A Knight Before Christmas

Fairytale in Progress #2

by Cara Stout

A dating show leads to real romance behind the cameras in this paperback original from the author of Enchanted to Meet You, perfect for fans of Lynn Painter, Jenny Han, and fairytale happily ever afters.


‘Twas the night before Christmas, and cameras were rolling

But behind the scenes, for Knight Garrick was Juliet falling. . . .

Juliet Ripley knows that happily-ever-afters only happen in fairytales. So she agrees to help run a dating show, not bothered that it’s all a lie.

Garrick Walsh is fake royalty, emphasis on fake. At his family’s fairytale theme park, Garrick has spent his life pretending be someone he’s shallow, flirtatious, a knight who breaks hearts instead of risking his own.

But when Garrick meets Juliet, their instant chemistry could melt even the chilliest of hearts. And soon they’re each forced to confront what’s fake—and what’s heartbreakingly real.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Young Adult, Holiday, Small Town Romance, Young Adult Romance, Psychology

368 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 18, 2025

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, A Knight Before Christmas, by Cara Stout, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Christmas and a reality show, this was a nice read. Ripley and Garrick are oddly named but good characters.

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Juliet agrees to help produce a teen dating show because love is fake, romance is branding, and apparently the safest place to hide from emotional vulnerability is directly behind a camera filming other people pretend to fall in love. This girl hears “happily ever after” and reacts like someone just handed her a suspicious package. Garrick, meanwhile, has spent years dressing like a knight, flirting with tourists, and pretending he has the emotional depth of a decorative moat. Truly, two people making incredible choices.

The show is filming at Garrick’s family’s fairy tale theme park, which means he is fake royalty competing in a fake romance while Juliet is backstage trying to keep the whole fake situation professionally fake. Then they meet, and immediately the energy becomes, “Oh no, the producer has chemistry with the product.” Everyone else is trying to make television, and these two are over there having eye contact that needs its own intimacy coordinator.

Juliet has the exact personality type that hears “do not get involved” as a personal challenge. She is organized, skeptical, and absolutely convinced she has outsmarted love by refusing to believe in it. Garrick is her emotional opposite, all charm and improvisation and smiling through whatever is currently trying to ruin him. He falls first, because of course he does. That man took one look at the girl holding the clipboard and said, internally, “Excellent, I will now make this everyone’s problem.”

And Garrick’s whole fake-knight persona is ridiculous until you realize why he needs it. He has built an entire personality out of being easygoing because the real feelings underneath are apparently being stored in a locked tower with no stairs. This man is carrying enough emotional baggage to qualify for excess luggage fees, but he keeps waving at the crowd like everything is fine. Sir, your armor is not subtle. We can all hear the trauma clanking.

Meanwhile, the contestants are showing up for their dates thinking Garrick is the prize, while the actual romance is happening behind the cameras with the girl who is supposed to be coordinating their call times. Imagine doing your hair, putting on a festive outfit, and preparing to compete for a charming knight, only to realize he is staring past you at the producer like she personally invented Christmas. I would have walked directly into the fake castle and refused to come out.

The whole production is held together by holiday decorations, family pressure, questionable decisions, and the belief that teenagers can film a reality dating show without anyone having an emotional emergency. There are enough side characters floating around that I occasionally felt like I needed a seating chart, and some of the show details kept going after my brain had already wandered toward the nearest funnel cake. But every time Juliet and Garrick were together, I was back. Their banter has that very specific feeling of two people insisting they are not flirting while everyone within a five-mile radius quietly leaves the room.

Then the book gets sincere, which was rude because I had gotten comfortable making fun of the fake monarchy. Underneath all the Christmas lights and reality show nonsense, both of them are terrified that being honest will cost them something they cannot get back. Neither one needs a grand fairy tale. They need somebody who sees the performance, understands why it exists, and stays long enough to meet the person underneath it. That landed. I did not enjoy being emotionally ambushed near a decorative castle, but it landed.

