Book Review – Happily this Christmas by Susan Mallery

It’s all about feeling safe and cozy for me right now. As the second wave of the pandemic attacks my community, we have further orders that push us back into our homes. I’m trying to be mindful of the choices I make to keep things as positive and healthy as possible. A book set at Christmas helps to brighten my mood and make me thankful of the people I have in my life and the lovely home I live in. My latest Christmas book reflects this need.

Happily This Christmas tells the story of Wynn Beauchene, a 34 year old graphic designer and single mother to her 14 year old son Hunter. She has noticed her next door neighbour, Garrick a police officer who lives alone, particularly when he’s shirtless while cutting his lawn. When Garrick approaches her for help to get his home ready for his pregnant daughter Jo Lynn, Wynn seizes the opportunity to get to know this good-looking and thoughtful man.

Jo Lynn, however, is not the friendliest of houseguests. Now married to a deployed serviceman and a baby due in a few weeks, Jo Lynn was asked to leave her mother’s home and spend some time with her father. Once very close, the two have been estranged for several years.

It’s approaching Christmas in Happily Inc. Will the spirit of the season heal old wounds, and foster a romance between Wynn and Garrick?

This book is charming and oozing in community holiday spirit. While some might consider this book a romance, this only played a part of the story. This book is more a discussion on relationships and the importance of communication in maintaining them. It’s also about honesty and forgiveness . There are some very sweet side stories which I really enjoyed. The characters were well developed and the book flowed easily. This book is the sixth instalment in the Susan Mallery’s Happily Inc series but can certainly be read as a standalone. For those that have read earlier books in the series, you will appreciate the return of some of your favourite characters. This book is highly recommended for those who enjoy a cozy, holiday read.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book which was performed by Tanya Eby who is one of my favourite narrators. She has a special ability to give characters, male or female, an authentic voice. I also appreciate her crisp, articulate speech and her ability to provide the quick wit banter between characters – one of the reasons I appreciate Susan Mallery’s books. I listened to this book at my usual 1.25x speed and found this to be the perfect speed for easy listening. For those that appreciate audiobooks, I’d choose this version over a printed format.

My rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5.