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The Mistletoe Pact
Two single thirty-year-olds. One marriage pact. And a night in Vegas that’s about to change everything…
On Christmas Eve eight years ago Evie and Dan made a pact: if they weren’t married by thirty, they were going to marry each other. Of course, neither of them took it seriously, even if Dan has always been mesmerised by Evie’s beautiful smile, and Evie has always fancied Dan, her best-friend’s brother.
But then “it” happens. They wake up on Christmas Eve, the night before Evie’s thirtieth birthday in Vegas… married. In a honeymoon suite filled with hundreds of heart-shaped pillows, they realise too late what they’ve done – just like Ross and Rachel.
Surely if they just get a quickie divorce, they can go back to the way things used to be, right? If it wasn’t for the alcohol and Susan-with-the-huge-beehive-hairdo who just wouldn’t take no for an answer, none of this would have happened. They can just go back to being friends.
Except moving on is easier said than done when you've secretly loved each other forever… but if one of them doesn’t admit that, what happens to their friendship? If they don’t get together this time, what happens to the pact? Are they really ready to let it go for good?
On Christmas Eve eight years ago Evie and Dan made a pact: if they weren’t married by thirty, they were going to marry each other. Of course, neither of them took it seriously, even if Dan has always been mesmerised by Evie’s beautiful smile, and Evie has always fancied Dan, her best-friend’s brother.
But then “it” happens. They wake up on Christmas Eve, the night before Evie’s thirtieth birthday in Vegas… married. In a honeymoon suite filled with hundreds of heart-shaped pillows, they realise too late what they’ve done – just like Ross and Rachel.
Surely if they just get a quickie divorce, they can go back to the way things used to be, right? If it wasn’t for the alcohol and Susan-with-the-huge-beehive-hairdo who just wouldn’t take no for an answer, none of this would have happened. They can just go back to being friends.
Except moving on is easier said than done when you've secretly loved each other forever… but if one of them doesn’t admit that, what happens to their friendship? If they don’t get together this time, what happens to the pact? Are they really ready to let it go for good?
348 pages, ebook
First published October 1, 2021
311 people are currently reading
5525 people want to read
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December 26, 2021DNF at 17%
Writing was stiff, repetitive, and characters felt wooden.
Writing was stiff, repetitive, and characters felt wooden.
did-not-finish
January 3, 2022DNF @ 35%: This was just... not very enjoyable if I'm being honest. The writing was not for me! Onto the next.
September 28, 2021
It was a light and easy read. I was in the mood for something christmassy and this kind of was, because it was set on that time of the year, but didn't have the holidays feeling.
Friends to lovers is not my favorite trope because I never understand how people can be oblivious or pining for someone for such a long time without doing something about it or moving on. Unfortunately, this not being exactly the case with the MCs, after they get married in Vegas, they break up the marriage but you find yourself reading about them being in love, misunderstanding situations, and of course creating very frustrating situations.
Overall it was an okay read, the characters were cute but not major things happened and I was expecting more of a Christmas feel.
Friends to lovers is not my favorite trope because I never understand how people can be oblivious or pining for someone for such a long time without doing something about it or moving on. Unfortunately, this not being exactly the case with the MCs, after they get married in Vegas, they break up the marriage but you find yourself reading about them being in love, misunderstanding situations, and of course creating very frustrating situations.
Overall it was an okay read, the characters were cute but not major things happened and I was expecting more of a Christmas feel.
October 10, 2023
Dnf 40%
Nope.
So spoiler but if you have a ‘pact’ to get married if your both single at your 30th birthday and then ‘accidentally’ get drunkenly married on that birthday and at the same time, you are secretly in love with each other but you both refuse to say it and are oblivious to each others feelings and then get an annulment and we have to see them move on with other people.. I think the miscommunication trope is going to far.
——
Since I'm wearing a sweater, I feel like christmas book season is among us 🎄🩷
Nope.
So spoiler but if you have a ‘pact’ to get married if your both single at your 30th birthday and then ‘accidentally’ get drunkenly married on that birthday and at the same time, you are secretly in love with each other but you both refuse to say it and are oblivious to each others feelings and then get an annulment and we have to see them move on with other people.. I think the miscommunication trope is going to far.
——
Since I'm wearing a sweater, I feel like christmas book season is among us 🎄🩷
September 1, 2021
From the blurb, I’d initially assumed that ‘The Mistletoe Pact’ was a story about an accidental marriage between 2 drunk (but very compatible) friends who finally realised the error of their ways…and moved forward from that point together.
To my dawning horror, this turned out the opposite as the book went on.
Instead, Evie and Dan moved on from each other after trying to brush off their accidental one-night Vegas marriage with Dan even having a baby with his ex-girlfriend and Evie moving on with a new bloke in the months after. How was that supposed to bode well?
Clearly this has something to do with my clear set of expectations that the book fell totally short of. But in a romance, I do at least expect a lot more interactions between the protagonists rather than fleeting looks or touches in the intervening years, catalogued as very distracting chapter flashbacks between the years when they were in each other’s orbits but never really did anything about each other after the pact that they made.
In fact, Evie and Dan (along with the rest of the characters) came off as wooden, flighty and somehow shallow at the events that they met, their dialogues and scenes together not even sounding remotely interesting or hinting at any deeper development other than what was really printed on the page. Their individual life trajectories were always drawing away from each other rather than coming together and when it felt like they were pulled apart more than together at the halfway point (where Jo Lovett threw a spanner in the works by introducing the ex- and the baby), I simply gave up.
*ARC by the publisher via Netgalley
To my dawning horror, this turned out the opposite as the book went on.
Instead, Evie and Dan moved on from each other after trying to brush off their accidental one-night Vegas marriage with Dan even having a baby with his ex-girlfriend and Evie moving on with a new bloke in the months after. How was that supposed to bode well?
Clearly this has something to do with my clear set of expectations that the book fell totally short of. But in a romance, I do at least expect a lot more interactions between the protagonists rather than fleeting looks or touches in the intervening years, catalogued as very distracting chapter flashbacks between the years when they were in each other’s orbits but never really did anything about each other after the pact that they made.
In fact, Evie and Dan (along with the rest of the characters) came off as wooden, flighty and somehow shallow at the events that they met, their dialogues and scenes together not even sounding remotely interesting or hinting at any deeper development other than what was really printed on the page. Their individual life trajectories were always drawing away from each other rather than coming together and when it felt like they were pulled apart more than together at the halfway point (where Jo Lovett threw a spanner in the works by introducing the ex- and the baby), I simply gave up.
