I liked the take on the Christmas Story with a Hanukkah spin. But didn't love the main character - it took me awhile to come around to liking her.

I am not Jewish, but I’m open to traditions of any religion and the premise of this book intrigued me. As you might suspect, this is a retelling of A Christmas Carol with a Hanukkah twist. I found the writing to be light, even though the book touches on some heavy topics; divorce, miscarriage, abortion. I found the book to be quite funny at times and I think if I understood Jewish traditions more, I would have enjoyed the book more. There seem to be quite a few inside jokes that didn’t land for me. Overall, still a sweet story and one I’d recommend to anyone of the Jewish faith.

One note I’ll make is there is a part of the book in which Evelyn is using acetone to dull the appearance of glue on a puppet. That was fine with me but the book describes the acetone being in a styrofoam cup. Clearly the author has never put acetone in a styrofoam cup before, because if she had, she would know acetone melts styrofoam. I would change the cup description to a paper cup.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for an ARC of this book.

Evelyn and David were best friends, then lovers, then married, and now divorced. Evelyn is executive producing a live version of A Christmas Carol for national television, something that will boost her career. After she hits her head on a piano, she finds herself in the medicine bay and her ex-husband David has taken over for the regular doc. Evelyn suffers from chronic migraines and when she sees Marla, her old mentor, she thinks it’s a hallucination from them. She thinks that of all the ghosts who visit her, until she finally realizes what they are trying to show her.


I have read almost all of Jean Meltzer’s books, and I think this is my favorite by far. I was skeptical at first, A Christmas Carol retelling for Hanukkah instead. Not to mention it seemed very inspired by the movie version ‘Scrooged’ (my favorite Christmas movie, so not saying it’s bad), but the emotions that I went through in this book. Yes, there are some wacky parts, and yes a ridiculous rock star playing Scrooge, and it’s a second chance romance which I usually don’t like, but it all worked. And if I hadn’t been at work I would’ve been bawling at the end. I’m very excited for this to come out in October.

This was such a sweet and fun holiday romance with a lot of heart! I loved the Hanukkah setting and how it blended tradition with a modern love story. The characters were charming, and the second-chance angle was really well done. It’s light, cozy, and feel-good—perfect for curling up with during the holidays.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book to review.

This was a fun romance novel, and I enjoyed it a lot. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars – *A heartwarming Hanukkah tale full of second chances and Jewish sparkle*

*The Eight Heartbreaks of Hanukkah* is a delightful blend of holiday magic, emotional healing, and second-chance romance that feels like a cozy latke for the soul. Jean Meltzer once again brings her signature warmth, humor, and unapologetically Jewish storytelling to the forefront in a story that’s both deeply personal and universally relatable.

Evelyn is a driven, chronically ill workaholic whose holiday plans revolve around a chaotic Christmas musical, not rekindling anything with her ex-husband. But when David—unexpectedly back in her life—starts treating more than just her migraines, the tension, both romantic and emotional, starts to build. Enter the ghosts of Hanukkah past (yes, really), and we get a creative twist on the classic holiday redemption arc.

The chemistry between Evelyn and David is beautifully written, full of unresolved longing and bittersweet nostalgia. Their banter is sharp, their shared history complicated but tender, and the evolution of their dynamic feels earned. The portrayal of chronic illness, Jewish identity, and the struggles of balancing ambition with vulnerability is handled with sensitivity and depth.

Why not five stars? The pacing lagged just a touch in the middle, and a few of the ghostly visits felt more like metaphorical therapy sessions than plot movers. Still, the emotional payoff is rich, and the conclusion is satisfying in the way all great holiday romances should be.

If you're looking for a book that celebrates Hanukkah with joy, heart, and a second-chance romance that glows like a menorah in full blaze, this one’s a must-read.

