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Holly Ever After
Back in her hometown of Pine Falls after a heart-wrenching breakup, romance writer Holly is stuck with writer's block and a cottage that reflects everything in her life... crumbling to the ground. To make matters worse, her brother's irritating best friend, Sean, is helping with the renovations.
She's despised him since childhood, but now she hates the way he hammers nails like something straight from a cologne commercial, those smug smirks, and the winks that make her heart race... just a little. And wait... is he... flirting with her?
When he starts looking at her in a way that's more 'unwrap me' than 'I despise you', lines are crossed, boundaries are blurred, and nothing will ever be the same.
But how can she trust her heart to a man she's sure is going to break it?
Throw in her crazy family, a surprisingly sexy Santa costume, a record breaking blizzard, and she's got herself a Christmas to remember.
She's despised him since childhood, but now she hates the way he hammers nails like something straight from a cologne commercial, those smug smirks, and the winks that make her heart race... just a little. And wait... is he... flirting with her?
When he starts looking at her in a way that's more 'unwrap me' than 'I despise you', lines are crossed, boundaries are blurred, and nothing will ever be the same.
But how can she trust her heart to a man she's sure is going to break it?
Throw in her crazy family, a surprisingly sexy Santa costume, a record breaking blizzard, and she's got herself a Christmas to remember.
259 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 2, 2023
66 people are currently reading
706 people want to read
About the author
Laura Ashley Gallagher
10 books213 followersLaura Ashley was born and raised in Ireland, where she spent a large part of her childhood and teenage years studying music. Drawn to people’s stories and a lifelong storyteller, she went on to study journalism. Laura Ashley specializes in crafting stories with heaps of romance and maybe even a few tears. When she is not writing, she is spending time and having fun with her husband and young son.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
October 26, 2023
✨ARC Review✨
It may be only October 26th but it’s never too early to start a Christmassy romance, am I right???🎄
This is my first book by this author and it most certainly won’t be my last🫶🏼
This book follows Holly Winters who is a published author, that moves back home after her fiancé cheated on her with not one but multiple women, yes he is absolute scum. Holly must renovate her new living space and everyone encourages her to reach out to the local carpenter Sean.. but there’s one problem he may be her brothers best friend but also the man she cannot stand👀.
I adored both Holly and Sean and the side characters kept the story very interesting causing a bit of chaos between the MC’s. The banter back and forth between Holly and Sean made me giggle several times throughout the book and this added to the ever growing tension between both MC’s.
This is most certainly the perfect book to get you in the mood for the Christmas season so I would highly recommend to add this book to your tbr based on the tropes alone👏🏼
Tropes:
- Enemies to Lovers
- Brothers Best Friend
- Christmas Romance
- Small Town Romance
- He falls first
Thank you to Laura for providing this e-arc for my honest thoughts✨
It may be only October 26th but it’s never too early to start a Christmassy romance, am I right???🎄
This is my first book by this author and it most certainly won’t be my last🫶🏼
This book follows Holly Winters who is a published author, that moves back home after her fiancé cheated on her with not one but multiple women, yes he is absolute scum. Holly must renovate her new living space and everyone encourages her to reach out to the local carpenter Sean.. but there’s one problem he may be her brothers best friend but also the man she cannot stand👀.
I adored both Holly and Sean and the side characters kept the story very interesting causing a bit of chaos between the MC’s. The banter back and forth between Holly and Sean made me giggle several times throughout the book and this added to the ever growing tension between both MC’s.
This is most certainly the perfect book to get you in the mood for the Christmas season so I would highly recommend to add this book to your tbr based on the tropes alone👏🏼
Tropes:
- Enemies to Lovers
- Brothers Best Friend
- Christmas Romance
- Small Town Romance
- He falls first
Thank you to Laura for providing this e-arc for my honest thoughts✨
December 24, 2023
DNF @ 35%
Not only were there multiple storyline and spelling mistakes, but the MMC really sucked and felt a bit misogynistic. And the story was too all over the place for me to like the MFC.
Not only were there multiple storyline and spelling mistakes, but the MMC really sucked and felt a bit misogynistic. And the story was too all over the place for me to like the MFC.
October 23, 2023
My very first ARC Read!!! Wow, I could hardly put it down. It was so hilarious from the very beginning and Holly is incredibly relatable. Right off the bat, I was so excited to get through this book- plus, CHRISTMAS! Dual POV (chef’s kiss), brother’s best friend, snowed in, nemesis to lovers, etc… I loved it all. Holly and Sean had such a fun chemistry with all of their bickering and challenging. The different interactions they had with one another and also others was so interesting. And the spice? WHEW😮💨
Anyway, I wish that I could read this like new all over again. I’m so grateful that I got the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this one❤️🎄
Anyway, I wish that I could read this like new all over again. I’m so grateful that I got the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this one❤️🎄
October 30, 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
What better way to start off the holiday season than with a cute and spicy romcom?
Romance writer Holly finds herself moving back to her small town after breaking off her engagement with her cheating ex-fiance. Except her new cottage is in desperate need of repairs, and the only person that can help her is her brother’s best friend, Sean. Holly has always hated Sean for getting on her nerves and teasing her relentlessly, but now she gets to see a new version of him, and while he’s still infuriating, he’s also handsome and seems to want to spend time with her. But when the lines start to blur, they both realize how complicated things can get between them.
I devoured this book in one sitting and really enjoyed all the banter and fighting, and the sweet moments that Sean and Holly went through. I really enjoyed Holly’s family dynamics and Sean’s growth and acceptance of happiness. No brother’s best friend romance is complete without the pining and the angst, and this book did not disappoint. ♥️
There were a few things I was excited for that didn’t get too much depth - such as them catching up on their past, and the Christmas games & treasure hunt. I think this would have been five stars for me if it went a bit more in depth on those topics. Nevertheless, it was a very entertaining book that definitely got me in the holiday spirit!
Things I loved:
🎄He falls first
🎄Opposites attract
🎄Small town
🎄Banter
🎄Brother’s best friend
🌶️🌶️🌶️
What better way to start off the holiday season than with a cute and spicy romcom?
Romance writer Holly finds herself moving back to her small town after breaking off her engagement with her cheating ex-fiance. Except her new cottage is in desperate need of repairs, and the only person that can help her is her brother’s best friend, Sean. Holly has always hated Sean for getting on her nerves and teasing her relentlessly, but now she gets to see a new version of him, and while he’s still infuriating, he’s also handsome and seems to want to spend time with her. But when the lines start to blur, they both realize how complicated things can get between them.
I devoured this book in one sitting and really enjoyed all the banter and fighting, and the sweet moments that Sean and Holly went through. I really enjoyed Holly’s family dynamics and Sean’s growth and acceptance of happiness. No brother’s best friend romance is complete without the pining and the angst, and this book did not disappoint. ♥️
There were a few things I was excited for that didn’t get too much depth - such as them catching up on their past, and the Christmas games & treasure hunt. I think this would have been five stars for me if it went a bit more in depth on those topics. Nevertheless, it was a very entertaining book that definitely got me in the holiday spirit!
Things I loved:
🎄He falls first
🎄Opposites attract
🎄Small town
🎄Banter
🎄Brother’s best friend
October 24, 2023
eARC Review: I was kindly gifted this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first read from Laura so I had no idea what to expect in terms of her writing style and storytelling prowess. Let me tell you, it certainly won’t be my last!
Holly, now a hugely successful romance writer, returns to her hometown after a break-up and just wants to find solace so she can beat her writers block and begin rebuilding her life. Unfortunately, her new Cottage needs a bit more TLC than she realised, and she ends up stuck with her brother’s irritating best friend Sean, who she has hated since childhood, helping with her renovations.
I’ve always been drawn to a pining MMC – something about them showing that kind of vulnerability whilst they’re playing the tough guy captures my heart immediately – so I knew straight away that I would love Sean, but the mischievous banter and obvious chemistry between he and Holly ultimately made me root for their HEA from early on.
The story progressed beautifully with a few well thought out heart-warming scenes, and spicy scenes with just the right amount of mouth-watering spice for a book with a cosy Christmas vibe. The way Laura tied up the story was great, and the fact that I found myself tucked under my blanket at 2am with tears streaming down my face shows testament to how much I got sucked into their world.
Holly Ever After is released on 2nd November and will be available in Paperback and on Kindle Unlimited.
This was my first read from Laura so I had no idea what to expect in terms of her writing style and storytelling prowess. Let me tell you, it certainly won’t be my last!
Holly, now a hugely successful romance writer, returns to her hometown after a break-up and just wants to find solace so she can beat her writers block and begin rebuilding her life. Unfortunately, her new Cottage needs a bit more TLC than she realised, and she ends up stuck with her brother’s irritating best friend Sean, who she has hated since childhood, helping with her renovations.
I’ve always been drawn to a pining MMC – something about them showing that kind of vulnerability whilst they’re playing the tough guy captures my heart immediately – so I knew straight away that I would love Sean, but the mischievous banter and obvious chemistry between he and Holly ultimately made me root for their HEA from early on.
The story progressed beautifully with a few well thought out heart-warming scenes, and spicy scenes with just the right amount of mouth-watering spice for a book with a cosy Christmas vibe. The way Laura tied up the story was great, and the fact that I found myself tucked under my blanket at 2am with tears streaming down my face shows testament to how much I got sucked into their world.
Holly Ever After is released on 2nd November and will be available in Paperback and on Kindle Unlimited.
December 21, 2024
3.5⭐️
This book is a delightful little read that really captures those cozy Christmas vibes and features some fun banter!
Even though it's under 300 pages, I felt like some parts dragged on a bit. I noticed that not much really happened throughout the story, and there were moments that seemed to stretch a bit longer than necessary. The snowed-in scenario lasted over several chapters, even though it only covered a week of time. I think the pacing could have been picked up a notch!
Now, let's talk about the spice – wow, it’s definitely spicy! I wasn’t quite ready for that level of heat, and it was a bit much for my taste, so I found myself skimming those parts. I prefer when the spice complements the rest of the story, which felt a bit more closed-door in this case. It left me feeling like the flow wasn’t as smooth as it could be, which made it a tad less believable for me. Overall, it was a fun experience, though!
This book is a delightful little read that really captures those cozy Christmas vibes and features some fun banter!
Even though it's under 300 pages, I felt like some parts dragged on a bit. I noticed that not much really happened throughout the story, and there were moments that seemed to stretch a bit longer than necessary. The snowed-in scenario lasted over several chapters, even though it only covered a week of time. I think the pacing could have been picked up a notch!
Now, let's talk about the spice – wow, it’s definitely spicy! I wasn’t quite ready for that level of heat, and it was a bit much for my taste, so I found myself skimming those parts. I prefer when the spice complements the rest of the story, which felt a bit more closed-door in this case. It left me feeling like the flow wasn’t as smooth as it could be, which made it a tad less believable for me. Overall, it was a fun experience, though!
December 30, 2023
“Holly ever after” is a small-town, frenemies-to-lovers, brother’s BFF romance that I enjoyed a lot.
Xmas vibes are very present all throughout the book and it’s a good choice to read during the Xmas holidays.
I liked the chemistry and the bickering between Sean and Holly, it was fun. What confused me was Sean’s attitude afterwards, I’m not so sure I understood the explanation given. And I would prefer if there were more chapters from his POV. And I surely didn’t like the lack of any mention of protection by either of them.
-Dual 1st person POV (75% FMC, 25% MMC)
-Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Overall: 4/5 ⭐️ for me.
Xmas vibes are very present all throughout the book and it’s a good choice to read during the Xmas holidays.
I liked the chemistry and the bickering between Sean and Holly, it was fun. What confused me was Sean’s attitude afterwards, I’m not so sure I understood the explanation given. And I would prefer if there were more chapters from his POV. And I surely didn’t like the lack of any mention of protection by either of them.
-Dual 1st person POV (75% FMC, 25% MMC)
-Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Overall: 4/5 ⭐️ for me.
October 26, 2023
ARC Review
This book is small town romance wrapped up like your favorite Christmas present. Holly returns to her home town after a broken engagement, determined to fix up a little cabin, except, it needs more than just a fresh coat of paint to make it livable. The best solution the family comes up with is to bring in her childhood arch nemesis, Sean, who just so happens to be her older brothers best friend. The cottage is repaired while tensions soar, all while sparks start to fly between them. Strong-willed personalities and close-knit families are a theme throughout this book and makes each character someone to love. This book had me laughing, blushing and fighting through and through. Don't miss out on this cute holiday read about Holly and Sean!
