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Village of Yule #3
How My Ex Stole New Year's
Welcome to Yule, where the lights sparkle, the gossip travels fast, and second chances are harder to resist than warm gingerbread.
Mia Mulrooney has everything she could ever want: her thriving bakery, her cosy village, and a peaceful life free of August, the brooding guitarist who ghosted her two years ago on New Year’s Eve.
But August is back in town for a New Year’s wedding, and a fierce snowstorm traps them together for the weekend in Yule’s oldest castle. As the storm rages outside, their undeniable chemistry ignites. Amid stolen kisses beneath twinkling mistletoe and whispered confessions in the dead of night, Mia’s frozen heart begins to thaw. Yet, as midnight approaches, she must confront her feelings: can she forgive him and find the courage to let love back into her life?
✨Tropes✨
Rockstar & Baker
New Year’s Eve
One Bed, One Night
Exes To Lovers
Wedding Weekend Drama
Snowed-In Together
Forced Proximity
Readers, please note:This is an adult low fantasy romance with mature content and is not suitable for those under 18. This is a stand-alone novella with a guaranteed HEA. No cheating or love triangle, and HEA guaranteed.. . .
Part of the Interconnected Village of Yule Series : Each book stands alone but is connected by a magical setting, holiday romance themes, and subtle character crossovers. For the most enchanting reading experience (and to avoid spoilers), the recommended order is:
The Naughty or Nice Clause | A fiery enemies-to-lovers romance where a stubborn CEO heiress is forced into a fake engagement with the infuriating investor who stole her company… in a magical Christmas village.
’Tis the Season of Secrets | A one-night stand turns into a snowstorm of family secrets when an aspiring editor discovers she’s tied to a hidden holiday village — and the man who might hold the key to her past.
Mia Mulrooney has everything she could ever want: her thriving bakery, her cosy village, and a peaceful life free of August, the brooding guitarist who ghosted her two years ago on New Year’s Eve.
But August is back in town for a New Year’s wedding, and a fierce snowstorm traps them together for the weekend in Yule’s oldest castle. As the storm rages outside, their undeniable chemistry ignites. Amid stolen kisses beneath twinkling mistletoe and whispered confessions in the dead of night, Mia’s frozen heart begins to thaw. Yet, as midnight approaches, she must confront her feelings: can she forgive him and find the courage to let love back into her life?
✨Tropes✨
Rockstar & Baker
New Year’s Eve
One Bed, One Night
Exes To Lovers
Wedding Weekend Drama
Snowed-In Together
Forced Proximity
Readers, please note:This is an adult low fantasy romance with mature content and is not suitable for those under 18. This is a stand-alone novella with a guaranteed HEA. No cheating or love triangle, and HEA guaranteed.. . .
Part of the Interconnected Village of Yule Series : Each book stands alone but is connected by a magical setting, holiday romance themes, and subtle character crossovers. For the most enchanting reading experience (and to avoid spoilers), the recommended order is:
The Naughty or Nice Clause | A fiery enemies-to-lovers romance where a stubborn CEO heiress is forced into a fake engagement with the infuriating investor who stole her company… in a magical Christmas village.
’Tis the Season of Secrets | A one-night stand turns into a snowstorm of family secrets when an aspiring editor discovers she’s tied to a hidden holiday village — and the man who might hold the key to her past.
ebook
Published December 16, 2025
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213 people want to read
About the author
Kate Callaghan
14 books327 followersKate Callaghan is an Irish author who writes adult fantasy, romantic suspense, and feel-good Christmas romance. She’s the creator of the Hellish Fairytale series, blending dark magic and intrigue, as well as festive romcoms like The Naughty or Nice Clause. Whether she’s spinning tales of dangerous love or cozy holiday magic, you’ll find her in a Dublin café with an iced coffee, plotting her next twist.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
December 6, 2025
3.25 ⭐️
Two years ago, Mia was head over heels in love with August, a broody guitarist, who she thought felt the same way about her until he ghosted her. Building up walls around her broken heart, Mia runs her bakery in the magical town of Yule, happy that she’ll never see him again. But when she hitches a ride, August is there on the same sleigh, going to the same wedding she’s attending. Shocked but resolute to be indifferent, Mia tries to stay away from her handsome ex, but August has different plans, and that is to apologize for hurting her and to get her back.
This was a cute and festive novella! 🩷 The story made me smile, and I was rooting for Mia to stand her ground and not allow August back into her heart that easily. However, I wasn’t all too keen on them falling back in love with each other because of what August did. Granted, he apologized and explained why he ghosted her and all that, but honey, you did her dirty. Not even I, a sympathetic person (not really, but I’ll just go ahead and keep lying to myself 😂), would be so quick to forgive and go back with you. You can keep your abs, lip ring (ew, but that’s definitely a me-problem), and broodiness; I wouldn’t waste one more day thinking about you and the possibility of us. 😂
As with all novellas/short stories (is there a difference? I need to Google that), there wasn’t enough time for deep character development or plot progression, but the author did a good job in making sure everything was taken care of, creating a fun and festive atmosphere with great side characters, and having a happy ending. I’m a fan of HEA stories, and not HFN as much, because why the heck am I reading a romance if I don’t know they will stay together in the future? 😅🤦♀ Anyway, I guess the reason I had a problem with Mia going back with August so fast is that this was so short–they couldn’t go through many conflicts to build/develop their character and relationship as people should after a breakup. They should at least assemble some Ikea furniture first before they get back together.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, and since the author was kind enough to leave a link to another book in the Village of Yule series, I’ll be reading that one soon for this glorious month of December! 🎄✨❤
Thank you to Kate Callaghan for sending me the arc! All opinions and statements are my own.
❗Content Warnings❗
Mentions loss of parents and a friend.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: Yes (🌶🌶🌶/5)
Side Note: This story includes a sapphic relationship. If that is something you are uncomfortable with, then there is your heads-up!
Two years ago, Mia was head over heels in love with August, a broody guitarist, who she thought felt the same way about her until he ghosted her. Building up walls around her broken heart, Mia runs her bakery in the magical town of Yule, happy that she’ll never see him again. But when she hitches a ride, August is there on the same sleigh, going to the same wedding she’s attending. Shocked but resolute to be indifferent, Mia tries to stay away from her handsome ex, but August has different plans, and that is to apologize for hurting her and to get her back.
This was a cute and festive novella! 🩷 The story made me smile, and I was rooting for Mia to stand her ground and not allow August back into her heart that easily. However, I wasn’t all too keen on them falling back in love with each other because of what August did. Granted, he apologized and explained why he ghosted her and all that, but honey, you did her dirty. Not even I, a sympathetic person (not really, but I’ll just go ahead and keep lying to myself 😂), would be so quick to forgive and go back with you. You can keep your abs, lip ring (ew, but that’s definitely a me-problem), and broodiness; I wouldn’t waste one more day thinking about you and the possibility of us. 😂
As with all novellas/short stories (is there a difference? I need to Google that), there wasn’t enough time for deep character development or plot progression, but the author did a good job in making sure everything was taken care of, creating a fun and festive atmosphere with great side characters, and having a happy ending. I’m a fan of HEA stories, and not HFN as much, because why the heck am I reading a romance if I don’t know they will stay together in the future? 😅🤦♀ Anyway, I guess the reason I had a problem with Mia going back with August so fast is that this was so short–they couldn’t go through many conflicts to build/develop their character and relationship as people should after a breakup. They should at least assemble some Ikea furniture first before they get back together.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, and since the author was kind enough to leave a link to another book in the Village of Yule series, I’ll be reading that one soon for this glorious month of December! 🎄✨❤
Thank you to Kate Callaghan for sending me the arc! All opinions and statements are my own.
