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Booked for the Holidays
A steamy brother's best friend, second chance romantic comedy
Last Christmas, I gave Liam Hargrove my heart…
Okay, maybe not my heart. But I was ready to give him something else—until he panicked and dropped me on my ass, bruising both my tailbone and my ego. Now I’d like to forget the whole mortifying mess ever happened.
This year, I’m moving on. I’ve traded my silly crush on my brother’s best friend for a dream come opening Blush & Binding, Cedar Hollow’s first romance-only bookstore. With a calendar full of holiday events, this Christmas is going to be my best one yet.
Until Liam shows up.
With my parents’ house overflowing and the local inn booked solid, my mom oh-so-generously offers up my guest room.
Now he’s in my space, helping with inventory, charming my customers just by existing, and reading my annotated romance novels like they’re a guidebook. He says he wants to make it up to me…starting by reenacting a few of my favorite scenes.
His gingerbread house building skills are impressive, so I just might let him.
But this time, I’m not falling so easily—or at least not without a fight.
Last Christmas, I gave Liam Hargrove my heart…
Okay, maybe not my heart. But I was ready to give him something else—until he panicked and dropped me on my ass, bruising both my tailbone and my ego. Now I’d like to forget the whole mortifying mess ever happened.
This year, I’m moving on. I’ve traded my silly crush on my brother’s best friend for a dream come opening Blush & Binding, Cedar Hollow’s first romance-only bookstore. With a calendar full of holiday events, this Christmas is going to be my best one yet.
Until Liam shows up.
With my parents’ house overflowing and the local inn booked solid, my mom oh-so-generously offers up my guest room.
Now he’s in my space, helping with inventory, charming my customers just by existing, and reading my annotated romance novels like they’re a guidebook. He says he wants to make it up to me…starting by reenacting a few of my favorite scenes.
His gingerbread house building skills are impressive, so I just might let him.
But this time, I’m not falling so easily—or at least not without a fight.
Audible Audio
Published October 27, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 511 reviews
January 5, 2026
2.5 ⭐️ I fear I trusted the tropes a little too easily…
🎄 The Premise
Last Christmas, Juniper Jensen finally acted on her crush on her brother’s best friend—only to be painfully rejected when Liam Hargrove panicked and walked away.
A year later, Juniper is focused on her dream of opening Cedar Hollow’s first romance-only bookstore and determined to move on. But when Liam comes back for the holidays and somehow ends up staying with her, all those unresolved feelings come rushing back.
This time, he’s full of regret—and very determined to prove that walking away was the worst decision of his life.
🍬 My Thoughts
Despite the intense secondhand embarrassment in the opening, I genuinely enjoyed the first half. Juniper and Liam were cute, the small-town holiday vibes were cozy, and there were moments that felt funny, charming, and festive.
But somewhere after the halfway point… it lost me.
Instead of deepening the emotional connection, the story leaned hard into spice. I don’t mind spice—I welcome it—but when it starts replacing actual relationship development, I check out. For such a short novella, it felt like overkill, and after a while I was bored rather than invested.
Liam’s character shift especially didn’t work for me. He goes from rejecting Juniper to suddenly being intensely possessive, and I just didn’t buy the transition. I needed more angst, more groveling, and more emotional weight to make that change feel earned.
Juniper, meanwhile, read much younger than her age—and honestly, so did Liam. We’re told they’re both business owners, but many of their interactions felt more cringey than endearing.
✨ Final Take
This is a light, festive holiday novella with a great premise—it just didn’t fully deliver for me. The tropes absolutely pulled me in, the first half worked, and I appreciated the lack of a third-act breakup. Still, it felt like it tried to cram too many cute ideas into too little space, prioritizing spice over substance.
Tropes / What to Expect
💌 Brother’s best friend
🔁 Second chance
🏠 Forced proximity / roommates
🏔️ Small-town setting
💞 Virgin heroine
🪞 Spicy mirror scene
💋 Candy-stealing kiss
🎧 Duet narration
For the Holidays Series
1. Hostile for the Holidays — 3⭐️ My review
2. Booked for the Holidays — 2.5 ⭐️
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
✧･ﾟ Pre-Read ･ﾟ✧
What do you mean he reads her annotated romance novels and reenacts the scenes?? 👀
Say less. I’m reading it.
🎄 The Premise
Last Christmas, Juniper Jensen finally acted on her crush on her brother’s best friend—only to be painfully rejected when Liam Hargrove panicked and walked away.
A year later, Juniper is focused on her dream of opening Cedar Hollow’s first romance-only bookstore and determined to move on. But when Liam comes back for the holidays and somehow ends up staying with her, all those unresolved feelings come rushing back.
This time, he’s full of regret—and very determined to prove that walking away was the worst decision of his life.
🍬 My Thoughts
Despite the intense secondhand embarrassment in the opening, I genuinely enjoyed the first half. Juniper and Liam were cute, the small-town holiday vibes were cozy, and there were moments that felt funny, charming, and festive.
Well, fan-fucking-tastic. The man who humiliated me last Christmas is now sleeping down the hall. And I'm supposed to play nice?
Pretend like nothing happened? Oh, ho ho, hell no.
But somewhere after the halfway point… it lost me.
Instead of deepening the emotional connection, the story leaned hard into spice. I don’t mind spice—I welcome it—but when it starts replacing actual relationship development, I check out. For such a short novella, it felt like overkill, and after a while I was bored rather than invested.
Liam’s character shift especially didn’t work for me. He goes from rejecting Juniper to suddenly being intensely possessive, and I just didn’t buy the transition. I needed more angst, more groveling, and more emotional weight to make that change feel earned.
Juniper, meanwhile, read much younger than her age—and honestly, so did Liam. We’re told they’re both business owners, but many of their interactions felt more cringey than endearing.
✨ Final Take
This is a light, festive holiday novella with a great premise—it just didn’t fully deliver for me. The tropes absolutely pulled me in, the first half worked, and I appreciated the lack of a third-act breakup. Still, it felt like it tried to cram too many cute ideas into too little space, prioritizing spice over substance.
