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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This might be one of the cutest books I've ever read. Everything about this book was honestly very good. It's definitely a win as the first Christmas book I have read, it will be hard to top (especially for a romance). I'll just go over the categories for some structure in this review.
Plot & pacing: 4/5
I think the pacing was really well done, I enjoy a slow burn and this was a good one(they had a real - clear - romantic interaction (sex) for the first time at 70%) . However, I would've liked it to be a bit slower at the beginning. I know they have known each other for 3 years, which is why this wasn't that big of an issue, but we just started the book. I would've liked them to be more neutral towards each other. That being said, I do think the evolution was well-done. Once they actually get together there are A LOT of spicy scenes. For me it's a bit too much (I don't particularly enjoy them), however if you like that it's good and it didn't really hinder my experience. The plot with the competition was a nice thread throughout the whole story (despite obviously not being the main thing), it was well-executed and I liked. It also allowed the side characters to shine more, which I really liked. The dual pov also made the book more entertaining for me, otherwise I probably would have gotten bored. For me the book could have been maybe 10% shorter, but it was fine. I love the small-town setting of this book.
Writing & emotional impact: 4/5
The book was written well. It was easy to read, and the dialogue felt natural and I liked their jokes. I loved how the small-town setting came alive on the page (but maybe that's just because I've always been good at imagening things). Emotionally, I was hooked. There were moments that made me smile, moments that made me frustrated (in a good way), and even a few that tugged at my heartstrings. Overall, the writing made it easy to root for Bridget and Theo (they are so cute). I didn't give it more, because it wasn't anything extraordinary.
Plot & pacing: 4/5
I think the pacing was really well done, I enjoy a slow burn and this was a good one
Writing & emotional impact: 4/5
The book was written well. It was easy to read, and the dialogue felt natural and I liked their jokes. I loved how the small-town setting came alive on the page (but maybe that's just because I've always been good at imagening things). Emotionally, I was hooked. There were moments that made me smile, moments that made me frustrated (in a good way), and even a few that tugged at my heartstrings. Overall, the writing made it easy to root for Bridget and Theo (they are so cute). I didn't give it more, because it wasn't anything extraordinary.
Characters: 3.5/5
Theo:
I think his character was well-formed and realistic. I enjoyed him as a love interest, that being said I don't love him, nor is he my favourite. His behaviour at the end
Bridget:
Bridget is a total pushover and that really bothered me
Side characters:
They were really good, but I wish we had seen more of them. My favourite is probably Mac. What can I say? I'm a sucker for children in books (we also saw her the most). On Goodreads and Storygraph it says that this is a series, I think I'll definitely check out the other books when they release. So far it seems like the author is focusing on her D.C. Stars series, which I may or may not read. I'm not sure.
Overall: 4/5
Booked for the Holidays was an adorable and heartfelt romance. While there were some minor things I would’ve liked to see done differently, the cozy small-town setting, well-paced romance, and endearing side characters made it a really enjoyable read. If you’re looking for a festive, slow-burn romance with plenty of charm (and a sprinkle of spice), this one’s definitely worth picking up.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
Complicated
This felt absolutely perfect for the holidays. It was such a solid holiday read that totally emobdied it's central idea of "home for the holidays." It was so grounded and that's something I enjoyed and found myself missing in a lot of holiday centered romances. I adored every single character, even those that didn't get much time in the spotlight felt real and full. The story felt like real love, cause love is messy sometimes and it's not always these huge spectacle declarations. Sometimes it is as simple as getting hot chocolate without marshmallows cause you know your person doesn't like them. A great way to end the year for me, and a great book.
What a funny story this is. At first I wasn’t sure what to think, but along the way I really started to love and feeling along with the characters. Also the way Bridget and Mac’s relationship is so strong from the start is so wonderful to read.
I absolutely love Chelsea’s writing and she really became one of my favorite authors of this year and I can say that this book didn’t disappoint. The chemistry between Bridget and Theo was intense and during so many moments I thought something was finally gonna happen, but damn the slow burn was burning.
It was fun to read about the competition and the way Bridget and Theo slowly got to know each other better. It was obvious very quickly that Bridget was exactly the person that Theo needed to help him start living and enjoying life / christmas again. She really helped him getting out of his comfort zone and made him enjoy the holidays again. And even when Theo wasn’t enjoying the holidays yet himself, he did encourage Bridget to spread the Christmas joy and let her be whoever she is.
I also enjoyed that the story wasn’t only about Bridget and Theo, but also about the people in town. The competition really brought people together and them choosing their theme around being ‘home for the holidays’ was so sweet. Bringing a bookstore and hardware store together was fun to read about.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-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
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:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
There’s a lot I enjoyed about this book, but it was a bit long & drawn out in some aspects (in a way that felt unnecessary to maintain the story). I like some of the great detail and imagery captured, although it times, it felt a bit like trying too hard. Less can sometimes be more in that way. Overall, it’s a cute holiday read.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes