4⭐️
What I liked best was the idea of bringing together a Christmas grinch and a Christmas lover and the mix of American and German Christmas traditions - and of course, as always with Noyes books, the sizzling chemistry between the main characters, in this case between Evangeline-(Evie) and Annika.

I'm from Switzerland, a neighboring country to Germany, and we have similar Christmas traditions, and I have friends in the US, so I'm no stranger to American traditions either.

Evangeline comes from a rich, and I mean really wealthy, Boston family and for once wants to be loved just for who she is, not for her money or social status. Annika jumps at the chance to move from Munich to Boston for a year to work at the company's headquarters and also to distance herself from her last relationship and start fresh. Neither is ready for a relationship, but neither can they resist the palpable attraction. And when they finally can no longer resist, things get really hot.

The romance is sweet, it's an instant attraction but with a slow-burning sensation.

For the most part, the story is light and fun and easy to read with relationship angst and family issues sprinkled in. I loved the banter between the two and also Pete and Chloe's teasing. Evangeline's relationship with her brother-in-law Pete and niece Chloe is special and heartwarming, they are the two main supporting characters.

Merry Christmas is a lovely Christmas novel, but not my favorite book by E.J. Noyes.

Thanks to Bella Books and NetGalley for receiving an ARC for an honest review.

Just what the doctor ordered, a new EJ Noyes book when I still haven't recovered from America's horrible November. First of all, I love holiday stories when I read them during the holidays, but I also love a rich girl story. Seeing Boston in the winter was quite festive. I know that technically this was insta-love based on it all happening in November/December, but all the great details made it seem longer and almost slow-burnish. But the steam escaping from under Evie's door made it worth it!

My only not-really-complaint is that I missed Pete and Chloe in the second half of the book. Thanks EJ and Bella Books ... I hadn't been able to read for the past month so it was nice to have a great one that I couldn't put down!

This is a sweet holiday romance, featuring some fast friends-to-lovers and a unique take on a Christmas romance, blending German and American Christmas traditions. Both main characters, along with the supporting characters, were realistic and relatable.

This was an overall enjoyable read and I would recommend it to someone looking for a somewhat emotionally intense Christmas/holiday/winter read.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley.

Frohe Christmas!! I agree with Annika and Evie, that doesn’’t sound as good as Merry Weinachten. But what a delightful holiday story, a feel-good romance that gives Americans a peek into German Christmas traditions. It’s the type of romance where the angst is actually concentrated on the slow-burn sizzle between them. Our main characters meet in the Boston apartment building where German Annika is moving in and American Evie is not-so-smoothly trying to lend a hand. The set-up is that Annika is only temporarily assigned to her job in Boston and is taking a year-long break from her life in Germany. The problem is that this takes her away from her family and Christmas celebrated the German way. Evie, who is *not* a Grinch, neither has nor does she miss American celebrations of Christmas, she has issues with her family - namely her parents. What to do?? Celebrate together as part of a “we’re in this together” kind of situation. This is the perfect set up for each trying to resist the other, especially since nobody wants a relationship and what are they going to do when Annika has to return to Germany?. I really enjoyed learning about German customs for the holiday. While Evie didn’t have as much to offer Annika in return as far as Christmas specific traditions, she more than made up for it with showcasing Boston. As they fight the inevitable, we take the journey with them and look forward to the traditional HEA.

Cute, lighthearted, and fun read. The mixed cultural holiday really made it interesting. The characters were likable, charming even, and the plot was fresh. if you’re looking for an easy holiday read, I would enthusiastically recommend.

Oh no, oh no, oh no! I hate to be the contrarian to the other reviewers however I must remain true to myself. I am normally a big fan of Noyes yet I found Merry Weihnachten to be repetitive and off balance. The steep incline from Evie’s lows to Annika’s saccharine highs sucked the joy out of the story for me. Forcing myself to finish the novel is never a good sign.

As I said earlier, I am the minority in the reviewing community for Merry Weihnachten. Take this review with a bag full of salt.

