I didn't read the first book, and I must say: this does not stay alone. People looking for a short Christmas read should steer clear. I would recommend this to people who read and like the first book and no one else. This felt like deleted scenes from another book.

Lavery's imiation of mid-century literature is really good, but I'm not sure what else this offers beyond that. I'd be more likely to recommend one of the many actual masterpieces of queer-coded mid-century literature.

Joy to the world indeed. It's lovely to be able to visit the women of the Biedermayer again as they engage the holiday season against their demons, the bureaucracy of the city reaching out to improve lives of the aging women, and a little bit of holiday joy. Pick this up this fall.

I received a free copy of, Christmas at the Women's Hotel, by Daniel M. Lavery, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. There is a lot going on at The Biedermeier's Hotel in New York at Christmas time. This is a sweet short story.

I loved Women's Hotel for how sharply it captured a certain era and voice in women’s fiction, and this festive follow-up was just the right bite-sized treat. It gave me exactly what I wanted, one more cozy, chaotic visit with these characters at Christmas.

Readers who enjoyed the original "Women's Hotel" will also enjoy this short story, and those who struggled to stay engaged with the source material will likely experience the same issue here. It all depends on which one you are.

Christmas at the Women's Hotel is a gift for readers who loved the first book, with many of the characters making appearances. I loved Women's Hotel and found it cosy and enjoyable in the best kind of way, and I found this second turn delightful. The setting in New York gives it a fun, nostalgic feel, and it is the perfect comfort read with a little mystery thrown in. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

#ChristmasattheWomensHotel

Thanks to HarperVia and NetGalley for the ARC of this title.

I adored Women's Hotel last year for nailing the voice of a particular age of "women's fiction", and though I'm generally not a fan of this recent trend of releasing the book equivalent of a Holiday EP in the same world as its corresponding novel's LP, I was equally delighted to get just a little more time with this cast of characters around Christmas.

I devoured this in a single sitting, and it's exactly as charming as that needs to be, sketching out just enough holiday hijinks in this world to satisfy.

With all my cozy Christmas love: this novella is charm, wit, and heart wrapped up in tinsel and mystery. Daniel M. Lavery returns to the world of the Biedermeier with a story that feels like classic New York nostalgia and a found-family holiday movie rolled into one.

The characters are delightful—hustling through the holidays with joy, grit, and just enough chaos. From Katherine’s hope for reconnection to Lucianne’s “slightly illegal but well-organized” escort agency (😂), every storyline is laced with heart and holiday hijinks. And yes, there’s even a touch of jewel heist mystery to keep things sparkly.

It gave me that vintage Christmas movie meets literary comfort feeling I crave every December.
Highly recommend reading with twinkle lights on and cocoa in hand.
✨🎁🗽