You Make It Feel Like Christmas
by Toni Shiloh

My rating: 4 / 5
Genre: Christian Christmas romance

Going home for the holidays for the first time in years isn’t the cozy, joyful situation for Starr Lewis that it might have been. For one thing, Starr has just lost her job and doesn’t want to be seen as the only unsuccessful Lewis. On top of that, her older sister is getting married to Starr’s ex-boyfriend on Christmas Eve and doesn’t realize how uncomfortable Starr is being dragged into the pre-wedding festivities. Fortunately, Starr finds some comfort with Waylon Emmerson, her brother’s best friend, who is sympathetic to her discomfort and is also quite charming.

I had no idea going into this book that it would have so much overlap with my own life and current circumstances. 1) Waylon’s mom died 6 months previous, and he’s facing his first Christmas without her. My mom died this past February. 2) Starr’s family drama with her sister and ex-boyfriend is different than, yet brings up the same feelings as, a major family drama brewing with my sisters and our dad this holiday season. 3) Starr is the youngest of 5 siblings, whom she never really felt like a part of and whom she never really thought cared about her as much as they cared about each other. My youngest sister (of 4 total) has expressed the same basic feelings in the past, so while it is not me in that position, I am sympathetic. 4) Starr writes as a hobby but dreams of turning it into something more. Though I’m at a vastly different place in my writing journey, and the outcome of this arc was fairly predictable, there were definitely some feelings in there that I connected with. (And I really need to get myself some “first draft” and “editing” candles like Starr.)

I really appreciate the way these different themes play out, both individually and together, in the story. I also like that, though the romance is a major focus of the book, the author didn’t feel the need to throw in random obstacles just for the sake of adding drama and drawing out the happily ever after. I also highlighted several lines of dialog or inner monologue that I appreciated as wise advice for following God’s will, even when there doesn’t seem to be an obvious “yes” or “no,” or for honoring a deceased loved one while still remaining true to yourself. Though there were some common romance tropes that I didn’t love and a much quicker jump to kissing than I prefer, overall, I was quite happy with this story. It contains a lot of Christmas charm, and I think that anyone looking for a feel-good, faith-based read this Christmas that isn’t too over-the-top sappy should pick up this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bethany House for providing me a copy of this book to review.

Find out more about You Make It Feel Like Christmas

See what I’m reading next.

If you’ve read this book, or read it in the future, feel free to let me know what you think!