Susan Mallery, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Boardwalk Bookshop, returns with the joyful and utterly irresistible story of a mother who couldn't love her kids more but hopes that, just this once, they please don't come home for Christmas. Perfect for fans of Mary Kay Andrews and Julie Murphy!
Julie Parkerâs kids are her greatest gift. Still, sheâs not exactly heartbroken when they ask to skip a big Christmas. Her son, Nick, is taking a belated honeymoon with his bride, Blair, while her daughter, Dana, will purge every reminder of the guy who dumped her. Again. Julie feels practically giddy for one-on-one holiday time with Heath, the (much) younger man sheâs secretly dating.
But her plans go from cozy to chaotic when Nick and Dana plead for Christmas at the family cabin in memory of their late father, Julieâs ex. She canât refuse, even though she dreads their reactions to her new man when they realize sheâs been hiding him for months.
As the guest list grows in surprising ways, from Blairâs estranged mom to Heathâs precocious children, Julieâs secret is one of many to be unwrapped. Over this delightfully complicated and very funny Christmas, sheâll discover that more really is merrier, and that a big, happy family can become bigger and happier, if they let go of old hurts and open their hearts to love.