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The Most Wonderful Time
The author of the beloved, bestselling Black Girls Must Die Exhausted trilogy returns with an intriguing blend of Such a Fun Age and The Holiday—an irresistible Christmastime novel about heartbreak, hope, love, and the joy that comes from rediscovering oneself.
With Christmas around the corner, Ramona Tucker is desperate to get away. She has been lying to her family about her engagement to Malik, her (ex) fiancé. But breakups are fickle, and Ramona is convinced that she can make her pretend wedding real again—but only if she can avoid everyone discovering her secret at her mother’s over-the-top Christmas Eve party.
Two-thousand miles away in sunny Malibu, Chelsea Flint needs money to hold on to the beloved beachside cottage she shared with her late parents. The taxes are expensive, and her art isn’t paying the bills. Once an irresistible star of the Los Angeles art scene, Chelsea seems to have lost that spark that vaulted her to the top. If she doesn’t rediscover that magic—and sell a painting—soon, it will be her family’s home she’s selling instead.
The two women swap homes, just in time, thanks to some careful planning by Ramona’s best friend and a sturdy nudge from Chelsea’s gallerist godmother. Ramona’s Malibu dreams of sun and surf are interrupted as her first night brings an unwelcome stranger to her door, making her question who she can trust—the meddling neighbor Joan, or Jay, the handsome beachside fitness instructor with a secret of his own. Chelsea, desperate for Ramona to stay, hides what she knows—even if that means jeopardizing her budding connection with charming Carlos, whose dreams for his future could be the very key to unlocking Chelsea from the weight of her past.
Combining escapist fun and sizzling romance, a dose of poignant self-reflection, and a little holiday magic, The Most Wonderful Time is a warm and relatable novel that will delight at Christmas and throughout the year.
With Christmas around the corner, Ramona Tucker is desperate to get away. She has been lying to her family about her engagement to Malik, her (ex) fiancé. But breakups are fickle, and Ramona is convinced that she can make her pretend wedding real again—but only if she can avoid everyone discovering her secret at her mother’s over-the-top Christmas Eve party.
Two-thousand miles away in sunny Malibu, Chelsea Flint needs money to hold on to the beloved beachside cottage she shared with her late parents. The taxes are expensive, and her art isn’t paying the bills. Once an irresistible star of the Los Angeles art scene, Chelsea seems to have lost that spark that vaulted her to the top. If she doesn’t rediscover that magic—and sell a painting—soon, it will be her family’s home she’s selling instead.
The two women swap homes, just in time, thanks to some careful planning by Ramona’s best friend and a sturdy nudge from Chelsea’s gallerist godmother. Ramona’s Malibu dreams of sun and surf are interrupted as her first night brings an unwelcome stranger to her door, making her question who she can trust—the meddling neighbor Joan, or Jay, the handsome beachside fitness instructor with a secret of his own. Chelsea, desperate for Ramona to stay, hides what she knows—even if that means jeopardizing her budding connection with charming Carlos, whose dreams for his future could be the very key to unlocking Chelsea from the weight of her past.
Combining escapist fun and sizzling romance, a dose of poignant self-reflection, and a little holiday magic, The Most Wonderful Time is a warm and relatable novel that will delight at Christmas and throughout the year.
352 pages, Paperback
First published October 8, 2024
About the author
Jayne Allen
6 books1,499 followersInstagram: @JayneAllenWrites
Publisher Instagram: @HarperPerennial
Publisher Twitter: @HarperPerennial
Jayne Allen is a black girl from Detroit who smiles widely, laughs loudly and loves to tell stories that stick to your bones. Her debut novel, "Black Girls Must Die Exhausted," which Kirkus Reviews called "both timely and enjoyable," touches upon contemporary women's issues such as workplace womanhood, race, fertility, modern relationships and mental health awareness, echoing her desire to bring both multiculturalism and multidimensionality to contemporary women's fiction with dynamic female protagonists who also happen to be black. When she's not writing "chocolate chick lit with a conscience," she's spending time with her girlfriends, keeping one ear open for her next saucy tale.
