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chris_reads's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Alcohol and Panic attacks/disorders
timelord10's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I wish I liked this more than I did, but honestly, I was disappointed by several aspects:
1. This is marketed as a Christmas party, but besides the brief mention of decorations and Christmas parties and of the main characters' past Christmases, it wasn't all that Christmassy.
2. Aiden and Stella were constantly marveling over the fact that they can be so open with each other, yet most of their conflict was from a lack of communication. It was kind of frustrating.
3. Some of the dirty talk made me cringe.
4. There was a lot of repetitive descriptions (example: Aiden is big or he smells like peppermint).
Personally, I did like Stella and Aiden. They just annoyed me sometimes. I related to some of Stella's feelings of imposter syndrome. And I related to Aiden always wanting to please his family so that they'll maybe accept him. Not the best first book of the year, but oh well.
1. This is marketed as a Christmas party, but besides the brief mention of decorations and Christmas parties and of the main characters' past Christmases, it wasn't all that Christmassy.
2. Aiden and Stella were constantly marveling over the fact that they can be so open with each other, yet most of their conflict was from a lack of communication. It was kind of frustrating.
3. Some of the dirty talk made me cringe.
4. There was a lot of repetitive descriptions (example: Aiden is big or he smells like peppermint).
Personally, I did like Stella and Aiden. They just annoyed me sometimes. I related to some of Stella's feelings of imposter syndrome. And I related to Aiden always wanting to please his family so that they'll maybe accept him. Not the best first book of the year, but oh well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol and Gun violence
askirmishofwit's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Listen, I enjoyed the hell out of this, regardless of whether or not you can’t help but hear Ted Lasso when the MMC speaks. I just love me a grumpy/sunshine trope, especially if the grump is the FMC. My one complaint, if I had one, was that I could have done with more of this so that the characters felt more developed and the relationship was less instalove, but it had a lot of heart and touched on some really heavy topics (incarceration and release, familial issues, toxic friendships) which gave it a bit more meat to the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Minor: Alcohol and Bullying
jen1804's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was a cute instant-attraction romance. It’s hard to explain but the characters of Stella and Aiden were well developed and yet at the same time were a little bizarre to the point I found it hard to see them as who Tessa Bailey was trying to describe them as if that even remotely makes sense.
There were some really lush scenes which I enjoyed very much such as them eating donuts and then *not* kissing in the car, and I especially loved the tension in the first part of the book. I appreciated that the characters had several DMCs. I also loved the ‘find a gift in 15 mins’ scene, and when Stella is trying on a dress in the store and their eyes meet in the mirror, I thought that scene was really tender and well portrayed by Tessa Bailey.
The spice was nothing special, but also wasn’t bad.
I could’ve done with there being a bit more Christmas involved to help me feel more festive. I know it’s set around Christmas time and there is talk of decorations and Christmas parties but I just needed that little bit more!
Loved the epilogue, stop it right now with Aiden sending framed photos of all Stella’s windows to her parents, that put a sweet lump in my throat.
Overall a good read.
Satisfactory ending? Yes.
There were some really lush scenes which I enjoyed very much such as them eating donuts and then *not* kissing in the car, and I especially loved the tension in the first part of the book. I appreciated that the characters had several DMCs. I also loved the ‘find a gift in 15 mins’ scene, and when Stella is trying on a dress in the store and their eyes meet in the mirror, I thought that scene was really tender and well portrayed by Tessa Bailey.
The spice was nothing special, but also wasn’t bad.
I could’ve done with there being a bit more Christmas involved to help me feel more festive. I know it’s set around Christmas time and there is talk of decorations and Christmas parties but I just needed that little bit more!
Loved the epilogue, stop it right now with Aiden sending framed photos of all Stella’s windows to her parents, that put a sweet lump in my throat.
Overall a good read.
Satisfactory ending? Yes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Alcohol
Minor: Gun violence and Blood
whatjasread's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
i honestly feel like it happened one summer must have been a fluke because i ADORE that book, one of my faves of all time, and nothing else Tessa has written has even come close to it (not even hook line and sinker). this novella was just all over the place for me, the smut writing was super cringy (no man will ever 'jiggle' any intimate part of me), and the characters were honestly really bland. their personality traits were 'rough sex man who wears crocodile bowties' and 'woman who just got out of prison and has panic attacks'. it just didn't work for me at all, i think even 2 stars is generous, which sucks.