Tropes / What to Expect
💌 Brother’s best friend
🔁 Second chance
🏠 Forced proximity / roommates
🏔️ Small-town setting
💞 Virgin heroine
🪞 Spicy mirror scene
💋 Candy-stealing kiss
🎧 Duet narration
For the Holidays Series
1. Hostile for the Holidays — 3⭐️ My review
2. Booked for the Holidays — 2.5 ⭐️
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
✧･ﾟ Pre-Read ･ﾟ✧
What do you mean he reads her annotated romance novels and reenacts the scenes?? 👀
Say less. I’m reading it.
December 15, 2025
This delivers exactly what it promises: a cute, unserious holiday novella with winter vibes and a HEA. And a bookstore just to add extra cozy vibes.
October 24, 2025
𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── 2.5 stars
this was my first novel by erin hawkins while i didn't rate it high, i did like her writing style and the plot. it just was a bit surface level for me even tho it's a novella & the mmc was rather unrealisitc and some things just didn't make sense.
if you're looking for a short, spicy novella to read for the holidays give this a chance ! you may enjoy more than me & it has all the christmas vibes <3
✧˖°💗 ⋆｡˚꩜ tropes
⤷ christmas novella
⤷ second chance
⤷ she owns a bookstore
⤷ virgin fmc
⤷ roommates
⤷ brother's best friends
⤷ online secret identity (you've got mail vibes)
for a novella it wasn't bad, and i enjoyed some scenes. it was nice ig lol
thank you pen pal pr and the author for the digital arc
pre-read 🎄
im in dire need of a fast paced novella and this was only 100 - something on my e-reader so why not? second chance is my favorite and hoping for a quick read!!!
this was my first novel by erin hawkins while i didn't rate it high, i did like her writing style and the plot. it just was a bit surface level for me even tho it's a novella & the mmc was rather unrealisitc and some things just didn't make sense.
if you're looking for a short, spicy novella to read for the holidays give this a chance ! you may enjoy more than me & it has all the christmas vibes <3
✧˖°💗 ⋆｡˚꩜ tropes
⤷ christmas novella
⤷ second chance
⤷ she owns a bookstore
⤷ virgin fmc
⤷ roommates
⤷ brother's best friends
⤷ online secret identity (you've got mail vibes)
for a novella it wasn't bad, and i enjoyed some scenes. it was nice ig lol
thank you pen pal pr and the author for the digital arc
pre-read 🎄
im in dire need of a fast paced novella and this was only 100 - something on my e-reader so why not? second chance is my favorite and hoping for a quick read!!!
October 14, 2025
3.5 Stars ⭐️
First of all, I really need more of the brother's best friend trope in my life 🙂↕️
This was a very cute holiday novella to kick off the season (a bit too early for me, but thank you Pen Pal PR for the eARC!)
Juniper and Liam were so sweet. The story was genuinely funny and cozy and full of lovable characters.
The thing that frustrated me the most was that I kept wanting more of their actual story. I typically don't mind novella's but I felt that this one leaned too heavily on the spice rather than developing their relationship on page. So, it felt a bit rushed. Also, the conflict (mostly in Junipers head) was so repetitive even though Liam was clear about his intentions from the get go. It was such a non-issue and yet somehow was the entire conflict.
Okay, those are my complaints :/ But! Overall, it was a super cute story and perfect to get in to the holiday spirit. 🎄🎅🏻
First of all, I really need more of the brother's best friend trope in my life 🙂↕️
This was a very cute holiday novella to kick off the season (a bit too early for me, but thank you Pen Pal PR for the eARC!)
Juniper and Liam were so sweet. The story was genuinely funny and cozy and full of lovable characters.
The thing that frustrated me the most was that I kept wanting more of their actual story. I typically don't mind novella's but I felt that this one leaned too heavily on the spice rather than developing their relationship on page. So, it felt a bit rushed. Also, the conflict (mostly in Junipers head) was so repetitive even though Liam was clear about his intentions from the get go. It was such a non-issue and yet somehow was the entire conflict.
Okay, those are my complaints :/ But! Overall, it was a super cute story and perfect to get in to the holiday spirit. 🎄🎅🏻
October 24, 2025
• Holiday novella
• Brother's best friend
• Holiday roommates
• Second chance
• Long time crush
• Hidden identity
• Small town
🎧Audiobook Review🎧
Duet Narration
Narrated by Jason Clarke and Victoria Connolly
I'm a sucker for Christmas novellas, and after finishing the first, I was so excited to receive the audiobook for the second book! And with one of my favorite narrator duos!! Are you kidding me?? These two were perfect for Juniper and Liam! Victoria balanced Juniper's sweet side so well with her feisty and bold side. I absolutely loved it! And Jason, with a British accent!! YES, PLEASE! This was the first time I've heard Jason do a full book with an accent like this, and it was sooo good! He captured Liam so well, especially with his signature "Mine." Liam had it so bad for his best friend's little sister! Listening to him pursue her in such a possessive way was top-notch! This novella was flirty and playful, with the perfect balance of banter and spice!! I couldn't get enough of these two finding their way back to each other especially narrated by Jason and Victoria!!!
• Brother's best friend
• Holiday roommates
• Second chance
• Long time crush
• Hidden identity
• Small town
🎧Audiobook Review🎧
Duet Narration
Narrated by Jason Clarke and Victoria Connolly
I'm a sucker for Christmas novellas, and after finishing the first, I was so excited to receive the audiobook for the second book! And with one of my favorite narrator duos!! Are you kidding me?? These two were perfect for Juniper and Liam! Victoria balanced Juniper's sweet side so well with her feisty and bold side. I absolutely loved it! And Jason, with a British accent!! YES, PLEASE! This was the first time I've heard Jason do a full book with an accent like this, and it was sooo good! He captured Liam so well, especially with his signature "Mine." Liam had it so bad for his best friend's little sister! Listening to him pursue her in such a possessive way was top-notch! This novella was flirty and playful, with the perfect balance of banter and spice!! I couldn't get enough of these two finding their way back to each other especially narrated by Jason and Victoria!!!
October 24, 2025
Liam Hargrove just stole the holidays and my heart! 🎄
Liam is a sexy, confident, British hunk who is pure book boyfriend material. He messed up big time when he walked away from his best friend’s little sister, Juniper Jensen, after a passionate Christmas kiss.
