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A review by amanda_reads13
The Mistletoe Motive by Chloe Liese
lighthearted
fast-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
3.0
Gabriella works at an independent book store with her grumpy co-manager, Jonathan. They are complete opposites and do not get along at all. With the possibility shutting down, they must put aside their differences to try to save the store.
This was a cute, fluffy, and predictable Christmas novella.
Gabriella and Jonathan have never got along. Gabriella is sunshine to Jonathan's grumpy. Gabriella has autism and struggles to interpret people's emotions. Jonathan doesn't know and this leads to a lot of miscommunication between the two.
Jonathan is actually very sweet. He has paid close attention to her and has picked up on many of her sensitivities (ie. Loud noises, strong smells,...). He goes out of his way to ensure that she does not have any extra stress (ie. Not telling her about a meeting 2 weeks in advancing, knowing she will worry). He very obviously has feelings for Gabriella, but she hasn't picked up on it.
Since this is a novella, the enemies to friends to lovers trope moves very fast. Gabriella is a demisexual and only develops attraction to someone once she has formed a close emotional bond. I feel like their "bond" wasn't a strong enough workaround for this since I think there needs to be a deep sense of trust for an emotional bond. I think it would have made more sense if their "friendship" period had been a bit longer.
I think the whole toxic ex could have been cut. It didn't really add much to the plot line.
Tropes: opposites attract, enemies to friends to lovers, grumpy/sunshine
This was a cute, fluffy, and predictable Christmas novella.
Gabriella and Jonathan have never got along. Gabriella is sunshine to Jonathan's grumpy. Gabriella has autism and struggles to interpret people's emotions. Jonathan doesn't know and this leads to a lot of miscommunication between the two.
Jonathan is actually very sweet. He has paid close attention to her and has picked up on many of her sensitivities (ie. Loud noises, strong smells,...). He goes out of his way to ensure that she does not have any extra stress (ie. Not telling her about a meeting 2 weeks in advancing, knowing she will worry). He very obviously has feelings for Gabriella, but she hasn't picked up on it.
Since this is a novella, the enemies to friends to lovers trope moves very fast. Gabriella is a demisexual and only develops attraction to someone once she has formed a close emotional bond. I feel like their "bond" wasn't a strong enough workaround for this since I think there needs to be a deep sense of trust for an emotional bond. I think it would have made more sense if their "friendship" period had been a bit longer.
I think the whole toxic ex could have been cut. It didn't really add much to the plot line.
Tropes: opposites attract, enemies to friends to lovers, grumpy/sunshine
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting