This book was beautiful 🥹 The emotions I went through reading this were intense. From confusion, anger, heartbreak and joy. This truly was a perfect holiday (in this case Christmas is July) read. Amariah and Jacob's story was rooted in love and heartache. And you felt all of it with every page.

Thank you Netgalley and Black Odyssey Media for this advance readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Aries Skye and Black Odyssey Media for allowing me to ARC read ‘Love Me Down to Christmas.’

First: This book touches on some themes that could be taken as ‘triggering,’ so please read the content warnings for this book prior to reading if you think you’ll be affected.

This was the most heart-warming, beautifully written festive read. Such care has been taken to develop these characters and make them three-dimensional, and their development throughout the story was done so well.
Amariah and Jacob had the most exquisite chemistry, and I loved the development of their relationship.

The festive themes of this story made me feel so cozy, and I so wish I could jump right in and be a part of this gorgeous small town.

The story flowed well, I was never bored whilst reading, and the dual POV really worked well for these two characters.

For those wanting to know the spice level, it’s very minimal. There’s one steamy scene, but that’s about it. And it worked well for this kind of story, in my opinion.

This is going to be a great winter-y/ festive read that will no doubt warm your heart, as it did mine!

Aries Skye delivers a heartfelt holiday romance in *Love Me Down to Christmas*, a story that beautifully blends nostalgia, healing, and the enduring power of love. Set against the warmth and wonder of the Christmas season, this friends-to-lovers romance captures the emotions of returning home, confronting the past, and discovering that love sometimes waits patiently for the right moment. The festive atmosphere enhances every heartfelt interaction, making the story feel cozy, hopeful, and emotionally rich.

One of the novel's greatest strengths is its emotionally authentic characters. Their chemistry develops naturally through meaningful conversations, shared memories, and quiet moments rather than relying solely on grand romantic gestures. Aries Skye explores themes of forgiveness, family, vulnerability, and second chances with warmth and sincerity, creating a romance that feels both believable and deeply satisfying. Readers who enjoy Black love stories, small-town charm, and emotionally driven romances will find plenty to appreciate.

The title, *Love Me Down to Christmas*, carries special significance throughout the novel. It reflects more than the holiday season—it symbolizes a love expressed through consistent care, intentional acts of kindness, and showing up when it matters most. Rather than focusing on a single magical Christmas moment, the title represents a journey of being fully seen, cherished, and loved through every step leading to the holiday. It perfectly captures the novel's message that genuine love is demonstrated through thoughtful actions and unwavering devotion.

Overall, *Love Me Down to Christmas* is a charming, emotionally engaging holiday romance that reminds readers that some hearts are worth waiting for. Filled with warmth, hope, and tender moments, it is an excellent choice for anyone looking to curl up with a feel-good Christmas romance that celebrates love, family, and the beauty of second chances

I love this book and I'm so glad I read it. Aries took her time telling this story. I felt like I was there. There were so many themes this book touched on but my favorite is communication is key! This may be a Christmas book but you can truly read it anytime of year and all get the cozy vibes. Highly recommend.

Thank you, NetGalley, Aries Skye, and Black Odyssey Publishing for the Advance Reader's Copy. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

I am no stranger to Aries Skye’s work, but this is my first time reading her Christmas literary offering. She wrote a beautiful masterpiece that will stay in my head for a good while.

The book is engaging and carefully crafted for us holiday readers. I enjoyed this book immensely. Here's why.

The storyline and characters immediately hooked me, leaving me begging for more. The cadence of the storyline flowed smoothly, without interrupting my reading pace.

I was told that the novel would be “Hallmark-ish with spice". To me, it didn't seem that way. I appreciated it, honestly, because I was too wrapped up in Amariah and Jacob’s second-chance love story. The way it was written had this grump smiling from ear to ear.

I highly recommend everyone get and read this holiday-themed novel. There is hope and everlasting love written in those pages. Outstanding storytelling!

The story of Amariah and Jacob is one butil on childhood best friendship that dissolved on a misundertanding. When life brought them back together in adulhood, they are forced to face the unresolved. This slow burn Christmas story gives everything that a classic tale should. There is angst, love, drama, and understanding. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end.

🎄It’s not Christmas yet, but it’s about time to start planning for this upcoming holiday season.

📖 Love Me Down to Christmas releases September 29th.

✨This was a whimsical, quick read. Using Christmas and small town family dynamics as the backdrop for second chance romance, Aries Skye wrapped these two main characters in a blanket of love, vulnerability, and holiday cheer.

Here are some of my favorite quotes:
💬“No one cares how smart you are if they can’t stand you”
💬“And remember, breathe in positivity…Breathe out bullshitivity”
💬“Showing up for someone means being there for them how they need you….”

🙏🏿Thank you Black Odyssey Media for proving me an ARC to enjoy!

Thank you, NetGalley, Aries Skye, and Black Odyssey Publishing for the Advance Reader's Copy. These are my opinions .