For the past year, he’s regretted missing his chance in fear of ruining his friendship. This holiday, Liam’s back with a plan to win her back, but Juniper isn’t going to make it easy for him. As a badass business woman who knows what she wants, Juniper has a new romance bookstore and is doing her best to move on after that painful rejection last year.
I loved watching Juniper find her confidence and her voice! She’s unapologetically herself while still making Liam work for that second chance. And Liam? He’s officially added to my list of favorite book boyfriends. This British charmer is sexy, devoted, and his dirty talk is chef’s kiss. He proves his love through his actions, and there is nothing hotter! Except maybe when he acts out her annotated book’s spicy scenes – HAVE MERCY! 🥵
Booked for the Holidays is a must read if you love second chance stories with off-the-charts level chemistry, lots of holiday fun, and serious spice!
Liam is a sexy, confident, British hunk who is pure book boyfriend material. He messed up big time when he walked away from his best friend’s little sister, Juniper Jensen, after a passionate Christmas kiss.
For the past year, he’s regretted missing his chance in fear of ruining his friendship. This holiday, Liam’s back with a plan to win her back, but Juniper isn’t going to make it easy for him. As a badass business woman who knows what she wants, Juniper has a new romance bookstore and is doing her best to move on after that painful rejection last year.
I loved watching Juniper find her confidence and her voice! She’s unapologetically herself while still making Liam work for that second chance. And Liam? He’s officially added to my list of favorite book boyfriends. This British charmer is sexy, devoted, and his dirty talk is chef’s kiss. He proves his love through his actions, and there is nothing hotter! Except maybe when he acts out her annotated book’s spicy scenes – HAVE MERCY! 🥵
Booked for the Holidays is a must read if you love second chance stories with off-the-charts level chemistry, lots of holiday fun, and serious spice!
October 24, 2025
3.25 stars.
"Booked for the Holidays" by Erin Hawkins is a decent brother's best friend, second chance-ish holiday novella, but it felt like it was missing some sort of spark, some pizzazz to keep me wholly interested. While this is a fine, fluffy, lighthearted, short read, I wish there had been a bit more here. I liked Juniper, but I didn't love Liam. I admire him wanting to change the mistake he made, but he felt possessive out of nowhere and a little pushy at times. Juniper was a little immature, sure, and had quite a few issues revolving around Liam that only existed in her head, but I enjoyed her as the main female character. After the way Liam rejected her and dismissed her, I don't blame her for trying to protect herself and her heart! I loved her super cute bookstore... I am such a sucker for stories where someone owns a bookstore. While this is a little spicy at times, it takes a while to get there as it is slow to unfold. I don't have a whole lot to say about this one, it's just fine to me. It even took me a few days to get through it despite being short. I did absolutely love Hawkins's last novella, "Hostile for the Holidays," so make sure you check that out first!
Thank you to Erin Hawkins and Pen Pal PR for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
"Booked for the Holidays" by Erin Hawkins is a decent brother's best friend, second chance-ish holiday novella, but it felt like it was missing some sort of spark, some pizzazz to keep me wholly interested. While this is a fine, fluffy, lighthearted, short read, I wish there had been a bit more here. I liked Juniper, but I didn't love Liam. I admire him wanting to change the mistake he made, but he felt possessive out of nowhere and a little pushy at times. Juniper was a little immature, sure, and had quite a few issues revolving around Liam that only existed in her head, but I enjoyed her as the main female character. After the way Liam rejected her and dismissed her, I don't blame her for trying to protect herself and her heart! I loved her super cute bookstore... I am such a sucker for stories where someone owns a bookstore. While this is a little spicy at times, it takes a while to get there as it is slow to unfold. I don't have a whole lot to say about this one, it's just fine to me. It even took me a few days to get through it despite being short. I did absolutely love Hawkins's last novella, "Hostile for the Holidays," so make sure you check that out first!
Thank you to Erin Hawkins and Pen Pal PR for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
December 1, 2025
Perfect holiday read. And his yearning. Absolutely
October 30, 2025
I’m offically obsessed with Erin’s worlds and want to live in them! I absolutely devoured this book. I was so happy to see an update for Stella and Jasper. But if I’m a sucker for anything, it’s brother’s best friend, and this one did NOT disappoint! Liam and Juniper were everything I could have asked for and more!
What you’ll get:
- Brothers’ best friend
- Secret pining
- Virgin heroine
- Spicy
- Forced proximity
Head over heels for these two!
What you’ll get:
- Brothers’ best friend
- Secret pining
- Virgin heroine
- Spicy
- Forced proximity
Head over heels for these two!
October 27, 2025
This was a cute and light read!
Juniper was so good and i loved her character so much but Liam's actions sometimes felt off. Their banters were good, loved the vibes as well but felt something was missing in the story.
If you love a short novella with holiday vibes and
✨Second Chance Romance
✨Brother's Best Friend
✨Small Town vibes
then this book is for you!💕
Thank you so much @penpalpr and @erinhawkins for the book! 💕
Juniper was so good and i loved her character so much but Liam's actions sometimes felt off. Their banters were good, loved the vibes as well but felt something was missing in the story.
If you love a short novella with holiday vibes and
✨Second Chance Romance
✨Brother's Best Friend
✨Small Town vibes
then this book is for you!💕
Thank you so much @penpalpr and @erinhawkins for the book! 💕
October 24, 2025
This book is for everyone who rewatched Beauty and The Beast as an adult and had 2 thoughts: 1) I want that library and 2) how fun it’d be to get freaky on that moving ladder.
Erin Hawkins delivered a cozy book lovers Christmas romcom with Booked For the Holidays!
It’s giving brothers best friend, cozy vibes, small town, and yearning that’s years in the making. It’s giving Taylor Swift’s mastermind in the best way.
Liam Hargrove is the mmc I crave in a romance- down bad af and reads the annotations in the spicy scenes in her romance books. Gold standard. And Juniper? Charming, thoughtful, bubbly and so endearing. I adored her tenacity with getting her bookstore off the ground and how she sought to protect her heart.
Speaking of which… the spice??? God does this man know how to talk dirty and lend her a …ahem…. hand.
And the follow up of Stella and Jasper from Hostile For the Holidays was also so rewarding and sweet!!
