Book Review
Merry Everything by Joanne DeMaio
The Winter Novels Series
Publisher: Independent Self-Publishing
Publication Date: October 1, 2025
Format: Paperback - 248 pages
Kindle - 2.3 MB
Audible Audiobook - 5 Hours 44 Minutes
Nook: 915 KB
ISBN: 979-8288332555
ASIN (Audiobook): B0FDX9S5KH
ASIN (Kindle): B0DRHF8VLL
ASIN (Kindle): B0DRHF8VLL
BNID: 2940184417004
Genre: Holiday Romance / Winter Novel / Women's Fiction
Buy The Book:
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Book Description:
From New York Times bestselling author Joanne DeMaio comes a much-anticipated holiday novel and love story to warm your heart.
“Enchanting.” “Delightful.” “Enthralls.” “Feel-good.” “Rich with nostalgia, like a black-and-white Christmas movie you look forward to viewing again and again.” USA Today, as well as one of the nation’s bestselling magazines—along with readers everywhere—know you can count on Joanne DeMaio for a New England Christmastime classic.
“Merry Christmas, Eddie.”
“Should we never meet again, Nora, merry everything.”
For Nora Chadwick and Eddie Alden, those parting words close out each holiday season. Seasons that run the gamut from comfort and joy to hurt and heartbreak. But their fond farewell prevails through it all. Set against the backdrop of a beautiful New England landmark, Merry Everything is inspired by an iconic Connecticut treasure. Nora and Eddie’s endearing love story not only brings this special place back to life—but also brings back the way life could (and used to) be.
My Book Review:
In Merry Everything, author Joanne DeMaio transports the reader to the quaint small New England lakeside town of Addison, Connecticut for another heartwarming holiday tale of family, friendship, new beginnings, and finding a chance at unexpected love.
Merry Everything is a wonderful holiday story that will tug at the heartstrings and fill the reader with seasonal joy. Author Joanne DeMaio weaves a spellbinding tale set in the quaint New England town of Addison, Connecticut, that captivates the reader's attention with the latest heartwarming holiday romance from her Winter Novels series.Nora Chadwick meets Eddie Alden at Reed's Department Store when she is looking for a briefcase for job interviews after losing her job at Country Roads magazine. Eddie is a high school history teacher at a boy's private prep school and works a two-week seasonal job leading up to Christmas Eve as the operator of an old-fashioned elevator that only runs during the holiday. While shopping for the briefcase, a sales lady tells Nora that the store has an opening, and she gets an immediate job interview and a Full-Time job. What ensues is a friendship between Nora and Eddie that spans seven years, both are interested in each other, but with missed chances and opportunities to act upon their feelings for each other, they are left to just send fond exchanges of Merry Christmas and Merry Everything every Christmas Eve. Can the seventh season working together get Nora and Eddie to finally take a chance and get their Merry Everything?
Merry Everything is a wonderful story that has a rich description of a breathtaking department store that is decorated for the holiday as the story's setting filled with holiday traditions. Nora and Eddie find an unexpected chance at love as their story unfolds in a magical way over the seven seasons working together that will make the reader believe in the power of love, family, friendship, new beginnings, and the joy of the holiday season.
There are not enough words that I can express about the simplicity and beauty in which author Joanne DeMaio weaves her heartwarming and multi-layered stories filled with a mixture of love, friendship, family, life's changes, and unexpected special moments, it is simply breathtaking. As the reader follows Nora and Eddie's story, it will pull at your heartstrings as they miss chances every holiday season to find love in the historical and beautifully decorated Reed's Department Store. But the seventh year finally brings them a chance to share their feelings for each other and find love during the holiday season.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention how the richly vivid description of the holiday decorated historical eight story Reed's Department Story is phenomenal; you'll yearn to visit the store that not only sells merchandise but also holiday nostalgia. The department store is based on a real Connecticut landmark treasure, G. Fox Department Store, that held many special and nostalgic memories for the author. Ms. DeMaio has a special gift for transporting the readers into every story that she weaves while leaving them yearning for more!
There are not enough words that I can express about the simplicity and beauty in which author Joanne DeMaio weaves her heartwarming and multi-layered stories filled with a mixture of love, friendship, family, life's changes, and unexpected special moments, it is simply breathtaking. As the reader follows Nora and Eddie's story, it will pull at your heartstrings as they miss chances every holiday season to find love in the historical and beautifully decorated Reed's Department Store. But the seventh year finally brings them a chance to share their feelings for each other and find love during the holiday season.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention how the richly vivid description of the holiday decorated historical eight story Reed's Department Story is phenomenal; you'll yearn to visit the store that not only sells merchandise but also holiday nostalgia. The department store is based on a real Connecticut landmark treasure, G. Fox Department Store, that held many special and nostalgic memories for the author. Ms. DeMaio has a special gift for transporting the readers into every story that she weaves while leaving them yearning for more!
Merry Everything is an enchanting holiday story full of warmth and comfort that will remind the reader of the magic, joy, cheer, and spirit of Christmas. It is a lovely story that will resonate with the reader for a very long time.
Merry Everything is the latest installment in The Winter Novels series, each book is a stand-alone read, but you'll want to read the whole collection!
RATING: 5 STARS
About The Author
Joanne DeMaio is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary fiction. She enjoys writing about friendship, family, love and choices, while setting her stories in New England towns or by the sea. Merry Everything is her newest novel. She is currently at work on her next novel. Joanne lives with her family in Connecticut.
