A fun holiday dating concept that unfortunately left me wanting more romance, more chemistry, and a whole lot more Christmas magic.

I absolutely loved the concept behind “25 Dates of Christmas,” and of course I was rooting for Luke and Anna to find their happily ever after. Unfortunately, their relationship just never quite clicked for me. Anna came across as a little too desperate, while Luke wasn’t particularly likable, and I struggled to believe in their connection. Rather than a natural progression toward love, the romance often felt forced.

I also went into this expecting all the cozy, festive Christmas vibes, but those were surprisingly lacking. I wanted holiday magic, swoon-worthy moments, and characters I could fall in love with, but the story never quite delivered on those expectations.

The narration was another challenge. Cassandra York did a phenomenal job voicing the female characters, but her interpretation of Luke nearly had me turning off the audiobook after the first chapter. I’m glad I persevered because I did enjoy aspects of the story, but this is one romance I genuinely believe would have benefited from duet narration. Having a male narrator bring Luke to life might have made a significant difference in how I connected with him.

Ultimately, “25 Dates of Christmas” had a promising premise, but the romance and holiday atmosphere didn’t quite live up to what I’d hoped for.

📖 25 Dates of Christmas
✍️ Kathryn Freeman
🎙️ Cassandra York
🎁 HarperAudio Adult
📅 10/27/26
⭐️⭐️⭐️