❗Content Warnings❗
Mentions loss of parents and a friend.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: Yes (🌶🌶🌶/5)
Side Note: This story includes a sapphic relationship. If that is something you are uncomfortable with, then there is your heads-up!
January 29, 2026
2 ⭐️
╰► 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄!
❰ 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐜 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰! ❱
₊˚ʚ ➼➻❥ 𝙨𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨📋
╰┈➤ two years ago, brooding guitarist, august, ghosted thriving baker, mia, on new year’s eve. now, reuniting at yule’s oldest castle for a wedding, a snowstorm rages, forcing them to deal with each others company. this book is full of lingering feelings, and undeniable chemistry. tropes include: one bed, exes to lovers, forced proximity.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨💭
╰┈➤ I FINISHED BEFORE IT WAS ARCHIVED 😝 this book was a cute little holiday read. although the holidays are over, there’s snow outside my house so it counts 😭 i wasn’t too invested in the plot or the characters as much as i wish i was, which was very disappointing. but, i think this is a quick read and a good holiday novella! (even though i rated it 2 stars)
↠━━━━ღ◆ღ━━━━↞
❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･pre-read ʚɞ
i’ve had this arc since december, but for some reason, after a while, it disappeared and i haven’t been able to read it. it’s expiring in 1 day and 1 hour so i need to hurry up and read it. it’s a novella so hopefully it shouldn’t take me too long
╰► 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄!
❰ 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐜 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰! ❱
₊˚ʚ ➼➻❥ 𝙨𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨📋
╰┈➤ two years ago, brooding guitarist, august, ghosted thriving baker, mia, on new year’s eve. now, reuniting at yule’s oldest castle for a wedding, a snowstorm rages, forcing them to deal with each others company. this book is full of lingering feelings, and undeniable chemistry. tropes include: one bed, exes to lovers, forced proximity.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨💭
╰┈➤ I FINISHED BEFORE IT WAS ARCHIVED 😝 this book was a cute little holiday read. although the holidays are over, there’s snow outside my house so it counts 😭 i wasn’t too invested in the plot or the characters as much as i wish i was, which was very disappointing. but, i think this is a quick read and a good holiday novella! (even though i rated it 2 stars)
↠━━━━ღ◆ღ━━━━↞
❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･pre-read ʚɞ
i’ve had this arc since december, but for some reason, after a while, it disappeared and i haven’t been able to read it. it’s expiring in 1 day and 1 hour so i need to hurry up and read it. it’s a novella so hopefully it shouldn’t take me too long
December 7, 2025
Thank you to the publisher BooksGoSocial for providing this book for review purposes via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This was a very cute second chance romance festive novella, prefect for reading into the run up to Christmas to get me in the festive spirit. I really liked Mia she was very endearing and very hard working and very devoted to her twin sister Michelle. I thought August was a little bit flaky as I didn’t completely buy into his reasons for ghosting Mia but that didn’t spoil my enjoyment of this book. The town of Yule was really intriguing and I want to read some of the other books in this series, I mean who wouldn’t want to read more about a magically little town that exists outside the outside world. Mia and August have to divert a fair few disasters in the run up to Michelle and his cousin Molly’s wedding but I really enjoyed reading about them reconnecting, this book has real cosy and festive vibes and I was all for it. This book was really well written, nicely paced and it didn’t feel like we were rushing towards the ending. Overall I really enjoyed reading this book.
This was a very cute second chance romance festive novella, prefect for reading into the run up to Christmas to get me in the festive spirit. I really liked Mia she was very endearing and very hard working and very devoted to her twin sister Michelle. I thought August was a little bit flaky as I didn’t completely buy into his reasons for ghosting Mia but that didn’t spoil my enjoyment of this book. The town of Yule was really intriguing and I want to read some of the other books in this series, I mean who wouldn’t want to read more about a magically little town that exists outside the outside world. Mia and August have to divert a fair few disasters in the run up to Michelle and his cousin Molly’s wedding but I really enjoyed reading about them reconnecting, this book has real cosy and festive vibes and I was all for it. This book was really well written, nicely paced and it didn’t feel like we were rushing towards the ending. Overall I really enjoyed reading this book.
December 4, 2025
Hey lovelies! Thank you so much for reading How My Ex Stole New Year’s. This is a crossover novel featuring August from Not Another Rockstar. If you want to learn more about his backstory and the band Brothers of Anarchy, then I'd recommend checking out Not Another Rockstar for all the drama, music, and chaos that shaped who he is today. 💔🎸
Hope you love Mia and August's story!
Happy holidays,
Kate x
Hope you love Mia and August's story!
Happy holidays,
Kate x
December 29, 2025
4.5/5
How my ex stole new year's takes place in the small town of Yule; although the book is part of a series, this story can be read as a standalone. How my ex stole new year's is a dual POV, romance with a few spicy scenes and forced proximity/second chance relationship elements, featuring Mia, a baker in the town of Yule, and August, a rockstar. The main events in this story take place during the Christmas/New Year holiday season.
Mia is left heartbroken by her then boyfriend August two years prior to the main events in the story. In present time, Mia is busy with the preparations of her twin sister's wedding with Molly (who also happens to be August's cousin). Due to a horrible snowstorm in the town of Yule, Mia and August have no choice than to stay at the castle during the wedding weekend in the same room.
I enjoyed reading Mia and August's story as the characters were very well written, with many funny moments and the author did a great job explaining the dynamics of the town (which is perfect for readers who had not read the other stories in the series). Overall, it's a perfect read for winter season.
Thank you BooksGoSocial for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
How my ex stole new year's takes place in the small town of Yule; although the book is part of a series, this story can be read as a standalone. How my ex stole new year's is a dual POV, romance with a few spicy scenes and forced proximity/second chance relationship elements, featuring Mia, a baker in the town of Yule, and August, a rockstar. The main events in this story take place during the Christmas/New Year holiday season.
Mia is left heartbroken by her then boyfriend August two years prior to the main events in the story. In present time, Mia is busy with the preparations of her twin sister's wedding with Molly (who also happens to be August's cousin). Due to a horrible snowstorm in the town of Yule, Mia and August have no choice than to stay at the castle during the wedding weekend in the same room.
I enjoyed reading Mia and August's story as the characters were very well written, with many funny moments and the author did a great job explaining the dynamics of the town (which is perfect for readers who had not read the other stories in the series). Overall, it's a perfect read for winter season.
