Every year, the daughters of the Sutherland family return to their home in Cypress Falls. Upon their return, the holiday energy surges and the town prepares itself for a holiday they’ll never forget. One man in particular anxiously awaits the youngest daughter, Leilani, whom he still thinks of, even after all these years. Noah Dean might be the man for Leilani Sutherland, but between the planning, the tinsel, and of course, the champagne, she might push away one of the best things the holiday season can bring… love.
Ever since Britt was a child, she loved reading and telling stories. For a very long time, she kept an idea journal full of ideas never thinking she would actually write them into a story. She knew she wanted to be a teacher her whole life, but there was a passion calling her, the one to write.
Britt is a native of Louisiana and currently resides there with her husband and daughter. She hopes that others will fall in love with her fantasy world as much as she has.
This is a cute Christmas novella, with spice. I started while walking on the walking pad, and kept walking to just finish it, it kept my attention and was a quick read. I got lost into the book, I forgot I was walking. I loved the characters, and the storyline. I hope there is more in the future to read of this world as I’m intrigued with what happens in this town and with all the characters.
Would I recommend? Yes, if you’re looking for a romance/rom-com with spice and some tough topics, definitely worth reading this Christmas novella.
This was a quick, cute Christmassy read. There were a lot of moments that lacked depth and character development for me, and it threw off the tone a little bit. Noah wasn’t the most likable MMC for me and it made the ex-friends to lovers angle a bit awkward. It didn’t feel cohesive and I know that’s hard to do with a novella, but I needed it to flow better.
If you’re looking for a really short Christmas romance, this one might be the book for you! The book is only 123 pages which makes for a fast read and another book to add on to your yearly goal!
However, if you want a good Christmas story I’d skip out on this one. Since this is a novella everything is obviously paced a lot faster than one would normally like. I think if this story was longer, it would have been a lot better.
⚠️ Spoilers below continue with caution ⚠️
Everything happened so fast and honestly I felt like I was getting whiplash with the back and forth with the main characters. I’m not even sure why they didn’t like each other in the beginning? Because he kissed her at prom and she didn’t want him to, so now he holds a grudge? I’m not sure. And then the third act break up 🙄 that could have honestly stayed out of the story and it would have been better. And can I say, what was that story with the ex? Why did the fmc hate her so much? That’s literally not explained AT ALL. Again, I understand that this is a novella but the characters and their past relationships were barely explained, if explained at all. It felt like they were just thrown into the story with no explanation of why they were there and why we were suppose to like them or not.
Also, he hates her but he built her a cabin that she knew absolutely nothing about? That she just automatically agrees to move into without thinking about it at all?
Final note, the male character was kind of a douchebag. The snide comments he would make about her any time she expressed any feeling other than being obsessed with him, were crazy. He seemed annoyed with her half of the time and then they had sex and he suddenly loves her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Bottom of the Bubbly is a sweet southern novella. Noah and Leilani are childhood friends turned enemies. After years away, Leilani comes home for the holidays and is tasked by both of their meddling mothers to complete random tasks with Noah. What follows is a heated few days filled with tension and bickering. I loved how close the families were. I find myself craving a Christmas spent with the neighbors who had children my own age and growing up together. The pacing on this book was wild, it takes off running from the first page. I felt like I was missing something the whole time. Do not expect any details of anything. The spice is definitely spicing but we never really find out what happened to turn the couple into enemies, just mentions of a prom night. While I found the overall story charming, I hated the rush of it. I wanted more details about what went wrong on prom night and the relationship between the two starts out more hateful than I usually like in an enemies-to-lovers read. I’m not sure how either one could tell the other had feelings based off the things they were saying to each other but maybe that came with knowing each other so long. When the couple finally crashes together, it is such a tension relief (I say crash because it really seemed like they hated each other). This novella can be read in a day on the couch with a comfy mug of coffee.
