Christmas at the Lake

by Anita Hughes

Anita Hughes's Christmas at the Lake is a heartwarming holiday romance set in a charming Christmas village on the shores Lake Tahoe.

On Christmas Eve, just hours before their wedding, Rebecca Huntley is left at the altar by Ben Cole, her college sweetheart and fellow co-founder of the hugely successful dating app, Dealbreakers. He’s fallen in love with the app’s head of legal, and they are going to leave for three weeks in St. Bart’s.

Rebecca is shocked but a small part of her isn’t surprised. Dealbreakers matches potential couples by the things they hated, instead of what they had in common. Lately, she and Ben seem to have less and less in common. He craves the trappings of success, while Rebecca enjoys simple things.

Rebecca decides to go on their honeymoon to the cozy Christmas Cove Inn in the charming small town of Christmas Cove on the shores of Lake Tahoe. There, Rebecca runs into an old college friend, Zach Mason, who had always had a crush on Rebecca. Through a misunderstanding, Zach believes Rebecca is married to Ben, and Rebecca believes Zach is in a relationship with a sophisticated older woman, when really, he is a waiter at the hotel.

As Christmas week unfolds, will the two learn the truth about each other and then be open for a second chance at love? Or will they begin the new year with broken hearts?

People are complicated. Everyone has positive attributes as well as faults – but none are dealbreakers when you’re really in love.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Fiction, Chick Lit, Book Club, Adult

320 pages, Paperback

Published September 26, 2023

About the author

Anita Hughes was born in Sydney, Australia. She attended UC Berkeley's Masters in Creative Writing program. She is the author of MONARCH BEACH, MARKET STREET, LAKE COMO, FRENCH COAST, ROME IN LOVE, ISLAND IN THE SEA, SANTORINI SUNSETS, CHRISTMAS IN PARIS, WHITE SAND, BLUE SEA, EMERALD COAST, CHRISTMAS IN LONDON and CALIFORNIA SUMMER, and CHRISTMAS IN VERMONT published by St. Martin's Press. ROME IN LOVE is coming to the HALLMARK channel in July, 2019!

Reviews

[Mai H. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Holidays

While parts of this were enjoyable, most of it felt inauthentic and repetitive. I appreciate the sentiment of including a seemingly diverse cast of supporting characters, but explaining what each dish is after naming it in its native language is both annoying and ridiculous. If people care, they can research. And really, IYKYK. I guess the target audience for this doesn't know.

This reads like a terrible Hallmark movie. All of the what-ifs culminate into a disaster of the most profound kind. If a man left me at the altar, cheated on me with an employee, and tried to win me back, he'd be dead. Kidding. Maybe.

And that's not to say I enjoyed the other option, either. I know we're not supposed to judge if someone is not making enough to live on their own, but if you're thirty and living with your parents, that's going to be a no from me. It's probably time to change careers.

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one holiday romance you’ll be reaching for again and again, every single year. Guaranteed.

In fact, I believe that this book has just slid into my top three favourite holiday reads.

⭐Please don’t read the synopsis. Go into it blind. No spoilers below.

Things I liked:
✔️intriguing characters
✔️believable relationships
✔️engaging plot points
✔️satisfying character growth
✔️thrilling conflict and resolution
✔️sweet, light-hearted
✔️snowy Lake Tahoe
✔️misunderstandings/miscommunications
✔️pulls at the heartstrings
✔️no filler ‘fluff’- all meaningful
✔️festive fun
✔️feel-good escapism
✔️nostalgic traditions
✔️sprinkle of magic

Author Anita Hughes has allowed the spirit of the holiday to guide her writing but hasn’t allowed ‘Christmas’ to become the focus. The holiday enhances the story, but it could have stood alone. It’s also not over-the-top festive.

There are manly tropes represented but the main one is second-chance romance. Hughes explores what getting married means, highlights first love and happy endings, and reminds readers to be honest with themselves.

It ended rather abruptly, so I hope this means readers get more of the story in another installment.

I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Marian Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartwarming holiday romance set in a charming village on the shores of Lake Tahoe. I enjoyed this charming novel about second chances at love.

Rebecca Huntley is left at the alter by her college sweetheart Ben Cole, and fellow co-founder of the hugely successful dating app, just hours before their wedding on Christmas Eve.

Rebecca decides to go on their honeymoon to the cozy Christmas Cove Inn in the charming small town of Christmas Cove on the shores of Lake Tahoe. Rebecca runs into Zach Mason, an old college friend, who had always had a crush on Rebecca. Zach believes due to a misunderstanding, that Rebecca is married to Ben , and Rebecca believes Zach is in a relationship with an older woman.

