A Holiday Set-Up

Green Valley #1

by Noelle Adams

Most people don’t have a nemesis, but I do. His name is Rafe Archibald.

On the first day of kindergarten, he stole my chocolate cupcake. In sixth grade, he won the big essay contest, while I ended up runner-up. All through high school, he was my academic rival, and in college he dated all my friends. After graduation, I hoped to be rid of him at last, but he moved into the apartment across the hall.

He’s always around. Inescapable. Constantly infuriating me with his too-long hair, his laid-back attitude, and his smug smile.

Just when I think it can’t get worse, it does. Our grandmothers start meddling. They decide we must be secretly in love and concoct a matchmaking scheme.

When my grandmother announces she’s inviting all her friends and family to her huge country estate for an old-fashioned holiday house party, I’m excited about a two-week break from running into Rafe in the hallway, at the coffee shop, and at our favorite bar. Then there he is. At my grandmother’s house for Christmas. In the room across the hall.

Their set-up won’t work. I’ve developed a lifetime’s worth of resistance against Rafe’s dubious charms. Sure, I might slip and fall into bed with him, but that’s an accident and won’t happen again. And, even if it does, it still won’t touch my heart.

After all, the last thing a smart woman should do is fall in love with her nemesis.

Genres: Romance, Christmas, Enemies To Lovers, Holiday, Contemporary, Novella, Contemporary Romance

149 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 15, 2022

About the author

Noelle handwrote her first romance novel in a spiral-bound notebook when she was twelve, and she hasn't stopped writing since. She has lived in eight different states and currently resides in Virginia, where she teaches English, reads any book she can get her hands on, and offers tribute to a very spoiled cocker spaniel.

She loves travel, art, history, and ice cream. After spending far too many years of her life in graduate school, she has decided to reorient her priorities and focus on writing contemporary romances.

Reviews

[Jacob Proffitt · Rating 1 out of 5]

Are these people five years old? Because I'd expect this kind of playground antic at five. At twenty-something, it's just not working for me. And I can't decide if I'm annoyed with how obviously smitten Rafe is or for how stupid it makes Julianna that she can't see it. Seriously, if the guy can't serious-up for five minutes to let her know that he really, actually likes her, then why should I have any patience with him? And if she can't see past his broad as a barnside hints then how dumb is she, really? I spent the third of this that I got through telling both of them to grow up in my head.

I finally got fed up with them meeting at the grandma's mansion. She's slicing him to pieces with her "banter" and he's smirking up the place with his "repartee". And I want them both to go back to school and learn how to communicate like adults.

[Carvanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun enemies-to-lovers holiday romance!





I loved that Rafe drove Julianna crazy simply by being in her orbit. His attitude towards her determined that she was going to stay far away, emotionally, even if she couldn’t distance herself physically.. This was so much like the little boy that dunks the girl’s hair in the inkwell. We all know what he’s really saying. Without ever having Rafe’s point of view, it was obvious what he felt. That made this all the more exciting.





The house party atmosphere was wonderful as it gave the activities a feel of another time and place without losing the contemporary attitude of the characters. Watching Rafe and Julianna deal with meddling grandmothers as well as their own feelings was pure perfection. When you add in the Christmas cheer, this made for a fun, smexy way to start my own holidays.


Heroine POV
Safe no ow/om drama; h not a virgin; H a bit of a manwhore - he doesn’t do one night stands but he’s a serial dater that lasts a couple of months before he moves on
Triggers no apparent triggers
Steam ,spoiler>4 /5; explicit; condoms used

[Elle ♡ [semi-hiatus] · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5-2.75 stars?

This was cute, but something about it just didn’t fully click for me. This is my second Noelle Adams book and I had very similarly feelings so maybe her writing isn’t quite for me? But I might keep trying haha. In any case I’m happy to be in the holiday novella time of year and this wasn’t a bad kick off to the festive season😌🎄

[Leigh Kramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Normally I’m not on board with meddling family members but in this case, I understood why Julianna’s Grandma and Rafe’s Nana interfered and arranged a Christmas house party between their two families. Those two needed a push to see the obvious, especially Julianna. This was thoroughly enjoyable, albeit not all that different from Adams’s other work.

