A lovely read for the Christmas of 2024 full of lovely characters and it's truly a feel good read .
It has humour and romance through the book.

I absolutely adore Lizzie Huxley-Jones' writing and this one is another win! I initially read Make You Mine This Christmas because one of the characters has the same disability as me (hello fellow Zebras) and we love to see representation, but what kept me reading was the fantastic storytelling, and this instalment is no different!

I'm an absolute sucker for a forced proximity romance and what better than an Christmas time snow in with your gorgeous crush?!

Under the Mistletoe with You is a cute, cosy and Christmassy romance, perfect for this time of year.

I really enjoyed Nash and Christopher’s heartfelt and earnest relationship. Their chemistry evolved over time, propelled by the local village in a snowstorm crisis. I liked the way Christopher showed up for Nash and took time to understand his experience and how he could best support him.

The Welsh villagers and Christopher’s friends and family reminded me a little of the Vicar of Dibley, and balanced the central romance storyline in such a charming, witty and endearing way. A great read to lose yourself in over the Christmas season.

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton for a copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

I enjoyed this, but it didn't stand out to me. The characters were lovely to read about, the plot was entertaining, but I did miss that spark that compelled me to keep reading. Still, it was a good read!

I adored the first book in this universe so much, and was definitely looking forward to jumping into this to kick-start my Christmas spirit.

I love what Christopher has been up to since we last saw him at the end of Make You Mine This Christmas. His and Nash's story is very cute and I love the community we find them in. It's all very hallmark, except it's gay :D

I will say that I wasn't expecting Nash to be trans, and it sort of threw me a little, because it's sadly so unlikely in real life a trans actor would be a romcom star! Other than that I loved that we got a trans love story, as the world needs more of those.

The romance is a little insta-love-y, which is probably what held me back from a higher rating, I always hope for a slower burn as it feels more realistic to me - though I know some people are indeed capable of this! ;)

As with MYMTC, I loved the disability rep - it felt so realistic which is likely because it's own voices here, and it's also good to see seizures getting the rep, as I'm not sure I've seen that in book before!

Overall a cosy little queer Christmas love story and well worth diving into for some relatively mindless joy :) 4 stars.

This book brought a smile to my face every time Christopher and Nash got on each other’s nerves. I can easily see this becoming a big holiday favorite.

While I enjoyed many aspects of it, I didn’t completely fall in love. The story had a bit of an “insta-love” feel, unfolding over just a few days, which made it a touch too sweet for my taste. I personally would have liked a bit more tension. I also thought that the discussion around Nash being trans came a bit late in the story. Overall, though, this is a sweet, charming romance that’s hard not to enjoy.

This was such a cute read and I adored Nash and Christopher. Even though this has a heavy focus on the MC's, as usual in any good Christmas book the side characters add just enough to make it even better! I loved the whole cast in this book and hope we get more in the world.

Loved this feel good wintery storyline, great characters and loved the setting, I really hope there is a follow on to this as I would love to read how Christopher and Nash along with Paddington and the new pending puppy are getting on

#AD: PR Copy

This book has Christmas celebrations at its heart, which is exactly what I need from a Christmas book. That might seem obvious from the title, but I have been hoodwinked before.  The story stems from a terrible snow storm that causes problems for all the residents of Pen-y-Môr. Everyone is now attempting to still carry out Christmas traditions when the snow prevents a steady supply of festive fayre.

The romance at the core of the story was a joy to read, and I really appreciated the diversity within the book. It's not done to be performative but just as a way to represent the world around us.

There were elements of the writing that felt a little overwritten or too detailed in explanations. However, I sometimes think these things (about how to show up for those with disabilities)  really have to be spelt out as we so often get negative representation instead.  So it only bothered me slightly.

I think it was even more special because it was a story visiting characters we had met before in Make You Mine This Christmas and I think it is an absolutely perfect read to put you in the Christmas spirit.

I really enjoyed this book, started off with Christopher the baker getting all his last minute baked goods ready for delivery in the lovely little village he now lives in. The year before he had left his life in London and moved here to do his dream job of baking and here he was but suddenly as he was due to go home for Christmas snow was falling a lot! Really falling! He decided to shut the shop early go up to his little flat and watch a film he’s been watching all the Nash Nadeau Christmas films he gets cosy and watches another
Snow is very thick so he goes downstairs gets coffee machine fired up when bang on door he opens it and shaz his best friend falls through, coffee? Yes it’s here! oh good my house is mad! How bad is it outside? Ooh terrible no cars nothing is moving according to news it’s a snowbomb ! Ok great guess I’m staying here for Christmas Shaz then says right I will be back soon ok
Christopher decides to bake some more gingerbread for Shaz when another bang on door he goes to door and opens it to a large sheep smelling man with scarf wrapped around his neck and face, can I help you. Yes I think I am at the right address at least man driving truck said so I am supposed to be staying here for a few days as he talks he unwrap the scarf and it’s Nash! Christopher is left blinking several times he eventually says no that person is Tessa? The reply is yes she is my assistant sorry she booked it for me
Come in come in
Chris gets him into the bakery and straight up to the flat where Nash immediately says thanks I really need a hot shower and disappear into bedroom shutting door
How is Chris going to explain there is only one bedroom
He has to stay due to snowstorm
He can’t tell him he knows who he is as he has already pretended he doesn’t know him
Oh lord what a mess !
Shaz is banging on door now he runs down to tell her she can’t believe it and can’t believe she has to act dumb!
There follows a story of human kindness and compassion although rest of town don’t follow the same story of not knowing who Nash is leading to very funny situations

I absolutely adored Make You Mine This Christmas last year, so I was SO excited to get my hands on this one. Christopher was one of my favourite characters and I couldn't wait to learn more about him - I was delighted that he is finally living his true life in a career he actually wants.
I loved all of the message exchanges with Haf, Kit, Ambrose and Laurel, as well as meeting new characters, and was so glad Christopher has a group of solid supportive friends.
Watching Nash and Christopher's relationship develop amidst all of the chaos going on around them, as well as their own personal issues to deal with, was so much fun. A perfect Christmas read!

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for my ARC copy.

I absolutely loved this book, it was such a quick, festive read. Nash and Christopher had such a cute relationship and I really loved all the LGBTQ+ and disability representation. But I honestly think the best part of this book was the amazing array of side character. I think we all need a friend like Shaz. I will 100% be recommending this to everyone this holiday season.

🌨💖Sweet, snowy holiday romance with strong small-town vibes🏘

3.5-4🌟stars
A good and mostly sweet romance in a small, Welsh, snowed-in town where the other residents share a lot of the story's spotlight.

The holiday movie genre's favorite actor Nash Nadeau makes his way through a blizzard to hide out in a rented apartment and finds baker Christopher, a new transplant to the village who rented out the apartment but now needs it himself because the storm's trapped him in town, scuttling his vacation plans.

Forced proximity works some magic here because the two really don't gel when they first meet. I actually found the transformation from guarded strangers to romantic clinches very oddly abrupt. In fact, through most of the story I was not convinced on the romance front; i just did not feel it.

But turns out that their holiday romance is part adventure, tackling the problems for the villagers resulting from this massive Christmas week storm, and that part I did find entertaining. Brusque, outspoken, gingerbread-scoffing Shaz, Christopher's bestie in a town where he still feels mostly an interloper; a feuding pair of senior farmers; a power confrontation between a local politician and her nemesis; supply and personal assistance needs for tens of residents facing an isolated Christmas on their own with scant provisions: these are some of the people and situations that Nash and Christopher confront as they get closer and Christmas Day looms nearer. Pulling together to help the village in a time of crisis seems to highlight their best.

Then there's Nash's career crisis and his attempts to keep both his L.A. agent and the press in the dark about his whereabouts, and Christopher's friends and family whose attempts to give him advice and get the details of his time with Nash are humorous. And a scraggly sausage thief cat whose welfare worries Christopher.

What could have been too much actually worked out to a good, heartwarming story with nice moments of humor tucked in. My favorite parts were mostly concentrated at the end, after the pair had established a comfortable partnership and, towards the end, I really felt the romance and longing coming through. There's some angst, but it does not dominate the story and is pretty short-lived.

Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Under the Mistletoe with You is incredibly sweet and witty, and oh, so Christmassy with the snow and the baking and the coziness. I enjoyed the difficulties Christopher & Nash had to go through, as they navigated their own feelings, as well as those around them, as a community rallies together to get through the freak snowstorm!

Christopher runs the bakery in a small welsh village and has shut up for Christmas. He has let his flat to someone called Tessa and is heading home when the snow falls and falls.
His visitor arrives and its male and a famous actor and Christopher has watched all his films.
Unfortunately they don't get off to a good start!
Then village life and community spirit are needed to get through Christmas. Can they get along and maybe .........

4.75 stars

*eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

this was a really lovely follow-up to Make You Mine This Christmas with all the heart and wholesomeness of a Hallmark film plus great trans and disability representation. and excellent accurate Welsh content calling out issues that happen about too many people wanting holiday properties in Wales without contributing to the community. also loved how much the Spanks Squad felt like a part of the narrative even without being physically there.

Disclaimer: I received a free Kindle version of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Having read Lizzie Huxley-Jones' first festive rom-com (Make You Mine This Christmas) I was really looking forward to read Under The Mistletoe With You. I didn't initially make the connection between the Christopher of the blurb and the Christopher of the first book, but as soon as I realised I became even more excited to read more about his journey after he followed his dream of going to culinary school and setting up a bakery.

The book's premise seems simple enough - when Christopher's Christmas plans are ruined by heavy snowfall (I know, unlikely for Britain, but we go with it) he finds himself stuck in his tiny flat with none other than Nash Nadeau, who just happens to be the star of his favourite festive rom-coms. Any fan of a festive rom-com, whether on screen or in a book, wants to see that play out, right?

But whilst that is a great story in and of itself, it is the community, friendship, and respecting yourself that is at the heart of this book. Over the course of a few days, we see Christopher go from feeling like the outsider to an integral part of his community. Old feuds are settled, new friendships are made, and the whole thing just feels so warm and cosy.

Whilst I'm not a fan of the "enemies-to-lovers" trope, and I worried when Christopher and Nash first met and got off to a bristly start, they quickly fell into a kind of camaraderie that worked for them. And whilst it wasn't all plain sailing, they became a couple that felt like they were meant for each other.

And as with their first festive book, Lizzie Huxley-Jones has written a diverse cast of characters, with great representation of both the disability and LGBTQ+ communities, something which is sorely lacking within the festive genre. So if you're looking for a book to curl up with this Christmas, I highly recommend this one.

A wonderful tale of community spirit, new friendships and love. Nash runs away from L.A. to Wales, Can he find the answers to his turmoil over his future career here? Perfect wet day reading, an enthralling story, I couldn't wait to see how it ended.

‘under the mistletoe with you’ has to be one of the warmest books i’ve ever read. a small town romance with plenty of likeable characters and duel pov and a lot snow and little animals. it’s the second in a series, but can be read as a standalone, though characters and their stories overlap. it’s so very christmas-y, a perfect festive read for december.

**Book Review: Under the Mistletoe with You by Lizzie Huxley-Jones**

I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful and cozy Christmas read. Returning to the charming world introduced in *Make You Mine This Christmas*, we follow Christopher as he navigates significant life changes and receives an unexpected holiday surprise from his favorite rom-com heartthrob. Huxley-Jones masterfully captures the warmth and whimsy of the season, immersing readers in the festive spirit.

The vibrant characters and their relationships in Christopher’s new hometown are beautifully drawn, making each interaction feel genuine and heartfelt. However, while I appreciated the chemistry between Christopher and his love interest, I found myself wishing for a deeper investment in their developing relationship. Nonetheless, the narrative remains engaging and enjoyable.

Overall, *Under the Mistletoe with You* is a solid read, perfect for a cozy Sunday on the sofa this autumn. Huxley-Jones has crafted a charming story that captures the essence of holiday romance, making it an ideal addition to your seasonal reading list.