Netflix cracked the Hallmark Christmas movie code — and somehow broke the mold while they were at it. I loved this.

Yes, yes… my half-Italian bias is definitely showing, but still: Christmas in Rome is a Hallmark-style movie that isn’t made by Hallmark, and that alone feels like a small miracle. It walks a familiar path without blindly following the checklist we’ve all grown used to playing bingo with.

The characters are believable, the charm feels earned, and the film smartly dances around the usual clichés instead of tripping headfirst into them. I kept holding my breath, waiting for the inevitable “Hallmark misunderstanding” — the one that sends the newly star-crossed lovers spiraling apart until the final 10-minute reconciliation.

It never fully goes there. And for that, I was genuinely delighted.

Quite possibly my new favorite Christmas movie. 🎄

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The Secret of Secrets is your next Page Turner

 

A surprisingly refreshing return to the Robert Langdon universe. After finding the post–Da Vinci Code sequels only “fine,” this one felt like a genuine rejuvenation of the character. Dan Brown strikes a better balance of adventure, history, and pacing, with far less of the usual “I’m Robert Langdon — the expert!” energy. The real cleverness is in shifting the emotional focus to the secondary character, letting Langdon support rather than dominate. It makes the story feel fresher, tighter, and more engaging than the last few outings.