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Christmas Mouse
What makes for the perfect Christmas? Where or how you spend it, or perhaps, who you share it with?
Small-town woodworker Ava Collins and big city doctor Bex Leone both love Christmas. Some might go so far as to call them obsessed. They love Christmas music, Christmas food, Christmas carols, and Christmas movies. When the two women meet over a Thanksgiving dinner, it seems for a second they might have finally found their mistletoe match, but their initial connection goes wildly awry when they realize their versions of what constitutes an ideal Christmas differ as drastically as the places they choose to spend their holidays. Ava is to idyllic, homespun Vermont as Bex is to the flash and sparkle of New York City. What begins as a good-natured argument about who has the superior way to celebrate the season ends in a friendly bet: The country mouse and the city mouse will each split the season in an attempt to convince the other their way is the truest path to holiday happiness.
Ava agrees to spend two weekends on Bex’s turf in Manhattan as long as Bex will visit her in the mountains of Vermont for the other two. For one whirlwind month, each woman works to showcase her favorite traditions, memories, and magic. As snowy days give way to starlit nights, Bex and Ava find the ideals that brought them together offer more common ground than either of them expected, but as they grow closer to one another, they begin to fear that in order to act on their deepening connection each of them may have to relinquish cherished parts of themselves.
With the big day rushing toward them, questions remain: Who will win their bet? And perhaps more importantly, what are they willing to lose in the process?
Small-town woodworker Ava Collins and big city doctor Bex Leone both love Christmas. Some might go so far as to call them obsessed. They love Christmas music, Christmas food, Christmas carols, and Christmas movies. When the two women meet over a Thanksgiving dinner, it seems for a second they might have finally found their mistletoe match, but their initial connection goes wildly awry when they realize their versions of what constitutes an ideal Christmas differ as drastically as the places they choose to spend their holidays. Ava is to idyllic, homespun Vermont as Bex is to the flash and sparkle of New York City. What begins as a good-natured argument about who has the superior way to celebrate the season ends in a friendly bet: The country mouse and the city mouse will each split the season in an attempt to convince the other their way is the truest path to holiday happiness.
Ava agrees to spend two weekends on Bex’s turf in Manhattan as long as Bex will visit her in the mountains of Vermont for the other two. For one whirlwind month, each woman works to showcase her favorite traditions, memories, and magic. As snowy days give way to starlit nights, Bex and Ava find the ideals that brought them together offer more common ground than either of them expected, but as they grow closer to one another, they begin to fear that in order to act on their deepening connection each of them may have to relinquish cherished parts of themselves.
With the big day rushing toward them, questions remain: Who will win their bet? And perhaps more importantly, what are they willing to lose in the process?
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 16, 2022
32 people are currently reading
794 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Spangler
33 books859 followersRachel Spangler never set out to be an award winning author. She was just so poor and so easily bored during her college years that she had to come up with creative ways to entertain herself, and her first novel, Learning Curve, was born out of one such attempt. She was sincerely surprised when it was accepted for publication and even more shocked when it won the Golden Crown Literary Award for Debut Author. She also won a Goldie for her second novel, Trails Merge. Since writing is more fun than a real job, and so much cheaper than therapy, Rachel continued to type away, leading to the publication of The Long Way Home and LoveLife. She plans to continue writing as long as anyone anywhere will keep reading.
Rachel, and her partner, Susan, are raising their young son in Western New York. They spend winters skiing and their summers traveling and watching their beloved Cardinals. Regardless of the season, Rachel always makes time for a good romance, whether she's reading it, writing it, or living it.
Rachel can be found online at www.rachelspangler.com or on Facebook.
Rachel, and her partner, Susan, are raising their young son in Western New York. They spend winters skiing and their summers traveling and watching their beloved Cardinals. Regardless of the season, Rachel always makes time for a good romance, whether she's reading it, writing it, or living it.
Rachel can be found online at www.rachelspangler.com or on Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
October 31, 2022
Christmas traditions.
This is a cute Christmas story that doesn't have a Christmas grinch in it. In fact, it's about two people who love Christmas so much, they get competitive about whose Christmas traditions are better. Bex is an anesthesiologist living in New York City and Ava is from a small town in Vermont and they both love where they are. In a bid to change the other person's mind about who has the better Christmas tradition, they take turns to host Christmas at their own turf. And between a big city and a small town, they've got quite a number of traditions covered.
What I love about this story is that the competition is healthy. Bex and Ava are good people who appreciate all kinds of traditions and enjoy every moment with each other so the story is very lovely and sweet and really great for a year-end read.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for a review.
This is a cute Christmas story that doesn't have a Christmas grinch in it. In fact, it's about two people who love Christmas so much, they get competitive about whose Christmas traditions are better. Bex is an anesthesiologist living in New York City and Ava is from a small town in Vermont and they both love where they are. In a bid to change the other person's mind about who has the better Christmas tradition, they take turns to host Christmas at their own turf. And between a big city and a small town, they've got quite a number of traditions covered.
