Home is where you make it, even during the holidays. In the case of the latest entry from Netflix Stories, it’s A Virgin River Christmas, and you’re in the titular town, and you’re there to finish your first novel by Christmas Day. 

Holidays have their rhythms and traditions, and they’re no different in Virgin River. Navigating them at the same time as searching for inspiration and falling in love can be difficult. That’s why we’ve assembled this guide, so you know what to expect along the way. We’ve even included a springboard that might, with a little added creativity, help you find a new way to play, too. 

It’s Christmas, all over

The Virgin River you know and love has been taken over by yuletide cheer. Everywhere you look, you’ll see seasonal colors. The tree farm, Mel’s cabin, ice skating rink, Jack’s bar, and all your favorite spots from the show have been gift-wrapped in red and green, adding a festive sheen to familiar locations.

Easter eggs on Christmas

Fans of the show will see and hear nods to the source material in surprising places in A Virgin River Christmas. They’ll pop up when you least expect them, so keep your eyes and ears peeled. 

• “Can I get a cosmo?”: Jack’s bar serves up all kinds of libations, but if you want a true cosmo you’ll have to bring your own Cointreau — just like Mel.   
• Dig a Pony: Mel’s cabin has one very unique guest, a puppy dressed up in a Christmas bow. Sure, a puppy named after a tiny horse is a bit unusual. But once upon a time, so was the idea of bringing a dead tree indoors and covering it with baubles, and no one seems to flinch at that anymore. 
• Clear River: You won't get to visit the neighboring burg yourself, but when Hope runs low on batteries for her Christmas tree display, it's the only place that might have them, according to Connie.
• Name that tune: The right song can say what the heart wants to say more easily than uttering the words themselves. Sitting in a booth at Jack’s bar one night, you’ll hear an acoustic rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s classic track “Songbird.”
• Semper fi: Spend some time talking with Brady, and he’ll reveal that he was an enlisted Marine, which, as Virgin River devotees already know, is how he first met Jack.
• The sewing circle: As mayor, Hope’s got a ton on her plate, so when the Christmas tree decorating contest rolls around, she has to put one of her other obligations on pause. This time, it’s the sewing circle. 
• Spot the seashell: In the show, Mel leaves a seashell on her husband’s tombstone when she visits his grave early on in Season 2. Look closely and you’ll spot one on the hearth in her cabin.

Romance options

There are several contenders to choose from when it comes to potential love interests in A Virgin River Christmas. Unlike the main Virgin River mobile game, some are familiar faces from the cast. A handful have been created specifically for you to smooch under the mistletoe in this game. 

• Brady: This former Marine is having trouble adjusting to civilian life, but maybe you can help with that. 
• Mike: Another leatherneck, this cop has a heart of gold. 
• Brie: Brie might’ve been romantically entangled on the show, but here you shouldn’t have to worry about stepping on Brady’s toes.
• Jett/Juliet: Depending on your romantic interests, you'll have the option to pair up with Jett or Julie, the classic tough-person who’s secretly warm and fuzzy under the right circumstances. 
• Lauren/Liam: Equal parts caring and strong, this EMT is here to save lives, and maybe win your heart.

The ending

In the game’s fourth and final chapter, you'll have a big decision to make. Whether you elect to extend your stay in Virgin River with the object of your affection, or go home after you’ve finished your manuscript is up to you. Maybe some stability, settling down and exploring what you’ve built with your Virgin River paramour is just what you need to kick-start your career as a novelist. Or perhaps the call of the big city with its hustle and bustle is more your speed. No one says holiday romances need to last forever.

Play a different way

A Virgin River Christmas gives you a ton of options for creating your avatar. Our suggestion? Lean way into role-playing as a writer, either from the screen or real life. For example, you could play it as a rom-com prequel to The Shining by creating a guy with dark hair and a penchant for plaid named Jack Torrance. One where a young Jack finds love and actually finishes his first novel during a snowbound writing retreat. Virgin River's resident Jack, who owns a bar with his name on it, adds a hint of tragic subtext alluding to what Jack's future will hold. If anything, it makes what happened at the Overlook Hotel during his final writing sessions all the more heartbreaking. Perfect for the Halloween-on-Christmas crowd. 

All of the games on Netflix right now.