Not So Merry Memories

by Meagan Brandy, Hugo Locke (Narrator), Shaina Summerville (Narrator)

I've tried to forget him. He refuses to allow it.

Now, here we are, forced to spend the holidays together, pretending everything is as merry as ever. It isn't.

I know this. He knows this.

Everyone else? Not so much thanks to the man determined to be mine.

Despite all that's happened between us, he swears not everything has changed.

He might be right . . .

Contains mature themes.

Genres: Holiday, Novella, Second Chance, Christmas, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Second Chance Romance

Audible Audio

Published August 15, 2023

About the author

USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Meagan Brandy writes New Adult romance books with a twist. She is a candy crazed, jukebox junkie who tends to speak in lyrics. Born and raised in California, she is a married mother of three crazy boys who keep her bouncing from one sports field to another, depending on the season, and she wouldn't have it any other way. Starbucks is her best friend and words are her sanity.

Reviews

[Rebecca (life's chaotic catching up) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was so awkward!😂 It is a X-mas novella about a woman that is opening a resort that specializes the rooms to memories (weird). Her business partner/ ex love interest that has been MIA for 5 years is crashing the grand opening to win her back.
It’s way too much of a heavy plot for a novella first of all, she also tries to unravel what mysteriously happened to ruin their relationship throughout the book and it’s super clunky but worst of all is the super cringy smutty talk! Look, I am no prude but some of that was making me dry heave, just no!!!!!
I picked this up bc Noah Riley from “Say you Swear” is in the book and that was the best this story had to offer honestly. He is still perfect ❤️

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

I feel like I missed something with this one. Like I should have already known these characters in their back story, but I'm pretty sure they aren't from any of Meagan's other books (Roman and Noel). My favorite part was seeing Noah. Honestly this one wasn't bad but it didn't feel very Christmasy and I felt a bit lost.

Audio book source: Hoopla
Story Rating: 3 stars
Narrators: Hugo Locke & Shaina Summerville
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Romance
Length: 3h 10m

[Melluvsbooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

This didn’t make sense. I could see him leaving for 5 MONTHS to give her a little space…. But five YEARS?? 😐 what kinda beta male would be fine with that? And he was celibate the whole time… 🫠

I was creeped out to think back to their first sex scene where he tells her he hopes she hasn’t done anal before, because I realized he was wondering about the sex HIS BROTHER had with her. 🥴😬

And they co-own a company together. But somehow never saw each other? 🙄 And the hotel concept wasn’t explained well. It’s confusing.

Anyway. It’s a novella and I finished so we start at 3 stars but I can’t deal with poorly crafted narratives and passive beta dudes… so ⭐️⭐️

[myo ⋆｡˚ ❀ * · Rating 3 out of 5]

FINALLY SOME FUN, after every christmas romance being 2 stars this one definitely was holding my attention. i think one of my issues is that i keep reading these christmas novella’s and they’re just too short and boring. this one however was much more interesting but i think im just longing slowburn and with these quick books you can’t really get that

[Dani (Daniiireads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novella is really only 1 ⭐️ at best, and it pains me to say that. It’s getting 3 ⭐️ though for Noah and Ari’s cameo.

[Dona's Books · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book on KU and downloaded it with a handful of other holiday romances I wanted to read before the season was over.

I don't do this very often, but I really did not like this book, so I'm giving it five more sentences in this review.

The mmc is extremely forceful about everything, with his love for the fmc being his excuse for all his horrible behavior. Love is meaningless if you're just a jerk to the person you love, though, no matter how hot the sex is.

Recommend? Nope.

Lookit that, one sentence left!

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't really a fan of this. About half way through I thought I would give up, but since it's a short novella, I decided to just power through. I thought the beginning was a little confusing. I felt like I was missing a lot of background information. The whole concept of the resort also felt only barely described and I didn't really get it. The characters weren't likable or sympathetic at all. There's a cameo by some characters from Say You Swear, so if you enjoyed that book, you might like seeing them again here.

[Kirsten | Bookish.kir · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this quick read. Say You Swear is one of my all time favorite books and the fact that there were certain characters who made an appearance in this book made it absolutely worth the read for me.

I will say if you have any desire to read Say You Swear you should do so before reading this novella. They are not the main characters, but some of the plot from that book is mentioned in this one and I feel like it takes away from their original story if this is read first! Just my opinion though☺️

[Amy | Foxy Blogs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not very Christmasy

NOT SO MERRY MEMORIES
● Roman (27) & Noel (27)
● met when they were 15 years old
● Roman has come back
● running a business together
● Noah and Ari’s cameo (from “Say You Swear”)
● second chance romance
● novella

Audiobook source: Hoopla
Narrator: Hugo Locke & Shaina Summerville
Length: 3H 10M

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

The highlight of this book was Noah and Ari, I love them so much! Also the concept of the resort was so beautiful.

Don’t get me wrong I liked Roman and Noel too, they definitely had very cute moments but the plot was lowkey all over the place for me.

