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The Mistletoe Motive
From the author of THE BERGMAN BROTHERS series comes a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers holiday romance, perfect for fans of THE HATING GAME and YOU'VE GOT MAIL.
He loathes the holidays. She loves them. She’s full of festive cheer. He’s brimming with Bah, Humbugs. Besides unreasonably seasonable names, the only thing Jonathan Frost and Gabriella Di Natale have in common is a healthy dose of mutual contempt. Well, that and the same place of employment at the city’s most beloved independent bookstore, Bailey’s Bookshop. But when the store’s owners confess its dire financial state, Jonathan and Gabby discover another unfortunate commonality: the imminent threat of unemployment.
With the Baileys’ requests to minimize expenses, win new customers, and make record sales dancing in their heads, Jonathan and Gabby conclude—barring a financial Christmas miracle—one of them will soon be cut from the payroll. Neither are willing to step down from their position, so they strike a bargain: whoever has more sales in December gets to stay on in the new year; the loser will resign. With a lifetime's worth of festive tricks up her sleeve, Gabby should easily outsell her nemesis, except the unreadable Mr. Frost’s every move seems purely designed to throw her off her game.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, Gabby's deceptive ex won't quit pursuing her, and her anonymous online friend suggests they take a break. Worst of all, as the pressure mounts to save the bookshop and her job, Gabby meets a new, tender side of Jonathan. Is this the same man she's called her cold-hearted enemy?
Maybe he’s got a motive she just can’t figure out—or maybe Jonathan Frost isn’t as chilly as she once thought. Maybe Jonathan and Gabby already know—and love—each other in ways they never thought possible.
This is an #OwnVoices story for its portrayal of autism by an autistic author.
He loathes the holidays. She loves them. She’s full of festive cheer. He’s brimming with Bah, Humbugs. Besides unreasonably seasonable names, the only thing Jonathan Frost and Gabriella Di Natale have in common is a healthy dose of mutual contempt. Well, that and the same place of employment at the city’s most beloved independent bookstore, Bailey’s Bookshop. But when the store’s owners confess its dire financial state, Jonathan and Gabby discover another unfortunate commonality: the imminent threat of unemployment.
With the Baileys’ requests to minimize expenses, win new customers, and make record sales dancing in their heads, Jonathan and Gabby conclude—barring a financial Christmas miracle—one of them will soon be cut from the payroll. Neither are willing to step down from their position, so they strike a bargain: whoever has more sales in December gets to stay on in the new year; the loser will resign. With a lifetime's worth of festive tricks up her sleeve, Gabby should easily outsell her nemesis, except the unreadable Mr. Frost’s every move seems purely designed to throw her off her game.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, Gabby's deceptive ex won't quit pursuing her, and her anonymous online friend suggests they take a break. Worst of all, as the pressure mounts to save the bookshop and her job, Gabby meets a new, tender side of Jonathan. Is this the same man she's called her cold-hearted enemy?
Maybe he’s got a motive she just can’t figure out—or maybe Jonathan Frost isn’t as chilly as she once thought. Maybe Jonathan and Gabby already know—and love—each other in ways they never thought possible.
This is an #OwnVoices story for its portrayal of autism by an autistic author.
185 pages, ebook
First published December 1, 2021
413 people are currently reading
44147 people want to read
About the author
Chloe Liese
21 books10.2k followersChloe is a USA Today bestselling author who writes romantic fiction reflecting her belief that everyone deserves a love story. When not dreaming up her next novel, you'll find her reading, trying new recipes, savoring nature, and soaking up time with her big, beautiful family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,180 reviews
November 4, 2025
oh i absolutely LOVED this !!!
December 24, 2022
Super cute novella. Perfect for the holidays if you want something short and decently paced.
✔️Enemies to lovers
✔️Grumpy x sunshine
✔️Workplace romance
✔️Holiday romance
✔️Forced proximity
Ahh it was perfect. The characters, the cozy vibes of the bookstore, the romance for a novella isn't insta love at all and that gets plus points from me. There's no unnecessary drama and the couple compliment each other so well😍
I loved Gabriella, she's got such charm to herself but Jonathan is ABSOLUTELY FINE *dramatic heartbeats* I mean he calls her "Gabriella, LOVE OF MY LIFE" *hand on chest. Fans myself. Oof*
This is my last Christmas read for the year and it couldn't have been more perfect. If you want a quick paced Christmas novella to fit into your reading schedule- this is the book for you. The romance is absolutely swoon-worthy, toe curling. Damn, I want more of this book 👀
Anyhoo, Merry Christmas everybody! ✝️
✔️Enemies to lovers
✔️Grumpy x sunshine
✔️Workplace romance
✔️Holiday romance
✔️Forced proximity
Ahh it was perfect. The characters, the cozy vibes of the bookstore, the romance for a novella isn't insta love at all and that gets plus points from me. There's no unnecessary drama and the couple compliment each other so well😍
I loved Gabriella, she's got such charm to herself but Jonathan is ABSOLUTELY FINE *dramatic heartbeats* I mean he calls her "Gabriella, LOVE OF MY LIFE" *hand on chest. Fans myself. Oof*
This is my last Christmas read for the year and it couldn't have been more perfect. If you want a quick paced Christmas novella to fit into your reading schedule- this is the book for you. The romance is absolutely swoon-worthy, toe curling. Damn, I want more of this book 👀
Anyhoo, Merry Christmas everybody! ✝️
Read
July 19, 2022Today's the day! My festive holiday enemies-to-lovers, steamy slow-burn long novella/short novel, THE MISTLETOE MOTIVE, is out in this wintery world, and I can't wait for you to meet Jonathan and Gabby, two workplace rivals who couldn't be more different...or more perfect for each other.
