Sometimes the stories we need most during the holidays are the quiet ones—the ones about healing old wounds, rediscovering joy, and learning to see familiar seasons with fresh eyes. Once Upon a Christmas Carol by Melody Carlson is exactly that kind of story. Perfect for a winter afternoon or a cozy evening by the tree, this novella blends faith, romance, and Hallmark-movie charm into a gentle reminder that Christmas can still surprise us.
Title: Once Upon a Christmas Carol
Author: Melody Carlson
Series: N/A
Genre: Contemporary Christmas Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5 ⭐
Disclaimer
Affiliate links can be found within this post. If you need additional information, please see the disclaimer.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
My Thoughts:
Once Upon a Christmas Carol by Melody Carlson turned out to be the perfect Christmas break read—comforting, hopeful, and full of quiet transformation.
Carol Langstrom is not a Christmas person. Between growing up in a dysfunctional family and sharing her birthday with December 25th, the holiday has always felt more disappointing than joyful. Add in a career designing over-the-top seasonal décor for demanding clients, and it’s no surprise she’s desperate to escape Christmas altogether. Her plan? A solo trip to the Bahamas and a firm goodbye to anything festive.
But the universe—or rather, God—has other plans.
When travel mishaps land Carol in snowy Michigan instead, she finds herself face-to-face with an estranged aunt she’s never met and a small town that fully embraces Christmas in all its cozy, heartfelt glory. What unfolds is a gentle, meaningful journey of reconnection—both with family and with a holiday Carol thought she’d left behind for good.
Watching Carol’s emotional armor slowly chip away was such a tender experience. As she settles into farm life, forms new relationships, and begins to see Christmas through a different lens, her perspective shifts in the most beautiful way. There’s healing here. There’s forgiveness. And yes—there’s even a sweet, slow-burn romance that might just convince her to stay a while longer.
Warm, reflective, and full of second chances, Once Upon a Christmas Carol delivers everything you’d hope for in a holiday novella. It truly felt like wrapping up my Christmas reading with a soft blanket, a mug of something warm, and a reminder of what the season can really mean.
Publisher’s Blurb:
What will happen when a tropical escape from holiday blues turns into a snowy wonderland filled with joy and cheer?
Carol Langstrom hates Christmas. Growing up in a dysfunctional home, with a birthday on December 25 and too many dashed childhood expectations, she would rather avoid the holiday season. And working in the design industry where she manages seasonal decor for wealthy, entitled clients certainly hasn’t helped!
So, this year her goal is to flee to the Bahamas–by herself–bah humbug! But bad weather and God’s radically different plan redirect her flight to blustery Michigan, where she gets stuck on her aunt’s farm and discovers a different kind of Christmas–one wrapped in love, family, and holiday spirit.
Melody Carlson’s Christmas novella delivers all the charm of a holiday Hallmark movie, is rooted in Christian faith, woven with sweet romance, and features A Christmas Carol themes.
Where to Buy:
Final Thoughts:
If you’re looking for a holiday read that’s more about heart than spectacle—one that leans into forgiveness, family, and the quiet joy of unexpected blessings—Once Upon a Christmas Carol is a lovely choice. It’s a reminder that sometimes the very thing we’re trying to escape is exactly where healing begins.
Have you ever had a holiday—or a season—you struggled to love… only to see it differently later on? I’d love to hear your story in the comments.
Related Reads:
Looking for book recs…
Adventures in Literature 
Leave a comment