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Hideaway Harbor #6
The Holiday Grump
A runaway bride. A grumpy bookseller with a heart of gold. A friends-with-benefits deal doomed from the start.
Hideaway Harbor was supposed to be a quick detour—one cozy Christmas job, then I’d be back on the cruise ship, far from my powerful ex and the mess I left behind.
But thanks to a tiny mix-up, my “accommodation” is a storage room with a creaky daybed and no plumbing.
Enter my neighbor Fredrik, a broody bookstore owner with a decent bathroom and the social skills of a cactus.
He’s everything I shouldn’t want—grumpy, reclusive, and allergic to holiday cheer. Yet he keeps showing up for me. Saving me. Heating up the sauna...
And suddenly, we’re tangled in something neither of us is ready for.
We’re just friends. With excellent benefits. Until the lines blur.
I should keep running, but this small town is starting to feel like home.
And Fredrik... he might be the reason I finally stay.
—
---
The Holiday Grump is part of the Christmas at Hideaway Harbor series of six spicy romantic comedies. The books are interconnected standalones and can be read in any order.
Hideaway Harbor was supposed to be a quick detour—one cozy Christmas job, then I’d be back on the cruise ship, far from my powerful ex and the mess I left behind.
But thanks to a tiny mix-up, my “accommodation” is a storage room with a creaky daybed and no plumbing.
Enter my neighbor Fredrik, a broody bookstore owner with a decent bathroom and the social skills of a cactus.
He’s everything I shouldn’t want—grumpy, reclusive, and allergic to holiday cheer. Yet he keeps showing up for me. Saving me. Heating up the sauna...
And suddenly, we’re tangled in something neither of us is ready for.
We’re just friends. With excellent benefits. Until the lines blur.
I should keep running, but this small town is starting to feel like home.
And Fredrik... he might be the reason I finally stay.
—
---
The Holiday Grump is part of the Christmas at Hideaway Harbor series of six spicy romantic comedies. The books are interconnected standalones and can be read in any order.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 21, 2025
232 people are currently reading
1382 people want to read
About the author
Enni Amanda
16 books208 followersEnni Amanda is a Finnish–New Zealand rom-com author who writes warm, funny love stories with real-life bite.
She immigrated from Finland to New Zealand in 2006 and promptly fell in love with the scenery, the people, and the strange thrill of not having to defrost a car every morning. After years spent studying filmmaking, running a film festival, and zig-zagging between two countries that really should be closer together, she discovered screenwriting, which eventually led to writing books (a slippery slope).
These days she lives in the Waikato (close to the rolling hills of the Shire), raising two energetic boys, designing things, and writing books while heroically avoiding housework.
Social: @enniauthor (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook)
Mailing list: https://enniamanda.com/newsletter/
She immigrated from Finland to New Zealand in 2006 and promptly fell in love with the scenery, the people, and the strange thrill of not having to defrost a car every morning. After years spent studying filmmaking, running a film festival, and zig-zagging between two countries that really should be closer together, she discovered screenwriting, which eventually led to writing books (a slippery slope).
These days she lives in the Waikato (close to the rolling hills of the Shire), raising two energetic boys, designing things, and writing books while heroically avoiding housework.
Social: @enniauthor (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook)
Mailing list: https://enniamanda.com/newsletter/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 263 reviews
January 7, 2026
Part of the series Christmas in Hideaway Harbor, Enni Amanda’s offering features runaway bride Noelle, and tortured widowed bookshop owner Fredrik. Ostensibly polar opposites, the pair nonetheless become wildly attracted to each other and in short order cause each other’s plans to shift.
Their meet cute and developing relationship is delightfully awkward, and while both are keeping secrets, they must learn to trust the other if they’re going to make a go of things.
The secondary characters are also quirky and fun, and I look forward to reading the other books in the series.
I received an advance reader copy from the author, and I’m sharing my honest review.
Their meet cute and developing relationship is delightfully awkward, and while both are keeping secrets, they must learn to trust the other if they’re going to make a go of things.
The secondary characters are also quirky and fun, and I look forward to reading the other books in the series.
I received an advance reader copy from the author, and I’m sharing my honest review.
December 18, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Holiday Grump is a warm, witty, opposites-attract gem. The sunshiney, free-spirited heroine crashing into the life of a grumpy, set-in-his-ways bookstore owner is rom-com gold. Their push-pull banter sparkles, their chemistry simmers, and the found-family vibes are just what the holidays ordered.
If you’re a fan of grumpy/sunshine pairings, laugh-out-loud antics, and romance that leaves you smiling long after the last page, The Holiday Grump is the holiday escape you need.
If you’re a fan of grumpy/sunshine pairings, laugh-out-loud antics, and romance that leaves you smiling long after the last page, The Holiday Grump is the holiday escape you need.
October 27, 2025
I'm OBSESSED with The Holiday Grump and the whole Hideaway Harbour!! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT.
Noelle's quirky charm and tendency to blurt out the truth at the most inopportune moments had me giggling and her need to wear colour made me happy. I really felt for her insomnia as I suffer from it myself, she did such good things with her sleepless time!
I really felt for Noelle and how her ex fiancée made her feel like she was the problem, but Fredrik? He's the perfect match for her! He's grumpy, adorable, and adores her for being herself, quirks and all. The Christmas events and vibes in Hideaway Harbor were everything - festive, cozy, and romantic! Their friend’s with benefits deal was doomed from the start, but I devoured every swoony moment. Can't wait to read more from this adorable town and its lovable characters!
Noelle's quirky charm and tendency to blurt out the truth at the most inopportune moments had me giggling and her need to wear colour made me happy. I really felt for her insomnia as I suffer from it myself, she did such good things with her sleepless time!
