Light Up My Life: A Holiday Novel

by Kasie West

This season, sparks will fly...


Romeo & Juliet meets cozy Christmas rom-com in this delectable new novel from beloved author Kasie West. What happens when the son and daughter of two rival families--both competing for the best decorated house this holiday--fall in love? Perfect for fans of Fake Skating and Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice!





This edition features gorgeous stenciled edges!


For as long as Jasmine Costa can remember, her family has had a sworn the snobby Moreno family, who live next door. Jasmine especially can't stand the teenage son, Ryan, who acts like he's so much better than her.


This Christmas, the rivalry heats up when their small town holds a contest for best-decorated house. Jasmine has to take home the trophy. But then she and Ryan unexpectedly get thrown together during a holiday party...and discover that they have undeniable (and inconvenient) chemistry. Uh-oh.


As a secret romance blossoms amid the snow and the tinsel, Jasmine will have to make a choice. Can she stay loyal to her loved ones while falling for the one boy who's off-limits?


Beloved author Kasie West delivers a cozy Christmas rom-com that's the perfect read for anyone who's ever had a crush.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction, Young Adult Romance

330 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 20, 2026

About the author

I write YA and adult romance novels. I eat chocolate cinnamon bears. Sometimes I go crazy and do both at the same time. A few of my works are: SUNKISSED, PS I LIKE YOU, MOMENT OF TRUTH, WE MET LIKE THIS, and more. My agent is the talented and funny Michelle Wolfson.

Reviews

[Honora]

kasie west + ya christmas romance + forbidden love + did i mention kasie west??? = heck yeah

here's to hoping i can get an ARC 🤞🏼

[Natalie]

We're getting THREE Kasie West books in 2026???!?! And one of them is a YA CHRISTMAS BOOK??!?!?




A Romeo and Juliet retelling about a Christmas decorating competition???



Well, hello, Most Anticipated Release of 2026!

[Gwen · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and the author for an advance copy in exchange for a review.

Light Up My Life 4.25/5⭐

I need hot cocoa ASAP.

Don't forget to follow me on YouTube, where I post all about my favorite books! https://www.youtube.com/@ItsRenity

✨Blurb✨

Sixteen-year-old Jasmine Costas is a sensitive, shy artist who has spent her entire life going out of her way to avoid the bane of her existence, Ryan Moreno. On top of being an arrogant jerk, Ryan hails from the Moreno family, the Costas's next-door neighbors and longtime enemies. But this is Jasmine's older brother's last year of high school, so she's determined to make it the Best Christmas Ever. When it's announced that their town is holding an actual contest for Best Decorated House, Jasmine and her family are ready to wage an all-out war to claim the trophy. Until Jasmine and Ryan are accidentally locked in a pantry together during a holiday party, and she's forced to wonder if there's actually more to Ryan Moreno than meets the eye. And unfortunately, their chemistry is undeniable.A secret relationship blooms that threatens to completely upend the lives of their families as the Christmas decoration schemes and rivalries get wilder and more chaotic.

✨Characters✨

Loveee all the characters! The family and friendship dynamics were so cute!

❄️Jasmine❄️
Super fun and creative FMC to follow. It was hilarious, all the miscommunication just between the families lol.

✨Romance✨
So sweet and cute! I could definitely see the parallels to Romeo and Juliet!

✨Writing Style✨

Really cute and fast writing style. I flew through this!

✨Would I Recommend It?✨
OFC! The perfect Christmas rom-com!

[Callie Rae]

ummm excuse me??? when did the anouncement for this book come out by the fantastic kasie west??? i will be reading this as soon as it’s published

[Lila'sbooks]

DNF at 3.8%

I'm so bummed that I had to DNF this book because I love love love Kasie West's YA books but due to my beliefs and convictions as a Christian I can't continue it. I'm sure I would have loved this book if it didn't include a lifestyle I don't support and I'm so grateful to have received an ARC from Netgalley but I just can't read it because of my beliefs.

Content Notes (up to where I DNFed)
• the fmc has two moms.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions in my review are my own.

