Dance with Me on New Year's Eve

Love & Holidays #3

by Alana Highbury

If you loved You've Got Mail, Mr. Wrong Number, and The Mindy Project, you'll love this sweet holiday romance from bestselling author Alana Highbury, featuring a twist on the office romance and enemies-to-lovers themes.

Ruled by social anxiety, Roxy has felt lonely and self-conscious for as long as she can remember. Her stress and self-doubt multiply when she starts working more closely with her brusque colleague Jeff, who brings out the worst in her. To escape, she immerses herself in an online game-making community where she befriends an interesting guy with similar game-making goals.

Unbeknownst to her, this online friend is none other than Jeff. As their real-life interactions evolve from hostility to a tentative friendship, Roxy faces a Can she reconcile her feelings for what she believes are two different men? Battling her self-doubt and conflicting emotions, Roxy must decide if she can find happiness, connection, and confidence in both her virtual and real worlds.

Preorder today, and while you're waiting, check out the first two books in this holiday romance series!

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Holiday

251 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 26, 2024

About the author

Alana Highbury is the author of the Austen Inspired series, along with several holiday romances: Meet Me on Christmas Eve, Snowed In on Valentine's Day, and Dance with Me on New Year's Eve. Her novels blend rom-com, contemporary romance, and women’s fiction. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading, playing board games, cross stitching, or hanging out with her family, which includes a writerly husband and children, two beautiful, lazy cats, and a feisty cockatiel. With master’s and bachelor’s degrees in English, Alana has worked in professional writing and editing roles for two decades, but she’s been an avid fan of romance fiction even longer.

Reviews

[Kylie ve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute and sweet romance that honestly gave me all the feels. I related so much to Roxy with social anxiety and finding it hard to talk to people in person. This book honestly does such a great job at explaining how hard it is to live with social anxiety and what it can do to you. It also did such a wonderful job in showing how important a healthy work life balance is and what can happen if you overwork yourself too much. The online romance was adorable and i loved the little twist at the end. Jeff was such an interesting character and i really like how throughout the book you start to see the many layers to him as a person. I do wish we got a bit more backstory for him though because i was very curious about his parents and family life. Lila was such a fun character and definitely made me laugh with her interactions with Roxy. I really enjoyed the character development for both characters and the plot was pretty fun. I also really like this authors writing style so i will definitely be reading more from this author. I highly recommend this book!

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

[Susan Z (webreakforbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dance With Me On New Year's Eve is a workplace enemies to lovers in the spirit of You've Got Mail. They are enemies at work but their alter ego end up friends in an anonymous forum for fans of a TV show.

Roxy, the FMC, suffers from social anxiety. I appreciated the real look into this sometimes debilitating condition.

The book takes period over several months and multiple seasons, so although holidays occur, this isn't a holiday book, and is perfect any time of year.

I loved her beautiful dedication to her children❤️

If you like a sweet clean romance with some enemies to lovers vibes, this one is for you!

[Amanda Mayfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roxy, our FMC, struggles with social anxiety and all the complexities the come with it. Because of this she is almost living two lives - one in the real world and the other online. While online she has made a friend - CastGamer55 aka “Danny.” Since it is online she has a sense of safety - never revealing anything too personal. “Danny” asks her to help with a game. Through their work on the game their friendship blossoms and hints of love start to appear.

Meanwhile, in the real world, Roxy has been partnered with colleague Jeff to work on a project for their boss Hazel. Yes the very same Hazel from Meet Me on Christmas Eve. (I have decided I want to be friends with her!). Jeff & Roxy haven’t exactly gotten along and this project will test both their patience.

Personally, as someone who suffers from social anxiety, it was refreshing to have a character that was relatable and not a stereotype. My appreciation was only furthered by the author’s candid note about her social anxiety being used for material but it also still being a work of fiction. I choose this slow burn (thanks to social anxiety) enemies to lovers book largely because it worked for a reading challenge. Little did I know it would be relatable and bring the feels out of me!

[LESLIE J (mrsj_readsbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet romance
Social anxiety
You’ve Got Mail
Enemies to Lovers

I really enjoyed seeing Jeff and Roxy blossom and grow as the book progressed.

