Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋 (I definitely prefer more descriptions, explicitness and emotional factors in my scenes)
Intimate Scene Length: 🍑🍑 (about a page)
Steam Scale (Number of Scenes): 🔥 (basically one full scene and then a few more implied scenes/fade to black)
Humor: Yes! Lots of great banter and silliness
Perspective: third person from the heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: Not too long in...about 13% or chapter 2 (of 21)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: No

Should I read in order?
I think this is a stand alone?

Basic plot:
Charlotte plans on spending the holidays (which she hates) with her sister but when she meets a stripping reindeer her holiday adventures change track.

Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- holiday romance
- London setting
- American heroine / English hero pairing
- bit of a grumpy heroine that hates Christmas
- artist heroine (former child actress)
- low steam – I believe 1 light scene and some mentions/alluded to scenes

Ages:
- heroine is 29, hero is 33

My thoughts:
This one was really cute! A bit of a grumpy heroine that hates holidays meets someone that entertains society with holiday cheer. This had some really great banter and humor and just such a sweet falling for each other.

I do wish Waters had more steam! I’m always left wanting a bit more in the bedroom, or more tension and longing between the mains. But I find her books generally really sweet and enjoyable and always delightfully humorous!

I was so excited to request a copy of this book from NetGalley after reading the author's Regency Vows series! This modern romance tells this story of Charlotte, who starred in a well-loved Christmas movie as a child, but now wants nothing to do with it as an adult. She escapes the festive New York Christmas landscape and lands in London to spend the season with her sister. Charlotte ends up involved with the family whose ancestral home in rural England was a filming location for the movie Charlotte is trying to distance herself from.

I love it when authors include fourth-wall breaking talk about tropes, it always feels like a fun Easter egg for regular romance readers. Waters includes a few (One room at the inn, anyone? How about a grand gesture?) that made the story fun. I love Christmas, holiday movies, and reading seasonal books, so this book was just right!

I felt really neutral about this book. I enjoyed the storyline, it was very cozy Christmas; but I had a hard time relating to the characters and found myself not wanting to read on.

One of the common ingredients in a holiday romance is a character who doesn't like Christmas. Well Charlotte takes that to the extreme. As a young child she starred in a holiday romance film that continues to haunt her as an adult. This year, with talks of a reboot, she flies off to the UK to spend the holiday season with her sister.

Graham doesn't care much about Christmas one way or the other, he is only focused on keeping his ancestral home running, and the holidays are a big part of that. It's an old English estate, and every dollar since his father died has been a struggle. They meet when Charlotte and her sister visit an event at the place, Eden Priory, and Charlotte realizes it is the place her formative movie was filmed. Rom-Com magic happens and Graham is giving Charlotte a ride home. Now an artist, they strike a deal that she will paint a few landscapes for their giftshop.

I feel like the summary of this book doesn't really do it justice. I've been trying to come up with ways to spruce it up for ten minutes, but the plot just is what it is. It's a vehicle for these two awesome characters to fall in love. That's not to say it's a throw away plot, just that it's hard to summarize concisely.

The best part of this book is the easy banter. Oh goodness, I found myself smiling so much during this book. Charlotte is unapologetic in her disgruntled holiday persona, and Graham is happy to oblige her. The romance that builds between them is so satisfying and natural. Perfect rom-com material!

The story goes deeper than that though. Both of them have old wounds to heal, Graham's about his father and his responsibility/hero complex, Charlotte about her holiday past and even past relationships. Nothing feels forced (except maybe the inciting incident), it's just really good storytelling.

This is absolutely a holiday romance you can get lost in this season. There is something special about the genre of holiday romance, and I really recommend this one!

I know Martha Water’s from her historical romances and I was happy to see how easily she switches gears to a contemporary holiday romance. Charlotte is a former child actress who made a holiday classic movie. Fans still want her to be that character. Charlotte now is an illustrator and accepts a commission illustrating iconic holiday movie scenes around London. In London she meets Graham and he offers to escort her to locations.

