This book was absolute unadulterated festive season perfection. Everything I ever want in a romance let alone one set at Christmas. I loved the characters, their story, the interwoven flashbacks of the journey to the best part- where they realise they love each other! Catherine Walsh immediately moves to the top of my list of authors to read more of. Holiday romance is an instant classic.

Perfectly titled - loved this little holiday romance. It was the perfect thing to read during the holiday season and wasn’t filled with contrivances and misconceptions like some other romcoms.

This one is super cute! It's a friends to lovers romance (which I usually do not enjoy so major props there) and it reads quickly.

I will say it slowed down a bit towards the end for me but I was still very invested.

If you like Sophie Kinsella or Emily Henry, you've got to give this one a try!! I’ll definitely be reading more from this author.

Molly and Andrew have been friends (and nothing more) for 10 years. Every year they spend 7 hours on a flight from Chicago to Dublin to see their families for Christmas, but this year a snowstorm means their flight is cancelled. Molly isn’t too fussed about Christmas but it’s a huge deal in Andrew’s family. So rather than do the sensible thing and spend Christmas together in Chicago, Molly vows to get Andrew home to his family with only a few days to go..

This reminded me of This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens, because we are following Molly and Andrew’s present day adventure to get home, whilst looking back occasionally at their previous ten years’ worth of flights together. It is the perfect friends-to-lovers romcom to cosy up with this Christmas, and make you feel like you’re spending Christmas in rural Ireland with the characters.

I loved Molly and Andrew as friends, and their developing relationship was just so sweet! I’ve always been a sucker for friends-to-lovers romance books, maybe because that’s how my relationship started 🥰

The romance wasn’t cheesy in any way, and wasn’t over the top. There were one or two mildly steamy scenes but nothing above PG13 level 😄 I loved that each of our love interests had their own stuff going on, including sibling rivalry, becoming an aunt, issues with alcoholism and job stresses! I think this book could’ve easily carried itself even if you removed the romance altogether, as it was so filled with action and Christmas spirit and I loved it!

This book will make you truly believe in the power of love, both platonic and romantic, and leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside because it’s so damn cute 🥰

Holiday Romance was a super fun and super festive read. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to finally see a festive romance where the man cares more about Christmas. It is always the other way round and this was very refreshing.

I’m a massive fan of the friends to lovers trope so I really enjoyed Holiday Romance. It was done very well here and I liked how it was built over ten years. The flashback scenes were some of my favourite parts of the book and seeing how they went from hardly knowing each other and Molly dropping the huge bomb that Andrew’s girlfriend is cheating on him, to celebrating the ten-year anniversary of their tradition was quite the ride. I love how much depth their relationship had and the developments came from a place of rich history and care.

Speaking of their relationship/friendship, the chemistry between Molly and Andrew was undeniable. I don’t know how it took her so long to realise how she actually feels about him.

The trip to get Andrew home was pure chaos but I enjoyed every minute of it, especially the ones spent in Paris.

I absolutely loved Molly’s twin sister. She was by far the funniest character in the entire book. It’s a shame she wasn’t in it for very long. The times you did spend with her though were some of the best bits of Holiday Romance.

My biggest issue with Holiday Romance was the conflict near the end. It really didn’t need it as let’s be honest the entire book was one huge conflict. The stress of Molly and Andrew trying to get home in time for Christmas was enough, a lover’s tiff was not needed. Molly blew it way out of proportion considering they weren’t even officially together. It felt forced and a bit too ‘oh we’re nearing the end, something bad needs to happen so the main characters can have a big romantic reunion’.

All in all, I did really enjoy Holiday Romance. The settings were fun, especially London at Christmas and there were some really great characters. If you are looking for a quick festive read then I’d definitely recommend Holiday Romance.

Planes, Trains, & Automobiles, but make it a “holiday romance!” If this sounds like your cup of tea, jump aboard Catherine Walsh’s new Christmas-themed novel aptly titled, Holiday Romance. In this absolutely charming holiday book, Molly and Andrew, friends by way of sharing the same flight home for Christmas for the past ten years, are determined to make it home to Ireland for the holidays no matter what after a blizzard grounds their flight. Even it means taking planes, trains, automobiles, and even a ferry to get there!

For ten years, Molly and Andrew have boarded to same Christmas flight from Chicago to Ireland, passing the seven hour trip together learning more about each other and catching up on their lives. What was never discussed were feelings they deny they have for each other, but these are bound to come out after this year’s flight is grounded due to a freak snow storm. What better way to start a relationship than dashing through the snow … and across the ocean to try to make it home in time for Christmas? The only question is, will Molly and Andrew admit that there’s a thing between them or will they stay strictly friends?