I really felt for Noelle and how her ex fiancée made her feel like she was the problem, but Fredrik? He's the perfect match for her! He's grumpy, adorable, and adores her for being herself, quirks and all. The Christmas events and vibes in Hideaway Harbor were everything - festive, cozy, and romantic! Their friend’s with benefits deal was doomed from the start, but I devoured every swoony moment. Can't wait to read more from this adorable town and its lovable characters!
November 30, 2025
I love a really good grumpy/sunshine romance and making it a holiday romance in this case made it even better!! I love how Noelle, even though she has problems and fears she is working through, brings a dose of holiday cheer and sunshine to Fredrik and all of the residents in Hideaway Harbor. Frederik is the ultimate grieving grumpy introvert MMC who at first isn’t open to Noelle but very quickly realizes he can’t get enough of her. Thank you to Enni Amanda for the opportunity to read this early and your patience with me when it took me a lot longer to read it than I was expecting!
December 16, 2025
A very grumpy MMC and a very sunshiny, slightly chaotic, 'everyone-loves-her' FMC who is hiding out from an abusive ex (not physically).
part of a multi-author series set in the one small town.
This was fun and I liked it. Like d both MCs and my heart broke a little for both of their pasts.
Many characters introduced who I'm assuming probably get their own story by another author..
I liked it but probably not enough to try the other books.
part of a multi-author series set in the one small town.
This was fun and I liked it. Like d both MCs and my heart broke a little for both of their pasts.
Many characters introduced who I'm assuming probably get their own story by another author..
I liked it but probably not enough to try the other books.
October 6, 2025
Enni Amanda has managed to do a very difficult thing with The Holiday Grump: she has written a romcom that includes laugh-out-loud moments without straining credulity to breaking point or triggering a wave of cringe. And while I cackled loudly at several points, the emotional journeys of both lead characters (Noelle and Fredrick) were written beautifully and well fleshed out, making it feel like they had earned the eventual HEA.
The pacing felt good across the book, the secondary characters were fun (without being ridiculous) and the town of Hideaway Harbour made a lovely backdrop to the rest of the action. And the sauna scene was top-notch (if you know, you know).
Overall, the actual writing was also really good - I find grammatical issues can pull me out of a story, but I only noticed one little glitch throughout the text.
This was an easy read, fun for the holidays and definitely worth picking up.
I received this ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The pacing felt good across the book, the secondary characters were fun (without being ridiculous) and the town of Hideaway Harbour made a lovely backdrop to the rest of the action. And the sauna scene was top-notch (if you know, you know).
Overall, the actual writing was also really good - I find grammatical issues can pull me out of a story, but I only noticed one little glitch throughout the text.
This was an easy read, fun for the holidays and definitely worth picking up.
I received this ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 4, 2025
The Holiday Grump is an opposite attracts grumpy sunshine romance set in a small town full of Christmas festivities. Fredrik the grumpy antisocial bookstore owner and Noelle in town to work in a pop up Christmas shop have the cutest meet cute. The locals of Hideaway Harbour truly make this book and series. This was an enjoyable read the perfect holiday escape. I received a complementary copy from the author.
December 11, 2025
this book was so cute i loved the pacing i typically hate when the mcs get together earlier in the book but this was done so well i loved everything about it especially the characters and their interactions
October 25, 2025
Brilliant
This is the first time I’ve read this author, but I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more of her work.
This is the best blend of cute, quirky, Christmassy, grumpy, sunshine, sweet, steamy, small town cozy, humour and romance.
I loved the dynamic between Frederick and Noelle, they just sparkled from the pages.
This has laugh out load moments, drama and romance, and delivered all the feels in a light and easy read.
It’s part of an interconnected, festive, multi-author series and it was thoroughly entertaining.
This is the first time I’ve read this author, but I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more of her work.
This is the best blend of cute, quirky, Christmassy, grumpy, sunshine, sweet, steamy, small town cozy, humour and romance.
I loved the dynamic between Frederick and Noelle, they just sparkled from the pages.
This has laugh out load moments, drama and romance, and delivered all the feels in a light and easy read.
It’s part of an interconnected, festive, multi-author series and it was thoroughly entertaining.
October 13, 2025
This was my first read by this author and I thought it was absolutely delightful. A lovely warm, cozy, sweet and spicy holiday read set in the gorgeous small town of Hideaway Harbor. Frederik and Noelle made a wonderful opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine pair. Noelle was fun, funny and deliciously unfiltered, but my heart broke a little more each time further details of her past relationship was revealed. Frederik was the perfect recluse, with a broken and frozen heart brought back to life by his infectious new workplace neighbour. I enjoyed the slow burn and the steam, the gossipy and warmhearted locals, and the quirky festive activities embraced by the town. A highly recommended lovely Christmas read.
I was lucky to receive an early copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I was lucky to receive an early copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
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August 30, 2025Excuse me while I move into this town and never leave. 🎄💖
Preorder on AMAZON👉
Preorder on AMAZON👉
December 10, 2025
The need to hide, the need to stay hidden
While waiting for her next job on a cruise ship to start, Noelle agrees to be managing a popup shop filled with all that is Christmas in Hideaway Harbor. As Hideaway Harbor is literally a place in the middle of nowhere, it is the perfect place for Noelle, as she is running away from her controlling ex and the mess Noelle left behind by running away right before saying ‘I Do’. With Christmas looming around the corner, even in a lovely place like Hideaway Harbor, finding lodgings is difficult, so when Noelle’s accommodation is anything but what she thought it would be, Noelle doesn’t know what to do. But her shop – neighbour Frederik, owner of the bookshop right across her shop, has a decent bathroom ready to be used. However, even if Frederik is allowing Noelle to help herself with bathroom utilities, Noelle cannot deny that Frederik is a grumpy, reclusive man, wanting nothing more than being left alone. Yet Frederik cannot stop himself from helping Noelle out, even if she drives him crazy… And even if Noelle is staying at Hideaway Harbor for a limited time, Noelle and Frederik become friends with very good benefits, with no expectations at all. But when lines start to blur, is it all that defined as the both of them may think?
