Scan barcode
stevie's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
Jenny Bayliss knows how to write a cozy cute winter atmosphere !! Something about the tone of this one felt different than her others; it was quieter and definitely more chaste.
Did not love the constant excusing of privileged people’s behavior — as if rich people need defending? The main character spends so much time defending them that I assumed part of the story progression was the rich friends’ growth in understanding their privilege; it wasn’t. It got exhausting, especially with the tension between the “it’s not rich people’s fault they’re so rude, it’s the money’s fault” camp and the “blue collar labor is the only good honest labor” one. So simplistic. Very boomer Facebook group-y tbh.
Did not love the constant excusing of privileged people’s behavior — as if rich people need defending? The main character spends so much time defending them that I assumed part of the story progression was the rich friends’ growth in understanding their privilege; it wasn’t. It got exhausting, especially with the tension between the “it’s not rich people’s fault they’re so rude, it’s the money’s fault” camp and the “blue collar labor is the only good honest labor” one. So simplistic. Very boomer Facebook group-y tbh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
bookinthebath's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
whatkathrynreads_'s review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
thekiwibibliophile's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Super quick romance read. It wasn’t as Christmassy as I feel it could have been, but was still good. I like that Nory & Thom sorted their stuff out & finally got along. Guy was not a fave (but then again, I guess he’s not supposed to be!) I did enjoy the side plot as well, and that it so closely related to Nory & her job.
Overall a good read!
Overall a good read!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
shelovestoread81's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.75
I actually rate this book 3.75. There were a lot of mention of how the rich kids had it better than other kids a lot in this book. Once or twice would have done it for me. TW: suicide of a friend is mentioned to happened in the past. Overall it was a cute story. Miscommunication happened a lot too which is something I don’t care for. The writing style was good and the story was good. Overall it was cute story.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
nailartklaudia's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Suicide
Moderate: Death of parent and Toxic friendship
kristin_bee's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Cute “enemies” to lovers story. Nory returns home to stay at the local castle before her close friends’ wedding. There she runs into her childhood crush/enemy, Isaac. They immediately hit it off as adults. Loved that this story was more than just a love story. It touched on the ramifications of British colonialism, the issues between the working class and the upper classes, family, sibling relationships, and the traumatic loss of a friend (suicide). Definitely recommend because while heavy at times, it ends perfectly!
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
thoranareads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
mklein319's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Suicide, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism
wordsofclover's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
When Elienor 'Nory' Noel travels back to her hometown to attend a school friend's wedding, she's both dreading and looking forward to the reunion with her group of best friends for a myriad of reasons. But Nory also ends up bumping into her old childhood enemy, Isaac and sparks fly immediately.
I really enjoy having a Jenny Bayliss book to look forward to every Christmas, and her characters and stories have kept me company the last three years and Meet Me Under the Mistletoe was exactly what I needed to get me into the Christmas spirit. Similar to A Season for Second Chances, Meet Me Under the Mistletoe isn't necessarily a Christmas read - more so a perfect Winter read as it starts the end of November, and leads up to the Christmas season.
I have said before that Jenny Bayliss is just an expert at creating book settings and locations - particularly small towns and villages you want to live in yourself. I didn't feel this so much in this book but I think the setting of the castle was still really good, and in particular Nory's secondhand bookshop came alive in the pages from the descriptions of the gorgeous Christmas window display and the vintage books up for grabs, to all the cosy armchairs and fairy lights decorating the shop.
The group of friends were all an interesting bunch, all made of money and reeking of privilege yet at the same time all good people who cared for Nory - even Guy, eventually. The story did lean heavily on how friends can be like family, and you love them even when you hate them, and this was made more poignant in the story by the storyline of Tristan, a friend who died by suicide. I thought Tristan's storyline was gently and respectfully done, showcasing the devastation left behind when someone dies in such a way and how friends and family live with that forever. Each time Tristan was mentioned or talked about when the friends were together (particularly in the epilogue) made me well up.
The romance is very sweet, and the third act conflict was an interesting one in terms of not something I had seen before and while part of me didn't like it as I felt Isaac was being stubborn and Nory was too rash with things, I also appreciated that it wasn't a case of silly miscommunication as normally seen in such novels. It was a conflict with a depth and a history to it, and an importance to.
Lots in this I really enjoyed, and it was a pleasant Christmas read to keep me company beside the Christmas tree.
I really enjoy having a Jenny Bayliss book to look forward to every Christmas, and her characters and stories have kept me company the last three years and Meet Me Under the Mistletoe was exactly what I needed to get me into the Christmas spirit. Similar to A Season for Second Chances, Meet Me Under the Mistletoe isn't necessarily a Christmas read - more so a perfect Winter read as it starts the end of November, and leads up to the Christmas season.
I have said before that Jenny Bayliss is just an expert at creating book settings and locations - particularly small towns and villages you want to live in yourself. I didn't feel this so much in this book but I think the setting of the castle was still really good, and in particular Nory's secondhand bookshop came alive in the pages from the descriptions of the gorgeous Christmas window display and the vintage books up for grabs, to all the cosy armchairs and fairy lights decorating the shop.
The group of friends were all an interesting bunch, all made of money and reeking of privilege yet at the same time all good people who cared for Nory - even Guy, eventually. The story did lean heavily on how friends can be like family, and you love them even when you hate them, and this was made more poignant in the story by the storyline of Tristan, a friend who died by suicide. I thought Tristan's storyline was gently and respectfully done, showcasing the devastation left behind when someone dies in such a way and how friends and family live with that forever. Each time Tristan was mentioned or talked about when the friends were together (particularly in the epilogue) made me well up.
The romance is very sweet, and the third act conflict was an interesting one in terms of not something I had seen before and while part of me didn't like it as I felt Isaac was being stubborn and Nory was too rash with things, I also appreciated that it wasn't a case of silly miscommunication as normally seen in such novels. It was a conflict with a depth and a history to it, and an importance to.
Lots in this I really enjoyed, and it was a pleasant Christmas read to keep me company beside the Christmas tree.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide