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The Christmas Competition
A SheReads Best New Holiday Romance of 2026
Long time nemeses and rival neighbors butt heads in a fierce competition for first place in their neighborhood’s Christmas house-decorating competition in this high-spirited holiday romance.
The local rumor mill in Nisa Ansari's small highland town is swirling about the downfall of her marriage, and in desperate need of a distraction, she enters her town’s Christmas house-decorating competition. The competition comes with the added bonus of getting on neighbor Kerr Murdoch’s last nerve. It’s the least she could do, considering her ex-husband left Nisa for Kerr’s girlfriend. And maybe if Kerr smiled or cracked a joke—just once!—his girlfriend would’ve stayed, and Nisa wouldn’t find herself alone during the holidays.
Introverted Kerr has trouble feeling comfortable around people he doesn’t know well. Newly single, he decorates his house in remembrance of his mother, who always had a soft spot for Christmas lights. But when Nisa's and Kerr’s decorations end up nearly identical, he incurs Nisa’s wrath.
This means all-out war, complete with gaudy wreaths, twinkle lights, and too many reindeer to count. Never mind that Nisa can’t keep her eyes off Kerr’s toned forearms. Or ignore that he’s a pet-loving veterinarian with a heart of gold. After conceding to her husband’s wishes for years, Nisa is determined to get her way. But as Christmas draws near, Nisa must decide what she actually the familiar rivalry she’s had for years with Kerr, or opening herself up to the chance to fall in love with someone new.
Long time nemeses and rival neighbors butt heads in a fierce competition for first place in their neighborhood’s Christmas house-decorating competition in this high-spirited holiday romance.
The local rumor mill in Nisa Ansari's small highland town is swirling about the downfall of her marriage, and in desperate need of a distraction, she enters her town’s Christmas house-decorating competition. The competition comes with the added bonus of getting on neighbor Kerr Murdoch’s last nerve. It’s the least she could do, considering her ex-husband left Nisa for Kerr’s girlfriend. And maybe if Kerr smiled or cracked a joke—just once!—his girlfriend would’ve stayed, and Nisa wouldn’t find herself alone during the holidays.
Introverted Kerr has trouble feeling comfortable around people he doesn’t know well. Newly single, he decorates his house in remembrance of his mother, who always had a soft spot for Christmas lights. But when Nisa's and Kerr’s decorations end up nearly identical, he incurs Nisa’s wrath.
This means all-out war, complete with gaudy wreaths, twinkle lights, and too many reindeer to count. Never mind that Nisa can’t keep her eyes off Kerr’s toned forearms. Or ignore that he’s a pet-loving veterinarian with a heart of gold. After conceding to her husband’s wishes for years, Nisa is determined to get her way. But as Christmas draws near, Nisa must decide what she actually the familiar rivalry she’s had for years with Kerr, or opening herself up to the chance to fall in love with someone new.
384 pages, Paperback
First published October 20, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
October 20, 2026
Nisa decided the appropriate response to her husband running off with the neighbor’s girlfriend was to blind that neighbor with Christmas lights. And honestly, this is why I support women’s wrongs. Her marriage falls apart, the whole town is apparently discussing it like they have a group chat without her, and Nisa needs something to do besides sit quietly while everyone watches her become The Divorced Woman at Christmas. Enter the local decorating competition, a spa prize, and several thousand watts of spite aimed directly at Kerr Murdoch’s windows.
Now, Kerr is not the man who stole her husband. Kerr is the man whose girlfriend stole her husband. Important distinction. Nisa, however, has decided that Kerr bears some responsibility because maybe if he had smiled more, cracked a joke, or generally behaved less like a locked filing cabinet, his girlfriend would not have left him. This is an absolutely unhinged legal theory. She has reviewed the evidence and found him guilty of insufficient whimsy.
Kerr responds to all of this by entering the same competition and putting up decorations that look almost exactly like hers. Sir. You cannot live next door to a woman whose marriage has just exploded, copy her Christmas display, and expect a calm conversation. Nisa sees those matching decorations and reacts like he climbed onto her roof in the night and stole the North Star. From that moment on, these two are no longer neighbors. They are opposing military powers with access to extension cords.
The decorating war keeps escalating because neither of them has the emotional range to simply admit they enjoy having the other person’s attention. There are wreaths. There are reindeer. There are electrical issues. There is one deeply unfortunate decorative Santa who gets dragged into a conflict he does not understand. Every new display is basically Nisa and Kerr screaming “NOTICE ME” through seasonal lawn equipment.
Nisa has spent years letting her husband decide what was too loud, too much, too embarrassing, too Nisa. Now she is putting enough lights on her house to disrupt local air traffic, and yes, it is petty, but it is also the first time in a long time that she is choosing something because she wants it. She is not shrinking. She is not asking whether everybody else is comfortable. She is outside attaching another glowing reindeer to the roof while Kerr watches from next door like a man witnessing both a breakdown and a personal invitation.
And then she notices his forearms. Of course she does. Apparently nothing repairs your faith in romance faster than watching a grumpy veterinarian handle outdoor wiring with his sleeves pushed up. Suddenly she is discovering that Kerr likes animals, has a heart, and is not lurking next door plotting feline injuries despite whatever neighborhood propaganda she previously accepted as fact. She has spent years finding this man irritating with an amount of focus that should have tipped everyone off much sooner.
Kerr is quieter, and Nisa keeps reading that quiet as judgment because she has never once considered the possibility that another person might also be having a terrible time. He lost his mother before he could make peace with everything she left behind, and the Christmas lights are tied to her. So while Nisa is decorating to reclaim herself, Kerr is decorating because grief makes people reach for the strangest little pieces of home. That hit me directly in the chest, and then the book went right back to lawn ornament warfare before I could become unbearable about it.
The romance took a minute to catch up with how invested I was in the decorating feud. I believed these two would overload the electrical grid before I fully believed they would kiss. But somewhere between the arguing, the animals, and the increasingly obvious fact that they are paying far too much attention to each other, the whole thing started working on me. Their exes created the mess, but Nisa and Kerr are the ones left standing in it, looking at the person next door and realizing, with enormous irritation, that maybe this is not the worst place to land.
By the end, I was rooting for them, rooting for Nisa to keep choosing herself, and rooting for Kerr to stop behaving like affection is a home invasion. I still wanted a little more heat between them earlier, but I had a good time watching two wounded people flirt by committing escalating acts of festive property aggression. 3.5 stars, plus an unofficial citation from the town for reckless use of illuminated reindeer.
Merry Mayhem Prize: For Treating Shared Betrayal Like a Neighborhood Christmas Cold War With Forearms
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC, and for giving me two divorced neighbors who could have gone to therapy but instead chose to make their houses visible from space.
Now, Kerr is not the man who stole her husband. Kerr is the man whose girlfriend stole her husband. Important distinction. Nisa, however, has decided that Kerr bears some responsibility because maybe if he had smiled more, cracked a joke, or generally behaved less like a locked filing cabinet, his girlfriend would not have left him. This is an absolutely unhinged legal theory. She has reviewed the evidence and found him guilty of insufficient whimsy.
Kerr responds to all of this by entering the same competition and putting up decorations that look almost exactly like hers. Sir. You cannot live next door to a woman whose marriage has just exploded, copy her Christmas display, and expect a calm conversation. Nisa sees those matching decorations and reacts like he climbed onto her roof in the night and stole the North Star. From that moment on, these two are no longer neighbors. They are opposing military powers with access to extension cords.
The decorating war keeps escalating because neither of them has the emotional range to simply admit they enjoy having the other person’s attention. There are wreaths. There are reindeer. There are electrical issues. There is one deeply unfortunate decorative Santa who gets dragged into a conflict he does not understand. Every new display is basically Nisa and Kerr screaming “NOTICE ME” through seasonal lawn equipment.
Nisa has spent years letting her husband decide what was too loud, too much, too embarrassing, too Nisa. Now she is putting enough lights on her house to disrupt local air traffic, and yes, it is petty, but it is also the first time in a long time that she is choosing something because she wants it. She is not shrinking. She is not asking whether everybody else is comfortable. She is outside attaching another glowing reindeer to the roof while Kerr watches from next door like a man witnessing both a breakdown and a personal invitation.
And then she notices his forearms. Of course she does. Apparently nothing repairs your faith in romance faster than watching a grumpy veterinarian handle outdoor wiring with his sleeves pushed up. Suddenly she is discovering that Kerr likes animals, has a heart, and is not lurking next door plotting feline injuries despite whatever neighborhood propaganda she previously accepted as fact. She has spent years finding this man irritating with an amount of focus that should have tipped everyone off much sooner.
