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The Christmas Curse
A Christmas-hating recluse goes head-to-head with her holiday-obsessed neighbour in this clever, laugh-out-loud rom-com, perfect for fans of B.K. Borison and Julia McKay.
It's the most perilous time of the year...
Devra's family is cursed. There's simply no other explanation for the catastrophes that have tormented them every December for the last thirty odd years—a house fire from exploding string lights, severe burns from spilled hot cocoa, breakup after breakup, always in the lead-up to Christmas. So, she does what anyone with a family curse would do: she goes into hiding and scorns the holidays. But when Bradley, "Mr. Christmas" himself, moves in next door and ruins her perfectly un-festive space with every twinkling, shimmering, blaring decoration imaginable, Devra is certain he's been sent by the curse to upend her quiet life.
Bradley's days are looking up. He's one year sober, with a new home, and what better way to celebrate his fresh start than by honouring his family's tradition of extravagant holiday decorating. The only problem: his festive spirit has somehow offended his prickly new neighbour, sparking a feud that just might end in attempted snowman murder.
But while Devra seems hell-bent on driving Bradley away, Bradley becomes fixated on solving the riddle that is Devra. And somewhere along the way, their over-the-fence antics spark something deeper: feelings.
Except was Bradley sent by the curse? Or is he the answer to finally breaking it—once and for all?
It's the most perilous time of the year...
Devra's family is cursed. There's simply no other explanation for the catastrophes that have tormented them every December for the last thirty odd years—a house fire from exploding string lights, severe burns from spilled hot cocoa, breakup after breakup, always in the lead-up to Christmas. So, she does what anyone with a family curse would do: she goes into hiding and scorns the holidays. But when Bradley, "Mr. Christmas" himself, moves in next door and ruins her perfectly un-festive space with every twinkling, shimmering, blaring decoration imaginable, Devra is certain he's been sent by the curse to upend her quiet life.
Bradley's days are looking up. He's one year sober, with a new home, and what better way to celebrate his fresh start than by honouring his family's tradition of extravagant holiday decorating. The only problem: his festive spirit has somehow offended his prickly new neighbour, sparking a feud that just might end in attempted snowman murder.
But while Devra seems hell-bent on driving Bradley away, Bradley becomes fixated on solving the riddle that is Devra. And somewhere along the way, their over-the-fence antics spark something deeper: feelings.
Except was Bradley sent by the curse? Or is he the answer to finally breaking it—once and for all?
321 pages, Paperback
Expected publication October 20, 2026
About the author
Alix Kelinda
3 books28 followersAlix (she/her) lives in Calgary, Canada, and embraces the quiet beauty of a snowy day. She enjoys helping her characters find love and humour amidst self-discovery and growth. The Christmas Curse is her debut novel. She holds a BSc in psychology and an MS in medical sciences. When not writing, she analyzes healthcare data, watches curling, and climbs rocks. Follow her on Instagram @AlixKelinda or visit her website AlixKelinda.com for more info.
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin, and the author for the advance copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
DNF at 50%
Some tropes/themes:
☆ Grumpy/sunshine
☆ Christmas decorations
☆ A family cursed
☆ Recovery from addiction
☆ Parental abandonment/estrangement
☆ Cute animal sidekick with attitude
☆ Mental health and therapy rep
☆ Highly intelligent FMC with a STEM career
☆ MMC likes to work with his hands
☆ Initial bad neighbor relationship
☆ Cute friendship development
I may have read this book at the wrong time, because there's some hard personal things happening in my life and I thought this was going to be more of a lighter read. Instead, it delves more into the emotional piece of what the characters are experiencing, with less humor than I thought. Both characters experienced heaviness in their lives, with one choosing isolation and avoidance and the other trying to better themselves. The h was challenging to relate to because she's hidden herself so much due to her curse and she's not looking for solutions. Her reactions to a new neighbor were extreme and while I tried to be empathetic knowing her background, it was hard. The H is far more relatable as a recovering alcoholic who's a ray of sunshine on the outside and still finding his way on the inside. He's also in therapy to break bad patterns, where the h seemed trapped in hers.
Because both main characters are struggling, their internal thoughts are messy and emotional. I did think the book made a turn in the right direction when the H and h began to interact positively with each other. Then it hit a bump in the road, but was quickly back on track. I stopped reading when the spice was introduced because of where the H was mentally. He didn't feel ready for a romantic relationship, yet he's the one who made initial overtures because he was attracted to the h. However, he was immediately in a negative headspace after. This conflicted feeling left me feeling weird about the first spicy scene.
I wish that I had gotten further along to know how they resolved the curse, whether it had a paranormal explanation or was somehow more psychological manifestation. I'm not connecting though and while the description says this is a rom-com, it wasn't giving me those vibes. YMMV with the humor and with the h's character development, these are definitely personal taste elements. I'm going with 3 stars for the H and the mystery of the curse.