Thank you BooksGoSocial for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
December 13, 2025
‧₊˚✧ 3.5 ✧˚₊‧
I was lucky enough to get to read this holiday themed novella as an ARC for Kate Callaghan. It definitely was the season to read this, so its release on the 16th should make a lot of 'reading in season' readers happy to get their hands on this.
This story revolves around Mia, a baker, and August, a rockstar. August ghosted Mia two years before this on new year's and they haven't seen one another since. But the wedding of Mia's sister Michelle and August's cousin Molly, brings them back together. Will their relationship rekindle or will it freeze over once more?
I love the world the author has built. I am very curious about Yule and its very peculiar rules and ways of living. This was a cute little second chance romance book. I definitely enjoyed this, but didn't get fully into the feels, hence the three and a half star rating for me personally.
So, a nice little romantic palate cleanser novella, delivered to you right before the holidays.Consider picking this up if you want something sweet, short and cute!
I was lucky enough to get to read this holiday themed novella as an ARC for Kate Callaghan. It definitely was the season to read this, so its release on the 16th should make a lot of 'reading in season' readers happy to get their hands on this.
This story revolves around Mia, a baker, and August, a rockstar. August ghosted Mia two years before this on new year's and they haven't seen one another since. But the wedding of Mia's sister Michelle and August's cousin Molly, brings them back together. Will their relationship rekindle or will it freeze over once more?
I love the world the author has built. I am very curious about Yule and its very peculiar rules and ways of living. This was a cute little second chance romance book. I definitely enjoyed this, but didn't get fully into the feels, hence the three and a half star rating for me personally.
So, a nice little romantic palate cleanser novella, delivered to you right before the holidays.Consider picking this up if you want something sweet, short and cute!
December 31, 2025
3,5⭐️ Thanks to the publisher, I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review of this cute little Christmas/New Year’s Eve–themed novella💗
I really enjoyed this short and sweet second-chance romance with its festive vibes!🎄 I already knew I was going to love Kate’s writing style, since this isn’t my first book by her, but once again I loved how smoothly the story flowed☺️
I always find it a bit tricky to rate and review novellas, simply because they are so short. There isn’t much room for character development or a big, complex plot but I think Kate did a great job within those limits!
Because of the Christmas/New Year’s Eve setting, this was the perfect holiday read. I also really loved the magical worldbuilding (the bell, etc.), and it definitely made me curious to pick up the other books in this series🤭 That said, this novella works perfectly well as a standalone, which is how I read it🥹
I liked all the characters, but Mia especially💓 I do wish she had stood up for herself more though because August did her so dirty two years ago. Personally, I think she forgave him way too quickly (yes, I know, novella logic). I also really disliked his apology… like, seriously, that was the best reason you could come up with for ghosting her? Smh.
That said, I did adore their reunion, even if I still haven’t fully forgiven you, August😤
Overall, this was a really lovely and festive read that’s perfect for the holiday season!🥂 If you enjoy short and cozy second-chance romances, Christmas/New Year’s Eve settings, and a touch of magic, I would definitely recommend picking this one up!💓 I ended up rating it 3.5 stars⭐️
I really enjoyed this short and sweet second-chance romance with its festive vibes!🎄 I already knew I was going to love Kate’s writing style, since this isn’t my first book by her, but once again I loved how smoothly the story flowed☺️
I always find it a bit tricky to rate and review novellas, simply because they are so short. There isn’t much room for character development or a big, complex plot but I think Kate did a great job within those limits!
Because of the Christmas/New Year’s Eve setting, this was the perfect holiday read. I also really loved the magical worldbuilding (the bell, etc.), and it definitely made me curious to pick up the other books in this series🤭 That said, this novella works perfectly well as a standalone, which is how I read it🥹
I liked all the characters, but Mia especially💓 I do wish she had stood up for herself more though because August did her so dirty two years ago. Personally, I think she forgave him way too quickly (yes, I know, novella logic). I also really disliked his apology… like, seriously, that was the best reason you could come up with for ghosting her? Smh.
That said, I did adore their reunion, even if I still haven’t fully forgiven you, August😤
Overall, this was a really lovely and festive read that’s perfect for the holiday season!🥂 If you enjoy short and cozy second-chance romances, Christmas/New Year’s Eve settings, and a touch of magic, I would definitely recommend picking this one up!💓 I ended up rating it 3.5 stars⭐️
December 17, 2025
I would like to thank BooksGoSocial and Kate Callaghan for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
3⭐ - Set in the town of Yule, we follow Mia who owns a bakery and after a bad break up with rockstar August a few years ago. She's glad to never see him again.
After Mia's twin sister and August's cousin get married, the town is hit by a snowstorm and this causes Mia and August to share a room in a very booked resort.
This is the third story in the Village of Time series, but can be read as a standalone! This is such a cute second chance romance story (think Hallmark movies) and the characters are likeable. A very cute read just before the holidays.
3⭐ - Set in the town of Yule, we follow Mia who owns a bakery and after a bad break up with rockstar August a few years ago. She's glad to never see him again.
After Mia's twin sister and August's cousin get married, the town is hit by a snowstorm and this causes Mia and August to share a room in a very booked resort.
This is the third story in the Village of Time series, but can be read as a standalone! This is such a cute second chance romance story (think Hallmark movies) and the characters are likeable. A very cute read just before the holidays.
December 9, 2025
This was such a fun Village of Yule x Dangerous Harmonies crossover! I never would have even considered it but what a great idea! I've really enjoyed this series and I'm glad that we've been able to go back to Yule again this year.
I say this about pretty much every novella I read, but, I wish it had been longer. It felt a bit rushed for me - especially the beginning. There were a few times when I felt things were happening a bit too fast for my liking but I do understand that novellas don't really have the word count to go into as much detail as a full length novel. I didn't love the break up aspect of the book and I think that primarily comes from it feeling rushed. It just didn't feel super realistic to me. I think this story could have been my favourite in the series had it been a bit more fleshed out but I think a novella just wasn't able to do the story justice. Regardless, I still had a fun time reading it!
Thank you to Kate Callaghan for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I say this about pretty much every novella I read, but, I wish it had been longer. It felt a bit rushed for me - especially the beginning. There were a few times when I felt things were happening a bit too fast for my liking but I do understand that novellas don't really have the word count to go into as much detail as a full length novel. I didn't love the break up aspect of the book and I think that primarily comes from it feeling rushed. It just didn't feel super realistic to me. I think this story could have been my favourite in the series had it been a bit more fleshed out but I think a novella just wasn't able to do the story justice. Regardless, I still had a fun time reading it!
Thank you to Kate Callaghan for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 16, 2025
EDIT: After receiving some evidence, I feel comfortable saying I no longer have any suspicion that this is AI and have raised my star rating appropriately. As I stated below, sometimes Netgalley arcs can be weird, and after seeing images of the original PDF I do believe the errors I encountered are a result of the original file converting to Netgalley's file type. This is not something I have experienced in the past but now I know! Thanks to author Kate Callaghan for providing the information I requested in my initial feedback to the publisher! I am not removing the original review, so that others can learn from my encounter as well.
Brief overview:
A cute short story about a second chance romance between Mia and August, who are forced back together when they are both standing up in the same wedding.
