This book is not for the cynical, the suspicious or the bitter. So really, I have no business liking this as much as I did. It's incredibly sweet. The characters are all so kind and gentle. It gives very strong Hallmark Christmas movie vibes. Sienna is lovely, Guy is lovely, his freaking four year old daughter is (mostly) lovely. Everybody just helps each other out, from the goodness of their hearts, and no one scams anyone despite their open generosity. All I can think of is that Hocus Pocus quote, "Oh look another glorious morning. Makes me sick."

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!

Thank you to net galley for this book. I was not expecting this book to hit me the way it did. But it did. I sobbed in several points and was deeply emotionally affected. Despite knowing there was a happy ending I was deeply invested and terrified it would end badly. There is also a lot of joy to this book too and I truly loved all of the characters. I strongly recommend this if you think you can handle the emotional triggers. I listened to the audio book and I strongly recommend it, the narrator is fantastic.
CW: parent with Alzheimer’s, grief, divorce, child sickness

Thanks to Netgalley for the ALC. A VERY sweet, clean, marriage of convience. Perfect for Hallmark fans. Grab the tissues. *Contains a few religious references*, but not overly Christmas-y. [author:Haley Taylor|14357268]'s narration was excellent-- recommended for fans of [author:Samantha Brentmoor|16217293]'s audiobooks.

Whelp. My heart has been ripped out, wrung out, and covered in a blanket of my own tears. And I'm glad for it because it means I got to experience this wonderful story. The Christmas You Found Me is not your typical Christmas romance, and it is a far cry from the lightness of Sarah Morganthaler's previous books, but it is SO good. Though the trigger warnings are plentiful (divorce, abandonment, dying parent with Alzheimer's, child with renal failure), and parts are downright heartbreaking, the ultimate feeling I walked away with was one of hope and fortitude. And omg, the scene with Emma and Sienna's father - it wrecked me, healed me, and made me cry ugly tears. The author poured her grief into these pages, and the result is a tender, heart-expanding novel that will stick with me, and the narrator conveyed it all with the utmost emotion and empathy. Highly recommend.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for gifting me with an ALC to review! All opinions are my own.

This book will fill you with laughter, sadness, but also a lot of love. 🎄💫

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: Sept. 24, 2024