However, the “boys tease girls because they like them” trope needs to die a fiery death. It’s problematic for many reasons and patently not true—and not just because of the way Rafe’s life-long teasing of Julianna backfired on him.

Characters: Julianna is a white financial advisor. Rafe is a white man. They’re both in their mid-20s and have known each other since kindergarten. This is set in Green Valley, NC and Serenity Farm.

Content notes: past seasickness and mentions of vomit, on page sex, alcohol, small penis joke, gender essentialism, ableist language, mention of past intimate partner violence (secondary characters; not treated as partner violence as it was a woman hitting a man), mention of past death of grandparents

[Ashlee Bree · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of cute, but I would’ve enjoyed it far better if Julianna and Rafe weren’t so oblivious or deliberately self-sabotaging. Like, you’ve known each other for 20 years. Get a damn clue! 🤦🏼‍♀️Not only did they seem to share a brain cell, but neither one of them had a single bone of self-awareness in their whole body, and it had me wanting to eat my hair out of frustration.

That said, still a short, festive, fluffy read!

2.5 stars

[Bea Amsalu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like a 2.5. It was like those hallmark Christmas movies where you can see the plot from a mile away but you still watch the whole thing and sigh thinking yeah that was kind of bad but also cute so we’ll allow it.

[Maria Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this enemies to lovers holiday novella! Rafe has been Julianna's nemesis since grade school, always seeming to try to best her or annoy her (or annoy her by besting her), and now that they live across the hall from each other in the same apartment building, he's impossible to ignore. Since their families are friends, Julianna discovers to her dismay that Rafe has been invited to her grandmother's country estate for the Christmas holidays with his family (and she has been given a room across from his). Think Bridgerton family Christmas gathering, and you'll get a sense of the feeling of the holiday party (and there's even a nod to Anthony and Kate's croquet scene in Bridgerton season 2). Of course, it's only now that Julianna realizes she might be attracted to Rafe (he's definitely been pining for her), and they end up spending some quality sexy times together, but then have to translate their holiday affair into a real relationship. It's a fun holiday romance.

A copy of this story was provided by the author.

[Mary Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The lady doth protest too much” could be the mantra for Julianna in A Holiday Set-Up. Adams has a great time writing about Julianna’s decades-long rivalry with Rafe, something that’s become almost ingrained for her. No matter what Rafe says or does, Julianna views it through the prism of his disrespect for her. The result is that she trusts nothing from Rafe—but she keeps encountering him at every turn.

Julianna is one of those heroines who can’t see what’s in front of her even though many around her do, and A Holiday Set-Up is her journey to realizing what she wants has been close by all along. Adams writes this book with surety, and the sensual scenes are wonderfully fiery. As the book is told entirely from Julianna’s POV, Rafe remains a bit of a cipher, particularly in why he kept seeking out Julianna for years despite her consistent rejection of him.

So if you’re seeking a cute holiday read about someone who’s too stubborn to see that what she truly needs has been with her all the time, pick this one up. You’ll sigh with satisfaction just like Julianna does when she opens up her heart!

[Maree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of Noelle Adams novellas. In a short space of (book) time she manages to pack in all the feelings and spice - all the ingredients - for a satisfying romance.

[Lisanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5 - 2,75 ⭐️

The epitome of …fine.

[Kath · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

A cute and fast read! I've always enjoyed the "she thought he hates her but he secretly likes her" or one sided "enemies" to lovers kind of trope. However, I was expecting more of Rafe's confession. Like maybe saying that he's not into any serious relationships because he is actually waiting for her or something. Basically anything that will show that he really likes her aside from all those longing stares. Also something about the dialogues felt a bit off too (is it just me though?). But anyway, the epilogue is cute and satisfying though!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a freebie on Amazon. First in the series, this story is novella length.
Trope is enemies to lovers & the H/h have known each other since kindergarten. The hero is the heroine's nemesis, which is the way they've been since he stole her cupcake when they were 6 years old. Now there's interfering Grannies trying to push them together.

