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The Worst Christmas Wife
One (extremely handsome) grumpy boss needs a wife.
One savvy designer needs a job.
And both hate that they need each other to make it happen.
Celebrate Christmas this year with a laugh-out-loud holiday romantic comedy!
If you love:
Laugh out loud comedy
Billionaire romances
Grumpy bosses
Fake relationships
Office romances
Christmas romances
Happily ever afters
Mistletoes
One savvy designer needs a job.
And both hate that they need each other to make it happen.
Celebrate Christmas this year with a laugh-out-loud holiday romantic comedy!
If you love:
Laugh out loud comedy
Billionaire romances
Grumpy bosses
Fake relationships
Office romances
Christmas romances
Happily ever afters
Mistletoes
232 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 6, 2021
342 people are currently reading
592 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 218 reviews
December 12, 2023
4 Stars
The Worst Christmas Wife brings all the festive cheer and rom-com goodness to this holiday reading season.
Ava is an interior designer desperate for a leg-up in the industry when she finds herself working as the assistant of self-made billionaire architect and perpetual grump Hendricks Cole. But what starts as a banter filled dynamic between boss and employee, quickly shifts gears when Hendricks finds himself in want of a fake wife for Christmas.
To impress a high-profile client, who is known to work collaboratively with professionals who value love and family above all else, loner and chronic bachelor Hendricks realises he needs to make a better personal impression, proposing a mutually beneficial contract to his sassy and talented new assistant, Ava, with the hopes that, together, they can win over said new client before the end of the year.
Fake-relationship shenanigans ensue, as Ava and Hendricks learn they work as well together outside of the office as they do inside of it. As Christmas fast approaches and their “fake marriage” contract nears its end, professional lines become blurred the more they get to know one another, helped along by friends and family and the romantic magic of the season.
This story was super easy to read, full of sweet, relatable characters, and so many of my favourite romance tropes I almost self-combusted with joy. If you’re into even one of the following, this delightful Christmassy romance might be just the ticket this holiday season:
☆ grumpy x sunshine
☆ fake relationship
☆ (pretend) marriage of convenience
☆ billionaire romance
☆ office romance
☆ Christmastime shenanigans
☆ great support characters
The Worst Christmas Wife has put author Katie Bachand on my reading map, and I look forward to trying more of her stories, if this brand of low-angst, smile-inducing romance is to be expected.
***A special thanks to the publishers (via Netgalley) for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Worst Christmas Wife brings all the festive cheer and rom-com goodness to this holiday reading season.
Ava is an interior designer desperate for a leg-up in the industry when she finds herself working as the assistant of self-made billionaire architect and perpetual grump Hendricks Cole. But what starts as a banter filled dynamic between boss and employee, quickly shifts gears when Hendricks finds himself in want of a fake wife for Christmas.
To impress a high-profile client, who is known to work collaboratively with professionals who value love and family above all else, loner and chronic bachelor Hendricks realises he needs to make a better personal impression, proposing a mutually beneficial contract to his sassy and talented new assistant, Ava, with the hopes that, together, they can win over said new client before the end of the year.
Fake-relationship shenanigans ensue, as Ava and Hendricks learn they work as well together outside of the office as they do inside of it. As Christmas fast approaches and their “fake marriage” contract nears its end, professional lines become blurred the more they get to know one another, helped along by friends and family and the romantic magic of the season.
This story was super easy to read, full of sweet, relatable characters, and so many of my favourite romance tropes I almost self-combusted with joy. If you’re into even one of the following, this delightful Christmassy romance might be just the ticket this holiday season:
☆ grumpy x sunshine
☆ fake relationship
☆ (pretend) marriage of convenience
☆ billionaire romance
☆ office romance
☆ Christmastime shenanigans
☆ great support characters
The Worst Christmas Wife has put author Katie Bachand on my reading map, and I look forward to trying more of her stories, if this brand of low-angst, smile-inducing romance is to be expected.
***A special thanks to the publishers (via Netgalley) for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 15, 2023
This was a good little Christmas novel. The FMC starts working for the grumpy MMC and they are trying to land a design job for a big Christmas and love loving celebrity. To fit the bill for the job, the MMC asks FMC to enter a contract that they're married...
It was an enjoyable journey, I liked the banter, a few laughs throughout and some awesome friendships.
Would recommend this fake dating romance (closed door) for an easy Christmas read.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.
It was an enjoyable journey, I liked the banter, a few laughs throughout and some awesome friendships.
