Bubbling up with Helena

• Title: Wreck the Halls
• Author: Tessa Bailey
• Publisher: Avon
• Release Date: 10/3/23
• Genre: Romance
• Age Range: Adult
• Rating: ★★★★
• Publisher’s Summary: 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. 

I am a sucker for a holiday romance, and Tessa Bailey is certainly the contemporary romance queen. Wreck the Halls is not my favorite of Bailey’s work, but it is compelling and fun with just the right amount of holiday cheer.

The premise of Wreck the Halls is so fun. Melody and Beat are given an impossible task – reunite their mothers who hate each other. Because it is a romance novel, I was pretty confident that the story would end happily, but I was certainly eager to find out if Melody and Beat would be able to bring their moms back together.

Melody and Beat have a fascinating relationship. They met once as teenagers and felt an instant connection. Beat immediately feels protective over Melody. Viewers of Wreck the Halls also quickly catch on to Melody’s crush on Beat. I would have prefered a slower build up to their relationship, but it is sweet how Melody and Beat feel so close so quickly.

Bailey also loves to dive into family relationships in her romances, and this is no exception. Melody has a complicated relationship with her mom, who she only sees once a year. Beat has a better relationship with his mom, but has been holding onto a secret that could destroy her reputation. It’s lovely to read about these relationships healing as Melody and Beat develop their relationship.

The Holiday season in New York is magical, and Bailey certainly captures that in Wreck the Halls. The whole story centers around a Christmas Eve concert at Rockefeller Center, which is the hub of the season in New York. I loved the image of the brawling santas when Beat and Melody visit Melody’s mom. It is clear throughout the story what time of year the story takes place, but it does not take away from the integrity of the story.

Bailey never disappoints with her romances. I will continue to read her books. I am already looking forward to reading her next one.