A Charming Holiday Romance!











Holiday Romance
Atria Books
October 22, 2024
ebook, paperback, audiobook
302

A former child star learns that holiday magic can come from a change in perspective in this charming and hilarious holiday rom-com.
Charlotte hates the holidays. As a former child actress, she starred in a modern classic of a holiday movie, and its fans won’t let her move on. When a piece revealing that her reluctance nixed plans for a reboot, she flees to London to spend the five-week countdown to the holidays with her sister.
But the ghosts of Christmas past follow her there when she ends up at Eden Priory, a filming location for the movie she has never visited. There, after being recognized by a fan while viewing the extraordinary holiday decorations, she’s accidently left behind, forcing her to accept a ride back to London from Graham, the son of the owners. Their family business—and the funds to keep their historic house running—relies on holiday cheer, and Graham knows a visit from a holiday star would bring in more visitors.
Now an illustrator, Charlotte accepts a commission illustrating iconic holiday movie scenes in London and its environs. Graham offers to help escort her, as long as she’ll commit to an art workshop at Eden Priory. But as Charlotte’s chaotic family holiday goes awry, she begins spending more time scouting locations with Graham. She may not love a Christmas romance…but what if she has one of her own?
“Did someone force you into that reindeer suit at gunpoint?” she asked. “Is this a hostage situation?”
Christmas Is All Around by Martha Waters is a brand new contemporary romance debut by an author who has cut her teeth in the literary world by writing delightful historical romances. Set in London and the surrounding countryside, Christmas Is All Around features a former childstar, Charlotte, as she helps an owner of an estate attempt to save his childhood home which also happens to be the filming location of the movie she was in as a child.

love actually gif via tenor
Part of the charm of Christmas Is All Around and why I liked Charlotte’s character arc so much is that Charlotte is so authentically Grinch-like, especially in such a whimsy-filled place such as London during the holidays. Charlotte’s meet cute with Graham and resulting partnership that leads to a situationship was a slow burn until opportunity (ahem only one room) gave both Graham and Charlotte a way to level up their relationship. There’s no question that Graham falls first. With Charlotte’s agreement to help Graham and his family by painting a series of locations that have importance in beloved holiday movies, Graham’s not-so-subtle way of keeping Charlotte busy and included in his own holiday activities could make even the most grinchy girl swoon.
“You know, it’s funny because it is both a holiday romance, because that’s what you call a vacation, and also a literal holiday romance, because it’s three days before Christmas and my life appears to be sponsored by the Hallmark Channel now.”
With Charlotte’s own distaste discoloring her holiday experiences, she finds herself drawn to Graham in a way that she’s never experienced before. The trust and companionship that she builds with Graham allows Charlotte to come to terms with her dislike of her childhood acting and even start to repair her tenuous relationship with her own parents.

Christmas Drinking via giphy
Through zany moments (I did include a holiday drinking gif for a reason), quippy conversations, and effervescent characters, Martha Waters brings a new spin to holiday rom coms. Charlotte and Graham deal with family issues in their own way and yet they reconcile in a way that would do any holiday romance justice. Christmas Is All Around is a charming and delightful new contemporary romance from an author who is just as memorable as her characters.
Christmas Is All Around is available everywhere, and should not be missed for any holiday romance or movie lover!

Jes is a self-proclaimed bookworm, who recently moved from the PNW back to the Midwest. When her nose isn’t in a book, she’s spending time with her husband, two kids, and her three fur babies, or exploring the globe. She also firmly believes that you should start the day with coffee, and end the day in bed with a good book.