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F##k It, It’s Christmas
Not yet published
Expected 10 Nov 26Does the mere thought of another year of Elf on the Shelf bring you out in hives? Join the club. It’s time to say F##k It to the "perfect" Christmas . . .
It’s the most wonderful time of the year . . . until your kids believe in Santa a little too literally, the elf on the shelf starts a war with your garden gnomes, and your passive-aggressive sister-in-law arrives with a pre-prepped cranberry compote and an air of effortless superiority.
Meet a mother of two who is at the end of her rope. She’s struggling to live up to the festive standards of her social circle when all she really wants for Christmas is five minutes of peace.
With a disastrously bad family Christmas already brewing, Laurie must make a decision that will define their entire holiday.
Should she double down on her festive cheer and try to save the day? Or finally burn the Pinterest board and lean into the glorious f##king chaos that makes it truly magical.
A laugh-out-loud novel for every woman who knows that an imperfect Christmas is the only kind worth having . . . perfect for fans of Motherland, The F##k It List and Why Mummy Drinks at Christmas.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year . . . until your kids believe in Santa a little too literally, the elf on the shelf starts a war with your garden gnomes, and your passive-aggressive sister-in-law arrives with a pre-prepped cranberry compote and an air of effortless superiority.
Meet a mother of two who is at the end of her rope. She’s struggling to live up to the festive standards of her social circle when all she really wants for Christmas is five minutes of peace.
With a disastrously bad family Christmas already brewing, Laurie must make a decision that will define their entire holiday.
Should she double down on her festive cheer and try to save the day? Or finally burn the Pinterest board and lean into the glorious f##king chaos that makes it truly magical.
A laugh-out-loud novel for every woman who knows that an imperfect Christmas is the only kind worth having . . . perfect for fans of Motherland, The F##k It List and Why Mummy Drinks at Christmas.
- GenresChristmas
265 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I felt this book in my SOUL. As a woman, as a mum, as someone who knows the absolute chaos of trying to make Christmas magical for everyone while slowly losing your own mind... I have never felt so SEEN.
Laurie is a mum of two and she's at the end of her rope. The mental load, the overwhelm, the endless expectations, the family drama. ALL OF IT.And honestly, I was physically laughing out loud at parts of this book. It's painfully relatable, a little dark and SO funny.
The female friendships were so perfect too, but the family dynamics were actually some of my favourite bits. The seemingly perfect sister-in-law, the constant comparisons, the pressure we put on ourselves and the pressure everyone else piles on too. I just wanted to give Laurie a hug. And possibly a very large glass of wine.
It's festive, but not in that picture-perfect, cosy Christmas romance way. More in the *there are 40000 things to do, everyone's got an opinion, and why does school ask for another thing this close to breaking up for the holidays and thank GOD for M&S picky bits* kind of way. But also, those absolute FML, it's gone wrong moments too...
But underneath all the chaos, there's alot of warmth and something really lovely about letting go of expectations and realising Christmas doesn't have to be perfect.
Funny, honest, chaotic and wonderfully human. I absolutely loved this one. And honestly? F**k it, it's Christmas.
Laurie is a mum of two and she's at the end of her rope. The mental load, the overwhelm, the endless expectations, the family drama. ALL OF IT.And honestly, I was physically laughing out loud at parts of this book. It's painfully relatable, a little dark and SO funny.
The female friendships were so perfect too, but the family dynamics were actually some of my favourite bits. The seemingly perfect sister-in-law, the constant comparisons, the pressure we put on ourselves and the pressure everyone else piles on too. I just wanted to give Laurie a hug. And possibly a very large glass of wine.
It's festive, but not in that picture-perfect, cosy Christmas romance way. More in the *there are 40000 things to do, everyone's got an opinion, and why does school ask for another thing this close to breaking up for the holidays and thank GOD for M&S picky bits* kind of way. But also, those absolute FML, it's gone wrong moments too...