DNF at 50%
Some tropes/themes:
☆ Grumpy/sunshine
☆ Christmas decorations
☆ A family cursed
☆ Recovery from addiction
☆ Parental abandonment/estrangement
☆ Cute animal sidekick with attitude
☆ Mental health and therapy rep
☆ Highly intelligent FMC with a STEM career
☆ MMC likes to work with his hands
☆ Initial bad neighbor relationship
☆ Cute friendship development
I may have read this book at the wrong time, because there's some hard personal things happening in my life and I thought this was going to be more of a lighter read. Instead, it delves more into the emotional piece of what the characters are experiencing, with less humor than I thought. Both characters experienced heaviness in their lives, with one choosing isolation and avoidance and the other trying to better themselves. The h was challenging to relate to because she's hidden herself so much due to her curse and she's not looking for solutions. Her reactions to a new neighbor were extreme and while I tried to be empathetic knowing her background, it was hard. The H is far more relatable as a recovering alcoholic who's a ray of sunshine on the outside and still finding his way on the inside. He's also in therapy to break bad patterns, where the h seemed trapped in hers.
Because both main characters are struggling, their internal thoughts are messy and emotional. I did think the book made a turn in the right direction when the H and h began to interact positively with each other. Then it hit a bump in the road, but was quickly back on track. I stopped reading when the spice was introduced because of where the H was mentally. He didn't feel ready for a romantic relationship, yet he's the one who made initial overtures because he was attracted to the h. However, he was immediately in a negative headspace after. This conflicted feeling left me feeling weird about the first spicy scene.
I wish that I had gotten further along to know how they resolved the curse, whether it had a paranormal explanation or was somehow more psychological manifestation. I'm not connecting though and while the description says this is a rom-com, it wasn't giving me those vibes. YMMV with the humor and with the h's character development, these are definitely personal taste elements. I'm going with 3 stars for the H and the mystery of the curse.
Want to Read
September 30, 2026𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── pre-read
kind of early for the holiday cheer but just got this arc in the mail, i'll be starting soon! the cover is so cute <3
thank you sm double day canada for the physical arc
kind of early for the holiday cheer but just got this arc in the mail, i'll be starting soon! the cover is so cute <3
thank you sm double day canada for the physical arc
Review of advance copy
✦⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆✦
✧｡･ﾟﾟ･☾ Review ☾･ﾟﾟ･｡✧
★★★ ¾
THANK YOU LIBRO.FM & ALIX KELINDA!!
🎄❄️🎁⛄️🎅🏼
omg. This was such a good time. I feel like I really needed a holiday read and this was perfect.
✧｡･ﾟﾟ･☾ Review ☾･ﾟﾟ･｡✧
★★★ ¾
THANK YOU LIBRO.FM & ALIX KELINDA!!
🎄❄️🎁⛄️🎅🏼
omg. This was such a good time. I feel like I really needed a holiday read and this was perfect.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.25 Stars
The Christmas Curse was a heartwarming, humorous, and emotional read. It definitely had elements of a magical Hallmark Christmas romance, but it also addressed difficult issues of personal trauma and addiction. This can be hard to pull off during the holiday season (for me as a reader because I often like holiday escapes), but the characters felt very real and endearing, and I was rooting for them to find healing and be together. I'm a sucker for grumpy/sunshine and forced proximity tropes, and The Christmas Curse delivered on both! This was a delightful holiday read that made my heart grow like the Grinch's.
Thank you at Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Christmas Curse was a heartwarming, humorous, and emotional read. It definitely had elements of a magical Hallmark Christmas romance, but it also addressed difficult issues of personal trauma and addiction. This can be hard to pull off during the holiday season (for me as a reader because I often like holiday escapes), but the characters felt very real and endearing, and I was rooting for them to find healing and be together. I'm a sucker for grumpy/sunshine and forced proximity tropes, and The Christmas Curse delivered on both! This was a delightful holiday read that made my heart grow like the Grinch's.
Thank you at Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! I am rating this book at 3.5 stars but rounding up to 4 stars is too much. This book was different - I’m still not entirely sure how I felt about it so I’ll share some random thoughts! It’s about two characters who both struggle with their own problems - addiction and obsession/fear of being “cursed”. First off, hooray for Canadian literature! Always a win in my eyes! The characters were quirky but the characters seemed like they were the perfect yin and yang for each other! There were some witchy elements in a Christmas setting. I almost forgot this book took place in December and not Halloween time ha. There was also a good amount of spice in this book but some parts felt super rushed - admittedly, the characters were under a time crunch. Without giving spoilers, the origin of the curse was kind of cute in a weird way? lol. I loved the character of Gladys though! She was not a main character but she was fun! I wish there was closure on some parental conflicts and exes. And finally, some characters I just found so annoying that I wanted to skip their parts (cough cough the twin sisters).
For a debut novel, props to the author! Well done!
For a debut novel, props to the author! Well done!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I added The Christmas Curse to my TBR when I learned about its release because the synopsis sounded good. A family curse that only seems to happen during the holiday season, and a sexy new neighbor who may be able to break the curse. What’s not to like about that? That plus, I enjoy reading and hyping Canadian authors.