Did I read Enchanted to Meet You first? Absolutely not. I entered this companion novel like a woman arriving late to brunch and immediately ordering for the table. There are some connections and previous-book context hanging around, but I never felt stranded. Mostly I felt smugly pleased that my complete refusal to prepare had once again been rewarded.

This was cute, flirty, festive, and just messy enough to keep me entertained. The reality show occasionally had more names and moving parts than I wanted to emotionally supervise, but Garrick and Juliet kept dragging me back into their deeply inconvenient feelings. 3.5 stars, and I would absolutely watch this disastrous fake dating show while loudly claiming I was only there for the theme park snacks.

Merry Mayhem Prize: For Turning “Do Not Fall for the Producer” Into a Suggestion Nobody Even Pretended to Follow

Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books and NetGalley for the ARC, and for briefly convincing me that a Christmas dating show at a fairy tale theme park is a workable business model instead of the opening scene of an insurance investigation.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a companion to Enchanted to Meet You (which came out earlier this year) but can definitely be read as a standalone (though there are some spoilers for the conflict of the first book). This was centered around Christmas and also had the backdrop of a fake dating reality TV show. This book definitely leaned more into the reality tv rather than the Christmas end of things. I definitely would have liked it more had there been more Christmas. It was still a cute read and I liked the Disney World-esque setting.

___________________________________
Can it be??? Is there a YA Christmas book coming out this year????

And it sounds so cute!



Well, this just instantly became one of my most anticipated releases!!!!

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story with a great setting. I love reality show-based romances so that added to my enjoyment of the story once I got over the age of the participants; teens aren’t quite the target demographic for dating apps and happily ever after shows since they have so much of their life ahead of them and have much more growing up to do before committing (but that could be just me – I was way too young in high school to know what I wanted). Otherwise, it’s a good Christmas read with a HEA.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Childrens for the review copy.

[GOLDEN KIWI · Rating 5 out of 5]

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. Thank you Cara you've done it again!

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Knight Before Christmas by Cara Stout, due to financial issues fairytale world is opening up for the Christmas season and the dating app “be loved“ want’s to have a dating reality show set in the park. When Ripley’s mom presses her to be on the show it is the last thing she wants to do. she knows it would help the mom‘s new dating app but reality TV isn’t something on Ripley‘s bucket list. this is why she asked the teenage son of the owner of the park, after all he already plays a prince. She shocked to see how easy she gets him on board but doesn’t know what she has sparked inside of him what does a boy with everything want and that’s the girl that doesn’t want him and that is exactly who Juliet Ripley is. this was such a cute and funny story I went and downloaded the first book “enchanted to meet you“ can’t wait to read it. I love that Garrett was likable from the beginning and even though Juliet knew what she wanted and what she didn’t want she still came across as a very likable person and them together made a wonderful Sony young couple. I love this book and can’t wait to read the other two in the series it is a book I highly recommend if you love teenage romance reality shows and a prince that can’t get his princess to pay attention to him then you definitely need to read this book I loved it I just loved it. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,

[lydia {67} ୨ৎ {christmas time is here} · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

review:

thanks to netgalley, author, and publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

✨✨✨✨ ~ 4.25 stars


ahhhhh i literally said i was a sucker for Christmas romances and here i am still kicking my feet and giggling at how cute this book was. the whole he's a "knight in shining armor" was so so cute and well played out. i think my biggest thing was how cliche this was, and yes at times i loved it, but others i wished cara stout could have come up with something more original. BUT AGAIN I LOVED IT BC THE WHOLE BEING JULIET'S ROMEO WAS SO CUTE AHHH 🥹🤭 before i spoil everything, you should just read it when it's released and then we can talk about how cute it was 😛



preread:

awww more christmas?? man these authors must love me this year bc i'm a sucker for a good christmas romance.

[Arin Kate (Where's Waldo for Halloween) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this ARC.

AHHHHH!! THE QUEEN IS BACK. When I got this ARC, I quite literally squealed. I was so happy.

This is something I never EVER thought I'd say, but this was honestly better than Enchanted To Meet You (and yall know I love me some ETMY)

I would give it 6 stars if I could.

