Close to home reflected how much eli missed her home , town, friends and the love of her life from which she ran. Her Grandma's heavenly abode pulls her back home and makes her realise how precious things are around. She becomes a successful writer wherein the glimpse of her past and her relationships sparkle a lot and even as a reader I could relate to it. It was a heartfelt, sweet yet perfect holiday read.

Great Christmas romance. This was a really good book, the main characters were made for each other. I liked all the family drama that comes along with going home for Christmas. The romance was well written and this had all the angst and drama that I like. I would recommend this book and I look forward to what's next from this author.

I want to thank Bold Stroke Books and Netgalley for giving me a chance to read Close to Home by Allisa Bahney. This review is solely my own opinion. This book was an interesting read, not necessarily in a bad way. First, the story follows Eli, an author who made it big after leaving home and Aracely, the woman who broke Eli's heart in high school. After the breakup with Aracely, Eli never wanted to go home, but that changed this year because Eli's grandmother, who raised her, died. Eli goes home and has to deal with her childhood trauma, her estranged family, the death of her grandmother, and running into Aracely repeatedly while home. The story is pretty solid, and there are exerpts from Eli's books that parallel her life. The subject matter is just a little heavy, especially for a holiday read. I gave it 3 stars and will recommend it, with the caveat that it's not all rainbows and sunshine.

This review has been posted to Goodreads and Storygraph on December 10th, 2024. Links provided.

Close to Home is a poignant yet heartwarming tale that explores the tangled emotions of loss, love, and family reconciliation during the holiday season. When Eli Thomas returns to her hometown for Christmas, she’s faced with the painful reality of her grandmother’s death and the unresolved tensions that have kept her distant from her family for years. A twist in her grandmother’s will forces Eli to stay longer than planned, bringing long-avoided conversations to the surface and reigniting feelings for Aracely Hernandez, her first love and the one who got away. Balancing raw emotions with moments of humor and warmth, the story delves into Eli’s fractured relationship with her brother Tommy and their mother, confronting old wounds while embracing the possibility of healing. Against the backdrop of festive small-town traditions, Eli must decide whether mending these ties - and her heart - is worth the risk. Told from alternating chapters set in the past and present, this book captures the complexities of family and the enduring hope for forgiveness and love.

I really enjoyed Close to Home and would definitely recommend it! This book will pull on your heartstrings with its emotional depth and relatable themes. Eli’s journey is raw and honest. Coming home for Christmas after her grandmother’s death forces her to confront everything she’s been running from for years: fractured family relationships, unhealed childhood wounds, and the lingering feelings for Aracely, the love she never quite let go of. While I understand the complexities of certain relationships, I did sometimes struggle with Eli’s treatment of those around her, which made it hard for me to like her at times. (This is minor but) I also really struggled with the decision to adopt a puppy that she clearly was not focused on taking care of. I recognize that is a very minor grievance against the book, but I just felt like it was unnecessary to the plot and unfair to to the fictional puppy. But, I did appreciate her personal growth by the end of the novel. She starts out guarded and weighed down by her past yet gradually opens herself up to forgiveness, reconnection, and the possibility of love. What I really appreciated was how the book balanced the heavy emotional moments with warmth and humor. Eli’s brother Tommy adds a lot of heart, and the festive small-town traditions like Santa Day made me smile. While the resolution with her mom seemed a bit abrupt and lacked meaningful dialogue in my opinion, it’s the underlying message that stuck with me: that healing takes effort, and sometimes the hardest things to face are exactly what you need to move forward. Lastly, while this book is set around Christmastime, it also centers around heavy themes that may be triggering to some. Trigger warnings include: death of a family member (grandmother and father), alcoholism/addiction, abandonment, and childhood trauma. If you’re looking for a holiday read that’s full of depth, heart, and a touch of romance, Close to Home is a great choice!

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books, Inc. and NetGalley for the opportunity to read to an ARC of Close to Home in return for my honest review.

Small town in winter celebrating holiday traditions✅
sapphic friends to lovers (foodie and author)✅
Real life legitimate scientific SNL skit part 2 situation✅
exploration of grief and mental health ✅
The writing captures the humanity of the characters in a lovely manner.
Thank you to the author and publisher for this e-arc!

Three books in one, Eli is an author of Romantasy books, returning home following the death of her grandmother, where she bumps into her childhood girlfriend Aracely. One book is section of the latest Romantasy that Eli is working on, second is the story of Eli and Aracely's past and third is the current day story. Each chapter is from a different book, which can be slightly distracting but is an effective way of keeping you engaged. There are some difficult family dynamics, an irresponsible puppy adoption, amusing running gag with Eli's brother and a grumpy reunion that is resolved in the lightening fast ending. This is not a cosy Christmas read but a more realistic Christmas book(s) dealing with grief and complex family dynamics.

