Have Yourself a Merry Little Meltdown by Sheila Roberts

 Have Yourself a Merry Little Meltdown

Book Summary

Jordan Frost had to do it. Her family was simply too perfectly eccentric not to put in a novel. She was thrilled when she got an agent and then a publishing deal. For two books. Two! Then reality set in. The book about an oddball family's holiday adventures is coming out in November. Just in time for her trip home to Holly Bay, Washington, from the big city. Jordan is desperately hoping she can keep her pseudonym a secret so she can stay in her family's good graces. She wrote the book under a pen name and when it was time for an author picture, she wore a wig and glasses. No one will know it was her, right?

Great disguise!

Wrong. Charles Pine, her high school friend who always hoped for more, recognizes the woman he's never gotten over as soon as he unpacks her book to shelve at the bookstore where he works. He knows this is the perfect opportunity to get Jordan to see him in a new light and he makes sure to run into her when she arrives home. She never thought of him as anything more than a shoulder to cry on back then, but he's determined to make her see him as boyfriend material. Can he be her hero and help her get through the season with her secret intact? Or at least save her from a holiday meltdown?

When a series of minor family emergencies threatens to add even more chaos to Jordan's already hectic life, Charles tries to help her find the true meaning of the holiday. Maybe coming home wasn't a bad idea after all...

My Thoughts

Grab the cocoa and cue the twinkle lights—Have Yourself a Merry Little Meltdown by Sheila Roberts is a cute holiday tale brimming with seasonal spirit! Wrapped in humor, merry mayhem, and heartfelt emotion, the story captures everything that makes the holiday season so wonderfully memorable. I especially enjoyed how Roberts balances festive joy with the wonderfully messy moments that make the characters feel relatable. The story unwraps Jordan Frost and Charles Pine’s history through glimpses across the years, revealing how they met and how their relationship blossomed. 

Jordan’s personal growth makes her heartwarming journey of self-discovery especially satisfying, while Charles—sweet, kind, and loyal—was easily my favorite character. Although the plot held few surprises and revisited some ideas more often than I would have preferred, its familiar rhythms also gave the story the cozy comfort of a favorite holiday tradition. The ending left me smiling. Pour the cocoa, settle in by the twinkle lights, and unwrap Have Yourself a Merry Little Meltdown—a cozy blend of romance, humor, relatable characters, and holiday cheer!

Can they fit another Christmas tree in there?

Let’s wrap up the week with cocoa, Christmas cheer, and a merry little meltdown! Grab a cozy cup and a copy of Have Yourself a Merry Little Meltdown, then settle in for plenty of laughter long after your mug is empty. I’ll return on Tuesday, October 20, with The Ghost and the Dead Librarian by Cleo Coyle—and there will be a giveaway! I hope you have a fabulous weekend. Mine will be a busy one with our community yard sale, but I’m ready for the fun. Until Tuesday, may your weekend be filled with wonderful finds, warm drinks, and plenty of page-turning delight!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.