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Mistletoe Motel
The last flight is canceled. The roads are closed. And the only available room at the Mistletoe Motel must be shared…
Holly and Mack's holiday plans are derailed when a blizzard strands them in small-town Watertown, forcing these feuding strangers to become reluctant roommates.
Corporate lawyer Holly needs to get home to make amends with her parents, while software engineer Mack is desperate to reach her sister before she gives birth.
As they wait out the storm in a town obsessed with Christmas, surrounded by questionable decorations and even more questionable wall art, they find themselves drawn into an unexpected holiday romance.
But with Holly's strained family relationships and Mack's race against time, can their Christmas connection survive beyond the storm?
Mistletoe Motel is a heartwarming holiday romance about finding love in the most unexpected places.Sometimes the best Christmas gifts come wrapped in snowstorms and serendipity.
Holly and Mack's holiday plans are derailed when a blizzard strands them in small-town Watertown, forcing these feuding strangers to become reluctant roommates.
Corporate lawyer Holly needs to get home to make amends with her parents, while software engineer Mack is desperate to reach her sister before she gives birth.
As they wait out the storm in a town obsessed with Christmas, surrounded by questionable decorations and even more questionable wall art, they find themselves drawn into an unexpected holiday romance.
But with Holly's strained family relationships and Mack's race against time, can their Christmas connection survive beyond the storm?
Mistletoe Motel is a heartwarming holiday romance about finding love in the most unexpected places.Sometimes the best Christmas gifts come wrapped in snowstorms and serendipity.
146 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 8, 2024
173 people are currently reading
1579 people want to read
About the author
Lise Gold
51 books689 followersLise Gold is an author of lesbian romance. Her romantic attitude, enthusiasm for travel and love for feel good stories form the heartland of her writing. Born in London to a Norwegian mother and English father, and growing up between the UK, Norway, Zambia and the Netherlands, she feels at home pretty much everywhere and has an unending curiosity for new destinations. She goes by 'write what you know' and is often found in exotic locations doing research or getting inspired for her next novel.
Working as a designer for fifteen years and singing semi- professionally, Lise has always been a creative at heart. Her novels are the result of a quest for a new passion after resigning from her design job in 2018.
When not writing from her kitchen table, Lise can be found cooking, at the gym or singing her heart out somewhere, preferably country or blues. She lives in London with her dogs El Comandante and Bubba.
Working as a designer for fifteen years and singing semi- professionally, Lise has always been a creative at heart. Her novels are the result of a quest for a new passion after resigning from her design job in 2018.
When not writing from her kitchen table, Lise can be found cooking, at the gym or singing her heart out somewhere, preferably country or blues. She lives in London with her dogs El Comandante and Bubba.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
December 19, 2025
☆☆☆
Mistletoe Motel by Lise Gold is a cute, cozy holiday idea, but ultimately it didn’t do very much for me. I liked the concept and the Hallmark-esque, festive vibes (with a bit of spice), and there’s absolutely nothing offensive or bad about this book, it was just okay.
My biggest issue was how rushed everything felt. The novella length really worked against the story here. Mack and Holly’s relationship leaned heavily into insta-lust/insta-chemistry, and while that can work for me sometimes, I just didn’t feel it in this case. I never truly bought their connection, and without that emotional depth, the romance felt a little flat and, at times, boring.
That said, it is a cute idea, and I can see the potential. I honestly think this might have worked much better as a full-length novel where the characters and their chemistry had room to breathe. As it stands, the story left me wanting more—not because I was deeply invested, but because it felt underdeveloped.
Overall, a sweet, festive read that may work for fans of quick, spicy holiday romances, but it didn’t fully land for me.
Mistletoe Motel by Lise Gold is a cute, cozy holiday idea, but ultimately it didn’t do very much for me. I liked the concept and the Hallmark-esque, festive vibes (with a bit of spice), and there’s absolutely nothing offensive or bad about this book, it was just okay.
My biggest issue was how rushed everything felt. The novella length really worked against the story here. Mack and Holly’s relationship leaned heavily into insta-lust/insta-chemistry, and while that can work for me sometimes, I just didn’t feel it in this case. I never truly bought their connection, and without that emotional depth, the romance felt a little flat and, at times, boring.
