Who Needs Mistletoe?

by Sarah Estep

New advent format! 12 days of Christmas. 2 brothers next door. 1 second chance at romance. Readers can open up a new batch of chapters every day leading up to a Christmas HEA.

Don’t miss out on the stunning DELUXE ADVENT EDITION while supplies last. Unwrap one of twelve beautifully embellished, sealed sections each day, and let the holiday countdown commence! This fun, festive, limited printing will be available in the U.S. and Canada only.

Genres: Christmas, Holiday, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Small Town Romance, Contemporary

344 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 29, 2026

About the author

Sarah Estep is a romance author who loves small towns, romantic comedies, and nice pop culture references. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, children, and two cats--they're all very obsessed with her. Sarah would describe herself as "indoorsy" and has never lost a game of Disney trivia. When she isn't watching Bob's Burgers or British murder mysteries, she's probably taking a nap. A flight attendant for over a decade, the last place Sarah wants to be is the airport.l

Reviews

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entangled Publishing has helped me rediscover my love of the romance genre, so when I was approached to read the holiday romance Who Needs Mistletoe? by Sarah Estep, I said yes. Being perfectly honest, though, I had always avoided holiday romances before this, thinking, “Ugh. Cheesy.” Well, readers, this story taught me to stop blindly judging and instead go in ready to enjoy myself and perhaps even be surprised. This book blew my preconceived notions out of the water.

Ten years ago, Ivy Weaver thought she confessed her feelings to Austin, her next-door neighbor and longtime crush. It was actually his brother, Grant, who received the confession and responded so brutally that, after Ivy left town for college, she was too mortified to return. Now, a decade later, her parents need help packing up their house for a Christmastime move, and she has no choice but to come home. Austin suddenly seems interested, while Grant is desperate to make amends. What follows is a love story unfolding amid the chaos of the weeks leading up to Christmas, with friendships, life realizations, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.

The story is told entirely through Ivy and Grant’s perspectives. I found them both well-rounded and ridiculously relatable, but I also enjoyed their best friends, Brad and Tony, as well as both of their families. The setting is small-town Wisconsin, another thing I could relate to, at least the small-town part of it, having grown up in a Nebraska town of only 700. Estep captures the charm, the advantages and disadvantages of everyone knowing each other’s business, the brutal cold, and the snow. Basically, it felt like Ivy could have been me in Nebraska instead of Wisconsin.

Estep’s prose is light and easy to read, with plenty of romantic tension and lots of playful, sweet banter. There is a nice level of spice, including some surprisingly steamy moments, but the story remains approachable and natural, with humor and emotional honesty. It is a book about second chances, misconceptions and, ha!, preconceived notions; returning home to face a difficult past; family expectations; and choosing the person who actually sees you.

I had a blast reading this, and by the time it wrapped up, my smile was so big that aliens on Mars could probably see it. I’d recommend this to readers who love romantic comedies — think Sophie Kinsella or Emily Henry.

Nerd Rating: 🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓— a festive romance that completely won me over

Let’s discuss:
Tell me about a book that changed your mind about a genre or trope you thought you wouldn’t enjoy.

I read a digital copy made available by Entangled: Amara through NetGalley, and this review reflects my honest opinion.

📚 More book reviews and bookish content:

https://www.ispeakbooknerd.com

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect, heartwarming, and has all of the Christmas is a time for magic energy. He’s full golden retriever who suddenly turns fumbling in the most adorable way when he’s around the love of his life, Ivy. Ivy is unsure and an ugly duckling to swan – although Grant always saw her as a swan. And between the two of them, you really find yourself smiling more and more and hoping they can figure out the logistics of making this relationship work. This book is 100% a better read too with the fun family dynamics at play as well as their two best friends Brad and Tony who end up with their own potential HEA.

Just the right amount of spice level. Open door. 3/5 spice level.

[Jody Lee · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Ivy finally comes home after ten years of hiding from the embarrassment of confessing a crush on one brother (Austin) to the wrong brother (Grant) at a party. Turns out the wrong brother was the right one all along?

Estep really gets both the delusional aspect of teenage crushes (what if he secretly with no visible indications was also yearning for me) and the teen age overreactions. What I found less understandable is a grown woman essentially abandoning her parents and home because of teenage embarrassment. What was her plan if she had been rejected by Austin as she knew she likely would be? I just can’t believe an only child, with a close relationship with her parents, would essentially cut herself off from them, only seeing them when they are able to travel from their full time jobs because of one incident from a decade ago.