The characters were so real and raw. The plot twists just kept coming, and it all tied together to create the perfect fairy tale ending. 😏😉 (See what I did there??)

I loved this book so much!!

Thank you, Cara Stout for this masterpiece. 💖

[That_awkwardbook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very cute teenage romcom. If you want a Christmassy vibe, a reality tv show a la the bachelor, all set in a theme park with a castle, knights and royalty, then this is for you!
The characters a previously sweet. I really enjoyed the the flirty vibes, the longing, the jealousy and the friendships.

[Shannon · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this creative YA take on the Romeo and Juliet story that takes place over the holidays and involves a teen influencer who is convinced to be the main character of a reality dating show. This forbidden, dual POV, YA love story features the reluctant showrunner who finds herself falling for the male heart throb/love interest as she strives to create a show viewers will tune in to watch. Good on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Jodi McAlister who enjoy books with young adult main characters. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

[BookishKB]

🎄❤️ A Knight Before Christmas ❤️🎄

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

✨ What to Expect
• YA Romance
• Holiday Romance
• Behind the Scenes
• Fake Dating Show
• Fake Royalty
• Christmas Romance
_ _ _

📅 Pub Date: October 20, 2026
Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s something rather amusing about a group of people going to extraordinary lengths to manufacture the perfect romance while the most promising love story is happening somewhere behind the cameras and honestly, I thought that was a clever premise for a Christmas romantic comedy.

Cara Stout’s A Knight Before Christmas takes us to a fairytale-themed amusement park, where a reality dating show promises the kind of happily-ever-after Juliet Ripley has very little faith in. Garrick, meanwhile, has spent enough time playing the charming knight to understand that appearing romantic and being emotionally available are two very different things.

Naturally, the girl who doesn’t believe in fairytales and the boy who makes a living pretending to inhabit one find themselves considerably more interested in each other than either anticipated. It’s charming, occasionally ridiculous in the way a holiday romantic comedy should be, and genuinely enjoyable. I just think there was an opportunity here for something a little more memorable.

What interested me most was the contrast between the people we present to the world and who we are when nobody is watching. Garrick’s easy charm conceals someone who would rather keep love at a comfortable distance than risk getting hurt. Juliet has arrived at a similar destination by an entirely different route, protecting herself from disappointment by refusing to put much faith in romance to begin with. Neither approach is particularly effective when genuine feelings become involved.

I appreciated the potential in that dynamic, especially the idea that two people can be equally guarded while appearing to have completely opposite attitudes toward love. But I didn’t always feel that the emotional development explored those possibilities as fully as it could have.

I liked Juliet and Garrick together. Their circumstances are entertaining, their developing affection is sweet, and there’s something endearing about watching two teenagers discover that romance is considerably less straightforward when it’s actually happening to them. But enjoying a couple’s relationship and becoming genuinely invested in it aren’t necessarily the same thing.

I enjoyed watching them fall in love. I just never felt particularly swept up in it and I think part of that comes down to character development. Garrick’s movement beyond the flirtatious persona he’s cultivated is appealing, but I wanted a little more exploration of what that growth meant for him as an individual. Juliet’s skepticism also has an interesting foundation, particularly given what she’s witnessed of the relationships around her, but I would have appreciated a little more attention to how her perspective evolved.

Neither character needed some extraordinary moment of self-discovery. Sometimes it’s the smaller conversations, the moments of unexpected honesty, or the gradual realization that someone understands you better than you expected that make a romance feel particularly convincing. I wanted a little more of that here.

The reality dating show was another element I appreciated more in concept than in every aspect of its execution.

A fairytale amusement park, a collection of hopeful contestants, Christmas festivities, and a handsome knight who’s considerably more interested in someone working behind the scenes? There’s plenty of opportunity for humor and romantic complications and Stout certainly makes use of it.

But as the story progressed, I occasionally found myself wishing the production itself would take a back seat. Between the contestants, supporting characters, and various complications, there were moments when the manufactured romance seemed to demand more attention than the relationship I actually wanted to follow.

I don’t think the book needed more drama. If anything, I think it might have benefited from a little more simplicity. That said, I also think it’s important to consider what this story is trying to be.

