Yours for the Season by Emily Stone

Melanie Stone returns with another wonderful holiday story centering around family and the conflicts faced by young people trying to follow dreams and fall in love.

Melanie and Finn meet in Edinburgh on New Years Eve. She’s a talented jewelry designer on the verge of a big break, and he’s a house flipper/carpenter. His family adores Melanie, and she them, but when Finn ends their relationship at his sister engagement party, Melanie is stunned and heartbroken.

 

Then Finn asks her to join his whole family the next Christmas, at a cozy home in Scotland, and pretend that they are still together.

As with all fake romances, someone finds out, but by the end of the book, the real question is just who is fooled!  Lovely writing and satisfying romance, with characters you will remember. Yours for the Season was released by Ballantine/Dell on October 7, 2025. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the delightful review copy.

What We Can Know by Ian McEwan

 

Ian McEwen books have been my must reads for years, but I would never call them easy reads. What Can We Know juxtaposes the literary scholars of the future against intellectuals of our era who take themselves a bit too seriously. Add the fact that the world we know today has been mostly destroyed by nuclear explosions and the flooding of a warmed globe, and the scholars face even more complications to discern meaning from 21^st century poetry than we might today. 

As always, beautiful writing carries McEwan’s twisty story to a rewarding finish.  What We Can Know was released September 23, 2025. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Knopf, for the review copy.

My Favorite Holidate by Lauren Blakely

 

A fake romance between a billionaire owner of an NFL franchise and his merchandise designer heats up during the company’s annual Christmas celebration which coincides with the designer’s sister and the billionaire’s best friend’s wedding.  This is a fun and easy Holiday read, complete with lots of snow, hot chocolate and spice.  When I say spice, I mean lots of explicit sexcapades, so if that’s not your thing, you might want to pick another author.  This one turns on the heat! Published on October 7, 2025, so it is ready when you are to cozy up!  Thanks to Atria and Netgalley for the advanced readers copy.

Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman

 

Grace and Henry have each lost a beloved spouse and their families want them to move on. But they were happy in their lives, and to lose their partner is sad. So, Grace and Henry are sad. When Henry’s mother sends him to fix Grace’s Wi-Fi at the holidays, it is clear that they have been set up.  But because they share the terrible experience of losing their spouses, they agree to be friends, because it is always nice to have someone to talk to who knows what you know.

They begin a friendship of sharing the movies they have loved with their past spouses, and with the help of an adorable dog, two fascinating kids and even a bunch of mice, Harry and Grace explore and share their grief and what it will mean to move forward in life.  The wonderful characters and their journey make for a delightful read, and the messages distilled from the holiday movies they share make this a charming book. Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon was released on October 14, 2025. Thanks to the publisher Ballantine/Dell and NetGalley for the early release copy.