Thanks for the eARC from NetGalley. My opinion was not bought or paid for, it's my own.

what can I say, I am thoroughly impressed and surprised that my favorite "romantic comedy" novel was written by a man!

Now I'm not saying men can't write romance novels, that's patently not true. However boy was it nice to read a modern romance where they just weren't trying to check a box next to a trope. these characters were likable, they were empathetic, and you could relate to both of them. The side characters were fun and impressively flushed out. Like I want to read a whole novel about why Henry's brother was so obsessed with wearing his baby daughter lol

also I saw you Matthew! I see you named the brothers Henry like Henry Cavill and Cal like Kal-el!! not to mention made Cal incredibly hot, so I just know he's Henry Cavill right? Just kidding damn that guy makes his way into novels even written by men! 🤣


anyways seriously one of my favorite books I've read this year. I have already been talking about it with a bunch of my friends. And I cannot thank you enough that the conflict felt natural and not contrived to just lead up to once again tropes like miscommunication and third act break up. it truly did feel like a holiday romcom

I really loved this book. I was expecting something light and cute, kind of like a Hallmark Christmas movie and while it was that it was also so much more. The beginning was a lot more emotional than I thought it would be, and it pulled me in right away.

I really liked the main characters and the relationship they developed. The family stuff was great too. It showed how people show up for you when you really need them, and that hit me in a good way.

Also, the way each chapter focused on a different Christmas movie was such a fun touch. It made the whole story feel extra festive without being over-the-top.

The writing style just worked for me. It wasn’t exactly what I expected, but I’m definitely not mad about it.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House publishing for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Movies, holidays, love, and loss? Yes, please! This book is fantastic, and I devoured it. The writing is excellent, which I appreciated given the topic of Christmas. I read a lot of that genre in the summer, and this one was unique and refreshing. The characters are exploring their grief and leaning on one another, even if they don’t realize it. It left me rooting for them. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

this is Grace and Henry's first Christmas without their spouses. their mothers mean well but are they ready to love again?

This is my first novel by Matthew Norman, and certainly not my last, so I went into this story without any prior knowledge of his unmatched wit and writing style. To say the very least, he's exceptional. His dialogue is so good, so much so that the cute rom-com plot and complex characters are secondary to it. For me, dialogue is everything: it can make or kill a story. I love dialogue that is real, that you can conceivably imagine taking place in these scenarios, that easily plays out like an actual conversation; Noman nails that. But, even more impressive, is his ability to write a solid female MC and get her feelings, intentions, thought processes, and all so perfectly real and relatable, no small feat for any writer, in my female opinion, while also perfectly nailing the male MC. All this is to say, I loved this book. Grace & Henry's Holiday Movie Marathon is a solid 5 stars for me.

Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine Books/Dell, for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

Christmas in July was the perfect time to treat myself to a holiday-themed romance from one of my favorite authors! This book was a little different from your typical Hallmark happily-ever-after! Grace and Henry’s lives were touched by tragedy that was almost too difficult to deal with and if it wasn't for their mother’s matchmaking, they probably would have never met! After only chatting for a few minutes, it was very apparent that they shared an intense passion for Holiday movies, including ‘Die Hard’, which was always highly debated every season.

Grief doesn’t have a timetable and you never know how you will feel when you wake up in the morning. Some days you keep busy by escaping into a good book, but oftentimes you feel the need to pick up the phone and dial a number that no longer exists. I am glad Grace met Henry because they desperately needed each other. Grace had her children, Ian and Bella, and her job as a successful business owner, to keep her busy, but Henry was alone with just his memories and regrets to keep him company.

Who would have thought that a close friendship would develop from watching and critiquing holiday movies? Henry was a bit shy the first time he went to Grace’s house for movie night. He wasn’t used to being around children but their bright-eyed excitement about everything made him feel young again. Grace, Henry, Ian and Bella quickly fell into a routine, bonding over M&M’s, art projects, mice, and the best snack mix combinations. The holiday season is hard for many people but Mr. Norman created a beautiful storyline that was positive, passionate and full of hope, which was just what Grace and Henry needed to feel optimistic about the future!

🎄 ARC Review: Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie by Matthew Norman 💔✨

This book is like the coziest holiday blanket 🧣❤️—soft, warm, and guaranteed to make you feel all the emotions.

Grace White, a sentimental advertising creative, and Henry Adler, a blunt and practical bar owner, are both navigating life after unimaginable loss. 😢🕊️ The first holiday season without their spouses looms, and despite their well-meaning mothers’ matchmaking schemes, neither is ready to jump back into dating. But in each other, they find something rare: someone who truly understands the weight of their grief.

When Henry suggests binge-watching a Christmas movie marathon 🎥🎅 (an old tradition with his late wife), Grace hesitantly agrees. Soon, her two kids, Ian and Bella, join the watch parties, adding moments of lightness and laughter. With each movie, the walls around Grace and Henry’s hearts begin to soften. 🎄🥹

Matthew Norman beautifully captures the bittersweet nature of moving forward after loss. This isn’t just a romance—it’s a story about healing, friendship, found family, and the courage to open your heart again. ❤️‍🩹

📌 Why you’ll love it:
✨ Emotional depth with plenty of heartwarming moments
✨ Holiday nostalgia that will have you craving cocoa ☕ and classic movies
✨ A sweet slow-burn connection you’ll root for

