Fans of adorable Christmas movies unite! Finding Christmas has every element of a cheesy Hallmark flick wrapped up and tied with a beautiful, glittery bow.
As soon as I found out that Karen Schaler was the screenwriter for A Christmas Prince (the fantastic holiday movie trilogy on Netflix), I knew I had to read her books. I added a couple of her titles to my December reading list in 2020, in hopes of a little extra Christmas cheer. I was not at all disappointed with Finding Christmas, the first of the books I read by her.
I practically inhaled this book over the course of three days. I probably could have read it quicker, but I actually wanted to savor it and take my time because it was just that adorable. Once I picked it up, I had a really hard time putting it down. Immediately after finishing this novel, I wound up flying through the rest of her bibliography and loved every second of it.
Let me tell you why this is the best book to read this holiday season.
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My honest review of Finding Christmas by Karen Schaler.
Synopsis:
From the writer of the Netflix sensation, A Christmas Prince, and Christmas Camp, the Hallmark movie and novel, comes a heartwarming new Christmas story, Finding Christmas, showing how sometimes the detour in your journey is the path to true love.
With all the glittering decorations, twinkling lights, snow angels, gingerbread men and mistletoe, Christmas is Emmieβs first love.
This year, she canβt wait to share her favorite Christmas traditions with her boyfriend, Grant. She thinks heβs βthe one.β So when Grantβs hectic work schedule has him more βBah Humbugβ than βHo, Ho, Ho,β Emmie creates a holiday-themed scavenger hunt to help him find his Christmas spirit. At the end of the journey, Grant will arrive at the charming town of Christmas Point where sheβs planned a romantic weekend filled with holiday activities.
But Emmieβs plan backfires when a mix-up has the wrong guy following her clues! Sam, a best-selling mystery writer, thinks Emmieβs clever Christmas riddles are from his agent, who is trying to help him get over his epic writerβs block.
When he arrives at Christmas Point and finds the stunned Emmie, he immediately feels sheβs someone special, but she canβt see beyond the fact that the wrong guy has shown up. Inspired by the small, charming town, Sam decides to stay and convinces Emmie to join him in a little holiday fun while she waits for Grant.
When Grant finally shows up, Emmie is disappointed to discover heβs not enjoying the activities she planned and canβt help wonder if heβs really the one for her. She also canβt get Sam out of her mind and all the great times they had together. With Christmas coming fast, Emmie will need the magic of the season to help steer her in the direction of true loveβ¦
My Rating: β β β β β
With all the glittering decorations, twinkling lights, snow angels, gingerbread men and mistletoe, Christmas is Emmieβs first love.
Finding Christmas
Meet our protagonist, Emmie. She carries the title “Miss Christmas,” lovingly given to her by her close friends and coworkers. I’m not sure whether Karen Schaler was stalking me each Christmas for new content, but Emmie and I are practically the same person. I’ve never related to someone’s love of Christmas more than I did with Emmie. Her reason for loving the holiday so much is simple: it’s what she and her parents enjoyed together more than anything in the world. Now, she just wants everyone else to be as “in the spirit” as she is. (I feel you, girlfriend).
Emmie especially wants to get her Grinch of a boyfriend, Grant, into a holly jolly mood. So she plans a scavenger hunt that will lead him to the festive town, Christmas Point, where she has tons of activities planned that will lead them right up to Christmas Day. However, things go a little haywire when her first clues end up in the wrong hands. Here, we meet Sam.
Sam loves Christmas just as much as Emmie. When I say, “SWOON,” I absolutely mean it. He’s the soft, cinnamon roll-boy we all need in our life. He wants to bake cookies and sing carols and shop for trees rather than write his next mystery novel. When he finds the clues to the scavenger hunt, he thinks they’re from his book agent. Let’s just say, it’s a shock to both Sam and Emmie when they are led to each other at Christmas Point.
Umm, Christmas Point? Can this place be real? I want to go. It sounds beyond magical. All the Christmas things all the time? And the snow? Yes, please. Combine those elements and then add in a workaholic and inattentive boyfriend who just needs to be out of the picture, a mad rush for a book deadline, and two strangers getting snowed in at the cutest, most festive place on earth with the sweetest innkeeper of all time and her dog, Dasher – and you’ve got this book. I could read it a million times over (and I just might).
I giggled at the mentions of the holiday movies that Karen worked on. Now I want this book to be turned into a movie, please and thanks. I can’t recommend it enough!
Purchase the book
Finding Christmas – Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop | Target
Have you read Finding Christmas or any of Karen Schaler’s other holiday books?
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Rach says
I’ve been on a holiday book reading kick lately. I need to check this book out. This book sounds like something I would love!
http://www.rdsobsessions.com
Tanvi Rastogi says
I hadn’t heard of the book or the author. But now I am sold. Adding this to my reading list.
β₯ tanvii.com
Lizzie says
This sounds like the ultimate Christmas book! And you’re right, it would probably make a good holiday movie too! Love all your cozy pictures too!
Lizzie
http://www.lizzieinlace.com
Anna says
I havenβt read any of her books before but Iβm a sucker for Hallmark Christmas movies. This sounds right up my alley, and Iβve been looking for a good Christmas book to read! Thank you!
