Wreck the Halls

A Novel

By: Tessa Bailey

Narrated by: Brooke Bloomingdale, James Gloucester

Length: 10 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey delivers a sexy, hilarious standalone holiday rom-com about the adult children of two former rock stars who team up to convince their estranged mothers to play a Christmas Eve concert….

Melody Gallard may be the daughter of music royalty, but her world is far from glamorous. She spends her days restoring old books and avoiding the limelight (one awkward tabloid photo was enough, thanks). But when a producer offers her a lot of money to reunite her mother’s band on live tv, Mel begins to wonder if it’s time to rattle the cage, shake up her quiet life…and see him again. The only other person who could wrangle the rock and roll divas.

Beat Dawkins, the lead singer’s son, is Melody’s opposite—the camera loves him, he could charm the pants off anyone, and his mom is not a potential cult leader. Still, they might have been best friends if not for the legendary feud that broke up the band. When they met as teenagers, Mel felt an instant spark, but it’s nothing compared to the wild, intense attraction that builds as they embark on a madcap mission to convince their mothers to perform one last show.

While dealing with rock star shenanigans, a 24-hour film crew, brawling Santas, and mobs of adoring fans, Mel starts to step out of her comfort zone. With Beat by her side, cheering her on, she’s never felt so understood. But Christmas Eve is fast approaching, and a decades-old scandal is poised to wreck everything—the Steel Birds reunion, their relationships with their mothers, and their newfound love.

©2023 Tessa Bailey (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

Harmony in Love: A Heartwarming Holiday Serenade

"Wreck The Halls" by Tessa Bailey was an utterly delightful read that I simply couldn't put down. This holiday romance was a refreshing change from the darker books I've been marathoning, and it captured my heart from the very beginning.

The story, set against a backdrop of music and rockstar legacy, was a perfect blend of humor, romance, and a touch of holiday magic. The characters, Beat and Melody, were named in a way that immediately resonated with me as a music lover. Their relationship, pure and growing from a place of shared experiences and mutual understanding, was beautifully depicted. Beat's line, "There's no Beat without a Melody," was not just clever but also deeply meaningful, highlighting the depth of their connection.

Tessa Bailey has a gift for creating characters that are relatable and lovable, and in this book, she outdid herself. Beat and Melody's journey was not just about falling in love but also about navigating the complexities of their families' pasts and the challenges of their present. The mix of rockstar antics, holiday spirit, and genuine emotion made this story stand out.

One aspect of the book that particularly struck me was the way Bailey handled the romance. It was a slow burn that built up to a crescendo, making their eventual union feel earned and right. The story had a purity and a sweetness to it that kept me hooked until the very end.

The only downside was that I didn't want the book to end. I found myself longing for more glimpses into Beat and Melody's life together, wishing the story could continue so I could stay in their world a little longer.

In summary, "Wreck The Halls" by Tessa Bailey was a fantastic holiday read that filled me with joy and left me swooning. It's a perfect pick for anyone looking to escape into a feel-good, heartwarming story that captures the essence of the holiday season and the power of love. Bailey has once again proven her prowess as a master storyteller in the romance genre, delivering a book that is sure to be a hit with readers looking for a holiday romance that warms the heart.

Perfect Holiday Romance!

This was everything I needed in a holiday romance. It’s funny and sweet and oh so spicy!! I really think Tessa Bailey might be the queen of RomComs!! The narrators were so so good on this one too! <3

Better than expected

I could not stop listening! Such a great story line, and characters, I’m sad it’s over.

Lovely friends to lovers

I loved this!
The narration was wonderful, and it’s a perfect Christmas friends to lovers story— just the perfect amount of cheesy/silly and steamy/endearing. Loved it!

Not your average holiday book!

Two children of bandmates are encouraged by the media and fans to reunite the band both their mothers were in. The only problem - their mothers hate each other. Beat needs extra money to get a blackmailer off of his back, so he agrees to have a camera follow him around live streaming his attempt at getting the two leading ladies together. He knows he will need help from Melody, the daughter of his mother's bandmate, and all-around awkward person. Although Beat and Melody’s mothers were pregnant with them at the same time, they only met once as teenagers, and are now meeting again as 30 year olds trying to get their former bestie mothers to at least look at each other.

Honestly, I thought this book started off a little slow at first and I wasn't too sure about it. By the time we met Beat’s over-the-top mother, Octavia, I was fully invested. Melody’s mother, Trina, is equally over-the-top, but in the opposite way (I know that doesn't make sense, just trust me). As the cameras follow the kids around, the world sees how Beat and Melody are meant to be together, even if the two of them don't see it. Eventually Beat and Melody realize what's happening between them, but how will their mothers react? This book has so many of those awkward funny jokes/comments by Melody that made me feel like she could be my BFF. I also kept picturing Beat as either Zac Efron or Scott Eastwood, so that helped me love this book too.

Brooke Bloomingdale and James Gloucester natural this book well. The only issue I had was with the male voice. There were times he would speak so quiet I would have to turn my volume up, and then back down because he would then be too loud for me. But he did have a good voice. It's probably just my ears that are the problem

THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU IF: You are looking for a holiday book that is light on spice, intense on chemistry, and a Stevie Nicks belly blessing.

So good

This was such a fun book. Melonie and Beat reunite after years in an attempt to get there Mom’s band back together. The two team up for a reality Live stream event, if they pull it off they stand to make a lot of money. Beat agreed to do the live stream because he is being blackmailed and Melony agreed because she has had a crush on Beat most of her life. What could go wrong with 2 weeks of everything being live streamed for millions??

Tessa’s best one yet!

If this could be made slightly more R versus X it would instantly be the next Love Actually / hit Christmas romcom! I loved every second of it and the performance was great too.

Super Cute!!

Very relatable to the times and social media era. Cute romantic novel. Highly recommend. I laughed and cried and smiled through the whole thing.

Not very holiday

Overall cute, cheesy, and light hearted rom-com but not a big Christmas/holiday vibe

Hot and ridiculous

I’ll start with my issues:

1) cameras and live mics!!! This book is about a live streamed reality show featuring the two MCs and I found it hella hard to relax when their private moments might become public at any time

2) Siri what is a ”rock band”??? Please name one anyone cares about, I’ll wait

3) GSA - genetic sexual attraction. Why wasn’t this addressed head on? Beat and Melody had an insane instant attraction, were the same age, and their mothers shared a man within months of each other. The possibility that they shared paternity was possible

4) Blackmail subplots 🤮

Okay, so if you can put the above out of your head this is a solid 4 star read. It’s completely silly and ott but that's nbd since you know it’s a Tessa romcom going in. The wacky blurb is not false advertising. What really made this book for me was the ‘need to be touching you’ madness that was Beat and Melody. At first I was annoyed at how big a simp she was, but eventually their relationship balanced out and it was perfect. I adore that intensity on the page. Previously I’ve only read that kind of devotion, compatibility, and need in fated mates books. I loved their relationship.