READERS GUIDE
Reading Group GuideA conversation with Julia McKay
New Years is a favorite holiday for both Holly and Ivy and was such a fun way to introduce their bond. What inspired you to introduce their friendship this way?
While I’m definitely a huge fan of Christmas, I always love the promise and anticipation of a brand-new year—and I wanted to create characters who felt the same way. I especially loved the way Holly got so excited about shopping for a new planner every year because this is one of my favorite things to do, too. The way each year starts as a blank slate is so exciting and inspiring for me, and not just because it’s an excuse to go to my favorite stationery store!
2. Who was your favorite character to write and why?
I love Holly and Ivy equally and have the same level of fictional crush on both Aiden and Oliver, too. There’s no way I could pick a favorite there. But as far as secondary characters go, I’m a big fan of Bebe. With her golden caftan and notoriously strong holiday punch, she made me laugh in every scene she was in.
3. Was there a real-life town that inspired the fictional Hudson Valley town of Krimbo, New York?
A few years ago, my family and I took a summer road trip to the Adirondacks and stayed in a few little towns along the way. Krimbo is loosely based on a few of the riverside Hudson Valley spots we discovered, which were all charming, tiny, and off the beaten track.
4. What was your favorite scene to write and why?
In Ivy’s storyline, I loved writing the scene where she and Oliver go to Nā Pali and finally kiss while swimming in the waterfall pool. It’s such a romantically charged scene, but it’s not all hormones and new love: They’ve really gotten to know each other during this camping trip, and you can see such a strong foundation being built for them—but you can also feel the resistance to falling, on Ivy’s part. Especially with the scenery descriptions of Hawaii and the heightened emotions, that scene feels so vivid and memorable to me.
For Holly, I adored writing the scene where she’s out looking for Mrs. Claws and then Aiden shows up. Without spoiling the ending, I love the way she tries to do what she feels is the right thing in that moment and continue to be rational about her feelings—but love and emotion win in the end.
5. A lot of Ivy’s inner dialogue shows her seeing the world through her art, often describing what colors she’d use to draw whatever has caught her eye. What inspired you to write her with this particular lens?
I’m fascinated by all kinds of art but especially visual. I wish painting or drawing were among my talents, but mostly I’m just an admirer of good art. When I love a certain piece, I always find myself wondering what exactly went into creating it. I have some visual artist friends who gave me insight into their process, and this helped me write a believable artist character. As far as the colors go, my mother was an interior designer and I was raised with a deep understanding of the power and magic of color. It was really fun for me to delve into my knowledge of this, and I love the way it all came to life on the page with Ivy’s internal dialogue about different shades and tones.
6. Without giving anything away, did you always know how this story would end?
Well, I think we can all agree that a holiday romance must always be heading toward a happy ending! So yes, I always knew my characters would end up in a happy place. I also always knew that their friendship would be involved in the conclusion. It had to feel like friendship was also on the line—because this is not just a love story, it’s a friendship story. As I wrote this novel, Holly and Ivy’s relationship felt just as important as the love storylines. Which I think is true in life, too. Our romantic partnerships can be a key part of our happiness (or unhappiness!) and tell a large part of our life story, yes—but solid, healthy friendships are the building blocks of a good life, too. A top priority in creating this story was to convey that, especially at the end.
7. What was the genesis of this story?
As I mentioned, I think friendships are so important to happiness. So when I was coming up with this holiday romance, I felt I wanted to deepen the layers of emotion by exploring more than just romantic love. The best way to do this was by building a beautiful friendship into the structure. Ultimately, I thought of my own friendships—and, in particular, my best friend, Sophie, to whom this novel is dedicated. Especially as we grow older and experience more of life, we rely on each other in a myriad of ways. I feel blessed to be able to have more than one soulmate in life: my husband and my bestie.
8. How did you come up with the holiday-themed drinks that Larry serves to Oliver and Ivy at the bar?
All the cocktails really exist! I did some internet research on traditional holiday drinks in different parts of the world and popular drinks in Hawaii—and the Hawaiian bonfire felt like the perfect choice for the heat of the moments that occur in that bar! Polar bear and snowball shooters are also real drinks, although I added in the crushed candy cane rim to make it feel extra festive.
9. Were any of these characters inspired by anyone in your life?
Ivy reminds me a lot of my best friend: tough, smart, determined, artistic, and fiercely loyal.
10. What is your ideal way to spend the holidays?
We have a lakeside cabin in Northern Ontario, and it’s absolutely gorgeous in winter. We have a lot of trees on our property, so we always go out and find a little fir to set up by the fireplace, which makes it truly feel like Christmas. This year we’re going on a European ski holiday, though. Not spending Christmas in Ontario will be a first but I’m excited to know our holiday will contain two of the key ingredients to getting into the spirit of the season: our family and lots of snow!
Discussion Questions
1. If you ever needed to escape your life, where would you jet off to in order to get away from it all?
2. How do you feel about the holiday season? Do you feel similarly to Holly and Ivy? Why or why not?
3. If given the choice, would you rather spend your winter holiday somewhere beautiful and warm like Hawaii, or snowy and majestic like the Hudson Valley?
4. What was your favorite scene and why?
5. What would you have done if you were in Ivy’s shoes? Would you have confronted Matt and his mistress right away or avoided them?
6. Have you ever felt competitive with a friend/acquaintance? If so, did you feel like it pushed you to do your best, in the way it did for Holly and Aiden?
7. Have you ever made your own traditions, like Oliver does around Christmas? What are some of your self-made traditions?
8. Is there anyone from your past you wish you could run into, as Holly does with Aiden?
9. Have you ever lied to protect a friend? Why or why not?
10. What is your favorite holiday tradition and why?
