Nina and Tristan are sworn emenies who try to stay far away from each other. They both love pranks and that is what defines their relationship non stop pranks.

I really enjoy Camilla Isley's sense of humor in a romcom and there were plenty of funny moments in This is Not a Holiday Romance, but they were overshadowed by some of the cringe of the forced proximity of sneaking around your parents' house and the fact that the main characters were acting like teenagers in every possible way, then *poof* were all of a sudden in love. The pacing was a little off for me and the charming moments weren't quite enough to make up for the pieces that didn't work for me. That said, if you like a The Hating Game style enemies to lovers or are really looking for a dash of that in your holiday reading, this could be for you!

3.75⭐️ (rounded up)

Looking for a Hallmark Christmas story with a dash of spice.

“If he stays, I go”
“Nowhere to go, darling, we’re snowed in”

📚 brothers best friend
📚 enemies to lovers
📚 forced proximity
📚 found family
📚 festive romance
📚 hair washing
📚 dual POV

🌶️
🎄🎄 Christmas Magic

|Thoughts|
A light, short and (mildly) spicy romance that, whilst set at Christmas, had enough story outside of the festivities to keep me engaged.

“That’s what this is. Sleep deprivation and forced proximity”

But I am a sucker for a brothers best friend romance.

“Because Nina Thompson is off limits. Her brother has hated every single one of her ex boyfriends…”

Be mindful that there is a small third act break up (which you’ll probably see coming), but it didn’t bother me in this story as much as others I’ve read. However, did question some actions of the FMC and MMC considering how old they’re meant to be (acting like teenagers when they’re in their late 20s/early 30s).

Enjoyed the progression from enemies to lovers and the secret keeping made for some great tension. May be a little Insta love, but I can forgive that due to the whole ‘spirit of Christmas’.

Christmas movies mentioned
• Love Actually
• Bridget Jones’s Diary

Thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood Books & the author for an eARC in exchange for this honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is not a holiday romance was a fun read. The book follows Tristan and Nina who seem to hate each other. Tristan is Nina’s brothers best friend who unexpectedly spends the holidays in Nina’s family home. This is where they start pranking each other. Sometimes it was funny but at times it also annoyed me. Later in the book the story becomes more serious and you see that Tristan has a big heart and has been through a lot. Overall I give this book 3 stars.

I enjoy authors rom-coms quite alot in the past, and have read four of hers in the last year. Sadly, this title, “This is Not a Holiday Romance” was just not what I usually expect from Camilla’s books. The whole “hooking up with my big brothers best friend, who I have known since childhood, “. just really gave me the “ick”. Especially since it was set during the holidays, there were some real cringe scenes. I like her work with “clean romance “ a lot, so will still be looking forward to what she does next, but will probably have to read the blurbs more carefully now. Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the DRC.

Love enemies to lovers AND brother's best friend? Check out THIS IS NOT A HOLIDAY ROMANCE by Camilla Isley

The latest book from Camilla Isley is a cute Christmas closed door romance the features forced proximity, enemies to lovers and best friend's sister.

I loved the banter between Tristan and Nina - it was witty, quick and really made me laugh out loud!

I struggled with the complete 180 from Tristan about his feelings for Nina - it seemed he couldn't stand her initially then turned into insta-love very quickly. It was difficult to reconcile the difference

I would have loved to read more about Tristan's family problems - this intrigued me and I felt it could have fleshed out his character more.

Overall, I liked this story but it was missing a few elements for me to really love it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC! Opinions are my own

A cute Holiday Enemies to Lovers Rom Com. It was an entertaining and fast read. I think some of the enemies part was a little more childish (playing pranks on each other and just doing stuff to get under each others skin) then I’m used to in an enemies to lovers but that didn’t last long. I loved that the miscommunication didn’t last long either, because that tends to get annoying in books.

“I can feel it, a cold undercurrent that whispers of danger, reminding me that even the most exquisite roses have thorns.”