Would recommend this fake dating romance (closed door) for an easy Christmas read.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 30, 2023
Ava is a young, frustrated interior designer obsessed with Christmas and is currently searching for a new job after her last boss stole her designs, took credit, and fired her. Hendricks Cole is a self-made architectural billionaire, who is also a grumpy, Scrooge, and his PA is about to retire. His PA pushes Ava onto him, realizing whether or not, they both need each other. Hendricks is also trying to win the pitch to build Camryn Wren's, a famous writer, producer and director, to build her forever home, and realizes he needs Ava's help to learn everything about her,
Camryn is famous for her Christmas romances, so Ava suggests for Hendricks to watch a few movies to understand her vibes, but what he takes away from it is that Camryn is all about family, and if he is a married man, he has a better chance at commission. He proposes a fake marriage contract to Ava enlist her help until he end of December or until he gets the contact, while Ava gets a decent amount of money, free will to decorate his homes, and his client list.
Hendricks is all about the blueprints and lines when it comes to the house, so when Camryn tells him he wants the house to feel like a home, he must enlists Ava's help even more so they can pull together their designs for her new home.
If you like Christmas Hallmark movies, opposites attract, fake-relationship romances, then this is right up your alley. Hope into this cute lil Christmas romcom before the holiday season!
Camryn is famous for her Christmas romances, so Ava suggests for Hendricks to watch a few movies to understand her vibes, but what he takes away from it is that Camryn is all about family, and if he is a married man, he has a better chance at commission. He proposes a fake marriage contract to Ava enlist her help until he end of December or until he gets the contact, while Ava gets a decent amount of money, free will to decorate his homes, and his client list.
Hendricks is all about the blueprints and lines when it comes to the house, so when Camryn tells him he wants the house to feel like a home, he must enlists Ava's help even more so they can pull together their designs for her new home.
If you like Christmas Hallmark movies, opposites attract, fake-relationship romances, then this is right up your alley. Hope into this cute lil Christmas romcom before the holiday season!
November 25, 2022
Me gustó pero me faltó ese algo para que lo amará por completo 🙈
✨📖✨
"I find, if you love someone, it’s easiest to tell them at Christmas."
✨📖✨
"I find, if you love someone, it’s easiest to tell them at Christmas."
December 18, 2022
4.5
Amo demasiado este tipo de libros, si tan solo hubieran omitido un pequeño gesto en el final seria 5 estrellas. Como consejo escuchen el álbum de Snow Waltz de Lindsey Stirling le dio aun más magia navideña.
Posdata. Amo a Hendricks.
Amo demasiado este tipo de libros, si tan solo hubieran omitido un pequeño gesto en el final seria 5 estrellas. Como consejo escuchen el álbum de Snow Waltz de Lindsey Stirling le dio aun más magia navideña.
Posdata. Amo a Hendricks.
December 17, 2022
Awwww, que hermoso 😍😍😍
Read
December 23, 2022DNF 30%
Lo intenté, pero no me enganchó para nada y la verdad es que para perder mi tiempo intentando forzar una lectura mejor me voy a leer otra cosa.
Lo intenté, pero no me enganchó para nada y la verdad es que para perder mi tiempo intentando forzar una lectura mejor me voy a leer otra cosa.
December 18, 2022
3.5⭐
Para ser mi segundo libro navideño de este 2022, no estuvo tan mal.
Fue una historia bonita, pero sentí que unas partes se desarrollaron muy rápido, no sé, estos clichés navideños me gustan mucho.🥰😍
Para ser mi segundo libro navideño de este 2022, no estuvo tan mal.
Fue una historia bonita, pero sentí que unas partes se desarrollaron muy rápido, no sé, estos clichés navideños me gustan mucho.🥰😍
November 11, 2022
-Grumpy Boss
-Fake relationship
-Billionaire
Hendricks, quiere conseguir el contrato de construcción de una casa para una mujer que produce películas navideñas. Para ello debe aparentar estar casado y tener una vida familiar.
Por lo que le propone a su asistente Ava ser esposos durante las fiestas decembrinas, y en cuanto ganen el contrato, regresan a la normalidad.
Sí ajá.
Esta historia es divertida y rápida de leer. No tiene trama complicada ni con demasiado drama.
PD. Declaro inaugurada la temporada de lecturas navideñas 2022.🤭🎄
📖
"...it’s the people in our lives that make it worth living. The day in and day out spent with them. For some reason, it all just seems a little more special around the holidays."
-Fake relationship
-Billionaire
Hendricks, quiere conseguir el contrato de construcción de una casa para una mujer que produce películas navideñas. Para ello debe aparentar estar casado y tener una vida familiar.
Por lo que le propone a su asistente Ava ser esposos durante las fiestas decembrinas, y en cuanto ganen el contrato, regresan a la normalidad.
Sí ajá.
Esta historia es divertida y rápida de leer. No tiene trama complicada ni con demasiado drama.
PD. Declaro inaugurada la temporada de lecturas navideñas 2022.🤭🎄
📖
"...it’s the people in our lives that make it worth living. The day in and day out spent with them. For some reason, it all just seems a little more special around the holidays."
