"To be brave and lay down their defenses. That's when they see each other clearly. And they fall madly in love."
Release Date: December 1, 2021
Genre: Contemporary romance, Christmas romance, fiction
Rating:
Summary:
He loathes the holidays. She loves them. She's full of festive cheer. He's brimming with Bah, Humbugs. Besides unreasonably seasonable names, the only thing Jonathan Frost and Gabriella Di Natale have in common is a healthy dose of mutual contempt. Well, that and the same place of employment at the city's most beloved independent bookstore, Bailey's Bookshop. But when the store's owners confess its dire financial state, Jonathan and Gabby discover another unfortunate commonality: the imminent threat of unemployment.
With the Baileys' requests to minimize the expenses, win new customers, and make record sales dancing in their heads, Jonathan and Gabby conclude - barring a financial Christmas miracle - one of them will soon be cut from the payroll. Neither are willing to step down from their position, so they strike a bargain: whoever has more sales in December gets to stay on in the new year; loser will resign. With a lifetime's worth of festive tricks up her sleeve, Gabby should easily outsell her nemesis, except the unreadable Mr. Frost's every move seems purely designed to throw her off her game.
As if that wasn't bad enough, Gabby's deceptive ex won't quit pursuing her, and her anonymous online friend suggests they take a break. Worst of all, as the pressure mounts to save the bookshop and her job, Gabby meets a new, tender side of Jonathan. Is this the same man she's called her cold-hearted enemy?
Maybe he's got a motive she just can't figure out - or maybe Jonathan Frost isn't as chilly as she once thought. Maybe Jonathan and Gabby already know - and love - each other in ways they never thought possible.
Review:
✅ Autistic representation
✅ LGBTQIA+ representation
✅ Holiday romance
✅ Grumpy x sunshine
✅ Enemies to lovers
✅ Forced proximity
✅ Workplace romance
This book started off my holiday romances for December. It was a super cute and quick read! The festive elements throughout the book were an absolute gift. The author paired a different holiday song with each chapter. I *ABSOLUTELY ADORE* when there is a playlist for a book. It is similar to the score for a movie; it really sets the tone for what you're reading to allow better connection and absorption.
There were many references and conversations in relation to Pride & Prejudice which I absolutely loved. I am always a sucker for a book with Pride & Prejudice parallels or if the book/move is referenced. I also love that the setting of this book was in a bookstore. ALWAYS a sucker for a book with a backdrop of a bookstore or library. I love reading about book lover such as myself. Instant bonding and connection.
There was quite a hefty dose of spice at the end of the book. While this was a very cute, wholesome story but there was also that perfect addition of sexiness toward the end. Well-deserved after the slow burn. "It's like a reward."
I really loved all the characters, their quirks, and their interactions with each other. I appreciated the LGBTQIA+ and autism representation. I felt that most of the book was very slow to develop then the ending happened in 10x speed. It all moved so quickly. I do think the pacing could have been better but overall think this was a good book!
Quotes:
"Here's the thing about reading romance: it's taught me an appreciation for a good grovel, but it's also taught me to recognize a toxic character when I see one."
"To be brave and lay down their defenses. That's when they see each other clearly. And they fall madly in love."
"Just because you're loving them differently than they love doesn't make it any less loving. My mom says there are countless kinds of love, and love enough for everyone. That love is an infinite resource whose expressions are just as innumerable."
"Two people, who couldn't have hated each other more at the outset while battling inconvenient desire, ultimately choose humility and forgiveness."
"That ends up really working for them. It's the heartbeat of their connection, being drawn to each other's differences, stretching themselves to narrow that distance between each other without losing themselves. They...grow. Together. And more deeply into their true selves."
"Your capacity for joy," he says quietly. "It's...humbling."
"No, Gabriella. I don't think it's silly or odd or strange or juvenile to hold on with both hands to the best parts of who we are when we're young and not let life take that from you. I think it's brave and badass and infuriatingly impossible not to admire you for it."
"I know I don't get it, in the sense that I don't have diabetes, but...maybe I understand it a little, living with something persistent and beyond your control. You can't take it off or walk away from it or lay it down for awhile. And even when you've become accustomed to its reality, when it's not really bad or good, it just...is, sometimes it's hard when you're with others. When you feel that sense of difference and distance from them as you deal with the part of yourself that they don't understand, that you have to think about in social situations and in your daily life in ways they don't."
