if youre not reading a Christmas book in June what are you even doing? this was a really sweet little romance that fixated on second chances, family, the different meanings of success and most importantly, mental health. I really enjoyed it and think it would be an adorable little holiday read if you want something uplifting and cute for the Christmas season.

Christmas was jumping off the page in this book! From the adorable Christmas tree farm, all of the cookies and even Christmas pjs. I love the relationship the main female character has with her siblings. Asher is simply adorable.

If you’re looking for a Christmas book was a lovable group of characters, this is a fun one! Maisie is a photographer who is happy living life on her own. She’s looking forward to a fun Christmas with her immediate and extended family.

Nick is a professional hockey player who is out on injury for the holiday season. He plans to spend his time with his younger sister and her son while he is recovering. But when he gets to the Christmas tree farm his sister owns, he’s met with the one night stand he can’t get out of his head.

This duo met at a wedding and didn’t anticipate seeing one another ever again. As their time celebrating Christmas goes by, they realize their chemistry never fizzled. This follows this meant to be couple as they navigate moving from one night to forever while figuring out life as individuals. A fun and cheery holiday read!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC of You Make It Feel Like Christmas. This story is such a cozy, heartwarming treat that really captures the feeling of the holidays.

Maisie and Nick are unexpectedly reunited six months after a one-night stand that neither of them has truly forgotten. Their friends and family bring them together at Nick’s sister’s Christmas tree farm, where the magic of the season starts to melt the walls they’ve put up. Nick is a pro hockey player recovering from an injury and questioning what he really wants from his future. Maisie is a talented photographer, doing well in her career but still feeling the pressure of her family’s expectations.

I loved the way their relationship unfolded. There’s tension and hurt, but also softness and chemistry that felt so natural. The pacing felt right—the story moved at a comfortable rhythm that let the characters grow while still giving us plenty of sweet and festive moments. The setting added so much charm, like stepping into a holiday movie, complete with cozy cabins, tree-decorating, and small-town magic.

This is a solid 4-star read for me. I loved this, I am a huge Christmas fan!! I’ll definitely be re-reading it again in the winter,

This charming story, a follow-up to “Can’t Help Falling In Love With You,” centers around Lexi’s best friend, Maisie. While it can be read as a standalone, the first book is also a great read. Lexi meets Nick at a wedding and has a memorable night with him, only to be ghosted the next day. Despite this setback, they coincidentally run into each other at a friends/family Christmas vacation, sparking a second chance after a one-night stand. However, the story delves deeper than a simple second chance. Nick is a hockey player recovering from a potentially career-ending injury and panic attacks, while Maisie is struggling with familial tensions surrounding her career. This is a barely open-door story (you know what happens, but no explicit descriptions), and there’s no third act break-up.

I want to express my gratitude to St. Martin’s Press for providing this book for review consideration through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Fun romance with a Hallmark Christmas movie vibe for the first half, then a bit more hockey focused towards the end. Kind of the best of both worlds. Enjoyed the secondary characters, both their families and friend groups.

The MMC has anxiety, and I think his experiences came across as realistic, as someone who has experienced anxiety as well.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for You Make It Feel Like Christmas to come out September 23, 2025.

I love Christmas, hockey and romance and this book has it all. I enjoyed reading a wonderful story with great characters. I Recommend reading this book for a great Christmas read.

2.5 ⭐️’s. Maisie is a successful Seattle photographer who has a one night stand with a pro hockey player, Nick. Fast forward 6 months and their families end up celebrating Christmas together at Nick’s sister’s Christmas tree farm.

Things I liked about this book:
• I liked how the author goes in depth about anxiety and breaking the stigma around it.
• I liked seeing the family dynamics and the pressures kids get from their parents. I especially appreciated Maisie standing up for herself even when faced with doubt.
• The setting on the Christmas tree farm was really cute and I loved the snowball fight/ornament competition. It felt very nostalgic when their dad catches them when they get back to the house late at night even though they’re grown adults.

Things I didn’t enjoy:
• There were paragraphs about how sexy Nick was but I would’ve enjoyed it or believed it more if the things he said, the way he acted, etc showed us that rather than just being told.
• I wish there was more dialogue between the characters. It felt like I was reading paragraphs of inner dialogue the entire book and yet I still didn’t feel very connected to any of them.
• I was surprised they wanted to be a couple before 40%.
• It didn’t feel like much happened towards the second half of the book. I think it could’ve had more Christmas or more hockey!

This did get me excited for more holiday themed books!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange of an honest review! 🥰

Sinopsis en español:

Maisie Smart no mira hacia atrás. No en la elección que hizo de ser fotógrafa, y no en la aventura de una noche que tuvo hace seis meses. Pero acostarse con un jugador de hockey profesional que se escapó a la mañana siguiente es un nuevo nivel de vergüenza. Ahora está a punto de pasar la semana en Tickle Tree Farms con su familia esta Navidad, y luego el universo lanza un Grinch en sus planes festivos.

Nick King es un desastre. Después de que una lesión significativa lo pone en el banquillo, tiene más tiempo para detenerse en sus ansiedades y en la aventura de una noche que no puede quitarse de la cabeza. Con las vacaciones a la vuelta de la esquina, cree que visitar a su hermana y a su sobrino en su granja de árboles de Navidad será una buena manera de resolverse. Eso es imposible cuando se entera de que Maisie está allí, todavía hermosa y justificadamente enojada por la forma en que se fue. Pero la Navidad es el momento de las segundas oportunidades, y la proximidad forzada puede ayudar a Nick y Maisie a desenvolver sentimientos de los que ninguno de ellos puede alejarse dos veces.