This is a young adult Christmas romance, and there’s something refreshing about allowing teenage characters to be teenagers. Their romantic idealism, awkward decisions, and occasionally questionable judgment feel entirely appropriate for their ages. First love doesn’t need to come with the emotional wisdom of someone who’s already survived twenty years of complicated relationships. Although, judging by some adult romances, age doesn’t necessarily guarantee better judgment anyway.

I can appreciate a story that embraces the sweetness and uncertainty of young love without demanding that it become something more sophisticated than its intended audience or premise requires.

My reservations weren’t about the characters being young. They were about wanting a little more emotional substance within the story they were already telling.

As for the audiobook, I genuinely enjoyed both performances. Bailey Carr was the standout for me, although Brandon Francis also did a good job bringing the story to life. Both delivered engaging performances, and I thought the narration worked particularly well with the playful tone of the romantic comedy. My one reservation was less about their performances and more about the vocal casting.

At times, the characters sounded older than the teenagers they were supposed to be. The narration occasionally gave me the impression that I was listening to an adult contemporary romance rather than a YA story, and I could see how that might create different expectations for someone going into the audiobook without knowing much about the characters. I actually think younger-sounding voices might have been even more effective here, particularly in conveying the inexperience and emotional uncertainty that make first love what it is.

That isn’t to diminish either narrator’s work. I enjoyed listening to both of them, and Carr in particular made a positive impression. It’s simply one of those production details that could have made an already enjoyable audiobook feel even more authentic to its characters.

Ultimately, I think A Knight Before Christmas succeeds at delivering a comforting, playful holiday romance, even if it doesn’t quite make the most of everything its premise has to offer.

There are stories that surprise you with their complexity, stories that leave you emotionally devastated, and stories that become unforgettable for reasons you can’t entirely explain and then there are stories that are simply lovely to spend time with. There’s value in those, too.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.0/5)

Vibe: Whimsical Christmas atmosphere, fairytale amusement park, behind-the-scenes reality television, opposites attract, forced proximity, first love, and a healthy dose of romantic chaos.

Emotional Impact: Sweet and enjoyable rather than deeply affecting. I appreciated the underlying ideas about vulnerability and authenticity, although I wanted a little more depth in how those themes developed.

Romance: Juliet and Garrick have an endearing dynamic, and I enjoyed their relationship. I just never became quite as emotionally invested as I would have liked. A little more time developing their connection beyond the circumstances bringing them together could have made a meaningful difference.

Narration: Strong performances from Bailey Carr and Brandon Francis, with Carr standing out in particular. My only reservation was that the characters occasionally sounded older than their intended ages. Younger-sounding vocal casting might have made the YA perspective feel more convincing.

Connection Factor: I was particularly interested in the contrast between performing romance and allowing yourself to experience it. The idea that two people can protect themselves from vulnerability in completely different ways was compelling, even if I wished the story had explored it further.

Aftertaste: A charming, comfortable holiday listen that I genuinely enjoyed, even if the relationship itself didn’t leave a particularly lasting impression.

Final Verdict
A Knight Before Christmas is an imaginative, sweet, and entertaining YA holiday romance with a delightful setting, an appealing central couple, and enjoyable dual narration.

I would have welcomed more meaningful character development, a little less attention to the dating-show logistics, and a stronger emotional payoff. But I also appreciated the book’s willingness to embrace youthful romance without turning every complication into a crisis.

I’d happily recommend it to readers who enjoy lighthearted holiday romances, whimsical settings, and the particular chaos of falling for someone when absolutely everyone seems to be watching.

It didn’t become a new favorite, and I don’t think it needed to. Sometimes a book earns four stars not because it exceeds every expectation, but because the time spent with it was genuinely enjoyable, even if you can recognize where it might have been better; and for a story about manufactured happily-ever-afters, I rather liked that my enjoyment of this one didn’t need to be quite so perfect.

