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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
unfortunately, i’m DNFing this at 30%.
the concept seemed like it would be a fun read for both summertime and around the holidays, which isn’t easy to achieve — but the execution is, tragically, kind of painful. ellie is so over the top as a “sunshine” character — like, ridiculously so. she speaks in excited run-ons that take up an entire paragraph, she keeps insistently wearing christmas sweaters in july because she’s “method acting!!!”, she starts picturing a future with this guy after knowing him for all of 24 hours (???). mariah is her “grumpy” counterpart, i guess, but she just felt kind of flat to me. the sex scenes were my final straw, i fear — in one scene, mariah called the guy an “alpha-hole” with complete seriousness, which made me cringe unbelievably hard. in another scene with ellie, he sucked her “whole breast” into his mouth!!!! i don’t care how small your chest is, that’s crazy, lol.
this book will probably work better for people who are looking for a quick, breezy read, and who don’t mind insta-lust/love.
thank you to netgalley & the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Who says Christmas magic is only for December? Holly Jolly July delivers a wonderful dose of holiday cheer right in the middle of summer. Lindsay Maple’s rom-com is equal parts cozy and spicy, with a dash of revenge and a whole lot of heart.
Set on the set of a low-budget holiday film, the story follows Ellie, a sunshiney actress, and Mariah, a no-nonsense makeup artist, as they navigate small-town quirks, steamy hookups, and unexpected feelings. What began as a frosty working relationship thaws into something much warmer—especially after a shared betrayal leads them to team up for some Home Alone–style shenanigans.
Maple’s writing is witty, heartfelt, and chaotic in the best way. If you love enemies-to-lovers, found family, and a little mischief with your mistletoe, this one’s for you. 🎄🔥🎄
🎬✨ Verdict: A Christmas-in-July miracle with all the feels. Add it to your summer TBR!
#HollyJollyJuly #ChristmasInJuly #NetGalley #LindsayMaple #HarlequinAudio
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thank you so much to Lindsay Maple and Harlequin/ Canary Street Press for this E-ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own! 🥰
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Find more on my IG @kayreads_romance
⚠️ !! Please be sure to check any TWs before diving in !! ⚠️
What to expect:
- Sapphic
- Workplace romance
- Dislike to love
- MF and FF scenes (separately)
- Makeup artist x actress
- Revenge
My thoughts while reading:
🚨ALERT POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD🚨
I liked the narrators and I thought they did a good job of bringing the characters to our ears, but the story fella bit flat for me.
I am all for queer stereotypes (when they’re done well) and I know I fell in love with my own girlfriend rather quickly, but it felt really out of place for Mariah to think “I know for sure, I love her” after knowing Ellie for less than a week I think?
Both of our FMCs seemed a bit immature to me, honestly. I enjoyed the “Home Alone”-esque revenge situation but again it just felt out of place and clunky. I think I would have enjoyed it more had they realized what was going on, said forget him, and moved on with their lives happily.
But the twist in the movie that Ellie was acting in really saved it at the end!!!
emotional
funny
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:
Complicated
The structure of this book was so cool! Mariah and Ellie meet on the set of a very hallmark-esque Christmas movie that Ellie is featured in. When they each discover their partner is cheating, hijinks ensue and sparks fly. I loved how the main story alternated with the “movie” story, and also I loved that while this story could have just gone in a revenge direction, it ultimately went so much deeper. I did expect the book to be spicier based on buzz I’d seen, but I think it was well balanced. This is worth picking up on 6/17! Thanks to the Hive and Harper Collins for the ARC!
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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:
Complicated
thank you Harlequin Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook for an honest review.
This holiday in July book was cute and fun story following unique characters who go through the unbelievable heartbreak of loss and finding love again in their own ways. following multiple character's POV, you see each growth and change.
I was honored to love these characters.
This holiday in July book was cute and fun story following unique characters who go through the unbelievable heartbreak of loss and finding love again in their own ways. following multiple character's POV, you see each growth and change.
I was honored to love these characters.
Oh wow—this book was such a delightful surprise! It’s the perfect blend of cozy romance, personal growth, and just the right dash of revenge. The storyline cleverly mixes a sweet first love with a heroine who’s trying to rediscover who she is—all while being smack in the middle of filming a cheesy Christmas movie. But what really set this book apart for me was how the author brilliantly wove together the plot of the movie being filmed and the actual story of the characters. It’s like watching the magic unfold on screen and behind the scenes at the same time.
This was my first time reading anything by this author, and I’m honestly so excited to dive into more of their work. The tone is charming and comforting—like a warm blanket and hot cocoa—but there’s also this unexpected little edge thanks to the revenge subplot that keeps things extra fun. It’s cute, it’s heartfelt, and it has just enough sass to keep you flipping pages. If you love holiday rom-coms but wish they had a little more bite, this is one to add to your list.
This was my first time reading anything by this author, and I’m honestly so excited to dive into more of their work. The tone is charming and comforting—like a warm blanket and hot cocoa—but there’s also this unexpected little edge thanks to the revenge subplot that keeps things extra fun. It’s cute, it’s heartfelt, and it has just enough sass to keep you flipping pages. If you love holiday rom-coms but wish they had a little more bite, this is one to add to your list.
funny
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
First and foremost, thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press as well as Harlequin Audio for providing this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review
·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙＊˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙＊
⚝ Rating ⚝: 2.75✩ / 5✩’s (rounded up)
⚝ Review ⚝: Home Alone meets John Tucker Must Die??? Weird combo, but okay. I can maybe see the vision. Unfortunately, I was somewhat lost in execution. I feel like SUCH an outlier on this one.
Mariah and Ellie have both taken jobs on the same movie set, a Christmas movie being filmed in small town Canada in July, preparing for a holiday release--Mariah as a makeup artist and Ellie as an actress. Neither are entirely where they want to be career wise though. While Mariah thinks that these small town Christmas movies are a cheap step backwards, and takes that frustration out on basically everyone, and Ellie is disappointed that she has yet again been passed over by a lead but refuses to let the world see her as upset or sad. On their first day on the job, they both meet men who they determine are good distractions from their workplace disappointments. For Mariah, it's the bartender who also happens to be an old high school crush, and for Ellie, it's the sweet maintenance worker who is employed at the cabins she is staying at.
But after a few weeks, it comes to light that both these men are lying to them and cheating on them, so Mariah and Ellie team up to compile a series of 'home alone'-esque pranks on the unfaithful men in an effort to get them to admit to what they are doing. But as pranks ensue, an attraction between the two seems to be growing.
The hijinks and mayhem are told through a dual POV between Mariah and Ellie, and I just didn't really find myself connecting to either of them.
I *really* wanted to enjoy this one, even with Christmas not being my favorite holiday, this sounded cute and fun. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me. I'm all for bubbly sunshiney characters, but Ellie was just too much and I found I liked her chapters the absolute least. The forced merriment and cheer and bending everyone to love Christmas as much as she does (Spoiler: It's an almost concerning amount of love for Christmas) was honestly, kind of annoying. Personally, I don't think I could spend any time around someone who's entire personality is just 'Christmas'.
As for Mariah, I felt like I could have loved her, but so much about her felt glossed over, her past, her trauma, why she is the way she is, why she is so eager to move on. Things are mentioned, but never really revealed. For me, it simply felt like there was a lot lacking in Mariah's character.
On top of that, the relationship between Ellie and Mariah...wasn't that believable. They went from being furious and angry about being cheated on and lied to to being extremely attracted to each other in a matter of like...minutes? No real build up, no real connection.
I will give the book this though, the pranks were a lot of fun and Ellie was indeed an evil genius. I just wish I liked her more.
⚝ Audio/Narrator⚝: The narration wasn't terrible, but unfortunately, it also wasn't my favorite. Narrated by Lauren Sweet and Angelina Rocca, I felt that the narration was a bit...unbalanced. The narrations for Ellie were extremely dynamic and energetic, while for Mariah, I felt they were almost...bored. And while yes, I do understand this was a grumpy x sunshine storyline, grumpy doesn't have to mean monotone or boring.
⚝ Representation ⚝: Bisexual and Bi-Awakening
⚝ TWs ⚝: Drug use, alcoholism, bullying
My monthly reading breakdown for May will be posted to TikTok, IG, and Threads the first week of June.
·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙＊˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙＊
⚝ Rating ⚝: 2.75✩ / 5✩’s (rounded up)
⚝ Review ⚝: Home Alone meets John Tucker Must Die??? Weird combo, but okay. I can maybe see the vision. Unfortunately, I was somewhat lost in execution. I feel like SUCH an outlier on this one.
