Untangled: A Spicy Holiday Novella

by Mallory Thomas

"It’s the perfect book to curl up with when you want a Christmas holiday romance that's festive and a little (ok, a lot!) steamy🌶️"

Molly Hayes thought marriage was meant to be romantic. And with Daniel, it was (at least for a season). Until careers, life, and a baby turned them from lovers to...roommates.

The 24-Day Amorous Advent challenge seemed like just the thing to help them reignite their spark. How could it not, with daily prompts to explore their emotional and physical connection? in your car (but nothing further)

Discuss your favorite past date, and how you’d modify it

Have today’s conversation naked—no touching each other

Talk about the first time you said “I love you”

Explore what feels good to your partner using only your hands

What is your biggest pet peeve with your partner?

Explore what feels good to your partner using only your mouthsCelebrate with a night out together. You select what the other wears

And more...

Untangled is a spicy, marriage-in-crisis holiday novella with lots of steam, plenty of banter, and a guaranteed happy ending. It can be read one day at a time to follow the calendar or binged in one sitting. Perfect for those who want a new spicy romance book or a cozy winter holiday romance read!

Genres: Christmas, Holiday, Romance, Novella, Short Stories, Holiday Romance

186 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 25, 2025

About the author

Mallory Thomas is a writer and reader of soft love stories that make you swoon, squeal, and blush. When she's not writing, she can be found picking up after her two kids, joking with her handsome husband, and planning trips to the beach. She's also a baby formula expert and content creator. She strives to write books that are better than your phone-- she hopes the time spent reading her books will leave you happier and more hopeful than time spent on social media. If she accomplished this, please leave a review!

Reviews

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Untangled is a fun and steamy holiday novella following a married couple who agree to partake in a spicy advent calendar to rekindle their lost spark and reconnect. The daily prompts were so cute and exciting, and I loved how the MCs found their way back to each other. They learned about one another and talked through their issues, all while keeping things light and steamy. This fast-paced and light-hearted romance has the perfect balance of emotion, smut, and cozy winter vibes. I can't recommend it enough!

[Jessica (Odd and Bookish) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for free from the author for promotional purposes.

This was a delightfully sweet and spicy Christmas novella!

I had read the author’s previous book, Somewhere Along the Line, and enjoyed it, so I knew I was going to love this one.

I typically don’t love novellas. They rarely hit for me. But this one was a huge hit. It was exactly what a novella should be. Short and focused, but still told a satisfying story.

This was a very spicy book with numerous spicy scenes. The spicy scenes were well written which was no surprise since I loved the steamy scenes in her other book. However, the story was still really sweet. The premise of the story was a married couple taking part in an advent challenge for couples trying to reconnect after becoming parents. I loved seeing them find their way back to each other and rekindle their love. Even though I’m not married, I found their relationship to be very relatable. Like the main characters, so many couples struggle after having children.

I also loved the format of the book. It was told through 24 chapters (one chapter per advent challenge) which means you can read the book one chapter per day or all at once.

Overall, if you’re looking for a short and fun advent style Christmas read and don’t mind spice, definitely read this one!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5 stars) Thank you, @mallorythomas_writes for the gifted copy of this spicy and insightful novella that takes on a marriage in crisis.

Molly and Daniel Hayes once had a passionate and romantic marriage. But with time and a baby, the dynamic of their relationship has shifted. While her world has turned upside down, she can’t see that Daniel’s has shifted. He’s starting to feel more like a roommate than a lover - and a roommate who never notices the things he can do to make their home better. Then, one night while she doom scrolls, she finds an intimacy advent calendar for couples - to help them reconnect emotionally and physically. Now, they have 24 days, and 24 advent challenges, to see if they can find their way back to each other.

Is this a super spicy holiday novella? Absolutely. And it is also a very astute look at the complexities of marriage over time, the mental load that women often carry in a marriage that their husbands don’t see, how marriages evolve over time as individuals change, and the importance of being honest and vulnerable with those we love. It was just really well done! Also, I’ll use this as an opportunity to shout-out Mallory’s debut, Somewhere Along the Line, which is also really wonderful!

Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[casey ⋆˚౨ৎ ⋆.˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

you can read it with one chapter per day like an advent calendar or you can do what i did, and just binge it in one sitting. this was cute and heartwarming with molly and daniel learning to be in love again after their careers and becoming parents have added roles into their lives.

molly thought marriage was meant to be romantic and with daniel, it was (at least for a season), until careers, life, and a baby turned them from lovers to roommates.

the 24-day amorous advent challenge seemed like just the thing to help them reignite their spark. how could it not, with daily prompts to explore their emotional andphysical connection?

“a spicy, marriage-in-crisis holiday novella with lots of steam, plenty of banter, and a guaranteed happy ending. It can be read one day at a time to follow the calendar or binged in one sitting”

tropes: holiday novella, marriage in crisis, spicy advent, mc’s in their 30s, forced proximity, steamy

💍🗓️🍼❤️‍🩹✨

[Holly Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was perfect! I love a marriage in crisis because it’s a sort of second chance and there is nothing I love more than a second chance! Molly and Daniel are in a rut and she found sort of an advent calendar to try and find their spark again. They were fun and sweet and their banter was good! And they very clearly loved each other and just needed to be forced to refocus on their relationship. And it was SO GOOD!

[Linna • linnareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! The characters felt real with what they were experiencing in their relationship. It’s a marriage in crisis but at the very beginning of a crisis. The characters acknowledge they didn’t like the path they started to go down and did something about it. The plot of them reinvigorating their marriage using an advent card deck with a prompt each day to either communicate or experience something was a lot of fun. The chapters were short and easy to read with each one being a day for the advent card. A good balance of spice and conversation between them. If you’re wanting something quicker to read in one sitting, this is a perfect one to pick up!

💍 marriage in crisis
❄️ holiday novella
👏🏼 no third act breakup

single POV
4/5 stars ⭐️
2/5 spice level 🌶️

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short and sweet holiday novella is the perfect blend of sweet and steamy moments paired with plenty of vulnerability. I read Mallory’s debut last year and this novella has all the same characteristics that made me fall in love with her first book! Mallory does such a wonderful job of mixing humor with insightful thoughts on the growing pains a relationship experiences at the beginning parenthood. I flew through the whole book in less than 24 hours and I’m so excited to see what Mallory writes next!

Thank you so much Mallory for a copy of the book!

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great marriage in crisis novella. Told in an Advent style of 24 days, we watch as Molly and Daniel attempt to add some spice and communication to their marriage after the birth of their daughter.

Mallory Thomas not only writes about two people who are coming back to each other, but she also focuses on the difficulties of being a new mother and some of the feelings you may have. She does an excellent job of merging the more serious topics with humour, laughter and love. I loved getting to know Molly and Daniel, and watching them rediscover themselves and each other every day.

If you want a quick, fun read about a couple who clearly love each other, but are trying to figure it all out, this would be a perfect book for you!

[Anne Opel · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolutely sweet and sexy novella of a couple reconnecting and reconfirming their love for one another. I loved all the prompts and could totally see them being sold as companion merch to this story. You can really feel the heartfelt emotion each time Daniel and Molly embark on a task. It would be cute to read this book as an advent story in December.

This review is based on an ARC and is my honest opinion.

[The Blueberry Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this Christmas novella very current with our time and full of steamy moments! the part i liked the most were how they found their way back and how they learned about each other!
I absolutely recommend it! 🤍🫐

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

A funny sexy real take on getting the spark back in a marriage as parents. Loveable relatable characters and relationship that I need more of.

[laura ˚✩ ⋆｡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars - sweet & spicy novella perfect for the holidays :)

[Lara Gunby · Rating 4 out of 5]

So so cute

[Brittany Profit-Rheinwald · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

*Untangled* by Mallory Thomas is truly the perfect Christmas novella.

Molly and Daniel are a couple in their thirties, married for over a decade with a new baby, just going through the motions of their life. They decide to take on a romance Amorous Advent Calendar, and what unfolds is beautiful: spice, honesty, reconnection, and reminders of why they fell in love in the first place.

There’s something so refreshing about reading a romance that isn’t about the initial spark but about reigniting the flame in an established relationship. Thomas captures the reality of long-term love, the way life and responsibilities can create distance between two people who still deeply care for each other. Watching Molly and Daniel find their way back to each other through intentional intimacy and vulnerability is both heartwarming and incredibly sexy.

The Advent Calendar device is clever and fun, giving the story natural pacing while creating anticipation for what comes next. It’s cozy, it’s hot, and it’s honest about what it takes to keep love alive when life gets messy.