This is a Kobo Original e-book and audiobook that is both available for request from your local library and can also be read using a Kobo e-reader or the free Kobo reading app on smartphone, tablet, or computer. Now also available in *paperback*!! Grab your copy in whatever your preferred format here.
Happy reading! I hope this hot holiday, feel-good RomCom brings you as much joy as it brought me writing it.
Enjoy book playlists? Like all my books, THE MISTLETOE MOTIVE has a playlist, one song per chapter. Listen with Spotify.
This is a Kobo Original e-book and audiobook that is both available for request from your local library and can also be read using a Kobo e-reader or the free Kobo reading app on smartphone, tablet, or computer. Now also available in *paperback*!! Grab your copy in whatever your preferred format here.
Happy reading! I hope this hot holiday, feel-good RomCom brings you as much joy as it brought me writing it.
Enjoy book playlists? Like all my books, THE MISTLETOE MOTIVE has a playlist, one song per chapter. Listen with Spotify.
December 5, 2021
One problem I had with The Mistletoe Motive is how it reminded me too much of The Hating Game, which I hated. So, with that being said, this was more of a personal problem. Too many things resembled it, all while, of course, having its own differences. Nonetheless, this reminded me once again why I hardly read enemies to lovers, and it’s truly because of how loosely marketed the term is used. Despite this being a short novella, in which Goodreads says it is less than 200 pages, I didn’t expect the “hate” to truly never really be there, let alone the relationship to develop the way it did.
But besides that, this was also too cliché for my liking, very predictable, and I didn’t feel the chemistry between our two love interests. The main lead, Johnathan, is described as a grumpy scrooge, and while he is definitely not into the holidays, his grumpiness was barely mild and tended to only be used against his “hate” for Gabriella, but not the rest of the people around him. Yes, not a lot of people were around him, but his attitude and overall personality changed. When the characters are described as grumpy and even reflecting “I hate everyone but you,” I expect it to be towards everyone. While we don’t get his POV, we know he’s pining towards Gabriella, and it’s evident in the way he ticks his jaw and tightens his knuckles. You know, the usual. He also knows small details about her. Usually, I would love this, because “it’s all about the details!”, but, again, hate to love where?
Gabriella was just . . . there. I felt nothing towards her. I can’t comment and in no way relate to her autism, and I always appreciate when authors add these types of representations, especially if it’s from their own personal experience. But besides that, nada.
The chemistry between the two was completely non-existent. I wondered where that connection and familiarity was for Gabriella with Johnathan. Gabriella is demisexual, and while arousal, desire, and attraction are all different, her arousal and desire were understandable (although I was already over it when she had her first wet dream of Johnathan 20% in), but I didn’t understand where the emotional connection came from. After that first dream, Gabriella seems to begin commenting on Johnathan more and more—his features, his lips, his muscles, his body, his face, etc. Her inner thoughts are always about how it would feel for him to touch her, especially in her intimate parts, and how being with Johnathan on a very close level would feel like. After their first kiss, she keeps voicing the same things, much more frequently, that they become annoying. While they don’t exactly “confess” early on, the relationship isn’t by any means slow burn. Maybe it’s my definition of slow burn that’s different, but when the character has a wet dream and starts having thoughts about the person they supposedly hate, at only 20% through the book, the development isn’t slow burn anymore.
Yes, the rivalry was there, but the “hate” really wasn’t. More like Gabriella was mad at herself for finding Johnathan attractive, which is nothing new. Again, it reminded me of THG. I was over it.
With that being said, I didn’t hate this like I hated The Hating Game, which is precisely the reason why I’m not rating this 1 star. I also love the setting of this and appreciate how it was actually set in the workplace, unlike THG. This wasn’t really so much of a comedy, but there were still moments I vaguely remember smiling through while reading. Going back to the setting, I love books about books, and the workplace being a bookstore as well as having references to books and media (specifically Jane Austen and the romance genre), made the reading experience a little more enjoyable. I also think it being December put me in the right mood to read this, even if I didn’t like it. The Christmas setting felt more accurate and it was easier to enjoy it due to the holidays being around the corner. Also, I appreciated how both Johnathan and Gabriella have different personal conditions that they don’t let define them—Gabriella is autistic, and Johnathan has Type 1 diabetes. With what happened in the end, there’s also no miscommunication or unnecessary drama.
All in all, I seem to be the grinch of this as many people have enjoyed it. In reality, if you liked The Hating Game, you’ll most likely enjoy this. The blurb literally says “for fans of The Hating Game”, but I didn’t see this before starting this.
You might also enjoy this if you don’t analyze it too much like I did, which I have trouble doing so.
But besides that, this was also too cliché for my liking, very predictable, and I didn’t feel the chemistry between our two love interests. The main lead, Johnathan, is described as a grumpy scrooge, and while he is definitely not into the holidays, his grumpiness was barely mild and tended to only be used against his “hate” for Gabriella, but not the rest of the people around him. Yes, not a lot of people were around him, but his attitude and overall personality changed. When the characters are described as grumpy and even reflecting “I hate everyone but you,” I expect it to be towards everyone. While we don’t get his POV, we know he’s pining towards Gabriella, and it’s evident in the way he ticks his jaw and tightens his knuckles. You know, the usual. He also knows small details about her. Usually, I would love this, because “it’s all about the details!”, but, again, hate to love where?