I received an advance listening copy through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Tropes_and_Taboo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Knight Before Christmas (Fairytale in Progress, book 2) by Cara Stout
⭐⭐⭐
Interconnected Standalone * Contemporary Romance * Christmas * Rom Com * Family * Grief * Reality TV Show * Small Town * Royalty (Fake) * Anxiety
📖368 pages 🎧9h21
🎙️Narrated by Bailey Carr & Brandon Francis (Dual Audio)

This is an interconnected standalone following a separate brother. As I haven't read the first one, there are some threads mentioned throughout the story, such as a big scandal that happened the previous year involving that MC, our current MC's twin brother, and his girlfriend. They mention multiple times that they are an example of true love. (This fact is important to my review. I'll get to that in a bit.)

Now, this story doesn't mention at all what the scandal was the year prior, which I found slightly annoying as it was mentioned multiple times and seemed like an important fact to the story. It doesn't need to go into detail, but since it has already happened, I feel like it should at least be mentioned. That said, it's our own fault when we don't follow a series in order and end up reading spoilers.

This current story follows the twin MMC as he stars on a reality show attempting to advertise a dating app, with the "dates" all happening at their family's fairytale-themed theme park, which was definitely a super cute location.

While I did quite enjoy this story and found the plot interesting, I felt it was odd that the characters were all only 17 years old... Now, there aren't any smut or spice scenes, just a kiss or two, but the premise and this whole idea of finding your "true love" felt off to me with their age. Especially with the repeated mentions of his twin finding his true love the previous year... He was 16. There's a 95% chance that relationship fails.

I personally feel like the story would have fared much better with slightly older characters, maybe in their 20s. Honestly, I feel like the age was picked specifically to avoid adding spice. But spice isn't necessary in every story, and I think this could have worked just fine without it AND them being older. Maybe I missed the Teen label on this book, though, and this simply just wasn't meant for me. But would be perfect for a younger teen.

[Heidi Lengenfelder · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

A fairytale theme park, a dating show full of manufactured romance, and two people who might just discover that the real love story is happening when the cameras stop rolling? Count me in!

A Knight Before Christmas is a charming holiday romance that brings together the magic of fairytales with the complicated reality of falling in love. Juliet Ripley has little faith in happily-ever-afters, while Garrick Walsh has spent years playing the part of a charming, heartbreaking knight at his family's fairytale theme park. Neither is particularly interested in letting someone see what's beneath the surface, but their unexpected connection threatens to change everything.

What makes this story so appealing is the contrast between the romance everyone is trying to manufacture for the cameras and the genuine feelings developing behind the scenes. Juliet's skepticism about love pairs perfectly with Garrick's carefully constructed persona, creating a dynamic filled with romantic tension and the possibility of something wonderfully real.

I especially love the premise of a man who spends his life pretending to be a fairytale hero but struggles to believe he deserves his own happily-ever-after. There's something incredibly sweet about two guarded people discovering that love doesn't have to be perfect, scripted, or wrapped up in a beautiful fairytale to be worth taking a chance on.

With its whimsical setting, holiday atmosphere, and themes of vulnerability and authenticity, A Knight Before Christmas offers an inviting escape for readers who enjoy romantic possibilities, a little Christmas magic, and love stories about finding the courage to let someone in.

After all, sometimes the best love stories aren't the ones written for the cameras. They're the ones that happen when nobody is watching.

**Disclosure:** I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[August Lawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Audio for the ARC in exchange of an honest review!
this book has a really fun setting and I think that the reality show aspect adds to the Romeo and Juliet joke that Garrick keeps making. I do like that our main characters are closed off on the idea of love and then slowly seep into it, this makes the characters work on accepting and doesn't brew an insta-love but there is an insta-intrigue. Ripley and Garrick are very good characters with a lot on their plates and I think the responsibility that they hold themselves to on behalf of their family and how that shapes their personalities is fascinating. Because as Ripley is type a, direct with her responsibilities and with people. Garrick is lackadaisical with everyone while still being serious about the park of which he hope to run in the future.

I went into this book not knowing that it was a sequel, and although I don't think that it makes you required to read the first one this addition in no way gives you a clear opinion on Imogen and Tristian. It feels as if you should dislike her for what she's done in the past but you should also forgive her no matter what even though we don't the whole story it's just a vague "we've already had one person who tried to shut down the park fall in love hahahaha" and without any context, it put the reader in a weird position.