Jean Meltzer has made writing Jewish romance novels a genre all its own. She is becoming prolific in her writing and has also started promoting and encouraging other writers who write Jewish related romance to come together and share in her limelight. She has created a community of writers and readers. The Eight Heartbreaks of Hanukah is her latest novel.

The Eight Breakups of Hanukah is a clever take-off on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Dickens brings Ebenezer Scrooge three ghosts, past, present and future to helpl cure him of his negative attitude toward Christmas and the people in his life.

Evelyn Schwartz uses work to escape any personal relationships because they make her uncomfortable. She is a work-a-holic and her marriage with David, a doctor, ended two years ago. But now the week before her Christmas special is supposed to air, the most important work event of her life, David shows up at the studio as the doctor on call. As Evelyn negociates between her need to excel at work and her growing feelings of love toward David returning she is visited by eight ghosts, one for each night of Hanukah, They each take her on a trip back to relive different moments in her relationship with David.

This is an entertaining plot with lots of secrets revealed with each ghost's visit. A clever way to tell the back story of David and Evelyn's relationship and what led to the breakup. Can the eight heartbreaks teach Evelyn a lesson in time?

This wasn't my favorite Jean Meltzer novel, but it was a solid 3. I enjoyed the unique premise of a Jewish version of A Christma Carol, and of course loved Jean Meltzer's representation of Jewish people in romance. The writing itself fell a little flat for me, with some repetitiveness in her use of prose. All in all a decent read. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book, but I was very pleasantly surprised. I ended up finishing the book in just a few sittings and really enjoyed the story and characters.

I just finished reading this book. The plot was absolutely fantastic! It was quite the page turner, and I could not put the book down once I began reading it. I can't wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

Evelyn Schwartz has the perfect Hanukkah planned: eight jam-packed days producing the live-action televised musical of A Christmas Carol. Who needs family when you’ve got long hours, impossible deadlines, and your dream job? That is, until an accident on set lands her in the medical bay with one of her chronic migraines, and she’s shocked to find her ex-husband, David Adler, filling in for the usual studio doctor.

It’s been two years since David walked away from Evelyn and their life in Manhattan, and his ex-wife is still the same workaholic who puts her career before everything else—especially her health. But when Evelyn begins hallucinating “ghosts” tied to her past heartbreaks, and every single one leads to David, he finds himself spending much more time with her than he anticipated. And denying the still-smoldering chemistry between them becomes impossible.

As Evelyn revisits her ghosts of Hanukkah past, she and David both begin to wonder if they can have a Hanukkah future. But with a high-stakes production ramping up the pressure on Evelyn, and troublesome spirits forcing them both to confront their most difficult shared memories, it might just take a Hanukkah miracle for these two exes to light the flame on their second chance at love.

Jean Meltzer gives you all the heart and all the heartbreak in her newest romance. You sympathize with Evelyn when she has her migraines and David when he tries over and over again to help her. But he can't help her through her heartbreaks - Evelyn must experience them to get where she needs to be, and she takes the reader on her enlightening, sometimes sad, journey. This is definitely a book you can't put down because you have to know what happens next. I celebrated their success with them and cried when sharing their pain. This book is not a light romance; there is a lot of substance to it. I implore you to read the author's message at the end because it's an important part of the book. As a side note, I loved the reference to the shop in Kissing Kosher.

As someone who just married into the Jewish community, I’m loving the rise of Jewish rom-coms, and The Eight Heartbreaks of Hanukkah was such a treat! Evelyn and David’s second-chance romance unfolds beautifully against the backdrop of Hanukkah, blending holiday magic with real, emotional depth.

The premise is unique and charming — Evelyn’s hallucinations of “ghosts” tied to past heartbreaks bring an intriguing twist, while the chemistry between her and David still sizzles despite their complicated history. The story perfectly balances humor, heartfelt moments, and the pressures of a high-stakes production, making it feel both festive and relatable.

If you enjoy second-chance romances with a cultural touch and holiday spirit, this book definitely delivers.

