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jocelynsreading's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
This book, at least for me, was extremely cheesy and cringey (I sometimes had to set it down from second hand embarrassment) but I still really enjoyed reading this book. If you love the cheesy Hallmark movies, then you'll love this book because it felt like I was reading a cheesy Hallmark movie.
The banter, the competition, it was all wonderful and hilarious. The candy cane scene, I have no words I was speechless. This is the perfect Christmas read
The banter, the competition, it was all wonderful and hilarious. The candy cane scene, I have no words I was speechless. This is the perfect Christmas read
madisonmarks3's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a cute take on how the grinch stole Christmas vibes. It was an easy, fun, and light hearted read… i can’t say why this isn’t a five star, I can’t put my finger on it but still really enjoyed the book. I think it’s because Cole (for me) was a little too soft. Love Meghan Quinn and all her books though, great Christmas read!
haneyhayespr's review against another edition
3.0
This is a delightful fit for readers who crave a lighthearted, humorous, and romantic holiday tale, especially those who enjoy Christmas-themed stories, fake dating, and enemies-to-lovers romances, as it promises a fun and spicy winter wonderland adventure.
meeegan191's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
conventina86's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
bennett_book_lover's review against another edition
4.0
Your typical enemies to lovers' Christmas story with lots of humor and some spice (you won't look at candy canes the same way Lol) but the heart of the story is really good. Both characters have lost the joy in Christmas and find it again through forced proximity with each other.
Storee and her sister had a Christmas tradition when they were younger to visit their great Aunt who lives in a town where it's Christmas year-round. The visits stop when she has a bad experience with a Christmas event in town and leaves Christmas day embarrassed without saying bye to her boy-next-door friend, Cole. Cole happened to get news that his parents died in a car accident the same day that Storee left (Christmas Day). Storee returns to visit her great Aunt with her sister a decade later because of a broken hip and runs into a resentful Cole who has not celebrated Christmas since his parents died. When her great Aunt requests that Storee enter the town's Kringle contest on her behalf which is a series of competitions (best candy canes, light display, egg nogg, fruit cake, skits, etc.) because she feels this will be her last Christmas, Storee agrees out of guilt. When Cole finds out she is running in the competition, he is furious because last she spoke to Cole she said she hated this town. He refuses to let her win because of the resentment of how she left and enters the competition to keep her from winning.
Cole learns to process the loss of his parents (better late than never) with the help of Storee and his best friend Atlas. Storee faces the fear of putting herself out there in the competition, gets over her past embarrassments and learns to embrace the community and the spirit of Christmas again. I could have changed a few things about how it ended. Felt rushed and did a flash forward a year later. I would have preferred it to span into Christmas day instead of Christmas Eve when it ended but not every book can be perfect, I guess! Overall, I really enjoyed it, and it put me more into the Holiday spirit!
Storee and her sister had a Christmas tradition when they were younger to visit their great Aunt who lives in a town where it's Christmas year-round. The visits stop when she has a bad experience with a Christmas event in town and leaves Christmas day embarrassed without saying bye to her boy-next-door friend, Cole. Cole happened to get news that his parents died in a car accident the same day that Storee left (Christmas Day). Storee returns to visit her great Aunt with her sister a decade later because of a broken hip and runs into a resentful Cole who has not celebrated Christmas since his parents died. When her great Aunt requests that Storee enter the town's Kringle contest on her behalf which is a series of competitions (best candy canes, light display, egg nogg, fruit cake, skits, etc.) because she feels this will be her last Christmas, Storee agrees out of guilt. When Cole finds out she is running in the competition, he is furious because last she spoke to Cole she said she hated this town. He refuses to let her win because of the resentment of how she left and enters the competition to keep her from winning.
Cole learns to process the loss of his parents (better late than never) with the help of Storee and his best friend Atlas. Storee faces the fear of putting herself out there in the competition, gets over her past embarrassments and learns to embrace the community and the spirit of Christmas again. I could have changed a few things about how it ended. Felt rushed and did a flash forward a year later. I would have preferred it to span into Christmas day instead of Christmas Eve when it ended but not every book can be perfect, I guess! Overall, I really enjoyed it, and it put me more into the Holiday spirit!
mo_xreadingspac3's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
I finally managed to finish this last Christmas book — hallelujah.
This book had all the ingredients for a festive, cozy rom-com — enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, tons of holiday cheer, and more. In that sense, it was enjoyable. The plot seemed promising, the banter between the protagonists was funny and sharp at times, and the slow-burn tension had me invested… at least at first.
Maybe it’s just me, but I didn’t find Storee easy to root for the first part of the story because she came off as selfish. That said, as the story progressed, I saw her soften and embrace the Christmas spirit more. The same goes for Cole, but in reverse: at first, I understood his pain and resentment, but by the 50% mark, I couldn’t get behind some of his choices. I know change and vulnerability don’t happen overnight, but the way he handled things didn’t sit well with me.
The first half was honestly pretty cringy. The Christmas spirit was present, and the small-town setting added a cozy touch, but it took some patience to push through. Luckily, things improved in the second half once the characters finally started communicating.
The side characters, like Aunt Cindy and Storee’s sister, sometimes felt more like caricatures than real people, though they had a few standout moments. Max, on the other hand, was the perfect best friend for Cole and honestly, the only character I adored from start to finish.
That said, the holiday atmosphere was on point. This might still be a fun read if you’re in the mood for a light, slightly chaotic Christmas rom-com and don’t mind some questionable spice. But you might be left a little underwhelmed if you’re looking for more emotional depth and character development.
This book had all the ingredients for a festive, cozy rom-com — enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, tons of holiday cheer, and more. In that sense, it was enjoyable. The plot seemed promising, the banter between the protagonists was funny and sharp at times, and the slow-burn tension had me invested… at least at first.
Maybe it’s just me, but I didn’t find Storee easy to root for the first part of the story because she came off as selfish. That said, as the story progressed, I saw her soften and embrace the Christmas spirit more. The same goes for Cole, but in reverse: at first, I understood his pain and resentment, but by the 50% mark, I couldn’t get behind some of his choices. I know change and vulnerability don’t happen overnight, but the way he handled things didn’t sit well with me.
The first half was honestly pretty cringy. The Christmas spirit was present, and the small-town setting added a cozy touch, but it took some patience to push through. Luckily, things improved in the second half once the characters finally started communicating.
The side characters, like Aunt Cindy and Storee’s sister, sometimes felt more like caricatures than real people, though they had a few standout moments. Max, on the other hand, was the perfect best friend for Cole and honestly, the only character I adored from start to finish.
That said, the holiday atmosphere was on point. This might still be a fun read if you’re in the mood for a light, slightly chaotic Christmas rom-com and don’t mind some questionable spice. But you might be left a little underwhelmed if you’re looking for more emotional depth and character development.
sammyslover's review
challenging
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75