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nicki_theoverflowingbookcase's review against another edition
5.0
A perfect combination of second chances and new beginnings. Coming home after a brutal divorce, Madison is left licking her wounds and feeling rejected and not wanted. So when working for her family's holiday train ride puts her face to face with an old flame those feelings are doubled. But Porter threw her away during HS because he was working through his own demons. Can the two start again? Or will the walls they have both placed around their hearts be too high to overcome? With emotional connections between the characters and a second-chance storyline fitting perfectly the holiday season this was a fantastic read.
mrsseizetheday's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
It was a nice read. The ending was too much for me personally, but I still enjoyed it.
rinasreadsnz's review against another edition
4.0
I loved Porter and Madison's story.
I really appreciated that it wasn't just another "cute Christmas story".
The characters both had baggage, individually and together.
From the heartbreaking beginning to the HEA, I was totally enchanted by this story.
Enemies to lovers, second chance romance, secret high school hookups, emotionally challenged characters.... there was a great balance between hurt and heart in this book.
Highly recommend.
I really appreciated that it wasn't just another "cute Christmas story".
The characters both had baggage, individually and together.
From the heartbreaking beginning to the HEA, I was totally enchanted by this story.
Enemies to lovers, second chance romance, secret high school hookups, emotionally challenged characters.... there was a great balance between hurt and heart in this book.
Highly recommend.
read_on_reader's review against another edition
5.0
What happens when you are going through one of the worst times of your life, living back home with your parents in a small town where the rumor mill thrives, and you run into the first guy that stole and shattered your heart? You get Madison enduring pain, embarrassment, and trying to stay strong only to get ripped apart by Porter. Porter and Madison had something in high school where she fell head over heels in love with Porter only for him to treat her as a dirty little secret so when he ends things she leaves for college broken only to fall for the next guy that swoops in to save the day. She ends up marrying that guy from college who not only changes her but turns her into a Step Ford wife only to turn around and end things. Moving home is embarrassing her and Porter is always tearing her down but having to work closely with him her feelings get muddled but she doesn’t want to cross that line again. Porter is a man that has had family issues since a child and he has always kept everyone at arm’s length pushing them away never getting close and he knew when he started feeling more for Madison in high school it was time to let her go, yet with her being back in town and them spending time together things are changing for him. As he tries to work on himself, his relationship between him and his mother he realizes that those feelings for Madison never went away but to get back in her good graces is an uphill battle and he has his work it cut out for him. This book was pure holiday perfection with angst, steam, and as these two characters are trying to figure out their next step in life they are slowly becoming more than enemies to lovers but will it last or do they have too much baggage for it to lead to more? If you want a book that will make you laugh, swoon, and feel the pain of each character with special Christmas magic thrown in this is perfect for you and I highly recommend it.
daisyknox's review against another edition
5.0
All reviews posted at Tales of Love, Life, and Murder
Madison’s humiliation is palpable as she details how her husband simply stopped loving her and the hometown gossips obsessed with the failure of her high-profile marriage, but that’s nothing compared to the way she describes her relationship with Porter Kelly. He’s not just the boy who broke her heart, he’s the boy who broke her heart repeatedly after she kept giving him another chance and now that she’s back, he’s the man who still treats her like garbage. Her body is a complete traitor, yearning for him even as she tries to loathe him for his extraordinary ability to hurt her.
Porter’s life has been rough and although that doesn’t excuse his behavior, it does explain it, if only he’d admit the truth. I love the way they way they spar because he has so much to apologize for yet he continually taunts her in the hopes of driving her away. He wants distance and she wants to forget him, but there’s no way to avoid each other when he’s working for her parents.
Their history is complicated and messy and painful but they’re drawn together in a way that won’t allow them to go their separate ways. I love Madison and Porter’s story because she’s so real, she could be any of us and Porter wants to be the man she deserves, even if he’s not sure he’s capable. Madison wants to see where this could go but she’s not about to let him off the hook for his past behavior so I love that she wasn’t some swooning pushover and also that he proved himself to be a better man than he was the first time she loved him.
He’s also a talented singer/songwriter and the detailed description of his acoustic performances will give you goosebumps. I could almost hear the music and in my mind, Porter’s sexy, smoky voice sounds very much like Jason Wade from Lifehouse. His version of You Belong To Me was my wedding song and it’s the absolute best version of a fantastic song so imagine my shock about ten years after we got married when I discovered he made that song for the Shrek soundtrack because seriously, for SHREK? But I digress . . .
