This book might go on my to purchase list. I am still thinking about it almost a week later because the lost love/rivals romance aspect is a nice story, and it's about Hannukah but also the main character is Jewish and secret loves Christmas and is a famous Christmas romance novel author under a pen name; however, the main thing I love about this story is that she also has ME/CFS, a chronic illness that drains you of your energy and has a host of other symptoms. Although my chronic fatigue and pain are still an undiagnosed mystery, I completely related to her struggle to do everyday life tasks without becoming exhausted having to figure out how to pace yourself to store up energy for certain activities and then take time to recover after, and all the emotions and guilt that come with having a chronic illness. The author herself has ME/CFS and that part of the story grabbed me because it felt so real. Plus, I got to learn more about Jewish traditions, which was fun.

Reread 2024: This book. It's another one that I knew I really liked, had read multiple times, but was not as sick as I am now when I did and is now even more special to me. I couldn't remember a lot of details and there were multiple passages I highlighted and teared up at, just feeling seen now that I, like the FMC and the author, have a ME/CFS diagnosis. This disease controls so much in my life and feels like it robs me of a lot, so to see a character facing similar symptoms, feelings, worries, etc. and end up in a place where she's happy and loved is so wonderful. It begins just before Hannukah and ends on the eighth and final night. Rachel sees Jacob again after almost twenty years, summer camp crushes who ended terribly with misunderstandings on both sides (that neither of them realize until later on). He's throwing the Matzah Ball Max, and her publisher wants her to switch from secretly writing Christmas romances under a pen name to a Hannukah romance, so she wheetles her way in to volunteering so she can get a ticket and get some inspiration. They are meant to be, each other's other half, their bashert (destiny), but it takes them a lot of up and downs to get there, culminating in a hilarious chase through the event. The romance is a very slow burn (and very closed door spice wise) but in a way that works for their relationship and the growth they both need, and it's funny and emotional. But most importantly, the disability/chronic illness rep is everything to me in this one, and if you want to get a glimpse into what my life is like sometimes, you should read it.