Erin knows how to knock a romance out of the park and I’m so grateful she wrote Juniper and Liam’s story this holiday season!! Thank you so much to Erin & her team for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Erin Hawkins delivered a cozy book lovers Christmas romcom with Booked For the Holidays!
It’s giving brothers best friend, cozy vibes, small town, and yearning that’s years in the making. It’s giving Taylor Swift’s mastermind in the best way.
Liam Hargrove is the mmc I crave in a romance- down bad af and reads the annotations in the spicy scenes in her romance books. Gold standard. And Juniper? Charming, thoughtful, bubbly and so endearing. I adored her tenacity with getting her bookstore off the ground and how she sought to protect her heart.
Speaking of which… the spice??? God does this man know how to talk dirty and lend her a …ahem…. hand.
And the follow up of Stella and Jasper from Hostile For the Holidays was also so rewarding and sweet!!
Erin knows how to knock a romance out of the park and I’m so grateful she wrote Juniper and Liam’s story this holiday season!! Thank you so much to Erin & her team for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
November 29, 2025
(4.5 Stars) I inhaled the first book in this connected stand-alone series and love it when the second book retraces some of the events from the first book but from a new POV.
Juniper has finally achieved her goal of opening a romance-only bookstore in her small town and now she’s prepping for the Christmas season rush. With one big problem. Liam, her brother Jasper’s best friend. He’s in town for the holidays for a surprise visit - the first since she kissed him last Christmas and he pulled away. Now, with the hotel full and all the family guest rooms taken, Liam is staying with her in her apartment attached to the bookshop. And he is so handsome and being oddly flirty for someone who rejected her last Christmas. But what she doesn’t know is that kiss a year ago rocked Liam’s world and turned his life upside down. And he’s been making plans ever since.
This novella is SO FUN! It has a ton of odes to romance novels - he reads her favorites and “recreates” scenes from them. Yep, that means what you think it means. It is super fun to see Juniper attempt to resist Liam so as not to be hurt again while Liam attempts to slow burn his way into winning her over the right way. They are adorable in their awkwardness, charm, and found family vibes. An excellent stand alone connected book that revisits the characters from the first book while moving them all forward!
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: Please listen to this one on audio - it is so, so fun performed perfectly in duet by Victoria Connolly and Jason Clarke. Absolute fire.(6 hrs and 59 mins)
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
🎧 Audio performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Juniper has finally achieved her goal of opening a romance-only bookstore in her small town and now she’s prepping for the Christmas season rush. With one big problem. Liam, her brother Jasper’s best friend. He’s in town for the holidays for a surprise visit - the first since she kissed him last Christmas and he pulled away. Now, with the hotel full and all the family guest rooms taken, Liam is staying with her in her apartment attached to the bookshop. And he is so handsome and being oddly flirty for someone who rejected her last Christmas. But what she doesn’t know is that kiss a year ago rocked Liam’s world and turned his life upside down. And he’s been making plans ever since.
This novella is SO FUN! It has a ton of odes to romance novels - he reads her favorites and “recreates” scenes from them. Yep, that means what you think it means. It is super fun to see Juniper attempt to resist Liam so as not to be hurt again while Liam attempts to slow burn his way into winning her over the right way. They are adorable in their awkwardness, charm, and found family vibes. An excellent stand alone connected book that revisits the characters from the first book while moving them all forward!
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: Please listen to this one on audio - it is so, so fun performed perfectly in duet by Victoria Connolly and Jason Clarke. Absolute fire.(6 hrs and 59 mins)
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
🎧 Audio performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
October 21, 2025
A very fun holiday novella! I love everything that Erin Hawkins writes and am so glad she continued this series with the small hint she gave in the first book. Even if you aren't a big holiday romance reader (I'm also that person) you'll enjoy this. There's just enough holiday vibes for it to be cozy but it's not overwhelming. Liam was super swoony and protective. Juniper made sure to make him grovel after their mishap a year ago which I loved seeing. Her feelings were hurt (understandably) and she was going to make him work for it to get back in her good graces. Liam was very willing to do so and I would say went above and beyond with his grand gestures. The man reads her annotated books and re-enacts scenes with her!
I just adore every character Erin Hawkins writes! Plus the spice scenes she writes never fail to make me blush. Always so unique and relevant to the characters. (Mirror scene anyone? 👀)
🌲 holiday
🤭 brother's best friend
👥 close proximity
🛏️ only one bed (by choice)
✨ nickname
👏🏼 no third act breakup
dual POV
5/5 stars ⭐️
3/5 spice level 🌶️
I just adore every character Erin Hawkins writes! Plus the spice scenes she writes never fail to make me blush. Always so unique and relevant to the characters. (Mirror scene anyone? 👀)
🌲 holiday
🤭 brother's best friend
👥 close proximity
🛏️ only one bed (by choice)
✨ nickname
👏🏼 no third act breakup
dual POV
5/5 stars ⭐️
3/5 spice level 🌶️
December 13, 2025
3.5
Brothers best friend
Christmas novella
Small town
It was a cute cozy some spice
Brothers best friend
Christmas novella
Small town
It was a cute cozy some spice
October 24, 2025
This was a very cute, spicy, bookish, brothers best friends, Christmas romance. I flew through this book. There's many troupes are used in this book and I loved it. Booked for the Holidays is book 2 in a Christmas series, I haven't read the first one but I don't think it took away anything as I was reading this one. Juniper is so cute with her hair bows and pink being her favorite color. Liam is a classic book boyfriend. I really enjoyed Liam's obsession with her and trying to make things right after last Christmas. The writing was great and so spicy. Erin Hawkins is one of my favorite romance authors and I'm so happy I was able to get an ARC and share my thoughts for release day today!
If you like spicy Christmas books or Hallmark movies this is for you!
If you like spicy Christmas books or Hallmark movies this is for you!
November 16, 2025
Unfortunately this wasn’t for me. Very repetitive and a lot of the “slow burn” aspects happened off-page during a time jump. The FMC was also incredibly stubborn and it felt more like a plot device than a character arc.
October 24, 2025
I am in the Christmas spirit and it’s only the beginning of October🎅🏻 makes me want to put my tree up.
Now this wasnt overtly packed with the holiday theme being shoved down your throat.
It was a perfect ratio of plot, holiday aspects and spice.