ARC REVIEW : Bottom of the Bubbly by Britt Stark || Releasing 12.2.25 Blurb: Every year, the daughters of the Sutherland family return to their home in Cypress Falls. Upon their return, the holiday energy surges and the town prepares itself for a holiday they’ll never forget. One man in particular anxiously awaits the youngest daughter, Leilani, whom he still thinks of, even after all these years. Noah Dean might be the man for Leilani Sutherland, but between the planning, the tinsel, and, of course, champagne, she might push away one of the best things the holiday season can bring… love.
READ IF YOU LOVE: * Neighbors * Holiday Novella Romance * Small Town * Cowboy * Second Chance * Return to Home Town
Leilani & Noah are childhood friends and neighbors who hate each other after an incident when they were in high school. Leilani returns home and is forced to be near Noah due to their meddling moms. Old feelings surface and the two of them quickly realize they were meant to be together all along.
This book was a sweet, quick Holiday novella. And although novellas are usually fast paced and shorter than novels, this one felt a bit too rushed; It felt like something was missing. I did find myself crushing on Noah and was happy that Leilani finally let herself be happy.
This was a quick, cozy novella that I ultimately enjoyed, even if it left me wanting more. The small-town, Christmassy vibes and the close-knit families were definitely the highlight for me. I loved the sense of found family and the nostalgia of childhood neighbors growing up together. It’s the kind of book you can easily finish in one sitting with a warm drink, and there are some fun, tension-filled moments that make it a solid seasonal read.
That said, the pacing was very fast, even for a novella, and at times it felt a bit choppy. The enemies-to-lovers setup moved from bickering to passion almost overnight, and I found myself wishing for more context. A few side elements felt underexplained or unnecessary, which made the emotional payoff a little weaker for me, though I appreciated that things wrapped up with a satisfying HEA.
Overall, this was a cute, spicy, low-commitment read with a charming setting and strong potential. If you’re looking for something quick and festive and don’t mind a lighter focus on depth and development, this is worth picking up.
Tropes • Second chance • Ex-friends to lovers • Small town romance • Found family • Holiday-adjacent vibes
I received this book as an eARC from Luna Literary Management, and this review is voluntary.
The Sutherland sisters returning home every year already had me grinning like an idiot—small-town holiday chaos is MY JAM—but the minute Noah Dean entered the picture? GAME OVER. This man has been carrying a torch for Leilani since basically forever, and the way he looks at her… I swear I tasted sugar in the air. He’s the definition of a soft-hearted, quietly devoted hero and I am WEAK for it.
And Leilani? I adore her. She’s spinning around in a storm of plans and decorations and seasonal stress, and meanwhile Noah is just standing there like a patient Christmas miracle wrapped in flannel, waiting for her to see what’s right in front of her. Their chemistry is like warm cocoa—sweet, melty, impossible to resist.
The holiday vibes? IMMACULATE. The small town charm? CHEF’S KISS. The romance? SO CUTE I GRINNED UNTIL MY FACE HURT.
Every scene felt like a twinkly lights moment—soft, sparkly, and full of that “oh no I’m catching feelings” magic. By the time they finally stopped dancing around each other, I was basically yelling “SOMEONE PUT A BOW ON THEM, THEY’RE PERFECT.”
Bottom of the Bubbly by Britt Stark was the perfect holiday romance novella. It definitely put me in the mood for the holidays, and I can’t wait to dive into my next festive read.
This story follows Noah and Leilani, two old friends who reconnect when Leilani returns home to spend Christmas with her family. She’s quickly roped into helping Noah prepare for a Christmas Eve party, and their time together rekindles feelings neither of them expected.
This novella brings together several of my favorite tropes—grumpy/sunshine, small-town charm, and a sweet second-chance romance. Even though it’s short, the author does a great job building chemistry between the characters and capturing that cozy holiday atmosphere. It was an easy, quick read for me, perfect for curling up with during the season.
Thank you, Luna Literary, for the opportunity to read an ARC of Bottom of the Bubbly. Because of this opportunity, I’ve discovered a new author, Britt Stark, whose work I can’t wait to read more of.