But underneath all the chaos, there's alot of warmth and something really lovely about letting go of expectations and realising Christmas doesn't have to be perfect.
Funny, honest, chaotic and wonderfully human. I absolutely loved this one. And honestly? F**k it, it's Christmas.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of *F##k It, It’s Christmas* before publication. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
I really enjoyed this. *F##k It, It’s Christmas* is funny, chaotic and painfully relatable in the best possible way. Laurie is a working mother of two who is trying to create the perfect Christmas while juggling children, family, work, endless festive expectations and the general mental load that somehow seems to fall on her. All she really wants is five minutes of peace, but Christmas has other ideas.
What made me enjoy it so much was how recognisable so many of the situations felt. The pressure to make Christmas magical, organise everything, remember everything and somehow look cheerful while doing it is captured brilliantly. Laurie’s increasingly fed-up inner monologue made me laugh because you can completely understand how she gets to the point of thinking: enough, I’m done trying to make everything perfect.
The family dynamics were probably my favourite part. When her seemingly perfect sister-in-law enters the picture, complete with her effortless Christmas organisation, the comparison and tension become even funnier. There is plenty of chaos, but underneath the humour the book makes a very real point about how much pressure women place on themselves — and how much is placed on them by everyone else — to produce a flawless Christmas.
I also liked that it is not really about giving up on Christmas at all. It is more about letting go of the ridiculous expectations around it and remembering that the imperfect, messy moments are often the ones people actually remember. The message is quite simple, but it works because the book delivers it with humour rather than becoming overly sentimental.
There were a couple of moments where the chaos and jokes felt slightly repetitive, which is probably the only thing stopping me from giving it a full five stars. But overall, I had such a good time reading this. It was light, funny, warm and exactly the kind of book I can imagine picking up when you want something festive without the overly perfect Christmas-card version of the season.
Overall, *F##k It, It’s Christmas* was genuinely funny, incredibly relatable and surprisingly comforting. It made me laugh, but it also made a very good point about lowering expectations, letting go of perfection and actually allowing yourself to enjoy Christmas too. A brilliant festive read for anyone who has ever reached December and thought: f##k it, it’s Christmas.
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this. *F##k It, It’s Christmas* is funny, chaotic and painfully relatable in the best possible way. Laurie is a working mother of two who is trying to create the perfect Christmas while juggling children, family, work, endless festive expectations and the general mental load that somehow seems to fall on her. All she really wants is five minutes of peace, but Christmas has other ideas.
What made me enjoy it so much was how recognisable so many of the situations felt. The pressure to make Christmas magical, organise everything, remember everything and somehow look cheerful while doing it is captured brilliantly. Laurie’s increasingly fed-up inner monologue made me laugh because you can completely understand how she gets to the point of thinking: enough, I’m done trying to make everything perfect.
The family dynamics were probably my favourite part. When her seemingly perfect sister-in-law enters the picture, complete with her effortless Christmas organisation, the comparison and tension become even funnier. There is plenty of chaos, but underneath the humour the book makes a very real point about how much pressure women place on themselves — and how much is placed on them by everyone else — to produce a flawless Christmas.
I also liked that it is not really about giving up on Christmas at all. It is more about letting go of the ridiculous expectations around it and remembering that the imperfect, messy moments are often the ones people actually remember. The message is quite simple, but it works because the book delivers it with humour rather than becoming overly sentimental.
There were a couple of moments where the chaos and jokes felt slightly repetitive, which is probably the only thing stopping me from giving it a full five stars. But overall, I had such a good time reading this. It was light, funny, warm and exactly the kind of book I can imagine picking up when you want something festive without the overly perfect Christmas-card version of the season.
Overall, *F##k It, It’s Christmas* was genuinely funny, incredibly relatable and surprisingly comforting. It made me laugh, but it also made a very good point about lowering expectations, letting go of perfection and actually allowing yourself to enjoy Christmas too. A brilliant festive read for anyone who has ever reached December and thought: f##k it, it’s Christmas.
