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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wanted to like this a lot more than I did.
The biggest issue is, I immediately disliked Mariah and never really got over it. She gets a job on her first film by lying, acts like she’s too good for it, shows up late, doesn’t read the script, and even at the very end, she can’t possibly try to work on a second film set to build her resume unless it’s the right kind of film. That sort of entitled person deciding out of nowhere to move to LA with no money no job no work authorization! and an unwillingness to work in her dream industry if it’s not the genre she wants just feels so deeply entitled. And apparently that is rewarded because she just gets handed everything she wants based off of a single viral tiktok video, having done zero research about the industry or living conditions in LA.
Add to that Ellie, who has actually worked hard at her career, taking less than perfect roles and performing them with enthusiasm and professionalism, and it’s just hard to feel like Mariah deserves Ellie. During the 3rd act breakup ish (and can I just say, it should actually be illegal for miscommunication to continue to be a main trope through the 3rd act) I just wanted Ellie to be free and to find someone else who didn’t look down on her dreams. Someone who would put Ellie first. I thought, during some of Mariah’s internal monologue about how she was ready to full on move in with Ellie and worrying about whether a 30 minute commute was too far, that they would actually be good together, but ultimately Mariah was so weird and unable to communicate and willing to drop Ellie in a second if the right opportunity came along. I am just not here for it. I get that she eventually makes a decision to try but at that point I just didn’t even want it anymore.
The premise (man cheats on women, they construct a series of over the top goofy home alone style pranks to teach him a lesson, he learns nothing but at least it brings them together) was fun but dragged on way too long. I don’t get why they still needed to be lying to this man at like, 85% of the way through the book and there was no real payoff. He doesn’t think he did anything wrong and the second they both leave town he’s going right back to his ways.
The little snippets of cheesy hallmark movie script were very fun.
Add to that Ellie, who has actually worked hard at her career, taking less than perfect roles and performing them with enthusiasm and professionalism, and it’s just hard to feel like Mariah deserves Ellie. During the 3rd act breakup ish (and can I just say, it should actually be illegal for miscommunication to continue to be a main trope through the 3rd act) I just wanted Ellie to be free and to find someone else who didn’t look down on her dreams. Someone who would put Ellie first. I thought, during some of Mariah’s internal monologue about how she was ready to full on move in with Ellie and worrying about whether a 30 minute commute was too far, that they would actually be good together, but ultimately Mariah was so weird and unable to communicate and willing to drop Ellie in a second if the right opportunity came along. I am just not here for it. I get that she eventually makes a decision to try but at that point I just didn’t even want it anymore.
The premise (man cheats on women, they construct a series of over the top goofy home alone style pranks to teach him a lesson, he learns nothing but at least it brings them together) was fun but dragged on way too long. I don’t get why they still needed to be lying to this man at like, 85% of the way through the book and there was no real payoff. He doesn’t think he did anything wrong and the second they both leave town he’s going right back to his ways.
The little snippets of cheesy hallmark movie script were very fun.
first and foremost, I'd like to thank from the bottom of my heart the author for providing me with the e-arc of this small town christmas in july book.
I really loved the movie set location and the whole plot was so interesting and entertaining. not only i loved the book plot, but also the movie scenes interludes. it all combined so well and kept the interest peeked.
the writing style was very fluent and worked amazingly with the book.
i don't normally go for open door spicy scenes, but in this book, everything worked so well i really didn't mind reading those too. it was an important thing to accomplish in my opinion, since a lot of books use spice as a way not to implement the plot and the writing style, but here it was written as PART of the story and it felt important to read that too.
the only "negative" side is that I felt the whole thing to be "too quick". I know that might only be my opinion since I prefer my books to be very slow burn.
overall i really liked this book and i feel like recommending it to anyone who loves both queer and straight romance books!
I really loved the movie set location and the whole plot was so interesting and entertaining. not only i loved the book plot, but also the movie scenes interludes. it all combined so well and kept the interest peeked.
the writing style was very fluent and worked amazingly with the book.
i don't normally go for open door spicy scenes, but in this book, everything worked so well i really didn't mind reading those too. it was an important thing to accomplish in my opinion, since a lot of books use spice as a way not to implement the plot and the writing style, but here it was written as PART of the story and it felt important to read that too.
the only "negative" side is that I felt the whole thing to be "too quick". I know that might only be my opinion since I prefer my books to be very slow burn.
overall i really liked this book and i feel like recommending it to anyone who loves both queer and straight romance books!
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
Honestly one of my favorite... Idk niches (is that the right word?), Microtropes? What ever you want to call it, is books/movies about the making of a movie/TV show/content maker, ECT. Behind the scenes stuff you know? I love it because it's almost like getting two different stories for the price of one lol.
Holly Jolly July hits that check mark for me in the happiest little Sapphic Hallmark Christmas movie style ever!
Ellie's character breaks my heart, always playing second fiddle (or trumbone) and never getting to have the spotlight is hard on anyone and she takes it in stride always being cheerful and bubbly while holding it inside. And Mariah is a grumpy stormcloud with a secret heart of gold who just wants to be herself and be accepted for it.
The banter between these two is absolutely phenomenal and their relationship grows so organically. Reading along as these two slowly realize just how deeply in love they are with each other As the story progresses was so much fun and by the end of the story I was in tears!
What to expect:
🎄 Grumpy x Sunshine
🎄 Workplace Romance
🎄 Hallmark Christmas vibes
🎄 Cheating F**ck boys
🎄 MF & FF romance
Holly Jolly July hits that check mark for me in the happiest little Sapphic Hallmark Christmas movie style ever!
Ellie's character breaks my heart, always playing second fiddle (or trumbone) and never getting to have the spotlight is hard on anyone and she takes it in stride always being cheerful and bubbly while holding it inside. And Mariah is a grumpy stormcloud with a secret heart of gold who just wants to be herself and be accepted for it.
The banter between these two is absolutely phenomenal and their relationship grows so organically. Reading along as these two slowly realize just how deeply in love they are with each other As the story progresses was so much fun and by the end of the story I was in tears!
What to expect:
🎄 Grumpy x Sunshine
🎄 Workplace Romance
🎄 Hallmark Christmas vibes
🎄 Cheating F**ck boys
🎄 MF & FF romance
4 stars
Did you watch John Tucker Must Die and wish the girls ended up together instead? Than boy is this book for you. Plus we have opposites attract! Filming a holiday movie! An actor and makeup artist! Overall this was incredibly fun. I do think some of the pranks on the guy didn’t make the most sense in context (Home Alone style felt wrong) and the movie scenes between chapters was too much, I think having just a few would’ve been much more interesting than how many there were. Otherwise I had a blast. This was meant for the bi girlies!
Both narrators were fantastic and I think their voices matched the character personalities perfectly!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this eARC and ALC!
Did you watch John Tucker Must Die and wish the girls ended up together instead? Than boy is this book for you. Plus we have opposites attract! Filming a holiday movie! An actor and makeup artist! Overall this was incredibly fun. I do think some of the pranks on the guy didn’t make the most sense in context (Home Alone style felt wrong) and the movie scenes between chapters was too much, I think having just a few would’ve been much more interesting than how many there were. Otherwise I had a blast. This was meant for the bi girlies!
Both narrators were fantastic and I think their voices matched the character personalities perfectly!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this eARC and ALC!
This sapphic rom-com comes in hot—literally and figuratively. The heat kicks in early, with some very spicy scenes just a few chapters in, and the Canadian summer sun doesn’t let up from there. If you’re looking for steamy chemistry set against twinkle lights and fake snow in July, this book absolutely delivers.
I really liked the concept: a holiday movie being filmed in the dead of summer, with the story flipping between the real-life romance and the movie scenes being filmed. In theory, it should’ve been the perfect meta mix—but in practice, the jumps between “film” and “reality” sometimes pulled me out of the story. I found myself wanting to stay in the actual narrative between Ellie and Mariah rather than bouncing into the on-screen holiday drama.
