I have mixed feelings after reading this book! I thought I was getting a Christmas themed hockey romance and that’s not really what I got! The first third is Christmasy and then suddenly Christmas is over and it’s time for hockey. But then the hockey is short lived too. It just felt really disjointed to me.

Maisie and Nick are both very likable characters, but I felt no connection to them or their relationship. It felt very insta love to me. They were soulmates within a few days of reconnecting. It felt disingenuous to me.

I did enjoy the Christmas parts of the book! The outings with Nick and Maise’s families, including my favorite, the snowball fight at midnight.

Overall, it’s an okay book, but I think it needed a bit more Christmas and a bit less drama with Nick and hockey. I’m sure many will fall in love with Nick and Maisie, but sadly they just weren’t for me.

If Sophie writes it, I will read it! She is so good at closed door romance and the stories always feel so cozy! This one's a hockey romance set in Washington on a Christmas Tree Farm. If you read Can't Help Falling in Love - this is set in the same universe so you can read it alone, but I enjoyed a bit of the background knowledge. Maisie and Nick are great. They seem like a couple who would actually last.

I absolutely adored this. It was an absolute joy to read! Once I started, I just didn’t want to stop and now I want to put my Christmas tree up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Tropes: Small Town Christmas, Friends to Lovers, He’s Been Pinning, Found Family, Cinnamon Roll Hero, Holiday Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️

🤩The Vibe:
This cozy, heartwarming holiday romance is everything you want in a Christmas read—snowy small town charm, family traditions, and the sweetest slow-burn love story. Sophie Sullivan delivers again with relatable characters, sparkling dialogue, and a cinnamon roll hero you’ll fall for faster than the first snowfall. It’s equal parts emotional and feel-good, wrapped in twinkle lights and second chances.

👩‍❤️‍👨Main Characters:
Nick:
Certified nice guy with the softest heart. He’s thoughtful, steady, and loyal to a fault. His big hockey player vibe isn’t fooling anyone who gets to see him off the ice. He’s been through some tough times and watching him emerge on the other side is so satisfying. Plus, he’s a standout uncle and brother—total bonus points.

Maisie:
A driven, complicated woman trying to untangle years of family expectations and guilt. Her personal journey adds emotional depth to the story, even if it does sometimes overshadow the romance. She’s stubborn but self-aware, and her growth by the end is well-earned.

💕What We Loved:

* Excellent communication between the leads! No silly misunderstandings—just honest conversations that felt refreshing.
* NO third act breakup—finally!! A couple that actually sticks together when it matters most.
* Nick’s honesty about their first meeting and persistence to show her who he really is was green flags right off the bat! 
* The Christmas town vibes are off the charts: decorating, cookies, lights, awkward family moments—it’s all here.
* Found family dynamics give this one depth, especially Nick’s role in everyone’s life.


🚫What Didn’t Work for Me:

* Maisie’s relationship with her mom took up more of the plot than expected. While it was important for her development, it became repetitive and pulled focus from the central romance at times.
* We really wish we’d gotten to see their first meeting—the way they both share about it makes it sound like the perfect meet cute and insta-love moment. It would’ve added even more swoon!


💬Final Thoughts:
You Make It Feel Like Christmas is a sweet, heartfelt holiday romance that will warm you from the inside out. With a standout hero, strong emotional arcs, and festive charm for days, this one belongs on every cozy winter TBR. Sophie Sullivan continues to shine in the feel-good romance space, delivering another book full of love, laughter, and healing just in time for the holidays.

We’ll be dreaming of twinkle lights and Christmas cookies until the next one drops.

I think I liked the ecosystem of this book more than I liked the actual book - the Christmas town is cute, Ellie and Asher are great, I'm a big fan of matching reindeer pajamas. I liked the continuation of the Lexi/Will story. And I liked Maisey and Nick, it just felt like much of the conflict was contrived and a play on a bunch of hockey romance novels I haven't read. The middle dragged a little and it didn't really feel like there was much to resolve by about 70% in. But overall it was charming and I liked everyone involved. 3.5 rounded up.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley.

This was an incredibly cute holiday x hockey read! In my review of Sophie’s previous book Can’t Help Falling in Love, I specifically called out how much I loved Maisie as a side character so imagine my pleasant surprise when I figured out she was the main character in this one! Similar to Sophie’s other books, this one is a very hallmark-y love story that deals with some heavier topics in as much of a lighthearted way as possible. I do appreciate that the third act drama not being a break up for sure. I will say that this was a very small glimpse into the couple’s relationship as it really only took place in a 2 week time frame from Christmas until a little after new years. Their chemistry felt a little rushed because of this even though it was very known they had met once previously and this was their second chance. Overall this was an easy read that has warm holiday vibes.

