Litcadia
Rate this

Make the Season Bright

Ashley Herring Blake

4.47

Two exes find themselves stuck at the same house for Christmas in this holiday romance by Ashley Herring Blake, USA Today bestselling author of Iris Kelly Doesn't Date.

It's been five years since Charlotte Donovan was ditched at the altar by her ex-fiancée, and she’s doing more than okay. Sure, her single mother never checks in, but she has her strings ensemble, the Rosalind Quartet, and her life in New York is a dream come true. As the holidays draw near, her ensemble mate Sloane persuades Charlotte and the rest of the quartet to spend Christmas with her family in Colorado—it is much cozier and quieter than Manhattan, and it would guarantee more practice time for the quartet’s upcoming tour. But when Charlotte arrives, she discovers that Sloane’s sister Adele also brought a friend home—and that friend is none other than her ex, Brighton.

All Brighton Fairbrook wanted was to have the holliest, jolliest Christmas—and try to forget that her band kicked her out. But instead, she’s stuck pretending like she and her ex are strangers—which proves to be difficult when Sloane and Adele’s mom signs them all up for a series of Christmas dating events. Charlotte and Brighton are soon entrenched in horseback riding and cookie decorating, but Charlotte still won’t talk to her. Brighton can hardly blame her after what she did.

After a few days, however, things start to slip through. Memories. Music. The way they used to play together—Brighton on guitar, Charlotte on her violin—and it all feels painfully familiar. But it’s all in the past and nothing can melt the ice in their hearts...right?

Adult
Pages
375
Audiobook
10 hr 25 min
First published
October 1, 2024
Language
English
Edition
Audiobook

Shelved by 4 Litcadians

Reviews

  • Finished November 22, 2024

  • Finished December 31, 2024

    ⭐⭐ 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Favorite line: A cheery queery Christmas.. 📖 My thoughts Wow, I struggled with this one and it's a bit on me for not reading the synopsis fully. The entire book was one big miscommunication trope. I couldn't get over how Brighton leaves Charlotte aka Lola (I hated the two different names btw) at the altar over where they live and never comes right out and says "Hey, I literally hate it here." She dances around it, cries in the shower, calls her mom constantly. She expects Charlotte to be a mind reader and while yes, people can pick up silent signs, it's totally unfair to expect them to. I also couldn't get over there willingness to stay in this Christmas arrangement they found themselves in. Not only did they stay, they purposefully did things to make the situation worse! I just couldn't handle it. A book centered around constant miscommunication is a no from me. More like make the season ignite..into flames. ⚠️ Trigger Warnings Graphic: Sexual content, Abandonment, Alcohol Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Grief Minor: Religious bigotry, Confinement, Racism 🌶️ Spice Despite my disliking the plot, the spice was actually pretty good. The two women really did have nice chemistry and the author writes smut well. It was hard for me to enjoy anything else though.

  • Finished December 16, 2024