Will the two learn the truth about each other as Christmas week unfolds?

I love the author’s gorgeous descriptions of Lake Tahoe. Though I’ve never been to Lake Tahoe it is on my bucket list of places to travel. I enjoyed the main characters and adored the romantic stories as well involving other characters. I enjoyed the book from beginning to end and will definitely reread each Christmas season.

My review will be posted immediately to Goodreads and Pinterest and will be posted to Amazon on publication day.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel for my honest opinion.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Rating: 4/5
Audiobook Rating: 3/5

Never have I ever read anything by Anita Hughes, and I decided to change that this December! Christmas at the Lake has been on my TBR for a while now, and although it isn't heavy on the holiday aspect, it still had some Christmas cheer thanks to the location and setting. I really enjoyed Rebecca's storyline, but there is so much more going on in this book than just her breakup with Ben and Zach's crush on her. She also meets a man named Harold and not only plans a party for him but reads his journal throughout the book as well. Finally, we also have Zach’s viewpoint where he is interviewing couples for his documentary, and through that, we get Meredith's story as well (the 'sophisticated older woman').

I listened to the audiobook, and it was in DESPERATE need of more than one narrator thanks to having so many storylines. Rosanna Pilcher would have been great for just Rebecca's POV, but she didn't change her voice at ALL for any of the different viewpoints/the journal and there were zero sound effects. This made the audio incredibly hard to follow along with and I was constantly confused about what part I was listening to. For this reason, I highly recommend reading the book as opposed to listening to it. Christmas at the Lake may not have had a ton of focus on Christmas itself, but it was a heartwarming read that I really enjoyed. I would warn that if you don't like the miscommunication trope and/or lots of amazing coincidences (serendipity?) you may want to pass, but I am glad I picked it up and will be reading more from Hughes.

[TwinreadsandReds · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Dani Boise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me start with: Thank you to St. Martin's via Netgalley for the approval to read an early copy of Christmas at the Lake! I wasn't sure I'd get approved so whoever did approve me-- you made my day! I was so excited to read a Christmas romance!

Would recommend if you love:
-Max Christmas vibes; I mean the town is called Christmas Cove!
-miscommunication trope
-Lots of SUPER loveable characters
-FMC & MMC that undergoes some great character growth

What I personally loved: the descriptions of the town were so beautiful! I felt like I was right there in that lakeside cozy town at Christmastime and it was wonderful. I adored the stories from Meredith and Howard (honestly, I liked their romance stories more than the main characters). Overall, I liked this lighthearted, cozy romance.

Now on to why it is only a 3 star for me: [full disclosure some of these things seem nitpicky but they were glaring issues FOR ME PERSONALLY-- take that as you will]
-the miscommunication (read: blatant lies) got old after a while
-then when the truth comes out about Zach, this B Rebecca acts all pissy as if she isn't lying to him as well???
-how many times did we need to be told what the same room smelled like?
-I know this is an ARC but there were a lot of issues with grammar; even to the point the town was referred to as a completely different name!? and the timeline seemed clunky (the whole story takes place over the week between Christmas & New Year)

FYI, you're being warned;
*we're getting to the nitpicky stuff that bothered me but 98% of readers won't care or even notice these things*
[mini rants incoming]
-in the entire first 10% of the book ALL Kimi (Rebecca's best friend) talked about was her kid. LITERALLY entire pages of this B rambling about her kid. I don't GAF about this as it has the most minimal impact on the main character and/or story line; if the kid were crucial to the FMC relationships/ character development fine; but she wasn't. I rolled my eyes so much I was sure they were going to get stuck up there. By the time she (Kimi) had to leave I just wanted her to STFU already and GO. Boo, BYE.
-in the beginning Kimi mentions (sort of in passing) "you know how I felt about having kids" but SHE HAS A KID. The general idea was that she wanted to wait to have kids for a few years but her husband "talked her into it"?????? WHY is this a thing that is okay in society. Women are not placed on Earth to serve men and be mothers.
^ I could have ignored this one mention/ situation BUT THE SAME HAPPENED WITH MEREDITH'S CHARACTER. She didn't want to have kids, she specifically states this, but her husband talked her into starting to try to have kids???? MAAAAN this bothered me so much (enough to have a full rant in my review LOLOL)

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed Anita Hughes Christmas books over the years and found Christmas at the Lake another entertaining and enjoyable story. A short synopsis: On Christmas Eve, just hours before their wedding, Rebecca Huntley is left at the altar by Ben Cole. He is off to St. Barts's for three weeks with the head of legal of the company they founded together. Rebecca decides to go to the Christmas Cove Inn, the place they had planned their honeymoon, anyway. She runs into an old college friend, Zach Mason, who always had a crush on her. Due to a miscommunication, everyone, including Zach think she is married and there on her honeymoon, and she believes Zach is a making movies in Europe and in a relationship with an older, sophisticated women, when he is really a waiter at the Inn. Will they learn the truth about one another and find love?