TWs: alcohol, armed robbery, claustrophobia, panic attacks, pandemic, death of grandfather (past)
TWs: alcohol, armed robbery, claustrophobia, panic attacks, pandemic, death of grandfather (past)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Alcohol and Death
sarahsthoughtsonbooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
While I have many thoughts, I'm going with what might be the most controversial for those that have read quite a few Tessa Bailey books. It could have been a closed door romance, and it might have possibly worked better that way. I know that many of Bailey's fans would likely be upset if they picked up her book and there was no sex. However, I feel that Bailey was trying too hard to show that Aiden was angel on the streets/devil in the sheets. The sex scenes for the most part took me out of the story. They were well written, so it wasn't that, it just seemed out of character for the protagonist.
At least in the US, this is one of Bailey's self-published novels (I think it's traditionally published in the UK, unclear, all I remember is an Instagram post showing that Piatkus had the UK rights), it is unclear what, if any, editing process happened. There just seemed to be inconsistencies, and unexplained things. For example, Aunt Edna. Aiden was shipped off to live with Aunt Edna, but we don't know when, or for how many years. It's Aunt Edna a maternal aunt? Paternal aunt? Then there's the cousin... No mention of his parents and/or what they do.
Also I feel that Aiden is so positive, that it veers on toxic positivity. We see that he understands reality, and that there are issues, but he tries to see only the positive. It didn't quite work for me.
Overall I enjoyed the book, it began great, and the end tied up all the plot points like a bow (as a holiday novella should) - including the boundary setting with Nicole, but the middle was a slog. Let's face it, the side characters are the ones that really saved the book.
Content Notes: mentions of COVID, Stella is a recently released prisoner, toxic relationships, boss-employee relationship, desk sex
At least in the US, this is one of Bailey's self-published novels (I think it's traditionally published in the UK, unclear, all I remember is an Instagram post showing that Piatkus had the UK rights), it is unclear what, if any, editing process happened. There just seemed to be inconsistencies, and unexplained things. For example, Aunt Edna. Aiden was shipped off to live with Aunt Edna, but we don't know when, or for how many years. It's Aunt Edna a maternal aunt? Paternal aunt? Then there's the cousin... No mention of his parents and/or what they do.
Also I feel that Aiden is so positive, that it veers on toxic positivity. We see that he understands reality, and that there are issues, but he tries to see only the positive. It didn't quite work for me.
Overall I enjoyed the book, it began great, and the end tied up all the plot points like a bow (as a holiday novella should) - including the boundary setting with Nicole, but the middle was a slog. Let's face it, the side characters are the ones that really saved the book.
Content Notes: mentions of COVID, Stella is a recently released prisoner, toxic relationships, boss-employee relationship, desk sex
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Confinement
Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, and Gun violence
mandaraffe's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Confinement, Alcohol, Cursing, Gun violence, and Panic attacks/disorders
kris386's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Confinement and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Gun violence, and Panic attacks/disorders
casey_sunshine's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Confinement
Moderate: Gun violence, Alcohol, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Sexual harassment
decklededgess's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
trigger warnings: incarceration, claustrophobia, armed robbery mention, sexual content, toxic friendship, gun violence, anxiety and panic disorder, negligent and emotionally abusive family
It started out so cute with sunshine and grumpy but then Tessa said Wait What If He’s Unhinged During Sex and Flips The Switch to Dominant and Rough in Seconds Because That’s Sexy and NOT A Red Flag At All!!!
Smut continues to be weird but entertaining. At this point I think we need a Tessa Bailey bingo and shots game for the use of “male __” and “feminine__” and all its weird ass variations.
Also it’s supposed to be TED LASSO INSPIRED????? YOU WATCH TED LASSO AND TELL ME THAT MAN ISNT SUNSHINE IN BED TOO. SASSY LITERALLY CALLS HIM EAGER TO PLEASE LIKE ?????? WHAT ABOUT THAT MAN SAYS FUCK ROUGH??? Yes i get that creative liberties are taken but AT WHAT COST.
Fantastic hate read for those of you who hate Tessa and Christmas but can’t seem to stop indulging.
It started out so cute with sunshine and grumpy but then Tessa said Wait What If He’s Unhinged During Sex and Flips The Switch to Dominant and Rough in Seconds Because That’s Sexy and NOT A Red Flag At All!!!
Smut continues to be weird but entertaining. At this point I think we need a Tessa Bailey bingo and shots game for the use of “male __” and “feminine__” and all its weird ass variations.
Also it’s supposed to be TED LASSO INSPIRED????? YOU WATCH TED LASSO AND TELL ME THAT MAN ISNT SUNSHINE IN BED TOO. SASSY LITERALLY CALLS HIM EAGER TO PLEASE LIKE ?????? WHAT ABOUT THAT MAN SAYS FUCK ROUGH??? Yes i get that creative liberties are taken but AT WHAT COST.
Fantastic hate read for those of you who hate Tessa and Christmas but can’t seem to stop indulging.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Confinement, and Alcohol
Minor: Emotional abuse and Gun violence
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