If you’re looking for a holiday read that celebrates real, lasting love with plenty of spice and heart, this is it.

#Untangled #MalloryThomas #BookReview #FourStars #ChristmasNovella #MarriedRomance #HolidayReads #SpicyRomance #Reconnection #BookstagramReview​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

[Meenal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best thing I've read to end the year with.
I love a pragmatic love story as I grow older and the realities of a relationship become clearer. But the magic needs to exist and I'm sure I'll be doing this with my future husband if I ever get married. This was an excellent plot and superbly executed. No lags, no dullness, and no unwanted smut either. Loved loved loved it and will probably think about it for the rest of 2025 as I go to sleep with imaginary scenarios in my head. And it's so relaxing to see fat female rep, not in the sense of plus size but in the way that the female body puts on weight through the years while the boys remain, well, boys. Having kids is exhausting so I liked seeing that honest reflection while also sweetening it through the lens of a couple who genuinely signed up for the shebang. If any of her other books are like this, I'm a fan for life. If not, I'm saying this for like the 15th time that I think this is a super five star book!!! And deserves so many eyeballs, gasps, and warm hugs. So happy to have read it

[carliereadssss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot begin to describe how much I LOVE this novella.

This novella follows a married couple, Dan & Molly embarking on a 24 day Amorous Advent challenge to help bring back the spark in their relationship after 8 years together and a baby. I’m not kidding when I say I read this in an hour. I couldn’t put this down. The advent challenges were PERFECT and helped the couple open up to one another, but also had the perfect amount of spicy challenges to ignite that fire back into the couples life.

If you are married, in a relationship, or even in need of a fun spicy novella this one is PERFECT for you. I am going to be making my own cards out of the advent challenge so my husband and I can do them because why not get closer to one another, have one on one time, and have fun spicy challenges along the way?? Sign me up!!

One of my favorite reads this year! I cannot recommend ENOUGH!

*thank you Mallory for gifting me Untangled*

[Faith Briery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually, this was pretty good. I loved how they found each other again and how meaningful every single card was—both the physical and emotional ones. The advent-style couple cards were such a beautiful concept, and honestly, it’s something that would be great for any relationship, even when there aren’t major problems going on.

The spice was really good too 🔥, but what I appreciated most was how they both learned so much about each other along the way. You could really see them becoming more aware of what the other needed from the relationship, especially while navigating life as new parents with a 10-month-old. It felt realistic, intimate, and heartfelt.

I genuinely wish there was a second book that included all the new cards they came up with for the next year—I would absolutely read it.

🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes
• Advent Couple Cards
• Christmas
• Married
• New parents

Kinks
• Voyeurism
• Bondage
• Blindfold
• Masturbation

[Ashley Duvall · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad to have received this ARC! This book got five stars from me simply because I wanted a full novel about Molly and Dan. I’m not a mother, nor am I married, but it was insanely refreshing to read a romance rooted in two characters who felt wholly real. The transformation of people in long-term relationships is one thing, add the layers of motherhood and suddenly you’re navigating shifting bodies, a loss of autonomy, and emotions your partner can’t fully understand no matter how hard they try. You don’t need to have a child to feel that weight…you just need to be a woman.

This little novella packs a punch, not just for the spice (though there is that), but because it lets us see a couple face these changes head-on. It's tender, it’s messy, and it’s deeply human. More, please.

[Pà · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved how this novella blended sweetness, spice, and a very real look at long term love. It felt like a chaotic collage of every kind of reaction you get after finishing something unexpectedly heartfelt and hot. Molly and Dan came across as both hilarious and painfully relatable, rediscovering what made them fall for each other in the first place. The whole “Amorous Advent challenge” vibe cracked me up and warmed my heart at the same time, it had that perfect mix of silly, emotional, and intensely spicy that made it impossible to put down, everything worked together to show a marriage that wasn’t broken. And that epilogue absolutely win me over. One of those fast, addictive holiday reads that somehow manages to say more than you expect.

[Kiara Johnson Polcyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC REVIEW✨

What a great way to start off my holiday reads! I read it one day,I couldn’t get enough.

I loved Molly & Daniel so much in this sweet novella. Burn out in any relationship is so real and I loved watching them work through it together with the help of their daily prompts.

