A Ferry Merry Christmas: A Novel

Debbie Macomber

Oct 2025 · Sold by Ballantine Books

About this ebook

A delayed ferryboat brings people together in the best of ways during the holiday season in this enchanting Christmas novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber.

Avery and Reed Bond grew up sharing a close-knit relationship, weathering life’s storms side by side. Even so, Avery often finds herself exasperated by her brother’s relentless matchmaking, while Reed can’t resist teasing his sister—after all, isn’t that what siblings do?

Facing their first Christmas without their beloved Grams, the woman who lovingly raised them, Reed and Avery decide to spend the holiday together at Reed’s home. However, their plans take an unexpected turn when the ferry Avery’s traveling on stalls in the middle of Puget Sound, stranding its passengers and leaving Reed waiting a now undetermined length of time for her arrival. What is at first an inconvenience threatens to ruin the plans of a number of commuters, but Avery and Reed soon discover that this unforeseen delay might end up being be a perfectly timed blessing in disguise.

While stuck on the ferry, Avery meets a handsome sailor and witnesses a Christmas miracle that reignites her belief in the holiday spirit. Meanwhile, Reed runs into a coworker who’s also waiting for a family member to arrive, and sparks a surprising and delightful connection.

In this tale of holiday magic, the Bond siblings find themselves taking a chance on love, proving that sometimes the best moments in life come when we least expect them.

Ratings and reviews

It wouldn’t be Christmas without Debbie Macomber! Another sweet & cute Christmas story. It’s clean wholesome & heartwarming! She makes you feel that you’re stranded on the ferry too on a cold brisk day. Even though there’s adversity on the ferry Debbie includes some happiness & joy during the hours of being on the broke down ferry. You won’t want to miss this year’s Christmas book! It has friends, family, relationships, romance & so much more. Of course a HEA! Thanks NetGalley and publishers.

Emotional, cute, fun, and so heartfelt. The romance is soft and organic, surrounded by multiple storylines that feel real and relatable. Each character carries their own burden into the holiday, and in true Macomber style, we’re gently led from struggle to peace and contentment. The ending, filled with music, unity, and Christmas spirit, was beautiful. I always finish her books feeling lighter, hopeful, and warmed from the inside out. A lovely addition to any holiday reading list.

Breathtaking, heartwarming, relatable. Excellence!!

About the author

Debbie Macomber is a leading voice in women’s fiction. Fifteen of her novels have reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller lists, and six of her beloved Christmas novels have been made into hit movies on the Hallmark Channel, in addition to the original series Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove, based on Macomber’s Cedar Cove books. There are more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide.