You Make it Feel Like Christmas by. Sophie Sullivan | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: You Make it Feel Like Christmas

Author: Sophie Sullivan

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 9/23/25

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Categories: Holiday Romance, Christmas, Second Chance Romance, Hockey Romance, Sweet Romance

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

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.

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.

Content Warning: mental health, interfering parents

+ This is a second chance romance full of charm! It’s set during Christmas in a small town with a Christmas Tree Farm. There is a lot of holiday spirit in this one!

+ This story has all the cozy holiday romance elements that make you feel cozy and maybe a little romantic. Maisie and her family are all meeting to spend time together at a Christmas Tree Farm when she runs into her one-night stand, hockey star, Nick King. The forced proximity is making them remember the one night they shared and make them want more.

+ The romance is sweet but both Maisie and Nick are dealing with career uncertainty. Nick doesn’t know if it’s time to hang up his skates and spend more time with family or start his own. Whereas Maisie is a photographer with her own business but her mom wants more for her. But it’s clear no matter what, both of them have so much support from their families. There was a strong family bond theme in this story.

~ I know it’s a standalone so maybe the story has to move a little fast but once Maisie and Nick see each other and sparks fly again, there is no real hesitation between them. I thought it was maybe a bit too fast? Maybe let Nick work a little harder for Maisie’s attention since he was the one who kind of ghosted her after their one-night stand. But maybe it’s going for a sweet romance, without too many trouble between the main lovers.

~ Also though there is Christmas vibes for the first half of the story, it turns basically into Nick’s hockey career in the second half of the story.

Final Thoughts:

This was a cute, quick read with lots of Christmas vibes. I thought Maisie and Nick’s romance was sweet and I loved the family themes even though Maisie’s mom could have supported her a bit better. If you are looking for a holiday romance with major Christmas vibes but also hockey romance vibes – then you will enjoy this one.