Merry Knight is pretty busy these days. She’s taking care of her family, baking cookies, decorating for the holidays, and hoping to stay out of the crosshairs of her stressed and by-the-book boss at the consulting firm where she temps. Her own social life is the last thing she has in mind, much less a man. Without her knowledge, Merry’s well-meaning mom and brother create an online dating profile for her—minus her photo—and the matches start rolling in. Initially, Merry is incredulous, but she reluctantly decides to give it a whirl.

Soon Merry finds herself chatting with a charming stranger, a man with similar interests and an unmistakably kind soul. Their online exchanges become the brightest part of her day. But meeting face-to-face is altogether different, and her special friend is the last person Merry expects—or desires. Still, sometimes hearts can see what our eyes cannot. In this satisfying seasonal tale, unanticipated love is only a click away.

This was such a heartfelt and cozy Christmas story. I loved the overall message about love, acceptance, letting go, and forgiveness. 

The author has a real talent for stepping into her characters’ emotional worlds and crafting a story that feels deep while still being very relatable. No one in this book is perfect or uncomplicated, which makes it easy to see yourself in their fears and hesitations. The story takes one of those fears head-on and gently dismantles it in a way that stays with you long after you finish. It is completely clean, with no spice and no strong language.

Merry Knight works as a full-time temp employee at a consulting firm. She genuinely enjoys her job but manages to get on the wrong side of her employer when she eats at her desk and decorates her cubicle for Christmas. Merry is cheerful and optimistic, yet her social life is almost nonexistent. Concerned and well-meaning, her mother and brother take matters into their own hands and create an online dating profile for her. Merry is not thrilled at first, but she slowly warms to the idea and begins to enjoy herself, especially when she starts chatting with a man who seems almost too perfect to be real.

Jayson Bright is the vice president of his uncle’s consulting company. He is focused, driven, and under constant pressure to meet deadlines. When he has to reprimand one of the temp employees, he feels conflicted, even though he knows enforcing the rules is part of his job. Like Merry, Jayson lacks much of a social life, pouring most of his energy into work. After learning that his cousin Cooper is getting married and has reconnected with an old friend online, Jayson decides to try online dating for himself. Before long, he finds himself forming a meaningful connection with a woman he meets online.

The story gave me strong You’ve Got Mail vibes with a festive holiday twist that also reminded me of The Grinch or Scrooge, minus the ghosts. The online connection paired with real-life workplace interactions made the romance especially fun to watch unfold.

One element that stood out to me was how the story portrays characters living with disabilities. Merry’s younger brother has Down Syndrome, and her mother lives with MS. I have not read many stories that explore these experiences, and I appreciated seeing how the family navigates everyday life while facing these challenges. It added depth and heart to the story and helped the family dynamic feel authentic and grounded.

I especially loved the close bond within Merry’s family. Their holiday traditions felt comforting and full of Christmas spirit. That sense of family also plays a big role in Jayson’s growth. Through his conversations with Merry online, he begins to soften and open up, and that change continues as they interact in person at the office. The romance itself is fairly predictable, but that did not take away from the enjoyment. Watching everything come together was part of the charm.

If you enjoy grumpy/sunshine romances, workplace settings, hidden identities, strong family dynamics, and You’ve Got Mail style storytelling, this sweet, clean Christmas romcom is absolutely worth picking up. I had a lot of fun with this short read. I listened to the audiobook, which was only about four hours long, even shorter if you speed it up. Definitely recommend!