Man, this hit me in the feels more than I was anticipating. Heartfelt, emotional, nostalgic… this book was all the things. I am someone who will read a Christmas book or watch a holiday movie any time of year so I happily jumped on this arc and it definitely did not disappoint! Two people brought together kind of forcibly (yay parents) while trying to grieve the losses of their respective partners find solace in each other and holiday films in a beautiful way 🩷 I adored how the chapters were titled based off of movies and the entire premise of this. Definitely recommending this to all of my romance reading, holiday loving book friends!

Grace ha perdido a su esposo recientemente y está criando sola a sus dos hijos. En un intento por darles un poco de alegría tras la tragedia, decide adoptar un perro y comenzar una nueva tradición navideña. Por su parte, Henry también está de duelo tras la inesperada muerte de su esposa en un accidente aéreo. Cuando sus madres los emparejan bajo el pretexto de arreglar un router, ambos descubren que tienen más en común de lo que esperaban.

Lo que empieza como una reunión incómoda se transforma en una amistad inesperada, construida entre malvaviscos tostados, cerveza IPA, películas navideñas y un perro llamado Harry Styles. La novela sigue sus vidas durante la temporada festiva, mientras navegan el duelo, el humor incómodo, y la posibilidad de abrir el corazón nuevamente.



Todo iba bien hasta que aparecieron Meredith y Lauren. Se me hizo injusto para Grace, primero porque tenía que ver a Henry salir con Meredith, justo cuando se supone que los dos empiezan a desarrollar sentimientos y le sumamos que no paso a más por Meredith y no porque Henry se diera cuenta que era un error. Luego Grace se entera de que su amado esposo le era infiel, y el autor intenta restarle importancia porque Tim amaba tanto a Grace como a Lauren.

Todo iba bien hasta que aparecieron Meredith y Lauren. Me pareció injusto para Grace.

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

5 stars. I loved this book and can't wait to buy it.
I don't know why (from the description) I thought it would be just another romance novel, but it was so much more real. It's poignant and sweet and so sad. I'm obsessed.

Oh how I loved this book!! I absolutely adored the characters, the cozy Christmas vibes, the love!! I loved the chapter titles. I loved the way the best Christmas movies were intertwined with the story. I could not have loved this book more. 100000/10 recommend!!

Grace’s husband died of cancer. Henry’s wife died in a plane crash about the same time. Their mothers scheme to bring the two together. Grace and Henry quickly discover they feel less alone when they’re together and use their holiday movie marathon to explore what their lives look like moving forward. Together. Sweet story that gave me all the feels. Can’t wait to read this one again.

I absolutely loved this book. I can't wait until I can read the next book by Matthew Norman. Five out of five stars from me and would be more if I could.

Yes! I did just read a holiday book in April and I don’t regret it! I really loved this book. The story really pulled at my heartstrings! The grief is palpable!

I quickly fell in love with Grace and Henry! Plus all of the sweet side characters really added to the story! Especially Harry Styles, Grace’s cute dog and her adorable kids, Ian and Bella!

I loved the use of holiday movies to tell the story! Each chapter was titled after a different holiday movie. The movies helped add a bit of fun and humor to an otherwise grief filled story.

If you enjoy holiday romances, you must read this book! You won’t be disappointed! It’s so good! I personally love a holiday story that takes me on an emotional rollercoaster!

⭐️ 5/5 | 🌶️ 1/5
First person POV, dual narrative: Grace & Henry
Linear timeline (brief flashbacks and reflective moments)
MF closed door romance
Setting: Baltimore, Maryland

This book is cozy, clever, emotional, and the perfect blend of holiday charm and real-life heartache.

Grace and Henry are both widowed, navigating life after loss, and their unexpected connection feels natural, awkward, tender, and deeply human. The romance isn’t spicy, but it’s rich with emotional intimacy and vulnerability. There are a few swoony, tender moments and some closed-door heat, but nothing graphic; it’s all about connection, chemistry, and those quiet little things that make a relationship feel real.

Even though it’s a cozy holiday story it’s also about how grief doesn’t mean life stops, and how it’s okay to let joy and love back in, even when it’s scary. It’s equal parts funny, touching, and heartwarming.

I enjoyed the pop culture theme and movie references, and the chapters being organized by movie title was fun! The holiday movie marathon acted as a central point that brings the characters together. The book weaves together past and present, with flashbacks and reflective moments that reveal Grace and Henry’s personal histories and the grief they’ve both experience.

Thank you Ballantine Books, Random House Publishing Group, and Dell Publishing for an electronic ARC of this book which was provided to me via NetGalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Book to be published on October 14, 2025.

I really enjoyed this one. I love that Grace and Henry bond over their shared grief by watching holiday movies. I loved the characters and the humor and the writing. This is going to be a great one for the holidays.

Crazy that we’re reading holiday books when it’s not even summer yet, but I finished a winner. Grace & Henry’s Holidah Movie Marathon was amazing!

Grace and Henry’s Holiday movie marathon was such an amazing book! In my opinion, this author wrote the perfect Holiday book! This is the best Holiday book that I have ever read. It is unique, engaging, had a clear thesis and was easy to read. It comes with emotions, some of my all time favorite holiday movies and two characters with great chemistry! This book is like a big warm hug! It starts off sad and heartbreaking, as the two characters that binge watch these holiday movies, both had previously lost their spouses. This book has a lot of grief in it, along with a lot of laughter and hopefulness! As Grace and Henry watch these holiday movies, a strong friendship and connection begins blossoming. As the story continues to develop, we see how this friendship starts to strengthen! I highly recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a great book to read anytime of the year! I give this book a high 5 out 5 stars rating!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Matthew Norman and Ballantine | Dell publishing for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is expected to be released on October 14, 2025!

I really enjoyed this slightly heartbreaking story that still has a happily ever after.

As a quick synopsis: Grace and Henry start a friendship around coping with similar grief - that of losing their spouse. Grace pulls Henry into her world as they both face their first holiday season without their loved one. And while she does it to help him, he ends up offering her and her kids just as much love and support back.

The story is intertwined with current time and flash backs (e.g., remembering small moments triggered by what’s occurring in the present time). It was a beautiful way to capture the uneven path of grief - how it can feel like two steps forward and one step back at any moment. And what I found most shocking while reading the book was that I could be crying then on the next page laugh at the banter and silliness. Norman did an amazing job intertwining levity with such a hard, sad topic.

My biggest issue with the story was actually brought up by Grace herself and never felt fully addressed (at least to me). Was the relationship that developed real or was it a ‘life raft’ helping four sad people be a little less sad? While this story did a better job than some portraying how Henry was healing independent of his relationship with Grace and her family, it still felt like his happiness was intertwined with them.

Overall, 4.5 rounded up. Thank you to Michael Normal, Dell, Ballantine, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.