I ate this anti- Christmas book faster than warm Christmas cookies! Christmas is All Around is becoming one of my favorite Christmas books this year. I also enjoyed how Martha Waters sneakily incorporated regency themes and hints throughout the story. It was so charming and sweet that it felt like turning on a Christmas Hallmark movie and Lord knows I need that right now!
With the backdrop set in London, our main character Charlotte is on a mission to avoid all things Christmassy due to her childhood starlight past of becoming the girl version of Macaulay Culkin. I loved how the story mocked our culture’s obsession with Christmas movies and society's blinders to see the actors and actresses as people instead of playing long term roles.
When Charlotte meets Graham, the super charming, handsome, reindeer clad London man at a Christmas event she is amused. Graham was just my absolute favorite and his devotion to his family and their estate was just charming! One of my favorite things about the story was the adventures that Charlotte and Graham encountered together. Her sassiness and his dry humor and wit was just the perfect balance.
Martha Waters knocks it out of the ballpark with her newest novel, Christmas is All Around.
Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The author did a real fantastic job of describing the scenery and setting the stage for the story that was being told… I could perfectly picture exactly the story that the author was painting. I really enjoyed all the Christmasy treats and drinks that were described here too 🤪
This was a super cute Christmasy rom-com that I flew right through! I really liked the characters and was rooting for them to get together ❤️
I had not heard of this author before this book and I am excited to tee d to read more by her!

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC of this novel.

There were a few things I really loved about this novel. The setting was great. London at Christmas! I love it. Also, I am a big fan of the movie, Love Actually so I loved all the references and similarities between it and Christmas, Truly. I also loved Graham. He was sweet and the perfect Christmas romance boyfriend.

Most of my complaints about this book have to do with the MC Charlotte. I found her over the top grumpy about everything. I know she was suppose to dislike Christmas but really she disliked everything and everyone it felt like (eg. demon baby). I just couldn’t root for her and Graham as much as I should have.

Overall, it was a cute Christmas romance and if you are a fan of Love Actually you will probably enjoy this book.

3/5 stars.

Every time I went to pick up this book, I just couldn't stay in it (partially because of real life things totally unrelated to the book / reading). But I have decided to DNF this book for now. I think I may enjoy reading it a little closer to the Christmas season and will definitely be giving it another try.

Thank you to Martha Waters, Atria Books, and NetGalley for sending me an early copy!

Christmas? London? A perfect holiday love story? Yes please! This was such a sweet story and makes me want to visit London (minus the holiday crowds)!

For fans of Love Actually you will absolutely adore this book!

I seriously ate this book up and finished in 2 sittings.

"A former child star learns that holiday magic can come from a change in perspective in this charming and hilarious holiday rom-com."

Charlotte is a former child star - only starting in one Christmas movie just about 20 years ago and she has had a hate and hate relationship with the holiday since. To escape the pressure of being asked on a reunion movie she heads to London for Christmas.

Graham is and accountant but his main focus in life is helping his family keep the Eden Priory estate that is a financial to burden but will do whatever it takes to keep.

The Meet Cute between Charlotte and Graham and the meddling Christmas loving friends and family take us on the journey and romantic development between these characters.

Leaning on, opening and trusting are hard for both main characters but their opposite personalities is what made them attract.

Pick this up for a Christmas, truly holiday treat.

As a former child actress, Charlotte starred in a modern classic of a holiday movie, and its fans won’t let her move on. As a result Charlotte hates the holidays. When a piece revealing that her reluctance nixes plans for a reboot, she flees to London to spend the five-week countdown to the holidays with her sister. There she meets Graham, owner of a historic house that relies on holiday cheer and visitors to keep running. A visit from the former star would bring in more business. They strike a deal and it is in this deal that their relationship begins to develop. The scouting trips these two go on makes for some of the best parts of the story! Their banter is awesome and their growing romance is sweet, swoony, and steamy. This is cozy and heartwarming book will make a great addition to your holiday reads.

I received this book as a Netgalley ARC this past July and was so excited to start reading it closer to the holiday season. This was a very sweet holiday rom-com that had all the typical holiday cliches that any hallmark loving girl/gays/theys would enjoy (me). Did I think this was the most amazing romance I have ever read? No. But it is my favorite holiday romance for sure. I felt like Charlotte's hatred of the holiday season was a little dramatic. I get not wanting to be known for something you did as a child, but that level of anger toward a holiday based on your childhood movie was a bit excessive. Graham was a dream and even though there was a third-act break-up, I'm glad they were both open and honest with each other (I'm tired of the miscommunication trope.) This is not the first Martha Waters' book that I've read (some I bought on my own some were sent to me) but it is the first contemporary romance. I will say she's getting better and better with each book I've read.

