Editorial note: I received a copy of The Christmas Countdown in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
The Christmas Countdown by Holly Cassidy is a charming and festive read about a woman’s journey to regain her self-confidence, and also finding a new romance too.
Another holiday book read, and this is definitely one of my favorites. It really has everything I look for in a holiday story: scenic and descriptive Christmas vibes, a compelling protagonist, a sweet romance, and more. I also like the focus on family, especially sisterhood. All around just a wonderful read.
I loved the adult twist on an advent calendar full of challenges. The protagonist experiences a ton of growth. And the romance is great too. Plus, it is generally funny in places too.
Such a lovely rom-com all around!
BTW, if you’re looking for more festive reads, check out my 2024 holiday book list.
What’s the Story About
Callie is not excited about Christmas this year. She’s still recovering after the sudden breakup with her childhood sweetheart. And she’s not going home for the holidays as he will be there with his new fiancé.
While Callie is in grinch mode, her sister Anita is determined to help get Callie back into the holiday spirit. 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, her strict rules on love and the holidays are tested.
Callie’s Journey
Yes, it features a super cutesy and fun cover. And the story is overall charming and enjoyable. But there is also real growth at play for Callie. Her ex boyfriend really did a terrible number on her: she moved with him to a small town, and they even worked at the same company. And all of a sudden, he says he’s no longer in love with her, and they break up.
But she still has to work at the same office. And then he goes off and gets engaged to another woman so quickly. It’s a lot of heartache to take, especially from someone she’s loved for ages.
Sometimes with holiday stories where the lead is anti-Christmas, it can feel a stretch. But in this case, I totally get why Callie was not in a festive mood. And that made it all the more enjoyable when she regained her love for the holidays.
Participating in the challenges pushes Callie out of her comfort zone. And it also makes her realize how she was experiencing life on autopilot and not using her voice to express her opinions and wants and desires. I thought her growth journey was really well done.
Christmas Vibes
The advent calendar challenges were so fun and festive! Caroling, baking, decorations, and more. It really was such a fun plot point—so vivid and appealing. It made me want to do a similar challenge!
I really loved that this novel embraced the holiday season. I read a couple there were more light on Christmas vibes, which worked too, but I’m happy to have read one that was clearly written to celebrate the holidays.
Marco, her romantic interest, is a baker who loves baking holiday treats, which was a nice added touch. Their relationship dynamic was great, and felt true to both characters. You see why they are such a good fit, and work well together.
Verdict
As you can tell, I highly enjoyed The Christmas Countdown! It was such a lovely, and festive read for the holiday season. A great romance, mixed with some humor and lots of character growth makes this one a must-read holiday book. If you have time to read just one holiday book this year, I highly suggest you pick The Christmas Countdown!
For book clubs, check out my discussion questions here.
