The Santa Claus Con

by Lauren Kung Jessen

A swoonworthy and suspenseful holiday rom-com that will make fans of Ally Carter and Carlie Walker laugh out loud and fall completely in love this Christmas season.

It’s the hap-happiest con of the year …

Scarlett Payne and Nathan Lambros agree on exactly one thing: they both despise Christmas. But when Scarlett receives a cryptic letter—from someone claiming to be Santa and threatening to sabotage New York’s Santa Claus Con—they’re the only two FBI agents who can stop the holiday spectacle from turning into a national disaster. Unfortunately, the last time Scarlett saw her former rival, he was breaking her heart. So she’s not exactly eager to ask the grumpiest agent she knows for help, but he’s sadly great at going undercover.

After years of deep cover, Nathan was ready to hand over his badge ... until Scarlett pulls him into one last operation. He’s not sure which is worse—pretending to be Santa or working with the woman he loves but had to push away.

Beneath fake beards and forced cheer, old feelings refuse to stay buried. With one day, one Con, and one mysterious enemy closing in, these two self-proclaimed Grinches are about to find out what’s more difficult: saving Christmas … or risking their hearts all over again.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Mystery, Contemporary, Adult, Holiday Romance

376 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 27, 2026

About the author

Lauren Kung Jessen is the bestselling and critically acclaimed author of Lunar Love, Red String Theory, Yin Yang Love Song, The Fortune Flip, and The Santa Claus Con. Her rom-coms are filled with big feelings and lots of food. Lauren’s books have been featured in Entertainment Weekly, People, NPR, The Seattle Times, Cosmopolitan, Forbes, and New York Post. She writes the Substack Important Nothings and lives in New York City.

Reviews

[ahmeeka]

RTC

[Leanna Streeter]

his was such a fun holiday read! Scarlett and Nathan made a great team, and their history added just the right amount of romantic tension as they raced to stop a threat to the Santa Claus Con. I loved the mix of FBI action, holiday chaos, clever clues, and the two of them trying to outdo each other along the way. It’s a playful, suspenseful rom-com with plenty of Christmas spirit even from two people who claim they don’t like Christmas!

[Alexandria Williams]

The Santa Claus Con was SO much fun. Scarlett Payne and Nathan Lambros are two FBI agents who agree on exactly one thing: they both hate Christmas. 😂 Unfortunately for them when a mysterious threat targets the Santa Claus Con in New York they’re forced to team up and go undercover at the most festive event imaginable. And these two have HISTORY.👀

Nathan isn't just Scarlett's former rival he's also the man who broke her heart. So working together to stop a potential disaster while surrounded by hundreds of Santas is going to go perfectly. Right? 😂

The banter, the competitiveness, the flirting, the unresolved feelings… ALL OF IT. You could feel the history between these two, and I really enjoyed the way their past was revealed through flashbacks throughout the story.

Those flashbacks were especially well done because they weren't just there to give us romantic history. They also added pieces to the mystery and helped explain the relationship Scarlett and Nathan had built over the years. Every time we jumped back into their past, I wanted to know MORE. And then there’s the actual mystery.

We’ve got cryptic letters, riddles, undercover FBI agents
A Santa competition, suspicious characters, dangerous situations
….and a race against the clock. OH MY!🔍

Scarlett is fearless, sarcastic, impulsive. Babes basically a “trust my gut and ask questions later” kind of woman.
Nathan quiet devotion to Scarlett absolutely got me. Under the grumpy exterior is a man who has clearly cared about her for a very long time.

If you love second chance romance, holiday mysteries, undercover shenanigans, witty banter, and a little Christmas chaos then PLEASE put this one on your holiday TBR.

[Beth Ellis]

I will always read one of Lauren’s books and this did not disappoint! Finding out from her social media that NetGalley would have the book available was a Christmas present in July!

A years-long backstory of two FBI agents with strong romantic vibes mixed in with a Santa Claus competition and organized crime. Scarlett and Nathan zoom through beautiful Christmas NYC solving riddles that point to a potentially heinous crime. Will they make it in time to solve the crime and in solving their feelings?

