The Book:
Make The Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake
Published: October 1, 2024 by Berkley
Date read: October 23, 2024
Find more October 2024 releases here.
The Characters:
Charlotte and Brighton
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Love holiday books?
Check out my holiday book master list, or my lists of 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 holiday book releases.
The Plot (from Goodreads):
Two exes find themselves stuck at the same house for Christmas in this holiday romance by Ashley Herring Blake, USA Today bestselling author of Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date.
It’s been five years since Charlotte Donovan was ditched at the altar by her ex-fiancée, and she’s doing more than okay. Sure, her single mother never checks in, but she has her strings ensemble, the Rosalind Quartet, and her life in New York is a dream come true. As the holidays draw near, her ensemble mate Sloane persuades Charlotte and the rest of the quartet to spend Christmas with her family in Colorado—it is much cozier and quieter than Manhattan, and it would guarantee more practice time for the quartet’s upcoming tour. But when Charlotte arrives, she discovers that Sloane’s sister Adele also brought a friend home—and that friend is none other than her ex, Brighton. All Brighton Fairbrook wanted was to have the holliest, jolliest Christmas—and try to forget that her band kicked her out. But instead, she’s stuck pretending like she and her ex are strangers—which proves to be difficult when Sloane and Adele’s mom signs them all up for a series of Christmas dating events. Charlotte and Brighton are soon entrenched in horseback riding and cookie decorating, but Charlotte still won’t talk to her. Brighton can hardly blame her after what she did. After a few days, however, things start to slip through. Memories. Music. The way they used to play together—Brighton on guitar, Charlotte on her violin—and it all feels painfully familiar. But it’s all in the past and nothing can melt the ice in their hearts…right?
My Review:
Thank you to @librofm for this gifted ALC.
OH HECK YES. I think this is my favorite Christmas novel since Kiss Her Once For Me.
These characters are so perfectly imperfect. I loved Charlotte’s character growth throughout. I was dying to learn more about their breakup and why their engagement ended in the past, and I think the reason for the breakup suited the characters. They had grown up enough in the meantime to make their romance believable the second time around.
I loved how Christmassy it was. The friend groups are (unwillingly) signed up for a bunch of Christmas-themed dating activities, so you certainly get your fix of holiday cheer while reading it.
I would LOVE a sequel spinoff of Wes and Sloane’s story. This friend group was so much fun that I’ve love to spend more time with any of them.
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