Thanks to Netgalley for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. For a Christmas story, this had a more somber tone. Justin's life didn't exactly turn out as he planned it. He's shockingly reminded of that when he's at his parent's for Christmas dinner and learns his mom also invited his childhood best friend and first love Elliot. Elliot, who he should have gone with to art school in California, but instead had to stay home and take over running his family's hardware store when his dad was diagnosed with cancer.

It's clear they still have feelings for each other, but circumstances have not changed that much. Instead of straight on Christmas cheer, this one had more of a realistic hopefulness about it. The ending felt earned.