The Twelve Loves of Christmas by Alexandria Bellefleur et al ~ a Review

by MK French

This is a collection of twelve Christmas-themed love stories that you can read one by one as a countdown to the holiday. 

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

September 2026; Atria Books; 978-1668250419
audio, ebook, print (384 pages); holiday romance

We open with "A Merry Little Christmas" by Jessica Joyce. Eleanor goes with her best friend for a family getaway, and the ex she can't stop thinking about is also there. It's a short and sweet second chance romance, and it sets the tone for the rest of the book. There are the inevitable tropes: teenage crush on an older brother's friend, getting stuck in close quarters, only one bed (or napcab in one story), working together to solve a mystery, power outages, storms, nursing an injury, getting back at an ex, etc.

The stories are mostly romantic love, but "Someone To Hold Onto" by Elise Bryant also involves community and togetherness. My favorite in the collection is Olivia Dade's "A Solstice Kiss." It starts off as a means to annoy an ex online, but ultimately it's about Ellie figuring out what she wants in her life and how to get it. Felix happens to be a great and thoughtful bonus. This book is rather like a box of chocolates you always see near holidays. You know which flavors the centers will have, and the joy is in finding your favorites to savor.

Buy The Twelve Loves of Christmas at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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