I understand that Leilani and Noah are “enemies” but it’s very uncouth how they treat each other. The immaturity is extremely off putting. They also can’t decide if they’ve always loved each other or have always hated each other. The constant flipping back and forth is eye rolling. There wasn’t a clear backstory on why they hated each other, just immediate loathing and aggression towards each other. Leilani also has zero boundaries when it comes to other people’s homes and personal spaces and it’s very uncomfortable. I understand that Leilani’s actions in the last scene are meant to be the crescendo but it’s coming off trashy rather than strong, empowered female. Not to mention, there was zero reason given as to why Leilani hated the ex. Every character hates every other character and we have no backstory as to why? And Leilani saying “The girl who would beat anyone up still lives deep inside me.” has zero connection to any character development, or lack thereof, that we were given. This story needs a lot more development and depth.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A sparkling, heart–melting holiday romance!
Bottom of the Bubbly is everything I love about Britt Stark’s writing.Its festive, heartfelt, and brimming with small-town magic. The Sutherland sisters bring so much warmth and chaos back to Cypress Falls, and Leilani’s return feels like stepping straight into the glow of Christmas lights and family traditions.
Noah Dean completely stole my heart. The quiet, steady longing he carries for Leilani adds the sweetest ache to the story, and watching them circle back to each other after all these years is pure holiday perfection. Between the planning, the tinsel, and champagne, their romance bubbles over with charm and emotion.
This book is cozy, romantic, and beautifully written—a must-read for anyone who loves second-chance feelings, family-filled holidays, and a love story that fizzes in all the best ways. Britt Stark delivers again! 🎄
A fast paced, cute Christmas novella with Hallmark vibes that you can devour in a sitting. I really enjoy books like this one where it's fast pace, easy to read, flows well, and you don't have to put much critical thinking into. I love these types of books for the holidays especially. The setting and location for this book needs to be real cause it was described as such a cute little town with heartfelt people. Leilani and Noah were the perfect push pull for this story. Noah being the grumpy to Leilani who is also a bit grumpy made the humor and banter between them entertaining. I like their families and their intentions for them which including making them run a bunch of random errands to being Mr. & Mrs. Claus for the party. The town setting with the Christmas aspect made for this book to read like a romcom Hallmark movie. By the end though, we get our HEA and a hint of what the next book might be...
This was such a quick, exciting holiday novella, and I was hooked from the very first page. The chemistry between Noah and Lani practically crackled. Every scene they shared felt charged with this delicious, slow-burn tension that you know is going to explode. It was like reading a beautifully wrapped ticking time bomb. I also adored the “always been you” moments woven throughout the story. Those little callbacks and subtle hints at a shared past added such a warm, nostalgic thread to all the holiday sparkle. It gave the romance an extra layer of sweetness that balanced the heat so well. Overall, this novella was pure binge-fuel. I devoured it in one sitting without even realizing I’d turned the last page. It’s the kind of festive, feel-good romance that leaves you smiling long after you finish.
I was kindly given an ARC of Bottom Of The Bubbly and this was so good! it was such a quick and easy read and I devoured it in one sitting! it was a sweet holiday read with so much tension and spice and was great! Noah and Leilani had so much tension and banter and I loved them together, it had always been them. the spice in this was on another level!! the chemistry and love between them was so good, I loved them and the holiday feels of this and the small town vibe. (Noah remembering Leilani’s dream from years ago melted me!!) this was written well and had me hooked, it flowed so easily. it’s a cute and sweet read, quick and perfect for the holidays! (thank you to Britt Stark and Luna Literary Management for the ARC, all opinions are my own) Bottom Of The Bubbly releases December 2! 4.25⭐
Leilani returns home to spend Christmas with her family, who are also very close and good friends with their neighbours, The Deans. Noah hasn't been able to stop thinking about Leilani since the night of prom when they parted ways. Both mothers send the two to fulfil random tasks together in the hopes the two will grow close to one another but tensions run high, Will they both end up on Santas nice list, or will they go their separate ways once the holidays are over?
It's a fun, fast-paced Christmas novella that will get you in the holiday spirit. I loved the back and forth between Noah and Leilani and the back story as to why their friendship is so fragile.