*ARC by the publisher via Netgalley
September 14, 2021
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Mistletoe Pact definitely gave me those Hallmark Vibes. Mostly because it seems like two friends, who became lovers, took FOREVER and a day to finally become a thing. Of course things got messed up after a little trip down to Vegas... but honestly what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
Unless you want to divorce someone? Again, not sure but these two seriously needed to acknowledge their feelings for one another and just freaking talk to each other. It frustrated me to no one with their little dance around one another. At times, things could be cute but other times it felt like nails on a chalkboard for me because of the miscommunication.
Other than that, I did actually end up liking the book. Mostly because of the cute moments but that's it. I could have done without all the extra drama that came attached to certain characters. Still, somehow, these characters made it all work out in the end.
I'm happy that I got the chance to dive into this because I'm very excited for the colder weather to come my way. So I will definitely need to dive into more Holiday books soon.
The Mistletoe Pact definitely gave me those Hallmark Vibes. Mostly because it seems like two friends, who became lovers, took FOREVER and a day to finally become a thing. Of course things got messed up after a little trip down to Vegas... but honestly what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
Unless you want to divorce someone? Again, not sure but these two seriously needed to acknowledge their feelings for one another and just freaking talk to each other. It frustrated me to no one with their little dance around one another. At times, things could be cute but other times it felt like nails on a chalkboard for me because of the miscommunication.
Other than that, I did actually end up liking the book. Mostly because of the cute moments but that's it. I could have done without all the extra drama that came attached to certain characters. Still, somehow, these characters made it all work out in the end.
I'm happy that I got the chance to dive into this because I'm very excited for the colder weather to come my way. So I will definitely need to dive into more Holiday books soon.
December 24, 2021
Every year I try to pick up some Christmas books, because why not feel festive and merry in my reading journey? Well, I kind of slacked but I at least managed to pick this one up in late November! The rest of December fell away from me, but I got two books under my belt for the Christmas season!
The Mistletoe Pact was not what I was expecting nor wanting, to be brutally honest. I was kind of disappointed as I thought this would be a lot more fun and romantic, kind of like a Hallmark movie. IT was more drama and negative for me, and just dragged on forever. It was not my kind of book, which was just disappointing. Very disappointing.
So why didn't it hit with me?
- So many flashbacks that didn't really help me understand the narrative. They felt... redundant. I could already tell things were falling apart, you don't need to show me the past where more falls apart.
- Some of the characters are just... unbearable. Like, ugh. I wanted fun, merry and festive! Not depressing and just sad.
- This was the slowest race to a romance I've seen in a while for a book that was marketed like a romantic Hallmark-type book. Where's the ooey gooey fun romance? The couple took so long to finally get with each other and by then... I just wanted them to break up. It was painful.
Overall, this book was not a win for me. It was a book I struggled to get through and made me inch away from anymore festive books... I will say, the author is an amazing writer and it's by no fault of her that this book isn't good. I think it's an amazing read, just not for me! It wasn't what I got out of the marketing and just wanted something more... fun. And fast.
One out of five stars.
The Mistletoe Pact was not what I was expecting nor wanting, to be brutally honest. I was kind of disappointed as I thought this would be a lot more fun and romantic, kind of like a Hallmark movie. IT was more drama and negative for me, and just dragged on forever. It was not my kind of book, which was just disappointing. Very disappointing.
So why didn't it hit with me?
- So many flashbacks that didn't really help me understand the narrative. They felt... redundant. I could already tell things were falling apart, you don't need to show me the past where more falls apart.
- Some of the characters are just... unbearable. Like, ugh. I wanted fun, merry and festive! Not depressing and just sad.
- This was the slowest race to a romance I've seen in a while for a book that was marketed like a romantic Hallmark-type book. Where's the ooey gooey fun romance? The couple took so long to finally get with each other and by then... I just wanted them to break up. It was painful.
Overall, this book was not a win for me. It was a book I struggled to get through and made me inch away from anymore festive books... I will say, the author is an amazing writer and it's by no fault of her that this book isn't good. I think it's an amazing read, just not for me! It wasn't what I got out of the marketing and just wanted something more... fun. And fast.
One out of five stars.
September 16, 2021
I generally have very varied genre interests and among those, romantic comedies have always found their place. What's more, be it in books or movies, I'm a real sucker for Christmassy romantic comedies. You can probably guess why I was totally sold on "The Mistletoe Pact".
Having said all that, I can admit to being totally fine with cheesy stories and romantic novel tropes. Two characters meet, they sort of like each other, things keep happening so they are not actually a couple, but at the very end love wins, and most of all, love always wins on Christmas. Fair enough. And even more than that, such books don't require either too much of a convoluted plot or much complicated characters - just cute enough ones.
Unfortunately, neither the characters in "The Mistletoe Pact" were cute enough, nor was the story.
Evie and Dan have always known each other, considering that they live near each other and Evie's best friend is Dan's sister. On the Christmas that happens to also be Evie's 22nd birthday they make a pact to get married if neither of them is married by Evie's 30th. They do get drunkely married, then they annul the marriage and each continues with their life.
And then we read pages on top of pages of them actually being in love with each other, unbeknownst to themselves and each other. Understand, that's a huge majority of the book.
If you've read "Pride and Prejudice", you might tell me "But that's so interesting!", and you would be right... in the case of "Pride and Prejudice". In the case of Dan and Evie there are no social, behavioral or other barriers, there's just nothing but each of them pining and pining and pining, always misunderstanding each and every desperate gesture of the other as rejection, always having such a good time together, and then deciding "Oh but I shouldn't, oh but he/she doesn't want me to...", etc. etc.
It takes them years (!!!) to sort out their feelings just by the way of wanting to kiss but never doing so, thinking how sexy the other is, but never saying so - you get the point.
And all the same, they change not at all, living a stagnant life in the span of a decade in this loop of hopeless and pointless pining.
Not much to go on with, really. Which is too bad, I really wanted a light Christmas romance.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Having said all that, I can admit to being totally fine with cheesy stories and romantic novel tropes. Two characters meet, they sort of like each other, things keep happening so they are not actually a couple, but at the very end love wins, and most of all, love always wins on Christmas. Fair enough. And even more than that, such books don't require either too much of a convoluted plot or much complicated characters - just cute enough ones.
Unfortunately, neither the characters in "The Mistletoe Pact" were cute enough, nor was the story.
Evie and Dan have always known each other, considering that they live near each other and Evie's best friend is Dan's sister. On the Christmas that happens to also be Evie's 22nd birthday they make a pact to get married if neither of them is married by Evie's 30th. They do get drunkely married, then they annul the marriage and each continues with their life.
