The Girl Who Ruined Christmas

by Cindy Callaghan

Award-winning middle-grade Christmas novel from the author of  Just Add Magic  and  Saltwater Secrets  . . . . 
Imagine you’re a tween visiting a small town that loves nothing more than its prize fir—a perfect Christmas tree destined for the White House. Now picture yourself accidentally destroying that tree, making you public enemy number one. Lastly, imagine that to repay your debt, you have to remain in said town for the Christmas season.  

That’s what happens to Brady Bancroft. 

When Brady ruins Harper Hollow Fall’s prize tree, she’s sentenced to stay in the holiday-festooned town for the month of December. At first, she couldn’t be more depressed about the whole situation; but during her month there, she is surprised to discover that there’s much more than pine needles to the little town holding her captive. In the end, Harper Hollow Falls reminds Brady of the true meaning of Christmas—and she, in turn, saves the town.

Genres: Christmas, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Holiday, Romance

140 pages, Paperback

Published October 12, 2021

About the author

Cindy Callaghan is an award-winning and producer. She's best knows for Just Add Magic and Just Add Magic 2: Potion Problems which were developed into an Emmy-nominated Amazon Original series distributed worldwide via Nickelodeon. She has also published five mega-popular Lost in books: London, Ireland, Paris, Rome, and Hollywood, and two stand-alones: the award-winning Sydney MacKenzie Knocks ‘Em Dead and Saltwater Secrets. Saltwater Secrets is set up with a major studio.

The Girl Who Ruined Christmas has been an Instagram sensation.

Be on the lookout for My Big Heart-Shaped Fail this fall.

When asked what it is about her books that tweens love, she chuckles and says, “The funny! Without a doubt, it’s the funny situations, characters and dialogue.”

In addition to writing, Cindy’s passions include animal advocacy, running, movie-going, reading, podcasts, wine and girlfriends, all of which take a backseat to her three children, husband and menagerie of rescued-pets.

Cindy holds an MA and MBA, and has over twenty years of business experience. The Delawarian (by way of Los Angeles (USC)) is a Jersey girl at heart. She lives in Wilmington, and escapes to her PA mountain retreat whenever time will allow.

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Girl Who Ruined Christmas by Cindy Callaghan is my first time reading a book meant specifically for tweens and I do have to say I absolutely loved it! It kind of felt like I was reading YA but totally appropriate for younger readers as well. I loved Brady, and she might be the coolest 13-year-old I've never met. I also loved the banter in the book, and there are tons of funny parts while also some serious topics as well. It is the perfect blend of both and manages to have quite a bit of Christmas spirit too. It was the perfect novella that I didn't know I needed right now, and it helped me get into the holiday spirit more as well as made me laugh which is always a bonus. There are even a couple of times I had tears in my eyes, and I wouldn't have thought I would get emotional!

I loved the setting of Harper Hollow Falls and it brought to mind towns you see in Hallmark movies, which I clearly approve of since I love Hallmark Christmas movies. There is even a teensy bit of 'romance' although not much since we are dealing with 13-year-olds here, all the same, I got serious Hallmark vibes. This would be the perfect holiday gift for the younger female reader in your life, especially if said girl is a fan of the holidays and books that can be a little silly at times. The Girl Who Ruined Christmas was pure entertainment, and the pacing is nice and quick, so this little guy flew by for me. The paperback is truly beautiful, and I loved the artwork on the pages, as well as instantly falling in love with Callaghan's writing. I am definitely going to be holding onto my copy, and I think young and old alike will enjoy this fun and quirky read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[ray ౨ৎ]

You could honestly never want a book to be longer as much as I do with this one. A sweet Christmas story for tweens. Yep, tweens, this is your time to shine. A clean read bound to get you in the holiday spirit. Basically what happens is that 13 year old Brady Bancroft visits a small town in New York, and there most prized possession is a Christmas tree that is going to be put in the White House. But after a chain reaction that Brady sets off, the tree gets knocked over. Brady now has to pay her debt, and saves the town in the process. Definitely would recommend.

[Celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy from the author for an honest review.

Reasons to read: quick, cute, and hopeful

Personal rating: I have never wished a book was longer more than this one.

Brady Bancroft has never seen snow until she arrives in Harper Hollow Falls. She's entranced, despite the fact that her father has only taken her family to New York from California to close a business deal, which includes buying out the land currently used as a tree farm that's been in the family for over 40 years. Harper Hollow Falls only shot at retaining the tree farm comes when The White House chooses one of their trees to display in one of the entrances, but a chain reaction ultimately destroys the tree and causes thousands of dollars of other damages.

Oh, yea, Brady did that.

The accident forces (not truly forced since nothing was documented, but Brady stays anyway which is a testament to her character) Brady into community service at the local tree farm her father is still trying to close the deal on. There, she meets a kind group of people and a town that has dubbed her, 'The Girl Who Ruined Christmas" which brings business to the tree farm where she vows to make amends.

This is a novella (just over 100 pages) and things happen at breakneck speed. I feel like the few things I couldn't wrap my head around (how her parents could leave a thirteen-year-old alone in another state) could be blamed on the shortness and if things were more fleshed out it would feel believable. BUT I absolutely loved the ending and how everything came together in a neat little bow.

This is the perfect stocking stuffer for your tween and will definitely get you in the holiday spirit!

[Guylou (Two Dogs and a Book) · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚 Hello Book Friends! THE GIRL WHO RUINED CHRISTMAS by Cindy Callaghan was a perfect blend of Christmas Cheers and Christmas drama. Thirteen years old Brady Bancroft never thought that a selfie would be such a catastrophe and ruin Christmas for the town of Harper Hollow Falls. She must redeem herself and by doing so, will learn the value of friendship, dedication, and miracles. This book is a perfect gift for the tween in your life. It has excellent lessons and is full of fun Christmas cheers.

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[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful and cozy holiday read. Perfect for middle graders, and honestly, I loved reading it too.

Harper Hollow Falls is a quaint little northern town in Upstate New York, and this year they have been picked to supply the White House with the official Christmas Tree. This is big because the town’s tree farm is in debt, and real estate developers are looking at the land with greedy eyes.

Enter thirteen-year-old Brady Bancroft, who is visiting from California while her dad is doing business (see above). While the folks of Harper Falls Hallow are readying the tree for shipment, Brady accidentally causes a chain reaction that destroys the tree.

The townspeople quickly label Brady “the girl who ruined Christmas,” and she is sentenced to do community service at the local Christmas tree farm. (She has a lot of strikes against her).

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐑𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 is as heartwarming as it is funny. Poor Brady seems to walk into one chilly disaster after another. But after baking gingerbread cookies, cutting ice sculptures, and ice fishing with a cute boy, she is determined to save Christmas and this special little town.

Thank you to @cindycallaghanwrites for this gifted copy.

[⛅ Sunny (sunnysidereviews) ⛅ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars!

This was a lot of fun! Review to come here and on my blog https://sunnysidereviews.wordpress.com/ .

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun middle grade novella for the holidays! I really liked Brady Bancroft, the poor girl who ruins a small town’s Christmas….but then in true Hallmark movie fashion, helps them find it again. It was a quick read and would be a sweet one for the tween in your life!

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but very over the top. The main character didn’t act like a 13 year old. It read like a hallmark movie except the characters were middle grade.

[Court.betweenthecovers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely did not pick this one up expecting it to be a middle grade book but judging it from that level it would be a super cute and fun read for that age group!

[Brianna Kinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really adorable novella. You’ll fall in love with Brady and the town of Harper Hollow Falls like I did.

[Samantha (bookstasamm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this tween novella about Brady Bancroft who destroys Christmas in the town of Harper Hollow Falls. Brady was such a great character and I loved all of the secondary characters in this story too. This was such a feel good Christmas story that everyone should read.

