A Risk Worth Taking

by Jessica Joyce

Claire Ashford has always led a careful life—her family didn't nickname her Claireful for nothing. But after ending a relationship that was equal parts safe and unfulfilling, she recognizes just how much her caution has cost her and dedicates herself to leaving her Claireful ways behind. Her first chance to take a risk comes with a job opportunity in San Francisco. It's a fresh start she can't—and doesn't want to—refuse.

Her second chance? That appears on her last night in Portland in the form of a gorgeous attendee at the holiday party where she's bartending. Lingering glances turn into a chemistry-filled exchange, and by the end of the night Claire knows exactly what she wants: one night and no strings with Connor Stella. It'll be one last hot memory to close her chapter in this city.

But the weather has other plans: a winter storm grounds all flights for the weekend, Claire's included, and suddenly one night turns into an entire weekend. It would be a true inconvenience if Claire and Connor weren't already forging an electric connection. Instead, three nights cooped up in Connor's apartment together is the gift that keeps on giving. The only real inconvenience is that she's starting to get attached to the gorgeous stranger who feels more familiar than anyone she's ever met.

Claire's new adventure is on the other side of PDX's de-iced runways, but her biggest—and most worth—risk might be opening her heart up to the man she's leaving behind.

Genres: Romance, Novella, Christmas, Holiday, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Adult

80 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 9, 2023

About the author

Jessica Joyce is the bestselling author of relatable, character-driven contemporary romance stories that feature as much yearning as she can stuff into them. When she's not working on a new book, you can find her making a playlist, watching Sleepless in Seattle and the 2005 version of Pride & Prejudice on repeat, or curled up with a book she didn't have to write.

Reviews

[SK · Rating 2 out of 5]

A risk not worth taking

[Lilyya ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

SO FREAKING CUTE

[Warda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excuse me, but this was horribly adorable!

When I tell you I’m in my feelings right now. 🥹

How is a novella that is less than 100 pages able to give me so many different emotions, make me damn giddy about characters that haven’t known each other for that long, and believe in their connection as if they’re soulmates?

Because they are and no one can tell me any different.

It’s skill, it’s talent. It’s ridiculous is what it is.

Something about this story felt like fate. 🥰

I like how it brought attention to the fact that time isn’t always an indicator of importance. In terms of how long you’ve known someone. Genuine connection can trump that. Genuine connection is the game changer.

Anyway, read this before I start getting soppy with this review. I loved this. 😭

*screams into the abyss*

[B.K. Borison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know how she did this to me in 73 pages.

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

★ 3 stars

"It's not as natural for us to think about the risks associated with not changing."

This was actually so cute! Exceeded my expectations and had what I look for in a Novella - short, sweet and uncomplicated.

The plot:

This novella follows Claire Ashford who was living a careful and unfulfilling life and wanted to take an adventure. She's about to move to a different State with a new job opportunity when Connor arrives in her bar on her last shift before moving. This book is all about what you might miss out on if you don't take a chance.

╰⪼ Thoughts:

I can't say too much about this without spoiling because it's so short (78 pages) but I loved the ending and her commitment to her own future. This had the potential to be so toxic and it wasn't at all - Connor is great.

Decent smut and minimal cringe. It takes place shortly before the Christmas/new year period so only very briefly festive but I still liked it.

🎶 I listened to Phoebe Bridges and Gracie Abrams while reading this and it fit the bittersweet/melancholy vibes.

Quotes:

❥"Slow and careful isn't really what I want tonight."

❥"I'm so used to thinking of the word careful in how in relates to the way I view the world, historically-with caution, aware of every angle of risk. I never thought of it the way Connor means right now: to literally be full of care. To be thoughtful and attentive. Diligent."

❥"Holy shit I am glad I got to be the last few pages in your Portland chapter." "I couldn't have written them better."

_______________________
➸ Update: 2/12/23 - Hoping and praying this one is better than the last novella 🫶 I saw Taylor Swift coded mentioned and added straight to my cart because I'm feeling festive ☺️

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute and immensely fluffy. Despite this being only 80 pages there was some familiarity in this when it comes to getting out of your comfort zone in taking risks instead of always playing it safe—something most of us know all too well

The banter between Connor and Claire (more so with Connor) was soo playful & charming even though there were a few lines that gave off millennial cringe and I’m a millennial so it just cringed me more but otherwise I still enjoyed it. The nicknames >> adorable. I’m glad she made that decision at the end in not settling and I liked the progression of “what could be” not being rushed

“After several beats, I whisper, “I’ll miss you tomorrow.”“I’ll miss you even after that,” he says and we dance, quiet now.”

