I thought that this was such a sweet, holiday story about a group of misfits coming together to create one wonderful community. Of course, I loved the theater aspect of it and introducing theater to a group of kids who otherwise would not have fallen in love with it! Perfect cozy, heartwarming read for the holiday season.

This book took me a bit to get into but I am glad I stuck with it. I am a sucker for the found family trope and this one was so sweetly done that it just warmed my heart...exactly what you need on a cold, winter day. It is definitely more of a slow-paced read, but a good one if you have time on your hands through the holidays.

Harriett's character is so funny and the type of adult every kid should have in their corner. I loved watching her self development growth and really digging into who SHE was outside of motherhood, work and friends. I also just love how the theatre became a hang out for all types and kinds of people. Everyone was welcome and equally loved and I just thought that was so sweet.

Read if you like:
-Theatre settings
-Found family
-Foster care stories (may also be a TW)
-"Funny meeting you here after what happened last night" situations
-Mid-life romances
-A FMC that learns boundaries
-A Christmas Carol

Thank you NetGalley for my advanced copy of this sweet novel!

This is one of my shorter reviews because there is nothing wrong with this book but I don't find myself with much to say about it. It is a very 3-star book, in my opinion. It was fine - sweet story, not really a lot of action. I love that Jenny Bayliss's characters are typically of a certain age and going through life changes pertinent to that time in life. But with regards to this particular work, while it does feature her typical character, I would honestly describe it as underwhelming. I am a big Jenny Bayliss fan and I remain thus, but I can say that this is not my favorite of her works.

This book got me GOOD.

I've read some of Jenny Bayliss' books, so I have a good grasp of her writing style, and it doesn't always hit with me. When I first started this one, I found Harriet very annoying. Her weird habit of using faux swear words, like "No shizzle" was extremely irritating. Just swear. Everyone does it. I also found her extremely dramatic at times. After James leaves the theater to go see to Morgan and Lyra, Harriet immediately writes him off and begins to sulk. "She was sad that their spark hadn't had the chance to become a flame, but she reasoned that it was better to know where she stood now rather than later". One little inconvenience and she's throwing away everything that they had together, which granted, wasn't much, but still. And then, after James comes back and apologizes, she swiftly friend zones him. In my opinion, that is very immature and VERY dramatic. I loved that Maisie was the voice of reason, though. I wish we had more Maisie in the book!

As someone who did high school theater, I loved the character of Gideon. Jenny Bayliss really nailed his personality, and he was such.a classic theater directer in every sense.

Despite my very surface level problems with Harriet, I did enjoy this book. I loved that Harriet was a FMC of a certain age, but I hated that fact that she wore multiple cardigans at a time. Nobody does that. I really grew to love the famous five, and at the end, when the play was over, I did get emotional. If you're looking for a feel-good holiday read, this is for you!

Wasn’t a fan of this one- pacing was slower than I would have liked and didn’t like the main characters.

@jennibayliss is one of my favorite holiday romance writers and I was thrilled to read her newest book! Kiss Me at Christmas was an absolute delight.

Harriet is having a bit of down year with her young adult daughter off on a year abroad. She has an amazing night with a man she meets in a bar and sneaks out the next day. Things take a turn when she meets James again after a few of her students get in trouble and are forced to do community service.

Due to the terms of their commitment, the students (and Harriet) are to produce a holiday show in an old theater. But it’s run down and these kids lack motivation and ambition because no one has ever believed in them. Some are foster kids, some are LGBTQ and are just overlooked. Harriet truly cares for them and gets them involved. As the story goes on, word gets out that the old theater is a new community space and other groups ask to use it and also help with the production. I loved each of these groups; there’s a refugee group, an amateur drama group, even a group for single old men who call themselves “the Lonely Farts.”

So while this is probably considered a romance and there is one that’s adorable, it’s more a story of a community coming together. It had lots of humor and it’s very genuine in terms of rallying the town in favor of the old theater, especially since there’s a cranky old lady landlord who left it empty and in disrepair for many years. I did appreciate that James and Harriet were in their mid forties, with lots of life lived before they were together.

Thank you @putnambooks for my ARC and my #winingdown secret santa for the physical copy!

A Christmas book by Bayliss is never a miss!
Found family, theater, and romance round out another holiday book that will continue to be in rotation year after year.

I liked the characters and I love Bayliss’ writing. I think it was cute and semi realistic. I’ve started to like romance novels with older protagonists more and more lately

Jenny Bayliss always writes great holiday romances and Kiss Me at Christmas was no exception. This enemies to loves romance was such a festive read! I really enjoyed the premise and the story of the ragtag Christmas Carol production. So fun!