[Lindy Thompson]

Well this was just fun!! Tons of fun Christmas events, FBI agents, some bad guys, and romance all mixed up in a zany Santa competition made this a super fun, fast read that is just fantastic for the busy holiday season!

*Language

Thanks to Netgalley for my complimentary e-arc. All opinions here are my own

[Liz | lizzuplans]

Two Lauren Kung Jessen books in the same year? What a treat!

[Nat]

Cute

[Desiree]

3.75
This was a fun Christmas themed mystery!
I thought the plot of this book was really fun, compete in a Santa Claus competition to find the bad guy.
The flashbacks to previous jobs Nathan and Scarlett worked together I really enjoyed. It gave a lot of insight to their dynamic and the slow build of their feelings. Can you fall in love with someone you only see once a year?
Nathan was down bad for Scarlett since the beginning and I think her constantly saving him made him fall even deeper for her. I loved their banter and flirting and while this has really no spice there was tons of tension!
If you enjoy holiday romance, undercover MCs, nonstop action, tension & yearning between the MCs then you’ll enjoy this book!

Thank you so much Forever for the ARC!

[Brenda (jadore_2read)]

Holy jingle bells! 🔔
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was so much fun. A race against time, a clever, Santa hater FBI agent Scarlett is partnering up with Nathan, a former FBI agent/lover who also hates Santa (also dresses up as Santa) to capture a bad Santa!!! You guys, this has to be everyone’s Christmas present 🎄
Thank you, NetGalley and Lauren K J
for the advance copy.

✨second chance ❣️
✨cozy holiday mystery 🔍
✨Santa convention competition🧑‍🎄
✨cryptic letters 🕵🏻
✨flashback memories
✨Asian representation
✨Out October 27

[Becca T]

I enjoyed a little Christmas in July with this book, and I truly couldn’t put it down! If you love Miss Congeniality, I highly recommend The Santa Claus Con by Lauren Kung Jessen! Not only was this filled with action and mystery, it had all of the swoon and slow burn you need for a perfect romance.

Scarlett and Nathan have a complicated past, and it’s all tangled up with their jobs as FBI agents. However, when the Santa Claus Con seems to be in trouble, they have to work together to save the event and face the feelings they’ve pushed down. Oh, and put aside the fact that they’ve never really loved Christmas.

This book had me hooked from the very beginning! First of all, Christmas is my favorite holiday. Secondly, I grew up with Sandra Bullock on my screen in Miss Congeniality, and this book felt very nostalgic to me. Finally, I’m a sucker for the romance! I loved every part of this book, and I know others will too!

Not only did the FBI aspect of the storyline create a fun and engaging plot, but I immediately began rooting for both Scarlett and Nathan! They are two very likable characters - full of banter, flirting, and gut-wrenching histories. I loved being able to see their second-chance romance unfold in this book because they deserved a second chance. Sometimes the second chance can seem forced, but their story felt like it was meant to be. I also appreciated that we got to explore their history throughout the book! The alternate timelines were the perfect way to showcase the yearning. Overall, I loved this book and highly recommend it. If you’re looking for a fun, holiday romance that is hard to put down, this is for you!

Thank you to Forever, NetGalley, and Lauren Kung Jessen for the opportunity to read an eARC of The Santa Claus Con in exchange for my honest review!

[Just Blue Through Books]

4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC of The Santa Claus Con by Lauren Kung Jessen.

When I saw this book being compared to Carlie Walker I knew I had to read it -- The Takedown (also holiday themed) is such a great read and does the romantic suspense elements really well. Ally Carter is also a very fair example, and her Kiss, Marry, Kill series also brings similar holiday vibes. I think it's interesting this is described as Multicultural Interest/Romance on NetGalley -- it's definitely more of a cozy mystery/thriller and rom com in terms of genre. For anyone reading this in the holiday season, it's going to be an absolute joy with the magic of Manhattan at Christmas and all the other chaos our main characters bring while they try to catch Sadistic Santa.