Keep this book in-mind for your next holiday read!

no one ever said a third act breakup is required, y'know? especially one that feels forced into the plot? much like love actually, it's okay to write a cozy christmas romance where the stakes are just kind of low and the protagonist's job is geographically flexible! i think this was a solid entry into contemporary romance by martha waters, but it paradoxically loses steam (and pacing) as it arrives at this unnecessary third act conflict.

Martha Waters does it again! But make it Christmas! Christmas Is All Around was a wonderful homage to Christmas classic movies but with a scrooge-like FMC. Charlotte was a child actor who starred in a famous Christmas classic: Christmas, Truly. Charlotte escapes the States and takes refuge with her sister just before the holidays. What she doesn't expect is to meet the handsome owner of Eden Priory, Graham, where Christmas, Truly was filmed, and embark on a journey to create artwork of all the famous Christmas movie locations nearby.

As always, Waters takes us on a journey with the characters and develops wonderful scenery in which to imagine them. I especially loved the cozy inn scene. I also really loved the tongue-in-cheek way the author incorporates a character who does not love Christmas but continually refers to being caught up in her own Christmas Rom-Com. Incredibly well written, Martha Waters can do no wrong in my book. I'm so grateful she decided to go out on a limb and write this!

I highly recommend for anyone looking to get into the Christmas spirit or if you just want to cozy up with a solid romance.

I thought this was such a cute and fun holiday read! It had a great, original plot and I really was rooting for the main characters. I look forward to reading more from this author.

We really enjoyed Martha Waters Regency Vows series. If you’ve read anything by her you know she has a way of weaving humour, romance, family and friends into a fun escape from the everyday. And this being a contemporary romance, we knew we had to give it a read.

Hating Christmas is not a feeling we have. But Charlotte sure does and she has her reasons. Mainly just one reason and it is Christmas, Truly, the holiday movie she starred in as a child, and when there are rumblings of a potential reboot happening, she escapes to London. So of course she ends up at the estate where part of the movie was filmed! There she meets Graham, a bespeckled brit looking for a way to save his family’s historic estate. Charlotte, welcome to your holiday romance!

Charlotte and Graham were perfect together. She’s so grumpy and cynical and he’s British. 😂 They matched wit and banter and their budding relationship was fun to follow. Their friends and family brought the right amount of chaos and fun.

What we really enjoyed is that Charlotte is forced to reckon with her feelings about Christmas and why she feels this way. It’s not the usual holiday romcom but you get everything you want from one. It definitely got us into the holiday spirit. You can be a Grinch at Christmas but still find some magic during the holidays.

Read if you like:
▪️Christmas romcoms (or don’t like them)
▪️Forced proximity
▪️Set in London
▪️Meddling Family
▪️Grand Gestures

I am a huge Martha Waters stan. I've read every single one of her books and have loved every single one of them. Christmas Is All Around is no exception.

Like Martha's other books, the premise of this book is chef's kiss. Charlotte hates the holidays, probably because of her role in a holiday movie when she was a child actress. As an adult, Charlotte has made a life for herself away from Hollywood. But when a piece reveals her reluctance to participate in a reboot of the movie, she flees to London to spend the holidays with her sister. But even in London, Charlotte can't escape her past. When she ends up at one of the movie's filming locations for a holiday decorating event, Charlotte is accidentally left behind by her sister. With no other way to get back home, Graham, the owner's son, offers her a ride back to London. Looking for ways to bring in more money for his family's business -- hosting events at their historic family home, Graham offers Charlotte a job illustrating iconic holiday movie scenes. Thrilled with the opportunity to miss holiday outings with her family, Charlotte agrees. Charlotte and Graham spend time together scouting locations for her illustrations. Charlotte hates Christmas, but maybe it's not so bad when you're falling in love.

This book is so charming and fun. The banter is off the charts, and I seriously laughed out loud several times. Between the shenanigans with Charlotte's family, including her infant niece, the setting, and Charlotte and Graham's love story, this book will put you in the holiday spirit.

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Christmas Is All Around was a very cute and super charming holiday read. I enjoyed reading about Charlotte and Graham and their adventures while conducting business—and solely business—no falling in love at all *wink*.
The side characters were loveable, the growth of our MCs was inspiring, and the Christmas vibes were vibey. If you need me, I will be listening to Christmas music solely from now to January 2nd.