I think that both of the narrators were great but unfortunately while I think that Brandon Francis is a great narrator his voice is too strong for a highschooler, if that makes sense. Francis's girl voices were great and when I had a migraine I definitely appreciated his voice, but (and this could just be a me thing) if I hear a male narrator that has like a strong voice it makes it really hard to believe that the character is a highschooler and it takes me out of it.

[Mrs. G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meet Juliet, the daughter of a famous date app creator. She does not believe in love, or what the company stands for, but she does believe in family and supporting them.
Meet Garrick, the son of an amusement park owner. He does not believe in getting close enough to anyone to find love after the death of his mother.
When Juliet and Garrick are thrown together to produce a reality dating show, they both find out what love really means, and just how far people will go for those they love.

This is a witty YA romance that will have your giggling, swooning, and rolling your eyes. It is set around the Christmas holiday giving a fun spin on a Christmas love story. The teens are more mature than I have seen in other YA romance, but the love story is sweet and innocent.

I enjoyed the story overall. Again, a sweet romance that does not take a lot of brainpower to follow the story, just something to sit and relax with while sipping hot coco on a chilly day. As far as the narrators go - I like their voices, just not for this book. I especially felt like Garrick's character felt too mature for a teenager. I have listened to books by these narrators before and enjoy their voices, but they were adult readers, not YA. Overall, it's a fun, quick read and I would recommend to my students easily.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio for this audio ARC to listen to and review.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Juliet Ripley’s mom has created a dating app for teens, following up on her dating app for adults. To create buzz around this app, they are filming a reality dating show, following one teen star, Garrick, in his quest to find true love. Much like other reality dating shows, this one has a cast of characters who he could date, all of them girls he picked from the app. Juliet is an intern on the show, mostly because she is helping her mom out, but also because she refuses to be on the show itself. However, because she is on the show set, she is working closely with Garrick, and a friendship soon develops.
For me, this had a very slow start and there wasn’t the hook that I thought there would be. The farther I got into the book however, the more I was sucked in. My other criticism about the book is the lack of side character development. Let’s learn more about who the other cast members are please, otherwise why would we care who he chooses?
For the audiobook, the female narrator of Juliet was great, but the male voice of Garrick was very annoying. I couldn’t tell what accent he was using, but it was not consistent. Also I thought his voice didn’t sound very teenager-ish so I had a hard time believing that his character was a teen.
All in all, I give this a solid 3 stars.

[Fanfan Delarose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!! I think it’s quite rare to find a story that doesn’t have heavy themes or overly dark character traits, and it was such a joy to stay on a lighthearted note from beginning to end. Even though it deals with deep topics, it’s always done in a refreshing and positive way, not the kind of book that brings you down, but the kind that leaves you with a warm heart when you close it! It’s a true rom-com in every sense, full of yearning, teasing, lingering looks, and silly moments away from prying eyes. Usually, I’m not a big fan of romances where the main characters are still in high school, but here their maturity really shines through, and the youthful butterflies of first love actually brought a wonderful freshness to the story. Plus, the setting — a fairytale-themed amusement park during Christmas time — was just perfect and super original. You can really picture the atmosphere! I also loved the reality show concept, where the celebrity falls for the girl behind the cameras. The behind-the-scenes details of TV production were so well done and added a lot of depth. I devoured this story in no time!💗

[Madison Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to HarperAudio Children’s, NetGalley, and Cara Stout for this ALC!

I really enjoyed this cute young adult holiday romance. The dating show plot was unique for young adults of this age. These kids were still in high school, but looking for love. Even though some were just looking for fame on the show.

I really loved the relationship between Ripley and Garrick. The friendship these two built between each other and slowly falling in love was truly adorable. I also thought the dating show being filmed at the theme park was fun especially for this age group!!

Bailey Carr and Brandon Francis did a wonderful job at narrating these voices. The tone of voice fit the younger characters very well. The pacing of the story and narration was good throughout the book! Once I started the story, I could not pause it and without the audio, I don’t know if I would have picked it up in the first place being YA!

