If you’re craving a cozy holiday read that delivers heartfelt moments, small-town charm, and just the right dose of romance, Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas is your next go-to. Known for her iconic historicals, Kleypas brings her signature emotional depth to contemporary romance with a story that feels like a warm cup of cocoa on a snowy night.

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What is Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas all about?

When Mark Nolan unexpectedly becomes guardian to his young niece Holly, he’s thrust into fatherhood just as she stops speaking from grief. Enter Maggie Collins, a widow with a whimsical toy store and a heart still healing. Together, they learn that love, and a little Christmas magic, can bring the most unexpected families together.

Fun fact: Did you now Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas was made into a movie? It’s called Christmas with Holly, and it’s mandatory watching very holiday season.

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa KIeypas Book Review

There is a reason why Lisa Kleypas is a New York Times Bestseller. For those of you who read historical romances, I’m sure you are aware of Kleypas’s amazing Wallflowers and Hathaways series. Kleypas is simply the queen when it comes to historical romance. Her cunning wit and endearing characters jump out of the pages and settles in your heart where you find yourself scouring her backlist to get that feeling back!

I will admit, I was terrified to read her contemporary novels just because I didn’t think they would live up to her beloved historicals. Contemporary romance isn’t a genre that I read often and so there isn’t much for me to compare this to, but nevertheless, this book charmed me to my toes!

In Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas, Mark Nolan lost his sister in a car crash and was thrust into the world of parenting without warning. Handling six-year-old Holly was the last thing on his to-do list. As if cooking and cleaning wasn’t enough, little Holly chose not to say a single word to anyone, scaring Mark to the point where he questioned if she would ever speak again.

Kleypas has a way of making me love all her characters. Mark was SUCH a great guy! He was charming and funny. He was persistent, but never overbearing. And even as his other relationship crumbled, he was still optimistic about that failed relationship, never regretting any of the events. Mark Nolan was just an all-around good guy, the kind that made this book so easy to love.

Maggie is such a sweetheart. Being a widow for two years has stripped some of her hope from her life. But there was still a spark inside her that Mark saw and the two of them had unbelievable chemistry! And although there’s not a lot of steamy sex in this one, their conversations are just as passionate. I especially loved the conversation about coffee. So unbelievably cute!

Then there is Mark’s younger brothers, Sam and Alex who need to have their own books! Sam had the best sense of humour and Alex was already showing some growth as a character.

Holly, of course, was the light of this book, overcoming a personal barrier that had nothing to do with her selective mutism. In the beginning, she asked Santa for a mother, one that wouldn’t replace Victoria. But another one that could guide her through life and I thought Maggie fit that role from their very first encounter with one another.

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas was a book that warmed my heart. I loved it, and if you’re wondering if Kleypas’s contemps are worth the read…THEY ARE! Everything that I loved about her historicals was in this book. It was perfect!

With its soft romantic build, quiet emotional arcs, and just the right sprinkle of holiday wonder, Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas is the kind of story that lingers like the scent of pine and peppermint. Whether you’re a longtime Kleypas fan or just discovering her contemporary side, this book is a warm and worthy winter escape.

About the Friday Harbor Series by Lisa Kleypas

The Friday Harbor series by Lisa Kleypas is a tender, contemporary romance collection set in the picturesque Pacific Northwest. Each book follows a member of the Nolan family as they navigate love, healing, and unexpected second chances, often tied together by seasonal themes and emotional depth.

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Read More

• Next in the series: Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas
• Friday Harbor Series Guide
• Movie Review: Christmas with Holly (Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor adaptation)
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