The book description is very accurate to what the book accurately portrays, so I won't try and repeat it. I will say that the book is definitely more focused on solving who is threatening to attack the city while competing in the hilarious events of Santa Claus Con to access mysterious riddles to stop the crime. In the background the romance simmers so that it adds to the overall story instead of becoming the whole story. There are flashbacks to the history of Nathan and Scarlett's past working together, which help flesh out their relationship considering they are only together in the present for about a week, which makes their romance feel more lived in and believable.

Scarlett and Nathan are both tough, competitive, and loyal. There relationship with each other is the strongest aspect of their crime solving abilities and their internal fears of their own weaknesses/hang-ups are aided by their ability to see that in each other and confront/heal it, which makes the story and their relationship work. I normally dislike dual-timelines or flashbacks, but each of the flashbacks of the time that Scarlett and Nathan have spent together are essential and really build toward the overall tension. I also loved how Scarlett just word vomits whatever she is thinking in the moment, and her continuous use of "trying on Christmas" -- I think she's absolutely hilarious as a character. Nathan is understandably guarded and protective given the rough year he has had, and I really felt for him in the moments where he was trying to make sense of what it means to serve and protect when you yourself aren't protected.

The mystery itself, while overall a little far fetched and a little off-kilter pairing actual non-cozy level terrorism-level crimes with the manic glitter party of Santa Claus con, was well-developed with a lot of twists and turns and hilarious leads and confrontations. I think anyone looking for a fun mystery and romance in the holiday season will be drawn to this and will really enjoy it. It requires a bit of suspending your disbelief in areas, but I think that's all well-intentioned to have a fun romp while trying on Christmas with two holiday hating grumps trying to save the season.

[Nimra Iqbal]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Okay, this was SO much fun! 🎄🎅

I wasn’t expecting to be this invested in a book about two FBI agents undercover at SantaCon, but here we are. 😂 Scarlett and Nathan were such a fun pair, and I loved the whole grumpy/grumpy dynamic, especially because they both hate Christmas and somehow ended up having to save it together.

The second-chance romance was definitely one of my favorite parts. These two have so much history, and I loved getting the flashbacks to their previous Christmas missions and seeing how their relationship developed over the years. It made their current-day chemistry and all that unresolved tension make so much more sense.

And the banter!! These two had me laughing so many times. I loved how competitive they were with each other while also clearly caring way more than either of them wanted to admit. Nathan’s undercover Santa situation was also absolutely hilarious. 😂

I really enjoyed the mystery side of the story too. The cryptic letters, the “Sadistic Santa,” the Santa competition, and trying to figure out who was behind everything kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. It was definitely more action-packed than I expected going into a Christmas rom-com.

The Christmas-in-New-York setting was also perfect. There’s something about NYC during the holidays that automatically makes a book feel a little more magical, and I loved all the chaos that came with putting an FBI investigation in the middle of SantaCon.

But underneath all the ridiculous Christmas chaos, I really loved the emotional side of Scarlett and Nathan’s story. They have so much baggage and history between them, and watching them finally deal with those feelings was probably my favorite part.

Overall, this was such a fun combination of romance, mystery, suspense, humor, and Christmas chaos. It made me laugh, kept me guessing, and gave me all the second-chance romance feelings I wanted.

Definitely a 5-star holiday read for me! 🎄❤️

[Monique Costella]

ARC Review

The Santa Claus Con by Lauren Kung Jessen

Release Date: October 27, 2026

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*I received this ARC by Forever (Grand Central Publishing) on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

🎄 Christmas in New York
🎅 Santa Convention
🤶 Romance/Mystery
🎁 Undercover Agents
☃️ Grumpy/Grumpy
🧸 Car chases

I loved this book! So happy I could read it early and have a Christmas in July. If Scrooge and The Grinch teamed up together to save Christmas, go undercover - what could go wrong? I loved that the FMC and the MMC both hate Christmas but they have to go undercover at a Santa Convention to uncover the hidden message of a bomb threat left in a cursive handwritten note. I adore that this book takes place in Manhatten. Is anything more magical than Christmas in New York? I laughed when I read that the Santa's live by a code, Joy, Jolliness and Jubilation and then when Scarlett Payne and Nathan Lambros have to go to the Santa Con I laughed out loud. The two most unlikely participants in this, both Grumpy and anti Christmas as can be.