I found the first third of this book hard going. I just fundamentally rejected the premise. Beyond the whole "...and I didn't go home for a decade" It literally doesn’t make sense that Grant wouldn’t invite his next door neighbor, who he works with at his summer job and likes *very* much, to a party at his house. It would make more sense that he engineered the whole party as a way to level up the relationship. I'm glad I didn't dnf this though, because Estep turned it around.

Grant is so nervous about getting a second chance with Ivy that he fumbles his attempts at reconnecting repeatedly, to hilarious effect. Lucky Grant and Ivy each have a Sassy Gay Friend to smooth things over, or just bear witness. "At this point, it's like being invited to a car crash. How could I refuse?" After enough "she knows I like her/he just wants to be friends again" to make the reader nervous, there is actually clear communication and acknowledgment of feelings on both sides fairly early on.

One of the issues in contemporary (in particular) romance today is that our MMCs arrive on scene fully perfect, therapized, ready to confess how deeply into the FMC they are, no room or need for a character arc. Estep avoids this trap somewhat by having Grant have family issues he needs to resolve, and frankly be bad at communication. I wouldn't say the MCs had huge character arcs as much as matured ten years and finally were able to express what they wanted. In the end any issues are dealt with fairly easily, on to the hea!

Reading Estep is like listening to your funny friend make observations deep into a chatty hang. She’s clever and funny and relevant. Her writing feels like real people talking if they were at the top of their game conversationally. This is a very solid four star read for me, only dinged because of my reaction to the premise. Any fan of entertaining and cosy contemporaries will really enjoy it. There are worse things in the holiday season than reading about a man who wants to tell the FMC how much he cares for her and then to show her repeatedly in the way Estep writes so well.

Thank you to Entangled and Netgalley for the arc.

[Simone | simonesbookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐ Rating: 4.5 Stars.

✨ The Vibe
A joyful small-town holiday rom-com with winter coziness, yearning, playful banter, second chances, family dynamics, and just the right amount of spice. 🎄 Expect Christmas chaos, matchmaking best friends, misconceptions, and a feel-good romance that leaves you smiling.

🫶 Who Will Love This?
If you love cozy holiday rom-coms, small towns, second chances, banter, HEAs, and a nice dose of spice, this one is such a fun Christmas read!

🔥 Tropes & Elements
- Holiday romance
- Small-town romance
- Second chances
- Childhood/longtime crush
- Family expectations
- Mischievous orange cat

💭 My Thoughts
A joyful read perfect for the holiday season! Funny, endearing, full of yearning, and SO cozy. 🎄

I was a bit hesitant about the love triangle because it's not my favorite trope, but honestly? It was handled exactly how I wanted it to be. The conflict didn't drag or become painfully uncomfortable, and we got through the rom-commy messiness pretty quickly. 😂

I loved Ivy and Grant. They're both ridiculously relatable, and their chemistry, banter, and yearning were SO good. Plus, their best friends were doing the LORD'S WORK trying to get these two to realize they had feelings for each other.

Poor Grant thinks he's being obvious. He is not. And Ivy is terrible at subtle cues. 😂

Brad and Tony were also so cute together. You'll see. I genuinely loved the entire cast of side characters and both families.

The small-town Wisconsin setting was another highlight for me. Add in the Christmas atmosphere, cozy winter vibes, playful banter, and some surprisingly steamy moments, and I had a blast reading this.

I also LOVED the friendship between Grant and Ivy's mothers. Platonic soulmates, honestly. 🥹 My only complaint is that we never found out why Sophie didn't tell Grace they might move away. Grace was clearly hurt by it, and I was INVESTED in their friendship, okay?! 😂 It was such a tiny side plot, but I needed closure.

Overall, this was such a feel-good holiday romance. Lighthearted, funny, cozy, romantic, and guaranteed to leave you with a happy little Christmas feeling. ❤️🎄

📢 Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, and Sarah Estep for providing me with an ARC. As always, all my opinions and thoughts are my own.

[Sim-fully Ever After · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5🌟 | 3🌶️

There is something so entertaining about watching two people completely miss what is happening between them while everyone around them is basically watching the romance unfold in real time.

Ivy and Grant had me smiling constantly. Their chemistry was so natural, the banter was genuinely funny, and the amount of yearning between them was exactly what I wanted. Grant trying to make up for the past while being absolutely terrible at showing Ivy how he feels was especially fun to watch.