Reseña:

Disfruté de la lectura. El ritmo de la relación puede ser vertiginosa incluso llega a un instalove, me gustó mucho. El único pero que le pondría es la falta de escenas del pasado para poder ver cómo se conocieron y la fuerza de su atracción y el desarrollo de sus sentimientos.

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

I love the holiday season and great love story! I loved Nick and Maisie’s story. As a fellow teacher, I am amazed that Sophie Sullivan finds time to write such an amazing story.

This was a perfectly OK read for fans of mild, Hallmark-style holiday romances. It has all the classic ingredients—small-town charm, family dynamics, and a sweet, slow-burn romance—but it didn’t quite work for me personally. The story felt a bit jumpy and disjointed in places, which made it hard to stay fully immersed. It also followed a very familiar, somewhat cliché romance arc without many surprises. That said, if you’re in the mood for a cozy, PG-rated love story with festive vibes, this might be exactly what you’re looking for. Just not quite my cup of cocoa.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for this eARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

This book was such a fun read I love the characters and the story, you get a fun story in the winter at christmas time who doesnt love that. I also enjoyed the small town vibes you cant get enough of that.

This story was cute, but I felt like I had read it before. I didn't see much new material in it, but I will say that I loved all of the Christmas vibes. I would definitely recommend it if you are looking for a Christmas romance!

This book was so cozy! I loved Maisie and Nick and how gave the other a chance. I loved the rivalry within the family and how they included Nick's family too, as they were staying at his sister's farm. This is such a cute setting for a Christmas book.
Maisie becomes stronger as a person throughout the book and learns that as much as her parents are pushing her, she only needs to believe in herself and know that what she is doing is right for her. Her mom is pretty harsh towards her and I understand, but she really needs to take the time to see that Maisie is doing really well for herself and is really good at what she does.
This is a really sweet, romantic holiday book. I will be looking for other books by Sullivan with these characters.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

Maisie and Nick have a one night stand. Nick leaves unexpectedly without an explanation. Maisie thinks about the one who got away and why she wasn’t adequate - a theme her mother drummed into her head despite her success as a photographer. Fate brings the two back together and the rest is how they navigate their future. Sweet holiday novel. Easy read in spite of Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton dancing around in your head.

This is such a cute holiday romance! Maisie and Nick are thrown together by their friend and family group at Christmas, six months after a one-night stand that neither one wanted to end there. Nick’s a pro hockey player recovering from a minor injury and unsure about whether he wants his life to be nothing but hockey for much longer. Maisie’s a photographer who can’t quite measure up to her parents’ expectations no matter how much success she enjoys.

Over an extended holiday gathering at Nick’s sister’s Christmas tree farm, Maisie and Nick are drawn to each other and must reckon with how Nick hurt her after their one amazing night six months earlier. Now, can the two find a way forward with a real relationship?

I loved the festive activities everyone participates in while visiting the small Hallmark-movie-esque town over the holidays, and the chemistry between Nick and Maisie. It’s a romance that’ll warm your heart just in time for Christmas (or any time of year).

I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin.

Is it the end of May and I picked up an upcoming Christmas-time book? Yes, don't judge me lol, I was reading some heavy topic books at the same time and I needed a sweet one to add to the mix. I really enjoyed Maisie and Nick together. I loved how open Nick was about his anxiety and some hard moments he was having at the time. I felt the connection between them right away and was happy to see there was no miscommunication trope at the end. I would have liked to feel more of the Christmas element, it seemed like it was the first 30ish percent and then it could have easily been any other time of the year other then hockey season.

Thank you to St. Martins Press, St. Martins Press Early Readers, Netgalley and Sophie Sullivan for access to an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Sophie, every book you write, I love just a little bit more than the last! This book was the perfect mix of real and romance. The issues Maisie and Nick face are things most people will relate to in their own lives. I love seeing more modern books opening up and having characters deal with anxiety, while the character works through it it's educational and helpful to see how you can get help in reality; and I was cracking up when Maisie called him out on it. Maisie learning to stand up for herself and work through what she needed as a daughter and a woman was also great to see, a woman doesn't just need a man for happiness, she needs to love herself and learn she deserves the respect from everyone in her life, even if it's hard. At the end of this, I'm so proud of these characters, which is probably a weird thing to feel, but I was rooting for them!

I'm so glad I got this one on NetGalley early, and kindaaaa want to know if we're going to see Ethan's story soon?

Sophie Sullivan’s *You Make It Feel Like Christmas* is a cozy holiday romance that blends festive feelings with real emotions. It takes place at a Christmas tree farm and focuses on a second-chance romance full of chemistry and growth.

Maisie Smart is a relatable character. She is a successful photographer and values her independence. When she unexpectedly meets Nick King, a hockey player who ghosted her after a memorable night, things become awkward yet exciting. Nick is more than a typical athlete; he deals with a serious injury and anxiety, making his story compelling.

The setting of Tickle Tree Farms feels magical. It has twinkling lights, fun family moments, and plenty of holiday spirit. The secondary characters, like Nick’s sweet nephew and Maisie’s quirky relatives, add charm without taking center stage.

What makes this story special is its believable emotional connection. Maisie and Nick’s renewed romance feels genuine. Their conflicts are realistic, and their journey back to trust is slow and meaningful, making it a comforting read that feels like your favorite sweater.

I struggled to get invested in this story; it started off sort of slow for me, but once I got over that hump, I really liked the story!

The author did a great job describing all the magical parts of Christmas. The setting was so cozy!

I loved how much the MMC was so “all in,” right from the beginning! I was glad when he finally told the FMC why he left “the morning after.” The two main characters were perfect together, and I loved how well they communicated with one another!

The one character I just could NOT like was the FMC’s mother. I know she did come around toward the end, but I still couldn’t like her.

Overall, a very easy read! This was a charming story, and I would recommend it, especially if you’re looking for a cozy holiday read!!