And then we read pages on top of pages of them actually being in love with each other, unbeknownst to themselves and each other. Understand, that's a huge majority of the book.
If you've read "Pride and Prejudice", you might tell me "But that's so interesting!", and you would be right... in the case of "Pride and Prejudice". In the case of Dan and Evie there are no social, behavioral or other barriers, there's just nothing but each of them pining and pining and pining, always misunderstanding each and every desperate gesture of the other as rejection, always having such a good time together, and then deciding "Oh but I shouldn't, oh but he/she doesn't want me to...", etc. etc.
It takes them years (!!!) to sort out their feelings just by the way of wanting to kiss but never doing so, thinking how sexy the other is, but never saying so - you get the point.
And all the same, they change not at all, living a stagnant life in the span of a decade in this loop of hopeless and pointless pining.
Not much to go on with, really. Which is too bad, I really wanted a light Christmas romance.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 26, 2021
Great cute book for those that love a good Hallmark movie! The Mistletoe Pact has a cute premise, Evie and Dan make a pact that if they aren't married by the time Evie turns 30, then they will marry each other. Right out of the gate the book moves ahead in time and they actually get married in Vegas! The rest of the book goes back and forth in time, from after the pact to the time after their wedding. The storyline took a different path than I was expecting, so that was nice surprise.
The characters in the book were likable; however, I never really felt a strong connection. The book felt rushed (especially the end) as if the author were trying to tell you about many different events and activities quickly, rather than going in depth. The character development seemed flat and the book lacked those rom-com scenes where you can feel the chemistry and tension between characters. Easy read, just wanted a little more Christmas spirit and depth.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for granting me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The characters in the book were likable; however, I never really felt a strong connection. The book felt rushed (especially the end) as if the author were trying to tell you about many different events and activities quickly, rather than going in depth. The character development seemed flat and the book lacked those rom-com scenes where you can feel the chemistry and tension between characters. Easy read, just wanted a little more Christmas spirit and depth.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for granting me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
August 31, 2021
Before I begin with the review, let me ask two questions real quick. Who the hell gets married to someone on a whim just because they got drunk in Vegas and a Chapel is offering its service? And how come their parents never even talk about it to them when they decide to annul said marriage? Like, what in the spoiled White kid's world?
I'm trying really hard to find something positive to say about this book, but I can't find anything at all.
There is no plot whatsoever, no story except for the main characters meeting/bumping into each other in almost every chapter and being obsessed over each other in a very weird way too. There's a lot of telling and no showing at all. The characters explain every single line they speak (and they're not very interesting lines either, mind you).
So in pretty much every chapter, one of the two MCs remember their "pact" (by which they promised to marry each other if they were still single when Evie turns thirty) and fantasise about kissing the other person but they don't talk about it to anyone, or act upon it until we get to the last 5% of the book. Seriously? This cycle goes on for ever and it tired me out. Apart from that, there was a lot of unnecessary jealousy. The characters' POV alternated between the past and the present in such a manner that the timeline got confusing and I didn't know what happened when.
Besides, there was no depth or "character" to the characters. *sigh* I really am disappointed. There are so many other problems, including how feminism was made a joke out of more than once and how toxic the feelings Evie and Dan (the main characters) have for each other are. I feel absolutely nothing at how they behave though, which shows how bland they are. I can't even talk about the side characters because I don't even know them.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'm trying really hard to find something positive to say about this book, but I can't find anything at all.
There is no plot whatsoever, no story except for the main characters meeting/bumping into each other in almost every chapter and being obsessed over each other in a very weird way too. There's a lot of telling and no showing at all. The characters explain every single line they speak (and they're not very interesting lines either, mind you).
So in pretty much every chapter, one of the two MCs remember their "pact" (by which they promised to marry each other if they were still single when Evie turns thirty) and fantasise about kissing the other person but they don't talk about it to anyone, or act upon it until we get to the last 5% of the book. Seriously? This cycle goes on for ever and it tired me out. Apart from that, there was a lot of unnecessary jealousy. The characters' POV alternated between the past and the present in such a manner that the timeline got confusing and I didn't know what happened when.
Besides, there was no depth or "character" to the characters. *sigh* I really am disappointed. There are so many other problems, including how feminism was made a joke out of more than once and how toxic the feelings Evie and Dan (the main characters) have for each other are. I feel absolutely nothing at how they behave though, which shows how bland they are. I can't even talk about the side characters because I don't even know them.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
dnf
December 22, 2021dnf @ 11%
Yeah this one’s just not working out for me. The reviews are not looking good and I don’t want to waste my time reading a book I’m not enjoying.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Yeah this one’s just not working out for me. The reviews are not looking good and I don’t want to waste my time reading a book I’m not enjoying.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
dnf
December 25, 2021DNF page 45.
The premise sounds really cute but like it’s just sooo slow. I feel like I’ve read 100 pages (it’s only been 45) and I’m already bored??
Plus the reviews aren’t looking too good for this one.
The premise sounds really cute but like it’s just sooo slow. I feel like I’ve read 100 pages (it’s only been 45) and I’m already bored??
Plus the reviews aren’t looking too good for this one.
March 18, 2022
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Mistletoe Pact' by Jo Lovett.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Jo Lovett, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 1st October 2021.
This is the third book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The House Swap' and 'The First Time We Met' which I highly recommend.
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'Fans of One Day in December, This Time Next Year and Beth O’Leary will adore The Mistletoe Pact.' I am a huge fan of 'This Time Next Year' so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Jo and if this is half as good as 'The House Swap' or 'The First Time We Met' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 40 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in London and Cotswolds 🏴, UK 🇬🇧 and Las Vegas, USA 🇺🇸 . The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture.
This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonists being Evie and Dan. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
🎶 It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!! 🎶 What an absolutely gorgeous book to get you in the mood for the festive season. An absolutely gorgeous page turner!!!
Awww!!! Absolutely perfect!!! Another absolutely gorgeous book from the amazing Jo Lovett!!! Absolutely stunningly romcom heartwarmer!!!
This book is beautifully written and completely absorbs you in the stunning atmosphere of the Cotswolds and the lights of Vegas and really sucks you in with the vivid descriptions leaving you seeing the sights in vegas and feeling the snowflakes in the Cotswolds. The synopsis and cover suits the storyline perfectly.
