Christmas As We Know It

by Sarah Sutton

Christmas as I know it is blown away with the winter wind when my mom drops a bomb the size of the Rockefeller Tree—we’re going to Florida for winter break, AKA the land of no snow. And since this is the last Christmas season of my high school career, my last chance to spend the holidays with my friends before we all go off to college, the news is anything but merry and bright.

There is one silver lining, though. Bentley, the sweet and kind guy I’ve been crushing on for years, is in my volunteer group for the annual Winter Festival. And did I mention his love for Christmas just might rival my own? Even though I’ll be missing out on the Winter Festival, being paired with Bentley almost makes it worth it.

Until something happens with Jason, my best friend since elementary school. Something that may or may not involve an almost kiss. Jason’s the opposite of jolly, the Grinch to my Mrs. Claus, and though every year I have to drag him along for the Yuletide ride, this December, he’s grumpier than ever about the holidays.

But the closer I get to Bentley, and the more it looks like Jason and his ex are getting back together, the more unsure I am about who I want to ring in the new year with.

Maybe all I need is the magic of a mistletoe kiss to make up my mind. Or better yet, a Christmas miracle…

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Young Adult, Holiday, Contemporary, Friends To Lovers, Young Adult Romance

302 pages, Paperback

Published November 28, 2021

About the author

Sarah Sutton is the author of YA Contemporary Romance books from a tiny town in Michigan. These standalone novels can be read in any order and are sure to leave you swooning. She’s always loved the idea of falling in love; capturing the fall through words and heart-melting kisses is one of her passions! Meet-cutes? She’ll take all of them! Accidental touches? She lives for them! First kisses? Yes, please!


To follow her on social media and learn more about her books, visit her website: sarah-sutton.com
Facebook: @SarahMaeSutton
Instagram: @SarahMaeSutton
YouTube: @SarahMaeSutton
TikTok: @AuthorSarahSutton

Reviews

[tappkalina · Rating 4 out of 5]

December 10, 2021

I honestly think Sarah outdid herself with this one. So far my favorite of hers was her debut, What Are Friends For?, but now these two are tied. If you couldn't tell, I'm a sucker for best friends to lovers, especially because all her stories are so healthy both romance-wise and just in general.
A scene from this book became one of my all time favorites, and honestly, I just got the urge to write fanfiction witt these characters, because what they have going on is exactly my kind of thing.

But now I've finished both books I wanted to read during Christmas, so I'll be on a hunt for a new one.


November 1, 2021

Another Sarah Sutton, yey! I know what I'll read during Christmas along with Tessa and Weston: The Best Christmas Ever.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars! (Rounded up to 5!)

I was given an ARC of this book, but I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Mimi, also known as Merry Mimi, absolutely loves Christmas; more than that, she loves getting to spend Christmas with her friends. She's officially a senior in high school this year, and she knows that life will be a lot different next year, including celebrating Christmas with her friends. She's determined to enjoy this year, until her mom says they're spending Christmas in Florida with family. As Mimi struggles to cope with that news, she wants to get closer to Bentley (her crush), figure out why she suddenly has butterflies around Jason (her best friend), and deal with a little sister who dislikes her and a intruder trying to get into her friend group. But as the countdown to Florida begins, things only get more confusing.

As I've said before, I love Sarah Sutton's books! I've enjoyed every one she's written! This one was no exception, and it was actually one of the only Christmas books I read this year!

As usual, the characters all have multiple layers to them, and they each have underlying goals and struggles. I really loved The Crew and all their interactions! And Sarah once again did a great job writing so many different kinds of relationships: familial (good and bad), romantic, and platonic relationships. The sibling relationship was quite relatable for me!

I'm typically not a fan of love triangles, but I didn't really mind it in this book. I did feel like it took certain characters way too long to figure out their feelings, but that's pretty much my only complaint. The romance was definitely worth the wait, and it was just as cute and wholesome as I expected it to be!

Overall, if you are a fan of: Christmas books, best friends to lovers, love triangles, clean reads, or wholesome romances, you will likely enjoy this book! I would definitely recommend it!

Content: a few minor swear words, kissing

[Bobby's Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 STARS | Freakin’ ADORABLE and very FESTIVE for a best friends to lovers holiday romance! CHRISTMAS AS WE KNOW IT is a YA holiday treat for the season! Dealing with friendship, family, and love, Sutton pulled off this novel nicely! The story follows Mimi living in New England as she suddenly as plans to go to Florida for the holidays. Before she goes, she is caught working with handsome Bentley and Mimi’s best friend and grumpy Christmas grinch, Jason, for the high school’s upcoming winter festival. Though she has feelings for both boys, Jason gravitates towards her more. But does Jason have the same feelings like Mimi does towards him? As time runs out before Mimi hops on a plane to Florida, can a Christmas miracle happen for both of them? A heartwarming romance with a little spice that will surely make you fall in love with the book! A wonderful read!

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just okay for me. This was a cute YA Christmas romance. I was excited that it was finally available on audio and listened to the story in that format. The narration was well done by Liz Krane but the story itself I found less than interesting if I'm completely honest. Recommended for fans of authors like Emma Lord.

[Anne J. Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this book. It's an amazing beginning to Sutton's leap away from her Fenton series, while still giving all the same swoon feels.

Without spoiling anything, the character development from the start of the book to the end is phenomenal. What I love about her books in general is that the main character always grows in some way and there is depth beyond the romantic realm.

Mimi struggles with everything changing, especially around a season that's meant to be familiar and heart warming. As she struggles to find joy in the whirlwind, she learns more about herself, her family, her friends, and the guy she likes.

Highly recommend!

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up.

Yay me for getting to a book that has literally been on my TBR forever! I was craving a YA Christmas story (there haven’t been many new ones released in the last couple of years) and decided to pick this one up.

The story was very cute and had many Christmassy elements that were interspersed with some heavier elements, but the book never felt weighed down and remained mostly light and fluffy (which I wanted). I liked the main character well enough and the romance was cute, though very obvious where it would go.

I’d definitely recommend this one if you like YA Christmas stories.

[Heather Mattern · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first Sarah Sutton book and I was pleasantly surprised!! Her writing is on point. I decided to read this because I have been following Sarah and her writing videos on YouTube for a while now and love her vibe.

It was fun branching out and reading not only a Christmas novel but a Y/A one at that. Loved it, it was sweet and sassy and the perfect book to cozy up with.

[Ana - Leituras da Ana Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Jess - The Hexed Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
Cover 5; characters 4; Plot 4; Pace 5; Intrigue 3; Logic 4; worldbuilding 4; Writing 4; Enjoyment 4

This was a fantastic YA Christmassy romance! There were lots of cute moments between characters and plenty of holiday cheer.

[Caitlinjoyful · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

"Even if he asked me to steal the moon for him, I would've planned the heist."

This story was amazing. I fell in love with Mimi, she is definatly my second favourite charcater Sarah has written. She is a very sweet person, and I think her motives are true.
I loved her relationship with her friends, she really loves them and hates the idea of spending christmas away from her friends.

I really enjoyed watching Mimi and Jason's friendship grow and change. It was really interesting reading and it was so fun watching Mimi go from being comfotable around Jason to being an awkawrd mess around him.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas + friends to more + favorite contemporary author = 5 stars

(Review to come)

[Aless · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awww the ending was so cute. A good teel good romance with all the fun cringe of being a teenager in high school, haha.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books I come back to again and again each December. I’ve read it twice now, and I always make a point to reread it around Christmas because it’s become such a cozy seasonal tradition for me.

Mimi and Jason’s relationship is sweet and realistic, and I love how the romance unfolds naturally through shared moments, miscommunication, and personal growth. The friends-to-lovers dynamic is done really well. The characters feel like real teenagers navigating big emotions during a meaningful time in their lives, which makes the story hit even harder.

This book gives me all the warm, nostalgic holiday feelings: snowy evenings, close friendships, and that quiet magic of realizing love has been there all along. It’s cute, heartfelt, and endlessly rereadable. If you’re looking for a sweet, seasonal YA romance you can read with a cup of hot chocolate, this one is absolutely worth picking up.

[Morgan Giesbrecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond adorable!

Going in, I wasn’t sure this would be the story for me. But all my reservations were dashed aside as I quickly fell in love with this sweet YA Christmas rom-com! High school drama and potential love triangles tend to get on my nerves, however, the way Sutton handled it made it less annoying.

Highly recommend if you’re love Christmas, Kasie West, Disney Channel, and/or awesome friend groups!

[Charly Troff (JustaReadingMama) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, fluffy, friends to lovers romance perfect for the Christmas season.

The romance was very predictable, but cute and fun. The character development was satisfying and the Christmas elements super fun to read at this time of year. I wanted a little more closure on the side couples, but otherwise I loved the ending.

If you enjoy ya romance, this is a holiday read I would highly recommend.

[Emily Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow burn that packs a punch

This is my first read by Sarah, and I was not disappointed. For the first half of the story, I knew I would give it a solid 4 stars. But then, the emotion built, layering and pulling me in. I felt the anxious rush of emotions with my stomach clenching and my heart racing, hoping Mimi would figure out what I already knew. That she and Jason belonged together. All the small gestures and almost-moments were perfect, adding together to create a fantastic 5-star read.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but I didn't. Mimi looked like she was 12 years old and the book didn't need so many round trips, there came a time when I just got tired and wanted to put the four of them in a locked room to solve their problems.
In the end we didn't have any romance scenes and it was basically disagreement after disagreement

[Chesney Infalt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Cute Holiday Read

I enjoy Sutton’s cute romances, and this one wasn’t a disappointment. It was the perfect holiday read! I’ll need to get the paperback for my bookshelf.

[Kristy Finto · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my second time reading this book and I still love so much. Everything about this book is so amazing and really gets you into the Christmas spirit. Such a sweet read.

[Manon · Rating 5 out of 5]

On aurait dit Better than the Movies version Noël et ceux qui me connaissent savent que c’est le MEILLEUR compliment que je suis en mesure de faire pour une rom-com YA 🎄🎄🎄💕

[Orangetails · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second favorite from this author so far (be still my heart, Catch My Breath was too good to top)!

I never thought I'd look a book with a character named "Mimi," but I was wrong. Amelia "Mimi" Perry is adorable even if her kind, Christmas-loving personality is seen frequently in Hallmark movies and romance novels. One of the things I did really like about her was how quickly she realized her mistakes and apologized to people. Her kindness and affectionate, innocent love of Christmas won me over before that, but seeing how she handled things made me appreciate her more. (Although sometimes her naivety got old.)

The plot was simple but it worked for a character-driven story. Mimi's world falls apart when she can't stay home for Christmas, so she has to make the best of the few weeks she has. Which includes finding a way to get Bentley to notice her...and find a way to talk to him without stuttering.

Despite the plot being simple, it was surprisingly touching. There were some great moments of development where the characters were vulnerable along with fluffy moments that were pure fun. My one regret is a sort of lack of angst that normally comes with Ms. Sutton's books, but as this is a Christmas book, I understand.

As for Mimi's best friend, Jason Hollaway, he isn't my favorite. I do love his dry, sarcastic personality compared to other love interests in Ms. Sutton's books, though. It does fit the broody-guy-sweet-girl trope in most Christmas contemporary romances, but Jason felt unique because of his close connection to Mimi. I didn't love him entirely though because I felt like he hardly confided in Mimi at all, despite being best friends. I also didn't love how he didn't seem to care about little things that his friends liked, but I understand that's kinda his personality and how he shows affection - by pretending not to care. Overall, he's neat, but not my favorite.

I did like the convoluted love square although I felt the miscommunication/romantic angst could have ended a lot earlier. But it didn't drag on forever, and it was handled very well, so it ended up being cute rather than annoying.

Overall, it was very sweet with some seriously cute moments and a great execution of best-friends-to-lovers. Definitely worth a read and then a re-read every season!

[Cait | GoodeyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

THIS WAS SWEET.

BLOG || INSTAGRAM

A good young adult holiday romance. It’s a super fast read and bingeable if you’re in the mood for it. I was worried that I wouldn’t like the main character at all, but gave her a chance for growth and it was well received. I thought Mimi was a quintessential teen that caused a few eye rolls, and gratefully a few cheers. I love character growth in books!

I struggled with the way the love triangle was handled. I’m not even sure it was necessary? Or at least to the extent it was drawn out (this is my second book by this author with a love triangle, is this a bad sign?). The friends to lovers was really sweet and I wanted all of the focus on those quiet moments between Mimi and Jason. Jason was a gem.

The Christmas season was in full swing and I love a good snow setting (that I don’t physically have to participate in). The side characters were charming and I love a good group of friends. Things get a bit dramatic at times. I’m not upset with this for a holiday romance though, it’d be one to consider for your TBR.