I give it 4.5/5 stars and 3/5 on the spicy meter.
This book is small town romance wrapped up like your favorite Christmas present. Holly returns to her home town after a broken engagement, determined to fix up a little cabin, except, it needs more than just a fresh coat of paint to make it livable. The best solution the family comes up with is to bring in her childhood arch nemesis, Sean, who just so happens to be her older brothers best friend. The cottage is repaired while tensions soar, all while sparks start to fly between them. Strong-willed personalities and close-knit families are a theme throughout this book and makes each character someone to love. This book had me laughing, blushing and fighting through and through. Don't miss out on this cute holiday read about Holly and Sean!
I give it 4.5/5 stars and 3/5 on the spicy meter.
November 2, 2023
ARC Review
Ummm can it be Christmas already🎄
Holly Ever After follows Holly and Sean who reunite when Holly moves back home after breaking up with her fiancé and Sean is enlisted to help her renovate her new cottage.
Whilst Holly and Sean hate each other at first - and have done since they were kids - I could already tell they didn’t really hate each other and something else was brewing within that tension and that just made the wait even better
I found this book to be quite fast paced which I love in this type of romance book, the back and forth between Holly and Sean had me shouting at my kindle for them to get their act together sooner rather than later 😂
If you’re looking for a good Christmas romance I’d highly recommend this, I devoured this book so quickly and loved every second of reading it.
Thank you to Laura Ashley Gallagher for giving me the chance to read this book early!
Ummm can it be Christmas already🎄
Holly Ever After follows Holly and Sean who reunite when Holly moves back home after breaking up with her fiancé and Sean is enlisted to help her renovate her new cottage.
Whilst Holly and Sean hate each other at first - and have done since they were kids - I could already tell they didn’t really hate each other and something else was brewing within that tension and that just made the wait even better
I found this book to be quite fast paced which I love in this type of romance book, the back and forth between Holly and Sean had me shouting at my kindle for them to get their act together sooner rather than later 😂
If you’re looking for a good Christmas romance I’d highly recommend this, I devoured this book so quickly and loved every second of reading it.
Thank you to Laura Ashley Gallagher for giving me the chance to read this book early!
November 2, 2023
This book was hard to put down! I really enjoyed it! This is a great Christmas romance. I haven’t read anything from this author before, but I will add her other books to my tbr list. I thought this book had the perfect amount of “spice”. I loved the main characters. I also thought it was good that they brought awareness to those with dementia/memory loss. My grandmother had Alzheimer’s (passed away in March 2019) and it really rang true to the early stages of her condition.
I received an advanced readers copy from
The author, but my review is
Unbiased.
I received an advanced readers copy from
The author, but my review is
Unbiased.
December 2, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
A nice Christmassy brothers best friend romance! Felt slightly rushed at times and the spelling mistakes nearly had me DNF-ing 6 pages in but overall a good read!
A nice Christmassy brothers best friend romance! Felt slightly rushed at times and the spelling mistakes nearly had me DNF-ing 6 pages in but overall a good read!
December 21, 2023
a very cute festive brothers best friend to lovers. a bit long for a romance but was still a vry cute read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2024
I absolutely loved the storyline! I really enjoyed reading it and didn’t want to put it down.
December 17, 2025
3.5⭐️
gostei, nada de novo mas foi bom para entrar no espírito natalício.
gostei, nada de novo mas foi bom para entrar no espírito natalício.
October 23, 2023
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book and I’m so happy I did!
I loved it from start to finished!
Small town ✅
Festive theme ✅
Enemies to lovers ✅
Spicy ✅
I can’t fault this book at all, it kept me gripped until the end and I was left wanting more!
I’m well and truly feeling festive now 🎄
I loved it from start to finished!
Small town ✅
Festive theme ✅
Enemies to lovers ✅
Spicy ✅
I can’t fault this book at all, it kept me gripped until the end and I was left wanting more!
I’m well and truly feeling festive now 🎄
December 26, 2025
I know nobody really reads this for the plot, but goddamn we could've at least ATTEMPTED at a plot
November 30, 2023
I’m absolutely obsessed with this book and the main characters, I want to live in this town. I want the family to be my family, and I want a hot carpenter to fix my house! This book is amazing, it’s a cozy Christmas read, with spice, angst, twist and turns, found family trope, brothers best friend trope, enemies to lovers trope, and so much more! I promise you won’t be able to put it down!
November 19, 2023
Three words: Brother’s. Best. Friend.
Add in he fell first, “who did this too you?”, “fuck it.”, and it takes place at Christmas time? Say less.
Add in he fell first, “who did this too you?”, “fuck it.”, and it takes place at Christmas time? Say less.
November 2, 2023
If you love two spit fire main characters who love to hate each other set during Christmas time, than this book is not one to be missed!!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Wowie!! I was so impressed by this novel, I’ll be honest I went into this book expecting a bit of a hallmarkesque romcom (which I love), but boy was this book so much more! It had the cuteness of a hallmark romcom, the angst and tension of your favorite drama, and just the right amount of spice! This is a must read for my Christmas story readers!!
We start off with our MFC back in her hometown after a bad break up from her fiancé. And while Holly has seemingly made the right decision coming home she may have been swindled just a little in the house she bought when she arrives to a bigger fixer upper project than she was prepared for. Holly however is determined to enjoy the processing of creating a new home for herself even if she’s having to start from the ground up! Enter our MMC Sean a workman who specializes in renovations… ohh and Hollys arch nemeses, even if he is her older brothers best friend. From there house projects, constant bantering/fighting, dress up night at the local bar, and a blizzard all come together tocreate a spark that lights the inferno between our two characters!!
I absolutely loved these characters! Holly is a spit fire who has lost a bit of her spark after a string of bad relationships, especially her last one. However, Holly is determined to get her spark back no matter the challenges life, Mother Nature, or playboy carpenters throw at her! And of course how can you not love Sean! Sean has always protected Holly like another older brother but now that she’s back in town realizes that maybe his affections aren’t quite so brotherly after all. However, he’s not quite sure he’s ready to risk it all to be with a girl who says she hates him. Eventually though and with plenty of nudges Sean realizes maybe he’s willing to take a leap!! I loved Sean he was always ready to help everyone even if he sometimes was stepping over the line to do it, and the possessiveness was perfect without becoming an alphahole. Honestly I just loved this couple, and their chemistry!