And I’m extremely picky with holiday novellas.
Liam & Juniper 💕
Small town
Brothers best friend
Second chance
He works hard for her
Bookstore owner & book puns (not cheesy!)
Roommates for the holiday / forced proximity
Holiday themed moments 🌶️🪞
This is for sure one I would recommend to go on your holiday TBR list.
Arc review ✨
Now this wasnt overtly packed with the holiday theme being shoved down your throat.
It was a perfect ratio of plot, holiday aspects and spice.
And I’m extremely picky with holiday novellas.
Liam & Juniper 💕
Small town
Brothers best friend
Second chance
He works hard for her
Bookstore owner & book puns (not cheesy!)
Roommates for the holiday / forced proximity
Holiday themed moments 🌶️🪞
This is for sure one I would recommend to go on your holiday TBR list.
Arc review ✨
December 22, 2025
Wow, I hate to say it, but this book was such a letdown for me after reading Hostile for the Holidays. Hostile for the Holidays was SO GOOD, genuinely one of the most tender yet sexy books I have read in a while. The YEARNING in that book. But this one did not meet the mark at all. In fact, this didn’t feel like it was part of the same series or even written by the same author.
I didn’t feel the chemistry between these two at all. It felt sooooo forced. The yearning wasn’t there, the pining wasn’t there, nothing. This whole book felt forced and disappointing.
Juniper was absurdly naive. It was pretty obvious that Liam was the owner of the wine bar next door, and was pretty obvious that it had been he who had been anonymously giving her business advice for the past year. It was also absurd that there was nowhere else for him to stay in the whole town other than her apartment.
Then when the wine bar is revealed (and it is also revealed that he has the apartment above the wine bar so didn’t need to stay with her at all), she just accepts it. No pushback for the multitude of lies and omissions, no feeling upset about being kept in the dark, nothing. Juniper just accepts it as a grand gesture. It felt so coercive to me!
And you mean to tell me that Juniper is supposedly a virgin, but is willing and able to do a bunch of fairly kinky sex acts? So unrealistic, and it felt gross to be honest.
While there were some cute moments, this book overall just didn’t do it for me. The sex scenes bordered on gross and were excessive, the yearning and tension weren’t there, the plot made little sense, and the FMC was unbelievably naive.
The only part of this book that I actually enjoyed was seeing Jasper and Stella from Hostile for the Holidays again. They were everything!
I didn’t feel the chemistry between these two at all. It felt sooooo forced. The yearning wasn’t there, the pining wasn’t there, nothing. This whole book felt forced and disappointing.
Juniper was absurdly naive. It was pretty obvious that Liam was the owner of the wine bar next door, and was pretty obvious that it had been he who had been anonymously giving her business advice for the past year. It was also absurd that there was nowhere else for him to stay in the whole town other than her apartment.
Then when the wine bar is revealed (and it is also revealed that he has the apartment above the wine bar so didn’t need to stay with her at all), she just accepts it. No pushback for the multitude of lies and omissions, no feeling upset about being kept in the dark, nothing. Juniper just accepts it as a grand gesture. It felt so coercive to me!
And you mean to tell me that Juniper is supposedly a virgin, but is willing and able to do a bunch of fairly kinky sex acts? So unrealistic, and it felt gross to be honest.
While there were some cute moments, this book overall just didn’t do it for me. The sex scenes bordered on gross and were excessive, the yearning and tension weren’t there, the plot made little sense, and the FMC was unbelievably naive.
The only part of this book that I actually enjoyed was seeing Jasper and Stella from Hostile for the Holidays again. They were everything!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2025
I received a copy of this book as an ARC and I was pleasantly surprised. I'm not usually one to read short holiday romances but this book was so cute and pretty hot. Erin Hawkins created the cutest bookshop and storyline in Booked for the Holidays. It feels Hallmark-ish with a fun story of two characters who have orbited each other for years because Juniper is Liam's best friend's sister and he no longer sees her as the little sister in his periphery. One Christmas kiss makes him see her as the grown woman she now is and when it doesn't go well he is determined to earn his way back into her life.
Juniper is stubborn and wants to focus on her new bookstore and keeping Liam from crushing the walls she built after he humiliated her. When he has nowhere to stay over Christmas they end up sharing space in her apartment. This forced proximity romance follows along as Liam shows her he's all in and earns her trust again. Juniper is determined to stay strong but finds him "impossible" and it's endearing.
I really enjoyed this short read. Now I'm daydreaming of opening my own bookstore and wine bar. Sounds like the perfect pairing. The spicy scenes were awesome, but sometimes felt a bit forced in terms of dirty talk but I understood the intention. Fulfilling one's fantasies in this way seems so erotic and I loved that she played out what most of us romance readers think about. I've never read a Hawkins book before but I'm excited to read more from her.
Juniper is stubborn and wants to focus on her new bookstore and keeping Liam from crushing the walls she built after he humiliated her. When he has nowhere to stay over Christmas they end up sharing space in her apartment. This forced proximity romance follows along as Liam shows her he's all in and earns her trust again. Juniper is determined to stay strong but finds him "impossible" and it's endearing.
I really enjoyed this short read. Now I'm daydreaming of opening my own bookstore and wine bar. Sounds like the perfect pairing. The spicy scenes were awesome, but sometimes felt a bit forced in terms of dirty talk but I understood the intention. Fulfilling one's fantasies in this way seems so erotic and I loved that she played out what most of us romance readers think about. I've never read a Hawkins book before but I'm excited to read more from her.
December 6, 2025
4.5🎄
smirking gasping coughing choking squeaking wheezing screaming throwing up
Oh wow… I went in with high expectations after loving the first book, and this one absolutely delivered. It not only met but exceeded everything I was hoping for. I even almost can’t believe how much it satisfied me and then went beyond. Definitely adoring this book so bad.
Booked for the Holidays is a cozy, steamy Christmas romcom that blends small‑town charm with second‑chance romance. Liam Hargrove, the swoony British CFO, Jasper's best friend, who once walked away after a Christmas kiss, returns determined to win back Juniper Jensen, his best friend’s little sister and now the proud owner of a romance bookstore.
