I was in a bit of a book slump but this book brought me right back! Finished it in one sitting.
Enemies to lovers ✔️
Best friends little sister ✔️
Christmas romance✔️

I loved it so much! I’m excited to read the other two(or at least I hope it will be two)

A Camilla Isley book is always gonna hit. I'm a little behind on reading this, but it is excellent. A fun fast burn holiday romance, just what I needed. It's so fun to see the hatred turn to love so quickly. I kind of need a bonus chapter of a proposal.

This one was cute. Liked the build up and the added trope of forced proximity with enemies to lovers!

This is an irresistibly fun and heartwarming romantic comedy that will leave you laughing, swooning, and cheering for two characters who are impossible to forget. Nina and Tristan, her brother’s best friend who humiliated
her as a teenager, have been at odds for years, each responsible for besting the other with their epic pranks. When it comes to their relationship, they have always only had one goal: revenge. But when they are unexpectedly snowed in together over Christmas, everything changes in the most delightful way.
The forced proximity becomes a game-changer when the bitter animosity between them morphs into something far more heated. The chemistry between Nina and Tristan is palpable from the start, and what starts as a playful and sarcastic exchange quickly turns into something deeper. The author does an excellent job of combining tension with tender moments, showing that sometimes, the people we least expect to fall for are the ones who can make us feel the most.
The enemies-to-lovers trope is executed to perfection here, and Nina’s wit paired with Tristan’s good-natured teasing makes for a delightful dynamic. The brother’s best friend element adds a fun layer of complexity, and while Nina is initially resistant, the forced proximity (hello, snowed-in holiday setting!) is the perfect catalyst for sparks to fly.
If you're in the mood for a festive, fast-paced, light-hearted rom-com that’s full of laughs, charm, and a couple of characters you'll root for from beginning to end, then you've come to the right place! This cozy, feel-good, holiday story will leave you with a warm feeling and a huge smile long after turning the last page.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

*** 3.5 ⭐️ ***

Can two enemies really put their insecurities aside and embrace the holiday spirit?

This enemies-to-lovers, brother’s best friend, close proximity story hit all parts of the tropes, so it stands to reason that it would be cheesy. The parts that lost some points were that the characters all read younger than their actual ages (I don’t think their ages were divulged until almost ch 10). Also, there was a line about the FMC having revenge sex (at her current age) for her 13yo self - NOT ok!! Aside from these two issues, the story followed the natural arc of a rom-com. All in all, this was a quick read and would recommend.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

i loved this book sooooo much, especially around Christmas time. it had me laughing, crying and feeling all the feels!!! if you love enemies to lovers books, this is right up your alley.

This is a found family, enemies to lovers holiday romance. There was loads of miscommunication, general ick factor and cheesy hallmark-ness. But I sped through this so quickly and it did keep me entertained. I enjoyed the characters and both the characters and story felt realistic.

Thank you netgalley for the earc in exchange for an honest review.

Third book in a row I read where the MMC is named Tristan (!?)... I didn't really get the level of hate that Nina had for Tristan - it seemed overblown to me. But once they decided their chemistry was more of the love kind than the hate kind, the book got a lot better and became fun. There were some odd moments (why did Nina feel like she couldn't say no to giving her ex a kiss? WEIRD) but overall it was a good book.

This Is Not a Holiday Romance by Camilla Isley is an easy and light romcom.

I could feel the chemistry and the spice level was good. There is some good banter and witty lines.

Overall this was a cute holiday read.

This book did not live up to its title in the best possible way. It was such a fun holiday romcom and I loved every moment.

‘This Is Not A Holiday Romance’ by Camilla Isley is a funny and heartwarming festive tale that perfectly blends the enemies-to-lovers and brother’s-best-friend tropes! Nina and Tristan have loathed each other and traded insults and pranks for fifteen years, but when her brother Dylan brings Tristan to crash their Connecticut family Christmas, she is determined to end the rivalry for good. But will his presence actually be the Christmas present she didn’t realise she wanted?

I really warmed to Nina as a character, and found her quick sense of humour hilarious. While I was predisposed to dislike Tristan (aka the “Prince Of Darkness”) initially, the dual POV structure gave a glimpse into his thoughts and helped explain his behaviour. It was a treat to read an enemies-to-lovers romance that truly played up the “enemies” element without demonising either character too much.

All in all, this was an entertaining and quick Christmas read that has made me eager to seek out other books by Camilla Isley - a new-to-me author with a large back catalog to dive into! Giving this four stars.

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Boldwood Books via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Camilla is one of the best romance authors I like. And as always, I ogled this book by her. I am obsessed with the enemies-to-lovers , forced proximity tropes and yeah banter. I laughed so much while reading and enjoyed Tristan and Nina’s pranks and encounters.

Nina Thompson plans to spend a peaceful Christmas with her family. But when she finds out her brother’s best friend and roommate Tristan, is invited to spend the holiday with her family due to weather conditions that caused his flight to San Diego to be canceled, things take a turn.

This one here is hot as hell, an easy, entertaining read!

This Is Not a Holiday Romance by Camilla Isley is an easy and light romance read. It is first in the Funny Feelings series.