I received an advance review copy from Bella Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I'm really disappointed in this story. I felt like they were trying too hard to blend German and American Christmas traditions, which are so different from where I'm from, and it just got confusing. Plus, all the German words made it hard to follow.

Then there's the part that I found super elitist and even snobbish, which has nothing to do with me or things I value, so that's just another disappointment added to the pile.

So, yeah, I was pretty disappointed because this author has set the bar really high for me. But this one didn't even come close.

I was looking forward to reading another Christmas romance to build the atmosphere for the festive season and Merry Weihnachten delivered that and so much more!
Instant attraction of new neighbours, slow(ish) burn, will they have a temporary ‘arrangement’, date and/or a relationship that would, potentially, be long distance? The ‘will they, won’t they’ keeps you invested in the story and turning the pages.

BUT, that’s not all!! Add in Evie and Annika’s issues with relationships and family and the combining of German and American Christmas traditions and making them uniquely theirs has, in my opinion, has given us a well written, ‘hot’ but classy romance with depth.
Thanks to Bella Books and NetGalley for the ARC, it was a pleasure to write this honest review.

⚠️Warning: Minor Spoilers⚠️

I’ll admit that I wasn’t entirely certain about this one when I requested it from NetGalley. I have several of E.J. Noyes’ books in my library, but I usually avoid both holiday romance, and cute, and this one seemed to be a poster child for both.

The introduction between the protagonists had meet-cute written all over it, and the first chapter had me thinking I hadn’t done myself any favors. But I quickly and happily revised that assessment. I have a habit of highlighting passages in books that I find funny or intriguing or particularly informative, and by the beginning of chapter six I had no fewer than ten. The book is cute… but not cutesy. It’s light-hearted and funny and - bonus points, honestly - it reminded me of the best parts of the Weihnachten of my youth, which I haven’t thought of in a very long time.

Which isn’t to say that it’s shallow. The protagonists deal with a number of difficult or painful situations – failed relationships, homophobic family, death of a loved one and the grief that follows – and the baggage those all leave behind. Each of them, to one degree or another, affect how they relate to one another and how their relationship develops, and Noyes does an excellent job of weaving them into the plot.

I will say that I didn’t really love the way the argument about Evie’s family that occurred late in the third act was written. Resolution is fairly quick in coming, and it was done well, and having time to sit with it I have realized that this has more to do with me than any issues with the book. Which is all to say, have a care: if you have or had your own shitty family situations, the way that argument is written may feel just a bit too real, and uncomfortable.

I haven’t changed my mind about holiday books, and I’m not going to suddenly reverse course and read them by the bushel. But I have to say that if you read just one this year, this should be a candidate.

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and am leaving a voluntary review.

Reviewers Note: I actually gave this book a rating of 4.5⭐️, but am unable to do that here.

Really delightful queer women festive story, where Annika, a German woman moves to Boston for work and decides to show her new neighbour how German's celebrate Christmas. I really enjoyed learning more about German festive customs. Evie the American neighbour is ridiculously rich and doesn't care about money but also really does, is grieving for her sister, processing her loss in a relatable way. All the characters are well written, there is the right amount and kind of tension between the two women. Recommended for those who enjoy a meaningful Christmas story with lovely festive customs to celebrate and enjoy.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A lovely holiday romance that combines all the best of American and German Christmas traditions that leaves you with warm tingles.

Annika and Evie meet when Annika moves to Boston from Germany for a twelve-month project role and rents the apartment across the hall from Evie. The connection is instant, but the two women try to resist falling into a relationship in order to avoid the possibility of getting hurt when Annika has to leave at the end of her project.

The two women are opposites in many ways. Annika absolutely adores Christmas while Evie hates it. Annika is all about family while Evie carries a lot of family baggage resulting from the death of her sister and her estrangement from her parents. However, she does have a very close bond with her brother-in-law and niece. While her brother-in-law and niece go to Evie's parents place for Christmas Day, Evie prefers to just spend it alone.

