Gwen’s life is a bit of a mess. Her boyfriend dumped her. She had to move to a terrible apartment. After hitting a man with a stapler for unwanted sexual advances, she’s put on leave from her job. She has no desire to go home for Christmas, especially since she has yet to tell her family about her job. Everyone else seems to know their path and Gwen wishes she could be more like that.

Christmas day went just the way Gwen expected. Until she wakes up to discover that she’s reliving Christmas day, again. Gwen can’t think of a way to break the time loop except by helping someone’s Christmas wish come true. She spends time with all her family members, and Gwen realizes that she doesn’t know them very well. With her identity tied to her job, she’s beginning to realize she doesn’t know herself either.

While this is a romance novel, much of THE CHRISTMAS WISH by Lindsey Kelk is about a dysfunctional family and their drama. As they talk, bicker, and banter, it becomes clear to the reader that Gwen must figure out her life before the time loop will break. In talking to her family members, Gwen begins to unravel her mess of a life and starts to think about what she wants. The boy next door, her childhood crush, offers several nuggets of wisdom during their moments together. A fun holiday story that’s perfect to read in front of the fire.