This was the perfect holiday romance!

Nina Thompson has one goal for Christmas: avoid Tristan, her brother’s best friend, at all costs.

Their relationship has been a battlefield of pranks ever since he humiliated her as a teenager. But when Tristan unexpectedly joins her family’s Christmas, Nina’s plans for a peaceful holiday are thrown out the window. As their prank war escalates, a snowstorm traps them together!

I absolutely loved this book, and it made me ready for the holidays! The pranks between Nina and Tristan were so much fun!

The “brother’s best friend” trope is one of my favorites, and this story nailed it perfectly.
I read through this so quick because I couldn’t put it down!

Anyone who enjoys a good enemies-to-lovers story or loves the brother’s best friend trope will find themselves swept up in this festive story!

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Nina and Tristin have had an ongoing battle of pranks and paybacks ever since they were teenagers. Nina is not happy when her brother brings Tristin home to spend Christmas with their family. As more pranks ensue, they begin to realize that their back-and-forth trickery may be disguising a deeper connection between them.

I loved this from the very beginning. The pranks were hilarious and kept me wanting more. There’s a little bit of spice that I would consider closed door romance (no steamy scenes) and at 241 pages, it’s a quick read.

“𝘚𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘋𝘺𝘭𝘢𝘯'𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳. 𝘖𝘧𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘴. 𝘜𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦. 𝘈𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯.”
If you’re a fan of the ‘brother’s best friend’ troupe, you know this is where it all begins.

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
➾ Dual POV
➾ Brothers best friend
➾ Enemies to lovers
➾ Forced proximity
➾ Text messages
➾ Prank war
➾ Christmas

Thank you to @netgalley and @theboldbookclub for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.

This was a great holiday romance, I loved it and can't wait to read it again! The enemies to lovers and brother's best friend tropes are always my favorite so having the mix of them was great.

A fluffy marshmallow of a book with a bit of chilli powder shenanigans sprinkled on top. Nina is a no nonsense girl who can hold a grudge, Tristan is the unaware man against whom Nina has sworn enmity.
Tristan comes from money, but not love.
Nina comes from love, but is conscious about her ears.
Their animosity stems from their fated meeting, where 18 year-old Tristan called her a Gremlin, and 13 year-old Nina realised that her dreams of marrying this Prince have evaporated because he was instead a Prince of Darkness.
I love the characters, their banter was silly, their romance scorching, and the angst was actually unexpectedly good. Absolutely loved it.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Boldwood Books for the ARC.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6761957641

This was everything I wanted in a holiday romance book!

Nina and her brothers best friend Tristan have never gotten along... it has always been war... that is until they are forced to spend time together in Ninas family home for the Christmas break... has it always been hate between them?

This is the perfect enemies to lovers, brothers best friend holiday book.

I love the banter between the characters, and their chemistry is fire! A definite must read this Christmas break.

This Is Not A Holiday Romance by Camilla Isley has all the necessary tropes for a light hearted holiday read - enemies to lovers; brother's best friend; forced proximity etc.

While I normally love Camilla's books, I found that despite the descriptive writing, I really didn't like the two main characters Nina and Tristan. I found them both really childish and honestly thought it was a huge jump to go from hating each other to insta-lust! Because of that I really wasn't as invested in the outcome of the story as I would normally be.
I did appreciate the epilogue at the end - I love to know what happens after happily ever after!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the review copy.

Move aside The Hating Game, because I've found my new favourite enemies-to-lovers contemporary rom-com!

This was such a fun holiday romance full of heated exchanges and pranks that leads to a secret romance.

Nina is super close to her older brother Dylan but the downside to being close means that she has to put up with his best friend and roommate, Tristan (aka 'The Prince of Darkness'). Nina has always 'hated' her brother's best friend, Tristan. As with any strong emotions, her feelings started with an all-consuming crush that subsequently turned into hot-blooded rage and the need for revenge when a teenaged Tristan made fun of Nina's jug ears and gave her the nickname 'Gremlin'. For the next 15 years, the two would be locked in an intense feud of constantly pranking each other to get even.

Looking forward to spending the holidays back at home with her family, Nina was shocked to find Tristan there too. Snowed in with nowhere to go, they realize that their constant bickering is borderline flirtatious and has some underlying angsty heated sexual tension.

Told in alternating POVs, this was a really funny and quick read that I devoured in less than 2 days. The characters were great - I enjoyed their banter and character development. The romance was a bit of a slow, sexy burn with medium spice.

There was a bit of a miscommunication trope which I normally don't like but this is one I can stand by because it was realistic and believable. Tristan truly thought their feud was all fun and games, and that the nickname 'Gremlin' was affectionate and cute, whereas Nina was always out for blood because of the way Tristan had hurt her feelings and continue to do so whenever he uses the mean and insensitive nickname. I really liked how this disconnect was handled and resolved.