[Lori Albertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dance with Me on New Year’s Eve is a very sweet story. I enjoyed meeting Roxy (even with her anxieties at every turn) and Jeff and loving their cute romance (finally)!

Good job, Alana Highbury!!

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding What She Needs . . .

Jeff Chamberlain and Roxanne Swan (who prefers to be called “Roxy”) don’t seem to work together well. He still considers them “barely acquaintances” so refuses to call her by the nickname. Both working at an elite lakeside resort, he handles finance and she handles event planning, so not likely to see each other often… fortunately! Then her boss broke the news to them that they are about to become “close colleagues”! His reaction was pretty much as negative as hers, but he added a scowl as well. He always acts so cold, rude, and abrupt with her, and her social anxiety disorder made it difficult for her to deal with him and his insults. Now her very capable boss Hazel has announced her new counseling center. She believes both of them have the skills to put together her project team, so she wants both of them to be co-project managers on this. Neither of them want that assignment! With Jeff and Roxy needing to cooperate, it will never work -- they really did seem to hate each other. But when he claimed he could do it without her, she angrily spoke up for herself (surprised at her own reaction). But for Hazel’s sake, Roxy will make sure that her vision for the counseling center is successful… even though 9 months to pull it all together seems very challenging at the moment.

Needing a bit of support to overcome the self-doubt she is wrestling, Roxy finds a group online where she can relax and she finds a friend in Danny. She can be honest with him and he doesn’t make her feel bad about herself. They enjoy chatting with each other and Roxy feels she can really open up with him. But she is also beginning to work with Jeff, and as they talk with each other, they both seem to adjust their previous hostile attitudes. Could they actually begin to become friends? Will she have to choose one day between the two men she now values? Or will she discover that maybe she doesn’t have to give up either to find what she needs in her life?

[Alicia (aliciasbooksanctuary) · Rating 4 out of 5]

OVERALL STAR RATING: 4/5
CLEAN RATING: 5/5

This was my first time picking up anything by Alana Highbury and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this quick read. It was fun, sweet, fast-paced and had GREAT social anxiety rep, which I truly appreciated. Social anxiety is so much more than being “shy” and Alana did a fantastic job showcasing that.

Roxy and Jeff are co-workers who border on the line of enemies. Roxy feels incredibly overwhelmed when she’s paired up with Jeff for a big project. She doesn’t know how they’re ever going to excel at “teamwork”. Roxy spends her evenings online trying to lower her stress while chatting with fans of her favorite TV shows. She strikes up a bit of a bond with another fan and they begin writing back and forth every single day. Their online relationship grows and blossoms into quite an honest and aspiring friendship. Simultaneously, her relationship with Jeff seems to take a bit of a turn for the better as well.

Roxy had always struggled to communicate and connect with others – especially when it came to the opposite sex, but now, here she is with Jeff and this online mystery man that are both sparking feelings within her heart. How is she to juggle these “two” different men in her life? 😉

Fans of You’ve Got Mail and hidden identity twists will adore this sweet story. All the ingredients of a fantastic RomCom with cozy winter holiday vibes.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

*For more reviews and bookish content, be sure to follow me on Instagram @aliciasbooksanctuary

[Jessica Snoke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roxy has the perfect job for her social anxiety - she can successfully get her work done without having to interact with people all day long. That is until her boss forces her to work with her nemesis, Jeff. Thankfully she has her online game-making community and her newfound online friend, “Danny,” to escape to after work. Unlike her interactions with Jeff, Danny is easy to talk to and allows her to be herself.

But as she begins to work with Jeff more, his demeanor starts to change. She catches small glimpses of a man much different than she knew before. And soon she finds herself torn between Danny and Jeff. But little does Roxy realize, she doesn’t need to choose between two men because Danny and Jeff are one and the same.

I can relate to Roxy and her social anxiety. While my anxiety might not fully reach the extent of hers, I could easily empathize with how she felt in several situations. However, I did feel her anxiety was a little too prevalent throughout the book to the point that it became a bit frustrating to continue to witness. I was thankful that Hazel and Mari stepped in and wiggled their way into creating a friendship with her. I feel like that was a pivotal moment for Roxy that finally sparked something in her to help her realize that she wasn’t as unworthy as she thought.