[Amber Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cute YA read!

[books (samaira's version) ~on a hiatus~ · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

It's Halloween today but I'm so in the mood for Christmas now!

[CookieCat]

OH MY GOSH.

A CHRISTMAS BOOK BY KASIE WEST?!?!? 🤩

SOMEBODY CATCH ME IMA PASS OUT.

Wake me up when the cover is released. 🥱

THIS BETTER LIVE UP TO THE AMOUNT OF HYPE I'M GONNA GIVE IT.

See u soon fellow readers. 🫡

I AM SO FREAKING EXCITED BRO.

🎄

EDIT 1 (February 24th 2026)

I have been woken. 🫩😶🫢😍

OMGGGGGGG.

I LOVE THE COVER SMMMMMM.

AND THE SPRAYED EDGES *asends* 🤸‍♀️
GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

I WILL B THERE OCTOBER 20TH I PROMISE.

EEEEEEEEE.

🎄

[Jen Ryland (jenrylandreviews & yaallday)]

Jasmine and Ryan live in Cherry Ridge, a town known for its over the top Christmas decorations and holiday traditions. This festive atmosphere brings lots of tourists into town, but also causes congestion and noise.

Jasmine’s and Ryan’s families are mortal enemies, competing in a town Christmas decorating contest (and there’s also the fact that Ryan’s mom blasts Christmas carols 24/7, angering some of the neighbors.

The positives of this book? I liked the pyotline of Jasmin’s sorrow about her older brother leaving for college. Because of this, she wants to make this Christmas his best ever.

The negatives, for me, was that Christmas cheer and competition turned too toxic in this book. I like a Tweet Cute style rivalry, but this one got too nasty for my taste, which included sabotage, lawsuits, and behavior that went way beyond friendly competition. For me, it put a damper on the book’s Christmas spirit.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!

[Camilla (CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE🎄🎁) · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the absolute best romance holiday books I’ve ever read🥹

Ryan *sighs dreamily*🤭

[inmyreadingera321 · Rating 3 out of 5]

PRECIOUS!!! Kasie West is one of my go-to YA authors, and she has been for years. Even though I read this book in the heat of summer, I still got all the good cozy wintry vibes from this adorable little story.

Do I think Jasmine and Ryan's parents took a little Christmas-decoration rivalry a little too far? YES. Do I care? NOT REALLY! I feel like the stakes had to be so ridiculously high for it to be a true teeny-bopper YA romance, and it made everything seem so dramatic the way everything really does feel when you're that age. So yes, it was a little silly that these two were basically Romeo and Juliet over Christmas decorations (and a minor high school grudge), but it was also just fun.

I loved Jasmine's character because this really felt like her journey as an individual, even as there was also a romantic subplot. She was grappling with her brother leaving for college and seeing things differently from her parents and her friend. And, through it all, she was still just a sweet person, helping her neighbors and looking on the bright side of things, even when she felt like she couldn't be her most honest self with her family. And Ryan was a sweetheart who clearly just wanted to be able to love her loudly. I'm glad that finally happened for them both.

You can set your watch by Kasie West. She's consistent and clever, sprinkling whimsy and magic in all her YA books -- Light Up My Life is no exception.

-------------------

Thank you to Netgalley and Scholastic for the ARC!

[The Humorous Bookworm · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rtc 😭

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars.

The vibes:
- neighbors
- Family rivals
- Forbidden friendship
- Super festive
- Christmas setting
- Closed door (kisses only)

My thoughts:
I picked this up because I love Kasie West and I love Christmas. I can swing it with a YA novel every now and then and really enjoy it. I also like to check in every now and then on what is going on in YA romances because I’m a parent.

For starters this book oozed all things Christmas and was so festive which I really appreciated. I loved all of the Christmas activities and the holiday ambience. Almost every scene involved festivities, decorations, and overall Christmas vibes. It was never forgotten about which I love in a Christmas book. This is the main thing I loved about the book and the biggest reason why I would recommend this book.