Publisher Instagram: @HarperPerennial
Publisher Twitter: @HarperPerennial
Jayne Allen is a black girl from Detroit who smiles widely, laughs loudly and loves to tell stories that stick to your bones. Her debut novel, "Black Girls Must Die Exhausted," which Kirkus Reviews called "both timely and enjoyable," touches upon contemporary women's issues such as workplace womanhood, race, fertility, modern relationships and mental health awareness, echoing her desire to bring both multiculturalism and multidimensionality to contemporary women's fiction with dynamic female protagonists who also happen to be black. When she's not writing "chocolate chick lit with a conscience," she's spending time with her girlfriends, keeping one ear open for her next saucy tale.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 29, 2024
I haven't read anything by Jayne Allen before, but I was in the mood for something Christmassy and decided that would be The Most Wonderful Time! While this wasn't brimming with holiday cheer as I had hoped, it was a nice romance that was both humorous and thought-provoking. I really enjoyed Ramona and Chelsea's viewpoints, and I loved that we get something different from each of them after they swap homes for a week. Ramona's refusal to accept her fiancé breaking up with her and Chelsea's creative funk get put into a different perspective after they see how the other lives and meet people in each other’s lives.
The Most Wonderful Time is solid on audio and while it wasn't anything I would call special, I really enjoyed listening to Mela Lee and I thought she did a great job differentiating her voice between the two female characters. At times it felt like there were 2 narrators instead of 1 and that is something I always like! The end isn’t necessarily wrapped up in a pretty HEA, but it was very realistic and left me feeling hopeful for Ramona and Chelsea. I would recommend this if you enjoy books that focus on family and reflection and are set around the holidays instead of focusing on them.
The Most Wonderful Time is solid on audio and while it wasn't anything I would call special, I really enjoyed listening to Mela Lee and I thought she did a great job differentiating her voice between the two female characters. At times it felt like there were 2 narrators instead of 1 and that is something I always like! The end isn’t necessarily wrapped up in a pretty HEA, but it was very realistic and left me feeling hopeful for Ramona and Chelsea. I would recommend this if you enjoy books that focus on family and reflection and are set around the holidays instead of focusing on them.
November 4, 2024
Thank you Harper Perennial for my copy! All thoughts are my own!
As much as I love Christmas and Christmas movies/books, I am very picky about the stories I choose to read each season. I look for books that have festive cheer and cozy settings, but that are also realistic and not too saccharine. When I came across The Most Wonderful Time, I was immediately intrigued by the comparison to The Holiday, one of my all time favorite films, and was pleasantly surprised by the depth of emotions and situations this book covered, while maintaining a coxy, festive atmosphere.
Synopsis:
“With Christmas around the corner, Ramona Tucker is desperate to get away. She has been lying to her family about her engagement to Malik, her (ex) fiancé. But breakups are fickle, and Ramona is convinced that she can make her pretend wedding real again—but only if she can avoid everyone discovering her secret at her mother’s over-the-top Christmas Eve party.
Two-thousand miles away in sunny Malibu, Chelsea Flint needs money to hold on to the beloved beachside cottage she shared with her late parents. The taxes are expensive, and her art isn’t paying the bills. Once an irresistible star of the Los Angeles art scene, Chelsea seems to have lost that spark that vaulted her to the top. If she doesn’t rediscover that magic—and sell a painting—soon, it will be her family’s home she’s selling instead.
The two women swap homes, just in time, thanks to some careful planning by Ramona’s best friend and a sturdy nudge from Chelsea’s gallerist godmother. Ramona’s Malibu dreams of sun and surf are interrupted as her first night brings an unwelcome stranger to her door, making her question who she can trust—the meddling neighbor Joan, or Jay, the handsome beachside fitness instructor with a secret of his own. Chelsea, desperate for Ramona to stay, hides what she knows—even if that means jeopardizing her budding connection with charming Carlos, whose dreams for his future could be the very key to unlock Chelsea from the weight of her past.
Combining escapist fun and sizzling romance, a dose of poignant self-reflection, and a little holiday magic, The Most Wonderful Time is a warm and relatable novel that will delight at Christmas and throughout the year.”—NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Concept—Like I said, The Holiday is one of my favorite films. I liked that this was a more diverse take on it and in two very places, Malibu and Chicago.
The Heart—This book had a lot of heart and addressed a lot of really important things, especially racism and how it relates to geography and activities.
The Settings—I haven’t been to Malibu before I have spent a lot of time in Chicago and I could feel the bitter cold wind off the lake!
What Didn’t Work:
The Pacing—I read the audio version of the book which could be a contributer, but I just felt like the timeline of things was a little funky and it made it hard for me to be invested in the relationships.
Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 1/5 Overall Rating: 4/5
Content Warnings:
racism
As much as I love Christmas and Christmas movies/books, I am very picky about the stories I choose to read each season. I look for books that have festive cheer and cozy settings, but that are also realistic and not too saccharine. When I came across The Most Wonderful Time, I was immediately intrigued by the comparison to The Holiday, one of my all time favorite films, and was pleasantly surprised by the depth of emotions and situations this book covered, while maintaining a coxy, festive atmosphere.