“His voice dips. “And holy shit am I glad I got to be the last few pages in your Portland chapter.” There’s a sudden knot in my throat. “I couldn’t have written them better.” 🥺

“Is that your adorable way of saying you want this, too?” “I already told you,” I say, just before he pulls me down for a kiss. “I want everything.” These cuties 🧸

I definitely recommend this Christmas novella if you want light and fluffy vibes + its an hour binge at most. also, the smut wasn’t bad as it wasn’t too descriptive

[Tarah DeWitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

(respectfully) Jessica Joyce,
GO TO HELL! 🥰🥰🥰 This was heart palpitating, feet kicking, pulse in throat, and butterflies in my belly good. I love your brain NEVER EVER CHANGE!! They're such fully realized characters in a handful of pages!!!!! You made me sick with love!!! I need next years story to be them trying to go to both of their family holiday parties and please also tell me what they're doing for Groundhog Day and then also summer solstice!! How are they celebrating national pet day with Jimbo?!! God this was such a goddamn joy, JOYce. Bye ✌🏻

[Iqra · Rating 3 out of 5]

BR w taz 🫶💗🌸💕💓💞💖🧸

This was surprisingly really cute and endearing

The mmc, Connor, really carried the novella for me. He was genuinely the most bubbly open sweet caring guy ugh I looovvveeee him sfm. You could see hm he cared abt the fmc and i didn’t even need his pov for that to shine thru.

I actually loved that it wasn’t rushed and they weren’t flinging the ily’s around at the end of it. I appreciated this being more of a soft novella rather than being filled w smut (even tho I appreciate those too 😝)

All in all, It’s a cute novella to get you out of a slump <3

[aleksandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5

Even though I'm not a huge fan of one-night stands romance books, this novella was pretty enjoyable. Boring, but pretty enjoyable. The characters were likeable, smut was smutting and the hero was a green flag.

[krys ~♡~ (scarlett's version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

men like Connor are the real reason im never gna settle 🥺🤌🏻

[kaylee ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ★ (rounded up for gr)

"Now, instead of thinking of the cost of action, I imagine the opposite: what would it cost me to do nothing? To not take a risk that could change my life?"

｡･:*˚:✧｡ The Book

this book had no reason being as good and relatable as it was. I had the best little time with it, claireful and stella are so so adorable, and their story was so fluffy. this was the cutest little novella. I especially liked how, in the end, they both (specifically claire) stuck to their own plans and goals. the two of them were really just playing the long game, and fate pulled through.

I loved this novella a ton, and think it's a great way to meet those reading goals 🤭 it was super fun, and the message about how important it is to take risks and step out of your comfort zone was a wonderful touch.

｡･:*˚:✧｡ More Quotes I Loved

"Taking his hand feels like the riskiest thing I've done in years and somehow also the safest."

"This is going to be a one-night stand on a technicality, just so you know. If you weren't leaving tomorrow, I'd keep you until you got sick of me."

"I love looking at you but I hate seeing you so far away."

"Why'd it take you so long to get to me Claire Ashford?"
"I could ask you the same thing."

~

let's see if i can break my pitifully small reading goal 💪🏼

[lulu · Rating 3 out of 5]

THEY’RE SO CUTIE

claireful & stella 🥺💗🫶🏽🩷🧸💘

[buket · Rating 4 out of 5]

questions:

where can i find myself a connor stella?
why don’t i have a connor stella?
what is it like to have a connor stella?
how can i find myself a connor stella?
who will be my connor stella?
when will i have my connor stella?

[daniella · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novella was a wonderful mix of sweetness and a bit of steaminess. It's amazing how even in a short story, it can pack some valuable life lessons. The question "What would it cost you to do nothing?" really makes you think. It's a powerful reminder to take action and not let opportunities pass us by. 🌟

[Estefania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica Joyce can do no wrong in my eyes.

