I enjoyed The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson. Read in one sitting about two sisters and their inherited Christmas tree farm and the ups and downs of making it work out. Great book to get me into the Christmas spirit.

What an awful bunch of women. Every single woman in this book was petty, entitled, spiteful, bitter, mean and childish, the main character included. Could not stand any of them. The only reason I didn’t DNF the book in the first couple chapters was because it was an ARC I needed to rate and it was short.

The sisters’ relationship was bizarre how terrible it was. Addie not only acted like a 12 year old in her immaturity, but was delusional and psychotic at times with how she felt about Gavin. Neither she nor Madison talked about or were honest about anything (and no one addressed the whole love triangle thing either btw which is weird).

To make it more strange, the resolution with the farm wrapped up in seconds without any animosity over a really big issue, whereas the tiny things were dragged out in the book full of constant animosity. It just wasn’t balanced and had constant tension except where it needed it.

Honestly I hated the book all the way around.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.

I absolutely love a holiday book set at a Christmas tree farm! I don't know what it is exactly, but it just brings so much festive spirit and nostalgia instantly. I really enjoyed this one! It was a quick and sweet read. Most of the characters were enjoyable, however I really didn't like Addie. I felt she was childish and and mean a lot of the time. It was nice to see them all come together in the end though.

Madison has returned home to her family's Christmas Tree Farm, which she co-owns with her sister, after a fire. She is met with a property in decline and a sister who doesn't seem to want her there. To make things worse, her old crush is living nearby.

This is a sweet family Christmas story. The ending is very predictable, but it's a nice, light read during the holiday season.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

The Christmas Tree Farm is a heartwarming Christmas novella by Melody Carlson. It's a fun, heart warming, cozy book full of Christmas spirt. It has Hallmark Christmas movie vibes. Very sweet story.
I was given an advanced ecopy by the publisher, Revell, through Netgalley. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.

Thank you so much to Melody Carlson and publisher(s) for giving me an Arc Copy of this book. I will be reading this book in December since it takes place around Christmas.

Here's to another excellent Christmas story winner by Melody Carlson! Madison returns home to the tree farm she shares with her sister, Addie. However, things have changed since the death of her beloved grandmother and now Addie wants to see the property. While Madison is shocked, she is ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work. She discovers her former boyfriend, Gavin, and his daughter living next door to her property, and is horrified to learn that they are planning on a noisy motorbike trail. On top of everything, Madison learns that Addie has her sights set on Gavin. How the story works out is a genuine Christmas heart-warming tale sure to please!
I was able to read this book compliments of the publishers. The views expressed are my own.

I love a melody Carlson’s heartfelt novels. Her use of description of characters make you feel like you know them. This is a more complex Christmas novella but well done just the same. Will recommend to friends and book clubbers and on Goodreads

A wonderful Christmas read, but suitable for anytime of year. When one sister returns to help run the family Christmas tree farm, the other is not quite as welcoming as she might expect. Times are tough, there has been a fire and now a noisy bike track is set to invade the peace. I finished this quickly and was totally engrossed in the story and invested in the lives of the characters.

This was my first read from Melody Carlson and it was so much fun! This was a cute quick holiday read and I can’t wait to ready more from Melody!

"The Christmas Tree Farm" by Melody Carlson is a heartwarming Christmas story about two neighboring families. The older McDowell sister returns home to find the family tree farm struggling, worsened by a fire. The younger sister has been caring for their relatives while the business falters. Addie, the older sister, takes an interest in Madison's former crush, creating tension. Madison is a hardworking, family-oriented woman who loves the farm. Their city-girl mom stays with them, making Madison feel like an outsider. Meanwhile, their neighbor, a widower with two daughters, faces challenges. Through hard work, hope, and humor, these families come together during the holidays. The novel beautifully captures family bonds and faith, making it a perfect Christmas read.

While we've put up artificial Christmas trees for several years, some of my favorite holiday memories revolve around live trees. First as a little girl, I remember going up into our woods with my dad and selecting a long needled pine each year for our family tree. Not groomed and shaped like purchased trees, sometimes our choice needed to have a bare spot nestled against the wall for optimum beauty. Then with our own young family, it became a family tradition to head to one of the local tree farms to cut our choice. If we cut it a bit too tall for the house, I would use the bottom branches for wreathes or mantel decor. Now one of my personal traditions is reading a few Christmas novellas each season. I've always liked Melody Carlson's stories so I was glad to see she had a new holiday novella this year, and even better it was about a Christmas Tree Farm. Madison, who has been teaching overseas for several years, returns to her grandparents Christmas tree farm just in time for the Christmas push. Delighted to find that the farm did not have much damage from the devastating fires that had hit much of the river region. But her delight is soon dashed when she finds that her younger sister wants to sell the farm, saying it has no future. Family conflict and jealousy, an old flame, and the prospect of a dirt bike track next door all add for some bumps along the way to Madison's first Christmas home in years. This is a fun, clean read that will appeal to multiple ages.