I really liked the author's writing and descriptions of the area. I have been to Lake Tahoe and it is gorgeous, but now I want to go back. This Christmas story had a backdrop of Christmas with festive activities, but Zach's and Rebecca's story was the main focus. They were both great characters, who deserved a second chance. All the secondary characters and their stories added to the story making it realistic. Once the truth comes out, there is some angst and drama, but I liked the way it all played out in the end. Why only 4 stars? The one trope I really dislike is the miscommunication trope. Remember, honesty is the best policy. If you enjoy a festive story, second chance romance and are okay with miscommunication, then you will love this book.

[Patricia Rupell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I have read by this author. This book actually had a lot of similarities to the other book I read, which was also a Christmas book.

First, what I liked. For the most part, I liked the two main characters. I also really liked the two side stories, and enjoyed watching them unfold throughout the book. I found them really interesting.

What didn't work for me was that, from the beginning, the two main characters were lying to each other about their situations. Because that went on for so long, there were times when I felt like I couldn't trust what they were saying when they were talking to each other.

All in all, though, it was well-written and enjoyable, and I would recommend it for anyone looking for a good Christmas read.

3.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Karen Axnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a thoroughly enjoyable romance novel about second chances at love. I was engaged with the storyline from the first page to the last and found the characters to be believable and likeable (except for the self-centered fiancé). I was rooting for the two protagonists (Rebecca and Zach) from the start and the romantic twists involving other couples was a delightful bonus. This is definitely a feel-good Christmas story with just enough drama to keep it interesting and moving at a good pace.

The author’s writing style included wonderful, evocative descriptions of the Lake Tahoe environment. Having many pleasant memories of my own travels to area made the read all that more satisfying. This is definitely a book I will read again as the Christmas season approaches.

My only criticism is that the ending felt rushed. All the loose ends were addressed, but the conclusion lacked the richness of the story up to that point.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Christmas at the Lake, by Anita Hughes, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Rebecca Huntley is left at the altar on Christmas eve, I could not imagine anything worse. Rebecca decides to still go on her honeymoon though solos, to Christmas Cove, in Lake Tahoe. While vacationing Rebecca rubs into an old friend Zach, maybe this Christmas wont be so bad after all. A good read, great characters, beautiful setting.

[Amanda Hopwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute book!! I randomly added this to my wishlist and was sent it as a gift . Glad I did !!

[Kelsey Rhodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5 stars! This is a sweet, quick holiday read. I didn't love the cover and the premise felt a bit too sweet for me, so I was a bit worried heading into this book. I was pleasantly surprised! The characters are charming and full of depth and watching Rebecca and Zach work through their miscommunication/friends-to-lovers story was lovely.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. It’s definitely full of Christmas events but the overall feeling that plagued me throughout was not cheer. The romance portion never felt authentic to me. But it was the party planning that did it for me- so many additions to the party were eye roll worthy. And the coincidence at the end….ugh. Not my favorite, and really was ready for it to end long before it did.

[Emily Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas at the Lake
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Anita Hughes

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: On Christmas Eve, just hours before their wedding, Rebecca Huntley is left at the altar by Ben Cole, her college sweetheart and fellow co-founder of the hugely successful dating app, Dealbreakers. He’s fallen in love with the app’s head of legal, and they are going to leave for three weeks in St. Bart’s.

Rebecca is shocked but a small part of her isn’t surprised. Dealbreakers matches potential couples by the things they hated, instead of what they had in common. Lately, she and Ben seem to have less and less in common. He craves the trappings of success, while Rebecca enjoys simple things.

Rebecca decides to go on their honeymoon to the cozy Christmas Cove Inn in the charming small town of Christmas Cove on the shores of Lake Tahoe. There, Rebecca runs into an old college friend, Zach Mason, who had always had a crush on Rebecca. Through a misunderstanding, Zach believes Rebecca is married to Ben, and Rebecca believes Zach is in a relationship with a sophisticated older woman, when really, he is a waiter at the hotel.