That said, it is a cute idea, and I can see the potential. I honestly think this might have worked much better as a full-length novel where the characters and their chemistry had room to breathe. As it stands, the story left me wanting more—not because I was deeply invested, but because it felt underdeveloped.
Overall, a sweet, festive read that may work for fans of quick, spicy holiday romances, but it didn’t fully land for me.
December 12, 2024
4 stars. So fucking cute! No angst, just a gay ass feel good Hallmark type of Christmas story but with some spice. I adored Holly and Mack. They’re both incredibly likable and charming characters and I totally bought into their chemistry even though everything happened so fast. I didn't mind at all.
Both women are stranded at a motel due to a snow storm and they share a hotel room together. There's only one bed (!!!!). Mack is trying to get to the birth of her sister's baby and Holly is trying to get home to her parents. I loved how they made the best of their situation and how much fun they had together. It was so sweet. They had such fun banter and chemistry together. Also, Mack calls Holly 'Princess' and I MELTED every single time she did. The Mistletoe Motel was cute and quirky and I liked the side characters. This was just so much fun and one I would definitely read again.
Both women are stranded at a motel due to a snow storm and they share a hotel room together. There's only one bed (!!!!). Mack is trying to get to the birth of her sister's baby and Holly is trying to get home to her parents. I loved how they made the best of their situation and how much fun they had together. It was so sweet. They had such fun banter and chemistry together. Also, Mack calls Holly 'Princess' and I MELTED every single time she did. The Mistletoe Motel was cute and quirky and I liked the side characters. This was just so much fun and one I would definitely read again.
November 16, 2024
A very sweet holiday novella!
I enjoyed this story. Things moved along pretty quickly, but that was necessary, given the length of it.
Likable main characters, good chemistry and more to it than meets the eye. A perfect quick read when there’s not time for a full length novel or for a dessert-like treat!
I enjoyed this story. Things moved along pretty quickly, but that was necessary, given the length of it.
Likable main characters, good chemistry and more to it than meets the eye. A perfect quick read when there’s not time for a full length novel or for a dessert-like treat!
November 17, 2024
Hallmark, cheesy read.. Almost a 4 😀
November 27, 2025
Mack is a software developer, who was working away from home before Christmas. She is now rushing back to be with her sister who is due to give birth on Christmas Day.
Holly is a lawyer, specialising in mergers and acquisitions, going home to Minneapolis to see her parents after a year of no contact, after a disastrous coming out the year before.
They meet for the first time when they get stranded in an airport about four hours drive from home in a white-out blizzard, and eventually end up sharing a bed in Mistletoe Motel.
Just like the Christmas decorations in Mistletoe Motel, this book is sometimes kitsch and cheesy, but oh so lovely. This is in parts funny, silly, emotional, and joyful. Everything happens for a reason, and the story is very well planned and written. This is a forced proximity trope story, and the author has written that feeling into the story; there is a feeling of disconnection from reality for the majority of the book, which then resolves into warmth and Christmas cheer when the two women get back with their families. This is a zero angst story, and both Mack and Holly are lovely, warm characters.
Holly is a lawyer, specialising in mergers and acquisitions, going home to Minneapolis to see her parents after a year of no contact, after a disastrous coming out the year before.
They meet for the first time when they get stranded in an airport about four hours drive from home in a white-out blizzard, and eventually end up sharing a bed in Mistletoe Motel.
Just like the Christmas decorations in Mistletoe Motel, this book is sometimes kitsch and cheesy, but oh so lovely. This is in parts funny, silly, emotional, and joyful. Everything happens for a reason, and the story is very well planned and written. This is a forced proximity trope story, and the author has written that feeling into the story; there is a feeling of disconnection from reality for the majority of the book, which then resolves into warmth and Christmas cheer when the two women get back with their families. This is a zero angst story, and both Mack and Holly are lovely, warm characters.
December 8, 2024
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this! Giving all the makings of a Hallmark Movie! A sapphic holiday romance, one bed trope, forced proximity, small town, stranded. 1 spicy scene. 133 pages. Definitely give this one a go!