Synopsis:
“With Christmas around the corner, Ramona Tucker is desperate to get away. She has been lying to her family about her engagement to Malik, her (ex) fiancé. But breakups are fickle, and Ramona is convinced that she can make her pretend wedding real again—but only if she can avoid everyone discovering her secret at her mother’s over-the-top Christmas Eve party.
Two-thousand miles away in sunny Malibu, Chelsea Flint needs money to hold on to the beloved beachside cottage she shared with her late parents. The taxes are expensive, and her art isn’t paying the bills. Once an irresistible star of the Los Angeles art scene, Chelsea seems to have lost that spark that vaulted her to the top. If she doesn’t rediscover that magic—and sell a painting—soon, it will be her family’s home she’s selling instead.
The two women swap homes, just in time, thanks to some careful planning by Ramona’s best friend and a sturdy nudge from Chelsea’s gallerist godmother. Ramona’s Malibu dreams of sun and surf are interrupted as her first night brings an unwelcome stranger to her door, making her question who she can trust—the meddling neighbor Joan, or Jay, the handsome beachside fitness instructor with a secret of his own. Chelsea, desperate for Ramona to stay, hides what she knows—even if that means jeopardizing her budding connection with charming Carlos, whose dreams for his future could be the very key to unlock Chelsea from the weight of her past.
Combining escapist fun and sizzling romance, a dose of poignant self-reflection, and a little holiday magic, The Most Wonderful Time is a warm and relatable novel that will delight at Christmas and throughout the year.”—NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Concept—Like I said, The Holiday is one of my favorite films. I liked that this was a more diverse take on it and in two very places, Malibu and Chicago.
The Heart—This book had a lot of heart and addressed a lot of really important things, especially racism and how it relates to geography and activities.
The Settings—I haven’t been to Malibu before I have spent a lot of time in Chicago and I could feel the bitter cold wind off the lake!
What Didn’t Work:
The Pacing—I read the audio version of the book which could be a contributer, but I just felt like the timeline of things was a little funky and it made it hard for me to be invested in the relationships.
Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 1/5 Overall Rating: 4/5
Content Warnings:
racism
May 24, 2024
Anything with vibes of The Holiday (one of my all time favorite Christmas movies!) and I’m instantly intrigued. I wish I had liked this one more!
Sadly, there weren’t many Christmas elements to the story at all, and what little there was came in around the 60 percent mark. In reading the summary a little more closely, it doesn’t sound as Christmassy as I originally thought, so that’s on me. It’s kind of one of those stories that takes place at Christmas but doesn’t really have much else to do with Christmas. I was looking for a Christmas book, so I was let down a bit by that.
The writing style didn’t always work for me either. It’s very descriptive and evocative, with a lot of exposition. I personally prefer a balance of dialogue or even a more dialogue heavy story, so it didn’t always work for me, but the descriptions of both Malibu and Chicago were well done and made me want to visit (and eat fish tacos in Malibu and deep dish pizza in Chicago!).
Overall, it was okay, but if you’re going into it looking for holiday feels, you’d probably be better off with a different book.
Sadly, there weren’t many Christmas elements to the story at all, and what little there was came in around the 60 percent mark. In reading the summary a little more closely, it doesn’t sound as Christmassy as I originally thought, so that’s on me. It’s kind of one of those stories that takes place at Christmas but doesn’t really have much else to do with Christmas. I was looking for a Christmas book, so I was let down a bit by that.
The writing style didn’t always work for me either. It’s very descriptive and evocative, with a lot of exposition. I personally prefer a balance of dialogue or even a more dialogue heavy story, so it didn’t always work for me, but the descriptions of both Malibu and Chicago were well done and made me want to visit (and eat fish tacos in Malibu and deep dish pizza in Chicago!).
Overall, it was okay, but if you’re going into it looking for holiday feels, you’d probably be better off with a different book.
October 1, 2024
This book reminded me so much of the movie the Holiday, with the house switch and wanting to run away for the holidays. It was so cute, these characters needed the space and found something new. It was holiday magic and I enjoyed it a lot.
I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 5, 2024
The Most Wonderful Time by Jayne Allen
Thank you to @bibliolifestyle and @harper for this gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
In Chicago, Ramona is desperate to get away after she’s been lying to her family about her failed relationship. In Malibu, Chelsea needs money to pay the taxes on the beachfront cottage she lives in with her late parents. The two women swap homes during the holiday season.