4.5 stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The story follows Laurie, a working mother of two who is completely overwhelmed by the crushing expectations of the holiday season. Faced with an impending, disastrous family gathering, Laurie chooses to ditch her color-coded spreadsheets, burn her Pinterest boards, and embrace the festive chaos in her pajamas.
Atwood captures the exhausting mental load that women carry during the holidays in a really good way - and I think we can all relate to thie pre-Christmas time. Laurie’s internal monologues and desperate cravings for a quiet cup of coffee (with a heavy splash of Baileys) are truly sharp and funny.
The core message—prioritizing personal sanity over an idealized, picture-perfect holiday—feels like a warm hug for anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by December obligations - just like me, for example.
The plot progression follows a very standard contemporary commercial fiction formula. A few supporting characters, like the overachieving family members, border on one-dimensional stereotypes used purely to heighten Laurie’s stress. The middle portion of the book gets slightly bogged down in repetitive complaints about holiday chores before reaching the climax.
While it does not reinvent the holiday fiction genre, "F##k It, It’s Christmas" is a fun, breezy read that will make you feel seen and understood. It is the perfect literary escape to pack in your bag for the holiday season—just pair it with a strong drink and zero expectations of perfection.
Atwood captures the exhausting mental load that women carry during the holidays in a really good way - and I think we can all relate to thie pre-Christmas time. Laurie’s internal monologues and desperate cravings for a quiet cup of coffee (with a heavy splash of Baileys) are truly sharp and funny.
The core message—prioritizing personal sanity over an idealized, picture-perfect holiday—feels like a warm hug for anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by December obligations - just like me, for example.
The plot progression follows a very standard contemporary commercial fiction formula. A few supporting characters, like the overachieving family members, border on one-dimensional stereotypes used purely to heighten Laurie’s stress. The middle portion of the book gets slightly bogged down in repetitive complaints about holiday chores before reaching the climax.
While it does not reinvent the holiday fiction genre, "F##k It, It’s Christmas" is a fun, breezy read that will make you feel seen and understood. It is the perfect literary escape to pack in your bag for the holiday season—just pair it with a strong drink and zero expectations of perfection.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
From start to finish this had me giggling, and nodding and empathising and generally loving every single moment of this.
I love books featuring rather hectic mums that think they need to be perfect when instead they are face with the messy reality of life, and in this instance Christmas!
And Laurie is the master of the motherly internal rant. They were brilliant, and I can imagine women of all ages especially if you have kids, or extended family to stay at Christmas, nodding in total and utter recognition of just about everything Laurie thinks.
She is wonderful and to say for all of her intentions of planning and having a properly organised Christmas, that nothing goes according to the plan she never had time to prepare. She is just barely surviving, and her husband doesn't seem to be much help at all.
Her kids are fun, although like just about any book of this trope, there were a couple of inevitable scenes with far too many bodily fluids for my liking. And they always seem to occur while I'm reading while eating!!
I feel like Laurie could be me if I had ever had kids. I loved how her attitude changes over the course of this book, especially towards the big day itself but also towards "Perfect Clara" her sister in law.
This is easily one of the best books I've read for a while, and should be a must read on festive TBRs for this year.
Thank you to Pan and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
I love books featuring rather hectic mums that think they need to be perfect when instead they are face with the messy reality of life, and in this instance Christmas!
And Laurie is the master of the motherly internal rant. They were brilliant, and I can imagine women of all ages especially if you have kids, or extended family to stay at Christmas, nodding in total and utter recognition of just about everything Laurie thinks.
She is wonderful and to say for all of her intentions of planning and having a properly organised Christmas, that nothing goes according to the plan she never had time to prepare. She is just barely surviving, and her husband doesn't seem to be much help at all.
