Not So Merry in Maldives

by Mia Heintzelman

From bestselling author Mia Heintzelman comes a festively fresh holiday rom-com that's part enemies-to-lovers, part will-they-won’t-they, and part I-hate-you-for-firing-me—but-I'd-still-make-magic-with-you-in-the-Maldivian-moonlight.

Two enemies. One resort. Paradise just got a whole lot hotter this holiday.

Pear and Hollis. Photographer and art director for a travel magazine—a classic coworker combo. She’s everyone’s work bestie; He’s the office yes-man on the promotion track. She’s master of flirting; he’s king of inaction. And somehow, they’re both single. A small push is all they need—grab coffee, share lunch, or even a snack in the break room—but for the most part, the romantic tension is there.

Until he fires her, a week before Christmas.

Pear may be unemployed and in debt—an unapproved out-of-pocket expense for the magazine’s holiday island shoot will do that to a girl. But at least she’s bound for the Maldives with her bestie, her camera, and a week-long girls’ getaway. Until her friend’s flight is mysteriously diverted. Now, she’s alone, on Christmas Eve, headed for an island halfway across the world…with the enemy seated beside her?

Now Pear and Hollis are hopping flights and ferries to the private resort, but she still resents that he fired her, so she draws a line in the pristine white sand. But on a small island, there’s no escaping chemistry…or the reason he never asked her out. What could possibly go wrong?

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Holiday Romance

345 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 4, 2025

About the author

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Reviews

[Nadia Latai (Nadiasbookishworld86) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Magic rarely waits for the perfect time.”

"Are you more hurt about losing the job, or that it came from him?”

Not So Merry in Maldives has become one of my favorite Mia Heintzelman books !!😍😍✨️✨️✨️
Pear and Hollis's chemistry is off the charts in this enemies to lovers vacation romance. The banter, the tension, the heated chemistry !!🔥🔥🔥🔥 This is thd PERFECT beach read / holiday read to get lost in.... I was literally on a plane reading about a romance on a plane- this was EVERYTHING....

[Sixella MK · Rating 5 out of 5]

November 2025 Small Business BookTok ARC Reviews #141 (BookTome Edition): “Not So Merry in Maldives” by Mia Heintzelman

Note: This ARC was given to me for free by the author, and I am reviewing this book voluntarily.

Two former coworkers torn from a falling out..
An unexpected flight that will bring them back together..
And a tropical destination with a dash of Christmas Magic..
That will bring romantic tension to the surface!

From the author that brought you the “Love & Games” series, the “Fortemani Family” series, and “The Divorcétante” comes a new Holiday Contemporary Romance novel by Mia Heintzelman that effectively combines the classic films “The Holiday” and “You've Got Mail”! Heintzelman invites readers into an immersive backdrop of the real-life paradise retreat known as the Maldives as former co-workers Pear and Hollis get caught up in magical Holiday hijinks that will help them to reconnect and confront their complicated work fallout..and pining feelings for one another! This narrative also promises a classic Hallmark Romance with a dash of spice hotter than chestnuts roasting on an open fire! Looking to find your own Christmas Magic in the Maldives? Then don’t miss out on this book when it hits online shelves on November 4, 2025!

Rating: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Meter: 4/5 🌶🌶🌶🌶

- Tropes: Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, Second Chance Romance, Tropical Christmas, Only One Island, Workplace Romance, Enemies-to-Lovers, Christmas Magic, Magical Macguffins, Vacation Getaway, Meddling Best Friend, Shutterbug Hijinks, and Forced Proximity.

- Trigger Warnings: Discussions of Workplace Abuse/Misconduct by an Employer, Relationship Anxiety, Miscommunication, Mentions of Deaths of Family Members, and Discussions of Fears of Abandoned.

[The Bourbon-Sipping Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Book Review: Not So Merry in Maldives
Title: Not So Merry in Maldives (Pear & Hollis)
Author: Mia Heintzelman
Genre: Holiday Rom-Com, Enemies-to-Lovers, Forced Proximity, Tropical Christmas, Workplace Romance
Rating: ★★★★ (4/5) | Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Hot)

The Pour: A Neat Glass of Tropical Tension

This holiday rom-com is a bright, fizzy drink served on a pristine white-sand beach. Not So Merry in Maldives takes the classic Enemies-to-Lovers setup—with an extra twist of "I-hate-you-for-firing-me"—and transports it to the gorgeous, inescapable setting of a Maldivian resort.

Pear, the master flirt and recently fired photographer, and Hollis, the promotion-tracked "office yes-man" who made the mistake of cutting her loose, find themselves stuck together on a forced proximity island escape. The tension that was simmering back at the magazine office quickly boils over under the Maldivian sun. It's full of witty banter, mutual pining, and just the right amount of Christmas magic to make their journey from enemies to lovers feel irresistible. This book is a delightful kick-off to the holiday season.