I really enjoyed this! Giving all the makings of a Hallmark Movie! A sapphic holiday romance, one bed trope, forced proximity, small town, stranded. 1 spicy scene. 133 pages. Definitely give this one a go!
December 26, 2024
this kind of read like a fanfic at times, with the way it was written, but it was cute
December 14, 2024
A cute holiday novella, quick to read and full of Christmas fun and Hallmark style coincidences.
I vividly saw the explosion of decorations that Mistletoe Motel was.
Christmas Kismet... two strangers finding each other in a snow storm.
There is only "one bed".
I chuckled a couple of times.
I vividly saw the explosion of decorations that Mistletoe Motel was.
Christmas Kismet... two strangers finding each other in a snow storm.
There is only "one bed".
I chuckled a couple of times.
November 9, 2024
Good quick story which has maximum for a novella. (4*) She’s good, is Lise Gold.
December 24, 2025
I loved this novella. In many ways it is a fairly standard Christmas Novella (except good.. most seem not to be?) yet it also packed in a surprising amount of content for the page count. In addition to the main plotline and the romance, each character had a full subplot of their own (trying to get home to witness their sister having a baby, and reconciling with their family after a bad coming-out experience, respectively). This really felt like a full novel in all honesty, and I loved that.
The small town vibes were awesome in this one, with gossip travelling quickly and quirky characters everywhere the protagonists went. This was low-conflict and generally an easy-reading experience. The story was very meta, and self-aware of what was going on in a way that was very enjoyable. Generally it was just adorable all-around.
There are a few strange and surprising details…. But ill leave those to you to find out for yourself.
The small town vibes were awesome in this one, with gossip travelling quickly and quirky characters everywhere the protagonists went. This was low-conflict and generally an easy-reading experience. The story was very meta, and self-aware of what was going on in a way that was very enjoyable. Generally it was just adorable all-around.
There are a few strange and surprising details…. But ill leave those to you to find out for yourself.
Read
December 23, 2024Dnf @ 8%
Sorry I’m just not vibing with the main characters at all. 😔
Sorry I’m just not vibing with the main characters at all. 😔
December 25, 2024
Christmas all the way on this one! Zero angst, short read. Excellent first kiss scene.
December 9, 2024
Cute light sapphic christmas romance. I like Lise Gold's writing style, I think she writes really well. There's a flow in narration and dialogue. The characters are lovely and I think the entire book is easily a good read.
December 25, 2024
This was lovely.
Can definitely recommend if you're looking for a very short and cute Christmas book.
I toyed with the idea of giving it a higher rating but It went a little downhill towards the end and it was a bit too short.
Can definitely recommend if you're looking for a very short and cute Christmas book.
I toyed with the idea of giving it a higher rating but It went a little downhill towards the end and it was a bit too short.
November 10, 2024
two pretty girls stranded in a blizzard and there’s only one room available in a motel that loves mistletoe … WELL YES! 😁
December 22, 2024
A quick sapphic romance about two women trying to get home for the holidays.
This was a little more low key than I expected. I was kindof hoping for more of an "Ill be home for Christmas" vibe but instead it was about two women slowing down and spending time together when they normally wouldn't.
The communication was good and there was no extra added drama to draw out the story.
Another sweet Christmas romance you can add to your tbr to get you in the holiday spirit.
This was a little more low key than I expected. I was kindof hoping for more of an "Ill be home for Christmas" vibe but instead it was about two women slowing down and spending time together when they normally wouldn't.
The communication was good and there was no extra added drama to draw out the story.
Another sweet Christmas romance you can add to your tbr to get you in the holiday spirit.
December 2, 2024
I should write a book
December 7, 2024
Mack: The Proud Developer of an AI-Driven App
December 24, 2024
That was…something
December 20, 2024
Estuvo entretenido para pasar el rato.
A pesar de que todo pasa en un día y unas horas más, no sentí que todo fuera tan volao' (? a no se qkdjwj.
Estuvo bueno💖❤️✨️
A pesar de que todo pasa en un día y unas horas más, no sentí que todo fuera tan volao' (? a no se qkdjwj.