What to expect 🎄 Small Town 🎄 Friends to Lovers 🎄 Forced Proximity 🎄 Second Chance 🎄 Cowboy MMC 🎄 Dual POV
⭐⭐⭐½ | 🌶️🌶️½ | When childhood crushes burn hotter than tinsel
This novella is pure holiday candy—sweet, quick, gone before you know it. Leilani and Noah's forced-proximity tension absolutely *crackles*, and when they finally stop pretending? The spice hits HARD.
It's bite-sized by design, which means you're getting concentrated festive chaos rather than slow-burn depth. Noah teetered on the edge of unlikable grumpy for me, but that moment he remembers her childhood dreams? Nearly melted my Grinch heart.
Perfect for when you need festive heat without the commitment. A fizzy holiday shot, not a slow sip.
Vibes We Are Tracking: 🎄 Small town Christmas chaos 🤠 Grumpy cowboy energy 💔 Friends-to-exes-to-lovers 🍾 Meddling mothers FTW 🔥 Holiday spice SUPREME
Tropes: Small town holiday romance Friends-to-lovers / long-time crush Returning home Fate brings them back together
Bottom of the Bubbly is such a sweet, heartwarming holiday novella. The Sutherland sisters returning to Cypress Falls sets the tone, but it’s Leilani and Noah who completely stole my heart. Noah’s quiet, steady affection and Leilani’s whirlwind holiday responsibilities create the perfect blend of warmth, charm, and soft romantic tension. The festive traditions, sparkling town energy, and easy chemistry between them made this a quick, cozy read that left me smiling the entire way through.
Huge thanks to Luna Literary Management and the author for this ARC!
I read Bottom of the Bubbly by Britt Stark and it was such a cute, spicy little novella. The premise is fun and easy to jump into, making it a perfect quick read.
I really loved the two main characters, Noah and Leilani. They had great rapport and snarky banter, and I enjoyed watching them get drawn together no matter how much they tried to fight it. Their chemistry was natural and playful, which made their story really enjoyable.
While I would have loved a bit more depth to the characters, for a quick, feel-good Christmas read, this novella had everything I was looking for. I’d absolutely revisit these characters and the world Britt Stark created.
quick novella that can be read in one day. the two main characters start off as enemies and quickly lean into their true feelings.
I think part of my issue as someone born in raised in snowy winters, the no snow/wearing shorts/not needing jackets when leaving the house and even though it's Christmas season the decorating/ Christmas related scenes feel quick and non descriptive so I wasn't feeling myself drawn in to the Christmas magic so this book could have taken place in any season in my mind. But that's a me issue!
If you’re anything like me, the holidays = cramming in as many festive reads as possible. And that’s exactly why holiday novellas have my whole heart — you get to soak up all the cozy vibes fast! ❄️💕
This one? Ohhh it delivers. Bottom of the Bubbly may be short, but it is absolutely packed with everything we love in a romance: 💛 Grumpy x Sunshine 💛 Friends to Lovers 💛 A dash of spice 💛 A storyline that keeps you hooked
And don’t worry — I’m keeping the juicy details to myself so you can enjoy every moment spoiler-free.
Add this novella to your holiday TBR! It’s a fun, quick read that brings all the sparkling holiday cheer. ✨🎄📚 Thank you @lunaliteracy and @brittatark for this eARC
I really wanted to love this and it started off really strong! It set up for an interesting series of siblings versus siblings of a neighboring and love stories. But enemies to lovers happen real fast - like she hated him and then loved him and it was just too instalovey even for a novella. About 60% in, I lost interest and forced myself to finish.
Tropes: Holiday - kind of? It’s holiday time and they do holiday tasks but it feels like a last minute thought added. Enemies to lovers - instalove style - lacking angst or chemistry Small town
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Bottom of the Bubbly was the sweetest little holiday escape. It’s got small-town charm and cozy Christmas vibes. Add in that perfect sprinkle of spice and it had me fully locked in from page one. Britt’s writing always feels so warm and effortless, almost like you’re just hanging out with the characters and I’d absolutely want to spend the holidays with this group. I read it in one sitting because it was just that easy to fall into.