The one thing that the two women do have in common is that neither of them is at all interested in a relationship. However, they end up agreeing to share their respective Christmas traditions with each other and find themselves spending lots of time together. With lots of Christmassy goodness, a smattering of family drama, and secrets to be revealed, can Annika and Evie find a way to let go of their fears and overcome the barriers to finding their happy ever after?

I loved the blend of sweetness and angst as well as the serious issues that Noyes is able to blend into this lovely holiday romance.

I am grateful to the E.J. Noyes, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.

Evangeline Phillips isn’t exactly a Grinch, but being estranged from her parents means Christmas is just another day for her. But when Evie meets her new neighbor—her hot, kind, and blessed-with-the-sexiest-accent-Evie-has-ever-heard neighbor—she thinks it might be just the thing to help her get past the holiday season. Annika Mayer isn’t really running away. But when there’s a job opening in the United States, it seems like the perfect time to leave Germany and start fresh, even if it’s only temporary. It’s just a pity that she’s missing out on the most important holiday: Christmas with her family. Fortunately, Annika’s cute new neighbor is exactly the distraction she needs.

As their friendship and flirtation builds, Evie and Annika decide on an American-German Christmas mesh-up—they’ll share their Christmas traditions and make it through the season together. And as they plan their “Merry Weihnachten,” that flirtation starts to build into something more. But with so much standing between them and forever, Evie and Annika realize they might not get their gift-wrapped happy ending after all.

I love sweet holiday romances. Plus I'll check out anything that EJ Noyes writes. As someone who often straddles two cultures, this was a real treat for me, watching Evie and Annika work together to share each other's traditions. They try not to fall for each other, but we all know how that goes! Heartwarming and lovely. Highly recommend this one! 4.5⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

This woman… is she capable of writing a bad book? Even a mediocre one? It seems like she isn’t, and I am here for all of it. As a self proclaimed grinch the time of year has come where I just like to grump about everything. I just can’t about this book. It’s sweet, it’s funny, it’s heartfelt and brings a bit of Weihnachten/ Christmas spirit.
I general I dislike romances in which the romance just goes from 0 to 60 in 5 seconds flat, while this book does just that, I don’t hate it. I think it’s because of the writing, the characters doubting what they are doing, speaking out about moving too fast. We all know lesbian time is different than regular time, even more so in books. Noyes does a fabulous job of navigating that tricky time space.
She also wrote some wonderful characters and, honestly, I am sad the story is over. Can we get another book of these two lovely characters? Involve the niece, Evie’s parents, Annika’s parents, just a fun and warm sequel.id love that, thanks ;)

*Merry Weihnachten* by E. J. Noyes is a heartwarming holiday romance that blends American and German Christmas traditions with the charm of an unexpected love story. Evangeline Phillips, who has long since distanced herself from the festive season due to family estrangement, finds her holiday plans upended by the arrival of her alluring new neighbor, Annika Mayer. Annika, newly relocated from Germany, is missing the warmth of her family’s holiday celebrations and hoping for a fresh start in the U.S.

What begins as a casual friendship quickly deepens into a heartfelt connection as Evie and Annika bond over their shared holiday loneliness. Their idea of a “Merry Weihnachten”—a fusion of their respective Christmas customs—adds a delightful cultural dimension to their blossoming relationship. Noyes skillfully portrays the joy of discovering new traditions, from German baked goods to American holiday movies, making their journey both heartening and festive.

As flirtation turns into something more profound, the stakes rise with the question of whether they can overcome the obstacles between them—distance, past wounds, and uncertain futures. *Merry Weihnachten* is a story of love, healing, and finding family where you least expect it, making it the perfect read for anyone seeking holiday romance with a touch of cultural charm and emotional depth.