September 29, 2023
Three and a half stars.
Ava is a frustrated interior decorator with a Christmas fetish. After her last boss stole her designs and bad-mouthed her she's been having trouble getting work. Then one of her roommates tells her a world-famous architect's PA is retiring. He's young, grumpy, and hates Christmas, but he needs a new PA and Ava would be perfect.
When Hendricks Cole's PA Matilda foists Ava on him he is beyond irritated. The only thing stopping him from firing her is that he does need a PA desperately and his old PA is now sunning herself in far-off climes. But he isn't going to make things easy for Ava, no siree. Hendricks is trying to win a pitch to build a new forever home for Camryn Wren, a famous movie writer, producer, and director and he needs Ava to help him learn everything there is to know about her.
Since Camryn is famous for her schmaltzy Christmas romances, Ava suggests Hendricks watches a few of her movies to really get a feel for her vibe. But what Hendricks takes away from watching the films and doing his research is that Camryn is all about family, and a married man has a much better chance of getting the commission. So he proposes a fake-marriage contract to Ava, until 31 December or when he wins the contract, whichever falls sooner. In return she gets a wodge of cash and the chance to decorate both his homes, as well as introductions to his other clients.
Hendricks is all about the architecture, the clean lines. No fuss, no knick-knacks, no rugs or throws. So when Camryn tells him she can't really sign off on plans without visualising the fully decorated and furnished rooms. So now Hendricks must work with Ava to pull together designs for Camryn's new home.
If you like hallmark Christmas movies, opposites attract, fake-relationship romances then this is right up your street. Its cute, sweet, and very, very Christmassy.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
Available on Kindle Unlimited.
Ava is a frustrated interior decorator with a Christmas fetish. After her last boss stole her designs and bad-mouthed her she's been having trouble getting work. Then one of her roommates tells her a world-famous architect's PA is retiring. He's young, grumpy, and hates Christmas, but he needs a new PA and Ava would be perfect.
When Hendricks Cole's PA Matilda foists Ava on him he is beyond irritated. The only thing stopping him from firing her is that he does need a PA desperately and his old PA is now sunning herself in far-off climes. But he isn't going to make things easy for Ava, no siree. Hendricks is trying to win a pitch to build a new forever home for Camryn Wren, a famous movie writer, producer, and director and he needs Ava to help him learn everything there is to know about her.
Since Camryn is famous for her schmaltzy Christmas romances, Ava suggests Hendricks watches a few of her movies to really get a feel for her vibe. But what Hendricks takes away from watching the films and doing his research is that Camryn is all about family, and a married man has a much better chance of getting the commission. So he proposes a fake-marriage contract to Ava, until 31 December or when he wins the contract, whichever falls sooner. In return she gets a wodge of cash and the chance to decorate both his homes, as well as introductions to his other clients.
Hendricks is all about the architecture, the clean lines. No fuss, no knick-knacks, no rugs or throws. So when Camryn tells him she can't really sign off on plans without visualising the fully decorated and furnished rooms. So now Hendricks must work with Ava to pull together designs for Camryn's new home.
If you like hallmark Christmas movies, opposites attract, fake-relationship romances then this is right up your street. Its cute, sweet, and very, very Christmassy.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
Available on Kindle Unlimited.
October 23, 2023
Hendricks is a grumpy, Christmas hating boss who needs a wife to seal the deal with a customer.
Ava is his new Christmas obsessed, designer assistant.
He strikes up a deal with Ava to make him his pretend wife through Christmas and in the end they find love.
This book is a low angst, clean romance. It takes place around Christmas and it felt so magical. Literally felt like I was in a hallmark movie. Grab you a cozy blanket and some hot chocolate and get ready to read! It was a super cute, fast, easy read.
I would’ve liked to see an epilogue of their happily ever after.
Thank you NetGalley and Katie Bachand for a copy of this book.
Ava is his new Christmas obsessed, designer assistant.
He strikes up a deal with Ava to make him his pretend wife through Christmas and in the end they find love.
This book is a low angst, clean romance. It takes place around Christmas and it felt so magical. Literally felt like I was in a hallmark movie. Grab you a cozy blanket and some hot chocolate and get ready to read! It was a super cute, fast, easy read.
I would’ve liked to see an epilogue of their happily ever after.
Thank you NetGalley and Katie Bachand for a copy of this book.
December 18, 2023
DNF 10% 🚫
1st red flag 🚩
"I don't have time for this," Hendricks Cole grumbled to himself, sounding like an old Scrooge rather than the young bachelor he was"
2nd red flag 🚩🚩
"her exotic femininity"
3rd red flag 🚩🚩🚩 (I'm an optimist)
"Hendricks readied himself to walk into his masculine office building"
(how can an office be masculine? 💪🏢🏋♂️🦬🥩)
my final straw
"[assumes she's single after their first encounter] But, he had heard her speak. And he knew any man or woman couldn't possibly deal with that regularly."