If you want something quick, cute, and a little steamy to kick off your holiday reading, this one is such a win.
🎄Small Town Charm ☃️Second Chance Romance 🎄Christmas Novella ☃️Ex-Childhood Friends to Lovers
This Christmas novella is the perfect short festive read! Leilani returns home for Christmas in Cypress Falls and has many bickering moments with her ex friend, Noah Dean. Their families have been neighbors for years and their mothers have been meddling the relationship for just as long. The forces of the Christmas season and meddling mothers pushing both Leilani and Noah into realizing love was there all along. Their love will allow the family traditions to continue!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Thank you to Luna Literary for the ARC 💗 Fun, festive, spicy novella for your Christmas TBR 🎄 Childhood crushes turned enemies to lovers, Noah and Leilani are forced to work together (thanks to a meddling mother) to help prepare and celebrate the town's festivities! This is a short and easy festive read with spice, i wished we had more of an epilogue showing as the crushing that happened when they were younger 🫶
3.75⭐️ Super cute, short and spicy holiday novella for your holiday TBR!
Leilani Sutherland returns home for her family’s annual Christmas celebrations, where she reunites with neighbor Noah Dean. The two have a chance to rekindle an old flame during this holiday season.
Check this holiday romance novella out for neighbors, small town, cowboy, second chance, return to home town!
Thank you Luna Literary and Britt for the eARC! Bottom of the Bubbly is out December 2!
Bottom of the Bubbly takes you to an small town romance, where everyone knows everyone and you can find meddling family members an cute characters.
This book felt like a sugar rush, I expected a little bit more of tension or build up. One second they are making snarky remarks and the other one they talk about the one that got away. The conflict was kind of obvious and it felt a little bit forced. Still you can read it super fast and it delivers a cozy holiday spirit.
I've read a few, but this is hands down my favorite holiday novella this year! Two childhood friends with unrequited high school love are forced back in proximity by their meddling moms in order to help put on the neighborhood's annual Christmas party.
Bottom of the Bubbly was short, sweet, and the perfect amount of spice for this holiday season! If you're looking for a quick read to help wrap up your year, add this one to your list!
Another 5 star for Britt Stark. I love Noah and Lelaini’s Novella. I adore her writing so much. The way she writes you can just feel the love she has for what she does. Her stories are always 5 Star reads for me. The banter is always great. The spice is always PERFECTION. Most importantly her stories always have such a great balance. From her Crescent Series, to A Clash of stars ( BOTH edition) to now what I am hoping is a Muscadine Lane Series..HELLO WADE 😍😍.
Lani comes home for the holidays and finds herself paired with Noah, the grumpy farmer who has always cared for her. Their meddling moms lead to unexpected teamwork and plenty of sparks. Light, engaging, and full of well-written side characters, this makes the small-town setting shine. I enjoyed it from start to finish and am excited about following Lani's sisters in future books.
Huge thanks to Luna Literary and Britt Stark for the ARC copy!
Leilani & Noah. A disagreement long ago, a friendship broken, a second chance. This is a quick read, about 120 pages. I love the relationship the families had with each other and others in this small town. The MC had some trouble realizing he was good enough and that felt weird to me because their families were so close. It was interesting watching him come around even though at times it seemed like he was trying to be unlikeable. But the HEA has to win out, thank goodness, and it wrapped up quickly, as novellas do.
tropes include: *Second chance *Found family *Ex-friends to lovers *Small town romance
I received a complimentary eARC and my review is voluntary. Thank you to the author and Luna Literary Management.
Fun and quick read to kick off the holiday season! Lelani and Noah were a great second chance romance to read as a palette cleanser and really get in the mood for some new holiday romances this time of year. I enjoyed the family relationships and would love to read more full length stories set on Muscadine Lane with these families. The foreshadowing that set up potential love interests for both sisters were such fun Easter egg additions!