“i plan on falling madly in love with you, clara davenport. and i’d really like it if you were around to see it.”
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ੈ♡˳ rating: 4.99/5 (rounded down to 4 for goodreads)
ੈ♡˳ summary: clara davenport arrives in fraser falls to fix a corporate pr disaster tied to her family’s toy company, which the town believes wronged local maker jack kelly. jack thinks clara is the problem, clara is sure she can win the town over, and the holidays turn their clash into something softer as they face the truth about the past and what they want next.
ੈ♡˳ thoughts:
this book was delightful, like instant cozy brain. hannah grace did it again, but it felt different in the best way. maybe it is the age of the characters, maybe it is the vibe, but i connected with jack and clara more than i have with anyone else in her books. clara is grounded and capable, not just a holiday heroine with twinkle lights in her eyes, and jack is grumpy but not cruel, a man who has actually earned his walls. the whole thing reads like the good version of a hallmark movie, the one with real feelings and believable growth, and it had me wanting to move to a small town, drink hot chocolate, and join the winter festival committee immediately.
the slow burn is perfect. you know they are going to get there, but the way they build trust and fall in love is so patient and satisfying that the journey is the point. i was giggling and kicking my feet like a kid, which is exactly what i want from a christmas romance.
the only reason this is not a full five stars is the third act breakup at about eighty three percent. you know i hate those, especially that late. jack was being a jerk, and i fully salute clara for standing up for herself. she felt honest the whole way through, and i loved that for her. overall it is warm, charming, and so re readable that i already miss the town.
also, yes, die hard is a christmas movie, i do not make the rules.
ੈ♡˳ spice rating: 2/5, sweet heat, more cozy than explicit
ੈ♡˳ tropes:
ꕥ grumpy x sunshine
ꕥ small town holiday romance
ꕥ slow burn
ꕥ enemies to lovers energy, then soft
ꕥ found family and community goodwill
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post read: this book was so cute! third act break up means i can’t give it 5 stars because i hate a third act break up, but this was very close. literally like 4.99 stars. finished this at 1:30am so full review coming in the morning. 💟
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libby hurry up & let me have this book! i can’t believe hannah grace is dropping a christmas themed book. this is what dreams are made of. please and thank you.