NOT for me
[arc review honest opinion]
1st red flag 🚩
"I don't have time for this," Hendricks Cole grumbled to himself, sounding like an old Scrooge rather than the young bachelor he was"
2nd red flag 🚩🚩
"her exotic femininity"
3rd red flag 🚩🚩🚩 (I'm an optimist)
"Hendricks readied himself to walk into his masculine office building"
(how can an office be masculine? 💪🏢🏋♂️🦬🥩)
my final straw
"[assumes she's single after their first encounter] But, he had heard her speak. And he knew any man or woman couldn't possibly deal with that regularly."
NOT for me
[arc review honest opinion]
November 18, 2023
Thank you for the ARC Netgalley and publisher. This was a fun holiday novella. Basically if you want a Hallmark Christmas movie in book form that you can read in one night….this is it.
Tropes:
- grumpy/sunshine
- fake relationship
- forced proximity
- boss/assistant
I did find Ava a bit snobby and materialistic for my liking but overall the dynamic between Hendricks and Ava was really sweet. 3.5 ⭐️
Tropes:
- grumpy/sunshine
- fake relationship
- forced proximity
- boss/assistant
I did find Ava a bit snobby and materialistic for my liking but overall the dynamic between Hendricks and Ava was really sweet. 3.5 ⭐️
December 29, 2023
2.5 ⭐️
La verdad le falta mucho para que llegara a encantarme porque no logré encariñarme o sentir cosas por los personajes. Creo que medio disfrute del libro porque si tarde en terminarlo y era muy corto.
Siento que me hubiera gustado si hubiera tenido más cosas o si hubieran desarrollado la relación de los protagonistas porque siento que iban muy rápido y siento que sería mejor si las cosas hubieran sido un poco lentas.
La verdad le falta mucho para que llegara a encantarme porque no logré encariñarme o sentir cosas por los personajes. Creo que medio disfrute del libro porque si tarde en terminarlo y era muy corto.
Siento que me hubiera gustado si hubiera tenido más cosas o si hubieran desarrollado la relación de los protagonistas porque siento que iban muy rápido y siento que sería mejor si las cosas hubieran sido un poco lentas.
December 7, 2023
This is exactly what you could expect from a fake marriage holiday romance. It was a nice read but nothing surprising happened
September 23, 2023
Thank you Netgalley and Katie Bachand for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The Worst Christmas Wife has you laughing and aching for love! It's a fake marriage story that turns into so much more. This story was made for Hallmark. Ok, not really but it should be a Hallmark movie! It's a quick and fun read!
The Worst Christmas Wife has you laughing and aching for love! It's a fake marriage story that turns into so much more. This story was made for Hallmark. Ok, not really but it should be a Hallmark movie! It's a quick and fun read!
December 12, 2021
Ahh this was such a cute read! If you are a fan of cute hallmark movies, then this is definitely something you’d enjoy. Think of grumpy boss and sunshine assistant. Fake marriage trope. And fun side characters.
Quick and easy read!
Quick and easy read!
December 17, 2023
3.75⭐️ for this cute little holiday romance!!
This book started out strong for me. I’ve read several holiday books this year and what I’ve found is they’re very light on the Christmas. This one felt magical from the beginning.
Ava is an amaaazing interior designer. SO amazing she gets fired from her current job due to one very jealous boss. She has a stacked resume + tons of talent that’s currently being underutilized. She’s sulking and celebrating Christmas. What a duo. It’s an emotional rollercoaster. But I’d likely feel the same way if that happened to me during my favorite holiday. It’s most definitely her favorite. She’s wild. Egg nog without a doubt replaces her water intake for the month of December. For real how can one person drink that much egg nog?? And I looove egg nog y’all.
Hendricks Cole is your typical grumpy, billionaire, architect, boss man AKA the grinch. He HATES Christmas. The sound of Christmas music makes his soul want to crawl into a dark hole. Pretty sad to be honest. But he’s rich and established so he can get away with being whoever he wants to be. Aside from his kick butt assistant who we see for a total of three pages in this book. She doesn’t take crap from anyone apparently. If I didn’t love my mom so much I’d want to adopt this maternal queen. The catch? She’s retiring. Leaving Hendricks in a bind to “hire the next person who walks through the door” …
*enters Ava through the literal front door*
Overqualified and very available obviously makes Ava the perfect candidate for this job. BOOM HIRED. However, Ava and Hendricks don’t exactly get off on the right foot. Because if they did would I have eaten this up so early on? No definitely not. She proceeds to put this man in his place at every turn. He underestimated not only her skill but also her sass. You go girl! You play that Christmas music!