Juniper, hurt but stronger than ever, makes him grovel for that second chance, and watching her confidence shine is as satisfying as Liam’s grand gestures. He’s the ultimate golden‑retriever MMC: protective, devoted, and down bad enough to read her annotated romance books and act out the spicy scenes (yes, that mirror scenes 👀). Their chemistry is off the charts, with banter, yearning, and dirty talk that’s pure chef’s kiss. 🫦
Even if the plot had a few bumps—like Liam’s initial rejection of Juniper out of fear, followed by confessing the kiss to Jasper—I appreciated that it didn’t fall into the usual “overprotective brother vs. best friend” trope. Instead, Jasper gave his blessing, opening the door for Liam to make amends. Juniper, understandably hurt, made him work hard to earn back her trust, and I related to her guardedness. In the end, though, the banter, sweet gestures, and heartfelt moments more than made up for the rocky start, leaving the journey satisfying despite its flaws. The holiday vibes are cozy without being overwhelming, the pacing keeps the story addictive, and the cameo from Stella and Jasper adds a sweet touch of continuity. Erin Hawkins nails the balance of festive fun, heartfelt romance, and blush‑worthy spice, making Juniper and Liam’s story a gold‑standard holiday read. ⛄🎄✨
Massive props to Jason Clarke and Victoria Connolly for their phenomenal duet narration. Their voices blended seamlessly, carrying tension, tenderness, and humor in a way that made the story impossible to pause. They breathed life into them. Every exchange carried weight, humor, and intimacy, making the audiobook feel like a full‑on performance rather than simple narration. Jason’s British accent for Liam was smooth and convincing, giving the character charm and bite without ever feeling forced.
Overall, binge‑reading this duo was an absolute delight, festive, funny, and endlessly satisfying. I liked both books just the same, and each couple brought their own brand of chaos, some tender, some playful, all addictive. If you love holiday small‑town romance packed with cozy traditions, strong festive vibes, and found family that feels like home, this duo will hit the spot. And if this book isn’t on your TBR yet, just know I’m judging you from across the room. 🎁🎄☃️
smirking gasping coughing choking squeaking wheezing screaming throwing up
Oh wow… I went in with high expectations after loving the first book, and this one absolutely delivered. It not only met but exceeded everything I was hoping for. I even almost can’t believe how much it satisfied me and then went beyond. Definitely adoring this book so bad.
Booked for the Holidays is a cozy, steamy Christmas romcom that blends small‑town charm with second‑chance romance. Liam Hargrove, the swoony British CFO, Jasper's best friend, who once walked away after a Christmas kiss, returns determined to win back Juniper Jensen, his best friend’s little sister and now the proud owner of a romance bookstore.
Juniper, hurt but stronger than ever, makes him grovel for that second chance, and watching her confidence shine is as satisfying as Liam’s grand gestures. He’s the ultimate golden‑retriever MMC: protective, devoted, and down bad enough to read her annotated romance books and act out the spicy scenes (yes, that mirror scenes 👀). Their chemistry is off the charts, with banter, yearning, and dirty talk that’s pure chef’s kiss. 🫦
Even if the plot had a few bumps—like Liam’s initial rejection of Juniper out of fear, followed by confessing the kiss to Jasper—I appreciated that it didn’t fall into the usual “overprotective brother vs. best friend” trope. Instead, Jasper gave his blessing, opening the door for Liam to make amends. Juniper, understandably hurt, made him work hard to earn back her trust, and I related to her guardedness. In the end, though, the banter, sweet gestures, and heartfelt moments more than made up for the rocky start, leaving the journey satisfying despite its flaws. The holiday vibes are cozy without being overwhelming, the pacing keeps the story addictive, and the cameo from Stella and Jasper adds a sweet touch of continuity. Erin Hawkins nails the balance of festive fun, heartfelt romance, and blush‑worthy spice, making Juniper and Liam’s story a gold‑standard holiday read. ⛄🎄✨
Massive props to Jason Clarke and Victoria Connolly for their phenomenal duet narration. Their voices blended seamlessly, carrying tension, tenderness, and humor in a way that made the story impossible to pause. They breathed life into them. Every exchange carried weight, humor, and intimacy, making the audiobook feel like a full‑on performance rather than simple narration. Jason’s British accent for Liam was smooth and convincing, giving the character charm and bite without ever feeling forced.
Overall, binge‑reading this duo was an absolute delight, festive, funny, and endlessly satisfying. I liked both books just the same, and each couple brought their own brand of chaos, some tender, some playful, all addictive. If you love holiday small‑town romance packed with cozy traditions, strong festive vibes, and found family that feels like home, this duo will hit the spot. And if this book isn’t on your TBR yet, just know I’m judging you from across the room. 🎁🎄☃️
October 25, 2025
3 stars
A spicy, brother’s-best-friend, sort-of-second chance romance, this Christmas novella is a fun read.
Last Christmas, Juniper put her heart on the line by propositioning her brother’s best friend, they guy she’s loved for as long as she can remember. Though he initially seemed willing, Liam turned her down and left her humiliated. A year later, and he’s back in her small town for the holidays.
Juniper doesn’t realise yet, but Liam is back in town to make up for the biggest mistake of his life, when he rejected her the year previously. He wants to win her heart, and for some reason he feels he needs to prove himself to her before he declares himself, so he is determined to play the long game and win back her trust. And he has a battle on his hands, because Juniper has put a lot of effort into moving on. Her walls are high, and she has no intention of letting him get close again, so let the battle begin.
It's flirty and fun, but also kind of frustrating. The whole ‘conflict’ could have been resolved with a simple conversation, but it’s drawn out, which admittedly gives us the snarky back-and-forth story, but Juniper just seems really freaking clueless when Noah is giving her smirks and little touches, teasing and flirting, and coming out with heartfelt, swoony declarations that she just seems to brush over.
It takes a while for them to find their way to each other, but they get there, with some steamy moments along the way… Liam literally takes notes from Juniper’s annotated romance novels so that he can make her happy in all the ways, and the dirty talking Brit absolutely delivers on her secret fantasies!
It ends in a good place, but I wish we got to see less build-up and a bit more emotion in the romance. Still a good read though.
3 stars.
Juniper is the sister of Jasper, whose enemies-to-lovers romance is Hostile for the Holidays. In this book we get to meet Liam's hilarious brother, so I'm hoping we may see him next Christmas!