Christmas is always the most wonderful time of the year, isn’t it? The people are cheerful, the lights outside and the ‘will it snow?’…
But while for so many it is a wonderful time of the year, it is obvious the moment that Noelle (there isn’t a more fitting name! 😊) appears for the first time, that while she is a positive person, she isn’t in the happiest time of her life. She is running away from someone and something, and she needs to be somewhere to recharge herself, to find herself again.
I truly liked Noelle, because despite everything she has been through, and that in fact she is still hiding and running away, she is just a wonderful person. Despite everything she has been through, she still keeps a smile on her face, and no matter what curveballs are being thrown at her, she never loses her joy and cheer.
The contrast with Frederik couldn’t be any bigger. Being surrounded by books all day would be heaven for me, and I think I would be loving selling stories to people. But Frederik likes the darkness in his store, the quiet of it. And even if the store isn’t making any money, he likes it how on his own he is most of the day.
The comparison that in the book is made that Frederik is a Grinch, is rather spot on. However, we see more often than not, just who the real Frederik is. And that is a man that has been hurt by love, but also a man that does not let anyone struggle.
And it is seeing that softer side of him, the real him, was what made me even fall in love with him too. Of course, it is difficult for Frederik to get out of his Grinch – mood that easily, and communication is always a work in progress, yet seeing that progress, the slow change in him taking place, was so heartwarming.
That is all thanks to Noelle and her fierceness, her persuasive powers. Noelle and Frederik couldn’t be more different at the start of the book, but also right from the start it is clear that there is something pulling them together. And seeing how they are going from a low level of antagonists, to friends to friends with… feels like the normal course of life.
Again, things don’t go straightforward between them, as both Noelle and Frederik are haunted by events of their past, some closer to the present than others. But in both cases, also thanks to each other, they are able to trust people again, to let go of the past and to not already dream, but at least think about the future again.
But what for sure also helped in Noelle’s case, is the community of Hideaway Harbor. There are for sure excentric characters, but they are all opening their arms and hearts for Noelle. It feels like Noelle not just fits perfectly in Hideaway Harbor, but that she has been part of this community forever.
Obviously, there are several heated moments in this book, and Frederik for sure surprised me a little bit in that aspect 😊. But those heated moments show once again how well Noelle and Frederik are compatible! Now, as they start of as friends with benefits, and with blurring lines, it is to be expected that things become complicated.
Yet those complications and how the pair of them cope with them, shows the struggles they have internally, but also the growth they are going through. And that growth is the core of the story.
That growth and change in the main characters show us that no matter what has happened in the past, a page can be turned. And meeting a random person can be the catalyst of seeing more lights in your life again, to believe in all what is beautiful again.
I absolutely devoured this book, wanting to read more of Noelle and Frederik, but also not wanting to read too much of them. Because I just did not want to reach the end of this beautiful, heartwarming, inspiring, very Christmassy story that for sure put a smile on my face!
While waiting for her next job on a cruise ship to start, Noelle agrees to be managing a popup shop filled with all that is Christmas in Hideaway Harbor. As Hideaway Harbor is literally a place in the middle of nowhere, it is the perfect place for Noelle, as she is running away from her controlling ex and the mess Noelle left behind by running away right before saying ‘I Do’. With Christmas looming around the corner, even in a lovely place like Hideaway Harbor, finding lodgings is difficult, so when Noelle’s accommodation is anything but what she thought it would be, Noelle doesn’t know what to do. But her shop – neighbour Frederik, owner of the bookshop right across her shop, has a decent bathroom ready to be used. However, even if Frederik is allowing Noelle to help herself with bathroom utilities, Noelle cannot deny that Frederik is a grumpy, reclusive man, wanting nothing more than being left alone. Yet Frederik cannot stop himself from helping Noelle out, even if she drives him crazy… And even if Noelle is staying at Hideaway Harbor for a limited time, Noelle and Frederik become friends with very good benefits, with no expectations at all. But when lines start to blur, is it all that defined as the both of them may think?
Christmas is always the most wonderful time of the year, isn’t it? The people are cheerful, the lights outside and the ‘will it snow?’…
But while for so many it is a wonderful time of the year, it is obvious the moment that Noelle (there isn’t a more fitting name! 😊) appears for the first time, that while she is a positive person, she isn’t in the happiest time of her life. She is running away from someone and something, and she needs to be somewhere to recharge herself, to find herself again.
I truly liked Noelle, because despite everything she has been through, and that in fact she is still hiding and running away, she is just a wonderful person. Despite everything she has been through, she still keeps a smile on her face, and no matter what curveballs are being thrown at her, she never loses her joy and cheer.
The contrast with Frederik couldn’t be any bigger. Being surrounded by books all day would be heaven for me, and I think I would be loving selling stories to people. But Frederik likes the darkness in his store, the quiet of it. And even if the store isn’t making any money, he likes it how on his own he is most of the day.
The comparison that in the book is made that Frederik is a Grinch, is rather spot on. However, we see more often than not, just who the real Frederik is. And that is a man that has been hurt by love, but also a man that does not let anyone struggle.
And it is seeing that softer side of him, the real him, was what made me even fall in love with him too. Of course, it is difficult for Frederik to get out of his Grinch – mood that easily, and communication is always a work in progress, yet seeing that progress, the slow change in him taking place, was so heartwarming.
That is all thanks to Noelle and her fierceness, her persuasive powers. Noelle and Frederik couldn’t be more different at the start of the book, but also right from the start it is clear that there is something pulling them together. And seeing how they are going from a low level of antagonists, to friends to friends with… feels like the normal course of life.
Again, things don’t go straightforward between them, as both Noelle and Frederik are haunted by events of their past, some closer to the present than others. But in both cases, also thanks to each other, they are able to trust people again, to let go of the past and to not already dream, but at least think about the future again.
