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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
The Mistletoe Motive is a Christmas novella by Chloe Liese. I am a Chloe Liese stan. She writes stories that are compelling, beautiful and so inclusive. She makes every one of her characters feel valued and deserving of love (because aren't we all!?). It is no different for Jonathan and Gabby in this short novella.
In this story we have opposites: Jonathan, who loathes the holidays and Gabby who loves them. They work together as co-managers of Bailey's Bookstore and tolerate each other at best. They have just learned, that barring a Christmas miracle, they may have to shut the doors after Christmas, or at the very least cut one staff member. Neither wants to step down, so they strike a bargain that whoever has the most sales in December gets to keep their job. During this competition, Gabby starts to see a different side to Jonathan and starts to wonder if he may be a tenderhearted man underneath his rough exterior.
This book was an absolute gem of a novella. I loved grumpy Jonathan and giddy Gabby. Although Jonathan is a grumpy guy, he has some seriously swoony statements in this book, not to mention swoony actions. I love a MMC who has taken notice of the woman, and done kind things without her even knowing it. Jonathan stopped wearing strong cologne because it bothered her and other small things that made Gabby able to work in a way that worked for her. Gabby was such a good character who was well-developed. I loved how she was able to describe her struggles, especially socially, being related to being autistic. The things Gabby does daily to live in a neurotypical world were so well described and I loved learning from her.
This book was so beautiful and respectful of what the characters needed. Even though these two had a grump/sunshine, enemies-to-lovers thing going on they talked to each other, even when they struggled too.
What amazed me about this story is that it is a novella, yet packed so much punch! If you are looking for a quick Christmasy read, that encapsulates the joy of the season, this book is it!
In this story we have opposites: Jonathan, who loathes the holidays and Gabby who loves them. They work together as co-managers of Bailey's Bookstore and tolerate each other at best. They have just learned, that barring a Christmas miracle, they may have to shut the doors after Christmas, or at the very least cut one staff member. Neither wants to step down, so they strike a bargain that whoever has the most sales in December gets to keep their job. During this competition, Gabby starts to see a different side to Jonathan and starts to wonder if he may be a tenderhearted man underneath his rough exterior.
This book was an absolute gem of a novella. I loved grumpy Jonathan and giddy Gabby. Although Jonathan is a grumpy guy, he has some seriously swoony statements in this book, not to mention swoony actions. I love a MMC who has taken notice of the woman, and done kind things without her even knowing it. Jonathan stopped wearing strong cologne because it bothered her and other small things that made Gabby able to work in a way that worked for her. Gabby was such a good character who was well-developed. I loved how she was able to describe her struggles, especially socially, being related to being autistic. The things Gabby does daily to live in a neurotypical world were so well described and I loved learning from her.
This book was so beautiful and respectful of what the characters needed. Even though these two had a grump/sunshine, enemies-to-lovers thing going on they talked to each other, even when they struggled too.
What amazed me about this story is that it is a novella, yet packed so much punch! If you are looking for a quick Christmasy read, that encapsulates the joy of the season, this book is it!
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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
Loved it, just like I've loved all of Chloe Liese's books. Especially when you think it's going to fall into a painful trope and instead characters act like normal, thinking adults instead.
Content: it's a romance. It gets steamy.
Content: it's a romance. It gets steamy.
Festive Holiday Bliss and Scorching Chemistry Abound In This Romance
5 Stars
What you need to know about “The Mistletoe Motive”:
✔ Bookshop/workplace romance
✔ Holiday Romance
✔ Enemies to Lovers Romance
✔ Gabriella DiNatale, co-manager of Bailey’s Bookshop
✔ Jonathan Frost, co-manager of Bailey’s Bookshop
✔ Slow Burn
✔ First person narration by Gabby
✔ Epilogue narrated by Jonathan
Get swept up in this festive delight by Chloe Liese.
Gabriella and Jonathan co-manage an independent bookstore. They do not get along.
“I hate him. He is the prickly holly leaf in the Fraser fir garland of my life.”
Their one part-time co-worker quit because he found their dynamic “toxically hostile”.
Gabriella has trouble reading Jonathan’s facial expressions, although she’s memorized many of them after working with him for a year.
“I’m a neurodivergent girl in a neurotypical world, and my autistic brain doesn’t read people the way Jonathan Tactical-Mastermind Frost does.”
