Book Review: “Christmas Is All Around” by Martha Waters

“Christmas Is All Around” by Martha Waters (2024)

Genre: Holiday, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary

Page Length: 304 pages (electronic review edition)

Synopsis:

Charlotte hates the holidays. As a former child actress, she starred in a modern classic of a holiday movie, and its fans won’t let her move on. When a piece revealing that her reluctance nixed plans for a reboot, she flees to London to spend the five-week countdown to the holidays with her sister.

But the ghosts of Christmas past follow her there when she ends up at Eden Priory, a filming location for the movie she has never visited. There, after being recognized by a fan while viewing the extraordinary holiday decorations, she’s accidently left behind, forcing her to accept a ride back to London by Graham, the son of the owners. Their family business—and the funds to keep their historic house running—relies on holiday cheer, and Graham knows a visit from a holiday star would bring in more visitors.

Now an illustrator, Charlotte accepts a commission illustrating iconic holiday movie scenes in London and its environs. Graham offers to help escort her, as long as she’ll commit to an art workshop at Eden Priory. But as Charlotte’s chaotic family holiday goes awry, she begins spending more time scouting locations with Graham. Charlotte may not love Christmas, but is it so bad if you’re also falling in love?

Review:

I love Waters’ historical novels so when I heard she was releasing a Holiday Romance I was ecstatic at the opportunity to read her newest book. This cozy read can best be described as Christmas in a cup. Readers follow the main character, Charlotte, who despises all things Christmas even though she is the former child star of a beloved Holiday film that everyone loves. Determined to get away from home she heads off to London to spend the holidays with her sister and ends up meeting a handsome stranger, Graham, who needs her help saving their family business. But what turns into a new acquaintanceship may lead to something more with the spirit of the Holiday season.

What I loved the most of all about this book besides how cozy the reading experience was for me was how self-aware the story is. It made the novel entertaining to read as it pokes fun at the over-the-top cheesiness that comes with the traditions, films, and ugly holiday sweaters mentioned within it. I thoroughly enjoyed Charlotte and Graham’s banter over what can be described in this book as a Hallmark Christmas. They aren’t afraid to poke fun at all of the seasonal tropes as well as the Holiday activities they participate in. They recognize how silly they must look, but also indulge in these things that make this time of year so special which makes the novel very heartwarming.

Even though I’ve read a ton of holiday romances over the years this one was a definite standout for me. It also gave me the vibes of one of my favorite seasonal films, The Holiday. The novel is so much fun and lighthearted overall only becoming serious when the main characters are faced with some harsh truths of overcoming their pasts and tackling grief. I felt that the romance between Charlotte and Graham was authentic and the way their relationship progressed over the holidays was natural. They managed to bring out the fun in each other (especially with Charlotte being the more cynical of the two) while also having open and honest conversations. Their swoon-worthy romance along with the scenic holiday movie locations featured and the ensemble of characters made this novel a joy to read.

I highly recommend picking up Christmas Is All Around for a sweet and humorous holiday read for the festive season!

Final Verdict: