I enjoyed how Maisie and Nick’s second chance romance blossomed. I appreciated the honest and straightforward conversations they had about mental health and putting each other’s interests first. There is great representation around learning disabilities and mental health.

Holidays and sports played a small role in the plot. It was sweet to see their friends supporting them along the way as well.

Add this one to your TBR if you are looking for a book with part holiday romance, part sports romance and part second chance romance.

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the advanced reader copy.

The two main characters, Maisie and Nick have a one night stand and randomly end up spending Christmas together trying to be something more. I thought it was a cute Christmas book and has some good rom-com elements. The mental health representation was done really well too.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

📖 Holiday Romance

💓 This book could not have been cuter if she tried!

💬 It’s time for some holiday magic as two families come together for the first time to celebrate Christmas. Maisie is excited for a restful and festive holiday retreat with her family, never guessing that the man she can’t stop thinking about would also show up for the week...

💓 Read if you like💓:
- Second-Chance
-Found Family
-Holiday
-Small Town
-Hockey Player x Photographer
-One Night Stand
-Forced Proximity

Maisie Smart is not the kind of girl who has a one-night-stand, but six months ago she had the most incredible night with the sexiest man she’d ever seen in her life, but it all blew up in her face when he was no where to be seen
the next morning. Oh, she also made the mistake of googling him only to discover that Nick King is none other than an extremely famous NHL hockey GOD.

Nick King in hockey royalty, but thanks to his big injury and some other massive stressors, he finds himself drowning in panic attacks unsure of how to move forward. His heart is torn in half- should he continue playing the game he loves, or retire with dignity and make time for the people he truly cares about?

Nick is also not typically a one-night-stand kinda guy. In fact, he cannot stop thinking about Maisie, and hates the way he left her high and dry in the hotel to respond to a family emergency.

Nick can’t wait to get to his sister’s Christmas Tree Farm to spend time with Ellie and his nephew Asher, as well as their good friend Colton, his new husband Jacob and Jacob’s family.

Imagine Nick and Maisie’s surprise when they quite literally run into each other (someone is naked) at the house!!!

OMG.

So at first I’m like poor Maisie! That’s so awkward and I don’t blame her for being mad, etc etc. But soon I was team Nick + Maisie!!!!

All of the characters were so good. Asher, Nick’s nephew, is a sweetie pie and a good buffer. Ellie, Nick’s sister, is down-to-earth, but not hardened by her past. Maisie’s siblings are supportive and loving, and Colton is the ultimate “good guy”. Maisie’s mom got on my nerves, but, that was the aim!

Sophie incorporated important aspects of mental health throughout the storyline in a natural and meaningful way which I really liked.

I enjoyed the fun holiday activities they did, the small-town revelry, the way she depicted the overwhelm Nick experienced and of course, I loved the romance! Nick is the perfect book boyfriend, flawed (as we all are) but sexy and oh-so-tender with his woman when it’s needed.

I’d be first in line if they made this into a movie!! This is my first Sophie Sullivan book, but definitely not my last!

You Make it Feel Like Christmas comes out September 23, 2025. Thank you to Sophie Sullivan, NetGalley, and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for the e-arc copy. All opinions are my own.

Maisie Smart is an accomplished and incredibly talented photographer, who doesn’t really have time to date, but can’t stop thinking about that one-night-stand from six months ago. She’s looking forward to spending Christmas at Tickle Tree Farms (yes, the name is a little ridiculous, but don’t let it stop you) with her extended family. That is until Nick King, hockey player extraordinaire and said one-night-stand, shows up to spend Christmas with his sister who owns the tree farm. He’s still struggling with the family drama and personal anxieties that kept him from calling Maisie after that incredible night. Fortunately, Christmas is a time for second chances, and a little bit of holiday romance can go a long way to healing a heart.
This was a sweet holiday romance. The main characters are both talented and kind, but struggle with anxiety and to some degree confidence at times. I appreciated that the conflict wasn’t simply lack of communication and there was no third act break-up, but to avoid it, I felt like the MMC gave up a little more than would have been necessary. It’s pretty tame on the spice level, with a few fade-to-black scenes, but lots of romance and physical affection. I also would have loved there to be more Christmas, which happened at the mid-point of the book, but that’s mostly because I’m a sucker for a Christmas romance and want all of the holiday joy.

A beautiful story about two people that were afraid of a relationship. They were terrified of love and what it could do to them. But it got them both anyway! Wonderful couple and great friends.

A sweet and touching antagonists-to-lovers romance, this novel was immediately engaging and enjoyable to read all the way through. The romance between Maisie and Nick has good pacing and develops believably as each overcomes their mental obstacles to a healthy relationship. The rocky relationship Maisie has with her mother brings interest to the novel, highlighting Maisie's journey towards self-acceptance as she overcomes her people-pleasing (and particularly parent-pleasing) tendencies to assert her own goals and claim the life that works for her. Meanwhile, Nick's inner struggles highlight the discovery that what he does is not who he is, and that a satisfying life is possible outside of the sport in which he's always anchored his identity. He comes to see Maisie as an essential part of his new life, and to believe that he can be enough for her.
As usual, the love story part of the novel is the most fun part, and each main character's struggles are realistic, without a third-act breakup that feels forced. Sophie Sullivan is a go-to author for me, and while this isn't my favorite of her novels so far, it's one that I enjoyed a lot.

Sophie Sullivan continues her reign as the queen of cozy romance with her most heartwarming book yet. You Make It Feel Like Christmas delivers a second-chance love story that actually earns the second chance. Nick and Maisie have history, chemistry, and just enough tension to keep the pages turning. The Christmas tree farm setting is charming without becoming sugar-sweet overload, and the small-town vibes feel comforting instead of cloying.

The real standout here is how thoughtfully Sullivan writes mental health. Nick’s anxiety is portrayed with nuance and care, woven into the story in a way that feels lived-in and real. The supporting cast adds warmth without stealing focus, and yes, Nick’s four-year-old nephew deserves his own spin-off.

Sullivan writes love like it’s a warm mug between cold hands—familiar, necessary, and just a little bit magical.

Whether you’re deep in holiday mode or just craving something soft and hopeful, this is a romance that delivers exactly what it promises: joy, connection, and characters worth rooting for.

I thought this book rushed a lot of things. It seemed very fast for the relationship, the drama, the novel itself. However, if you like to get right to the point, this book is for you! It’s also a cute Christmas town

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and the author for the traveling ARC. These opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this so much. At times I found myself literally kicking my feet laughing. You Make It Feel Like Christmas highlights Nick and Maisie at a Christmas tree farm. He's there visiting his sister and adorable nephew Asher. She's there because her brother-in-law is best friends with the family. But that's not how Nick and Maisie have met before. Instead, they had a one night stand that went nowhere.

Their relationship has so much to it, as both have a lot of growth they need to do as characters. And there seem to be so many obstacles in their way. That's just the kind of storyline I like to see in a romance.

This is a stand alone, but it follows after Can't Help Falling in Love. I liked getting to spend more time with Lexi and Will. I think this can be a lovely Christmas book, but it can also be read any time of year. Indeed, I read it as the start of a Christmas in July.

There was one part near the end that I felt didn't add to the story. It could have been a bit shorter and stronger for it. But I was overwhelmingly thrilled and charmed by the novel.

4.25 stars

[Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the free eARC in exchance for my honest opinion.]

I think this is a cozy Christmas romance. It’ll be perfect for when the weather gets cooler and you just want to cuddle up under a blanket and read a sweet book. Probably with hot chocolate and some cookies.

In this story, we follow Maisie, a photographer based in Seattle, and Nick, a hockey star who has been out of action due to a knee injury. They met six months earlier at a mutual friends’ wedding and ended up having a one night stand that results in Maisie waking up alone.

The first half takes place just before Christmas in the small town of Merry, WA. Mostly at a Christmas tree farm. It’s peak small town vibes and there’s lots of holiday fun that will leave you feeling charmed.

After Christmas, Maisie returns to Seattle and Nick follows her. This half of the story focuses less on the holidays and more on Nick’s mental health and hockey. I wish Maisie had also focused on her mental health as well, because her family (mostly her parents) was a lot.

I would consider this a closed door romance. There’s some physicality but it’s mostly fade to black. And this didn’t bother me, but there is a lot of cursing (maybe to make Nick come across as a tough hockey guy?) so keep that in mind if you’re sensitive to foul language.

This book was adorable! It transported me into the Christmas season. I loved it! The characters were endearing and I enjoyed seeing the family dynamics. A very cute Christmas love story!

Nothing like a little Christmas in July! I received this book as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) from NetGalley and it will be released September 23rd just in time for some fun holiday reading and gift giving. I have loved the other books I read by Sophie so I was thrilled to get this copy. Pro hockey player Nick is injured and feeling down on himself after acting horribly the morning after a one night stand. He decides to head to his sister's Christmas tree farm for some family fun. Maisie has never regretted her decision to become a photographer and can't wait to spend a week at a fun tree farm wit her family... until she spies Nick there, her one regret. Nick hopes the forced proximity will earn him a second chance. It was an adorable holiday romance with a fabulous cast of characters.

I really enjoyed this book. You make it feel like Christmas had me laughing out loud. This was a great book and refereed this book to many of my friends. I highly recommend this book to everyone. It's a feel-good book. I am looking forward to more books from this author.

A cute second chance Christmas romance! The story slows down a bit in the second half where the focus shifts, but Nick and Maisie's story is still an enjoyable holiday read.

I loved that the book is a Christmas book but it’s not all Christmas. You could tell it the chemistry with the main characters were there from the beginning and it just strengthen throughout the book.
It’s a hockey book without being a hockey book and it’s a Christmas book without being a Christmas book. It was written beautifully.

This was my first Sophie sullivan book!
It was so so cute. I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a holiday romance that’s going to make you feel warm and fuzzy. It’s cliche and cute, in a good way.

The disability rep felt authentic and genuine; I appreciate the mental health advocacy and learning difference.

Photographer Maisie and Hockey boy Nick end up having to be around each other for the Christmas holiday despite them having formerly having a one night stand that apparently meant the world to both of them.

The thing is this book has so much heart in it. I really loved Maisie. As a main character, she really felt relatable and like someone real. Her family loves her but is hard on her. They're all overly competitive in the best way. She has friends, which has become something I now look for in romance books.

Nick actually talks about his mental health and how he struggles with it. It's not a perfect view of it, but it's more than I think we've ever really seen. I liked how the serious topics were handled.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. Once I got into it, I really got into it. It was like a Hallmark Christmas book. I wish we had gotten more into why their one night was so magical and thus why it was so devastating for both of them that Nick left. But otherwise I don't really have major complaints.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

I LOVE Sophie Sullivan’s books and writing, and You Make It Feel Like Christmas is no exception! The feelings, the yearning, the characters’ genuineness (is that a word?), and all the holiday love made this book such a winner for me. And I can’t believe I’m already reading a Christmas book…

Photographer Maisie is so excited for a week at a Christmas tree farm to enjoy the holiday, reset, and get one of her most embarrassing experiences—a one-night-stand with a pro hockey player—out of her mind for good. But fate has other ideas when Nick, the player, is spending the holidays at the same tree farm, which happens to belong to his sister.

Nick can’t believe it. He knows he messed up big time when he bailed on Maisie, and he hasn’t been able to get her out of his head. He’s determined not to screw it up a second time, but Maisie’s rightfully angry with him and isn’t going to make it easy.

You can feel the attraction, tension, and sweetness right off the bat. After I got over my initial hatred of Nick, I absolutely adored them both and adored the way the story built up their feelings, deepened the relationship, and worked through their issues. You Make It Feel Like Christmas is just the coziest feel-good Christmas romance that left me feeling all warm and fuzzy.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

This book was cute, it had all the will they wont they going for it, the adorable Christmas town called Merry and a Christmas tree farm. What more could a holiday romance offer, not much more than that! I did really enjoy the book, but I did have to give it a 3.5 stars out of 5 because I felt it just went on way longer than was necessary. I also do not enjoy third person book narration, it takes you out of the story and makes the experience choppy to me.
I do love a book with no third act break up. I just felt like this book was super surface level and didn't really have a ton of angst or depth for me. I wanted so much more out of Maisie and Nick and felt I was just watching the highlights reel of their story.
But if you love Hallmark Christmas movies, and not a lot of spice in your books I do encourage you to read this one, its super cute and heartwarming and an overall great holiday romance.
The author did a great job addressing Nick's anxiety and showing a lot of support for people struggling with anxiety. I believe Maisie is struggling with severe dyslexia too but is never fully labeled.

Thank you Netgalley, St Martin's Press, and Sophie Sullivan for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

I really enjoyed this. I am a sucker for a good Christmas Romance, and this one also included hockey, which is also a huge win! Maisie and Nick have great chemistry that come right off the page, and i love their connection. I actually enjoyed all of the characters and their relationships.

I really appreciated the highlighting on mental health, and i think thats really important, even in a "romance" book.

My only complaint is that i wish we had gotten a little more detail on the one night stand. It was a huge tipping point for them, and i feel like there were some details we were missing to really piece that together.