The main characters were a good reflection of their age I think. Ryan and Jasmine definitely felt their age (16 and 17 years old). Ryan was especially my favorite. He was so sweet and seemed to really like Jasmine enough that he was willing to be honest and up front from the get go.

The biggest drawback for me in this book was the side characters and toxic family dynamics. Some of the side characters were really difficult to enjoy. I did not like Fiona (I’m sorry.) I also really didn’t like mom #1. She was unhinged, screaming at the neighbors, and holding a grudge from highschool. This was just wild to me.

The family dynamics with both teens’ respective parents was a mess. Both of Jasmine‘s moms were the classic definition of carrying out the misunderstanding trope when it came to Ryan’s parents and possibly vice versa. I was kind of surprised how the parents of each main character are so volatile towards each other. They are literally screaming at each other in anger about their disputes, and I was just clutching my pearls picturing that. I did not like the representation of parenting in general. There was a lot of lying going on and the kids keeping secrets from the parents which makes sense in a YA novel but I found myself on the kids side because the parents were insane. It gave a message to readers that parents are just out of depth, petty, out of control, and frankly stupid. (And yes, I am a parent and I’m old so of course this bothered me. 🙈)

Overall, I think this book was pretty age-appropriate and mostly a cute festive novel for the Christmas season. I think it’ll be much more enjoyable for a teen audience and less enjoyable for adults who dabble in YA occasionally.


Note / spice content: closed door (kisses only); no language. FMC has two moms that are heavily involved in the plot throughout the book. Mentioning this because the book is YA and this wasn’t included in the blurb. (This did not affect the rating, but mentioning for parents / those interested.)


Release date: October 20, 2026
Thank you so much to Kasie West, Scholastic Press, and NetGalley for the gifted copy. I received this eARC from the author/publisher, but this honest review is voluntary.

[The Nightwatch Desk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jasmine Costa's moms have been feuding with their neighbours for as long as she can remember. It's the reason that she despises their son, Ryan Moreno, and his snobbishness. Except that when the two of them get trapped together during a party, they realize that they like each other... maybe a little too much.

🌟Young Adult Fiction
🎀Christmas Romance
🌟 Secret Relationship
🎀 Forbidden Romance
🌟House Decorating Competition
🎀Inspired from Romeo & Juliet

'You Light Up My Life' is a quick and festive holiday romance. It's told in first person POV, from the Jasmine’s perspective. The plot is sort of like 'Romeo & Juliet' meets 'Deck the Halls,' but make it cute. This book was designed to emphasize the importance of handmade gifts/decor (aka objects that are meaningful).

Jasmine has lots of love for her family and a competitive spirit. She's also an artist who's been struggling to come up with ideas for her school project. I liked that she’s kind and passionate without being obnoxious.

The cover makes it looking like Jasmine is in direct competition with Ryan for a trophy, but that isn't the case. Instead, the romance is front and center in nearly every chapter. Jasmine and Ryan have a strong connection, but their families' feud keeps getting in the way. They spend most of the book finding ways to sneak around together, which leads to a lot of sweet moments. It's pure coziness and easy to read, which is perfect for the holiday season.

[peppkorn_reads · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

This was so cute, cozy and festive! This book had a little mystery, complicated relationships, a cozy small town Colorado setting, a cutesy romance - everything I want in a holiday read!

I just wish the neighborhood feud had been wrapped up a little sooner. By the end it started to feel a little repetitive, and I felt like it hasn’t been fully resolved either.

Other than that, I really adored this book! I loved that the holiday vibes were strong throughout the entire story. If you’re looking for a fun, cozy, festive YA read for the holiday season, I would definitely recommend this one!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Scholastic for the ARC!

[Ella · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

This was such a cute and fun holiday read! I always know Kasie West will deliver with the sweetest romances ever!

I really enjoyed the storyline of this one, and how fun the Christmas competition was. I also really enjoyed our two characters, Jasmine and Ryan. Watching them go from being in enemy/rival families to becoming friends was so sweet, and I overall really enjoyed their relationship.

