She’s all warmth and tinsel. He’s spent years surviving in sand and silence. This Christmas, something small and bright might just change everything.

Hannah Wheeler moved to Wishful to start over—closer to her sister, with quieter dreams and a slower pace. While waiting tables to get by, she’s quietly taking on holiday decorating jobs around town. It’s her way of bringing a little cheer—and reminding people, including herself, that she’s more than just what they see on the surface.

Ryan Malone didn’t plan to spend the holidays in a small Southern town. But when his mom worries that his Uncle Percy isn’t taking proper care of himself, Ryan is sent to check in. As an Army medic on emergency leave, he knows how to assess a situation. What he didn’t expect was Hannah.

She’s light where he’s all shadows. Soft where he’s all edges. And even though he came to Wishful to keep his distance, he finds himself drawn to her—again and again.

Heartfelt, hopeful, and full of quiet magic, A Lot Like Christmas is a grumpy-meets-sunshine holiday romance about small kindnesses, unexpected joy, and finding love where you never thought to look.