Book Description:
It’s the most wonderful time of the year–for everyone except Starr Lewis.
As if going home for the holidays jobless and single wasn’t bad enough, she’s dragged into a holiday season full of activities leading up to her sister’s uber-romantic Christmas Eve wedding–to Starr’s ex-boyfriend. But when her brother’s best friend, Waylon Emmerson, attends their family Thanksgiving, she starts to wonder if maybe coming home for Christmas isn’t so bad after all.
As Starr finds the perfect distraction in helping Waylon make over his late mother’s Christmas shop, the most wonderful time of the year works its magic and the spark between them grows. But with the holidays fast approaching, Starr must decide what she wants out of life after the gifts are unwrapped and the ornaments are put away–to go back to New York City or to open her heart to a love that will last beyond Christmas Day?
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading You Make It Feel Like Christmas, set in Washington DC. Starr is the youngest of five siblings and she feels like a failure. Her NYC job was made redundant, and she returns home to DC for Thanksgiving. She plans to stay with her parents until Christmas, and find a NYC job in the New Year. Starr’s bridezilla older sister is getting married at Christmas to Starr’s ex-boyfriend, which is beyond awkward and an emotionally painful situation.
Starr is dreading all the wedding preparation drama, and she is happy to reconnect with Waylon, her brother’s best friend. He’s alone for the holiday season and appreciates being invited to spend time with Starr’s family. Waylon is drawn to Starr and he empathizes with her messy family wedding situation.
A lovely Christmas romance unfolds amid the family drama that kept me turning the page. I appreciated the satisfying story ending. I recommend You Make It Feel Like Christmas to contemporary romance readers who like heartwarming Christmas romances with the brother’s best friend trope and a relevant faith element in the story.
Many thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.
