Bittersweet

by Ann Holiday

In the enchanting town of Thistle Grove, where sparkling snow blankets every surface and festive lights twinkle like stars, Hollie Winter has dedicated herself to her late mother’s bakery on Frost Lane. As Christmas approaches, she’s knee-deep in flour and frosting, blissfully ignoring the ghosts of her past—namely, her childhood best friend turned arch-nemesis, Rohen Winter, who just so happens to have returned from his glamorous life in New York City.

Rohen, now a hotshot publishing house owner, strides back into Thistle Grove like he owns the place—complete with an ego the size of a snowman. Sparks fly (and not the good kind) as Hollie and Rohen engage in their usual banter, which is more like a verbal snowball fight than a conversation. It’s clear their rivalry has heated up along with the holiday spirit—though Hollie can’t help but remember how Rohen once made her heart race for entirely different reasons.

When the town decides that these two need to co-host the annual Christmas festival, all bets are off. Can the magic of Christmas melt the icy walls between them, or will their holiday hijinks keep them forever at odds? Join Hollie and Rohen in this witty, heartwarming romantic comedy where love is the most delicious surprise of all!

255 pages, Paperback

Published October 20, 2024

Reviews

[Sarah Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uhmm excuse me maam!!! But this is the cutest, sweetest most cheery quick read for the holiday season!! I am obsessed!! Rohan & Hollie are absolutely the cutest. They were childhood friends turned into irritating turned into love. And I am here for it. This book was a whole vibe with some amazing spice. Definitely add to your holiday TBR

✨Read if you love✨
🩷Christmas
❄️Grumpy/Sunshine
🩷Childhood friends
❄️Enemies to lovers
🩷Small town

[Brittany Durflinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute & fun story. Love a good enemies to lovers and the cherry on top was that it had a romcom / hallmark feel to it. Loved it

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75☆

A very cute holiday romance

[Rachel Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute Hallmarky Christmas indy romance with a little bit of spice
Love the cover art and the sugar cookie recipe at the end

[Jordan Tafoya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! So glad I had the opportunity to be an arc reader for this book. It’s a fast paced Christmas romance.

[Isabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short sweet easy read! Definitely a good quick christmassy read for those looking to get in the spirit! I enjoyed the characters but now I need some gingerbread cookies. 😆

[Carrie Lamison · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Review On Bittersweet by Ann Holiday absolutely loved this book and honestly loved the characters but I hope to have second book about their characters Hollie and Rohen ❤️🎄💚 Ann Holiday you did amazing on this book and my mom is excited to read it now as well ❤️🎄💚 #authorannholiday #bittersweet #christmasvibes #hollieandrohen #bookreviewer

⭐️Overall rating: 10/10: I love this book honestly the vibes of the book I think everyone would love ❤️ I loved the characters especially the main Hollie and Rohen and hope to get a second book lol 🤞🏼😂❤️🎄💚


What I Read
📖 Name of the Book: Bittersweet by Ann Holiday❤️💚
📄 Plot: Hollie Winter has dedicated herself to her late mother’s bakery on Frost Lane. As Christmas approaches, she’s knee-deep in flour and frosting, blissfully ignoring the ghosts of her past—namely, her childhood best friend turned arch-nemesis, Rohen Winter, who just so happens to have returned from his glamorous life in New York City. There is banter lol. Can the magic of Christmas melt the icy walls between them, or will their holiday hijinks keep them forever at odds?
📖 Genre: Romance by with Christmas vibes and a little spice lol ❤️🎄💚 
 💭 My Thoughts: I loved this book and recommend anyone reading it ❤️🎄💚
⭐ Star Rating: 5/5 ❤️

[raags · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Ann Holiday for sending me this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Bittersweet is a small town romance that takes place in Thistle Grove. It follows Hollie, who owns a bakery and Rohen, a publishing house owner through their rivalry. Forced to work together to co-host the town’s annual Christmas Festival, the two put aside their differences, however it seems the forced proximity thaws the ice between the pair and from within blossoms a romance.

This book was just very wholesome and captured the season of winter perfectly! I felt that the plot was cohesive and paced really nicely. I also enjoyed how the characters and their emotions are well thought out especially the way grief is depicted very realistically through the main character (Hollie) and even the smallest of things like recipes made with her mother would make her emotional.

I didn't find any flaws either and found the book to be a very cosy read and also fast paced therefore making it perfect for the upcoming season!

[Sarah Swedorski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. From the very first chapter, I was hooked and genuinely could not put it down. The romance builds at a perfect pace, without it ever feeling like it was dragging. I loved getting to know the characters little by little. The blend of enemies to lovers and friends to lovers added such a fun dynamic. It made every emotional beat feel earned and the ending was perfectly spicy. Rohen and Hollie have officially become one of my top couples of the holiday season. Their chemistry was so strong and satisfying to follow from start to finish. The dedication comparing the story to one of those holiday movies where you know exactly how it will end but still cannot look away is spot on. It captures the cozy, feel-good, bingeable nature of the entire book.

I also really loved the sugar cookie recipe included in the story. It adds such a fun immersive touch, almost like you can step right into their world and share a piece of their holiday magic. Little details like that make the experience feel personal and extra cozy.

[CJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute lil romance, especially as we come into the holiday season. Her bakery is so cute (and she gives us a lil Hollie recipe that I'm definitely going to make), and their morning interactions are so funny (ignoring that they only happen because Hollie is silly and doesn't lock up...)

ALSO I love that despite his dislike for sweet treats he still drank the sweet coffee she makes him. And just the whole night of the lights festival thing was so funny and adorable.

However I did feel like it moved quick. I understand that they were pining for each other from their childhood friendship days but I just think she could've dragged out some of it.

For example (no real spoilers though) they made a deal to help each other with some stuff but then we never saw it happen and was never mentioned again and I think it would've been so fun to see it.

[Haley Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sugar, spice, and one seriously snarky boy next door?! Bittersweet is the ultimate holiday palate cleanser for anyone with a sweet tooth. Glitter, pink, and pastries are Hollie Winter's whole world... until her childhood friend (and current pain-in-the-ass), Rohen Frost, shows up determined to ruin her Christmas... or is he? With laugh-out-loud moments, heartfelt feels, and plenty of cupcake cravings, Bittersweet is Ann Holiday’s deliciously charming debut into the world of romance. Oh, and did I mention? I made the cover art!

[Jasmine Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc review!💖🤩
Thank you to Ann Holiday for sending me this arc!
This was the perfect little Christmassy romance book to get you in a festive and warm mood especially since Christmas is only around the corner.
This book is set in ‘Thistle Grove’ which sounds like the cutest little town that I wish was real. We meet Hollie Winter who is the beloved baker in town, after her mother’s passing she stepped up to run the bakery and dedicates her life to it. A few weeks before Christmas, which is her busiest time of year, Rohen Frost arrives back in town after spending the past few years of his life in New York as a publishing house owner. His return is met with a frosty welcoming but this doesn’t last for long as their attraction towards each other and feelings that were buried become unsurfaced due to the time they spend together fulfilling their Christmas duties to their town as committed business owners.
This was such a sweet and quick read which is really easy to get into and put you in a christmarry and cheery mood.
I loved Hollie and Rohen together, they were childhood friends then turned enemies to lovers with lots of sweet and spicy scenes.
I love the description of the town and the festive activities, I could imagine them clearly and felt as if I was there too. The name of the town and of the characters themselves are so good and boost the festive vibes.
I loveddd the baking vibes and thought the recipe included at the end was an amazing and personal touch which made me enjoy the book even more!

you’ll love this book if you like:
❄️childhood friends
💕enemies to lovers
❄️grumpy x sunshine
💕small town romance
❄️christmas vibes
💕cute bakery

4/5⭐️

[Kayla (KK) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this was a cute Christmas read! It was short so I was able to read it in a couple of hours. It was slow at first but I adored the story! Rohen and Hollie were old friends who turned into enemies. Hollie owns a bakery and Rohen ends up showing up after 10 years of no contact. Now they are forced to have to get along. This book brought the spice as well! Overall I would recommend to read!

*Christmas Themed
*Old Friends
*Enemies to Lovers
*Small Town
*Grumpy/Sunshine

[Maggie Flinn · Rating 2 out of 5]

well if you want to read a wattpad story out in public, this is the one. in less than 300 pages (and less than 4 weeks basically), the characters hated each other, hooked up, got engaged, bought a house, got married?? not to mention the spelling errors and grammatical mistakes, seems as if no one, not once, proofread this book before publishing it. but it was kinda cute? idk

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best way I can describe this book is a holiday hallmark movie with smut. It’s a short, sweet, smutty read, perfect to get you in the mood for the holidays. It’s more of a 3.5 reads but Goodreads doesn’t have that option.

[Kaytelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with this book. I loved the cute little Christmas town that this was in, it reminded me of a Hallmark movie. Rohen and Hollie are the cutest little couple as well. I loved how their friendship went all the back to childhood and brought them back together. The spice was absolutely perfect as well. It was my first Christmas story and I can’t wait to read more.

[Lucie Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ann Holiday very kindly sent me an ARC of this book to read. What a cute wholesome seasonal read, you can’t help but love Hollie and Rohen’s relationship! A perfect read for the lead up to Christmas and it was a fast paced book that you reach for to see what else is happening, didn’t disappoint! 🫶🏻

[Kyleigh Borges · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast pace book for the holiday season, super cute and the spice is *chef's kiss.

There wasn't a lot of obstacles in this book, which I loved!! Made it perfect for a feel good book.

Super cute!

[A Brew Story · Rating 4 out of 5]

Give me banter and a love story ANY DAY! Enemies to lovers makes it better. Grumpy sunshine adds a sold sticker to the cover. Great job with this one Ann. I’ll be back for more of your books!

[Rena · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you to Ann Holiday for the ARC copy of this lovely book!

if you're looking for a cozy Christmas read, this is the perfect book. It's like watching a Hallmark movie - but better because there's spice. It has so many tropes that I love all wrapped up in a wonderful cozy book. If you love any of these, you'll enjoy this one:

- it was always you
- dislike to like
- small town romance
- jealousy
- whirlwind romance