If there are two actors I love watching on Hallmark—okay, there are a lot, but these two are easily in my top ten—it’s Janel Parrish and Daniel Lissing. And yes, I am always hoping they’ll let him keep his Australian accent. Let me have that.
Ever since I heard about Forgotten Holiday, it’s been in my top five must-watch movies. Give me a Christmas romance that might leave me crying over two people finding their way back to each other, and I’m paying attention. Add these two, and my plans are made.
But what has me especially interested is that this isn’t just about falling in love. It’s about learning how to trust that love enough to stay when things get serious.
Because wanting a future with someone and believing that future won’t break your heart? Those are two very different things.
A Second Chance at a Love He Can’t Remember
Kathryn Liu (Parrish), an antiques buyer for her father’s store, has been happily dating Rob Ashford (Lissing) for nearly a year. But when he surprises her with a pre-Christmas proposal, her fear of a failed relationship takes over. She runs without giving him an answer.
And listen, I’m already anticipating wanting to hug her and yell at her a little. Not because she owes anyone a yes, but because being afraid to lose something can make you walk away before you’ve given yourself a chance to keep it.
Heartbroken, Rob heads to his sister’s house, but a car accident leaves him unable to remember the past year. That includes his relationship with Kathryn—and the love of Christmas that used to come so naturally to him.
Following his doctor’s unconventional instructions, Kathryn agrees to help him retrace their romance and rediscover the holidays. Which means she’s revisiting the relationship she ran from with a man who can’t remember why he loved her.
Yeah. That’s going to hurt.
Remembering Him—and Understanding Herself
What makes this setup so compelling is the vulnerability it asks of Kathryn. Before the accident, she knew Rob loved her. His proposal made that clear. Now, she has to help him remember their connection without knowing what he’ll want once he remembers everything—including her leaving.
There’s something painfully intimate about being the person who remembers the little things when the person you shared them with doesn’t. The moments that made you feel close. The traditions you started together. All the seemingly ordinary things that became meaningful because they were yours.
For Kathryn, revisiting those memories could also mean looking honestly at what she was so afraid to accept. She can’t undo running away from the proposal. But she can decide whether fear gets to make her next choice, too.
That’s the emotional journey I’m here for. Not a woman saying yes simply because she’s scared of losing someone, but a woman figuring out whether she can stop letting the possibility of heartbreak keep her from choosing the relationship she wants.
And Rob deserves a choice in that future, too. As his memories return, Kathryn may have to face the hurt she caused rather than hoping their happier moments will speak for themselves.
Give me the sentiment. Give me the Christmas magic. But give me those difficult, honest conversations alongside it—the ones that make finding their way back to each other feel earned.
I’m rooting for these two already. I’m also preparing to cry, because apparently that’s part of my holiday planning now.
CAST
- Janel Parrish as Kathryn Liu
- Daniel Lissing as Rob Ashford
- Jennifer Oleksiuk as Amy
- Nat Buchanan as Zoe Francis
PHOTOS
PLOT
Kathryn Liu (Parrish) is an antiques buyer for her father’s store and has been happily dating Rob Ashford (Lissing) for nearly a year. When he surprises her with a pre-Christmas proposal, her fear of a failed relationship sends her dashing away without giving him an answer. Heartbroken, as Rob drives to his sister’s house he has a car accident that leaves him without memories of the past year, including their relationship and his once-infectious love of Christmas. Following the unconventional orders from his doctor, Kathryn agrees to help trigger Rob’s memory by retracing their romance and reintroducing him to the holidays. But as his memories inch closer to returning, Kathryn must face the painful truth that bringing Rob back to himself may mean losing him forever, unless she can finally find the courage to fight for the love she was too afraid to claim.
KEY ART
What do you think? Are you looking forward to this movie?
