The Christmas Yes List by Melissa Ferguson
This one is a bit of a strange one to include as firstly, talking about Christmas in September is a little wild, and two, I have an ARC of this that I haven’t read yet. So technically I already own a copy of this book, however, it is still an anticipated release for me.
Also, I’ve just found out it’s being made into a film, which is a little crazy for a book that isn’t even published yet. Is this a super popular author that I just don’t know about or are streaming services just adapting everything these days? I’m not completely mad about it, as it feels rare to get new Christmas films these days.
The synopsis for this book sounds like a lot of fun, hence why I requested an ARC of it a while ago. I think this will actually be a review for my 2027 12 Books of Christmas series (crazy organised, I know), but I will be reading it later this year.
Get your copy of The Christmas Yes List here:
*Kindle Ebook
*Paperback
*Audible audiobook
Synopsis: Chronic people-pleaser Chloe Hollis is determined to finally learn how to get over her fear of rejection. Her unconventional solution? She must collect ten “nos” before Christmas Day by asking strangers for the most ridiculous favors she can dream up. But her plan goes hilariously off-track when she meets James Dutton.
James, a rule-following workaholic, has decided to do the exact opposite of he’s saying “yes” to every opportunity that comes his way in hopes of finally embracing life–and maybe a little Christmas spirit.
As they continue to get tangled up in each other’s wild experiment, Chloe and James find themselves in a whirlwind of festive, awkward, and delightful situations. But no one is more surprised than they are to realize they’re falling in love.
The Best Christmas Ever by Sarah Morgan
Sorry to mention Christmas again, however, it seems like every new festive book gets published in October and personally I’m not angry about that. I love a festive read, especially a Sarah Morgan one. The fact that it’s a book about books (a subgenre I really struggle to find) makes me so excited. Sarah Morgan’s festive books are some of my all-time favourites and I was so sad she didn’t write one last year. Also, this one doesn’t appear to be on Netgalley so there goes my hope of getting an advanced copy (something I’ve had since 2020).
I may end up buying a copy of this book to use for next year’s ‘12 books of Christmas’, more on how that series has changed in my Blogmas 2026 post on December 1st.
Get your copy of The Best Christmas Ever here:
*Kindle Ebook
*Paperback
*Audible audiobook
Synopsis: As the snowstorm of the century bears down on New England, reclusive author Mabel Miller is preparing to spend yet another Christmas alone with her cats. While everyone else is making merry, she’ll be avoiding the whole painful holiday. No decorations. No tree. No traces of Christmas. That is, until the weather intervenes and sends not one but two cars spinning into the stone wall surrounding her isolated cottage. Now she has a house full of strangers when the last thing she wanted was company for Christmas.
Yet Mabel’s unexpected guests—a family with two young children expecting Santa to drop gifts down the chimney, and two work colleagues who clearly have a history—are determined to make the best of the situation. As her attempts to protect her privacy are thwarted by the two little ones who are charmingly oblivious to her boundaries, soon Mabel is making cocoa and cookies for the first time in years, and allowing them into her library, a place that contains so many of her secrets.
Mabel has her reasons for keeping her truths so deeply hidden. But this Christmas, if Mabel is brave enough to share, she might finally be able to rewrite the past and find a festive happy-ever-after – for her new friends, but also herself.
Once in a Timeline by Iman Hariri-Kia
This is a new author for me and honestly, the fact that this is a magical realism book is what makes me want to read it. Again, this isn’t a subgenre I come across very often so I have to take advantage of this opportunity.
I love the idea of changing the classic time loop premise to be fit for the modern day. As someone that loves day in the life videos, this doesn’t seem so bad to me. The reason why people film their day is because they expect it to be a great one and most influencers don’t include bad parts so what’s the catch? Is she stuck in the actual edited video? Is it all of the parts of the day? I have no idea, but it sounds like a lot of fun!
Get your copy of Once in a Timeline here:
*Kindle Ebook
*Paperback
*Audible audiobook
Synopsis: Get ready with me… to break out of the algorithm
Laia Grace is the New York City lifestyle influencer… or at least, she’s determined to be. After leaving her past behind to pursue her dreams, failure is not an option.
Every day, she films her aesthetic routine ― the perfect light, the perfect latte, the perfect life. Until one morning, her day starts to… glitch. Her neighbors flicker. Her best friend loops. And Laia realizes she’s no longer the creator, but the content ― and she’s trapped inside of her last “day in the life” video, forever playing on an endless, infinite loop.
That’s when a brooding, unshaven, decidedly unfiltered man (literally) crashes into frame. Noah’s been stuck in Laia’s timeline, too, and he’s desperate to get them both out. Together, Laia and Noah fight to outsmart the algorithm that’s captured them, uncovering secrets and confronting biases along the way.
As they grow closer, the line between performance and personhood blurs, and Laia realizes she might have to face the one thing she’s been avoiding all this time: herself.
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