Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman: My Review

Check out my book review of Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman to see what this is THE holiday romance of 2025!

*Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon: Summary

The new year barely began when Grace White and Henry Adler both lost their spouses. Now, nearly a year later, the first holiday season since their “Great and Terrible Sadnesses” approaches. Although their mothers’ scheme to matchmake the two surviving spouses, it’s clear that neither is ready to date again. Yet no one understands what they’re going through better than each other, and a delicate friendship is born.

When Henry sees an ad for a Christmas movie marathon—once an annual tradition for him and his wife—Grace offers to watch some films with him, despite her aversion to a few of his picks. Her two young kids, Ian and Bella, also join in whenever possible—bedtimes permitting, of course.

With each movie, Grace and Henry’s shared grief eases as they start to see a life beyond the sadness. But as they draw closer, other romantic possibilities leave them both uncertain about their future together. Is their bond merely the result of loneliness and shared circumstances, or have they found something that’s worth taking a shot at . . . again?

Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon: My Review

I finished this holiday romance in one sitting and now immediately want to reread it over and over again! Matthew Norman blew me away with his writing, this story and these characters who were so deserving of a second chance at love. The best holiday romance of the year!

Besides its adorable book cover, this book instantly caught my eye because who doesn’t love to binge-watch holiday movies at Christmas time? I sure do and couldn’t wait to see if Matthew highlighted my favorites in this must-read romance (he did!).

But while I loved the set up of this storyline, I was truly blown away by the amazing writing, the fun banter, the emotional range of grief expressed in the pages and the sweeping love story that gripped me from the very first chapter.

Even if you don’t read the book summary, you soon find out that Grace and Henry’s spouses have died, leaving these two a shell of themselves to manage the grief. And though months have passed for both since their losses, it’s still shocking to have their mothers throw them into each other’s path, knowing that they understand what the other is going through.

Hence the set up of Grace and Henry unknowingly beginning a friendship that revolves around them watching various holiday movies together between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Did I love the incorporation of the holiday movies? Absolutely. Were Grace’s kids’ incredible side characters? Yes! Was Grace’s snark and bluntness the perfect antidote to Henry’s sadness? Oh my gosh yes. Did Matthew even make me tear up about freakin’ mice? Yes, yes he did. Would I highly recommend this book to all romance readers? You betcha!

I’m not sure that I can adequately convey all the pieces that made this such a wonderful story. I think this will appeal to all readers who love a feel-good story set around the holidays even if they aren’t romance book lovers because there is so much to love about Grace and Henry’s growth besides their budding romance (which is very low spice for those who care).

My heart is so full having read this book which is now on my list of best romance books of 2025. I cannot recommend it enough.

*I received an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Related Book Lists:

• New Christmas Romance Books of 2025
• Best Christmas Romance Books Worth Reading
• Best Romance Books of 2025
• Best Christmas Romance Movies

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