Mel makes a living as a wedding singer, in a longtime band with friends, including a longtime boyfriend. This was a messy and bit chaotic look at Mel's life during Christmas time. Her Mom just passed away, leaving her their family home. Her boyfriend wants to go on the road and sing back up with a touring band and one day, on the doorstep of her childhood home, an old, estranged friend of her mom's, promising stories and a place to stay. Barb's home is inviting, and a book of songs from when Barb and her mom tried to make it big in Nashville makes Mel question her paternity and her mom's true career success. There is grief, love, and chosen family all within this story.

“How lucky I was, to have found love out of deep sadness. But that was the yellow house - a blessing, a refuge, a home, if just for the holidays.”

Beautiful and heartwarming portrayal of grief, found family, and finding love in the most unexpected place. I was crying within pages of starting this. I loved every moment leading up to the end. Perfect Sad Girl Lit Fic.

And then came the last 2 chapters. Taylor baby. What happened? Did you hit your head before you finished writing the book? The last two chapters were so jarringly different in tone and I was gobsmacked by the ending. I LOVE an open ending, that’s not the problem here. Suddenly Mel has it all figured out in the blink of an eye and Henry was nowhere to be found? I’m so utterly confused by tying this up in a neat bow the way it was. Nothing about this story was neat and tidy. It’s literally left open ended, why did you put a bow on it???

I’m still recommending it because I truly loved it until the last 2 chapters. Maybe just stop? Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.

Rating: 5 stars!

The most wholesome found family Christmas story! The build up to the reveal at the end.. The heartbreaking story of a mother's love.. Barb's cooking... I just absolutely adored this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor an ARC in exchange for an honest review

When Mel’s mom dies a few weeks before Christmas, her mom’s former best friend Barb takes Mel under her wing, and Mel begins to learn more about her mom than she ever knew. And when Barb’s handsome son Henry (along with his sister and nephew) join them for the holidays, Mel finds a family just in time for Christmas. But will secrets from her mom and Barb’s past ruin everything she’s found?

I really enjoyed this one. I LOVED Barb, Henry, and the rest of their family, and there were a couple of twists I didn’t see coming. This is definitely more of an emotional, touching story, and is both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. The only issue I had was that the ending was extremely abrupt; I kept flipping back and forth because I was sure there had to be more! But if you love found family (especially at Christmas!), you’ll love this one.

TW: parent death, alcoholism

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the opportunity to read before pub day! ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS is out now!

Not your typical “holiday romance” and also one of the best holiday-themed stories I’ve ever read! There *is* some romance along the way, but it’s certainly not the centerpiece of this novel. Filled with lovely characters who are dealing with grief and loss during a particularly difficult time of year, this was the engaging and heartwarming read I needed right now! 👏

This was a really adorable book about found family. It tackles the topic of grief and the holidays really well. I do think at points it felt a little rushed, things got wrapped up really quickly.
Overall enjoyable with a splash of holiday magic.

aylor Hahn's A Home for the Holidays is a heartfelt and poignant exploration of grief, healing, and the joy of found family. The story deftly balances emotional depth with moments of lightness, making it a truly memorable read.

The central theme of grief is beautifully portrayed, as the protagonist navigates the pain of loss while finding unexpected solace and connection in new relationships. Hahn’s writing captures the complex emotions of mourning—its heaviness and unpredictability—while also weaving in hope and warmth. The theme of found family is especially well done, showcasing how bonds formed in unexpected places can fill the void left by those we’ve lost.

While the narrative is richly layered, I found myself wanting to know more about Mel and Henry’s romance. Their relationship had the potential to add an extra layer of emotional depth, and a bit more focus on their journey together could have elevated the story even further.

Despite this, A Home for the Holidays is a deeply moving book that leaves a lasting impression. Hahn’s ability to address difficult topics with grace and authenticity, while also celebrating love and community, makes this a must-read for anyone seeking a story with heart. It’s a perfect pick for the holiday season or anytime you need a reminder of the healing power of connection.

Sometimes, I need a book to really PUT me in a feeling and force me to stay there - this book did just that. A powerful reflection on grief, family, and belonging, all set against the backdrop of Christmas. Sometimes the plot lost me a little, but I ended up coming back to it regardless. A good one if you need a break from saccharine Christmas novels.

This is probably the best Christmas book I’ve ever read. That’s saying something, because I have read 7 or 8 Christmas books every December for nearly the last decade.

A few months ago, I read an article the author wrote about her mom’s death (https://people.com/taylor-hahn-author-essay-exclusive-8719600) that I feel like prepares you well for the tone of the book.

I was honestly dreading reading it, because I am a fellow member of the dead mom club and I generally avoid these types of stories. I’m so glad I did, though. It was a quick read that struck the right bittersweet balance between grief and hope. Henry was a great book boyfriend and, though she was flawed, I loved Barb too. The ending was *chef’s kiss*. I would highly recommend this, even if you hate Christmas books. This book honestly doesn’t *need* to be set around Christmas, but it takes it up to that next level and makes it even more special.

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was fine. It was great and certainly not bad, but average. It is marketed by Goodreads as a holiday romance which it really isn’t. It just happens to be set around Christmas where the FMC, Mel, has to navigate a world without her mother in it. Barb helps Mel learn a different side to her mother she never knew about.