What I Sip and Savored 🥃 (The Smooth Finish)
The parts of this pour that went down perfectly smooth:

🥃 The Sun-Drenched Setting: The Maldives provides a stunning, immersive backdrop. The descriptive writing makes you feel the humidity and hear the waves, proving that Christmas magic can happen on a beach just as easily as in the snow.
🥃 Banter & Pining Perfection: The core dynamic is electric. Pear and Hollis have incredible, flirty chemistry, and the mutual pining is expertly handled. Their inner thoughts are laugh-out-loud funny, making the slow burn completely worth the wait.
🥃 The Redemption Arc: Hollis is a wonderfully sweet hero determined to fix his mistake and learn to stand up for himself. His journey from "people-pleaser" to a man who fights for his love is swoonworthy and deeply satisfying.
🥃 The Fun Twist: The hint of Christmas magic and meddling that brings them together adds a silly, unique, and endearing layer to the romance that elevates it beyond a standard holiday getaway.

What I Side-Eyed 🥃 (The Fleeting Jolt)
While I highly enjoyed this experience, even the best whiskey can have a fleeting note of regret:

🥃 Self-Sabotage Strain: Pear's anxiety and self-sabotage related to abandonment issues were crucial to her character arc, but at times, her internal struggle felt slightly over-leveraged, slowing the momentum of the romance just when the tropical heat was at its peak.

The Finish
If you need a holiday escape that is fun, flirty, and features the perfect blend of slow-burn tension and laughs, look no further. This book is the ideal choice for readers who love a strong redemption arc, a tropical setting, and that delicious enemies-to-lovers payoff. It’s a warm, sweet, and wholly satisfying read.

The Perfect Pairing
Pairing: A Sparkling Spiked Rum Punch, served with a garnish of lime. Why? This book is effervescent and fun, full of tropical flavor (the rum) and a deceptive heat (the spice) that makes it go down easily.
Tropes: Holiday Rom-Com, Enemies-to-Lovers, Forced Proximity, Workplace Romance, Christmas Magic, HEA.

(I received an advance reader copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.)

[Shakella "The Singing Bibliophile" Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not So Merry in Maldives has come close to being one of my absolute favorite Mia Heintzelman books! Pear and Hollis’s chemistry was gold. The banter, the tension, the heat… I was kicking my feet like a toddler the whole time, while making the “OOOOO GIRL” face. This is the PERFECT holiday read to escape into.
Mia has blended cozy charm with emotional sweetness, added coconuts, pineapples, and the breathtaking backdrop of the Maldives. I love her easy writing style, perfect pacing, relatable characters are and believable conflicts. Pear’s character reminded me of myself, so I was deeply invested in her character; her reactions felt genuine to me. She is a stubborn, lovable mess, and Hollis...Baaaaaby!? Whew. FEVER! The way he is enthralled with Pear gave me everything I needed. I read this with my fuzzy socks and a nice glass of wine! The little splash of holiday magic was a perfect addition to this story. So stinking adorable.
What made this story really special is how personal it felt. The way anxiety, trust, fear of abandonment, and the ache of messy workplace fallout were handled with kitten gloves, perfection. Hollis trying to do right by her, despite their history, made their connection hit even harder. I have informed all the ladies in my office that we need to start a book club, and this should be our first read. UGH...GOLDEN!
Mia never misses and is one of, if not my all-time favorite, romance authors. She always gives us fierce, layered, soft-but-strong, professional women and men who are just utterly swoon-worthy. Her pacing is tight, and she effortlessly blends humor, heart, and spice. I believe this one is one of the spicier of her books that I have read, and oh, I devoured it. It was a gooooood time!
This was a good holiday slow-burn. A perfect holiday read with forced proximity, workplace tension, and a swoon-worthy redemption arc. This book was warm, spicy, magical, and unexpectedly emotional in all the right ways.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review
📚 Book Title: Not So Merry in Maldives
✍🏽Author: Mia Heintzelman
📕 Format:📱= eARC
⭐️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶 Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

🕑Quick Take:
Pear Sawyer is a travel photographer for Vines+Voyages, an online magazine focusing on travel, leisure, and wine.

Hollis James has just been promoted to Senior Art Director at Vines+Voyages, and his first task is to fire Pear, with whom he has shared a “constant game of flirting and teasing.”

What happens when they find themselves stuck on a flight headed to a holiday vacation?

💕Five Things I Loved:
1. So cute and funny; loved the cat and mouse game!
2. Pinning and yearning perfection!
3. The descriptive writing provoked my imagination of the tropical setting and excursions.
4. Perfect tension and slow burn development.
5. I'm happy I kicked off my holiday reading with Not So Merry in Maldives!