Their story has a lot of heart but it’s also steamy and funny and fun to read. This is a book I’ll read again in the future, it’s that good. I received an ARC from Grey’s Promotions in exchange for an honest review.
carleysbooktalk's review against another edition
5.0
Madison and Porter's story is one that is relatable to so many. Madison is newly divorced and comes home. She is embarrassed and wants to fly under the radar. Only she stumbles into (literally) the one person she never wanted to see, Porter.
Porter is the bad boy, the guy who is so far away even when he is right in front of you. When Madison and Porter rehash high school memories it becomes heated.
This book made me laugh, cry, and feel so many other emotions after each chapter. Carrie's writing is captivating, real, and raw. She draws you in with the teasers and captures you with the writing. This is a MUST read for the holidays!
Porter is the bad boy, the guy who is so far away even when he is right in front of you. When Madison and Porter rehash high school memories it becomes heated.
This book made me laugh, cry, and feel so many other emotions after each chapter. Carrie's writing is captivating, real, and raw. She draws you in with the teasers and captures you with the writing. This is a MUST read for the holidays!
kristisam's review against another edition
4.0
Porter and Madison’s second chance love story was sweet and complicated. Watching them fight their chemistry while lashing out about their insecurities and baggage from the past made their struggles relatable and genuine. It proves that if you truly want something you have to be willing to put in the hard work to overcome even the most daunting obstacles.
bookish_kayy's review
4.0
All I want for Christmas
This was the last holiday romance that I knew I needed to find some time for before the end of the year, and I am so glad I did.
Porter and Madison gave us a serious second chance, enemies to lovers ride on the Polar Express and I really did enjoy every bit of it.
I aches for the broken boy inside of Porter and for the girl trying to find her place in the world.
Some Christmas magic, reconciliations abound, and a couple of new career paths.
CA does it again!
This was the last holiday romance that I knew I needed to find some time for before the end of the year, and I am so glad I did.
Porter and Madison gave us a serious second chance, enemies to lovers ride on the Polar Express and I really did enjoy every bit of it.
I aches for the broken boy inside of Porter and for the girl trying to find her place in the world.
Some Christmas magic, reconciliations abound, and a couple of new career paths.
CA does it again!
tawnyad2004's review
1.0
DNF 29% Trigger warning: emotional/verbal abuse
I started this because of all the rave reviews I’ve seen of it all over Instagram, tic Tok and good reads. I understand it is an enemies to lovers troupe. To me this was so much more cruel then enemies to lovers. With enemies it’s someone you don’t like (but maybe crush on in secret), or a rival you love to fight. This was a selfish, emotionally broken man who was a complete and utter ahole to a sweet, innocent, kind girl. I know we all love to love the bad boy but him…. I could not stand this man.
The biggest and probably only reason is because of how emotionally and verbally abusive he was to Madison. From the first sentence he said to her till I stopped reading the book he was the text book definition of emotionally abusive
“verbal aggression, intimidation, manipulation, and humiliation, which most often unfolds as a pattern of behavior over time that aims to diminish another person’s sense of identity, dignity and self worth”
How is this a man to emulate or even empathize with. I get that he’s emotionally “broken” and hurt but that is NOT a reason to treat others like this. If he took it out on her physically everyone would have been up in arms. Instead bc he takes it out on her verbally it’s ok? I want nothing to do with a character like this.
I started this because of all the rave reviews I’ve seen of it all over Instagram, tic Tok and good reads. I understand it is an enemies to lovers troupe. To me this was so much more cruel then enemies to lovers. With enemies it’s someone you don’t like (but maybe crush on in secret), or a rival you love to fight. This was a selfish, emotionally broken man who was a complete and utter ahole to a sweet, innocent, kind girl. I know we all love to love the bad boy but him…. I could not stand this man.
The biggest and probably only reason is because of how emotionally and verbally abusive he was to Madison. From the first sentence he said to her till I stopped reading the book he was the text book definition of emotionally abusive
“verbal aggression, intimidation, manipulation, and humiliation, which most often unfolds as a pattern of behavior over time that aims to diminish another person’s sense of identity, dignity and self worth”
How is this a man to emulate or even empathize with. I get that he’s emotionally “broken” and hurt but that is NOT a reason to treat others like this. If he took it out on her physically everyone would have been up in arms. Instead bc he takes it out on her verbally it’s ok? I want nothing to do with a character like this.