Making Spirits Bright

by Carly Greer

My grandfather’s wild matchmaking stunt has me pretending to have a boyfriend at Christmas to stave off catching grief from my own family about my very happy state of single-ness. Enter Noah Callahan, our new neighbor, my extremely reluctant hero. He agrees to play the part but now I’m wondering if instead of my family, it will be Grumpy Grinch Noah squashing my holiday spirit. Admittedly, sparks do fly, and suddenly the lines between real and fake are blurred with hope. But can our fake holiday romance survive three days at Christmas?

Indulge in the sweet, heartwarming magic of the season as two hearts come together to make an unforgettable Christmas romance!

135 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2023

Reviews

[Hilma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most of us has that uncle who, when you meet him at a party, always asks you if you’ve got a boyfriend, and how embarrassed that makes you feel. And that’s the theme Carly Greer wrote a book about. In Making Spirits Bright Scarlet’s grandfather makes up his mind to get his live-in granddaughter a fake boyfriend, so that she’s not uncomfortable when her other family visits them with Christmas.

From the very first sentence I read I was completely hooked and in love with this super cute and delightful story! Scarlet is such a great and adorable person, and Carly Greer made her so very lovable. As the story is told by Scarlet and Noah, her fake boyfriend, we get to know them both, how they feel and how they think about things and about eachother, and that is such a joy to read. Most of the time while reading this holiday book I was smiling. Noah is a wonderful person, and I loved how Carly Greer made him so real. Scarlet’s family is something else though, but Gramps I adore. He loves his granddaughter and wants to make her happy.

The writing style in Making Spirits Bright is style is fantastic, the story is really flowing and so easy to read. I was sorry it ended. It’s a lovely, sweet holiday read, with very likable characters you fall in love with and a great writing style. So if you want to immerse yourself for some hours in a super cute cozy romance book in a Christmas-y setting, this is definitely the book to read!

[Miriam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I would describe this as a hallmark rom com type of book. It was super sweet. It’s a short novella so not too long which means you can read it all in one sitting!


Scarlet is a young woman who doesn’t have the best family besides her beloved Gramp. Her mom and sisters give very much Cinderella’s step sisters and mother vibes. They just never have values Scarlet or treated her great.

Gramp has had enough and decides to get her a “fake boyfriend “ to help stop the incessant ridicule and criticism Scarlet will inevitably face come Christmas.

Enter Noah❤️ he is the Grumpy to our sunshine in this book and he takes that job seriously 🤣🤣 he is so grumpy and yet so smitten which makes him more grumpy 😂😂.

He turns down her grandfather but after a crazy turn of events they end up fake dating for Christmas.


I really enjoyed the banter and witty humor that these two had with each other. They weren’t one note and the character development for both was great and a smooth transition. Gramp is my fave by far. He’s a fiesty old whippersnapper. ❤️ but he means well and he loves Scarlet so we let him meddle 🤣🤣


All in all it was a good read and one I would put in your holiday rotation. 😁🎄

[Abbey Ziemba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Making Spirits Bright is a great way to kick off your holiday reading! This sweet small town romcom packs a ton into its 135 pages. It’s easy to love Scarlet, her grandpa Richard. Their relationship is adorable and it’s filled with love and support. Their extended family however… are the worst, and have gone out of their way to consistently make Scarlet feel bad about herself. In an effort to make this Christmas easier, Richard decides Scarlet needs a fake boyfriend to fend off her families jibes about being single. Enter their grumpy new neighbor, Noah.

This story unfolds like you want it to, lots of laughter, stolen staged kisses, and a flurry of catching feelings all while selling their fake relationships to the family. The epilogue is the perfect way to wrap in up in a beautiful bow. 4.5⭐️

[Stevie Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh this was so cute! Super easy read that I could not put down and just made me all warm and fuzzy inside! I usually don’t get into the holiday spirit this early but this book really skyrocketed my need for Holiday Romance books. Both main characters are adorably sweet and the chemistry is great right from the get go when she falls on her backside during their first meeting. The grandpa is the MVP for sure and he absolutely reminds me of my own grandparents. I love the simplicity of the plot in that it’s just a feel good romance and doesn’t have nor need any of the usual drama of romcoms. I can’t wait to read more!

Thank you Carly Greer for allowing me an eARC to read and review! Happy release day! ❤️

[Elisabeth Copeland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful short holiday read. It’s a sweet romance that will put a smile on your face. In this story you will meet Scarlet and Noah. It’s Christmas time and Scarlet and her grandfather are gearing up to deal with their family. Her grandfather believes that if she had a fake boyfriend, her family will leave her alone. Enter, Noah, a loner who gets brought into this potential holiday disaster.