The sexual tension between Devra and Bradley is almost palpable. It’s almost deliciously palpable. You know from the moment they meet that they will end up in bed. That said, their first couple of encounters, while hot and steamy for certain, were a bit unusual given their personalities. And the last encounter- is that really possible? Maybe I’m just too old to do that anymore. LOL!
Devra and Bradley both bring family issues and trauma to the table. It was refreshing that they didn’t try to outdo each other by competing for the most trauma. Thankfully, the book gives each of them a chance to explore their past and come to terms with how it impacts their future. However, I would have loved to see more attention to Bradley’s experiences, as they felt like an afterthought and were rushed through in the final few chapters.
While I enjoyed the second half of the book, I struggled to connect with it at the beginning. That may have been more of a me issue, as I had unexpected company for a week. Once I could relax and sink into the book, I enjoyed it.
Overall, I think anyone looking for a fun holiday read with some spice would enjoy reading The Christmas Curse.
The sexual tension between Devra and Bradley is almost palpable. It’s almost deliciously palpable. You know from the moment they meet that they will end up in bed. That said, their first couple of encounters, while hot and steamy for certain, were a bit unusual given their personalities. And the last encounter- is that really possible? Maybe I’m just too old to do that anymore. LOL!
Devra and Bradley both bring family issues and trauma to the table. It was refreshing that they didn’t try to outdo each other by competing for the most trauma. Thankfully, the book gives each of them a chance to explore their past and come to terms with how it impacts their future. However, I would have loved to see more attention to Bradley’s experiences, as they felt like an afterthought and were rushed through in the final few chapters.
While I enjoyed the second half of the book, I struggled to connect with it at the beginning. That may have been more of a me issue, as I had unexpected company for a week. Once I could relax and sink into the book, I enjoyed it.
Overall, I think anyone looking for a fun holiday read with some spice would enjoy reading The Christmas Curse.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Once in a while you come across a book that has characters that feel more real than someone you know in the flesh. Devra and Bradley are two of the most compelling, deeply drawn protagonists that I have read in a long time. And yes, I said protagonists, because Devra did not seem more important than Bradley. The laughs, the tenderness, the spice, the complexity, it was all there, making this book an absolute gem perfect for any time of year. And Squally! And Squally B!! 😍
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC Review
The Christmas Curse by Alix Kelinda
Release Date: October 20, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎅 Christmas
🎄 Neighbors
🎅 Enemies to Lovers
🎄 Family Curse
This book starts off with Devra who always seems to be cursed around Christmas. Whether it's her house burning down or her windows shattering. The curse even took her pet turtle, bunny and now she even worries about her cat Tabs. Devra has a new neighbor that just moved in and he is obsessed with Christmas and the day he moved in he arranged all his Christmas decor outside. It ended up looking like Christmas threw up all over his lawn and he even had a ginormous Nutcracker looming in the front window.
Debra who lived next door was the grump. She kept stomping around outside yelling this is my property line and get your decorations off my lawn. The next day she went outside to look for her beloved cat who was missing and to her surprise her cat was cuddled up in the neighbors lap. She kept saying "that's my cat, you can't have him." Panic ensued as she thought she was not only losing her mind to her annoying neighbor next door, with his over the top Christmas decorations, loud Christmas music and now he stole her cat. She felt betrayed in more ways than one. I love how she is the grumpy neighbor in this book and it isn't the MMC. Usually I read books and watch Christmas Hallmark movies where the handsome guy next door ends up being super grouchy and acting like a Scrooge. I liked the role reversal in this book.
I am obsessed with Halloween so the fact that this book included a witch and a curse made me giddy with joy. I like that Bradley and Devra team up to find out how to stop this curse once and for all. The only thing I didn't care for in this book was Squally and Devra programming her with lame why did the chicken cross the road jokes and so on. I thought the story would be just as charming without the odd robot friend. This book had emotional growth with all the characters and they were complex. I liked that Bradley struggled with alcohol in this book. It made his character all that more real. At the beginning I really didn't like the robot that Devra programmed but near the end of the book when Devra gifted Bradley Squally and re- programmed her to be an addiction support system I actually cried. It was so beautiful and moving and I thought this is the sweetest book. I gave this book an easy 5 stars because I absolutely enjoyed it. This book gave me all the feels in the best possible way.
The Christmas Curse by Alix Kelinda
Release Date: October 20, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎅 Christmas
🎄 Neighbors
🎅 Enemies to Lovers
🎄 Family Curse
This book starts off with Devra who always seems to be cursed around Christmas. Whether it's her house burning down or her windows shattering. The curse even took her pet turtle, bunny and now she even worries about her cat Tabs. Devra has a new neighbor that just moved in and he is obsessed with Christmas and the day he moved in he arranged all his Christmas decor outside. It ended up looking like Christmas threw up all over his lawn and he even had a ginormous Nutcracker looming in the front window.
