This is one of those books you pick up thinking, “This one sounds really cute,” and suddenly you’re way too invested. Our main character, Nora, is already having a truly awful day—like, your ex marrying your ex–best friend levels of awful—and then Cole Danner, who is annoying, smug, and unfortunately very attractive, enters, making her day even worse. Their rivalry is top-tier fun, and when they both end up at the most outrageous Christmas house fighting over the same hard-to-find Goldie Glitterhoof reindeer collectible, I couldn’t wait to see how it would turn out.
This is when things go off the rails in the best way. Nora and Cole fight over who gets to buy the toy from the very festive homeowner, Marigold, who seems to possess some magical energy. Goldie Glitterhoof ends up destroyed and Laura and Cole find themselves in a Christmas wonderland, having to work together on several challenges in order to return home. Cue the banter, the ridiculous situations and forced proximity.
I received a paperback of this one for Christmas, but also listened to the audiobook, which made it even better. I loved the dual narration, especially for an enemies/rivals-to-lovers story, and the female narrator, Stefanie Kay is one of my favorites—she nails the humor, the frustration, and those little moments where feelings start sneaking in. It added an extra layer of fun and made the Christmas chaos feel even more alive.
I loved how the romance sneaks up on you. One minute they’re bickering about everything in these magical situations, the next you’re like, “Wait… when did I start rooting for this?” The spark between them felt natural, not rushed, and all the Christmas magic made everything cozier and more fun.
If you’re in the mood for enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, holiday chaos, and a story that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still delivers the feels, this one is a good pick. It’s festive, funny, and a great escape.