But what for sure also helped in Noelle’s case, is the community of Hideaway Harbor. There are for sure excentric characters, but they are all opening their arms and hearts for Noelle. It feels like Noelle not just fits perfectly in Hideaway Harbor, but that she has been part of this community forever.
Obviously, there are several heated moments in this book, and Frederik for sure surprised me a little bit in that aspect 😊. But those heated moments show once again how well Noelle and Frederik are compatible! Now, as they start of as friends with benefits, and with blurring lines, it is to be expected that things become complicated.
Yet those complications and how the pair of them cope with them, shows the struggles they have internally, but also the growth they are going through. And that growth is the core of the story.
That growth and change in the main characters show us that no matter what has happened in the past, a page can be turned. And meeting a random person can be the catalyst of seeing more lights in your life again, to believe in all what is beautiful again.
I absolutely devoured this book, wanting to read more of Noelle and Frederik, but also not wanting to read too much of them. Because I just did not want to reach the end of this beautiful, heartwarming, inspiring, very Christmassy story that for sure put a smile on my face!
November 24, 2025
3.5 stars.
"The Holiday Grump" by Enni Amanda tells the story of Noelle, a runaway bride, and Fredrik, a grumpy old bookshop owner. Noelle stumbles upon Hideaway Harbor and, subsequently, Fredrik, while running away from her ex-fiancé. Despite being an anti-social, hermit-y grump with a tragic past, Fredrik is drawn to Noelle, with her sunshine-y presence and slightly frantic nature. She is in Hideaway Harbor to run a Christmas pop-up shop, and he owns the bookstore next door. She wants to keep a low profile from her family and her ex, who is well-off and well-connected and looking for her after she ran away from their wedding a year ago in favor of a job on a cruise ship. The more Fredrik and Noelle are in each other's (forced!!!) proximity, the more their feelings for one another grow despite the odds. I liked this book, though it was not my favorite Hideaway Harbor novel. The push and pull between Noelle and Fredrik was not my favorite. It felt a little forced, considering they were so enamored with one another! I did love Fredrik's overprotective streak, though. I also like how Noelle helps Fredrik move on after the tragedy he has experienced. I love how Fredrik shows Noelle that she's fine just how she is, that she does not need to change for anyone, let alone a man. His want to make her happy and see her smile is swoon-worthy!! I loved seeing other perspectives of all of the town's holiday activities from different angles, involving the characters from the other novels in the series. All in all, this is definitely worth reading to finish off the series!
Thank you to Enni Amanda for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
"The Holiday Grump" by Enni Amanda tells the story of Noelle, a runaway bride, and Fredrik, a grumpy old bookshop owner. Noelle stumbles upon Hideaway Harbor and, subsequently, Fredrik, while running away from her ex-fiancé. Despite being an anti-social, hermit-y grump with a tragic past, Fredrik is drawn to Noelle, with her sunshine-y presence and slightly frantic nature. She is in Hideaway Harbor to run a Christmas pop-up shop, and he owns the bookstore next door. She wants to keep a low profile from her family and her ex, who is well-off and well-connected and looking for her after she ran away from their wedding a year ago in favor of a job on a cruise ship. The more Fredrik and Noelle are in each other's (forced!!!) proximity, the more their feelings for one another grow despite the odds. I liked this book, though it was not my favorite Hideaway Harbor novel. The push and pull between Noelle and Fredrik was not my favorite. It felt a little forced, considering they were so enamored with one another! I did love Fredrik's overprotective streak, though. I also like how Noelle helps Fredrik move on after the tragedy he has experienced. I love how Fredrik shows Noelle that she's fine just how she is, that she does not need to change for anyone, let alone a man. His want to make her happy and see her smile is swoon-worthy!! I loved seeing other perspectives of all of the town's holiday activities from different angles, involving the characters from the other novels in the series. All in all, this is definitely worth reading to finish off the series!
Thank you to Enni Amanda for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
November 16, 2025
"The Holiday Grump" by Enni Amanda is part of Hideaway Harbor.
I received a digital copy of the book from the author.
Opinions from this review are completely my own.
A year ago, Noelle left her fiancé before the weeding and did not return to her hometown.
Now, she came to Hideaway Harbor to work at a Christmas shop.
Fredrick is the grumpy bookseller next-door that helps her with the accommodation issues.
This was such a sweet story and I liked the characters a lot.
Fredrick is such a grump, but Noelle manages to make him enjoy the holidays again.
They have such good banter and there is so much tension between them.
The story has a good mix of funny moments, romance and drama.
There is also a found family part, that made the story even better.
I liked that the books in these series take place in the same time period and we get to see some of the events through different perspectives.
The small town life around Christmas is so nice that it made me sad that it not real. It would be so good to be able to at least visit.
If you like grumpy/sunshine stories with great character development and good spice (the sauna scene is really hot), this book is for you.
I received a digital copy of the book from the author.
Opinions from this review are completely my own.
A year ago, Noelle left her fiancé before the weeding and did not return to her hometown.
Now, she came to Hideaway Harbor to work at a Christmas shop.
Fredrick is the grumpy bookseller next-door that helps her with the accommodation issues.
This was such a sweet story and I liked the characters a lot.
Fredrick is such a grump, but Noelle manages to make him enjoy the holidays again.
They have such good banter and there is so much tension between them.
The story has a good mix of funny moments, romance and drama.
There is also a found family part, that made the story even better.
I liked that the books in these series take place in the same time period and we get to see some of the events through different perspectives.
The small town life around Christmas is so nice that it made me sad that it not real. It would be so good to be able to at least visit.
If you like grumpy/sunshine stories with great character development and good spice (the sauna scene is really hot), this book is for you.
November 21, 2025
"The Holiday Grump" is the final book in the Hideaway Harbor interconnected standalone series. I'm sad to see it come to an end, but I hope we get to revisit the town again in the future!