This was also my first Advent romance, and I really loved the idea behind it. There was something so fun about having the story unfold as a Christmas countdown, even if my patience became questionable once I got invested. Let’s just say the “one more chapter” mentality was very much in effect. Brad and Tony were another highlight for me because their friendship added so much humor, and I loved how much personality the side characters and families brought to the story. The small-town Wisconsin setting, Christmas chaos, family gatherings, and the steaminess made everything feel wonderfully cozy without taking away from the romance.

I already enjoy holiday romances, but this was such a fun way to experience one, especially with the Advent concept being completely new to me. Ivy and Grant’s whole journey had me laughing, rooting for them, and occasionally wondering how they could possibly still be missing what was right in front of them.

By the end, I was left with exactly the kind of warm, happy feeling I want from a Christmas romance.

~~~~

A sincere thank you to Sarah Estep and Entangled Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC! 🥰📚

I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨

[Blair Warner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such a fun read. It's a second chance romance, and we have. Ivy, as our female main character, who always had a thing for Austin growing up. But his brother Grant who was like a year ahead was someone she worked with at the local movie theater and he had a thing for Ivy. And of course, it's one of those romances that neither of them knew. Which makes it even better. Ivy becomes a flight attendant and Grant works for his father we see Ivy hasn't been home in a long time. And she comes back home for her father's retirement. I love Grant he's a golden retriever he is just a great guy. Can you just one of those guys who pines. I also loved the side characters of this book. I think they were all very well done. And I do think they very much added to the story. All I can say at the end of this book is I really want another one set in this town, in this family, by the time I was done. I wanted more of the Underwoods (that's Grant's family). Definitely read it if you want winter holiday read!
Thank you to Entangled for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Steamy Chapters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was insanely cute, cozy, funny, and swoon-worthy 🥹🎄
Ivy and Grant were perfect together!!

Yearning? CHECK.
Great chemistry? CHECK.
Great banter? CHECK.

Grant is beyond obsessed with Ivy, and seeing him get so nervous around her made me so giddy 🤭🫶🏻
"She slipped her fingers under the collar of his jacket, and Grant couldn't muster the brainpower to breathe. Every single facet of his being was focused on Ivy, even the parts that were supposed to be keeping him alive. Screw organ function, she was touching him!"

I really recommend picking this one up for the holiday season, especially if you’re in the mood for a cozy Christmas romance 🎀

Rating: 4.5 stars

[Nena Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute book. I really enjoyed it. Everyone needs to have a Brad for a best friend. I absolutely loved him, and then there is the Hellcat!! Hastings was a devious lol I loved the characters of this book. All their connections were amazing . I thought the book was very well written with a strong plot. It the perfect Christmas book. I highly recommend

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ten years ago, Ivy confessed her love to the boy next door, only to realize she was speaking to the wrong brother, and his reaction forced her to stay away from home for a decade. Now she’s back home to help her parents back their home, and forced to face the two brothers who have taken up too much space in her mind over the years. When she finally gets asked on the date she was hoping for all along, it turns out to be disappointing in more ways than one, she begins to wonder if she hasn’t been dreaming about the wrong brother all along.

Grant has spent the past decade regretting his actions the night that Ivy confessed her love for his brother, and now that she’s back in town, he sees it as his opportunity to make amends. When his brother makes the first move to ask Ivy out on a date, he thinks he may have missed his shot, but he’s not ready to give up yet.

I received an early copy of this book from @NetGalley and @entangled_publishing and I absolutely loved it! This was my first experience with an advent book, and while I didn’t quite read it one section a day because of the timelines, it was written in a way that would definitely have kept me waiting anxiously until the next day. This story started off as a comedy of errors, but ended up being such a sweet story that I couldn’t stop reading. I loved that we got both Ivy and Grant’s POVs, so we could truly appreciate how both of their lives had been affected by that fateful night 10 years ago, and how it was still impacting them today. They both had so many insecurities to overcome, past and present, but once they were able to be fully honest with each other, it was clear they would be end game. The introduction of Tony and Brad as secondary characters was epic, and before they even met I knew they were meant to be together, but their hilarious commentary on the the “straights” inability to do anything by themselves added so much to the story overall. I loved both Ivy and Grant as characters, and the way they supported and helped each other gain confidence spilled over into so many other aspects of their lives. This is a perfect cozy holiday romance with some spice and great banter that will keep you in the mood all month long.