I liked the main protagonists. I could feel the chemistry and the spice level was good.
There is some good banter and witty lines.
The characters are both likeable and I was rooting for them.
I also appreciated the fact that the third act breakup moment lasted for a short time and didn't take half of the book. I have really started to dislike this part of romance books.
Overall this was a nice holiday read.

Nina Thompson's Christmas wish is to avoid her brother's best friend, Tristan, who has been her prank war rival since they were teenagers. However, when Tristan unexpectedly joins her family's Christmas celebration, Nina's hopes for a peaceful holiday are dashed. Determined to end their rivalry, Nina braces for one last showdown. But as they find themselves snowed in together, their heated exchanges reveal a different kind of chemistry. Despite their growing attraction, they agree that their fling is only temporary and will end with the snow.

"This Is Not a Holiday Romance" by Camilla Isley is a delightful enemies-to-lovers holiday romcom that will warm your heart. Nina and Tristan's prank-filled rivalry is both hilarious and endearing, and their chemistry is undeniable. The forced proximity of being snowed in together adds an extra layer of tension and excitement to their evolving relationship. Isley's witty writing and festive setting make this book a perfect holiday read. Highly recommended for fans of holiday romances and anyone looking for a fun, feel-good story!

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don't know why I've left this review pending forever, but the story is still fresh in my mind. This isn't for you if the 'brother's best friend' trope makes you uncomfortable. I've read a bunch of books by Isley so far and I enjoy her writing style. This one in particular was interesting because of the various dynamics between characters with them also being stuck together. The POVs are interesting and while I think the backstories don't make complete sense, they're not bad. This is a super quick read and it's fun and engaging, perfect for Christmas vibes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. While the premise initially drew me in, I struggled to make it past the 45% mark before ultimately deciding to DNF. The story was a quick read, but it lacked a festive vibe, and I couldn’t connect with the characters. Nina and Tristan’s constant bickering often felt more like immature tantrums than conflicts between adults. Their behavior was frustrating, and the sudden shifts from hostility to a loving family dynamic didn’t feel authentic. I skimmed ahead to see what happens, and I’m honestly glad I decided to put it down. I can see this book appealing to some, but it just wasn’t for me.

This Is Not a Holiday Romance, by Camilla Isley, is a fun holiday romp. Tristan Montgomery is both Dylan Thompson’s best friend and his sister Nina’s sworn enemy. Years ago, when Tristan first visited the Thompson home during freshman year in college, his careless chiding was overheard by a young Nina, beginning over a decade of pranks and hard feelings.

When Dylan brings Tristan home for the holidays, Nina is livid and the bad acts upon each other begin. As a result of their misbehavior a family heirloom is broken during a particular prank. As they both attempt to make amends, sparks fly, embers burn, and their clandestine relationship almost burns them down.

This is another fun romp by Ms. Isley with multiple messages and overarchingly lovely tropes to make any romance lover pleased. I did enjoy this story and do recommend it!

Enjoyed this book for sure but seemed at times to drag on. Could have told the same story in a more compact way and still had the same building of characters and story.

This was such a funny read!! I loved it! It was light, cute and heartwarming. The pranks were hilarious and i loved Nina’s personality! Perfect for Christmas 🎄

A classic enemies to lovers story, this was another winner from Isley. Some may find it too predictable, some may find it a bit too slushy, but it was the exact read I needed at this time and I relished in the warmth of the story.

It is definitely a read that can get you in the festive mood, helped by the massive dumpings of snow as Nina spends the holiday season at her parents – with her brother and sworn enemy, Tristan. I loved the banter between the two characters as they absolutely despise one another and their nicknames – Gremlin and the Prince of Darkness – had me chuckling throughout. They are also constantly playing tricks on one another to prove they are top dog. From relentless watch alarms in the middle of the night to even stealing the bathroom first, these enemies are out for revenge. But does it last?

Inevitably, feelings start to develop between Tristan and Nina and I found I was desperate for Isley to speed this coupling up. I was hankering for a happy ever after and thought that Tristan and Nina made for the perfect couple. I loved it when they had to go on a shopping expedition together, giving readers a glimpse of what this couple would be like if they went public with their romance. Of course, they have to keep it hidden for the sake of Nina’s brother and Tristan’s best friend, Dylan, who is incredibly protective of his little sister.

I found the relationship between Nina and Dylan a bit odd, with too much exposed skin! Maybe I am reading a bit too much in to it, but I thought the sibling relationship was too much. I would have preferred a bit more distance between them.

The Epilogue of the story did feel a bit rushed and focused more on Nina’s housemates, rather than Nina and Tristan. It is evident that the writer is setting up the stories for the rest of the series, but I thought that there were too many obvious clues about what is to come. I would have preferred to see what was happening next to the new couple and how their relationship has fared. Whilst I am excited about the next books in the series, I think it would have been more effective if fewer clues were given.

Overall, a lovely romance story that is set at Christmas and features family love, romantic love and a lot of snow. It definitely warmed my heart and I was entertained by the love-hate relationship of Nina and Tristan.

With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.