I really enjoyed this story told through dual points of view. The food descriptions of the food in Chicago made me order a pizza! 🍕 🤣
I thought this book was super cute but also had depth and drama. I think it would make a great holiday movie!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to @bibliolifestyle and @harper for this gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
In Chicago, Ramona is desperate to get away after she’s been lying to her family about her failed relationship. In Malibu, Chelsea needs money to pay the taxes on the beachfront cottage she lives in with her late parents. The two women swap homes during the holiday season.
I really enjoyed this story told through dual points of view. The food descriptions of the food in Chicago made me order a pizza! 🍕 🤣
I thought this book was super cute but also had depth and drama. I think it would make a great holiday movie!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 24, 2024
This one gave me what I expected and more! Think of the movie The Holiday but add some family drama ,self discovery and of course hot romance. The home swap is Malibu and Chicago which is fun. Oh and Chelsea is white and Ramona is Black. I did a lot of swooning, smiling, and reflection.
June 14, 2024
The Most Wonderful Time by Jayne Allen
Rating: 3/5
Ramona Tucker, facing a Christmas with family where she's lied about her engagement to Malik, hopes to rekindle their relationship without exposing her deception at her mother's lavish Christmas Eve party.
Meanwhile, in sunny Malibu, Chelsea Flint struggles to keep her parents' cherished beachside cottage due to high taxes and a stalled art career. Once a celebrated figure in the LA art scene, Chelsea needs to sell a painting soon to save her home.
Thanks to careful planning by Ramona’s friend and a push from Chelsea’s gallerist godmother, the two swap homes just in time. Ramona's idyllic stay in Malibu takes an unexpected turn when a stranger appears, forcing her to question who she can trust—her nosy neighbour Joan or Jay, the enigmatic fitness instructor with secrets of his own.
Chelsea, eager for Ramona to stay, conceals information that could jeopardise Ramona's stay, including her budding romance with Carlos, whose ambitions might help Chelsea overcome her past.
I was so excited to dive into this book because it screamed Christmas, and since that is one of my favourite times of the year, I quickly requested it. However, after reading "The Most Wonderful Time," I can't say it delivered the festive Christmas feels I was hoping for.
The characters were decently crafted, and the plot was well thought out. However, the overall experience fell flat for me. The flow of the book felt uneven, which left me underwhelmed and unable to fully enjoy the story. Despite the promising premise and the holiday theme, the book didn't capture the magic of the season or the emotional depth I anticipated.
While there were moments of charm and potential, the inconsistency in pacing and the lack of a strong festive atmosphere made it a less enjoyable read than I had hoped. It’s disappointing because I was genuinely looking forward to a heartwarming holiday escape, but this book didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks | Harper Perennial, and the author, Jayne Allen, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.
Rating: 3/5
Ramona Tucker, facing a Christmas with family where she's lied about her engagement to Malik, hopes to rekindle their relationship without exposing her deception at her mother's lavish Christmas Eve party.
Meanwhile, in sunny Malibu, Chelsea Flint struggles to keep her parents' cherished beachside cottage due to high taxes and a stalled art career. Once a celebrated figure in the LA art scene, Chelsea needs to sell a painting soon to save her home.
Thanks to careful planning by Ramona’s friend and a push from Chelsea’s gallerist godmother, the two swap homes just in time. Ramona's idyllic stay in Malibu takes an unexpected turn when a stranger appears, forcing her to question who she can trust—her nosy neighbour Joan or Jay, the enigmatic fitness instructor with secrets of his own.
Chelsea, eager for Ramona to stay, conceals information that could jeopardise Ramona's stay, including her budding romance with Carlos, whose ambitions might help Chelsea overcome her past.
I was so excited to dive into this book because it screamed Christmas, and since that is one of my favourite times of the year, I quickly requested it. However, after reading "The Most Wonderful Time," I can't say it delivered the festive Christmas feels I was hoping for.
The characters were decently crafted, and the plot was well thought out. However, the overall experience fell flat for me. The flow of the book felt uneven, which left me underwhelmed and unable to fully enjoy the story. Despite the promising premise and the holiday theme, the book didn't capture the magic of the season or the emotional depth I anticipated.
While there were moments of charm and potential, the inconsistency in pacing and the lack of a strong festive atmosphere made it a less enjoyable read than I had hoped. It’s disappointing because I was genuinely looking forward to a heartwarming holiday escape, but this book didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks | Harper Perennial, and the author, Jayne Allen, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.