The storyline is authentic and realistic as well as easy to read and heartwarming. I loved it straight away and was hooked immediately!!! A true heart warning, addictive page turner!! It was fast paced with plenty of events going on throughout and it kept me hooked from start to end, I read it in one sitting. It really made me feel like I was with Dan and zevie throughout the storyline going through all the emotions with them The storyline was filled with a range of emotions and was heartwarming, devastating and had lost and new love, relationships, family, friendship and history all going on in this beautiful book. It felt like a lovely break away from a rainy Wales!! I loved going on the Las Vegas adventure and then relaxing in the Cotswolds. It made me laugh, angry at certain people and events and filled me with a warm fuzzy feeling all at different times. I loved how the story ended!!! If you are planning to read this I would definitely recommend clearing your schedules. It is perfect to read curled up on the sofa in front of the fire with a nice hot chocolate or cup of tea. I was completely absorbed in the realistic storyline and although it was filled with love, romance and happiness there was definitely some suspense, tension but also loads of laughter in the air!! This would make an absolutely stunning movie which I would love to see come to the big screen!!!
It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.
The characters were all unique with their own realistic traits, strengths and weaknesses. It was intriguing to watch Evie and Dan's friendship and relationship grow, develop and change throughout the the storyline. It was also intriguing to see how not only Evie and Dan's relationship change throughout the book but also Dan's relationship with Max and his father and Evie's relationship with her mum and Amber. I enjoyed watching the relations between Dan and Evie change from friendship to lovers, back to friendship and much more. It wasn't just Evie and Dan that I enjoyed getting to know but also Evie's mum, Amber, cute little Katie, Max and Sasha. Each character had their own unique personalities and each left their own impressions on me. I became completely invested in Evie and Dan. All characters worked perfectly with the storyline and I would love to meet them again and hope to see this made into a series or even a movie!!!
Congratulations Jo on yet another absolutely fantastic rom com heart warmer. There's a good reason you are one of my favourite authors!!! Here's to yet another success 🥂!!!
Overall a heart warming page turner filled love, snow, comedy, friendship and everything you could want in a Christmas rom com.
Genres covered in this novel include Romance Novel, Humorous Fiction, Contemporary Romance and Holiday Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of One Day in December, This Time Next Year, Beth O’Leary, Bridget Jones, fans of Jo's previous books and just anyone who loves a good read!!
355 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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Review for 'The Mistletoe Pact' by Jo Lovett.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Jo Lovett, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 1st October 2021.
This is the third book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The House Swap' and 'The First Time We Met' which I highly recommend.
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'Fans of One Day in December, This Time Next Year and Beth O’Leary will adore The Mistletoe Pact.' I am a huge fan of 'This Time Next Year' so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Jo and if this is half as good as 'The House Swap' or 'The First Time We Met' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 40 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in London and Cotswolds 🏴, UK 🇬🇧 and Las Vegas, USA 🇺🇸 . The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture.
This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonists being Evie and Dan. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
🎶 It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!! 🎶 What an absolutely gorgeous book to get you in the mood for the festive season. An absolutely gorgeous page turner!!!
Awww!!! Absolutely perfect!!! Another absolutely gorgeous book from the amazing Jo Lovett!!! Absolutely stunningly romcom heartwarmer!!!
This book is beautifully written and completely absorbs you in the stunning atmosphere of the Cotswolds and the lights of Vegas and really sucks you in with the vivid descriptions leaving you seeing the sights in vegas and feeling the snowflakes in the Cotswolds. The synopsis and cover suits the storyline perfectly.
The storyline is authentic and realistic as well as easy to read and heartwarming. I loved it straight away and was hooked immediately!!! A true heart warning, addictive page turner!! It was fast paced with plenty of events going on throughout and it kept me hooked from start to end, I read it in one sitting. It really made me feel like I was with Dan and zevie throughout the storyline going through all the emotions with them The storyline was filled with a range of emotions and was heartwarming, devastating and had lost and new love, relationships, family, friendship and history all going on in this beautiful book. It felt like a lovely break away from a rainy Wales!! I loved going on the Las Vegas adventure and then relaxing in the Cotswolds. It made me laugh, angry at certain people and events and filled me with a warm fuzzy feeling all at different times. I loved how the story ended!!! If you are planning to read this I would definitely recommend clearing your schedules. It is perfect to read curled up on the sofa in front of the fire with a nice hot chocolate or cup of tea. I was completely absorbed in the realistic storyline and although it was filled with love, romance and happiness there was definitely some suspense, tension but also loads of laughter in the air!! This would make an absolutely stunning movie which I would love to see come to the big screen!!!
It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.
The characters were all unique with their own realistic traits, strengths and weaknesses. It was intriguing to watch Evie and Dan's friendship and relationship grow, develop and change throughout the the storyline. It was also intriguing to see how not only Evie and Dan's relationship change throughout the book but also Dan's relationship with Max and his father and Evie's relationship with her mum and Amber. I enjoyed watching the relations between Dan and Evie change from friendship to lovers, back to friendship and much more. It wasn't just Evie and Dan that I enjoyed getting to know but also Evie's mum, Amber, cute little Katie, Max and Sasha. Each character had their own unique personalities and each left their own impressions on me. I became completely invested in Evie and Dan. All characters worked perfectly with the storyline and I would love to meet them again and hope to see this made into a series or even a movie!!!
Congratulations Jo on yet another absolutely fantastic rom com heart warmer. There's a good reason you are one of my favourite authors!!! Here's to yet another success 🥂!!!
Overall a heart warming page turner filled love, snow, comedy, friendship and everything you could want in a Christmas rom com.
Genres covered in this novel include Romance Novel, Humorous Fiction, Contemporary Romance and Holiday Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of One Day in December, This Time Next Year, Beth O’Leary, Bridget Jones, fans of Jo's previous books and just anyone who loves a good read!!
355 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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September 3, 2021
I'm having complicated feelings about this but overall I enjoyed it. It's a cute Christmasy story about a drunk Vegas marriage, how the two ended up there and what happens afterward. I was skeptical about the friends-to-lovers trope but I ended up enjoying it nonetheless.
Sometimes it was hard to follow since you jump between timeliness. If every chapter had the timeline mark, it would be so much better. I found myself trying to remember who was dating and what was happening in the chapters I was reading.
Evie was a cutie. She was nice and had a motherly feeling. Probably because of her mommy issues. Dan, on the other hand, had daddy issues and he wasn't that good with coping with them.
Many times in the book we see Evie pull away without an explanation, she just does. Dan steps back too but it's usually because they're friends or he is scared to get hurt.
What I didn't like is how it took them literally years to act on their feelings. They never stopped having feelings towards each other through the book even when they were dating other people but for whatever reason, they never took a step towards each other. It was pages and pages of them playing cat and mouse. Through the years, they spent very little time with each other so sometimes it was hard to believe their genuine feelings.