Kerr is quieter, and Nisa keeps reading that quiet as judgment because she has never once considered the possibility that another person might also be having a terrible time. He lost his mother before he could make peace with everything she left behind, and the Christmas lights are tied to her. So while Nisa is decorating to reclaim herself, Kerr is decorating because grief makes people reach for the strangest little pieces of home. That hit me directly in the chest, and then the book went right back to lawn ornament warfare before I could become unbearable about it.
The romance took a minute to catch up with how invested I was in the decorating feud. I believed these two would overload the electrical grid before I fully believed they would kiss. But somewhere between the arguing, the animals, and the increasingly obvious fact that they are paying far too much attention to each other, the whole thing started working on me. Their exes created the mess, but Nisa and Kerr are the ones left standing in it, looking at the person next door and realizing, with enormous irritation, that maybe this is not the worst place to land.
By the end, I was rooting for them, rooting for Nisa to keep choosing herself, and rooting for Kerr to stop behaving like affection is a home invasion. I still wanted a little more heat between them earlier, but I had a good time watching two wounded people flirt by committing escalating acts of festive property aggression. 3.5 stars, plus an unofficial citation from the town for reckless use of illuminated reindeer.
Merry Mayhem Prize: For Treating Shared Betrayal Like a Neighborhood Christmas Cold War With Forearms
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC, and for giving me two divorced neighbors who could have gone to therapy but instead chose to make their houses visible from space.
November 8, 2026
When you read the synopsis of this book, you think you're getting a comedy but I would call it more of a heartfelt type of Christmas story. There was nothing particularly bad about this book but also, there wasn't anything particularly great about it either. Just a middle of the road story.
This is the story of Nisa and Kerr. They live across the street from each other and are enemies largely due to what Nisa calls the incident from a while ago where she thought he hit her cat and injured her. Kerr thinks Nisa is a bit deranged and has explained many times he did not hit her cat but she doesn't believe him. To further make their situation even more complicated, their exes are dating one another. Both facing their first Christmas alone, they decide to enter their village's Christmas light competition (takes place in Scotland). This causes a series of events where these two are somewhat thrown together and learn there's a thin line between hate and love.
I think if this had been written more of a comedy with more hijinks and such surrounding the competition as they grew closer to one another, it could have been better. But we were only halfway through before all of that tension was resolved. So the book had a bit of slow pace to it in the latter half. Again, a fine book but just not much of a story that I would remember past putting down the book. Some open door spice but pretty light.
This is the story of Nisa and Kerr. They live across the street from each other and are enemies largely due to what Nisa calls the incident from a while ago where she thought he hit her cat and injured her. Kerr thinks Nisa is a bit deranged and has explained many times he did not hit her cat but she doesn't believe him. To further make their situation even more complicated, their exes are dating one another. Both facing their first Christmas alone, they decide to enter their village's Christmas light competition (takes place in Scotland). This causes a series of events where these two are somewhat thrown together and learn there's a thin line between hate and love.
I think if this had been written more of a comedy with more hijinks and such surrounding the competition as they grew closer to one another, it could have been better. But we were only halfway through before all of that tension was resolved. So the book had a bit of slow pace to it in the latter half. Again, a fine book but just not much of a story that I would remember past putting down the book. Some open door spice but pretty light.
October 21, 2026
3.75🌟 | 2.5🌶️
Sometimes a little healthy competition reveals much more than either person bargained for.
Nisa and Kerr’s rivalry had me smiling, especially as their attempts to outdo each other got more ridiculous by the minute. But underneath all the bickering, there was a sweet little romance taking shape, and I had fun watching them slowly let their guards down.
Nisa has spent so long putting everyone else first that seeing her start standing up for herself was really satisfying. Kerr, meanwhile, struggles with feeling like he’s never enough, and I liked how they gave each other the space to work through their baggage. He encouraged her to be herself, and she made him feel safe enough to open up. Their friendship developing into something more was easily one of my favorite parts!
Between the festive chaos, the banter, and a touching subplot involving one of Nisa’s patients, there was plenty to keep me invested. I also appreciated that the story gave both characters room to grow outside their relationship.
This was a sweet, cozy holiday romance with some lovely emotional moments, and it definitely put me in the mood for more Christmas reading!
~~~~
A sincere thank you to Zoe Allison, Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC! 🥰📚
I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨
Sometimes a little healthy competition reveals much more than either person bargained for.
Nisa and Kerr’s rivalry had me smiling, especially as their attempts to outdo each other got more ridiculous by the minute. But underneath all the bickering, there was a sweet little romance taking shape, and I had fun watching them slowly let their guards down.
Nisa has spent so long putting everyone else first that seeing her start standing up for herself was really satisfying. Kerr, meanwhile, struggles with feeling like he’s never enough, and I liked how they gave each other the space to work through their baggage. He encouraged her to be herself, and she made him feel safe enough to open up. Their friendship developing into something more was easily one of my favorite parts!
Between the festive chaos, the banter, and a touching subplot involving one of Nisa’s patients, there was plenty to keep me invested. I also appreciated that the story gave both characters room to grow outside their relationship.
This was a sweet, cozy holiday romance with some lovely emotional moments, and it definitely put me in the mood for more Christmas reading!
~~~~
A sincere thank you to Zoe Allison, Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC! 🥰📚
I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨
October 25, 2026
⟡ Thank you for the free book, Berkley Romance.
How adorable is this cover? A Christmas house-decorating competition mixed with romance sounded like the perfect recipe for holiday mischief. The characters were charming and well developed, and their story brought plenty of warmth and humor. Even in October, this novel had me looking forward to Christmas.
How adorable is this cover? A Christmas house-decorating competition mixed with romance sounded like the perfect recipe for holiday mischief. The characters were charming and well developed, and their story brought plenty of warmth and humor. Even in October, this novel had me looking forward to Christmas.
November 12, 2026
This is the first book I have read by Zoe Allison but I really enjoyed it so it won’t be the last!
Neighbours Nisa and Kerr have both gone through fairly recent break-ups and as if that wasn’t bad enough, their former partners had gone off together! To distract themselves from being alone at Christmas they both decide to take part in their town’s Christmas house-decorating competition and very soon a not-so-friendly rivalry is in full swing as they both try to outdo each other. Some of what followed was so funny, particularly an incident with an inflatable snowman!
I really felt for both characters as we started to learn about their backgrounds. Kerr was afraid to trust as he felt that he was never enough for anyone, and that everyone would always leave him in the end because they always had. Nisa on the other hand had often been told she was ‘too much’ and spent her life putting other people’s needs before her own and was a real people-pleaser. This is very much an enemies-to-lovers type story and so of course, despite their differences Nisa and Kerr grow closer and when I say close, well let’s just say that some of the scenes would melt snow as well as hearts! (And shock the author’s Nan with some ‘choice words’!)
I really enjoyed all the details of Nisa and Kerr’s working lives as a nurse and vet respectively. Nisa was obviously a very dedicated and much respected nurse and had a great friendship with, one often doctors in the hospital where she worked. Kerr’s colleagues provided a lot of amusing moments, particularly his receptionist Ranjeeta. There was a particularly touching story with one of Nisa’s patients which provided a little intrigue to the story and brought a lump to the throat when resolved.
I has such fun reading The Christmas Competition. It was funny, light-hearted and very romantic. If you are looking for a Christmas novel to make you smile, look no further!
Neighbours Nisa and Kerr have both gone through fairly recent break-ups and as if that wasn’t bad enough, their former partners had gone off together! To distract themselves from being alone at Christmas they both decide to take part in their town’s Christmas house-decorating competition and very soon a not-so-friendly rivalry is in full swing as they both try to outdo each other. Some of what followed was so funny, particularly an incident with an inflatable snowman!
I really felt for both characters as we started to learn about their backgrounds. Kerr was afraid to trust as he felt that he was never enough for anyone, and that everyone would always leave him in the end because they always had. Nisa on the other hand had often been told she was ‘too much’ and spent her life putting other people’s needs before her own and was a real people-pleaser. This is very much an enemies-to-lovers type story and so of course, despite their differences Nisa and Kerr grow closer and when I say close, well let’s just say that some of the scenes would melt snow as well as hearts! (And shock the author’s Nan with some ‘choice words’!)
I really enjoyed all the details of Nisa and Kerr’s working lives as a nurse and vet respectively. Nisa was obviously a very dedicated and much respected nurse and had a great friendship with, one often doctors in the hospital where she worked. Kerr’s colleagues provided a lot of amusing moments, particularly his receptionist Ranjeeta. There was a particularly touching story with one of Nisa’s patients which provided a little intrigue to the story and brought a lump to the throat when resolved.