This book is giving BIG BISON ENERGY. I don't even know how to put into words with how much I loved this book. The undercover agents and all the challenges they had to face, the super twist at the end and of course the icing on the cake the hint of romance. The fact that Scarlett and Nathan met every year on Christmas undercover made me giddy. My favorite parts of this book was when they went back in time at Christmas and it went into detail on their missions and the secret moments they had together. The scene in the elevator was everything. It makes me want to have steamy elevator kisses more often and maybe even climb an elevator too. This book was fun, flirty and mysterious. I will be re-reading this book between Christmas and New Years for sure!  🧑‍🎄

[Kat]

“𝘼𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖 𝘾𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣, 𝙡𝙚𝙩’𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩,
𝙄𝙩’𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙣, 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙩,
𝙉𝙤 𝙍𝙎𝙑𝙋 𝙧𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙, 𝙄 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙨𝙖𝙮,
𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙖 𝙣𝙤, 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙢𝙗𝙨, 𝙗𝙤𝙢𝙗𝙨 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮”

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗:
Scarlett & Nathan may be rival FBI agents, but they’ve always had each other’s backs. When Scarlet is tasked with taking down a threat to Santa Con, she recruits Nathan to help her go undercover.

𝙼𝚢 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎:
What a fun freaking book!

Let it be known that Christmas + romcom + mystery/danger is my kryptonite, so its really no surprise that I loved this one.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱:

🎅The riddles. Such a fun aspect to include in the book & I loved how it tied everything together in the end!

🎅The case. Going undercover & competing in a Santa competition to stop a bomb threat?! It’s giving Miss Congeniality vibes & that alone is enough to sell me.

🎅Scarlett. OMG this woman had me cackling. Not only is she a fearless FBI agent but she’s also hilarious.

🎅Flashbacks. They were used perfectly to tie into the current case and also showcase the growth of Scarlett & Nathan’s relationship. They also further the mystery/suspense.

🎅The flirty banter. Listen, these two are in love. They both know it, they both recognize it, but there’s a case to be worked so instead we get alllll the flirty banter.

𝙵𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚜:

✨”𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙠𝙣𝙞𝙛𝙚.”
𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨. “𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩, 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙢𝙞𝙭𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙚.”

✨“𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙟𝙤𝙗 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙪𝙨...𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨. 𝙄𝙩 𝙜𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙.”

Overall this is such a fun time. If you love Miss Congeniality, you’ve gotta give this one a try!

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁:
🎄two FBI rivals going undercover
🎄second chance romance
🎄Miss Congeniality but make it Santa Claus
🎄forced proximity
🎄closed door

[Darcy DecantingBooks]

The Santa Claus Con by Lauren Kung Jessen
Releasing October 27, 2026
Rating: LOVED

Oh what fun it is to go undercover and track down a sadistic Santa all over NYC! I had the best time with The Santa Claus Con, between the second-chance romance, vicious riddles, and trying to identify the unhinged criminal among all the holiday chaos. Think murder mystery + amazing race + FBI + all the love. And it strangely reminded me of the Jimmy Fallon race through NYC ride at Universal….

When a threat to Christmas comes in the form of a creepy riddle and danger to thousands of people, FBI agent Scarlett (on thin ice at the Bureau) knows she has to act. She calls her former partner (and love interest) Nathan, and convinces him to go undercover in a Santa competition. And the race is on! They have 24 hours to figure out who’s behind it AND try not to let their feelings get in the way.

Told in two timelines so we can see what went down between Scarlett and Nathan back in the day, and a big job they worked on, I loved it. I often groan when I see a dual timeline; it can really break up the momentum. But is absolutely worked in this book, adding to the suspense and filling in important details.

