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betweentheshelves's review against another edition
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
3.5
When you're not used to ready (very) steamy adult romance, this is a jolt. Not in a bad way, it's steamier than the cover implies, honestly. Which I should have known probably from the description, but here we are! It was still an enjoyable book nonetheless.
Someone else said that this is like a Hallmark Christmas movie but with way more spiciness and I definitely agree with that assessment. You know what to expect plotwise, and this book definitely delivers. I love the idea of filming on a Hallmark-esque Christmas movie set with actors you might not otherwise expect, which made for a fun story. Both of our MCs describe themselves as disaster bisexuals, and I also loved that.
I enjoyed this rare adult romance read for the holiday season, and I think others will enjoy it too! Especially if you love Hallmark movies for their feel good factor but want a little more spice thrown in.
Someone else said that this is like a Hallmark Christmas movie but with way more spiciness and I definitely agree with that assessment. You know what to expect plotwise, and this book definitely delivers. I love the idea of filming on a Hallmark-esque Christmas movie set with actors you might not otherwise expect, which made for a fun story. Both of our MCs describe themselves as disaster bisexuals, and I also loved that.
I enjoyed this rare adult romance read for the holiday season, and I think others will enjoy it too! Especially if you love Hallmark movies for their feel good factor but want a little more spice thrown in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Sexual content, and Body shaming
Moderate: Mental illness, Biphobia, and Bullying
The mom of one of the MCs has Bipolar Disorder.arthur_ant18's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Sexual content, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Bullying, Biphobia, and Mental illness
binreads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A little light holiday romance with lots of spice! I really liked this! It was kinda predictable but fun to read all the same. I wish we actually got more of the book from Bee's perspective, especially at the spicer bits it kept switching back to Nolan's POV. I really loved Bee, everything she stood for and how kind she was. She was a great character.
I also enjoyed the range of different characters and their little quirks. The whole vibe made me want to watch some Hallmark movies to be honest.
Detailed thoughts below:
So quite honestly, I don't think they would've actually ended up together. The relationship felt more like lust at first sight and not love. Nolan constantly referred to Bee as Bianca Von Honey and the porn star as if she wasn't a real person really pissed me off. I think they were caught up in the atmosphere of the movie and the lust for one another that once they left, I don't know if I would have envisioned them to be together..I mean 90% of the interactions were them having s*x.
You can be heavily attracted to someone without thinking of s*x every time you interact with them and I think Nolan only wanted her for what he imagined his fantasy would be. Espeically the part after Bee got knocked over by the horse and was out for a whole day, she goes to see him and they instantly start going at it again was the part where I was like okay we get it enoughhhhhhhh.
At the end when even Bee realizes maybe it is all just a fantasy to him, I was thinking YESSS BEEEEEE DO YOUR OWN THINNNNNG but alas, they end up together which I'm not mad about!
Side note, I knew from the moment they took the picture with the stripper that it was going to be a recipe for disaster later on.
I also enjoyed the range of different characters and their little quirks. The whole vibe made me want to watch some Hallmark movies to be honest.
Detailed thoughts below:
You can be heavily attracted to someone without thinking of s*x every time you interact with them and I think Nolan only wanted her for what he imagined his fantasy would be. Espeically the part after Bee got knocked over by the horse and was out for a whole day, she goes to see him and they instantly start going at it again was the part where I was like okay we get it enoughhhhhhhh.
At the end when even Bee realizes maybe it is all just a fantasy to him, I was thinking YESSS BEEEEEE DO YOUR OWN THINNNNNG but alas, they end up together which I'm not mad about!
