sarahrose126'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
vanessa_n's review against another edition
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
2.5
sikonat's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
What happens if one day you wake up hungover only to discover you're married to someone you've crushed on for over a decade?
The Mistletoe Pact by Jo Lovett follows the journey (with time jumps into the past), charting Evie and Dan's mutal crush, then back to present day as they try and fight their feelings post-nuptials.
Eight years previously Evie and her best friend's older brother Dan made a Christmas pact under the mistletoe tree to get married if they were both single when Evie was 30. Its not until they party in Las Vegas that they realise what they've done and vow to annul the marriage and go back to normal.
Told in a dual POV, the story jumps between the intervening eight years and present day, charting the course of Evie and Dan's growing, but unsaid crush on each other. I liked the use of going between Evie and Dan as something different.
However, while I really liked the premise of the book there are a few things that didn't work for me hence my rating.
At times I felt this story dragged. I think there were sometimes too many extra story lines in the way of what we know will be the inevitable conclusion.
But the bit that made me take off half a star (and round to 2 stars as the official rating vs my normal 3 stars but write 2.5 stars) - is the addition of an extra complication from Dan's recent past into the plotline. I absolutely detest this trope, and this was something used similarly in Zara Stoneley's The Hot Desk (please UK writers, strop using this trope thats more akin to the more poorly written American romance novels which love that sort of trope). It did nothing to serve the story and I always find it a lazy way to keep the would be lovers apart just a bit more.
Overall this is a lovely slow-burn Christmas rom com, but it could've been better if it removed the above extra plot point and tightened up just a bit better.
Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley.
What happens if one day you wake up hungover only to discover you're married to someone you've crushed on for over a decade?
The Mistletoe Pact by Jo Lovett follows the journey (with time jumps into the past), charting Evie and Dan's mutal crush, then back to present day as they try and fight their feelings post-nuptials.
Eight years previously Evie and her best friend's older brother Dan made a Christmas pact under the mistletoe tree to get married if they were both single when Evie was 30. Its not until they party in Las Vegas that they realise what they've done and vow to annul the marriage and go back to normal.
Told in a dual POV, the story jumps between the intervening eight years and present day, charting the course of Evie and Dan's growing, but unsaid crush on each other. I liked the use of going between Evie and Dan as something different.
However, while I really liked the premise of the book there are a few things that didn't work for me hence my rating.
At times I felt this story dragged. I think there were sometimes too many extra story lines in the way of what we know will be the inevitable conclusion.
But the bit that made me take off half a star (and round to 2 stars as the official rating vs my normal 3 stars but write 2.5 stars) - is the addition of an extra complication from Dan's recent past into the plotline. I absolutely detest this trope, and this was something used similarly in Zara Stoneley's The Hot Desk (please UK writers, strop using this trope thats more akin to the more poorly written American romance novels which love that sort of trope). It did nothing to serve the story and I always find it a lazy way to keep the would be lovers apart just a bit more.
Overall this is a lovely slow-burn Christmas rom com, but it could've been better if it removed the above extra plot point and tightened up just a bit better.
Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley.
knmed's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
This book is one of those that probably been better as a movie. The back and forth timeline got more and more muddled as the book went on. And the inevitable ending just felt very lackluster. It was cute and funny for the most part. Very reminiscent of a mid 2000s rom com which was nostalgic. But the ending just didn’t deliver for me
taliwa's review against another edition
For a Christmas book, this didn't feel very christmas-y.
I also don't like that he finds out another woman is pregnant with his child before the main couple is even able to start their romance.
thereadingcat15's review against another edition
2.0
I gave this book 2 out of 5 stars. I was feeling generous. This is an easy read and despite some minor things I hate, the story is overall entertaining. At least it didn't make me cringe. If you want something easy to read, give this one a try. Don't expect too much holiday stuff though.
Here is the link to my full book review:
https://thecatwithabook.wordpress.com/2021/10/02/book-review-the-mistletoe-pact/
Here is the link to my full book review:
https://thecatwithabook.wordpress.com/2021/10/02/book-review-the-mistletoe-pact/
eirastella's review against another edition
1.0
Absolut waste of time. Don’t read this. If you’re looking for a holiday read, please read another book because this is absolute rubbish.
The writing is horrendous.
The writing is horrendous.
quolwy's review against another edition
2.0
2.5*
I feel bad, the last few books I've read for review haven't really worked for me, and unfortunately neither has this one.
We follow Dan and Evie, best friends who accidentally got married while drunk in Vegas right before the story kicks off. We meet them the morning after, and while all sorts of awkward hilarious shenanigans should ensue, instead we don't really get much.
And that's kind of my general review for this story, it isn't giving much. I never became emotionally invested in any of it. Possibly because we didn't get to open with the actual wedding, which would have been amazing had we started the novel off thinking they were madly in love and it was great, only to be thrown an immediate curve ball and find out it was only because they were drunk in Vegas. But that is besides the point. The point is, I didn't care about what happened. At no point was I drawn in routing for one thing to happen, or another. I didn't care who ended up with who or what obstacles got in the way, because something was missing from the writing that gave the book emotional stakes.
I dunno, maybe I'm wrong, but it felt like everyone in ththe book was boring, which led to more disinterest while reading it.
Hopefully nobody else agrees with me and I'm just picky! Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for offering me a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I feel bad, the last few books I've read for review haven't really worked for me, and unfortunately neither has this one.
We follow Dan and Evie, best friends who accidentally got married while drunk in Vegas right before the story kicks off. We meet them the morning after, and while all sorts of awkward hilarious shenanigans should ensue, instead we don't really get much.
And that's kind of my general review for this story, it isn't giving much. I never became emotionally invested in any of it. Possibly because we didn't get to open with the actual wedding, which would have been amazing had we started the novel off thinking they were madly in love and it was great, only to be thrown an immediate curve ball and find out it was only because they were drunk in Vegas. But that is besides the point. The point is, I didn't care about what happened. At no point was I drawn in routing for one thing to happen, or another. I didn't care who ended up with who or what obstacles got in the way, because something was missing from the writing that gave the book emotional stakes.
I dunno, maybe I'm wrong, but it felt like everyone in ththe book was boring, which led to more disinterest while reading it.
Hopefully nobody else agrees with me and I'm just picky! Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for offering me a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.