The author made Molly’s character so relatable. Don’t get me wrong, Daniel was relatable as well, but I felt like I was reading about myself in certain parts of this story. It literally brought me to tears.

🎄Marriage In Crisis
🎄Spicy Advent
🎄Steamy Novella

Molly & Daniel will be available for you to enjoy on November 25th! Don’t miss out!

[Elizabeth Illuzzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This quick and spicy holiday novella really touches on so much of the disconnect of parents/new parents as their roles in a marriage changes. Going through the Amorous Advent calendar with Molly and Daniel, I really connected with the struggles Molly felt and was rooting for the two of them to continue to fight for each other each and every day.

Loved the idea of this novella. It is really just set with the backdrop of Christmas so there aren’t quite so many holiday “feels” but by the end, the heat of the story doesn’t have you missing a thing.
Spice Level 🌶️🌶️.5/5

Thank you Mallory Thomas team for a copy of the ARC.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 but really cute and a good pallet cleanser. It is based around the Christmas season but it is not the main focus of the book. The problems the MCs are having are highly relatable and it gives a great idea. Each card was well thought of and has great flow. The whole book is sweet. The biggest reason I gave it a 3.75 was because I felt like the chapters could have a little bit more to wrap up what happens but it was still a great book! I highly recommend. It is honestly one of the most relatable books I have read in awhile

[Shira R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not a romance reader but I sped through this one.
Extra spicy, unexpectedly tender, and so real. I loved how this book balanced the fun, (very) steamy romance with an honest look at what marriage looks like after kids; the chaos, the tiny moments of connection, the work it takes to stay close. It was cute while being the spiciest book I’ve ever read (which is saying something), and at the same time genuinely relatable. A perfect read for anyone who wants their romance reads to be on both ends of the spectrum. Can’t wait to see more from this author.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This is a spicy holiday(ish) novella. It is set in December but has little to do with the holidays. It is advertised as a marriage in crisis but to me it felt more like just a marriage in need of connection.

This book felt real. A lot of times I read romance as more of an escape. I know that what I am reading is far fetched. But this felt raw and real in a really refreshing way.

You can read this book a chapter a day as like an advent calendar or read it in one sitting like I did 😂

[Nightowl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t hooked at first because I (luckily) couldn’t relate to the FMC’s relationship, but the moment Mallory Thomas said that husbands are just as responsible for their children and household, even if they are working, I was on fire. PREACH IT!!! Too many men (and women) still think in these outdated structures, and it needs to end yesterday.

This scene alone bumped the rating from four to five stars.

The spice was good, too. All in all, a really enjoyable novella – I’ll have to find more books by Thomas.

[Gretchen Pfotenhauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got an early release copy to read, such a cute book! Sooo much spice 🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵. Target market is parents (mostly mothers) of young babies/children who are feeling like they lost themselves and their marriage in having a child. Hoping to find their way back. Such a sweet book of reconnecting and romance and learning to understand each other through the changes of life and marriage and parenthood. I loved the way it all played out, it was at once emotional and hot and sweet.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this book was so real! I feel like any married couple with kids could relate to this book. The scenes were not over the top, unbelievable, which is so nice when a lot of romance books seem far-fetched. With that being said, when the spice came into play, it was HOT! The couples' advent calendar is a great idea to bring a little sparkle back to your relationship. Highly recommend this book for a quick spicy married couple read!

[Readingwithmammabear · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this spicy novella. Focusing on rekindling their marriage and finding themselves (and each other) in the process, this short story focuses on Daniel and Molly as they go through a couple's advent calendar together.

Mallory expertly crafted characters that you fall in love with, who's development and chemistry is palpable. I loved watching them progress throughout the story.

Many thanks to Mallory Thomas for the ARC opportunity in exchange for my honest review.

[Bailee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun, spicy read that’ll hit you right in the feels when you’re least expecting it. Come for the spice, stay for the character growth and emotional connection.

I really didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did, but I found so much to relate to on a personal level. I was not expecting to be confronting feelings about how hard it is to feel like you’ve lost yourself in motherhood, but it hit me hard in the best way possible.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet & spicy Christmas novella about a married couple who takes an advent challenge to reconnect and improve their relationship. Perfect execution of the overcommunication trope! These two talked through everything, even when it was uncomfortable.

The book is 24 chapters and the author's note suggests you can read one per day and do the challenges with your partner which is a cute idea!

Thank you to the author for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.