Her kids are fun, although like just about any book of this trope, there were a couple of inevitable scenes with far too many bodily fluids for my liking. And they always seem to occur while I'm reading while eating!!
I feel like Laurie could be me if I had ever had kids. I loved how her attitude changes over the course of this book, especially towards the big day itself but also towards "Perfect Clara" her sister in law.
This is easily one of the best books I've read for a while, and should be a must read on festive TBRs for this year.
Thank you to Pan and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
F##ck It, It’s Christmas is a highly relatable read!!
Laurie is a school teacher with two children, Christmas is coming and with it comes her sister in law and husband and two children and they are the perfect family. Nothing Laurie does will be good enough for them when they come for Christmas Day. Mix in the stresses of Christmas itself it’s no wonder Laurie is having a meltdown and just wants a quiet few minutes on her own.
This was a really funny but relatable read. Laurie was a good lead character and depicts the stresses of Christmas well. Her internal thoughts were funny but again totally relatable, she highlights what we all try and do and that is make everything perfect but nearly kill yourself in the process, perfect decorations, perfect presents, perfect food and drink. The tension between Laurie and her sister in law was well written and added a different stressful dimension. A book I really enjoyed reading, finding out I’m not the only one that stresses over one day was a relief!!
I would like to thank NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.
Laurie is a school teacher with two children, Christmas is coming and with it comes her sister in law and husband and two children and they are the perfect family. Nothing Laurie does will be good enough for them when they come for Christmas Day. Mix in the stresses of Christmas itself it’s no wonder Laurie is having a meltdown and just wants a quiet few minutes on her own.
This was a really funny but relatable read. Laurie was a good lead character and depicts the stresses of Christmas well. Her internal thoughts were funny but again totally relatable, she highlights what we all try and do and that is make everything perfect but nearly kill yourself in the process, perfect decorations, perfect presents, perfect food and drink. The tension between Laurie and her sister in law was well written and added a different stressful dimension. A book I really enjoyed reading, finding out I’m not the only one that stresses over one day was a relief!!
I would like to thank NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
It may only be October, but I'm already excited for my favourite time of year .... And if you are anything like me, who gets caught up in it all and wants to make it perfect, then F**k it, it's Christmas by Holly Atwood will feel all too relatable - and make you laugh!
Laurie is a teacher and mother of two has enough on her plate without the pressure that Christmas brings - and when you've got an apparently domestic goddess of a a sister in law and her family coming to stay, the fear of being judged is real. And her husband is a bit oblivious and not a great deal of help.
We are treated to Laurie's entertaining internal monologue as, despite best intentions, nothing goes quite to plan .... But Laurie comes to realise that picture-perfect often isn't all that it seems, and sometimes letting go makes for more fun for everyone!
If you're looking for an entertaining and easy read in the run up to the festive season, and one that so many will relate to, then add this to your Christmas TBR!
Laurie is a teacher and mother of two has enough on her plate without the pressure that Christmas brings - and when you've got an apparently domestic goddess of a a sister in law and her family coming to stay, the fear of being judged is real. And her husband is a bit oblivious and not a great deal of help.
We are treated to Laurie's entertaining internal monologue as, despite best intentions, nothing goes quite to plan .... But Laurie comes to realise that picture-perfect often isn't all that it seems, and sometimes letting go makes for more fun for everyone!
If you're looking for an entertaining and easy read in the run up to the festive season, and one that so many will relate to, then add this to your Christmas TBR!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🎄 F**k It, It’s Christmas 🎄
Happy Publication Day to Holly Atwood!
Laurie’s voice was so chaotic and so accurate for a perimenopausal mum with a lovely but slightly useless husband and two young kids, trying desperately to create the perfect Christmas… while comparing herself to perfect Instagram accounts and seemingly perfect family members.
At times, it felt like the author had heard my own inner monologue and written it down 😂
It’s funny, engaging and relatable, but also reassuring and heartwarming. We’re all just muddling through trying to make the magic happen.