My only gripe is with the epilogue, which provided a lot of sudden information about Nina's two best friends. It seems like the author is setting up for future stories about the friends, which is fine I guess, but it felt strange as the friends weren't very strong secondary characters and only appeared briefly during the beginning and referenced occasionally later on in the story.

Having enjoyed A Christmas Date a few years ago, I jumped at the chance to read another story by Camilla Isley.

I had high hopes for this novel; the blurb and the cover quickly reeled me in, and I was not to be disappointed. I read this in two sittings and was hooked from the first chapter. I loved the dual narrative voices used to tell this story from the points of view of both Nina Thompson and her sworn enemy, but also her brother's best friend, Tristan Montgomery, as it gave me a better idea of where each party was coming from.

I loved the sarcastic wit Nina employs to express just how awful she thinks Tristan is. The tags 'The Prince of Darkness', 'Spawn of Satan devil incarnate' and my absolute favourite 'Antichrist in a suit' had me rolling about crying with laughter.

If you enjoy a romcom, Christmas story, enemies-to-lovers trope or are simply looking for a novel to lift your spirits, this is the one for you. I found This Is Not a Holiday Romance to be humorous, easy to read and highly entertaining and I would wholeheartedly recommend it.

I love reading This Is Not a Holiday Romance. It had 2 of my favorites tropes, enemies to lover and best friends sister/brothers best friend plus it take places over the holidays. While it was a shorter read it didn't real like it was too rushed. I love the banter between both Tristan and Nina, I'm hoping there is a companion novel for Hunter and Dylan in the future.

4 stars,

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book. All thought are my own.

Perfect fun festive romance.

A bit juicy in bits this fast paced holiday romance will have you reading well into the wee hours.

Nina is going home to enjoy Christmas with her family the only problem her nemesis Tristan or “The Prince of Darkness” her brother Dylan’s best friend ends up a part of their festivities and spends the holiday with her family.

Told from both Nina and Tristan’s perspective this story is full of raw emotions, vulnerability and honesty. I loved it more and more as I devoured each chapter.

This was a such a fun and witty romance! It was full of laughter, romance, sex appeal, it has it all! I recommend this for anyone who enjoys Rom-Com reads.

A funny and sweet Christmas story . Nina and Tristan know each other for 15 years and they hate each other all those years . When they are in the same room they insult or prank each other . Now they have to spent Christmas together with her family and they are snowed in . While bickering they discover that there is passion between them . Will they give them a chance to try explore their chemistry ?
I received this book from netgalley , the author and the publicer as an ARC . Thank you . All thoughts and opinions are my own .

This was my first Camilla Isley book but it won't be my last! I adored these characters and the story was so engaging that I had a hard time putting the book down. The banter between the two MCs was fun right from the start. The progression of tension between these two "enemies" was perfect. By the time they started to give into feelings other than frustration and hate it felt natural and highly anticipated (without waiting too long). I feel connected to every character in this story and hope to see the side characters again in their own books.

With odd characters and plot points, This Is Not a Holiday Romance by Camilla Isley is about a woman who falls for her brother's best friend whom she initially hated for years after being forced to spend Christmas together.

Summary: Nina Thompson hates her brother's best friend Tristan Montgomery. When they are forced to spend Christmas together at her parents' house, Nina has to get over her dislike towards Tristan to make the holiday more pleasant for all.

Tropes/Genres.
• brother's best friend
• enemies to lovers
• christmas
• holiday
• forced proximity
• reformed playboy (brief)
• contemporary romance
• set in Connecticut

Review: I would like to start off by saying that this is not a rom-com because I didn't laugh while reading this book. The start of the story was enjoyable, and I thought it was descriptive and paid attention to details. However, as the story went on, I realised that the plot wasn't properly developed. The characters also didn't make sense. It's such a shame for a book that is descriptive.

There is barely any chemistry between Nina and Tristan. I mean, they suddenly went from hating and pranking each other to screwing each other and realising they're not that bad. And that's supposed to be love? No, mate, I don't buy it. I understood their conflicts at the start of the book, but I didn't understand the way it suddenly stopped. There's no way his realising that Gremlin was insulting to Nina (which in the first place is quite unbelievable because there's nothing cute about calling a person names, but okay) suddenly flipped the switch and made Nina like him. The transition from "enemies" to "lovers" was simply inadequately portrayed.

Nina is childish. Gosh, how old is she supposed to be? She has to be in her late twenties or early thirties, but she is painfully childish. I mean, yeah, adults can have their childish moments too, and that's okay. But she's ridiculous. She acts like a teenager and refuses to admit that she's wrong when she is, pushing the blame on Tristan instead when everybody in the room can clearly see she was the one who caused it. And she even gets upset that nobody takes her side when she indeed has done something wrong! It's peak teenage behaviour, and I'm not here for it. I feel like there's a way for authors to make unlikeable characters likeable, but Nina doesn't really have any good points to be worth liking.