This was by far my favorite Jewish Rep book maybe ever — the representation was there but not over the top and yet not overly explained. It was very much normalized and diffused throughout the book in a completely natural way. I love a second chance romance and this was one of the better ones as far as tension and chemistry I’ve read. Lastly, the rep of pregnancy loss and associated trauma was moving and incredibly well written. Last note… Jared Sparks was hilarious and was totally giving Russell Brand, Get Them To The Greek.

What I didn’t love… Did Evelyn need to tell us in her head how much she hated her ex ad nauseum? It was as if she lacked insight into any of her own mistakes and it made her kind of unlikable in my mind. In comparison to David’s introspection it made her seem Regina Jones-ish and not in an ironic, funny way.

Tropes: Second chance romance. He falls first. Grumpy-Sunshine. Forced proximity.

Please note, I did receive this ARC for free; I am writing this honest review voluntarily and appreciate the opportunity provided by the author and publisher to review this book.

📖 Book Review 📖 It’s the most wonderful time of the year…for everyone but Evelyn Schwartz. While she loves her job as a producer and is crushing it with her upcoming live-action performance of A Christmas Carol, the high stress is not conducive to her chronic migraines. When a collision with a piano lands her in with the doctor on set, she is shocked to be face to face with the man who broke her heart, her ex-husband David (what are the chances he’s filling in for a friend this week, of all weeks!?) Something strange is happening on set and Evelyn cannot tell if she’s actually seeing ghosts from the past or if she’s suffering from her head injury. Could these visits through her long history with David ignite that old spark? Jean Meltzer reimagines a beloved story with a fresh twist and raw emotional depths that absolutely pops off the pages. The Eight Heartbreaks of Hanukkah is an instant holiday rom com classic!

Jean Meltzer is one of the top Jewish romance writers. Her books are real and cover real topics.
This book focuses on Evelyn & her ex David.
On a chance encounter, David is working as the doctor on scene for her studio where she is getting ready to put on a live Christmas show.
We learn that Evelyn has migraines and how hard it is for her to get medicine to manage them. She also works very hard and isn't really happy at the moment which causes more stress to her body.
Meltzer does a great job of talking about migraines and how they can affect someone. She always covers real topics.
I love the heartbreaks of Hanukkah and how they visit Evelyn and help guide her to where she really belongs. They help her take a look at her life and become closer to David again.
This book is sweet and has such great representation of Hanukkah, love and family.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC

So stinkin cute, I love the characters and the Jewish representation and the messaging on loss and grief!

📖 Bookish Thoughts
This was cute! I really liked the idea of revisiting her ghosts of Hanukkah past. I was hoping for something cozy and heartwarming, and in some ways, it delivered.

That said, I struggled a bit with Evelyn. I kept hoping she’d grow on me, but it just didn’t happen. David, on the other hand, was an absolute sweetheart! He was so patient and kind (maybe too forgiving if I’m being honest). I just didn’t really feel the spark between them, which made it hard to fully buy into their romance.

🩵 What You Can Expect
• Second-chance romance
• Holiday movie production
• Ghosts of Hanukkah past
• Sweet MMC
• Emotional baggage unpacked

🗓 Pub Date: October 21, 2025
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

⭐️ 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4)

"The Eight Heartbreaks of Hanukkah" by Jean Meltzer is a heartfelt and engaging take on the holiday romance genre, offering a unique twist with its Jewish cultural elements. The story centers around Evelyn, a driven TV producer, who finds herself working alongside her ex-husband, David, during Hanukkah. As Evelyn is visited by the Eight Heartbreaks of Hanukkah, she revisits pivotal moments in her past, leading to a journey of self-discovery and healing. Meltzer weaves themes of love, loss, and second chances into a narrative that balances humor with poignant moments. While the pacing could be tighter, the book's charm lies in its rich character development and cultural depth.