[Jenny Lovez Bookz · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was confusing and didn't really give me Christmas vibes. Sad thing is it felt like it was never going to end and it was just a Novella. Only reason it's getting 2 stars is for the mere mention of Noah Riley

[The MasqueReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A GIFT INSIDE OF A GIFT!!!

Meagan Brandy surprised the world with her first Christmas novella. No matter how short this story was, it was still packed with Meagan's classic brand of deliciousness that she instills into every single hero that she gives life to! AND that heroine! How does she always give us heroines that we can't help but love almost as much as those swoony heroes of hers!! Noel & Roman are quite the package but for me it was their emotional journey to get to the finish line that made the story so beautiful and the absolute perfect Christmas story to kick off my December with.

Not to mention....that whole GIFT INSIDE OF A GIFT! She sure surprised us with this novella but it's what you'll find INSIDE that'll have you squealing in excitement and possibly even leave you with tears in your eyes. It sure made me tear up more than once. Such a special story that I know will become a staple for me to read every Christmas!!

[Nicole*bookaholic* · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was happy to see Meagan Brandy released a Christmas book today. It wasn't really Christmasy though. Just a little. But it was really steamy.

[abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ The main reason I read this book was because of the Ari and Noah cameo. This is a second chance romance novella that is a quick read that is set during the holidays. I didn’t feel too connected to the characters in this book which is why I didn’t like that much.

[nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed thoughts about this one. Let me start by saying, I will read anything that MB writes because i think she's an incredible author, but that doesn't necessarily mean all her books are for me. This one kinda had me on the fence a little.
While it was a super short and spicy book, and I actually really liked Noel and Roman's story, there was a little part of me that felt like this was more an extended epilogue for Noah and Ari, written so that Say You Swear fans could get a glimpse of them into the future. Im not mad at that in the slightest, but I felt like it detracted from the real main couple of this story and Noah and Ari stole their thunder a tiny bit.

As I said, I enjoyed it and loved the premise of the story, but I would've been happy if it had focused solely on Noel and Roman.

[casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

i only read this for the noah & ari crumbs lol

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

My brain hurt from reading this, this was kind of confusing.

If I just picked it up randomly off of KU for a holiday novella, I probably would have DNF it to be honest BUT I love Say You Swear, and I picked this book for a purpose.

Anyway, a million stars for the Riley family and not many stars for the actual story.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I see why I don’t usually read these short story types. I don’t get enough of a chance to care much for the characters or story.

[Apryl (inmybookishgirlera) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this one. Say you swear was my fav book of the year so I had high expectations. But this one was just ok. I liked it and the premise of the story but it was also confusing at times and I just didn’t feel connected to the characters. It kind of just felt like an extended epilogue of say you swear. I loved seeing Ari and Noah more tho. This is a quick 2nd chance romance novella set during the holidays but it’s not very Christmasy in my option.

I will say you should read say you swear first because some of that plot is in this one along with the two main characters. Overall I gave it 3.5⭐️

[Nayema · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

this felt very much like promotion for say you swear. and it worked i want to read it now hahaha. i just hate that heros name is Noah.

anyways this book was 113 pages so short, steamy and fun! i love a second chance romance, these two are business partners AND billionaires! there was a lot of tension and pulling away on Noel’s side…

on Roman’s side??? it was chase, chase, chase. and we ALL love the chase so this was a fun time! perfect to read in december for the fact that it’s 113 pages and it’s holiday themed!

[Kade Gulluscio · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not So Merry Memories is a short holiday romance novella.
Meagan Brandy is a good author, and this wasn't my first book by her. But I have to admit, this definitely wasn't my favorite book by her.
The storyline was ...confusing. He gave "her space" for 5 years? then came back in and was ... demanding / forceful... it was just.. odd.
The resort confused me too.. how are tehy co-owners when they barely talked if at all?

I don't know man. It just didn't do it for me I guess.

[Cassie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yeah.... No... this was one of the worst books I've ever read. I never want to hear "kitten" again in my life. I literally read for Noah and Ari, and they got maybe 2 pages... NOT WORTH THE READ! Very rushed, very confusing, very cringy. I'd say this needed to be a full book, but if it wasn't for it being a short story, I probably would have DNF'd. Therefore, this just shouldn't exist 🤣

[Kiki · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Aly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh.

[Sarah Forrester · Rating 3 out of 5]

His pet name for her was not it for me🙃

[Sahara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved getting to see my absolute favorite characters, Noah & Ari, from Say You Swear!

But the entire novella was just so confusing??? Roman and Noel’s moment together we’re cute and I’m always a sucker for second chance romance, but overall was just very confusing in my opinion.

[SP · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a sucker for all things Meagan brandy and she didn’t disappoint. This was a sweet and to the point holiday novella, with some amazing angst. The kind you expect when reading anything by this author. I also loved that we got to see some more familiar faces.

I loved the second chance aspect as well, and learning what got them to where they are today. There was some good depth that a lot of novellas can sometimes lack.

Overall this is a great novella for this holiday season. I

[JoyBella · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 million 🌟 for Noah and 3 stars for everything else.

[Floriaane_mz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Angela I. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