3.5 rounded up

Sutton is currently broke and let’s face it, homeless. She finds herself drunk, cold, and walking alone at night. When she catches Mr. Christmas fighting with his inflatable Santa she decides she wants a go at Santa too. Making her way toward Santa she trips on a cord falling and taking down his lawn decorations and blowing a fuse.

Gus Langston is unsure who this mystery woman is or what she is doing wondering alone at night. Single dad of twins Gus is a little weary bringing Sutton (a stranger) into his home but he couldn’t leave her out on the street to freeze.

Such a cute holiday read not too heavy on the spice and lots of holiday festivities. this book had me giggling and rooting for Sutton luck to turn around. 2/5 spice rating

I love grump meets sunshine and Scrooge vibes, but this one just wasn't a great fit for me personally.

The story begins with Sutton drunk and trying to sneak into her friend's uncle's house to squat for the night. She comes upon a house heavily decorated for Christmas and a man attacking an inflatable of Santa. After tripping on the electric cables, the man carries Sutton into his house so she can crash on his couch.

While I'm here for a woman grump (and a woman traveling alone!), Sutton's mix of immaturity and self-pity doesn't work for me. To breeze through this sort of read, I need a main character I can root for more.

To be sure, I'm a bit over coming-of-age storylines for romance novel leads in their late 20s. If that's something you're OK with - or something you enjoy! - this one is likelier to be a hit for you. I'd also recommend it to those who are big fans of holiday reads; with the male lead owning a Christmas shop, there's a lot on Christmas in here.

DNF at 12%.

I love a festive novel so was delighted to be approved to read this one. Unfortunately it wasn't really one for me - I found it all a little too unbelievable. I didn't understand how a man who found a very drunk woman destroying his Christmas decorations would then let her spend the night on his sofa and the very next day hire her to look after his two young children! There was also no chemistry between them so I didn't see how they got together when they did, it seemed out of nowhere. I did enjoy the storylines with his mother-in-law and also the two children, and it did have a fair amount of festive scenes so that was the plus side.

Quick Summary: A holiday mix of mayhem and mischief

My Review: Confessions of a Christmasholic by Joss Wood was a jolly read. It was a women's fiction book that featured a single parent dad, a drunk and disorderly therapist, and a super cute band of family and friends.

About the Book: Alone and bereft, Sutton Alsop finds herself down and out in the village of Conningworth during the Christmas holidays. With a bah humbug and readiness to punch Santa in the face, she happens upon Mr. Christmas himself. What happens when a grinch meets a grump?

My Final Say: This was such a charming story. The playfulness of the kids was everything. What Sutton and Gus found was special. The strength, the grounding, and the conviction that was expressed by both characters in the end showed courage. That courage was rooted in love.

Other: Readers who enjoy family life romances will enjoy this book.

Rating: 3.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: 🍬🌶💬

Thanks to the author, to the publisher (HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, One More Chapter), and to NetGalley for granting access to this work in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own.

I enjoyed this book. It was a cute and nice Christmas book!

Some things I did not enjoy was the fact that it all happened so fast. After only a few days the main characters were in love? After the female MC literally destroyed the male MC´s Christmas decorations, dead drunk and had to crash in his house with his 2 small children?? I would probably be a little bit more skeptical.

But I enjoyed it and it gave me a cozy Christmas feeling.

Sutton, a down on her luck traveler, quite literally stumbles into Gus (aka as Mr. Christmas) who is the small village's director of all things holiday. From there the two develop a mutually beneficial arrangement that quickly turns into a "friends with benefit situation".

As the two journey through the holiday season, they end up helping each other sort out other aspects of their professional, and personal, lives.

There is plenty of comedy, and a little spice, to this this holiday rom-com. I enjoyed the three primary side characters (Moira, Eli, and Will). As a fellow mom of young kids, I thought the author did a great job at illustrating the fun chaos they can bring to the holidays.

While the end of the novel felt a little rushed and open ended, I appreciate how the author provided a happy ending without tying everything up into tidy bows.

Overall this was a cute holiday read. Think Hallmark, but with a little spice.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free digital arc in exchange for an unbiased review.

I wanted to like the book, but it just was not for me. I thought the writing was a bit weak, and also the characters embodied weird gender-specific stereotypes that I didn’t care for. Some people might enjoy this book, but for me it wasn’t worth finishing. I read enough to get a good sense of the story, but decided to not finish it.

Maybe I read this too soon before the holidays, or maybe it just wasn't for me, but I thought it was okay. I just couldn't connect with Sutton and Gus as intended, so wasn't as invested in their story. I did like Gus' kids and neighbors/friends as secondary characters! I'd still recommend this if you like British romance, holiday romances, forced proximity and single-dad tropes!

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley, then irresponsibly did not download it before the archive date. It's been bugging me- so I bought a digital copy and did a quick read.

My overall take - if someone is looking for the book version of a Hallmark movie, this is probably what they're looking for. It wasn't my favorite, but I just think I may not be the audience for it. After reading The Pumpkin Spice Cafe, which comes from the same publisher, I was hoping to find an interesting and complex female main character, but I just didn't really enjoy Sutton.

I do think the last third of the book really picked up in terms of pace and interest, which left me feeling more positive about it.

This book. I wasn’t sure what I’d find with the beginning, but what a lovely journey it was! Sutton and Gus (and the rest of the characters) are so well thought out and I could feel the emotional undercurrents the whole time. I devoured the book in two sittings, and it would have been one if I hadn’t needed to sleep.

This book was a really cute storyline overall and very cute for Christmas time! The length is also perfect for a feel, good RomCom. The characters were also really funny, I loved their banter!