And then there’s Jeff. The broody coworker who seemingly couldn’t be bothered with someone like Roxy. While that was quite the opposite of how he was actually feeling, he played the part well. Despite Jeff being the ultimate grump, I couldn’t help but like him. As he started to let his walls down, I adored the subtle ways he tried letting Roxy know she couldn’t be herself.

Overall, this was a nice, quick read and I appreciated the portrayal of navigating social anxiety in both the professional and dating worlds.

Thank you to Alana and Reedsy Discovery for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Natalia_Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all, thanks a lot to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel.

Even though I did enjoy how well the author depicts the struggles of social anxiety through the character of Roxy, the love story itself was not for me, given that their animosity or bottled-up feelings lasted too long for my taste, making it a bit boring sometimes.

But if you do struggle with anxiety maybe this romance could be for you, since it shows how the character of Roxy navigates through life with it, including love. Maybe you will see the connection between them that I failed to.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

This is book three of Love & Holidays, I was not able to read the first two before reading this book but that was not an issue for me. This book can be read as a standalone but trust me you will be picking up the first two like me after reading it. This is about Roxy and Jeff who are in bookish terms enemies to lovers. Roxy has social anxiety and doesn’t like talking about it, so instead she suffers/gets overwhelmed when she is paired with Jeff to do a big project. Roxy spends her down time watching her favorite tv show and goes online to the groups that chat about it. She starts up a conversation with another fan and their online friendship blossoms from there, but all while that is going on hers and Jeff's relationship starts to take a turn and it's for the best.

If you would like to have a cute book that has sweet romance, learning to respect yourself better, understanding your own limits, dealing with social anxiety and how to cope with situations you might find yourself in, friendships and so much more. I loved how this author really did hit it on the nose about social anxiety, I have had a few issues with it but mine is more about having to speak in large crowds and I have a family member that suffers from social anxiety. I liked that it really is the nose right on the dot with how it's hard living with social anxiety and learning what the balances are. This book also talks about how a lot of people have a hard time with work life balance, and I love how the author slipped that in, it might not be the top thing talked about, but I love that it was in there. I know that I have a hard time with work life balance and seeing how these characters handle it was great.

I loved that this author wrote this book and made it fast-paced, easy to read, funny and sweet, with understanding and respect for the issues that come a crossed. I found the characters easy to connect with and relate to, I found myself wanting to air hug Roxy so many times or just wishing she was real so I could call her and tell her that I understand, I liked that she was a strong character even with her flaws. I liked that she would understand what is happening to her and she knows the steps that it takes and talks about them, but still shows you that it can be a real struggle even knowing everything. I loved Jeff's character, at first I hated him but then I was thinking that he might have social anxiety as well but the more and more that I got to know his character I started really liking him and seeing a different side to him.

If you like books that feel like you know the characters by the ending, sweet/cute romance, social anxiety rep, small town vibes and hidden identity you need to pick up this Romcom.

I want to thank the author and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

[Melissa’s Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

A swoon worthy enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine romcom with You’ve Got Mail vibes! This is my first book by Alana Highbury & won’t be my last. I enjoyed this cute story with great social anxiety rep.

Roxy’s been asked to do the impossible, work with her grumpy fellow coworker Jeff on a new project. Jeff brings out the worst in her & she feels the animosity coming off him whenever they’re together. As she struggles with anxiety, specifically social anxiety, Roxy doesn’t know how she’ll accomplish all she’s been asked to do.

To help her through her self-doubt & debilitating fears, she joins an online community & begins chatting with a guy named Danny. With him, she’s able to open up about herself & her feelings. They even begin working on producing a game together based on their favorite series.

As Roxy grows closer to Danny, she also starts finding out new things about Jeff. He’s not the curmudgeon she thought he was. He has a darling daughter & Roxy finds herself spending time with both of them & enjoying their company. As New Year’s Eve approaches, Roxy finds herself torn between two men. Who will she choose?