My thoughts:
I'm really conflicted on this. It was a cute short story, and I haven't read the rest of the series so it actually made me want to check out the other books to learn more about the cute town of Yule. BUT, there were so many spots that had me wondering if this was written by AI. Now, it is a netgalley arc, and those do sometimes have errors, but this was different. In some parts, words were written in their standard form, then in others were written oddly, such as: choco- late, grand- mother (but not grandparents?) respon- sible. This doesn't seem like a writing style choice or a file-wide error, as the same words will be written normally in other sections. I'm not saying this for sure means AI, but I am saying it took away from the story as I was constantly wondering. Other parts that made me question were sentences like "I've spent a small fortune to make sure no one mistakes me wouldn't want the for anyone's grandmother, and I groomsmen to hear you." If this was one time, sure, typo. But sentences like this happened 3-4 times through the story (that I caught) and for such a short book, it felt rather frequent.
Overall, story was cute but I could not focus past constantly wondering if this was AI written. (Edit: see above, no longer concerned that this is AI!)
Thanks to Netgalley for letting me check it out!
Brief overview:
A cute short story about a second chance romance between Mia and August, who are forced back together when they are both standing up in the same wedding.
My thoughts:
I'm really conflicted on this. It was a cute short story, and I haven't read the rest of the series so it actually made me want to check out the other books to learn more about the cute town of Yule. BUT, there were so many spots that had me wondering if this was written by AI. Now, it is a netgalley arc, and those do sometimes have errors, but this was different. In some parts, words were written in their standard form, then in others were written oddly, such as: choco- late, grand- mother (but not grandparents?) respon- sible. This doesn't seem like a writing style choice or a file-wide error, as the same words will be written normally in other sections. I'm not saying this for sure means AI, but I am saying it took away from the story as I was constantly wondering. Other parts that made me question were sentences like "I've spent a small fortune to make sure no one mistakes me wouldn't want the for anyone's grandmother, and I groomsmen to hear you." If this was one time, sure, typo. But sentences like this happened 3-4 times through the story (that I caught) and for such a short book, it felt rather frequent.
Overall, story was cute but I could not focus past constantly wondering if this was AI written. (Edit: see above, no longer concerned that this is AI!)
Thanks to Netgalley for letting me check it out!
December 10, 2025
2.75 ⭐️
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this as an arc.
How my ex stole New Year’s is a holiday novella, part of the Village of Yule series. It’s a second chance romance with some fantasy (can we call a magical village in the north pole fantasy? ) elements.
It follows our main character, Mia, who is a baker and lives in Yule. A few years before the start of this novella, Mia used to be in love with August, the bassist from one the biggest rock bands of the outside world. But everything changed once he ghosted her. Now, fate has them trapped together after a snowstorm hit the village and things are about to change again.
This was a very quick read, but it was also very cute. The magical elements made it different from a ton of the other holiday romances, and it really caught my interest. I didn’t really connect with the main characters unfortunately. It’s probably because everything was really fast (I mean, it’s a novella so it’s kinda expected).
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this as an arc.
How my ex stole New Year’s is a holiday novella, part of the Village of Yule series. It’s a second chance romance with some fantasy (can we call a magical village in the north pole fantasy? ) elements.
It follows our main character, Mia, who is a baker and lives in Yule. A few years before the start of this novella, Mia used to be in love with August, the bassist from one the biggest rock bands of the outside world. But everything changed once he ghosted her. Now, fate has them trapped together after a snowstorm hit the village and things are about to change again.
This was a very quick read, but it was also very cute. The magical elements made it different from a ton of the other holiday romances, and it really caught my interest. I didn’t really connect with the main characters unfortunately. It’s probably because everything was really fast (I mean, it’s a novella so it’s kinda expected).
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is Mia and August's story, and like the first two books in the Christmas Village of Yule series, it's a truly magical and romantic standalone.
It's my first Christmas romance this year, and it's a fantastic start.
A beautiful, romantic, and heartwarming story.
A second-chance romance, a love story, with a wonderful HEA.
How about a wedding in a winter wonderland?
Mia's twin sister wants it to be special, in a castle, with lots of family and friends.
Mia would do anything to make her sister happy.
Yes, even put up with her ex 😳☹️
I literally devoured the book in one day.
I love Christmas stories, and this one is exactly what a perfect romance should be: exciting, action-packed, and dramatic 😉
You already know this, I love drama in my romances.
So if you love Christmas romances like I do, this book and the whole series are perfect for you.
I recommend reading all the books in the series.
They provide some character information and background that will make it easier to understand the story correctly, and I assure you, you'll love all of them.
It's my first Christmas romance this year, and it's a fantastic start.
A beautiful, romantic, and heartwarming story.
A second-chance romance, a love story, with a wonderful HEA.
How about a wedding in a winter wonderland?
Mia's twin sister wants it to be special, in a castle, with lots of family and friends.
Mia would do anything to make her sister happy.
Yes, even put up with her ex 😳☹️
I literally devoured the book in one day.
I love Christmas stories, and this one is exactly what a perfect romance should be: exciting, action-packed, and dramatic 😉
You already know this, I love drama in my romances.
So if you love Christmas romances like I do, this book and the whole series are perfect for you.
I recommend reading all the books in the series.
They provide some character information and background that will make it easier to understand the story correctly, and I assure you, you'll love all of them.
December 3, 2025
4 ☆ — When a snowstorm traps Mia in a castle with the ex who ghosted her on New Year’s Eve, all their unresolved feelings resurface.
The pacing was solid overall, but the beginning felt too fast, like we were hit with a lot of information about the characters and their relationship at once. I do wish the Village of Yule was more developed for people who read this as a stand-alone, but I enjoyed the hints of fantasy that the world-building brought!
Mia is such a likeable and relatable character, which is why I kept wanting to read more! This novella did not disappoint, all the tropes in the description were well written in a tasteful way! I definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a short, cozy holiday read!
→ ARC received for review, and all opinions are my own.
The pacing was solid overall, but the beginning felt too fast, like we were hit with a lot of information about the characters and their relationship at once. I do wish the Village of Yule was more developed for people who read this as a stand-alone, but I enjoyed the hints of fantasy that the world-building brought!
Mia is such a likeable and relatable character, which is why I kept wanting to read more! This novella did not disappoint, all the tropes in the description were well written in a tasteful way! I definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a short, cozy holiday read!
→ ARC received for review, and all opinions are my own.
November 30, 2025
Oh Kate Callaghan, you are brilliant. I love your Yule series; I cannot get enough!! The other books in this series blew me away, and for a novella I was surprised when this did the same.
In this short book, we follow Mia and August. They dated previously, but after a series of unfortunate events in August’s life, he ends up ghosting Mia for two years. They both are Yule residents, but while Mia has chosen to stay in Yule and run a bakery, August is a rockstar in the outside world. When Mia’s sister and August’s cousin get married, both must reunite for the wedding in Yule. With a storm coming, a cake catastrophe, and an issue with having enough beds arise, what will this duo do?
I was to start by saying I loved the past, present, and future aspect. It’s hard to do a brief flashback in a novella, but Callaghan made it happen and it works!
