Reviews

Humbug by Amanda Radley

barbrokatrin's review

4.0

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Awww, this was cute. A perfect quick, feel good Christmas book. Time just flew by while reading it. I think I read it in three hours.
In typical Radley fashion its not a deep romantic book, in fact there's barely any kissing in it. But it still very enjoyable and made me wish a little for Christmas already. It was a sweet read

tiffysbookadventures's review

4.0

This was a very cute holiday read- who doesn’t love a good grump/sunshine romance? Both female main characters were strong and likeable and I very much appreciated how the anxiety/panic attacks of one of the main characters was handled- very realistically and respectfully.

miloblue's review

funny 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? It's complicated

4.0

mysapphicbooks's review

4.0

a fluffy age gap romance

it was cute, very fitting for christmas season - although i was entertained and got sucked into the story, i was quite disappointed that some details were kept very vague, we don’t find out much about the main characters. for example although there’s lots of emphasis on the “significant” age gap, it’s never said how many years are in between Ellie and Rosalind and how old either of them are. They get barely any interaction outside their workspace. I wish they would’ve had more moments together in which we could’ve gotten to know them better.

ssejig's review

4.0

Known as "Christmas Girl," in her company, Ellie Pearce is abruptly promoted demoted when CEO Rosalind Caldwell's personal assistant quits. The Caldwell & Atkinson Christmas party is really well-known and a parting remark by the last PA makes Rosalind think that she might need a miracle to make sure that this year's party goes off without a hitch. Is Ellie that miracle? Rosalind doesn't think so at first but she eventually begins to see how Ellie's understated charms and wicked smarts might just save Christmas after all.
This is definitely a quiet story but and enjoyable one all the same. There was a little too much focus on Ellie's issues and the fact that she worked miracles in spite of them but otherwise a nice story.

bookish_gabrielle's review

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

banrions's review

lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This was sweet, and I did stay up until (checks time) 5am reading it, but that’s more to do with me starting the book at nearly one am and my shitty sleeping habits than anything else. I enjoyed this. I’d even recommend it, but it was just okay overall. I wish it had picked up a bit more. I liked all of the characters a lot, I liked a lot of their interactions with each other, but it felt like the central romance didn’t really have enough time to develop. They don’t spend a lot of time together in the first half of the book, a lot of the plot is focused around Ellie trying to plan this Christmas party in a very short amount of time, while hiding her debilitating fear of heights from her new boss, Rosalind. (She now has to work on the 22nd floor, her boss lives in an even higher 46th floor apartment, and the only place she can find to host the party this last minute is a high rooftop. If she doesn’t want to have a panic attack, it’s a problem).

I honestly just wish we’d actually had more of them together. It seemed like not a ton of interaction and not a ton of interest on either end, initially. Which is fine! I’m cool with a romance building slowly, I even love it, but I do want it to build to something. And to do so a bit more organically. Once the attraction was realized it was kind a just suddenly there. Not in a glaringly bad or too much of an unbelievable instalove way, but it left me, personally wanting more. That said, I stayed up all night reading and enjoying it!

sarah_gb's review

lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review! 

Ellie is known at work as Christmas Girl. She has garnered a reputation as someone who loves Christmas so much she listens to carols all year round. When she is promoted to be the CEO's PA she is given the task of organising an impossible Christmas Party. Throughout the book, Ellie and her boss, Rosalind, get to know each other and fall in love. 

This book is very sweet and wholesome despite the taboo nature of the Ellie and Ros' positions. While there were some plot issues and loose ends, I really enjoyed the book because I am a sucker for a holiday romance. This is the second Amanda Radley novel I've read this year and I have to say, while I wish there was more romantic tension between the MCs, she writes really great kissing scenes that I feel with my whole heart. 

I recommend this to anyone who likes a Hallmark Christmas movie, and wants a nice quick holiday read. 

Overall, I give this book a 3.5/5 stars and will probably pick up another book by the author soon!