That said, the character dynamic between Ellie (sunshine and Santa sweaters) and Mariah (grinchy and guarded) was fun to watch unfold. Their grudging alliance after being duped by their respective love interests turned into something much deeper and sweeter—complete with Home Alone-style revenge and lots of unexpected feels. It was funny, sexy, and full of Christmas spirit… just maybe a bit uneven in execution.
If you like your rom-coms spicy, festive, and a little chaotic, Holly Jolly July might just be your kind of holiday treat—even if it’s wrapped in palm trees instead of pine.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Charming and steamy bisexual romance featuring a Christmas-loving actress and a Christmas-hating makeup artist who end up dating the same guy and plan to get revenge on him for cheating only to fall for each other.
There's a lot going on in this story, and it's kind of messy but in a cute way. There's also bits of the script of the movie Ellie and Mariah are working on giving it a small M/F romance in script form too, the twist of which was actually pretty adorable and I can totally see Ellie rocking that role. There's also a sprinkling of fake dating, which I love, and some family dynamics that add another element to the story. The part I liked the last was the revenge plot line. It was just kind of ridiculous. Otherwise, I had fun reading this one.
Note: There is on-page M/F spice as well as F/F spice.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
There's a lot going on in this story, and it's kind of messy but in a cute way. There's also bits of the script of the movie Ellie and Mariah are working on giving it a small M/F romance in script form too, the twist of which was actually pretty adorable and I can totally see Ellie rocking that role. There's also a sprinkling of fake dating, which I love, and some family dynamics that add another element to the story. The part I liked the last was the revenge plot line. It was just kind of ridiculous. Otherwise, I had fun reading this one.
Note: There is on-page M/F spice as well as F/F spice.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
Thank you Canary Street Press, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Lindsay Maple, and NetGalley for this eARC. I am voluntarily leaving a review, and all thoughts are honest and my own.
This novel had an interesting premise for me. Two women, Ellie and Mariah, are working together on a Christmas movie. They each find this seemingly great guy that they're dating. The twist? They find out they're seeing the same guy, and that guy is cheating on them with the other woman! Naturally, they want to get some sweet, sweet revenge on this cheater. Along the way, these two women, opposites in many ways, start to become friends, and maybe something more.
This book has a lot of Christmas references, as seen by the title, "Holly Jolly July". This story starts out with the two women as co-workers. One is a chipper, chatty actress who LOVES Christmas! The other is a grouchy makeup artist who is NOT a fan of Christmas. I appreciate the fact that the two women team up to prank the guy once they found out that he was two-timing on them. I also really enjoyed seeing the shift from dislike to friendship between the two characters. The second third of the book was where the chemistry between our leads really took off, at least for me!
That being said, there were some things I wasn't a fan of. I personally wished that the F/F romance had had more time to develop, as the romance seems to have developed within two to three weeks, a very short amount of time. I also wish that we had seen more of the characters' pasts rather than just being told. For example, Mariah and her mother have had a strained relationship. Yet when we see Mariah's mother, we only see her trying to make amends. It would've been nice to have had a reference to an argument between the two, rather than just being told that the two had argued about certain things.
Even with these issues, I still found this book to be an enjoyable read, especially once Ellie and Mariah decided to team up! There were times where readers were able to see the plot of the movie being filmed, which I found to be a complement to the main plot. Both Ellie and Mariah were able to grow as characters for the better within their relationship, which is something I enjoy seeing. Specifically, Ellie learned that it's okay to be sad, and Mariah learned that it's okay to be vulnerable and honest in relationships. Both characters are bisexual, Mariah having known for awhile, and Ellie having discovered this withing the story. I enjoyed seeing a couple of twists near the end, as well. Lastly, the plans to prank the two-timer were ultimately harmless, and I enjoyed seeing the conclusion of the pranking plot.
Fans of Christmas, Christmas novels, revenge plots, co-workers romances, dislike to lovers, grumpy x sunshine, lots of spice, and a story within a story should give this novel a chance.
Note: this book for those who like both M/F and F/F spice. The M/F spice is in the first third of the book, and the F/F spice and chemistry are in the rest of the book.