Overall audience notes:
- YA Contemporary Romance
- Language: very little
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: head injury from sledding
- Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a parent, depictions of grief

[Angeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars
This was such a fun Christmas book! Christmas As We Know It is written by Sarah Sutton, and it was such a cute book! I was drawn to this book by the cover, and I was so excited that I got the chance to review it. It totally exceeded my expectations!
Mimi feels as if her life is over. Instead of spending Christmas in * with her friends, she and her family are flying out to Florida on Christmas to be with her grandmother. This is her last Christmas as a senior in high school, and she doesn’t want things to change. Mimi aims to make it the best Christmas that she can before she leaves by volunteering to help set up the Winter Festival. She is stoked to see that she is in a group with her crush Bentley. But then something happens with her childhood best friend, Jason, and suddenly Mimi doesn’t know how she feels.
Mimi had to grow on me, but once I started reading more about her, I ended up really liking her. She was full of life, but that could also lead to her being a bit dramatic. She didn’t want life to change, but there were some things out of her control. I really enjoyed reading about Mimi and reading about her growing up. She was a bit self focused at the beginning but as the book went on, she started to mature. She was a kind girl. She just had to learn to see past herself. It was also fun to read about her interacting with her friends.
I liked Jason. He was the perfect match for Mimi. He was a bit more of a grouch, but he loved his friends and would do anything for them. I could tell from the beginning that he adored Mimi and that he wanted her to be happy. He was so sweet. He was also human though, and he had his own hurts to deal with. He loved Mimi and her joy of Christmas, but Christmas brought up some bad memories for him and his family. I enjoyed reading about Mimi coming alongside James.
Mimi and James were fun to read about. I really liked the development of the story especially because it did not feel rushed. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about it because I don't enjoy love triangles, but this was pretty good. I also enjoyed the side characters. They were a lot of fun. Bentley was a bit more confusing, but I liked his addition to the story. Mimi’s sister, Lexie, got on my nerves a bit, but I adored Mateo and Claire.
Christmas As We Know It was a sweet Christmas book! I really enjoyed it and I would definitely recommend it! Christmas As We Know It is a clean, Christmas YA book.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

[Amelie-tess Belisle · Rating 4 out of 5]

One word: Swoon.

After reading multiple of Sutton's books, I thought the swoon factor would disappear at some point, but no. She does it everytime, and she does it just right.

Mimi is a Christmas elf (like I call myself), to the contrary to her best friend. She learns, during her last winter break with her friends - or so she thinks - that she is going to Florida after the morning of Christmas to take care of her grandmother with her mother and sister in tow. Her life is literally ending. Her plans to woo Bentley - her crush - is now impossible. But she still finds a way to make the most of it by helping organizing along with Bentley and her friends.

I did not give 5 stars and that is for one reason (which I will not include too many details for - spoilers): there is one other relationship that I would have prefered in a standalone book rather than we we had. I kind of felt cheated on that one.

Other than that, again, Sarah, SWOON.

The books tackles a couple of more difficult subjects such as loss, absent parent, etc., and in a very heartfelt way. Sarah Sutton has this ability to depict the angst a teenager can feel towards difficult situations in such a way that you do not feel too much pity, neither feel angry towards their reactions or coping. You just want to cross the universe into the book and hold them.

PS: This is also a Christmas book so it's also the perfect read for this season!

[A Story Explorer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another sweet, touching, holiday read by Sarah Sutton! It's a separate book/setting away from the Love in Fenton County series. Still it has the classic sweet stories and writing style the author usually provides. It was a fun story featuring Mimi and her friends as Christmas approaches. You get a bit into the vibes of the holiday season while Mimi also tackles life situations in a normal teenage manner.

I think it was fun to see the author tackle two love interests but I have to admit it was easy to see who she'd end up with and I was totally ok with that. lol I like that we get to see Mimi interact with her friends and see their relationships dynamic. I really appreciated how the author portrayed Mimi's interactions with her family and her growth as a person because no one is perfect but Mimi gains wisdom.

Personally, I wished I got to see Mimi with her final love interest a bit more. Part of me wanted to see them more together as a couple and possibly see them grow. It's still a satisfying ending, that is just me wishing and hoping once I finished the book. lol

If you liked any of Sarah's other books, especially her "If the Broom Fits" then you'll likely enjoy this book as well!

3.6 out of 5 rating for me!

(This is an ARC review. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated in any other way.)

