Plot Synopsis

First-time author Samantha Murphy meets with her publisher, who assigns her a Christmas story as her second book. She's not enthused about the subject, despite all the wonderful Christmases spent at her Nana Madeline's house as a girl. Samantha's entire family has received special letters from Madeline, who passed away earlier in the year, asking them to come together for one final Christmas at her house in Cedar Falls. Samantha's boyfriend Simon invites himself to her hometown for Christmas. The family arrives and settles and Samantha is utterly shocked when that evening, Simon proposes marriage to her and, put on the spot, she says "yes" in front of the whole family. The very next day she tells him she's not sure she's ready to get married. Yet, as the week goes on and the family completes more of Nana Madeline's traditions together, Simon is forced to pretend that everything is fine between them, all the while uncertain if they are even still a couple. At the Cedar Falls Annual Christmas Dance, he tells her he can't play this charade anymore and says he's leaving. She lets him go, and then immediately regrets it. On Christmas morning, everyone opens their gifts from Nana. Samantha's gift is the Christmas Star they had all searched for in vain. Everyone agrees to come together again next year, and Sam reveals the surprise ending to her and Simon's story.