Gabriella was just . . . there. I felt nothing towards her. I can’t comment and in no way relate to her autism, and I always appreciate when authors add these types of representations, especially if it’s from their own personal experience. But besides that, nada.
The chemistry between the two was completely non-existent. I wondered where that connection and familiarity was for Gabriella with Johnathan. Gabriella is demisexual, and while arousal, desire, and attraction are all different, her arousal and desire were understandable (although I was already over it when she had her first wet dream of Johnathan 20% in), but I didn’t understand where the emotional connection came from. After that first dream, Gabriella seems to begin commenting on Johnathan more and more—his features, his lips, his muscles, his body, his face, etc. Her inner thoughts are always about how it would feel for him to touch her, especially in her intimate parts, and how being with Johnathan on a very close level would feel like. After their first kiss, she keeps voicing the same things, much more frequently, that they become annoying. While they don’t exactly “confess” early on, the relationship isn’t by any means slow burn. Maybe it’s my definition of slow burn that’s different, but when the character has a wet dream and starts having thoughts about the person they supposedly hate, at only 20% through the book, the development isn’t slow burn anymore.
Yes, the rivalry was there, but the “hate” really wasn’t. More like Gabriella was mad at herself for finding Johnathan attractive, which is nothing new. Again, it reminded me of THG. I was over it.
With that being said, I didn’t hate this like I hated The Hating Game, which is precisely the reason why I’m not rating this 1 star. I also love the setting of this and appreciate how it was actually set in the workplace, unlike THG. This wasn’t really so much of a comedy, but there were still moments I vaguely remember smiling through while reading. Going back to the setting, I love books about books, and the workplace being a bookstore as well as having references to books and media (specifically Jane Austen and the romance genre), made the reading experience a little more enjoyable. I also think it being December put me in the right mood to read this, even if I didn’t like it. The Christmas setting felt more accurate and it was easier to enjoy it due to the holidays being around the corner. Also, I appreciated how both Johnathan and Gabriella have different personal conditions that they don’t let define them—Gabriella is autistic, and Johnathan has Type 1 diabetes. With what happened in the end, there’s also no miscommunication or unnecessary drama.
All in all, I seem to be the grinch of this as many people have enjoyed it. In reality, if you liked The Hating Game, you’ll most likely enjoy this. The blurb literally says “for fans of The Hating Game”, but I didn’t see this before starting this.
You might also enjoy this if you don’t analyze it too much like I did, which I have trouble doing so.
December 3, 2023
3.5⭐️ for the brilliant xmas playlist 😌🥰🥰
so Chloe Liese is abreast with pop culture which I love and loves Christmas jazz which I love even more but the dialogue in here? not so much.
i don't get why because I normally adore workplace/academic rivals to lovers, grumpy-sunshine, book shop setting and obviously Christmas but guys, I did struggle a bit to get into the romance 😩😭
there was too much babbling thoughts and words from Gabriella and it was just too many thoughts than actions for me- the whole book mostly thoughts, I'm sorry. And it was mentioned that she had some challenges but I think her character was still written to be too perfect like the biggest thing she had to worry about, was her coffee order being right.
Mr. Frost, I liked a lot but also he only main personality was that he was grumpy????? He did like a ton of thoughtful things for Gab. I really did get Christmas cheer vibes but it wasn't as perfect as I'd dreamed it would be. I also can't deny that Chloe Liese was born to write a holiday novella 🎄❤️
***
bring in the holiday cheer 🥰❤️🎉🎈🧨
Find The mistletoe motive on Amazon 🎈
so Chloe Liese is abreast with pop culture which I love and loves Christmas jazz which I love even more but the dialogue in here? not so much.
i don't get why because I normally adore workplace/academic rivals to lovers, grumpy-sunshine, book shop setting and obviously Christmas but guys, I did struggle a bit to get into the romance 😩😭
there was too much babbling thoughts and words from Gabriella and it was just too many thoughts than actions for me- the whole book mostly thoughts, I'm sorry. And it was mentioned that she had some challenges but I think her character was still written to be too perfect like the biggest thing she had to worry about, was her coffee order being right.
Mr. Frost, I liked a lot but also he only main personality was that he was grumpy????? He did like a ton of thoughtful things for Gab. I really did get Christmas cheer vibes but it wasn't as perfect as I'd dreamed it would be. I also can't deny that Chloe Liese was born to write a holiday novella 🎄❤️
***
bring in the holiday cheer 🥰❤️🎉🎈🧨
Find The mistletoe motive on Amazon 🎈
December 10, 2021
“Do you know how lucky we are? That we found each other not once but twice?”
I don’t really read holiday romances, I mean I like when a book has a holiday in it or a chapter or two around Christmas time, but a whole book dedicated to the holidays could be a little too much for a grinch like me. Lol!
“What’s my plan, you ask?” I kiss her perfect pink nose. “I’m going to work tomorrow, and I’m bringing Jonathan Frost to his knees.”
However, reading a Chloe Liese book is a special case, because I just really enjoy her stories. This one was so good! I loved the characters dynamic and their weird relationship. They were such a fun frustrating characters. Things got kinda cringy and rushed towards the end, which is expected for a holiday romance, but overall it was such a fun time. My only complain is that it could’ve been more instead of wrapping thing up so fast. Also, I really liked that this was such a fun cheerful festive story, that was balanced with some serious topics. It was such a cute holiday romance and I really liked it!