In an unusual twist Charlotte is the grumpy one about Christmas compared to Graham. They have fun banter as their romance grows. I was pulled into the London setting and enjoyed the couple. (3.5 Stars)

I have enjoyed Martha Waters' historical romances so I was intrigued to pick up a contemporary romance by her - with a holiday theme, no less! And I did end up liking many parts of this book - the chemistry between Charlotte and Graham, the countryside explorations, the small amount of growth Charlotte and Graham help each other to achieve. But I struggled with Charlotte overall. I think she was supposed to be mildly Grinch like, but she just comes off as fairly entitled and a little bit mean. She seems to think she is too good for so many things, and it takes way too long for her to realize and appreciate all that she has AND how she got the life she is living.

3 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book. These opinions are my own.

I've read all of Martha Waters' regency romances and enjoyed them! I wasn't sure what to expect from a modern day Martha Waters but I was pleasantly surprised! It was a fun, holiday romance and I would definitely recommend it!

DNF at 10%. I just couldn't get invested in the story. I don't normally mind grumpy characters in a Christmas novel, but for whatever reason this one wasn't working for me.

3.5 stars! This was such a cute read. I absolutely loved the setting and premise—London during the holidays? Former child actress who starred in a popular holiday movie...and hates Christmas? Based on that alone, I knew I wanted to pick up this book! The storyline was so unique, and overall really well-done. I also personally enjoyed that the FMC was the grumpy/cynical character in the couple, as someone who isn't a huge fan of the "grumpy-sunshine" trope when it's done the other way around. The chemistry between Charlotte and Graham was great, and I loved following their journey! I appreciated how well-developed they were as individuals, too—I particularly liked reading about their relationships with their respective families. If you're in search of a sweet romcom to add to your shelf this holiday season, look no further! CHRISTMAS IS ALL AROUND is the book for you. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

Christmas perfection. The romance was cute and romantic. Enjoyed the take on having the FMC not like Christmas because of her only acting role in a popular holiday film. Very much a romcom.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

If you are looking for a cheesy holiday romance book, this is the one. It was too cheesy for me, and it could not keep my attention.

Overall, I liked the idea, but not the execution.

I had such high hopes for this one!!! Ya girl loves a good Christmas romance, but this one was just not it. I had a hard time relating to the characters and the story never picked up for me. I felt bored most of the time when I read it and the way everything developed felt pretty inorganic. I finished it, and it had some tropes I enjoy, but there really was nothing memorable about this except for the FMC’s utter disdain for Christmas 🥲🎄

Here’s to hoping the next lil seasonal romcom I venture into is a winner hehe

This was such a great Christmas romance! It was fun and different and I couldn’t put it down. Even though I thought Charlotte’s dislike of Christmas was a bit over the top at times, it was a nice change up to have a grumpy FMC. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend reading to anyone looking for a light, Hallmark movie holiday read!

All around a great Christmas book! I could not put it down! After loving this author in historical romance, I was hoping this would be just as good and it was!

Charlotte is a child star in a cult classic movie, and while her family is still into film/acting, she very much is not. After being recognized/harassed in Central Park about reprising her role for a remake, she flees to her sister's in London.

The whole family dynamic was great, including in-law's, baby nieces, and her own parents (with issues). She meets Graham after she's left at a tree lighting at a manor house, part of her sister's in-laws campaign for Christmas activities, and hitches a ride back to London with him.

Their adventures around London, the family dynamics and the artistic scenes really bumped this one up for me. And then there's the romance...swoon!!!

4 stars!