What I love about this story is that the competition is healthy. Bex and Ava are good people who appreciate all kinds of traditions and enjoy every moment with each other so the story is very lovely and sweet and really great for a year-end read.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for a review.
December 22, 2022
Bex is a successful anesthesiologist who loves the city she lives in – New York –, Christmas, and, above all, Christmas in New York City. Her friend and colleague Howie convinces her to go with him to Vermont for Thanksgiving, where she meets his cousin Ava. Like Bex, Ava loves Christmas. Unlike Bex, she’s not a fan of the city. They challenge each other to prove that their version of Christmas is the best, travelling back and forth between NYC and Vermont, each sharing with the other what she loves the most.
The MCs are both lovely and there are all sorts of funny and loving (with one notable exception) secondary characters. Starry eyes and warm feelings abound and I dare anyone to read this story without wanting at least one mug of hot chocolate.
A classic city girl/country girl romance with Christmas on top, Christmas Mouse is a bit long and heavy-handed at times but all the cuteness and happiness make it a very enjoyable read. When it’s cold and dark outside, I’ll never say no to sweet.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog (and please buy from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
December 4, 2022
Small town Vermont verses New York City. Two extreme Christmas enthusiasts meet and bet their respective home towns are the ideal place to enjoy the holidays. Ava and Bex agree to spending equal time in both places to determine who wins their bet.
Spangler ingeniously creates an early spark of interest between the two women to perpetuate a believable bet premise. The Christmas festivities are so beautifully written that even this old curmudgeon was found humming a Christmas song the other day. The story brought a rush of happy memories of my own past Christmases.
The writing is classic Spangler with smart and witty banter interspersed with iconic cultural references. They tell an imaginative tale holding your attention until the very end. Throw in an abundance of Christmas sights, sounds, and tastes with the conundrum of how the happy ever after will work out and you have a must read novel to move to the top of your to be read list.
Spangler ingeniously creates an early spark of interest between the two women to perpetuate a believable bet premise. The Christmas festivities are so beautifully written that even this old curmudgeon was found humming a Christmas song the other day. The story brought a rush of happy memories of my own past Christmases.
The writing is classic Spangler with smart and witty banter interspersed with iconic cultural references. They tell an imaginative tale holding your attention until the very end. Throw in an abundance of Christmas sights, sounds, and tastes with the conundrum of how the happy ever after will work out and you have a must read novel to move to the top of your to be read list.
December 4, 2022
This book is like a big hug from Santa himself. I don’t know if I’ve ever read a Christmas themed book more centered around Christmas and all it entails. It’s tooth-rotting sweet and full of cheer. All except for Uncle Clay 😑
I recommend this if you’re into Christmas romances.
I recommend this if you’re into Christmas romances.
December 24, 2025
I absolutely loved this book. It’s just so fluffy. Every now and then you have a book with basically no conflict, but it’s written so that it works (I’m thinking about Wrong Number Right Woman by Jae as a comparison). I enjoyed just getting to see them come together and the relationship develop. I liked the timeline; long enough that I can buy into the romance and their connection by the end of the novel. We got to see and experience the romance as it grew!
I loved the Christmas vibes and the way they shared their traditions with each other. I liked the initial setup of the Christmas contest and how organically/genuinely that objectively unrealistic premise came about. Moreso, I loved how the contest fell away relatively quickly and they just enjoy their time together; I’m glad that they didn’t keep on with the feeling of competition and instead just enjoyed themselves.
I could easily see people not liking this book because in some ways there wasn’t very much substance. I however adored it. I have read other novels like this where it’s basically just fluffy vibes and I didn’t feel connected to the story and ended up not really caring or enjoying it; I’m not entirely positive why it worked in this case but it did.
The small-town vibes were great too. I loved the gossip and the way everyone knew their business. I liked those parts more than the city parts, but I liked it all.
Also, how the novel/characters seemed self-aware of EXACTLY what they were doing, and it was relatively meta at parts when they called out the Hallmark movie situations that they were living through. It was a nice way to approach situations where every reader can see the cliché from a mile away; instead of pretending it wasn’t there the author leaned into it.
When I first started reading it, I was thinking to myself “oh it’s like a country mouse and city mouse situation” and I felt relatively clever……. And then I realize that that was very explicitly the entire point, and I felt quite dumb/silly.
Anyways, this is definitely one of my favorite Christmas books I read this year, if not potentially the best overall. Go read it!
❤️❤️❤️🎉
I loved the Christmas vibes and the way they shared their traditions with each other. I liked the initial setup of the Christmas contest and how organically/genuinely that objectively unrealistic premise came about. Moreso, I loved how the contest fell away relatively quickly and they just enjoy their time together; I’m glad that they didn’t keep on with the feeling of competition and instead just enjoyed themselves.