This whole book just had the sweetest, warm fuzzy vibe, and was exactly what I needed to get in the Christmas spirit! If you’re looking for a YA romance to read this holiday season, I would for sure recommend this one!

Thank you to Scholastic for the Gifted Copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Jessica · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

For as long as Jasmine Costa can remember, her family has had a sworn enemy: the snobby Moreno family, who live next door. Jasmine especially can’t stand the teenage son, Ryan, who acts like he’s so much better than her.
This Christmas, the rivalry heats up when their small town holds a contest for best-decorated house. Jasmine HAS to take home the trophy. But then she and Ryan get thrown together during a holiday party…and discover that they have undeniable (and inconvenient) chemistry. Uh-oh.
As a secret romance blossoms amid the snow and the tinsel, Jasmine will have to make a choice. Can she stay loyal to her loved ones while falling for the one boy who’s off-limits?

“When you love someone, sometimes you need to fix what other people broke.”

That was a cute book. But it did fall short for me, unfortunately. 3.25 stars.

[Lauren | Wordsbetweenlines · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

This feels like curling up with a cup of hot chocolate, wrapped in a blanket, and looking at your Christmas lights. It’s magic and warmth and puts you right into the Christmas spirit.

Jasmine is determined to enjoy Christmas to its fullest this year. Ryan is her next door neighbour and enemy due to a family rivalry and he may be a jerk. Their feuding families are in full swing as they set up their Christmas decorations, competing with each other to have the most festive home. But what if Ryan isn’t so bad and Jasmine wanted to spend time with him?

This is a modern day Christmas Romeo and Juliet that has you swooning while feeling all the Christmas feels.

[Shannon · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

A fun, drama filled YA holiday forbidden romance between two teens who get caught up in their feuding family's Christmas house decorating war while a mysterious unknown neighbor tries to shut down the town competition. The romance was sweet and the uplifting message of embracing community spirit was heartwarming, this wasn't my fav of the season. Good on audio though and still an entertaining read.

[Brooke · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Thank you to Scholastic Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I've been a fan of Kasie West for a long time. She really does right quintessential young adult romance. This title is right in line with what I've always loved from her: just a little angsty, conflict, swoon worthy moments, and much more. Plus she takes the classic Romeo and Juliet theme and gives it a cute little Christmas twist.
Jasmine and Ryan's families have been enemies for as long as she can remember. So falling for Ryan is the last thing on Jasmine's bucket list when she just wants to win the annual Christmas decorating contest. But with the threat of a lawsuit hanging over her small town well knows for it's Christmas spirit, she's determined to find out just who the Grinch is who wants to ban Christmas decorations and holiday fun. In order to do that, she slowly becomes friends with her rival, Ryan, only it blossoms into more and she starts having to keep secrets from her moms and brothers. As the secrets pile up, Jasmine finds herself wondering if the stress is causing is really worth keeping what she believes will hurt her family all to herself.
I really liked Jasmine. As a teen character she's very relatable. There's so much that happens as a teen that you wonder if you should tell your family. And what they think of you is often so important you don't want to disappoint them. It's no wonder she keeps her relationship with Ryan and her sleuthing to find the grinchy neighbor who wants to ruin futures Christmas's a secret.
I will be honest and say it was hard to get to know Ryan. Since the book is single POV from Jasmine's side, you only get to see what she wants to show you. I wish we had had his POV to even things out. He definitely comes across as a golden retriever boy mixed up with the wrong crowd. He's smart and sweet and really seems to care for Jasmine. But he's also worried about his family.
I liked the underlying mystery West weaves into the story. As someone who loves Christmas, I don't understand those who turn their noses up at all the joy it brings. But once we found out the reasoning behind the Grinch's law suit, you could understand it. I just wish that neighbor would have been honest with those around him. Communication is so important with neighbor relations.
Overall, this is classic West. She sets a great scenes during this fun Christmas season romance. As with her other young adult romances, this one is firmly in that spot. Some light kissing are all we get from the couple. And the side characters really are fun and lend a lot to the story. I'll continue to read her titles as long as she continues to write them.
3.5 stars rounded to 4

[Breanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropes:
-ya romance
-forbidden love
-Romeo and Juliet inspired

Synopsis:
Jasmine Costas and Ryan Moreno are next door neighbors, and because of a high school feud between their parents, they’re also sworn enemies. When their neighborhood decides to hold a Christmas lights decorating contest, their rivalry is taken up a notch. Determined to give her brother the best Christmas ever before he goes off to college, Jasmine will stop at nothing to beat the Morenos in the competition. However, she unexpectedly finds herself becoming allies with Ryan as they try to figure out the identity of the neighborhood Scrooge, who is threatening to shut down the holiday lights for good. As Jasmine and Ryan spend more time together to uncover the holiday Scrooge, they find that they have more in common than they originally thought. But, with a bronze Santa trophy on the line, it may take a Christmas miracle for Jasmine and Ryan to decide whether their growing feelings are strong enough to overcome years of family rivalry.

Review:
As someone who enjoyed Kasie West’s books as a teenager, I’m happy to report that I equally enjoy her books as an adult! This is such a fun, lighthearted romance that’s as sweet as a Christmas sugar cookie.

Inspired by Romeo and Juliet, this book has such a fun twist on a classic Christmas romance! From the mystery of figuring out who the holiday Scrooge is to a decades-long feud between families to a forbidden romance, the drama is practically Shakespearean. While some parts can feel a little over the top at times, it kept me entertained and excited to find out what would happen next.

One of the highlights of the book was how festive the atmosphere was. The book captures the excitement of the Christmas season with all of the fun holiday activities, such as a Christmas movie night, gingerbread house decorating, and even a Christmas ball. Even though I read it in the middle of October, it made me feel all of the Christmas magic.

Additionally, the romance between Jasmine and Ryan was super sweet, and it gave me all the nostalgic feelings of having your first crush. Their relationship felt realistic to teens, and it progressed naturally from enemies to friends to something more. I especially enjoyed their fun banter and how well they communicated their feelings and worked through their misunderstandings with each other.

Beyond the romance, the story also touches on other relatable topics, such as the consequences of not being truthful, trying to balance your family’s expectations with your own wants, and having disagreements with friends. I liked how it gave the story some depth beyond just the fun romance.

[Thamy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh wow, look at those edges! I can't attest them myself because I only got the ebook, but they look so cute! And very in theme with the book too. I'm probably getting a physical version once it's out...

But onto the review of what I can really attest. This is the kind of book you want for your holidays. And the kind of book you want from Kasie West (is it too late for the disclaimer that I've been a fan for ten years?).

No, it's not perfect, unforgettable, a work of art. It's not a solid 4, to be honest, but deserving of a round-up. You get your regular contemporary YA romance between the son and a daughter of neighbors who haven't gotten along since forever in a very small town. The magic of it is that this town is the place to go for Christmas decoration, to a point the streets are impossible when the night falls, so crowded they get from tourists checking out all the houses competing for best decoration of the year.

But one day, Jasmine finally opens her mind to the possibility that Ryan might be a good person, but he's also the son of the neighbors her mothers hate, and all the more after their precious decoration piece handmade by Jasmine's grandmother magically disappeared. It's not a coincidence that their names have the same initials for Romeo and Juliet, a lot of the characters seem to, for example Jasmine's older brother is Marcus, like Mercutio. But it's not a reread of Romeo and Juliet, don't worry. It's more like a homage that also extends to some other tales like Cinderella and The Grinch.

I loved the atmosphere in it. It's like we're in Gilmore Girls' Stars Hollow for a Christmas competition. It's lovely and not too much so it doesn't get in the way of the plot. And I really liked the pacing. The 'enemies' part is set very clearly and the 'to lovers' transition is done smoothly. There was no sudden passion but there was no inorganic slowness just to hold back the plot (I don't usually complain about it, but it's always obvious when the writer is doing it on purpose). West manages to control and actually large cast of characters and knit this story seamlessly. With great swoonworthy moments, of course.