✨ Tropes:
- Forced Proximity
- Enemies to Lovers
- Secret Admirers
- Holiday Vacation Romance

💭Final Thoughts:
This was the perfect kick-off to my holiday reads! Not So Merry and the Maldives was such a fun read! It delivered slow-burn rom-com tension reminiscent of The Hating Game, set on a tropical island.

Thank you so much, Mia, for the advanced reader copy!

[Fadeless Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Mia Heintzelman for the eARC!

Not so Merry in Maldives is a fun story where the plot is a perfect romantic comedy setup! Pear, a photographer who was recently fired by Hollis, finds herself sitting next to him the "enemy"on a flight to the Maldives. Now they are stuck on a small, expensive island over Christmas.

Pear and Hollis, former coworkers with growing attraction, must finally deal with their feelings and their personal struggles. Pear has to face her abandonment issues, while Hollis realizes he needs to take control of his career path and address his feelings head on, and finally stand up to his annoying brothers.

The author uses the tropical setting well to make the situation intense. The beautiful backdrop of perfect white sand and blue water is made better because the story includes a fun, magical element. The strong attraction, the witty talking, and the good character growth make this the perfect holiday escape. This book is a satisfying and fun read that proves even getting fired can lead to happiness and leaves you with one question: Is there really a Mr. and Mrs. Claus?

[Ashley Tate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fired, by your office crush and the he shows up on your plane to the Maldives?

Pear Sawyer is in panic mode as she goes from spending her former, tropical work trip with her bestie to her former office crush, Hollis James. A little magical intervention from a jovial, Santa like presence and her wife Jessica has her wanting to give Hollis a chance.

Hollis, on the verge of making big moves career wise, is ready to make THE move for Pear but will he be able to convince her that she can trust him?

This book was so cute. I loved all the magical touches and how down bad Hollis was for Pear.

Mia writes the best, fierce and in depending FMC’s and the right balance of soft. Her MMC’s are always swoonworthy and best, no third act breakup or confusion.

Spend your holiday with Pear and Hollis, you won’t regret it.

Tropes:
Forced Proximity
He falls harder
Friends to Enemies to Lovers
Christmas Magic

[Hailey Ciric · Rating 4 out of 5]

👙👙👙👙/5

What a fun, flirty and magically Christmas-y story! I loved the little magical realism in this otherwise contemporary romance story about a love to hate, hate to love romance between two very stubborn and strong individuals: Pear and Hollis.

I liked the beginning workplace dynamics that prefaced the rest of the story and how these two stand going in to this tropical island paradise. It made for a nice introduction and made the story seem more interesting and complex. I loved both Hollis and Pear. They’re both funny, sweet, super flirty, and all around good. Their inner thoughts often made me giggle and the fun holiday twist to this story was unique and silly, but so fun and intriguing.

If you like books that are spicy and silly, fun and sweet, emotional but light, quick but complex…this is the book for you! And while it takes place at Christmas time, it can be enjoyed at any time of the year.

[Stacy L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review:
Format e-book

Not So Merry in Maldives is a cute, sun-soaked holiday romcom with workplace drama, island escapism, and just enough forced proximity chaos to keep things interesting. The FMC, Pear was such a fun, likable heroine. I really think her humor carried the story. Hollis (MMC) definitely had to grow on me. The whole “fired before Christmas” situation just wasn't cool, so I needed a minute to warm up to him.

The enemies to lovers angle was light (they were basically friends with vibes who got pushed into “enemy” territory), but the underlying attraction was always there. And listen…the airplane scene when Pear realizes Hollis is seated next to her? Perfection. Peak holiday romcom energy!

I also loved the hilarious text banter between Pear and her bestie, Olive. For sure, some of the funniest moments in the book. The Maldives backdrop felt real and gave the story a dreamy, tropical touch, even if the pacing dragged in a few spots.

Overall, Not so Merry in Maldives is a fun, beachy holiday read with humor, simmering tension, and the kind of scenic escape that feels like a perfect tropical getaway.

[Sara M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, how I would love to experience the holiday season in the Maldives! Even with my sworn enemy..? Hmm...

Anyway, this works out perfectly for Pear who, instead of spending the holidays with her best friend, finds out that one of her travelling companions is the insufferable man who fired her a little while ago. But as Pear and Hollis are forced to spend more time together – the islands are pretty small after all – they both come to realize that they may have read each other wrong and the best Christmas present might be the person standing right in front of them.

The pining in this book was perfect, the slow burn was slow and swoony, and the tension was palpable. I am all for snow and hot chocolate and all the Christmas traditions at this time of the year - but sometimes a girl needs an escape to a tropical paradise, at least through the pages of a good book!

