The perfect book doesn’t exi ……. YES! Yes it does in the perfect Christmas Romcom!
Holiday Romance by Catherine Walsh. It was hilarious, well-written, and such an overall feel good book. The dialogue and banter was just top notch. There’s believable characters, and just the right amount of Christmas without overdoing it.
Bottomline, read the book. Just do it. Read. This. Book.
Many many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the exceptional advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. (And that review is to read this book!)

This is the third book I have read of Catherine Walsh. While I enjoyed her two previous book, I am having mixed feelings about this book.

Molly and Andrew are trying to get home Ireland for Christmas but a snowstorm in Chicago prevents them from going home. So in a dramatic events that would take them around just in time to reach home for Christmas, the universe has different ideas and the two starts falling in love.

The good things about this book is, there were some funny parts in the story that made me laugh out loud. However, this book sounds a bit like Four Christmases except the difference is the two are trying to reach to their families. I felt like I was watching some kind of Hallmark romance movie while reading this book and felt a bit unrealistic in some parts. Nevertheless, for ones who love a good Christmas romance novel that mirrors a Hallmark movie, then this book is one for you. Worth 3.5 stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

I cannot say enough good things about this book-it was utterly wonderful and made my holiday reading it!
Molly and Andrew know each other through mutual friends but end up sitting next to each other on a flight home to Ireland at Christmas. On the 10th anniversary of this annual tradition, they find themselves stuck at the airport after a huge storm grounds all the flights home.
Molly is pulling out all the stops to try and get them home for Christmas but when she slows down long enough to examine why she cares so much about making Andrew happy, it makes her unsettled and she starts to question everything she thought she knew about their friendship. Could there be more to this arrangement than they both bargained for?

I’d like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture, and Catherine Walsh for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! This is a really fun book that focuses on holiday cheer and a friends-to-lovers romance. I really enjoyed the first 50% of the book and was really invested in what happened in the past to make Molly and Andrew like they are now, but I sadly stopped caring as much after that. I’m not sure exactly why, but it seemed a bit too perfect in a way. The characters felt more shallow and the storyline seemed to only fit their romance. However, some people may love this! I normally LOVE romance novels but something about this one wasn’t exactly my cup of tea. However, it is a good book! I still recommend it, especially for Christmas time.

THIS BOOK WAS SO CUTE!! I know it's only September, but this read made me so excited for Christmas❣️

It's a perfectly paced story packed with everything that make for a good holiday read; the friends to lovers trope, loud and quirky families, holiday stress and ugly Christmas sweaters. The characters are absolutely perfect and it was just a perfect Christmas themed rom-com.

The structure of the story reminded me a bit of Emily Henry's "People We Meet on Vacation", so if you'd consider that one of your top summer reads you've now found your perfect winter read ❄️

I wouldn't say this is one of my absolute favourite books, but I still loved it and definitely recommend it!

I adored this book!! I feel in love with Molly and Andrew's characters and I am hoping a Hallmark movie is next for this couple. :) Such a cute holiday book, I can't wait to read more from Catherine.

Another great book by Catherine Walsh! I fully believe that Walsh is one of the greatest romance writers out there. Her characters are so easy to fall in love with and their romance arc is so believable it could be true. Holiday Romance is the perfect Holiday Romance for the winter, and I will definitely be recommending this one to friends.

Thanks to NetGalley UK and Bookouture for sending me this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Perfect for fans of "You and me on vacation", but Christmassy 🎅🏼

Holiday Romance reminded me of You and me on vacation by Emily Henry, but the author made it unique with the Christmas setting and the flight situation. The book follows the story of Molly and Andrew, two Irish ex-pats living in Chicago, and their annual Christmas flight back home. The story has two timelines – the present, in which we see the flight being cancelled during a snowstorm, and the past- when it shows every flight they caught in the past 10 years. The past timeline shows how their friendship grew and matured throughout the years and how they made the whole experience of travelling together special. While Andrew loves Christmas, Molly is very sceptical about it. They are very opposite in personality, but after so many years of friendships, it is possible to see one’s traits in the other.
I love Christmas stories; something about this time of the year made me feel very warm-hearted with Christmassy romance stories. Molly and Andrew’s friendship was so memorable, so dear to me. I was swooning with every kiss, every touch, every hug. Molly’s overthinking was also so relatable, and it is something I love in friends-to-lovers stories, the fear of losing someone special if things go wrong. Despite being summer when I read this book, I felt like I was at the end of December, surrounded by winter cold and hot beverages.
This book is perfect for readers like me who love Christmas stories, dual timelines, and friends-to-lovers romance.

