Christmas People by Iva-Marie Palmer

✦ BLURB ✦

Some people are Christmas people, but Jill Jacobs is most certainly not. She hasn't been ever since her hometown love broke her heart on Christmas Eve three years ago. After that, Jill moved to L.A. to pursue her dream of becoming a screenwriter. She hasn't been home in years to avoid her ex, but this winter she finds herself back in drab, suburban Illinois for the holidays. After one very hazy night, Jill wakes up to a hometown that's filled with jolly neighbours, covered in pristine white snow, and seasoned with the smell of peppermint. She realises that this is more than just a bad hangover... she's stuck in a Heartfelt movie. One set in her town, starring real people from her life, including her family, her high school crush (uber perfect, owns a bakery, and definitely a Christmas Person), and of course, her ex-handsome as ever and now exclusively clad in plaid flannel. The only way out of this bizarro world is to complete the plot of the movie, including a holiday bake off and a cookie-sweet love story. To get home in time for Christmas, Jill must act out a picture-perfect holiday romance with the one that got away, all while her ex watches on. Fa la la la freaking la....

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An un-Christmassy heroine is trapped in a Heartfelt holiday movie — peppermint, snow, and clichés included.

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PRE-READING THOUGHTS

I was excited for this one because, let’s be real, who doesn’t secretly love a good Hallmark movie… but this promised a heroine who actually notices the absurdity of it all. I wanted holiday cheer with a twist of meta-commentary and self-aware humor.

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POST-READING

As I thought…
Jill’s un-Christmassy, snarky voice is delightful. The way she notices every trope — the old couple reconnecting, the blue-collar meet-cute, the workaholic-turned-hero — makes the story feel fresh and playful. The rom-com beats are satisfying, and the setting is absolutely charming in a peppermint-and-snow way.

It surprised me by…
How genuinely heartfelt it still was. Beneath all the tropes and meta jokes, there’s real warmth: about community, second chances, and embracing joy even when you’re convinced you hate the holidays. It’s a love letter to Hallmark, yes, but one that’s funnier and smarter than the movies themselves.

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🎵 MUSIC PAIRING

• 🎵 Featured Song: “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” – Darlene Love

• 🎶 Vibe Album: A Charlie Brown Christmas – Vince Guaraldi Trio

• 🎧 Artist Recommendation: She & Him — sweet, nostalgic, slightly playful holiday vibes

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🌈 VIBE CHECK

• Colour Palette: Peppermint red, snowy white, warm pine green

• Soundtrack: Jingle bells, cozy chatter, the sizzle of cookies in the oven

• Season: Christmas-time chaos

• Mood: Playful, warm, a little chaotic

• Scent: Peppermint, pine, sugar cookies

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🃏 TAROT PULL

The Fool (Light Seer’s Tarot) – Jill makes a deliberate leap into a world she doesn’t belong in. She chooses to play along with Heartfelt’s rules, and only then can she grow and find her way home.

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FOR FANS OF

• Book: Life’s Too Short to Miss the Christmas Movie – Abby Jimenez (meta-holiday vibe, smart humor)

• TV/Movie: Any Hallmark Christmas movie — but with someone rolling their eyes along with the audience

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CHRISTMAS PEOPLE publishes on the 30th September, 2025. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.