This is a must read for anyone who loves a brother best friend, enemies to lovers romance, set during Christmas time with banter galore and enough angst and spice to keep you turning pages to the wee morning hours!
HAPPY READING 📖
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Wowie!! I was so impressed by this novel, I’ll be honest I went into this book expecting a bit of a hallmarkesque romcom (which I love), but boy was this book so much more! It had the cuteness of a hallmark romcom, the angst and tension of your favorite drama, and just the right amount of spice! This is a must read for my Christmas story readers!!
We start off with our MFC back in her hometown after a bad break up from her fiancé. And while Holly has seemingly made the right decision coming home she may have been swindled just a little in the house she bought when she arrives to a bigger fixer upper project than she was prepared for. Holly however is determined to enjoy the processing of creating a new home for herself even if she’s having to start from the ground up! Enter our MMC Sean a workman who specializes in renovations… ohh and Hollys arch nemeses, even if he is her older brothers best friend. From there house projects, constant bantering/fighting, dress up night at the local bar, and a blizzard all come together tocreate a spark that lights the inferno between our two characters!!
I absolutely loved these characters! Holly is a spit fire who has lost a bit of her spark after a string of bad relationships, especially her last one. However, Holly is determined to get her spark back no matter the challenges life, Mother Nature, or playboy carpenters throw at her! And of course how can you not love Sean! Sean has always protected Holly like another older brother but now that she’s back in town realizes that maybe his affections aren’t quite so brotherly after all. However, he’s not quite sure he’s ready to risk it all to be with a girl who says she hates him. Eventually though and with plenty of nudges Sean realizes maybe he’s willing to take a leap!! I loved Sean he was always ready to help everyone even if he sometimes was stepping over the line to do it, and the possessiveness was perfect without becoming an alphahole. Honestly I just loved this couple, and their chemistry!
This is a must read for anyone who loves a brother best friend, enemies to lovers romance, set during Christmas time with banter galore and enough angst and spice to keep you turning pages to the wee morning hours!
HAPPY READING 📖
November 2, 2023
CW: spice, copious amounts of holiday innuendo
A massive thank you to the author for allowing me to be part of the ARC team!
My original thought process was ‘oh, I’ll start this book today and then take it with me to finish while I’m in the waiting room at the doctor’s office.’ Turns out this is *not* the book to take with you when you’re having your blood pressure checked.
Holly and Sean have known each other since they were children, and they’ve hated each other just as long.But when Holly’s relationship implodes and she moves back home, Sean is the only person in their small town who can help save her crumbling new home. The fireplace isn’t the only thing heating up in this holiday romcom.
Where oh where should I start with this adorable little book? It’s sweet, it’s steamy (ok, it’s legitimately spicy), it’s funny. I loved it! It’s like a Hallmark movie drank too much eggnog and decided to increase its rating to XXX.
Written in dual POV (a personal favorite for love stories), we get the very great pleasure of knowing what both our MCs are thinking, which is super helpful and fun. This is definitely a character-driven story—there’s not a whole lot of plot, but the story does progress and it does feel like more than just a round-the-clock literary bang-fest.
Our MCs feel like distinct individuals with realistic (if sometimes frustrating) personalities. We get to see them interact with their families and deal with their respective struggles. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows outside of the romance element, but it’s also not exclusively horrifyingly depressing, either.
The plot did get a little bogged down for me around the 60-70% mark, but it picked back up and the story overall was a lot of fun. The banter and verbal sniping made me laugh out loud more than once, and there were definitely other moments that elicited verbal responses on my end (i will refrain from further commentary to avoid potential spoilers). All in all, I’m really glad to have kicked off my post-Halloween holiday season with this super cute spicy Christmas story. If you’re looking for a steamy read that also somehow feels like a warm hug, this would be a good one for you to check out!
A massive thank you to the author for allowing me to be part of the ARC team!
My original thought process was ‘oh, I’ll start this book today and then take it with me to finish while I’m in the waiting room at the doctor’s office.’ Turns out this is *not* the book to take with you when you’re having your blood pressure checked.
Holly and Sean have known each other since they were children, and they’ve hated each other just as long.But when Holly’s relationship implodes and she moves back home, Sean is the only person in their small town who can help save her crumbling new home. The fireplace isn’t the only thing heating up in this holiday romcom.
Where oh where should I start with this adorable little book? It’s sweet, it’s steamy (ok, it’s legitimately spicy), it’s funny. I loved it! It’s like a Hallmark movie drank too much eggnog and decided to increase its rating to XXX.
Written in dual POV (a personal favorite for love stories), we get the very great pleasure of knowing what both our MCs are thinking, which is super helpful and fun. This is definitely a character-driven story—there’s not a whole lot of plot, but the story does progress and it does feel like more than just a round-the-clock literary bang-fest.
Our MCs feel like distinct individuals with realistic (if sometimes frustrating) personalities. We get to see them interact with their families and deal with their respective struggles. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows outside of the romance element, but it’s also not exclusively horrifyingly depressing, either.
The plot did get a little bogged down for me around the 60-70% mark, but it picked back up and the story overall was a lot of fun. The banter and verbal sniping made me laugh out loud more than once, and there were definitely other moments that elicited verbal responses on my end (i will refrain from further commentary to avoid potential spoilers). All in all, I’m really glad to have kicked off my post-Halloween holiday season with this super cute spicy Christmas story. If you’re looking for a steamy read that also somehow feels like a warm hug, this would be a good one for you to check out!
October 31, 2023
Holly Ever After by Laura Ashley Gallagher
5/5 ⭐️
I really enjoyed this book, so much so that I am going to go and find other books by this author and read them as well. Both of the main characters in this story were very well written and complex and this story is like a nice holiday treat a few months early. It was so nice to be part of the ARC team for this lovely book.
Here is a blurb of what it is about:
Back in her hometown of Pine Falls after a heart-wrenching breakup, romance writer Holly is stuck with writer's block and a cottage that reflects everything in her life... crumbling to the ground. To make matters worse, her brother's irritating best friend, Sean, is helping with the renovations.
She's despised him since childhood, but now she hates the way he hammers nails like something straight from a cologne commercial, those smug smirks, and the winks that make her heart race... just a little. And wait... is he... flirting with her?