[Tessy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y'all! This book is freaking ADORABLE. I swear, I almost feel like I have no words for how cute and lovely and downright Christmassy this book is. Sarah has done it again. She's written a story that has stolen all of our hearts.

I don't know about you, but this year, Christmas hasn't been my thing. And that's saying something because Christmas is my favorite holiday. But I've been lacking the spirit. However, this book picked me right up and threw me right into the spirit. I couldn't put the book down and I loved the entire atmosphere. Sarah nailed it.

And if Christmas isn't your thing, don't worry. There's a character who isn't so into Christmas himself and you're gonna love him. In fact, you're gonna love all the characters. They're all so relatable and fun. And I love the snark that's thrown into this story. It had my heart from the beginning.

As per usual, I can't help but give this book a wonderful 5 stars. I always love a Sarah Sutton book and I'm so grateful to have been given an ARC of this one. I always love getting the chance to read and review her books so we can spread the word and get everyone else to pick it up. Because I promise you, Christmas As We Know It is so worth picking up!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas in July was just what I needed. This book was the perfect Christmas during high school vibe I needed. Sarah incorporated ton of great wintery things into this book while including a whole group of friends aka as millennials as the squad or as she refers to them as the crew. My high school heart is just so full of the memory emotions she made me feel. Our main character is girl after my own heart. She literally has obsessive Christmas disorder. There’s fun dates to try the Christmas themed milkshakes, sledding after dark, old rivalries, and new members to the crew. And I love the story around who her dad is but you’ll have to read for the details on that one. Oh and sprinkle in a few perry the platypus references and this book with have you laughing so much. All in all and favorite. Now please go get your copy asap! And then we can both gush over all the feels and they fact Sarah almost had me believing this wasn’t a romance book. She saved the day in the mail be though and made me love and appreciate it maybe even a little more. Is this my favorite of her books so far? I don’t know you decide? The jury is leaning towards yes though.


Thank you to author for giving me an e-arc of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[$:) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Første jule romanceeeeeee. Synes faktisk den var virkelig cute. Troede ikke rigtig jeg ville være ind til en julebog men den her var virkelig god. Kunne virkelig godt lide hele vennegruppen. De var så realistiske føler jeg. Kunne godt lide Mimi men synes hun var lidt for hård ved Claire. Kunne virkelig godt lide Jason selvom han burde havde mandet sig op og sagt til Mimi han kunne lide hende laaaaang tid før. Det var lidt dårligt ved bogen - at de først kom sammen i sidste kapitel. Hader lidt sådan noget. Ikke at se dem være sammen sammen længere end det er dårligt. Kunne godt lide resten af the Crew. Bentley, Claire, Taylor og Mateo var også virkelig niceee og de var så gode venner for hinanden alle sammen. God bog men er lidt i tvivl med ratingen. Føler den er mellem en 3 og 4 så giver den fire for at være sød. De burde være kommet sammen en del før for at den skulle have en højere rating.

[Arceli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eeeeep! I really loved this book so much. It features all the goodness and sweetness of a Christmas romance! Has a sweet heroine? Yes. Has a sweet hero? Yes. Drama? Yes. Awesome Christmas spirit? Yes.

The book's main character Mimi is super awesome. I loved her spunk. She is so adorably surprised by going to Florida, but takes it super well. She is really relatable and has some of the best moments. She also grows a lot in this book by realizing that the perfect guy was in front of her all along.

Jason is super sweet. I loved how he cared about Mimi. He is so sweet and was always patient with her. Also, his gifts and sweet moments are so nice.

The romance is super good. Enjoyed the tension and awesome chemistry. There are awesome mistletoe toe kisses and just awesome kisses. I highly recommend this book. Go check it out for awesome Christmas spirit!

[karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heads up! Cuteness overload ahead of you if you decide to give this book a chance.

I don't normally write reviews but this has got to be my favorite read of this year and probably my favorite romance book of all time. This was my second Sarah Sutton book. After reading If The Broom Fits I knew I had to give her Christmas book a chance and I'm so glad that I did because this book warmed my heart and made me crave milkshakes too (even if it tastes like toothpaste).

Read it in two days but would've binged it in one if I hadn't been too busy to read. Christmas As We Know It brought back memories of my teenage years, crushes and definitely that teenage angst that we all know and love. It's the perfect read to get you into the Christmas spirit! It will definitely become an annual re-read for the Christmas time for sure.

Highly recommend!