Ok, the characters! I loved the MCs, with the banter and the backstory and the chemistry, and keeping us on our toes. The side characters really stole the show too! So many funny moments, goofy characters, suspects, and fun. I am in my Christmas spirit way too early now, bring on the holiday romcoms and mysteries (my most favorite books of the year)!

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for my advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

[Mandy]

As FBI, we’re sworn to follow a code, but that code also doesn’t explicitly cover what to do when a villainous Santa is threatening to blow up Christmas.
~
“You couldn’t text? Couldn’t call?” “You hate calls.” “I think I would’ve liked one from you.”
~
The Santa Claus Con might be my favorite Christmas book I’ve read in years, and as someone who reads a lot of holiday books, that’s saying something. I just finished the book and I already want to do a reread because it was that heartwarming and that thrilling and that much fun, and I hope this isn’t the last we see of the author writing action-packed romantic comedy like this because she’s truly a mastermind! This had everything I could ever want in a book, period. It had festive holiday cheer and references. It had sweet and swoony romance. It had laugh-out-loud moments. It had a true FBI suspense plot full of a mystery with a twist that I didn’t see coming. And it was all wrapped up in the neatest and coolest little bow. Real talk: I finished this book in exactly one day, probably would’ve finished in four hours if life wasn’t a thing, because I was that drawn into the plot and characters and didn’t want to stop. And setting this at Santa Con!? Brilliant and so festive! I had an absolute blast reading this and I envy anyone who gets to read this for the first time, which you absolutely need to do because you aren’t getting any more rambling spoilers out of me, as much as I would love to never shut up about Scarlett and Nathan.

[Katie Lavoie]

Think Miss Congeniality but Christmasy - FBI agents, Santa of the year competition, and all the holiday puns.

This was a fun and lighthearted read, great if you want to laugh at some shenanigans while enjoying a peppermint brownie or eggnog latte. it’s a great blend of romcom and mystery, as Scarlett and Nick compete in a competition while trying to find ‘Sinister Santa’ before he follows through on his threat to set off another bomb. I found all the characters likable - with Scarlett and Nick both being competent, competitive, and loyal.

The writing itself was fun, full of whimsy imagery and holiday puns (in spite of Nate and Scarlett claiming to dislike the holidays). I loved the riddles for the agents to solve - full of holiday lyrics and clues to unravel. Lastly, I enjoyed as we switch between current state, Scarlett and Nick trying to solve the crime, and flashbacks of different cases they’ve worked together where you watch them go from rivals to lovers.

I will say - this book was set up to be one I loved (holidays, slightly over-the-top shenanigans, romcom x mystery). So it’s not a surprise I liked it. There were times it went a leaned a little more into the chaos so be prepared to suspend disbelief. But if you go into it wanting something fun, silly, and festive, this should be a great read!

Thank you to Lauren Kung Jessen, Forever, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Yvette Jarrell]

🎅🏻🎄 ARC REVIEW 🎄🎅🏻
The Santa Claus Con by Lauren Kung Jessen
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Santa suits, secret missions, second chances, and a whole lot of Christmas chaos! 🎅🏻🔎❤️

Think Miss Congeniality meets a Christmas rom-com, complete with FBI agents, suspicious Santas, a little danger, and a romance that refuses to stay in the past!

This book was SO much fun! 🎄

Scarlett is an FBI agent who isn’t exactly feeling the Christmas spirit. Neither is Nathan, her former FBI partner and ex-love interest. But when a Santa Claus competition becomes the center of a criminal investigation, these two must reunite to catch a very BAD Santa! 🎅🏻🚨

And did I mention Nathan has to go undercover dressed as Santa? 😂

I absolutely loved the chemistry between Scarlett and Nathan! Their witty banter, complicated history, and slow-burn, second-chance romance delivered all the swoony moments! The flashbacks added an extra layer of emotional depth, making it impossible not to root for these two! ❤️

Between the cryptic clues, suspicious characters, undercover antics, and a race against time, this story kept me entertained from beginning to end!

