I am grateful to have received an advanced copy from the author.

I recently passed a difficult milestone, five years since my husband died of cancer. I only mention this because since his death, holidays have been especially difficult. I didn't know if I could connect with a book that takes place during the festive holiday season, but Pearly Gates never disappoints.

Ms. Solomon understands that sadness and joy do not happen in sequence, one giving way to the other once you've done "the work." They often happen simultaneously, so that one minute I was laughing at unionizing gingerbread people and the next I'm undone by a father's fleeting memory of his lost son.

I also related to the story as a parent balancing my child's grief while navigating my own. Kids find stability in continuing old traditions, but for parents, they shine a spotlight on who is missing.

The Pearly and Thunder storyline could have been decorative. It isn't, because it asks the question underneath everything else: can a love survive being changed? Not preserved, changed. That's the question that follows you into widowhood too, in a different form. What you had can't stay the way it was. The only version that lasts is the one that's allowed to become something else.

Ms. Solomon has knocked it out of the park again with this funny, warm, and bedazzled story that never asks the reader to put their own grief aside. I loved this book so much and will recommend it to all my widowed and non widowed friends.
#TheJingleRebellion #NetGalley

"It’s like 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦 meets Hallmark, only gayer.”

Bonnie Solomon is the diva of heartfelt cozy fantasy served with humour, wisdom, and a sprinkling of glitter. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘑𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯 is all that, and much more. There are Victorian carollers, sleigh rides, gingerbread lattes, rollerskating elves, and so many other fabulous examples of Christmas joy!

Yet not everyone feels able to go all-in during the holiday season. For some, it's a time of loneliness, grief, and uncertainty, when opting out feels like the safest way to avoid further heartbreak. With sensitivity and gentle insight, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘑𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯 acknowledges these valid feelings, while also making space for healing and reflection.

This story left me feeling moved, inspired, and surprisingly eager to skip over pumpkin spice season in favour of peppermint mochas!

If heartwarming and hilarious queer cozy fantasy is your vibe, you absolutely must add 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘑𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯 to your holiday TBR. In fact, add all the Pearly Gates novels to your wishlist, because while this delightful story can be read as a standalone, trust me you will adore the entire series!

Many thanks to NetGalley the publisher for the opportunity to read an ARC of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘑𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯! I look forward to re-reading it December.

Pearly Gates gets a holiday special!

When a book starts with the gingerbread men revolting, you know you’re in for a good time. Expect all the things we know and love from a Pearly Gates novel, but make it Christmas. This time, Pearly is sent back to earth to help guide a grieving soul. As per usual, she ends up helping everyone around her too – even if the line between help and overstepping gets a bit blurred.

If you’re rooting for Pearly and Thunder, their relationship gets a solid amount of airtime and we see Thunder explore his own sense of self. If you haven’t read the previous two books, I would encourage you to (because they are super) but it is not a requirement. All the key points to get you up to speed are woven into the plot.

I really enjoyed the high school setting, as well as the family dynamic and differences between a grieving father (who is the principal) and their grieving daughter. A forbidden musical and a community rallying round to save the roller rink was a fun way to keep the holiday feel-good spirit amongst some weightier topics.

I’m pleased to report that the audiobook was just as brilliantly performed as the previous two titles in the series. There is no need to be wary of the author’s narration, Bonnie knows what she is doing!

Thanks to Bonnie Solomon, Bonsol Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advance listener copy in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

4.5⭐ / 5 🎧 / 2 🌶️ / 2 🧠 (clear plot)

I loved everything about this. It was absolutely delightful to be back in Pearly's world and it's CHRISTMAS! You don't need to read the first two books to read this one as the author does a great job incorporating background info throughout the story. I felt like we got a much deeper look at Pearly and Thunder's relationship in this one and I really appreciated Pearly's personal growth not only in this book but throughout the series. This book tackles some really heavy hitting topics while maintaining a cozy atmosphere. I highly recommend for a cozy, thoughtful, and magical holiday read!

I have read and loved the first two books in this series, but I think The Jingle Rebellion is my favourite of all three. This Christmas instalment gave me more of an emotional connection to the characters than the previous books did—especially Thunder—and it even made me cry a little, which the other two books did not.