Estuvo bueno💖❤️✨️
October 14, 2025
I guess I got in the Christmas spirit early or something?? This is a 146-page Christmas sapphic short story.
And it was fine! The dialogue felt very unrealistic. Some of it was cringy, most of it was cheesy. However, I thought the setting was cute, and it wrapped up nicely.
And it was fine! The dialogue felt very unrealistic. Some of it was cringy, most of it was cheesy. However, I thought the setting was cute, and it wrapped up nicely.
December 28, 2025
short, sweet, and tons of fun
November 10, 2024
A quick fun read
December 16, 2024
is “only one hotel room” the Christmas equivalent of only one bed??? (there’s also only one bed)
November 29, 2025
Mistletoe Motel
This was a cute little Christmas romance. Stranded in the middle of nowhere with a stranger in the middle of a snow storm... I mean, what can you expect? Mack and Holly didn't hit it off right away, but we all know what happens when there's only one bed. They made the most of their situation and got their Christmas wishes too. A feel good ending for the Holiday Season 🎄🎁🧑🎄
This was a cute little Christmas romance. Stranded in the middle of nowhere with a stranger in the middle of a snow storm... I mean, what can you expect? Mack and Holly didn't hit it off right away, but we all know what happens when there's only one bed. They made the most of their situation and got their Christmas wishes too. A feel good ending for the Holiday Season 🎄🎁🧑🎄
November 13, 2025
This was so cute! It has all the tropes of a cheesy Hallmark movie, stranded just before Christmas, one room with one bed left, Christmas obsessed town, kind locals who can see the match before anyone else can. There is no drama, no anxiety inducing plot, just a simple plot as warm as Christmas lights. The characters have chemistry, there's tension, happy endings all around. I can see myself rereading it next year before Christmas.
November 11, 2025
So I understand that Lise probably never thought someone from Watertown SD would pick this book up, but I did and man did it make me irrationally angry how wrong everything about the town was. From taxi stands to "the world's largest pheasant" and the fact this is NOT a Christmas obsessed town. Like I understand suspending disbelief for settings, but aside from the fact that we do indeed have an airport (but only recently started having flights to Minneapolis) and that it takes 4 hours to drive there, nothing was accurate. I would have really enjoyed this more had it been a fictional town, but I just couldn't get past how poorly my hometown was represented here.
The story itself was a fine representation of a one bed trope story. The whole peeophole room was weird as shit and took me out again.
The story itself was a fine representation of a one bed trope story. The whole peeophole room was weird as shit and took me out again.
December 24, 2025
0,5 ⭐️
This book has two advantages:
1. It's short.
2. After reading it, you think, "Well, if THIS was published, even I definitely have a chance." However, you then discover it was self-published. Then you discover that over 60% of people who read it gave it 4-5 stars on Goodreads, and you no longer know what to believe or what to strive for, because the world has gone mad and we're all doomed.
Meg and Holly meet at the airport in a small town, from which they're trying to fly to Minneapolis, a couple of hours away by car. Meg gets the last ticket, which leads to a fight between the girls, which is stopped by the obligatory for any Christmas rom-com snowstorm – all flights are canceled. The passengers scatter across town in search of shelter or a rental car, and Holly ends up at the dingy "Mistletoe Motel" with a Christmas-obsessed owner. This time, Holly manages to get revenge on Meg, snatching the last, mysterious, and unregistered motel room right before her very eyes, but Meg takes pity on the girl left on the street and offers her to share the room and the only (of course) bed.
Finding themselves in a filthy room with a peephole in the wall, instead of falling asleep, the girls, over a bottle of vintage wine bought at the convenience store, begin to flirt furiously, forgetting that they hated each other just a few hours ago. Along the way, they get to know each other better. Meg is a blue-haired software engineer working on the AI assistant, which is now being shoved into every app and device (advice to authors: if you want your protagonist to be instantly disliked, make her an AI developer). Holly is a corporate lawyer specializing in mergers and acquisitions (the author repeats this several times, because she knows nothing else about this job). Both have serious reasons to rush home, as Christmas is a family holiday: Meg is rushing to reach her sister before she gives birth, and Holly is hoping to make peace with her religious parents, who have been estranged from her because of her sexuality.