October 3, 2024
With Christmas around the corner, Ramona Tucker is desperate to get away. She has been lying to her family about her engagement to Malik, her (ex) fiancé. But breakups are fickle, and Ramona is convinced that she can make her pretend wedding real again—but only if she can avoid everyone discovering her secret at her mother’s over-the-top Christmas Eve party.
Two-thousand miles away in sunny Malibu, Chelsea Flint needs money to hold on to the beloved beachside cottage she shared with her late parents. The taxes are expensive, and her art isn’t paying the bills. Once an irresistible star of the Los Angeles art scene, Chelsea seems to have lost that spark that vaulted her to the top. If she doesn’t rediscover that magic—and sell a painting—soon, it will be her family’s home she’s selling instead.
The two women swap homes, just in time, thanks to some careful planning by Ramona’s best friend and a sturdy nudge from Chelsea’s gallerist godmother. Ramona’s Malibu dreams of sun and surf are interrupted as her first night brings an unwelcome stranger to her door, making her question who she can trust—the meddling neighbor Joan, or Jay, the handsome beachside fitness instructor with a secret of his own. Chelsea, desperate for Ramona to stay, hides what she knows—even if that means jeopardizing her budding connection with charming Carlos, whose dreams for his future could be the very key to unlock Chelsea from the weight of her past.
Combining escapist fun and sizzling romance, a dose of poignant self-reflection, and a little holiday magic, The Most Wonderful Time is a warm and relatable novel that will delight at Christmas and throughout the year.
My Take
I've decided to round up my rating from 3.5 to 4 stars because the book largely fulfills its promises. Allen remains consistent with her writing style, weaving race relations into complex romantic drama. If you've enjoyed her previous works, this latest one is unlikely to disappoint.
Two-thousand miles away in sunny Malibu, Chelsea Flint needs money to hold on to the beloved beachside cottage she shared with her late parents. The taxes are expensive, and her art isn’t paying the bills. Once an irresistible star of the Los Angeles art scene, Chelsea seems to have lost that spark that vaulted her to the top. If she doesn’t rediscover that magic—and sell a painting—soon, it will be her family’s home she’s selling instead.
The two women swap homes, just in time, thanks to some careful planning by Ramona’s best friend and a sturdy nudge from Chelsea’s gallerist godmother. Ramona’s Malibu dreams of sun and surf are interrupted as her first night brings an unwelcome stranger to her door, making her question who she can trust—the meddling neighbor Joan, or Jay, the handsome beachside fitness instructor with a secret of his own. Chelsea, desperate for Ramona to stay, hides what she knows—even if that means jeopardizing her budding connection with charming Carlos, whose dreams for his future could be the very key to unlock Chelsea from the weight of her past.
Combining escapist fun and sizzling romance, a dose of poignant self-reflection, and a little holiday magic, The Most Wonderful Time is a warm and relatable novel that will delight at Christmas and throughout the year.
My Take
I've decided to round up my rating from 3.5 to 4 stars because the book largely fulfills its promises. Allen remains consistent with her writing style, weaving race relations into complex romantic drama. If you've enjoyed her previous works, this latest one is unlikely to disappoint.
October 28, 2024
3.5 rounded up.
I enjoyed Jayne Allen's new holiday swap story that sees two women switching homes over the holidays and finding themselves in the process as they each are at a problematic time in their lives. More women's fiction than light-hearted romance, this story sees Black Chicagoan, Ramona recently dumped by her fiance and lying about it to her friends and family.
Meanwhile, Chelsea is an artist who has lost her spark and needs to find a way to make some money in order to pay the bills. When the chance to swap homes for a few weeks arises it seems like a way to solve both women's problems. Ramona and Chelsea also each meet a man who helps them appreciate new things about life in this heartwarming holiday tale that has a lot of depth.
I especially enjoyed Ramona's experience learning to surf and appreciating how that kind of leisure activity has not traditionally been open to members of the Black community in California. She also has to endure an unwelcome arrival thanks to Chelsea's wealthy white Malibu neighbor, Joan - who calls the neighborhood patrol and generally acts like an uptight, privileged 'Karen,' spying on her neighbors and making racist assumptions about them.
I thought Joan's character brought a slice of reality to this story that is rare for holiday romances but I appreciated that extra layer of realness. Good on audio and recommended for fans of The Holiday movie and books like I'll be gone for Christmas by Georgia K Boone (another holiday house swap romance). Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed Jayne Allen's new holiday swap story that sees two women switching homes over the holidays and finding themselves in the process as they each are at a problematic time in their lives. More women's fiction than light-hearted romance, this story sees Black Chicagoan, Ramona recently dumped by her fiance and lying about it to her friends and family.
