Take a photo of a barcode or cover
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Christmas in Spite of You by K. C. Mills was a spicy holiday romance certain to make you laugh. I really liked the main characters and the way their opposite natures complemented one another, I just wish it had led to mutual character growth. It seemed like the character growth was a little one sided, but these two were so cute together it was forgivable. I liked the set up and the plot for this, but I felt like a little more could have been done with it to make it more well-rounded, which probably ties back to my previous point about character development. I felt like the pacing was a little bit off, but still moved relatively well for the length of the book. I think more character development would have helped with the pacing, instead of feeling like we were standing in one spot where time doesn’t move for a good portion of the story. Overall, I did still really enjoy this book and watching the characters fall for one another. I think this is a great addition to any holiday TBR, or really just any TBR because who’s to say we don’t need some Christmas spirit at another time of year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a nice casual read for the holidays. Great to get you in the christmas mood and could be a script for a Hallmark movie.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
This book is very cute and a very easy read as long as you are into cliche and predictability. Textbook Hallmark movie plot.
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a cute holiday romance. The only thing I didn’t like is that I do feel like the ending was rushed and I wish there had been more details on Noel’s job and how they ended up living together in Atlanta.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked this! I’m not quite done with holiday reading, which a thing I have never really done a lot before to begin with(!?); but my brain just needs REST and sweetness right now and I’m in a swing of listening to a holiday rom-com every day right now and it’s truly hitting the spot. I loved A Novel Christmas (Charity Shané) and this was a funny and delightful follow-up, bc I accidentally chose another book, bizarrely, with Airbnb as a major plot point?! Hahaha.
Anyway I liked this — I mostly liked the two MCs that K.C. Mills wrote here — it’s definitely (as lots of others noted in reviews) on the insta-lusty side but I don’t object to that as a rule since, like…it happens? I DO object to (and did really struggle with) the woman-whose-life-is-a-mess trope and the male savior trope that inherently goes with it (in a heterosexual romance novel’s most well-worn arc). This one has a lot of that, and I hated how Noel’s bizarre obliviousness to what’s not working for her with her career and Kanton’s throwing tons of money at it to try to rescue her. Just…no. For me that undermined my total relaxation and enjoyment of it — I can (do!!) suspend a lot of disbelief for lots of great romance and rom-com writing but there’s something about the whole dynamic of a relationship that is compromised in a really unhealthy way for me when it’s written this way. (And, of course, it’s not like some made-up thing that never happens — certainly there are many folks that experience or even prefer this dynamic — but to me it is deeply unromantic and deeply unsexy.)
All that said — totally fun and cute listen for the day. The audio narration was good, by Ebony Ford and especially Tony Roberts (I found this one bc I clicked on his name on Libro.fm after reading A Novel Christmas)! I wouldn’t recommend this super strongly but it worked fine for what it was.
Anyway I liked this — I mostly liked the two MCs that K.C. Mills wrote here — it’s definitely (as lots of others noted in reviews) on the insta-lusty side but I don’t object to that as a rule since, like…it happens? I DO object to (and did really struggle with) the woman-whose-life-is-a-mess trope and the male savior trope that inherently goes with it (in a heterosexual romance novel’s most well-worn arc). This one has a lot of that, and I hated how Noel’s bizarre obliviousness to what’s not working for her with her career and Kanton’s throwing tons of money at it to try to rescue her. Just…no. For me that undermined my total relaxation and enjoyment of it — I can (do!!) suspend a lot of disbelief for lots of great romance and rom-com writing but there’s something about the whole dynamic of a relationship that is compromised in a really unhealthy way for me when it’s written this way. (And, of course, it’s not like some made-up thing that never happens — certainly there are many folks that experience or even prefer this dynamic — but to me it is deeply unromantic and deeply unsexy.)
All that said — totally fun and cute listen for the day. The audio narration was good, by Ebony Ford and especially Tony Roberts (I found this one bc I clicked on his name on Libro.fm after reading A Novel Christmas)! I wouldn’t recommend this super strongly but it worked fine for what it was.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Classism
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Ehhhhh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
funny
lighthearted
I was grinning the entire time I read this book. It was cozy, sweet, and watching Kanton and Noel fall for each other was absolutely adorable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This was such a sweet read! I was expecting it to be more of a grumpy/sunshine story, but Kanton really embraced Noel's love of Christmas. Noel was definitely someone I'd love to have in my friend group and Kanton, what a dreamy MMC! I felt like their relationship evolved quickly from insta-lust, but it still felt organic. Plus, this had all the Christmassy vibes I was looking for. Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Violence
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Classism
Minor: Cancer, Infidelity, Stalking, Pregnancy