Debra who lived next door was the grump. She kept stomping around outside yelling this is my property line and get your decorations off my lawn. The next day she went outside to look for her beloved cat who was missing and to her surprise her cat was cuddled up in the neighbors lap. She kept saying "that's my cat, you can't have him." Panic ensued as she thought she was not only losing her mind to her annoying neighbor next door, with his over the top Christmas decorations, loud Christmas music and now he stole her cat. She felt betrayed in more ways than one. I love how she is the grumpy neighbor in this book and it isn't the MMC. Usually I read books and watch Christmas Hallmark movies where the handsome guy next door ends up being super grouchy and acting like a Scrooge. I liked the role reversal in this book.
I am obsessed with Halloween so the fact that this book included a witch and a curse made me giddy with joy. I like that Bradley and Devra team up to find out how to stop this curse once and for all. The only thing I didn't care for in this book was Squally and Devra programming her with lame why did the chicken cross the road jokes and so on. I thought the story would be just as charming without the odd robot friend. This book had emotional growth with all the characters and they were complex. I liked that Bradley struggled with alcohol in this book. It made his character all that more real. At the beginning I really didn't like the robot that Devra programmed but near the end of the book when Devra gifted Bradley Squally and re- programmed her to be an addiction support system I actually cried. It was so beautiful and moving and I thought this is the sweetest book. I gave this book an easy 5 stars because I absolutely enjoyed it. This book gave me all the feels in the best possible way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I honestly don't know how I want to rate this book, but right now, I'm going with 3–3.5 ⭐.
This is not your typical lighthearted Christmas romcom. Beneath the neighborly antics and Christmas chaos, there's a lot of emotional depth. Both MCs have personal struggles to work through, and I found myself relating to both of them in different ways.
Bradley is a recovering addict who is going to therapy and actively working on himself, while Devra is essentially a recluse struggling with agoraphobia. I've been both of these people, and I know firsthand how incredibly difficult those journeys can be. I appreciated seeing these struggles represented in the story.
The intimacy scenes are open-door, which I typically skip over. However, I do want to point out that Bradley's feelings surrounding intimacy, both leading up to it and afterward, are important to recognize in the context of addiction recovery. Navigating those feelings can be a normal and complicated part of the process, and I appreciated that this aspect of his journey was included.
What I didn't care for:
Devra's opening scenes. There were so many other ways to introduce her character and establish her struggles without involving dead animals. Those scenes just weren't for me.
The ending felt rushed. I wanted more time for things to develop and come together, especially after everything the characters had been working through.
The marketing. I don't think this should be marketed as a cute, cozy holiday read. While it has Christmas elements and moments of humor, the heavier themes make it a very different reading experience than the description suggests.
Overall, I'm left feeling a little conflicted. I appreciated the emotional depth and the portrayal of two people trying to navigate difficult parts of their lives, but some choices didn't work for me, and the rushed ending left me wanting more. I think going into this expecting a heavier contemporary romance with Christmas elements, rather than a cozy holiday romcom, would make a difference.
I'm glad I read it, but it was a more complicated reading experience than I expected.
Thank you, Doubleday Canada, for the Advanced copy.
This is not your typical lighthearted Christmas romcom. Beneath the neighborly antics and Christmas chaos, there's a lot of emotional depth. Both MCs have personal struggles to work through, and I found myself relating to both of them in different ways.
Bradley is a recovering addict who is going to therapy and actively working on himself, while Devra is essentially a recluse struggling with agoraphobia. I've been both of these people, and I know firsthand how incredibly difficult those journeys can be. I appreciated seeing these struggles represented in the story.
The intimacy scenes are open-door, which I typically skip over. However, I do want to point out that Bradley's feelings surrounding intimacy, both leading up to it and afterward, are important to recognize in the context of addiction recovery. Navigating those feelings can be a normal and complicated part of the process, and I appreciated that this aspect of his journey was included.
What I didn't care for:
Devra's opening scenes. There were so many other ways to introduce her character and establish her struggles without involving dead animals. Those scenes just weren't for me.
The ending felt rushed. I wanted more time for things to develop and come together, especially after everything the characters had been working through.
The marketing. I don't think this should be marketed as a cute, cozy holiday read. While it has Christmas elements and moments of humor, the heavier themes make it a very different reading experience than the description suggests.
Overall, I'm left feeling a little conflicted. I appreciated the emotional depth and the portrayal of two people trying to navigate difficult parts of their lives, but some choices didn't work for me, and the rushed ending left me wanting more. I think going into this expecting a heavier contemporary romance with Christmas elements, rather than a cozy holiday romcom, would make a difference.
I'm glad I read it, but it was a more complicated reading experience than I expected.
Thank you, Doubleday Canada, for the Advanced copy.
October 16, 2026
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Thank you to Doubleday Canada and NetGalley for the complimentary advanced copy! 💌📚
Well, this was certainly a DIFFERENT read! 😂 I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about it, so we're going with some slightly scattered thoughts because that's honestly where my head is at!
