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Book club questions for The Christmas Countdown by Holly Cassidy examines all the key character development and themes in this festive read. There will be spoilers so for more context about the book, check out my spoiler-free review first.
I adore this book! Loved the overall story, the Christmas vibes and sweet romance. I also enjoyed the focus on her career growth, and family.
Really great read for the holiday season!
The Synopsis
All Callie wants for Christmas is to hibernate. She’s still reeling from being dumped by her childhood sweetheart, and under no circumstances will she go home for the holidays considering her ex will be right next door with his new, perfect partner. Callie is officially in grinch mode, but her meddling sister, Anita, won’t let her give up on life, love, and Christmas quite so easily.
Anita stages a Christmas intervention for Callie with a homemade Advent calendar challenge—cheerful tasks to push Callie out of her comfort zone and into the holiday spirit, inspired by a childhood tradition. Callie reluctantly plays along, but when she comes face-to-face with a charming baker who just might be the spoonful of sugar she needs, her strict rules on love and the holidays are tested. As they strike a deal to do the activities together, could the twenty four little doors on Callie’s Advent calendar not only open up one, but two closed-off hearts?
Book Club Questions for The Christmas Countdown
- First all, what are your thoughts about Advent calendars? Do you get one during the holidays?
- Why did Anita decide that Callie should participate in the homemade calendar challenge? What would have been your reaction if you were Callie?
- Why do you feel Callie stayed at her job and in Fallbrook after the devastating break up with Oliver?
- Let’s talk about Callie’s initial run in with Marco, the handsome baker. What was your impression of their dynamic?
- Why did Marco agree to participate in all the challenges?
- Do you feel Callie and Marco are a good match? In what ways do they complement each other?
- Some of the challenges remind Callie of her childhood memories of Christmas. What are some of your favorite Christmas memories?
- Which one of Callie’s challenges were your favorite?
- The challenges help Callie regain her sense of self. What did you think of the pivotal scene when Callie tells off her new manager and quits? Why was this the right move for Callie?
- Callie agrees to look over Marco’s business bookkeeping, and in doing so, she discovers that not only is his business partner potentially stealing money, but he is also embarking on an affair with Marco’s ex-girlfriend. What were your thoughts as you read that unfold? Should Callie had waited to tell him? Why or why not?
- Eventually, her and Marco make up, and spend Christmas together. Do you think they are in it for the long haul? Why or why not?
- Let’s talk about some of her favorite aspects of holiday novels!
Additional Recommendations
Hope you enjoyed book club questions for The Christmas Countdown! Here are some more recommendations along with links to book club questions.
All I Want Is You by Falon Ballard
Another charming holiday rom-com is All I Want Is You by Falon Ballard. Check out my book club questions here.
All Jessica has ever wanted is her own happily ever after. But until that happens, she spends her days as a small-time romance writer, penning satisfying Happily Ever Afters to soothe the heartache left by her ex-boyfriend Nick—also a romance writer and now her biggest rival—who has found success writing love stories without happy endings. It’s what he’s good at, after all . . .
So when their professional obligations bring them to a remote inn a few days before Christmas, they’re a little more than peeved, especially when they get trapped sharing a room in a snowstorm. But what’s more fitting for two romantic writers in a slump? Realizing the friction between them might be the only cure for their writer’s block, they decide to turn their frustration into fiction . . . and the pages start flying. But will Jess’s heart soar, too? Nick is the last guy on earth she should love . . . but what if he is really all she wants for Christmas?
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
A fun and originally holiday mystery/romance is The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter. Check out my book club questions here.
Meet Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt:
She’s the new Queen of the Cozy Mystery.
He’s Mr. Big-time Thriller Guy.
She hates his guts.
He thinks her name is Marcie (no matter how many times she’s told him otherwise.)
But when they both accept a cryptic invitation to attend a Christmas house party at the English estate of a reclusive fan, neither is expecting their host to be the most powerful author in the world: Eleanor Ashley,the Duchess of Death herself.
That night, the weather turns, and the next morning Eleanor is gone.
She vanished from a locked room, and Maggie has to wonder: Is Eleanor in danger? Or is it all some kind of test? Is Ethan the competition? Or is he the only person in that snowbound mansion she can trust?
As the snow gets deeper and the stakes get higher, every clue will bring Maggie and Ethan closer to the truth—and each other. Because, this Christmas, these two rivals are going to have to become allies (and maybe more) if they have any hope of saving Eleanor.
Assuming they don’t kill each other first.
Happy reading!