What I always appreciate about West's book is also there: great book boyfriends and great family moments. I wonder if she makes it a point in every book she starts.

This story doesn't go really far though. It's a cozy read for your YA romance needs, but done masterfully. Don't miss it!


Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

Jasmine Costas loves her quaint little town of Cherry Ridge, Colorado, which is trying hard to retain the influx of Christmas tourists who come for the elaborate light and decoration displays that most of the townspeople put up for the holidays. Her family's decorations are homemade and modest, but she loves that vibe. Across the street, in the most expensive house on the block, Ryan Moreno's family hires people to come and install their professional looking decorations. When Mrs. O'Leary announces that this year there will a competition, Jasmine thinks that the Morenos are cheating, which furthers the two family's hatred of each other. Jasmine's brothers and parents are convinced that the Morenos stole one of their decorations the previous year, and when even more lights are added, Jasmine's mother complains that they are shining in their windows and argues with Ryan's father. After this, she institutes a "no contact" policy with the competing family. The only problem? Jasmine has been talking to Ryan, introducing him to stirring cocoa with a candy cane and getting flustered when he pays attention to her. With the competition heating up, and the families increasingly at odds, will these two lovers of all things Christmas be able to get together, or will their families keep them apart?

My students will absolutely adore this. Not only is West's work really popular with my readers, but I can never have enough Christmas themed books. I'm definitely buying a copy; Follett's Titlewave has a prebound copy.

We're seeing more and more young adult holiday romance books that read like Hallmark movies: Miller's Meet Me On Mistletoe Lane, McKearin's Let It Wag: A Holiday Novel, Andreen's So, This is Christmas, Loggia's All I Want for Christmas and Cicatelli-Kuc's Mint to Be. This is great, because tweens and teens love these happy, swoony romances that are decked out in Christmas sweaters and greenery. Since I am not a fan of Christmas or of the star crossed lovers trope, this wasn't my personal favorite. I would have loved it when I was twelve.

[Laura B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jasmine and Ryan’s families have been in a bitter feud their whole lives. In fact, it all started back when their parents were in high school, and this holiday season is no different. Both families try to outdo the other with their holiday decor in order to win the new “Best Decoration” contest. Add to that the “usual” screaming at each other over bordering shrubs and motion detected lighting, and the feuding seems to be, if anything, a bit more intense this year. As Jasmine and Ryan begin talking after being accidentally locked into a pantry together, they realize their worst enemy might actually be their strongest attraction. Will they be able to fight their mutual attraction, or will they work together to try and overcome years of family hostility?

I know this is a modern day Romeo and Juliet story, so you need the feuding families as part of the plot line, but this feud just seems a bit over the top. While the parents seem to be able to act as responsible adults when it comes to everything else, they still act as if they are in high school when it comes to their neighborly relations and that spills over into their family life. I just wanted to tell them to grow up, and if they couldn’t say something nice to each other, they shouldn’t be talking at all. Part of being a parent is teaching your children how to handle difficult situations and working with people you may not necessarily like. Both sets of parents were setting poor examples. I did enjoy Jasmine and Ryan’s relationship and especially appreciated the banter and slow burn as they fought their feelings for each other. I wasn’t too fond of either of the FMC and MMC’s friends. I thought the friends were very self serving and not very supportive in their friendships, but that did add to the various conflicts in the story. I especially appreciated the descriptions of Jasmine’s relationships with her brothers and the banter back and forth between them, and I liked the side plot of ferreting out the holiday scrooge.

4 Stars Ages 13+ LGBTQ characters

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC. As always, all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

[Liberty · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

My time has arrived. We are now into the holiday season and I've completed another Christmas Romance. This time of the YA variety. I used to read Kasie West all of the time when I was younger. At one point I had read her whole backlist. But nothing newer has appealed to me lately. Until this. Because it's a Christmas Romance and I am nothing if not predictable. In this one, we follow to rival neighbors as their families try to win the house decorating contest this holiday season.

