Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️/5

LOVE IT! May reread in December to enjoy it in the right festive month! Holiday Romance was easy to read with a fun plot and charming characters.
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Friends-to-lovers between photographer x lawyer.

Every Christmas, two friends with very different lives fly home together to Ireland to be with each other family. It has become a tradition, they always spend time on the plane to update each other's life stories.

On the supposedly 10th flight in the 10th year, a snowstorm ruined all their Christmas plans. Even though Molly doesn't care about Christmas, she looked for various ways to bring them home because Andrew loves Christmas with his family.

The intense journey was added with some intimate moments that made them question themselves. What do they really feel about each other?

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I love it! I love it! This is my first Catherine Walsh book and I plan to read the rest. I'm so lucky I can read this early. This festive book had me playing Christmas carols the whole time I read it, in August!

It is so cute. Not only because the friends-to-lovers trope is my thing, but Andrew is just so... charming. He knew how to keep up with Molly's intense emotions. They really complement each other.

Their return trip to Ireland also made me jealous. Despite all the rush, their moments make me want to travel too! I love their spontaneity when deciding what to do on the trip. Ugh. When will this pandemic situation end?

Overall the plot kinda refreshing to me. We can understand their relationship build up by stories of each flight. It's fun.

Recommended for those who like:
•Friends-to-Lovers
•Holiday Vibes (Christmas)
•Romance Comedy
•Travel
•Sunshine x Grumpy
•Slowburn
•Multiple timelines

Content Warnings: sexual content, alcoholism

I was given an early copy through NetGalley for an honest review. I had two issues with this book (obviously did not make me hate it) I’ve NEVER liked multiple timelines. Or chapters set in the past. And this book has quite a few. It also had some characters I found straight up annoying instead of charming.

However, this ended up being one of the best quick romance reads I’ve come across in awhile. Molly and Andrew are well matched and they have great banter. I adored Andrew and his family. I have a similar family dynamic so it just made me feel like home. Andrew is a genuinely good guy with a heart of gold and everyone needs someone like him.

I highly recommend this one if you enjoy friends to lovers (and even if you don’t because I’m not a huge fan of that trope.)

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read the ARC of this book. Also thank you to Catherine Walsh for being the reason this painfully adorable story exists. I'm allowed to say that, right? Oh well. I said it. Sue me (no, actually please don't do that. I have no money.)

I loved this book. Plain and simple. I loved it. It was a pleasant surprise. I expected the usual corny Christmas romance, but instead I got a well thought out story that had just the right amount of Christmas cheer and sarcasm to keep me feverishly turning the pages. I was literally standing in the middle of the floor in my bathroom reading, desperate to figure out how it was going to play out, instead of getting in the shower to get ready for work like I was supposed to. (I'm sorry for whatever mental image that conjures up.) I was only a few minutes late like once or twice, thankfully. So I still have my job. As far as they know, I was stuck in traffic. In reality, I was stuck in this book!

Molly and Andrew had a relationship that was the perfect mix of sarcasm and true friendship that I love. Their conversations and their quick witted quips made me laugh more than once. I will take banter over mushy smushy behavior anyway. My husband's ability to banter is one of the things I enjoyed most about him, if that gives you any indication of how high it ranks on my list of desirable qualities. (It also helped that he was really fun to look at, but that is beside the point.) Molly and Andrew had a leg up on most couples because it wasn't the meet cute followed by flirting and then immediately falling head over heels. Their dynamic was the definition of a slow burn (ten years in the making!) that turned into an all out forest fire by the end of the book. So by the time they finally dragged their heads out of their butts and realized what was in front of them, they already had years of history on their side.

Check out the full breakdown of my review here:
https://www.thebookybabe.com/post/dashing-through-the-airport-a-book-review-on-holiday-romance-by-catherine-walsh

Thank you for the ARC ❤️
This book gave me Planes, Trains and Automobiles/You and Me on Vacation vibes and I completely loved it. I was well written and fun to read.
Both Molly and Andrew are great characters and their banter is hilarious. I really loved the Fitzpatrick family too. I was smiling almost the entire way through this book. It’s one I can see myself reading every holiday.
I’ll be buying a copy after it’s released. Definitely recommend this holiday romcom 🥰

This is my new favorite book. I am literally smiling so wide right now, its tooth rooting fluffy and I just cant get enough of Andrew and Molly.