[Alexandria Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Babes….let me set the stage for you
Ten years ago Ivy Weaver finally worked up the courage to confess her feelings for her longtime crush…
Except she confessed to the WRONG BROTHER.👀

And when I say wrong brother babes…I mean she accidentally poured her heart out to Grant instead of Austin. And Grant’s response was so brutal that Ivy basically said BYEEEE and stayed gone for TEN YEARS.
TEN. YEARS. BABES.

Now she’s back home for Christmas to help her parents pack up their house and the brother she thought she loved is interested in her…
while the brother who received that confession all those years ago is realizing he may have just been handed a second chance with the woman he’s never stopped caring about.
THE MESS. YOU KNOW I LOVE IT HERE.

Grant spends the entire book trying to convince Ivy that what she thought was a teenage crush on Austin was actually pointing her in the wrong direction. Except Grant thinks he’s being so obvious. He is not.

Ivy is terrible at reading the room so their best friends Brad and Tony basically have to become unpaid relationship counselors.😂 Everyone knows everyone's business and everyone's involved in everyone's lives.


This was about coming home after years away, family expectations, old wounds, figuring out what you actually want from your life, and realizing that the person you thought you wanted isn't necessarily the person who actually sees you.

There were so many moments where I was sitting there thinking JUST KISS ALREADY. And then immediately WAIT, NO. KEEP YEARNING. I LIKE THIS.💀😂

If you're building your holiday TBR already, BABES THEN ADD THIS ONE.🎄

And if you can get your hands on the Deluxe Advent Edition even better because the sealed 12 section countdown is SUCH a cute concept. Open one section a day and let Ivy and Grant keep you company leading up to Christmas. 🎁

🎅 Holiday romance

🏡 Small town romance

❤️ Second chance

👀 Childhood/longtime crush

👫 Boy next door vibes

💭 Wrong brother/right brother

🎄 Home for the holidays

🧡 Mischievous orange cat

😂 Banter

🔥 Open door spice

💕 Dual POV

❄️ Cozy Midwest winter vibes


[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I download this on KU, preorder it, and grab the audio on Hoopla all on release day? Yes, yes, I did. If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading a book by Estep yet, this is an excellent opportunity. It is so perfectly Sarah.

For 10 years, after a humiliating confession meant for her crush (Austin Underwood) but accidentally delivered to his older brother (Grant), Ivy Weaver has avoided her hometown. Being a flight attendant with an intense schedule made that easy. Then her parents announced they were selling their Coeur-de-Lac, WI home and moving out of state. Now Ivy is spending one last Christmas in her childhood home helping her parents pack up, and she’ll have to face the Underwood brothers. When Grant hears Ivy is coming back to town, he sees a chance to make things right with Ivy, and maybe convince her she had a crush on the wrong brother all those years ago. Did I mention that their moms are best friends and live on the same street?

I truly think Sarah is the queen of the emotional rom-com. She delivers fantastic character development, amazing family and friendship dynamics, and is one of the few authors who regularly makes me laugh out loud. The sign of a great book is when you are sad to leave the characters, and that is how I felt at the end of this story - not just for Ivy and Grant but for every single character. The Weaver and Underwood families grow throughout this story, and address the things families often let boil just below the surface. In addition to Grant and Ivy, we get a second adorable love story (I’m not going to spoil the surprise). Just read it. You’ll love it.

Audio Performance (10 hrs, 2 min): CJ Bloom and Will Damron perform this as a duet, and it is perfect. Perfect.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this with the publisher's read-a-long. This was really cute. Ivy grew up next door to the Underwood family. She always had a crush on Austin, but Grant was the one who had a crush on Ivy. They are all grown up now and Ivy is returning to her small town in Wisconsin during the holidays. Her parents still live next door to the Underwoods. Unfortunately for Ivy, Austin has no idea she even exists, but Grant sure does. Ivy is only visiting though so can they survive a long distance relationship? I really enjoyed this one and it had actual romance in it!! They didn't just kiss and have sex the first time together. They actually went on dates and fell in love! Grant was so wonderful. They also both have gay best friends, who maybe also had some romance going on. So two romances in one book. Brad and Tony were great comic relief and I definitely ended the book with a smile on my face.

-"I love that you care about the people in your life so much. I just want you to care about you that much, okay?"

[kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinions!!

Who Needs Mistletoe is a perfect Christmas romance about lifelong neighbors who happen to be absolute idiots with terrible communication skills. Ivy spent most of her life in love with her dreamy neighbor only to confess that love to his older brother instead! But Grant is only upset because he loves Ivy and thus begins one of the longest game of avoidance in history.