If you enjoy clean and cute young adult romance, small town theme park setting during the holidays, and friends to lovers while being behind the scenes on a dating show then you need to pick this one up!!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Janette · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎄⚔️ A fake prince, a Christmas dating show, and a little holiday romance? SIGN ME UP! ❤️✨

A Knight Before Christmas by Cara Stout is the perfect YA holiday love story! I gave this one 4 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Twas the night before Christmas, and cameras were rolling… but behind the scenes, something unexpected was happening! 😉

Juliet Ripley isn't exactly a believer in happily-ever-afters, but that doesn't stop her from agreeing to help run a holiday dating show. Enter Garrick Walsh, the charming (and completely fake) royal from his family's fairytale-themed amusement park. He's used to playing the part of the handsome knight, but there's more to him than meets the eye.

When these two cross paths, sparks fly, and suddenly the line between reality and make-believe starts getting a little blurry. Add in a festive setting, a dating show, and plenty of fairytale vibes, and you've got an adorable holiday read!

This was such a fun, sweet YA Christmas romance! Perfect for getting into the holiday spirit and believing in a little fairytale magic. 🏰🎅❤️

🎧 A big thank-you to NetGalley, Cara Stout, and Harper Audio for providing me with this ALC! All opinions are my own! ❤️📚

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Knight Before Christmas centers on 17-year-old, Garrick and Ripley. Garrick is the leading man on a teenage Bachelor-type reality show set on Garrick’s family’s amusement park during the Christmas season. Ripley works behind the scenes on the production side helping her mother who has orchestrated the show as the way to promote her company’s dating app centered on a teenage clientele. While the story takes place around the Christmas season, the reality show and it’s production are the centerpiece of the story.

This is a (relatively) low drama take on a reality show and while there is some conflict between the contestants, overall the book focuses on the developing romance between Garrick and Ripley. I (personally) would have liked the book to lean a little more into the tension of the reality show, or the tension in Garrick and Ripley’s families, but it was a sweet holiday read for a teenage audience.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins Children’s Books for sending this eARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[florence · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really cute, I haven’t read a YA contemporary romance in a while, and this reminded me exactly why I enjoy them so much. This was also such a great Christmas read, I loved how festive it was.

I found the dynamic between Ripley and Garrick so cute, her being a slightly neurotic, organised person, and him being just a go with the flow kind of the guy, who relies on him charm to get him through. I especially enjoyed how he definitely fell first, despite never wanting to fall in love.

I am generally a hater of the third act break up, but I will say I think it really worked here. They are still so young and he was so traumatised by what happened to his mum, that seeing someone else he loved in a similar position was too much for him to deal with. I think his grand gesture was also really cute, though I don’t feel like Ms Ripley would have allowed him to derail her show unless he was really convincing!

[Mary Sue Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Knight Before Christmas is a charming, lighthearted YA holiday romance that delivers plenty of cozy festive vibes.

At its heart, the book excels with its forced proximity trope, throwing together an unexpected pairing who are both determined not to fall in love. The sparkling banter between the main characters is easily a highlight, driving their dynamic forward and making their budding connection feel genuine and engaging. Beyond the romance, it functions as a sweet coming-of-age story about navigating personal growth amidst the holiday season.

While a few plot points feel slightly slow and forced in places, the overall narrative easily overcomes those minor pacing bumps. It’s a warm, delightful read that serves as the perfect quick escape to put you right into the holiday spirit.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jen Lindsey · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

A Knight Before Christmas is a cute holiday YA rom-com. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an e-arc!

A holiday reality dating show for teens all set at a fairy tale castle theme park? This was so fun following Garrick the knight and son of the theme park owners. Since his mother's death, he has kept his heart locked up so he would never be hurt again. Juliet has witnessed love fail over and over, even though her mother originated a dating app and creator of the new teen dating show. She relays on specifics and organization, but Garrick makes her heart open up and her stomach flutter with more than the deliciousness of his baked goods.