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

This is a sweet holiday-themed romance that goes beyond the classic ‘girl returns home and falls in love’ plot, emphasizing topics of grief, family, introspection and emotional healing, friendship and community. This is a second chance story in more ways than one. It follows Eli, who left her small hometown with a broken heart as she returns to said small hometown and becomes reacquainted with the girl who broke her heart. But it is also the story of giving your town and community a second chance and realizing that your original perspective is not the only one and can change with time.

I would recommend this book to someone looking for a holiday, second chance romance filled with emotion, friends, and a touch of sibling drama.

I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.


Eli is reluctant to go home but is force to when her beloved grandmother dies who has raise her and brother Tommy after death of their father and their mother falling apart. Eli is planning on settle her grandmother affairs and leaving hits a snag when her grandmother will has her staying longer and involving her ex Aracely. They reunite after breaking up in their senior year of college as they get to know who they are now will they be able to let go of the past and be in the present and to have a better future. This enjoyable read about letting go and forgiveness.

Close to Home captures the joy of the holiday but also the melancholy feelings of loss that the season brings to many people. For Eli Thomas, it’s the void of a disconnect from family and a broken heart that’s never healed. Now instead of coming home for Christmas to the only person who seemingly loved her unconditionally, her grandmother, Eli has to bury her and deal with the aftermath.

I’ve heard other reviewers mention the movie, Home for the Holidays, and although the storylines are different, they both deal with families that are fractured. Eli and her brother Tommy are 40ish and yet those old wounds from childhood are still painful. When their beloved father died years ago, their mother fell apart so that’s why they grew up with their grandmother. Meanwhile, Eli’s first love, Aracely, is also back home and her presence is a bittersweet reminder of what could have been.

The book deals with the complexities of family relationships and the oftentimes long term damage on people’s lives. But it’s also a story about reconciliation and forgiveness. The holidays tend to exacerbate tensions and the story meets them head on. Eli, Tommy, and their mother confront the past together in a way that makes sense. They keep repeating their grandmother’s saying, “The only way out is through.”

I want to add that the book is also full of warmth and humor. It’s not just tough drama. Tommy is a good brother, Aracely and Eli have plenty of chemistry, and Santa Day in Small Town USA is a hoot. There are many great scenes of love and affection amongst the family and their friends as well. A few surprises too.

This is my first book by Allisa Bahney. It was good, I enjoy second chance romances. I felt like it dragged. I appreciate the flashbacks. The MC showed growth.
There was a couple of things that felt unresolved. I appreciated that there was no additional angst between the MCs as a 3rd act breakup. However angst between the other relationships were understandable.
I will look forward to additional books by this author.

Thank you Allisa Bahney, Net Galley and Bold Strokes Books for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

Close to Home was a beautiful story about love, loss, grief and forgiveness. I think most people will be able to relate to everything from life, death, relationships, challenges and changes.

I had a love/hate relationship with Eli and Aracely’s story line, but in the end, I thought it played out well. I loved the back and forth story lines that painted the full picture of Eli’s life.

One of my favorite quotes from the book was “The only way out is through.” Having lost my mom not so long ago, that quote resonates with me and is 100% accurate.

This managed to weave light and shade in the most tender way. It had all the ups and downs you want from a book. And it held my heart alot more than I expected it to.
Eli was on such a journey. One that old hurts needed to heal from in order to move on. So much she had to work through. It didn't help thst she was grieving, and her one love was also back in her life after she returns home for a will reading. A will reading thst leaves her spinning and makes hard decisions for her.
This was deeper than I thought it was.
But that's not bad thing. Especially this time of year when we could use a few prompts to help us reflect on life too.

Heartbreakingly beautiful. I laughed and cried but following this story as heartbreaking as it was it was so wholesome. I love how it spoke about grief and how it affects people differently.

I did struggle a little with the back and forwards between the past, the book series and the present so if your someone who really can’t handle that this isn’t the book for you

Overall a great book, it flowed nicely and has so many aspects that you didn’t get bored, sometimes a book can feel dragged out but I didn’t feel that with this book.

A not so ordinary Christmas story.
Eli is an author.
Her past promised something different, but when her heart was broken twenty years ago, she gave up that path and became successful with her stories, which are very much about her home, her great love, her broken heart and her somewhat damaged family.
But of course that is only remotely according to Eli.
This Christmas will be a very difficult, sad one and one full of unexpected twists and turns.
Her beloved grandmother has died and her inheritance has thrown her life and that of her brother into enormous disarray.
Suddenly everything is not as it always was.
She cannot leave Maple Park after just one day, as she has done so often in recent years.
She has to face her pain, her loss and the woman who caused everything that has made her run away for so long.
Flashbacks and insights into Eli's books have made it something special. Everything comes together beautifully. It's touching, but nerve-wracking. A typical family, and yet not typical at all.
Thanks to the Author, Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for this Arc!