One thing obviously leads to another and these two find themselves in one fake marriage contract to win over a very important, very romantic, very Christmas obsessed client. Camryn something or another. My new Christmas grandmother. In order to be chosen over their competitors, the only logical thing to do would be to showcase your adoration for Christmas and marriage. Right? Honestly I don’t know the answer I’m not an architect. I’m just a romance reader who DEVOURS this nonsense.
Another thing leads to another and SHOCKER it’s not so fake anymore is it??? Lingering hand holding and a deep appreciation for each others work ethic put these two on the fast track to love. And I mean FAST. One moment they’re at the office bantering about Christmas. Next thing you know they’re traveling to meet families and get the whole squad in on their scheming. Which the family does without question. Because they recklessly invited Camryn to Christmas in the hometown. My family would NEVER. I’m not even mad. Because that’s literally insane if you ask me.
Camryn as we come to find out knew of their scheme from the very beginning because NEWS FLASH you can actually tell when two people are married or not. She deems this as romantic anyway and chooses their company to run her projects. Apparently contractual deceit isn’t a red flag for her. Not my problem. Because she helps Ava realize *cue gasps* SHE’S IN LOVE WITH HENDRICKS. From the mouth of Camryn: "Ava, my life is about understanding relationships and love. The way you and Hendricks were throwing fireworks around from the moment I met you, I knew you were right on the cusp of falling in love."
So now you may ask. Why didn’t I rate this book higher? Because I clearly had a lot of fun reading it. I’m sad to say this believe me. But these two really gave me bestie energy. I didn’t feel the romance. I didn’t feel the chemistry. Which is what I want in a Christmas romcom. It was heavy on the continuation of the plot and lighter on the intimate middle moments. Which made for a very fast paced and easy read. But maybe not one that I felt deeply in my soul.
Hendricks we come to find out has a traumatic past that contributes to his disdain for Christmas. But that doesn’t really get touched on too much and it left something to be desired. I wanted more. I didn’t get it. Ava on the other hand overcompensates after losing her mother who loved Christmas. We also don’t really get to touch on this. These two did help each other in the end. But overall it just felt very platonic. I must have misread the situation. Because this book ends in an engagement + first real kiss. Absolute whip lash.
I’d still definitely recommend this book because it was freaking cute and really enjoyable to read!!
🌶️ : 100% closed door
This book started out strong for me. I’ve read several holiday books this year and what I’ve found is they’re very light on the Christmas. This one felt magical from the beginning.
Ava is an amaaazing interior designer. SO amazing she gets fired from her current job due to one very jealous boss. She has a stacked resume + tons of talent that’s currently being underutilized. She’s sulking and celebrating Christmas. What a duo. It’s an emotional rollercoaster. But I’d likely feel the same way if that happened to me during my favorite holiday. It’s most definitely her favorite. She’s wild. Egg nog without a doubt replaces her water intake for the month of December. For real how can one person drink that much egg nog?? And I looove egg nog y’all.
Hendricks Cole is your typical grumpy, billionaire, architect, boss man AKA the grinch. He HATES Christmas. The sound of Christmas music makes his soul want to crawl into a dark hole. Pretty sad to be honest. But he’s rich and established so he can get away with being whoever he wants to be. Aside from his kick butt assistant who we see for a total of three pages in this book. She doesn’t take crap from anyone apparently. If I didn’t love my mom so much I’d want to adopt this maternal queen. The catch? She’s retiring. Leaving Hendricks in a bind to “hire the next person who walks through the door” …
*enters Ava through the literal front door*
Overqualified and very available obviously makes Ava the perfect candidate for this job. BOOM HIRED. However, Ava and Hendricks don’t exactly get off on the right foot. Because if they did would I have eaten this up so early on? No definitely not. She proceeds to put this man in his place at every turn. He underestimated not only her skill but also her sass. You go girl! You play that Christmas music!
One thing obviously leads to another and these two find themselves in one fake marriage contract to win over a very important, very romantic, very Christmas obsessed client. Camryn something or another. My new Christmas grandmother. In order to be chosen over their competitors, the only logical thing to do would be to showcase your adoration for Christmas and marriage. Right? Honestly I don’t know the answer I’m not an architect. I’m just a romance reader who DEVOURS this nonsense.
Another thing leads to another and SHOCKER it’s not so fake anymore is it??? Lingering hand holding and a deep appreciation for each others work ethic put these two on the fast track to love. And I mean FAST. One moment they’re at the office bantering about Christmas. Next thing you know they’re traveling to meet families and get the whole squad in on their scheming. Which the family does without question. Because they recklessly invited Camryn to Christmas in the hometown. My family would NEVER. I’m not even mad. Because that’s literally insane if you ask me.
Camryn as we come to find out knew of their scheme from the very beginning because NEWS FLASH you can actually tell when two people are married or not. She deems this as romantic anyway and chooses their company to run her projects. Apparently contractual deceit isn’t a red flag for her. Not my problem. Because she helps Ava realize *cue gasps* SHE’S IN LOVE WITH HENDRICKS. From the mouth of Camryn: "Ava, my life is about understanding relationships and love. The way you and Hendricks were throwing fireworks around from the moment I met you, I knew you were right on the cusp of falling in love."
So now you may ask. Why didn’t I rate this book higher? Because I clearly had a lot of fun reading it. I’m sad to say this believe me. But these two really gave me bestie energy. I didn’t feel the romance. I didn’t feel the chemistry. Which is what I want in a Christmas romcom. It was heavy on the continuation of the plot and lighter on the intimate middle moments. Which made for a very fast paced and easy read. But maybe not one that I felt deeply in my soul.
Hendricks we come to find out has a traumatic past that contributes to his disdain for Christmas. But that doesn’t really get touched on too much and it left something to be desired. I wanted more. I didn’t get it. Ava on the other hand overcompensates after losing her mother who loved Christmas. We also don’t really get to touch on this. These two did help each other in the end. But overall it just felt very platonic. I must have misread the situation. Because this book ends in an engagement + first real kiss. Absolute whip lash.
I’d still definitely recommend this book because it was freaking cute and really enjoyable to read!!
🌶️ : 100% closed door
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2023
Ava, an aspiring interior decorator with a deep love for Christmas, finds herself in a frustrating predicament after her former boss stole her designs and tarnished her reputation. Landing a job has become a challenge. However, her luck takes a turn when one of her roommates informs her about the impending retirement of the personal assistant to Hendricks Cole, a world-renowned architect. Hendricks may be young, grumpy, and far from a Christmas enthusiast, but he's in dire need of a new PA, and Ava seems like the perfect fit.
When Hendricks reluctantly accepts Ava as his new PA, the irritation is palpable. The only thing preventing him from firing her outright is his desperate need for assistance, as his former PA has left for a vacation. Nevertheless, he has no intention of making things easy for Ava. Hendricks is focused on winning a crucial pitch to design a forever home for Camryn Wren, a famous movie writer, producer, and director. Ava's job is to help him gather every possible detail about her.
Camryn is renowned for her heartfelt Christmas romances, so Ava suggests that Hendricks watch a few of her movies to understand her style. However, what Hendricks takes away from this research is that Camryn values family above all else, and a married man would have a better shot at securing the project. Thus, he proposes a fake-marriage contract to Ava, with an expiration date of December 31st or until he wins the contract, whichever comes first. In return, Ava receives a substantial sum of money and the opportunity to decorate both of Hendricks's homes, along with introductions to his other clients.
Hendricks is all about sleek architecture and clean lines, eschewing clutter, knick-knacks, rugs, or throws. However, when Camryn insists on visualizing fully decorated and furnished rooms before approving his designs, Hendricks is forced to collaborate with Ava to create designs for Camryn's new home.
If you're a fan of Hallmark Christmas movies, enjoy the allure of opposites attracting, and savor fake-relationship romances, this book will be right up your alley. It's charming, sweet, and brimming with Christmas spirit.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Hendricks reluctantly accepts Ava as his new PA, the irritation is palpable. The only thing preventing him from firing her outright is his desperate need for assistance, as his former PA has left for a vacation. Nevertheless, he has no intention of making things easy for Ava. Hendricks is focused on winning a crucial pitch to design a forever home for Camryn Wren, a famous movie writer, producer, and director. Ava's job is to help him gather every possible detail about her.
Camryn is renowned for her heartfelt Christmas romances, so Ava suggests that Hendricks watch a few of her movies to understand her style. However, what Hendricks takes away from this research is that Camryn values family above all else, and a married man would have a better shot at securing the project. Thus, he proposes a fake-marriage contract to Ava, with an expiration date of December 31st or until he wins the contract, whichever comes first. In return, Ava receives a substantial sum of money and the opportunity to decorate both of Hendricks's homes, along with introductions to his other clients.
Hendricks is all about sleek architecture and clean lines, eschewing clutter, knick-knacks, rugs, or throws. However, when Camryn insists on visualizing fully decorated and furnished rooms before approving his designs, Hendricks is forced to collaborate with Ava to create designs for Camryn's new home.
If you're a fan of Hallmark Christmas movies, enjoy the allure of opposites attracting, and savor fake-relationship romances, this book will be right up your alley. It's charming, sweet, and brimming with Christmas spirit.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 7, 2023
I’ve been holding on to this book to read as an holiday read and it delivered! If you are looking for a grumpy x sunshine, surrounded by Christmas vibes this one is for you. Hendricks Cole is basically the grinch while Ava Brown lives and breathes Christmas. When Ava, who is a passionate interior designer starts working for Hendricks, she can tell he isn’t happy about it but as a big opportunity presents itself, they are pushed to get a lot closer. Ava sprinkles her love of Christmas around while he desperately tries to ignore it.