Noelle is a runaway bride who's trying to hide from her powerful ex. She takes a job in the quiet town of Hideaway Harbor for the season. She soon realizes her accommodations are a small storage room with an uncomfortable bed and no plumbing. Thankfully, her next-door neighbor, Fredrik, the broody bookstore owner, gives her a key so she can use the bathroom.
I loved seeing Noelle thaw Fredrik's heart, pushing his limits and getting him to slowly open up. The banter and found family aspect were my favorite parts. The whole town looks out for each other, and it makes my heart happy.
This was such a fun, cozy read with wonderful characters!
Noelle is a runaway bride who's trying to hide from her powerful ex. She takes a job in the quiet town of Hideaway Harbor for the season. She soon realizes her accommodations are a small storage room with an uncomfortable bed and no plumbing. Thankfully, her next-door neighbor, Fredrik, the broody bookstore owner, gives her a key so she can use the bathroom.
I loved seeing Noelle thaw Fredrik's heart, pushing his limits and getting him to slowly open up. The banter and found family aspect were my favorite parts. The whole town looks out for each other, and it makes my heart happy.
This was such a fun, cozy read with wonderful characters!
November 20, 2025
I thought this was an amazing read. A grumpy but oh, so swoon worthy hero, a heroine runaway bride that has plenty of challenges to overcome, a charming small town (That will have you longing for a visit) are skillfully combined into delightfully fun, cute, emotional, spicy, sweet and heartfelt love story that is another terrific entry in this holiday series that is too good to miss out on. Fredrik and Noelle stole my heart.
December 18, 2025
Another story in the hideaway harbor series! This was pretty cute. It’s a grumpy/sunshine romance, although I would call the MMC more of an emotional damaged recluse than a grump. I enjoyed everything in and around the bookshop, but the temporary Christmas store set up was a bit weird and sketchy to me. My other snag is that this is pretty much instalove if you look at how many days this book actually covers, and that’s not my favorite trope. Still it was a quick read and I enjoyed all the overlaps/ties to the other books in the hideaway harbor series.
November 12, 2025
I absolutely loved the stories. Small town romance. Book store grump and a shy happy woman. Perfect love story. I couldn’t put it down.
November 21, 2025
This was a wonderful and fun read! I really enjoyed the character development and the fun banter in the book. Fredrick’s character threw me for a loop, and there were things that he did or said that I truly was not expecting from him. Love Noelle and she truly feels like the fun girl next door everyone wants to be friends with! It’s such a sweet love story of two broken people that find each other and lift each other up with love and support between them and their community. Another wonderful Hideaway Harbor read that has me wishing I was a resident!
December 27, 2025
This one was a little slow to start but picked up and then ran away with the fun and the antics and romance 🥰
Fredrick is a man steeped in grief as his relationship was on the rocks when his wife suddenly passed away.
Noelle was stuck in a different loop of grief and gaslighting from her past relationship.
They each had some healing to do and they each had the ticket to helping the other one through their grief to the healing path.
They are total opposites and yet for just like the correct key to a lock.
This is the second Christmas In Hideaway Harbor book I’ve read and it takes place before the events in that one (The Holiday Fakers by Evie Alexander) and then the timelines merge and some of the same events take place just from a different perspective (obviously lol) which I thought was so much fun!
They are all connected by the town and by the supporting characters and gah! This is fun lol
Fredrick is a man steeped in grief as his relationship was on the rocks when his wife suddenly passed away.
Noelle was stuck in a different loop of grief and gaslighting from her past relationship.
They each had some healing to do and they each had the ticket to helping the other one through their grief to the healing path.
They are total opposites and yet for just like the correct key to a lock.
This is the second Christmas In Hideaway Harbor book I’ve read and it takes place before the events in that one (The Holiday Fakers by Evie Alexander) and then the timelines merge and some of the same events take place just from a different perspective (obviously lol) which I thought was so much fun!
They are all connected by the town and by the supporting characters and gah! This is fun lol
November 21, 2025
I love a good grumpy/sunshine romance, and something about the holiday season just makes that dynamic hit extra hard. Noelle and Fredrik brought the cute and the spice to Hideaway Harbor, and I found myself smiling through every moment of their relationship as it grew from strangers to lovers to something more.
On the run from her past, Noelle thought she found herself the perfect temp job: running a pop-up Christmas shop that will tide her over until her next job rolls in. Even better? Her new job is right next door to the town’s bookshop. If only the bookstore’s owner wasn’t so grumpy, or if he stocked books from this century. But Fredrik has his own past that he’s running from and a penchant for falling hard and fast. When Fredrik and Noelle’s situationship quickly starts feeling like something more, they will both have to decide if it’s time to stop avoiding the past and meet their future - together - head on.
I loved both of these main characters for very different reasons. Noelle was all bright colors and dichotomy, living for the moment while also constantly keeping her past on her mind. Fredrik, on the other hand, was all dull clothes and a fierce protective streak. He showed a hint of alpha male, and he would do anything to keep Noelle safe and make sure she knew she was loved. Together, they made my heart melt.
Enni does such a great job at developing characters, and everyone - from the main characters, to their friends and family, to the horrible ex who just had to make an appearance - were well developed and dynamic on the page. It’s easy to rally behind true love and Christmas miracles when the characters are this human and realistic. I could easily see myself having a character like Noelle as a friend. And Fredrik? He can buy me books and warm me up in his sauna any day.
With a fabulous grumpy/sunshine dynamic, a wandering FMC who finally finds her way home, and a lonely MMC who falls fast and protects those he loves with all his heart, The Holiday Grump is a wonderful addition to the Hideaway Harbor family.
