BLAIR BALINSKY’s life is in shambles. With her business just weeks from shutting down and a blindsiding break-up mere days before Christmas, a humiliated Blair has no intention of facing her high-achieving family over the holidays… Until she gets the news she’s been waiting ages to hear: Her long-time crush and town golden-boy, Mason, is headed home after years away. And he’s finally single.
Convinced it’ll set her life back on track, Blair decides to race home and win him over before anyone else gets the chance to. But this close to Christmas, her only choice is to catch a ride with West, Mason’s reclusive, brooding older brother.
WEST MCALLEN has spent years rebuilding his life far from home—and from Blair, after his old feelings for her led to a mistake that got him exiled from town as a teen. But when Blair suddenly appears and begs him for a drive home, he’s unable to deny her. And when their road trip turns into a festive, chaotic hitch-hike across the country, West realizes he might finally have a chance with Blair—and at redemption—while out from under Mason’s shadow.
All he has to do is win her heart before she reaches his brother.
The Twelve Days of You is a spicy, grumpy/sunshine, crush's older brother, estranged friends to lovers, Christmas road trip with a twist romance book.
Convinced it’ll set her life back on track, Blair decides to race home and win him over before anyone else gets the chance to. But this close to Christmas, her only choice is to catch a ride with West, Mason’s reclusive, brooding older brother.
WEST MCALLEN has spent years rebuilding his life far from home—and from Blair, after his old feelings for her led to a mistake that got him exiled from town as a teen. But when Blair suddenly appears and begs him for a drive home, he’s unable to deny her. And when their road trip turns into a festive, chaotic hitch-hike across the country, West realizes he might finally have a chance with Blair—and at redemption—while out from under Mason’s shadow.
All he has to do is win her heart before she reaches his brother.
The Twelve Days of You is a spicy, grumpy/sunshine, crush's older brother, estranged friends to lovers, Christmas road trip with a twist romance book.
Title: The Twelve Days of You
Author: Ellie K. Wilde
Publisher:
Expected Publication Date: November 5, 2026
Review:
Thank you to RB Media/Recorded Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I have to say I was excited to find this book by Wilde. I had no idea it was being published but I loved her Oakwood Bay series so much I jumped right on requesting this. I figured if anyone could do a Christmas story right, it would be her. And maybe it was because it was audio, or maybe the story was just not for me, but it was not at all on par with the other books I have previously read by her.
If I'm basing this book only on the female narrator, Kristen Leigh, I will tell you I would not recommend it. I did not like her at all. She just didn't endear me to the FMC, Blair, in any way. She made her whiney and annoying. I enjoyed the male narrator, Lance Greenfield, enough. He brought out the FMC, West's, character well and made me like him and his grumpiness (which is not truly as grumpy as he seems, of course).
I love a good grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity story. But I hate to say I just had trouble getting on board with this one. I hated how the FMC was initially worried about how she was going to win the MMC's brother, both of whom she knows from high school. And I understand the point was she has a light bulb come on where she sees West is for her, but it just didn't hit me right even though I understood this was part of how her character was supposed to develop. Blaire had a few redeeming qualities. I did understand her need to fit in and the fact that she has spent most of her life as an outcast. But I just wish her entire character development was done a bit better.
That being said, West was my favorite part of this book. I loved how careful he was with Blaire, taking care of her when she needed it. And also, the fact that he's pretty much been crushing on her for so long was chef's kiss. And underneath all his gruff exterior he's an artist which forces him into the sensitive category even though his exterior does not exude that. Add to this how his family treated him and why he took the path he did and he is definitely a mean that has layers.
There was some good banter in the book and if I didn't find Blaire to be as insufferable as she was, I would have given this many more stars. And the themes overall are important: learning to love yourself for who you are, forging connections, being ok when you don't fit in, and learning from past mistakes while forging forward to make a life for yourself that you are proud of.
The pacing of this was SO SLOW. They are on a road trip, which should be fun and grow their relationship, but I was literally bored with all the words.
I feel like this book was written by a totally different author than the one I know and that makes me super sad. That's not to say I won't be reading future books by her, but this one was just not for me. Readers who love the Christmas Hallmark movie vibe but are looking for something with a little more emotional depth will most likely enjoy this one.
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