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toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
5.0
There really just wasn't a single thing to hate about this. Is there insta-love? Yes. Do I hate insta-love? Yes! However, in this one case, I will allow it because I loved this story and I love this couple. Am I not really a fan of Christmas books? Correct, I tend to stay away from them. Did I absolutely love this? Also correct.
My point is, this book had some tropes that on paper, shouldn't have worked for me, and yet they *did.* So basically, if you've been eyeing this one and are unsure about it, give it a try and see if you love it, too.
Bonus points for the Taylor Swift references all throughout this gem.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Biphobia, Child abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Vomit, Ableism, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Homophobia, and Death
Moderate: Xenophobia, Racism, and Outing
Minor: Cancer
sarahmae531's review
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? It's complicated
5.0
If there’s one thing I love, it’s a holiday romance, and this book was no different.
The dynamics in this book, between all the family members, the “love trapezoid” and platonic soul mates were hilarious, perfect, and heartwarming. I loved watching pieces slowly fall into place, maybe not perfectly and smoothly, but eventually clicking together.
And even though we all think we know how a romance book will end there were a few times I doubted it, (in a book revolving around failure and big emotions, there were times I thought it was possible we wouldn’t get a happy ending) but I thought the book tied up so nicely. Definitely adding this to my holiday reread reading list :-)
The dynamics in this book, between all the family members, the “love trapezoid” and platonic soul mates were hilarious, perfect, and heartwarming. I loved watching pieces slowly fall into place, maybe not perfectly and smoothly, but eventually clicking together.
And even though we all think we know how a romance book will end there were a few times I doubted it,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexism and Homophobia
Minor: Death
thefatpaperback's review
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
5.0
“Was it possible to have a hole inside you, cookie-cluttered into the shape of a person you hadn’t met yet? Because that’s how it felt when I talked to Jack. We were nothing alike and everything alike.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I knew from page one I would love the bell out of this book. It was one of those reads where I so desperately wanted to read the book, but felt SO MUCH on each page that I had to put it down for at lease couple minutes after each chapter. Until, eventually, putting it down wasn’t an option at all. I loved THE CHARM OFFENSIVE, but Alison Cochrun makes magic in KISS HER ONCE FOR ME. It’s got all the things you want in a slow burn—longing, pining, yearning—with the addition of holiday shenanigans, MESSY characters, and tropes galore. It also made me really, really miss Portland. I visit the city and Powells bookstore ONE TIME and then feel it haunting me like the song Last Christmas haunts Jack and Ellie throughout the novel.
Last Christmas, Ellie Oliver was alone on Christmas until she meet cutes Jack in a bookstore. The two women have a magical snow day together, but after a betrayal and the loss of her job—Ellie is alone and struggling financially as a barista this Christmas. When the coffee shop’s landlord, Andrew, proposes that Ellie fake marry him for ten percent of his grandfather’s inheritance, Ellie is desperate enough to agree. Andrew and Ellie decide to spend the holidays with Andrew’s family at their cabin, where Ellie discovers that her fake fiancé’s sister is Jack-the woman Ellie fell for last Christmas.
❄️ Messy characters in messy situations
❄️ One night stand to lovers
❄️ Fake Dating / Marriage of Convenience
❄️ Insta Love
❄️ Soulmates
❄️ Demisexual rep
❄️ Queer Christmas Romance
❄️ One Bed Trope
❄️ Snowed In
I’ll read this book over and over—Christmas or not.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Biphobia, Death, Sexual content, and Homophobia
decklededgess's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-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
trigger warnings: infidelity (not referring to the polyamory mentioned in the book), sexual content, alcohol, anxiety and panic disorders, body shaming, emotional abuse, transphobia, lesbophobia, biphobia
Hoooooo boi was this book an emotional roller coaster. After The Charm Offensive, I’m wary of emotional devastation when it comes to Alison Cochrun and I WAS RIGHT. THIS BOOK WAS RUDE AS HELL. I finished it in a day.
Ellie and Jack are just something else. The tension, chemistry, yearning, HAVE MERCY. I also didn’t expect to care for Dylan and Andrew as much as I did. I was rooting for all for of these fools in their silly little self made love trapezoid of pain to figure shit out but nooooooooooo they just went and imploded on themselves. The four of them in their messiness had me wanting to yank my hair out.
This book is also stunning in its representation of generalised anxiety disorder. It’s respectful yet accountable for how the main character creates chaos for herself and others through her own pain. It also does a fabulous job of taking time in resolving the knot of hurt and working towards healing.
The queer representation was diverse and well thought out. I appreciated that there were two sides to polyamory represented. One where partners have to remove themselves from the relationship after realising polyamory was not for them and another for representing people who found happiness in polyamory. And no one was villainzed for those choices. It’s a small subplot but I found the care in that decision making really diplomatic and honest.
One of the most devastating third act break ups. EVER. But we get fed with some of the horniest smut ever too. So. Balance.
Hoooooo boi was this book an emotional roller coaster. After The Charm Offensive, I’m wary of emotional devastation when it comes to Alison Cochrun and I WAS RIGHT. THIS BOOK WAS RUDE AS HELL. I finished it in a day.
Ellie and Jack are just something else. The tension, chemistry, yearning, HAVE MERCY. I also didn’t expect to care for Dylan and Andrew as much as I did. I was rooting for all for of these fools in their silly little self made love trapezoid of pain to figure shit out but nooooooooooo they just went and imploded on themselves. The four of them in their messiness had me wanting to yank my hair out.
This book is also stunning in its representation of generalised anxiety disorder. It’s respectful yet accountable for how the main character creates chaos for herself and others through her own pain. It also does a fabulous job of taking time in resolving the knot of hurt and working towards healing.
The queer representation was diverse and well thought out. I appreciated that there were two sides to polyamory represented. One where partners have to remove themselves from the relationship after realising polyamory was not for them and another for representing people who found happiness in polyamory. And no one was villainzed for those choices. It’s a small subplot but I found the care in that decision making really diplomatic and honest.
One of the most devastating third act break ups. EVER. But we get fed with some of the horniest smut ever too. So. Balance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Gaslighting
Moderate: Alcohol, Biphobia, Body shaming, Cancer, Death, Transphobia, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Lesbophobia, Infidelity, and Homophobia
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