I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged and it only took a few days to read. I think this is going to be a good book club option for several clubs. I plan recommending to my book friends and I look forward to reading more by this author.

The Most Wonderful Time by Jayne Allen reminds me of the movie The Holiday. Ramona and Chelsea switch homes leading to the holidays as both need to get away from their lives. I wish this book was a bit more holiday feeling.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Perennial for this arc.

I'm a huge fan of Jayne's writing, and I've devoured every book in the Black Girls Must series. So, you can imagine how excited I was to get my hands on an advanced copy of her latest book, filled with entirely new characters. It was a refreshing change! The story's concept, involving two women swapping homes to find themselves and reignite their passions, really resonated with me. At first, I struggled a bit to grasp Chelsea's reasoning behind the switch, given it was mostly for financial gains, and wondered how it would truly benefit her in the long run. However, as the story unfolded, I saw the beauty in the swap - it was a journey of self-discovery for them both, far from their comfort zones, and I totally got on board with that. Jayne's writing? Still as captivating as ever. The characters were all engaging, even Joan, who, despite testing my patience at times, added an interesting twist to the tale and grew a lot by the end. Speaking of the end, it left me wanting just a bit more closure but, all things considered, the book was a delightful read!

The Most Wonderful Time by Jayne Allen
Rating: 3/5

Ramona Tucker, facing a Christmas with family where she's lied about her engagement to Malik, hopes to rekindle their relationship without exposing her deception at her mother's lavish Christmas Eve party.

Meanwhile, in sunny Malibu, Chelsea Flint struggles to keep her parents' cherished beachside cottage due to high taxes and a stalled art career. Once a celebrated figure in the LA art scene, Chelsea needs to sell a painting soon to save her home.

Thanks to careful planning by Ramona’s friend and a push from Chelsea’s gallerist godmother, the two swap homes just in time. Ramona's idyllic stay in Malibu takes an unexpected turn when a stranger appears, forcing her to question who she can trust—her nosy neighbour Joan or Jay, the enigmatic fitness instructor with secrets of his own.

Chelsea, eager for Ramona to stay, conceals information that could jeopardise Ramona's stay, including her budding romance with Carlos, whose ambitions might help Chelsea overcome her past.

I was so excited to dive into this book because it screamed Christmas, and since that is one of my favourite times of the year, I quickly requested it. However, after reading "The Most Wonderful Time," I can't say it delivered the festive Christmas feels I was hoping for.

The characters were decently crafted, and the plot was well thought out. However, the overall experience fell flat for me. The flow of the book felt uneven, which left me underwhelmed and unable to fully enjoy the story. Despite the promising premise and the holiday theme, the book didn't capture the magic of the season or the emotional depth I anticipated.

While there were moments of charm and potential, the inconsistency in pacing and the lack of a strong festive atmosphere made it a less enjoyable read than I had hoped. It’s disappointing because I was genuinely looking forward to a heartwarming holiday escape, but this book didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks | Harper Perennial, and the author, Jayne Allen, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I've read other books by this author and loved them, so I went into this book fully expecting to love this one, and my expectations were exceeded. From the opening line, I was hooked. The writing style here somehow is both to the point and eloquent that is only done well by Jayne Allen. This book felt like a warm hug by a good friend when you didn't know you needed it.

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

JAYNE ALLEN GIRL, you didn't have to eat like this. no but seriously this was amazing and I can't wait to rave about it to all my people.

Anything with vibes of <i>The Holiday</i> (one of my all time favorite Christmas movies!) and I’m instantly intrigued. I wish I had liked this one more!

Sadly, there weren’t many Christmas elements to the story at all, and what little there was came in around the 60 percent mark. In reading the summary a little more closely, it doesn’t sound as Christmassy as I originally thought, so that’s on me. It’s kind of one of those stories that takes place at Christmas but doesn’t really have much else to do with Christmas. I was looking for a Christmas book, so I was let down a bit by that.

The writing style didn’t always work for me either. It’s very descriptive and evocative, with a lot of exposition. I personally prefer a balance of dialogue or even a more dialogue heavy story, so it didn’t always work for me, but the descriptions of both Malibu and Chicago were well done and made me want to visit (and eat fish tacos in Malibu and deep dish pizza in Chicago!).

Overall, it was okay, but if you’re going into it looking for holiday feels, you’d probably be better off with a different book.

I loved this book so much. The characters, the setting(s), the struggles, and of course, the Christmas vibes! I loved Ramona immediately and was rooting for her to find some happiness. Chelsea’s situation was deeply emotional and I absolutely loved her artsy self. The escapism was top notch, the romance was hot, the self growth was REAL, and the Christmas vibes were magical. I will definitely be wanting a physical copy of this one to reread.

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 Malibu and Chicago are approximately 2,000 miles away from each other, an entire 24 hour drive and varying hours of flying based on connections. For Romona in Chicago and Chelsea in Malibu, both women are facing a Christmas that is anything but merry and bright. Could a house swap turn their holiday season around? The Most Wonderful Time tackles the real world hardships that people endure, even around the Christmas season in a realistic yet hopeful manner. The Most Wonderful Time dares us to believe that perhaps Christmas really is a magical time of healing and finding authentic connections.

4.5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review is posted on Goodreads and the final review will be on Instagram ahead of the publication date!

This read being set around Christmas time really drew me in. The cover is adorable and I loved all of the character's names. This book was very well written and I appreciate the extensive attention to detail. I also appreciate when it changes from character perspective, you are told, as well as where the character currently is and the detailed weather description. Perfect read for the holiday time.

Thank you netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to advance read!

Outstanding book to get lost in before the holidays arrive, and you have zero time to read! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. The characters were likable, and the storyline was easy to follow.