However, a night in the same bed makes them forget their rush, and they spend the entire next day in romantic Christmas activities – participating in a snowman contest, having a romantic dinner, and buying each other gifts at the local gas station. For those of readers who don't understand, they regularly say, "It's so romantic, just like a Hallmark movie." From there, everything proceeds as usual until the unequivocal happy ending.
Rereading it, I realize this description doesn't sound too terrible, but in reality, it's truly bad. Speaking of AI, the book covers were definitely generated by it, but as for the text itself, that's more complicated—in places, it's soullessly machine-like, and in others, it's written in such poor language that it's clearly not AI (even I, whose native language is not English, can tell). Honestly, the setting of this story would be perfect for a slasher film—"The Christmas Chainsaw Massacre" or something. The protagonists are stranded during a snowstorm in a shady town ruled by the crazy, Christmas-obsessed Mistletoe family: the older sister runs the "Mistletoe Motel"/brothel (I'm not kidding, there's a reason the peeping hole in the secret room is there), the brother cooks at the "Mistletoe Diner," and the younger sister has taken up residence at the "Mistletoe Gas Station." And on Christmas Eve, a massacre of stranded passengers begins… Even that would have been better than what I just listened.
______________________________
У этой книги два плюса:
1. Она короткая
2. После ее прочтения думаешь - "Ну если ТАКОЕ опубликовали, даже у меня определенно есть шанс". Впрочем, потом обнаруживаешь что это самопубликация. Затем обнаруживаешь, что более 60% прочитавших поставили оценку в 4-5 звезд на Goodreads, и больше не знаешь во что верить и к чему стремиться, потому что мир сошел с ума и все мы обречены.
Мэг и Холли встречаются в аэропорту захолустного городишки, из которого они пытаются улететь в Миннеаполис, до которого пара часов езды на автомобиле. Последний билет достается Мэг, из-за чего между девушками вспыхивает ссора, которую останавливает обязательный для любого рождественского ромкома снежный шторм - все рейсы отменены. Пассажиры разбредаются по городку в поисках пристанища или машины напрокат, и Холли оказывается в сомнительного вида "Омеловом мотеле" с хозяйкой, помешанной на Рождестве. На этот раз Холли удается отомстить Мэг, перехватив у нее перед носом последний, загадочный и не заведенный в систему номер в мотеле, но она сжаливается над оставшейся на улице девушкой и предлагает ей разделить свой номер и единственную (а как же иначе) кровать.
Оказавшись в засранном до невозможности номере с проковырянной в стене дыркой для подглядывания, девушки вместо того чтобы упасть и спать без задних ног, начинают, за бутылочкой коллекционного вина, купленной в местной "Пятерочке", яростно флиртовать друг с другом, забыв что пару часов назад ненавидели друг друга. Попутно они знакомятся поближе. Мэг - программистка с синими волосами, которая работает над очередным ИИ-ассистентом, которые сейчас пихают в любое приложение и девайс (совет авторам - если хотите, чтобы ваша протагонистка сходу вызывала неприязнь, сделайте ее ИИ-девелопером). Холли - корпоративная юристка в области слияний и поглощений (авторка повторяет это несколько раз, потому что ничего больше она об этой профессии не знает). У обеих есть серьезные причины спешить домой, ведь Рождество семейный праздник: Мэг торопится присутствовать на родах у своей сестры, а Холли надеется помириться со своими религиозными родителями, которые не общались с ней из-за ее ориентации.
Впрочем, ночь на одной кровати заставляет их забыть о том, что они торопятся, и они проводят весь день в романтических рождественских активностях - участвуют в конкурсе снеговиков, устраивают романтический ужин, покупают друг другу подарки на местной бензоколонке. Для непонятливых они регулярно приговаривают: "это так романтично, совсем как в Холлмарковском кино". Дальше все идет по накатанной до безоговорочного хэппи-энда.