A workaholic (Jewish) television producer focused on a live broadcast of a musical version of A Christmas Carol is upset that her (Jewish) ex-husband has been tapped to fill in as the on-set doctor during the holiday season, adding to her stress. After nearly getting taken out by a moving set piece, Evelyn refuses to visit the hospital, and then is visited by eight ghosts in succession, one for each night of Hanukkah, which she barely observes, while suffering from migraines, worrying about her cast who doesn't yet know lines, music, dance, or blocking; agonizing over her high strung and demanding star, whose contract does not dictate showing up until dress rehearsal, and now facing Dr. David is just the icing on the cake.

I have the sense that Meltzer had a lot of fun writing this book. It's joyful and funny (in between the stress points). The story did not gel for more until more than halfway through, and I think more thoughtful and attentive editing overall would have made this a stronger and tighter story. There is an unfortunate amount of telling instead of showing--the story is interrupted for multiple paragraphs about migraines and EDS, instead of woven in. Details are both repetitive (the details leading to the breakup of the marriage, the longing for children) or left out, or appear out of nowhere. For example, when David eats brisket with his latkes, but brisket was not listed in the excessive and seemingly comprehensive list of food in the fabulous spread his sister Danielle and her family made for the first night of Hanukkah. Both Evelyn and David recall vividly one another’s scents, but the specific smell is not defined for the reader, for either of them, though the ghost of Marla is associated with a specific perfume by brand name, but the name alone did not give me any sense of the scent or the smell it conjures, or why it was significant, why it was deliberately chosen. The amazing chemistry and great sex and horny feelings are acknowledged , but left up to the reader's imagination. A quibble: I'm not quite sure why, when Evelyn had to ratio her migraine medication, David couldn't help her advocate to get adequate dosage (maybe she wouldn't allow it, maybe he can't treat a family member -- or former family member--an explanation would have been great).

The supernatural part of the story was a strong plot device to share David and Evelyn's history, and had a clever and poignant twist at the end. As an homage for Dickens, it does run a little long, detours from the original, and I think it was a missed opportunity to not use "Marla was dead, to begin with," as an homage. The Jewish representation as always, was awesome and appreciated. I love the weaving in of Torah, Talmud, culture, and observance, and Jewish stances on marriage and divorce, children and abortion. What non-Jews may miss is that removing the obvious Jewish details would still make this a Jewish novel: it's the balance of humor and pathos, grief and loss with love and warmth and joy, that makes this a distinctly Jewish story for me. Although I've called it joyful, it does deal with heartbreaking loss and chronic illness that could retraumatize; Meltzer thoughtfully includes trigger warnings.

For another Hanukkah story with deep character growth, read Love You A Latke by Amanda Elliot; for Hanukkah tale that ratchets up the spice level significantly while dealing with the theme of childhood friends turned lovers with amazing chemistry, check out Light It Up by Evie Blum.

I received a free advance reader's review copy of #TheEightHeartbreaksOfHanukkah via #NetGalley courtesy of #Harper in exchange for a fair and honest review; a review will post to HLBB 10/21/2025.

This was the best of Jean Meltzer books. First, I've never considered a Jewish version of A Christmas Carole. Evelyn is a type-A, overarching TV producer. Her ex-house starts working as a doctor on her set during Hanukah. They have a lot of unresolved issues.

Evelyn is driven and selfish and unbalanced. She is both likeable and unlikeable. She is visited by the Eight Heartbreaks of Hanunkah past. David is a caring and sweet MMC. He is an amazing book boyfriend, but also a little flat. Even though we get his POV, I still don't feel like I know him at all.

The story is sweet and heartbreaking. I loved it. Second-chanced that are done well arey favorite. The story stays with you! Ms. Meltzer does a good job of weaving Judaism, health challenges, and other topics into her books. It's always been good, but this time it really all comes together in this adorable HEA.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC. I appreciate the opportunity to read this novel.