The Holiday Clause by Lydia Michaels
A Romance Novel published by Bailey Brown Publishing (11/18/25)
Summary:
When three billionaire brothers are told they must marry to inherit their father’s empire, their childhood friend Wren suddenly finds herself at the center of the chaos. What follows is a mix of rivalry, nostalgia, and unexpected feelings as Wren navigates old bonds and new possibilities. It’s a cozy, funny, and sometimes messy story about love, family, and choosing what truly matters.
Keywords:
Contemporary, Hideaway Harbor, Christmas, Small-Town, Alpha Males, Billionaire, Friends to Lovers, First Love, Competition, Rivalry
My Review:
I didn’t love the prologue. It didn’t feel like the start of the story and didn’t draw me in. However, after the first few chapters, I started to get sucked into Hideaway Harbor, the three Hawthorne boys, and Wren.
The book centers around Wren just as much as the three Hawthorne brothers: Greyson, Soren, and Logan, but I didn’t get to know Soren and Logan as much as Greyson. The setup felt very romcom – whoever finds a wife will secure the family inheritance. The setup is intriguing, even if a little outlandish (like a typical Netflix romcom does), and I liked that it tackled heavier topics like loss and grief amidst the festive holiday backdrop. I appreciated that layer of depth.
I was always rooting for Wren, the girl next door, the small-town free spirit who runs her own business and lovingly looks after her quirky dad. She’s warm, grounded, and easy to connect with. Greyson, on the other hand, was harder for me to like. His “alpha” energy and possessive streak came across as more controlling than romantic, especially given that Wren had never dated before. That dynamic felt a little off to me and gave the story a tone that reminded me more of a shifter romance than a contemporary one.
The story did continue to draw me in, and I wanted to get to the exclusive relationship and find out if Wren and Greyson would get over themselves and get together. By the end, I was invested in how things would work themselves out, and the emotional payoff was satisfying.
I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.
This novel was published on 11/18/2025 and is available on Amazon here.
TL;DR Star Rating: 4.25
Links for more information
Rachel Author Barnard 