If you love second-chance romance, FBI investigations, festive mysteries, and a little holiday mischief, add this one to your Christmas TBR! 🎁📚

🗓️ Available October 27, 2026.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever for providing an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[skia_reads]

When I signed up to read this, I was expecting a cute Christmas Hallmark/Lifetime movie... What I read was like straight out of an action packed movie with just a splash of romance!!

Scarlett Payne is on desk duty, gets a sketchy tip, and because apparently making reasonable decisions is not her thing, she finds herself caught up in something WAY bigger than she expected.

Nathan hates Christmas. He hates Scarlett, that’s what he tells himself, and he’s still bitter about the last time she went rogue on an operation.

So obviously, these two working together is going to go perfectly. 🤭

I feel it goes without saying their chemistry lights up this story. From their banter, their history, their stubbornness, and the whole I can’t stand you demeanor they both try to hide.

This might be a slight spoiler... but I had to look up what the lampshade costume from A Christmas Story would even look like... because I absolutely LOVE A Christmas Story!!! 😂 And I might have found my costume for Halloween.

By the time I got to the end...

👌🏽 Chef’s kiss.

If you don’t laugh at least once while reading this, you seriously need to check your pulse.

This was such a fun surprise.

5⭐️

I received this arc from NetGalley & Forever (Grand Central Publishing) aka Forever, in exchange for my honest review

[Jennifer]

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever/Grand Central Publishing for an advance copy of this book!

Scarlett and Nathan are FBI agents who must work together to solve a case involving someone Scarlett dubs “Sadistic Santa.” They’ve been thrown together on jobs in the past, but they’ve never quite been partners since they finished training together at Quantico. This story is chaotic in the best way — NYC at Christmas, a Santa Claus competition, a VERY undercover FBI agent, and mysterious riddles from a villain who lurks in the shadows.

I loved seeing Scarlett and Nathan’s antics on previous ops in the flashback chapters — Scarlett very much goes by her gut and flies by the seat of her pants, and Nathan is more likely to go by the book and follow the rules (but not in a stuffy way). Their chemistry was obvious from day 1, but their need to be secretive with need-to-know information has them thinking that they can't ever be anything more than colleagues. When Scarlett recruits Nathan for the Santa Claus Convention, the line between colleagues and something more becomes fuzzy.

The competitions? Hilarious! The setting of NYC at Christmas? I LOVE it! A “Sadistic Santa” targeting the FBI? Eek! Who could it be? If you want a little chaos, a little Christmas, and a little mystery, this might be right up your alley!

[Lexie]

This is probably one of the cheesiest books I’ve read in a while. But even though it was cheesy I still had a fun time reading it.

I have to admit this is my first ever book by Lauren Kung Jessen. I can proudly say after ARC reading her upcoming release I will definitely be checking out her other books.

The Santa Claus Con was a light, fun, quirky romcom that revolves around two FBI working together to save Christmas. Except they’ve got two glaring problems they aren’t the biggest fans of each other and to top it off they both extremely dislike Christmas. So can these rivals to lovers save the day.

Now I will admit it was a little weird at times reading this but I chalk it up to the fact I read this in the summer when clearly the ideal reading time for this will be during winter break. But hey blame the ARC gods for this one. Even with that occurring for me I didn’t let it ruin my time reading. The mystery was easy to follow and slightly predictable. The romance was cute and filled with adorable moments that will make any second chance romance girly happy.

Overall, the book was just an easy fun time. I would definitely recommend it especially if you’re a fan of Ally Carters spy books or just want a light fluffy holiday romance. Lastly big thank you to NetGalley & Forever for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

[Dawn]

Thank you, NetGalley and Forever, for the ARC of this book.

The Santa Claus Con is a non-stop, wild ride of action, peril, romance and Christmas cheer. Scarlett is a "go with my gut" rule-breaker FBI agent who finds herself caught up in a mysterious, Christmas-themed threat. There's only one agent that she can even think about calling in to help her - Nathan Lambros. If it weren't for Scarlett calling in an old favor, and perhaps the fact that he can't stop thinking about her, Nathan would have handed in his resignation. But the bad guy (a.k.a. Sadistic Santa) also knows Scarlett and Nathan have a long story that hasn't yet founding its ending.