December 17, 2024
3.75 stars ⭐️
⤷ spoilers ahead!! ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ my thoughts
unfortunately, i wasn’t really in the christmas spirit when i read this book, but it was still cute and gave me all the christmassy feels ~
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ characters
ᡣ𐭩.ᐟ gabriella and jonathan ☕️❄️
gabriella and jonathan are 2 very different individuals who initially misunderstood each other. gabriella, who has autism, struggles with social awareness and prefers direct, honest communication, while jonathan is often grumpy and gets irritated easily because of his diabetes.
i appreciated the autism and diabetes representation, and i teared up a little when they both opened up to each other because it takes a lot of trust to be vulnerable with someone 🥲
“I know I don’t get it, in the sense that I don’t have diabetes, too, but… maybe I understand it a little, living with something persistent and beyond your control. You can’t take it off or walk away from it or lay it down for a while. And even when you’ve become accustomed to its reality, when it’s not really bad or good, it just… is, sometimes it’s hard when you’re with others. When you feel that sense of difference and distance from them as you deal with the part of yourself that they don’t understand, that you have to think about in social situations and in your daily life in ways they don’t.”
i was swooning over jonathan the entire time, and he’s definitely earned a spot as one of my book boyfriends 🤭 he’s incredibly observant, and after spending so much time working with gabby in the bookstore, he picked up on those little things about her that she didn’t even dare to voice out and helped her without her even realizing it. i almost forgot why gabby hated him in the first place because HELLO?! 🥹
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ overall
the plot was definitely predictable, but i still enjoyed reading this book all the same 🥰
“That’s when I prayed, because kissing you was water in a desert, sunlight breaking the horizon, and I was gone for you, no turning back. I’m not a praying man, Gabriella, but I prayed so fucking hard that this wasn’t some horrible joke, that you’d be happy when you realized it was me, that whatever cosmic force gave me the gift of stumbling into your life wasn’t cruel enough to keep me from always belonging to it.”
“I just think it’ll be pretty damn impossible not to love the holidays just a little, now that I get to share them with you.”
“Buying us this place is the most unforgivably romantic thing, Mr. Frost. But i’m trying my best to let bygones be bygones. It was the best gift ever. And I’ll never be able to give you a gift like that in return.”
“Gabriella. Love of my life, you already have.”
“What gift is that?”
“You.”
pre-read 📚💋
IT’S TIIIIIIIIIIME!!!!!🎅🏻🎄💝☃️✨
happy holidays besties <3 i don’t celebrate christmas, but it’s still one of my favourite times of the year 🥹 i’ll be reading mostly christmas books this month, starting off with this novella ~
⤷ spoilers ahead!! ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ my thoughts
unfortunately, i wasn’t really in the christmas spirit when i read this book, but it was still cute and gave me all the christmassy feels ~
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ characters
ᡣ𐭩.ᐟ gabriella and jonathan ☕️❄️
gabriella and jonathan are 2 very different individuals who initially misunderstood each other. gabriella, who has autism, struggles with social awareness and prefers direct, honest communication, while jonathan is often grumpy and gets irritated easily because of his diabetes.
i appreciated the autism and diabetes representation, and i teared up a little when they both opened up to each other because it takes a lot of trust to be vulnerable with someone 🥲
“I know I don’t get it, in the sense that I don’t have diabetes, too, but… maybe I understand it a little, living with something persistent and beyond your control. You can’t take it off or walk away from it or lay it down for a while. And even when you’ve become accustomed to its reality, when it’s not really bad or good, it just… is, sometimes it’s hard when you’re with others. When you feel that sense of difference and distance from them as you deal with the part of yourself that they don’t understand, that you have to think about in social situations and in your daily life in ways they don’t.”
i was swooning over jonathan the entire time, and he’s definitely earned a spot as one of my book boyfriends 🤭 he’s incredibly observant, and after spending so much time working with gabby in the bookstore, he picked up on those little things about her that she didn’t even dare to voice out and helped her without her even realizing it. i almost forgot why gabby hated him in the first place because HELLO?! 🥹
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ overall
the plot was definitely predictable, but i still enjoyed reading this book all the same 🥰
“That’s when I prayed, because kissing you was water in a desert, sunlight breaking the horizon, and I was gone for you, no turning back. I’m not a praying man, Gabriella, but I prayed so fucking hard that this wasn’t some horrible joke, that you’d be happy when you realized it was me, that whatever cosmic force gave me the gift of stumbling into your life wasn’t cruel enough to keep me from always belonging to it.”
“I just think it’ll be pretty damn impossible not to love the holidays just a little, now that I get to share them with you.”
“Buying us this place is the most unforgivably romantic thing, Mr. Frost. But i’m trying my best to let bygones be bygones. It was the best gift ever. And I’ll never be able to give you a gift like that in return.”
“Gabriella. Love of my life, you already have.”
“What gift is that?”
“You.”
pre-read 📚💋
IT’S TIIIIIIIIIIME!!!!!🎅🏻🎄💝☃️✨
happy holidays besties <3 i don’t celebrate christmas, but it’s still one of my favourite times of the year 🥹 i’ll be reading mostly christmas books this month, starting off with this novella ~
December 21, 2022
This was the perfect adorable holiday romance. This might have just saved me from my reading slump
December 10, 2022
3.5 stars!! SUCH a cute holiday romance. I loved the main characters and the fact that they both work at a bookstore and love reading. Plus the book has some of my favorite tropes like enemies to lovers and work place romance. If you like the hating game I think you’ll love this novella!
