“Let me help,” I say as I come up behind her, wrap my arms around her body, and then together we pull. “Like this.”
Immediately I notice how her back fits perfectly against my chest.
How her head comes up to my chin.
And how her hair smells like fresh flowers.
Things I shouldn’t be noticing, but for the life of me, I can’t stop myself.
How My Neighbor Stole Christmas is a fun, quirky romance with a lot of spice.
Every Kringle in Kringletown celebrated Christmas a lot.
But Cole Black on Whistler Lane, unfortunately, did not.
As his fellow citizens decorate their quaint town, brimming with carols and glad tidings, Cole wants nothing more than to hibernate the winter away. But his dreary plans are thwarted when his Christmas nemesis, Storee Taylor, moves in next door to care for her Aunt Cindy. Immediately, the new neighbor turns his life into a real nightmare before Christmas, especially when she decides to enter the town Christmas Kringle contest in honor of Cindy. And better yet, Storee is determined to win.
Over Cole’s dead body, she will. With help from his friend Max, Cole decides to enter the competition as well, to beat Storee at her own game by pretending that this hometown grump’s heart has grown three sizes this season and he’s fallen for the girl next door. And unfortunately for Storee, she has to follow his lead to have a chance at the Christmas Kringle title.
But the competition isn’t the only thing that heats up. Cole and Storee’s fake relationship becomes very real, and before they know it, they’re attempting to hide it from Aunt Cindy. Things get complicated, the competition gets tough, and all it takes is one single night for someone to steal it all…
Ho, ho, ho. If a spicy Christmas romance is on your holiday wish list this year, then you need to pick up a copy of How My Neighbor Stole Christmas. I tend to avoid spicy holiday romances; they aren’t my thing, but this book has been all over bookstagram, so I was keen to see what all the hype was about. I enjoyed this book. It could be a bit shorter because it’s a beast of a book, coming in at 484 pages. But it is an easy read; you don’t have to overthink what you are reading, and you can just sit back and enjoy the ride. Meghan did a great job taking the Grinch Who Stole Christmas and putting her own unique modern twist on the classic book. You will enjoy this story if you like your rom-coms full of holiday shenanigans, quirky characters, and lusty rivalry. The story itself is entertaining, and I enjoyed the direction Meghan went. I thought I was going to be reading a typical grumpy sunshine romance, but that’s not what this is. Both Cole and Storee are both bah humbug-y in their own way. Cole hates Christmas because it reminds him of when his parents passed away, and Storee isn’t fond of Christmas anymore because she has cut herself off from the world. Watching these two grinches pretend to be full of the Christmas spirit and go all in to win the Christmas Kringle title was good fun.
What I like most about this book is the banter. It was goofy, funny, and just really light-hearted. I found myself soaking it all up. Cole and Max’s friendship was perfection. Meghan did a fabulous job at capturing the essence of the Grinch and Max’s relationship in the classic tale and transforming it into this ride-or-die, best friends-to-the-end friendship. I’m pretty sure I was chuckling every single time these two were on the page together. It really is the highlight of this book.
I liked Cole and Storee as MCs. Storee’s character can be a bit childish and whiny at times, but she does grow on you as the book progresses. Cole’s character has the greatest amount of depth and growth. The ghosts of Christmas past haunt him, and he knows that he is trapped in this cycle of grief that he cannot escape. Watching him find the motivation and courage to break that cycle was sweet and heartbreaking. He really opens up to Storee and shows her this vulnerable side that he is hidden from the world. I enjoyed those quiet moments between these two.
I know the cover and synopsis make this book seem like it’s a fun Hallmark romance, and it is, but the second half of this book heats up in a big way. You have got to like your romances spicy if you are going to enjoy this book. I like the relationship between Cole and Storee. I always enjoy a good story about enemies/rivalries to lovers, and when you throw in a competition of sorts, that’s even better. The banter between these two is fast and goofy. The chemistry is this great blend of sweetness and spice. There is this small portion of the book (roughly around the middle) where there is a series of quiet moments between Cole and Storee where you see these two really reconnect. It was great watching them rekindle that friendship that was lost all those years ago. I know many bookworms are not fans of a third-act breakup, but the one in this book was really well done. It’s going to tug at those heart strings, have you believing in HEA, and Storee’s grand gesture was perfection.
How My Neighbor Stole Christmas is a goofy, banter-y romance that will warm your heart this Christmas.
