A Date With Santa | Book Review

By Debbie Macomber

A GREAT CHRISTMAS READ

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SUMMARY

Sage Madison is single and focused on her career at a respected marketing firm. She is currently vying for a long-awaited manager position.   When her mother calls and insists Sage take care of her 5-year-old nephew, Ricky, while her sister is deployed in the Army Reserve, Sage is beyond frustrated.  She has no idea how to care for a little boy, and it couldn’t happen at a worse time; to top it off, the holidays are approaching, and there is no telling whether her sister will make it back in time for Christmas.

Although unprepared, Sage is determined to make Ricky’s time with her special, but when Ricky demands to see the real Santa, she is at a loss. When her friend and coworker, Ethan, volunteers to play Santa in exchange for a date, she reluctantly agrees and even has fun with all the holiday festivities.  When Ricky’s happiness is at risk because of a work requirement, Sage must make a life-changing decision.

REVIEW

A DATE WITH SANTA is a classic Debbie Macomber book and a great Christmas read. The theme is about Sage’s personal transformation and finding love when you least expect it.  Sage’s emotional journey is the heart of the story.

Ricky's character is simply adorable.  Everyone needs someone like Ricky in their life to remind us what the holidays are about. His innocence and enthusiasm make the book special.  My favorite parts were the mishap while baking and the ice-skating scene.  Ricky was a major catalyst in making this book enjoyable.

McComber’s writing is relaxing, warm, and comfortable, with a meaningful message.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine for an advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed here in my A Date With Santa | Book Review are my own.

Publisher    Ballantine

Published   October 13, 2026

Review       www.bluestockingreviews.com