I has such fun reading The Christmas Competition. It was funny, light-hearted and very romantic. If you are looking for a Christmas novel to make you smile, look no further!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This enemies-to-lovers romance was an entertaining story. Nisa Ansari is a nurse who is getting over the fact that her husband left her for another woman. She isn't ready to start again since she hopes this is just a blip in their relationship until she gets a text from him announcing that the new girlfriend is pregnant.
Kerr Murdoch is a vet who lives across the street from Nisa. He is also the ex-husband of the woman Nisa's husband left her for. Nisa also blames him for an accident that injured her beloved cat Izzy since her ex said Kerr was the one whose car hit her.
Nisa gets the idea of decorating her house and entering the town decorating contest at the same time Kerr gets the idea. Their designs are very similar and only inflame the conflict between them. Pranks and sabotage ensue.
When Kerr saves Izzy after a fire starts in Nisa's living room from overloading circuits to power more lights, the tensions turn to romance. Nisa has not only dimmed down her exuberant personality to conform to her ex's wishes she is also the one who shoulders all the blame for everything in her family. Kerr is really introverted as a result of his childhood and is very concerned that he isn't enough for anyone as evidenced by the number of people who have left him including his mother and his ex-wife.
A big part of the romance concerns acceptance of all their personality quirks by their new partners. She can be her exuberant self with Kerr and has the patience to let him talk about his needs when he feels safe and ready. He is ready to support her and take some of her burdons rather than piling on more like her family does.
A large subplot concerns a woman with dementia who is one of Nisa's patients. She is determined to find the woman's family and has to patch together clues from the little the woman remembers.
Fans of holiday romances will enjoy this one.
Kerr Murdoch is a vet who lives across the street from Nisa. He is also the ex-husband of the woman Nisa's husband left her for. Nisa also blames him for an accident that injured her beloved cat Izzy since her ex said Kerr was the one whose car hit her.
Nisa gets the idea of decorating her house and entering the town decorating contest at the same time Kerr gets the idea. Their designs are very similar and only inflame the conflict between them. Pranks and sabotage ensue.
When Kerr saves Izzy after a fire starts in Nisa's living room from overloading circuits to power more lights, the tensions turn to romance. Nisa has not only dimmed down her exuberant personality to conform to her ex's wishes she is also the one who shoulders all the blame for everything in her family. Kerr is really introverted as a result of his childhood and is very concerned that he isn't enough for anyone as evidenced by the number of people who have left him including his mother and his ex-wife.
A big part of the romance concerns acceptance of all their personality quirks by their new partners. She can be her exuberant self with Kerr and has the patience to let him talk about his needs when he feels safe and ready. He is ready to support her and take some of her burdons rather than piling on more like her family does.
A large subplot concerns a woman with dementia who is one of Nisa's patients. She is determined to find the woman's family and has to patch together clues from the little the woman remembers.
Fans of holiday romances will enjoy this one.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)
Nisa and Kerr are neighbors and sworn enemies. With both of them facing Christmas alone this year, they decide to go all out decorating their houses in hopes of winning the neighborhood Christmas lights competition.
Of course, things quickly get out of hand as they try to outdo each other, eventually leading to a truce, an unexpected friendship, and maybe something more…
This was a cute, quick holiday read full of laughs, heartache, lust, and love!
I will say that Nisa drove me absolutely CRAZY at times, especially with the way she seemed to think her estranged husband hung the moon. But honestly, I think that was kind of the point. We needed to see just how much of herself she’d lost in that relationship to appreciate her journey toward finding herself again.
I really loved how supportive Kerr was as Nisa learned to set boundaries with her family and started standing up for herself. And in return, I appreciated how patient Nisa was with Kerr as he worked through his own abandonment issues.
They both had their baggage, but I liked that they gave each other the space and support to work through it.
Ultimately, this was a sweet, entertaining holiday romance that balanced plenty of festive fun with some surprisingly emotional moments.
In a story where one person is always made to feel like too much and the other feels like he’s never enough, these two somehow come together to make a perfectly cute couple. ❤️
Nisa and Kerr are neighbors and sworn enemies. With both of them facing Christmas alone this year, they decide to go all out decorating their houses in hopes of winning the neighborhood Christmas lights competition.
Of course, things quickly get out of hand as they try to outdo each other, eventually leading to a truce, an unexpected friendship, and maybe something more…
This was a cute, quick holiday read full of laughs, heartache, lust, and love!
I will say that Nisa drove me absolutely CRAZY at times, especially with the way she seemed to think her estranged husband hung the moon. But honestly, I think that was kind of the point. We needed to see just how much of herself she’d lost in that relationship to appreciate her journey toward finding herself again.
I really loved how supportive Kerr was as Nisa learned to set boundaries with her family and started standing up for herself. And in return, I appreciated how patient Nisa was with Kerr as he worked through his own abandonment issues.
They both had their baggage, but I liked that they gave each other the space and support to work through it.
Ultimately, this was a sweet, entertaining holiday romance that balanced plenty of festive fun with some surprisingly emotional moments.
In a story where one person is always made to feel like too much and the other feels like he’s never enough, these two somehow come together to make a perfectly cute couple. ❤️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you @NetGalley for the arc of The Christmas Competition by @Zoe Allison Author !!! This book is out on 10/20. I absolutely loved it. I read it in one day!!
"Whats for you won't go by you"
The fmc Nisa and the mmc Kerr are neighbors who dont like each other and they enter into a rivalry after both deciding to enter the towns best Christmas home and yard display. The tension builds and they do prank each other and its hilarious. I was laughing out loud. Rivalry turns to attraction. At the same time you get to see a day in the life of their jobs. Nisa is a nurse and Kerr is a vet. One of Nisas patient's is an elderly lady with dementia and part of the story is trying to discover who exactly is her patient. The spice was so good!!! Her patient Anna's mystery is solved but I didn't even connect the dots until I was about 85% into the book. I also teared up! I loved the UK terms in the book and I think that added so much charm to the story. Do yourself a favor and add this to your Xmas tbr!! 🎄 🎅 ❄️
"Whats for you won't go by you"
The fmc Nisa and the mmc Kerr are neighbors who dont like each other and they enter into a rivalry after both deciding to enter the towns best Christmas home and yard display. The tension builds and they do prank each other and its hilarious. I was laughing out loud. Rivalry turns to attraction. At the same time you get to see a day in the life of their jobs. Nisa is a nurse and Kerr is a vet. One of Nisas patient's is an elderly lady with dementia and part of the story is trying to discover who exactly is her patient. The spice was so good!!! Her patient Anna's mystery is solved but I didn't even connect the dots until I was about 85% into the book. I also teared up! I loved the UK terms in the book and I think that added so much charm to the story. Do yourself a favor and add this to your Xmas tbr!! 🎄 🎅 ❄️
November 7, 2026
Well, I got all the Festive feels, plus a few more, from this page-turning Christmas read by Zoe Allison!
This dual POV book follows Nisa, a nurse who is nursing not only patients but a bruised heart as she comes to terms with her husband leaving her and shacking up with someone else, and Kerr, a moody vet who lives opposite Nisa and is the ex of the woman Nisa's ex is now dating.
Somehow, they end up in a bit of a battle over Christmas lights, and what follows is a delightful tale that had me finishing the book in a day!
I loved Nisa's character and felt for her so much, as she dampened down her own personality to blend in with the rest of her world, and Kerr, well, it was obvious from the off that he was a kind, generous man, who is rather fit, too, and misunderstood by Nisa.
And Izzy the three-legged cat and Dave T Dog were fantastic additions to the character lineup!
Definitely a little spicy, but who doesn't need a little heat as these days get chillier?
This dual POV book follows Nisa, a nurse who is nursing not only patients but a bruised heart as she comes to terms with her husband leaving her and shacking up with someone else, and Kerr, a moody vet who lives opposite Nisa and is the ex of the woman Nisa's ex is now dating.
Somehow, they end up in a bit of a battle over Christmas lights, and what follows is a delightful tale that had me finishing the book in a day!
I loved Nisa's character and felt for her so much, as she dampened down her own personality to blend in with the rest of her world, and Kerr, well, it was obvious from the off that he was a kind, generous man, who is rather fit, too, and misunderstood by Nisa.
And Izzy the three-legged cat and Dave T Dog were fantastic additions to the character lineup!
Definitely a little spicy, but who doesn't need a little heat as these days get chillier?
October 30, 2026
This got me right in the holiday spirit. Nisa and Kerr's exes are now together, but Nisa and Kerr really don't like one another. Nisa is a little too much to handle and Kerr isn't enough, but maybe together they can be just right. That is, after their little competition. As the two of them get closer and closer, it is clear that they weren't really seeing exactly who one another was.
I found this one a little hard to understand at times because of the way it was written, and it drew me out of the story a bit. I wasn't a fan of the fact that Drew and Nisa were still married and seemed like there was just no talk about a divorce till the end, even though he was living with someone else. It was wild to me. I did like how Nisa and Kerr came together despite their differences and actually communicated though. 3.5 stars.
