This book was just so cute, I really enjoyed this one, both Graham and Charlotte are not fans of Christmas, she was a child star and not just any child start but one that was featured in a very famous Christmas movie. They have this amazing chemistry, and their families are everything!!! I really liked this book I laughed a lot and damn near cried lol, that’s always a good thing.

What a sweet and heartwarming Christmas novel! The story follows along Charlotte and her real life Hallmark movie. The one thing she does not want to define her may end up being the start of her happy ever after! The banter and funny little quirks in this book were a delight to read, and I would recommend this to anyone looking for a sweet romcom without the angst. Thank you NetGalley for providing a free copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

Very cheery, very holiday vibes read, I absolutely recommend this if you're looking for a wholesome, humorous read 💙 it's a slow-burn, sort of coworkers/allies to lovers? I was shipping the MCs so hard, they had amazing banter and chemistry. I also really enjoyed all the supporting characters, they contributed so much to the book emotionally.

Timeline wise, the book is literally set in the weeks leading up to Christmas, and all the activities and banter contribute perfectly to the vibes!

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

It took me a bit to get into this one, but it was such a delight once I did.
Charlotte is a former child actress best known for her appearance in a Love Actually-style Christmas movie. Graham is a charming Brit looking to save his family's estate.
Both are absolute grinches, but they end up falling in love in a tropey, delightfully cheesy holiday read. The banter in this one is dry and witty and genuinely great.
Is the plot fully plotting in this one? Not necessarily; it's full of shenanigans. But the vibes are fun, and it's a perfect Christmas escapist novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC!

It took me a bit to get into this one but once I did, I loved it! Great banter and poking fun at rom-com books, movies, and tropes!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"Just so we're clear, I am never quoting that fucking movie again."

✨Grinchy/Sunshine
✨ He Falls First
✨ New York / England
✨ Christmas Countdown
✨ Not a rom-com, rom-com

I am obsessed. This book is a gem and a delight. I loved every second I spent in this book, although I binge read it so I wish I had spent longer if I am being honest. I just loved it. The banter, the carolers, the reindeer, like everything about this book was just great. It's a perfect Christmas themed rom-com about a girl who started as a child star in a Christmas movie, who grows up hating Christmas, and an guy who's family business would just so happen to benefit if the star of said Christmas movie showed up. Okay there's actually a lot more to it than that, and that's also really not a great synopsis probably, but I don't want to spoil anything and it's close enough. Just go read the book and thank me later. <3

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for letting me read this one early in exchange for my review.

From the first page I was squealing with the Love Actually vibes and they didn't disappoint! As a lover of all things Christmas I thought I might dislike Charlotte but I'm not sure I've ever loved a Christmas-hating character more. She is the kind of blunt and straightforward I wish I could be. Plus her taste in glasses wearing British men is truly commendable!

While I loved everything about this book the scene that really got me was the sheep and leading into a one room situation was just *chef's kiss*. I also will have dreams (maybe nightmares despite my Christmas loving heart) about being woken up by Christmas carolers. I will definitely be getting this in a hard copy so I can read it every Christmas!

I really love Martha Waters's writing and this was no exception. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

This was such a fun Christmas story! It had all the elements of a classic cheesy Christmas romance while putting a unique twist on the characters. A former childhood actress who hates Christmas meets the man who owns the home her Christmas movie was filmed at. I didn’t love the side characters but the main romance was cute. Definitely recommend this holiday season if you’re looking for a quick Hallmark movie like book.

Christmas is All Around
.
Charlotte is not a fan of Christmas. After staring in a Christmas movie as a child, she has tried to distance herself from the movie and Christmas as much as possible. She lives in New York where she is an artist but travels to London to be with her sister at Christmastime.
Graham is trying to keep his family estate afloat. They host several seasonal gatherings to raise funds for their historic home, but times are tough.
Charlotte and Graham strike a business deal that is beneficial to both of them. Charlotte will
Illustrate iconic movie locations around London and Graham, being a Londoner himself, offers to show her around.
I enjoyed the banter and I love a grumpy x sunshine trope, but Charlotte was kind of hard for me to like. She didn't have very many redeeming qualities in my opinion.
I do think this would be a cute holiday read to add to your tbr.
I’ve really enjoyed this author’s historical romance books in the past.

I recently started reading “Christmas All Around” by Martha Waters. While I have enjoyed many of her historical romances, I found that this particular book did not resonate with me as much as I had hoped, so I decided not to finish it. Given that I didn’t complete the book, I am giving it a neutral rating of 3 stars. I appreciate the opportunity to explore different genres and look forward to more of her historical romance titles in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of Christmas is All Around!

Charlotte HATES Christmas. She tries to keep the fact that she was a child star of a highly successful Christmas movie a secret but when there is national outcry over the fact that she is the sole reason it won't be rebooted Charlotte leaves for her annual visit to her sister in London early. Her sister has a 6 month old baby and so they are doing Christmas BIG this year for baby's first Christmas. One of their Christmas outings takes them to a film location for Charlotte's Christmas movie. Through a series of events, Charlotte becomes reliant on the owners of the house for a ride and soon develops a kind of friendship with the handsome Graham who is desperate to keep his family home. But will they find a way to save each other?

I did not enjoy this book. Charlotte is a narcissistic bitch. She hates Christmas, she hates babies, she hates her parents. She has no redeeming qualities and I have no idea what the blandly handsome Graham sees in her since she is even extra bitchy towards him. Her sister even calls her out on her constant complaining but there are no changes to Charlotte's behavior. If you enjoy Christmas romances, I don't recommend you pick this one up as it is mostly just a constant condescending commentary from Charlotte on how much she hates everything about it.

