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.

Lizzie Huxley-Jones you've done it again!
Make you mine this Christmas was an instant favourite after I read the arc, so I was super excited to be approved for this follow on (while you could read this as a stand alone I'd urge you to read the first one beforehand).
As soon as I started reading this it was like being enveloped in a warm hug - the familiarity of characters I already love, and the introduction of new ones to fall in love with.
One thing the author does exceptionally well at is writing LGBTQIA+ and disabled characters so beautifully - there's no sugar coating or box ticking - it's relatable and honest - it's wonderful representation and it can really hit you in the feels if it resonates with you.
This book made me laugh, cry and was overall just absolutely joyous.
Huge thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc ebook.

Lizzie Huxley-Jones is one of my auto buy authors!

I loved “Make You Mine This Christmas” and this one didn’t disappoint!
Queer romance, cozy and found family feel like a big hug for the festive season! ✨❄️🎄❤️

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy

I read an ARC of 'Make You Mine This Christmas' and loved it, so I was thrilled to be approved for 'Under the Mistletoe' too!

I went into the story expecting a cute, cosy Christmas romcom, which was absolutely delivered. What I wasn't expecting, however, was for it to be a gorgeous story of community, found family, and people just generally coming together to support each other in a really difficult time. I loved found family stories, and the small town setting was the perfect stage for that. I adored all of the eccentric side characters as well as Christopher and Nash.
The romance plot was a gorgeous slow burn, the premise of which was delightfully ridiculous, but also felt incredibly grounded with the context you get from the story. Their eventual relationship made complete sense for both characters and the way they supported each other was so heartwarming to read. The way Christopher reacts to and supports Nash with his seizures should be the absolute bare minimum, but - as we learn from Nash - people have been less than helpful in the past, so it really feels like it means a whole lot more.

Overall, a stunning, joyously cosy and queer romcom that's not to be underestimated.

This is just so lovely! I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the series and this second instalment didn’t disappoint. Set 12 months later and Christopher Calloway has made the leap and started his own bakery in a remote Welsh village by the sea.. it’s now December 20th and Christopher is planning to visit his sister for Christmas, letting out his tiny flat while he’s away. Cue snowstorms and cute Canadian actors and you have the perfect Christmas romance.

I’m hoping we might get book 3 for next Christmas

Awww this was a lovely festive romance.
So much to enjoy…
A bakery owner gets snowed in with his favourite seasonal movie star. There’s small Welsh community vibes, gingerbread reindeer, a flour disaster, snarky banter, queer romance and even some cute animals.

I was finding it a really sweet easy read, but didn’t think I was overly invested. However, it must have just gradually pulled me in because by the end it brought a tear to my eye and a smile to my face. Just lovely!
Think I’d have enjoyed it even more if I was reading it in December!

I best go pick up Lizzie Huxley-Jones first seasonal romance soon. Should have read that first as they’re connected. This definitely does work as a stand-alone though!

I received an advanced copy of this through Netgalley.

A fun story which shows a developing love story and also about community spirit.

It is a good story.

Whilst this is a sequel/companion novel to "Make You Mine This Christmas" I found it did a really good job of recapping what had happened previously without being too spoiler heavy.

This book felt like a huge festive hug! It had everything you could want from a Christmas romance and had a Hallmark holiday movie written all over it!

Whilst the plot was straight forward and pretty predictable the two main characters were both layered and had you rooting for them from the beginning. I enjoyed the dual perspective and it definitely helped to build the tension between the two leads.

This also has great lgbtq+ representation that felt natural and honest. It also covered topics such as disability and being on the spectrum sympathetically.

As this was partially set in a bakery I absolutely loved all the descriptions of food. Talk of gingerbread houses and roast dinners really helped set the festive tone.

I also loved the community aspects and feel of this. Every side character had a purpose and helped build a believable town.

The only reason this didn't quite hit 5 stars for me was everything did feel a little 'insta love' and I felt in the final few chapters everything moved quite quickly and could have benefited from slightly slower pacing and possibly an epilogue.

Overall this is the perfect romance to get you into the Christmas spirit and I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

A brilliant Christmas rom-com, complete with gingerbread, pj's, and snow, plus the added bonus of a TV star and a village that pulls together.
Loved the queer aspects, beautifully presented.
Feeling Christmassy in September, not a bad thing.

TW of seizures and light transphobia.
A light-hearted MM romance with the added joy of Christmas, cake and animals!
Christopher is in the first year of starting his own business, a small cafe in a tiny Welsh village. It's been hard, not feeling a part of the tight-knit community and far from his family.
But with the aid of one ally, a stash of Christmas films and a hunky actor in said films, he's got through.
Just as the festive season kicks in, he's looking forward to a break, with his small flat rented out to someone for a few days, allowing him the chance to visit his loved ones.
Then British weather happens. Snow falls. Planes, trains and automobiles grind to a halt. Everyone's except the soon to arrive lodger, who raps on the door, and Christopher finds himself face to face, not with a woman, but a man. A familiar, handsome male. Who he's been drooling over the last few months. Nash Nadeau, the Rom Com heartthrob.
Neither can they leave, nor can they realistically fit into his teeny flat above the cafe, but they're going to have to manage because there are no other options!
Oh, what fun! Forced proximity to the hilt!
I enjoyed the difficulties these two 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!
There is another book featuring Christopher, but I could read this as a stand-alone with no problems.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC.

This book is what a full bodied warm hug that smells like Christmastime at your favourite bakery. I am not exaggerating: I read it in one go, thrilled at the chance to revisit some familiar faces and immerse myself in the festive romance by Lizzie Huxley-Jones. Treat yourself!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC.

Christopher used to work in finance in London, now he is a baker in a small seaside village in Wales, and while this was his dream, he is lonely. So when Christmas comes around he sublets his flat and prepares to visit his family. Then a lot of weather happens and all trains and planes and with them Christmas plans are cancelled.

Suddenly he gets a knock on the door and the person he let his flat to stands on his doorstep, annoyed about his long and somewhat strange journey, involving sheep. It's none other than the Canadian (NOT American, that's important) Christmas movies star Nash Nadeau who he is a great fan of. But Nash is grumpy, he just about made it here and now it seems there is no room at the inn?

So begins a fun, dual POV "forced proximity, only one bed, insta love" love story between two people who really aren't irritating but irritate each other because they are afraid of their feelings. Their banter is world class, and so is the interaction with the locals, predominantly a woman named Shaz who doesn't take no for an answer when she wants to make friends and get reindeer biscuits.

There is a real sense of community and the villagers start a concerted effort to help everyone who is affected by the snow, roping Christopher and Nash in as if it's totally normal to have movie stars hanging around the place. The food descriptions throughout are mouth-watering!

But Nash has a decision to make about his future, and how can it include a baker in Wales, which he only just learned is not in England?

This is book 2 in a series, with the first book being about Christopher's lesbian sister. I didn't know this but the book can be read as a standalone as the recaps happen organically throughout the story.

I have to say, the LGBTQ+ representation is exemplary. Christopher is bisexual and Nash is trans and no one clutches their pearls about it or makes it a huge topic. Just lovely. Nash's disability is also covered sympathetically.

The revelation that both Christopher's name and that of his sister Katherine can be abbreviated to Kit had me in stitches!

This is a heartwarming festive story with tons of snow, animals and brilliant side characters. The subplots with the quirky villagers are hugely entertaining, making this a well-rounded sweet and interesting story that is highly recommended for Christmas time.

4.5 stars

I'm a sucker for a movie star romance and even more so when it's set at christmas and they get snowed in together.

I enjoyed both Christopher and Nash as characters and enjoyed getting to know them. Christopher was a big fan of Nash and was so disappointed to find he was actually a bit of an ass!
This book had quite a good bit of representation from disabilities to gay, trans and bisexual which i appreciated how well it was written.
absolute perfection and highly recommend for the upcoming festive season!

4.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC.

Christopher has recently bought a bakery in a small village in the Welsh countryside and is trying to get it on its feet but struggling. He plans to shut up shop a few days before Christmas and spend time with his family to recharge his batteries, while renting out his flat while he's away. On the day he's due to leave a huge snow storm hits and suddenly the person who was supposed to be renting his flat appears at his front door and it's none other than Christmas movie heart throb Nash Nadeau who Christopher just happens to fall asleep watching on Netflix every night.

This book is a warm hug on a cold winters day. The characters are well developed and you can't help but laugh out loud at the banter between them. I will say that the characters do fall for each other insanely quickly but when you read everything that happens that ended up not bothering me that much.

The sense of community was an integral theme in this book which I really enjoyed. Extremely heartwarming. There were some really lovely sub-plots between characters which were a joy to read.

The book did keep referencing past events which made me think that there had been a book before this one which I have now discovered there was.

A highly enjoyable Christmas read, would definitely recommend.

Actual rating 3.5 stars.

Under the Mistletoe with You is incredibly sweet. And witty. And oh, so Christmassy with the snow and the baking and the coziness.

I loved the scene with the puppies, laughed out loud about the text messages Christopher exchanged with his friends and family, and smiled every time Christopher and Nash annoyed each other. I believe this book will be a huge Christmas hit, and many of you will adore it.

I didn’t love love it, though. I really liked everything I mentioned above, but it might have been a bit too insta love (the book takes place in only a few days), a little too sweet for me, and somehow I need a little more angst. And I felt that the conversation about Nash being trans came a little late. Nash is just trans like it’s no big deal, and of course, that’s fantastic. No one talked about it, and everyone assumed he was a guy. But somehow, I couldn’t believe that he never had any issues as a trans teen, and for a while, it almost felt like he was a cis man with a trans sticker on his body. Only in the last part of the book did Christopher and Nash have some meaningful conversations about Nash being trans. I simply had wanted to see those conversations a bit earlier in the book. But overall, this story is charming and romantic.

This was an incredibly sweet, easy read. Set in a small Welsh town, Christopher gets snowed in for Christmas having already planned to rent his flat to a stranger. Turns out that stranger is famous actor and celeb crush of Christopher's, Nash. But the two don't get along at first, driven into close quarters.

I found the dynamic between the two of them very entertaining. With so much early bickering, it has shades of an enemies to lovers story. Once we start getting there, it's a great mix of sweet and sour. It also features a whole cast of townspeople, all with quirky personalities. Good for people who enjoy the town in something like Gilmore Girls.

It also seemlessly wraps in conversation about love and sex as a trans gay man in a way that feels organic. Particularly refreshing given the setting of the book, I definitely appreciated it. Will be recommending to people this Christmas.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with the eARC of this in exchange for an honest review.

Going into this, I hadn't read the other book with Christopher in it. However, that didn't cause any issues and I was able to catch up and understand what was going on with no issues. This book with 2 MMCs is the perfect blend of Christmas cheer and community spirit, along with romance. It almost felt like enemies vibes at some point though truly, they never really hated each other did they?

Christopher has a brand new (ish) bakery which he is looking forward to taking a break from to go away for Christmas. One morning he wakes and the entire UK is covered in dreadful snow so no one and nothing can go anywhere. How can he make the best of the situation of being stuck in his small flat? With only 1 friend locally? Not to mention, will the person renting his house turn up or is there too much snow?