I found this one a little hard to understand at times because of the way it was written, and it drew me out of the story a bit. I wasn't a fan of the fact that Drew and Nisa were still married and seemed like there was just no talk about a divorce till the end, even though he was living with someone else. It was wild to me. I did like how Nisa and Kerr came together despite their differences and actually communicated though. 3.5 stars.
October 22, 2026
4 Let the Shenanigans Begin Stars!
I’m all for a Christmas holiday book and my first book by Zoe Allison fit the bill perfectly. There’s lights, a “friendly” competition in Nisa’s hometown, a grumpy fellow Veterinarian that is also in the competition and enemies-to-lovers so it ticked all my boxes!
Both Nisa and Kerr have entered their towns’ Competition which is the perfect setting for some great, witty banter and two people that are convinced they hate each other… here’s a little bit of a spoiler – not so much! I loved that as the competition rachets up, these two realize they have more in common than they thought which progressively changes them, bringing them closer together.
I fully sank myself into this story and found myself laughing out loud because the shenanigans are high, followed up by swooning and sighing as both Nisa and Kerr become closer and realize there’s more to life than they’ve been handed recently.
Ms. Allison has written a book that’s the perfect addition to my holiday reading period!
I’m all for a Christmas holiday book and my first book by Zoe Allison fit the bill perfectly. There’s lights, a “friendly” competition in Nisa’s hometown, a grumpy fellow Veterinarian that is also in the competition and enemies-to-lovers so it ticked all my boxes!
Both Nisa and Kerr have entered their towns’ Competition which is the perfect setting for some great, witty banter and two people that are convinced they hate each other… here’s a little bit of a spoiler – not so much! I loved that as the competition rachets up, these two realize they have more in common than they thought which progressively changes them, bringing them closer together.
I fully sank myself into this story and found myself laughing out loud because the shenanigans are high, followed up by swooning and sighing as both Nisa and Kerr become closer and realize there’s more to life than they’ve been handed recently.
Ms. Allison has written a book that’s the perfect addition to my holiday reading period!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Christmas Competition is a beautiful heartwarming love story of finding the right person who loves you, for you. It has a wonderful combination of humour, emotion, vulnerability and character growth.
I loved this book for the funny moments especially at the beginning of the book as Nisa rages at Kerr that actually had me laughing out loud. But what really touched me was the slow burn as they became friends and the vulnerabilities they showed eachother and the support they gave eachother. It really was a beautiful book to read.
Thank you to Pellerin Books for the advanced copy to read and review
I loved this book for the funny moments especially at the beginning of the book as Nisa rages at Kerr that actually had me laughing out loud. But what really touched me was the slow burn as they became friends and the vulnerabilities they showed eachother and the support they gave eachother. It really was a beautiful book to read.
Thank you to Pellerin Books for the advanced copy to read and review
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Christmas Competition is a standalone festive romcom. It's very funny - MMC Kerr and FMC Nisa were both very petty to start with, but it was absolutely hilarious *because* of how petty they were. That pettiness was the defence mechanism for some real emotional turmoil though, so it was funny, but with a strong emotional core to it. Overall, a perfect festive romcom!
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from Pellerin Books, but this is my voluntary and honest review.
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from Pellerin Books, but this is my voluntary and honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I absolutely loved this from start to finish. I am all about Christmas and the very idea of a Christmas lights competition really struck a chord. I could immediately see the potential for one-upmanship, of which there was plenty. Sparks flew, heat sizzled and the chemistry between the characters developed naturally, but with lots of laughs. This was sexy, but romantic, and I really enjoyed the side plot about dementia too, which was very tastefully done. The secondary characters were diverse and fun, and totally relatable. You can't help but root for these characters right from the start, given their unfortunate shared history. Emotions run high and there is also great depth to this novel, but Nisa and Kerr were made for each other - they just have to realise it!
An absolute joy to read. Cannot wait for the next one.
An absolute joy to read. Cannot wait for the next one.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Full of small-town charm, humor, a Christmas decoration competition, and feuding neighbors/enemies to lovers, this was a fun and festive read for the holiday season! I enjoyed it! Thanks at Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Christmas Competition
~Zoe Allison
The Christmas Competition by Zoe Allison is the first of what I suspect will be many holiday novels dressed head-to-toe in every glittery, gaudy bauble readers crave in a cozy rom-com, and I am absolutely here for every sparkling second of them. And yes, despite temperatures soaring well over 100 degrees here in Texas, I still curled up in my reading chair with a blanket and pretended I could see my breath in the frosty air.
Christmas looks a little different for Nisa Ansari this year. Earlier in the year, her husband, Drew, requested a "trial separation" and already seems to have moved on with a new girlfriend. Even as she helps decorate the hospital where she works, that familiar tingle of holiday magic continues to elude her.
After scrolling through social media, Nisa discovers that her community is hosting a Christmas house-decorating competition. What better way to lift her spirits than by decking out her home in festive splendor, especially since Drew always considered such displays far too ostentatious? The grand prize is a relaxing spa getaway, something she could certainly use. But the real reward? Seeing the look on the face of her grumpy neighbor, and alleged cat maimer, Kerr Murdoch, as thousands of twinkling lights shine directly into his front window.
What Nisa doesn't realize is that Kerr saw the very same community post and stopped by the hardware store on his way home to pick up decorations of his own, partly inspired by memories of how much his mother adored Christmas lights and perhaps partly to irritate Nisa.
When Nisa discovers that Kerr's decorations are nearly identical to hers, the fuse is lit and a petty rivalry explodes into an all-out Christmas lights war. Somewhere between escalating displays, overloaded electrical outlets, and one rather unfortunate fire, feelings begin to shift. Could two cranky neighbors find common ground over yule logs, hot cocoa, and the magic of Christmas?
Allison creates characters who reach through the pages and tug your emotions in every possible direction. Nisa is unquestionably the heart of the story. She has spent years shrinking herself to fit the expectations of everyone around her, from her parents and sister to her husband. Watching her slowly unwrap her true self is heartwarming, even if readers with stronger personalities may occasionally want to gently shake her and tell her to stand up for herself.
Kerr initially appears to be the classic grump, but beneath that exterior lies a man shaped by abandonment and grief. His mother left when he was young, and her death came before he could ever find closure. In Kerr's mind, everyone eventually leaves. Yet beneath the prickly armor beats a heart of gold. He loves animals, despite Nisa's suspicions, and more than anything, he simply wants to be wanted and needed.
Together, Nisa and Kerr are delightful. Their rivalry feels organic, born from circumstance and personality rather than manufactured conflict. Their chemistry simmers beautifully beneath every argument and competitive jab. Readers will quickly become invested in their escalating feud while quietly cheering them on, knowing full well that all that crackling tension is destined to ignite like a fireplace on Christmas Eve.
The pacing does begin on the slower side, but that is far from a drawback. The gradual buildup lays the groundwork needed for the emotional payoff later on. Once the decorations go up, so does the momentum. The cozy Highland setting feels tailor-made for a holiday escape, and the decorating competition adds a delightful ticking clock to the story. The question of who will out-decorate whom, coupled with the increasingly ridiculous mishaps they encounter (poor Santa), keeps the pages turning. The banter sparkles, the escalation is gleefully absurd, and the enemies-to-lovers thaw arrives at exactly the right moment.
Overall, The Christmas Competition by Zoe Allison is a warm, funny, and low-stakes, high-heart escape that is exactly what holiday reading should be. Releasing just in time for the season, this is one readers will want to add to their festive TBRs immediately. Pre-order now on Amazon ahead of its October 20, 2026 release.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Berkley/Penguin Random House, and Zoe Allison for the opportunity to Alpha/Beta/ARC read The Christmas Competition. As always, all opinions expressed are entirely my own, Karen Brooks aka The Tx Lit Chic. I have not been promised any compensation, current or future, by the author or publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review of The Christmas Competition.
~Zoe Allison
The Christmas Competition by Zoe Allison is the first of what I suspect will be many holiday novels dressed head-to-toe in every glittery, gaudy bauble readers crave in a cozy rom-com, and I am absolutely here for every sparkling second of them. And yes, despite temperatures soaring well over 100 degrees here in Texas, I still curled up in my reading chair with a blanket and pretended I could see my breath in the frosty air.
Christmas looks a little different for Nisa Ansari this year. Earlier in the year, her husband, Drew, requested a "trial separation" and already seems to have moved on with a new girlfriend. Even as she helps decorate the hospital where she works, that familiar tingle of holiday magic continues to elude her.