Перечитав, понимаю что это описание выглядит не слишком ужасно, но на самом деле все действительно плохо. Если уж говорить об ИИ, то обложки книги точно сгенерированы нейросетями, а что до самого текста, то тут сложнее - местами он бездушно машинный, а местами он написан таким плохим языком, что это явно не ИИ (это заметно даже мне, у которого английский не родной язык). Честно говоря, сеттинг этой истории прекрасно подошел бы для какого-нибудь слэшера - "Рождественская резня бензопилой". Протагонистки застряли во время снежной бури в стремном городке, в котором царит безумное, повернутое на рождестве семейство Омеловых: старшая сестра управляет "Омеловым мотелем"/борделем (я не шучу, дырка для подглядывания в тайном номере появилась не просто так), брат куховарит в "Омеловой забегаловке", а младшая сестра обосновалась в "Омеловой бензоколонке". И в сочельник начинается резня застрявших в городе пассажиров…. Даже это было бы лучше того, что я прослушал.
This book has two advantages:
1. It's short.
2. After reading it, you think, "Well, if THIS was published, even I definitely have a chance." However, you then discover it was self-published. Then you discover that over 60% of people who read it gave it 4-5 stars on Goodreads, and you no longer know what to believe or what to strive for, because the world has gone mad and we're all doomed.
Meg and Holly meet at the airport in a small town, from which they're trying to fly to Minneapolis, a couple of hours away by car. Meg gets the last ticket, which leads to a fight between the girls, which is stopped by the obligatory for any Christmas rom-com snowstorm – all flights are canceled. The passengers scatter across town in search of shelter or a rental car, and Holly ends up at the dingy "Mistletoe Motel" with a Christmas-obsessed owner. This time, Holly manages to get revenge on Meg, snatching the last, mysterious, and unregistered motel room right before her very eyes, but Meg takes pity on the girl left on the street and offers her to share the room and the only (of course) bed.
Finding themselves in a filthy room with a peephole in the wall, instead of falling asleep, the girls, over a bottle of vintage wine bought at the convenience store, begin to flirt furiously, forgetting that they hated each other just a few hours ago. Along the way, they get to know each other better. Meg is a blue-haired software engineer working on the AI assistant, which is now being shoved into every app and device (advice to authors: if you want your protagonist to be instantly disliked, make her an AI developer). Holly is a corporate lawyer specializing in mergers and acquisitions (the author repeats this several times, because she knows nothing else about this job). Both have serious reasons to rush home, as Christmas is a family holiday: Meg is rushing to reach her sister before she gives birth, and Holly is hoping to make peace with her religious parents, who have been estranged from her because of her sexuality.
However, a night in the same bed makes them forget their rush, and they spend the entire next day in romantic Christmas activities – participating in a snowman contest, having a romantic dinner, and buying each other gifts at the local gas station. For those of readers who don't understand, they regularly say, "It's so romantic, just like a Hallmark movie." From there, everything proceeds as usual until the unequivocal happy ending.
Rereading it, I realize this description doesn't sound too terrible, but in reality, it's truly bad. Speaking of AI, the book covers were definitely generated by it, but as for the text itself, that's more complicated—in places, it's soullessly machine-like, and in others, it's written in such poor language that it's clearly not AI (even I, whose native language is not English, can tell). Honestly, the setting of this story would be perfect for a slasher film—"The Christmas Chainsaw Massacre" or something. The protagonists are stranded during a snowstorm in a shady town ruled by the crazy, Christmas-obsessed Mistletoe family: the older sister runs the "Mistletoe Motel"/brothel (I'm not kidding, there's a reason the peeping hole in the secret room is there), the brother cooks at the "Mistletoe Diner," and the younger sister has taken up residence at the "Mistletoe Gas Station." And on Christmas Eve, a massacre of stranded passengers begins… Even that would have been better than what I just listened.
______________________________
У этой книги два плюса:
1. Она короткая
2. После ее прочтения думаешь - "Ну если ТАКОЕ опубликовали, даже у меня определенно есть шанс". Впрочем, потом обнаруживаешь что это самопубликация. Затем обнаруживаешь, что более 60% прочитавших поставили оценку в 4-5 звезд на Goodreads, и больше не знаешь во что верить и к чему стремиться, потому что мир сошел с ума и все мы обречены.