Lauren Kung Jessen had to have fun writing this one because the crazy stunts Scarlett and Nathan get up to trying to both find the bad guy and stay in the Santa Claus Con competition are hysterical. With each challenge, the two get closer to a resolution, and we get another piece of their shared history, some even they didn't know about until it is suddenly revealed. Jessen skillfully keeps the tension building both in the action and the romance, making the story hard to put down at any point. There's a hearty amount of suspension of disbelief needed to really enjoy the tale, but it's that a big part of Christmas anyway?

Also, YAY! to having more mixed ethnicity representation in Rom-Com/Contemporary Romance.

[Emily]

Scarlett and Nathan are rival-to-friends-to-maybe something more FBI agents. Even though they are competitive with each other, they've been there for each other no matter what. When Scarlett tries to take down a threat at Santa Con, she recruits Nathan to help her by going undercover. Scarlett and Nathan are forced to face their shared/mysterious enemies before time runs out and their unresolved/unsaid feelings.

Scarlett is a fearless, badass FBI agent who has saved Nathan's life multiple times. She is loyal and determined. There are dual timelines that showcase key events in Nathan and Scarlett's relationship. The depth of their relationship and their love for each other is gradually revealed in the past, culminating in a near-death event that temporarily breaks their relationship. In the current timeline, they are wary of each other, and we see them slowly find their way back together while realizing that nothing about their feelings have changed.

This is the perfect Christmas read. As a reader, you will be immersed in the joyous, festive world of Santa Con. The plot can be a little wild and outlandish, but this was still fun to read. The romance and mystery were both well done.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Chasity Hogan]

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley - All reviews of this book are my own

This was such an amazing book that couldn’t put it down once I started it. Not only was this filled with action and mystery, it had all of the swoon and slow burn you need for a perfect Christmas romance.

From their first meet in Quantico FBI agents Scarlett and Nathan were always competing to be better than the other. The book spans years of quick banter, moments of flirting, and Christmas cheer. What would you do if you only saw each other once a year? When Scarlett follows a random tip that turns her world upside down the only person she needs by her side is Nathan. The backdrop of Santa Claus Con seems to add such amazing excitment and fun in this who done it back and forth plot.

This book had me hooked from the very beginning! ‘Enemies’ to Lovers / Second Chance Romance ~ this entire story felt so real, so perfect, so meant to be. The alternate timelines were the perfect way to showcase the yearning. Will they let their past be an issue or will they learn to accept and move forward together?

I loved this book and would highly recommend. If you are in need of a fast pace, holiday challenges, with some great drama this book has your name all over it :)

[Natalie Intihar]

This story was WILDLY entertaining from start to finish!! The Santa Claus Con brought me so much joy as I went through the mystery alongside Scarlett and Nathan’s love story. The setting of the Santa Claus convention itself was so hilarious and was the perfect place for this love story to take place.

Witnessing Scarlett and Nathan’s adventures over the years was such a great way to establish their dynamic as well as propel the crime subplot along. The banter between these two is top tier! It was fun and truly made me feel more connected to Scarlett, Nathan, and the world around them.

I’ve gotten to read a handful of books with a political science/history connection, and the FBI angle in this one was AMAZING. The Santa Claus Con connected my love of romance and my nerdiness about the world that Scarlett and Nathan are in. It truly added a whole extra level of enjoyment for me as a reader!

Thank you to Forever and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Monet Massa-Sena]

I’ve had the honor of reading early copies of every single book Lauren has written, and this woman continues to outdo herself.

The Santa Claus Con is the perfect blend of humorous and tender, making you laugh, swoon, and tear up at any given moment.

