This one starts with heartbreak, but will put you back together piece by piece with the added fun of all your favorite Christmas movies. You'll be on an emotional rollercoaster with characters you can't help but love as they navigate very realistic grief journeys after each losing a spouse. As they say, laughter is the best medicine, and you'll find plenty of humor in this book too, it's a perfect balance, and is not to be missed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Matthew Norman, and Penguin Random House for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I went into this read semi-blind because the cover and title...hello!? yes please. It was not the rom-com I was expecting, but so much more. This is less of a romance and more of a holiday contemporary fiction about two young widows who find each other over the holiday season and develop a friendship that helps them tackle different parts of their nonlinear, sometimes confusing grief. Matthew Norman does an excellent job portraying the complexity and realities of marriage. I loved how Norman used the Christmas movies to as a literary device to move the plot along and develop the character's relationship. I also appreciated how he gave the characters the wherewithal to recognize a potential trauma bond and the space to figure it out without it becoming unhealthy. I was hooked on both of their independent stories, and I loved Henry so much! The end had me in tears in public. This was the perfect holiday story - sad, real, witty, and heartwarming all in one. I will definitely be diving into Matthew Norman's backlist!

Thank you Dell, Penguin Random House, & Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? Any book with this argument in it im probably gonna like (big Christmas discussion during every holiday over here) this book is about Grace and Henry who are both dealing with the loss of their spouses in the previous year- their moms conspire to get them together and while not ready for that they start holiday movie watching together (sometimes over thr phone sometimes together) and it just works grace has two kids and they get added to the mix - this is a great book about a gradual friendship and finding happiness again- definitely worth a read anything time of the year!

Thank you net galley for the arc in exchange for an honest review !

A charming feel-good story about finding love again. Grace and Henry meet (with the help of their mothers) and decide to become friends. They both recently lost their spouses and are not ready to date again (and maybe never will be?!). With the winter holidays coming up soon, Grace and Henry decide it would be nice to watch some classic movies together. This brings them closer together but what if they’re not ready to fall in love? This is a comforting read - imagine a Hallmark movie but set in Baltimore.

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

This was definitely one of the most creative and well throughout books I have read in some time. This novel focuses on two main characters whom have both recently lost their spouses. They come together in a semi hilarious way, and are instantly in the realization that they have quite a bit in common. Seeking out friendship and longing to get through the holidays after losing their loved ones they join together to have a movie marathon. This is such a fun and happy book despite the losses the characters have faced. This goes into the themes of live after loss, building what you want in a friendship, and also encompasses making the best of a bad situation.

I will definitely be checking out this author’s other books as it was soo good!

I loved Grace & Henry's Holiday Movie Marathon. Based on the cute cover and title, I did not expect the book to be about two widows. Having that in common, Grace & Henry become unlikely friends. Along with their family and friends, we witness them individually, through duel point of view, and in their relationship move through grief.

In addition to a unique plot, I'm a big fan of holiday movies and really enjoyed seeing which ones they watched and remembering familiar lines and scenes. If you like holiday novels & movies, this book is a must read. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!

Thank you to NetGalley, Matthew Norman, and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my unbiased review.

This book follows two people—Grace and Henry—who’ve both lost their partners during the holidays. Their meddling moms set them up, and while it starts off with a few awkward laughs about shared grief, it slowly becomes something deeper than either expected.

I wasn’t sure if I was ready for this book. Nearly a year ago, I lost my mom. And though it’s not the same as losing a spouse, Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon hit close in a way I wasn’t expecting.

What I loved most is how honestly this story treats grief. There’s no magic cure, no tidy bow. Grace is strong and sarcastic and emotionally stuck. Henry is quieter, a little more reserved and hopeful. They’re a surprisingly perfect match in their imperfections. Watching them try to navigate their feelings—while also still mourning their spouses—felt so authentic it hurt. At times, I didn’t even want them to end up together because I wasn’t sure they were ready. But then I realized: no one ever really is.

The writing is beautiful and smart, with moments that made me laugh out loud and others that had me sobbing into my hoodie.

This book is technically a holiday novel, but it doesn’t drown in Christmas cheer. It’s more Die Hard than Hallmark—set during the season, but not about the season. And while it does include a delightful dog named Harry Styles, it’s not just fluff. The plot surprised me with emotional twists that left me gasping and whisper-yelling at my Kindle.