I was only able to access this one via audiobook because my library didn't get any other copies. I don't LOVE audiobooks. I feel like I don't comprehend what's happening as well as if I were reading it physically. That's definitely a me thing and not a book thing, but it still took away from my enjoyment a bit. I wish we were able to fully soak in the town's traditions but there was too much plot to take the time. The characters were mostly just okay for me. I liked Jasmine for the most part but she didn't wow me as a character. The best character of the whole book was probably Ryan, the love interest. I liked how easy going he was, for the most part, and I liked his ability to show up for her even when he has his own emotions to deal with.

I felt pretty settled into this world pretty quickly. I don't know if it's the writing or if I've seen one too many Hallmark Christmas movies. But I was able to picture all of it so well in my mind. Which I love for small town Christmas Romances. The Christmas vibes were there for the most part. It dialed it back a bit toward the end of the novel which I didn't love. I also felt for Jasmine and Ryan throughout the novel. I enjoyed seeing them fall in love and I was rooting for them the whole time.

Overall, this was a fun read to get into the holiday season (let's be honest: I've been in the holiday season for weeks). I'm glad I was able to find a new Kasie West to enjoy.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so sweet and enjoyable that it went on my happy book shelf. This book is a touch star crossed lovers like Romeo and Juliet but subtract all the sadness and replace it with Christmas vibes :)

Jasmine and Ryan live next door to each other but they aren’t allowed to associate with each other because their parents have drama that goes back longer than the teenagers have been alive.

A lot of the time the adults fight about their respective Christmas outdoor decor. The town they live in is a Christmas village. Throughout the holidays, almost every house is decorated. They’ve gotten such a reputation for their decorations that the town has become a destination.

This is Jasmine’s last year before her older brother goes off to college and she just wants everything to be perfect so she’ll be sure he’ll be home for the holidays next year.

Jasmine is attending a town event when she manages to get closed into a small space with Ryan. He says to her that their parents’ fight should never have anything to do with them. He asks for a truce.

A truce sounded good and simple. They start chatting a bit more. But they must sneak around to see each other. They quickly realize that they are falling for each other. Suddenly they have a real problem on their hands because they know both sets of parents will not be ok with it.

Not only is this a sweet story about first love, it features two incredibly lovable characters. I love these two. I love the romantic ways they pursue each other too.

Christmassy and romantic. It’s YA but I remember thinking that a few of the scenes were romantic enough to be marriage proposals.

Read this and guarantee yourself some smiles and warm fuzzy feelings!

[Carolina Moncayo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kasie West, I will always love your books

We have Jasmine and Ryan, two neighbors from rival families who are basically living in a Hallmark movie on steroids. Their families are feuding, there's a Christmas decorating competition, secret meetings, sneaking around, and enough chemistry to keep me kicking my feet the entire book.

Ryan Moreno, you will always be famous to me. This man was climbing ladders, buying dresses, rebuilding snow globes, and saying things that had me staring at my ceiling. The banter was bantering, the enemies to lovers absolutely enemied, and watching these two awkwardly fall for each other was so ridiculously adorable.

And don't even get me started on the window scenes. It was giving You Belong With Me music video, it was giving peak puppy love, it was giving me emotional damage. I LOVED IT

I also loved Jasmine's family. Her moms were hilarious, Marcus was the sweetest brother ever, little Harris stole every scene he was in and the family dynamic felt so warm and refreshing. Everyone felt like real people which made me even more invested in all the Christmas chaos that was going on

The Christmas atmosphere was immaculate. Mint hot chocolate. Snow. Christmas lights. Decorating competitions. Cozy neighborhood drama. If Christmas could be turned into a book, it would be this.

This book just made me happy! <3 Sweet, funny, cozy, and full of Christmas magic. Ryan and Jasmine completely stole my heart.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦-𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸!