She fears that this gives Jonathan an advantage over her even as she admits that they need each other (he’s the brains, she’s the soul of the bookstore) and that the shop’s owners will soon have to choose one of them over the other with the shop's declining financial returns.
“Meaning that while our feud might have started out as a clash of personalities, it’s now a duel to the death.”
Gabriella lives with her best friends Eli and Jane but she sadly foresees a time coming when they will move out and she’ll be alone with her cat. In the meantime, she has a great found family.
Gabby grapples with revealing her neurodivergence to others and thus becoming vulnerable in an uncharitable world. It was really encouraging and satisfying to read about a neurodivergent character unsure of who to let in as I struggle with this as well. Neurodivergence is not very well understood by the majority and it makes it difficult to confide in people and be authentic.
The bookstore that Chloe Liese has conjured is also the shop of my dreams: built-in bookshelves, warm wood everywhere, stacked shelves and an operational fireplace with wingback chairs.
“...the comforting smell of books mingling with fresh-cut evergreens, wraps me in a blanket of festive bliss.”
The Mistletoe Motive is also a blanket of festive bliss with sympathetic and real characters who have undeniable chemistry.
Chloe Liese’s prose, as always, is beautifully crafted and filled with heart, insight and passion.
The relationship between Gabby and Jonathan grows as they learn new things about one another and have their preconceived ideas turned on their head. Liese accomplishes this turn from loathing to loving in an incredibly graceful way allowing the reader insight into the realities of neurodivergence and Type 1 Diabetes. She also gives us profoundly intimate and quiet glimpses into Gabby’s and Jonathan’s hearts.
Gabby and Jonathan’s electrical connection leads the reader happily through this evergreen-scented, magical winter wonderland that is The Mistletoe Motive.
WRITING STYLE: 5/5
PLOT: 5/5
WORLD-BUILDING: 5/5
PACING: 5/5
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 5/5
ROMANCE: 5/5
HEAT: 5/5
I received an e-ARC of this book, my opinions are 100% my own.
5 Stars
What you need to know about “The Mistletoe Motive”:
✔ Bookshop/workplace romance
✔ Holiday Romance
✔ Enemies to Lovers Romance
✔ Gabriella DiNatale, co-manager of Bailey’s Bookshop
✔ Jonathan Frost, co-manager of Bailey’s Bookshop
✔ Slow Burn
✔ First person narration by Gabby
✔ Epilogue narrated by Jonathan
Get swept up in this festive delight by Chloe Liese.
Gabriella and Jonathan co-manage an independent bookstore. They do not get along.
“I hate him. He is the prickly holly leaf in the Fraser fir garland of my life.”
Their one part-time co-worker quit because he found their dynamic “toxically hostile”.
Gabriella has trouble reading Jonathan’s facial expressions, although she’s memorized many of them after working with him for a year.
“I’m a neurodivergent girl in a neurotypical world, and my autistic brain doesn’t read people the way Jonathan Tactical-Mastermind Frost does.”
She fears that this gives Jonathan an advantage over her even as she admits that they need each other (he’s the brains, she’s the soul of the bookstore) and that the shop’s owners will soon have to choose one of them over the other with the shop's declining financial returns.
“Meaning that while our feud might have started out as a clash of personalities, it’s now a duel to the death.”
Gabriella lives with her best friends Eli and Jane but she sadly foresees a time coming when they will move out and she’ll be alone with her cat. In the meantime, she has a great found family.
Gabby grapples with revealing her neurodivergence to others and thus becoming vulnerable in an uncharitable world. It was really encouraging and satisfying to read about a neurodivergent character unsure of who to let in as I struggle with this as well. Neurodivergence is not very well understood by the majority and it makes it difficult to confide in people and be authentic.
The bookstore that Chloe Liese has conjured is also the shop of my dreams: built-in bookshelves, warm wood everywhere, stacked shelves and an operational fireplace with wingback chairs.
“...the comforting smell of books mingling with fresh-cut evergreens, wraps me in a blanket of festive bliss.”
The Mistletoe Motive is also a blanket of festive bliss with sympathetic and real characters who have undeniable chemistry.
Chloe Liese’s prose, as always, is beautifully crafted and filled with heart, insight and passion.
The relationship between Gabby and Jonathan grows as they learn new things about one another and have their preconceived ideas turned on their head. Liese accomplishes this turn from loathing to loving in an incredibly graceful way allowing the reader insight into the realities of neurodivergence and Type 1 Diabetes. She also gives us profoundly intimate and quiet glimpses into Gabby’s and Jonathan’s hearts.