As Christmas week unfolds, will the two learn the truth about each other and then be open for a second chance at love? Or will they begin the new year with broken hearts?

People are complicated. Everyone has positive attributes as well as faults – but none are dealbreakers when you’re really in love.

My Thoughts: This is a sweet holiday romance that will have you coming back each year. Rebecca was left at the alter when her fiancée (now ex) decides he wants to be with the head of the legal department, and this unfolds just hours before they are to be married. Rebecca decides to go to the cabin they have reserved for their honeymoon on her own. While at the cabin, she bumps into an old college friend, Zach. It is presumed that they are each in a relationship. Will their friendship strengthen into something more? This follows the tropes of friends to lovers, holiday romance, second chance romance, and miscommunication.

The story was narrated in a dual POV, by both Rebeca and Zach, in their respective perspectives. I personally love dual POV as you get both sides of the story. I really loved how the focus was no on Christmas/Holidays, it was on Rebecca and Zach, it was used to enhance the story and not the plot line. I have not been to Lake Tahoe yet, it is one place I would like to visit. The author does a superior job with describing Lake Tahoe, I really felt like I was at Lake Tahoe witnessing the story unfolding. The characters were created with depth, chemistry, compassion, and kept me invested in the storyline. The author’s writing style was complex, creative, clean, beautiful, and flowed well with an excellent pace. I loved the quaint town setting and really brings the magic of Christmas through the pages.

This was a sweet, endearing, and heartfelt Christmas read. If you love holiday romances, you will love this one. This really reminds me of my favorite channel during the holiday season, a typical picturesque Hallmark Christmas movie playing out on the pages of the story. The story gives off the feel good vibes at the conclusion of the story. The story also evokes high season feeling vibes. I would highly recommend picking up for the holiday season.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a sucker for a good Christmas movie or Christmas book. This book was all that you expect a Christmas book or movie to be about with a twist of some past love triangles, and a little mystery thrown in.
It starts out, seeming like a great Christmas book but as we go on, we learn there’s a videographer in town who is documenting past love stories, marriages, and how they either continued on or ended. Said videographer runs into a girl he knew in college and she is the main character in the story. There’s a bunch of miscommunication, or as some may say, lies told to each other or insinuated that keeps them apart.
However, as they work together, to tell these love stories, and she takes to a location that she’s only dreamed about feelings may blossom and lives may be changed.
I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.

[Alylally⛰️⛺️⛈️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this!! I read this right after Oathbringer so I FLEW through this, it was such an easy read! I really enjoyed these characters and the story line and especially the town we were in!! This just felt so cozy and warm, I definitely started to get excited for christmas! Would recommend this christmas season!

✨3.5 ✨

»Second chance romance«
»Friends to lovers«
»Small town romance«
»NO SPICE«
»(small) miscommunication trope (but not really, they just lie to each other a lot)«

[Erin (Bellah Loves Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet, Hallmark movie-style book about Rebecca Huntley, who, hours before her Christmas Eve wedding to her long-time love and business partner, is dumped for a coworker. Rebecca decides to still go on their honeymoon to Christmas Cove, a charming village on the shores of Lake Tahoe, where she bumps into a college friend and gets swept up in all the charm Christmas Cove and its residents have to offer.

This is a quick read that takes place in a lovely setting with really lovable characters. I loved how both Rebecca and her college friend Zach are both on journeys of self discovery and are able to reconnect and lean on each other as they learn about themselves and figure out their next steps.

The few things I struggled with in this book that did lead to taking starts off my rating is the timeline, which seemed to go quite fast and then a reference would be made about what day it was and things didn't quite add up, and all of the errors in the book. I know this is an ARC and not a final proof, so I'm hoping that errors are caught before publishing, because they were distracting, especially when the name of the town and even characters names were misspelled or even just incorrect (at one point Christmas Cove is called Crystal Cove).

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Publishing for the digital copy. My review his honest and voluntary.

[Bri Diesen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Classic romance Christmas novel. Heartfelt story for multiple characters and it got me in the Christmas spirit

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

cute Christmas romance

[Amy Gold · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Christmas at the Lake by Anita Hughes! It was an unfolding love story within the retelling of 2 other love stories. They all had bumps that challenge along the route and none was the same old story. If you are looking for a quick, sweet read with just the right amount of Christmas, this is the one for you. Thank you to NetGalley, Ms. Hughes and St. Martin's publishers for the opportunity to review this sweet book.