The story follows two quirky characters dealing with their own struggles, including addiction and a fear of being cursed. Despite their differences, I actually thought they complemented each other beautifully. A little yin and yang situation, if you will. 🖤🤍
And the vibes?! Witchy elements mixed with a Christmas setting! 🎄🔮 I genuinely had to remind myself that this book took place in December and not October. 😂 It was definitely an interesting combination!
There was also a surprising amount of spice. 🌶️🔥 While I enjoyed parts of the romance, some moments felt a little rushed. Granted, our characters were working against the clock, but I still wanted certain things to have a little more room to develop.
Without giving anything away, the origin of the curse was actually kind of cute? In a strange, unexpected way?! 😂
I also have to give a special shoutout to Gladys! She wasn't a main character, but she was SUCH a fun addition. 💕
Where this one lost me a little was with some of the unresolved storylines. I wanted more closure surrounding certain family conflicts and past relationships. And some of the side characters? OOF. The twin sisters, I'm looking at YOU. 👀😂 There were moments when I genuinely wanted to skip their scenes.
Overall, this was a quirky, unconventional romance with some interesting ideas and a few missed opportunities. It didn't completely win me over, but there were definitely elements I enjoyed.
And for a debut novel? Props to the author! 👏 I'm curious to see what they write next.
Thank you to Doubleday Canada and NetGalley for the complimentary advanced copy! 💌📚
Well, this was certainly a DIFFERENT read! 😂 I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about it, so we're going with some slightly scattered thoughts because that's honestly where my head is at!
The story follows two quirky characters dealing with their own struggles, including addiction and a fear of being cursed. Despite their differences, I actually thought they complemented each other beautifully. A little yin and yang situation, if you will. 🖤🤍
And the vibes?! Witchy elements mixed with a Christmas setting! 🎄🔮 I genuinely had to remind myself that this book took place in December and not October. 😂 It was definitely an interesting combination!
There was also a surprising amount of spice. 🌶️🔥 While I enjoyed parts of the romance, some moments felt a little rushed. Granted, our characters were working against the clock, but I still wanted certain things to have a little more room to develop.
Without giving anything away, the origin of the curse was actually kind of cute? In a strange, unexpected way?! 😂
I also have to give a special shoutout to Gladys! She wasn't a main character, but she was SUCH a fun addition. 💕
Where this one lost me a little was with some of the unresolved storylines. I wanted more closure surrounding certain family conflicts and past relationships. And some of the side characters? OOF. The twin sisters, I'm looking at YOU. 👀😂 There were moments when I genuinely wanted to skip their scenes.
Overall, this was a quirky, unconventional romance with some interesting ideas and a few missed opportunities. It didn't completely win me over, but there were definitely elements I enjoyed.
And for a debut novel? Props to the author! 👏 I'm curious to see what they write next.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Christmas Curse by Alix Kelinda was such a unique and entertaining read! 🎄🔮
First of all, I loved the combination of Christmas and witchy vibes! It's not something you typically see together, but I thought it was such a fun and interesting twist on a holiday romance.
I really enjoyed Devra and Bradley as main characters. They're both dealing with their own personal struggles, and despite their differences, I thought they complemented each other really well. I enjoyed their chemistry and watching their relationship develop throughout the story. And can we talk about the spice?! 🌶️🔥 There was definitely more than I was expecting, and I'm certainly not complaining!
I also really enjoyed the mystery surrounding the curse and thought the explanation behind it was surprisingly cute and unexpected. And I have to give a little shoutout to Gladys because she was such a fun addition to the story! ❤️
While I enjoyed the romance, I did feel that certain parts of their relationship developed a little too quickly. I would have loved to see some moments given more time to grow naturally. I also felt that a few storylines were left unresolved, particularly when it came to family conflicts and past relationships. I wanted a little more closure in those areas.
Overall, I thought this was a fun, quirky, and unconventional Christmas romance! It had a great mixture of humour, romance, spice, and a little magic. While there were a few things I wish had been explored further, I still really enjoyed the story and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a holiday romance with a unique twist! 🎄❤️
A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of The Christmas Curse in exchange for my honest review! 💕📚
First of all, I loved the combination of Christmas and witchy vibes! It's not something you typically see together, but I thought it was such a fun and interesting twist on a holiday romance.
I really enjoyed Devra and Bradley as main characters. They're both dealing with their own personal struggles, and despite their differences, I thought they complemented each other really well. I enjoyed their chemistry and watching their relationship develop throughout the story. And can we talk about the spice?! 🌶️🔥 There was definitely more than I was expecting, and I'm certainly not complaining!
I also really enjoyed the mystery surrounding the curse and thought the explanation behind it was surprisingly cute and unexpected. And I have to give a little shoutout to Gladys because she was such a fun addition to the story! ❤️
While I enjoyed the romance, I did feel that certain parts of their relationship developed a little too quickly. I would have loved to see some moments given more time to grow naturally. I also felt that a few storylines were left unresolved, particularly when it came to family conflicts and past relationships. I wanted a little more closure in those areas.