Additionally, I appreciate that Norman gave space to something we don’t talk enough about: what grief looks like after the first year. When everyone else has moved on and expects you to do the same—but you can’t. Or won’t. Or don’t know how. That resonated with me, and I think it helped me face some emotions I hadn’t even realized I was still holding onto. (My therapist will bill you, Norman.)

Even when I wasn’t sure where the story was going, I didn’t care. I just needed to know if these two broken, beautiful people could find comfort—if not a future—in each other. By the end, I was crying. I’m a crier, okay?

This was one of the most unexpectedly cozy and comforting reads I’ve had in a while. This is a standout amongst the books I’ve read this year and reverses a chance on your tbr.

Grace & Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon is a heartfelt and emotionally resonant novel that thoughtfully balances themes of grief, healing, humor, and the possibility of new love. From the first few pages, I was struck by the emotional weight of the story, starting with the scene of Grace leaving her husband’s funeral with their children. Though her husband’s death was anticipated due to illness, the grief she experiences is still raw and profound, highlighting that knowing loss is coming doesn’t necessarily make it easier to endure.
Henry, the other main character, is also navigating his own grief following the sudden loss of his wife in a plane crash. As the holiday season approaches, both Grace and Henry are nearly a year into their respective losses, and their families are gently, yet sometimes awkwardly, trying to nudge them back into the world of dating. Initially, I was concerned that this might feel rushed or insensitive. However, I found it to be a realistic portrayal of how people outside of grief, no matter how well-meaning, can sometimes underestimate the lasting impact. The awkwardness of their first meeting, clearly planned by their parents, is both funny and endearing. What could have been a cliched setup instead becomes a meaningful foundation for a friendship rooted in shared experience.
Overall, Grace & Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon is a touching and beautifully written story about loss, connection, and the courage it takes to begin again. It made me laugh, tear up, and ultimately left me feeling hopeful.

I first encountered Matthew Norman with Charm City Rocks, his great love song to Baltimore, good music, and the beauty of choosing joy. So I was ecstatic when I saw this new title being talked about. Having just finished the book, I can happily report that it is equally as enjoyable, despite the more emotional subject matter.

Both Grace and Henry have recently lost their spouses, and mothers being who they are, find themselves “set up” as a consequence of the moms being in book club together. What unfolds in the aftermath of their NOT “meet cute” is a tender (yet hilarious) friendship as they lean on each other to try to navigate this first Christmas “after.” Each unit of the book is linked to a different holiday movie, which they either watch together, argue over (Grace is VERY opinionated!), or just weave into conversation. It’s a great punch of nostalgia in the midst of watching the two deal with various hard things.

Grace and Henry don’t just have each other; both of their families play a big role in the story. Grace’s two children are each coping with the loss of their dad in their own way; Henry’s arrival in their lives is sweet and handled very carefully and honestly. Plus, the fact Grace and the kids adopt a dog ON THE WAY HOME from the funeral and then name him Harry Styles is genius. Henry’s family, on the other hand, are all very concerned for him. His parents are hilarious in their effort to nudge him OUT of their home, and his brother, who constantly “wears” his baby on his chest, graciously takes care of the aspects of Henry’s life he’s too depressed to manage.

The writing in Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon is just so good, so literary, so well done. All in all, Matthew Norman has handled a tender subject in a way that allows the reader to both grieve AND guffaw, all the while respectful of the hard truths of that first year without the love of your life. *chef’s kiss*

It’s official - I’m a Matthew Norman fan for life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine/ Dell for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was very cute and I really enjoyed it. I needed something comforting and boy did this hit the spot.

The story starts with grief, but as Grace and Henry watch these holiday movies, a strong connection starts to develop. Reading about them felt like a big warm hug. It was very healing to see them heal.

Highly recommend this book and especially if you need a cozy book for the holidays! Thank you to Matthew Norman, NetGalley, the publisher. Wonderful book!

I am so in love with everything about this book! I was emotionally attached to both Grace and Henry right from the beginning, and also with Grace's two children. The author did a beautiful job of expressing the stages of grief and all the implications that go with losing a beloved, especially so young.

The way he wove in the movies, many of which are my favorites too, is a very special part of the story. And don't get me started about the mice! I fell in love with Henry even more in that part of the book (no spoilers!).

I loved watching both Grace and Henry go through the process of coming through the fog that surrounds you after the loss of a spouse. I also loved that the author didn't make the trite assumption that their journeys were about "letting go" or "moving on."

