This is an honest review based on the ARC from NetGalley.

I am not sure where to start, similar to how I felt when I read this book. It began with a short chapter describing present day, and then the first of three parts was devoted to one of the main characters named Winter Holliday from "the previous February". (Pun intended? Honestly, I don't know because the author didn't make any humorous reference to her name.) I had a difficult time getting invested in Winter's side of the story, and it was a bit confusing on what her day job is because she also spends a lot of time volunteering with her small town.

The next part was written about Avery, the other main character in the book. This part also started from "the previous February", intending to give the reader Avery's backstory and presumably leading to the present day that the book started with - but it did not. It stopped with the two main characters' story at some point between "the previous February" and present day.

Part three was dedicated to the developing relationship between Winter and Avery, and we could tell whose perspective it was based on whether it was from a third person (Winter) or first person (Avery).

This book has promise, but it felt extremely disjointed for me. It was as if two writers wrote it and they hadn't quite meshed everything together into a cohesive story.

I received a free copy of this book, and the thoughts in this review are my own. It hasn't been influenced by the author, the publisher or Net Galley.

I've tried so many times to find a good F/F relationship book. There are many that I have started, and then put down because I couldn't believe the relationship. They were all either 'sunny deposition' against 'grumpy' ones, or else a complete and utter nasty woman and a woman who always bends over backwards to accommodate her. It was always too toxic. But finally, and thankfully, I have found one that I thoroughly enjoyed!

This one is more than a relationship between the two. Winter is absolutely adorable, and I loved her personality. I didn't find it grating, which is an unfortunate reaction sometimes to this. She was someone who I would want to be around me. Who I would love to spend time with. And then Avery... Avery is a slightly harder character to love, mostly because she always seems to have a huge wall between what she shows to the world, and what she is really like. She does this even with Winter. I took a bit longer to warm to her.

But, don't worry. There is so much revealed in this story that makes your heart break for Avery. I won't say what, because that's a huge point in this book but please please please.... Read this book for this twist alone.

There is so much I want to say about the story, but I feel like I would spoil the book if I went in any further. The relationship alone is a reason to read this book, but there is so much more to gush about this book. I loved the contrast between small town life and big city life. How Winter shared the warmth, kindness and closeness within a town with Avery and made it so appealing. I am very much pushed to wanting to find a little town and just move there. No preparation. No future plans. Just move because... it sounds so perfect, especially with how this town progressed over the years to be so inclusive!

This is a great read, even if you are doing so when it's not Christmas. The title may be a significant point for one of the women, but I love how Christmas plays a major part in the plot of the book. It's not the entire scene for the relationship between the two, but still... I love that touch!

So, please read this book. It's not an easy read, but I read it within a day. I couldn't put it down, and I will be re-reading this. Not only that, I will be buying the e-book when it comes out. I know I could re-read the ARC again, but I want to support this author. And I want to have the finish copy of this book as well.

4.5 Stars!

What would you do if your high school crush suddenly appears and plonks herself on the barstool next to you at the end of the worst week of your life? In Winter’s case it would be to turn into a bumbling idiot. Winter and Avery went to the same high school and Winter had secretly crushed on Avery leading to much teenage awkwardness at the time. However, since their school days the two women had gone in very different directions. Winter had stayed in their small hometown of Anneville and become the centre of every community event the town hosted. She can’t imagine ever leaving permanently. Meanwhile Avery had moved off to New York to become a highly successful music producer. Winter absolutely loves Anneville. Avery has no intention of ever returning to that small hick town that held nothing but bad memories. However, their brief meeting in the New York bar during one of Winter’s work trips leads to them reconnecting, at least via text and phone call…….until the messages and calls just stop suddenly. While Winter pines away thinking that Avery has lost interest, Avery’s life is going downhill fast.

When Avery’s career suddenly implodes courtesy of her self-centred starlet and her best friend is seriously injured in a running event back in Anneville, Avery finds herself back in the small town she’d run away from taking care of her friend and the friend’s daughter…..and of course, running into Winter. Will Winter giver her a chance to explain what happened? Can Avery give Anneville a second chance and realise that it’s not the same small-minded town that she left many years ago?

The books is divided into three parts. Part 1 is told from Winter’s perspective and covers their initial meeting in the New York bar through to their initial reconnection via text and phone calls, up until it all suddenly stops. Part 2 is told from Avery’s perspective and explains the background behind the sudden cessation in communication, courtesy of her life imploding and her return to Anneville to help her friend. Part 3 alternates between perspectives as the two women finally decide to try dating and Winter tries to show Avery just how much Anneville has changed and convince her to give the town a second chance.

In Christmissed, Blythe H. Warren brings us a second story of overcoming missed opportunities, and numerous obstacles to find a way to fall in love. With a raft of very quirky side characters and a large dose of smalltown life it shows that there is always a place for love to grow and bring people together.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this book!!

What a great book! I enjoyed this one a lot!!! I had a hard time putting it down. I enjoyed the chemistry between the characters. Great writing style!! This was a first by this author for me but will not be my last!