Overall, I thought this was a fun, quirky, and unconventional Christmas romance! It had a great mixture of humour, romance, spice, and a little magic. While there were a few things I wish had been explored further, I still really enjoyed the story and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a holiday romance with a unique twist! 🎄❤️
A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of The Christmas Curse in exchange for my honest review! 💕📚
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
THE CHRISTMAS CURSE is all things to all readers: Christmas book, traumatic curse, witchcraft, family traditions, AI, a deep look at addiction and recovery, spicy sex and of course holiday romance. Plus, it takes place in Calgary! (Which is hopefully still part of Canada tomorrow morning). Devra is the high tech Christmas grump who firmly believes in her family’s December curse. So much so, that she becomes almost a seasonal recluse. That is until Bradley, the happiest Christmas lover of all time, moves in next door with his bushels or ornaments, lights and blow-up Christmas characters. At one year sober, Bradley is battling his own demons and seemingly trades own addiction for another when he takes on Devra’s intense dislike of Christmas and the source of her curse. There are some giggles in this book with Bradley’s twin elfish sisters and some of the hijinks between Bradley and Devra. There are also some odd moments and twists and turns when a book tries to be so many things all at once. This is Canadian author, Alix Kelinda’s, debut novel and if you are looking for a different take on a Christmas read that includes mice and witches and magic, this may be just the book for you. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy
Received the ALC on libro.fm
Unfortunately, I had to DNF this one at 54%. I tried, I really did but I just didn't care for this book for several reasons.
First, the MMC is supposed to be golden retriever and instead came across as a frenetic chihuahua. This is generally not a quality I'm looking for in a romance MMC. Now the FMC believes she and her family has a Christmas curse. Basically the whole month of December is cursed for her. This has led her to eschew all things Christmas which her new neighbor, the MMC, loves. She is so angry at his love of Christmas that she leaves dead animals on his doorstep (bird and mouse) and is going to knife his Christmas display in the middle of the night. Her grumpy was meant to be humorous but the humor did not land at all. I disliked her quite a bit.
There is some open door spice in this book but it felt very inorganic and just plopped in there. I didn't find the relationship between these two believable at all. The concept of a Christmas curse seemed fun but unfortunately, the execution simply did not work.
Note: Recovery from addiction rep, mental health and therapy rep, STEM (she works in AI), agoraphobic or introvert FMC
Unfortunately, I had to DNF this one at 54%. I tried, I really did but I just didn't care for this book for several reasons.
First, the MMC is supposed to be golden retriever and instead came across as a frenetic chihuahua. This is generally not a quality I'm looking for in a romance MMC. Now the FMC believes she and her family has a Christmas curse. Basically the whole month of December is cursed for her. This has led her to eschew all things Christmas which her new neighbor, the MMC, loves. She is so angry at his love of Christmas that she leaves dead animals on his doorstep (bird and mouse) and is going to knife his Christmas display in the middle of the night. Her grumpy was meant to be humorous but the humor did not land at all. I disliked her quite a bit.
There is some open door spice in this book but it felt very inorganic and just plopped in there. I didn't find the relationship between these two believable at all. The concept of a Christmas curse seemed fun but unfortunately, the execution simply did not work.
Note: Recovery from addiction rep, mental health and therapy rep, STEM (she works in AI), agoraphobic or introvert FMC
October 11, 2026
This isn’t a very typical holiday romance. It’s surprisingly grounded and almost a bit edgy thanks to the main characters dealing with sobriety and what I’d consider near agoraphobia. Because of that, I wouldn’t say it’s particularly laugh-out-loud funny or whimsically festive, but I appreciated how much it went off the Hallmark path.
I was a bit disappointed in the ending though. The book spends so much time giving these characters very real issues to work through, only to suddenly rush past them when it’s time for the happy ending. I actually respected the third-act conflict and thought it was necessary, so having them almost immediately reconsider and walk it back felt strange. I wasn’t asking for a permanent breakup or anything, but maybe give them a week? A month? It felt like the book asked me to take these problems seriously and then turned around and said “jk it’s Christmas idiot” and wondered why I was being so serious. I liked that it went a little darker, but I wish it had committed to that through the ending.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book.
I was a bit disappointed in the ending though. The book spends so much time giving these characters very real issues to work through, only to suddenly rush past them when it’s time for the happy ending. I actually respected the third-act conflict and thought it was necessary, so having them almost immediately reconsider and walk it back felt strange. I wasn’t asking for a permanent breakup or anything, but maybe give them a week? A month? It felt like the book asked me to take these problems seriously and then turned around and said “jk it’s Christmas idiot” and wondered why I was being so serious. I liked that it went a little darker, but I wish it had committed to that through the ending.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book.