Thank you Netgalley and bold strokes books for the ARC copy!

This was a very cozy Christmas book that also described a lot of relatable family struggles.

I really liked Eli and could really understand her thoughts when it came to fleeing your hometown and the fear of going back.

I’m giving it 4/5, the thing that brought it down was the back and forth between timelines. It confused me slightly if it gave me a good backstory of Eli’s relationships with the other characters.

Re for editing when releasing book - There are a few pages that are using the justified setting, causing unneccessary gaps between words but it did not happen very often.

Close to Home is a great home-for-the-holidays story of second chances which is a weakness. I adore second chance romances. It does involve some serious topics like grief, addiction and family drama. I absolutely loved the two main characters, Eli and Aracely and enjoyed the interactions between them and the other characters in the story.

Eli is an author who has been forced to return to her hometown ahead of Christmas following the death of her grandmother who had raised Eli and her brother following the death of their father and subsequent addiction struggles of their mother. She ends up staying longer due to her grandmother's will that involves her ex. The broke up senior year in college due to Aracely not wanting to hold her back.

Meanwhile there is all the family drama that causes multiple issues between everyone and Eli and Aracely have to find a way to let go of the past and make a better future together.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

*Close to Home* by Allisa Bahney is a heartfelt exploration of love, loss, and the complexities of returning to one’s roots. Eli Thomas reluctantly comes home for Christmas, burdened by the recent loss of her grandmother and the unresolved tension within her family. What makes this visit even more poignant is the unexpected presence of Aracely Hernandez, the woman Eli never quite forgot. Their past, filled with both love and heartache, looms large as Eli navigates her way through the holiday season.

Bahney does a brilliant job of capturing the emotional weight of returning to a place filled with memories, both painful and joyful. Eli’s extended stay, prompted by a twist in her grandmother’s will, forces her to confront long-buried feelings. The chemistry between Eli and Aracely is undeniable, yet layered with hesitation and vulnerability. Eli’s internal struggle to open her heart again forms the emotional core of the story, making readers deeply invested in her journey.

With its small-town charm and emotional depth, *Close to Home* is a tender story about second chances and the courage to face the past. Bahney’s writing shines through in her vivid portrayal of complex relationships and heartfelt moments, reminding readers that healing and happiness often come from returning to where it all began.

this book feels like so much more than a christmas story, sure it takes place during the christmas season but the author, allisa baheny, really has wrote a masterpiece.

this book tackles grief, loss, addiction and family drama and so much more.

allisa bahney has truly wrote a beautiful story and the character development was done so beautifully.

Eli Thomas is going home for Christmas just like she does every year—only this time it’s different. Her grandmother has died, and she’s forced to reckon with her past, her broken relationships with her remaining family, and Aracely Hernandez, the girl who got away.

A seemingly purposeful error in Grandma’s will keeps Eli in town for longer than she planned and brings all the conversations she’s been avoiding for twenty years to a culmination. While her attraction to Aracely has never faded, Eli remains apprehensive to follow her heart and risk having it broken again.

This is a beautiful story. Bahney expertly weaves together family drama with themes of addiction, grief, and loss, while also repairing and building the relationship between Eli and Arecely. I loved their relationship, but also I loved the cast of strong secondary characters. I want more of Angie in the next book! Excellent holiday novel! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

From the cover design and the book description one would assume that Close to Home is a book about Christmas. Although the book largely takes place during the holiday season, this story is about so much more than the holidays. The themes of the book including grieving, lost love/second chance romance, substance abuse, and lost family ties. At multiple times throughout this book, I was left in tears as the story unfolded.

The story revolves around Elisabeth ("Eli")Thomas returning home to Maple Park, Iowa, as a successful author following the death of her beloved grandmother. Eli has plans to stay in Maple Park the minimum amount of time to attend the funeral and deal with everything that comes with a close relative's death. Then she will be promptly returning to her life in Minneapolis. She has outgrown where she grew up. However, an apparent mistake in her grandmother's will keeps Eli in town much longer than planned as she tries to sort out the details with her brother, Tommy.

During this additional time in town, Eli comes face to face with her high school sweetheart, Aracely Hernandez. Aracely broke up with Eli as they were finalizing their college plans so that Eli could chase her dreams of becoming a writer on a paid scholastic/athletic scholarship. Eli's personal life hasn't been the same since the breakup, although she has achieved notoriety as a successful author.

Close to Home is structured with about 60% of the book focused on the present, about 30% focused on the past, and about 10% being excerpts from the fantasy trilogy that author Eli has penned, that somewhat resemble elements of people in Maple Park.

This was an exceptionally good book that makes a reader ponder death, grief, familial relationships, and priorities in life. I would highly recommend this book to other readers. 5 stars

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.