When I put together my holiday reading list this year, this book wasn’t originally on my list. I had actually started reading “Wreck the Halls” by Tessa Bailey. I’d never read anything by that author before, and the premise sounded fun, but I found myself annoyed by the lead male character. He was a little too horny for a Christmas book, and I found his constant inner dialogue about sex to be a little off-putting, so I actually ended up DNF-ing it. I happened upon this book when looking for a replacement, and I am happy to say that I enjoyed it much more. I found it to be a charming and heartwarming holiday read that left me with a big smile on my face.

The story revolves around Laurel Grant, a social media manager for an Ohio tourism magazine. Laurel finds herself caught in a hilarious predicament when her boss – whose wife just left him – invites himself to Christmas eve-eve dinner with Laurel and her family. The problem is that he mistakenly believes she owns her twin sister Holly’s farm. Determined to keep her job, Laurel decides to play along with the misunderstanding, leading to a series of comical and awkward moments. Laurel and Holly are total opposites – Holly is happily married, a brilliant cook, and the perfect mother, while Laurel is single, can barely use a microwave, and has no kids. But her boss has seen all the social media posts from the farm and thinks otherwise, so now Laurel has to pretend to be a mother and a wife.

Holly gleefully plays along and is more than happy to pretend that Laurel is the mother of her kids, but she draws the line at allowing Laurel to pretend to be married to her husband, so she gets her husband’s best friend, Max, to pose as Laurel’s husband. The problem is that Max and Laurel are polar opposites, and they hate each other. I mean, how could Laurel – a hardcore Christmas lover – ever be with someone as grinchy as Max?

While the premise may sound familiar – especially if you love Hallmark Christmas movies as much as I do – it is still a really fun read, and a lot of that has to do with the characters. Laurel is a lovable protagonist, with her flaws and insecurities making her all the more relatable. As she navigates through the chaos of the holiday season, readers will find themselves rooting for her.

The dynamic between Laurel and her nemesis-turned-fake-husband, Max Beckett, adds an extra layer of entertainment to the story. Their snarky banter and undeniable chemistry create plenty of sparks, making every interaction between them a pleasure to read. As they spend more time together, Laurel begins to question her assumptions about Max, leading to a surprising and heartwarming journey of self-discovery.

I also loved Holly, and even though Gilbert – Laurel’s boss – is a little too extra and a bit of a sadsack, he’s necessary to the overall plot and serves a purpose (though, at times, I found him to be a bit much.)

Winfrey’s writing style is light and breezy, perfectly capturing the festive atmosphere of the holiday season. There’s nothing overly deep here, and that’s okay. This is a Christmas rom-com – it’s not supposed to be deep. The narrative flows smoothly, and the pacing is perfect.

One of the things I enjoyed the most about the book was the enchanting setting. The descriptions of the farm covered in snow, the cozy farmhouse, and the mouthwatering holiday meals create a vivid backdrop that adds to the heart of the story. Every scene feels warm, inviting, and, again, straight out of a Hallmark Christmas movie.

Overall, I found this to be a delightful and heartwarming holiday read. Whether you’re a fan of romantic comedies or just looking for a feel-good Christmas story, this book is a lot of fun.