𝖱𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝗂𝖿 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾：
𝖥𝗈𝗋𝖼𝖾𝖽 𝖯𝗋𝗈𝗑𝗂𝗆𝗂𝗍𝗒
𝖥𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝗅𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌𝗁𝗂𝗉
𝖦𝗋𝗎𝗆𝗉𝗒 x 𝗌𝗎𝗇𝗌𝗁𝗂𝗇𝖾
𝖧𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗄 𝗋𝗈𝗆𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝗏𝗂𝖻𝖾𝗌
𝖢𝗁𝗋𝗂𝗌𝗍𝗆𝖺𝗌
I would so watch this as a holiday movie. Also planning on grabbing another book from Katie Bachand：𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖢𝗁𝗋𝗂𝗌𝗍𝗆𝖺𝗌 𝖫𝗈𝗏𝖾 𝖢𝗈𝗅𝗎𝗆𝗇！
✵𝖬𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗄𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝖪𝖺𝗍𝗂𝖾 𝖡𝖺𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝖽 ＆ 𝖭𝖾𝗍G𝖺𝗅𝗅𝖾𝗒 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗀𝗂𝖿𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗆𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖠𝖽𝗏𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾𝖽 𝖱𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋’𝗌 𝖢𝗈𝗉𝗒 𝗂𝗇 𝖾𝗑𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗆𝗒 𝗁𝗈𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝗏𝗂𝖾𝗐．✵
𝖱𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝗂𝖿 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾：
𝖥𝗈𝗋𝖼𝖾𝖽 𝖯𝗋𝗈𝗑𝗂𝗆𝗂𝗍𝗒
𝖥𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝗅𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌𝗁𝗂𝗉
𝖦𝗋𝗎𝗆𝗉𝗒 x 𝗌𝗎𝗇𝗌𝗁𝗂𝗇𝖾
𝖧𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗄 𝗋𝗈𝗆𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝗏𝗂𝖻𝖾𝗌
𝖢𝗁𝗋𝗂𝗌𝗍𝗆𝖺𝗌
I would so watch this as a holiday movie. Also planning on grabbing another book from Katie Bachand：𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖢𝗁𝗋𝗂𝗌𝗍𝗆𝖺𝗌 𝖫𝗈𝗏𝖾 𝖢𝗈𝗅𝗎𝗆𝗇！
✵𝖬𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗄𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝖪𝖺𝗍𝗂𝖾 𝖡𝖺𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝖽 ＆ 𝖭𝖾𝗍G𝖺𝗅𝗅𝖾𝗒 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗀𝗂𝖿𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗆𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖠𝖽𝗏𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾𝖽 𝖱𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋’𝗌 𝖢𝗈𝗉𝗒 𝗂𝗇 𝖾𝗑𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗆𝗒 𝗁𝗈𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝗏𝗂𝖾𝗐．✵
September 27, 2023
Actual rating: 3.75✨
Ohh! This could easily been a 4 or 4.5*~ read but the ending felt so rushed ( a (a) still I enjoyed it so much!! And I was fully invested in this one and couldn't stop reading it!! The plot is basic and it's a quick read, also the characters are very well written, I loved them!! Would recommend this to read if you want a quick Christmas romance read.
Tropes: GrumpyxSunshine, Boss assistant romance, fake relationship, cos Christmas reads,
Workplace romance
P.S. I just love the vibes it created in my head! I loved how I wanted to drink hot chocolate even though I don't like it, how I wanted to sit beside a bonfire even though it's not cold, how I wanted to stay in my blanket even though it's not winter!!
ALSO! I just loved the simple plot, the characters were adorable and this book was very well written. It's just the ending that was not to my liking BUT I HIGHLY SUGGEST YOU TO ADD THIS BOOK IN YOUR TBR IF YOU WANT TO READ A QUICK CHRISTMAS ROM COM
Tropes: GrumpyxSunshine, Boss assistant romance, fake relationship, cosy Christmas reads, Workplace romance
ARC from NetGalley
Ohh! This could easily been a 4 or 4.5*~ read but the ending felt so rushed ( a (a) still I enjoyed it so much!! And I was fully invested in this one and couldn't stop reading it!! The plot is basic and it's a quick read, also the characters are very well written, I loved them!! Would recommend this to read if you want a quick Christmas romance read.
Tropes: GrumpyxSunshine, Boss assistant romance, fake relationship, cos Christmas reads,
Workplace romance
P.S. I just love the vibes it created in my head! I loved how I wanted to drink hot chocolate even though I don't like it, how I wanted to sit beside a bonfire even though it's not cold, how I wanted to stay in my blanket even though it's not winter!!
