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The Thanksgiving Hookup

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New York Times bestselling author J. Sterling brings you an enemies-to-lovers, forced-proximity romance that you’re going to adore.

Spending Thanksgiving trapped in a hotel with a man I can’t stand, really isn’t my idea of a good time, but that’s what’s happening anyway.

I’ve hated River Santos since I first started working for the airline. I was warned to stay away from him by more than one flight attendant, my best friend included. River was your typical pilot: cocky, arrogant, and left a trail of broken hearts in his wake.

At least that’s what I’d always been told. And so far, he’d done nothing to dissuade my negative opinions of him.

But one unprecedented snowstorm later and I find myself spending time with a guy I thought I knew, but didn’t really know at all. I don’t want to like him, but he’s making it difficult. And we have more in common than I ever thought possible.

What happens when you stop hating your enemy and start wanting him instead?

3 pages, Audible Audio

Published November 1, 2023

37 people are currently reading
998 people want to read

About the author

J. Sterling

57 books6,178 followers
J. (jenn) Sterling is a New York Times and USA Today best selling author of multiple contemporary romances. She lives in California with her only son, Blake. If you can't find her sitting behind a computer screen writing new stories, then there's a good chance she's sitting in the bleachers of a baseball stadium watching him play.

Jenn enjoys traveling to new places, meeting her readers and spending time with the love of her life, the one & only, Jack F'n Carter! Oh yeah, it's true. <3

Stay in touch with Jenn here:
Newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/619557...
Website: http://www.jsterlingbooks.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJSterling
Instagram & TikTok: @AuthorJSterling

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5 stars
162 (17%)
4 stars
311 (33%)
3 stars
353 (38%)
2 stars
82 (8%)
1 star
14 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
Profile Image for Tcozybookcorner.
586 reviews79 followers
November 27, 2025
3.5⭐️ {AUDIO}
This was the perfect novella listen for a turkey trot on Thanksgiving morning. Fit&Lit!! Little love, little comedy, little spice—it was cute and helped log the miles!!
Profile Image for Whit.
3,639 reviews51 followers
November 26, 2024
A short and sassy journey between airline pilot, River and flight attendant, Skye.

Unfortunately, Skye wasted a lot of valuable time hating and being really rude, to River, based on a rumor/lie told by Stacy, Skye's best friend. In addition, poor River doesn't have a clue why Skye hates him so much. And it really bothers him.

Nevertheless, when the truth is finally revealed, it is mind-blowing, and I wanted to smack everybody involved! No one deserves to have their reputation stomped on like that!!!
Profile Image for Kremena Koleva.
390 reviews94 followers
November 12, 2023
" Беше наистина просветляващо какво може да се случи в умовете на хората, когато премахнете комуникацията. "
" Когато растеш с някой, който лъже много, тръгваш по един от двата начина. Ти или приемаш това поведение, защото е познато. Или го презираш толкова много, че ставате пълната му противоположност."
Profile Image for Brittany Harville.
118 reviews9 followers
November 25, 2024
Such a cute short holiday read. Enemies to lovers with funny banter and cute chemistry between the MMC and FMC ❤️
Profile Image for Lady Lex.
125 reviews1 follower
November 16, 2023
To Ocean and Star ❤️

Це було весело й затишно. Але є проблема - як тепер розлюбити Рівера? Привабливий пілот без вітру в голові, котрий, стикнувшись з проблемами, не впадає в істерику і не вдягає корону короля драми, а реально розбирається у всьому... Не чоловік, а мрія!)
Profile Image for Amanda Hopwood.
323 reviews24 followers
November 22, 2024
It was ok, quick little holiday romance book . Great for a palette cleanser between heavier books
Profile Image for Liz.
2,106 reviews15 followers
October 28, 2023
Another novella in the Fun for the Holidays series from J Sterling and The Thanksgiving Hookup finds enemies, River, a pilot and flight attendant Skye reluctantly trapped together in a hotel when a snowstorm grounds their aircraft over Thanksgiving. Skye has been labouring under the misapprehension that River is some king of ‘love em and leave em’ playboy who did the dirty on her friend while River counters Skye’s attitude with one of his own, matching her jab for jab even though has no idea why she’s so aggressive towards him and secretly he kinda really likes her.

This was another quick and easy, fun read. With fantastic characters in River and Skye with some amusing banter and sizzling chemistry between them. Skye was perhaps a bit judgemental for not giving River a chance to explain what had happened earlier, but River made for a perfect book boyfriend, tall, dark and handsome and surprisingly sweet.
Profile Image for Jupiter.
488 reviews
December 15, 2023
Fue tan lindo esta historia, los protagonistas se "odian" y todo por chismes, afortunadamente una tormenta invernal permite que convivan más.
Aún cuando son cortos los capítulos, me pareció que hubo un buen desarrollo de la relación entre los protagonistas, la recomiendo.