December 18, 2021
This was the cute Christmassy read that I needed 😍
December 30, 2024
Christmas read #11 incoming! 🎄🎁
I had to buy a physical copy of this since I don’t have kobo — hopefully it’s worth it! I came today so I’m diving straight in
I had to buy a physical copy of this since I don’t have kobo — hopefully it’s worth it! I came today so I’m diving straight in
December 1, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
Do you want to be swooned and hug your book after reading? Do you want to be transported in time to a cozy bookstore during Christmas? Do you want to read something less than 200 pages?
If you answered yes to all of these questions do yourself a favor and read this novella NOW!! ❤️🎄
Things I loved
✨Neurodivergent and demisexual FMC
✨MMC has type 1 diabetes
✨each chapter has a dedicated song 🎵
✨Cozy bookstore vibes 📖
✨the tension and angst oh my goddddd jt was top tier
✨the message exchanges made my heart skip beats
✨HEA 💗
Tropes
-Forced proximity
-grumpyXsunshine
-workplace romance
Spice
🌶️ slow burn scene is towards 87 percent mark
Do you want to be swooned and hug your book after reading? Do you want to be transported in time to a cozy bookstore during Christmas? Do you want to read something less than 200 pages?
If you answered yes to all of these questions do yourself a favor and read this novella NOW!! ❤️🎄
Things I loved
✨Neurodivergent and demisexual FMC
✨MMC has type 1 diabetes
✨each chapter has a dedicated song 🎵
✨Cozy bookstore vibes 📖
✨the tension and angst oh my goddddd jt was top tier
✨the message exchanges made my heart skip beats
✨HEA 💗
Tropes
-Forced proximity
-grumpyXsunshine
-workplace romance
Spice
🌶️ slow burn scene is towards 87 percent mark
December 4, 2023
Nope. This is not for me. lol. The tropes, the pop culture, the stupid 'LOL' on page, super cliche.
DNF @36%
I tried. 🎄
I keep seeing this on my feed- downloaded ✔️ and ready to read ✔️
Sounds so cute! I need more Christmasy vibes books 🎄☃️🔔🎀
Do we love it?
DNF @36%
I tried. 🎄
I keep seeing this on my feed- downloaded ✔️ and ready to read ✔️
Sounds so cute! I need more Christmasy vibes books 🎄☃️🔔🎀
Do we love it?
November 19, 2021
Outstanding. Beautiful. A master piece.
Chloe Liese's The Mistletoe Motive is a lovely holiday romance between two rivals competing for the same job position. It's the holiday season and at Bailey's Bookshop, things aren't looking so good. They aren't getting so many visitors and a competing bookstore chain isn't helping things around. This is why Gabby and Jonathan think that when the new years comes, one of them is going to get the boot. Gabby comes up with the brilliant idea of a competition: the one who sells more books during these 3 weeks will stay. They never really thought by the end they both would want to stay.
Jonathan and Gabby have been working together for a year and they are like cats and dogs. They can never get along and they always argue. But you see that Jonathan has been crushing on her for a while because of the way he listens and watches every single thing. He knows she likes her hot cocoa this way, he knows she's allergic to this type of specific flower, and so on. It's the small details that matter!
This book was adorable. I couldn't stop smiling! These two will make you swoon so hard. I mean, HARD. Because you see, that's not all. Unbeknownst to them, they have been talking online for also a year without knowing who is who. All has been in anon usernames, so there wasn't a possibility of them finding out. So yes we have a You've Got Mail trope over here! I love that.
Jonathan is also a hockey player and oof! Let's not even talk about the hockey game scene + the car ride after. *fans self* I'm not lying when I tell you I'm obsessed with these two. When they kiss? It's magic, my friends. It's clear that if the world allowed them to spend all their lives kissing, they would do it.
What more can you find?
♡ Demisexual, autistic heroine
♡ Workplace romance
♡ Hero has Type 1 diabetes
♡ He's also a Grinch and very, very grumpy
♡ And she loves Christmas and is a ball of sunshine in human form
♡ When she calls him "Mr. Frost" >>>>
♡ THE MR DARCY HAND FLEX MOMENT.
Chloe Liese's The Mistletoe Motive is a lovely holiday romance between two rivals competing for the same job position. It's the holiday season and at Bailey's Bookshop, things aren't looking so good. They aren't getting so many visitors and a competing bookstore chain isn't helping things around. This is why Gabby and Jonathan think that when the new years comes, one of them is going to get the boot. Gabby comes up with the brilliant idea of a competition: the one who sells more books during these 3 weeks will stay. They never really thought by the end they both would want to stay.
Jonathan and Gabby have been working together for a year and they are like cats and dogs. They can never get along and they always argue. But you see that Jonathan has been crushing on her for a while because of the way he listens and watches every single thing. He knows she likes her hot cocoa this way, he knows she's allergic to this type of specific flower, and so on. It's the small details that matter!
This book was adorable. I couldn't stop smiling! These two will make you swoon so hard. I mean, HARD. Because you see, that's not all. Unbeknownst to them, they have been talking online for also a year without knowing who is who. All has been in anon usernames, so there wasn't a possibility of them finding out. So yes we have a You've Got Mail trope over here! I love that.
Jonathan is also a hockey player and oof! Let's not even talk about the hockey game scene + the car ride after. *fans self* I'm not lying when I tell you I'm obsessed with these two. When they kiss? It's magic, my friends. It's clear that if the world allowed them to spend all their lives kissing, they would do it.