Love me Down to Christmas captured you from the first page. Young love, and then tragedy struck.

Jacob. Definitely a book bae. I appreciate his forgiveness towards Amariah. Because I would have NOT.

Amariah was all over the place, a bad communicator, anxious, controlling, but a stint in her small town was exactly what her nervousness system and heart needed.

This is the type of second chance romance I can handle. I feel like sooo many stories can come from this novel. I look forward to what’s next from this author.

A sweet, cozy second-chance romance that feels like a warm cup of cocoa at Christmas. 🎄❤️ I loved the nostalgia, small-town charm, and Jacob’s determination to win Amariah back. The Christmas countdown was such a cute touch, and the story delivers plenty of heart, hope, and holiday magic. ✨

I absolutely loved how Amariah and Jacob were not only able to reunite but to work through their past to prepare for their future. I also loved the Luke family and Jacob’s mother dynamic. They were so accepting of Amariah and Jacob and spoke life into them despite them working through their relationship. This book pulled at my heart strings and was such a cozy read. Highly recommend.

This was such a sweet romance. A summertime Christmas read for me at a time where I needed the joy of Christmas the most. A second chance at love that only the spirit of Christmas can bring together.

This book makes you want to root for the main characters, even though you want to shake some sense into them at times.

Loved all of the characters in the book and it had the perfect reading pace.

Thank you to Metgalley for the advanced copy
Takeaway: A small‑town, second‑chance holiday romance that hits like hot cocoa with a shot of grown‑folk feelings.

Listen… I did not expect to be knee‑deep in a Christmas romance in August, but here we are and honestly, I’m not mad about it. Amariah and Jacob dragged me straight into their second‑chance mess, and I happily stayed for every slow‑burn, heart‑tugging moment.

Their childhood best‑friendship fell apart over one big misunderstanding, and when life throws them back together as adults, all that unresolved tension starts simmering again. And yes, it’s the kind of slow burn that makes you want to shake them and hug them at the same time.

The vibes? Angst, love, drama, understanding the full holiday platter. I loved watching them not just reunite, but actually work through their stuff like two people who want a real future, not just a cute moment under the mistletoe.

The Luke family and Jacob’s mom? Pure warmth. They were so accepting, so encouraging, and honestly gave the story that extra cozy layer that makes you want to curl up and stay awhile.

And let’s talk about the faith threads woven through the story soft, meaningful, and never preachy. It gave the book that Hallmark‑ish glow… but with a twist that makes it feel more grounded and grown.

By the end, this book had fully snatched my heart. Cozy, emotional, and perfect for holiday season even if you’re reading it in the middle of summer like me. Highly recommend.

I started Love Me Down to Christmas at 10 PM, and here I am at 3:45 AM because apparently sleep was optional after chapter one! 😂 And after this book let it be known the countdown to Christmas officially on!

As a lover of Christmas, this book was everything. It gave me Hallmark vibes, but with the spice&culture I've always needed.

What really made this story stand out was the way grief, second chances, family legacy, and love deferred were woven throughout the story. There was so much heart beneath the Christmas magic, and I loved watching these themes come together.

This book gave me cozy holiday vibes, romance, family, emotion, and just enough spice to keep things interesting. If you love Christmas romances with heart, culture, and a little heat, add this one to your holiday TBR! 🎄📚❤️🔥

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a new author for me. I truly enjoyed so much about this book. I love a good romance although I prefer it a little less messy. This romance had so much going for it. Yes, it was romantic, but it was also about family, friendship, and community. This small town second chance romance was about Jacob and Amariah, best friends since childhood, who let misunderstandings and a lack of communication keep them apart for eighteen years. Amariah’s father’s failing health brought her back to town and into Jacob’s life again. Their time together quickly brought back old feelings that neither had ever expressed. After finally talking over past hurts and misunderstandings, they began to find their way to a new beginning until the past came back with a vengeance. Through all the hurt and missteps, the love they had remained. Jacob was a hero with the time and effort. He was steadfast even in his anger. He loved her and her family hard. Initially, he was functioning through hurt and insecurities, but it was always came back to his love for Amariah. It was constant even though he never told her. Amariah cared for Jacob too, but she wasn’t as ready and willing to jump in fully for quite a while.

The friendships that they all had from childhood were endearing and entertaining. The banter in the deep conversations were funny and enlightening. The older generation and their conversations were even funnier. The communities sticking together and supporting one another was heartening. The support through grief and the loss of parents was felt and appreciated. This book gave me all the feels of all kinds of black love. There was a bit of messiness and gossip that added to the entertainment. These characters were all people that you could root for and pray for their happy ending. I know this was a holiday romance, but it just felt like so much more with a little Christmas holiday fun on the side. I almost didn’t want it to be over so soon.