Planes, Trains, & Automobiles is one of my favorite holiday movies, so I was excited to read a book in a similar vein this Christmas season. Having never heard of Catherine Walsh, I can’t believe I actually hesitated before picking up this book because it has been my favorite Christmas novel I have read so far this year! Most everything about this novel works, from the witty, realistic dialogue and interesting characters; to the relatable stress of juggling the holidays, vacation, and a career; to the numerous settings this book takes us. I loved it all!

Holiday Romance jumps back and forth in time, telling the story of this year’s Christmas, while also traveling back to Molly and Andrew’s previous flights together, showing how their relationship and feelings for each other grew over time. Walsh keeps this novel fast-paced, building on the anticipation of making it home for the holidays, all the while never letting the storyline grow stale or boring. Her characters are funny, clever, and memorable, and this book was just a delight to read.

However, there were a couple of things that didn’t work for me. All throughout the book, it is said that Christmas is a big deal for Andrew’s family and it is hinted at that they have a super festive holiday affair. No spoilers, but I was disappointed that Christmas with the Fitzpatrick’s was actually quite ordinary and understated. Also, the abrupt conflict and resolution at the end of the book felt a bit trope-ish. I am tired of romance authors throwing in a conflict and writing the characters to behave completely irrationally, not listening to each other at all and making assumptions about the other’s motives.

In all, Holiday Romance is a well-written, fun little read that I highly recommend!

First off I want to thank @netgalley & @bookouture for my free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute Holiday read, perfect to get you in the mood for the season. I enjoyed the story as a whole, but somethings were missing for me.

I really enjoyed the characters and the banter throughout the book. Unfortunately as the story progressed I felt detached from the characters, I didn't care if they ended up together or not in the end. I did not fully feel the romance between them, it didn't feel real to me, it felt forced. The concept was a good one, but it lacked in execution.

Although this was not my favorite holiday romance, it was still a good entertaining read.

If you want a cute holiday romance you should definitely check this one out.

Oh how I loved this book!!

The characters…outstanding
The dialogue…friggen funny as hell
The storyline…creative and adorable
The setting…give me London and Ireland any day of the week
The trope…friends to lovers…swoon.

Any time I find myself wanting to jump into a book to hang out with the characters, the author has done a fabulous job. It happens every once in a while and when it does, I just can’t get enough of them.

I haven’t looked into it yet but I’m so hoping Molly’s twin, Zoe, gets a book one day. Even though she’s sworn to be single forever, I would still just love a novel that centers around her life as a single mom, because she is so damn hilarious. Wouldn’t mind a book about Andrew’s brother either 😁 I’m basically invested in both sides of the family and want to see them repeatedly over the years. Catherine, can you send me their addresses so I can visit? It would be much appreciated.

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @bookouture for the arc in exchange for my honest review 💜

The cutest Holiday Romcom! I absolutely adored this book. I loved the story line. I thought it was a fun take on the real life struggles people have while traveling home. Also, I liked the dual time line. It really helped develop the story and the relationship between the two main characters. Speaking of characters, this book is full of colorful ones and I enjoyed every single one. The two main characters are well developed and fun to read about. I loved how their friendship developed and turned into a romance. You could literally feel the love between them, even in the beginning. And the supporting characters are all great too. Lastly, I loved how you travel all over the world in this one and end in Ireland.
There’s nothing I didn’t love about this book! A holiday romcom I would recommend to all!

I was in the mood for a holiday romance and this was absolutely
PERFECT!

A wonderfully executed friends to lovers trope with both endearing moments and laugh out loud dialogue. It was just so cute and enjoyable!

This book is delightful and I will definitely recommend to anyone looking for a fun, holiday romance. I can’t wait to read more by the author.

THIS IS THE BEST HOLIDAY SEASON BOOK I HAVE READ IN SO LONG! I legit could not put this book down, and it was truly everything I wanted people we meet on vacation to be and so much more. This has the friends to lovers trope that so many enjoy, the banter between these main characters just shows the years and years of chemistry they have, and it truly makes you want to keep reading. After just a few chapters you will absolutely fall in love with these characters and you know that there is no way that this book can end without them being together. You need to add this to your Holiday reading list ASAP!

The true way to my heart is grumpy sunshine and good banter, and this book had both. I love Andrew. I am usually underwhelmed by friends to lovers, but this one was perfect. It was the perfect amount of Christmas without feeling forced. Mostly sweet book with a little bit of spice. I was dreading a lengthy period of unnecessary miscommunication that would decrease my love of this book, and Walsh avoided that. I love Walsh’s books, but this is easily my favorite so far.

