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Hera scoops two standalone festive rom-coms by debut author Hayley Dunlop
Hera, an imprint of Canelo, has scooped two standalone festive rom-coms by debut author Hayley Dunlop.
Commissioning editor Jennie Ayres has acquired world English-language rights to It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, and a second novel, from Laura Williams at Greene & Heaton. Dunlop is a copywriter who has previously worked and written for the Guardian.
Her first book will be published in simultaneous Paperback Original and e-book form in August 2025, with book two to follow in August 2026.
The synopsis of It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas states: "Mally Allister prides herself on being nice and predictable, just like the trope-filled festive films she turns to for comfort every winter. When she is sent back to her home town on a writing assignment to recreate the Christmas movie experience, she finds herself encountering her favourite tropes in unexpected ways that could change her life forever."
Ayres said: "I adore made-for-TV Christmas movies, so I was hooked on It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas from the moment it landed on my desk. In this unforgettable story, readers will find all the seasonal movie tropes that they adore, in a compelling romance full of heart and humour."
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Dunlop said: "Settling down on the sofa to watch a Christmas film has always been one of my favourite pastimes. As I devoured them in the winter lockdown of 2020, I started to wonder what would happen if a less conventional romantic lead tried to find a picture-perfect holiday romance in her unremarkable British home town. So I decided to write this book to find out. It’s all too easy for people to roll their eyes at these formulaic films, and that’s why I also sought to explore the vital, comforting role they play in people’s lives. And I’m happy Mally’s story has found such a wonderful home with Jennie and the whole team at Hera. I hope Mally’s story brings as much joy and comfort to readers as it did to me as I wrote it."
