This is my first Martha Waters book and I adored it! It hit all the right notes for me. Lovely English setting, a character who hates Christmas, super witty banter, a leading man who wears glasses {{{swoon}}}, a funny supporting cast, and the perfect amount of Christmas cheer.
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Charlotte has hated Christmas ever since a movie she starred in as a child became a cult Christmas classic. She’s in England visiting her sister for the holidays when she meets Graham, the swoony glasses wearing guy who’s trying to save his family’s historic home.
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Charlotte and Graham were a hoot. I loved their chemistry and playfulness, but their relationship was much more than that. They helped each other work through some complicated feelings (family stuff, job stuff, etc) in a believable way and really made me think they would make it as a couple. There was also a kind of tongue in cheek moment near the end where they checked off each requirement for a holiday romcom, and I thought that was so cute! 🥰
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Sometimes holiday romcoms are forgettable but I feel like this one will stick with me! It was also my favorite cover of the season! 💙🩵 Thank so much to Atria Books and NetGalley for the arc!

I have enjoyed Martha Waters’ previous books, so I was excited to read this contemporary holiday romance. The premise was unique and interesting. I liked Charlotte right away. I found her character believably cranky but also enjoyed her journey of becoming more Christmas-loving (or at least Christmas-appreciative). The resolution of the conflict at the end was believable given the character arcs we had been experiencing, and I loved Padma and Ava at the end too.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC!

I loved this book. It was very cute and fit perfectly into the type of book that I was looking for in the winter weather when it’s cold and I just wanted to read a cozy love story.

The fact that the story centres around a former child actress who really doesn’t like Christmas, but also can’t seem to get away from it with such a fun storyline that I hadn’t read before. I really liked the connection between Charlotte our main character and Graham our other main character. I felt like they had good banter, and I believed in their story as it unfolded. The pace of the book worked for me. I found it moved really smoothly. We got a little bit of information just at the right time and by the end I was super bought into what was going to happen between Charlotte and Graham.

I would definitely recommend this one if you’re looking for a fun romcom with winter weather vibes I would honestly read it anytime not just around Christmas.

This was a neutral read for me that felt like a predictable holiday romance. It was a nice read but I don’t have anything terribly good or bad to say. I will say though I did get a bit annoyed at Charlotte’s consistent hatred of Christmas, which is understandable but doesn’t need to be repeated once a chapter. But on the plus side I did enjoy Charlotte’s and Graham’s romance, while predictable did have some good banter and a nice buildup.

This was a DNF for me at 60%

This book was rough! I love a good grumpy romance, but Charlotte was down right hateful. It dragged the story down form all the hate and it was very depressing. I had to step away.

Some things that attributed to my DNF:

Charlotte: She was so bitter and hateful. 20 years of being angry and hating on Christmas over a movie that she praises constantly for providing the income that was needed to start her art business, but Hayes that she did. Make it make sense! Also the constant complaining about a baby crying. Villainizing a child in a supposedly sweet rom-com is wild! My favorite…her expecting her family to praise her art career while she insulted all their career choices. She was not a likable character for me.

Ava (Charlotte’s sister): She was so self centered and didn’t give a hoot about anyone but herself. Her claiming they didn’t know the lights on location was the filming spot of Charlotte’s hated childhood was so terrible. Who is that clueless and that heartless? She knew exactly what house it was, Yikes! Then to boot, abandoning her there. I disliked Ava from the start.

Graham: Zzzzz He was a complete snooze fest. Need I say more? He actually seemed depressed to me and I felt sorry for him.

I actually saw a lead in on Amazon calling this book Hilarious. It was anything but that. Too depressing to be called a fun romance. This one wasn’t for me, but thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The riff on Love Actually absolutely set this book apart from your standard Christmas rom-com, and I found myself laughing and smiling through the whole thing. Cozy, redemptive, just plain fun.

A one-time child star haunted by the Christmas movie she starred in meets a hot British man who will do anything to save his family estate, except exploit her stardom…. SWOON. And it takes place mostly in London at Christmas? I mean…. Martha Waters knocked it out of the park with this one. The yearning. The quirky family members. It’s all there, but it’s anything but sickly sweet thanks to main character Charlotte’s edges. I loved it. Sleigh.