OMG, if you're looking for a cute, cozy, low-drama, heartbreaking Hallmark-vibes second-chance romance, I highly recommend Love Me Down to Christmas by Aries Skye.

I think this might be my favorite Christmas story I've read so far this year. It gave me all the cozy vibes I look for in a holiday romance. The emotional moments hit just right, the romance was sweet, and the whole story felt like curling up under a blanket with a cup of hot cocoa on a snowy day.

If you love:
✨ Second-chance romance
✨ Small-town holiday vibes
✨ Low drama romance
✨ Heartfelt emotional moments
✨ Cozy Hallmark-style stories

Then you definitely need to add this one to your holiday TBR.

⭐️ Highly recommend reading this book! ⭐️

Gifts of Love and Family

This was my first read by Aries Skye. I will be diving into her back catalog.

Thank you, Aries Skye, NetGalley, and Black Odyssey Publishing for this impressive ARC of Love Me Down to Christmas.

A second-chance romance that wasn't easy, with obstacles both tangible and intangible popping up from the moment Amariah Luke returns to her hometown of Skye Ridge. The friendships between Jacob Gold, Amariah, and their high school friends gave me chills. Secondary characters played a very pivotal role. The two mothers had me in a chokehold every time they spoke.

ARC received from Black Odyssey Media via NetGalley. Thank you for this wonderful experience. There is nothing like the magical experience of the Christmas season. And the best part is getting to share it with the people you love the most. But what happens when 18 years separate you from the one person you called your best friend? This is what happens to Amariah and Jacob. After being out of each others lives, Amariah rushes back home to Skye Ridge after her dad is hospitalized with a worsening medical condition. As Amariah settles in to help care for her dad, she volunteers to keep things afloat at her father’s hardware store. And in comes Jacob who manages that store. Amariah and Jacob come face to face with each other having to not only work together but resolve the heartbreak of their past.

This book is a second chance holiday romance that brings back the nostalgic feelings of watching holiday Hallmark movies. Not only that but be prepared to be transported into small town Christmas music and celebrations and soon you’ll be outside getting ready for Christmas too. Lol. I loved everything about this book. Call me a romantic at heart. Thank you Aries Skye for giving us this novel that also makes sure to put God and faith in the center of it all without being overbearing. I would read this book again and again. Giving it 5/5 stars ⭐️

#lovemedowntochristmas #ariesskye #blackromance

This was a really good and cozy book that immediately put me in the Christmas feels! I can always go for a good second chance romance!

What a beautiful holiday frenemies to lovers story where the love is intentional, raw and vulnerable.

Reading this book gave me all the feels that a true Hallmark movie does during the Christmas season but in a Black Hawt Hallmark kind of way that I didn’t want to end.

Starting off with the prologue flashing back to the past and setting the foundation for Amariah and Jacob’s young love. The fact that they’ve known each other since they were seven years old puts everything into perspective as the story progresses. As teenagers, Jacob is Amariah’s best friend, her person, her safe place. Think Love & Basketball but the football version, where Jacob is contemplating which university to attend, which is essentially choosing either Amariah “Mari Mar”or his dream of being in the NFL.

This book pulled at my heart strings early on, you could feel how much they wanted to be together from the beginning and to know they had to go their separate ways made my heartbreak for them.

The cliffhanger at the end of the prologue eighteen years prior to when the story actually takes place had me locked in from beginning to end!

I appreciated how Amariah was surrounded by strong black women! Scottie proved to be an amazing supportive loyal friend and mentor, always dropping the best catch phrases like “Breathe in positivity, breathe out bullshitivity” and “To Black girl magic and boss bitch baddies.” And Mama Luke dropping gems left and right throughout this entire book such as “Friendship isn’t a substitute for a relationship; it’s a condition of one.”

Amariah has to navigate caring for her sick father, saving his store, maintain her career status all while holding it together. This had me stressed and holding my breath for her because it’s all too relatable. We get to experience every emotion with her while she navigates every challenge life throws her way along with healing her 18 year old self which makes for an emotionally fulfilling story.

After reading about what actually transpired between Jacob and Amariah eighteen years ago, makes me empathize with both of them. They both had valid reasons to keep their distance based on their personal point of view. But the way these had me pulling my hair out because even after being nudged by multiple family members and friends they Jacob continued avoid communicating with each other time and time again. I wanted to shake some sense into both of them. Then just when Amariah finally stops “pussyfooting” and approaches Jacob to tell him everything from her perspective he barely lets her!

Then that plot twist had me completely gagged and heartbroken and I don’t blame Jacob for calling that man every name but Aaron. Team Jacob.

As a daddy’s girl, Mr. Luke’s letter had me in tears and feeling for Amariah.

I went through so many emotions reading this book, from crying to laughing then crying again and finally feeling the urge to get a Christmas tree and decorate it in September, spiked hot cocoa and all! In the end I love the way Jacob “JuJu” loved Amariah down all the way to Christmas all gas, no brakes!