A Cross-Country Christmas by Courtney Walsh Review – A Cozy Road-Trip Romance #ACrossCountryChristmas #2025ChristmasReadingChallenge

A Cross-Country Christmas is a sweet, slow-burn holiday romance about healing, second chances, and finding warmth and belonging on the road home.

Summary:

Lauren Richmond, a Christmas skeptic who usually avoids returning to the Midwest for the holidays, reluctantly heads home this year because her brother and sister-in-law are expecting a baby—and ends up sharing a cross-country drive from California to Illinois with Will Sinclair, her childhood crush and her brother’s charming best friend. Stuck together due to her fear of flying, organized and guarded Lauren contrasts sharply with flirty, spontaneous Will, who’s determined to show he’s not the same guy she remembers. As miles pass and old feelings resurface, they discover that while the past doesn’t repeat itself exactly, it can offer a hopeful second verse—just in time for Christmas.

My Thoughts:

A Cross-Country Christmas is exactly the kind of holiday romance I love—one that literally takes you on the road home for Christmas while peeling back the layers of two characters who have a lot more history, heart, and hurt than they let on. Lauren Richmond has never been a fan of Christmas, and honestly, given her upbringing, I can’t blame her. With parents who checked out of the holidays when she and her brother were still kids, Lauren has long associated the season with disappointment rather than magic. She’s built a busy life for herself as a set decorator on a TV sitcom, and heading home to the Midwest rarely ranks high on her priority list.

But this year is different. Her brother and his wife are expecting a baby, and Lauren is determined to be there—even if her fear of flying means she ends up stuck in a car from California to Illinois with Will Sinclair, her brother’s childhood best friend and the guy she’s secretly crushed on forever. The catch? They shared a meaningful night years ago… one Will doesn’t seem to remember. Lauren is guarded and organised, while Will is spontaneous and charming, and the dual-narrative format really highlights how differently they see both the world and each other. I found it so effective in deepening their emotional arcs.

The slow burn between them is sweet, steady, and believable, especially as the miles pass and unexpected detours bring them closer. There’s also a tender reason behind the specific route Will chooses, and it made me love his character even more. I also adored the contrast between Lauren’s chilly family dynamic and the warm welcome she receives from Will’s family—it gives her a sense of belonging she’s never truly had.

The Narration:

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Reba Buhr and Will Collyer, and both performances were wonderful. Their chemistry, especially during the witty back-and-forth moments, added an extra layer of heart to the story.

Final Thoughts:

This is a charming, hopeful, gently romantic holiday read—perfect for anyone who enjoys road-trip stories, second chances, and a touch of Christmas healing.