This IS a Holiday Romance! Such a lovely holiday rom-com. It's an enemies to friends to lovers. Always the little sister, Nina has a crush on Tristan, her brother's best friend but is devastated when he makes fun of her ears and calls her Gremlin. As the years go by, their interactions consist of trying to get the better of each other through a series of pranks. Then the holiday hits and Nina must put up with the Prince of Darkness (Tristan) showing up to ruin her holiday with her family as the guest of her brother but suddenly Nina has to rethink what she feels for Tristan and Tristan likewise. Sparks fly, hidden trysts in the closet, suddenly there seems to be sparkles on the tree. It's a lovely warm and cozy romance set amongst the holiday season. Sometimes you need a break from everyday stress, so this is just a feel-good book for when you want to relax and enjoy a pleasant read. Many thanks to #netgalley #camilla isley #thisisnotaholidayromance for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a review.

I was initially intrigued by this book and felt that it started off well.

The banter between Tristan and Nina was soooo good. I found myself chuckling at some of their comebacks. Between brother’s best friend and an enemies to lovers, I don’t know what I loved more.

However, the further I got into the story the harder it became to remain intrigued. The plot seemed rushed, granted yes this was a story that took place during the holidays so the window of time is pretty small. But by that point it became to insta love for me. I understand Nina had a crush on Tristan but he was a complete 360 in terms of his feelings for Nina and I had a hard time reconciling that with the banter at the beginning of the book.

Also Tristan’s familial issues seemed to be glossed over in some regard and I felt they could have gone more in depth to show how they defined him as the character he developed into.

The writing also seemed a little disjointed at times and I found myself having to reread some sentences in order to have them make sense. It was also hard at times because while there were some mature themes with swearing and sexual themes, it also toggled back into those of a closed door romance. Almost like the author could not make up their mind as to what type of romance they were writing.

Overall, this book was cute but I found myself wanting more. If you’re looking for a quick holiday read to get you in the spirit of the season then this would be perfect for you.

I've read others by Camilla Isley and was so grateful to receive this book! This is Not a Holiday Romance was a cute Christmas read. I'm a sucker for forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and best friend's little sister. All three are my catnip! I enjoyed the banter between the characters. A prank war brings me so much joy and some were really clever (I'm looking at you watch prank!), but there were moments when the pranks became a bit destructive, and that wasn't something I loved. I appreciate that these characters weren't "new adult" (She's 28 or so and the guy was 33, I think), but there were also emotional immature moments that had me questioning their ages.

But overall, if you're looking for a fun, quick, mellow spice, holiday read then this will be your jam. It had me smiling, giggling, and turning the page.

Thanks to NetGalley and Camilla Isley for the privilege of reading This is Not a Holiday Romance.

This is the enemy-est enemy-to-lovers book I've ever read. Nina has been plagued by The Prince of Darkness, aka her brother's best friend, since she was thirteen. Tristan's parents are practically non-existent in his successful life. Thankfully he has his best friend Dylan who has been his family since they were college roommates. Dylan's annoying little sister, aka Gremlin in his book, makes quite the sparring partner. The two of them have mastered the art of hatred. When Tristan comes home with Dylan for Christmas, the way he and Nina are going at each other, one way or another, threatens to ruin the holiday for everyone.

"Tristan Montgomery is a Viking king come to pillage my home, defile my peace, and ruin my holiday cheer."

"But then he meets my gaze, his blue eyes startlingly earnest. "I'm not the monster you believe me to be."

"If this is what selling your soul to the devil feels like, then please sign me up for an eternal sentence in hell."

I loved how Camilla played with darkness-related words and themes throughout the book. This book is just a lot of fun. The pranks they play on each other are both painful and hilarious. (Nina is a bit over the top at times.) When their open feud threatens the holiday joy of the entire family, the pranks become more subversive. Which eventually leads to other subversive behavior. This story is hot without being explicit. It's hard to put this one down.

Many thanks to NetGalley for sharing an advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Fabulous holiday rom com even if the title disagrees.
This is my 2nd Camilla Isley book and she hasn't disappointed yet. Easy to read, this one was also short at about 250 pages.
This rom-com comes in the form on enemy to lovers, forced proximity and best-friend's sibling/ sibling's best-friends trope as it is written in both Nina's and Tristan's POV. What is refreshing about this one is that the enemy to lovers trope is very well written. There is actual hatred and hurt there! The insults, the pranks and banter will have you either laughing and relating and it's nice to see proper insults thrown around throughout the book. Proper gritty family type fighting.
It starts of a slow with many many insults abut once the juicy part gets growing the rest of the book will fly past.
I also sense this might be the first in a trilogy? With the ending easily leaving the door open for 2 more instalments.
Happy reading!

Many thanks to Boldworld Books who provided me a copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Dnf at 25%

Unfortunately this book wasn't for me. Didn't enjoy it at all at 25% and couldn't just not continue with it...

Sometimes you simply need a book that leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling, and this book certainly delivered that! Christmas romances are my favorite of all time and I was more than delighted to get a chance to read this one.

This is a Christmas friends to lovers/siblings best friend romcom. Wow! That pushes so many positive buttons for me. Add witty and playful banter (Isley does that so well), and the pages just flew by.

It's not all fluff. Tristan's parents are totally dismissive of him that he is deeply affected by it. There is also the deep tie and allegiance he feels to Nina's brother and parents. He definitely needs someone to call his own. He's always had a thing for Nina, but animosity on her part has been the core of their relationship for years. Seeing them work through that was great.

This book is definitely along the lines of Sarah Adams and Jill Shalvis. Go forth and enjoy this Christmas romance like I did when the temp outside was over one hundred.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

⭐️4.5
A breath of fresh air. This one checked all the boxes for me after several average reads lately.

This was a quick, entertaining, couldn’t-put-it-down read. Every single character was extremely likable and I love a great enemies to lovers premise.

For fans of Christina Lauren and Abby Jimenez, grab this adorable read asap.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6683816591

Pub date: September 4, 2024

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for this gem of an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is definitely one of favorites of Camilla’s! It was really enjoyable and went at a great pace. I love that it was a holiday romance that wasn’t overly complicated or had too many things happening in it. As the reader you get to really see the romance grow into something meaningful and entertaining. Having the story be a dual pov also makes this such a good read because you get both sides which helps understand Tristian and Nina’s emotions better. One reason it’s not a 5 star is because I felt the pranks were becoming drawn out and super childish for 20 something’s and I wish Tristian and Nina talked more and built a friendship outside of the bedroom.

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood for allowing me a chance to read this fun story!

I’ve read other books from Isley, which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed so I was excited for this one but unfortunately it fell flat.

It was difficult to connect with Nina and Tristan, as there didn’t seem to be much emotional depth and their pranks were just downright childish. It was hard to believe I was reading about thirty year olds when they were acting like immature teenagers.

It started off strong but I struggled to get through most of it as I just found it… boring.

I’m still an Isley fan and happy to give another book of hers a go in the future.

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

What an entertaining brothers best friend, enemies to lovers book. If you enjoy pranks, you will love this book! I honestly had so much fun reading this book. The stage is set for follow up novels with some of the supporting characters, and I can not wait!
Thank you to NetGalley, Camilla Isley and the Publisher for this very entertaining, highly recommended romantic comedy.

This book had a lot of potential. Ultimately, I found the characters a bit cliched or one-dimensional. I wanted more depth and more maturity from the characters, especially Nina. She acted very childish. I mean her mom scolding her for breaking a vase? Hiding from family members in her room with Cheetos? It all seemed immature to me. I wanted to love this, but it fell flat for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This was a quick and cute read. This is an enemies to lovers that was so witty. I loved it.