The book was not much of a Christmas book either. Sure there were a lot of chapters that took place during the Christmas season throughout the years but I don't think it was enough. The Christmas magic and that warm feeling were missing.
Overall, it was a sweet and quick read. I'd recommend reading this when the season comes for extra effect.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Sometimes it was hard to follow since you jump between timeliness. If every chapter had the timeline mark, it would be so much better. I found myself trying to remember who was dating and what was happening in the chapters I was reading.
Evie was a cutie. She was nice and had a motherly feeling. Probably because of her mommy issues. Dan, on the other hand, had daddy issues and he wasn't that good with coping with them.
Many times in the book we see Evie pull away without an explanation, she just does. Dan steps back too but it's usually because they're friends or he is scared to get hurt.
What I didn't like is how it took them literally years to act on their feelings. They never stopped having feelings towards each other through the book even when they were dating other people but for whatever reason, they never took a step towards each other. It was pages and pages of them playing cat and mouse. Through the years, they spent very little time with each other so sometimes it was hard to believe their genuine feelings.
The book was not much of a Christmas book either. Sure there were a lot of chapters that took place during the Christmas season throughout the years but I don't think it was enough. The Christmas magic and that warm feeling were missing.
Overall, it was a sweet and quick read. I'd recommend reading this when the season comes for extra effect.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 22, 2021
As a lover of all things Christmas I was ready to start the colder months with this seasonal read.
Admittedly, the storyline started strong and I enjoyed the fast pace with which the story began, however the pace did taper off quite substantially a few chapters in.
One thing I wasn’t too keen on was that whilst the book was written in two perspectives (which I usually love) they were also both written in third person which I found a bit odd. I also did not take too keenly to Dan, the male main character and I found him to be quite whiney and difficult to relate to.
That said, the relationship between Evie and Dan was believable and the growth of both characters was fun to read. Jo did a really good job of building the tension for the reader so that you were turning the pages regardless of the predictability of the book, just so you could find out how the story truly ends.
Overall, it was a good read and I would recommend this to a friend as a feel good, seasonal, easy read.
*Thanks to Bookoture/Net Galley for this ARC*
Admittedly, the storyline started strong and I enjoyed the fast pace with which the story began, however the pace did taper off quite substantially a few chapters in.
One thing I wasn’t too keen on was that whilst the book was written in two perspectives (which I usually love) they were also both written in third person which I found a bit odd. I also did not take too keenly to Dan, the male main character and I found him to be quite whiney and difficult to relate to.
That said, the relationship between Evie and Dan was believable and the growth of both characters was fun to read. Jo did a really good job of building the tension for the reader so that you were turning the pages regardless of the predictability of the book, just so you could find out how the story truly ends.
Overall, it was a good read and I would recommend this to a friend as a feel good, seasonal, easy read.
*Thanks to Bookoture/Net Galley for this ARC*
December 21, 2022
I'm going to give this book four stars ... with reservations. I liked it. I did. But (man oh man!) were there some things that irritated me. The Mistletoe Pact is a story about two great friends, Dan and Evie, who make a random pact to marry by the time they are thirty if neither are married by then. They are friends ... friends who recognize an attraction for one another, but friends who also see some inherent issues that could arise if they ever acted on that attraction. They spend most of this book in semi-close proximity to one another, always noticing each other, but never quite taking the plunge into a fully formed relationship. The book begins with the two of them finding themselves married after a drunken impulsive Vegas decision. For some reason, they run from the situation but don't decide to do a quick annulment to resolve the issue. The following chapters jump from moving through situations in modern day 2022 and looking back on the past interactions that mostly occurred in previous Christmas seasons. What we can see through all this jumping around is that Dan and Evie are perfect for one another ... we only have to wait for them to trust themselves to act on that possibility of perfection.
So here's the issue ... it is EXCRUCIATING to wait for Dan and Evie to figure themselves out. This is another one of those contemporary romances where the main couple can't just BE TOGETHER because they are afraid that they might eventually break up. Dan's dad is a schmuck, so Dan is worried that he'll eventually be a schmuck. Evie's mom is always jumping into relationships with terrible men, so Evie must be inclined to make the same decisions. They can't possibly choose to be happy with one another, even though it is evident to every reader and every single person in their vicinity that they are great together. Reading through the slog of the latter chapters of this book was incredibly frustrating. So. So. Frustrating. When Evie and Dan were on, they were delightful. I loved them as characters, and I was willing to wait a bit for them to figure things out. But when they were off ... oh man how I wanted to smack them upside the head! These chapters took a perfectly lovely Christmas romance and turned it into an episode of frustration and irritation. I couldn't feel any of the joy and peace I expect in my Christmas romances.
So why am I inclined to give this one four stars? Well, I really did like Evie and Dan as characters. I was happy to see two people overcome the inevitability of their pasts and their family issues to forge their own happily ever afters. If I choose to read this book again, I'll skip past Dan's ridiculous decisions at the end of the book and focus on the good parts of their relationship. If you are a reader who won't get super irritated with the relationship blip that occurs in this story, then I highly recommend this as a lovely Christmas romance. But if you get super upset about those sorts of road blocks, then I'd probably avoid this one. Four stars. I really liked (most of) it.
So here's the issue ... it is EXCRUCIATING to wait for Dan and Evie to figure themselves out. This is another one of those contemporary romances where the main couple can't just BE TOGETHER because they are afraid that they might eventually break up. Dan's dad is a schmuck, so Dan is worried that he'll eventually be a schmuck. Evie's mom is always jumping into relationships with terrible men, so Evie must be inclined to make the same decisions. They can't possibly choose to be happy with one another, even though it is evident to every reader and every single person in their vicinity that they are great together. Reading through the slog of the latter chapters of this book was incredibly frustrating. So. So. Frustrating. When Evie and Dan were on, they were delightful. I loved them as characters, and I was willing to wait a bit for them to figure things out. But when they were off ... oh man how I wanted to smack them upside the head! These chapters took a perfectly lovely Christmas romance and turned it into an episode of frustration and irritation. I couldn't feel any of the joy and peace I expect in my Christmas romances.
So why am I inclined to give this one four stars? Well, I really did like Evie and Dan as characters. I was happy to see two people overcome the inevitability of their pasts and their family issues to forge their own happily ever afters. If I choose to read this book again, I'll skip past Dan's ridiculous decisions at the end of the book and focus on the good parts of their relationship. If you are a reader who won't get super irritated with the relationship blip that occurs in this story, then I highly recommend this as a lovely Christmas romance. But if you get super upset about those sorts of road blocks, then I'd probably avoid this one. Four stars. I really liked (most of) it.