On the run from her past, Noelle thought she found herself the perfect temp job: running a pop-up Christmas shop that will tide her over until her next job rolls in. Even better? Her new job is right next door to the town’s bookshop. If only the bookstore’s owner wasn’t so grumpy, or if he stocked books from this century. But Fredrik has his own past that he’s running from and a penchant for falling hard and fast. When Fredrik and Noelle’s situationship quickly starts feeling like something more, they will both have to decide if it’s time to stop avoiding the past and meet their future - together - head on.
I loved both of these main characters for very different reasons. Noelle was all bright colors and dichotomy, living for the moment while also constantly keeping her past on her mind. Fredrik, on the other hand, was all dull clothes and a fierce protective streak. He showed a hint of alpha male, and he would do anything to keep Noelle safe and make sure she knew she was loved. Together, they made my heart melt.
Enni does such a great job at developing characters, and everyone - from the main characters, to their friends and family, to the horrible ex who just had to make an appearance - were well developed and dynamic on the page. It’s easy to rally behind true love and Christmas miracles when the characters are this human and realistic. I could easily see myself having a character like Noelle as a friend. And Fredrik? He can buy me books and warm me up in his sauna any day.
With a fabulous grumpy/sunshine dynamic, a wandering FMC who finally finds her way home, and a lonely MMC who falls fast and protects those he loves with all his heart, The Holiday Grump is a wonderful addition to the Hideaway Harbor family.
October 9, 2025
Love, fear and finding home
I loved Fredrik and Noelle’s opposites attract, healing holiday romance. This heart warming story was told beautifully through the eyes of two main characters who are bruised but not broken, real, relatable people who have flaws, but are really just trying to just do their best being messy humans. Despite being opposites, they are dealing with their painful pasts in the same way and that is what ultimately draws them together and allows them to heal. Noelle is light, color and chaos in a person. A year ago she ran from her wedding to a wealthy and influential man. She has been working/hiding on cruise ships ever since, but when her latest cruise contract ended early due to mechanical problems, she agrees to run a pop-up Christmas shop in the small Christmas obsessed town of Hideaway Harbor. Fredrik is a grumpy reclusive widower who owns a bookstore in Hideaway Harbor. They meet Noelle’s first night in town and learn that her shop is next door to his bookstore. She does not have a working bathroom or a proper place to sleep and Fredrik reluctantly steps in to help. Thus begins the baggage unpacking and healing journey to their HEA where it’s two steps forward and one step back before they gradually ease out of their self-imposed prisons and embrace their forever together. This funny and heartwarming story gave me all the swoony swoons while also pulling at my heartstrings with all the emotions. I am loving this quirky holiday obsessed town and am excited to read more stories set in it. 4.5 stars.
I loved Fredrik and Noelle’s opposites attract, healing holiday romance. This heart warming story was told beautifully through the eyes of two main characters who are bruised but not broken, real, relatable people who have flaws, but are really just trying to just do their best being messy humans. Despite being opposites, they are dealing with their painful pasts in the same way and that is what ultimately draws them together and allows them to heal. Noelle is light, color and chaos in a person. A year ago she ran from her wedding to a wealthy and influential man. She has been working/hiding on cruise ships ever since, but when her latest cruise contract ended early due to mechanical problems, she agrees to run a pop-up Christmas shop in the small Christmas obsessed town of Hideaway Harbor. Fredrik is a grumpy reclusive widower who owns a bookstore in Hideaway Harbor. They meet Noelle’s first night in town and learn that her shop is next door to his bookstore. She does not have a working bathroom or a proper place to sleep and Fredrik reluctantly steps in to help. Thus begins the baggage unpacking and healing journey to their HEA where it’s two steps forward and one step back before they gradually ease out of their self-imposed prisons and embrace their forever together. This funny and heartwarming story gave me all the swoony swoons while also pulling at my heartstrings with all the emotions. I am loving this quirky holiday obsessed town and am excited to read more stories set in it. 4.5 stars.
October 8, 2025
Noelle is a runaway bride because she knew that she didn't fit into her finances' lifestyle, family, or his friends circle without embarrassing them both or his family. She wasn't born into wealth and didn't really care about money like he did.
So, she got a job on a cruise ship that ended sooner than expected. Christmas was close and she didn't want to go home to face her family or her ex. Noelle decided she would live a couple of hours away from home, a small town called Hideaway Harbor, run a Christmas store for a few months then get back on another cruise.
Fredrik is a quit man, widower, a loner by choice, has a loving family near, a good friend, owns a bookstore. His wife was unhappy living in a small town with no excitement around, they would travel to bigger cities looking for fun. He was happy where he was and still is.
When Fredrik and Noelle met for the first time, it was in a bar, he watched her clean a cactus with a makeup brush then take pictures with it. They stared into each other's eyes from across the room.
After that, their lives changed for the better, but they did have a couple of issues to work through. She had an unfiltered mouth that she thought got her into trouble, he liked her unfiltered words. She also had a low self-esteem due to the way her ex verbally beat her down. Fredrik had to let go of the past and wanting to be alone and not be so abrasive towards others. He also had to work on bookstore.
Fredrik and Noelle are in a happy loving relationship.
Love wins again!!
So, she got a job on a cruise ship that ended sooner than expected. Christmas was close and she didn't want to go home to face her family or her ex. Noelle decided she would live a couple of hours away from home, a small town called Hideaway Harbor, run a Christmas store for a few months then get back on another cruise.
Fredrik is a quit man, widower, a loner by choice, has a loving family near, a good friend, owns a bookstore. His wife was unhappy living in a small town with no excitement around, they would travel to bigger cities looking for fun. He was happy where he was and still is.
When Fredrik and Noelle met for the first time, it was in a bar, he watched her clean a cactus with a makeup brush then take pictures with it. They stared into each other's eyes from across the room.
After that, their lives changed for the better, but they did have a couple of issues to work through. She had an unfiltered mouth that she thought got her into trouble, he liked her unfiltered words. She also had a low self-esteem due to the way her ex verbally beat her down. Fredrik had to let go of the past and wanting to be alone and not be so abrasive towards others. He also had to work on bookstore.