This book provided some great insights into social anxiety. Roxy really struggles & at times it was hard to read because I felt so bad for her. I have a loved one who suffers from anxiety & know how difficult it is when those internal voices tell them they’re not enough. Roxy has some parental issues as well. Her mother in particular thinks she’s just “shy” & needs to “just get over it” which is so demeaning to someone who suffers from this. Luckily, Roxy has a best friend & coworker friends who help her see the best in herself & let her know it’s okay if she can’t do all the things.

I loved Jeff & how understanding he was. He definitely has his own baggage which wasn’t explored as much since this was written solely from Roxy’s POV. Every glimpse I got of his character I enjoyed & I appreciated how long he’d liked Roxy. I also enjoyed his daughter Lila & sister Abby.

The ending was so satisfying! That kiss! I loved the twist at the end & how Roxy is able to work through everything.

Highly recommend this closed door, kissing only romcom, easily read as a standalone. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own & voluntarily provided.

[Ann-Maree · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Dance with Me on New Year's Eve**
by Alana Highbury

Roxy has always felt the heavy weight of social anxiety pressing down on her, leaving her feeling isolated and self-conscious. As she navigates her daily life, moments of loneliness loom large, particularly when she begins working alongside her brusque colleague, Jeff. His sharp demeanour and no-nonsense attitude seem to amplify her stress and self-doubt, making the work environment feel even more challenging. In search of an escape from this internal turmoil, Roxy dives into an online game-making community, where she discovers a vibrant world filled with creative minds. It is here that she forms a bond with an intriguing guy who shares her passion for game design, adding a touch of excitement to her life.

What Roxy doesn’t realise, however, is that this charming online friend is Jeff himself. As their real-life interactions shift from a charged animosity to a fragile yet promising friendship, Roxy must confront a complicated web of emotions. Is it possible for her to reconcile her feelings for two men whom she believes are entirely different? Drenched in self-doubt yet yearning for connection, she is caught in a struggle to find happiness and confidence in both her online and offline worlds.

While I found great value in how the author vividly captured Roxy's experience with social anxiety, the central love story fell short for me. The tension and unresolved feelings between Roxy and Jeff lingered for what felt like an eternity, occasionally dragging the pace of the story. The epilogue left me feeling unsatisfied; I wished for a deeper exploration of what happened afterwards, longing to fill in the unanswered questions it posed. Though the romance offered a sweet touch, it lacked the spice that could have elevated the experience. The plot itself was somewhat thin, and I desired more detail to immerse myself fully in the storyline. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable read overall. The "enemies to lovers" theme was palpable, but the dialogue, often presented in text format, was not a style that resonated with me.

[Jodi Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dance with Me on New Year’s Eve is the first book by Alana Highbury that I’ve read, and it will definitely not be my last. I adored this sweet story. The writing flowed beautifully, the characters were unique and complex, and the story gave me strong You’ve Got Mail vibes, which I loved. It was so good.

This story focuses on Roxy, who was assigned to work on a special project with her work enemy, Jeff. Roxy knows that Jeff feels the same dislike for her that she feels for him. As Roxy tries to make the best of her work situation, she escapes into an online fan community at night to relax and have fun. Roxy starts communicating with Danny, a man she knows nothing about. As time passes, Roxy develops a close friendship with Danny even though she knows nothing about him. She also starts to see Jeff in a new light. The story that follows is full of self-reflection, friendship, holiday vibes, and love.

I felt for Roxy from the very first page. She suffered from social anxiety that impacted every aspect of her life. She felt so awkward and unworthy of any attention, from anyone. She was so strong, even though she did not feel strong at all. I loved her relationships with Jeff and Danny. It was so fun to see Roxy change and grow through the story. Her character arc was beautiful.

Things to love:
-Roxy’s honest POV
-You’ve Got Mail vibes
-online messaging
-Lila
-Roxy’s bosses Mari and Hazel
-all the references to Minnesota
-all the seasons of the year
-the banter
-the slow burn lead up to the first kiss

I don’t want to give too much away about this book because you need to discover the story as you read. It was so sweet. The HEA is so good.