Meanwhile, Chelsea is an artist who has lost her spark and needs to find a way to make some money in order to pay the bills. When the chance to swap homes for a few weeks arises it seems like a way to solve both women's problems. Ramona and Chelsea also each meet a man who helps them appreciate new things about life in this heartwarming holiday tale that has a lot of depth.
I especially enjoyed Ramona's experience learning to surf and appreciating how that kind of leisure activity has not traditionally been open to members of the Black community in California. She also has to endure an unwelcome arrival thanks to Chelsea's wealthy white Malibu neighbor, Joan - who calls the neighborhood patrol and generally acts like an uptight, privileged 'Karen,' spying on her neighbors and making racist assumptions about them.
I thought Joan's character brought a slice of reality to this story that is rare for holiday romances but I appreciated that extra layer of realness. Good on audio and recommended for fans of The Holiday movie and books like I'll be gone for Christmas by Georgia K Boone (another holiday house swap romance). Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 23, 2024
First, thank you Harper Perennial and NetGalley for providing me a digital ARC of Jayne Allen’s The Most Wonderful Time.
This story is about two women, Ramona and Chelsea, who swap homes for a week. Chelsea swaps her Malibu beach house due to financial reasons while Ramona swaps her Chicago condo to avoid telling her parents she is no longer engaged. Chelsea is a once highly-regarded but now uninspired artist, and Ramona is in denial thinking that she and her ex-fiance may get back together before their wedding date.
These women are both lost, out of touch with who they are, and just going through the motions of life.They set off for a week away to places they’ve never been to and only do so begrudgingly. As it turns out, a week away is exactly what they need. Theirs are journeys to self-discovery albeit very different from each other.
The story is so nuanced and raw. It touched on issues that I appreciate the author decided to tackle and was beautifully done. The descriptions of Chicago (I visit at least once a year) were spot on, and I felt like I was there. My favorite character was probably Joan, Chelsea’s meddling neighbor. I wasn’t expecting a third POV, but it added depth to the story and connected Ramona and Chelsea throughout.
This book is a great piece of women’s fiction, and I had “the most wonderful time” reading it.
This story is about two women, Ramona and Chelsea, who swap homes for a week. Chelsea swaps her Malibu beach house due to financial reasons while Ramona swaps her Chicago condo to avoid telling her parents she is no longer engaged. Chelsea is a once highly-regarded but now uninspired artist, and Ramona is in denial thinking that she and her ex-fiance may get back together before their wedding date.
These women are both lost, out of touch with who they are, and just going through the motions of life.They set off for a week away to places they’ve never been to and only do so begrudgingly. As it turns out, a week away is exactly what they need. Theirs are journeys to self-discovery albeit very different from each other.
The story is so nuanced and raw. It touched on issues that I appreciate the author decided to tackle and was beautifully done. The descriptions of Chicago (I visit at least once a year) were spot on, and I felt like I was there. My favorite character was probably Joan, Chelsea’s meddling neighbor. I wasn’t expecting a third POV, but it added depth to the story and connected Ramona and Chelsea throughout.
This book is a great piece of women’s fiction, and I had “the most wonderful time” reading it.
October 28, 2024
I went in expecting a light book that sounded like The Holiday. Yes, the plot is similar, but there’s a lot going on here and I loved it.
Chelsea is an artist who lives in a Malibu beach house. She inherited the house when her parents died but inherited their debt too. She’s been uninspired lately, hasn’t told any art, she can’t afford her bills.
Her agent decides to rent out Chelsea’s house for a week during Christmas time to help her make some money.
Ramona is in Chicago. Her fiancée left her a few months ago and she can’t bring herself to tell her parents. She’s also in denial about her fiancée coming back to her.
Ramona and Chelsea switch houses. They also cross over into other parts of each other’s lives. Ramona meets Jay who does beach yoga classes outside Chelsea’s house. To Chelsea he’s just the guy who plays music too loud, to Ramona he is someone special.
Chelsea meets Carlos who is like family to Ramona. He is an artist too.
There’s a lot of depth to this story. There’s even a story line regarding racism since Ramona is a Black woman who has a bad experience immediately after arriving to Chelsea’s beach house.
I really enjoyed this book. Highly recommend it and plan to check out other books by this author.
Chelsea is an artist who lives in a Malibu beach house. She inherited the house when her parents died but inherited their debt too. She’s been uninspired lately, hasn’t told any art, she can’t afford her bills.