The Christmas Tree Farm is a quick read with a sweet happy ending. Madison comes back home to the family Christmas tree farm after teaching in Mongolia for 5 years. She wants to bring it back to life after her grandparents and dad die and a wildfire damaged some of their crop but her sister Addie just wants to sell and move or marry the rich neighbor who happens to be Madison’s crush in high school. This was a good, clean romance story, but the bickering back and forth got to be a bit much in my opinion. It will get you in the Christmas spirit if that’s what you’re looking for.

Thanks so much NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion.

The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson is a super cute and fast read Christmas story. It is the story of Madison who has been teaching overseas for a while and is now back home to her family's Christmas tree farm in Oregon. The Christmas tree farm has suffered from a wildfire and her sister's neglect, but Madison is determined to bring it back and make a success of it this season. The story is charming, wholesome, and sweet, I really enjoyed it.

Something about a Christmas book just puts me in all feels for the holidays! This was a great way to start the holiday season. Felt like a happy little Hallmark movie playing as I turned every page. Plus, adding in a little romance was the perfect touch to get you in all your feels.

Addie returns from teaching to help run her family’s tree farm that was hit by a wildfire and with the help of a “friend”, she is able to restore what it once was and keep her family’s legacy alive.

Absolutely loved and it’s a quick, must read if you love holiday books.

Loved loved loved the cover on this. Super cute and festive! When I saw it was set on a Christmas tree farm I requested it immediately (second favourite location setting after the beach). Melody has returned home determined to save her family’s Christmas tree farm but of course there are many obstacles in her way. This book gave me all the hallmark vibes (a compliment). Sweet, fun and cosy. Highly recommend. Thanks Netgalley and the publisher.

This story has some real family struggles with underlying and unresolved issues that are brought out when Madison returns from a five-year contract teaching in Mongolia after hearing how the area was hit hard by wildfire. Her sister Addie has stayed at the farm helping her dad and grandmother for the time period but now both are dead, and Addie is overwhelmed and honestly, quite ugly and childish acting towards Madison. She has given up working the farm, so Madison works to revive the farm by replanting trees and opening it for Christmas tree sales against Addie's wishes. I was not a fan of Addie especially when Gavin, an old high school crush of Madison's, and Lily, his daughter, get close to Madison and Addie is jealous. But this story ultimately is about forgiveness, healing, grace, love, and faith tied in with the spirit of Christmas as more family members join together to celebrate the holidays.

The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson is such a great read! So who says you can't go home? Well Madison is really re-thinking her plans by coming back home. Nothing is what she expected, her sister is being unreasonable, the tree farm is in terrible share and then there's Gavin. Can Madison turn things around and save The Christmas Tree Farm? Read and find out for yourself!

This is a story of family, of sisters with different agendas, but with a sprinkling of romance as the story progresses.

When Madison returns home from overseas she finds that the farm has changed due to a wildfire that has damaged or destroyed much of the woods surrounding their Christmas Tree farm. Madison is determined to bring their Christmas Tree farm back to life, while her sister wants nothing to do with it, but Madison goes forward with her plan, with no help from her sister.

There’s a bit of jealousy, as well, as Madison reconnects with Gavin, a man who she had feelings for before she left to go overseas. Her sister also has plans for pulling him into her life. Madison spends more time with his daughter, who wants to help Madison with her plans for the Christmas Tree farm, and they form a bond.

A sweet story with a sprinkling of romance, family and love.


Pub Date: 03 Sep 2024


Many thanks for the ARC provided by Revell

I love Melody Carlson's annual Christmas stories and always look forward to the new one each year, and this one did not disappoint. Madison returns back to the family Christmas tree farm after being overseas for several years. Her sister Addie is less than excited having her back on the farm. There was a wildfire earlier that did lots of damage in the areas but spared most of the farm, and Madison wants to replant and revitalize the tree farm. Addie wants to sell. Then throw in the handsome neighbor and his young daughter and of course there are going to be fireworks between the sisters. Madison decides to replant a section of the farm and will do it by herself if she has to. But she finds a shocking ally in the planting department. I think you will enjoy this holiday story.