Thank you to the author for the gifted copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Katherine Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dance with Me on New Year’s Eve by Alana Highbury

Charming, relatable, and quietly heartfelt — a romantic comedy that thoughtfully explores social anxiety, connection, and self-worth.

Dance with Me on New Year’s Eve is a sweet, engaging romantic comedy that shines in its honest portrayal of navigating work, dating, and relationships while living with social anxiety. Roxy is a wonderfully relatable protagonist whose inner struggles feel authentic and grounded, making her journey both emotional and rewarding to follow.

I especially appreciated how the story balances humor and vulnerability. Roxy’s online friendship with “Danny” offers her a safe space to be herself, while her evolving relationship with Jeff highlights how first impressions don’t always tell the full story. Watching Jeff slowly reveal his softer side beneath the gruff exterior was genuinely satisfying and added depth to the romance.

The dual-world dynamic of online versus real-life connection was handled thoughtfully, and the reveal brought everything together in a way that felt earned rather than gimmicky. Supporting characters like Hazel and Mari added warmth and encouragement, reinforcing the theme that sometimes growth begins when we allow others in.

This was a quick, enjoyable read with emotional resonance beneath the light rom-com surface. Alana Highbury does a lovely job showing that confidence doesn’t always come from dramatic transformation sometimes it grows quietly, through patience, understanding, and being seen for who you truly are.

A great pick for readers who enjoy romantic comedies with depth, relatable characters, and meaningful representation of social anxiety.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book follows Roxy and Jeff coworkers that hate each other but both have a secret guilty pleasure that allows them to bond outside of work while complaining about each other to each other. How zany!
This book follows a you've got mail/shop around the corner vibe which I do love but I felt like I didn't get why MMC/FMC didn't really like each other.

Three things bugged me so much throughout the book.
1. MMC 8 year daughter, I could not find her dialogue believable for a kid? Maybe I just know unintelligent children but I found her to be an adult secondary character, not an eight year old.

2. Roxy is an introvert and socially anxious yet she somehow used to be practicing therapist and burnt out by 28(Great, know your limits, girl) but then became an event planner/personal assistant. All jobs seem to have things that she hates and probably aren't great for her anxiety? She discussed freaking out over video calls but one would assume being an event planner you'd be meeting with all kinds of people and having to have phone calls, video chats, and in person meetings.

3. The dialogue between Jeff and Roxy on their chat server didn't elude to romance, it read as clunky and I wanted to skip those parts but that appeared to be the only relationship building in the book, besides the picnic they had.


Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

[Heather (Bookedwithheather) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dance with me on New Years Eve is a sweet, closed door enemies to lovers office romance and I was totally here for it.

Roxy is our FMC who is shy and has social anxiety. Jeff, our MMC is a grump with a side of swoon in disguise. The story is told mostly from Roxy’s POV but that doesn’t mean we miss out on Jeff’s thoughts and feelings. I loved how unique and believable both of these characters were. It made for a well rounded story that was an easy read. Plus the You’ve Got Mail Vibes made it extra fun!

The social anxiety rep in this story was something I thoroughly enjoyed and thought Alana did an excellent job on. Being able to read and feel Roxy’s emotions as she was over analyzing and overthinking every detail in social situations made it so relatable. I know I’ve experienced this and I’m sure many of you have as well. It validated my anxiety and reminded me that it’s ok to feel this way.

It was nice to see the growth Roxy made throughout the story and how coping with her anxiety changed her life for the better. The connection she made with Jeff turned out to be an added benefit in the story Alana knew we needed. 💜🤍 Of course ending with a HEA was the cherry on top!

