Christmas Romance Special 2022!

 A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone

Published: 20th September 2022 by HarperCollins

I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way affects my review.

After finding out what the premise of this book was, I was a bit skeptical about it, and it definitely had the potential to go very downhill, but I think Murphy and Simone found the perfect level of ridiculousness without being unrealistic. As a lover of crappy Christmas romance movies I was very excited to see that this was the setting for the novel, and I felt fully immersed in the world of Christmas Notch and the eclectic band of characters working on the film. I loved the plus-size inclusivity in this, and how it didn't feel tokenistic in the slightest, but I've read some of Murphy's works before so knew to only expect the best in that department! I loved reading about Nolan and Bee falling for each other, especially as I find it so hard to believe that costars don't fal for each other all the time when they have to pretend to be together. The ending was quite predictable but I honestly didn't mind because I just had so much fun reading it.

4 stars

All I Want for Christmas by Maggie Knox

Published: 24th November 2022 by Hodder & Stoughton

I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way affects my review.

This one came quite highly anticipated for me, after hearing of how loved Knox's previous Christmas romance, The Holiday Swap, has been by readers everywhere, and this certainly did not disappoint. I'm a bit of a sucker for the whole Nashville, country music setting, and the enemies-to-lovers, fake dating storyline through being rivals in a talent competition felt perfect. I fell in love with the writing style immediately, I felt it flowed so nicely while still allowing Sadie and Max to have their own distinctive narrative voices. After finding out Maggie Knox is actually the pseudonym for two Canadian authors I definitely want to check out their respective back catalogues. The Holiday Swap has been pushed to the top of my Christmas romance to-read list for next year and I can't wait to see what's next!

4 stars

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by Jenny Bayliss

Published: 10th November 2022 by Pan Macmillan

I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way affects my review.

I really had no expectations for this book going into it - Bayliss's name sounded familiar to me but I didn't know whether to expect a mindless, cheesy romance or something more than that, and I have to say this completely bowled me over by the end of it. I did really enjoy reading about the whole whole friendship dynamic, of the old friends reuniting and unearthing lots of old drama, but they did frustrate me endlessly at times, to the point where I did truly wonder why Nory stayed being friends with some of them. Nory herself was just the sweetest and I rooted for her to get her happy ending throughout, while also being slightly jealous of her dreamy second-hand bookshop. The constant references to Tristan, their dearly departed friend, and the ways in which they all commemorated him, really warmed me and even made me cry at times! And if that isn't the mark of a great Christmas book I don't know what is.

4 stars