I love Pearly in general: her upbeat attitude, her ability to admit when she is wrong, and the amazing character growth she has had throughout the series. Pearly has come so far since the first book, and seeing that progress by the third book was fantastic. Her relationship with Thunder also has more emotional impact if you have read the earlier books.

This is a cosy holiday fantasy with a heartfelt feel, and I think it would be perfect for readers wanting a comforting Christmas read to curl up with. I would also recommend it to readers who enjoy LGBTQ+ representation. Pearly is a spirit guide who was a drag queen in her previous life, and the story includes LGBTQ+ characters.

I also have to mention Bonnie’s book covers—they are gorgeous. I absolutely love them.

While reading the first two books will deepen the emotional impact, particularly regarding Pearly and Thunder’s relationship, it is not necessary to read them before this one. Returning characters are given enough explanation and context that new readers can still follow and enjoy the story as a standalone cosy holiday read.

I definitely recommend The Jingle Rebellion for anyone looking for a cosy fantasy, a heartfelt story, and some Christmas spirit.

I love the Pearly Gates series. This book is perfect is you are looking for a cozy, feel good, not romance focused holiday themed fantasy novel. This story follows Pearly as she helps both her latest charge, Neil, and her partner, Thunder, navigate major changes in their lives. As usual, Pearly's positive and persistent out of that box attitude help her accomplish her mission with humor and flare. And of course there is sparkling and bedazzling galore. I think the great thing about Bonnie's writing is that she strikes the right blend of character growth and humorous hijinks. I honestly can't wait to see what adventures Pearly goes on next.

What the holy jingle did I just read? What a fun, fabulous, outrageously funny Christmas read!

Pearly Gates and Thunder, soulmates that live in the afterlife as…souls, have a long and varied history of incarnations together in the real world. Now a spirit guide, Pearly gets an assignment to help a grieving high school principal reclaim the spirit of Christmas. Thunder, who plays a mean game of pickle-ball, comes along for the fun because he was laid off from the soul nursery and has some time on his hands. Pearly manifests as a custodian at the school to help principal Neil and his daughter, Genesis, rediscover the true meaning of Christmas after the unexpected death of Neil’s husband. Using her former life skills as a drag queen, among other things, Pearly comes barreling into their lives and it’s just pure fun, glittery chaos, and heartwarming scenes sprinkled with a touch of magic.

Humor forward, this book is also touching and makes all of us rethink our purpose in this lifetime and the lives that we touch along the way. I couldn’t put this book down.

This is the third book in Bonnie Solomon’s Pearly Gates series but it reads wonderfully as a standalone. I will definitely be reading the first two now and will be first in line for the next one.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2026, and it did not disappoint. It's magical, funny, massively endearing and a huge hug of a book. It's the perfect book to read while wrapped up in a warm blanket, drinking a big mug of hot chocolate.

This is the third and sadly final book in the wonderful Pearly Gates book series - Pearly Gates was the first, and The Midnight Croissant was the second book. They are standalone books, so you can read them separately if you like, but I can't recommend this entire series enough.

I was lucky enough to be part of author Bonnie Solomon's street team for this book, so I got the ARC for both the book and the audiobook, which Bonnie Solomon herself read beautifully.

In this book, Pearly, in her role as spirit guide, is given the task of bringing together a fractured family. Neil and his daughter Genesis are mourning the loss of his husband and her father, Randy. He was a huge fan of Christmas, and every year he would put together the Christmas celebration at Neil's school. This year, Neil shuts down all talk of the Christmas celebration because he can't face it now that Randy is gone. Their daughter is furious with this decision, and she, along with her friends, Pearly and her partner Thunder, work together to put on a celebration without Neil.

Along the way, they all become close and share their lives and experiences with one another.

Will they succeed and have an amazing Christmas celebration? Will Genesis and Neil resolve their issues? Grab yourself a copy of this beautiful book and find out. I recommend reading it immersively, and hearing the author read it as you follow along makes it even more fabulous.

Although I am so sad to say goodbye to this beautiful world and fantastic characters, this is a truly fitting final book and a wonderful way to end the series. It's a series I will hold dear to my heart, and come back to time and time again.