This is such a sweet and fun holiday romance! Evie and Annika have great chemistry, and their playful flirting made me smile the whole way through. I loved how they brought their different Christmas traditions together for their “Merry Weihnachten” celebration— ok, more Annika’s but still, it felt so festive and special. Their relationship grows naturally, mixing humour, sweet moments, and a spark that’s impossible to ignore.
Evie’s bond with her niece and her brother-in-law, who’s also her best friend, added so much heart to the story. It gave a real sense of family and showed how much Evie deserves love and connection. Watching her let Annika in while dealing with her own family issues made this story even more touching. It’s the perfect holiday read—romantic, heartfelt, and full of Christmas spirit!

There are only handful of authors I would read any book from them without reading the blurb, and Noyes is definitely one of them. Who am I kidding, at this point I would have read anything from her, regardless of whether it’s a detail instruction of a recipe or random rambling thoughts because I am sure she can make it interesting.

And she sure makes it interesting when she decided to mesh up Christmas between a Christmas grinch and Christmas enthusiastic, a Merry Weihnachten if you will (not Frohe Christmas because it just odd). I enjoyed the easy and flirtatious banter between two MC; the adorable interaction between Evie and her niece & brother-in-law (the introduction of swear jar was so hilarious), the activities and tradition they shared with each other during; as a non-American and non-German I would have no way to learn it otherwise so that’s interesting to me and of course the off-the-chart steamy scene when it happens.

I do have some issue with instant-love when they fall for each other within a month, but I always have issue with any instant-love, not any author’s problem. Regardless, it wasn’t a deal breaker to me and didn’t hinder any enjoyment from finishing this book.

This delightful Christmas story, set in Boston, had a surprising international flair to it. Annika Mayer came from Munich for one year as a lead app designer for her Company’s Boston office. When Evie Phillips spotted this new neighbor, even her 12 year old niece noticed the immediate chemistry between the two.

And so the slow burn began for the 30-something’s as the tension rose, waiting for the love to blossom! Flirtations were followed by some issues of angst, as well the hesitations and fears of not wanting to get involved with anyone….before things turned hot!

Evie and Annika decided to get cozy and have fun sharing both American and German Christmas traditions, “Mesh the merry,”or “Portmanteau.”It became an interesting cultural opportunity to learn exactly how structured the Germans were, from the proper way to shop for and decorate the tree, the wreath, the various rules for exchanging gifts and so much more. Whoever heard of a pickle ornament being important?!

I loved learning the German traditions and even the vocabulary words. I can’t pronounce them but they were a delight to read! The romance was hot and the atmosphere created in reading this was a charming way to get me in the mood for the holidays.

My thanks to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

German Ms Christmas meets US grinch
Shortly before Christmas Annika - the ultimate Ms Merry Christmas - comes from Munich to Boston to help out for a year with a major work project. She and her family are worried that she might miss out with the most important celebration on the horizon. But never underestimate Ms Christmas on a mission!
Enter Evie - Evangeline her neighbor on the same floor. There is instant attraction and mutual admiration of assets, ahem: a slow, slow dance starts sprinkled with chemistry and cuteness. For Evie Christmas is full of difficult memories but Ms Cuteness convinces her to mesh American and German Christmas traditions. There is a lot of cooking and baking going on! You can smell Christmassy goodness on nearly every page on the book. And expect yourself to try out some ideas for yourself!
I loved how Noyes weaves some more serious topics into this essentially feel good romance.

PS.: If you are German: don’t worry about the pickle in the tree. It is not a German tradition (never heard of it and google confirms). And BTW Germans who are fluent in English like Annika usually don‘t start every other sentence with „Ja“ which got a bit tedious.

I received an ARC via netgalley. The review is left voluntarily.

This was an enjoyable read about Evie and Annika getting to know each other and their respective Christmas traditions, US and German way, thus the working name Merry Weihnachten. Interesting to follow how it all plays out and they interact and fall in love.

It was a real slow burn but once they admit their feelings for each other it is really hot.

Ahhhh. This was the perfect read for me! A holiday romance, centered around American and German traditions. A nice slow burn with a LOT of tension. I really enjoyed learning the German Christmas traditions. Both characters are likable and I couldn’t have read this story at a better time. I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.