Read if you enjoy:
-secret identity
-enemies to lovers
-office romance
-he takes care of her
-you’ve got mail vibes
-holiday romance
-happy ever after.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the perfect sweet escape for anyone who adores a heartfelt, enemies-to-lovers romance. With a delightful blend of humor, warmth, and tension, this holiday romance is sure to win over your heart.
Roxy’s journey is so relatable—her battle with social anxiety and self-doubt feels authentic and heartfelt, making her character easy to root for. And then there's Jeff, the colleague who starts out as a bit of a grump, but as the story unfolds, we see a different side to him. Their complex dynamic builds so beautifully, and the twist of them unknowingly connecting online adds a fun and unexpected layer to the story.
The author does a wonderful job of blending the tension of their real-world interactions with the sweetness of their virtual friendship, creating a perfect balance of conflict and tenderness. The way Roxy navigates her own self-discovery while unraveling the mystery of her online friend is both heartwarming and empowering.
If you're a fan of charming office romances or the irresistible tension of enemies becoming something more, this book will absolutely capture your heart. With a cozy holiday backdrop and characters you can't help but fall in love with, this book is sure to satisfy anyone who loves a good happily ever after.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[samantha holloway · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave it my all to finish this book. The first 80% was pretty hard to get through. It was filled with cringy dialogue between the FMC and her online friend — it was obnoxiously long-winded, awkward, and digressive on her part. I understand some people struggle with social anxiety and rambling in real life…but stop talking. The social anxiety aspect of the FMC took too big of a role in this story, and the excessiveness of it was not pleasurable to read in the slightest. In addition to that, I thought the random deep conversation with her bosses about feelings was so weird and unnecessary. No where in the story does it ever talk about them having friendly conversations and then BAM let’s have an awkward conversation about feelings and becoming friends, not sure what this had to do with the overall storyline or why it needed to be included?? Also, when the FMC and MMC had their inevitable dispute, his SISTER approaches her and tells her to forgive him? Are we 12??? And the epilogue…not sure what that was but definitely not an epilogue. It would have been nice to have some closure on the characters about their future and where their relationship progressed to. I liked the idea of this story, but the execution was just not it for me.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Shipsvold Press for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t believe New Year’s Eve is only a little over two weeks away! This was such a fun book to read during this Holiday season.

But this is a great read for any time of the year. Workplace enemies Roxy and Jeff are forced to work on a project together. Roxy, who is overwhelmed by social anxiety and self-doubt, now has to work closely with Jeff, who is always rude and tries to be one step ahead of her.

To relax and calm down at night, Roxy joins an online gaming chat group and meets a friend named Danny. She gives him the fake name of Mindy, and the two become great “online” friends—maybe more than friends.

Strangely, as Roxy grows closer to Danny, her relationship with Jeff doesn’t seem as hostile.

This was adorable, with funny moments, too. Yet the author did a great job demonstrating what living with social anxiety is like: balancing life, work, friends, and the need for quiet time. The holidays added a little special sparkle.


𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝:
💜Enemies to lovers
🖤Workplace romance
💜Secret online identities
🖤Social anxiety
💜Clean romance / Slow burn
🖤Holiday celebrations
💜Gaming chat


3.5 ⭐️ rounded up

Thank you @alanahighbury_author for a gifted book.

[Meg Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I’d resolved on New Years Day to make every weekend a great one. Reading.”

This was such a cute rom com! I enjoyed the slight enemies to lovers, secret identity and he takes care of her when she’s sick troupes. I enjoyed most of the characters and I enjoyed the setting. The online conversations were another fun twist that I enjoyed.

Roxy drove me a little crazy, but most of the time I liked her. I think she had some illogical thinking patterns, which I get were meant to explain her mental health but I just didn’t feel like lined up with her past. I overlooked it and accepted the plot anyways.

The ending was a bit rushed. I would’ve loved a dual POV for this story line (although I also enjoyed the bit of the unknown.) I got my hopes up at the end when he gives her the chats but we didn’t get to hear them. Bummer!

I listened to this with the AI audiobook. That was not my favorite thing. I’m glad that AI can be used to make books more available for more people - but wow was it hard to listen to a job that is usually performed so beautifully by talented artists. The AI didn’t do it justice at all.

I loved the storyline, I got lots of butterflies and enjoyed the magic of New Years Eve - which is exactly what I came for!

[Laura Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first time reading Alana Highbury and the book was super cute!