I really liked this story! The author writes intelligently & the BIG MISUNDERSTANDING when it comes has to do with disappointment in the lack of communicating the hero's feelings. Not some stupid contrived bullcrap.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

mf - contemporary romance - white MCs - low steam - pov: first single - child free - enemies to lovers - forced proximity - he falls first - holiday romance - neighbors to lovers - wealthy - 4 stars. Parts of this book reminded me of The Hating Game in that the heroine sees the hero one way - the way she’s seen him her whole life - and can’t fathom that he could be any other way. It’s a short book, but I wished some of the side characters had been more memorable. Meddling grandmas existed but I wanted more.

[Rachel Wannell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahhh this was kind of wholesome 🥹
It was a bit frustrating at times - you know when characters have to be clueless to people liking them yada yada yada but I was a bit like come on queen get the hint. Also I think the word obnoxious was overused a lil. However the story itself was super wholesome and festive so yep 4 stars from me :)

[Miranda Hohn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an easy, one day read, good enough for getting me out of a book hangover.
I will admit, the spice was decent despite the storyline feeling very rushed. It was similar to watching a Hallmark movie where everything comes together quickly, and admissions of love happen within a week. Overall, I didn’t hate it.

[Catheryn]

Soft DNF at 4%

I will probably pick this back up, but I really was not in the mood for it now. I didn't like that at the start of the book, she is going on a date with another man and the MMC is walking into the apartment hallway looking disheveled with a half naked girl behind him.

I'm so good....why do we want them together???

[girlwithhearteyes · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

This was a cute holiday romance, although it was missing the magic I expect from a Noelle Adams book.

The main conflict (which was basically the FMC refusing to see past the childhood rivalry she had with the MMC, and how he was clearly pining for her) dragged on a little too long and their interactions started to feel repetitive.

Still a quick and easy read though.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall it was cute and fin holiday novella, even if it was about two dumb-dumbs - one clueless, one self-sabotaging - who have been circling around each other for two decades 😅😅

[Dayse Dantas · Rating 2 out of 5]

não convincente

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julianna has been in a competition with her neighbor, Rafe most of her life. When her grandma decides to have a week long Christmas celebration and invites friends, Julianna realizes that Rafe and his family have been invited. The two grandmothers are scheming matchmakers and get the whole family in on the matchmaking. Julianna realizes that Rafe isn't how he seemed growing up. Rafe hides behind being funny and never taking anything seriously and Julianna falls for it. These two have so much to learn about each other.

[Sandra R · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A nicely written romance novella set at Christmas. I'll love the way this author manages to make her characters so 'real'. The H/h have known each other since kindergarten. Are they actually enemies? Or something more.

[RedRedtheycallmeRed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Julianna and Rafe have been frenemies since kindergarten, or at least Julianna sees it that way. Rafe's had a crush on her forever, but never got past the "I'll show her I like her by teasing her and making fun of her" stage. Of course Julianna doesn't take him seriously, but she's also got her head in the sand when it comes to her feelings. It takes some meddling grandmothers to help things along.

This was short, but long enough to get to know the characters a bit, and Rafe and Julianna had good chemistry. It takes place during Christmas, but not very Christmas-y otherwise.

[Erin (she_is_2_fond_of_books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the beginning and set up, the he’s secretly loved her along trope is always fun, but the heroine was a little tooo dense in this one. Come on girl, get it together.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was simply adorable. Noelle has a talent for writing books that have great characters who pull you into their lives. Julianna and Rafe are childhood rivals, adult nemeses – but are they really? Is there more to Rafe than Julianna believes? A family Christmas house party puts them into each other’s orbit where she starts to re-evaluate everything she knows. There’s lots of fun moments in this book, with a wee bit of heat. It’s such a joy to read and be left with a warm feeling afterwards.

