Wreck the Halls: A Novel

Written by Tessa Bailey

Narrated by Brooke Bloomingdale and James Gloucester

#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey delivers a sexy, hilarious standalone holiday rom-com about the adult children of two former rock stars who team up to convince their estranged mothers to play a Christmas Eve concert…

Melody Gallard may be the daughter of music royalty, but her world is far from glamorous. She spends her days restoring old books and avoiding the limelight (one awkward tabloid photo was enough, thanks). But when a producer offers her a lot of money to reunite her mother’s band on live tv, Mel begins to wonder if it’s time to rattle the cage, shake up her quiet life… and see him again. The only other person who could wrangle the rock and roll divas.

Beat Dawkins, the lead singer’s son, is Melody’s opposite—the camera loves him, he could charm the pants off anyone, and his mom is not a potential cult leader. Still, they might have been best friends if not for the legendary feud that broke up the band. When they met as teenagers, Mel felt an instant spark, but it’s nothing compared to the wild, intense attraction that builds as they embark on a madcap mission to convince their mothers to perform one last show. 

While dealing with rock star shenanigans, a 24-hour film crew, brawling Santas, and mobs of adoring fans, Mel starts to step out of her comfort zone. With Beat by her side, cheering her on, she’s never felt so understood. But Christmas Eve is fast approaching, and a decades-old scandal is poised to wreck everything—the Steel Birds reunion, their relationships with their mothers, and their newfound love.  

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Oct 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9780063308329

Tessa Bailey

#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey can solve all problems except for her own, so she focuses those efforts on stubborn, fictional blue-collar men and loyal, lovable heroines. She lives on Long Island avoiding the sun and social interactions, then wonders why no one has called. Dubbed the “Michelangelo of dirty talk,” by Entertainment Weekly, Tessa writes with spice, spirit, swoon and a guaranteed happily ever after. 

Reviews for Wreck the Halls

[Sandra Ramirez · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was just okay. This is my first Tessa Bailey book. The narrators were amazing and I think that’s why I kept going. It had a good plot but with the blackmail but other than that I didn’t connect. Mel was funny. I liked her responses. The moms were childish. Too childish.

[blckrose books · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Un insta love kinky? Va!
Me gusto mucho como trata el tema del miedo a la vulnerabilidad y como esto puede afectar a una pareja. Al ser un insta love todo fue muy rápido y obvio cero realista, pero la esencia de la importancia está ahí y es muy bella.

[Rhiannon Amanda Pimlett · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Tha was entertaining book loves the Narrators 4 stars from me

[Charlotte · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Cosy read with the Bailey humour we love.

Wreck the Halls is a friends-to-lovers, co-workers romance with a festive feel. I did want more of the festive feel with it being a Christmas read but I suppose the reconciliation of the mothers coming back together is the Christmas spirit. I wanted more present openings and Christmas jumpers with parties and dinners.

I didn't gel with Beat and I couldn't really get over the names being musically themed. Beat came across as a little bit of a wet wipe and I wanted more main character vibes from him. Sometimes their connection felt forced and the chemistry didn't come across as natural at times. Beat suddenly became very protective over Melody with a flick of a switch. Their relationship seemed dragged out and long-winded. Beat has a story that follows him throughout that causes the main conflict throughout the book. It wasn't the best resolve at the end.

[Allie Bruch · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The narration was good but I did not enjoy the characters in this story

[Darren Hartley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very good book, I enjoyed it very much, leaves a nice warm feeling in your heart when you finish it.

[Dulce Tapia · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Una estrella porque es lo mínimo que puedo darle, solo lo termine para a completar la meta del año. Definitivamente el peor libro que he leído en mi vida.

[April Schmick · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I like the idea of a reality/live show plot line. It was cute.

[Candice McMullen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Chefs, kiss! I felt all the emotions from this story. The writing was beautiful. I fell in love with so many of the characters.

[Diana Rise · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

4.5 Sweet stars for this Christmas Rock and Roll Romance .
There were so many tropes that are signature Tessa Bailey , yet the best release of 2023 for her.
We have the dirty talking Cinnamon roll Beat Dawkins and our ray of sunshine Melody Gallard ; they are the children of Steel Birds legendary female rockers. They havent seen each other since age of 16 but neither one of them has forgotten that fateful meeting . Will they be able to get their mothers to agree to reunite for a live concert at Rockefeller center on Christmas Eve? Will they be able to fight the attraction growing on live feed for a reality show?
Other tropes :
Friends to lovers
Always been you
He falls first
One bed ( even was trending online with the reality show streams)


There were so many delightful elements to this book ..Melody has no filter the funniest things popped out of her mouth . As the time in front of the camera progressed the couple had crowds and fame following them everywhere in NYC . The chemistry on and off the camera was peaking and everyone was teying to push Beat to ask her to marry her (, and the hijinks with her famous wildcard Mom that included a night in jail with Beat yelling at the cops to take him and not to hurt her..just perfect.)

Beat had never given himself over fully to anyone , never trusted himself to get close to another , and the walls coming down for Melody was truly beautiful.

The narrators did a good job , although they are not ones I would run to listen to again, Tessa should have fought for top tier narration for this sweet story Jacob Morgan and Megan Wicks would have been my choice .

[Melissa · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Loved it! Yet another great read from Tessa ? Definitely a must read!

[L · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another wonderful book by Tessa Bailey! I loved all the humor in this great story!

[Hannah Harries-Gale · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Just perfect.
I thought I was gonna have the celebrity aspect but I couldn’t stop listening. The plot and their story was just perfect and that spice. Wow.

[zoe · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved it very much! It was a really sweet romance.

[Mariana Egurrola · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Lacks content other than the Mel and Beat attraction for each other.

[Adalena Guzman · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It wasn’t very Christmasy and honestly that why I read it now so I was a little disappointed in that. The rest of it is fun and liked the spicy parts but it just wasn’t very deep.

[Katherine Morgenstern Seymour · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Book was fun. Male narrator didn’t fit - seemed too old

[samanthaj.paige · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely perfect. Both narrators did phenomenal. I loved it so much!!

[Shalane Du Preez · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Oh my gosh!!! So cute, definitely cringe in some places ? but cute. Spicy. Great book to kick off the festive season reads

[Kit · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

So cute - the characters are loveable, the concept is unique and interesting, and the public in the book shipping the characters alongside the reader is so much fun. Also some excellent spice as you'd always expect from a Tessa Bailey book.

[JuliaDowMaczko · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

DNF. This was just gross. The male narrator sounds like a 60yr old grandpa and this story just sucked. Nothing christmasy at all. Just ick.

[DeeVarr · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It was great. Kept me captivated from beginning to end. Great job on the narration

[Dar Good · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Just, perfect! I loved this story, I loved the immediate connection between the characters, I loved how their emotions were so clear - how their pain, turmoil, happiness, and fears were so evident to us. I felt like I was watching their reality show, that I was with the crowds around them, and I was hanging on their every word, every interaction, every encounter. I loved Trina, once she came around, and I loved Octavia, once she lost her calm. I loved Danielle and Joseph (they’re getting a story, right????) trying to keep everything on track with the wildness and wonderfulness of Melody and Beat <3

[mabel · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Awful, I literally only kept listening it to not fall asleep on my long drives home and even that was a hard feat.

[m.harbor · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I started laughing at multiple points of this book. Not laughing with it, but at it.

[Kelly Terwilliger · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The book plot was really cute, the writing was good. Could have tone down the spice, that detail wasn’t needed. And gave different vibes to Beat and Mel.

[Siena De Salis · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Tessa Bailey is my most-read author this year with this book being the seventh. Unfortunately, this was not it and my least favourite so far so let’s unpack.

Starting with Beat and Melody. The names, I get that the mothers were part of a famous band but I think it’s ridiculous and cringe honestly.
Beat and Melody’s relationship was Insta love and personally, it’s not a favourite trope of mine.
I felt that I knew nothing about Beat until he started confiding in Melody so I didn’t connect to him or fall in love with his character.
Beat and Melody as a couple are forgettable.
Beat in the bedroom was frustrating as well as he has issues with commitment and getting off due to reasons.
The whole story revolves around this reality TV show and trying to get their mother's band back together but following Beat and Melody. We finally meet one of the famous mothers 126 pages in.
Beat and Melody met at a coffee shop early on in the book next to a gym. Beat went after coffee and asked Melody to come with him and she was not dressed for the gym. Beat started doing box jumps and then asked her to do it too. Why a box jump and not a bicep curl to show off? This gym section was off to me.
Let’s talk about the cringe writing in terms of instead of saying “Holy crap” there was a line that was “Holy Hannah”… there was no Hannah in this book. Another weird line “Rotisserie chickens have nothing on me” which was after Beat’s mother was trying to put her in her place. Who says this honestly? There were a few weird cringy lines throughout the book.
Lastly, it’s a holiday romantic comedy based around Christmas. Not once did I laugh in this book and I was 205 pages in when we got the first Christmas paragraph about a decorated tree other than the reality TV show called Wreck The Halls and a deadline to meet before Christmas being mentioned.

Honesty I really didn’t care for the famous mother's backstory and band I wanted to know Beat and Melody and it overshadowed this book for me.

The audiobook was good just I felt the male narrator didn’t fit Beat.

I liked the idea just the execution wasn’t for me.

If you love:

?Holiday Romances
?Christmas Vibes
?Blackmail & Secrets
?Reality TV Show
?Insta Love
?Good Spice

Genre/Type: Holiday Romance 18+
APK: Physical & Audiobook
Pages: 359
Audiobook Length: 10hrs 33mins
Narrators: Brooke Bloomingdale & James Gloucester
Rating: ??
Spice: ?️.5
Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone
Tropes or Themes: Christmas, Romcom, Famous, Insta Love, Friends To Lovers, Forced Proximity, Blackmail, Reality Show, Family Drama, Gala, Violence, Sexual Content, Praise, Edging and Third Person.
Check Triggers ⚠️ ?

All Round Romance Reader
Sienasummerrreads ??
TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Scribd | Amazon | Audible Reviews ?