[Aminah · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! This book was absolutely amazing! I really enjoyed the plot and could not put it down! It took me just two days to finish it because I was so invested that I really wanted to see what happens next! I definitely recommend this to everyone! It is a perfect, cozy winter read that will definitely get readers feeling all the winter vibes! 5/5 for me! SO fun literally!

Thank you so much for letting me review an advanced copy of this read! It was such an honor!

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A YA holiday read perfect for tweens!
🌲
Brady’s dad is about to close a big real estate deal in upper NY, effectively putting the local Christmas tree farm out of business. The town has high hopes that The White House wanting one of their trees will save the town, but Brady accidentally sets it on fire. Now she’s public enemy number one, sitting in a jail cell and is sentenced to one month community service working at the tree farm her dad is trying to put out of business. While working there, she connects with a lot of the locals and it starts to feel like home. Can she help save the town right before Christmas?
🌉
This was a cute and quick read, perfect for lower middle school tweens. It was corny and cheesy at times, but overall has great holiday vibes that will get kids in the mood for winter and Christmas.

CW: fire, cyberbullying

3.5 ⭐️

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brady has gone with her dad and mom to the boondocks of upper New York state just before Christmas while her dad tries to land a real estate deal. It turns out that the tiny town is NOT happy about the Christmas tree farm there going out of business and being replaced by a factory. They are even less happy when Brady takes a selfie that spooks some horses carrying the possible salvation of the tree farm, a tree bought by the White House, that results in a massive disaster. The farm-saving tree goes up in flames, and Brady is hauled off to the local jail despite protests from her parents and the fact that it was an accident. She is sentenced to work at the tree farm for the rest of the Christmas season to make it up to the town. Her parents both have work to get back to in SoCal, so she is left in the care of the Bed & Breakfast couple they were staying with. The other teens who work at the Christmas tree farm are determined to make her pay for her crimes, and Brady feels doomed to a rotten Christmas this year. But will it be so bad?

This is a lighthearted, whimsical Christmas story that starts off goofily and wild, has a believable middle, and ends all feel-goody and warm for all. Hallmark should start bidding on this now. It is right up their alley, or even Disney channel since the cast are mostly tweens/teens. (Though I don't know if the book ever says how old they are. The subtitle says it is a "tween holiday novella" but the characters felt older...not for their language or interests, but they all have jobs and one drives so it felt like they were 16ish. Maybe it is just aimed at tweens since its clean and fluffy? Not sure, I feel like teens would enjoy this too. I really appreciated what a good sport Brady is. She responds to unkindness with kindness, doesn't look down on the little town even though she is a big city gal, and ultimately leaves a very positive mark on the little town of Harper Hollow Falls. Hand this to readers wanting a feel good, light Christmas read.

Notes on content: Two minor swears. No sexual content. Spooked horses and a flaming tree are the worst incidents. There's some minor cyber bullying going on, but the perpetrators apologize eventually.

[Kristens.reading.nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Hallmark Christmas movie meets Stars Hollow in this cute “tween holiday novella”.

When Brady Bancroft visits Harper Hollow Falls in upstate New York from her So Cal beach town, she’s not prepared for all the Christmas decor and cold weather. In her excitement over everything she sees, she inadvertently ruins Schneider’s Tree Farm’s chance of putting their business on the map.

In a very Stars Hollow “town meeting” type way, she is convicted of the crime of ruining Christmas and sentenced to work off her time at the tree farm.

This was a very cute book with short chapters that kept me turning the pages. Thank you to SparkPress for a gifted copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some things near the end felt rushed but overall it was was fun to read (and no romance! No offense if you like those stories, just not my thing).

Side note: those baked goods sounded yummy.

This would make a good holiday movie 🎬.

[J.J. Lair · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s like a YA Hallmark movie. The opening is humorous. The courtroom scene is definitely funny and the best part of the book.
You know the frame of the story. The ending has some extra ideas to help the town.
The book won a bunch of awards and I can see why. It’s a fun read. Character arcs are complete. Once the story gets rolling, it is a quick light read.

