This book was so cute! I just adore Grace and Henry! This book was perfect for a holiday rom-com! It was sweet, swoony and funny! I laughed and giggled so much! Honestly read this any time of year for a feel good romance

Reviewed for NetGalley:. I will just start with how much I was in awe of this book.

I seen the cover, and assumed it would be a cute, holiday romance for release later this year. But it was so, so much more than that, and rather a intelligently written ode to overcoming grief, juxtaposed to the holiday season.

The story begins following a funeral and then fast forwards to nearly a year later, where Grace is coming to terms with being a single mother and business owner. When her mother’s book club friend sends over her grieving son, Henry, as a ploy to meet Grace, a friendship begins.

I absolutely adored the dialogue, the wit, humor, banter, and realistic portrayal of just a couple of people (and kids) meandering through the grief.

The connection to each holiday movie was also well done and not over the top, making each new chapter endearing.

I already cannot wait to read this again towards the end of year.

If you're craving a warm, feel-good story that pairs perfectly with fuzzy socks and hot cocoa, Grace & Henry's Holiday Movie Marathon delivers. This charming novel centers on a couple navigating love, life, and the magic of the holiday season—all while indulging in a festive movie marathon that mirrors their own ups and downs.

Grace and Henry’s dynamic is sweet, with just the right amount of heartache and humor that kept me invested. The duo's holiday film binge becomes more than just a tradition—it’s a lens through which they reconnect and rediscover what really matters.

The story is light but layered, making it an ideal pick for anyone who loves tales of love, second chances, and the comforting chaos of the holidays. Think Love Actually meets When Harry Met Sally, with a dash of Hallmark Channel cheer.

Grace & Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon was a beautifully written story about grief, healing, and unexpected second chances. The author captured the complexity of loss with such empathy and warmth, while also delivering a romance that felt both quietly powerful and deeply earned.
Grace and Henry were the kind of characters you want to root for—flawed, guarded, but trying their best to move forward. Their connection unfolded gently, with bittersweet moments that gave way to laughter, shared memories, and slow-growing affection. The holiday movie marathon premise added a layer of charm and nostalgia, and the scenes with Grace’s kids brought in extra warmth without feeling overly sentimental.
I loved how the story didn’t rush their healing or their romance—it gave space for grief, for awkwardness, and for the hope that maybe, just maybe, love can find you again when you least expect it. This was a perfect winter read, both comforting and emotionally rich. I laughed, I teared up, and I finished the book feeling like I’d just watched the perfect holiday movie myself.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I don't usually read romance novels, but the title of this one caught my eye, and I couldn't resist. I'm very glad I read it. Grace and Henry have both recently lost their spouses and are thrown together by their mothers. She has 2 kids, to whom he, childless, gets attached. A dog named Harry Styles is also involved. Christmas movies are use as hooks to tell the story, a clever trick that I loved. The writing is funny and touching. I should not be surprised that a man wrote this wonderful novel, but I am. I may even try another one of his books. Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine, and Dell for providing an ARC.

This book was adorable and had a nice story about grief and romance. I loved the movie references and chemistry between the two characters.

I love a good holiday book even better than a summer read! This book did not disappoint! If you’re a Christmas book reader, add to your tbr!

Actively trying to erase this book from my memory…….. SO I CAN READ IT AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS WINTER.

Such a fun holiday romcom style story. This is definitely going to be the holiday romance everybody is talking about this year! The use of holiday movies was so smart and made the story super unique. You’ll quickly fall in love with Grace and Henry as well as all the cute side characters! Loved it highly recommend!

Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon is adorable and heartwarming and sad (yes, I cried several times while reading). The journey of these two people grieving their late spouses and approaching the one-year mark since their deaths is just beautiful. I loved both of their perspectives, the very realistic way they seemed to process their losses, and the way their parents and other loved ones offered support and well-meaning romantic setups. Plus, the kids and the dog add a lot of humor and emotion. Thanks #netgalley for the ARC!

The new year has barely begun when Grace White and Henry Adler both lose their spouses. A year later, Henry sees an advertisement for a holiday movie marathon that he had done with his wife. He convinces Grace that they need to do this. What entails is a sadness, bittersweetness but ultimately a lot of healing, friendship and love. I loved this story even though parts of it were sad. Highly recommend!