🍂📚🍁
This story was so cute, the protagonists "hate" each other and all because of gossip, fortunately a winter storm allows them to live together more.
Even though the chapters are short, it seemed to me that there was a good development of the relationship between the protagonists, I recommend it.
Profile Image for Shawna Baker.
422 reviews34 followers
November 17, 2025
What happens when your enemy becomes your everything?
This was a very quick and filthy novella set during the Thanksgiving holiday. There was a lot of being mean and a lot of hate all because of a rumor that was never true, and a snow storm that grounds airplanes… all leading to funny banter and cute and oh so hot chemistry between a pilot and a flight attendant.
Profile Image for Brooklyn Lowe.
448 reviews12 followers
November 5, 2023
All of the good things:
He falls first
Enemies to Lovers
Witty-banter
Possessive
Forced proximity

This was such a cute read. Pilot and flight attendant get stuck being next door neighbors at the motel. They’re stuck mingling with other coworkers. Drinks and secrets shared.
Profile Image for Morgan Farani  Farani.
90 reviews4 followers
November 20, 2024
It was very boring at first but then I became invested in river and it started getting more interesting. I loved the pilot vibes
103 reviews2 followers
November 27, 2024
An entertaining cute read!
Perfect for this week honestly. I'm getting closer to hitting my reading goal and getting in the holiday spirit!
Profile Image for Jessica.
127 reviews5 followers
November 29, 2024
Sweet predictable romcom! I love these quick reads for the holidays!
Profile Image for Connie Johnson.
486 reviews3 followers
December 1, 2025
Pretty standard holiday romance which is exactly what I wanted. Weather strands flight crew in a hotel and the two enemies confess their attraction and love. Bring on the Christmas reads!
Profile Image for Ginger_BrownieReads “Michelle aka Chely”.
353 reviews12 followers
November 4, 2024
These novellas have been everything.
Super fun reads. This one involves a hot pilot, River, with a bad rap and the flight attendant, Skye, who's sworn loyalty to a fellow co-worker and has vowed to never fall for River.
That is until they are stuck in adjoining rooms during a snow storm.
the banter is great in this one!
I love a sassy FMC and this delivered.
Profile Image for Anastasia.
403 reviews
October 27, 2023
And another amazing Fun for the Holidays Series read by J. Sterling. These books are all standalone and a quick read but have everything you need in them. I’m obsessed with them but a little sad this one is the last one. But if you have not read any of them, go get it now. River and Sky’s story is one of my favorite.

Sky has been told from her friend and co-workers to stay away from River. He is a playboy with not heart. But as soon as she laid eyes on him, it was over. He was the most gorgeous man she had ever laid eyes on but she needed to stay away. So she would do anything she could to stay away and hate him.

River has always wanted Sky. From the moment he laid eye on her it was over for him. For 3 years he has always wondered if it was just him feeling this way or did she feel it too? But the way she avoided him and her sassy mouth toward him made him think it was one-sided. Well that was until one night the truth came out on why Sky was running away from him.

He would do anything to make it right. He needed her more than he needed his last breathe. He needed to tell her the truth, but would she believe him? Would she see that all she had heard and was told was a lie about him? They missed 3 years because of it and he wasn’t missing another day.

Received this ARC for my honest review and opinion.
Profile Image for Bene_reads_books.
388 reviews74 followers
November 1, 2023
That's the 1st book I read from that author and I was very happy to read it.
Why ? Because that book contains some of the best enemies-to-lovers banter I have ever read. It was so funny I almost didn't want it to end in a HEA !
So this is a pretty special enemies-to- lovers story and I very much recommand it.
Profile Image for Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog).
5,875 reviews212 followers
November 1, 2023


Universal

River's not sure what he did or why his coworker Sky hates him so much, but he feels the opposite for her. He's been intensely attracted to her since he first lay eyes on her, he loves sparring with her, and now he's about to get his chance with her thanks to a little storm. He hopes he can figure out why the dislike, and how he can change it because he wants forever with her this Thanksgiving.



Sky was warned years ago by her friend and fellow flight attendant, that River was a player. So Sky has done her level best to avoid him. When she can't avoid him, she spews all kinds of sass, which actually seems to amuse him and egg him on. What she can't (won't) admit to River is that she's as attracted to him as he is to her. She just refuses to give into a guy she knows will break her heart. Until a storm gives them the chance to get to know their true selves, and now she's stuck in a dilemma, caught between her feelings for River, and her loyalty to her friend. Will they have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, or be left out in the storm?