This novel had an interesting premise for me. Two women, Ellie and Mariah, are working together on a Christmas movie. They each find this seemingly great guy that they're dating. The twist? They find out they're seeing the same guy, and that guy is cheating on them with the other woman! Naturally, they want to get some sweet, sweet revenge on this cheater. Along the way, these two women, opposites in many ways, start to become friends, and maybe something more.
This book has a lot of Christmas references, as seen by the title, "Holly Jolly July". This story starts out with the two women as co-workers. One is a chipper, chatty actress who LOVES Christmas! The other is a grouchy makeup artist who is NOT a fan of Christmas. I appreciate the fact that the two women team up to prank the guy once they found out that he was two-timing on them. I also really enjoyed seeing the shift from dislike to friendship between the two characters. The second third of the book was where the chemistry between our leads really took off, at least for me!
That being said, there were some things I wasn't a fan of. I personally wished that the F/F romance had had more time to develop, as the romance seems to have developed within two to three weeks, a very short amount of time. I also wish that we had seen more of the characters' pasts rather than just being told. For example, Mariah and her mother have had a strained relationship. Yet when we see Mariah's mother, we only see her trying to make amends. It would've been nice to have had a reference to an argument between the two, rather than just being told that the two had argued about certain things.
Even with these issues, I still found this book to be an enjoyable read, especially once Ellie and Mariah decided to team up! There were times where readers were able to see the plot of the movie being filmed, which I found to be a complement to the main plot. Both Ellie and Mariah were able to grow as characters for the better within their relationship, which is something I enjoy seeing. Specifically, Ellie learned that it's okay to be sad, and Mariah learned that it's okay to be vulnerable and honest in relationships. Both characters are bisexual, Mariah having known for awhile, and Ellie having discovered this withing the story. I enjoyed seeing a couple of twists near the end, as well. Lastly, the plans to prank the two-timer were ultimately harmless, and I enjoyed seeing the conclusion of the pranking plot.
Fans of Christmas, Christmas novels, revenge plots, co-workers romances, dislike to lovers, grumpy x sunshine, lots of spice, and a story within a story should give this novel a chance.
Note: this book for those who like both M/F and F/F spice. The M/F spice is in the first third of the book, and the F/F spice and chemistry are in the rest of the book.
🎄𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠
🎄𝐒𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
🎄𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧
🎄𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭
✨𝒯𝒽ℴ𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈✨
I was pleasantly surprised by "𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐉𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲." The story follows Mariah and Ellie, who form an unlikely bond on the set of a Christmas movie. Together, they plot a Home Alone-style revenge on the guy who deceived them.
𝐈 found the dynamic between Ellie and Mariah fun. They’re complete opposites; Ellie is all sunshine and positivity while Mariah is guarded and a bit on the grumpy side. Their friendship was a strong aspect of the story, with hints of romance sprinkled throughout. The alternating chapters between the Christmas movie being filmed and the main storyline added a very unique touch.
🎧I also had the chance to listen to the audiobook narrated by 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭. Their performances truly brought Ellie and Mariah to life. Their voices were perfect for the characters they portrayed. If you enjoy a sapphic and steamy romance set against the backdrop of a Hallmark Christmas movie, then you’ll love this story!
Special thanks to 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐟or the physical copy and 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨 for the audio copy. All opinions expressed here are my own.
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝟒.𝟓⭐️ 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥: 𝟑🔥 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝟒.𝟓🎧
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:
Complicated
My first holiday read of the year! Hallmark Christmas movies meet John Tucker Must Die in this super cute sapphic holiday rom com and what a time it was! I absolutely loved both Ellie and Mariah and their chemistry was incredible. I really enjoyed seeing them plot their pranks and enact them while slowly falling for each other. I also loved how they each grew in their own ways like Ellie realizing that she’s been a leading lady all along and Mariah going for what she wants in her career. The movie script scenes peppered in throughout the book were so much fun and had that perfect cheesy cuteness you expect from Christmas movies. I think this is a PERFECT Christmas in July (or really whenever the hell you want to read it!) book and it made me wishing it was December now!
Thank you to Canary Street Press for the digital reader’s copy!