What more can you find?
♡ Demisexual, autistic heroine
♡ Workplace romance
♡ Hero has Type 1 diabetes
♡ He's also a Grinch and very, very grumpy
♡ And she loves Christmas and is a ball of sunshine in human form
♡ When she calls him "Mr. Frost" >>>>
♡ THE MR DARCY HAND FLEX MOMENT.
December 11, 2022
this gave me such ✨cozy✨ vibes!!!! pen pal, enemies to lovers + they work in a bookstore? i’m immediately in.
this had the perfect amount of fluff and tension. i liked the competition part of it all. there were little cringe moments but overall i had a great time.
a very quick holiday novella. my first chloe book but it won’t be my last!!!! 🏃🏻♀️
this had the perfect amount of fluff and tension. i liked the competition part of it all. there were little cringe moments but overall i had a great time.
a very quick holiday novella. my first chloe book but it won’t be my last!!!! 🏃🏻♀️
December 1, 2023
This was so cute 🫶🏻
“My hand over his pounding heart, his hand over mine, I kiss the man I love. My happiest happy ending.He kisses me, too, soft and cool as falling snow, and whispers what I already know, down to my bones. I’m his happy ending, too.”
“It’s so hard,when you’ve been taken advantage of in the past, when the most vulnerable part of yourself is exploited so deeply. It’s difficult to trust, to open yourself up once more and give people the benefit of the doubt. It’s terrifying to risk getting that wrong all over again.” this hits deep ☹️❤️🩹
“My hand over his pounding heart, his hand over mine, I kiss the man I love. My happiest happy ending.He kisses me, too, soft and cool as falling snow, and whispers what I already know, down to my bones. I’m his happy ending, too.”
“It’s so hard,when you’ve been taken advantage of in the past, when the most vulnerable part of yourself is exploited so deeply. It’s difficult to trust, to open yourself up once more and give people the benefit of the doubt. It’s terrifying to risk getting that wrong all over again.” this hits deep ☹️❤️🩹
May 28, 2025
⭐️2.5 prima voor tussendoor! Niet heel veel diepgang
November 7, 2022
This was such a cute Christmas romance! The hero and heroine are rivals working for the same bookshop. The heroine loves the holidays while the hero is more grumpy. They both bring their own strengths to the bookshop, but they know it isn't doing well and both of them might not get to stick around. They challenge each other to sell the most books in the bookshop and the winner gets to keep their job. This definitely has You've Got Mail vibes because they're also falling for each other in an anonymous chat where they don't know it's really each other. I just loved the cozy vibes taking place in a bookstore and how it goes from rivals to lovers. Definitely a great romance to pick up during the holiday season!
December 12, 2021
boringggg😖 didn't find any connection or chemistry between the main characters.
The writing felt so weird.
The writing felt so weird.
December 23, 2022
Gaaaaah, this book was so bad 🤦♀️ I don't want to be a Grinch and hate on all these Christmas romances, but this one's yet another huge cliché I cannot stand to read about anymore.
First off, the main character's names are Gabby DiNatale and Jonathan Frost and I did not find that funny nor charming, just too on the nose. 🙄
I don't know if this is the author's first book or not, but it felt as if it were because the writing isn't great. And I feel bad for even saying that, but... 😕
Let me explain why I think this isn't a good book. Well... it has a trope I don't enjoy at all, namely enemies to lovers and it's not well executed in my opinion. BUT! That's not my issue with the story. It's the fact that the female MC hates the guy she's been working with for the past year (for no real reason, if you ask me), while also being in love with his online persona. She just doesn't know they're the same guy, because online she knows him as Mr. Reddit and they don't talk private stuff there. They share a love for books, have a lot in common and talk almost every evening for hours on end. The problem: it's so freaking obvious right from the start that Jonathan is Mr. Reddit, that I was shocked throughout how daft Gabby is for not seeing it. At one point, he figures it out and point blank asks her a bunch of questions that would have totally given away who he is, but nooooo. The author chose to dumb her down just for that stupid reveal later on and I hate this.
I hate, hate double hate that such a lovely setting couldn't get an original idea. Despite my often long reviews, I really suck at writing and still, I could come up with a dozen new romantic ideas right now that are completely new and different from all these overused tropes and clichés I keep seeing in romance.
Because of this book, I don't even want to go on and finish my Christmas tbr for this month, because I fear disappointment. I barely stuck through with this one, as I didn't want to have another DNF in less than a week.
Cannot recommend this to anyone, even if it has a high rating on gr. I feel like that's misleading, honestly...
Oh and P. S. the sex scenes at the end were so cringy that I had to skip them entirely. Zero chemistry, weird pillow talk, both characters were too weirdly horny and go right at it as soon as they confess to each other who they are. Just no.
First off, the main character's names are Gabby DiNatale and Jonathan Frost and I did not find that funny nor charming, just too on the nose. 🙄
I don't know if this is the author's first book or not, but it felt as if it were because the writing isn't great. And I feel bad for even saying that, but... 😕
Let me explain why I think this isn't a good book. Well... it has a trope I don't enjoy at all, namely enemies to lovers and it's not well executed in my opinion. BUT! That's not my issue with the story. It's the fact that the female MC hates the guy she's been working with for the past year (for no real reason, if you ask me), while also being in love with his online persona. She just doesn't know they're the same guy, because online she knows him as Mr. Reddit and they don't talk private stuff there. They share a love for books, have a lot in common and talk almost every evening for hours on end. The problem: it's so freaking obvious right from the start that Jonathan is Mr. Reddit, that I was shocked throughout how daft Gabby is for not seeing it. At one point, he figures it out and point blank asks her a bunch of questions that would have totally given away who he is, but nooooo. The author chose to dumb her down just for that stupid reveal later on and I hate this.
