Kiss Me at Christmas
by Jenny Bayliss
Summary
White Christmas meets Nora Ephron in Jenny Bayliss’ latest wholehearted, ensemble-cast holiday extravaganza.
Christmas can officially get stuffed because Harriet Smith is not feeling bright and merry this year. She hasn’t for a while. So when her college-aged daughter opts for Manhattan’s winter wonderland instead of Christmas at home, Harriet finds herself seeking solace in a wine-soaked one-night stand.
But how Harriet will spend the holidays is swiftly decided for her after she takes the fall for some students who break into the town’s old Winter Theater. To get the students off the hook, the theater’s elderly owner requests that Harriet direct the washed-out stage’s final Christmas performance. And Harriet will do anything to help the kids . . . even work with the owner’s lawyer who, as it turns out, is her less than impressed one-night stand.
Directing the play with him won’t exactly change her life. But it might just reignite the Christmas spirit and remind her what makes life merry and bright again.
My Review
I thoroughly enjoyed this unique, sweet Christmas romance. I read the digital ebook and also listened to the audiobook—and I have to say, the narrator was fantastic! Her use of different voices and accents truly brought the characters to life. I highly recommend experiencing this story through the audiobook if you can.
Set in England, the story exudes a wonderfully British charm. While I occasionally had to look up certain words, phrases, or slang, which pulled me out of the story a bit, I still found it to be a fun and enriching cultural experience. Learning about other countries and traditions added an extra layer of enjoyment.
Although this book is categorized as a romance, I appreciated that the love story wasn’t the sole focus. Instead, it’s a rich ensemble story with a wide cast of characters. Admittedly, keeping track of everyone was a little tricky at times, but I loved watching the story unfold and seeing how the theater brought people of all ages together. The themes of growth, bonding, and forming lasting relationships were beautifully heartwarming. Some scenes were so touching that they brought me to tears, while others had me laughing out loud. The emphasis on the found family trope—a personal favorite—made this story all the more special.
As for the romance between James and Harriet, it was sweet but didn’t quite sweep me off my feet. While I enjoyed getting to know their characters and was rooting for them, I found the chemistry a bit underwhelming. There were some cute moments, but it lacked the spark that makes a romance truly memorable. Still, it was lovely to see their relationship blossom in its own understated way.
The story does feel festive and wintry, but I would have loved more vivid holiday descriptions to really immerse me in the Christmas spirit. While there were a few holiday touches, it leaned more toward a general wintery vibe rather than a fully festive one.
Though this isn’t my favorite book by this author, I still recommend it for its heartwarming themes and charming setting. I look forward to exploring more of her backlist and eagerly await her new releases!
**This book is part of a holiday romance real-time reaction episode, which you can listen to here.