Two friend flying together home for holidays for 10 years, exchanging christmas presents and stories. They text and call all the time but they meet at the same time for the past few years. At their 10 years anniversary, something not so good happens which might lead to something the best.

This friends to lovers book is absolutely amazing and very light read that I will definitely be recommending to everyone.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Catherine Walsh's stories always feel REAL, and relatable! (And this one too has all the Hallmark-esque movie potential!)

Holiday Romance has Molly and Andrew flying out to their families back in Ireland every Christmas season for the last ten years. This year they are stranded in Chicago due to a storm, but Molly knows how much Andrew loves being with his family for Christmas, and tries her best to get him there.

I loved how effortlessly the whole story flew, with time-jumps back through the ten years, at just the right moments. The banter was top-notch - Andrew was funny, and Molly and her smart quips had me rooting for her. I loved how tuned in Andrew was to Molly, how he was her calm when her feelings were a storm inside of her. Holiday Romance gave all the Christmas cheer, with family-bonding moments and secondary characters that piqued my curiosity. I wouldn't mind reading their stories!

With this third book under her belt, Walsh continues to prove that she's a rising star in the contemporary romance world.

Thank you to @bookouture and @catwalshwriter for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I almost passed on requesting an ARC of this one, just because I wasn't sure I was feeling a Christmas book when it's 80+ degrees out. I'm so glad I read it because it was so charming and fun! This is a feel good (albeit predictable) novel that is perfect for the holidays.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A totally gorgeous and escapist friends-to-lovers festive romance with a swoon-worthy hero. If you love Christmas movies like The Holiday and The Christmas Prince, this is the read to warm your heart with this winter time.

This was such a well written and fun Christmas rom com!! It'll have you laughing and smiling all the way through.

I really loved the flashbacks to their previous flights. It was really nice to get to see the history that they shared but I didn't like the lack of Christmas spirit that Molly had. What person doesn't like Christmas 🤷‍♀️

Catherine is yet to write a bad book but and if you decide to read this, put aside an entire day was you won't want to put it down!!

Thank you for allowing me to read this ARC and in return giving my honest feedback.
This book was absolutely fantastic. First, it has a flow about it that was calm and steady, yet kept me wanting more. The book does a bit of time jumping, however it works for this particular plot line. The backstory (and time jumps) are given at just the right time to add something fabulous to events in the current time. I adore how our main characters don't have to go through so much of the relationship drama I've seen in other titles. Instead, it felt very down to earth and relatable.
There is the sizzling building romance, quirky memorable lines, and of course, wonderful happy ending -- however not before a few fun twists that I wasn't expecting!
I'm totally in love with this book. I only wish it had kept going. The epilogue gave some fun future bits, however I would love to see more from this story! Looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you for the eARC in exchange for the review.

Great fun read. It’s that simple. Feel good book. Entertaining and heartwarming. I don’t want to post plot and spoil it.

From a woman who reads everything but this genre recently, this certainly ticked every box for a chick-lit, fun read.

I’m not really one for Christmas romance books - they’re just a bit too Hallmark Movie for me. However, something about the summary of “Holiday Romance” by Catherine Walsh grabbed my attention. Maybe it was that this took place over ten years. Maybe it was including Ireland. Maybe it was airplane adventures. In the end, all I can say is that if you find this book's summary interesting, do yourself a favor and read it. It’s a quick enjoyable read with some sprinkled in bit of humor. The main female character, Molly, has her quirks, but her heart is in a good place. The main male character, Andrew, plays off her well, though I found his character development a bit less than Molly’s. And Hannah - love her burst of color and energy on the page. I hope that Ms. Walsh had a good time writing this book because I had a fun time reading it. Engaging and quick read - with two characters I enjoyed following for “ten years” via this book.

I absolutely loved this title by Catherine Walsh. I had read her previous title and she has very much become one of my favorite new authors and one I keep an eye out for. Her writing flows effortlessly like you are watching it in real time as opposed to reading it.
Molly was such a great relatable character. It’s so nice to read an early holiday read to help get into the spirit and this was the perfect pick! I loved the whole crazy holiday travel theme and how it brings Molly and her friend puesdo love interest Andrew together. I won’t give too much away, but I love how the storyline is weaved together to bring them together and you anxiously awaiting them to get their happy ending towards the end of the book. Beautiful scenery and many laughs make this book the perfect pre holiday read!

“Sometimes I feel like he’s been the one constant in my life since I moved to this city. Through the chaos of my early twenties, of finding my way, finding myself, he’s always been with me.”