I hate, hate double hate that such a lovely setting couldn't get an original idea. Despite my often long reviews, I really suck at writing and still, I could come up with a dozen new romantic ideas right now that are completely new and different from all these overused tropes and clichés I keep seeing in romance.
Because of this book, I don't even want to go on and finish my Christmas tbr for this month, because I fear disappointment. I barely stuck through with this one, as I didn't want to have another DNF in less than a week.
Cannot recommend this to anyone, even if it has a high rating on gr. I feel like that's misleading, honestly...
Oh and P. S. the sex scenes at the end were so cringy that I had to skip them entirely. Zero chemistry, weird pillow talk, both characters were too weirdly horny and go right at it as soon as they confess to each other who they are. Just no.
December 12, 2021
chalking it up to the good old case of it's not the book, it's me. listen, you can definitely consider me a christmassy person but i don't think christmas themed romances are my thing. they have too much saccharine; it hurts.
buddy read with @manvi and @j (except one of them finished the book and the other dnfed it when i was on page 2 🤭️)
buddy read with @manvi and @j (except one of them finished the book and the other dnfed it when i was on page 2 🤭️)
July 17, 2023
⭐️3.5
Reading Vlog: https://youtu.be/28noWOP4naI
🚨 MILD SPOILERS! 🚨
I read this for the Type 1 Diabetes representation. That's the spoiler, ha. It isn't revealed until practically the end that Frost has diabetes.
I have T1D myself and found the representation fantastic. That being said, I've scoured the internet for books with even the merest mention of diabetes and have largely come up wanting. So, it doesn't take much to impress me. But I genuinely thought Chloe Liese portrayed diabetes in a very realistic and healthy way that felt so relatable and empathetic.
I did think it highly unlikely that Frost could have kept his diabetes a secret from Gabby, who watches him like a hawk and is in close proximity of him 6 days a week. But, other than that, completely accurate in the portrayal of the disease.
At the time of reading, I had the Medtronic 670g insulin pump which is what Frost wears in this book. Seeing that representation meant the world to me. I was just starting the process of transferring to the Omnipod 5 and having such a better and healthier experience with this pump. It was fantastic to be able to read a book with a diabetic character who was maintaining their disease as best as they could and was as mentally stable as one could possibly be with their situation. I loved reading that while going through a diabetic life change.
This quote meant a lot to me and I want to share it so I can look back on it later. If you haven't read the book, you might not want to continue...
Reading Vlog: https://youtu.be/28noWOP4naI
🚨 MILD SPOILERS! 🚨
I read this for the Type 1 Diabetes representation. That's the spoiler, ha. It isn't revealed until practically the end that Frost has diabetes.
I have T1D myself and found the representation fantastic. That being said, I've scoured the internet for books with even the merest mention of diabetes and have largely come up wanting. So, it doesn't take much to impress me. But I genuinely thought Chloe Liese portrayed diabetes in a very realistic and healthy way that felt so relatable and empathetic.
I did think it highly unlikely that Frost could have kept his diabetes a secret from Gabby, who watches him like a hawk and is in close proximity of him 6 days a week. But, other than that, completely accurate in the portrayal of the disease.
At the time of reading, I had the Medtronic 670g insulin pump which is what Frost wears in this book. Seeing that representation meant the world to me. I was just starting the process of transferring to the Omnipod 5 and having such a better and healthier experience with this pump. It was fantastic to be able to read a book with a diabetic character who was maintaining their disease as best as they could and was as mentally stable as one could possibly be with their situation. I loved reading that while going through a diabetic life change.
This quote meant a lot to me and I want to share it so I can look back on it later. If you haven't read the book, you might not want to continue...
November 29, 2023
3.5/5 ⭐️ This was a really cute and adorable Christmas novella that is centered around a bookstore.
I loved the main characters! Gabrielle and Jonathan were really adorable. Their bickering and interactions had me smiling so much!
This also gave me all the cozy vibes. And Jonathan was so swoony. I loved how even without his pov, you can clearly tell he is obsessed with Gabrielle 🤭.
What I didn’t love was that there was a lot of mention of romance books and different tropes. It just took me out of the story every time it was mentioned. And there was a lot of internal monologue as well.
But overall, this was really cute. If you like workplace/enemies to lovers then give this one a try! It was so cute and I really enjoyed it 🥰
I loved the main characters! Gabrielle and Jonathan were really adorable. Their bickering and interactions had me smiling so much!
This also gave me all the cozy vibes. And Jonathan was so swoony. I loved how even without his pov, you can clearly tell he is obsessed with Gabrielle 🤭.
What I didn’t love was that there was a lot of mention of romance books and different tropes. It just took me out of the story every time it was mentioned. And there was a lot of internal monologue as well.
But overall, this was really cute. If you like workplace/enemies to lovers then give this one a try! It was so cute and I really enjoyed it 🥰
December 23, 2024
4 stars
The Mistletoe Motive was such a great holiday read. This reminded me so much of ‘The Hating Game’ but make it Christmas with a dash of You’ve Got Mail. I adored it!
The Mistletoe Motive was such a great holiday read. This reminded me so much of ‘The Hating Game’ but make it Christmas with a dash of You’ve Got Mail. I adored it!