I liked how raw and real the characters emotions, thoughts, and actions were. How experiencing love for themselves helped them see things from a different perspective. I liked the plot twists with the different people on set for the dating show, and how great the supporting characters were. Overall, a great YA read!

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Knight Before Christmas by Cara Stout was a fun, festive romance that brought together Christmas magic, royal charm, and unexpected chemistry! Juliet and Garrick made an entertaining couple, and their relationship added plenty of heart to this fairytale-inspired story. I love the idea of a skeptical producer getting caught up in a romance involving a fake royal and a Christmas dating show. It makes for a playful setup with plenty of opportunities for sparks to fly. The holiday atmosphere made this a perfect choice for readers who enjoy cozy Christmas romances, opposites attracting, and a little royal fantasy. Juliet and Garrick’s connection is what made the story appealing, and the premise offered a refreshing twist on the classic holiday love story. Overall, A Knight Before Christmas is a lovely addition to a holiday reading list!

I received an ARC copy from NetGalley. Thank you for giving me the chance to read this novel and share my honest review of the novel

[J Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨3.5 Stars✨

Cute teen rom com!

Two teens combine forces to help their parents save their struggling businesses. With livelihoods on the line, Garrick (MMC) and Ripley (FMC) scheme to create a type of Teen Bachelor show to help Garrick find love while promoting his family’s theme park and Ripley’s moms dating app.
When the two develop feelings for each other they face the challenge of following their hearts or putting the businesses first and denying their own feelings.

This is a cute rom com that is good for teens. There is a little language but no spice.
Some parts were a little cheesy, but overall quite cute for teen readers looking for a clean rom com.

Audio is dual narrated and was done well. I preferred the Ripley chapters and felt engaged and the voice acting was genuine and fun to listen to!

[Sails and Scales · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this cute YA romance read. I loved Juliet’s no-nonsense, organized personality and how she tries to take everything logically (including the idea of love as being fake). I also loved Garrick’s charisma and flirtatious attitude that hides the more serious, sensitive person behind him. His over-the-top personality he pretends to have could have been annoying if it weren’t clear how much he likes doing things for other people and how he’s still struggling with the loss of his mom.

We don’t get to know any of the reality TV contestants vying for Garrek’s heart very well, but we do have a nice cast of characters of siblings, parents, and friends.

I haven’t read the first one, but I didn’t feel like I was missing any information to enjoy this. It was a surprisingly sincere. I found myself enjoying the depth to it in a fun Christmas fairytale setting.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review the ARC of this book.

3.5 stars - rounded up to 4

A cute rom-com story about teens (high school students)
filming a reality dating show (for teens) at a family-run amusement park, while also dealing with family dynamics. Definitely a good read for when you need something light and not dramatic.

It felt like the details of the reality show dates went on a little too long. Also, there were so many names, so many characters. Even before all the dating show contestants were introduced, it seemed like there was too much going on with the various friends and siblings of both main characters. Those elements were what brought the story down a little for me, but it’s still cute nonetheless.

[Shateau · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ARC from NetGalley. This is the second book in the Fairytales in Progress series. I have not read the first book. There is quite a few references to the events in the first book and the main characters are featured throughout. I don't feel like I missed anything by not reading the first book. This was a familiar troupe set around a dating show where the main character falls for the production staff. I enjoyed the characters and the unique setting. What got me hung up was the fact this is supposed to be more YA centered around high school kids. My brain kept defaulting to them being in their 20s. I could never reconcile that fact. I would continue the series or revisit the first book to get more of the cast of characters.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute holiday read! I loved the idea of a reality dating show set in a fairytale theme park, as someone who loves Christmas and theme parks it’s was perfect! Juliet and Garrick were adorable together, and the chemistry and banter between them was great. I especially loved how likable Garrick was right from the start. There were a few times when the reality show and all the side characters felt sort of confusing, but the story still kept my attention and made me want to see how things would turn out. I enjoyed this one so much that I’m going to move on to Enchanted to Meet You next. This is definitely a cute one for anyone who loves YA romance, fairytale theme parks and Christmas reads!