[lexie · Rating 5 out of 5]

i want to give jessica a big fat smooch after this

[Aoife - Bookish_Babbling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, quick, one day read set in the same bookverse as You, With a View.

I would say this was somewhat unrealistic storytelling, except that my sister lives in Portland and reliably informs our fam that everything does indeed grind to an absolute halt with even a dusting of snow 🤭

3.75*

[jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was very cute & fluffy but…



it just wasn’t for me. if you want short & fluffy to the max i def recommend!! but i was bored icl, this was a risk i should NOT have taken.

"That's because you said I've given you sixty-nine orgasms in the past thirty-six hours. Firstly, I'm never going to ignore a sixty-nine reference and sec-ondly, I know that you meant in your heart you feel the quality of orgasms I've given you are equal to a quantity of sixty-nine."

millennial cringe but make it festive?

[Kelsey S · Rating 5 out of 5]

▹TL;DR Review: It’s never too early in the year to read a spicy little holiday novella, and this one was super cute in such a small package. If you’re adamantly against a quick-building romance, you might not like this, but if you want a short and cute read that blends plot with spice, this is a good one!

▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★★.5 out of 5
▹Format: 📱 eReader
─────────────────────────

○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○

– About: Claire and Connor randomly meet and set out for a one-night-stand but end up snowed in for a few days. All of this on the night before Claire is making a life-changing move to pursue a new job in San Francisco. Surely they can keep things uber casual and not immediately catch feelings, right? And they will easily be able to move on once they part?!
– FMC: Claire Ashford (aka “Claireful”). ~29 years old. Trying to break out of her “play it safe” persona and live life on the wild-er side. Freelance copywriter/sometimes barmaid.
– MMC: Connor Stella. ~33 years old. Down for anything (especially where Claire is involved).
– Location: Portland, OR and San Francisco, CA
– POV: Single first-person
– Spice: 3 open-door spicy scenes
– Tropes: strangers to lovers, one-night-stand, snowed in/forced proximity, he’s down bad
– Triggers: nothing really (unless you are triggered by taking career/location risks?)
– Representation: cat adoption!

─────────────────────────

↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12

Now Playing: The Subway by Chappell Roan

╰┈➤ ❝It’s just another day and it’s not over, till it’s over; it’s never over…and she’s got a way, she got away.❞

─────────────────────────

★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★

➼ Holiday novellas that aren’t over the top with the holiday theme
➼ Quick, cute romance with or without spice, like the novellas With Any Luck by Ashley Poston, Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey, Worst Wingman Ever by Abby Jimenez, and Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood
➼ Finding a one-night-stand the night before you move to another state, but taking a piece of them with you.

─────────────────────────

⍟»This or That«⍟

Character Driven——✧—————————Plot Driven
Insta Love/Lust———✧————————Slow Burn
Sweet———————✧————Spicy
Light/Fluffy——✧—————————Heavy/Emotional

─────────────────────────

🎯 My Thoughts:

Look, I am rarely impressed by insta-love/lust in books, but SOMETIMES it’s just done in the right way where I don’t mind it. This is one of those examples. Jessica Joyce has such a fun way with writing complex characters, which is—I’m sure—tough to do in under 100 pages, but she did it!

I loved the depth that Claire, our FMC, was given and while Connor’s POV is not explored, we get enough snippets of his characteristics to see why Claire is into him.

While this is technically a holiday novella, it’s not the main theme. It takes place about 10 days before Christmas, and there are some holiday celebrations, but it’s a minor plot point.

Would I Recommend? YES! Unless you cannot stand novellas that have spice due to how quick things evolve.

[anmol · Rating 3 out of 5]

dear god me when

[carolina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow and careful isn’t really what I want to be tonight. 😏

rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

･:*❅🧣❄️✧˖°

I WILL READ ANYTHING THIS WOMAN WRITES!!

I have one complaint - Why is this so short? 😭 I want more! I don’t know how she did it, but Jessica made me care for these characters and their lives and now I wish this was a full length novel, so I could read more about them. Seriously, the characters felt so real to me.

