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exquisite_tragedy's review against another edition
2.0
Tropes/Themes:
-MF contemporary romance
-Former boy band idol (H) x Adult film star (h)
-Mutual pining
-Holiday romance
-LGBTQIA+ rep (H and h are bisexual)
-Plus size rep (h)
-Mental health representation (H’s mother - bipolar disorder)
-Dual POV
-Standalone
I was super excited to pick this one up because it screamed like the perfect Christmas romance. The hero is a former idol trying to fix his bad boy image and do whatever it takes to support his family, and the heroine is a curvy adult film star who capitalizes on her chance to break into the acting world. The two are set to star in a Hallmark-esque movie together. This ended up not working for me. It ended up feeling way too cliche for my liking. It was heavy on the instalust with no actual relationship building and there was a lot of miscommunication near the end. Also, it was wayyyyy too long and felt like it took forever to slog through. I was a huge fan of all of the different types of representation though.
Story: 2/5
Audiobook: 5/5
Length 11h 5min
CWs for mental illness, insurance issues/barriers to treatment
-MF contemporary romance
-Former boy band idol (H) x Adult film star (h)
-Mutual pining
-Holiday romance
-LGBTQIA+ rep (H and h are bisexual)
-Plus size rep (h)
-Mental health representation (H’s mother - bipolar disorder)
-Dual POV
-Standalone
I was super excited to pick this one up because it screamed like the perfect Christmas romance. The hero is a former idol trying to fix his bad boy image and do whatever it takes to support his family, and the heroine is a curvy adult film star who capitalizes on her chance to break into the acting world. The two are set to star in a Hallmark-esque movie together. This ended up not working for me. It ended up feeling way too cliche for my liking. It was heavy on the instalust with no actual relationship building and there was a lot of miscommunication near the end. Also, it was wayyyyy too long and felt like it took forever to slog through. I was a huge fan of all of the different types of representation though.
Story: 2/5
Audiobook: 5/5
Length 11h 5min
CWs for mental illness, insurance issues/barriers to treatment
ashborrow's review against another edition
3.0
I waffled between enjoying this book and wondering why I was reading it. I think I enjoyed the lighthearted nature of it, it was an easy before bed mind numbing read. But the cheese was a bit too over the top and conflicts predictable and resolved just the right way.
nordicturtle's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
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
3.5
krobus's review against another edition
3.0
written by someone who has no idea how sex work actually works, or how sex workers feel.
if you just glance at this book really quickly, it's cute. take any longer to analyze it, and you'll immediately see the issues:
1) they have the internet but she RLY didn't think people would find out about her SW career?
2) nolan creeps me out. he had notifications on for a porn star... GET A HOBBY LMFAO
3) i know this was supposed to be helpful for mental health but idk the whole "helpless bipolar mom" narrative is starting to trigger me. just because someone has mental health issues doesn't mean they become balls of emotions that need people to do everything for them.
4) altho they have more chemistry than some other main characters, the physical attraction nolan instantly had again just creeped me out way more than anything else. stop staring at her tits and ask her about her favorite color or smth damnit!
love the inclusivity of the book, however it could've been done better.
if you just glance at this book really quickly, it's cute. take any longer to analyze it, and you'll immediately see the issues:
1) they have the internet but she RLY didn't think people would find out about her SW career?
2) nolan creeps me out. he had notifications on for a porn star... GET A HOBBY LMFAO
3) i know this was supposed to be helpful for mental health but idk the whole "helpless bipolar mom" narrative is starting to trigger me. just because someone has mental health issues doesn't mean they become balls of emotions that need people to do everything for them.
4) altho they have more chemistry than some other main characters, the physical attraction nolan instantly had again just creeped me out way more than anything else. stop staring at her tits and ask her about her favorite color or smth damnit!
love the inclusivity of the book, however it could've been done better.
booksonthefloor's review against another edition
5.0
This cheesy romance was so absolutely adorable. Definitely one I will be keeping on my bookshelf. Both main characters were incredibly likeable and it was a pretty cute/new take on a traditional Christmas romance trope.
steffany9's review against another edition
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? No
3.0
annalin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
calliek927's review against another edition
4.0
*update on my re-read. And I still love it! Even more the second time through, to be honest. Bee and Nolan are so cute together, and I am glad I gave it another read before I moved on to book 2!
There is so much fun in this book, and Julie and Sierra make a great team writing Christmas Notch, I can't wait to read more from the duo.
I went into this one blindly and enjoyed it quite a bit. Some of the repetitive "fat" comments and "boy bind" BS were a bit too much, but I just let that slip by.
A cute romance, that involves a plus size $ex worker meeting her teen idol by chance, filling in for a Hallmark-type Christmas movie, on the fly. Obviously not really plausible, but it's FICTION so I won't let that bother me.
Cute, steamy holiday read.
There is so much fun in this book, and Julie and Sierra make a great team writing Christmas Notch, I can't wait to read more from the duo.
I went into this one blindly and enjoyed it quite a bit. Some of the repetitive "fat" comments and "boy bind" BS were a bit too much, but I just let that slip by.
A cute romance, that involves a plus size $ex worker meeting her teen idol by chance, filling in for a Hallmark-type Christmas movie, on the fly. Obviously not really plausible, but it's FICTION so I won't let that bother me.
Cute, steamy holiday read.