Tristan is okay, I guess. He never hated Nina, but the way he suddenly fell in "love" with Nina was highly unbelievable. Maybe he's simply sexually attracted to her; I wouldn't doubt it, especially considering his feelings for her changed after he saw her naked. Oh, by the way, that part was weird. He dared her to drop the towel, which she stole from him, knowing very well she would be naked underneath. Even though he claims he didn't think she would actually do it, it's still very weird. You don't just ask people to strip for you.

That being said, I think the author has a weird obsession with flashing because it's happened in the book a lot, albeit accidentally. It can be funny one time, but if you keep doing it, it gets creepy. It gets even worse in that one scene later in the book when Nina's towel accidentally drops in front of Dylan. Her brother. Um, gross? I just don't understand why that scene is even necessary. Sure, maybe you're doing it for a comedic effect, but it's not funny. Not at all.

Anyway, I thought Tristan's backstory was a little touching. Just a little. The third-act breakup was so stupid. Like, of course, it happened that way. The choices he made were also awful in that regard. I barely even understood the logic behind everything that went on in the third-act breakup. At least, for once, Nina made sense. Dylan and Tristan, though, didn't make any sense.

Overall, the start of the story was fine, but as it went on, more and more issues started presenting themselves. The characters aren't that likeable, and the comedy is kind of lame. Regardless, I recommend this book to those who want to read an enemies-to-lovers holiday romance between a woman and her brother's best friend.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the read.

Who doesn't love a holiday romance! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher; all opinions are my own for this ARC copy.

A sparkling enemies-to-lovers romp that proves sometimes the best way to heat up a frosty relationship is to get snowed in together. Nina and Tristan’s prank war reaches new heights as they find themselves trapped amid Christmas cheer, leading to a sizzling, if temporary, romance that defies their icy history. Fans of festive, fun, and flirty reads will adore this charming, holiday-themed adventure. Perfect for those who love their Christmas with a side of chemistry and mischief!

OMG, this was such a cute story. It takes place at Christmas time but really, it could have been a great summer story or any time of the year story.

Now, this is an enemies-to-lovers story, but…is it really? Nina and Tristan met 15 years prior to when the story takes place. Nina was 13 years old and Tristan was 18. Tristan was Dylan's (Nina’s older brother) roommate in college, and freshman year, Tristan was all alone for Christmas. Dylan invited him to spend the holidays with his family and, young teenage Nina had an instant crush. However, 5 years is a big age difference for teenagers, so a few bad jokes and uncalled-for comments on Tristan’s side left Nina feeling embarrassed and hurt and promising revenge. Alas, their “unfriendly friends” war began. Tristan and Nina spent the next 15 years coming up with petty ways to prank each other, embarrass the other in public, and flat-out be nasty. For Tristan, it was a game. For Nina, it was personal.

Until the current day Christmas holidays. Again, Tristan is left alone for the festive season, and his BFF, Dylan, invites him to his parent's house for the holidays. Nina is not too happy so they start the week off “attacking” each other with silly pranks. That is until Tristan learns that it really is personal for Nina and that he had hurt her in the past. Along with an apology comes the realization that there is an attraction and that it is not just one-sided. Sneaking around, they spend the rest of the holiday week pretending to hate each other in front of family but learning to really like each other behind closed doors. The problem is that Dylan is very protective of his little sister and his best friend is like a brother to him. After seeing them spend 15 years arguing, he isn’t able to grasp this 180 in their relationship and also doesn’t appreciate the sneaking around his back. So, who will Tristan choose to be with? Keep his friendship with Dylan or pursue Nina and prove to Dylan that his little sister isn’t just some short-term conquest.

I always enjoy Camila Isley 's books, however this book is not fulfill my expectation. It contain humor, but the humor is not good al her book s before.

Tristan and Nina have chemistry, however I don't really like Nina's personality who childish for 28 y.o. grown woman. And Tristan's personality is too good too be true. Their interaction is felt forced, not natural.

Although with it flaws, I still enjoy this book. It's such a light read for my daily life.

Burned recently by a couple of reads that promised enemies to lovers and then failed to deliver - this one was such a welcome change. Finally!

It was strange reading about Christmas in August but as it's really hot outside and I'm constantly wishing for snow, it actually helped to get in the mood. Nina and Tristan were both funny and darlings at the same time - Nina maaaaybe could have been a bit less of a brat but considering the dynamic with Tristan as it fit. The chemistry was there so the enemies to lovers trope worked very well with them and I love that!

There were some pranks that were honestly hilarious and made me laugh out loud (glitter anyone?). The story is predictable but I liked it, I had a fun time and I could easily see this as a movie.

This book was an interesting cute rom com read ! I managed to read the entire book in one sitting , the enemies to lovers is very intriguing with its funny and witty banter that is sure to make readers laugh ! I loved the relationship between our two mcs and their dynamic such as the pranks and teasing , the part where they met up secrectly felt like straight out of a rom com . The only thing I think is needed to improve on is the background information of each character , etc female mc has only a brief description on why she is insecure about her ears which does not give us a really good description . Other than that I absolutely loved this read and wish the author all the best !