[kathy Agnese · Rating 4 out of 5]

This feel-good romance is perfect for Hallmark movie fans and second chance romance lovers! This was my first book by this author, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. When Rebecca’s fiancé, Ben dumps her for another woman, she goes on her honeymoon at Lake Tahoe alone. There she meets a man from her past , Zach, an old classmate from college. The setting is snowy, cozy, and perfect for falling in love. With more than one romance blooming throughout this novel, and the dual POVs-Zach and Rebecca- it was a delight to read.
I felt like the book was a bit short to really develop the way I would have liked to have seen it, and the plot was pretty predictable, but it was a fun read, nevertheless. I give it a solid 3 1/2 stars, but because of the wonderful Lake Tahoe, setting and vivid descriptions, I would round up to a four. Not the best holiday romance I’ve read but an enjoyable read. Thank you to NetGalley for an an ARC digital copy.

[Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 Stars) The blurb gives the set up. Rebecca Huntley college sweetheart breaks off the with her on their wedding day after almost a decade together. They’ve built a successful app and the company is about to go public making them even more rich. She decides to take the honeymoon she planned to Christmas Cove on the shores of Lake Tahoe. While there she sees an old college friend Zach Mason. He studied film and she assumes he has been successful in Europe where he went after college.

Zach is actually waiting tables while trying to finish a film for a local festival. He assumes she is married as he knew from the press of her upcoming wedding. Two other side romances are intermingled into this storyline. I love Lake Tahoe and could envision the location, although it could have been written as any city. Two other side characters stories and intertwined into the story to fill it out. There is a second chance for each of them. The lying about the situation continues for longer than I would like in the circumstances.

If you’re in the mood for a clean and heartwarming romance with likable characters this is an enjoyable story. I read the author’s holiday book last year as well. Both are good but don’t push into high rating range for me. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC and I leaving a voluntary review.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spending Christmas at the lake sounded like an idyllic honeymoon spot until it turned into a snow globe of emotions'. Rebecca is shaken and stirred into action by her best friend Kimi to turn her honeymoon into a healing oasis.

While the snowflakes circle in Lake Tahoe, guests are going through their own trials. Unknowingly, Zach is about to be fired as he sits down with a guest after seeing a vision from his past. Trying to break into the film business, Zach is trying to support himself while entering a holiday contest. Meredith takes him under her wing and provides a safe place for him to edit his project while reconnecting with Rebecca.

While filming a 'When Harry Met Sally' montage of how couples met, Zach records his friends stories and unlocks the real meaning of love. Will he be brave enough to take a chance or will past heartbreaks leave Zach more secure behind the camera?

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of "Christmas at the Lake" in exchange for an honest review. I eagerly await Anita Hughes' books and enjoyed her holiday read. Hughes' heartfelt books provide the perfect escape reads to embrace the Christmas spirit and being in love.

[Julie Pint · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant holiday story that is ready made for a Hallmark movie. Rebecca and Ben are college sweethearts that work together to create their own business and become quite well off as a result. They feel it is time to get married and what could be a more appropriate time than Christmas. Toss in an unassuming former college acquaintance and things begin to go awry in Christmas Cove. There are additional side stories that develop alongside the main story and are equally as sweet. This is a sure fire hit for the holiday season. Thanks to Goodreads for the advance copy.

[Michaela (books.collection) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Milý príbeh spojený s obdobím Vianoc, kedy sa mala konať svadba, ktorá je však nečakane zrušená. Rebecca sa predsa len rozhodne ist na svadobnú cestu, aspoň príde na iné myšlienky. Práve na svadobnej ceste, ktorá je len akousi spomienkou na jej predchádzajúci ľúbostný život, stretáva Zacha, jej kamaráta zo školy. Obaja však pri prvom stretnutí jeden druhému klamú. Jedno klamstvo uvedie k ďalšiemu až kým sa to celkom nezamotá.
Tento príbeh bol milý, chytľavý, príjemne vianočný a plný tajomstiev nie len hlavných postáv, ale aj vedľajších ♥️.

[Kati Polodna · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are nuggets of a nice story here but this book suffers from the same issues as her other novels: telling, not showing; and characters with weird decision-making skills that don’t match their personalities.

[Kaitlin Koselansky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great Christmas read! I love reading Anita Hughes books during the season.

[Denise Feichtel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light enjoyable holiday themed read.

[Susan Marie Ballain · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cozy and fun kind of book! Rebeca is jilted and goes the honeymoon anyways! She deserves chance at second love! I loved this book!

[Marielle Pageau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plusieurs histoire se mélangent &la fin est surprenante pour l’une d’elles!