I did have a hard time following the narration style throughout - I think I would have preferred it to be first person/dual POV so it would be easier to follow the characters thoughts!

2.5 ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
Sutton, broke and down on her luck, drunkenly stumbles across widowed father of twins Gus ”Mr Christmas” beating the crap out of his Christmas decorations and decides to join him. Unfortunately she ends up hitting her head and unloading all her problems on this complete stranger. Gus takes pity on her and lets her sleep on his couch. Thanks in part to a meddling former mother in law and some helpful/ nosy gay neighbors Sutton ends up staying for a month to help take care of the twins. Gus and Sutton eventually end up sleeping together and start a pseudo relationship. All this with Sutton’s friend drama in the background- Layla is pretty much a c*nt.
The book was… fine 🤷🏻‍♀️I found the long blocks of text and exposition annoying. Sutton regularly thinking about her troubles with Layla (and sometimes comparing them to Gus finding out his wife was cheating) seemed unnecessary- we know Layla ditched her, we know she clearly sucks as a friend- no need to remind us repeatedly. Honestly the best person in this whole book was the mother in law. Frankly I never felt the chemistry between Sutton and Gus and the book didn’t necessarily feel like a romance to me. The book kind of just ends- I guess it’s a maybe happy for now type ending but even that seems generous. It was really more like things were still up in the air and they’ll try to see each other when time allows. 🫠 Overall, I thought the premise was cute but didn’t live up to my expectations.

I liked this book! I went into it blind and was pleasantly surprised. I think that I will definitely be reading more in the future from this author. And this cover is so cute I want it for my shelves.

Book Review 📚
Confessions of a Christmasholic - 4/5 ⭐

Consider me a Scrooge, it's the best way to describe me at Christmas time. But, I decided to go against my better judgement and read a book (which I have to say was solely based off my best friend because she is a Christmasholic) and get into the Christmas spirit.

Initial thoughts were mixed. I was expecting some sort of Christmas romance - and it's not far off. But the tropes really sold me. Grumpy/sunshine with some spice? Yep. I'm sold. It clearly doesn't take much to please me.

Anyway, the FMC was literally my best friend. Every description of her and I found myself suddenly comparing the two! Now that made her character brilliant for me. She was interesting, connecting and loved her development. But the MMC is who stole the show. My my. I loved him. From the get go. My type of fictional man for sure.

Wood done a fantastic job with this one and I never thought I'd find myself enjoying a Christmas book but Wood succeeded. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

A spicy, grumpy/sunshine Christmas rom com?! Say less! To be totally honest, the cover is want grabbed my attention with this one. While it did take me a little bit longer than normal to connect with our FMC, I found our MMC to be absolutely charming! Overall it was a fun, festive read.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the opportunity to read Joss Wood's short and spicy Christmas story!

I love a good Christmas, festive holiday village, forced proximity, enemies to lovers one sitting read and I hate to say, this book was not it. A quick read with a single dad, a down on her luck hot mess express turned drunken house guest (she stumbled upon him in his yard dealing with enough christmas decorations) and since sutton has no money, no place to stay (her travel plans fell through), gus takes her in. The next morning, would you look at that he actually needs a nanny. They aren't ever really enemies, just got off on the wrong foot. Forced proximity is a classic for a reason but the FMC and MMC didn't really have any chemistry that we could see and the spicey scenes were both closed and open door in a bizarre way that really didn't work. We didn't really see a lot of growth in the characters through the story or their relationship and the ending resolution, yes, left us with a for now HEA but in a way that things didn't really feel resolved.

Unfortunately the only thing that worked in this story was the relevant christmas aspects.


Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the ARC in exchange for my review!

Sutton is on the trip she has been planning for since she was 15 years old. Traveling around Europe for 6 months with her best friend culminating in celebrating their birthdays in London at Christmas. But her best friend bailed and borrowed money that she never returned and now Sutton is alone, drunk, and wandering a small village on a cold night trying to find the house an acquaintance suggested she squat in. She finds a house that "looks like Christmas vomited on it" and a man punching the blowup Santa Claus. When she goes to help she face plants and takes out the electricity and some of the decorations. When she finally is coherent she is in the house of the man and his 4 year old twins.

Gus is Mr. Christmas, her runs his dead wife's Christmas store and is in charge of all of the village's Christmas celebrations and he can't stand Christmas. He does it to keep the memory of Kate alive for their twins and the village even though her death left him with unanswered questions. His life is to busy to deal with a drunk stranger even though she is attractive. What Gus needs, but does not want to ask for, is help with the twins during the holidays. What Sutton needs is somewhere to stay and a way to earn money until January when she can apply for the job of her dreams as an occupational therapist. What she doesn't need is to be attracted to Mr Christmas.

Gus gives in and asks for Sutton's help. Sutton finds that she likes the village and the people in it and she forges bonds with them. As Gus and Sutton become closer they become friends and something more. But are they able to move beyond the baggage in the past and create the life they want? Do they trust themselves and each other?

This is great holiday read with some spice thrown in. I love this time of year and all the different holiday books, but this is a must read. Go grab your copy today!!!

Where to start with this fab Christmassy romcom?! I loved the humour, romance and spicy moments - the main protagonists were great and the side characters were dare I say it a little better?! I think we all need a Moira, Eli & Will in our lives!! Of course there’s a bit of conflict too and the relationship between Sutton & Layla really resonated with me and understood how heartbroken she felt. I really appreciated all the Christmassy aspects in the book too - Christmas markets, carolling, buying and decorating the Christmas tree and more!