After scrolling through social media, Nisa discovers that her community is hosting a Christmas house-decorating competition. What better way to lift her spirits than by decking out her home in festive splendor, especially since Drew always considered such displays far too ostentatious? The grand prize is a relaxing spa getaway, something she could certainly use. But the real reward? Seeing the look on the face of her grumpy neighbor, and alleged cat maimer, Kerr Murdoch, as thousands of twinkling lights shine directly into his front window.
What Nisa doesn't realize is that Kerr saw the very same community post and stopped by the hardware store on his way home to pick up decorations of his own, partly inspired by memories of how much his mother adored Christmas lights and perhaps partly to irritate Nisa.
When Nisa discovers that Kerr's decorations are nearly identical to hers, the fuse is lit and a petty rivalry explodes into an all-out Christmas lights war. Somewhere between escalating displays, overloaded electrical outlets, and one rather unfortunate fire, feelings begin to shift. Could two cranky neighbors find common ground over yule logs, hot cocoa, and the magic of Christmas?
Allison creates characters who reach through the pages and tug your emotions in every possible direction. Nisa is unquestionably the heart of the story. She has spent years shrinking herself to fit the expectations of everyone around her, from her parents and sister to her husband. Watching her slowly unwrap her true self is heartwarming, even if readers with stronger personalities may occasionally want to gently shake her and tell her to stand up for herself.
Kerr initially appears to be the classic grump, but beneath that exterior lies a man shaped by abandonment and grief. His mother left when he was young, and her death came before he could ever find closure. In Kerr's mind, everyone eventually leaves. Yet beneath the prickly armor beats a heart of gold. He loves animals, despite Nisa's suspicions, and more than anything, he simply wants to be wanted and needed.
Together, Nisa and Kerr are delightful. Their rivalry feels organic, born from circumstance and personality rather than manufactured conflict. Their chemistry simmers beautifully beneath every argument and competitive jab. Readers will quickly become invested in their escalating feud while quietly cheering them on, knowing full well that all that crackling tension is destined to ignite like a fireplace on Christmas Eve.
The pacing does begin on the slower side, but that is far from a drawback. The gradual buildup lays the groundwork needed for the emotional payoff later on. Once the decorations go up, so does the momentum. The cozy Highland setting feels tailor-made for a holiday escape, and the decorating competition adds a delightful ticking clock to the story. The question of who will out-decorate whom, coupled with the increasingly ridiculous mishaps they encounter (poor Santa), keeps the pages turning. The banter sparkles, the escalation is gleefully absurd, and the enemies-to-lovers thaw arrives at exactly the right moment.
Overall, The Christmas Competition by Zoe Allison is a warm, funny, and low-stakes, high-heart escape that is exactly what holiday reading should be. Releasing just in time for the season, this is one readers will want to add to their festive TBRs immediately. Pre-order now on Amazon ahead of its October 20, 2026 release.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Berkley/Penguin Random House, and Zoe Allison for the opportunity to Alpha/Beta/ARC read The Christmas Competition. As always, all opinions expressed are entirely my own, Karen Brooks aka The Tx Lit Chic. I have not been promised any compensation, current or future, by the author or publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review of The Christmas Competition.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Where The Christmas Competition started and where it ended took me on a journey that I absolutely loved.
Zoe Allison writes complex characters that are full of heart and layers. Nisa and Kerr were no different. I found myself resonating with both characters as the story went on and we got to know who they were. Told in dual POV, I found it so interesting how Zoe Allison took the time to let the reader see the changes happening for the character through both POVs. Oftentimes, I feel that the reader can only see the change through one characters perspective and this gave The Christmas Competition a decidedly different feel throughout the story. Which is why the character journey throughout the story was so impressive and well written.
Nisa and Kerr are across the street neighbors who seem to be enemies through an unproven historical account and events that are not their fault. Both have recently been broken up with. Kerr with his girlfriend and Nisa with her husband. And through an uncanny twist of the fate the ex girlfriend and ex husband get together. They are both facing the holidays without a significant other for the first time and decide that the best way to get over their heartache is to annoy each other. Nisa and Kerr decide to enter the holiday Christmas light decorating competition with one goal in mind to make their house the most decorated so that it annoys the other. From there I thought this story was going to be a laugh out loud shenanigans and one upmanship. But instead we got this beautiful and heartwarming story about learning to find yourself after losing yourself in a relationship or the past.
As Nisa and Kerr begin to try to show one another up, it opens the door to understanding each other. It's an olive branch. And when Kerr helps save Nisa and her cat from a fire, the truth is revealed. Their rivalry was just masking an attraction neither one wanted to acknowledge. Primarily because they both had significant others. I loved that the foundation laid for the relationship was rooted in developing a tender friendship first. It was heartwarming to watch as Nisa began to thaw and show her true self. A version of herself that most (including her family) had wanted her to hide. Nisa had been told all her life to be the caretaker and to make herself small. Kerr began to share his past trauma and how the loss of both parents had led to his abandonment issues. They both showed true vulnerability and an ability to see the other in a way that allowed them to continue to open up.
The subplot with Nisa was truly inspired and felt true to what people may actually experience. She was caring for a patient who came in with dementia and due to an infection truly could recall very little information about her life. As Annie, the patient began to share more about what she could remember, Nisa vowed to find her family by Christmas. What was so profound about Annie and her dementia is that most people who have experienced this with a family member knows what it is like to not be remembered and to watch as the person in front of you withers away. It was handled so well. And I loved how true to real life it is how infections can cause memory loss and as the infection recedes things may come back.
I cheered as Nisa learned to stand up for herself. My heart broke for Kerr when her learned a hard life changing truth. And my heart sighed as Nisa Kerr realized they had found their person.
The Christmas Competition is absolute must read this holiday season. It brings the funny, love, heartache, and everything in between to this truly beautiful story full of complex characters.
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for this early digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Zoe Allison writes complex characters that are full of heart and layers. Nisa and Kerr were no different. I found myself resonating with both characters as the story went on and we got to know who they were. Told in dual POV, I found it so interesting how Zoe Allison took the time to let the reader see the changes happening for the character through both POVs. Oftentimes, I feel that the reader can only see the change through one characters perspective and this gave The Christmas Competition a decidedly different feel throughout the story. Which is why the character journey throughout the story was so impressive and well written.
Nisa and Kerr are across the street neighbors who seem to be enemies through an unproven historical account and events that are not their fault. Both have recently been broken up with. Kerr with his girlfriend and Nisa with her husband. And through an uncanny twist of the fate the ex girlfriend and ex husband get together. They are both facing the holidays without a significant other for the first time and decide that the best way to get over their heartache is to annoy each other. Nisa and Kerr decide to enter the holiday Christmas light decorating competition with one goal in mind to make their house the most decorated so that it annoys the other. From there I thought this story was going to be a laugh out loud shenanigans and one upmanship. But instead we got this beautiful and heartwarming story about learning to find yourself after losing yourself in a relationship or the past.
As Nisa and Kerr begin to try to show one another up, it opens the door to understanding each other. It's an olive branch. And when Kerr helps save Nisa and her cat from a fire, the truth is revealed. Their rivalry was just masking an attraction neither one wanted to acknowledge. Primarily because they both had significant others. I loved that the foundation laid for the relationship was rooted in developing a tender friendship first. It was heartwarming to watch as Nisa began to thaw and show her true self. A version of herself that most (including her family) had wanted her to hide. Nisa had been told all her life to be the caretaker and to make herself small. Kerr began to share his past trauma and how the loss of both parents had led to his abandonment issues. They both showed true vulnerability and an ability to see the other in a way that allowed them to continue to open up.
The subplot with Nisa was truly inspired and felt true to what people may actually experience. She was caring for a patient who came in with dementia and due to an infection truly could recall very little information about her life. As Annie, the patient began to share more about what she could remember, Nisa vowed to find her family by Christmas. What was so profound about Annie and her dementia is that most people who have experienced this with a family member knows what it is like to not be remembered and to watch as the person in front of you withers away. It was handled so well. And I loved how true to real life it is how infections can cause memory loss and as the infection recedes things may come back.
I cheered as Nisa learned to stand up for herself. My heart broke for Kerr when her learned a hard life changing truth. And my heart sighed as Nisa Kerr realized they had found their person.
The Christmas Competition is absolute must read this holiday season. It brings the funny, love, heartache, and everything in between to this truly beautiful story full of complex characters.
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for this early digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 22, 2026
The Christmas Competition is the first book I’ve read by Zoe Allison, and now I want to check out her other books. I enjoyed this cozy holiday romance set in a small Scottish town, which had a nice mix of humorous, sweet, and steamy moments.
The story is about Nisa and Kerr, two neighbors who are total opposites and can’t stand each other. They end up competing in the town’s Christmas lighting contest. At first, their rivalry isn’t very friendly, but the competition pushes them to talk through their differences, which eventually brings them closer together.