ALSO! I just loved the simple plot, the characters were adorable and this book was very well written. It's just the ending that was not to my liking BUT I HIGHLY SUGGEST YOU TO ADD THIS BOOK IN YOUR TBR IF YOU WANT TO READ A QUICK CHRISTMAS ROM COM
Tropes: GrumpyxSunshine, Boss assistant romance, fake relationship, cosy Christmas reads, Workplace romance
ARC from NetGalley
October 26, 2023
This was a cute read but also a bit weird. Fake dating is one of my favourite tropes, so I was looking forward to this, but I just felt a little behind at times. We know how it goes - she’s sunshine personified & loves Christmas while he’s the grumpy Scrooge. They are cute together & make a believable couple. However, there’s no lingering looks or touches, no almost kisses, no will they or won’t they moments & there’s a huge missed opportunity for the trusty only one bed trope. The spiciest we get is a kiss on the cheek at about 70%.
This would make a fantastic Christmas movie that I would love to see, but as a book, I found it lacking.
Thanks to Katie Bachand & NetGalley for the ARC in an exchange for an honest review.
This would make a fantastic Christmas movie that I would love to see, but as a book, I found it lacking.
Thanks to Katie Bachand & NetGalley for the ARC in an exchange for an honest review.
December 25, 2023
Such a cute holiday read. I’m obsessed with a “I’m in love with my boss” grumpy-sunshine romance especially one that is CHRISTMAS themed.
This was such a good storyline and one that was both comedic and romantic without being so corny that it made you lose the plot.
I tend to find that a lot of holiday books give me no storyline and are all pretty much the same with little to no substance but this book was not one of those. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the characters and the witty banter between them all was just perfect.
Highly recommend!
This was such a good storyline and one that was both comedic and romantic without being so corny that it made you lose the plot.
I tend to find that a lot of holiday books give me no storyline and are all pretty much the same with little to no substance but this book was not one of those. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the characters and the witty banter between them all was just perfect.
Highly recommend!
January 3, 2023
Definitivamente siento que le falto un "algo" , quería un último libro navideño porque aún me siento en ese mood, y mi amiga me comentó que esta leyendo este y le encanta mucho , así que me decidí a leerlo con ella pero simplemente no es mi tipo al 100.
La trama es buena y la idea en general me encanta porque AMO los Fake Dating pero aquí siento que falto muchísimo, además de que no ame como fue narrada la historia.
La trama es buena y la idea en general me encanta porque AMO los Fake Dating pero aquí siento que falto muchísimo, además de que no ame como fue narrada la historia.
December 22, 2021
3.75 stars
This is a Christmas romance with a lot of trope so I see a lot of people really enjoying this book. It was very cute, easy to read and nothing complicated.
I liked how h's family got involved and everything.
This is another Hallmark movie in a book!
Where this fell short for me is that it was a little short and maybe slightly rushed in the second half.
This is a Christmas romance with a lot of trope so I see a lot of people really enjoying this book. It was very cute, easy to read and nothing complicated.
I liked how h's family got involved and everything.
This is another Hallmark movie in a book!
Where this fell short for me is that it was a little short and maybe slightly rushed in the second half.
November 29, 2023
The worst Christmas wife
So the first half was a little slow.. Though don't get me wrong, I giggled at a few parts.. But it really got me half way thru and by the end I was grinning from ear to ear. what an adorable ending. This was just like a true hallmark Christmas show! all the way down to their first kiss at the very end.
*No sex. Just kissing. I kept on waiting for at least some kisses and then sex at the end but this was just as sweet.
So the first half was a little slow.. Though don't get me wrong, I giggled at a few parts.. But it really got me half way thru and by the end I was grinning from ear to ear. what an adorable ending. This was just like a true hallmark Christmas show! all the way down to their first kiss at the very end.
*No sex. Just kissing. I kept on waiting for at least some kisses and then sex at the end but this was just as sweet.
October 22, 2023
This book was made to be turned into a Hallmark Christmas movie 100%.
It was a cute, funny, quick read with a nice Christmassy love story that definitely got me into the Christmas book spirit.
Also that dedication? Oof.. had me in tears.
It was a cute, funny, quick read with a nice Christmassy love story that definitely got me into the Christmas book spirit.
Also that dedication? Oof.. had me in tears.
December 19, 2023
Thank you so much NetGalley and Katie for the opportunity to read this amazing story! I might ramble in this review and I apologize.
This book was everything I needed in a holiday read. The fake marriage. The Christmas vibes. The descriptions of the decorations. Ugh. My heart is so happy with this book! I’m obsessed with it. I want more!
This book was everything I needed in a holiday read. The fake marriage. The Christmas vibes. The descriptions of the decorations. Ugh. My heart is so happy with this book! I’m obsessed with it. I want more!
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