August 30, 2022
3.5 rounded up.
Better than your typical British holiday romance!! I was pleasantly impressed with this heartfelt Christmas story about two friends who make a marriage pact and then years later accidentally (on purpose??) get married after a wild night in Vegas. Told from dual POVs and alternating timelines, I enjoyed getting to know Evie and Dan's journey to HEA. Recommended for fans of books like One day in December or This time next year. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital audiobook copy!
Better than your typical British holiday romance!! I was pleasantly impressed with this heartfelt Christmas story about two friends who make a marriage pact and then years later accidentally (on purpose??) get married after a wild night in Vegas. Told from dual POVs and alternating timelines, I enjoyed getting to know Evie and Dan's journey to HEA. Recommended for fans of books like One day in December or This time next year. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital audiobook copy!
September 10, 2021
thank you netgalley and bookouture for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
dnf @ 30% in.
i tried so hard to get into this book, especially considering how promising the entire premise is, but honestly i really couldn't do it.
the timeline is messy, the plot is so scattered and random, and the writing style was so difficult to get into. usually in romance novels the dual povs tend to help, however in this case it only made everything much more confusing. the timejumps and skips between the various chapters also don't help, seeing as it just makes you get lost.
the plot has no coherence to it. the two characters are introduced as distant friends (her best friend's brother), but then within our first flashback they have an intense makeout scene and the next chapter shows that they have crushes on each other??? huh? the idea of their pact actually seemed so cute, but then we end up getting a drunken wedding in Vegas and them struggling to get it annulled? what?
beyond that, the weird flashbacks that show "pining" threw me off so much. we know nothing about these characters and yet we're supposed to just know they like each other? they barely interact!
overall, the characters were also extremely unenjoyable. you're hit with the cliche "gay best friends" trope and the "girl bestie that actually is crushing on the guy too so she's mean" trope and it just... why.
(also, there's a line where dan makes a comment about living above "very fragrant indian restaurant" and one of the chacters sasha has herself & her fiancee dress as egyptian pharoahs, and i know these are miniscule details but they made the experience of reading worse.)
dnf @ 30% in.
i tried so hard to get into this book, especially considering how promising the entire premise is, but honestly i really couldn't do it.
the timeline is messy, the plot is so scattered and random, and the writing style was so difficult to get into. usually in romance novels the dual povs tend to help, however in this case it only made everything much more confusing. the timejumps and skips between the various chapters also don't help, seeing as it just makes you get lost.
the plot has no coherence to it. the two characters are introduced as distant friends (her best friend's brother), but then within our first flashback they have an intense makeout scene and the next chapter shows that they have crushes on each other??? huh? the idea of their pact actually seemed so cute, but then we end up getting a drunken wedding in Vegas and them struggling to get it annulled? what?
beyond that, the weird flashbacks that show "pining" threw me off so much. we know nothing about these characters and yet we're supposed to just know they like each other? they barely interact!
overall, the characters were also extremely unenjoyable. you're hit with the cliche "gay best friends" trope and the "girl bestie that actually is crushing on the guy too so she's mean" trope and it just... why.
(also, there's a line where dan makes a comment about living above "very fragrant indian restaurant" and one of the chacters sasha has herself & her fiancee dress as egyptian pharoahs, and i know these are miniscule details but they made the experience of reading worse.)
September 24, 2021
Christmas-themed book cover about a story not so Christmassy.🤷🏻♀️
It is the second book I have read by this author, and I think my feelings about this one are very similar to those I had about The First Time We Met.
In this story, we follow Eve and her best friend's older brother Dan. Book starts with them getting married in Vegas and freaking out about it afterward. The story jumps back and forth between events in their past that slowly reveal how they ended up together in Vegas and "today" where they are trying to figure out their lives. The story is told from a dual POV. It definitely helped with figuring why characters acted the way they did.
This story gives strong "One Day" vibes, giving us a glimpse of what happened year after year during Christmas time and how they always ended up spending time together.
However, I have to say this is one of those stories built on a tale old as time - the inability to talk. A lot only happened because none could say what they thought and felt. Even worse, they started to sabotage their lives because of it. And unfortunately, there were some random plot twists that, in my opinion, did not give any value to the story.
And while parts of the story take place during Christmas time, and the cover is adorably wintery, this would not be a book I would define as Christmas-themed. The time jumps were not always during Christmas, and whenever there was Christmas, it was only to mention how cold is outside, how snow is snowing and that they are having a yearly Christmas party. It did not make me feel any elf spirit.
Thanks to NetGalley, Jo Lovett, and Bookouture for providing an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.🤗
It is the second book I have read by this author, and I think my feelings about this one are very similar to those I had about The First Time We Met.
In this story, we follow Eve and her best friend's older brother Dan. Book starts with them getting married in Vegas and freaking out about it afterward. The story jumps back and forth between events in their past that slowly reveal how they ended up together in Vegas and "today" where they are trying to figure out their lives. The story is told from a dual POV. It definitely helped with figuring why characters acted the way they did.
This story gives strong "One Day" vibes, giving us a glimpse of what happened year after year during Christmas time and how they always ended up spending time together.
However, I have to say this is one of those stories built on a tale old as time - the inability to talk. A lot only happened because none could say what they thought and felt. Even worse, they started to sabotage their lives because of it. And unfortunately, there were some random plot twists that, in my opinion, did not give any value to the story.
And while parts of the story take place during Christmas time, and the cover is adorably wintery, this would not be a book I would define as Christmas-themed. The time jumps were not always during Christmas, and whenever there was Christmas, it was only to mention how cold is outside, how snow is snowing and that they are having a yearly Christmas party. It did not make me feel any elf spirit.
Thanks to NetGalley, Jo Lovett, and Bookouture for providing an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.🤗
September 11, 2021
2.5/5 stars
I have mixed feelings about the book.
We are introduced to Evie and Dan the morning after they got drunkenly married in Vegas. They have been friends for years (mainly because she is his sister's best friend) and it quite obvious that they have feelings for one another. However, both decide annul the marriage. I think that is where the book goes a bit sour for me. It would have been so interesting to see them navigate their marriage, especially since it was all over social media, and watch them juggle their feelings and hang-ups about relationships together. Which lies another problem because no one, not even their parents, really bring up the whole marriage thing throughout the book. Which is really weird considering it was all over their socials.