I really enjoyed the social anxiety rep in this one because it is something that my daughter and I both have and I found it very well done. The overthinking and overanalyzing Roxy did in social situations, worrying about if she was saying the wrong thing, and how she found it so much easier to talk to people online then in person were so relatable and so true for us introverts. Roxy gets thrown into a situation where she is forced to work together on a project with her boss Jeff, who is her office enemy, and then again online with her friend Danny. Little does she know they are the same person. She is definitely more comfortable working on projects alone and both things were a little out of her comfort zone. I found her to be such a strong person. I loved the conversations her and Danny had online and the close friendship they built there. She trusts him and feels comfortable confiding in him right away. As she works with Jeff in the office she learns he is a dad and is great with his daughter. She starts to view him in a new way and finds she is falling for both Danny and Jeff. I found this to be such a fun and easy holiday read with beautiful character arcs. This one is perfect to read now or in the New Year.


Read it for:

Enemies to lovers
Secret Identity
Office Romance
You’ve Got Mail vibes
Social Anxiety Rep
Jeff and his relationship with his daughter
He takes care of her

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

This story drew me in immediately. I was feeling some feelings very strongly—anger and anxiety to match Roxy’s. Honestly, I wasn’t sure how Highbury was going to get me (and Roxy) to fall in love with Jeff. But she did 😃

Even more impressive because this is a single POV story, so we only get Roxy’s side. I love how Highbury skipped time in the story. It was smoothly done and makes the slow change in Roxy’s feelings believable.

I also liked how Roxy’s social anxiety was handled. It wasn’t something that was easily remedied. I appreciated that she couldn’t deal with it herself despite having been trained as a therapist, and that she ultimately does agree to get help. It felt very realistic.

I enjoyed that as the audience we can see Jeff’s feelings change even though Roxy can’t. And I loved the side characters and how much they each either encouraged Roxy, made her feel safe, or validated her feelings.

My only complaint is that Roxy’s change of heart at the end felt too abrupt for me. But I was so glad they got together that I can’t complain too much. And I did love the epilogue, too.

[Cassondra Perea · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Roxy has struggled with social anxiety her entire life. It has impacted her ability to make friends, maintain relationships, and find love. With her social battery drained from work, she turns to an online forum for community. It not only connects her with people who share similar interests, it allows her to maintain her anonymity, which eases her insecurities. But when her closest online friend asks to take their relationship to the real world, will she be ready?

Alana Highbury’s Dance with me on New Year’s Eve is the third book in her Love and Holiday Series. Despite owning the previous books, I have yet to read them. I thought it would be fun to start with this one and work my way backwards, following chronological order (New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, and Christmas).

However, after reading this book, I am not sure I will continue with this series. As someone who suffers from anxiety, it was incredibly difficult to read a book where the protagonist used excessive negative self talk. She was constantly putting herself down, taking self- deprecation to a whole new level.

Normally, reading a book that features a character with anxiety doesn’t bother me. In fact, I love seeing them navigate life and even overcome their demons. Unfortunately, this book had the adverse reaction. As a result, I felt Roxy’s anxiety transfer to me.

While this wasn’t the right fit for me, it is well written and accurately portrays what someone with social anxiety may go through.

Special thanks to Netgalley, Shipsvold Press, and Alana Highbury for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Elizabeth Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read for the New Year or any time! Roxy Swan suffers from debilitating social anxiety and tries desperately to avoid gatherings of any kind. Her boss, Hazel, assigns her to co-project manage the design of a new counseling center. Her co-partner is Jeff Chamberlain, a man she absolutely despises. They seem to argue about everything concerning their assignment. Roxy finds some relief by corresponding online with a man named Danny she has never met. They work together to design a game. She really looks forward to those online sessions with him. When Roxy is also given the duty of putting together a New Year's bash that will honor her boss, Danny suggests they finally meet up at this gathering. When they do, things do not go well at all and Roxy is heartbroken. She finally realizes she needs counseling to move forward and overcome her social anxiety. How do things work out with Danny, Jeff, and Roxy? Read and find out! While this book is fiction, it could be helpful to people suffering as Roxy did. An inspiring read for everyone!

[Megan Crofton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great, heartwarming story with lots of depth. It was written in single POV so it was an interesting read. And had great You've Got Mail vibes!

