A sentimental advertising creative and a blunt, no-nonsense bar owner find a second chance at love while binge-watching iconic holiday movies in this poignant and heartwarming romance, from the author of Charm City Rocks and All Together Now.

The new year barely began when Grace White and Henry Adler both lost their spouses. Now, nearly a year later, the first holiday season since their “Great and Terrible Sadnesses” approaches. Although their mothers scheme to matchmake the two surviving spouses, it’s clear that neither is ready to date again. Yet no one understands what they’re going through better than each other, and a delicate friendship is born.

When Henry sees an ad for a Christmas movie marathon—once an annual tradition for him and his wife—Grace offers to watch some films with him, despite her aversion to a few of his picks. Her two young kids, Ian and Bella, also join in whenever possible—bedtimes permitting, of course.

With each movie, Grace and Henry’s shared grief eases as they start to see a life beyond the sadness. But as they draw closer, other romantic possibilities leave them both uncertain about their future together. Is their bond merely the result of loneliness and shared circumstances, or have they found something that’s worth taking a shot at . . . again?

I received a copy of this audiobook courtesy of the publisher. All thoughts are my own.

I think I can safely announce that this book is officially a holiday favorite. I went in expecting something sweet and maybe a little sad, but I was not prepared for how deeply I’d fall for these characters or how much this story would touch me. I can already tell this is going to be one of those books I reread every December, right alongside my must-watch holiday movies.

Grace and Henry both lost their spouses at the very start of the year. They’ve spent the months since trying to rebuild their lives, surviving their grief in very different but equally relatable ways. Their families, being well-meaning and nosy, see an opportunity to push them together, but Grace and Henry make it clear right away that they aren’t ready for anything romantic. What grows instead is one of the most genuine, tender friendships I’ve read in a long time.

Yes, there’s a romance here, but it never feels rushed or forced. It blossoms out of understanding, shared grief, humor, vulnerability, and the comfort of simply being seen. When they start watching Christmas movies together—a tradition Henry shared with his late wife—the story finds its emotional spine. Anyone who has ever clung to a holiday ritual after losing someone will recognize the ache and the sweetness wrapped up in that choice. Heck, I have my own list of holiday movies that I MUST watch every year, so I totally understood Henry’s need to continue his own.

The writing is pitch perfect. Not one beat feels wasted. Matthew Norman balances humor and sadness with such ease that you never feel emotionally whiplashed. Grace’s sense of humor is a particular standout. She’s sharp, sarcastic, and incredibly endearing. Henry, meanwhile, feels soft and steady even in his heartbreak. Together, they feel like two people you could know in real life, which makes their connection all the more rewarding.

The kids are fantastic too. Ian and Bella are the kind of child characters that actually feel like children rather than overly precocious mini-adults. Their voices were perfect and they were believable, funny, curious, occasionally chaotic little humans. They bring so much warmth to the story and add real emotional stakes without ever feeling contrived.

What surprised me most was how grounded the book stayed. This isn’t a romance that tries to sweep you off your feet with big dramatic gestures, and it didn’t try to cram in every trope under the sun. It’s one that slowly builds trust, comfort, and companionship. Watching Grace and Henry navigate their grief while forming something new felt incredibly honest. Their connection doesn’t erase what they’ve lost; it grows around it.

I listened to the audiobook through an ALC, and I can’t recommend that format enough. Alex Finke and Jay Meyers nail every emotional turn. Their performances felt lived-in and real, giving Grace and Henry even more dimension. They captured the humor, the sorrow, the awkwardness and the hope. It all lands beautifully.

This book truly has it all: heart, humor, grief, healing, family, community, and an authentic slow-burn romance that earns every bit of its final payoff. It’s a holiday book that doesn’t shy away from sadness but never lets it drown out the joy.

If you want a Christmas read with real emotional weight, lovable characters, and a romance that unfolds quietly and beautifully, this one deserves a spot on your holiday bookshelf. I adored it.

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