We are also taken through two timelines: an array of events that led up to that one Vegas night and the aftermath of the morning after. While I can agree it was nice to see some of the history of their relationship, I felt like it did not add much to the story. Those chapters often felt a lot like those filler episodes in an anime. Plus, we hardly see any Christmas festivities besides the mention of mistletoe. You would think that a book revolving so much around it, we would actually get to experience some of that Christmas cheer.
Overall, I love the concept, but I just wish it was executed better.
* I received an ARC from Netgallery in exchanged for a honest review *
I have mixed feelings about the book.
We are introduced to Evie and Dan the morning after they got drunkenly married in Vegas. They have been friends for years (mainly because she is his sister's best friend) and it quite obvious that they have feelings for one another. However, both decide annul the marriage. I think that is where the book goes a bit sour for me. It would have been so interesting to see them navigate their marriage, especially since it was all over social media, and watch them juggle their feelings and hang-ups about relationships together. Which lies another problem because no one, not even their parents, really bring up the whole marriage thing throughout the book. Which is really weird considering it was all over their socials.
We are also taken through two timelines: an array of events that led up to that one Vegas night and the aftermath of the morning after. While I can agree it was nice to see some of the history of their relationship, I felt like it did not add much to the story. Those chapters often felt a lot like those filler episodes in an anime. Plus, we hardly see any Christmas festivities besides the mention of mistletoe. You would think that a book revolving so much around it, we would actually get to experience some of that Christmas cheer.
Overall, I love the concept, but I just wish it was executed better.
* I received an ARC from Netgallery in exchanged for a honest review *
December 15, 2021
I was really anticipating reading this book and I decided to wait for the holiday season to start it. It had a lot of potential but in the end I ended up being just a little it disappointed with it. I really liked Evie and Dan as individuals and some of the scenes with them together made me grin like crazy. What I didn't enjoy as much was how slow it got at times and how repetitive and confusing it was. There are alternating timelines and at some points they got extremely confusing and I had no idea if what I was reading was happening before the Vegas events or after. We got a lot of similar scenes - them seeing friends, weddings, family talks and they felt very repetitive. Also, how can you as an author name two seperate characters JOSH?! Both Evie's roommate and her sister's father had the same name and one time it came up in two sentences next to each other?! The pandemic references were also not it for me, but that's just a personal preference. Overall, a cute Christmassy read but I wouldn't necessarily call it easy both because of the topics it touches (infidelity, pregnancy, marriage, divorce etc.) and also because it took me a pretty long time to read.
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read this book!
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read this book!
September 23, 2021
4.25 stars!
I really enjoyed this one. It’s the second book of Lovett’s that I’ve read and it did not disappoint. I fall in love with the characters of her books so easily. I want to be friends with the female lead (and her friends) and I could see myself falling for the male lead. I love the cover but the male lead’s description did not match his picture AT ALL which threw me for a bit. I liked how the Christmas theme/time weaved it’s way throughout the book. This was a very sweet and fun read!
I really enjoyed this one. It’s the second book of Lovett’s that I’ve read and it did not disappoint. I fall in love with the characters of her books so easily. I want to be friends with the female lead (and her friends) and I could see myself falling for the male lead. I love the cover but the male lead’s description did not match his picture AT ALL which threw me for a bit. I liked how the Christmas theme/time weaved it’s way throughout the book. This was a very sweet and fun read!
September 18, 2021
Evie and Dan make a pact that to marry when she turns 30 if both of them are single by then. This turns out to getting drunkenly married in Vegas. Evie is Dan's sisters bestfriend. A story of friends to lovers.
This book takes us through the past and present story. The slow burn is too slow and this felt long without any reason. Few parts felt a bit more filler. The concept was good but it didn't set will with me because the same thing was going again and again. Why the family never talked about the marriage, I guess when you get drunk married, family will talk irrespective of you getting an annulment.
The writing was good and being from both their perspective it gave us better understanding. There were some nice, cute, adorable moments and some oh! Come on with it moments. The christmas moments were sweet. I have mixed feelings so overall it was okay. I liked it.
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for a chance to read this.
This book takes us through the past and present story. The slow burn is too slow and this felt long without any reason. Few parts felt a bit more filler. The concept was good but it didn't set will with me because the same thing was going again and again. Why the family never talked about the marriage, I guess when you get drunk married, family will talk irrespective of you getting an annulment.
The writing was good and being from both their perspective it gave us better understanding. There were some nice, cute, adorable moments and some oh! Come on with it moments. The christmas moments were sweet. I have mixed feelings so overall it was okay. I liked it.
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for a chance to read this.
July 4, 2023
What a cute and fun read.
I loved the whole best friend’s brother, the will they won’t they and the never the right time aspect of it all.
These two have been close for as long as they can remember, after the first kiss it was sealed.
Their attraction to each other was undeniable, absolutely everyone could notice it but themselves.
Both to scared to make the first move, both too scared to get hurt by the other and both to stubborn to take the first steps.
So when one hurts the other it’s then that they realise just how much they mean to each other and watching them realise, yes I liked that, finally!
My heart hurt at certain parts but I was rooting so hard for them!
This author did a great job with their story.
I loved the whole best friend’s brother, the will they won’t they and the never the right time aspect of it all.
These two have been close for as long as they can remember, after the first kiss it was sealed.
Their attraction to each other was undeniable, absolutely everyone could notice it but themselves.
Both to scared to make the first move, both too scared to get hurt by the other and both to stubborn to take the first steps.
So when one hurts the other it’s then that they realise just how much they mean to each other and watching them realise, yes I liked that, finally!
My heart hurt at certain parts but I was rooting so hard for them!
This author did a great job with their story.
August 27, 2022
The mistletoe pact - Reseña (https://thebookslayers.home.blog/2022...)
Gracias a Netgalley y a Saga Egmont Audio por la oportunidad de leer esta copia en audiolibro antes de la publicación del libro.
En esta trama, muy parecida a lo que les pasa a Ross y Rachel en Friends mezclado un poco con Cómo conocí a vuestra madre, Evi y Dan se casan en las vegas varios años después de haber acordado que cuando llegaran a los 30 se casarían si siguen sin pareja. ¿No os parece que promete caos y drama? Pero del bueno, del que tiene situaciones ridiculas pero graciosas y entrañables.
Fue tanto eso, como la ambientación en Navidad lo que me hizo pedir este libro en la plataforma de Netgalley. Y fue justo eso lo que me ha hecho bajarle la nota a un 3…
Me explico:
La trama prometía mucho y la portada me daba a entender que era un libro de navidad romántico de los que te lees en un abrir y cerrar de ojos porque engancha. Quieres saber si al final acaban juntos y la navidad se celebra sin problemas, ¿no? Bueno, pues eso no pasa aquí. Sí hay momentos en navidad, sí hay una trama de romance y sí tiene puntos más o menos divertidos.