This book is very very funny with quirky best friends and siblings! I enjoyed how Ivy and Grant are both going thru tough things professionally but still take a chance on each other. Grant is a textbook yearner; he has loved from afar and is done being quiet about it!

[Shendel C · Rating 4 out of 5]

How fun is an advent novel?!

Who Needs Mistletoe? gave me all the holiday feels, a genuine love story and the anticipation that comes with an advent calendar...or novel :-)

I was heartbroken for teenage Ivy and couldn't wait to see the dynamic between her and the Underwood brothers after 10 years of growing up. One notable difference in this romance was the clear communication (for the most part) between Ivy and the brothers. Despite still having some leftover teenage anxiety, Ivy comes out swinging with the honesty. And boy oh boy, is the banter on point! I absolutely LOVED the witty comments between all the characters. I also enjoyed that every character felt developed and had a role in the story. There were other pieces of the story that moved along nicely with the romance. Especially Tony and Brad! They need their own book for sure.

A sweet, cozy, a touch spicy, holiday romcom!

Thank you to the author, Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the early copy. All opinions are my own!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received the advanced copy of this as part of an Entangled readalong which I always enjoy so much! When I saw this one was a holiday romance I could not resist signing up!

This was an absolutely adorable, cozy, funny and even a little spicy holiday romance! I very much enjoyed how clueless Ivy and Grant were early on and then seeing their relationship develop. All the character, the family members but especially Tony and Grant, added so much to it as well!

This is the perfect feel good book to get you into the holiday spirit!

[KattyR3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Entangled and Netgalley for the chance to read this early.

Well, I might be on santa's naughty list, this was my first advent book and I failed 🤣 because once I started I could not stop until I finished.

A small town, Christmas romance, with some spicy moments 😍. There are some laugh out loud funny moments throughout this book.
And some feet kicking giddy with excitement swoon worthy moments too.

Ivy and Grant have great chemistry, with some flirty banter thrown in.

Brad and Tony are the most amazing and hilarious best friends.

Amazing side characters.

I could have done with more Hastings 🐈.

I very likely will read this again, I hope there will be further books following other characters.

[Ashlee Miller]

Bored and too spicy for me

[Nicole (Happily_After_HEAs) · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Who Needs Mistletoe? YOU DO!!

Ugh, I've been dreading writing this review. Not because the book wasn't absolutely fantastic but because the book was way too good. And as Sarah is such an amazing author and human, I wanted to get this review perfect, but I realized I can do that. I'm not gonna be able to do that. So I just need you to *trust me* when I tell you that this book is wonderful. Who Needs Mistletoe? will be the holiday book that you want to read this year and every year after. Just like rewatching The Muppets Christmas Carol, rereading WNM will become a holiday tradition. 

We meet Grant and Ivy the summer after her senior year of high school as she is about to head to college. But before she leaves, Ivy must confess her feelings for Grant's vapid brother, Austin. The conversation does not go the way she expected. So tragic that Ivy avoids going home for the next TEN years as one does. But she's also a flight attendant, so excuses: valid. However, Sarah does an amazing job redeeming Grant and giving us glimpses into him right away. Side note: Dual POV book. Thank God, because I cannot imagine this is a single POV book. It would be a struggle to get through. So thank you, Sarah, for still writing dual POV in the year 2026.

I absolutely love the Grant's pining. I enjoyed watching Ivy realize her feelings. Sarah says this is a love triangle-ish but it is a very loose triangle. In fact, I would say it's collapsing-relatively-quickly-love-triangle-made out of tissue, but it gives you just enough tension and anticipation for when Ivy finally realizes that she like likes Grant. And while cozy, there is conflict. Grant and his brother, Austin. Grant and his dad. Flawed people living real lives. Ivy's parents are retiring and possibly moving away from her childhood home. That's a lot for Ivy and her parents to unpack (or pack because they're moving). There's scenes that made me cry in public (thanks a lot, Sarah).

Sarah has such wonderful insight into the human spirit and her joy is palpable. Her love for all things Christmas and winter bursts forth from the page. This book is sexy and steamy and witty and full of banter. The family dynamics in this book are enviable. I want that kind of joy in my life as often as possible. I want to hold on to family traditions. I love the reminder of family at the holidays. 

The secondary characters are such a gift! From Grant's sisters and his best friend, Tony to Ivy's bestie Brad. DELIGHTFUL TREATS!! Sarah gives us a secondary romance that felt like such a wonderful little stocking stuffer. I adored it. I cannot wait to read more in this series. I want to see who Austin ends up with. (I have an idea. I'm probably wrong LOL) I want to see who his sister ends up with. (Also, have an idea. Also, probably wrong.) So gift yourself this book ASAP. Do not wait for Christmas day. Read it now. You will not regret it. 

[Karolina Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a 4.5⭐️ read for me.

