Reviews - A Holly Jolly Ever After

A Holly Jolly Ever After by Julie Murphy, Sierra Simone

2.55k reviews for:

Fun second full novel in the Christmas Notch series… This one about Kallum after his infamous sex tape is leaked online. His partner in the new movie he’s filming for Hope After Dark is a previously buttoned up sweetheart who’s only ever done “wholesome” media productions. Winnie is out to craft her own new image after a nasty divorce from another squeaky clean film darling who got caught in an affair… New Winnie is determined to be spicy and strong in her own right… however due to purity culture and the horrible double standard of trying to maintain her own unspoiled image, she’s never had the big O herself… she enlists Kallum to be her teacher in her sexual journey as she learns things about her body she’s never allowed herself to feel previously… problem is the no strings attached agreement between them leads to big feelings neither can deny.
Part 1 was utterly delightful and super spicy; Part 2 threw me for a loop because I didn’t see the surprise pregnancy coming. It’s one of my least favorite tropes because as a mom myself, there’s nothing that has felt less sexy to me than being pregnant… so while the character development of both of them tracked and it made for a deeper story, my brain had trouble staying in the romance because it was too focused on the ill effects of pregnancy and the reality of children.
I did love all the side characters still, and I look forward to reading Isaac’s book when it is released!

teenamayre's review against another edition

3.0

3.5

karaluv2read119's review against another edition

2.75

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

toni_readwithtoni's review against another edition

3.0

Spiciest book I've ever read

becca's review against another edition

5.0

Kallum knows he’s got a reputation for being just “the funny one”, the one who jumps from bridesmaid-to-bridesmaid hook-ups rather than serious relationships, but underneath that former-boy-bander (one third of the highly successful INK) is a heart of pure gold. He has serious golden retriever energy and takes care of his nearest and dearest whilst juggling a pizza business called Slice, Slice, Baby. But when his sex tape takes off and that leads him to accept a fully-fledged acting job opposite his teenage crush and former child-star-turned-Celebrity Winnie Baker in a spicy, Santa movie for the Hope Channel, it’s a challenge unlike any other he’s faced. Winnie Baker left her good girl past, purity culture, and husband behind not long ago. After being cheated on and living underneath the thumb of her controlling parents, she knew it was time to spread her wings and fly—and straight into Christmas Notch to rid that good-girl image even faster in her new role opposite Kallum.

Although the two shared an unfortunate blimp in the past, they’re quick to clean the slate and become fast friends through co-work. But whilst Kallum is a sex expert and nails every scene when they’re supposed to be intimate, Winnie falls flat with her lack of personal experience and falling out of touch with her body. So when she falls into a lull of getting Kallum to be her teacher, what should be a very bad idea for co-workers spirals into a connection neither of them anticipated. Only, with the end of the movie looming and their separate lives in difference states a distinct reminder of the distance between them—and their personalities—Winnie and Kallum aren’t sure there’s a happy ever after for them. But where there’s a Christmas wish, there’s a way, and some people end up right where they’re supposed to.

Overall, A Holly Jolly Ever After was everything I could’ve wished for and more. With hilarious banter, a magnificent cast of voices that I could picture so vividly, and a sexy storyline hot enough to melt the winter snow, it was the greatest gift of all. Julie and Sierra have this magical touch when their writing comes together, and I’m no longer surprised at how much I adore book after book. It was lovely to see flickers of old faces, especially Bee and Nolan. The character development shown by Winnie and Kallum was *chef’s kiss* – I loved how they grew apart to grow back together, and how this lets readers (and romance lovers) see the fundamentals that come into being the best partner to someone only after you are a good person to yourself, first. I hate that some readers dislike

Spoiler

the one trope in this book toward the end because I, for one, loved it. It made sense, and was executed perfectly.

There was not a flaw in sight. Another five star read from the Christmas Queens themselves. Sign me up for Christmas Notch #3!