I love Sophie Sullivan books! Without a doubt, this is another gem of a read!

Maisie and Nick met once - and their one night stand meant a lot to both of them. Never did they imagine they would meet again at Nick's sister's Christmas tree farm!

This one was quick easy read, but I really appreciated both main characters. Maisie is constantly feeling like the underachiever in her family of successful children. Nick is recovering from an injury which took both a physical and mental toll on him. These two have completely reliable chemistry and quickly fall in love.

I loved the messages about mental health in this in particular. Thank you for the wonderful arc!

I really enjoyed reading this christmas romance! I love that while you got to really get to know the main characters and watch their story develop I also really enjoyed learning about their family and friends and the people they really cared about. I felt like getting to really know the support cast helped elevate the story and make it so much more real. I really enjoyed it and would love another story that let us meet more of these wonderful characters, especially his sister and her son!

I instantly loved the sound of this book, the cover and that it’s based around Christmas (one of my favorite holidays) and this book was still better than I imagined! There was so much detail that I was Instantly transported to a Christmas hallmark movie and I loved that but it went further than that and created such an honest, funny, heartwarming and amazing story!! I truly loved this book from start to finish and pulled an all nighter to finish it! This book shined on not only a great love story but the main character’s insecurities, mental health and healthy happy relationships with not only your partner but also yourself, your family, friends and your career. I truly do not have a bad thing to say about this book and I LOVED the proposal at the end because not all have to be the big flashy, grand gesture to show all the love and hope for future with the one you love! I truly rate this a 5/5 stars and would recommend it to anyone! Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me the ability to read and review this book honesty.

I don’t think you can go wrong with a Sophie Sullivan book. Am I right?

This book was adorable, start to finish. I’m a sucker for a good second chance romance, and who doesn’t love Christmas?

Maisie and Nick were perfect. I liked how the main conflict wasn’t simply an initial lack of communication or a one night stand. There was more to it and the characters communicate throughout the novel their intentions.

Nick’s characters has anxiety, and I loved how the mental health issue was portrayed. I suffer from anxiety, and there are times I think other authors overplay or underplay it. This was more realistic. He was trigger by certain events and the way he and the other characters handled it was perfect.

I appreciated that the Christmas element wasn’t too wild. This was you can enjoy the novel through the year.

The side characters were just as lovable as Maisie and Nick. There weren’t too many so I didn’t get confused. It was the perfect blend.

I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next!

*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

Maisie is starting her career as a photographer, trying to prove to her family that she can make something out of her passion. She’s also having trouble forgetting about a hot one night stand with Nick King from six months before. When they both show up at the same Christmas tree farm a week before Christmas, sparks fly and the chemistry is hard to forget.

Read if you love:
*** One night stand
*** Hockey romance
*** Second chance
*** Christmas romances
*** Strong family dynamic

This was a cute Hallmark-style Christmas novel. Lots of holiday thrown in, funny and entertaining side characters, and a main couple you were rooting for. Also loveddd the hockey angle!

Thank you to St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

Asher is my favorite character ever! As a mom of a 4 year old, my heart just stayed focused on him and soaked up all the sweet/cute moments.
Maisyand Nick are the most supportive couple I know and are relationship goals. I've never been a huge fan of hockey romance but this book changed that for me! The romance and in a christmas setting made it perfect.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press, for my ARC.

You Make It Feel Like Christmas by Sophie Sullivan may be my favorite book from her yet! I'm a sucker for a hockey romance so this was fun to read Maisie and Nick's story. They were supportive of each other and had healthy communication. I appreciate Sophie having a more physical romance on the page, but the actual sex part is off the page. I would still consider this a closed-door or fade-to-black romance, but it adds to the story. Nick does swear in this book, but it didn't bother me one bit. Both Nick and Maisie felt authentic. I wish they were my friends in real life. This is a standalone book, but I'm glad I read Lexi and Will's story, Can't Help Falling in Love, because they are important characters in this book. We need to talk about how Asher, Nick's four-year-old nephew, absolutely stole my heart! He made me laugh every time he was in a scene!

Read this book if you enjoy:
-Hockey Romance (MC is on the IR from a knee injury)
-Photography FMC
-Christmas tree farm setting in Washington
-3rd person alternating POV
-Seattle setting
-Closed door (no sex on the page but alluded to)
-Mental health rep
-No third-act breakup
-Adorable 4-year-old nephew who steals the show!