An Advanced Reader Copy was generously provided by the author for an honest review.
A spicy, brother’s-best-friend, sort-of-second chance romance, this Christmas novella is a fun read.
Last Christmas, Juniper put her heart on the line by propositioning her brother’s best friend, they guy she’s loved for as long as she can remember. Though he initially seemed willing, Liam turned her down and left her humiliated. A year later, and he’s back in her small town for the holidays.
Juniper doesn’t realise yet, but Liam is back in town to make up for the biggest mistake of his life, when he rejected her the year previously. He wants to win her heart, and for some reason he feels he needs to prove himself to her before he declares himself, so he is determined to play the long game and win back her trust. And he has a battle on his hands, because Juniper has put a lot of effort into moving on. Her walls are high, and she has no intention of letting him get close again, so let the battle begin.
Well, fan-fucking-tastic. The man who humiliated me last Christmas is now sleeping down the hall. And I’m supposed to play nice? Pretend like nothing happened?
Ho, ho ho, hell no.
It's flirty and fun, but also kind of frustrating. The whole ‘conflict’ could have been resolved with a simple conversation, but it’s drawn out, which admittedly gives us the snarky back-and-forth story, but Juniper just seems really freaking clueless when Noah is giving her smirks and little touches, teasing and flirting, and coming out with heartfelt, swoony declarations that she just seems to brush over.
“I came for what I left behind … you.”
It takes a while for them to find their way to each other, but they get there, with some steamy moments along the way… Liam literally takes notes from Juniper’s annotated romance novels so that he can make her happy in all the ways, and the dirty talking Brit absolutely delivers on her secret fantasies!
It ends in a good place, but I wish we got to see less build-up and a bit more emotion in the romance. Still a good read though.
3 stars.
Juniper is the sister of Jasper, whose enemies-to-lovers romance is Hostile for the Holidays. In this book we get to meet Liam's hilarious brother, so I'm hoping we may see him next Christmas!
An Advanced Reader Copy was generously provided by the author for an honest review.
November 8, 2025
This book was my perfect Hallmark Christmas movie, but custom made to my exact preferences and a whole lot spicier 🔥
It’s such a cozy, fun holiday romance where they constantly reference popular romance tropes in the cutest, most self-aware way. I absolutely loved that. It felt like a warm mug of hot chocolate with a dash of chaos and spice.
And listen… he pushed her up against the bookshelf while kissing her. Fuck yes. 👏
My only tiny critique was the insta-love (he was a bit too obsessed after one kiss) but honestly, that’s part of the charm (and the challenge) of novellas. The story needs to move quickly, and it didn’t take away too much from the experience.
Also… I need a book about Beck “Trouble” Hargrove 🥵👀 He’s officially been added to my list of side characters I have a crush on! Right up there with Carrion Swift (Quicksilver) and Ridoc “fuck like a third year” Gamlyn (Onyx Storm) 😂🙌
Quotes I loved:
📚 “And in his hands? My annotated copy of Poppa Monroe's latest book. My tabs. My notes. My secret desires. ‘I'm sorry, is this your villain origin story?’ I ask.” 😂👌
❤️ “This is such a book boyfriend move,” she says, breath hitching when my thumb strokes over her ribs, just beneath her bra.”
It’s short, sweet, and perfectly steamy! A great read to put you in the holiday mood and help you inch closer to that end-of-year reading challenge goal. 🎄📖
If you love meta romance moments, small-town Christmas charm, and a healthy dose of spice, this novella absolutely delivers.
Thank you to the author Erin Hawkins for the copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review! 🩷
I got a bit behind in my ARC reading so this one has already been released and is available to read NOW 😍🙌 run guys 😍
It’s such a cozy, fun holiday romance where they constantly reference popular romance tropes in the cutest, most self-aware way. I absolutely loved that. It felt like a warm mug of hot chocolate with a dash of chaos and spice.
And listen… he pushed her up against the bookshelf while kissing her. Fuck yes. 👏
My only tiny critique was the insta-love (he was a bit too obsessed after one kiss) but honestly, that’s part of the charm (and the challenge) of novellas. The story needs to move quickly, and it didn’t take away too much from the experience.
Also… I need a book about Beck “Trouble” Hargrove 🥵👀 He’s officially been added to my list of side characters I have a crush on! Right up there with Carrion Swift (Quicksilver) and Ridoc “fuck like a third year” Gamlyn (Onyx Storm) 😂🙌
Quotes I loved:
📚 “And in his hands? My annotated copy of Poppa Monroe's latest book. My tabs. My notes. My secret desires. ‘I'm sorry, is this your villain origin story?’ I ask.” 😂👌
❤️ “This is such a book boyfriend move,” she says, breath hitching when my thumb strokes over her ribs, just beneath her bra.”
It’s short, sweet, and perfectly steamy! A great read to put you in the holiday mood and help you inch closer to that end-of-year reading challenge goal. 🎄📖
If you love meta romance moments, small-town Christmas charm, and a healthy dose of spice, this novella absolutely delivers.
Thank you to the author Erin Hawkins for the copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review! 🩷
I got a bit behind in my ARC reading so this one has already been released and is available to read NOW 😍🙌 run guys 😍
October 26, 2025
♥️ Brother's best friend
🎄 Second chance romance
♥️ Roommates for the holidays
🎄 He reads her annotated romance books…and acts them out
♥️ She owns a romance-only bookstore
🎄 Small town charm
If you're lookimg for a sweet and spicy holiday novella, then check out Booked For The Holidays! Juniper and Liam shared a passionate kiss last Christmas but then Liam walked away for fear of ruining his friendship with Juniper's brother. Juniper focused on making her dream of owning a romance bookstore a reality. Now Liam is back a year later for the holidays and realizes how he messed up with Juniper. Can he win her back? I loved this sweet and spicy story. It's a perfect Christmas romance! It was nice to see Juniper find her confindence....and Liam acting out a spicy scene from her book.....🥵. Need I say more?!