I liked how Charlotte wasn't the typical holiday rom-com heroine and how strong her personality was. Graham was swoon-worthy and won my heart pretty fast. I loved Ava and Kit and Simone and John and Eloise and Lizzie and heck Mama Calloway too. Their holiday spirit was bright. Also, the endingggg. Ughhhhh. So cuteeeeee.

“Did someone force you into that reindeer suit at gunpoint?” she asked. “Is this a hostage situation?”
Christmas Is All Around by Martha Waters is a brand new contemporary romance debut by an author who has cut her teeth in the literary world by writing delightful historical romances. Set in London and the surrounding countryside, Christmas Is All Around features a former childstar, Charlotte, as she helps an owner of an estate attempt to save his childhood home which also happens to be the filming location of the movie she was in as a child.


love actually gif via tenor
Part of the charm of Christmas Is All Around and why I liked Charlotte’s character arc so much is that Charlotte is so authentically Grinch-like, especially in such a whimsy-filled place such as London during the holidays. Charlotte’s meet cute with Graham and resulting partnership that leads to a situationship was a slow burn until opportunity (ahem only one room) gave both Graham and Charlotte a way to level up their relationship. There’s no question that Graham falls first. With Charlotte’s agreement to help Graham and his family by painting a series of locations that have importance in beloved holiday movies, Graham’s not-so-subtle way of keeping Charlotte busy and included in his own holiday activities could make even the most grinchy girl swoon.

“You know, it’s funny because it is both a holiday romance, because that’s what you call a vacation, and also a literal holiday romance, because it’s three days before Christmas and my life appears to be sponsored by the Hallmark Channel now.”
With Charlotte’s own distaste discoloring her holiday experiences, she finds herself drawn to Graham in a way that she’s never experienced before. The trust and companionship that she builds with Graham allows Charlotte to come to terms with her dislike of her childhood acting and even start to repair her tenuous relationship with her own parents.


Christmas Drinking via giphy
Through zany moments (I did include a holiday drinking gif for a reason), quippy conversations, and effervescent characters, Martha Waters brings a new spin to holiday rom coms. Charlotte and Graham deal with family issues in their own way and yet they reconcile in a way that would do any holiday romance justice. Christmas Is All Around is a charming and delightful new contemporary romance from an author who is just as memorable as her characters.

Christmas Is All Around is available everywhere, and should not be missed for any holiday romance or movie lover!

Thank you #NetGalley for the advanced copy of #ChristmasIsAllAround by Martha Waters in exchange for an honest review.

I was really looking forward to seeing Ms. Waters write a contemporary romance after enjoying her historical romances but I was let down by the heroine in this story. She was whiney throughout the book regarding how much she hated Christmas which is fine, hate it all you want, but don't go visit family during that time and then complain about everyone else celebrating it. I really got tired of her complaining and the 3rd act breakup felt forced. Charlotte did a complete turn around and immediately believed the worst in Graham after all he did for her up to that point. Graham was great though and truly he deserved better.

This book was chaming and Christmas-filled, despite the FMC hating Christmas (like even more than the Grinch). Charlotte's hatred of Christmas was the most exhausting part of the book. Her reactions to anything Christmas-y were so childishly over dramatic I had a hard time really liking her. The MMC, Graham, on the other hand was absolutely delightful and even though he had some hangups around his home and losing his dad, he admitted his faults. It took until the last 20 pages for Charlotte to go "oh... I'm being ridiculous" about her 3rd act split reason. I know it had to happen, but it was just silly.

Overall, if you want a sweet, steamy, Christmas story, I do recommend this one, but with a grain of salt.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I loved this story. It's the perfect blend of everything cozy to put you in the holiday spirit!

This was my first contemporary Martha Waters and I really enjoyed it! Waters has such a friendly, familiar feel to all her romances--I felt like I was reading about my friends falling in love. Thank you so much for the copy!

Christmas Is All Around is the perfect book for someone looking for a spin on Christmas movies/Hallmark Christmas movies. Charlotte was in the Christmas movie “Christmas, Truly” (it sounds a little like Love, Actually) when she was 9 and hated the fame and being an actress. Twenty years later when they wanted to do a reprisal she said no- and received a lot of backlash. She escapes to England to spend six weeks with her sister and finds love with the owner of the house from “Christmas, Truly”. I love visiting England in books during Christmas and this was no exception. My only compliant is that the book just ended. No follow up or what the future may have in store – just ended. Thank you to Atria and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy.