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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
“Good girl”
This book was FANTASTIC. Seriously. Holiday romance, fake dating.
Kai is a smoke show and a new favourite book boyfriend. Tortured past, but has so much love to give.
His holly jolly, also has a tough past. But is so full of light and sunshine.
So so so happy with this book - the smut scenes were OOF so good.
This book was FANTASTIC. Seriously. Holiday romance, fake dating.
Kai is a smoke show and a new favourite book boyfriend. Tortured past, but has so much love to give.
His holly jolly, also has a tough past. But is so full of light and sunshine.
So so so happy with this book - the smut scenes were OOF so good.
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:
Yes
This is like a really good Hallmark movie! Holly was last at the alter last year for her best friend. She promised her family she would bring home a date for Christmas but she needs to find someone. As she starts to go on dates, the owner of the restaurant she takes first dates to, Kai, offers to be her dating coach and help her pick better dates. Kai, recently separated, starts to fall for Holly. I really loved their dynamic and the plot. The grumpy/sunshine dynamic and the inclusion of Mano, Kai's brother, was so brilliant it made the book. My only issue is that they didn't really talk or address either of their exes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
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
I think it’s a truth universally acknowledged that we read holiday romances for the vibes and they’re usually mediocre or downright terrible—but this one was GOOD. I genuinely laughed out loud so many times and loved seeing Holly and Kai’s grumpy/sunshine relationship develop while they also grew as individuals. This was such an easy, sweet read filled with just the right amount of mess and drama (The book’s prologue and then that MJ reveal later on?? I was shook!). I’m definitely looking forward to checking out more of Brittainy Cherry’s backlog.
lighthearted
medium-paced
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The Holly Dates by Brittainy Cherry - Rating: 5/5⭐️
On Christmas Eve, Holly’s life changed forever. After being left at the altar in front of her entire town, her fiancé runs off with her best friend and co-author.
A year later as Holly is leaving yet another terrible date, she runs into Kai…literally. Barreling into him in their apartment lobby while engrossed her book. Not such a great start with her neighbor made even worse when Holly, in her attempt to find love and someone to take home for the holidays, keeps brining her failed dates into his new restaurant. Which Kai just can’t sit back and watch anymore. So he decides to coach her into dating and finding the right guy.
LIKES:
👍🏾 Little details I was connected to even down to Mano’s football number being my favorite, number eleven. But mostly Holly herself. If I didn’t marry young, I could see myself in her same position with the same attributes. So I feel like her character really struck me in that familiar way.
👍🏾 All of the characters were well developed down to even the glimpses of her dates. All of the humor and drama not only made them relatable, but memorable. Of course Mano being the best side character to exist in a romance book.
👍🏾 I was SWOONING! Watching Kai and Holly navigate through slight enemies to friends to fake dating to lovers was quite the adventure. I loved seeing their connection blossom. When I tell you that I cried multiple times over all of the cuteness, I mean it. Especially the cocktail menu scene.
👍🏾 The freaking twist! My mouth was open so wide it almost split open. I could not have predicted that in all my life. And it’s hard for me not to predict twists.
👍🏾 A lot of growth and healing that had a more mature development that was refreshing to read.
DISLIKES:
👎🏾 Kai’s feelings for Holly flipped a little too soon for what I thought it would. So it took away some of the angst that was building in the very beginning.
Overall, I am becoming a Brittainy Cherry fan and I can’t wait to read more of her books!