When he starts looking at her in a way that's more 'unwrap me' than 'I despise you', lines are crossed, boundaries are blurred, and nothing will ever be the same.
But how can she trust her heart to a man she's sure is going to break it?
Throw in her crazy family, a surprisingly sexy Santa costume, a record breaking blizzard, and she's got herself a Christmas to remember.
I really enjoyed the dynamic that Sean and Holly had with one another and I really loved the fact that Sean had such Anthony Bridgerton energy about him. Holly is a romance writer who goes back to her hometown after going through a horrible breakup and Sean is her brother’s best friend who has been her enemy since childhood. He ends up fixing up her house and they grow closer during that culminating when they are trapped together during a snow storm. Miscommunication and problems ensue that keep them apart for a bit, but they resolve and talk things out and it ends up rather heartwarming. I would highly recommend this story to anyone who loves the following tropes: enemies to lovers, brother’s best friends, he falls first and forced proximity and of course holiday romance.
5/5 ⭐️
I really enjoyed this book, so much so that I am going to go and find other books by this author and read them as well. Both of the main characters in this story were very well written and complex and this story is like a nice holiday treat a few months early. It was so nice to be part of the ARC team for this lovely book.
Here is a blurb of what it is about:
Back in her hometown of Pine Falls after a heart-wrenching breakup, romance writer Holly is stuck with writer's block and a cottage that reflects everything in her life... crumbling to the ground. To make matters worse, her brother's irritating best friend, Sean, is helping with the renovations.
She's despised him since childhood, but now she hates the way he hammers nails like something straight from a cologne commercial, those smug smirks, and the winks that make her heart race... just a little. And wait... is he... flirting with her?
When he starts looking at her in a way that's more 'unwrap me' than 'I despise you', lines are crossed, boundaries are blurred, and nothing will ever be the same.
But how can she trust her heart to a man she's sure is going to break it?
Throw in her crazy family, a surprisingly sexy Santa costume, a record breaking blizzard, and she's got herself a Christmas to remember.
I really enjoyed the dynamic that Sean and Holly had with one another and I really loved the fact that Sean had such Anthony Bridgerton energy about him. Holly is a romance writer who goes back to her hometown after going through a horrible breakup and Sean is her brother’s best friend who has been her enemy since childhood. He ends up fixing up her house and they grow closer during that culminating when they are trapped together during a snow storm. Miscommunication and problems ensue that keep them apart for a bit, but they resolve and talk things out and it ends up rather heartwarming. I would highly recommend this story to anyone who loves the following tropes: enemies to lovers, brother’s best friends, he falls first and forced proximity and of course holiday romance.
October 22, 2023
🎄Holly Ever After by Laura Ashley Gallagher🎄
Ratings: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (rounded up because math!)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Characterization: 4/5
Plot/Storyline: 4/5
Writing Style: 6/5 (seriously some of the best lines I’ve highlighted in a book, possibly ever)
🎄- When a published, known writer, Holly Winters, moves back home and must renovate her new abode, everyone highly encourages her to reach out to the local carpenter, Sean, for assistance. The only problem? Sean is not only her brother’s best friend, but also one of the people in this world who Holly might possibly hate. As Sean works his way into Holly’s home, quite literally, Holly must start to come to terms with her feelings for Sean, and vice versa. As the POV shifts between Holly and Sean, we begin to see some beloved romance tropes emerge through a tale told right in time for the holiday season.
🎄- Holly and Sean are wonderful main characters. They are both flawed and well rounded. The side characters offer some great quips and foiling at times to the already foiling MCs, and if I were to request a sequel/continued series, I want to see a separate book just for Jackie and her adventures! There is good tension throughout, BUT I will say, the spice was above my preference level and happened at a pace that felt more rushed than not… and yet, I still devoured this book in a couple of hours 😅
🎄- The writing style is what has me loving this book. I audibly laughed out loud several times with the amount of sarcasm and whit strewn throughout the characters thoughts and dialogue. I have never highlighted so many moments thinking “lyrical genius!” as I did with this book. I don’t honestly know how I’m going to narrow it down to a singular quote for my visual review… 🫣
Final Recommendation: Absolutely read! It’ll make a perfect accoutrement to sitting under the tree drinking hot cocoa with ALL of the marshmallows! (And if you’re a grinch about the holidays, you’ll love the metaphorical grinch in the book all the more!)
💕Special thank you to Laura for an ARC in exchange for an honest (and maybe too lengthy?) review. 💕
Ratings: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (rounded up because math!)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Characterization: 4/5
Plot/Storyline: 4/5
Writing Style: 6/5 (seriously some of the best lines I’ve highlighted in a book, possibly ever)
🎄- When a published, known writer, Holly Winters, moves back home and must renovate her new abode, everyone highly encourages her to reach out to the local carpenter, Sean, for assistance. The only problem? Sean is not only her brother’s best friend, but also one of the people in this world who Holly might possibly hate. As Sean works his way into Holly’s home, quite literally, Holly must start to come to terms with her feelings for Sean, and vice versa. As the POV shifts between Holly and Sean, we begin to see some beloved romance tropes emerge through a tale told right in time for the holiday season.
🎄- Holly and Sean are wonderful main characters. They are both flawed and well rounded. The side characters offer some great quips and foiling at times to the already foiling MCs, and if I were to request a sequel/continued series, I want to see a separate book just for Jackie and her adventures! There is good tension throughout, BUT I will say, the spice was above my preference level and happened at a pace that felt more rushed than not… and yet, I still devoured this book in a couple of hours 😅
🎄- The writing style is what has me loving this book. I audibly laughed out loud several times with the amount of sarcasm and whit strewn throughout the characters thoughts and dialogue. I have never highlighted so many moments thinking “lyrical genius!” as I did with this book. I don’t honestly know how I’m going to narrow it down to a singular quote for my visual review… 🫣
Final Recommendation: Absolutely read! It’ll make a perfect accoutrement to sitting under the tree drinking hot cocoa with ALL of the marshmallows! (And if you’re a grinch about the holidays, you’ll love the metaphorical grinch in the book all the more!)
💕Special thank you to Laura for an ARC in exchange for an honest (and maybe too lengthy?) review. 💕
October 29, 2023
ARC Review- this is my first ARC review so be patient with me, I’m learning!
5 snowflakes!