This is a very short story, less than 80 pages, but it’s so sweet and spicy. Clara and Connor have great chemistry, I loved their banter and the tension between them was so good (if there’s good tension, I already know I’ll eat it up 😮‍💨). It does have some insta-love vibes, which I would normally hate, but considering this is a novelette, I didn’t mind it.

Also, Connor mentioning THEO SPENCER?!! 😭 it made me so happy!

I don’t know why, but it feels weird to give very short stories a 5 star rating, so I’m settling for a 4.5 star, but in my heart it’s a 5 star read. It filled me with all the good feelings and the spicy scenes were so good 🥵

I recommend this if you’re looking for something short to read, it’s cute and it’s sexy and it’s set around the holidays. And Jessica’s writing is beautiful and meaningful.

[Hannah B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

So Jessica Joyce could shit on paper and I’d read it.

Greediness is my biggest toxic trait, therefore novellas are never enough for me. I need more time to bond with the characters, their story.

However this novella packs a punch and exists to prove size doesn’t matter. Not when you’re a wizard like Jessica Joyce.

There’s a line on the first page that shot me in the chest. It winded me so bad, I’m about to have a new sleep paralysis demon.

✨𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐚 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧.

🫢🫢 I’m not even a swifty, but have you ever seen anything so Taylor Swift coded?? So RELATABLE? If I wasn’t so obsessed with JJ I’d call the police to report a breaking and entering INTO MY MIND because did she just take a stroll down a dark alley in mine??

Consider me triggered. If you wanna know what lies in my burn book, there it is.

Some people are born to write and she is one of them. It’s like her writing has a reservation in my brain you know?? It slots in so easily. Every sentence flows, the descriptions, the dialogue, it’s a pure joy to read.

This is a one night/weekend stand between Claire and Connor just before the holidays that did a lot in a short space of time. There was depth, banter, decent spice and vibes that left me with a big ole goofy smile on my face.

I couldn’t ask for anything more from a novella.

4⭐️ solid stars. This is how it’s done 👏🏻

[๑ seungchaccomin ๑ · Rating 3 out of 5]

“𝘄𝗵𝘆'𝗱 𝗶 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘄, 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲?”

i have a question for claire. i thought it was only a one night stand, but why it becomes three??? 😃

ps: + 1 star for theo and noelle cameo from 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 🤩

[Clare Gilmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

devoured in one sitting but what did you expect? Jessica Joyce is my lord and savior ❄️

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I'm in love with the love stories Jessica Joyce writes. I'm in love with Jessica Joyce's writing. It's a beautiful kind of book magic. This was tender and funny, uplifting and sexy. At 78 pages, it felt more fleshed out than some full-length novels I've read. Normally, I need more time, a slower-burn, layered characters with believable motivations, which are hard to craft in a short page count... clearly, there are exceptions to the rule.

If Jessica Joyce writes it, I'm reading it. I urge others to do the same. Auto-buy. Auto-buy. Auto-buy.

"It was only a weekend, but it felt like everything, didn’t it?"

[jfdbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

reread 12/7 - had to come back to this perfection of a novella, of course. I love jessica’s brain and the magic she creates in just 75 pages

————————————

the best holiday novella period. jessica joyce did a phenomal job at making this short story so rich with chemistry despite its length. i need a full novel!

[RLbooks (in and out) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up

Several friends loved this book so I had to take a look and it's just as cute as described by many reviewers. Claire (h) and Connor (H) were likable and sweet people who have chemistry at an event that Claire was working at for Connor's company. They agree to explore said chemistry over a ONS that extends a couple more days thanks to weather. But even though they're a lovely fit, Claire was already scheduled to leave town for a job opportunity. I liked that nothing altered with Claire's plans because of their romantic compatibility and they left each other on a nice note of looking each other up if they're in the same place again. Six months later, they are and they do. The ending is HFN, making for just a quick and light read overall with some steamy times. Written in first person, single POV of h. No ow/om drama and neither were virgins (neither engage in ONS usually).

[Hibbah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessica Joyce is very quickly becoming my new favourite author that I’ve discovered this year.

[kelseyandherbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love them I love them I love them.

Thank god this wasn’t a full length novel, because I’m pretty sure Connor Stella would have been the end of me.

Ugh. It was just pure delight - steamy and bantery and lovely and pure Jessica Joyce. Perfection.