Thank you, Sophie, for writing another delightful romance!

The cozy atmosphere and heartwarming holiday spirit truly shines through, making it the perfect book to curl up with during the Christmas season.

title: You Make it Feel Like Christmas

author: Sophie Sullivan

publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

publication date: September 23, 2025

pages: 320

peppers: 3 (on this scale)

warnings: on-ice injury

summary: Maisie and her siblings are finally getting the whole family together for Christmas at a quaint tree farm in a super-cute town. Surprisingly, the owner's brother turns out to be the man with whom Maisie had a one-night stand half a year ago and can't stop thinking about. Nick King is injured, struggling with anxiety, and nearing the end of his hockey career, so he is excited about having a relaxing holiday at his sister's new home, which is a Christmas tree farm in a super-cute town. (I bet you didn't see that coming.)

tropes:

second-chance romance
one-night stand is more
family vacation
everyone else has a special person
cute kid
holiday vibes
my family doesn't respect my work
mental illness


what I liked: 

cute family scenes
super cute kid
pining (get the tree pun?)

what I didn’t like: 

somewhat repetitive
not much real conflict

overall rating: 3 (of 5 stars)

Goodness, this cover is everything I need for a holiday story. The book was cute and cozy, and I was able to get lost in the pages. Sullivan crafted great characters that each had their flaws, but somehow seemed to like each other. It worked for me! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

A wonderful holiday romance!

🎁 HEA
🎁 3rd person POV - alternating
🎁 Mental Health Rep
🎁 No Third Act Breakup
🎁 Close Door - alluded to but not on page sexy times

Sophie Sullivan brings us a moving romance that really pulls at the heartstrings. For this to be a story that's basically and artist meets hockey player (again) after they had a one night stand, it feels like so much more.

Sullivan gives us depth and promise with our main characters. She then weaves in an elaborate cast of family and friends to bring the pieces together. Even though I've only read one other story by her, I didn't feel as if I was missing out on anything. That's how complete this book works as a standalone.

If you appreciate a good, solid romance with some tension and not an abundance of spice, then definitely pic htis up. Bonus things to love include an adorable tree farm, a PRECIOUS nephew who steals every scene he's in, and a resolution to one pretty big plot thing (no spoilers from me) that helped make the story wrap up nicely.

S/N: I realllllly wanted to see more of the FMC's dad on the page. He seemed like such an amazing character. I could read chapters and chapters involving him. (Then again I do love dad/daughter relationships so there's that).

Would absolutely recommend to read any time of year. It's not only for the holiday season. Excited to see what Sullivan has up her sleeve next.

Maisie and Nick haven't seen each other over six months after they had a great connection and spent the night together. However, Nick disappeared the next morning leaving Maisie embarrassed and wanting to never think about it again. They run into each other unexpectedly when Maisie and her family decide to spend the holidays at Nick's sister's tree farm.

The first half of the book gives you plenty of cozy holiday vibes. The small town and the tree farm getting ready for the festive season made the story sound so charming. Despite Maisie and Nick pretending not to know each other in front of their families, their chemistry was still sizzling hot. The second half of the book is where the angst picks up. Despite their connection over the holidays, their future seems uncertain with Nick's injury effecting his hockey career and Maisie's new job. Both characters had insecurities that they had to work through.

I loved the side characters in the book too. Nick's older sister is a single mom with the cutest little boy who is the owner of the tree farm. Maisie's sister and brother were great characters too. So I am hoping the author will continue this series and these characters will get their own book too.

Thank you Sophie Sullivan, St. Martin Press and Netgalley for the digital copy of this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

I don't know why I didn't expect much from this book but boy was I wrong!
it was so cute! t brought me back into my feels and I loved it!
I can't wait to get it for my friends to read!

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

Maisie, fotógrafa decidida, y Nick, un jugador profesional de hockey lesionado, se ven forzados a pasar una semana juntos en la granja de árboles de Navidad de la hermana de Nick. Lo que comienza como una situación incómoda, después de un amorío fallido seis meses atrás, se convierte en una cálida y divertida historia de segundas oportunidades.



Aunque la relación se desarrolla un poco rápido, el libro mantiene un tono ligero y entretenido, ideal para disfrutar durante la temporada navideña. Un romance cálido y divertido con una dosis justa de magia navideña. Sin duda, una lectura recomendada para quienes buscan una historia de amor ligera y festiva.



Espero que en la versión final se agregue un prólogo o algunos flashbacks de cuando se conocieron, porque en todo el libro se menciona lo mucho que se gustan, pero se siente como si surgiera de la nada


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest.