Book review: A Season of Secrets by Fern Michaels

Genre: Contemporary Christmas fiction

Release date: September 29, 2026

Goodreads rating: 3.97

My rating: 3.5

 

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A Season of Secrets was my first Fern Michaels book, and it turned out to be a sweet, cozy holiday read centered on family, reunion, and second chances. The story has that warm Christmas feeling throughout, with holiday markets, hot chocolate, ornaments, gifts, and plenty of scenes set around London that made this feel like the perfect seasonal escape.

The story follows Ashley, who discovers through a DNA test that she was adopted and that her biological family is in England. At the same time, Emily discovers that she has a twin sister who was separated from her at birth. As their stories begin to connect, Ashley and Emily find themselves on the path toward an unexpected family reunion.

I enjoyed the feel-good nature of the story and the focus on two families coming together. It is simple and very optimistic, sometimes a little too optimistic for me, but that also makes it work as a comforting holiday story. If you're looking for something warm, sentimental, and easy to settle into this Christmas, this story delivers.

Thank you to Kensington Publishing and Netgalley for granting me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

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