There is something deeply dangerous about giving me a cozy Christmas romance with small town chaos, unresolved feelings, family drama and an orange cat. Because that is all it takes to make me cancel my responsibilities and become emotionally invested. I really enjoyed following Ivy and Grant, especially because their history is such a spectacular misunderstanding. Ten years is a LONG time to carry around embarrassment, hurt and a whole lot of “oh my God, did that really happen?” energy. Watching Ivy come home and slowly realize that maybe she hasn’t been looking at the right person all these years was honestly so much fun.

Grant was probably my favorite part. The man spent YEARS regretting how he handled that night and watching him try to make things right while also completely failing at being subtle had me laughing. Sir. PLEASE. Ivy wasn’t exactly picking up what he was putting down either, so naturally we had to let Brad and Tony do the emotional heavy lifting. And speaking of Brad and Tony… I loved them. Their friendship added so much personality to the book, I genuinely enjoyed all the side characters. The families, the friendships, the messy history between everyone, it made the town feel like one giant group chat where absolutely nobody knows how to mind their business. And honestly? I was here for it.

I also really liked that this wasn’t just about Ivy and Grant getting together. There are family expectations, old wounds, figuring out what you actually want from your life and the uncomfortable process of coming home after you’ve spent years becoming someone different. The small town Wisconsin Christmas setting was basically a warm blanket. Snow, Christmas chaos, family gatherings, awkward encounters, romantic tension… give me a mug of something ridiculously sweet and put me under a blanket because I am READY for Christmas.

My only real complaint is that there were a few little side threads where I found myself wanting just a tiny bit more closure. Nothing that ruined the experience for me but my nosy little reader brain wanted answers. I had questions! I needed receipts!

Final thoughts: this was such a warm, funny, feel good holiday romance. It made me laugh, made me smile and gave me exactly the kind of cozy Christmas atmosphere I want when I’m reading a holiday romance. If you’re looking for something festive, romantic, funny, a little spicy and full of second chance feelings, Ivy and Grant might deserve a spot on your December TBR.

Thank you so much to Entangled Publishing and Sarah Estep for allowing me to read Who Needs Mistletoe? as an eARC before its September 29, 2026 release through NetGalley. I’m so happy I got to spend a little time with this characters and this chaotic little Christmas universe early.

[chaptersandcheckups · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Entangled Publishing for this arc through Netgalley!!

I read Who Needs Mistletoe in my first read-along with Entangled and I absolutely loved the experience!!

This was such a cute holiday romance set in the cold state of Wisconsin ❄️ and I recommend it to anyone who loves a small town, childhood friends to lovers, opposites attract, forced proximity romance!!

I honestly loved everything about this book, the writing, the characters, the banter, and the romance!! 😍

Ivy has been crushing over Austin Underwood for years.. but he’s never given her the time of day even though they live next door to each other! One day she gathers up all the courage and tells him she likes him only to tell his older brother Grant who has been her friend throughout! Talk about an embarrassing moment and obviously Grant is emotionally stunted, and makes her feel like crap about herself, telling her Austin wouldn’t ever like someone like her..

10 years later, Ivy is a flight attendant living in Boston with an amazing best friend Brad!! But something’s missing and her job isn’t as fulfilling as she thought. She returns home to help her parents pack and move only to come across the Underwood’s

Over the next few days Grant’s best friend Tony helps Grant with his lack of dating skills and he finally asks Ivy out on a date, after her failed date with Austin! It really wasn’t all that she had made it out to be in her head… Grant Underwood was who lived in her head rent free now 🫣

Grant, although a grump because of the pressure his dad puts on him, was such a green flag.. he had his moments as do all men, but he was so attentive to Ivy and her likes and dislikes! I mean the man rebuilt their childhood treehouse. 😍

There were a few relatable instances in the book which made the story more personable.. for example Grant not texting Ivy that he’s going to be late and letting Tony ‘handle’ the information. 🙄 such a guy thing to do

Last but not least, I absolutely loved Brad and Tony as the best friends!!! Their comedic timing was amazing!!! I was cracking up!! ‘Daddy Braddy’ 😂🥰

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gobbled this new holiday romance from Sarah Estep so quickly!! I loved the advent style of the paperback and the colorful inserts that show the progression of a Christmas tree getting ready for Santa. Each scene features Ivy's nemesis, her parents' beloved rescue cat, Hastings. Flight attendant Ivy is feeling itchy in her job and returns home to Coeur-de-lac, Wisconsin for the holidays to help her parents pack up their home before they put it on the market. What Ivy didn't expect is to get distracted by the two Underwood brothers next door or be given the job of planning her father's retirement party. Her long time crush, Austin, is on a break from filming in LA and Grant, the older brother who humiliated Ivy the night before she left for good, is trying desperately to earn her forgiveness and get a second chance.

