Make the Season Bright

Charlotte Donovan, the daughter of a famous, hands-off mother, was left at the altar when her fiancée, Brighton Fairbrook, ran from the venue. With the holidays closing in, Charlotte’s string ensemble, the Rosalind Quartet, is discussing holiday plans. When fellow musician Sloane realizes that Charlotte will be alone for the holidays, she invites Charlotte to spend the holidays with her family in Colorado. When Charlotte arrives, she learns that Sloane’s sister Adele has also brought a friend along, who just happens to be Brighton. Desperate to avoid the past, Charlotte pretends not to know Brighton, despite being signed up for a series of holiday dating events. However, as they spend time together, Charlotte and Brighton are forced to face the music and the memories that haunt their pasts. Blake, author of the “Bright Falls” trilogy, is back with a holiday-themed second-chance romance that is as swoony as it is Christmassy. Kristen DiMercurio narrates both Charlotte and Brighton, as well as their gaggle of friends, as they have a cheery, queer Christmas, with heartbreak and hilarity bringing the story together. Though this is a fairly sexy listen, there are many moments that will remind listeners of a Hallmark Christmas movie as the characters participate in over-the-top holiday events and all the ends are tied up nicely.