Mariah and Ellie have both taken jobs on the same movie set, a Christmas movie being filmed in small town Canada in July, preparing for a holiday release--Mariah as a makeup artist and Ellie as an actress. Neither are entirely where they want to be career wise though. While Mariah thinks that these small town Christmas movies are a cheap step backwards, and takes that frustration out on basically everyone, and Ellie is disappointed that she has yet again been passed over by a lead but refuses to let the world see her as upset or sad. On their first day on the job, they both meet men who they determine are good distractions from their workplace disappointments. For Mariah, it's the bartender who also happens to be an old high school crush, and for Ellie, it's the sweet maintenance worker who is employed at the cabins she is staying at.
But after a few weeks, it comes to light that both these men are lying to them and cheating on them, so Mariah and Ellie team up to compile a series of 'home alone'-esque pranks on the unfaithful men in an effort to get them to admit to what they are doing. But as pranks ensue, an attraction between the two seems to be growing.
The hijinks and mayhem are told through a dual POV between Mariah and Ellie, and I just didn't really find myself connecting to either of them.
I *really* wanted to enjoy this one, even with Christmas not being my favorite holiday, this sounded cute and fun. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me. I'm all for bubbly sunshiney characters, but Ellie was just too much and I found I liked her chapters the absolute least. The forced merriment and cheer and bending everyone to love Christmas as much as she does (Spoiler: It's an almost concerning amount of love for Christmas) was honestly, kind of annoying. Personally, I don't think I could spend any time around someone who's entire personality is just 'Christmas'.
As for Mariah, I felt like I could have loved her, but so much about her felt glossed over, her past, her trauma, why she is the way she is, why she is so eager to move on. Things are mentioned, but never really revealed. For me, it simply felt like there was a lot lacking in Mariah's character.
On top of that, the relationship between Ellie and Mariah...wasn't that believable. They went from being furious and angry about being cheated on and lied to to being extremely attracted to each other in a matter of like...minutes? No real build up, no real connection.
I will give the book this though, the pranks were a lot of fun and Ellie was indeed an evil genius. I just wish I liked her more.
⚝ Audio/Narrator⚝: The narration wasn't terrible, but unfortunately, it also wasn't my favorite. Narrated by Lauren Sweet and Angelina Rocca, I felt that the narration was a bit...unbalanced. The narrations for Ellie were extremely dynamic and energetic, while for Mariah, I felt they were almost...bored. And while yes, I do understand this was a grumpy x sunshine storyline, grumpy doesn't have to mean monotone or boring.
⚝ Representation ⚝: Bisexual and Bi-Awakening
⚝ TWs ⚝: Drug use, alcoholism, bullying
My monthly reading breakdown for May will be posted to TikTok, IG, and Threads the first week of June.
Holly Jolly July is a spicy and hot Christmas in July time that will leave you wanting more. Mariah is a makeup artist working towards her goal. Working on higher budget projects that test her makeup skills. Ellie is a small time actress that has been around for a while and works on Christmas movies a lot. She has only been in smaller rolls and now they are working together. When they end up finding out that the local bartender and the cottage-rental host they have been hooking up with have been cheating they band together for revenge.
I loved this! Not only the revenge plot to get back at the dude but it was funny! I loved the self discovery of the characters, the growth they showed. It was a fast and fun read that I can see you easily reading in the summer or even the winter, though it takes place in July it is based around Christmas… I did like the pop culture references that were played here and there throughout the book. It was a win in my book. Also that dedication! The credits in the back were the acknowledgments and it read like a movie since they are in the movie. I thought that was also very cute and well thought out.
The audio book was great! Very well done with Lauren Sweet and ANgelina Rocca this was done in dual narration and I thought the producation was seamless. I would definitely listen to it again!
Thank you to Harelequin for the complimentary copies. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
I loved this! Not only the revenge plot to get back at the dude but it was funny! I loved the self discovery of the characters, the growth they showed. It was a fast and fun read that I can see you easily reading in the summer or even the winter, though it takes place in July it is based around Christmas… I did like the pop culture references that were played here and there throughout the book. It was a win in my book. Also that dedication! The credits in the back were the acknowledgments and it read like a movie since they are in the movie. I thought that was also very cute and well thought out.
The audio book was great! Very well done with Lauren Sweet and ANgelina Rocca this was done in dual narration and I thought the producation was seamless. I would definitely listen to it again!
Thank you to Harelequin for the complimentary copies. All thoughts and opinions are my own!