🎄 Second chance romance
♥️ Roommates for the holidays
🎄 He reads her annotated romance books…and acts them out
♥️ She owns a romance-only bookstore
🎄 Small town charm
If you're lookimg for a sweet and spicy holiday novella, then check out Booked For The Holidays! Juniper and Liam shared a passionate kiss last Christmas but then Liam walked away for fear of ruining his friendship with Juniper's brother. Juniper focused on making her dream of owning a romance bookstore a reality. Now Liam is back a year later for the holidays and realizes how he messed up with Juniper. Can he win her back? I loved this sweet and spicy story. It's a perfect Christmas romance! It was nice to see Juniper find her confindence....and Liam acting out a spicy scene from her book.....🥵. Need I say more?!
October 17, 2025
This was a cute holiday novella to get you right in the Christmas spirit!
Juniper has always had a crush on her brother's best friend, Liam. But last Christmas he rejected her and ran for the hills. Now he's back in town on a mission to get her back but she's got a tight wall around her heart. But Liam is on a mission to sweep her off her feet and he definitely succeeds! Ya'll!! This man takes notes of Juniper's favorite spicy scenes in romance books and helps her re-enact them! Talk about hottt! Overall, this was a sweet, cozy romance with just the right amount of spice and I really enjoyed it!
What to expect:
🎄Holiday Novella
💋Brother's Best Friend
💕Second Chance
🏠Roommates for the holidays
Booked for the Holidays releases October 24. Thank you to Erin Hawkins and Pen Pal PR for this ARC.
Juniper has always had a crush on her brother's best friend, Liam. But last Christmas he rejected her and ran for the hills. Now he's back in town on a mission to get her back but she's got a tight wall around her heart. But Liam is on a mission to sweep her off her feet and he definitely succeeds! Ya'll!! This man takes notes of Juniper's favorite spicy scenes in romance books and helps her re-enact them! Talk about hottt! Overall, this was a sweet, cozy romance with just the right amount of spice and I really enjoyed it!
What to expect:
🎄Holiday Novella
💋Brother's Best Friend
💕Second Chance
🏠Roommates for the holidays
Booked for the Holidays releases October 24. Thank you to Erin Hawkins and Pen Pal PR for this ARC.
October 21, 2025
Booked for the Holidays is a cozy brother's best friend holiday romance. I found this one to be a quick, easy read but it also felt like something was missing. One Christmas Juniper confesses her feelings to Liam but he pushes her away. The next Christmas Liam is back, regretting his decision, and pursuing her. I enjoyed the juxtaposition of his yearning and regret with her anger, embarrassment and hurt from his denial. However, it wasn't quite enough. Liam uses his physical appeal to win her over too quickly in my opinion. I wanted more relationship development between the two and a lot more groveling on Liam's part. With that said, they are a cute book couple and the spice is on fire!
Thank you to the author and Pen Pal PR for an early copy. All opinions are my own!
Thank you to the author and Pen Pal PR for an early copy. All opinions are my own!
October 24, 2025
4.5 festive ⭐️
This was such a cozy, feelgood holiday novella.
• Brother's best friend
• Hidden identity
• Second chance
• Forced proximity
On paper, Liam Hargrove is the suave, sophisticated British hunk who is successful and is a business partner to Jasper Jensen.
Juniper Jensen has had a lifelong crush on Liam, but she's treated as a 'little sister' by him.
Last year when she acted on impulse and kissed Liam, and was rejected, she built up her barriers and focused her energy on setting up her bookstore.
When Liam returns, he is determined to undo his 'mistake' and woo Juni in the best BBF fashion.
I loved how their relationship developed, through the awkward, humorous, and swoony moments to the steamy scenes straight out of a romance book.
Thanks to Penpal PR and Erin Hawkins for the early copy.
This was such a cozy, feelgood holiday novella.
• Brother's best friend
• Hidden identity
• Second chance
• Forced proximity
On paper, Liam Hargrove is the suave, sophisticated British hunk who is successful and is a business partner to Jasper Jensen.
Juniper Jensen has had a lifelong crush on Liam, but she's treated as a 'little sister' by him.
Last year when she acted on impulse and kissed Liam, and was rejected, she built up her barriers and focused her energy on setting up her bookstore.
When Liam returns, he is determined to undo his 'mistake' and woo Juni in the best BBF fashion.
I loved how their relationship developed, through the awkward, humorous, and swoony moments to the steamy scenes straight out of a romance book.
Thanks to Penpal PR and Erin Hawkins for the early copy.
January 8, 2026
4,5 ⭐
«— Я хотел быть частью твоего мира, даже если не знал, позволишь ли ты мне.»
я люблю вторые шансы и их историю, но первая книга мне зашла чуть больше, там была дикая химия, но тут было и больно, и уютно. самое то на посленовогоднее чтение 🫶🏻
«— Я хотел быть частью твоего мира, даже если не знал, позволишь ли ты мне.»
я люблю вторые шансы и их историю, но первая книга мне зашла чуть больше, там была дикая химия, но тут было и больно, и уютно. самое то на посленовогоднее чтение 🫶🏻
November 11, 2025
thank you pen pal pr & erin hawkins for the ARC.
this was such a great start to my winter romance TBR.
we had forced proximity, one bed, and second chance romance.
my heart gushed at the name of the bar.
seriously, a very cute read with great character development of the mmc.
this was such a great start to my winter romance TBR.
we had forced proximity, one bed, and second chance romance.
my heart gushed at the name of the bar.
seriously, a very cute read with great character development of the mmc.
December 19, 2025
Loved book one so jumped into this and was disappointed. I chose audio because Jason Clarke and a British MMC. The audio itself did not disappoint.
But the virgin fmc *eyeroll*. She fawned over him, they kissed, she asked him to take her virginity last Christmas and he didn’t so this book starts off by her not liking him because of that. Then fast forward a whole year and he’s come to win her back with no real story in between. In my mind it just didn’t flow and there needed more in between. The connection didn’t feel real, but I did love the family support of them together.
But the virgin fmc *eyeroll*. She fawned over him, they kissed, she asked him to take her virginity last Christmas and he didn’t so this book starts off by her not liking him because of that. Then fast forward a whole year and he’s come to win her back with no real story in between. In my mind it just didn’t flow and there needed more in between. The connection didn’t feel real, but I did love the family support of them together.
December 19, 2025
Oh my, this was so cute! He made a mistake and came back to make it right. Reading her annotations to know exactly what she might like? Yes, please.
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