Holiday Romance is quite possibly one of the best Christmas rom-coms I've read! The characters are written perfectly (especially Andrew, who is hilarious) and the story is fun and entertaining. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down! I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun holiday rom-com, or anyone who enjoys friends to lovers. I look forward to reading Walsh's other book!

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for access to this arc in exchange for an honest review!

This traveling holiday romance is so fun and cute! For fans of Emily Henry and Christmas movies,

I loved reading the friends to lovers romance between Molly and Andrew. Their banter was hilarious and their chemistry undeniable. I also enjoyed that she is kind of a Grinch and that Andrew is the one who is really into all the holiday stuff.

The story manages to be extremely fasy-paced and super entertaining due to all their flights/trains/boats shenanigans, but also has a lot of heart. There were some good underlying themes about career and family and I loved that a light-hearted story like this still managed to pack an emotional punch.

The steamy scenes were heart-fluttery even though they were fade-to-black. I did enjoy that this book kind of toed the line between a sweet story and some steam.

What really sold this book for me (apart from the cracking banter between our two leads) were all the hilarious, weird, quirky and unique side characters. I could see all of them before my inner eye and felt at times like I was watching a movie, not reading a book - that's how engrossed I was in the scenes.

I personally could also really connect to the story of going home for Christmas with a friend that becomes more because that is part of my own love story with my husband.

5 totally well-deserved stars for this holiday romance. This was a favorite book of the year for me for sure and I highly recommend it.

(Thank you to NetGalley, Catherine Walsh and Bookouture for providing me with an eARC for this book in exchange for my honest feedback. All opinions in this review are my own.)

I’ve held onto this book for the holiday season, and it was perfect to read while snuggled under a warm blanket. This festive novel turned out to be everything I wanted in a holiday romance, with likable characters, strong chemistry, a few laughs, and a quick-moving light plot.

This friends-to-lovers trope takes place over 10 years of holiday travel. I enjoyed the quick flashbacks to their past trips and seeing it all come together as they grew closer.

A fast, easy read for the Christmas season that I highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for providing access to a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Molly and Andrew have been Christmas travel buddies for years. What happens when this years’ trip doesn’t go as planned?

Molly and Andrew have a great story and were just so likable. It was fun following along as they started seeing each other in a different way. I really enjoyed it!

Notes: there was a little language sprinkled throughout and one quick open-door scene that I don’t personally prefer.

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was so cute! I have read The Rebound by Catherine Walsh, so when I saw she was writing a romance novel.. i needed to read it. This is a great friends to lovers story that gives you all those warm and fuzzy feelings you want for a romcom, but also a holiday romance book too! Catherine really did a great job with this book. You fall in love with the characters right away. I really enjoyed how she did the flashbacks of their flights together throughout the story too. This book delivered everything you want in a holiday romance book!! Cant wait to recommend to friends.

I’ve just finished reading this festive treat.

I chose this book because I liked the premise of the two characters meeting each year on a plane.

While the ultimate conclusion is the one everyone wants for a romance novel, I thought it was a bit different.

I loved both central characters and was keen to get together. I did feel however that the end dragged a little bit but overall enjoyed it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a wonderful holiday romance - the title is so fitting! Catherine Walsh is quickly becoming one of my favorite romance authors. This story was so beautifully crafted and had me hanging onto every page.

The premise was cute - friends meeting every Christmas for the last ten years in the airport on their way home to Ireland. This Christmas in particular holds some extra drama as a winter storm prevents the two from heading home on their original flight. The book goes through the drama - and boy was I feeling second hand anxiety - as Molly and Andrew catch flights, trains and ferrys to get home in time for Christmas. Sprinkled through the novel are nods to their past trips, and it was fun seeing the growth between the two characters.

All in all, a lovely holiday read filled with emotion and relatability. And again - I just love Walsh's writing! It is so immersive and you immediately get pulled into the story.

𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 was everything I want in a holiday romance! It was light and fun. The characters were honest with each other, their chemistry was off-the-charts, and their actions were relatable.

The friends-to-lovers trope has been growing on me, especially when done right. The story is told through their yearly trips from Chicago to Dublin for the holidays, where Molly and Andrew catch up on each other's lives. Ten years later, their flight is cancelled due to a storm and they go out of their way to make it back.

My only complaint was the last minute drama that seemed a bit disconnected with the rest of the book. Without that, it would have been 5 stars. If only read one holiday romance a year, make sure it is this one! You won't regret it.

READ 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 IF YOU:
• enjoy Sophie Kinsella and Christina Lauren
• hate traveling during the holidays
• love friends-to-lovers romances

Thanks to @netgalley and @bookouture for this advanced copy!