[Quinn Fforde · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun enemies to lovers novella with a holiday twist. Julianna is convinced that she knows everything she needs to know about her nemesis. They've been bickering since kindergarten. What secrets could he possibly have at this point? The problem is that Julianna might be keeping a secret from herself because admitting her attraction to Rafe is impossible. Fortunately for this couple, they have family members who are willing to do a little meddling to bring this couple together. I laughed through the crazy situations Rafe and Juliana found themselves in and swooned a bit when they had quiet moments together. I am looking forward to the next couple in this series!

[Anica · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am usually all for 2 oblivious idiots being in love but this was just not it. In fact I still can't believe what rubbish mess this author delivered here like it was so bad. Both main characters are so stupid and annoying -- but not in a cute way. More like in a they are 4 year olds and are fighting over some toys I dunno.

No seriously, I would have been usually fine with this overly stupid and cliched holiday novella but the moment they finally had sex after all the stupid shit I had to read with my own two eyes and she began again to act like a complete fool/idiot (again: not in a cute way!) I was just done.

A complete and utter mess.

[Mony · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-4.5⭐
Very cool enemies-to-lovers romance. Hot MC. Lots of chemistry. Well written. Loved it.

[CB · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 57%. Boring. The FMC was extremely childish and might be the most unsexy sexy time I’ve ever read.

[Lori ◡̈ · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a former Noelle Adams auto-buyer, I just can’t seem to help myself and give her ‘one more try’ over and over again. No matter how often I’m disappointed.

This plot was ok, childhood enemies-to-lovers with their grandmas playing matchmaker during the holiday season. But as it usually is with me, the characters personalities ruined most of my enjoyment. The ending was cute though!

🧁 Rafe - all smiles and glances towards Juliana, are done warmly.

🧁 Juliana - all comments and looks towards Rafe, are done coolly.

“You refused to see what was right in front of your face.”
“Yes. I did. Because I didn’t want to get hurt either.”
He chuckles again and wraps his arms around me in a quick hug. “We both sabotaged ourselves.”
“Yes. We did. But we figured it out at last. It only took twenty-something years.”

These late 20-something MCs met in kindergarten. The hero stole her cupcake, and it took her 20 years to let it go. It was the classic case of the little boy had a crush on the little girl, so he would tease her, and she would take it as he hated her…. As they grew up, he tried to ask her out on dates but she took is as he was pranking her. Feelings would get hurt. He would cover hurt feelings with laughter and pretend everything was a joke. She would cover her hurt feelings with arguing and being extremely defensive. For 20 years.

I absolutely love enemies-to-lovers, but to me the hero was not in grumpy/enemy-mode. He was smiling warmly, teasing her. But she was definitely in enemy-mode. So the banter was imbalanced and didn’t have a fun, witty feel to it. It was a ‘she’s a bitch’ feel to it.

Around 80% they finally lose their attitudes and act serious/normal and it was much more enjoyable to read. So that tells me, the story and writing were ok, I just didn’t like their earlier personalities.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book one in The Green Valley Series and it is Rafe and Julianna's story and it is definitely a must read. Rafe and Julianna have been rivals and at each other's throats since kindergarten and now he is in the apartment across from her and he seems to be everywhere that she seems to be and even though she tries to avoid him it doesn't seem to work and all they end up doing is constantly bicker. When Julianna's grandmother decides to have the family stay with her for the Christmas Holidays Julianna is looking forward to relaxing and being away from Race so that she can finally get some piece so image her surprise when she gets to her grandmother's only to find that Rafe and his family are also staying as well which infuriates Julianna even more. What happens when the time that they spend together doesn't go as planned and then things start to get even more complicated between them as they both have trust issue's so if they ever want to be able to move forward they will have to let down there wall's and start to communicate better and put there selves and there trust issue's aside and deal with the consequence and fall out. Wow I absolutely loved this book and read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down and had to keep turning the pages to see what would happen next. The chemistry between Rafe and Julianna was so strong and intense that you could feel it sizzling off the pages and they were so perfect for each other and you find yourself hoping that they can sort out all there differences and get the happy ending that they both deserve. Noelle Adams is an amazing author and writer and I can't wait to read more of her book's in the future as they are so well written, addictive and definitely worth reading.