This is a sweet, low angst holiday story. River and Sky are adorable, both together and individually. A little snowstorm, intense attraction, and two excellent characters - I'm definitely impatient for my own Thanksgiving love now.



ARC provided by Wordsmith Publicity for an honest review.

Review / Release Blitz: Live Through Books Blog.

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Profile Image for FG (Lectoradepantalla).
329 reviews22 followers
November 16, 2024
¡4.5 ESTRELLAS!
¡Qué buen libro para empezar la temporada!


“-You’ll never get to have me.
He gave me a wink before adding.
-So you keep saying.
-At least I’m consistent.
-No, Sky. You’re a challenge.”


Sky y River se odian, el tema de tener que trabajar juntos puedan soportarlo, total es poco lo que tienen que interactuar. Cuando, por culpa de una tormenta de nieve, deben quedarse juntos en un hotel, no parece que vaya a salir nada bueno de esto. ¿O sí?

description

Me encantó la novela de este mes, la verdad que desde que leí la sinopsis moria por empezarla. Los clichés de enemies-to-lovers junto con el de proximidad forzada me fascinaron, y siento que la autora supo implementarlos perfectamente sin que se viera exagerado o aburriera.

“You see, there were no guarantees when it came to love. If you thought about it, most of the time, relationships didn’t work out. They ended. Sometimes badly. But we always moved on, in search of the next person to give our heart to.”


Además, me he reído muchísimo, toda la lectura no solo disfrute leer el POV de ambos protagonistas, sino disfrutar por completo las puntas que se echaban, y las bromas de los personajes secundarios también. De verdad, amé este libro.

P.D.: ese final… ¡Necesito más!
Queremos a Ocean y a Star.
Profile Image for Clara Martinez Turco.
769 reviews
October 31, 2023
I have to admit these Fun For the Holidays novellas are sweet, cozy, and steamy. They are perfect for the holidays, and I can only praise J. Sterling for committing to them for a whole year. It's a bit bittersweet that The Thanksgiving Hookup is the last one!

Sky loves being a flight attendant, except when she has to deal with River Santos, the cocky pilot who broke her friend's heart. He might be tall and gorgeous, but she hates players, and he has "Playboy" written all over him. Sky has one more flight before she can go home for Thanksgiving, and she is in a great mood. Until she sees River is the pilot for her last assignment.

River has no clue what he did to make Sky hate him. He has always been attracted to her. However, he can't stop the witty remarks and quick comebacks when he is around her. They bicker every time they fly together, and this time is no exception. An incoming snowstorm and low visibility will force them to be snowed in the same hotel and with adjourning rooms.

Add in a late-night dinner with the crew, and it's evident the attraction is not one-sided. And maybe things are not what they seem. Will River finally figure out why Sky hates him? Has Sky gotten it wrong?

Their story is fun and sweet. Now, if I could only get a bonus scene... you know, after that epilogue, I would be a very happy reader.
Profile Image for lowkeyreader.
5,552 reviews53 followers
November 4, 2023
The Thanksgiving Hookup by J. Sterling is a romance novel that tells the story of River and Sky, who are stuck in a snowstorm in a hotel. The novel is an enemies-to-lovers, forced-proximity romance that takes place during Thanksgiving.

What I liked:

- The chemistry between River and Sky was electric. Their banter and interactions were entertaining and kept me engaged throughout the book.

- The setting of the book was perfect for a cozy, holiday read. The snowstorm and the hotel added to the romantic atmosphere of the story.

- The writing style was easy to read and flowed well. The pacing of the story was just right, and the plot was well-developed.

What could have been better:

- While I enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers trope, I felt that the conflict between River and Sky was resolved a bit too quickly. I would have liked to see more tension and buildup before they got together.

- Some of the secondary characters felt underdeveloped and could have been fleshed out more.

Overall, The Thanksgiving Hookup is a fun and enjoyable read that is perfect for the holiday season. The chemistry between the main characters is undeniable, and the setting adds to the cozy atmosphere of the story. While the conflict could have been developed more, the book is still a great choice for fans of romance novels.
Profile Image for Jennifer Leigh (jenjenbookfan).
1,398 reviews30 followers
October 25, 2023
The Thanksgiving Hookup is a fun enemies to lovers novella releasing as part of the Fun for the Holidays series by J. Sterling. Sky, a flight attendant, had been warned away from River by a friend. She assumed he was a playboy pilot like so many of the others, so she worked hard to ignore the attraction she felt for him, and threw him attitude every time they were near each other. When a massive snowstorm grounds them in a hotel together, and truths come to light, Sky finds herself liking him more and more. Do they have a chance for a real connection?