[Shica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not So Merry in Maldives is a fun, flirty friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romance set against a tropical Christmas backdrop. It’s charming, festive, and full of heart; a holiday read that turns office tension into the sweetest kind of romantic payoff.

Pear’s holiday escape takes an unexpected twist when she ends up vacationing with her ex–office crush (and former boss) Hollis—the man who fired her just days ago. But with a little holiday magic and some matchmaking razzle dazzle, second chances start to look tempting. Between flirty banter, forced proximity, and plenty of unresolved tension, sparks fly faster than island Wi-Fi.

Read it for the laughs, stay for the sparks, this holiday romance delivers both!

[Jasmine Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️: 4/5
🌶️: 2.5/5

Nothing like a quick holiday book to get your right in the holiday spirit!! I adored Pear and Hollis!! They gave me the best laughs. And of course the stress of wanting to see them together. The betrayal from Hollis made her not trust him, rightfully so. But he constantly proved he wanted her. The mutual pining?! Please!! It had me in a puddle!! I loved so much that they both wanted each other and crushed on each other. I loved Hollis telling all his friends and family about Pear and then encouraging to go and fight for their happily ever after. You’re going to absolutely love them both and laugh your socks off at their thoughts and just in general. I really enjoyed this book.

[Keya · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC Review* Hollis & Pear’s story is so romantic and heartwarming although it has a bit of a rough start Not So Merry in Maldives is such a sweet and romantic story along with some spice. It’s a new take on a workplace romance, trope, along with a touch of close proximity and a little bit of enemies to lovers. Pear is such a sweet FMC that is in debt, trying to get her portfolio together and trying to avoid more loss in her life. She is flawed and totally stressed me out with her self sabotage. Hollis the handsome MMC he’s such a nice guy and a people pleaser but also determined to fix a huge mistake while learning to put himself first. I highly recommend this book because we all need a little Christmas magic, love, and romance.

[Thee Spicy Pisces · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book, it was so cute, magical, and funny!! I swear, every funny scene I could picture it in my head and I was lmao!

I love the magical aspects and the tarot aspects! As a fellow tarot reader, I thought it was so cool. The cards never lie!!!

But aside from the hilarious and magical aspects of the story, I really enjoyed it. Pear and Hollis def needed the help of their friends and the universe to get it together because they were both in their heads toooooo much!! lol But I’m happy they finally came together!

If you need a cute, funny, magical, and spicy holiday rom-com to read, I def recommend this book! I could def see this book as a movie!!! It needs to be pitched to Hallmark or Prime ASAP!!

[CT · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun, warm, and unexpectedly emotional read. I loved the mix of tropical holiday vibes, second chances, and all that enemies-to-lovers tension between Pear and Hollis. The Maldives setting was gorgeous—I could practically feel the humidity and hear the waves—and the banter had me smiling the whole way through.

Pear’s stubborn charm and Hollis’s quiet guilt made for such a satisfying push-and-pull. Watching them figure each other out (and themselves) was worth every page.

Tropes I loved: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, workplace romance, one bed (kind of 👀), holiday getaway, redemption arc.

Thank you to the author for the ARC—I really enjoyed this one!

[Michelle Herzing · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a twist on the enemies-to-lovers/forced proximity trope, Mia Heintzelman's Not So Merry in Maldives sees Pear and Hollis on a vacation in Maldives, immediately after Hollis fired Pear his best work buddy/secret crush. Pear, for her part, is not amused that the man she has spent years lusting after not only fired her, but then showed up on the work trip that was supposed to be hers. Sparks fly both anger and lust, and Hollis implements his 'win Pear over' strategy with the help of his tarot-wielding 'work wife'. Add to the mix a vacationing couple, Nick and Jessica, who bear a striking resemblance to Mr. and Mrs. Claus and who seem inspire some truly magical occurrences as well.

[Juana Neat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical!!

Wow what a fantastic book, I honestly felt like I was there in the Maldives and I’ve never been there. I love the entire story and the reason Hollis went ahead and did the firing , i’m just hoping there’s going to be a storyline around Hollis and Pear. I really love them.

[Adrienne Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Fav by Mia!

This was sooooooo good. There is depth heart and holiday magic. I loved this so much!!!
Pear is such a fun FMC and Hollis was a perfect match for her!

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute, tropical Christmas romance with some magic!

[Lindsey Domokur · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute enemies to lovers (secret pining for years) book with a little bit of holiday magic! I loved Pear and Hollis.

[Angie W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. It was different. It was a slow burn. She did more for him that I could have done. especially his position and their relationship before things took a turn

[Shamoya Radcliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that this reads like a christmas movie and would be perfect for tv. I need to see this on the screens lol. This was a fun read