The idea of this was sooooo promising but I found myself so annoyed with Harriet and James. They took no communication to the extreme and times and while I may also ignore a phone call from time to time, it felt like Harriet just avoided confrontation too many times for it to suddenly be ‘we grow together, don’t know where one ends and the other begins’ love, at least not a healthy one. I did love the robust side characters tho.

This book started off with a steamy bang I wasn't expecting. Otherwise, a solid, heartwarming story perfect for Christmas reading by the fire.

Absolutely loved this newest winter read by Jenny Bayliss! This heartwarming story of a single mom whose teenage daughter decides to spend her holiday abroad includes a little romance, theatre, and a whole lot of Christmas spirit. Highly recommend!

Not much in the way of romance, but moreso in the way of saving Christmas for a group of kids who made a stupid decision. It's also surrounding an empty nester divorcee and I loved that... but it didn't dive deep into that. Instead, it was more focused on the variety of characters and each of their quirks and needs that it less focused on the important details that would have made this book a good one. Definitely has found family trope throughout, but that's about all it had going for it. Kinda sad about it... but it's all good. A heartwarming Christmas season book if nothing else. Thanks for the opportunity to read!

Jenny Bayliss is becoming synonymous with heartwarming holiday novels, In a slight throwback or take on White Christmas, Kiss Me at Christmas features a cast of charming characters: mid 40s mom and pastoral care associate Harriet, charming solicitor James, "mean" scroogey Evaline Winters, bestie Emma (married to Harriet's ex-husband) and a group of teenagers who seemingly don't fit in anywhere-except on the stage.
When Harriet meets James in a bar one November night, what is supposed to be a one-time encounter turns into forced proximity when Harriet takes the blame for her school charges breaking and entering at the old Winter Theater. The owner, Evaline Winter, decides to not press charges if Harriet is able to stage a play for one night only for investors interested in buying the theater. The catch? She insists her solicitor James assist. When the community catches wind of the play and space available they pitch in and an unexpected camaraderie is forged. While putting on a Christmas Carol, Harriet and James learn important lessons from the ghosts of Christmases past. This delightful read is a little built of a slow burner but the story, characters and setting are delightful.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

It took me a little longer than usual to get into Kiss Me at Christmas - I honestly don't know why per se, but there it is. Once I did get into it, it was awesome, so I can't feel too bad about it taking a minute! I loved the famous five, I loved all the groups, I just loved the overarching concept of this novel in a way that ended up surprising me. The Christmas Carol feel really worked for the story, definitely one I'll recommend!

Jenny Bayliss’s *Kiss Me at Christmas* is a heartfelt holiday romance that blends festive cheer, personal growth, and community spirit into a delightful reimagining of *A Christmas Carol*. The story follows Harriet Smith, the ever-reliable teacher and single mother, whose life takes a surprising turn after she takes the fall for five misfit students caught trespassing in a crumbling theater. Tasked by the theater’s eccentric owner, Evaline Winter, to clean up the building and organize a Christmas play, Harriet finds herself working alongside James, Evaline’s lawyer—and her awkward one-night stand from the night before. As the students transform through their involvement in the play, Harriet learns to set boundaries, embrace her own needs, and rediscover joy, all while navigating a charming romance. Though some plot resolutions feel overly convenient and certain adult characters act immaturely, Bayliss more than compensates with warmth, humor, and a touch of holiday chaos. Brimming with found family dynamics, festive romance, and a bit of theater magic, this cozy read is a perfect addition to your holiday reading list.

Kiss Me at Christmas was a really beautiful book that had Christmas spirit at the center, but lots of life lessons weaved through it. It's a feel good story that will put you in the Christmas mood!

This is a hopeful and emotional Christmas reads. It has all the elements and getting to know all the characters was fun! It was a bit long but I enjoyed that it was so much more than just a Christmas romance and the more serious themes were well developed, but also left the reader feeling cozy and hopeful.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this advanced reader's edition. Unfortunately, I will not be able to give it the time required to write a thorough review and will be unable to read it for this purpose.

The female main character in this book was really not a pleasant individual. I felt like many of the side characters were thoroughly enjoyable as well as the setting of this book. I really liked how they worked on the theater and made it a central part of the community. However, the romance did not Sit well. I felt like I would have preferred the book if it were more about the side characters. I really enjoyed the intergenerational friendships in this book. Additionally I really liked how the different community groups enmeshed themselves into the theater. While I did enjoy parts of this book, ultimately, it will not be remembered Going forward.

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