This was such a fun read!! I loved the feisty banter at the start, the obvious chemistry that Sky was trying to ignore, the lack of angst, and how sweet and swoon worthy River really was! Novellas can be so hard to get just right, because they are so short, but this author has nailed this format again and again in this series! I always love the great characters, well-rounded story, and yes, the epilogue, that made my heart so happy with this one! Give this book and the others in the series a chance!!

I received an advanced review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#TheThanksgivingHookup #JSterling #FunfortheHolidays #enemiestolovers #ForcedProximity #WorkplaceRomance #SnowedInRomance #sweetromance #ContemporaryRomance #bookish #readersofinstagram #readersofig #bookworm #bookrecommendation #bookreview #arcreviews #arcreader #ARCreview
Profile Image for Books, Booze & Bon Voyage (Krista Webster) .
1,097 reviews32 followers
November 1, 2023
All the Fun For The Holidays books are standalone romance stories with holiday based themes and this last one is about being snowed in for Thanksgiving. It is an enemies to lovers with forced proximity tale about Sky Callahan and River Santos.

Sky is a flight attendant who was warned about a pilot when she joined the airline. Captain Santos had a reputation for being a heart breaker. Unfortunately she thought he was gorgeous but wouldn’t cross the line with him.

River had good reasons for being how he was and never dispelled any of the rumours about his lifestyle as he knew the truth. He found Sky stunning but had no idea why she acted like she despised him as he’d done nothing to deserve her attitude towards him.

They constantly bicker but both secretly enjoyed the banter. After the flight they get stuck in a hotel due a snowstorm. The evening turns out to be eventful with the rest of the flight crew. Then the other flight attendant calls the pair out for their behaviour towards each other. They all know they are hiding their feelings by pretending to hate each other.

River is determined to find out the reason why and Sky starts to see another side to him. Will she let him defend himself and what will happen once the truth is revealed? Can she risk being with him if they finally give into their feelings?

This quick read has fun characters to complement the main couple and a sweet romantic epilogue for their HEA.
Profile Image for Steph.
159 reviews7 followers
December 12, 2023
I'm pretty sure my review got deleted because I had it written from before. Anyways, here it is again.

📖 Book: The Thanksgiving Hookup
✍️ Author: J. Sterling
✨ Rating: 4 ⭐️
🌶️ Spice: 3 🥵

Sky and River… let me tell you, the cheesy names… GIVE THEM TO ME NOW! 😂😂 I just loved it. So this novella is centered around the relationship between Sky and River, a flight attendant and a pilot respectively, who dislike each other. Sky dislikes River because of the gossip she’s heard and River dislikes Sky because she dislikes him. Does it make sense? 😂

I just couldn’t help but to laugh with this one. It was so funny. The tension between River and Sky was so damn good. The close proximity. Gosh that door was mocking them. Hahaha. I love how possessive River was of Sky. It wasn’t like crazy level but it was definitely something I enjoyed.

If you love dislike to lovers (because hate is really strong for this relationship), airline coworkers, forced proximity, snowed in, holiday vibes. This one’s for you.
42 reviews3 followers
November 6, 2023
Spending Thanksgiving trapped in a hotel with a man I can’t stand, really isn’t my idea of a good time, but that’s what’s happening anyway.

I’ve hated River Santos since I first started working for the airline. I was warned to stay away from him by more than one flight attendant, my best friend included. River was your typical pilot: cocky, arrogant, and left a trail of broken hearts in his wake.

At least that’s what I’d always been told. And so far, he’d done nothing to dissuade my negative opinions of him.

But one unprecedented snowstorm later and I find myself spending time with a guy I thought I knew, but didn’t really know at all. I don’t want to like him, but he’s making it difficult. And we have more in common than I ever thought possible.

What happens when you stop hating your enemy and start wanting him instead?

Enemies to lovers and forced proximity usually make for excellent banter and fantastic chemistry! This one was no different! I loved it!!
Profile Image for Emily Johnston (Booked.Up.With.Emily).
1,574 reviews114 followers
October 23, 2023
4.25 ⭐️

Super quick and adorable read! This series of novellas is finally complete and J. Sterling went out with a bang with this one. Things to look for:

Enemies to lovers ✔️
Snowed in ✔️
Workplace romance ✔️
So sweet ✔️

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
Spice level: 🌶️
Angst level: no angst

River and Sky have never gotten along. Sky was told by one of her good friends how River was an awful playboy and Sky took that to heart and has always held a grudge. However, we come to find out that everything she was told has been based on a miscommunication.

So when River and Sky are snowed in over Thanksgiving, they see each other in a whole new light and it’s so flipping sweet!

These two were so cute and I want so much more of them!

This whole series is full of adorable novellas and you will not be sorry when you start them!
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