Audio book source: Libby
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Erin Mallon & Jacob Morgan
Narration Rating: 5 stars
Genre: Romance
Length:5h 28m
December 2, 2021
𝟱 - 𝗺𝗿. 𝗚𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗵 - 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀
I - 🎄✋😭
Until an IRL Jonathan Frost materializes onto my doorstep like a gd Christmas miracle don't even talk to me. Chloe Liese has ruined all holiday romances for me … That is both a compliment and an achievement.
I mean ... I downloaded the Kobo app onto my phone for this. That's the caliber of excellence and dedication we're talking about.
❝No more being brave on your own,❞ he says. ❝Now we’re brave together.❞
❝Together.❞ I smile up at him and hold his eyes.
I - 🎄✋😭
Until an IRL Jonathan Frost materializes onto my doorstep like a gd Christmas miracle don't even talk to me. Chloe Liese has ruined all holiday romances for me … That is both a compliment and an achievement.
I mean ... I downloaded the Kobo app onto my phone for this. That's the caliber of excellence and dedication we're talking about.
December 3, 2021
ate DOWN, so so cute omggg i wish it were longer so perfect for the holidays
November 13, 2024
4 Scrooge McGrinch stars! Jonathan and Gabriella were adorable!!! The cutest holiday novella with so many interesting characters and topics! 🖤
tropes: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and disability and chronic illness rep (autism and diabetes)
demisexual main character, angsty tension, and the iconic Mr. Darcy hand shake <3
tropes: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and disability and chronic illness rep (autism and diabetes)
demisexual main character, angsty tension, and the iconic Mr. Darcy hand shake <3
December 11, 2021
kinda throuple read with meanie and lovelie
me: i want to dnf but i also want to write a one star review so i guess i have to finish
me to me: just write a one star review without finishing?
me to me to me: ...
If I have to listen to Gabriella talk about how horny she is for her alleged nemesis for a single page more, I will burn this whole fucking planet down. Be glad I am dnf'ing this book because this would have been my villain origin story.
How can a SINGLE person be so GODDAMN annoying. I get it, Jonathan is goddamn hot. I GET IT.
But do you have other thoughts in your head, little miss sunshine? I thought you were supposed to hate him? You have ONE wet dream about the guy ONe FUCKING TIME and suddenly every other sentence in this already mid book is all about how much you want to fuck him.
What even is a plot and why would we need it if we can just have the main character be horny 24/7. Why build up an actual relationship out of a rivalry and let the characters develop a natural attraction to each other if you can just go on on a 300 page tangent about how badly you want him to smash his quite-frankly-too-good-for-you-face into your private parts even though the book is only 200 pages long.
GODDAMN THEN GO DO FUCK HIM and don't waste my time.
dnf on page 101, as an act of self care. also rating it, even though i don't rate dnfs, all in the name of the Christmas spirit
me: i want to dnf but i also want to write a one star review so i guess i have to finish
me to me: just write a one star review without finishing?
me to me to me: ...
If I have to listen to Gabriella talk about how horny she is for her alleged nemesis for a single page more, I will burn this whole fucking planet down. Be glad I am dnf'ing this book because this would have been my villain origin story.
How can a SINGLE person be so GODDAMN annoying. I get it, Jonathan is goddamn hot. I GET IT.
But do you have other thoughts in your head, little miss sunshine? I thought you were supposed to hate him? You have ONE wet dream about the guy ONe FUCKING TIME and suddenly every other sentence in this already mid book is all about how much you want to fuck him.
What even is a plot and why would we need it if we can just have the main character be horny 24/7. Why build up an actual relationship out of a rivalry and let the characters develop a natural attraction to each other if you can just go on on a 300 page tangent about how badly you want him to smash his quite-frankly-too-good-for-you-face into your private parts even though the book is only 200 pages long.
GODDAMN THEN GO DO FUCK HIM and don't waste my time.
dnf on page 101, as an act of self care. also rating it, even though i don't rate dnfs, all in the name of the Christmas spirit
November 30, 2024
happy to announce that this was a successful re-read. i'm still very much obsessed with gabriella and jonathan 🙂↕️💌
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original review:
i'm starting 2022 crying because i'm not the main character in a chloe liese book.
this was amazing (as you would expect from chloe) and my heart is all warm and mushy over jonathan and gabriella.
“I’m not a praying man, Gabriella, but I prayed so fucking hard (...) that whatever cosmic force gave me the gift of stumbling into your life wasn’t cruel enough to keep me from always belonging to it.”(in case you, even after that quote, need a little more convincing to read this, just know that it's a 'you've got mail' type of romance with a grumpy mc x sunshine fmc, lots of banter, and no third-act breakup 🙌🏼)
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original review:
i'm starting 2022 crying because i'm not the main character in a chloe liese book.
this was amazing (as you would expect from chloe) and my heart is all warm and mushy over jonathan and gabriella.
December 26, 2022
Like a hot chocolate on a cold winter’s day, this warmed up my heart and was the perfect read for Christmas time. Oh how I love a healthy, communicative couple who respect each others’ needs and boundaries ❤️
At a glance:
- The perfect Christmas/winter romance
- Autistic protagonist and love interest with diabetes
- Respectful, sweet romance that will warm your heart
- A quick read you can finish in a day
At a glance:
- The perfect Christmas/winter romance
- Autistic protagonist and love interest with diabetes
- Respectful, sweet romance that will warm your heart
- A quick read you can finish in a day
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