The Christmas Dress

A Novel

By: Courtney Cole

Narrated by: Bailey Carr

Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

An enchanted Christmas dress brings two generations of women together for the magic of the season in this delightful holiday story from New York Times best-selling author Courtney Cole.

One dress. Two women. The magic of the holiday season.

When hopeful fashionista Meg Julliard must return to her hometown of Chicago to manage her late father’s apartment building, she thinks her dreams of making it in the fashion business are over. Add in her father’s eclectic roster of tenants who all need Meg’s attention (ASAP!), a host of building-related disasters, and a handsome handyman she keeps embarrassing herself in front of, and this has all the makings for the worst Christmas she’s ever had.

Ellie Wade, one of the building’s longtime residents, is also not feeling the Christmas Joy this year. She is preparing to move into a nursing home (reluctantly), and is in the process of sorting through her belongings to downsize. Every corner of her apartment holds memories - some good, some bad. But there’s one dress she hesitates to pack up, as it represents both the best and worst night of her life.

Ellie and Meg strike up an unlikely friendship, and the story of Ellie’s dress comes out. Ellie gifts the gorgeous dress to Meg, hoping that it will bring her more luck - on the condition that she wear it to the building’s Christmas party.

The dress magically fits, and while it eventually leads to the best night of Meg’s life, it also acts as inspiration for Meg to follow a lifelong dream of her own, a dream that will help save the crumbling Parkview West and restore it to its former glory, keeping it as a safe home for all of the current tenants.

The dress and the magic of the holiday season help both Meg and Ellie find their own happy endings.

©2021 Courtney Cole (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

Brought tears to my eyes

I love a book that causes my mind to see everything as if a movie is going. . . A heartfelt story

beautiful

This was a Hallmark worthy love story. The Bailey Carr did a good job taking the reader to the story. Listening to her voice made this story come alive. I gave the performance 4/5 because there was one particular character whose voice I felt could have been performed differently.
For anyone looking for a cozy romance, this story is worth the time.

Magical

The Christmas Dress magically brings together family that’s not family. History and new beginnings. A delightful read or listen anytime if the year!

Fun and easy!

A good entertaining book, great for the holiday season! Warm like a cup of hot cocoa on a chilly day!

Integrity of characters

This is a Christmas title with a year round story that can be enjoyed in any season. The characters are interesting and their lives intertwine in subtle ways. Very enjoyable.

Sweet story

Sweet story revolving around a girl whose father died and left her his apartment building in New York City. The building is in major disrepair, and the funds necessary to revamp. It are nonexistent. She thinks that perhaps selling the building and then trying to revitalize her design career is her best option. There are a cast of characters that are delightful, and you fall in love with them. There is one surprise after another in this story and well worth the listen. I enjoyed it immensely. It’s a great holiday read.

A beautiful Christmas love story

I enjoyed this book very much. I was having trouble getting into the Christmas spirit, and this book really did the trick. I would recommend it as it will warm your heart..

Nice story.

Heartwarming short story with a few twists. Made interesting by the history of the building and past lives of the main characters.

Delightful

Just a delightful Christmas book. Such fun characters set in Chicago. Narration was very good.

Heartwarming story

This was such a feel good story. I loved every minute of the magical story.