Molly & Andrew are trying to get home to Ireland for the holidays, just like they have for yhe last 10 years, when a freak snowstorm grounds their flight. And so begins a wonderful story......

A moment (or an hour) of silence because of how great this book was. I certainly didn't expect to be this involved or/and shred a tear while reading it.

Hear me when I say this, friends-to-lovers isn't my go-to trope but Molly & Andrew's story is a bit of that but with a twist. Like I'd sell my soul if every friends-to-lovers romance were like theirs.

This story had All.The.Feels! From flashbacks to present day, it was one heck of a lovestory! I loved how the flight encounters were presented & how with each passing year, Molly & Andrew grew closer.
The humor, conversations, intimacy, vulnerability, everything was on point.

I have to especially mention the last few chapters whether it be Andrew's confession, Molly & Christian's eye opening car conversation or the even the lack of unnecessary conflict; these elements were realistic & wholesome.
Definitely recommend this perfection of a holiday read!

<i>Thank you Netgalley & Publisher for the arc in exchange of an honest review.<i>

4.75/5
I cannot get over how fun this read was! It's only September but after finishing this book I cannot wait to get into the holiday spirit.
For the past ten years Molly and Andrew have taken the same flight from Chicago to Dublin to see their families over the holidays. This is one of the few times a year they get to see eachother so they always cherish the plane ride over. However, this year a big winter storm derails their plans and they have to race against the odds and time to make it home for Christmas.
If you liked Emily Henry's People We Meet on Vacation, you will adore this! This is a story of decade-old friends coming to the realization that the person they've been looking for has been right in front of them since the beginning. The ROM is believable and heartwarming, the COM is subtle yet effective.
I really enjoyed reading this book and could truly see it being an amazing movie. The plot was surprisingly complex and we got a look into both of their family's dynamics and personalities. Andrew was adorable and so smitten from the beginning. The best part? There's no third act breakup! They handle the "situation" as mature adults and it doesn't last for more than a chapter.
Everyone needs to check this book out, its the perfect read for the upcoming holidays!

Catherine Walsh is quickly becoming one of my tippy top favorite authors. One thing I absolutely love about her books is that she writes authentic dialogue, which is not the case for most rom coms! (This is true for her other novels, The Rebound and One Night Only, as well.) I can actually imagine two humans saying the words to one another. She has this capability of creating characters who are so genuine and authentic to reality, they feel like an extension of my friends, family, coworkers, etc. I also love that she puts a little piece of her home (Ireland) in every book. Holiday Romance was festive, funny, swoon-worthy, and I loved every word of it.

So enjoyable and exactly what I needed right now! Definitely recommend for the holiday season! This is the first novel by this author for me and I will definitely be looking into more of her works.

This is my first holiday romance of the year and I’m so glad I picked it up! This is my first book by this author but I’m already itching to read her others.

Things I loved:
- A+ banter! There were entire pages of conversations that I highlighted. It was just amazing
- Amazing supporting cast of characters who provide enough substance and heart without stealing the show. (Side note: can Christian get a book? Pretty please?)
- The way the author handled the hero’s sobriety was done extremely well

I’m not always a fan of single POV romance. Especially in a friends-to-lovers situation. I want to see it through his eyes too. Up until the last 15% or so that was my only complaint - I really wanted Andrew’s perspective! But he does such an amazing, swoony summary of everything in the end that it makes up for it.

They’re both such real, relatable characters with real flaws that they work through together. And unlike some holiday books, the Christmas aspect doesn’t overwhelm the plot.

Definitely pick this one up!

Molly and Andrew have taken the same flight together from Boston to Ireland every year for 10 years - the annual expat trek home for Christmas. Only this year, a freak storm has grounded them in Boston with little hope of getting to Ireland before Christmas Day. Over the years Molly and Andrew's friendship has grown, they've become more a part in each other's lives but this yearly ritual is something they both look forward to more and more. Molly can't bear the thought of Andrew missing Christmas with his holiday-loving family and she does the impossible, figuring out a way to get to Ireland just in time for Christmas morning. The epic journey involves multiple flights, sleepless nights, lost luggage, a stopover in Paris and realizations of what they mean to each other.