I have loved all of Martha Waters previous regency series. When I saw she was coming out with a holiday read, I was so excited. And she definitely did not disappoint! Such a cute seasonal read, which I love to have around the holidays. I also just love a celebrity storyline so going in I knew it would be good. This book was so fun and I really enjoyed the characters. I liked the plotlines around the main characters' families too. This felt like an original story which you don't always see with holiday reads. Would recommend to anyone but especially romance readers.

This was super cute!! I couldn’t help but imagine the main character like Taylor Momsen who played Cindy Lou Who as a kid and went on to do other things, like form a whole rockband, but some people still only know her as Cindy Lou Who.
In this novel, our FMC Charlotte was in a very popular Christmas film when she was nine, and she is forever seen as Tallulah now. She has a thriving art career, but this one role seems to shadow her success. Especially when rumors of a reboot surface, and she is the only one who won’t sign on. Now she’s the Grinch.
She goes to visit her sister in England, and spends longer there to escape all the bad press and just relax. There she meets Graham, who happens to live on the estate where said Christmas movie was filmed.
Graham commissions her to paint different iconic Christmas scenes, which I thought was really cute since it focuses more on her passion. He accompanies her and the more time they spend together, they can’t help but get attached. I loved their banter and dynamic; it had my chest tightening and my cheeks blushing. Graham had me swooning.
There is a third act breakup, but Charlotte acknowledges her overreaction, and it also helps conclude her growth arc, surrounding her feelings around the role that the Christmas movie she did plays in her life. It’s always going to be part of her, but it doesn’t have to define her. And it has its uses.

Thank you Atria Books for the arc for review! A perfect Christmas read!

I read this entire book from start to finish while on a flight, on Christmas Day. The timing couldn't be more perfect and this book was the perfect holiday read. Charlotte is a former child star who rose to unwanted fame after starting in a beloved Christmas movie. When social media blames her for the reason a reboot of the movie won't happen. she escapes to London to spend the holidays with her sister and her sister's family. When she ends up at a location used for filming in her movie, she hides to avoid recognition and meets Graham, the son of the owners.

This was such a fun read! I loved the banter between Charlotte and Graham, as well as Charlotte's interactions with her sister's family. She's the perfect grinch and Graham does a great job of balancing her out. Their relationship develops so well and it's charming and sweet. The writing is clever and I love that it's self aware of all the holiday classic tropes. Overall, this was a really fun and cute read and I would definitely recommend it to romcom fans looking for a holiday read!

I devoured Martha Waters' Regency series, so I was eager to read her first published novel in the modern romance era. Sadly, this one wasn't for me.

I've been thinking about just why it didn't work, and I've settled on the fact that the FMC was just unlikeable. Yes, she starred in a Christmas movie as a child and it appears to sculpt her childhood, as well as her relationship with her parents. The irony is that she's upset that everyone is perseverating on this time in her life, but at the same time, SHE IS DOING THE SAME. The repetition of her annoyance went on far too long in the book. I kept wondering what charming Graham saw in her. He seemed like a nice chap and I keep screaming at him, "RUN AWAY!" in my head.

I didn't feel the chemistry with these two. At all.

3.5 stars rounded up. This was a cute, often funny festive tale. I thought the first half was a lot stronger than the second and my attention faded a bit as it went on. It was a solid rom com though with likable characters. The lead was a funny one, which is always a plus. I felt like the ending could've been a bit stronger, but it was fun overall.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Loved this story. Former child movie star who hates Christmas helps the handsome owner of an English Manor House. Banter is great. Reminded me of. Hugh grant movie. Very fun.

The author's passion shines through in this book. The characters were perfect enemies to lovers. I just didn’t connect with it like I wanted to. It has great potential to appeal to other romance readers and I encourage others to try it out! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

This was a really cute Christmas romance! Not entirely clean—thankfully—but gave slow burn a whole new meaning.

