From the publisher:
From Putnam’s beloved holiday author comes another charming, British wintertime tale following one dejected woman’s trip home to her eccentric great-aunts, her wayward mother . . . and her first love.
Fred Hallow-Hart isn’t in love with the idea of returning home to Pine Bluff. But after a bad breakup and a subsequent eviction, she’s fresh out of options. God knows she loves her mum and her eccentric aunts—and who could forget their Christmas Cracker family business?—but she’s always felt a little out of place in her small town.
Quickly roped in by her mother to help with the cracker shop, Fred decides throwing herself into work might actually be what’s best for her. Until she reconnects with her old best friend Ryan, who is suddenly making her heart flutter in ways she’s never known; and unexpectedly finds a spark with Warren, a charming journalist covering the Pine Bluff Christmas Market for the Daily News.
But as these connections slowly lead Fred back to her heart, she’s forced to confront some harsh truths, which, if she doesn’t find a way through, might just ruin the holidays for those dearest to her. Can Fred let go of the past enough to recognize real love? And when she does, how far will she go to protect it?
At 35, Fredericka “Fred” Hallow-Hart returns to her tiny Scottish hometown with her life in pieces—no job, no relationship, and no choice but to move back in with her mother and the two aunts who helped raise her. She insists she’s only passing through, “perching” until she finds her footing again, but the town has other plans.
Living again with her mother and two eccentric aunts—who run the family’s Christmas cracker business—is the last thing she wants, especially given her long-standing tension with her mom. Their relationship has never been easy, and coming home forces Fred to face wounds she’s long ignored.
A chance reunion with her childhood best friend—and former love—Ryan sparks something she thought she’d outgrown. Then a handsome stranger, Warren, enters her life through a simple mail mix-up, adding another layer of confusion to an already tangled return.
But beneath the festive lights and snowy streets, Fred must confront the emotional abuse she endured in her last relationship. Only by facing it can she heal, reconnect with her family, and open herself to the possibility of love again.
This novel is a tender, heartwarming holiday story. I loved how it blends romance with themes of family, forgiveness, and rediscovering home. Fred’s journey is emotional without ever feeling heavy, and her mother’s second-chance love adds richness and warmth.
This tender holiday novel beautifully blends romance with themes of family, forgiveness, and rediscovering home. Fred’s journey is emotional without feeling heavy, and her mother’s second-chance love story adds depth and warmth. With its cozy setting—snowy lanes, a bustling Christmas market, and a close-knit community—this is a feel-good story about finding your way back to yourself and remembering that love, in all its forms, endures.
Why a Christmas novel now? In March? Why not! I didn’t get to read all the holiday books I wanted last year, so I’m sneaking one in whenever I can. The holiday is background noise, but I love it.
3/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS by Jenny Bayliss. G.P. Putnam’s Sons. (September 23, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593717929. 448p.
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