Okay, this book is basically a Hallmark movie but with more heart, a little more edge, and the kind of small-town charm that makes you wanna bake cookies and cry (in a good way).

The choir vibes? Immaculate. The characters? Full of warmth, messiness, and the type of personal growth arcs we love during the holidays. I was rooting for every awkward rehearsal, every flubbed note, and every redemption arc. It had just the right sprinkle of romance, a dash of chaos, and so many feel-good moments I could practically smell the pine and peppermint.

It’s a little predictable (as most holiday reads are), but honestly? That’s part of the charm. The pacing worked, the writing was heartfelt, and the festive setting pulled me in from the start.

✨ ARC Review – Huge thanks to the publisher, author Elizabeth Hrib, and NetGalley for the advanced copy! ✨

3.25 out of 5. I am divided on this book. On the one hand, its adorable, and as a choir singer the whole concept of a retirement home choir competing was cute and adorable. There was also some sweet second chance romance that always works for the vibes. My main issue with this is, and it happens with a lot of the Christmas movies/books is that can happiness only happen if you leave your high powered super successful career and follow the man in whatever crazy situation/small town? spoiler alert: I mean I get it but really could there have been a compromise. Did the absolutely promising singer only need to be a Choir director for a retirement home? Could she do a concert ever so often in NY? i mean they are driving distance. Funny thing, I thought I had heard every single Christmas Carol ever but I had never heard o Grandma got run over by a Reindeer. And to make it even weirder, its the second book in this recap that features it as it also appears in a Ferry Christmas.

Set in fictional Elm Springs, Charlie helps her Gram move into Glendale Retirement Village and runs into her ex Julian. They spent one hot summer together almost a decade prior, before both returning to college. He now works as the activity director and is working to expand their music program. Who best to help with this but Charlie, professional soprano? As they work to put together a choir for an all-town Christmas Eve choir competition, old feelings resurface, clashing with their current realities. Can they find a way to be together? Will the colorful cast of senior citizens take home the win?

This is the second book I've read from Afterglow Books, and I'm enjoying this imprint! This was a fun, quick, and spicy read. I think it would be perfect during a busy December.

Read this romance for:
🎄 Second Chances
🎄 Tight knit community
🎄 Holiday season
🎄 Delightful residents!
🎄 Grief and loss (including loss of family member before book starts)

Open door / spicy!

4 / 5 stars

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC!

Charlie regresa a su ciudad natal para ayudar a su abuela Doris a mudarse a un hogar de retiro, una tarea que revive recuerdos dolorosos del pasado, incluido el fallecimiento de su hermano Tom. Mientras lidia con la nostalgia y el duelo, Charlie se reencuentra inesperadamente con Julian Guerrero, un antiguo amor de verano que ahora trabaja como director de actividades en el mismo lugar donde vive su abuela. Aunque al principio ambos pretenden que el pasado no significó mucho, las chispas no tardan en encenderse de nuevo. Con la presión de Doris y la cercanía navideña, Charlie termina aceptando dirigir un improvisado programa de música en la residencia. Entre canciones, recuerdos y segundas oportunidades, Charlie deberá decidir si está lista para dejar de huir de su dolor… y dejar entrar nuevamente la música (y el amor) en su vida.



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A pesar de que al final me desespero Charlie, disfrute de la historia y me gusto el final.

Me gusto como al final ambos lograron superar sus demonios y pudieron hacer lo que les gustaba.


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

What a cute Christmas novel! All the senior residents definitely made for one hysterical story! LOVE!

Amazing book loved the characters and plot. I couldn't stop reading I stayed up all night. I loved the book so much thank you for the arc.

Really charming Christmas story featuring second chances, meddling grandmas and the sweetest choir ever. After losing he brother Tom, Charlie has a hard time falling back into her career of performing and singing, since it reminds her of her brother. This story really showcased the emotional rollercoaster of losing a loved one and rekindling your old passions, even rekindling lost love. Speaking of which, Julian was such a sweetheart and I really felt his pain of being left behind. But it wasn’t all sad! There were a lot of moments that were romantic, funny and I can see how this was marketed towards fans of Pitch Perfect. Not only were the retirement residents a hoot, but the romance felt believable and dreamy, especially with the Christmas setting.

I knew this was going to be cute and fun.

I thought the setting was different. It provided a lot of meddling and Christmas shenanigans. This was funny too. Think Pitch Perfect but instead of college girls its senior citizens. I thought the senior residents were hilarious and definitely made this book laugh-out-loud funny.

The romance between Charlie and Julian is sweet. It's a bit of a second chance and forced proximity/workplace. They had good chemistry and I thought they were cute. Plus Julian is just a sweetheart so how could you not fall for him?

A super cute and funny holiday read!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC.

This was so fun! I love meddling old people and second chance romances and Christmas shenanigans.

The miscommunication about their past romance was a bit annoying, but we got over it.

Charlie's grandma was definitely my favorite character.

Julian was such a cinnamon roll.