I loved the dialogue in this story and the relationship between Scarlet and her grandfather and then their relationship with Noah. This is such a heartwarming holiday story. A grab some cocoa, put on some holiday music and settle in with this book. You will not regret it.

[HannahsHardcovers · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC Review*

Carly Greer, I think you just wrote my all-time favorite Christmas novel.

Grumpy x Sunshine, Small-town Christmas, Fake Boyfriend? Yes please!

I got the wonderful opportunity to receive an ARC copy of Making Spirits Bright by Carly Greer a few days ago. If you love Christmas books, Romance books, and cheesy Christmas romance movies, this book is perfect.

I've never been one for holiday romance books or movies but this book was PERFECT. You have genuinely written my favorite holiday romance ever.

Scarelt's Grandpa is trying to save her from a rough holiday of being made fun of at Christmas for her single status, so he enlists help from their new neighbor to play her fake boyfriend. Enter lots of banter, mixed signals, and some of our favorite holiday traditions. You won't want to miss this!

These characters feel so real, are so well written, and the book will have your crying.

Congrats on your recently release Carly, and thank you for trusting me with this work of art!

5/5

[Terri Paulson-Sasaki · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I am a sucker for a Christmas book, especially a clean story. I loved this story and it is one that I will be adding to my Christmas list every year. Scarlet lives with her Gramp (sweet, lovable guy) and he wants her to find a boyfriend for Christmas. Her Mom and sisters, think Cinderella, don't believe that she has a boyfriend. There is family drama, they are always putting Scarlet down. I love Gramp, he reminds me of my father. The fake boyfriend is a gentleman and totally perfect for Scarlet. He has manners and knows how to treat her. No spice but lots of sweet kissing.

[danns.bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book review: Making Spirits Bright (ARC Review) by Carly Greer

“I’ll do it, play your boyfriend for a couple of days.”-Noah

This was a very cute, quick and easy Christmas romance where you intently fall in love with the three main characters. Christmas Grump meets ray-of-sunshine FMC, fake dating, and cozy, forced proximity that just melt your heart.

“My heart is happy and I’m pretty sure I’m not pretending anymore.”- Scarlet

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a sucker for fake dating and this book, sucked me in. It is a quick holiday read that will have you smiling with Gramps behavior and how much he really loves Scarlet. Their family is crazy! And when Noah sees this with his own eyes, he just has to help.
You will want to finish this story up in a sitting and it makes me want to put up my Christmas tree and sit by the lights. Definitely a cute novella for the season.

[Natalie Santana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfect quick read to start the holiday reading off right!

This story gave me all the feel-good Christmas fuzzies, and I thoroughly loved the characters and authors writing style - flowed well and easy to read!

What I loved:

🎄forced proximity
💕faked dating
🎄family “villains”
💕HEA ending
🎄witty Gramps!
💕small town
🎄all the jolly vibes
💕grumpy x sunshine

[Ashleigh Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a self-described sweet holiday romance, and it is exactly that. It's a very fast read, one you can finish in one sitting with a couple of hours uninterrupted. I found the characters cute and relatable, the "villains" appropriately dislikable, and is loved the end. Both of them.

[Shea Bloodworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect start to holiday reading. It’s a quick 135 pages. We all dread when the family points out how single we are every holiday, so Scarlet’s grandfather sets her up a fake boyfriend in this small town romance. It’s a cute start to Christmas!!

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very sweet Christmas romance. Big Hallmark vibes and only takes place over a few days with the epilogue being 5 years later.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute. If you're looking for a holiday rom-com, I would recommend it.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so cute. Such a sweet read. Small town, cozy vibes and I absolutely loved the characters. Definitely recommend.

I received an arc and this review is my own.

[allwashedup182 · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Scarlet + Noah✨
I loved this Christmas novella! (No spice)
✨multiple POV (Gramps has 1-2)
✨small town
✨fake dating
✨grumpy x sunshine
✨heart warming
✨HEA

[E'Who'Reads'a'Thousand'Mysteries · Rating 5 out of 5]

This high quality book is a sweet and adorable holiday tale, both heartwarming and hopeful. The charming details and vast array of well-developed characters really bring the story to life. The meaningful depth makes this a great gift for readers of all ages.

[Sara Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love small town Hallmark Christmas movies and Cinderella…this book is for you!!!
Making Spirits Bright is a Christmas novella featuring a grumpy MMC, Noah and a Christmas-loving small town FMC, Scarlet.

They are neighbors who fake date around the holidays, giving you all the feels! Scarlet’s family are like the evil step sisters and step mom from Cinderella and her grandfather is like a fairy godfather. So it has a Cinderella feel with a sweet HEA!

🎄Small town romance
🎄Fake Dating
🎄Neighbors
🎄Grumpy/Sunshine
🎄Family Drama that’s a twist on Cinderella