The pacing of this story made it very interesting because they events were spread over the entire year. I enjoyed seeing their relationship blossom from enemies to more throughout the span of the year. Roxy had social anxiety and that played a big role in the book and their relationship. It was very interesting to watch it unfold. Seeing that perspective was great because it let you into the world of those with severe social anxiety. And I think Jeff was the perfect match for her in that sense as well. I loved their relationship with each other and the slow burn and Roxy's bond with his daughter. I feel like all the depth was handled really well.

I am not normally a fan of single POV, but this one was done really well and worked perfectly with the characters. I liked guessing how the MMC felt throughout the book. I will definitely be reading the first two in this series to see the other holiday love stories!

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite movies is You've Got Mail. I love it when I find books that are inspired by that movie. And the enemies to lovers trope is one of my favorites. Alana Highbury did such a great job with this one.

I honestly felt bad for Roxy during this story. Her social anxiety colors her whole life, leaving her unable to function the way most people do. And at some points, that was hard to watch. But Roxy had no social anxiety online. And that is where she meets Danny. Danny gives her an escape from her every day life, and especially the person she considers her nemesis, Jeff.

The reader doesn't see any of the book through Jeff's eyes, but my perception of him changes through the book. Just like Roxy's does. Jeff is such a good dad to his daughter, Lila. I loved the scenes with the three of them. And I really loved watching both Jeff and Roxy grow and change for the better.

This book was so cute! I enjoyed reading about Roxy and Jeff.

[Suzan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This romance was a sweet and heartwarming read! It not only had a nice romance, but also provided an insightful and realistic portrayal of social anxiety.

The author did a great job in bringing the character of Roxy to life, and helping you feel all her emotions as she struggles with severe social anxiety. I felt like I learned so much from her inner thoughts and experiences. I loved seeing her growth throughout the story.

I loved the You’ve Got Mail vibes. The depiction of the online romance was charming and fun, and the unexpected twist at the end was a pleasant surprise.

I thought the character development of both protagonists was nicely done, and the plot was engaging and well-paced. The author’s writing style was enjoyable, and I look forward to reading more of her work.

What you can expect:
Anxiety rep
Enemies to more
Forced proximity
Secret identity
Holiday romance
HEA

I received a copy from the author, but a positive review was not required.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can empathize with Roxy so much! I am also shy and feel so awkward while talking to people. I also feel like I'm less that way online.

But oh the grumpy co-worker Jeff! He's such a sweet dad though. I could see through him in the way he acted with Roxy. I felt so sorry that he was ever associated with his ex, she was not pleasant.

I really liked the forced proximity there two are put in for their job. I really appreciate that there were people in Roxy's life who didn't make her feel like she was weird or didn't matter or had to change. I couldn't believe the things her Mom said to her!

I loved the chat chain between Roxy and her mystery friend online and though I knew who it was, it was still so fun once this person found out who they were talking to. There is also a "he takes care of her when she's sick" 😍

[Rachel Choy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"**Dance with Me on New Year's Eve**" by Alana Highbury is a sweet, *You’ve Got Mail*-style romcom that’s light on the drama but heavy on the feels. Roxy, our socially anxious FMC, battles self-doubt while navigating an unexpected connection with her grumpy coworker Jeff—both online and IRL.

The social anxiety rep was solid and relatable, and I appreciated how the story explored self-growth and vulnerability without rushing resolutions. Jeff, with his swoon-worthy soft side (hello, single dad vibes), stole the show when he wasn’t hiding behind his gruffness.

Though the pacing lagged in spots and Roxy’s big emotional pivot felt a touch abrupt, the overall journey was a cozy blend of angst, slow-burn tension, and heartwarming connections. Definitely a cute closed-door romance with some unexpected depth, even if it didn’t fully sweep me off my feet! 🤭

Final Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐

[Joyceannn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this modern closed door romance, where former therapist Roxanne meets coworker Jeffrey and knows three things about him right away: he is gorgeous, he is stoic, and he absolutely hates her. This time, this
wasn’t her toxic mother’s daily speech repeating itself in her head
nor her self-critical mind playing tricks on her because everyone at
the office could see their interactions on the daily. By day, she was
Roxy the executive assistant to Hazel; by night SawyerRox4, an avid
online gamer. In both worlds, she knows her mother was right that she
would never find love and would be single forever. Or…was she?