Side note, I knew from the moment they took the picture with the stripper that it was going to be a recipe for disaster later on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, and Biphobia
gemin1reader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
4.0
This book has such a fun premise and is a super steamy festive treat. I loved the main characters mutual fan girling over each other. Throughly enjoyed it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Fatphobia
Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, Mental illness, and Biphobia
kirstym25's review against another edition
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Sexual content, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Mental illness, Biphobia, and Bullying
sdupont's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
5.0
Wow, this is the perfect holiday read! This book is the cross between a cozy and sweet Hallmark movie and smut. This book is doing the most- an ex-boyband member and an adult film star who are set to film what is essentially a Hallmark Christmas movie. And they both have crushes on each other from their work so mutual pining! I loved Bee and Nolan, they had a great dynamic and you found yourself immediately rooting for them. Honorable mention to the side characters in this book because they added another layer of fun. I am so excited that this is the first in a series and can’t wait to see what happens in the next book. I would highly recommend this holiday read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Fatphobia
Moderate: Mental illness and Biphobia
purplepenning's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Body-positive, sex-positive, and about as sweet and steamy as you can get in one holiday rom-com package. ("Package" pun not intended but definitely would've been remarked on in a book that manages to be both very frank and filled with innuendo.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Biphobia, Cursing, Alcohol, Chronic illness, and Mental illness
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Death
decklededgess's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
5.0
trigger warnings: mental illness, physical injury mention, poverty, sexual harassment, cyber bullying, sexual content, stalking mention, alcohol, anxiety and panic attacks, fatphobia
I am a big fucking fan of romance books featuring sex workers in an incredibly positive light and unabashedly discussing sex work coexisting with long term relationships. I feel like some romances demand that the person who does sex work stop after getting in a relationship which feels so incredibly manipulative in books. Thankfully we have zero manipulation in this book. But as a disclaimer, better opinions on this rep work come from people with firsthand experience with sex work so take my opinions here with a grain of salt.
Bee and Nolan were really superb main characters. Their chemistry jumped off the page from the get go and each character individually had so much charisma and personality that even individually they were stellar leads to follow throughout the book. The writing for both POVs was seamless and while I was easily able to tell which co author wrote which character/scene, I felt like the narrative voices were beautifully complimentary and transitioned without a hitch.
The expanded cast of characters in this little Christmas film set town were also supremely fun. I appreciated how all the side characters also had vivacious personalities and lives outside of the main story that had me salivating to read their stories.
This whole book was delightfully engrossing, sexy, and tooth achingly sweet. LOVE. Can't wait for more in this series.
I am a big fucking fan of romance books featuring sex workers in an incredibly positive light and unabashedly discussing sex work coexisting with long term relationships. I feel like some romances demand that the person who does sex work stop after getting in a relationship which feels so incredibly manipulative in books. Thankfully we have zero manipulation in this book. But as a disclaimer, better opinions on this rep work come from people with firsthand experience with sex work so take my opinions here with a grain of salt.
Bee and Nolan were really superb main characters. Their chemistry jumped off the page from the get go and each character individually had so much charisma and personality that even individually they were stellar leads to follow throughout the book. The writing for both POVs was seamless and while I was easily able to tell which co author wrote which character/scene, I felt like the narrative voices were beautifully complimentary and transitioned without a hitch.
The expanded cast of characters in this little Christmas film set town were also supremely fun. I appreciated how all the side characters also had vivacious personalities and lives outside of the main story that had me salivating to read their stories.
This whole book was delightfully engrossing, sexy, and tooth achingly sweet. LOVE. Can't wait for more in this series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Biphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Mental illness
Minor: Stalking
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
A Merry Little Meet Cute is an utterly charming and decidedly steamy holiday rom-com that I found refreshingly funny & thoroughly entertaining! With nuanced characters and an emphasis double standards, sex and body positivity—set against the backdrop of a squeaky clean, Hallmark-esque Holiday movie, Sierra Simone and Julie Murphy have crafted a heartwarming, inclusive and sizzlingly spectacular rom-com that steamy romance fans are bound to enjoy!
It’s set in Christmas Notch, a holiday themed town in Vermont where the Hope Channel are filming their newest (family friendly) Holiday romance, Duke The Halls. But thanks to festival mishap which takes out half the cast and crew, the female lead is replaced with adult film star Bee Hobbs (aka Bianca Von Honey), who has dreamed of the change to work in mainstream media. This is her big chance—so long as her identity remains a secret.
Now she gets to work alongside her teen crush, ex-boy band member and reformed bad boy, Nolan Shaw. But her new co-star is already aware of her x-rated alter ego, as he’s secretly one of her biggest fans.
When things start to heat up on set Bee and Nolan must keep their steamy affair a under wraps or risk ruining everything…
This was such an entertaining, heartwarming and swelteringly spicy read that I really enjoyed. The characters were all really we written, I really enjoyed exploring the POVs of both MCs and loved that Simone and Murphy subvert the outdated standards of beauty and the misogynistic scrutiny that female celebrities must endure in comparison to their male co-workers.
I really loved Bee who was so incredibly confident, unashamed of her body or her profession and knows her self worth. She’s sure to be a role model in self confidence for many, including myself. And her character’s championing of body and sex positivity was something I’d love to see more of in fiction. I also liked the humanisation of sex workers—especially in seeing Bee’s adult film career treated just as much respect mainstream to and film actors. The sensitive way mental health is explored was also really good, particularly the way Nolan’s mother, who has bipolar disorder is portrayed.
The chemistry between Bee and Nolan was snow meltingly spectacular though the romance is explicitly open door so if that’s not your thing you might want to give this a miss.
The supporting cast equally as endearing and I would love to see more of Angel, Luca and Sunny in future. The LGBTQ+ rep was great particularly the Bi representation, with both Nolan and Bee self identifying as Bisexual.
Overall, a fun and sizzlingly good read that steamy romance fans and holiday rom-com lovers should definitely check out.
Also, thanks to HarperFiction and Netgalley for the e-arc.
It’s set in Christmas Notch, a holiday themed town in Vermont where the Hope Channel are filming their newest (family friendly) Holiday romance, Duke The Halls. But thanks to festival mishap which takes out half the cast and crew, the female lead is replaced with adult film star Bee Hobbs (aka Bianca Von Honey), who has dreamed of the change to work in mainstream media. This is her big chance—so long as her identity remains a secret.
Now she gets to work alongside her teen crush, ex-boy band member and reformed bad boy, Nolan Shaw. But her new co-star is already aware of her x-rated alter ego, as he’s secretly one of her biggest fans.
When things start to heat up on set Bee and Nolan must keep their steamy affair a under wraps or risk ruining everything…
This was such an entertaining, heartwarming and swelteringly spicy read that I really enjoyed. The characters were all really we written, I really enjoyed exploring the POVs of both MCs and loved that Simone and Murphy subvert the outdated standards of beauty and the misogynistic scrutiny that female celebrities must endure in comparison to their male co-workers.
I really loved Bee who was so incredibly confident, unashamed of her body or her profession and knows her self worth. She’s sure to be a role model in self confidence for many, including myself. And her character’s championing of body and sex positivity was something I’d love to see more of in fiction. I also liked the humanisation of sex workers—especially in seeing Bee’s adult film career treated just as much respect mainstream to and film actors. The sensitive way mental health is explored was also really good, particularly the way Nolan’s mother, who has bipolar disorder is portrayed.
The chemistry between Bee and Nolan was snow meltingly spectacular though the romance is explicitly open door so if that’s not your thing you might want to give this a miss.
The supporting cast equally as endearing and I would love to see more of Angel, Luca and Sunny in future. The LGBTQ+ rep was great particularly the Bi representation, with both Nolan and Bee self identifying as Bisexual.
Overall, a fun and sizzlingly good read that steamy romance fans and holiday rom-com lovers should definitely check out.
Also, thanks to HarperFiction and Netgalley for the e-arc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Body shaming, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Mental illness, Bullying, and Biphobia
fivecatsinacoat's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced review copy of this audiobook.
This was such a fun, spicy holiday romance! I love reading romances with fat MCs and Bee didn't disappoint. The audio was perfectly narrated and I can't count the number of times I literally laughed out loud!
This was such a fun, spicy holiday romance! I love reading romances with fat MCs and Bee didn't disappoint. The audio was perfectly narrated and I can't count the number of times I literally laughed out loud!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Fatphobia, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Body shaming, and Biphobia
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