You Make It Feel Like Christmas Review

Author: Sophie Sullivan

Publisher: St. Martins Griffin

Release Date: Sept. 23, 2025

Many thanks to the publisher for a complimentary arc of this title for review. Opinions expressed are my own.

All bets are off when a single-minded photographer and a professional hockey player are forced to spend a week together on his sister’s Christmas tree farm, perfect for fans of Jenny Holiday and Maggie Knox.

Review:

Nothing says Christmas like a small town, low angst romance set on on a Christmas tree farm (Tickle Tree Farm) in Merry, Washington, reuniting a couple who can't forget their one-night stand six months ago - the one where he ghosted her the next morning. Throw in lots of family members and an adorable kid and you've got a winner. 

Maisie Smart is a highly successful photographer whose family is invited to Tickle Tree Farm for the holiday. It's just what Maisie needs until she discovers the brother of her host, Ellie, is none other than Nick King, professional hockey player and her steamy, unforgettable one night stand. Nick is recovering from a knee injury and at a crossroads in his professional life when he's floored to realize that Maisie is the one-night stand that he can't get out of his head. Nick had his reasons for leaving without saying goodbye afterwards, and he's regretted it ever since. Can he get a second chance with Maisie? Does he want one?

Author Sophie Sullivan excels at rendering mesmerizing, small town, happy ever after romances with a lot of family and friends' dynamics. While lighthearted on the surface, deeper themes include mental health, major life changes and parental control over life choices. Sullivan weaves it all together flawlessly with holiday decorations, music, and activities including snowball fights. One precocious kid brings the cute factor, and the shower scenes bring the steam. The author does a great job handling Nick's mental health issues in an honest, relatable way drawing attention to the issue of mental health struggles among professional athletes and the keeping it quiet mentality that exist among some. 

You Make It Feel Like Christmas is a sweet, entertaining, heartwarming romance that's sure to put readers in the mood for Christmas as well as romance. Characterizations are perfect and the scenes are beautifully descriptive. Highly recommended to fans of second chance, low angst romance. Grab this one for the holidays! 

Synopsis:

Maisie Smart has a don’t-look-back policy–not on the choice she made to be a photographer (despite her family’s wishes) and not on the one-night stand she had six months ago. Sleeping with someone she barely knew was out of character; sleeping with a professional hockey player who bolted the morning after is a whole new level of embarrassing. Getting invited to spend the week at Tickle Tree Farm with her family this Christmas is a sure way to fill her with holiday spirit. Until the universe throws a Grinch in her festive plans in the form of the one man she hoped to avoid.

Nick King is a mess. After a significant injury lands him on the bench for every game for the rest of the month, he has more time to dwell on the one night stand he can’t get out of his head. With time on his hands, his anxiety hovering, and the holidays around the corner, he figures visiting his sister and nephew at their Christmas tree farm will be a good way to lie low and sort himself out. He’s in for a surprise when it turns out Maisie is staying at his sister’s and his attraction for her hasn’t lessened one bit in the last six months. Apparently, neither has her anger at him for bailing. But Christmas is the time for second chances, and the forced proximity may help Nick and Maisie unwrap feelings neither of them can walk away from twice.