October 20, 2026
if you know me, you know i love Christmas so much even reading this in october 😍 this was such a cosy, fun and festive read! 🎄❄️
i loved bradley pretty much immediately, and devra definitely grew on me as the story went on. their golden retriever x black cat dynamic was so cute, and i was absolutely giggling and kicking my feet at certain moments. that NOTE from devra? wasn’t expecting that from her 🤭
also, can we talk about supportive squally? love!! and ngl those pushups and sit ups would’ve been my undoing 😮💨😂
this had everything i want in a christmas read!! cosy vibes, humour, sweetness, spice and characters with real depth to them. i loved that there was more to the characters than what you see on the surface, and that their past experiences added another layer to the story.
my only little gripe was that i wish it had been written in first person rather than third, as i sometimes felt a bit disconnected from the characters. but overall, such an enjoyable read and perfect for getting into the christmas spirit!
thank you so much to penguin random house canada (doubleday canada) and NetGalley for the eARC!
i loved bradley pretty much immediately, and devra definitely grew on me as the story went on. their golden retriever x black cat dynamic was so cute, and i was absolutely giggling and kicking my feet at certain moments. that NOTE from devra? wasn’t expecting that from her 🤭
also, can we talk about supportive squally? love!! and ngl those pushups and sit ups would’ve been my undoing 😮💨😂
this had everything i want in a christmas read!! cosy vibes, humour, sweetness, spice and characters with real depth to them. i loved that there was more to the characters than what you see on the surface, and that their past experiences added another layer to the story.
my only little gripe was that i wish it had been written in first person rather than third, as i sometimes felt a bit disconnected from the characters. but overall, such an enjoyable read and perfect for getting into the christmas spirit!
thank you so much to penguin random house canada (doubleday canada) and NetGalley for the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In my Christmas reading era, I came across The Christmas Curse, by Alix Kelinda. I was grateful to NetGalley and the author for sending me an advanced ebook copy. I wanted to love this book. Grumpy/Sunshine romance. Devra is a Christmas hating recluse. Bad things happen to her and her family in the month of December, so she stays to herself and does not venture out much. When new chatty and festive neighbor, Bradley, moves in and decorates the crap out of his house, Devra is annoyed. What starts out as hatred morphs in to friendship and more. Devra explains about her family's curse and Bradley wants to do nothing more than help this Christmas hating woman break the dreaded curse. Although some parts of the story were sweet and some were funny, the actual hunt for the curse seemed a bit much and far fetched. Did the book give me Christmas feels? Yes, but overall was not a favorite Christmas read for me this year.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you, NetGalley, for this gifted ARC!
Alix Kelinda's The Christmas Curse is the perfect holiday read, delivering the warm, cozy vibes we all hope for in a romantic Christmas story. Although I read this adorable book on windy mid-October days, Alix's writing transported me to a perfect winter scene, where I could feel the chill of snow, smell the peppermint, and taste the hot chocolate.
I was immersed in festivities, following authentic, lovable characters through moments so cute and funny that I found myself smiling from ear to ear, eager to see what would bring these completely different people closer together next. Whether looking for a Christmas gift for a friend or your next winter read, I highly recommend this charming, cuddle-up-by-the-fire-with-some-tea kind of winter romance.
Alix Kelinda's The Christmas Curse is the perfect holiday read, delivering the warm, cozy vibes we all hope for in a romantic Christmas story. Although I read this adorable book on windy mid-October days, Alix's writing transported me to a perfect winter scene, where I could feel the chill of snow, smell the peppermint, and taste the hot chocolate.
I was immersed in festivities, following authentic, lovable characters through moments so cute and funny that I found myself smiling from ear to ear, eager to see what would bring these completely different people closer together next. Whether looking for a Christmas gift for a friend or your next winter read, I highly recommend this charming, cuddle-up-by-the-fire-with-some-tea kind of winter romance.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I thought this was such a cute and quirky holiday read. It had a good amount of humour while still touching on some deep topics like trauma and addiction. I think that balance helped make the MCs feel relatable and easy to root for.
Devra was an interesting FMC. Having secluded herself, her loneliness really came through as a reader. Bradley was easy to like. He had charisma, and despite talking a lot, he knew how to listen. He was the definition of sunshine. The whole book gave off Hallmark Christmas movie vibes, which I loved. But don’t let all the cuteness and sunshine fool you. This book definitely had its moments of spice!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
Devra was an interesting FMC. Having secluded herself, her loneliness really came through as a reader. Bradley was easy to like. He had charisma, and despite talking a lot, he knew how to listen. He was the definition of sunshine. The whole book gave off Hallmark Christmas movie vibes, which I loved. But don’t let all the cuteness and sunshine fool you. This book definitely had its moments of spice!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you, NetGalley and Publisher, for this ARC ebook.
I had this book in my line for a couple of months and finally got time to read it. I entered this book fully expecting it to be a predictable rom-com... oh boy, I was wrong, and I am very happy about it. It has drama, it has magic, it has romance, it has a bit of unexpected spice, and it has a bit of comedy. For sure a different read!