Мэг и Холли встречаются в аэропорту захолустного городишки, из которого они пытаются улететь в Миннеаполис, до которого пара часов езды на автомобиле. Последний билет достается Мэг, из-за чего между девушками вспыхивает ссора, которую останавливает обязательный для любого рождественского ромкома снежный шторм - все рейсы отменены. Пассажиры разбредаются по городку в поисках пристанища или машины напрокат, и Холли оказывается в сомнительного вида "Омеловом мотеле" с хозяйкой, помешанной на Рождестве. На этот раз Холли удается отомстить Мэг, перехватив у нее перед носом последний, загадочный и не заведенный в систему номер в мотеле, но она сжаливается над оставшейся на улице девушкой и предлагает ей разделить свой номер и единственную (а как же иначе) кровать.
Оказавшись в засранном до невозможности номере с проковырянной в стене дыркой для подглядывания, девушки вместо того чтобы упасть и спать без задних ног, начинают, за бутылочкой коллекционного вина, купленной в местной "Пятерочке", яростно флиртовать друг с другом, забыв что пару часов назад ненавидели друг друга. Попутно они знакомятся поближе. Мэг - программистка с синими волосами, которая работает над очередным ИИ-ассистентом, которые сейчас пихают в любое приложение и девайс (совет авторам - если хотите, чтобы ваша протагонистка сходу вызывала неприязнь, сделайте ее ИИ-девелопером). Холли - корпоративная юристка в области слияний и поглощений (авторка повторяет это несколько раз, потому что ничего больше она об этой профессии не знает). У обеих есть серьезные причины спешить домой, ведь Рождество семейный праздник: Мэг торопится присутствовать на родах у своей сестры, а Холли надеется помириться со своими религиозными родителями, которые не общались с ней из-за ее ориентации.
Впрочем, ночь на одной кровати заставляет их забыть о том, что они торопятся, и они проводят весь день в романтических рождественских активностях - участвуют в конкурсе снеговиков, устраивают романтический ужин, покупают друг другу подарки на местной бензоколонке. Для непонятливых они регулярно приговаривают: "это так романтично, совсем как в Холлмарковском кино". Дальше все идет по накатанной до безоговорочного хэппи-энда.
Перечитав, понимаю что это описание выглядит не слишком ужасно, но на самом деле все действительно плохо. Если уж говорить об ИИ, то обложки книги точно сгенерированы нейросетями, а что до самого текста, то тут сложнее - местами он бездушно машинный, а местами он написан таким плохим языком, что это явно не ИИ (это заметно даже мне, у которого английский не родной язык). Честно говоря, сеттинг этой истории прекрасно подошел бы для какого-нибудь слэшера - "Рождественская резня бензопилой". Протагонистки застряли во время снежной бури в стремном городке, в котором царит безумное, повернутое на рождестве семейство Омеловых: старшая сестра управляет "Омеловым мотелем"/борделем (я не шучу, дырка для подглядывания в тайном номере появилась не просто так), брат куховарит в "Омеловой забегаловке", а младшая сестра обосновалась в "Омеловой бензоколонке". И в сочельник начинается резня застрявших в городе пассажиров…. Даже это было бы лучше того, что я прослушал.
February 15, 2025
I liked the fact that there was no drama which is rare.
But overall this book wasn't for me for a few personal reasons :
- I didn't like the writing
- I didn't feel attached to the characters
- I didn't like how characters were described
- The descriptions were a bit repetitive (always the same Christmas decorations mentioned, always exploding everywhere) It's a shame since there are many different ways to decorate for Christmas (also depending on personality) but this wasn't exploited.
But overall this book wasn't for me for a few personal reasons :
- I didn't like the writing
- I didn't feel attached to the characters
- I didn't like how characters were described
- The descriptions were a bit repetitive (always the same Christmas decorations mentioned, always exploding everywhere) It's a shame since there are many different ways to decorate for Christmas (also depending on personality) but this wasn't exploited.
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