I normally don’t read holiday books around this time of year—I like to stick to the season so I can really get into the holiday spirit. But when I got approved for this ARC, I had to sit down and read it right away. I fell in love with Grace and Henry’s chemistry from the start.

The side characters were just as fun to read, adding even more charm to the story. I thought it was super cute and clever that the author titled each chapter after a holiday movie. There was plenty of romance and humor throughout, and I found myself smiling often as I read.

I definitely recommend this one if you’re in the mood for a heartwarming, festive read—no matter the season!

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Henry and Grace were two characters that were easy to fall in love with. Grace's emotional distance was frustrating yet completely relatable. Henry was a quirky goofball experiencing the worst thing imaginable.

This book had me wanting to laugh from the quirky one-liners to wanting to cry from the emotional turmoil Henry and Grace were experiencing. The pacing of the book was perfect and the movie theme had me yearning for my own holiday movie marathon while not distracting from the overall plot.

Another winner from Matthew Norman! Being in the midst of grief myself, I didn't expect to love a book that focused on...grief. I started reading it without realizing the main characters were both widows, but by chapter 3 I had already cried, laughed, laugh-cried, and I think cry-laughed? This book was filled with the typical Matthew Norman characters - flawed, human, relatable, and catch you off guard snort laugh funny. The kind of funny that you sneaks up on you when you least expect it. I never thought I would use the phrase "a heartwarming tale about grief" but there you have it.
I loved this book! A holiday rom-com in book form, but not like the cheesy Hallmark ones you hate-watch...like the old school good holiday films that you watch over and over every year.

I adored all the holiday movie references and discussions in this story! It was so fun to read! The story is pretty heavy with a lot of sad content starting right at the beginning and carrying through the novel. Since it is a holiday story, there is a HEA and there is a good amount of humor throughout the novel, so I think this would appeal to holiday story readers who don't like the "Hallmark fluff" stories since it has quite a deeper and more emotional storyline for the entire novel. I tend to love those "fluff" stories during the holidays so no judgment from me either way! This one has a lot of movie nostalgia which should be a fun and enjoyable experience for readers!

Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

Grace and Henry are two people with nothing in common except for the one thing they do:

Their partners died.

It’s so rare to find a book that weaves in a love story in the midst of grief and even rarer still to find one that’s good. Matthew Norman was able to do both perfectly. I loved the relationship built between Grace and Henry, a real (awkward) friendship that makes the slightly cheesy ending feel perfectly at home. There’s a lot in here— about grief, and death, morbid humor, starting over again and different paths— but none that feel out of place. Life, and love, are complex and Norman does a great job in showing that with ease. The framing of using pop culture and holiday movies, while annoying in most other books, works like a charm here.

It might not be for everyone, particularly for those who like to have light, low stakes romance but if you want a story that packs more of a punch, I’d definitely recommend this one.

I can’t recommend this enough for anyone looking for a heartfelt, emotional read that isn’t just about romance but also about healing, moving forward, and finding unexpected joy again. It’s a perfect holiday read for anyone who loves a mix of sweetness, depth, and emotional vulnerability.

I adored this book - it was different from my usual reads, but it touches a lot on the different types of grief. Grace and Henry are navigating their lives after losing their spouses and stumble into their own type of friendship.

I loved watching Grace and Henry's different journeys through their grief and of course, I fell in love with Ian, Bella, and Harry Styles (wink). The dry humor and quirky bits were so fun. I would be lying if I said I got through the book from with a dry eye. My heart wrenched and was slowly put back together again by the wholesome moments that came throughout. I really enjoyed this book!

** Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine | Dell for the Advanced Copy for my honest review **

Thank you so much to Random House Publishing for the ARC!

Going into this book I wasn’t sure what to expect, the cover alone drew me in. The book overall was really enjoyable. You really find yourself rooting for the growth and wellbeing of Grace (and the kids) and Henry. The grief and growth these characters go through are relayed so well that it really puts you in the experience of their loss and growth by the end.

I will admit, as not a big holiday movie buff, the movie title bits confused me a bit in the beginning but as the novel went on, they made more sense.

I would definitely recommend this book to my friends to read and I look forward to reading more Matthew Norman books.