How The Billionaire Grinch Stole Thanksgiving

by Laney Shaw

When the town’s grumpiest poultry tycoon tries to hijack Thanksgiving, animal whisperer Sherry Castle hatches a plan to roast his plans—with a side of small-town hijinks, pie wars, and one suspiciously adorable baby donkey.

Caleb Thomas prefers spreadsheets over small talk and boardrooms over bake-offs. But when the quirky folks of Tarhill rope him into their down-home holiday traditions—and into the orbit of sunny, stubborn Sherry—his carefully ordered life gets flipped like an overcooked turkey.

As goats parade, pies fly, and romance simmers like Grandma’s gravy, Caleb must decide if he’s ready to trade power lunches for potlucks… and maybe give his heart to the one woman who refuses to be stuffed into his corporate mold.

Filled with laugh-out-loud moments, barnyard chaos, and the kind of cozy romance that leaves you warm all over, this Thanksgiving rom-com proves that sometimes the best things in life are messy, unexpected, and served with extra whipped cream.

130 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 9, 2025

Reviews

[Susannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars!

How the Billionaire Grinch Stole Thanksgiving by Laney Shaw completely surprised me in the best way! I honestly wasn’t sure I’d enjoy it at first—I thought it might lean a little too cheesy or “Hallmark-y” for my taste. But wow… the banter, the wit, and the dry humor were absolutely top tier, and the writing hooked me from page one.

Sherry, the animal whisperer with more personality than the entire barnyard combined, and Caleb, the grumpiest poultry tycoon alive, make such a fun, chaotic pairing. Their dynamic is chef’s kiss—equal parts sass, sweetness, and that delicious opposites-attract tension.
And this town?? Tarhill is basically its own character. Between pie wars, runaway goats, and a baby donkey that honestly steals the whole show, the small-town hijinks were perfection. I laughed out loud so many times.
What I loved most is how the story balances cozy, holiday warmth with sharp humor and a genuinely sweet romance. Caleb’s slow unraveling from boardroom billionaire to potluck participant was adorable to watch, and Sherry’s sunshine energy was infectious without ever feeling over-the-top.

If you want a Thanksgiving rom-com that’s funny, heartwarming, and just a little messy in the best way possible, this is it. I had such a great time with this book! 🍗💛

[Katelyn Peel · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Grinch lover this book was spot on. Seeing the grouchiness of Caleb contrasting the our sunshine that is Sherry was the highlight. They are the definition of grumpyXsunshine but I loved that there was a mutual attraction that both were “ignoring” the whole time while everyone else saw it. If there’s one thing I love is when the grumpy tries in their own way to show sunshine how important they are to them. Caleb came off like he was trying to steal the holiday but he was really trying to help in his own way so that everyone, especially Sherry, can enjoy the day with no stress. Overall they’re coming together to make the holiday celebration equal parts each other was perfect. Definitely a recommend for a short and cozy fall book!

[TexasMomma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute idea for a story! I loved the animals (especially the goat parade!), the small town setting, and the quirky side characters; but there were some continuity issues (I felt like Thanksgiving day happened twice??) and I feel like cramming two couples stories into one novella was too much. There's a lot of potential here, a good editor could clean it up & allow the author's creativity & humor to shine.

[Saundra Callender · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't sure at first if I would like this story. It has lots of silly sections (goat parades, Operation Gobble, and glitter) but I soon found myself liking the silly sections. Sherry and Caleb were a fun, interesting couple. You wouldn't think they would work together but they definitely did. And I loved the side story of Maisie and Eli. This is a cute, quick read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt like I was reading a fever dream centered around thanksgiving and critters. I wasn’t a huge fan of the POV set up and how it could change from one character to another to another in one chapter. It made it a little hard to keep up with who was who.

[Alyssa Nash · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quick and cute

A little story about billionaire grumpy turned lover boy is always a good time. Lots of repeated themes of goats, glitter and time jumping. But overall cute. Just in time for thanksgiving too.

[Gretchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Caleb & Sherry - He is a Poultry tycoon and she is a wacky animal whisperer who coordinates all of Tarhill's events. The town and it's populace are a hoot. But Caleb & Sherry have such wit! I made 30+ highlights where something was a giggle. HEA.

"Once, they wrapped my entire office in fall-themed wrapping paper—desk, chair, even my stapler. I walked in, paused, and said, “Has Hallmark declared war?”

[Brenda G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

great Thanksgiving story

Romantic, funny, clean imaginative story! Highly recommend! Plot lines are creative and enjoyable. A great read for the Holidays. Enjoy

[Bridgette Draper · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love how quirky Sherry is! Caleb has such a soft spot for her and it was adorable to watch it play out.
Caleb coming out of his shell for Sherry was predictable but was fun to read!
I love that they called him the grinch!

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did anyone read this after they had AI write it? There were a couple of times in the book that were copied and pasted that probably shouldn't have been. His character arc was too wide and fast to be believable.

[Cami Allred · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn’t sleep on the evening before Thanksgiving, so I started this book and got a third of the way through on that evening. Life got busy, so it took me longer to finish the last two thirds. It’s a super sweet romance. I did want to know more about the characters past lives, since they grew up together. It was fun to read a holiday book for Thanksgiving; I don’t have many of those.