Romance is a side plot. This is mostly a found family and navigating grief and complex relationships impacted by substance abuse.

A holiday story that has it all -- romance, family relationships, and lots of Christmas atmosphere. Two weeks before Christmas, Mel Hart gets the sad news that her mom has died. Mel's childhood was difficult, because her mother had a drinking problem, but her mom always loved her and managed to pull off Christmas for the two of them. Mel goes back to her mom's house to clean it out to get ready to sell and ends up meeting an old friend of her mom's. It turns out, to Mel's great surprise, that her mom was an "almost famous" singer back when she was in her twenties, and collaborated on a famous hit song. This starts Mel down a path of finding out who her mom truly was. Great story with lots of heart and just enough humor to keep it light.

SO many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the opportunity to read A Home for the Ho!idays by Taylor Hahn. I loved it so much I read it twice and I'm sure I'll be reading it again as well as recommending it to friends and family. Twenty-five beezillion gold stars for this magical novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review. This is a short yet poignant story about grief and discovering how much you really know about your family's past. The book follows Mel, a wedding singer in Chicago who is informed of her mother's sudden death. I enjoyed learning more about Mel and her mother's past and appreciate the message this book sends about life and addiction (her mother was an alcoholic before her death). However, the rest of the plot is a little farfetched and the heavy themes throughout do not lend itself well to a light holiday read. I think this book could have chosen to be a exploration/discovery family story and not need the rushed and honestly ill-advised romance on the side. Overall, this was okay but not something I would rush out to recommend.

I really thought this one would end up working better for me. I thought it was well written, with fleshed out characters. However I think I wanted a bit more exploration of the themes of grief, trauma and understanding and the strength of those clashed with the singer/songwriter/famous popstar side of the story.

A Home for the Holidays was filled with romance, found family, loss of loved ones, and reaching for dreams. While I love all of these plot points (especially in a holiday-themed book) and how there were some twists and turns, I found myself not wanting to reach for the book every time I put it down. I can’t put my finger on why exactly. Maybe too many plot points? I did appreciate the FMCs progression through the story but I would have loved to see her mom’s house as a place where she sought refuge instead of Barb’s. I loved all of the Christmas vibes, especially the party where they dress as A Christmas Story characters. Overall, a good book for anyone looking for a light romance with a few tearful moments.

Thank you so much to Knopf and NetGalley for my copy of A Home for the Holidays by Taylor Hahn in exchange for an honest review. It published September 24, 2024.
Wow, this is easily one of the best Christmas books published this year. I loved this book so much, I read it in a day! I could not put it down. It was not cutesy like a Hallmark movie (no shade, just not for me), nor was it too gritty or rough like a dad book, (again, no shade, just not for me at Christmas).
I just loved everything about this book, the premise, the writing, the character development, the food!
This book has my heart swelling and my eyes tearing.
This was definitely an excellent book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was a charming, cozy and emotional novel. I knew before even reading the author’s note that Taylor Hahn had experienced the loss of her own mother, as no one could have written a mother/daughter story like this without living through it first hand. I loved the way these characters came alive on the page. As an only child of a single mom myself, the specificity with which the FMC recalled fond memories growing up with her mom were particularly touching.

Some elements of the story did seem a bit formulaic and the ending felt slightly rushed. I was left wanting a bit more after that final scene! Regardless, this was a heartwarming holiday story that struck the right balance between Hallmark festiveness and a moving portrayal of a daughter’s complicated grief with her mother’s passing. I would love to read more from this author!

3.5⭐ This was a really cute and sentimental read. It was quick and enjoyable! Its what I would call a cute Hallmark Christmas movie type book. If you like to read a cute romance that deals with grief and healing, then this will be great for you. I enjoyed it!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!

This was not the fun and fluffy Christmas rom-com I expected, but that's totally okay--it was surprisingly good!

Wedding singer Mel Hart has always loved Christmas thanks to the fact that her mom, Connie, made it magical. That's extra special because, as an adult, Mel realizes her mom was (is) an alcoholic and the two spent a lot of their life with little money and no real place to put down their roots. Still, Mel is devastated when Connie dies a few weeks before Christmas, leaving much unresolved between the pair. Then she meets Barb, who claims she was Connie's best friend before Mel was born--back in a crazy world when Connie almost became a famous singer. Mel goes to stay with Barb for the holidays, learning more and more about Connie's past, and also meets Barb's son, a handsome and witty doctor.

If you don't like treacly and overly romantic Christmas stories, this book is for you. It's actually dark at times, delving into Connie's alcoholism, problems between Connie and Barb, and Mel's sadness and grief. There is hope, however, when Mel meets Barb's son Henry, who is absolutely glorious and such a sweet leading guy. Mel has her own issues (a dying alcoholic mom will do that to you) but she's spunky and enjoyable too. Even with its difficult topics, HOME is a sparkling story about grief, forgiveness, and yes-love.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Knopf in return for an unbiased review.

I enjoyed this book so much! I wasn't sure what to expect at first due to the sad beginning, but it was such a wonderful story. I love how everything tied together in the end