This is a funny and easy read which was just what I needed .
I was hooked into the story very quickly and just couldn’t put it down.

I do recommend this

I was lucky enough to read this as an ARC from both the author and NerdFam. Melissa Dymond also sent me a personalized physical copy, so now I have a shelf trophy for yet another book of hers that I loved. I adore this author and had been looking forward to this book since the moment Melissa told me directly after reading Holiday Star that she was writing a sequel. Gwen and Caleb's relationship is something we all strive to have. Their love is unconditional and they would do anything to protect each other, but this book is about so much more than that. There are personal battles, forced proximity, humor, and lots of spice (if you choose that version of the book). This book weaves storylines from the other important people in Caleb and Gwen's lives. Needless to say, the character development in this book was phenomenal as well as the addition of elements of suspense that we did not see in Holiday Star. Dymond also gives us access to two online bonus chapters while reading, and the included character art is another fun extra. I'll be counting down the days until we get to read about Teddy (Gwen's brother) and Helen's developing relationship in the upcoming Holiday Love!

ARC READ

4.5/5 stars

I'm so glad I finally caught up on some ARCs I was meant to read - October was mostly spooky season but I'm so glad I took a breath! I find I can be very picky about what I consider to be a "five star romance", because I like some of the common romance tropes but I don't have much patience for when books edge into the realm of TOO corny.
This book, my friends, did not - and I am definitely going to be sourcing more of Dr. Melissa Dymond's books!
Definitely 5 star, and the best ARC I've read in recent days.
I love the main character Gwen - her determination, her realness, if that makes sense - and how relatable enough she is. I also love the dynamic she shares with Caleb.
The great thing about this book is how important and lovable all the other characters are too - the slow build between Dean and Jenny, the influence on the mothers in the wedding, Gwen's brother and her valuable work in cancer research... Though I read this on my kindle it is definitely a page turner. There are big plot points to keep you wanting to know more - how will the wedding go, if it even happens? What will happen to the different romances in the story? How will Gwen and Caleb transition their meaningful careers into one future? And WHO is stalking Caleb?
Definitely pick this up if you get it, it's a well-written romance with just the right amount of heat!
And who doesn't love to read holiday romances?

Dr. Melissa Dymond does it again! Holiday Wedding is the perfect blend of romance, suspense, and heartfelt emotion—a holiday novel that’s not only endearing but also incredibly immersive. As a fan of Holiday Star, I was thrilled to reconnect with Gwen and Caleb, and even more excited to dive into the new dynamic between Dean and Jenny. Their grumpy-sunshine vibe, witty banter, and raw chemistry instantly drew me in, making them the standout couple!
The dual POV format was a brilliant choice, allowing us to experience both Gwen's anticipation of her wedding amidst her career dedication and Jenny’s evolving romance with Dean. This approach gave depth to both love stories and made each journey feel complete, relatable, and rewarding. I especially appreciated how Melissa tackles mental health and complex character backgrounds with such sensitivity, adding layers that make her characters feel incredibly real and relatable.
The suspense element with Caleb's stalker brought unexpected twists that kept me hooked and guessing until the very end! Melissa’s storytelling is captivating and perfectly balanced between romance, mystery, and emotion. Holiday Wedding not only stands strong as a sequel but also works beautifully as a standalone for new readers. If you're looking for a heartwarming, suspenseful romance with characters you can’t help but root for, this is the book for you!

✨ARC Review✨

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Holiday Wedding by Melissa Dymond is a heartwarming sequel to her previous holiday romance, Holiday Star. While Caleb and Gwen are back, this time we also get to fall in love with the story of Jenny and Dean as the new MCs.

Let's dive into the highlights first... I absolutely adore Melissa's writing. It’s simple, captivating, and never fails to deliver. The chemistry between Jenny and Dean? Perfection. And let me just say, Dean is the ultimate green flag—flawed yet incredibly endearing. The dual love stories were beautifully balanced, and I especially appreciated how Melissa tackled mental health. She manages to weave these important issues into the narrative with such care and precision, making it a standout aspect of her work. The alternating dual POV was refreshing too, focusing on Gwen and Jenny, rather than the typical FMC and MMC perspective. What’s more, new readers can easily jump into this book, thanks to the skillful way Melissa recaps key details from the prequel.

Now, onto the less-than-perfect bits... Honestly, there’s not much to criticize. My only wish? I could’ve used a few more chapters centered around Jenny and Dean’s blossoming romance.

This is an easy 5/5 stars for me. It’s the perfect feel-good holiday romance, especially with the added bonus that 10% of the proceeds go to colon cancer research. And here’s another fun detail: Melissa offers the book in both a spicy and sweet version. You can choose between the open-door (spicy) or closed-door (sweet) version, depending on your mood.

If these tropes light up your holiday season:

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Holiday Wedding was a different type of romance, part action and mystery and part straight to the spice romance. While the romance was a bit too picture perfect to me. I found it somewhat overly focused on the spice, though the author does give readers an option for a cleaner version if desired. I’ve got no issue with spice but just found it heavier on this versus the plot build up. I do believe that many readers will be drawn to the sweet characters.

Holiday Wedding focuses on two couples, but only one is already romantically entangled. Caleb is a big time movie star who has stepped away to be on the stage and in his restaurant. Gwen is a doctor who is new to the whole fame thing. These two are focused on in a previous book but there are plenty of references to how they got together to allow this one to be read as a standalone. As far as my thought on them, they were adorable but I just didn’t buy them as realistic.
Jenny and Dean, the other couple, are not romantically engaged but rather give off enemies vibes. Jenny is a reporter in LA trying to break into investigations but assigned to entertainment and to reporting on Caleb. She’s BFF with Gwen, but has had a tense friendship recently since she accidentally revealed Gwen’s super famous fiance. Dean is BFF with Caleb and his bodyguard, but dislikes Jenny due to the accidental reveal. The book focused on the run up to Caleb and Gwen’s Christmas wedding while Jenny and Dean band together to suss out a super creepy stalker after Caleb, which I found most entertaining.

Again, not completely to my tastes but I can see it appealing to a few people as it’s a sweet story.

Thank you to Melissa Dymond, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

This holiday romantic comedy was truly good! I loved the festive themes and the added suspense throughout the story. The chemistry between Dean and Jenny was just WOW, making their relationship feel very jolly ;) . I also appreciated the dual point of view; it really enhanced the understanding of the characters.

Although it took me a little while to dive into the story at first, I eventually found myself fully engaged. I should mention that I hadn't read the first book, which might have provided additional context.

Overall, it was great storytelling with a wonderful, jolly atmosphere!