[Abigail Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another delightful book by the incredible Cindy Callaghan. If you have a tween, you'll definitely want to pick up this book for the holidays. It's the perfect story that will get even the biggest Scrooge into the spirit. Such an enjoyable read!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like I said, what a charming read! First off, I have to say that I’d love to move to Harper Hollow Falls. It’s filled with joy and Christmas cheer and baked goods shared with the masses. What’s great about this book is how quickly it moved. You go from the beachside to a snow-filled town, and before you know it Brady is in court facing up to her punishment. It’s filled with charm and humor and I loved the characters, even the annoying ones.

At times, it called me to suspend disbelief a little bit. I had a hard time imagining her family asking her to stay in this town by herself, but even then, I still enjoyed this book.

It’s also an incredibly fast read too! I read it within 24 hours, and I think it’d make a great stocking stuffer for kids that love to read.

[Alli Santmyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This charming tween read is perfect for the holiday season! I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Brady and her crew and coming along on her fun adventures in Harper Hollow Falls. I will forever think of The Girl Who Ruined Christmas during the holidays - I can't wait to read it again next year!

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, quick Christmas read! Imagine you’re a tween visiting a small town that loves nothing more than its prize fir—a perfect Christmas tree destined for the White House. Now picture yourself accidentally destroying that tree, making you public enemy number one. Lastly, imagine that to repay your debt, you have to remain in said town for the Christmas season. That’s what happens to Brady Bancroft. When Brady ruins Harper Hollow Fall’s prize tree, she’s sentenced to stay in the holiday-festooned town for the month of December. At first, she couldn’t be more depressed about the whole situation; but during her month there, she is surprised to discover that there’s much more than pine needles to the little town holding her captive. In the end, Harper Hollow Falls reminds Brady of the true meaning of Christmas—and she, in turn, saves the town. I don’t see many books that specifically say for tweens, & I liked that. This is definitely a perfect tween read lol It almost felt like a tween take on a Christmas Hallmark movie-& that’s a compliment lol I love Hallmark movies. While a few things may seem unbelievable, I for 1 don’t care about that when reading MG. It just adds to the fun & excitement-for kids reading especially I’m sure. Lots of great humor, heartwarming moments, & this atmospheric cozy little town I wish I lived in, that loves its citizens & Christmas more than anything. The characters of this town were so great as well. Short, quick, fun, atmospheric Christmas read that I enjoyed! Great cover by Elke Barter Design too!💜

[Momma Leighellen’s Book Nook · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short, sweet holiday novella is perfect for the middle schooler in your life.

It follows the teen drama of a young girl named Brady Bancroft who heads from her home in Orange County with her family to Harper Hollow Falls for the holidays. While she's there, she accidentally sets forth a series of events that destroys the towns infamous christmas tree and ends up stuck doing community service for a whole month.

Along the way, she falls into all sorts of other mishaps and adventures, meets a cute boy, and learns a bit more about her self and what is really important in life. The story is heartwarming and funny, if not entirely predictable. It's also filled with all the trimmings of the holidays you'd expect in a christmas book including cookies, ice sculptures, tree trimming, and gingerbread houses.


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[Amy Bearce · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a style and voice perfect for tweens, Callaghan has crafted a fun tale sure to delight anyone who enjoys holiday stories with hope and humor. Brady is unexpectedly stuck in a tiny, Christmas-loving town after an accidental moment of mayhem results in a month-long sentence of community service. Brady is a good-hearted character that I was happy to root for, ready to own up to her mistakes and try to make them right, even if it’s hard. With cute friendships (old and new) and a series of fun winter scenes, The Girl Who Ruined Christmas celebrates second-chances, honesty, and the power of persistence. A sweet, snowy romp!
I appreciated the chance to read and review this ARC.

[what.ems.reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh Brady Bancroft…you were made for a Disney Special!!

I know we talk about how so many of our holiday books remind us of Hallmark movies & that usually means it’s perfect for this time of year well…The Girl Who Stole Christmas is perfect for all your middle grade readers & will have you feeling like you watched a Dinsey Christmas movie!

