Oh my god this was so much fun! A second-chance forced-proximity sapphic romance? Gimme that now! Ashley Herring Blake knocks it out of the park every single time. This was the perfect read for the Christmas season.

I enjoyed this book because I just really like how Ashley Herring Blake writes romance but I did also find myself wanting to yell at the characters to communicate more!

When I heard gay christmas story I was all over this but unfortunately I didnt love it. It had potential but while I loved Brighton, Charlotte was insufferable. Now, I love women, I typically love women who are closed off and reserved but she was more self absorbed, her character used the miscommunication trope to the max and experienced 0 character growth when she had the perfect opportunity yet still got a second chance? Even after all that gaslighting? No thanks. I'm gutted Brighton ended up with someone like that. Did the author forget this was supposed to be a romance? These two couldn't be more incompatible if they tried

I really wanted to like this one so much more than I did. Sapphic Christmas romances are few and far between (though it feels like it’s getting better year on year!) so I was really excited to read this, but unfortunately the main characters felt flat and insufferable.

Five years after Charlotte was left at the altar, she’s invited to spend Christmas with the rest of the Rosalind Quartet with Sloane’s family in Colorado. But when they arrive, it’s to discover Sloane’s sister has also come with a friend; Brighton, the woman who Charlotte was supposed to marry. Things get even more complicated when Sloane and Adele’s mother signs the whole group up for Two Turtle Doves – a series of dating events designed to pair off singles.

Largely, the issues I had with this book centred around the two MCs – neither come across as particularly likable, and it’s hard to believe they’re closer to 30 than teenagers with the way they act. Brighton’s reasons for leaving Charlotte at the altar feel flimsy, and there’s nothing ever actually resolved between the two of them. Charlotte keeps herself closed off and Sloane does call her out for her behaviour, but then it’s brushed over. There’s a memorable scene when the characters are settling in, and Charlotte literally acts like a child to get Sloane’s attention, until she yells out her name in the middle of the room, causing everyone to absolutely stop what they’re doing to attend to her. Instead of, you know, being an adult about anything.

Some scenes were cute, but overall I found the characters frustrating and the ending just felt like the main couple weren’t going to last long because they hadn’t actually worked through any of the problems they initially had. It’s not the worst Christmas romance I’ve read, but it’s far from being among the good, sapphic or not.

I have loved everything that Ashley Herring Blake has written but although i did really like this one i didn't love it as much as her others. For me it didn't feel as deep as her other books despite having the perfect opportunity to given the story line.

-I liked all the characters and the side characters were strong
-Cosy setting in an idyllic Christmassy town
-I don't think it will be rememberable past Christmas but well worth the read for having a Christmassy romance moment

3.5 stars

There’s something about queer Christmas books that just hit the spot. I love a Sapphic romance and having it centre around the Christmas season just brings out all the hallmark-y cuteness.

The characters make a romance and this book was no exception. I liked both main characters and all the minor characters a lot. It was fun to watch the main characters bring all the drama to everything, because these two are very dramatic. I liked the history they had. I especially liked how they overcame it together, sharing the blame and moving past it like grown ups, after a lot of pining and bickering, naturally.

I did find the idea that a small town would have such a thriving queer community a bit far fetched, but then with these types of books, you have to suspend disbelief sometimes, so I could forgive that and and the fact that Adele and Sloan’s mum spent a fuckload of money to get a bunch of strangers she barely knew on a Christmas dating scheme, even if they were staying at her house.

Overall, it was cute, it was cheesy and there was sexual tension.

A romance can never work for me if I'm not rooting for the characters to be together. I found them both immature in a way that didn't seem intentional, so engaging with their story was hard. The romance and the side characters all seemed a little twee (certainly in comparison to other Ashley Herring Blake books).

I really really wanted to love this, unfortunately it just was not for me

I'm already bad with second chance romances (but willing and ready to soften up to them though), so given the reason of the break-up, and the fact that it happened on their wedding day (hello, unforgiveable??), I was just lost.