Her agent decides to rent out Chelsea’s house for a week during Christmas time to help her make some money.
Ramona is in Chicago. Her fiancée left her a few months ago and she can’t bring herself to tell her parents. She’s also in denial about her fiancée coming back to her.
Ramona and Chelsea switch houses. They also cross over into other parts of each other’s lives. Ramona meets Jay who does beach yoga classes outside Chelsea’s house. To Chelsea he’s just the guy who plays music too loud, to Ramona he is someone special.
Chelsea meets Carlos who is like family to Ramona. He is an artist too.
There’s a lot of depth to this story. There’s even a story line regarding racism since Ramona is a Black woman who has a bad experience immediately after arriving to Chelsea’s beach house.
I really enjoyed this book. Highly recommend it and plan to check out other books by this author.
July 10, 2024
I'm a huge fan of Jayne's writing, and I've devoured every book in the Black Girls Must series. So, you can imagine how excited I was to get my hands on an advanced copy of her latest book, filled with entirely new characters. It was a refreshing change! The story's concept, involving two women swapping homes to find themselves and reignite their passions, really resonated with me. At first, I struggled a bit to grasp Chelsea's reasoning behind the switch, given it was mostly for financial gains, and wondered how it would truly benefit her in the long run. However, as the story unfolded, I saw the beauty in the swap - it was a journey of self-discovery for them both, far from their comfort zones, and I totally got on board with that. Jayne's writing? Still as captivating as ever. The characters were all engaging, even Joan, who, despite testing my patience at times, added an interesting twist to the tale and grew a lot by the end. Speaking of the end, it left me wanting just a bit more closure but, all things considered, the book was a delightful read!
November 3, 2024
I received an ARC of this book and a finished copy thanks to the publishers :)
So after reading the "Black Girls Must..." (which was very lackluster IMO) I was excited to read Jayne Allen's new book, hoping it would be different than her series; and boy was I wrong.
This book is very boring and lackluster. I struggled to read it and was about to DNF it many times.
The main characters, Ramona & Chelsea, are very one dimensional and the secondary character, Joan, was just completely ugh. I don't see why Joan was really added into the different POVs but eh, I digress.
Joan was a truly UNLIKABLE character. She was an implicit racist and I just did not like her.
Overall, this book was just boring to me. This could be 5 stars to someone else but to me, I wouldn't think about rereading it again.
So after reading the "Black Girls Must..." (which was very lackluster IMO) I was excited to read Jayne Allen's new book, hoping it would be different than her series; and boy was I wrong.
This book is very boring and lackluster. I struggled to read it and was about to DNF it many times.
The main characters, Ramona & Chelsea, are very one dimensional and the secondary character, Joan, was just completely ugh. I don't see why Joan was really added into the different POVs but eh, I digress.
Joan was a truly UNLIKABLE character. She was an implicit racist and I just did not like her.
Overall, this book was just boring to me. This could be 5 stars to someone else but to me, I wouldn't think about rereading it again.
September 12, 2024
If you're looking for Christmas vibes you won't find them here. It does take place over the Christmas holiday, but that's it. This book is based on two different women whose lives are ripped apart. In the end they both heal and find themselves. I really enjoyed the read it just took me some time to get through. This book doesn't have chapters, but it is broken up by dates with different character perspectives throughout the dates. Some dates were longer than others and I hate stopping in the middle so I had to make or find time to read the date all at one time. Plus I didn't feel any real feelings or connections to any of the characters while reading this book which brought my rating down. Overall a good read. 3/5 stars.
May 11, 2024
📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 Malibu and Chicago are approximately 2,000 miles away from each other, an entire 24 hour drive and varying hours of flying based on connections. For Romona in Chicago and Chelsea in Malibu, both women are facing a Christmas that is anything but merry and bright. Could a house swap turn their holiday season around? The Most Wonderful Time tackles the real world hardships that people endure, even around the Christmas season in a realistic yet hopeful manner. The Most Wonderful Time dares us to believe that perhaps Christmas really is a magical time of healing and finding authentic connections.
4.5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4.5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 11, 2024
Thought the premise of this book—house swap for Christmas!—was very fun. There were some parts I enjoyed, but ultimately had a hard time caring about the two main characters. However, I thought the secondary character development (Jay, Carlos, and even Joan) was more fleshed out, so I particularly liked any scenes when Chelsea and Ramona spent time with those three! And, without giving spoilers, I appreciated the effort to add some not-so-fluffy themes to a rom com. It definitely made me want to check out some of the authors previous books, which I know are well-loved! Thanks to Harper Perennial for the ARC in exchange for honest review.