Told in alternating POVs, we get to see how Ivy and Grant can't resist the growing attraction between them while Austin is also trying to get Ivy to give him a shot. I loved Ivy's best friend Brad, and Grant's friend, Tony. There's a whole host of side characters that really make the story sparkle and Brad and Tony's romance was a fun subplot in the book. Full of heat, heart, humor and festive charm, this was a delightful read from start to finish that was also great on audio (how I finished reading it), narrated by
CJ Bloom and Will Damron. Highly recommend if you want a fun, lighthearted read for the season!! Many thanks to Edelweiss for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Lindy Dierks · Rating 5 out of 5]

That time when you are supposed to do a read-a-long in the Entangled Party room and accidentally finish the entire book in two days. Yup, that happened. Entangled did it again. Another fantastic romance! I absolutely ADORED this fun, second chance romance of sorts. Ivy left town 10 years ago and didn’t come back. She had a misunderstanding with the older brother of the neighbor she had a crush on. She crushed on Austin but accidentally made the confession to Grant. Grant, who secretly had a crush on her, was really grumpy about it. Ivy, a flight attendant, managed to stay away from this cute little small town. She’s back to help her parents pack up their house. They are moving closer to her. She’s been a little burnt out on being a flight attendant and can use a break. Except, her parents keep avoiding the packing. This makes it much easier for her to figure out which brother she really likes.

This book was hilarious. Often times, I found myself giggling. The writing was witty and well done. The characters were fantastic. The banter was so much fun! Among all the fun, there was a lot of emotion which really tugged at my heartstrings. This was another amazing Christmas read of the year. I adored all of the holiday touches. Ivy and Grant had the best connection. I loved the spice. This book was exactly what I was craving for the holiday season, even it's early. lol Humor and heart! I cannot wait to go back and read other books by this author. She’s definitely on my must read list. I received this book from Entangled Publishing and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[sarcellegalaxy · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝑵𝒆𝒕𝒈𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑬𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑨𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌

𝐖𝐇𝐎 𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐒 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐎𝐄? by Sarah Estep

⭐ 𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 5/5
🌶️ 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐄𝐋: 🌶️🌶️
🍪 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡: Homemade cookies
❄️ 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧: Winter
✅ 𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐃? Absolutely!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄:
🎄 Holiday romance
💕 Second-chance romance
🏡 Small-town romance
👀 Childhood crushes & wrong-brother chaos
😂 Funny banter and lovable side characters
🐈 Orange cats apparently causing problems

𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒:

Okay, this was ADORABLE.

I went into this expecting a cute holiday romance, and got some Christmas chaos, a little spice, a decade of yearning, and two brothers to make everything unnecessarily complicated. And I ate. It. UP. 😂

I absolutely loved Ivy and Grant. The pining?! Apparently patience is alive and well because that man was WAITING.

The romance was sweet, funny, and had just enough spice to keep things interesting. 🌶️🌶️ I also loved the family dynamics and friendships woven throughout the story. It gave the book so much personality and made it feel like more than just the romance.

And obviously we need to discuss the orange cat, because apparently every holiday romance is better when a chaotic feline gets involved.

This was exactly the kind of cozy Christmas read I wanted. Funny, heartwarming, romantic, a little spicy, and ridiculously easy to get sucked into.

Now excuse me while I go make homemade cookies and pretend I live in a cozy Christmas rom-com.

[Sarah Marquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Entangled Publishing through NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

4.5/5

This was such a cute, small town holiday read (and it's very mild on the holiday aspect so don't worry if you aren't overly Christmassy). It is sort of a second chance romance in the sense that the initial romance was a tad one sided.

Ivy was the awkward high schooler that finally gets the courage to tell her crush how she feel but that falls to pieces and she avoids home for 10 years. Here we are 10 years later and "grant"ing second chances.

I loved Ivy! I honestly wish I could have that level of banter. She was so quick witted and after 10 years, is so much more sure of herself. She wasn't wishy washy with her decisions and I loved that. Love triangles are not my favorite trope so I am so glad that Ivy was so straightforward and the situation was quickly resolved.

Now Grant is not your typical MMC. I'm so used to these alpha male MMC's but Grant was so awkward and kind of dopey in a lovable way. It took him a while to finally wake up...and many hints from his best friend...and once he did, he was swoonworthy! He had a lot of character growth himself.