Do you ever read a book and feel, “well, I don’t know why I like this, but this is really hitting right now?” That was Christmas is All Around for me.

Was it cheesy? Yup. Could I see what was coming a mile away? Oh definitely.

But it was cute and as heartwarming as drinking a cup of peppermint cocoa. It struck the right balance of rom-com fluffiness and tackling serious topics, which I crave in a romance book. And it was funny as hell and chock full of nostalgic movie references.

This wasn’t perfect but it was perfect for me. I love this ridiculous holiday romance. All the stars.

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for this ARC. Christmas is All Around is out today!

A wonderful Christmas romance which celebrates the joys of the season while leaving space for when the past has left its mark. Charlotte, who eleven months of the year gets to live a somewhat private life in New York, escapes to London to visit her sister during the holidays when everywhere she goes in NY she is recognized as the child star of a Christmas movie which has become a cult favorite. Her escape is complicated when with her sister's in-laws she attends a Christmas program at one of the sets of the movie and meets the owners who are currently divided about how to make use of this piece of film history. A great story where the main characters are flawed but well-meaning; and the side characters bring the fun.

As you can see, my holiday reading is in full swing, and I love it. I’ve read some of Martha Waters’ Regency Period romances and adored the humor and sassy banter. I was so happy to find those same qualities in this contemporary holiday romcom.

A former American child actress known for her popular Christmas movie who happens to hate Christmas? Yep, that’s Charlotte. And she has run off to London for the holidays thinking she is avoiding fallout from why the reboot of the movie is not going to happen.

There, she meets Graham, the charming, bespectacled Londoner. He is working to keep his family’s estate open, and a visit from a film star would sure be a big boost. However, Charlotte has trust issues, and as Graham and she grow closer, she wonders if there are genuine feelings here or if her star status is all that matters.

I loved Charlotte and Graham together. They were witty, sassy, and a little nerdy. Because Charlotte was an actress, she would allude to things as being “romcom-like” and I found that fun and a little cheeky. They both have sisters and family that get involved, some good and some too nosy, but it rounds things out nicely. And, of course, I loved the festive holiday atmosphere.

🎧 I loved having the audiobook to accompany my reading. The British accents are always a nice bonus.


Thank you @Atriabooks for the gifted advanced copy ebook via NetGalley. Thank you @Simon.audio and @Librofm for the gifted audiobook.

I enjoyed reading Christmas Is All Around by Martha Waters. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Was this a stereotypical holiday romance? Yes! Did I eat it up? Yes! The female lead, Charlotte, hates Christmas and the fact that her one childhood stint in acting has followed her around, into adulthood. She meets Graham and gets sucked into a holiday romance that is Hallmark worthy without realizing it. It’s cute, slightly unbelievable, and surrounded in Christmas cheer! What more could you want? I give it a 3.5!

I'm a big fan of Waters' historical romances so I was super excited for her holiday contemporary romance (also set in London). Waters is such a good writer and I really think her specialty is dialogue. The words the characters say feel so naturally witty and fun and I really enjoy getting to experience their verbal sparring. I also think Waters writes unique romances. Never in a million years would I have expected to read a book about a jaded, grown-up child star who wants to get as far away from that persona as she can but instead ends up going to visit a house that was featured in the movie she was in and starting up a relationship with the man who is part owner. There's so much to enjoy about this book and I think the characters both grow in satisfying ways as the book goes on. The rest of the characters are also delightful and I'm sort of obsessed with the main character, Charlotte, her sister and husband and very loud daughter.

I don't know if it was reading a Christmas book during spooky season or what, but something about this book didn't work for me. Charlotte, the female main character is grumpy, yes, but it goes a bit too far for me. Her main personality trait seems to be that she hates Christmas and if you ever forget she will remind you of that on every page. I get that it's annoying to be constantly reminded of the movie but it's not that serious. She is sort of selfish and downright mean, especially regarding her niece who we are constantly reminded is a loud, dirty baby and how dare this baby exist. It doesn't seem cute, but read as mean-spirited to me and I didn't really like it. Charlotte does go through some growth in the book and I like that she does get confronted with some of the lies she tells herself but it wasn't enough to have me come around to her. I also wasn't super into the romance which was cute but never became anything more than that for me.

That being said it's a very cute, well written holiday romance that I recommend picking up if you love Love, Actually and want something that's going to scratch that romcom itch just in time for the holiday season to start.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars!

If you need a book to get you into the christmas spirit look no further. As someone who takes her annual Christmas reading as seriously as her decorating, this was hallmark plot mixed with ~a little bit of spice~. Pick this one up for a cozy, English, childhood-tv-star bout!

Thank you to Martha & her publishing team for the ARC!

Charlotte is a former child actress that starred in a holiday classic that fans won’t let her forget. When they find out that she is the reason that there isn’t a reboot she is forced to flee to London to spend the holidays with her sister. She ends up at one of the filming locations for the movie and is recognized by fans. It doesn’t go well and she is left behind and forced to accept a ride back with Graham, the property owners son. He offers to help her with her commission of illustrating holiday movie scenes in London in exchange holding an art workshop at Eden Priory. Her family holiday goes horribly wrong and she ends up spending more time with Graham. Is this a holiday romance or the start of something much bigger?