The story is told from both Nisa and Kerr’s perspectives, which I always enjoy reading both POVs in romance books. I liked getting to know both characters, and it was fun that they both had pets, especially since Kerr is a veterinarian. Right away, it’s clear both characters have baggage: one is going through a divorce and still has feelings for their ex, while the other recently broke up and is dealing with family issues from the past that affect them being in a relationship.
I thought the rivals/enemies to lovers part of the story was lacking a bit. I understood why Nisa had issues with Kerr, but there wasn’t much tension since they became friendly pretty quickly, especially once the real reason for their dislike came out, which I had already predicted what had truly happened. Still, I enjoyed their early banter during the lighting competition. They really tried to outdo each other at first, and some moments were genuinely funny.
The story felt slow at times, with a lot of repetition about Nisa and Kerr’s issues with their exes, Kerr’s family problems, and Nisa’s family relying on her too much. Still, I liked reading about how they helped each other. For example, Kerr stood up to Nisa’s ex, and Nisa reassured Kerr that he was worthy of love. They definitely needed to work on some things before committing to a relationship, and thankfully they ended up helping one another.
The drama between Kerr and Nisa at the end was predictable, but I still enjoyed it. My favorite part was an unexpected plot twist that made me smile for a certain character. That character not only got a happily ever after with the other character but also found answers to something that they have been wondering about since childhood. (I’m being vague to avoid spoilers.)
Overall, I enjoyed this holiday romance with its steamy moments and give it 3.5 stars.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, I definitely still would. If you want a holiday romance with a bit of neighborly rivalry that turns into something more, give The Christmas Competition by Zoe Allison a try.
Important Note: This book touches on dementia, and I appreciated how the author handled it. Having had family members with dementia and Alzheimer’s, I know how hard it is to see a loved one go through it. I could tell Zoe Allison put a lot of care into this part of the book. Remember, this book is a fictional story, so always check the TW.
What to Expect:
🎄Holiday Romance
🎄Small Town Romance – Scotland
🎄Rivals to Lovers/Enemies to Lovers
🎄Opposites Attract
🎄Grumpy/Sunshine
🎄Slow Burn
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The story is about Nisa and Kerr, two neighbors who are total opposites and can’t stand each other. They end up competing in the town’s Christmas lighting contest. At first, their rivalry isn’t very friendly, but the competition pushes them to talk through their differences, which eventually brings them closer together.
The story is told from both Nisa and Kerr’s perspectives, which I always enjoy reading both POVs in romance books. I liked getting to know both characters, and it was fun that they both had pets, especially since Kerr is a veterinarian. Right away, it’s clear both characters have baggage: one is going through a divorce and still has feelings for their ex, while the other recently broke up and is dealing with family issues from the past that affect them being in a relationship.
I thought the rivals/enemies to lovers part of the story was lacking a bit. I understood why Nisa had issues with Kerr, but there wasn’t much tension since they became friendly pretty quickly, especially once the real reason for their dislike came out, which I had already predicted what had truly happened. Still, I enjoyed their early banter during the lighting competition. They really tried to outdo each other at first, and some moments were genuinely funny.
The story felt slow at times, with a lot of repetition about Nisa and Kerr’s issues with their exes, Kerr’s family problems, and Nisa’s family relying on her too much. Still, I liked reading about how they helped each other. For example, Kerr stood up to Nisa’s ex, and Nisa reassured Kerr that he was worthy of love. They definitely needed to work on some things before committing to a relationship, and thankfully they ended up helping one another.
The drama between Kerr and Nisa at the end was predictable, but I still enjoyed it. My favorite part was an unexpected plot twist that made me smile for a certain character. That character not only got a happily ever after with the other character but also found answers to something that they have been wondering about since childhood. (I’m being vague to avoid spoilers.)
Overall, I enjoyed this holiday romance with its steamy moments and give it 3.5 stars.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, I definitely still would. If you want a holiday romance with a bit of neighborly rivalry that turns into something more, give The Christmas Competition by Zoe Allison a try.
Important Note: This book touches on dementia, and I appreciated how the author handled it. Having had family members with dementia and Alzheimer’s, I know how hard it is to see a loved one go through it. I could tell Zoe Allison put a lot of care into this part of the book. Remember, this book is a fictional story, so always check the TW.
What to Expect:
🎄Holiday Romance
🎄Small Town Romance – Scotland
🎄Rivals to Lovers/Enemies to Lovers
🎄Opposites Attract
🎄Grumpy/Sunshine
🎄Slow Burn
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
I’m not usually a big fan of festive romances because they can feel a little too ‘Hallmarky’ and sugary sweet for my taste, but the Scottish setting and enemies-to-lovers angle caught my attention with The Christmas Competition.
After a couple of bad months Nisa Ansari is looking for some Christmas cheer and decides to enter her town’s annual decorating competition, only to find herself up against her neighbour Kerr Murdoch. Kerr, a local vet, has his own reasons for wanting to win, but Nisa already has plenty of reasons to dislike him. Between her messy marriage breakdown (her husband left her for Kerr’s girlfriend), a grudge involving her cat and their nearly identical decorations, a festive rivalry soon begins.
The decorating competition and ensuing banter between Nisa and Kerr is fun, but the emotional depth behind their romance is what really made the story work for me. They’re complete opposites, but both struggle with their self-worth. Kerr always expects people to leave him, while Nisa has spent so long being told she’s too much that she’s gradually suppressed her bubbly personality to please others, and I loved seeing how their relationship gave each the confidence to lower their defences and realise they didn’t need to change to be worthy of love. Nisa’s initial resentment towards Kerr added another layer to their rivalry, even though although she sometimes directed her hurt at the wrong person. There’s also another more emotional subplot involving a woman with dementia and Nisa’s efforts to help her reconnect with her family. It was handled sensitively and added depth without overshadowing the romance.
Overall, this book was a lovely surprise. The Scottish setting, festive rivalry and Christmas chaos keep things light, while the emotional elements give the story more substance than a typical fluffy holiday romance. A warm mix of humour, heart and romance without becoming cloyingly sweet. If only more festive romances were like this one, I might have to rethink my usual reluctance to pick up a Christmas romcom!
After a couple of bad months Nisa Ansari is looking for some Christmas cheer and decides to enter her town’s annual decorating competition, only to find herself up against her neighbour Kerr Murdoch. Kerr, a local vet, has his own reasons for wanting to win, but Nisa already has plenty of reasons to dislike him. Between her messy marriage breakdown (her husband left her for Kerr’s girlfriend), a grudge involving her cat and their nearly identical decorations, a festive rivalry soon begins.
The decorating competition and ensuing banter between Nisa and Kerr is fun, but the emotional depth behind their romance is what really made the story work for me. They’re complete opposites, but both struggle with their self-worth. Kerr always expects people to leave him, while Nisa has spent so long being told she’s too much that she’s gradually suppressed her bubbly personality to please others, and I loved seeing how their relationship gave each the confidence to lower their defences and realise they didn’t need to change to be worthy of love. Nisa’s initial resentment towards Kerr added another layer to their rivalry, even though although she sometimes directed her hurt at the wrong person. There’s also another more emotional subplot involving a woman with dementia and Nisa’s efforts to help her reconnect with her family. It was handled sensitively and added depth without overshadowing the romance.
Overall, this book was a lovely surprise. The Scottish setting, festive rivalry and Christmas chaos keep things light, while the emotional elements give the story more substance than a typical fluffy holiday romance. A warm mix of humour, heart and romance without becoming cloyingly sweet. If only more festive romances were like this one, I might have to rethink my usual reluctance to pick up a Christmas romcom!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 stars.
I really wanted something Christmas-y this month, and "The Christmas Competition" by Zoe Allison totally fit the bill. This is a low-stakes, fun, slightly spicy holiday enemies-to-lovers small-town romance between rival neighbors Nisa (FMC) and Kerr (MMC), who aren't exactly each other's biggest fans. Nisa is going through a separation from her husband, but she's still holding out hope that he'll come back... until she finds out he's dating Kerr's ex-girlfriend. In an effort to bolster her holiday spirit, she decides to enter her town's Christmas lights display competition. Little does she know, Kerr is also doing the same thing despite never really showing an interest in decorations in the past. The decorations they have picked are shockingly similar to each other's. The two of them enter into a self-imposed war of the Christmas adornments that gets pettier and more grandiose by the hour. I found this book to be quite fun! I loved the decoration shenanigans and sabotage between Kerr and Nisa. The way they pettily and playfully try to one-up each other had me laughing out loud. It all felt very realistic and not super over-the-top or fake. They both tended to assume the worst about the other due to their past interactions. As they face off in their holiday-home spectacle, they slowly but surely fall for each other. I enjoyed watching them gradually lower their walls with one another as they come to realize they have both been wrong about each other. This is a very light read for the most part, though there is a little bit of heaviness where Nisa and her horrible ex-husband are concerned. What a huge, huge jerk that guy was. This book should be enough to put you in the holiday spirit, though it will likely do this slowly due to some pacing issues.