Fredrik and Noelle are in a happy loving relationship.
Love wins again!!
October 29, 2025
The Holiday Grump is the 6th installment in the Hideaway Harbor series, which is a standalone series. Noelle has been hiding from her ex-fiancee, a rich and powerful man that she left at the altar. When she first left, she was working on a cruise ship but the one she was working shut down early and her friend managed to find her a job with accommodations in Hideaway - perfect due to the lack of cell service. When she arrives, she finds out that her "accommodations" was just an uncomfortable bed - no bathroom, no kitchenette. Luckily, her neighbor Fredrick, has a great bathroom and strong sense of doing what's right. Unlike Noelle's cheery personality and extreme curiosity, Fredrick prefers to keep to himself and has been known as a bit of a grump since his wife passed unexpectedly.
This is the 4th book I've read from this series and I've enjoyed them all so far. They mostly take place during the same time period but are following different perspectives so I haven't run into exact retelling of the same events. I haven't read them in order and didn't experience any spoilers (my order has been 2, 1, 3, 6). I loved that Noelle and Fredrick opened each other's eyes and helped each other see things from different perspectives. Noelle especially needed it for her past relationship with her ex-fiancee. I really enjoyed her personality - she is kind (putting her insomnia to good use) and has a tendency to speak before she thinks.
Thanks to Enni Amanda and BookFunnel for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This is the 4th book I've read from this series and I've enjoyed them all so far. They mostly take place during the same time period but are following different perspectives so I haven't run into exact retelling of the same events. I haven't read them in order and didn't experience any spoilers (my order has been 2, 1, 3, 6). I loved that Noelle and Fredrick opened each other's eyes and helped each other see things from different perspectives. Noelle especially needed it for her past relationship with her ex-fiancee. I really enjoyed her personality - she is kind (putting her insomnia to good use) and has a tendency to speak before she thinks.
Thanks to Enni Amanda and BookFunnel for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 11, 2026
ARC Book Review
The Holiday Grump
A Novel Written By Enni Amanda
Fiction - Romance
Published November 2025
372 Pages
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is one of the six books in the Christmas at Hideaway Harbor Series. Each book in the series is written by a different author.
Hideaway Harbor is a quaint small town in Maine that embraces the holiday season. It is the perfect setting for a Christmas story.
The books in the series can be read in any order. Although the books all take place in December, they can be enjoyed during the winter months of January and February. They will warm you up, especially your heart.
I enjoyed reading the books in this series, especially the quirky citizens of this fun town. I liked how the characters from the six books have mentions or cameos in the other books.
This one is a spicy story of two opposites who are attracted to each other. Noelle and Fredrick are two strangers who become friends. They try to develop a friends with benefits relationship.
Can Noelle the runaway bride who is a free spirit and impulsive have a long term relationship with the grumpy bookseller widower?
“I think that’s what makes us truly unique. The damages we take.”
The Holiday Grump
A Novel Written By Enni Amanda
Fiction - Romance
Published November 2025
372 Pages
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is one of the six books in the Christmas at Hideaway Harbor Series. Each book in the series is written by a different author.
Hideaway Harbor is a quaint small town in Maine that embraces the holiday season. It is the perfect setting for a Christmas story.
The books in the series can be read in any order. Although the books all take place in December, they can be enjoyed during the winter months of January and February. They will warm you up, especially your heart.
I enjoyed reading the books in this series, especially the quirky citizens of this fun town. I liked how the characters from the six books have mentions or cameos in the other books.
This one is a spicy story of two opposites who are attracted to each other. Noelle and Fredrick are two strangers who become friends. They try to develop a friends with benefits relationship.
Can Noelle the runaway bride who is a free spirit and impulsive have a long term relationship with the grumpy bookseller widower?
“I think that’s what makes us truly unique. The damages we take.”
October 30, 2025
4.5 stars
Fredrik Hagberg (bookstore owner; widower) and Noelle (runaway bride and cruise ship worker, currently running a Christmas store) meet each other on her first night in Hideaway Harbor, Maine. Her parents think she’s working on a cruise ship, but the cruise ended early and she has a temp job in town for a month. She’s actually only a couple of hours away from her family in Bangor, but she doesn’t feel comfortable letting them know where she is because of the way she left—leaving her groom at the altar, and leaving her family to make her excuses. She has stayed away for a year because she embarrassed her fiancé and left him without explanation, and his family is very wealthy and well-connected. So she really doesn’t want him to know where she is.
It’s especially fun to watch how Noelle brings Fredrik back to life after a tragedy and his feelings of guilt have kept him trapped in the past for the preceding two years. This book has some funny parts, some heartwarming parts, and some entertaining parts. It held my interest throughout. The dialog is fun—and even awkward at times—so have fun with it all!
Fredrik Hagberg (bookstore owner; widower) and Noelle (runaway bride and cruise ship worker, currently running a Christmas store) meet each other on her first night in Hideaway Harbor, Maine. Her parents think she’s working on a cruise ship, but the cruise ended early and she has a temp job in town for a month. She’s actually only a couple of hours away from her family in Bangor, but she doesn’t feel comfortable letting them know where she is because of the way she left—leaving her groom at the altar, and leaving her family to make her excuses. She has stayed away for a year because she embarrassed her fiancé and left him without explanation, and his family is very wealthy and well-connected. So she really doesn’t want him to know where she is.
It’s especially fun to watch how Noelle brings Fredrik back to life after a tragedy and his feelings of guilt have kept him trapped in the past for the preceding two years. This book has some funny parts, some heartwarming parts, and some entertaining parts. It held my interest throughout. The dialog is fun—and even awkward at times—so have fun with it all!