October 23, 2024
YES IF: you’re the type of person that gets fed up about all the Christmas novels.
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Even tho I read the blurb, I was like ‘it’s a Christmas book, right?’ Well… it is, for sure. BUT it’s def more on the side of not? Like it revolves around Christmas so that’s the thing.
I’ll be mega honest, I DNF’d at 50% . A part of me wants to give it 3❄️ because the blurb does tell you what’s up BUT I’m like… eh. Idk I feel biased since I do enjoy holiday romances. I���ll give it a 3, but if you are like me, and really enjoy holiday novels. I’d give this one a pass
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Even tho I read the blurb, I was like ‘it’s a Christmas book, right?’ Well… it is, for sure. BUT it’s def more on the side of not? Like it revolves around Christmas so that’s the thing.
I’ll be mega honest, I DNF’d at 50% . A part of me wants to give it 3❄️ because the blurb does tell you what’s up BUT I’m like… eh. Idk I feel biased since I do enjoy holiday romances. I���ll give it a 3, but if you are like me, and really enjoy holiday novels. I’d give this one a pass
November 6, 2024
This just did not do it for me. It seemed like it was between multiple things both trying to be like such a fun age and a Christmas romance like the holiday? And didn’t end up doing either of those. I didn’t like having Joan’s perspective and she really was just a caricature of a Karen with no reality to her at all. Theoretically, I totally get that storyline and why she was there, (sadly I know there are many people who would fit into that stereotype ) but it just felt flatly executed. And I didn’t Really care or root for either romance?
September 26, 2024
This is a sweet and spicy holiday romance about Ramona and Chelsea, two strangers who decide to switch homes for the holidays to escape from the stressors of life.
Ramona is still reeling after her ex-finance walked away in the middle of wedding planning and she doesn't know how to tell her family and risk disappointing them (hello it's me 🤣🤦♀️). Chelsea is a struggling artist who is at risk of losing the only home she has know with her mother. Will a change of scenery for the holidays help them both?
This novel is a rom com but it is also is about heartbreak, love and joy that comes from rediscovering yourself and your passion. This novel is a sweet coming of age story while also a cute holiday romance.
Thank you Harper Perennial for the ARC.
Ramona is still reeling after her ex-finance walked away in the middle of wedding planning and she doesn't know how to tell her family and risk disappointing them (hello it's me 🤣🤦♀️). Chelsea is a struggling artist who is at risk of losing the only home she has know with her mother. Will a change of scenery for the holidays help them both?
This novel is a rom com but it is also is about heartbreak, love and joy that comes from rediscovering yourself and your passion. This novel is a sweet coming of age story while also a cute holiday romance.
Thank you Harper Perennial for the ARC.
October 25, 2024
I wanted to like this book because I loved the series of books by Jayne Allen. I found my mind wandering at times and this book did not keep my attention. Would have liked to have known more about the fiancé. Wanted more development of the characters. I just couldn’t get into it as it didn’t work as a holiday romance or any type of romance because it wasn’t very believable.
October 30, 2024
The Holiday is my favorite Xmas movie and this has major The Holiday vibes. I love the theme of belonging and how that translates and I loved the discourse around Joan and her actions and that it wasn't downplayed, it was realistic.
Also, it's so hard to read a Christmas book in a warm place so it got me into the vibes
Also, it's so hard to read a Christmas book in a warm place so it got me into the vibes
Read
July 16, 2024DNF. I think this author just isn't for me. I read one of her other books and didn't love it. This one looks romcomy, but doesn't feel like it at all. I wouldn't have picked this one up on my own, but the publisher sent it to me to read. It's just not for me.
October 17, 2024
This wasn’t what I was expecting.
It didn’t have many Christmas elements and I prefer more dialogue in a book than this had. I also didn’t feel Joan’s or Jay’s point of view was necessary nor were the racial aspects of it.
It didn’t have many Christmas elements and I prefer more dialogue in a book than this had. I also didn’t feel Joan’s or Jay’s point of view was necessary nor were the racial aspects of it.
October 19, 2024
The sex scenes are far too graphic for what is otherwise a near exact reiteration of the beloved Christmas movie The Holiday. I don't mind sultry romance, I just don't like it popping up unexpectedly ( i.e. whilst I'm listening full volume in the middle of a shower, or cooking dinner).
November 1, 2024
This book is perfect year-round not just the holidays. This is an author I will be watching out for more books.
Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.
Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.
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