Ivy and Grants romance was definitely a slow burn but once it picked up, woooooo was it good! I loved the side characters and how they all played their part in helping Ivy and Grant. I want to read more about Brad and Tony now!!!

[Only.ever.books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review:
🎄Who Needs Mistletoe🎄

By Sarah Estep

🎄 Holiday Novel
🎄 Second Chance
🎄 Small Town Romance

⭐ 4/5

Grant and Ivy

This is an entertaining Christmas novella that brings us the romantic holiday spirit.
After an embarrassing reaction to a confession, Ivy leaves her hometown for college without coming back. Until now. Ten years later she has to come back for her parents and help them.
While in town she runs into her former crush and neighbor, Austin, who suddenly sees her. And his brother Grant, who has had regrets for ten years for reacting to her confessions towards his brother and wants to finally make things right.
With the mature versions of them, we get a story full of everything that works its way through the upcoming festivities.
The girl who was unwanted and now is wanted by everyone. Especially the man who always wanted her even if she only saw his brother.
The boy who always wanted her and today has to right his biggest mistake and regret.
Fun, romantic and with a happy end.

[Miss W Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who Needs Mistletoe by Sarah Estep is a wonderful holiday romance I really enjoyed.

Ivy is coming home for Christmas. She has stayed away after confessing her love to her neighbor, Austin many years ago and was rejected.
But was she? Was her confession her love to Austin or his brother Grant.

The story is told in dual POV, Ivy and Grant.

Ivy starts to look at Austin so differently because of Grant. And Grant has had feelings for Ivy for so long.

Grant is just so sweet, and has really cared about Ivy for so long.
I laughed at the funny moments. And SWOONED from the sweet caring moments, all the while wanting them to speed up and get there LOL.

I really enjoyed the 90's vibes, that's my jam!

This Christmas romance is one not to miss.

Well developed characters with a fantastic swoony romance.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars! Rounded up.

Thank you NetGalley, Sarah Estep, and Entangled Publishing for an arc of this book! I read this as part of a read along through Entangled and it was such a great experience! :)

I really loved this as a Christmas romance but also definitely as an advent read. I not only cared to see it through but BINGED it. It was festive but not overly cheesy and stood on its own as well.

This story has everything I typically love around the holidays: small town, dual POV, second chance romance, friendships + family. Brad was the best surprise of this book and he was the sweetest best friend to Ivy! I enjoyed how the "love triangle" was addressed too and didn't feel like it went on for a weird amount of time. Also I loved how Ivy as our FMC was revisiting her small town as a more confident, "glowed up" version of herself, she knows what she wants and she's finally able to see what was there all along.

Highly recommend this one as a solid holiday romance.

[Hannah Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for an ARC of this book!

I absolutely loved this book! This was the perfect cozy, winter read! The humor, yearning, childhood love, and sweet friendships that were forged in this book were the absolute best! This book had me rolling! The humor was perfection for this holiday romance and I found myself deeply invested as well as laughing my head off. I didn’t want this one to end!

I felt that the relationship progression was realistic and I loved experiencing the highs and lows of this complicated relationship. I loved the premise of this story and how the main characters knew each other from childhood and ended back in each other’s lives. Sarah Estep did such a great job filling the time gaps for these enemies as the ice began to crack around Ivy’s heart. There was some sweet redemptions, hurt feelings, communication errors, and some grumpy x sunshine energy! I loved this group of people and would love another book with some of these side characters 👀. Sarah, these characters are so “educational and delightful” (iykyk) please give us more of them!

[Melanie (words.aremagic) · Rating 5 out of 5]

You need to add Who Needs Mistletoe to your holiday reading list right now! Ivy has been crushing on Austin her whole life, but after a heartbreaking moment with his brother Grant, she flees town and doesn’t look back. Now it’s ten years later, she’s back home and both brothers are right next door. Grant has liked Ivy for years, but knows he messed up all those years ago. Now he’s determined to fix it and hopefully be the one she chooses. Ivy and Grant are terrible at sharing their feelings and that is one of the reasons I loved this story. Thank goodness for their best friends! Such a good holiday book.

[Hanh T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had so much fun with the read along with the Entangled group on Facebook , I’m here because I couldn’t wait and I finished the book early lol 😂 I had to finish because I needed to know wth was going to happen . I loved the characters so much ! The mmc was everything to me , Ivy when she finally realizes what was in front of her all along someone who puts her first and sees her as their entire universe was the turning point , the yearning and groveling had me sat , the banter was funny AF Tony and Brad had me cracking the Fah up . This is such a cute fun cozy holiday read . The siblings were all funny af in their own way lol 😂 . Love love love