Scarlett and Nathan may just be my favorite characters Lauren’s ever written, and I don’t say that lightly because I’ve truly adored all her characters. There’s just something about the chemistry and rapport Scarlett and Nathan have with each other that makes my heart ache in the best way. They are so clearly meant for one another, and I loved that when they finally came together it was so… gentle, easy. Their job is chaotic and requires so much energy, so I loved that they were each other’s soft spaces to land.

This book was so entertaining and captivating from start to finish that I genuinely had a hard time putting it down! Plus, who doesn’t love a little New York City holiday season magic?

I genuinely wish I could read this again for the first time. Lauren is incapable of writing a bad book, and that’s fantastic because I get to keep benefitting.

[Katie Camden]

This is a fun romp featuring two FBI agents who have been in each other’s orbits for years, particularly around Christmastime. Scarlett has been benched (aka relegated to desk duty), which leaves her bored and unfulfilled. Nathan has had enough of the undercover life and was planning to turn in his badge. But this year, Scarlett recruits him to try and thwart a would-be attacker on the annual Santa Claus Con.

Scarlett knows someone’s planning something sinister at the competition for the best Santa Claus, and thanks to a recent injury, she needs a qualified man on the inside. Nathan steps up and joins the competition. The story follows the present-day story of the Santa Claus Con, interspersed with narratives of past Christmas ops the two have collaborated on, including the one when they kissed.

The novel is fast-paced and funny, with a heartwarming attachment between the protagonists that keeps you rooting for them from start to finish. With a festive holiday soundtrack and a colorful cast of would-be Santas, this is a Christmas romance not to be missed. Thanks to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC!

[m y r]

Thank you so much to Forever for the E-ARC!

This was such a fun and exciting holiday read blending an FBI operation, holiday chaos, and old feelings resurfacing. Following two FBI agents, from rivals to lovers to broken hearts, Scarlett Payne and Nathan Lambros find themselves on one final holiday operation - to find a Santa fueled with revenge.

I loved the cryptic letters, riddles, and flashbacks. Trying to piece the puzzle alongside the characters made it so enjoyable that I didn't want to put it down because I wanted to see if I could figure it out with or before them. The stakes were high as Scarlett and Nathan had to race against time in the chaos of a Santa competition in New York.

The romance between Scarlett and Nathan was so heartwarming. Their story didn't feel forced as second chance, and getting flashback chapters of their history with how it all leads up to their current standing made me love their relationship even more.

I really enjoyed this one and think it's perfect for anybody wanting an exciting holiday read! This was also my first book from Lauren Kung Jessen and now I'm so eager to read more from her!

[May]

I foresee the Santa Claus Con being a favorite romance among readers this winter! This is my first book from Lauren Kung Jessen and I was just blown away by how the story line and characters captivated me.

I thought the pacing was good which usually for me is hit or miss depending on books and I thought both main characters were solid. I really value having a holiday romance with AANHPI representation and Scarlett was a capable lead who was intelligent, intuitive and not afraid to show love and emotions. I really liked Nathan as well and he was a great match to Scarlett. Their chemistry and his yearning for her was well developed. Aside from the romance, the actual case Scarlett and Nathan are trying to solve kept me on my toes. My only wish was that this book wasn't a closed door romance, but that is personal preference. Overall this book was a good mix of romance, suspense and comedy and would be enjoyable even for those who are not huge Christmas fans.

[Amanda]

Thank you, Net Galley, for the invite to read this. Scarlett and Nathan are FBI agents who have previously worked together. Both are feeling setbacks and challenges from their jobs when they team up again to take down a naughty Santa. As they go undercover at Santa Con, they start to blur the lines of friendship/colleagues, work to solve the case and save the day, and decide if falling in love is worth the risk. This was an engaging and fast paced read. I really liked Nathan and Scarlett as they had good banter and chemistry. I also enjoyed how the story was told dual timeline reflecting the past and current case they are working on. I think this added to their tension and upped the stakes of this case. This story had the perfect blend of humor and heart to make for a rewarding cozy, holiday mystery. If you are wanting to get you in the holiday spirits early, this is a fun read and solid choice for you. :)