<spoiler>Not to mention, Brighton blamed Charlotte for it all, depite Brighton never talking to Charlotte about being unhappy and whenever she was asked how she was doing, she just waved it off as if it was nothing. How's Charlotte supposed to know Brighton's not doing good without her actually opening up about it? Communication, people!!!
And then Charlotte just took the blame as well, as if it really WAS her fault. Okay.</spoiler>

Also, why is this marketed as a Christmas book? Christmas morning was prox. 3 pages and the event the mom has set up for the group doesn't really have anything to do with Christmas, so... why?

Anyway -
I can't fault the writing and the humor did hit right at time.
3/5⭐

This cute queer smalltown romance is just perfect for those who could use a little love and excitement for the holidays. Imagine you were left at the altar 5 years ago by the love of your life, have not spoken a word to each other since then and as luck (or fate?) would have it, this year you will spend the Christmas holidays together in the most idyllic little winter town. What could go wrong? Actually quite a lot, but fortunately some things can also work out in everybody's favor. Yes, I admit, this book is a bit cheesy, but the author can get every scrooge into the cheerful Christmas mood with her warm and honest writing style, as usual!

3 stars

The book was cute, it was a quick read, but it didn't feel like the Christmas vibes it promised. The issues were resolved very quickly I felt, too quickly. Which make sense, sorta, considering most of the book takes place over the course of a week, but it makes it feel lacking. You're missing the development for the most part.
The writing was very talented though, and I am curious to try out other books by this author. This book just fell... a bit flat. Not flat enough to not enjoy it at all.

2.75☆

Thank you to Little Brown Book Group UK and Netgalley for access to the e-ARC.

◇ Holiday Romance
◇ Second Chance romance
◇ Aromantic side character representation

Now I usually love Ashley Herring Blake books - unfortunately this one did not hit the same as her previous books have. The writing as always is easy to read and quick to get into, but I found the main couple to be insufferable. This book also made me realise that quite possibly second chance romances are just not for me. All of the problems between Charlotte and Brighton could have been solved with a simple conversation before the wedding, and it would have never led to Brighton leaving her at the altar! I do not think I've ever been this annoyed at a main couple in a book series before.

While I understand that this book had a lot of tropes that I do not enjoy - I will reiterate that it is not badly written: if you liked the previous books and are a fan of second chance romances this might be the book for you.

Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for granting me access to the E-ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review.


I do love AHBs writing style, her way with words is fantastic and socks you in to the story.
However both characters in this week just unlikeable, you have one who has a few issues with abandonment and instead of seeking out help she just pushes everyone away and lies to herself that that isn't what she's doing. It's hard to route for someone who won't help themselves.
The second FMC was awful, she abandoned 1st FMC at the ALTER them constantly complains that she wants nothing to do with her 5 years later.

Then after multiple things happen they end up having to spend Xmas together and instead of working out there issues they end up getting intimate while galling back in love, still without sorting anything out and both blaming each other for the end of the relationship
By the time they both get their heads out their arses you stop caring about their relationship and are more interested in the side characters. Who were as always excellent.

Is this the ultimate, Hallmark-style sapphic Christmas romcom? I think so!

This book really, totally, one hundred percent delivered on the vibes – which is mostly what you’re looking for in a Christmas romance. It was just the perfect amount of contrived, with plot twists that either make you gasp or roll your eyes fondly. If this was part of the Netflix Christmas Cinematic Universe, we would watch it every year. (I’m not even kidding; my fiancée was loving the blow-by-blow updates of the all the drama that was going on.)

This was my first Ashley Herring Blake, and I could not put it down! I loved both of the main characters, and I loved that they both had their thorny sides, and that they didn’t always see eye to eye (to put it mildly). I will admit that for part of the book I didn’t actually want them to get together but by the end I was rooting for them.