The crew from Schneiders Christmas Tree farm come together after a totally unexpected accident to help save their beloved town with the help of the infamous Brady also known as “the girl who ruined Christmas” 💕

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

“How did you remember with everything else that is going on?”
“It’s easy to remember when it’s important.”

What an adorable tween novella - a perfect quick read during the holidays! :-)

[thereshegoeswithanotherbook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Cindy, for my complementary copy. I am including a review just because it was gifted doesn't effect my opinions all opinions are my own!
--
The Girl Who Ruined Christmas
Author @cindycallaghanwrites
Published :October 12 2021
ISBN1684631157 (ISBN13: 9781684631155
Genres : Holiday, Novella
Trigger warnings : NONE
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My Thoughts: Brady Bancroft ,is a character that readers will root for ,and love the adventure she takes readers on. Brady made a mistake, but she learns from her mistake and it allowed her developed well throughout the novel. It's a short quick read ,I personally finished within an hour. It's sweet and heartwarming, well written. It's a novella not only perfect for Tweens , but also. For adult readers, who enjoy cozy Christmas books and also quick reads. It's the perfect Christmas book to squeeze in ,before Christmas , especially those of you with busy schedules. But you have been wanting to read a Christmas book. Maybe you're not really into Holiday books .. this book right here would be perfect book to try out the genre.
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Rating : ☆☆☆☆☆
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[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5⭐️

An incredibly sweet, and holiday joy packed novella, The Girl Who Ruined Christmas warmed my heart and had me laughing out loud. The adorable, small town characters and their quirky personalities not only made Brady feel loved and at home, but I as well felt welcomed into the warmth of the citizens of Harper Hollow Falls.

After Brady Bancroft accidentally destroys the small Christmas haven town of Harper Hollow Falls’ prized tree headed for the White House and wreaks havoc on the town square, she is sentenced to community service helping the same Christmas tree farm she put in jeopardy. As she spends time in the town, she falls for its quaint charm and the idealistic townspeople.

Once you step into the world of Harper Hollow Falls, you will immediately feel overcome with the Christmas spirit. If you add one book to your Christmas book advent calendar, let it be this one!

Thank you @cindycallaghanwrites for this #gifted copy of #thegirlwhoruinedchristmas!!

[Krissy (books_and_biceps9155) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well wasn’t this 130 pages of cuteness! If you have a tween that likes to read, I am sure they would love this! I’ve never read a book that was written for tweens and it was so much fun! Gave me all the Hallmark-y vibes! The writing was full of Christmas cheer and had quite a bit of laugh out loud moments too. Callaghan definitely has the style and voice perfect for tweens too.

The setting of Harper Hollow Falls was so perfect I just wanted to hop right in and be a part of it. I could just picture all the snow and Christmas décor everywhere like described. The novel touches on a couple of important topics such as the values of friendship and a smidge of miracles. I felt like Brady was a girl I would have wanted to be friends with at 13! She grows within the book and does a wonderful job of responding to some unkind situations with kindness.

Simply put, this was delightful and I cant wait to read it again next year!

[Starr ❇✌❇ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short and sweet holiday read! Definitely fits into the "tween" audience, though I think older teens might still enjoy it as a fluffy Hallmark style story. While it's sometimes hard for me, as an adult, to suspend my disbelief with how this 13 year old is being treated (both with everyone hating her, and with her being allowed to live with strangers for an entire month), it is what it's meant to be. Personally, I think a few montages or offhanded comments would have made this feel more like a month long escapade instead of a short week, but it's a novella and so hard to add too much to without getting imbalanced. I also appreciate that the romance wasn't really pushed!

[Sarah Bowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short novella, perfect Middle School read!

Imagine a town just like Stars Hollow with the same kind of people. This book made me laugh and smile.

Brady is a good kid who does something terrible accidently to a town she is just briefly visiting. As punishment, she has to stay until almost Christmas to help out at the Christmas tree farm that she almost ruined.

I love the extra ways she goes about to help this town, even when most people seem to hate her. She just thinks of them and not herself through this whole thing.