Just order the mushroom gummies and keep swimming!! 🍄🎄😂
Thank you so much for the ARC, and for making me want to decorate for Christmas in October 🎅🏼
Happy Publication Day to Holly Atwood!
Laurie’s voice was so chaotic and so accurate for a perimenopausal mum with a lovely but slightly useless husband and two young kids, trying desperately to create the perfect Christmas… while comparing herself to perfect Instagram accounts and seemingly perfect family members.
At times, it felt like the author had heard my own inner monologue and written it down 😂
It’s funny, engaging and relatable, but also reassuring and heartwarming. We’re all just muddling through trying to make the magic happen.
Just order the mushroom gummies and keep swimming!! 🍄🎄😂
Thank you so much for the ARC, and for making me want to decorate for Christmas in October 🎅🏼
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you for allowing me to read this pre publication. This is a good one !
If you're always behind, have 45,653 jobs on your list, trying to organise everything and everyone , firslty well done, secondly your probably a woman (sorry men) and thirdly you need to read this book. Funny, sweary, Christmas and family mess that was either relatable or made me sympathise. Messy parenting and trying to do all the things they think they NEED to do at Christmas with chaos along the way. Really great read but now I want the fairy lights.
If you're always behind, have 45,653 jobs on your list, trying to organise everything and everyone , firslty well done, secondly your probably a woman (sorry men) and thirdly you need to read this book. Funny, sweary, Christmas and family mess that was either relatable or made me sympathise. Messy parenting and trying to do all the things they think they NEED to do at Christmas with chaos along the way. Really great read but now I want the fairy lights.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you are after a hilarious read this is the one for you. I literally was laughing the whole way through. Even if you are not a mother, this will have your sides splitting. Laurie is a mother of two who never gets any peace and quiet, coming up to Christmas she is as busier than ever and does not know how she is going to get through Christmas. Parents will be able to relate, Christmas is about spending time with the family and making it fun for everyone. It is just one day remember. I thought it was so funny and light hearted. This is going to be a hit.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Full review to follow on Lyric Lounge Review but a very funny book that had me laughing out loud as we follow the exasperating expectations surrounding Christmas and what happens if you just let all of that go. The characters were well drawn and realistic and the family dynamics created tension effectively, creating a very enjoyable read.
September 30, 2026
Absolutely hilarious! Utter chaos ensues! I ate this book up and would compare it to the series Motherland and similar to the book The Shite Before Christmas. Christmassy and so realistic with how stressful hosting Christmas for family can be. Highly recommend this book if you’re looking for comical writing. This will be a book I return to each Christmas I think!
October 25, 2026
Comical Christmas chaos, exactly the kind of festive read I needed in my life! Relatable and hilarious, I absolutely loved Laurie, her inner monologue providing the thoughts of every perimenopausal mother out there in the lead-up to Christmas. This will have you laughing out loud, a must read for the holiday season!
October 27, 2026
Oh this book was SO good! I read it in two sittings but only because I had to go to bed 🤣 it was hilarious and so bloody relatable! Every single part of this book had me nodding along, going “yep!”. I’ll be recommending this to every woman in my life.
Quite possibly my favourite book of 2026.
Humungous thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for this ARC.
Quite possibly my favourite book of 2026.
Humungous thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really enjoyed this book, it made me laugh out loud. It was real, endearing and I assume most of us can resonate with it. Trying to make everything perfect and the judgement!
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2026
I don’t think I’ve ever laughed out loud at a book as much as I did with this one!! 🤣🤣
Read
November 2, 2026This book is so funny ,couldnt stop laughing 🤣😁😄🤣
November 5, 2026
Absolutely loved this book. It would make a great Christmas movie also I really hope there is a sequel!
I bought it from the airport, not sure it’s fully released, highly recommend, shopaholic vibes
I bought it from the airport, not sure it’s fully released, highly recommend, shopaholic vibes
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews