Scan barcode
natashaleighton_'s review
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A delightfully sexy and utterly Christmassy romance that lovers of Hallmark, spicy Rom-coms and cinnamon roll love interests are going to Devour!
Set in Christmas Notch, A Holly Jolly Ever After follows Winnie Baker, the squeaky clean Hope channel actress still recovering from the scandal of her public (and rather messy) divorce. And Pizza mogul/ former boyband member, Callum Lieberman, as they co-star in the Hope Channels’ new business venture: Hope After Dark. Which sees the pair co-starring in an all new, sexy Christmas movie called Santa, Baby.
Having loved A Merry Little Meet Cute soo much, I knew I needed to get my hands on a copy of its sequel/ companion novel as soon as physically possible—especially when I found out it would follow the pizza loving sweet heart,Callum. And, having done so (a massive thank you to Sofia for sending me a copy btw) I’m glad to report it’s just as sizzlingly swoon-worthy (and unputdownable) as its predecessor!
Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone’s unique styles of writing work so well together, and I love how seamlessly they blend humour and spice into such a heartfelt (yet chaotically sexy) read that I couldn’t help but emotionally invest in.
Continuing with the themes of double standards, sex and body positivity (first explored in book 1), Murphy and Simone also expertly delve into subjects, such as reputation, double standards, self worth and the harmful (media led) societal pressures that affect the way we see ourselves and our bodies. Which as a plus sized reader is something I really appreciated.
It was also really great to finally see some plus sized male rep which I feel is still something of a rarity in the genre (though if you have any recs do be sure to let me know.)
I loved our protagonists, who were both really well developed and full of soo much depth. And the romance was off the charts good! If you enjoy a well written and fabulously steamy romance then you’re gonna absolutely love Winnie and Callum’s on (and off set) interactions.
Winnie, having spent her entire life doing “the right thing” in an effort to keep a spotless reputation has found herself tarnished regardless, so exploring her shame around sex (due to her strict, faith based upbringing) and the role public perception plays in objectifying/policing women’s bodies was really interesting.
I was instantly endeared to her, and loved seeing just how much progress she made in unlearning soo many of the harmful perceptions she grew up with.
Callum, our MMC (and Winnie’s love interest) was also really adorable, cinnamon roll of a character, currently dealing with lifelong insecurities surrounding his weight and former career as the least popular, “fat” member of boyband INK. I really enjoyed getting to explore into a male POV surrounding the public perceptions and pressures that men in the public eye may also face.
His patience and support (of Winnie) was soo heartwarming and I loved how genuinely kind and patient he was in helping Winnie to unpack all that trauma. Plus, his corny pizza related puns added the perfect comic relief to the tenser, more emotionally charged scenes.
Overall, a sizzlingly satisfying, Santa-filled Rom com that’s bursting with festive sexiness (and pizza related puns) to offset the tenser, more emotionally charged scenes. I absolutely loved it! Just be sure to check TWs beforehand.
Also, a huge thank you to Sofia Saghir for the stunning finished copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Pregnancy
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Infidelity, and Vomit
lealovesbooks's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Infertility and Toxic relationship
Minor: Miscarriage
keikiqueen's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Still upset about the surprise trope but honestly love this series and was able to move past it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Minor: Miscarriage
etidorpha's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Please see my content warnings.
Winnie Baker is a childhood star of religiously bent television and movies. She married young and stayed in her marriage because that’s what was expected of her.
Kallum is the K of the INK boyband turned midwestern pizza mogul. What he’s most famous for in his 30s though? A Sex tape.
Passion is ignited when they get reacquainted on the set of Hope After Dark’s first film Santa, Baby. Winnie needs instruction in the more sensual aspects of her role and Kallum is all too happy to oblige.
This book was ultimately fun to read, though I felt a little hoodwinked by the big plot twist in the middle (see content warnings if you want more info). Winnie’s story of deconstruction and realizing her self worth was more than in being a pure and virtuous woman was one worth telling and was an enjoyable read.
I do wish that Winnie’s narcolepsy had been dealt with. She’s just falling asleep in bars and I don’t think she ever told Kallum - even though it explains several parts of their pre-Hope After Dark meetups.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥🔥🔥🔥
Winnie Baker is a childhood star of religiously bent television and movies. She married young and stayed in her marriage because that’s what was expected of her.
Kallum is the K of the INK boyband turned midwestern pizza mogul. What he’s most famous for in his 30s though? A Sex tape.
Passion is ignited when they get reacquainted on the set of Hope After Dark’s first film Santa, Baby. Winnie needs instruction in the more sensual aspects of her role and Kallum is all too happy to oblige.
This book was ultimately fun to read, though I felt a little hoodwinked by the big plot twist in the middle (see content warnings if you want more info). Winnie’s story of deconstruction and realizing her self worth was more than in being a pure and virtuous woman was one worth telling and was an enjoyable read.
I do wish that Winnie’s narcolepsy had been dealt with. She’s just falling asleep in bars and I don’t think she ever told Kallum - even though it explains several parts of their pre-Hope After Dark meetups.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥🔥🔥🔥
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Minor: Miscarriage and Religious bigotry
This book deals heavily with evangelical religious deconstruction.emmas_bookshelf's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Thank you so much to Avon for the copy of this book! I loved the first Christmas Notch book, A Merry Little Meet Cute, and was so excited to read this! Kallum is a former boy band member turned Kansas City pizza king. Winnie is a wholesome Hallmark actress who needs to rehab her image after getting divorced while also trying to shed the purity culture she grew up in and trying to figure out how to do things for herself. When they are cast in a steamy Santa movie, things heat up fast! I thought the first half of the book was great, and it was very steamy. Also, as a Topekan and wanna-be-Kansas Citian, I loved all the KC and Royals love in this book! 💙
🚨SPOILERS AHEAD🚨
🚨SPOILERS AHEAD🚨
🚨SPOILERS AHEAD🚨
🚨SPOILERS AHEAD🚨
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Moderate: Body shaming and Fatphobia
Minor: Miscarriage and Vomit
sarahsbookss's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
uranaishi's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Drug use, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
elyssathelibrarian's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
I had a hard time rating this one and an even harder time finishing it. I think this is the most let down I’ve felt overall a book in a long time. I loved A Merry Little Meet Cute and was so looking forward to another Christmas Notch book. I was very happy to receive an ARC and an ALC.
I liked how different Winnie is from Bee. I loved the body diversity with Kallum not being a traditional romance novel male MC. I enjoyed the dynamic between Winnie and Kallum. I loved returning to Christmas Notch but I like that AHJEA can be read as a standalone. The first half of the book was great. Every bit the ridiculous, cheesy, spicy romcom I expected.
Then halfway through they threw in a trope that I definitely don’t love and actively avoid because it stirs up some stuff in me. Had there been any indication that this trope would come up, I would not have read this book at all.
It became an entirely different book in the second half. I struggled to finish and I really should’ve just put it down. It did a massive disservice to the story, but especially to Winnie and her character’s growth and separation from purity culture. By the end, I couldn’t stand Winnie and Kallum wasn’t much better. Despite my being over it all by the end, the ending still felt a bit abrupt.
I’ll probably still read Isaac’s story if they write it, but I’ll definitely read reviews first.
I liked how different Winnie is from Bee. I loved the body diversity with Kallum not being a traditional romance novel male MC. I enjoyed the dynamic between Winnie and Kallum. I loved returning to Christmas Notch but I like that AHJEA can be read as a standalone. The first half of the book was great. Every bit the ridiculous, cheesy, spicy romcom I expected.
Then halfway through they threw in a trope that I definitely don’t love and actively avoid because it stirs up some stuff in me. Had there been any indication that this trope would come up, I would not have read this book at all.
It became an entirely different book in the second half. I struggled to finish and I really should’ve just put it down. It did a massive disservice to the story, but especially to Winnie and her character’s growth and separation from purity culture. By the end, I couldn’t stand Winnie and Kallum wasn’t much better. Despite my being over it all by the end, the ending still felt a bit abrupt.
I’ll probably still read Isaac’s story if they write it, but I’ll definitely read reviews first.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Miscarriage