This book was so cute but believable. Some novellas are too short for the chemistry to exist, but this 100% works.
*_An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.
In this short book, we follow Mia and August. They dated previously, but after a series of unfortunate events in August’s life, he ends up ghosting Mia for two years. They both are Yule residents, but while Mia has chosen to stay in Yule and run a bakery, August is a rockstar in the outside world. When Mia’s sister and August’s cousin get married, both must reunite for the wedding in Yule. With a storm coming, a cake catastrophe, and an issue with having enough beds arise, what will this duo do?
I was to start by saying I loved the past, present, and future aspect. It’s hard to do a brief flashback in a novella, but Callaghan made it happen and it works!
This book was so cute but believable. Some novellas are too short for the chemistry to exist, but this 100% works.
*_An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.
December 3, 2025
for a novella this was never ending. i don’t hate a lot of books but i hated this one bc first of all why was everyone encouraging her to get back together with her ex boyfriend who GHOSTED her for 2 years. why was she not more angry when she saw him? why did she forgive him so quickly? and there was so much plot line that felt almost out of place? like it was written in like i was supposed to know exactly what happened before the events of this book took place (maybe that was a me problem bc this IS part of a series but also the info should’ve been included a little easier to read). and also i just don’t feel like he had a good enough reason to ghost her sorry not sorry
December 8, 2025
ℍ𝕠𝕨 𝕞𝕖 𝕖𝕩 𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕝𝕖 𝕟𝕖𝕨 𝕪𝕖𝕒𝕣‘𝕤 🥂
"I don’t want promises. I want to see your love in your actions, not in your words." Mia
Welcome back, my sweet awful creatures! 🦇
We have officially entered December, the month of Christmas. 🎄 Usually, I don't read any Christmas books for December. I usually stay in my vampiresque vibe since the cold weather fits it best, but this year, I made it my goal to read six Christmas books. Today, I'm sharing my review of my first read, an ARC I received from one of my favorite authors! Let's see how it went! 💗
The story follows Mia and August's secret relationship and how it crumbles down to nothing when August leaves with his band on a world tour without a single word after promising her that they would spend Christmas together. Two years later, their paths cross again when Mia's twin sister and August's cousin invite both of them to their wedding… As ironic as it is, the resort is packed due to the snowstorm, leaving only one available room, meaning that these two have to share a room together. In this confined room, stuck together, they have no choice but to confront each other. Why did August leave her without a word? And why did he never reach out again in the last two years?
Starting this book, I was a little skeptical over the ex-boyfriend aspect, as I don't enjoy this specific trope, but the more I read, the more I realized that this ex isn’t an asshole, and this is just a miscommunication trope. Now THAT, I'll let slide.
I found the amount of romance/smut to be just right! The romance isn’t overwhelming and doesn’t suffocate while reading. The smut is young-adult level. It has detailed foreplay, but the actual act is skipped over, which I think is refreshing since many people don’t enjoy smut and have a difficult time finding romances without it.
The chemistry between Mia and August was THERE! I could totally feel their intense desire for each other through my Kindle as I read the story. Obviously, Mia didn’t engage with August after their first time seeing each other again, but August was YEARNINGGGGG!!! He is a man that yearns, and I’m here for it. He regretted every second of his life after leaving Mia, and when he came back to town, he respected her wish to be left alone until she approached him. Once she let him, he explained everything, smothered her with love, and promised to never ever hurt her again. Standards!
I have to say that I didn’t feel the Christmasy vibes so much with this one. I'm not sure if it was because of the wedding atmosphere or that Christmas wasn’t mentioned that much, but overall I still enjoyed it. I suggest reading it right before New Year's for the full experience!
Thank you for the ARC, Kate Callaghan
Until next time.
Mira 💗
"I don’t want promises. I want to see your love in your actions, not in your words." Mia
Welcome back, my sweet awful creatures! 🦇
We have officially entered December, the month of Christmas. 🎄 Usually, I don't read any Christmas books for December. I usually stay in my vampiresque vibe since the cold weather fits it best, but this year, I made it my goal to read six Christmas books. Today, I'm sharing my review of my first read, an ARC I received from one of my favorite authors! Let's see how it went! 💗
The story follows Mia and August's secret relationship and how it crumbles down to nothing when August leaves with his band on a world tour without a single word after promising her that they would spend Christmas together. Two years later, their paths cross again when Mia's twin sister and August's cousin invite both of them to their wedding… As ironic as it is, the resort is packed due to the snowstorm, leaving only one available room, meaning that these two have to share a room together. In this confined room, stuck together, they have no choice but to confront each other. Why did August leave her without a word? And why did he never reach out again in the last two years?
Starting this book, I was a little skeptical over the ex-boyfriend aspect, as I don't enjoy this specific trope, but the more I read, the more I realized that this ex isn’t an asshole, and this is just a miscommunication trope. Now THAT, I'll let slide.
I found the amount of romance/smut to be just right! The romance isn’t overwhelming and doesn’t suffocate while reading. The smut is young-adult level. It has detailed foreplay, but the actual act is skipped over, which I think is refreshing since many people don’t enjoy smut and have a difficult time finding romances without it.
The chemistry between Mia and August was THERE! I could totally feel their intense desire for each other through my Kindle as I read the story. Obviously, Mia didn’t engage with August after their first time seeing each other again, but August was YEARNINGGGGG!!! He is a man that yearns, and I’m here for it. He regretted every second of his life after leaving Mia, and when he came back to town, he respected her wish to be left alone until she approached him. Once she let him, he explained everything, smothered her with love, and promised to never ever hurt her again. Standards!
I have to say that I didn’t feel the Christmasy vibes so much with this one. I'm not sure if it was because of the wedding atmosphere or that Christmas wasn’t mentioned that much, but overall I still enjoyed it. I suggest reading it right before New Year's for the full experience!
Thank you for the ARC, Kate Callaghan
Until next time.
Mira 💗
December 8, 2025
Rating: 4.5/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.
This novella may be short in length, but it certainly doesn’t read like one. Despite its compact page count, the story feels full, rich, and wonderfully developed. In this second-chance romance, we follow Mia and August—once a couple, now estranged after August ghosted Mia one New Year’s Eve. Though she’s tucked that heartbreak away, the wound never fully healed. Both are from the secretive and magical small town of Yule, where Mia now lives year-round running her bakery, while August has become a world-famous rock star in the outside world.
As Mia’s sister’s wedding weekend kicks off, she’s reminded of the one complication she can’t avoid: August is the best man. They agree to keep things civil for their families, but fate has a mischievous way of interfering. A winter storm, a wedding cake disaster, getting locked in a wine cellar, and—of course—the classic “one room, one bed” twist all push Mia and August into forced proximity in the best possible way.
What unfolds is a heartfelt journey of rediscovering what matters most: forgiveness, communication, and rebuilding trust. I loved how the story avoids overused miscommunication tropes; instead, Mia and August face their shared past with honesty and vulnerability. Watching them rebuild their friendship—and ultimately their love—felt incredibly satisfying.
