“This festive audiobook reminds listeners that Christmas can be a time of peace and joy—or a time of distraction and family strife. Caroline Hewitt portrays Merry, a 55-year-old woman who is navigating a tumultuous Christmas season when she learns she has a nodule on her lung. As Merry searches for her Christmas spirit—both figuratively and literally—listeners will find themselves entranced by Hewitt’s ability to provide a soundscape for Merry’s entire world, including her family, her former employer, and even her dog. Hewitt gives all the characters their own personalities, and her wide vocal range believably expresses their emotions. Those looking to escape classic feel-good holiday media need look no further.⁣”
– Kirkus Audiobook, published January 2026

“As a mother, I could relate to Merry, worrying about her kids, even as adults, and hiding what was going on with her own health. And while that could have made things weighty, Merry’s quirky yet kind personality kept the story uplifting. Traversing London at Christmastime and dropping in on some of the places Dickens frequented was interesting, too. I had a lot of fun with the mix of family drama, humor, and nods to classic literature, which made it entertaining and engaging. ⁣”
– Susan J Ballard, see full Instagram review here: subakka.bookstuff

“Merry is a Christmas novel to be savored. Breen’s latest is filled with warmth, insight, emotional depth, and a protagonist that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.”
– Carola Lovering, New York Times bestselling author of Tell Me Lies and Bye, Baby

“It’s a delightful story about the joy of connection, family, and life’s small but meaningful moments. “
– Shelley, The Book Review Crew

“From the opening page, the reader is in for a true Christmas treat. Merry is everything a Christmas novel should be—heartwarming and filled with endearing characters. There are many lessons to be learned but Susan approaches them with humor and great holiday cheer. I loved every minute of this wonderful book!”
– Anita Hughes, author of Christmas at the Lake and A Magical New York Christmas

“All the joy and magic of a Hallmark holiday tale with the added depth and urgency of a modern family novel. Rare book dealer Merry Bingham is determined to fix her fractious family by taking them all to London for the best Christmas ever, even as she grapples with her own guilt and faces an uncertain diagnosis. This fresh and clever reimagining of Dickens’s A Christmas Carol drew me in with its astute and empathetic exploration of the complex family dynamics at play between adult children and their imperfect parents.”
– Kim van Alkemade, NYT Bestselling author, Orphan #8

“I fell in love with Merry Bingham from the very first page. Breen has created the perfect recipe for a Christmas novel: part hilarious family squabbles, part exotic European location, and a dash of magic in the form of a ghostly literary icon. Yet the characters remain grounded and highly sympathetic. Laugh-out-loud funny and genuinely moving – this is the holiday book I’ve been waiting for.”
– Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Stolen Queen