I loved this book! It was simultaneously cute but also sexy as hell. I will admit, I was a little intimidated by the Christmas vibes. I worried it would be too “hallmark movie” for me to enjoy, but it wasn’t at all! This is an amazing Dual POV romance and the Christmas vibes are just a fun setting that helps move the plot forward and puts our characters in some amusing social situations.
Holly- She’s a little broken right now. After a bad breakup with a man she thought she would marry, she is back in her home town and struggling with major writer’s block. She needs help fixing her home (and maybe herself) and reluctantly accepts help from her brother’s best friend.
Sean – I loved learning Sean’s backstory. He is a born fixer because of the circumstances surrounding his childhood. He sees beauty in broken things.
This is a spicy romance. We have major enemies to lovers’ tension that ramps up and the author makes sure to explore that satisfaction in detail. Which I love, personally.
I loved the banter between the main characters. Sean is always quick with a comeback and had me laughing out loud multiple times.
“𝐼 𝑑𝑜𝑛’𝑡 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢’𝑟𝑒 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒.”
“𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑠𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑐𝑡.”
Tropes:
𝐷𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑂𝑉
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠
𝐵𝑟𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟’𝑠 𝐵𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝐹𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑑
𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑦
𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑇𝑜𝑤𝑛
This book releases Thursday, November 2nd! It is the perfect holiday season romance. Add it to your winter TBR, grab a hot cocoa, cuddle up under a fuzzy blanket and ENJOY!
5 snowflakes!
I loved this book! It was simultaneously cute but also sexy as hell. I will admit, I was a little intimidated by the Christmas vibes. I worried it would be too “hallmark movie” for me to enjoy, but it wasn’t at all! This is an amazing Dual POV romance and the Christmas vibes are just a fun setting that helps move the plot forward and puts our characters in some amusing social situations.
Holly- She’s a little broken right now. After a bad breakup with a man she thought she would marry, she is back in her home town and struggling with major writer’s block. She needs help fixing her home (and maybe herself) and reluctantly accepts help from her brother’s best friend.
Sean – I loved learning Sean’s backstory. He is a born fixer because of the circumstances surrounding his childhood. He sees beauty in broken things.
This is a spicy romance. We have major enemies to lovers’ tension that ramps up and the author makes sure to explore that satisfaction in detail. Which I love, personally.
I loved the banter between the main characters. Sean is always quick with a comeback and had me laughing out loud multiple times.
“𝐼 𝑑𝑜𝑛’𝑡 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢’𝑟𝑒 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒.”
“𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑠𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑐𝑡.”
Tropes:
𝐷𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑂𝑉
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠
𝐵𝑟𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟’𝑠 𝐵𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝐹𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑑
𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑦
𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑇𝑜𝑤𝑛
This book releases Thursday, November 2nd! It is the perfect holiday season romance. Add it to your winter TBR, grab a hot cocoa, cuddle up under a fuzzy blanket and ENJOY!
November 2, 2023
🩷🩷🩷
Review: Holly Ever After
🩷🩷🩷
258 pages
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
🌶🌶🌶 3/5
This book takes you through all the feelings in the best way. The book dedication was perfect as well:
"To all the good girls, Happy Holidays".
The first sentence of the book hooked me instantly as well, "Oh sweet baby Santa Claus, what have I done?" Holly is returning to Pine Falls, where she purchased a cabin in rough shape. After a roller coaster break up with her fiance, it was time to return to her roots.
Holly was greeted with open arms by her family, but they wanted to know the details surrounding her breakup she was not yet ready to share with everyone. After seeing the shape of her new home, Mark calls in Sean, his best friend and Holly's enemy, to come help. Sean is a carpenter who looks like he belongs on the cover of GQ. Sean portrays the protective older brother, but he's harboring a secret about his true feelings.
A snow storm, close proximity, and years of denial of feelings comes to a head. The road to that snowstorm and the fallout after is a little predictable, but it's so enjoyable that you won't care. It's a dual POV, so you get to see Sean's true feelings and Holly's.
I absolutely loved Holly and Sean's story, and I especially loved the epilogue that the author included, so we know where both end up years down the road. It made the story complete.
🌟 Tropes 🌟
1. Close/forced proximity
2. Third-act breakup
3. Older brother's friend
4. Sneaking around
5. Small town
6. Enemies to lovers
Many thanks to @lauraashleygallagher for an ARC to read and review!
Review: Holly Ever After
🩷🩷🩷
258 pages
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
🌶🌶🌶 3/5
This book takes you through all the feelings in the best way. The book dedication was perfect as well:
"To all the good girls, Happy Holidays".
The first sentence of the book hooked me instantly as well, "Oh sweet baby Santa Claus, what have I done?" Holly is returning to Pine Falls, where she purchased a cabin in rough shape. After a roller coaster break up with her fiance, it was time to return to her roots.
Holly was greeted with open arms by her family, but they wanted to know the details surrounding her breakup she was not yet ready to share with everyone. After seeing the shape of her new home, Mark calls in Sean, his best friend and Holly's enemy, to come help. Sean is a carpenter who looks like he belongs on the cover of GQ. Sean portrays the protective older brother, but he's harboring a secret about his true feelings.
A snow storm, close proximity, and years of denial of feelings comes to a head. The road to that snowstorm and the fallout after is a little predictable, but it's so enjoyable that you won't care. It's a dual POV, so you get to see Sean's true feelings and Holly's.
I absolutely loved Holly and Sean's story, and I especially loved the epilogue that the author included, so we know where both end up years down the road. It made the story complete.
🌟 Tropes 🌟
1. Close/forced proximity
2. Third-act breakup
3. Older brother's friend
4. Sneaking around
5. Small town
6. Enemies to lovers
Many thanks to @lauraashleygallagher for an ARC to read and review!
December 23, 2024
I didn't enjoy this as much as I thought I would and the main reason for it was Sean.
Holly is coming home after been away a while after breaking up with her fiancé. We don't know what happened right away. She also doesn't like Sean, don't know why. She had a crush on him when she was younger but not any more
Sean says a few Christmases ago he fell in love with her which considering the way he treats her throughout the book is unlikely.
Her house needs some remodelling and her family basically make Sean do it. He notices that her ex is blowing up her phone and when she finally answers we found out he slept with half the city.
After that conversation she goes out and gets drunk. Sean sees her and helps her home and sits with her while she vomits.
Then there sending flirty texts which seemed to come out of nowhere. Then they are having sex
Then they are snowed in which confused me because where was her house. It never mentioned her been in the middle of nowhere. I honestly believe it was just to get in more sex scenes.