Gabby and Jonathan’s electrical connection leads the reader happily through this evergreen-scented, magical winter wonderland that is The Mistletoe Motive.
WRITING STYLE: 5/5
PLOT: 5/5
WORLD-BUILDING: 5/5
PACING: 5/5
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 5/5
ROMANCE: 5/5
HEAT: 5/5
I received an e-ARC of this book, my opinions are 100% my own.
He loathes the holidays. She loves them. She’s full of festive cheer. He’s brimming with Bah, Humbugs.
Can they work together to save their beloved independent bookstore?
.
.
.
Okay this was absolutely adorable! THE MISTLETOE MOTIVE gave me all the warm fuzzies and was exactly what I look for in a festive contemporary romance. Like seriously, go get this one right now!
I quickly fell in love with both characters and although I figured out the "twist" fairly early on, I was glued to my e-reader from beginning to end. I think I actually finished this in one sitting! I also loved the representation in this one, as it is an #OwnVoices story for its portrayal of autism by an autistic author.
If you are looking for a #cozyread this festive season, make sure to pick up THE MISTLETOE MOTIVE!
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my arc!
#TheMistletoeMotive #NetGalley
Can they work together to save their beloved independent bookstore?
.
.
.
Okay this was absolutely adorable! THE MISTLETOE MOTIVE gave me all the warm fuzzies and was exactly what I look for in a festive contemporary romance. Like seriously, go get this one right now!
I quickly fell in love with both characters and although I figured out the "twist" fairly early on, I was glued to my e-reader from beginning to end. I think I actually finished this in one sitting! I also loved the representation in this one, as it is an #OwnVoices story for its portrayal of autism by an autistic author.
If you are looking for a #cozyread this festive season, make sure to pick up THE MISTLETOE MOTIVE!
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my arc!
#TheMistletoeMotive #NetGalley
4.5 rounded up, super cute novella
Enemies to lovers
Grumpy sunshine
A little hockey
And a little instalovie but it was cute and perfect read for the holiday season
Enemies to lovers
Grumpy sunshine
A little hockey
And a little instalovie but it was cute and perfect read for the holiday season
Cute holiday romance inspired by You've Got Mail (she even included a quote from the movie if you can catch it), and some little It's A Wonderful Life references as well. It's a short novel/novella, so a bit less developed, but a fun read.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Very cute you’ve got mail at Christmas vibes.
I loved this book ! It was such a quick read, I’m sure many could read it in one sitting but I’m not one of them (mostly because I can’t concentrate and not be distracted but I’m off topic). I feel like it was really similar to a few other popular rom-com but really, the christmas and winter vibe is everything and make it ten times better.
It’s Love on the Brain but make it…. Christmassy ? It’s also really similar to The Hating Game I guess ! I like both of those books but if you didn’t… Well, chances are you won’t like this one, just saying !
I really like Gabby, and how she struggles with many things in her life with autism and being demi-sexual. She was so real ! I mean, I think the book was doing it on purpose, but there were so many hints about Jonathan being her pen pal ! (Kinda like When Gracie Met the Grump, I guess we only want to see what we want…) Jonathan is like every other grumpy man in rom-com : he doesn’t smile, he’s calculating and professional, he seems he doesn’t care about anything but he’s actually a cinnamon roll in disguise !
Tropes I remember about this book :
It’s Love on the Brain but make it…. Christmassy ? It’s also really similar to The Hating Game I guess ! I like both of those books but if you didn’t… Well, chances are you won’t like this one, just saying !
I really like Gabby, and how she struggles with many things in her life with autism and being demi-sexual. She was so real ! I mean, I think the book was doing it on purpose, but there were so many hints about Jonathan being her pen pal ! (Kinda like When Gracie Met the Grump, I guess we only want to see what we want…) Jonathan is like every other grumpy man in rom-com : he doesn’t smile, he’s calculating and professional, he seems he doesn’t care about anything but he’s actually a cinnamon roll in disguise !
Tropes I remember about this book :
Kind of a lot going on with this one. The hockey and ex plots seemed unnecessary in addition to Reddit guy and Jonathan which were the main focus.
Cute but not my favorite. 2.5 ⭐️
Cute but not my favorite. 2.5 ⭐️