Speaking of why I didn’t want them to get back together: I am all for second-chance romances. When it’s done well I think it’s brilliant, but a lot hinges on how badly it went the first time. Honestly? With these, two it went so badly. Like, so badly that you should just call it quits, badly. It was the only drawback of the book for me, that it felt so completely unbelievable that a couple who had been through so much when they broke up would get back together so easily.

That being said, this was still such a fun read, that has me excited to prioritise the other Ashley Herring Blake books on my TBR.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

4.25 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for this eARC

I was really intrigued to request this book on Netgalley, purely for its depiction of a LGBTQ+ love story at Christmas (there are hardly any of these on the market to my knowledge, and we need more!), so was looking forward to getting into this when December rolled around.
This book is a beautiful second chance romance filled with heart and warmth, with a interesting and entertaining cast of side characters and some real laugh out loud moments. It’s not often you read a book and think “I would love to hang out with all these people” but I did - and that’s kind of an achievement in itself.
I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a feel-good, festive romance, with loveable character, witty banter, a big heart, and excellent representation.

I love Ashley Herring Blake’s books and I was excited to read this one, but sadly it really didn’t work for me and I gave up at around 25%

What I liked:
Christmas!!
The LGBTQ+ representation
Hallmark vibes
The setting
Brighton's character development

What I didn't love:
It just seemed predictable and I couldn't make myself care about what happened to any of the characters.
The miscommunication

Not sure that this year's crop of LGBT authors are understanding the joy of festive books, we want light, fun, happy books, set in locations where they cope with 'weather', to take us away from the stress, cold, misery that December can also bring. This is the second one I have read this season with so much drama that it brings its own stress, sadly, also in this book one main character is so unlikeable that I just couldn't connect to the book.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really sweet romance but unfortunately not a favourite of mine. I'm not a big fan of the miscommunication trope and this book came with a lot of it. It is a lovely Christmas rom-com in itself but there were certain aspects of the book that frustrated me and ruined my reading experience.

I’m trying to figure out if my reaction to Make the Season Bright is a personal taste issue or not - certainly, I got a sinking feeling as our POV changed in the second chapter, and I realised this was likely a second chance romance. However, there are some romances following this trope which have bucked the trend, and which I have adored. I also enjoyed Herring Blake’s other work, and was completely in the mood for a festive romance, and so I continued on.
By the mid-way point, I was finding it really hard to sympathise with our main duo - particularly Brighton. Despite their many years of history together, there was sometimes a lack of depth to the connection between Brighton and Charlotte - an issue exacerbated by the constant miscommunication (or lack of communication at all) which sometimes made the book an actively frustrating reading experience.
That said, I found the supporting cast (right down to Snickerdoodle the dog!) to be really engaging, and their interactions and humour pulled me through the book. The ending was heartwarming and felt satisfactory, leaving this a mostly enjoyable and quick read.

I absolutely love a good gay romance, and Make the Season Bright has all the sapphic drama, joy and queer family that I would expect. Brighton and Charlotte have a good amount of chemistry, which is helped by a slowly developing backstory that explains their complicated and messy past. The use of music and their shared expression of love through this art form was also well done and well thought out. And I also especially loved their friendship group, which felt realistic and wholesome - especially Wes and Sloane. They have a rather sweet romance that counterbalances the more over the top love of the main protagonists well.

What I didn't really like was the logic behind the initial breakup, and how Charlotte could even begin to forgive Brighton. What she did, in my eyes, was irredeamable. I genuinely don't think their relationship would last long term. The implausibility that they could somehow end up spending Christmas together also required me to suspend my disbelief a lot. And at the start there's a lot of talk from Charlotte regarding some imagined Christmas curse that then fizzles out and is barely mentioned for the rest of the book. It could have been removed entirely and would have made no difference to the overall plot.

So overall a mixed bag. Good amount of drama and tension, but the story itself had a lot of plot holes.