Callaghan also does a beautiful job blending her two series, the Yule Series and the Rockstar Series. While you don’t need to have read them to enjoy this novella, I highly recommend it—the added context enriches the reading experience and makes the world feel even more vibrant. The descriptions of Yule are especially wonderful, so vivid that I could picture every charming, snow-dusted detail.
I want to thank NetGalley and Booksgosocial for the opportunity to review this book.
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.
This novella may be short in length, but it certainly doesn’t read like one. Despite its compact page count, the story feels full, rich, and wonderfully developed. In this second-chance romance, we follow Mia and August—once a couple, now estranged after August ghosted Mia one New Year’s Eve. Though she’s tucked that heartbreak away, the wound never fully healed. Both are from the secretive and magical small town of Yule, where Mia now lives year-round running her bakery, while August has become a world-famous rock star in the outside world.
As Mia’s sister’s wedding weekend kicks off, she’s reminded of the one complication she can’t avoid: August is the best man. They agree to keep things civil for their families, but fate has a mischievous way of interfering. A winter storm, a wedding cake disaster, getting locked in a wine cellar, and—of course—the classic “one room, one bed” twist all push Mia and August into forced proximity in the best possible way.
What unfolds is a heartfelt journey of rediscovering what matters most: forgiveness, communication, and rebuilding trust. I loved how the story avoids overused miscommunication tropes; instead, Mia and August face their shared past with honesty and vulnerability. Watching them rebuild their friendship—and ultimately their love—felt incredibly satisfying.
Callaghan also does a beautiful job blending her two series, the Yule Series and the Rockstar Series. While you don’t need to have read them to enjoy this novella, I highly recommend it—the added context enriches the reading experience and makes the world feel even more vibrant. The descriptions of Yule are especially wonderful, so vivid that I could picture every charming, snow-dusted detail.
I want to thank NetGalley and Booksgosocial for the opportunity to review this book.
December 21, 2025
Author Kate Callaghan is nothing if not prolific, and she’s taken us back to the irresistibly cute and cozy world of Yule with her new standalone series tie-in, How My Ex Stole New Year’s. Yule resident and successful baker Mia is head over heels with rocker August, who is from the “Outside” but has family connections in the tiny town hidden away near the North Pole. Mia is expecting a marriage proposal any day — until August ghosts her, disappearing without a trace. She heals the best she can but can hardly think of dating, especially when, two years later, she discovers with horror that her twin sister’s fiancée is August’s cousin — and that she and August are the maid of honor and best man in the wedding.
I would have never thought a story with so much substance could have fit into a novella, but I should never put such a feat past Kate. The dialogue, the found family, the humor, the spice — all of it made this book almost literally unputdownable. I can’t recommend August and Mia’s story enough. If you’re a romance reader, you can’t miss How My Ex Stole New Year’s.
I would have never thought a story with so much substance could have fit into a novella, but I should never put such a feat past Kate. The dialogue, the found family, the humor, the spice — all of it made this book almost literally unputdownable. I can’t recommend August and Mia’s story enough. If you’re a romance reader, you can’t miss How My Ex Stole New Year’s.
January 17, 2026
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. This review is purely from my own opinion after reading the book.
Mia is about to celebrate the New Year and also the family wedding at her festive village of Yule. With everything perfectly planned out, one thing with the least expectation is that her ex also come back for the wedding. The one and only that has ghosted and left her two years ago without a word.
I really like their secret past relationship (rockstar and baker). Also, I love their chemistry. The story is told from the past story, then the present tension. The festive ambience in a small town is on point. However, I feel that I need a bit more time (or pages) for them to get together, for more yearning feeling. But I totally understand the limitation in the length of the novella. Overall, this was a delightful, heartwarming holiday read. It definitely made me curious to pick up the other books in the series.
Mia is about to celebrate the New Year and also the family wedding at her festive village of Yule. With everything perfectly planned out, one thing with the least expectation is that her ex also come back for the wedding. The one and only that has ghosted and left her two years ago without a word.
I really like their secret past relationship (rockstar and baker). Also, I love their chemistry. The story is told from the past story, then the present tension. The festive ambience in a small town is on point. However, I feel that I need a bit more time (or pages) for them to get together, for more yearning feeling. But I totally understand the limitation in the length of the novella. Overall, this was a delightful, heartwarming holiday read. It definitely made me curious to pick up the other books in the series.
December 3, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for kindly gifting me this ARC!
This was such a cute and fast-paced novella that was perfect for the holiday season! The setting was so magical and wintry without too heavily focusing on the reminder of Christmas, which I felt was perfect!
The romance was so cute, and there were so many banter-filled moments that really had me rooting for Mia and August by the end!
I really enjoyed all the side character, especially Michelle and Molly, who really tied the whole story together.
As this was a novella rather than a novel, the pacing did feel a bit rushed at times, and a full-length story would have allowed for some added depth into Mia and August’s history! However, knowing what the author managed to accomplish in such a short novella makes me very encouraged to read one of her novels to see how the pacing plays out in them!
This was such a cute and fast-paced novella that was perfect for the holiday season! The setting was so magical and wintry without too heavily focusing on the reminder of Christmas, which I felt was perfect!
The romance was so cute, and there were so many banter-filled moments that really had me rooting for Mia and August by the end!
I really enjoyed all the side character, especially Michelle and Molly, who really tied the whole story together.
As this was a novella rather than a novel, the pacing did feel a bit rushed at times, and a full-length story would have allowed for some added depth into Mia and August’s history! However, knowing what the author managed to accomplish in such a short novella makes me very encouraged to read one of her novels to see how the pacing plays out in them!
December 1, 2025
*ARC Review*
I wasn't expecting a crossover novella, but this was great. I have loved both the Yule series and the Rockstar series so far and this short story tied those two together beautifully! You could probably get away with not reading the other stories first, but it would give a lot more context.
August was the band member that intrigued me the most. We haven't known much about him up to this point, which makes complete sense since he's from Yule. He and Mia had it all planned out and then he bailed on their dreams, and her, without any communication. Mia was left wondering what had gone wrong and had to rebuild herself. Once she sees August again, she has to decide whether he's worth the risk again. Trust is incredibly difficult to rebuild and how can he prove to Mia that they're meant to be together when he ruined it the first time? Maybe a show storm can bring them back together.
I ended up reading this during a snow storm so I felt completely wrapped up in the story. The rebuilding doesn't feel rushed despite the forced proximity. We love a respectful man.
I wasn't expecting a crossover novella, but this was great. I have loved both the Yule series and the Rockstar series so far and this short story tied those two together beautifully! You could probably get away with not reading the other stories first, but it would give a lot more context.
August was the band member that intrigued me the most. We haven't known much about him up to this point, which makes complete sense since he's from Yule. He and Mia had it all planned out and then he bailed on their dreams, and her, without any communication. Mia was left wondering what had gone wrong and had to rebuild herself. Once she sees August again, she has to decide whether he's worth the risk again. Trust is incredibly difficult to rebuild and how can he prove to Mia that they're meant to be together when he ruined it the first time? Maybe a show storm can bring them back together.
I ended up reading this during a snow storm so I felt completely wrapped up in the story. The rebuilding doesn't feel rushed despite the forced proximity. We love a respectful man.