It touches complicated topics like addictions, curses, traumas, and family influence in our lives. Although some of these topics are expressed lightly, it was the perfect amount to be enjoyable. I am not sure how to describe it, but to be honest, I loved this debut novel a lot.
I will keep reading from this author!
I had this book in my line for a couple of months and finally got time to read it. I entered this book fully expecting it to be a predictable rom-com... oh boy, I was wrong, and I am very happy about it. It has drama, it has magic, it has romance, it has a bit of unexpected spice, and it has a bit of comedy. For sure a different read!
It touches complicated topics like addictions, curses, traumas, and family influence in our lives. Although some of these topics are expressed lightly, it was the perfect amount to be enjoyable. I am not sure how to describe it, but to be honest, I loved this debut novel a lot.
I will keep reading from this author!
September 10, 2026
Thank you Penguin Random House and NetGalley for gifting me an eARC in exchange for a honest review.
Looking for the perfect holiday escape? 🎄 The Christmas Curse by Alix Kelinda pairs a festive, holiday-hating "Grinch" with her over-the-top, Christmas-loving neighbor. Their hilarious decoration war turns into a beautiful, emotional slow-burn that you won't be able to put down!
Such a cute Christmasy read with laugh-out-loud holiday rom-com that beautifully shifts from a hilarious, over-the-top neighbor feud into a deeply heartwarming, slow-burn romance.
Releases October 20th
#bookreview #christmasarc #netgalley #penguinrandomhouse #bookrecs
Looking for the perfect holiday escape? 🎄 The Christmas Curse by Alix Kelinda pairs a festive, holiday-hating "Grinch" with her over-the-top, Christmas-loving neighbor. Their hilarious decoration war turns into a beautiful, emotional slow-burn that you won't be able to put down!
Such a cute Christmasy read with laugh-out-loud holiday rom-com that beautifully shifts from a hilarious, over-the-top neighbor feud into a deeply heartwarming, slow-burn romance.
Releases October 20th
#bookreview #christmasarc #netgalley #penguinrandomhouse #bookrecs
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If you enjoy a laugh-out-loud holiday romance with instantly lovable characters, emotional depth and a touch of magic, I highly recommend this novel!
I found myself rooting for both Devra and Bradley and really enjoyed their interactions and relationship dynamics. Their challenges felt real and how everything came together was brilliant. I also love that the book is set in Calgary.
I found myself sharing the jokes with techy family and friends, wishing I had my own Squally #IFYKYK, and loving the full cast of characters!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I found myself rooting for both Devra and Bradley and really enjoyed their interactions and relationship dynamics. Their challenges felt real and how everything came together was brilliant. I also love that the book is set in Calgary.
I found myself sharing the jokes with techy family and friends, wishing I had my own Squally #IFYKYK, and loving the full cast of characters!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 24, 2026
This book was an interesting mix of hallmark christmas and emotional self-discovery. The characters both deal with some real life trauma, addictions, and other issues, but the vibes were kept upbeat to fit the romcom themes.
I don’t know that this book was for me since I usually gravitate to more over the top cliché holiday romance books, but this was an enjoyable read regardless of the christmas setting.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I don’t know that this book was for me since I usually gravitate to more over the top cliché holiday romance books, but this was an enjoyable read regardless of the christmas setting.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
THE CHRISTMAS CURSE by Alix Kelinda is an absolute gem of a festive Canadian rom com. Packed with holiday hijinks, gentle self-discovery, a good pinch of spice, and a grumpy/sunshine couple you’ll be cheering for along the way, this story will put a smile on your face and warmth in your heart. Highly recommended!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I really enjoyed this Christmas book because it is different from other holiday romance books. This one also talks about real life issues and difficult family dynamics so it was refreshing to read a book that isn’t just all love for Christmas. The narrators of the audiobook also did a great job!
Thank you Libro.fm and Double Day Canada for this ALC!
Thank you Libro.fm and Double Day Canada for this ALC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I always try to read a Christmas book in July and debut Canadian author Alix Kelinda's The Christmas Curse was the perfect choice this year!
I loved the grumpy x sunshine pairing and the forced proximity of two neighbors falling for one another. I especially liked that while this book had some light-hearted funny moments, it also featured two characters dealing with their own individual traumas, anxieties and addictions and working through them both together and alone.
Highly recommended for your holiday reading pleasure especially for fans of authors like Julia McKay or Christine Winters. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
⚠️CW: anxiety, addiction recovery, sobriety, parental abandonment
I loved the grumpy x sunshine pairing and the forced proximity of two neighbors falling for one another. I especially liked that while this book had some light-hearted funny moments, it also featured two characters dealing with their own individual traumas, anxieties and addictions and working through them both together and alone.
Highly recommended for your holiday reading pleasure especially for fans of authors like Julia McKay or Christine Winters. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
⚠️CW: anxiety, addiction recovery, sobriety, parental abandonment
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