos to Cassandra!)
4 bright, beautiful stars for me!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟
This one HAS NOT been released yet! Look 👀 for it on 10/27/26!
Thanks so much to #NetGalley, @HarperAudioAdult and @AvonA for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!
And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️📖🩷
She is devastated. He was her best friend.
But she comes to find that he’s left her one final gift. An advent calendar that she needs to go through every day, with his best friend, Luke, and carry out all the things he’s set up for them to do. His last wish before he died,
And so, the two of them, who really don’t care for each other at all…set off to do this together.
They are both living in his old house, that he left to Anna.
The funny thing is, the more time they spend together, the more they learn about each other… and the closer they seem to be getting. Even though they are both still heavily grieving, they seem to be making a little bit of progress… and sometimes, they even seem to be making some happy memories!
This was sweet. Sad. Enlightening. Funny. And so much more!
#25DatesOfChristmas by @KathrynFreeman and narrated beautifully by @CassandraYork. (Wow. I thought it was more than one narrator, so kudos to Cassandra!)
4 bright, beautiful stars for me!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟
This one HAS NOT been released yet! Look 👀 for it on 10/27/26!
Thanks so much to #NetGalley, @HarperAudioAdult and @AvonA for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!
And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️📖🩷
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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!
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!
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