December 20, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up. How My Ex Stole New Year's is the third book in the Village of Yule series, but it is the first one I've read and I had no problem following the story. Mia Mulrooney is a talented baker who runs her own bakery in Yule. Two years earlier, she thought she and August were firmly a couple, but he ghosted her on New Years Eve. He is the bass player in a famous band, and she figured that he didn't think she would fit into his life. She returned to Yule and lived a very quiet life, no dating, and no interest in getting involved with anyone. Her twin sister, Michelle, is getting married and the last person she expected to see at the wedding was August. It turns out that Michelle's future wife, Molly, is August's cousin who he loves very much. Not only are they both in the wedding party, but there is a storm and the castle they will be staying in has to double people up in the rooms. As August and Mia were the last ones to check in, guess who's rooming together?
This was a cute story, but not what I was expecting. I didn't realize that Yule is a hidden town, that both August and Mia were from originally, so there is a bit of a fantasy aspect that I wasn't expecting. Other than that, it was a forced proximity, second chance romance. There are some hurdles to jump over in order for August and Mia to get back together, but once they get locked in the cellar together by accident, Mia listens to August explain what happened two year earlier. I liked August and could see where he has some autistic tendencies. He was an introvert, didn't like to be touched, had few friends, but was a talented musician. He felt things deeply and worried about others without talking to them. Mia just wanted to get over him, but she couldn't. There were a couple of open door scenes that I wasn't expecting, but overall, this was a cute rom-com.
This was a cute story, but not what I was expecting. I didn't realize that Yule is a hidden town, that both August and Mia were from originally, so there is a bit of a fantasy aspect that I wasn't expecting. Other than that, it was a forced proximity, second chance romance. There are some hurdles to jump over in order for August and Mia to get back together, but once they get locked in the cellar together by accident, Mia listens to August explain what happened two year earlier. I liked August and could see where he has some autistic tendencies. He was an introvert, didn't like to be touched, had few friends, but was a talented musician. He felt things deeply and worried about others without talking to them. Mia just wanted to get over him, but she couldn't. There were a couple of open door scenes that I wasn't expecting, but overall, this was a cute rom-com.
December 22, 2025
How My Ex Stole New Year’s is a Christmas novella by Kate Callaghan. This book is part of the Village of Yule series, and I think it would have been helpful to read more of this series prior to reading this book.
Mia and August are the central characters in this novella. I had a hard time understanding their connection or chemistry. Mia gushes about August briefly at the beginning of the story when they are together. They are not together for long before breaking up because August ghosts her. The narrator tells us these characters are head-over-heels in love, but I didn’t feel a connection between them.
A year later, Mia and August are thrown together again in Yule at Mia’s sister’s wedding. They arrive late, so are forced to share the last room at the inn, with, of course, only one bed. August is so upset and concerned about Mia at the wedding, which just does not align with his past behavior. The character’s actions were all over the place, which made it hard to follow the plot. This was unfortunately not a book I enjoyed, and I had to push myself to finish it.
Thank you to Kate Callaghan, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Mia and August are the central characters in this novella. I had a hard time understanding their connection or chemistry. Mia gushes about August briefly at the beginning of the story when they are together. They are not together for long before breaking up because August ghosts her. The narrator tells us these characters are head-over-heels in love, but I didn’t feel a connection between them.
A year later, Mia and August are thrown together again in Yule at Mia’s sister’s wedding. They arrive late, so are forced to share the last room at the inn, with, of course, only one bed. August is so upset and concerned about Mia at the wedding, which just does not align with his past behavior. The character’s actions were all over the place, which made it hard to follow the plot. This was unfortunately not a book I enjoyed, and I had to push myself to finish it.
Thank you to Kate Callaghan, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
January 1, 2026
Kate Culligan's Village of Yule, is an adorable Holiday romance series of interconnected holiday stand alone novellas with a little fantasy twist. Yule is located on the North Pole, yes it is Santa's village. Magic masks it from the outside, and residents with permission can travel to the outside by use of a magical golden bell. Other then the setting, this book is a spicy second chance romance full of favorite tropes. I loved the story, two ex lovers are both members of a wedding party, and due to forced proximity, and several wedding emergencies, they have time to discover, that they still love each other. The writing was cute, the story was fun, I loved almost everything except the basic premise. Mia was ghosted and hadn't seen her lover for two years. His excuse for ghosting her for so long just doesn't ring true to me, and I wouldn't have been so quick to forgive. However, other than that, I love the book. The problem with novellas are the fact that the author really didn't have enough room to write a story that gave her time to forgive him. If this had been a full length novel, their would have been more opportunity for him to regain her trust in a realistic time frame. This cute series provides a lot of holiday romance with quick stories that are perfect for a busy holiday season.
January 19, 2026
Gut rating: ⭐⭐
CAWPILE rating: 1.57 stars
Spice: Closed door
ARC publication date: December 16th 2025
Tropes: Second chance romance, Christmas romance, small town romance, Dual POV, only one bed, forced proximity
Quote: "You shattered it – my heart, my trust. I never knew love until you, but losing it nearly killed me. The hope that you would walk through the door and smile at me, that you would let me back in. I thought you were the one.”
Synopsis: 30yo Mia Mulrooney and 29yo August Reid are from two different worlds, literally. She runs Sweet Pastries bakery on Candy Cane Lane in Yule - Santa's hidden village in the North Pole. He's a world famous guitarist on "the Outside". They were inseperable, until August threw their relationship away overnight. Two years later, August returns to Yule to stand as best man for his cousin only to find Mia is the maid of honour. Forced to share a room and play nice, they must face the reason their relationship fizzled out.
Review: The concept and setting were so promising but the delivery fell flat, with frustrating characters and unbelievable plot points. While I liked that we got to see a bit of their first relationship before it ended, the way August ended things was so anticlimactic and felt rushed, being limited to only a few sentences. His breakup reason was also underwhelming and not really forgivable. August was a giant red flag throughout the story, breaking boundaries, being so possessive of a woman he threw away, and expecting her to want to date again because "he still loved her". There were so many unbelievable plot points, too, like Mia's sister not telling her that August would be the best man and that a hotel is making two guests share. I felt frustrated and ended up DNF at 51%.
With thanks to the Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger warnings: Abandonment, toxic relationship, sexual assault, alcohol, confinement, grief, stalking, drug use, drug abuse, infidelity, car accident, death of parent
CAWPILE rating: 1.57 stars
Spice: Closed door
ARC publication date: December 16th 2025
Tropes: Second chance romance, Christmas romance, small town romance, Dual POV, only one bed, forced proximity
Quote: "You shattered it – my heart, my trust. I never knew love until you, but losing it nearly killed me. The hope that you would walk through the door and smile at me, that you would let me back in. I thought you were the one.”
Synopsis: 30yo Mia Mulrooney and 29yo August Reid are from two different worlds, literally. She runs Sweet Pastries bakery on Candy Cane Lane in Yule - Santa's hidden village in the North Pole. He's a world famous guitarist on "the Outside". They were inseperable, until August threw their relationship away overnight. Two years later, August returns to Yule to stand as best man for his cousin only to find Mia is the maid of honour. Forced to share a room and play nice, they must face the reason their relationship fizzled out.