When the snow melts her brother just walks into her house and bedroom and find them in bed together. He is pissed and Sean just stands there. He calls Holly a name and Sean says 'hey' that's it. I was done with his character after that. He says he doesn't know what he wants even though her loves her and is clearly hurting her in the process.
The brother comes round pretty fast and gives the whole hurt her I kill you talk but does nothing as Sean continues to hurt her.
Sean's own mother who is suffering from dementia calls him out on it and tells him to go get her but he doesn't. He doesn't talk to her for a week.
When they see each other he kisses her and then says he cant do it and she should leave so she does. He just came off as a complete ass. She asks him point blank what she weans to him and he says nothing.
So she gets drunk again. Seems to be how she handles her problems. This time he takes her back to his place. She wakes and tries to leave in the middle of the night but he catches her and they have more sex.
She leaves him in the morning cos she has a book to write and he storms in pissed off cos she left. Hypocrite!!
He says he loves her and they are together. They tell there family's and her brother punches him.
Nice epilogue
There were some mistakes in this. At one point her removes her panties then a page later he pulls them to the side
Pretty much every time it should have said neither it said either.
I wish she hadn't forgiven him so easily. She should have made him sweat!!
Holly is coming home after been away a while after breaking up with her fiancé. We don't know what happened right away. She also doesn't like Sean, don't know why. She had a crush on him when she was younger but not any more
Sean says a few Christmases ago he fell in love with her which considering the way he treats her throughout the book is unlikely.
Her house needs some remodelling and her family basically make Sean do it. He notices that her ex is blowing up her phone and when she finally answers we found out he slept with half the city.
After that conversation she goes out and gets drunk. Sean sees her and helps her home and sits with her while she vomits.
Then there sending flirty texts which seemed to come out of nowhere. Then they are having sex
Then they are snowed in which confused me because where was her house. It never mentioned her been in the middle of nowhere. I honestly believe it was just to get in more sex scenes.
When the snow melts her brother just walks into her house and bedroom and find them in bed together. He is pissed and Sean just stands there. He calls Holly a name and Sean says 'hey' that's it. I was done with his character after that. He says he doesn't know what he wants even though her loves her and is clearly hurting her in the process.
The brother comes round pretty fast and gives the whole hurt her I kill you talk but does nothing as Sean continues to hurt her.
Sean's own mother who is suffering from dementia calls him out on it and tells him to go get her but he doesn't. He doesn't talk to her for a week.
When they see each other he kisses her and then says he cant do it and she should leave so she does. He just came off as a complete ass. She asks him point blank what she weans to him and he says nothing.
So she gets drunk again. Seems to be how she handles her problems. This time he takes her back to his place. She wakes and tries to leave in the middle of the night but he catches her and they have more sex.
She leaves him in the morning cos she has a book to write and he storms in pissed off cos she left. Hypocrite!!
He says he loves her and they are together. They tell there family's and her brother punches him.
Nice epilogue
There were some mistakes in this. At one point her removes her panties then a page later he pulls them to the side
Pretty much every time it should have said neither it said either.
I wish she hadn't forgiven him so easily. She should have made him sweat!!
October 24, 2023
To say that I am beyond grateful to Laura for allowing me to read the ARC of Holly Ever After is an understatement. Having never read any of Laura Ashley Gallagher's books before, I wasn't sure what to expect regarding writing style. I am a fan. Not only was it laugh-out-loud funny, with heart-warming scenes, but it was also so seamlessly written that I read it in a day. You can be sure she is now on my radar for future books, and I will be looking at her already-published books to see what else to read.
There are certain things you come to expect when you see 'Brothers best friend' and 'enemies to lovers' as the tropes, but the constant banter between Holly and Sean is pure gold.
There is Holly Winters. What's not to love about an FMC who is a best-selling romance novelist, quick-witted, and with so much sass that has me adding her to my "best friend" list as if she were real life? Then there is Sean. Almost instantly, I fell in love. With every jab and snark remark he made to enrage Holly, you could feel the feelings he desperately tried to hide. Plus, who doesn't love themself, a hard-working man who takes care of his own?
With a healthy sprinkling of spice and Christmas cheer, it was a great book to read beside my fireplace, drinking some hot cocoa. It was the perfect read that got me into the Christmas holiday mood early.
10/10 recommend!!
There are certain things you come to expect when you see 'Brothers best friend' and 'enemies to lovers' as the tropes, but the constant banter between Holly and Sean is pure gold.
There is Holly Winters. What's not to love about an FMC who is a best-selling romance novelist, quick-witted, and with so much sass that has me adding her to my "best friend" list as if she were real life? Then there is Sean. Almost instantly, I fell in love. With every jab and snark remark he made to enrage Holly, you could feel the feelings he desperately tried to hide. Plus, who doesn't love themself, a hard-working man who takes care of his own?
With a healthy sprinkling of spice and Christmas cheer, it was a great book to read beside my fireplace, drinking some hot cocoa. It was the perfect read that got me into the Christmas holiday mood early.
10/10 recommend!!
November 1, 2023
Holly Ever After:
Holly, a romance writer, has found herself back in her hometown of Pine Falls. Fresh from a breakup she is struggling with writer's block and has decided the best way to get out of her funk is to remodel her recently purchased cottage. Sean is her brother’s best friend and a thorn in her side since childhood. Sean shows up unexpectedly to help with the renovations. Everything about each other bothers the other person until a line is crossed and a look is given. Can they turn their hate from one another into something more.
I ate this book up in one sitting. Let's start with the characters in the book. We have Holly’s family (mom, dad, brother, niece and SIL), her best friend and then we have Sean’s mom. All these characters play an important part in the relationship between Holly and Sean. My favorites were Holly's brother and Best friend. I enjoyed Holly's character. She is strong, determined, feisty and independent. Sean is a lumberjack alpha male, gentle teddy bear and sexy. The interactions with these two were funny, sexy, intense and loveable. It has the Christmas feels, Dual POV and the bickering is enough to melt your heart. The tension leading up to the big storm was everything I needed. I was sad to finish the book I would have loved more.
Thank You Laura Ashley Gallagher for the arc, honest review provided.