Lucy says
This sounds like a really good festive read and I love the story! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
Jennifer Prince says
I haven’t read any, but this one looks SO good! I love that it’s like a Hallmark movie wrapped up in a book. I also adore how cute those cookies are – they’re perfect for photos and look so fun to eat. Yum!
Candace Hampton says
This book looks absolutely darling. Thank you for the amazing review of it without giving too much away and pulling us in to want to read it. It would make a great stocking stuffer as well. I am going to add it to my list of books to read!
Greta says
I love a good holiday book this time of year. I’ll have to check it out!
Neely Moldovan says
Def adding it to my list! I love finding new books to read. Especially this time of year.
Melissa says
I haven’t read any of Karen Schaler’s books, but this one sounds really good! Also, as always your pictures get me so excited to read books. They are so pretty!
WanderlustBeautyDreams says
I haven’t read a holiday book in a while. I love your photo set up, giving me all the holiday vibes. This was such a great review, it made me want to go look it up to go buy it! This would be a great book to read next to a fireplace and having holiday music in the background!
Lovely says
I’m seeing many bloggers pick this book for the holiday season. Reading your post just makes me want to get the book asap.
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
Kileen says
This sounds like such a cute book! It definitely sounds like a book that could be read every year! I’ve never heard of this author before but I always love finding new books to read and holiday themed books are my favorite.
Sarah Lindner says
You had me at cheesy Hallmark flick, lol. Love this review! xoxo, Sarah
Carrington | Chaos and Coffee says
This sounds like such a good book! I could totally imagine snuggling up in a warm blanket and reading this, so cozy and really puts you in the Christmas mood I’m sure! Xx.
Deborah says
This book sounds so cute! What a perfect Holiday story – I’ll have to check it out!
Helena Marz says
I havenβt read Christmas books and this one was a great review! I am so hooked on Hallmark movies! β€οΈ
Hillary Conheady says
This book sounds right up my alley! I love cheesy holiday movies so definitely need to look into this one!
Alyssa Hixenbaugh says
I haven’t had a chance to read a good book lately, so I’m excited about the recommendation! I’ll have to try and read it before Christmas comes.
Em says
I need to add this book to my TBR pile! sounds so cute!
Lydia says
This sounds like such a cute book! I’m sure in true Hallmark form, there is no way she ends up with her Christmas-hating boyfriend!
Chic on the Cheap
rebecca says
ooooh okay! i need a festive book for the next week and this might have to be it! thanks for sharing steph!
xx rebecca // thecrystalpress.com
Genesis says
This book sounds like something I need to get me into the Christmas spirit! Anything involving scavenger hunts is totally something I could get into. Thanks for the recommendation!
Anika says
I love when a book is so good, you want to see it on the screen. Just the best feeling! So glad you enjoyed this one, I haven’t come across it before. Lovely review!
Anika | chaptersofmay.com
Francy says
I love love a good book review! Thanks so much for sharing π
Amber says
Oh my goodness, I love books so much! I wish I had time to sit down and read every single Christmas book this season. Thank you for sharing one that stood out to you!
Linda says
I love a good cheesy holiday movie and a cozy mystery, but I’ve never gone as far as reading a cozy holiday book. This might have to be my first. Thanks for the review…and I agree — it should totally become a movie!
Darleen says
Emmie sounds like my kind of girl! Love all things Christmas and with the romanceβperfect! On my list to read!
Jackie says
Oh my goodness it sounds magical and cozy! I’m going to have to get it. Also, I love your photos!!
Helena Marz says
Finding Christmas sounds like a fun a story to read and something I would enjoy reading! Love your flat lay photo and how cozy it looks! β€οΈ
Amie says
Ahhh this honestly sounds like such a beautiful book. Christmas adds such magic to a book, and I feel like this would be an amazing read. Definitely going to add this to my to buy list!
Corinne says
I’ve read a few reviews of this now and they’ve all been great. Sounds like a wonderful book!
Corinne x
Eri says
I haven’t heard the book or the author but it seems like a really great read for Christmas. I will add it in my TBR list. Thank you Stephanie!
Eri
Weirdlifestyle.com
Deborah says
I admit I’m a pretty harsh critic of romance books, but something about romantic books set around Christmas melts my icy heart! I am totally adding this to my to-read list! Cheesy Hallmark-movie style book ftw!
I'm All Booked Up says
Finding Christmas sounds really good. We also loved The Christmas Prince trilogy.
Amanda says
This story sounds so cute and perfect for the holiday season! I have been watching all the cheesy Christmas movies I can find so this is totally up my Christmas-light-lit-snow-covered alley π
Eleanor says
I love Christmas books, thank you so much for sharing this review x
Shanna says
I immediately added this to my reading list. I also scoped out the others you had in the stack of your picture and added those as well. I really enjoy Christmas reading. It just transports you away to another location. Thank you for the recommendations!
Stephanie Whitman says
I definitely don’t recommend all the ones in that stack, but I linked a blog post with all the Christmas reads I DO recommend π Hopefully, that’ll help give you some inspiration for the season. I’m sure I’ll add to it next year.
Raji says
Great review! I haven’t heard of this book before, but I do love a good Hallmark movie and you’ve convinced me to check it out!
Ashley@attemptsatdomestication.com says
Oh this sounds adorable! And like it needs to be turned into a movie ASAP!