Thank you to NetGalley, Zoe Allison, and Berkley Publishing Group for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
I really wanted something Christmas-y this month, and "The Christmas Competition" by Zoe Allison totally fit the bill. This is a low-stakes, fun, slightly spicy holiday enemies-to-lovers small-town romance between rival neighbors Nisa (FMC) and Kerr (MMC), who aren't exactly each other's biggest fans. Nisa is going through a separation from her husband, but she's still holding out hope that he'll come back... until she finds out he's dating Kerr's ex-girlfriend. In an effort to bolster her holiday spirit, she decides to enter her town's Christmas lights display competition. Little does she know, Kerr is also doing the same thing despite never really showing an interest in decorations in the past. The decorations they have picked are shockingly similar to each other's. The two of them enter into a self-imposed war of the Christmas adornments that gets pettier and more grandiose by the hour. I found this book to be quite fun! I loved the decoration shenanigans and sabotage between Kerr and Nisa. The way they pettily and playfully try to one-up each other had me laughing out loud. It all felt very realistic and not super over-the-top or fake. They both tended to assume the worst about the other due to their past interactions. As they face off in their holiday-home spectacle, they slowly but surely fall for each other. I enjoyed watching them gradually lower their walls with one another as they come to realize they have both been wrong about each other. This is a very light read for the most part, though there is a little bit of heaviness where Nisa and her horrible ex-husband are concerned. What a huge, huge jerk that guy was. This book should be enough to put you in the holiday spirit, though it will likely do this slowly due to some pacing issues.
Thank you to NetGalley, Zoe Allison, and Berkley Publishing Group for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
November 2, 2026
I want to thank Berkley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of The Christmas Competition. However, all opinions expressed here are solely mine.
I added The Christmas Competition to my TBR when I first learned about it, because it sounded like a fun holiday rom-com. Guess what? It is a fun holiday rom-com. Honestly, I would love to see a Hallmark movie based on this story. It would be such fun.
Nisa reminds me of myself in some ways. How so? Over the years, I’ve felt like I had to tamp down my excitement and enthusiasm for life. That’s not to say I restrained myself when I was younger, but I have found myself toning myself down in recent years. Like her, I’ve even apologized when I get loud. Like her, I’m fortunate to have found someone who encourages me to be me, and not tone myself down to make others happy. Shouldn’t we all have someone like that in our lives?
My heart broke for Kerr as I learned more of his story. He holds people at arm’s length and struggles to let people in because of his childhood. Which I totally understand, and I’m glad he finally found someone to show him that not everyone leaves.
Now to the part I disliked about the book-Drew! Yes, I understand we are supposed to dislike him. And that if it weren’t for him being the way he is, we wouldn’t have a story. But wow! He is quite something. Sadly, I think we all know someone like him.
While there are some intimate scenes a few pages long, they aren’t overly descriptive and focus mostly on the characters’ thoughts and feelings. The author openly admits that there are some “choice words,” as her Nan would say. But even her Nan has read the book, so it must be a good one, right?
Overall, The Christmas Competition is a fun holiday rom-com that I think many readers would enjoy.
I added The Christmas Competition to my TBR when I first learned about it, because it sounded like a fun holiday rom-com. Guess what? It is a fun holiday rom-com. Honestly, I would love to see a Hallmark movie based on this story. It would be such fun.
Nisa reminds me of myself in some ways. How so? Over the years, I’ve felt like I had to tamp down my excitement and enthusiasm for life. That’s not to say I restrained myself when I was younger, but I have found myself toning myself down in recent years. Like her, I’ve even apologized when I get loud. Like her, I’m fortunate to have found someone who encourages me to be me, and not tone myself down to make others happy. Shouldn’t we all have someone like that in our lives?
My heart broke for Kerr as I learned more of his story. He holds people at arm’s length and struggles to let people in because of his childhood. Which I totally understand, and I’m glad he finally found someone to show him that not everyone leaves.
Now to the part I disliked about the book-Drew! Yes, I understand we are supposed to dislike him. And that if it weren’t for him being the way he is, we wouldn’t have a story. But wow! He is quite something. Sadly, I think we all know someone like him.
While there are some intimate scenes a few pages long, they aren’t overly descriptive and focus mostly on the characters’ thoughts and feelings. The author openly admits that there are some “choice words,” as her Nan would say. But even her Nan has read the book, so it must be a good one, right?
Overall, The Christmas Competition is a fun holiday rom-com that I think many readers would enjoy.
October 21, 2026
3.25 STARS
Nisa Ansari adores her small Scottish Highland town; however, the downside is several people know of her being left by a less than loving husband who always told her she was too extra. She decides that entering an over the top Christmas house decorating competition is just the ticket to get over feeling sad. Nisa gets to take back her joy and annoy her neighbor, Kerr, whom she views as enemy number one. Not only is Kerr her antagonistic, across the street enemy, but Nisa’s husband left her for Kerr’s girlfriend so she has several reasons to dislike him including accusing Kerr, who by the way is a veterinarian, of harming her cat.
Kerr decides he needs a little Christmas spirit because he has fallen down a grim and sad well of near despair. His mother always loved Christmas, so in honor of her, Kerr also decides to enter the competition with bright lights and gaudy decorations. Of course, Nisa decides Kerr is just trying to spite her so she ups her game while he responds in kind. They both have family issues that play into their respective feelings as well.
Because of a set of unexpected circumstances, Nisa and Kerr’s relationship begins to shift into less enemies and more friends. Rather than a cause for more animosity, the competition actually brings them closer. This story is fairly predictable and mostly enjoyable. The only sour note for me is that the author seems to feel the need to throw in some swear words for an otherwise fun story. I understand that the is all too common; however, I an not a fan as it seems out of context with this genre.
Nisa Ansari adores her small Scottish Highland town; however, the downside is several people know of her being left by a less than loving husband who always told her she was too extra. She decides that entering an over the top Christmas house decorating competition is just the ticket to get over feeling sad. Nisa gets to take back her joy and annoy her neighbor, Kerr, whom she views as enemy number one. Not only is Kerr her antagonistic, across the street enemy, but Nisa’s husband left her for Kerr’s girlfriend so she has several reasons to dislike him including accusing Kerr, who by the way is a veterinarian, of harming her cat.
Kerr decides he needs a little Christmas spirit because he has fallen down a grim and sad well of near despair. His mother always loved Christmas, so in honor of her, Kerr also decides to enter the competition with bright lights and gaudy decorations. Of course, Nisa decides Kerr is just trying to spite her so she ups her game while he responds in kind. They both have family issues that play into their respective feelings as well.
Because of a set of unexpected circumstances, Nisa and Kerr’s relationship begins to shift into less enemies and more friends. Rather than a cause for more animosity, the competition actually brings them closer. This story is fairly predictable and mostly enjoyable. The only sour note for me is that the author seems to feel the need to throw in some swear words for an otherwise fun story. I understand that the is all too common; however, I an not a fan as it seems out of context with this genre.
November 9, 2026
Talk about messy relationships. Nisa and Kerr live across the street from one another and have never had what you would call a close friendship. Or any friendship. It doesn't help that Nisa's husband ran off with Kerr's girlfriend. Or that Nisa believes Kerr hit her cat then lied about it (more about that later). Not to worry, the cat is fine. The cat also seems to love Kerr. Now the two are engaged in a cut-throat community Christmas decorating competition that is throwing them together in ways that are bringing unwanted - and unexpected - feelings to the surface.
I really enjoy Allison's characters. They are well developed, messy, and relatable. I like that she takes them on an organic journey of growth, individually and as a couple. There are plenty of hijinks and humor but it's nicely paired with emotional depth and personal reflection. So, fun but also feelings.
Another thing I enjoy about Allison's stories is her ability to create an immersive atmosphere. I may be sitting on my Florida patio while reading The Christmas Competition but with each page I turn, I feel like I'm bundled up, walking through the snow in a small Highland village. Yes, please.
If your reading jam is enemies-to-lovers contemporary, set in a small Scottish village, with humor, heart, emotional depth, and holiday fun, check out The Christmas Competition.
I really enjoy Allison's characters. They are well developed, messy, and relatable. I like that she takes them on an organic journey of growth, individually and as a couple. There are plenty of hijinks and humor but it's nicely paired with emotional depth and personal reflection. So, fun but also feelings.