This is the perfect holiday read. As an expat I could relate to so much of Molly and Andrew's situations. What makes living in a different country bearable at times is the idea that home is only a flight away, and you can get home anytime you want; until you can't, and the desperation and hopelessness you feel is intense. I could totally understand the lengths that one would go to to get home and I could feel the anxiety in the pit of my stomach. Molly and Andrew are wonderful characters and I loved watching Molly realise her feelings for Andrew, though he has clearly adored her for a long time. "He falls first" is one of my favourite tropes 😍

If you're looking for brilliantly witty and loveable characters, hilarious banter, a delicious slow burn romance and some real get-you-in-the-feels moments, this is the perfect book for you for the holiday season! Catherine has cemented herself as one of my favourite romance writers and she's as adorably hilarious as the characters she writes.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC - Holiday Romance is out October 4th and you need to pre-ordered this immediately 😉

I absolutely loved this book, pure escapism at its finest! While this is just the sweetest Christmas read it’s not so Christmassy that you couldn’t pick it up at any other time of year (I read this in summer and that seemed totally acceptable!) I loved both Molly and Andrew and was rooting for them the whole way through, the chemistry was just undeniable and written so well! Also, Andrew Fitzpatrick, new book boyfriend material, what a total sweetheart! This book included my favourite trope- friends to lovers, I find this much more believable than enemies to lovers.
Overall I would definitely recommend this book it just had all the feels, and I will definitely be picking up another Catherine Walsh book after this one!

A fun, funny, sweet romance that had me laughing. It reminded me a bit of the best works by one of my other favorite rom-com authors Sophie Kinsella (and the main character, Molly, shares her last name).

Pick it up if you enjoy any kind of romance, and you'd like a laugh alongside.

I very much enjoyed this book, Molly and Andrew met 10 years ago when Andrew was dating Molly’s friend. Subsequently they have found themselves on the same flight back home, several times…once per year, right before Christmas. While celebrating their 10 year flight-aversary, they find their flight is cancelled. How will they get home? Through their travels home, we get to know the pair and discover that they have romantic feelings for one another. Very good HEA.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Catherine Walsh for allowing me an advance copy of this lovely eBook.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

In all honesty, I was very pleasantly surprised by Holiday Romance. This is my first Catherine Walsh book, so I didn’t know what I was heading into. But to my surprise, she delivered beyond what I was expecting!

Holiday Romance is a hallmark in the cheesiest way possible. It is the middle of September, yet while reading the book, I felt like I was getting into the ups and downs of the holiday spirit along with Andrew and Molly! I firmly believe that the characters and the story make or break the book, and this book certainly delivered well. Molly and Andrew were very likable, and very human as well. I related to them, Molly in particular, about navigating adult life and a job that may not be the best fit for you. I love her seriousness and dedication to her family, and how similar we are in our views towards Christmas! (I’m not prone to excessive holiday cheer, but who can’t get swept up in the carols and hallmarks once in a while right?) I really liked Andrew, as well. His charm and cheer managed to win me over.

Above all, I loved the dynamic between Molly and Andrew. Their rocky start melded into friendship in the best way possible, and of course who doesn’t love a good friends to lovers romance? I will say that it felt as though the buildup to their relationship unraveled too quickly, however, I will let that slide since this it is easy to get swept up in the magic of Christmas and the holiday spirit.

I will forever be mad that this won’t be released in December. It’s practically made for the season! I guess I’ll just have to pick up this book again a few days before Christmas Day…

Molly and Andrew return home to Ireland from Chicago every Christmas to visit their families and have been on the same flight together for the last 10 years. This year their flight is cancelled but they are determined to get home to their families! Will they manage it?

We are told the story in the present day and also in flashbacks to all their journeys from the 10 previous years. As their friendship grows and they come to rely on each other……could there be something more there?

An enjoyable feel good, easy read story. A perfect Christmas read!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61401417-holiday-romance

My rating: 5 stars!

This book was simply DELIGHTFUL!

I never imagined I could enjoy a Christmas romantic comedy in early September this much (I mean, it's not even fall yet)! But I swear, as soon as I was finished devouring Holiday Romance, I was ready to go put up the Christmas tree!

Molly and Andrew have traveled home together to Ireland every year for Christmas for the past 10 years. Molly is a little indifferent about the Holidays but Andrew and his family LOVE Christmas. So when a heavy snowstorm grounds their flight, Molly decides she will do anything to get her friend home to his family in time for Christmas.

So first of all, air travel around Christmas time still gives me anxiety, even if I no longer work for an airline company. Yikes. Avoid at all cost.

Also, I've read the author's other two books and I really enjoyed them but this one takes the cake!

It's a sweet, funny, adorable rom-com set around the Holidays. I loved the glimpses back in time to their previous flights home and how their friendship grew over the years.

This a Friends-to-Lovers romance you do NOT want to miss and I would recommend to read it ANYTIME of the year, it will just make you happy.

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