Holly, a romance writer, has found herself back in her hometown of Pine Falls. Fresh from a breakup she is struggling with writer's block and has decided the best way to get out of her funk is to remodel her recently purchased cottage. Sean is her brother’s best friend and a thorn in her side since childhood. Sean shows up unexpectedly to help with the renovations. Everything about each other bothers the other person until a line is crossed and a look is given. Can they turn their hate from one another into something more.
I ate this book up in one sitting. Let's start with the characters in the book. We have Holly’s family (mom, dad, brother, niece and SIL), her best friend and then we have Sean’s mom. All these characters play an important part in the relationship between Holly and Sean. My favorites were Holly's brother and Best friend. I enjoyed Holly's character. She is strong, determined, feisty and independent. Sean is a lumberjack alpha male, gentle teddy bear and sexy. The interactions with these two were funny, sexy, intense and loveable. It has the Christmas feels, Dual POV and the bickering is enough to melt your heart. The tension leading up to the big storm was everything I needed. I was sad to finish the book I would have loved more.
Thank You Laura Ashley Gallagher for the arc, honest review provided.
December 28, 2025
“To my local carpenter,
Thank you for the inspiration.”
I stumbled upon this book on Threads and saw it was Christmas-themed, so I thought it could be perfect for some holiday reading. I loved the description and the little snippet the author shared, so without hesitating, I added it to my TBR, where it patiently waited for its turn.
What I liked: the small-town vibes, Christmas atmosphere, a caring family, chemistry between the main characters, and the overall plot. The first 50% was lovely, and I just enjoyed seeing where the story was headed.
What didn’t work for me: the characters’ shifts in behavior — sometimes they acted like adults, sometimes more like teens. I’m also not the biggest fan of the “I don’t know what I want” internal conflict (~30–40%), communication issues, and the push and pull in their relationship.
So, even though the first half, the super cute final chapters, and epilogue were great, my solid 4 ⭐ dropped to 3 ⭐ because of the second half. It’s an easy, fast read — I finished it in one day. I’m sure it will find its readers. And even though I don’t always luck out with holiday reads, I’ll keep hunting for my perfect Christmas story.
Thank you for the inspiration.”
I stumbled upon this book on Threads and saw it was Christmas-themed, so I thought it could be perfect for some holiday reading. I loved the description and the little snippet the author shared, so without hesitating, I added it to my TBR, where it patiently waited for its turn.
What I liked: the small-town vibes, Christmas atmosphere, a caring family, chemistry between the main characters, and the overall plot. The first 50% was lovely, and I just enjoyed seeing where the story was headed.
What didn’t work for me: the characters’ shifts in behavior — sometimes they acted like adults, sometimes more like teens. I’m also not the biggest fan of the “I don’t know what I want” internal conflict (~30–40%), communication issues, and the push and pull in their relationship.
So, even though the first half, the super cute final chapters, and epilogue were great, my solid 4 ⭐ dropped to 3 ⭐ because of the second half. It’s an easy, fast read — I finished it in one day. I’m sure it will find its readers. And even though I don’t always luck out with holiday reads, I’ll keep hunting for my perfect Christmas story.
October 26, 2023
It took me 2 days to read this book in between looking after my 3 month old & when I tell you it was a STRUGGLE to put it down, I’m not lying! I’m still pine-ing over Pine Falls three days after finishing the book and I wish I was still in Holly and Sean’s world.
The book is beautifully written over all and the characters develop so nicely throughout the story line, I instantly loved the playful bond and banter between Sean and Holly, even though it’s classed as an Enemies to Lovers, I’d put that quite softly… they more like gave their guards up from each other. Everytime I picked the book up, I got transported into their world, every emotion, every scene I felt like I was watching and connecting in real life with the characters.
This was a lovely Christmas read and it made me snuggle under my duvet with a hot chocolate wishing for the December nights to come🎄
I want to thank Laura for giving me the opportunity to have an E-ARC of Holly Ever After and I will be cherishing the book forever onwards. It comes out NOVEMBER 2ND! I’d seriously go and buy it straight away and get in the holiday mood 🎅🏼🎁✨⭐️❤️
The book is beautifully written over all and the characters develop so nicely throughout the story line, I instantly loved the playful bond and banter between Sean and Holly, even though it’s classed as an Enemies to Lovers, I’d put that quite softly… they more like gave their guards up from each other. Everytime I picked the book up, I got transported into their world, every emotion, every scene I felt like I was watching and connecting in real life with the characters.
This was a lovely Christmas read and it made me snuggle under my duvet with a hot chocolate wishing for the December nights to come🎄
I want to thank Laura for giving me the opportunity to have an E-ARC of Holly Ever After and I will be cherishing the book forever onwards. It comes out NOVEMBER 2ND! I’d seriously go and buy it straight away and get in the holiday mood 🎅🏼🎁✨⭐️❤️
October 31, 2023
Sean Colson and Holly Winters have been feuding for decades. Sean is Holly’s brother’s best friend, and has been her greatest enemy for as long as she can remember. When she leaves her cheating ex and moves back home, she embraces her new, fresh start and thinks she can finally finish her latest novel. There’s just one little problem- the cottage she’s purchased has seen much better days, and she might be a *little* in over her head with repairs.
Sean has built his carpentry business from the ground up, and takes pride in what he does. When his best friend, Mark, asks him to help get Holly’s cottage in a livable state, he can’t really say no...even if she is a giant thorn in his side.
When Sean starts to work on Holly’s house, he can’t help but realize that she’s not the little kid he grew up with anymore, and for Holly, it’s getting harder and harder to ignore the crush she’s harbored on Sean for years.
Cue a blizzard, some forced proximity, and some Santa suits, and you have the perfect recipe for a laugh out loud, swoony and STEAMY Christmas read! Laura really knocked it out of the park with this one- I will absolutely be rereading this!
Sean has built his carpentry business from the ground up, and takes pride in what he does. When his best friend, Mark, asks him to help get Holly’s cottage in a livable state, he can’t really say no...even if she is a giant thorn in his side.
When Sean starts to work on Holly’s house, he can’t help but realize that she’s not the little kid he grew up with anymore, and for Holly, it’s getting harder and harder to ignore the crush she’s harbored on Sean for years.
Cue a blizzard, some forced proximity, and some Santa suits, and you have the perfect recipe for a laugh out loud, swoony and STEAMY Christmas read! Laura really knocked it out of the park with this one- I will absolutely be rereading this!
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