Another thing I enjoy about Allison's stories is her ability to create an immersive atmosphere. I may be sitting on my Florida patio while reading The Christmas Competition but with each page I turn, I feel like I'm bundled up, walking through the snow in a small Highland village. Yes, please.
If your reading jam is enemies-to-lovers contemporary, set in a small Scottish village, with humor, heart, emotional depth, and holiday fun, check out The Christmas Competition.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If there's one thing I'm going to read every holiday season, it's a Christmas romance... and The Christmas Competition was exactly the kind of festive escape I was hoping for. 🎄❤️
This book was cozy, funny, and full of Christmas magic from beginning to end. The rivalry between the neighbors made for so many entertaining moments, and I loved watching all of the holiday competition chaos slowly turn into something much sweeter. The banter was fun, the chemistry kept building, and there were even a few spicy moments that caught me by surprise. 🌶️✨
The small-town setting felt like the perfect place to spend Christmas, with all the festive traditions, community spirit, and cozy vibes that make holiday romances so much fun to read. It left me wanting to curl up with a blanket, a cup of hot chocolate, and keep reading long after I should have gone to bed.
If you're already building your holiday TBR, this one absolutely deserves a spot on it.
🎄 Rival neighbors
❤️ Enemies to lovers
❄️ Christmas romance
🏡 Small-town romance
🎁 Holiday competition
🐾 Veterinarian MMC
✨ Fresh start romance
This book was cozy, funny, and full of Christmas magic from beginning to end. The rivalry between the neighbors made for so many entertaining moments, and I loved watching all of the holiday competition chaos slowly turn into something much sweeter. The banter was fun, the chemistry kept building, and there were even a few spicy moments that caught me by surprise. 🌶️✨
The small-town setting felt like the perfect place to spend Christmas, with all the festive traditions, community spirit, and cozy vibes that make holiday romances so much fun to read. It left me wanting to curl up with a blanket, a cup of hot chocolate, and keep reading long after I should have gone to bed.
If you're already building your holiday TBR, this one absolutely deserves a spot on it.
🎄 Rival neighbors
❤️ Enemies to lovers
❄️ Christmas romance
🏡 Small-town romance
🎁 Holiday competition
🐾 Veterinarian MMC
✨ Fresh start romance
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This enemies to lovers romance had me cackling from the start! Nisa and Kerr and neighbors whose exes ran off with each other, leaving them behind. While Nisa is struggling to move on, Kerr is happy to be alone. Things heat up when both get the idea to enter a local Christmas decorating competition and become set on one upping each other's houses. What follows in this dual POV romance full of emotional depth and family drama is equally heartwarming, hilarious and has a beautiful full-circle moment. Great on audio with dual narration by Nikki Massoud and Will Watts and perfect for fans of authors like Farah Heron and Meghan Quinn. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review. I loved the overall message about overcoming labels like 'too much' or 'not enough' and finding the person who loves you exactly as you are.
CW: sibling with Endometriosis and childhood cancer survivor (her), emotionally abusive parent (him), absentee mother, parent with Alzheimers (him)
CW: sibling with Endometriosis and childhood cancer survivor (her), emotionally abusive parent (him), absentee mother, parent with Alzheimers (him)
August 5, 2026
Yes it’s over 100F here in Arizona and I love to read my Christmas Rom Coms .
Nisa and Kerr have spent years being grumpy neighbors across the street from one another. When both end up newly single after Kerr’s girlfriend leaves him for Nisa’s husband, the last thing either wants is to see the other every day.
Then the town’s Christmas decorating competition begins.
What starts as an excuse to annoy each other quickly turns into an all-out neighborhood battle. Every time one puts up a decoration, the other tries to top it. Nisa is convinced Kerr is copying her, while Kerr can’t believe she’s always one step ahead. Their rivalry escalates through lights, wreaths, and a little harmless sabotage—until somewhere along the way, the competition stops being the most important thing.
If you enjoy cozy Christmas romances with small-town charm, rival neighbors, and plenty of holiday decorating, this is a fun seasonal read. Just be aware that it does include open-door romance scenes.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley Romance for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was my first Zoe Allison book and I was excited to get started on this Christmas read. The Christmas Competition starts out with two feuding neighbors, Dr Nisa and veterinarian Kerr. A misunderstanding in the past has pitted the two single people against each other. AND their ex's are now dating each other. So they avoid each other at all cost. Until the neighborhood has a Christmas decorating competition. Nisa enters and starts to decorate and at the same time Kerr does the same. They try to out do each other in very comedic was and then find some common ground. Love creeps up on these two and there are some other surprises as well. This has a lot of humor and some sweet moments. I liked this book, but for some reason did not love. It was slow at some points. But if you are looking for a cozy Christmas romance that takes place in a small town, this book could be for you!
Thank you NetGalley for this advanced ebook copy!
Thank you NetGalley for this advanced ebook copy!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is such a cute, enemies to lovers Christmas story and has got me in the mood for Christmas lights!
I adored Nisa and Kerr! Their years-long feud has kept them sworn enemies but underneath it all, they are two similar souls. Nisa was told she was "too much" all her married life by her husband and Kerr was too scared to love anyone incase they left him. Both are relatable and I feel for them both!
I'm glad it played out the way it did, I like that both main characters have the jobs they do, Nisa as a Charge Nurse and Kerr a vet but both animal lovers. A good thing in my book!
Both main characters are also loveable, relatable and feisty in their own way. Side character Anna is also worth a mention, riddled with dementia, trying to find the truth and explore the memories in her new reality since the disease has taken over.
Definitely worth a read! Look forward to more from this author!
I adored Nisa and Kerr! Their years-long feud has kept them sworn enemies but underneath it all, they are two similar souls. Nisa was told she was "too much" all her married life by her husband and Kerr was too scared to love anyone incase they left him. Both are relatable and I feel for them both!
I'm glad it played out the way it did, I like that both main characters have the jobs they do, Nisa as a Charge Nurse and Kerr a vet but both animal lovers. A good thing in my book!
Both main characters are also loveable, relatable and feisty in their own way. Side character Anna is also worth a mention, riddled with dementia, trying to find the truth and explore the memories in her new reality since the disease has taken over.
Definitely worth a read! Look forward to more from this author!
October 30, 2026
What a great read this was. Festive vibes all the way through
Long time nemesis and rival neighbours try to out do each other in a fierce competition for first place in their neighbourhoods Christmas house-decorating competition.
Nisa’s in desperate need of distraction after the break up of her marriage, she enters the towns Christmas house-decorating competition and the added bonus is that she can go up against her neighbour Kerr, who’s girlfriend left him for Nisa’s husband.
But when Nisa and Kerr’s decorations end up being very nearly identical, he incurs Nisa’s wrath. As they try to outdo each other Nisa tries to get own back in hilarious fashion.
As Christmas draws closer Nisa must decide if the rivalry between is just that or is it something more that she hadn’t even considered?
Thank you to Pellerin Books for this opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review
Long time nemesis and rival neighbours try to out do each other in a fierce competition for first place in their neighbourhoods Christmas house-decorating competition.
Nisa’s in desperate need of distraction after the break up of her marriage, she enters the towns Christmas house-decorating competition and the added bonus is that she can go up against her neighbour Kerr, who’s girlfriend left him for Nisa’s husband.
But when Nisa and Kerr’s decorations end up being very nearly identical, he incurs Nisa’s wrath. As they try to outdo each other Nisa tries to get own back in hilarious fashion.
As Christmas draws closer Nisa must decide if the rivalry between is just that or is it something more that she hadn’t even considered?
Thank you to Pellerin Books for this opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review
October 2, 2026
This storyline is an enemies to lovers trope which to begin with I wasn’t sure I was going to continue to read the story but I’m not one for not finishing unless there is a trigger.
This story follows Nisa and the gentleman across the road from her named Kerr. With Christmas approaching they have both entered the Christmas lights competition and at the beginning only knew of each other but never interacted, between them they slowly increase their display trying to get one up on the other but this turns out not to be a good idea when Nisa goes too far and nearly loses everything when her house catches light from an overloaded power supply.
Kerr comes to save the day and the story really starts here. Will they continue the competition antics as enemies or will a friendship blossom under the mistletoe?
Thank you for this advanced copy from @pellerinbooks
This story follows Nisa and the gentleman across the road from her named Kerr. With Christmas approaching they have both entered the Christmas lights competition and at the beginning only knew of each other but never interacted, between them they slowly increase their display trying to get one up on the other but this turns out not to be a good idea when Nisa goes too far and nearly loses everything when her house catches light from an overloaded power supply.
Kerr comes to save the day and the story really starts here. Will they continue the competition antics as enemies or will a friendship blossom under the mistletoe?
Thank you for this advanced copy from @pellerinbooks
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