A review by bookrecsbyjess
Holiday Hostilities by Katie Bailey

funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC of Holiday Hostilities by Katie Bailey. All opinions are my own. 

When I found out that Season’s Schemings was getting a sequel, I was ecstatic. I loved that book and was excited to return to those characters. I think that the author actually surpassed my high expectations with this book! It was that good. 

This story follows Aaron and Olivia who have known each other since they were teens. Aaron’s best friend also happens to be Olivia’s older brother, which means she’s always been off limits to Aaron. After seeing each other for the first time in years, Olivia is annoyed because she still holds a grudge against something Aaron did to her as a teen. Aaron, on the other hand, is secretly so happy to have Olivia back in his life. When they find themselves spending a lot of time together, they soon realize that their thoughts from the past can’t out shadow their chemistry in the present. 

One of my favorite things about this book was the tension and banter between Aaron and Olivia. They were constantly going back and forth teasing each other and giving each other a hard time. Their banter was funny and entertaining. 

Aaron was honestly such a sweetheart and loved the people around him so well. Olivia, while grumpy quite often, was a very lovable and easygoing character. I liked the fact that she didn’t care about the famous hockey players at all. 

There were so many funny scenes in this book that made me laugh out loud. Besides Aaron and Olivia being funny, Aaron’s teammates were hilarious as well. 

Overall, I would highly recommend this book! I stayed up late multiple nights just because I didn’t want to put it down. 
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