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anxiouslyreading33's review
4.0
Cute Christmas read. Also baking trope really cute for Christmas feeling
mecolem's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
So I guess my new reading niche is baking romances. And I am 100% okay with this. I love a good forced-proximity trope and this one was so fun! It was enjoyable to see Finn and Ava annoy each other while slowly building their relationship and realizing they really do care. And I so very want to try their crepes and smores!!!
jennaraee's review
3.5
3.5 ⭐️
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be this Christmas.”
Since it’s December and officially Christmas season I decided to pick up this short novella that I had downloaded and I really liked it.
The Holiduel was a cute, sweet, romantic novella about two chef rivals who have a bit of a past. Since it’s under 200 pages, it’s really fast paced and the romance isn’t incredibly heavy since there was the rivals plot, but I still really enjoyed it. Just like any other romance novel there was conflict and it didn’t feel forced like some do. They were mature, and talked about things, which is what frustrates me the most when it doesn’t happen.
Finn is incredibly sweet and him being Canadian just gave him extra brownie points (I don’t make the rules - except I sort of do.) Ava loves everything to do with baking, and cooking and she’s started this s’more company (which I will say made me so hungry cause everything she was making just sounded delicious.) They’re both extremely competitive, which is why they had always been rivals (and why the conflict happened, which is easy to guess right from the beginning but I didn’t mind.)
This is just short and sweet, Christmassy but also not too much Christmas - just the perfect amount. This was the perfect Christmas book for me to start my December holiday reads with.
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be this Christmas.”
Since it’s December and officially Christmas season I decided to pick up this short novella that I had downloaded and I really liked it.
The Holiduel was a cute, sweet, romantic novella about two chef rivals who have a bit of a past. Since it’s under 200 pages, it’s really fast paced and the romance isn’t incredibly heavy since there was the rivals plot, but I still really enjoyed it. Just like any other romance novel there was conflict and it didn’t feel forced like some do. They were mature, and talked about things, which is what frustrates me the most when it doesn’t happen.
Finn is incredibly sweet and him being Canadian just gave him extra brownie points (I don’t make the rules - except I sort of do.) Ava loves everything to do with baking, and cooking and she’s started this s’more company (which I will say made me so hungry cause everything she was making just sounded delicious.) They’re both extremely competitive, which is why they had always been rivals (and why the conflict happened, which is easy to guess right from the beginning but I didn’t mind.)
This is just short and sweet, Christmassy but also not too much Christmas - just the perfect amount. This was the perfect Christmas book for me to start my December holiday reads with.
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
4.0
This was a sweet, second chance holiday romance novella between two rival bakers. I loved the food, the banter, the chemistry and that the MMC was Canadian!! Lots of sparks, lots of feels, just a super fun holiday read that is perfect for fans of Sarah Adams!
xoxo_tip's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? N/A
4.0
Ava and Finn were culinary school rivals who just so happen to kissed on graduation night.. perfect right? Wrong because Finn ghosted her!! Now five years later they are forced to share a prep-kitchen doing the holidays.. I never wanted a crepe or a s’more more in my life.. but while reading this book it was all I could think about Ava and Finn were perfect together. This was a very cute, fast and fun holiday.. a perfect holiday novella.. fun fact about me is I love a work archenemies lol
bookishkenyannerd's review
4.0
I loved how different Ava and Finn were from each other yet still similar in personality. I expected prank wars but instead got a better deal with loud Justin Bieber Christmas music and pointed teasing of Finn’s Canadian accent and mannerisms which I found funny. Finn was honest and straightforward in his intentions to win Ava back. Always up for some flirty grovelling
de_van_diggity's review
4.0
3.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. I haven’t had the pleasure of reading any of the other books but this was a perfect way to enter the holiday season. Its giving Hallmark and I love that. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a holiday romcom book and I truly loved it. I read it in one sitting which is nice. A really quick and enjoyable read.
I really enjoyed this book. I haven’t had the pleasure of reading any of the other books but this was a perfect way to enter the holiday season. Its giving Hallmark and I love that. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a holiday romcom book and I truly loved it. I read it in one sitting which is nice. A really quick and enjoyable read.
morgangiesbrecht's review
4.0
This was exactly what I needed the day I read it. Something short, sweet, and oh so comical!
Finn and Ava are adorable in this rivals-to-lovers story—I laughed aloud several times!
But perhaps my very favourite thing was the perfection of the Canadian humour. Also, the beautifully executed pronunciation of “sorry” as “soar-ey” and “oat” as “out.” The superior forms of pronunciation in my opinion.
Finn and Ava are adorable in this rivals-to-lovers story—I laughed aloud several times!
But perhaps my very favourite thing was the perfection of the Canadian humour. Also, the beautifully executed pronunciation of “sorry” as “soar-ey” and “oat” as “out.” The superior forms of pronunciation in my opinion.