"Christmas Is All Around" by Martha Waters is a holiday delight. I liked the characters and the humor this book had to offer. Charlotte was a child star who acted in one role: in a Christmas film called "Christmas, Truly" years ago. This film has haunted her ever since. Fans frequently hound her on social media, and when rumors of a sequel start to swirl online, Charlotte is deemed the "bad guy" because she doesn't want to reprise her role, which causes the film to get canned. While on vacation with her family, they unknowingly visit the very sprawling estate where that movie was shot. While at Eden Priory, she meets the owner, Graham, and his sister. Charlotte agrees to help Graham by using her "status" as the star of "Christmas, Truly" to help save Eden Priory, promote the grounds to the public, and use her artistic skills to illustrate iconic scenes from holiday films. In the process, Graham and Charlotte bicker constantly, but grow closer to one another as they scout locations for her drawings. They may find love within each other, where they least expect it. The characters here are developed thoroughly and have interesting and compelling backstories. They feel like authentic, lived-in people. I loved the banter between Graham and Charlotte. I think a lot of readers might not like Charlotte as a main character. She is a bit whiny and a little jaded, but I found her to be relatable and realistic. There are plenty of people who are jaded about the holidays! I really liked Graham as well. He has the stiff-upper-lip British sense about him but definitely has a softer side when the occasion calls for it. The secondary cast of characters is excellent, too. Both Graham and Charlotte's sisters are meddlers, which cause some much-needed hilarity here and there. There are several touching, heartwarming moments, and a couple of heartbreaking ones. I found myself itching to finish this book when I had to stop reading for a while. An excellent addition to your Christmas TBR!

Thank you to NetGalley, Martha Waters, and Atria Books for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

This was a really fun Christmas romance. I appreciated the grumpy FMC and her tale of growth in coming to terms with her past career and how she can create happiness for herself. It was wonderfully Christmassy without being religious and the cast of supporting characters was so fun. The only thing that got on my nerves was the FMC’s penchant for throwing things at people (it’s a weird default…) but we all have our faults.

4 stars

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

CHRISTMAS IS ALL AROUND - Martha Waters

Christmas-Movie-Haters Unite! - 4 stars

Plot - 4 stars - As a former child actress, Charlotte starred in a popular holiday movie, and its fans won’t let her forget it. Ironically, she happens across Eden Priory, a filming location for her movie that she had never visited, with a handsome owner who might need her help to promote (and save) their home. Charlotte may not love Christmas, but is it so bad if you’re also falling in love?

Writing - 4 stars - I was caught up in the story right away, although I couldn't quite relate to the "I hate Christmas movies" philosophy. But I could understand Charlotte's need to move on from her childhood success and focus on her current career. I felt right at home in the family dynamics created by Waters--close but in a bickering sort of way--very entertaining.

Characters - 4.5 stars - This is where the story shone for me. Graham is an excellent hero--an even-tempered, stiff-upper-lip kind of Englishman, working hard to preserve his family's history while also living in today's world. He's funny, with witty banter that made me smile. Charlotte is also a strong character, but I didn't like her quite as well. She started out with a big chip on her shoulder about her "movie star" past, so much of her conversation and thoughts are negative about the holidays. She dismisses people's love of her movie and her character, which made her seem pretty ungracious at times. On the other hand, I found her to be intelligent and open minded when it was pointed out that she might be ungrateful about her successes.

Title - 3.5 stars - Not too sure about this title. I suppose it means that Charlotte is always running into people who want to share their love of Christmas (and consequently her movie), and this all makes Charlotte uncomfortable.

Cover - 4 stars - A cute cover. Although I'm not a huge fan of the current trend of cartoon-y covers, this one is simple yet effective.

Overall - 4 stars - All in all, this was a new-to-me author that I enjoyed very much. The story is all about Christmas but in a tongue-in-cheek way that was very entertaining. The characters were well drawn and very approachable, with some witty banter thrown in to make things fun.

Once upon a time, when Charlotte was young, she was in a movie, one that is one of those Christmas movies that become iconic. But Charlotte is no longer a young girl, and she doesn’t seem to want to be associated with that movie. She is also not a fan of Christmas.

When she leaves to go to London, she meets the man, Graham, who is the son of the family who lives in the home where the movie was set, although she doesn’t realize who he is, and he, having never seen the movie, doesn’t realize who she is, either.

As time passes, they form a kind of friendship, he helps her find places that she wants to capture for her art, and her listening to his concerns about the family home, and eventually (of course) a bit more than that.

A sweet story which evolves slowly as the holiday approaches.


Published: 22 Oct 2024

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Atria Books

Christmas is the most magical time of year and this book brings all the Christmas! I wanted so badly to jump into the setting of this book. The plot was a little too slow for me and although I liked the characters, it was hard to stay interested.

I will read any Christmas romance! This one was very well put together and I loved getting to know the characters throughout the novel. This is a good one to add to the list!