This book was so fun! It was exactly what I needed just a fun and flirty rom com with great humor and a hot hockey player! This series from Katie Bailey is my favorite and I can’t wait for more!

A delightful, lighthearted, feel-good holiday romcom that I will never stop recommending from now on!

The romantic gestures are TOP TIER, and Aaron (our hero) is pure perfection! Everything we romance lovers want in a book boyfriend. The chemistry and tension between Olivia and Aaron was EVERYTHING, and I loved seeing their story unfold. The romance, the swoonworthy moments, and the unmatched banter—no one does it like my queen Katie! My heart will forever remain soft for the enemies to lovers trope.

The found family aspect was heartwarming and hilarious, and every character added something special to this incredible read.

I was insanely psyched to jump into this—Katie Bailey is one of my absolute favorite authors, and just like all of her books, this one did not disappoint!

4.7 ★

Thank you to netgalley for an arc of this book- such a cute holiday read with the most cinnamon roll MMC ever. I actually rate both of the MCs in this book and their story. Would have liked some solid karma for Sadie!

#Review: *Holiday Hostilities* - Katie Bailey - ARC
4.8/5✨
0/5🌶️
[Super fun]

Hockey romance books are my saviour! They're always lifting my mood up and I'm so happy I got this opportunity to receive an advanced copy. Thank you so, so much Katie!!

Olivia is the little sister of hockey player, Jack. Of course, he was protective of her and forbidden his teammates to get near her. That's why Aaron, his friend and teammate, tried his best not to deceit his friend's trust. But that will affect his relationship with Olivia, who became his enemy after just one wrong step from Aaron.

After a couple of years, Olivia is decided to stay near her brother and she changes her job as fly attended from Europe to US. But her salary doesn't compare with the one her brother has, so she lives in a small apartment which doesn't offer the best conditions: neither as aspect, nor roommates. That's the reason why she will end up staying in her enemy's house, Aaron.

Besides that, a very obnoxious stalker tries to ruin Aaron's hockey career. That's where Olivia comes in hand and helps him a bit with that issue. Of course, that will force them to be in close proximity and those feelings that they were trying to keep within themselves will be harder to hide.

First of all, this book made me laugh so, so much! I had such a great time following Aaron, Olivia and all the hockey players. They were hilarious in every way possible! Second of all, Olivia's insecurities were so genuine and I liked that she was built as a normal person, who was struggling with day to day problems. Her life wasn't easy at all and I was glad when she found a piece of happiness within her brother's circle of friends.

I really liked this book, having an amazing time reading it. From my point of view, it had the perfect ingredients to be a lovable story and enjoy every minute of it.

✨Tropes
#SportsRomance
#EnemiesToLovers
#RoommatesToLovers
#BrothersBestFriend

Thank you, NetGalley, the publisher, and Katie Bailey, for giving me an opportunity to review this book.

This was such a wholesome hockey romance between Olivia & Aaron. The relationship was very cute, and I loved how Aaron treated Olivia throughout the book. It really was such a shame that Olivia & Aaron didn't get along due to the miscommunication early on. The hate banter felt forced at times. The "issue" just avalanched throughout the years, and the characters just refused to even address it. Considering the age between the two it also made sense why the conclusion came to that. I'm glad the they both had a second chance. However, I'm also glad I got to see Jake & Olivia's relationship improve towards the end of the book. :')

Side Note: The comment about celebrating Christmas on the beach made me cackle. I'm from Sydney, Australia, and I did in fact celebrate Christmas that way.

It took me a while to get to "Holiday Hostilities," since I was catching up on Season's Schemings. I really enjoyed Season's Schemings, and I was hoping for the same magic in this story. But unfortunately, it wasn't the same. I'm hoping Katie will continue with this series because I'm looking forward to reading about the other teammates. :) I will be catching up on Katie's other books as well.

First and foremost, thank you to NetGalley for offering a digital ARC.

First and foremost, thank you to NetGalley for offering a digital ARC.

This is the perfect book if you're looking for a simple holiday read. The banter between Olivia and Aaron was the cutest, and I just love seeing them slowly grow together. It has all the best tropes, from Brothers Best Friend and Only One Bed, to Enemies to Lovers. Such a fun read for the holiday season.

However, if you pay much attention to detail, this book may be a miss for you. 100 pages in, and we know Olivia hates Aaron, but we don't know why, and her living with him is meant to be a major plot point, as described in the synopsis, but then she doesn't live with him until after those first 100 pages... on top of there being some plot holes... like Aaron's mom and Nonna not recognizing Olivia when they meet her, but he supposedly grew up as her brother's best friend? You would think they would have met her before if that were the case. Overall enjoyable read, but unfortunately fell flat in quite a few places.

"But you hate me."
"The only thing I hate about you, Olivia, is having to be around you and not being able to do this."
*cue first kiss*

Rating: 3.5/5

- hockey romance
- holiday romance
- brother's best friend/teammate
- hate to love
- roommates to lovers
- black cat x golden retriever
- he falls first/it's always been her
- no breakup
- closed door
- dual pov

I really enjoyed Season's Schemings, so I had high hopes for Holiday Hostilies. While it had some good moments, it didn't quite meet my expectations.

But let's talk about Aaron, the book's highlight. He's always had feelings for Olivia (he's been friends with her brother since high school). So, when he gets a chance to spend more time with her, he takes it. He's a charming sweetheart who spoils her and cares for her whenever possible.

This book definitely has black cat x golden retriever vibes, with Olivia hoping to avoid Christmas and Aaron pushing her into the festive spirit. I like seeing her let down her walls and let him in, realising her animosity was unfounded. Once they're in, they're in with no breakup, even when roadblocks stand in their way.

The book also has a great found family, thanks to the hockey team. They share many moments on and off the ice, and I'm curious to see who gets a story next. Finally, Katie Bailey writes closed-door so well, as the forced proximity of the roommates' situation adds just the right amount of tension.

As for my concerns, I wanted more from the plot (the stalker storyline did nothing for me), and I needed a more substantial reason for Olivia's animosity toward Aaron. Otherwise, it was still enjoyable, and I'll continue the series.

I received an early ARC and audio copy.

Really cute romance book that is full of swoon worthy scenes! No spice but lots of love. The 2 main characters are destined to be together and it's lovely to watch them realise that with no hiccups along the way!

I love a good holiday book and this one hit the spot! This one is dual POV and absolutely a delight from page one. This one has all the warm, fuzzy feels you're looking for this Christmas season!

This is my first book by Katie Bailey and now I just want to devour every book she's ever written. I absolutely adored Holiday Hostilities! It had just the right mix of romantic tension, bickering and wholesomeness. It also deals so well with themes of grief and finding where you belong. This story is just so heartwarming and had me laughing out loud at times.

The romance was quite literally perfection and I loved that it was dual POV because Aaron's POV is my new obsession! Olivia and Aaron are amazing characters individually and as a couple. The author says she writes cute, fluffy, feel-good rom coms and that is so accurate. Their relationship felt like a warm hug. I wouldn't say it was enemies to lovers though, I would say it's more one sided hate to love. The pacing of the romance was done perfectly, I loved that we got such great bickering and banter. It didn't feel too rushed or drawn out, they gradually start to bond and we get to actually see them together too. Everything I could want! And NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP!! The revolution is here I can feel it

As well as great main characters there is also a whole cast of really loveable side characters! I loved the contrasting family dynamics with Olivia and her family and Aaron and his. And the Marino family shenanigans were so cute. But I especially loved the found family in this and seeing a character like Olivia, who I really related to, find her place and be welcomed was lovely to read about. I'm going to need a Dallas book real quick!

This book is sweet and fluffy, there is no spice which I actually appreciated and the author still infuses the more intimate scenes with So. Much. Tension. and yearning. Holiday Hostilities is very character focused, it's pretty low stakes and doesn't have any unnecessary drama. The characters and romance are so entertaining and endearing, I was hooked.

If you're looking for a new book boyfriend, Aaron Marino is your man. I am officially obsessed, he is such a gentleman, a golden retriever, just the sweetest ever🩵

And if you're looking for the perfect holiday romcom, this is it! This is a must read if you want to swoon and laugh and fall in love with every character

I absolutely adored this holiday romance! I haven’t had much time to dive into holiday-themed books recently, but this one was totally worth it. From the very first chapter, I was hooked by the chemistry between the characters. The dynamic felt fresh, especially with the "enemies to lovers" theme. Although, if I’m being honest, it was more one-sided at times, with one character holding a bit of a grudge while the other slowly warmed up. Still, that tension made their interactions all the more fun to read.

The forced proximity aspect was executed brilliantly, and it created some truly delightful moments. There was something so charming about watching these two characters reluctantly spend time together, and I couldn’t get enough of their back-and-forth. What really elevated this story for me, though, was the humor. The banter was spot on, and I found myself laughing out loud several times. It wasn’t just funny—it was witty and sharp, and it really brought the characters to life.

If I had to compare the way I felt while reading this book to anything, it would be like watching a hockey player like Sidney Crosby on the ice. He has this incredible mix of intensity, skill, and heart that makes you feel everything—the passion, the tension, and the joy when everything clicks. This book did the same for me. It captured all those emotions, from the slow burn to the moments that made me laugh or swoon.

This book had all the right elements: the holiday cheer, great chemistry, and plenty of laughs. If you’re looking for a fun, feel-good read with a touch of tension and a lot of heart, I highly recommend it. It definitely made my holiday season brighter!

I'm drawn to with this story and how Katie Bailey wrote it. I haven't read a romance book in a long time where the two main characters aren't torn away by some major incident. The main characters in this book grew closer and more confident in each other as a result of their struggles. The characters are really well-written and funny. This fell perfectly into my favorite category because I love the enemies-to-lover and brothers' best friend tropes. Although I've only read two of her books, both have had a profound impact on me because her characters are so realistic and real.

I am so here for this newest holiday hockey romance series that has the newest instalment featuring flight attendant Olivia Griswold and her older brother's friend and Pro Hockey teammate, Aaron. This is a second chance, fake dating, forced proximity, dual POV love story that takes place over the holidays and sees Olivia and Aaron realizing their feelings are worth taking a chance on.

I really liked the anxiety rep in the MMC and the way he crochets to help mitigate his stress. Great on audio read by narrators, Abigail Reno and Lee Samuels. I'm excited for Dallas's story next and hope it revolves around his family's Christmas tree farm. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Short synopsis: Olivia decided to settle down in Atlanta to be closer to her brother. But her roommates are terrible, and she keeps running into her brothers cocky best friend and teammate Aaron Marino.

My thoughts: If you want a holiday book that isn’t super sweet hallmark vibes, this is your sign to pick up the Cyclones Christmas series. I am obsessed with Katie’s writing. The best banter, tension, and laugh out loud moments.

Aaron was such a misunderstood Golden Retriever, I mean…. He crochets stuffed animals before games, invites his team over for Teams-giving dinner, and keeps his cool when crazy fans are being crazy. Olivia is so feisty and says what’s on her mind, and I adore that. She’s fiercely loyal and strong. But the two of them together is so swoony!

I can’t wait for the next book, and if the epilogue is any indication I have an idea of what’s coming and I can’t wait!

Read if you love:
- Nemesis to lovers
- Forced proximity
- Hockey and team shenanigans
- Brothers best friend
- Hot showers

The most perfect Christmas romcom, filled with laughs and enjoyable characters and i love the brothers best friend trope so it was a 5 star read for me

Name of the publication/blog/outlet where your review will be published/posted
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absolutely loved it! can’t wait for the next book!

What a perfect book to kick off my holiday season!!! I am obsessed with this story and the way Katie Bailey wrote it. It has been a long time since I have read a romance novel that didn't have some kind of big event tear apart the two main characters. In this book, the trials and tribulations only brought the main characters closer together and more sure of one another.

Aaron and Olivia's enemies-to-lovers storyline is a slow burn. The character development and backstory that is built upon for a majority of the book was perfection. I felt like I truly got to know Aaron and Olivia and why each of them felt certain emotions at times. I never once felt frustrated with either character thinking they were overreacting.

Overall, this book hit every mark for me, even ones that I wasn't aware were there. I feel like I just drank a cold glass of water after walking in the Sahara Desert. This book is **easily** a 5/5 stars for me and a book I'll likely keep coming back to when the holiday season rolls around every year.

Dual POV, Closed Door, Hockey, Brother's Best Friend, Hate to Love, Holiday Romance, Only One Bed, It Was Always You, Roommates

There's something about a brother's best friend romance that gets me every single time add in the addition of team shenanigans, an overzealous fan, game nights, and Aaron pulling out all the stops to help Olivia make positive Christmas memories and you've got this delightful holiday romcom.

This was the first book I have read by Katie Bailey but it certainly won't be the last. Olivia and Aaron's story is so much fun! Highly recommend for fans of sports romance and Sophie Sullivan readers.

Funny banter and such cute chemistry. It's closed-door/ No spice but so romantic.
The characters are so funny and well written. I love the enemies to lovers and brothers' best friend tropes, so this was right in my favorite category.

Tropes:
✨️ Hockey Romance
🩷 Enemies to Lovers
✨️ Brother's Best Friend
🩷Forced Proximity

Thank you, Valentine PR and Katie Bailey for this ARC.