Danica McKellar’s New Great American Family Movie Is Based on This Cozy Book
The author shares her magical set visit and surprise cameo in the heartwarming holiday film
Key Takeaways
- Danica McKellar and Sam Page are set to star in 'The Christmas Yes List.'
- The film is based on the book by Melissa Ferguson, releasing on October 6.
- Here, see what Ferguson has said about her story coming to life on screen.
On November 14, part of Great American Family’s Great American Christmas 2026 lineup, Danica McKellar and Sam Page will take the lead in The Christmas Yes List about a recovering people-pleaser seeking to heal her overly-accommodating ways. While McKellar is certainly thrilled to be apart of yet another GAF film, it’s the woman behind the story, author Melissa Ferguson, who has recently opened up about her excitement at seeing her words come to life on screen. Earlier this year, another one of Ferguson’s novels, Meet Me in the Margins, got the film treatment when Merritt Patterson and Liam McIntyre brought the story to life, also on Great American Family. Now, her newest novel, which releases in just a few days on October 6, will arrive just in time for the holidays. Here, read about what you can expect from the book and what the author has said about seeing her story play out on screen.
Dive into ‘The Christmas Yes List’ before the movie premieres!
At the heart of Melissa Ferguson’s new novel is Chloe Hollis, a chronic people-pleaser who is finally ready to accept that she can’t be the person everyone wants her to be—but it’s going to take a bit of practice. In order to get to this point in her life, she plans on collecting 10 rejections prior to Christmas, but James makes it harder than she anticipated. With every idea she throws his way hoping to receive a “No,” he obliges, complicating both her plan and her feelings. Meanwhile, James is on a unique journey of his own.
If you’re looking for a book that feels like a cozy Christmas movie condensed into a few hundred pages, The Christmas Yes List might be the one for you, with reviews from readers with advanced copies raving already. “The charming small-town setting was pure Christmas magic,” wrote one fan in a review. “Between the bustling town square with its glowing Christmas tree, cozy mugs of hot chocolate, festive carols, sledding hills packed with toboggans and magical nights spent stargazing, Melissa Ferguson created an idyllic holiday atmosphere that made me wish I could pack my bags and move there for the season.”
Melissa Ferguson makes a surprise cameo in the film
Since news of Melissa’s book-to-film adaptation broke, the author and mom of five has been sharing the journey on social media. In an interview with Great American Pure Flix, she opened up about the surreal experience of visiting the set with her baby and making a cameo in the film. During the conversation, she recalls filming a wintry, Christmas scene in the midst of a hot summer day.
“I actually got a little choked up momentarily, because it was like, wow, this is such a surreal moment as they’re lighting this Christmas tree, and Danica and Sam come out and do this, and I remember writing this scene. They’re about to do a prayer, and it was just such a special, incredible, wild, totally crazy moment. But it was 85 degrees, and everybody there, including all the background extras, were all pretending with all these coats and hats, and it was so fascinating.”
This holiday season, dive into Melissa Ferguson’s cozy new romance, and see the film premiere on Great American Family on November 14 (debuting on Great American Pure Flix on November 12).
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