I will be reading more by Matthew Norman and will recommend this on all my platforms when it is published :)

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley, for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this story. I love romance and when it is so well done I cannot recommend it enough. This will definitely be one of those times. The plot was well written and the characters felt so real!

I LOVED Grace and Henry's Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman. I rarely read Rom-Coms by male authors, for obvious reasons, but was so surprised by this! I thought it was so fun and the characters were so sweet.

I am so here for the holiday books already. Yes, it is still spring, but that is okay. I enjoyed this one very much. Thank you for the opportunity to read it!

This sweet story of two grieving people really gave me all the feels. It’s really an exploration of love in its many forms and complications. At first I thought the romance was a little lackluster compared to the rest of it- the wit, the familial love angle- but I thought about it and reconsidered. It’s not fireworks, but it is love, just in a different form. And I think that’s the whole point of the book. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc.

Good read! Matthew Norman creates such wonderful characters. I’ve read all his books and the lead guys are memorable in a regular ol’ guy kind of way. From Andy and the squirrels (We’re All Damaged) to Henry and the mice, they just make you smile. This is best described as a romcom, which makes sense with the title and chapter names, it is written around holiday movies. I loved Henry but Grace did an incredible job with her half of the book. I loved the dialog and thoroughly enjoyed the story. The personalities of the kids and both families just jump off the page. The references to 80s and 90s randomness and the banter between the characters make this such a readable book. I highly recommend this and all the books from this author.

I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley for an honest opinion. I will say, it should come with a trigger warning, as the two main characters experienced loss of their partners. One passed tragically from an airplane crash, the other from cancer. With that being said, I loved this book. Grace and Henry were set up to meet by their mothers to help them move on from their loss. I love how witty Grace is, and how kindhearted Henry is. This book shares the story of how these two help each other deal with the grief of losing their spouse, while falling for each other.

This book surprised me in the gentlest way. I went in expecting cozy holiday charm (and yes, it delivers on the twinkly lights and Christmas-movie references), but what I didn’t expect was how tender and quietly profound Grace & Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon would be. At its heart, this is a story about grief, friendship, and the slow, imperfect path toward healing. Grace and Henry are both navigating the wreckage of profound loss, and their connection feels incredibly grounded — not in grand gestures or forced chemistry, but in small acts of kindness, shared silences, and the comfort of someone who gets it. Matthew Norman writes with such a light touch that the emotional moments sneak up on you. I found myself really moved by how naturally the relationship developed, especially with Grace’s kids in the mix — who are never used as plot props, but feel like real, vibrant characters with their own arcs. And then there’s the movie marathon itself. Watching Grace reluctantly sit through Henry’s sentimental favorites (and yes, Love Actually makes an appearance) became this beautiful ritual — a backdrop for connection, nostalgia, and laughter in the middle of their grief. It reminded me of how the things we once did for others can transform into something new when shared with someone who meets us where we are now.

I really enjoyed this book, even though it was sad at times. Grace and Henry are both recently widowed and bond over their grief. I loved the concept of them coming together to survive the holidays through their love of holiday movies. The ending was predictable and tied into my favorite holiday movie, "Love Actually," in an adorable way. The relationship between Henry and Grace's son Ian is really sweet, especially since Ian is at that awkward middle school age. It was nice that Ian found a mentor when he needed his dad the most. Thank you, Ballentine and NetGalley, for this advance reader copy.

Grace & Henry's Holiday Movie Marathon is an emotional and heartwarming romance novel that explores themes of grief, healing, and second chances. Set during the holiday season, the story follows Grace and Henry, two individuals who have both recently lost their spouses. As they approach the first holiday season since their losses, their mothers—who are members of a book club—attempt to play matchmaker, though neither Grace nor Henry is ready to date again. Despite their initial reluctance, a delicate friendship and feelings blossom between them, grounded in their shared experiences of loss and understanding.

I found the beginning of the story charming, I liked the main characters and the kids were so funny. I could read a whole story about Zoe and the bar in Boston. I felt like the dialogue came off a little clumsy in the banter parts, I had to reread Grace’s sarcasm a lot. My biggest turn off was the big reveal towards the end, I couldn’t get away from this book fast enough after that. I don’t understand the need for the author to ruin a whole character and then try and wrap it all up with a happy ending bow. The book wraps up very quickly and left me with a lot of questions.