Review: The concept and setting were so promising but the delivery fell flat, with frustrating characters and unbelievable plot points. While I liked that we got to see a bit of their first relationship before it ended, the way August ended things was so anticlimactic and felt rushed, being limited to only a few sentences. His breakup reason was also underwhelming and not really forgivable. August was a giant red flag throughout the story, breaking boundaries, being so possessive of a woman he threw away, and expecting her to want to date again because "he still loved her". There were so many unbelievable plot points, too, like Mia's sister not telling her that August would be the best man and that a hotel is making two guests share. I felt frustrated and ended up DNF at 51%.
With thanks to the Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger warnings: Abandonment, toxic relationship, sexual assault, alcohol, confinement, grief, stalking, drug use, drug abuse, infidelity, car accident, death of parent
December 3, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC
3 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
How My Ex Stole New Year’s Eve was a cute and cozy Christmas second-chance romance that eventually won me over—but it did take a little time to get there. The beginning felt a bit slow, and it took a while for the story to really grab my attention. Once it picked up, though, the holiday charm and rekindled-romance vibes made it an enjoyable seasonal read.
I really liked the premise and the sweet chemistry between the characters, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I would’ve enjoyed it more if I’d read the first two books in the series beforehand. There were moments where the connections and backstory felt like they were building on things I had missed.
Overall, it’s a light, festive second-chance romance with plenty of holiday spirit—worth the read if you’re looking for something warm and charming, especially if you’re already familiar with the series.
3 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
How My Ex Stole New Year’s Eve was a cute and cozy Christmas second-chance romance that eventually won me over—but it did take a little time to get there. The beginning felt a bit slow, and it took a while for the story to really grab my attention. Once it picked up, though, the holiday charm and rekindled-romance vibes made it an enjoyable seasonal read.
I really liked the premise and the sweet chemistry between the characters, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I would’ve enjoyed it more if I’d read the first two books in the series beforehand. There were moments where the connections and backstory felt like they were building on things I had missed.
Overall, it’s a light, festive second-chance romance with plenty of holiday spirit—worth the read if you’re looking for something warm and charming, especially if you’re already familiar with the series.
December 19, 2025
What would you do if your famous guitar ex showed up in your secret Christmas town for your sister’s wedding after ghosting you and now he wants you back? Mia is preparing for the most stressful week as maid of honor and wedding cake baker for her twin sister’s big day when fate throws her for a loop. She has to hold it together but man is it difficult when the guy who broke your heart with no closure is there every day ripping open old wounds. Will the big day go off without a hitch or will their bad blood spoil the entire event?
I have been craving a good holiday romance and this one scratched that itch just right. I love when we get the emotional devastation of the break up to really stoke the fires of that incredibly uncomfortable first reunion and you feel that resentment right along with her. While I do usually prefer a little more grovel in my second chance romance, for a shorter book less is more interesting and keeps the story moving so it works well here. And when she told him that she needed him to show and not tell her his intentions when he tried to earn her trust back I wanted to give her a full standing ovation. You tell him girl.
If you’re looking for a short but sweet second chance magical small town forced proximity romance then I think you’ll enjoy this one as well. It is technically listed as book 3 in the series but I read it as a standalone with absolutely no issues.
I have been craving a good holiday romance and this one scratched that itch just right. I love when we get the emotional devastation of the break up to really stoke the fires of that incredibly uncomfortable first reunion and you feel that resentment right along with her. While I do usually prefer a little more grovel in my second chance romance, for a shorter book less is more interesting and keeps the story moving so it works well here. And when she told him that she needed him to show and not tell her his intentions when he tried to earn her trust back I wanted to give her a full standing ovation. You tell him girl.
If you’re looking for a short but sweet second chance magical small town forced proximity romance then I think you’ll enjoy this one as well. It is technically listed as book 3 in the series but I read it as a standalone with absolutely no issues.
January 5, 2026
A special thank you to Books Go Social and author Kate Callaghan for gifting me a copy of How My Ex Stole New Years via NetGalley! 💕 This is my honest and voluntary review.
While this is book 3 in the Village of Yule series, I found it can be read as a standalone.
What to expect:
😏 One Bed
💔 Second Chance
💍 New Years Wedding
🌹 Maid of Honor X Best Man
♥️ Exes to Lovers
Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨
Character rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Plot rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was such a fun and cute book. I really enjoyed the story and how Mia and August were able to come back together and have their second chance. I was a little frustrated with August for leaving her for 2 whole years, literally ghosting her. When he explained what happened it still didn't sit well with me. Not a phone call, text message or email!? But aside from that, I loved this story and cannot wait to read more from this series as well as this author!
While this is book 3 in the Village of Yule series, I found it can be read as a standalone.
What to expect:
😏 One Bed
💔 Second Chance
💍 New Years Wedding
🌹 Maid of Honor X Best Man
♥️ Exes to Lovers
Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨
Character rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Plot rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was such a fun and cute book. I really enjoyed the story and how Mia and August were able to come back together and have their second chance. I was a little frustrated with August for leaving her for 2 whole years, literally ghosting her. When he explained what happened it still didn't sit well with me. Not a phone call, text message or email!? But aside from that, I loved this story and cannot wait to read more from this series as well as this author!
December 8, 2025
3.5 stars for me.
Mia Mulrooney hates August who two years ago broke her heart and left her without any explanation.Being forced to deal with August at her sister wedding is one thing,but sharing one room with him is something else entirely.August regrets his behavior two years ago,leaving the love of his life was not easy,and he hopes Mia will forgive him.
Can those two work together to give their love ones a great wedding?
A quick second chance romance with a touch of magic.Sweet setting and those cake scenes made me craving sweets.I liked the chemistry between Mia and August,their connection and banter was cute,the ending satisfying.Now I wish to read two books before in the series,a great festive read.
Thank you netgalley and author for arc,my review is honest and my own.
Mia Mulrooney hates August who two years ago broke her heart and left her without any explanation.Being forced to deal with August at her sister wedding is one thing,but sharing one room with him is something else entirely.August regrets his behavior two years ago,leaving the love of his life was not easy,and he hopes Mia will forgive him.
Can those two work together to give their love ones a great wedding?
A quick second chance romance with a touch of magic.Sweet setting and those cake scenes made me craving sweets.I liked the chemistry between Mia and August,their connection and banter was cute,the ending satisfying.Now I wish to read two books before in the series,a great festive read.
Thank you netgalley and author for arc,my review is honest and my own.
December 8, 2025
I really loved book 1 in this series, book 2 was fine, but this one was not it. First, one small note: all the names starting with M was confusing. Second, I always find it harder tonreally get into a story, especially a romance, when it's told in 3rd person, which makes it much harder to relate to the characters. Finally, what August did to Mia was horrible, I had absolutely no empathy for him, I was not rooting for him at all. His excuse for ghosting Mia was pitiful, it would've taking 1 hour for him to call and explain... And there needed to be so much more groveling. So I was not rooting for them to get back together. It was a quick read, very holiday coded, which was nice.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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