[✵ Lily Jane ✵ · Rating 3 out of 5]

𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

~𝓛𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓤𝓹 𝓜𝔂 𝓛𝓲𝓯𝓮 𝓜𝓲𝓷𝓲 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀~
⚠️Light Potential Spoilers Ahead (Nothing Serious)⚠️
✧─── ･ ｡ﾟ★: *.✦ .* :★. ───✧
♫ Song Pick: “We Need a Little Christmas” by Johnny Mathis.
✧─── ･ ｡ﾟ★: *.✦ .* :★. ───✧
➤ My Thoughts: My very first ARC! I loved the romance, the banter, and the Hallmark-esque vibe (PERFECT for Christmas in July). The fact that it was based on 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘑𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘵 was very fun, and I couldnt help but think “AHA!” when I read parts that were so similar to the play. I just wish Jasmine hadn't had two moms. I'm glad Kasie West didn't go into great detail with it and never had them act romantic, but it still felt wrong in a Kasie West novel. Also, the window scenes between Jasmine + Ryan were adorable, the author is totally a Swifie because it screams "You Belong With Me” music video. Merry Christmas in July!
✧─── ･ ｡ﾟ★: *.✦ .* :★. ───✧
~𝓐 𝓕𝓮𝔀 𝓒𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝓝𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼~

➤ What You Won’t Find: Strong profanity, spice, or violence.

➤ What to Expect: A use of the p-word, Jasmine has two moms (which isn’t taken into great detail), a few mildly descriptive kisses and some hugging/handholding. A mention of a neighbor being Catholic and her husband being Jewish.

➤ Trigger Warnings: A character’s little brother gets lost briefly, but is found soon after just fine.
✧─── ･ ｡ﾟ★: *.✦ .* :★. ───✧
★ Final Rating: 3/5 stars!

[Red · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Arc review— thank you to the team at Netgalley and the team at Scholastic!]


Christmas in August! I’ve been reading Kasie West for years, and because of that even as my taste in books shift, she is an author I always come back to. While I can’t say that this was my favorite from her, I can say it was a fun read and will definitely be making it into a christmas books post on my booksta this year!

I would have loved a slower pacing for the romance, and maybe some callbacks to older moments of tension, because I do think the romance could have been fleshed out more. But the town setting, the families, and the lights made up for a lot. I will say, forbidden romance is very hard to get right imo, so that might have contributed to my feelings about the main couple. But, overall it was just a fun and cute read!

Updated Kasie West book ranking:

1. Places We’ve Never Been
2. Split Second
3. The Fill-In Boyfriend
4. Borrow My Heart
5. Better Than Revenge
6. Pivot Point
7. Fame, Fate, and the first kiss
8. Maybe This Time
9. By Your Side
10. P.S I Like You
11. Lonely Hearts Day
12. Room To Breathe
13. Moment of Truth
14. Light Up My Life 🎄
15. Sunkissed
16. The Distance Between Us
17. Listen to Your Heart
18. On the fence
19. Love, Life, and the List

[Lyndsie Schultz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Festive 3 star ⭐️ read!

I really enjoy reading a YA that is a true YA. This is my first Kasie West book and it lives up to everything I'd expect a YA to be. It's sweet, it's got a bit of HS and family drama, and captures those fuzzy feelings of falling for someone for the first time.

Positives:
*Oh the cozy, winter/holiday vibes. I don't care that it's currently the hot and humid summer. This book makes me look forward to snow, holiday lights, and some hot chocolate. The setting itself is almost like another character. Really beautifully done.
*Loved the diverse family representation and the brothers. The Costas were a fun family.
*The "Who's the Grinch" subplot was a lot of fun and kept me engaged throughout.

Challenges:
*I get that it's supposed to be a Romeo & Juliet retelling, but a lot of the family/neighbor drama felt overly contrived.
*I struggled to find the chemistry between Jasmine (FMC) & Ryan (MMC) at times. I know it's YA, but especially in the beginning I was looking for just a bit...more?
*The pacing at times felt a little...off? Too fast in some places, but also too slow, especially around the 25% mark.

Overall, cute and quick holiday read!

Thank you to Scholastic Press and to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange of my honest review.