I loved the premise of “child star of a Christmas movie grows up and meets the man of her dreams at the house where she filmed the movie that made her a household name”—along with a side of grinch (because who doesn’t love Christmas in England?!)

I loved that her sister and sister’s in-laws loved Christmas and all of the holiday events leading up to it as much as she hated them. That dynamic was amazing. And I loved the setting SO MUCH. English countryside in December? Nothing better!

Overall, four stars and I thought it was such a great read!

A cutesty holiday read by our regency era writer Martha Waters. Loved the storyline and the development of the characters throughout. Not my favorite Christmas book, but one that I would enjoy reading again if I needed something to get me in the Christmas mood. Thanks for the opportunity to read!

👧🏻 Childhood Christmas actress
🇬🇧London retreat
🎨Artist
😤Hating Christmas
🦌Reindeer
🖼️ paintings
🍷Drunk Christmas
🛏️ One room, two beds
🌶️ A little spice
🎤 Caroling
🏡 Save the house

This is a cute Holiday read for fans of the movie The Holiday! It even includes London and a small village outside of it! A childhood Christmas movie star who hates Christmas and another grump find their love for Christmas and maybe more. Add it to your TBR for next year if you didn’t read it this year! Thank you Netgalley, Atria Books and Martha Waters for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

"Christmas Is All Around" by Martha Waters is a charming holiday rom-com that offers a delightful blend of humor and romance, though it doesn't fully escape some common genre pitfalls.

The story centers on Charlotte, a former child actress best known for her role in a beloved Christmas movie. Seeking to escape the persistent shadow of her past, she travels to London to spend the holiday season with her sister. Fate leads her to Eden Priory, a historic estate that served as a filming location for her iconic movie. There, she meets Graham, the owner's son, who is eager to capitalize on her fame to boost the estate's visitor numbers. As they collaborate on a holiday art project, a romance blossoms amidst the festive backdrop.

Waters excels at creating a cozy, festive atmosphere, and her portrayal of London during the holidays is both vivid and enchanting. The chemistry between Charlotte and Graham is palpable, and their interactions are filled with witty banter and genuine warmth. The inclusion of their families adds depth to the narrative, providing a rich tapestry of relationships that enhance the overall story.

However, Charlotte's persistent disdain for her childhood role becomes a repetitive theme that may test the reader's patience. Her frequent complaints about being recognized for her past acting career, despite only occasional instances, can come across as overblown and detract from her otherwise likable character. This aspect of her personality might make it challenging for some readers to fully empathize with her struggles.

Additionally, while the plot is engaging, it follows a predictable trajectory common in holiday romances. Some readers might find the storyline lacking in surprises, with certain developments feeling formulaic. Despite these shortcomings, the novel's charm and festive spirit make it an enjoyable read for the holiday season.

In conclusion, "Christmas Is All Around" is a heartwarming tale that captures the magic of the holiday season. While it doesn't break new ground in the rom-com genre and has some repetitive elements, its endearing characters and festive setting make it a pleasant read for those seeking a lighthearted holiday romance. I would rate it three out of five stars.

In short, I found this to be a cute, Hallmark-style holiday romance, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. While it wasn’t bad, it wasn’t a favorite either. I wish the romance had been more compelling and the female main character a bit less negative to fully draw me in.

I really enjoyed this book for its romance. I liked that both the FMC and MMC were flawed but brought out the best in each other. I thought the author’s introspective writing was lovely and well stated. When I think about this book through the lens of a mother, however, I hated it. The FMC’s relationship with her sister and sister’s family felt way too surface-level; Charlotte acted like it was a huge burden to her to spend time with her sister, even though SHE is the one who decided to make her trip longer than initially planned. The way that Charlotte seemingly HATED her six-month-old niece was also SO weird. I’ve never met anyone with so much disdain and so little compassion for a baby, especially one in their own family. This aspect of the book felt unnecessary and icky, and I can’t understand why the author would have included those “jokes” — none of them were funny. There weren’t enough of these instances to ruin the book for me entirely, but enough that it did take away some of my enjoyment from a book that I think I would’ve otherwise loved.