November 21, 2025
Our last trip into Hideaway Harbour, and this time we meet lonely, grumpy Frederik, book shop owner and a virtual recluse. He hates people coming into his shop, and he hates leaving the silent sanctuary it provides. Noelle is a runaway bride who won’t stay on land long enough for her ex to track her down, but thanks to the cruise ship being delayed, she’s stuck in Hideaway Harbour selling Christmas decorations in a pop-up shop next door to Frederik’s book shop.
Given how antisocial Frederik is, it’s a surprise to everyone when he offers hospitality to Noelle. He gives her a key to his bookshop to use the bathroom when she needs it (her shop has woefully bad facilities), and then when her landlord/boss tells her she can’t live there, he offers her his back room above the shop. He even goes as far as offering her a room in his house when there is a power outage and she has no heat. But as she’s not planning to stay, and he doesn’t do relationships, all he offers is friends with benefits. But that’s not what he wants and neither does she.
I loved Frederik, I always love a grumpy man because you know given the right circumstances, he’s going to turn into a giant teddy bear, and that’s exactly what Frederik is, even his best friend calls him Teddy. Noelle is sweet but he ex gaslighted her so bad, she has no self confidence and always thinks she’s causing a problem. Yes she has no filter at times but she’s kind, warm and generous and they are just perfect for each other.
I’m going to miss Hideaway Harbour and it’s quirky inhabitants.
Given how antisocial Frederik is, it’s a surprise to everyone when he offers hospitality to Noelle. He gives her a key to his bookshop to use the bathroom when she needs it (her shop has woefully bad facilities), and then when her landlord/boss tells her she can’t live there, he offers her his back room above the shop. He even goes as far as offering her a room in his house when there is a power outage and she has no heat. But as she’s not planning to stay, and he doesn’t do relationships, all he offers is friends with benefits. But that’s not what he wants and neither does she.
I loved Frederik, I always love a grumpy man because you know given the right circumstances, he’s going to turn into a giant teddy bear, and that’s exactly what Frederik is, even his best friend calls him Teddy. Noelle is sweet but he ex gaslighted her so bad, she has no self confidence and always thinks she’s causing a problem. Yes she has no filter at times but she’s kind, warm and generous and they are just perfect for each other.
I’m going to miss Hideaway Harbour and it’s quirky inhabitants.
October 23, 2025
The Holiday Grump is the sixth book in the Hideaway Harbor series, a set of six interconnected standalones that can be read in any order. Noelle ran away from her wedding last year and has been working on cruise ships ever since, but now ends up working at a Christmas pop up in Dream Harbor. The bookstore next door to her shop in owned by grumpy widower Fredrik, who seems to be constantly saving Noelle. Can their FWB turn into something deeper, or will she run away once again?
I enjoyed the character development in this book, as well as all the Finnish tidbits strewn around the book (and the whole series). Some turns were not completely plausible, but all in all, this book made a great feel good holiday read.
This book is for you if you like
📖 grumpy x sunshine
📖 forced proximity
📖 traumatic past dating experiences
📖 secret good deeds
📖 incredible chemistry
📖 really steamy and spicy scenes
📖 small town holiday romance
📖 HEA
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I enjoyed the character development in this book, as well as all the Finnish tidbits strewn around the book (and the whole series). Some turns were not completely plausible, but all in all, this book made a great feel good holiday read.
This book is for you if you like
📖 grumpy x sunshine
📖 forced proximity
📖 traumatic past dating experiences
📖 secret good deeds
📖 incredible chemistry
📖 really steamy and spicy scenes
📖 small town holiday romance
📖 HEA
🌶️🌶️🌶️
October 27, 2025
This is a sweet and spicy Christmas story. I loved the town, the main and side characters.
Noelle and Fredrik have a whirlwind Christmas romance. She strolls into town for a temporary job selling Christmas items at a pop-up store. On break from her cruise jobs that she started to get away from her ex-fiancé. She is only 2 hours away from him and her hometown so she wants to keep a low profile. While at the bar she takes an unusual picture and Fredrik sees her. He doesn’t know what is going on but can’t seem to look away. He is all grumpy and she is all sunshine. Once you throw in forced proximity they didn’t stand a chance against the connection they felt for each other.
I loved Noelle. She was so full of life and just had a great energy. Fredrik was the broody man with elbow patches that we all secretly love.
Noelle and Fredrik have a whirlwind Christmas romance. She strolls into town for a temporary job selling Christmas items at a pop-up store. On break from her cruise jobs that she started to get away from her ex-fiancé. She is only 2 hours away from him and her hometown so she wants to keep a low profile. While at the bar she takes an unusual picture and Fredrik sees her. He doesn’t know what is going on but can’t seem to look away. He is all grumpy and she is all sunshine. Once you throw in forced proximity they didn’t stand a chance against the connection they felt for each other.
I loved Noelle. She was so full of life and just had a great energy. Fredrik was the broody man with elbow patches that we all secretly love.
October 4, 2025
The Holiday Grump is everything I love in a festive romance. It’s cozy, witty, and just the right amount of spicy to warm up a cold night. The small-town setting sparkles with charm, complete with quirky side characters, snow-dusted streets, and plenty of holiday cheer.
The romance itself is such a fun balance—grumpy meets sunshine, slow-burn tension that delivers, and heart-melting holiday moments that feel both swoony and real. I especially loved how the banter never felt forced and how the characters’ growth gave the story so much more depth than just holiday fluff.
If you’re looking for a Christmas read that’s equal parts cozy, funny, and steamy, The Holiday Grump is a perfect pick. It left me smiling, blushing, and craving more small-town holiday romances
The romance itself is such a fun balance—grumpy meets sunshine, slow-burn tension that delivers, and heart-melting holiday moments that feel both swoony and real. I especially loved how the banter never felt forced and how the characters’ growth gave the story so much more depth than just holiday fluff.
If you’re looking for a Christmas read that’s equal parts cozy, funny, and steamy, The Holiday Grump is a perfect pick. It left me smiling, blushing, and craving more small-town holiday romances
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