Pero la navidad brilla por su ausencia cuando lo que estamos viendo continuamente son flashbacks de los momentos en los que Eve y Dan coincidían. Cosa que resulta bastante confusa cuando además tenemos el POV de los dos personajes, eso suele gustarme pero aquí era demasiado cambio y muy seguido.
Me ha faltado más elementos de navidad, parece que hay algún momento suelto, pero poco más. También creo que ha intentado profundizar en temas muy complejos para el tipo de libro que es. Por ejemplo, la relación de Dan con su padre y la de Eve con su madre. Es una trama interesante y creo que la psicología de los personajes tiene sentido, pero no me termina de encajar en una comedia romántica de navidad. Además, tampoco termina de llegar a ser lo suficientemente importante como para poder hacer una novela quizás más como Normal people que resulta un poco más existencialista. Me refiero a que se pasa de seriedad para una novela romántica pero no llega a ser una novela con temas como los que tiene Normal people.
No todo es malo, cuidado. El libro está entretenido y se lee más o menos rápido. Pero creo que no ha sido para mí. Le pongo el 3 porque creo que se queda un poco en un limbo. Aunque no creo que vaya a leer nada más de la autora…
-Ele
Gracias a Netgalley y a Saga Egmont Audio por la oportunidad de leer esta copia en audiolibro antes de la publicación del libro.
En esta trama, muy parecida a lo que les pasa a Ross y Rachel en Friends mezclado un poco con Cómo conocí a vuestra madre, Evi y Dan se casan en las vegas varios años después de haber acordado que cuando llegaran a los 30 se casarían si siguen sin pareja. ¿No os parece que promete caos y drama? Pero del bueno, del que tiene situaciones ridiculas pero graciosas y entrañables.
Fue tanto eso, como la ambientación en Navidad lo que me hizo pedir este libro en la plataforma de Netgalley. Y fue justo eso lo que me ha hecho bajarle la nota a un 3…
Me explico:
La trama prometía mucho y la portada me daba a entender que era un libro de navidad romántico de los que te lees en un abrir y cerrar de ojos porque engancha. Quieres saber si al final acaban juntos y la navidad se celebra sin problemas, ¿no? Bueno, pues eso no pasa aquí. Sí hay momentos en navidad, sí hay una trama de romance y sí tiene puntos más o menos divertidos.
Pero la navidad brilla por su ausencia cuando lo que estamos viendo continuamente son flashbacks de los momentos en los que Eve y Dan coincidían. Cosa que resulta bastante confusa cuando además tenemos el POV de los dos personajes, eso suele gustarme pero aquí era demasiado cambio y muy seguido.
Me ha faltado más elementos de navidad, parece que hay algún momento suelto, pero poco más. También creo que ha intentado profundizar en temas muy complejos para el tipo de libro que es. Por ejemplo, la relación de Dan con su padre y la de Eve con su madre. Es una trama interesante y creo que la psicología de los personajes tiene sentido, pero no me termina de encajar en una comedia romántica de navidad. Además, tampoco termina de llegar a ser lo suficientemente importante como para poder hacer una novela quizás más como Normal people que resulta un poco más existencialista. Me refiero a que se pasa de seriedad para una novela romántica pero no llega a ser una novela con temas como los que tiene Normal people.
No todo es malo, cuidado. El libro está entretenido y se lee más o menos rápido. Pero creo que no ha sido para mí. Le pongo el 3 porque creo que se queda un poco en un limbo. Aunque no creo que vaya a leer nada más de la autora…
-Ele
October 2, 2021
This is an adorable rom com. I loved how easy it was to read and how quickly I was able to get into the story. I thought that Dan and Evie had great chemistry and I could tell from the beginning that they were soulmates even though they could not believe it themselves. Every time they would say that the other did not like them, I wanted to bring them together, sit them down, and tell them that their feelings for each other are there. I hated that they did not take their feelings seriously because they had been friends for so long and that Dan is Evie's best friend's brother. People in friend groups get into relationships all the time, so I did not understand why it was so awkward for them when they had so much chemistry. All in all, it was adorable and I loved how the chapters went throughout the timeline of their friendship and realization that they were meant to be.
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December 10, 2021dnf at 37%...
what is going on with these holiday novels?! yet again no connection towards the characters or the story
this one actually reminded me a lot of Love, Rosie. they fancy each other but life keeps mismatching their timeline. i really didn't appreciate the OW and OM mentions that kept on happening... it heavily takes the spark out of our MC connection/chemistry - so that'll be a hard NO from me...
thought this one was going to be really cute and romantic because they were already married but definitely wasn't feeling it
what is going on with these holiday novels?! yet again no connection towards the characters or the story
this one actually reminded me a lot of Love, Rosie. they fancy each other but life keeps mismatching their timeline. i really didn't appreciate the OW and OM mentions that kept on happening... it heavily takes the spark out of our MC connection/chemistry - so that'll be a hard NO from me...
thought this one was going to be really cute and romantic because they were already married but definitely wasn't feeling it
December 15, 2021
The friends to lovers trope has never been my favourite, as I only believe it when a story explains why the characters didn’t give a relationship a chance earlier in time. In the mistletoe pact flashbacks spanning 7 or so years try to tell us why the couple is meant to be together but hasn’t figured it out any sooner.
The characters were likeable and reading this in December I appreciated the many Christmas scenes. Unfortunately, I just could not get on board with the slow burn and the other men and women our hero and heroine Date over the years. The ending also felt strangely messy and I am never going to rate bad communication between two characters who apparently value and trust each other highly!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing the free eARC, perfect Christmassy timing!
The characters were likeable and reading this in December I appreciated the many Christmas scenes. Unfortunately, I just could not get on board with the slow burn and the other men and women our hero and heroine Date over the years. The ending also felt strangely messy and I am never going to rate bad communication between two characters who apparently value and trust each other highly!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing the free eARC, perfect Christmassy timing!
December 28, 2021
A cute, witty romance! “Friends” who secretly love each other. A night of shenanigans in Vegas leads to them waking up the next day- MARRIED. I enjoyed the witty banter and found this to be a fun read. 3.5 ⭐️
December 19, 2021
Sigh. Another great Christmas read 🎄❤️🎄 I liked the use of flashbacks and different POVs to tell Dan and Evie’s story.
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