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A review by bee_thebibliophile
Mistletoe and Mishigas by M.A. Wardell
4.0
This book is seriously adorable - Sheldon and Theo are all kinds of sweet and were so much fun to read!
Sheldon Soleskin is a first grade teacher and the embodiment of happiness and chaos. He knows who he is and isn’t afraid to let everyone around him see all of it in the way he dresses, carries himself and even his carefully selected nail polishes. Even though he’s forced to move to a new school in the middle of the year, he’s determined to take it by storm and create a classroom community all of his students will adore. Sheldon is overdramatic by nature, has a huge heart and isn’t afraid to wear his emotions on his sleeve when the situation calls for it, especially around the burly custodian at his new school.
Theo Berenson is the custodian at Sheldon’s new school - he loves his routine, helping wherever he’s needed around the school and ultimately keeping to himself. He’s a veteran who is living with PTSD and carrying around a lot of guilt about the things that happened to his unit while he was serving. Theo is physically intimidating, but that couldn’t be more misleading. While he’s gruff and stoic on the outside, once you get to know him he’s incredibly sweet and thoughtful in a way you’d never expect. The one person who’s been able to slip past his hard exterior? Sheldon Soleskin.
When they both see an opportunity to help each other out, a fake dating plan is born and these two total opposites start spending time together and really getting to know each other. It starts out as fake, but they both quickly realize they have real feelings for each other, despite their obvious (and not so obvious) differences. Once they start exploring their relationship as a real possibility, I loved them together - they complement each other so well and give each other exactly what they need, even when things get rough or trying. What I loved most about their relationship? It felt real every step of the way. While I think the pace was a little quick at points, I could look past it because Sheldon and Theo felt like real people I was rooting for along the entire way.
Loved the side characters in this book too - Theo’s parents were hilarious and adorable and so accepting in a way that was perfect for both Sheldon and his twin sister Naomi since their family life wasn’t great to begin with. Also loved Christian, Theo’s best friend - he wasn’t in the story much, but when he was, he made a big impact. And I’m already excited to get my hands on Kent and Vincent’s story when it comes out!
Sheldon Soleskin is a first grade teacher and the embodiment of happiness and chaos. He knows who he is and isn’t afraid to let everyone around him see all of it in the way he dresses, carries himself and even his carefully selected nail polishes. Even though he’s forced to move to a new school in the middle of the year, he’s determined to take it by storm and create a classroom community all of his students will adore. Sheldon is overdramatic by nature, has a huge heart and isn’t afraid to wear his emotions on his sleeve when the situation calls for it, especially around the burly custodian at his new school.
Theo Berenson is the custodian at Sheldon’s new school - he loves his routine, helping wherever he’s needed around the school and ultimately keeping to himself. He’s a veteran who is living with PTSD and carrying around a lot of guilt about the things that happened to his unit while he was serving. Theo is physically intimidating, but that couldn’t be more misleading. While he’s gruff and stoic on the outside, once you get to know him he’s incredibly sweet and thoughtful in a way you’d never expect. The one person who’s been able to slip past his hard exterior? Sheldon Soleskin.
When they both see an opportunity to help each other out, a fake dating plan is born and these two total opposites start spending time together and really getting to know each other. It starts out as fake, but they both quickly realize they have real feelings for each other, despite their obvious (and not so obvious) differences. Once they start exploring their relationship as a real possibility, I loved them together - they complement each other so well and give each other exactly what they need, even when things get rough or trying. What I loved most about their relationship? It felt real every step of the way. While I think the pace was a little quick at points, I could look past it because Sheldon and Theo felt like real people I was rooting for along the entire way.
Loved the side characters in this book too - Theo’s parents were hilarious and adorable and so accepting in a way that was perfect for both Sheldon and his twin sister Naomi since their family life wasn’t great to begin with. Also loved Christian, Theo’s best friend - he wasn’t in the story much, but when he was, he made a big impact. And I’m already excited to get my hands on Kent and Vincent’s story when it comes out!