I wholeheartedly adored this book. Since finishing my last read, I haven’t been able to find a story that caught my attention. It’s been weeks and I’ve tested more first chapters than I can count. After stumbling upon this, I couldn’t have fallen more in love with it. While it may still be summer, there’s nothing quite like a holiday novel to get your emotions going - especially one with a friends to lovers trope.

Molly and Andrew are unexpected friends. Brought together by a flight and a less than memorable ex girlfriend/friend, Molly and Andrew build a relationship that blossoms over the span of ten years (ten years in which they rarely see one another - but always manage to fly home to Ireland together before Christmas). It’s a dual timeline novel that takes you from their present day, ten year anniversary flight disaster and back to when it first began.

Sometimes you just need a lighthearted, feel good read to get you going again. I caught myself smiling over and over again because of the characters, their quirks and the situations they were put in. Although if I were Molly, I would’ve pulled my hair out the first moment something went wrong. I also would’ve have a major crush on Andrew from the moment I met him and I have no idea how she didn’t. He is one of those ultimate dream book boyfriend types. He’s a family man, a sweetheart and actively chooses to wear ugly Christmas sweaters on an 8 hour flight across the sea every year. He’s also obsessed with Molly in the best ways possible.

This will definitely become a reread for me during the holiday season! I wanna experience it again when the seasons match up and it isn’t 100 degrees out.

took me ages to get through. i’m not sure why, but i wasn’t feeling the drive to see what happens next. i liked molly and andrew fine, and i enjoyed the friends-to-lovers. overall, i prefer walsh’s other books.

#netgalley

"Andrew Fitzpatrick’s shocked look disappears as soon as he sees me. He grins up at me with those hazel eyes as if I’m the best thing that’s happened to his day. I know he’s the best thing that’s happened to mine."

*4.5/5
i loved every single thing about this book, it is probably my favourite christmas book that i've every read. i loved the banter and bickering between molly and andrew, i loved how we got glimpses of all their previous flights together but that the heart of the story was set during the present, describing their really long journey back to ireland. i loved reading about molly slowly realising that andrew was the right person for her and that he had been right in front of her all along. i loved the side characters and their short but funny and meaningful appearances, like with the taxi driver in chicago, andrew's cousin oliver in london, molly's twin sister zoe, and andrew's younger brother christian. i definitely recommed it if you're looking for a nice and warm holiday read, and especially if you love the friends to lovers trope.

arc provided by netgalley and bookouture in exchange for an honest review.

this was the perfect christmas book for fans of the friends to lovers trope, i personally didn't find any kind of fault. i loved the characters, i loved their constant banter, i loved the flashback scenes from the flights they took together throughout the years. i loved seeing their little non-dates in paris and london, them spending christmas with andrew's very chaotic family... it was just perfect!

arc provided by netgalley and bookouture in exchange for an honest review.

Molly wants to leave her stressful job as a lawyer in Chicago, but she's not quite sure what her plan B is. Surely her anual trip back home to Ireland for Christmas with her friend Andrew will bring some clarity? When a storm over the Atlantic ends up in a cancelled flight, Molly embarks on an adventure to get Andrew (one of THOSE Christmas people of the matching Christmas pjs for everyone in the family kind) back home for Christmas day.

Holiday Romance (available on the 4th of October, but can be pre-ordered already) is funny, entertaining and just the right amount of sweet. There is one reason and one reason only why I didn't read it in one sitting, and it's the fact that I wanted to spend a few days enjoying Molly and Andrew. They are both endearing in their own way, their chemistry is great, and you can't help but smile at their interactions once and again throughout the book. Much like in Catherine Walsh' previous novel The Rebound (can I gently push you guys to read that one too if you haven't? It's a brilliant one), the secondary characters are a delight. It might not be the flashiest of moves and some authors often neglect it, but building believable and well-rounded supporting characters really elevates a work of fiction and is testimony to the writer's careful, thorough work, which is much appreciated on my part.

If you are a fan of feel-good, sweet rom-coms that truly make you smile every two pages, great dialogue, and charismatic characters, this is the book for you. Thanks to Catherine Walsh, Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to get and advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. Another cute christmas story! These two meet each year on a flight home for Christmas. They talk about their relationships. Will they end up together? It was a little confusing for me to keep going back and forth from past and present.

Cute christmas book! This couple meets every year on a flight back home for Christmas. Cute little love story that has a happy ending.