3.75 out of 5. This was an adorable story. In my Hallmark Movie ranking it definitely is even a bit higher than predictable but nice. I love the concept of hanging out to watch Christmas movies, but I wanted more movies! there are so many to choose from they could have gone even more. I even added some movies to my list, I have not watched Planes, Trains and Automobiles and I definitely do not remember a Charlie Brown Christmas so might need to revisit that one. Edward Scissorhands however was a stretch for a Christmas movie. I will also add in that Die Hard will never be considered a Christmas movie for me. I get why its on the list but its a no for me. Bella is a highlight I loved her.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Grace and Henry both started the new year as widows, and almost a year later they are both approaching the one year anniversary of the event that changed their lives. Though they have been put together with dating in mind, neither is in the right frame of mind to do so. But on the flip side, no one else understands their inner turmoil, so a friendship develops. Henry notices an ad for a holiday movie marathon, an activity that was near and dear to him as he did this with his wife; Grace agrees to partake in this event with him as support, and even her kids join. As they journey through the marathon, they begin to wonder if their shared circumstances are what has drawn them together, or if perhaps they have more than that in common.

This was such an enjoyable and cozy holiday read! It starts off as sad, but then becomes something much deeper. There are raw emotions, of course, but the fun idea of the holiday movies just adds a really unique layer to this book. I also loved that the relationship between Henry and Grace started off as genuine friendship; the author did a great job of building that romance up, creating a very strong foundation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine/Dell for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I found this book to be such an easy read. The dialogue was funny, effortless and realistic. Despite a very tragic subject (spousal death), the author brought a lot of humor to this novel. The kids in the book were perfectly written. I highly recommend!

I really liked this book, At first given how heavy the grief is I was very unsure .but as the story progressed and seeing the relationship form was a truly beautiful story. Both Henry and Grace loosing their spouses around the same time but learning to be friends and then eventually fall in love was cute but watching Henry form a relationship /bond with Graces kids was even more beautiful

What a fun Christmas book to read in July! I loved that each chapter was a different movie- serious topics discussed in a light and fluffy way. Highly recommend!

What a beautifully written romance! It’s so untraditional from other romances but I truly enjoyed it. The entire time I was picturing it as a movie.

Grace and Henry both lose their spouses within the same month. Later they meet through an attempted setup via their mothers. From there they quickly become friends & bond over their grief for their spouses & love for holiday movies. Henry is such a likeable MMC! You can’t help but to feel for the guy & he’s so sweet with Grace’s children. The side characters were a fun addition to the story & I love the way the author tied in their families. The only part of the book that I didn’t *love* is that third act breakup. It’s just not my favorite & felt a bit forced & unnecessary.

This isn’t your typical rom-com—it’s better. Grace and Henry are two widowed strangers brought together by grief, kids, and a nightly holiday movie tradition. As they work through their pain with wit, warmth, and a little help from Elf and It’s a Wonderful Life, a quiet, heartfelt bond begins to form.

Funny, deeply emotional, and full of charm (yes, even including a mouse named Harry Styles), this book is a love letter to healing and connection. You’ll laugh, cry, and maybe even start your own movie marathon.

When I got an email to request this ARC I thought it was going to be a cute Christmas rom com. I was wrong in this best way. It’s a story about two people coming together and finding a way out of their grief. It was sad and sweet and hopeful. I loved all the characters and didn’t want to leave them in the end.

I judged the book by its cover and title. That was my mistake.

This isn’t the lighthearted, Christmas feels you expect. It’s a story of a family and a man dealing with grief from the death of their spouses. I couldn’t finish it. It was really bumming me out.

Each chapter is the title of a Christmas movie but the movie is simply a brief reference.

Give a read for yourself but just don’t go in thinking this is a cute Christmas story

I read this book in one day! This is my first time reading a book by Matthew Norman and I am hooked. From the first page I loved Grace. She is funny, honest, and messy and owns it all. She was perfect for Henry and his grief. Even though it’s July, this book made me wish it was Christmas time with snow and holiday movies. I really enjoyed this book. It is a good mixture of showing their grief and hope for the future. Thank you for sharing it with me in advance.

I enjoyed how the author used holiday movies to develop the relationship between Grace and Henry.

Grief is a tricky thing and the author showed how it can appear at any time. The interactions between Henry and Grace’s kids are so sweet.

I enjoyed the sense of place in this book. The author made Baltimore its own side character.

I was glad we got to hear the story from both Grace and Henry’s point of view. The reader gets to connect with them both and join their grief journey.

Put this book on your TBR if you are a fan of holiday movies.

Thanks to @netgalley and @ballatinebooks for the advanced reader copy

I fell in love with this charming and poignant tale of love, loss and second chances. What appears as a light-hearted read proves that you can't judge a book by its cover as Grace and Henry are dealing with the loss of their spouses. Set up by their mothers, they are not ready to move on but an unlikely friendship is formed to deal with the holidays,

Matthew Norman's empathy blended with wit makes this a heartfelt tale that will resonate with readers. Selecting movies to commence each chapter, they set the tone for what's to come.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of #GraceHenrysHolidayMovieMarathon in exchange of an honest review. Shout out to Emma as I loved this story and wouldn't have known about it otherwise. Readers will find themselves on a rollercoaster of emotions as one minute laughing out loud at Grace's razor-sharp wit and then the next, grabbing a tissue.

We've all dealt with the heartbreak of losing someone or not having loved ones nearby during the holidays. This story has all the mixings of a bestseller/ blockbuster but don't forget the popcorn fish!

4.5 stars. Grace and Henry both were well developed and easy to love. The many homages to Christmas movies both directly and indirectly were all charming and enjoyable. It was frequently funny, often heartwarming, and entirely enjoyable.