I could easily see people not liking this book because in some ways there wasn’t very much substance. I however adored it. I have read other novels like this where it’s basically just fluffy vibes and I didn’t feel connected to the story and ended up not really caring or enjoying it; I’m not entirely positive why it worked in this case but it did.
The small-town vibes were great too. I loved the gossip and the way everyone knew their business. I liked those parts more than the city parts, but I liked it all.
Also, how the novel/characters seemed self-aware of EXACTLY what they were doing, and it was relatively meta at parts when they called out the Hallmark movie situations that they were living through. It was a nice way to approach situations where every reader can see the cliché from a mile away; instead of pretending it wasn’t there the author leaned into it.
When I first started reading it, I was thinking to myself “oh it’s like a country mouse and city mouse situation” and I felt relatively clever……. And then I realize that that was very explicitly the entire point, and I felt quite dumb/silly.
Anyways, this is definitely one of my favorite Christmas books I read this year, if not potentially the best overall. Go read it!
❤️❤️❤️🎉
December 4, 2022
The wonderful variety of x-mas activities brought me right into the festive feelings.
So overall I enjoyed the book and especially the writing style of the author.
So overall I enjoyed the book and especially the writing style of the author.
December 23, 2024
Bex is an anesthesiologist from New York City. Ava lives and works in Vermont. They meet at Ava’s family’s Thanksgiving because her cousin is also Bex’s colleague. The two Christmas aficionados hit it off and offer each other a challenge to prove whether New York City or Vermont is the best at celebrating the holiday.
The author has a deep affection for both places and I felt it as the characters venture from snow covered vistas in the mountains to ice rinks in the middle of Central Park. It is a treat to see what their next destination might be or what food they might try or what activity is in store. Bex and Ava are equally hot and kind people so they are a couple who can be passionate or playful. The supporting characters pop in just enough for some additional flavor.
I really like this book. I recommend for romantics and people who have no qualms about wearing their Christmas socks and visiting the big tree in their town or their city. The narrator, Ann Shanks Etter, does an excellent job in capturing the warmth of the story.
The author has a deep affection for both places and I felt it as the characters venture from snow covered vistas in the mountains to ice rinks in the middle of Central Park. It is a treat to see what their next destination might be or what food they might try or what activity is in store. Bex and Ava are equally hot and kind people so they are a couple who can be passionate or playful. The supporting characters pop in just enough for some additional flavor.
I really like this book. I recommend for romantics and people who have no qualms about wearing their Christmas socks and visiting the big tree in their town or their city. The narrator, Ann Shanks Etter, does an excellent job in capturing the warmth of the story.
December 4, 2022
Cute and Charming.
December 9, 2022
What a great read!
I quite enjoyed reading about Ava and Bex's Christmas traditions, and I can't seem to get the idea of going to Vermont during Christmas out of my head. I know nothing about Vermont and never would even have picked it as a go to on my Bucket List, but Spangler has shown me otherwise.
If only there’s an Ava to show me the ropes! Hehe.
I quite enjoyed reading about Ava and Bex's Christmas traditions, and I can't seem to get the idea of going to Vermont during Christmas out of my head. I know nothing about Vermont and never would even have picked it as a go to on my Bucket List, but Spangler has shown me otherwise.
If only there’s an Ava to show me the ropes! Hehe.
December 6, 2022
This was a very nice feel good story. I can relate to Ava in many ways. The writing seemed like a real life story.
December 4, 2022
Even a Grinch like me will get in to something resembling the Christmas spirit by reading this book.
It’s sweet and fun, very healthy competition and cute banter. So much open mindedness and it’s incredibly wholesome. Im deducting a star because the, very sweet, dark moment comes very late. Something that bothered me for about a third of the book was this rich girl - poor girl talk that just felt utterly ridiculous. Both Ava and Bec have a lot going for them so I just couldn’t make that fit.
All in all this is a very fun holiday read.
It’s sweet and fun, very healthy competition and cute banter. So much open mindedness and it’s incredibly wholesome. Im deducting a star because the, very sweet, dark moment comes very late. Something that bothered me for about a third of the book was this rich girl - poor girl talk that just felt utterly ridiculous. Both Ava and Bec have a lot going for them so I just couldn’t make that fit.
All in all this is a very fun holiday read.
December 12, 2022
What a lovely Christmas book ❤️
Bex and Ava are both obsessed with Christmas and decide to have a healthy competition of which Christmas is better - busy city or wholesome country. It's a very sweet premise and Spangler manages to make both characters completely shine throughout the novel. It was lovely to follow their Christmas adventures and the romance that developed between them.
I highly recommend a read - particularly if, like me, you love a bit of holiday romance. ❤️
Many thanks to Rachel Spangler for providing me a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Bex and Ava are both obsessed with Christmas and decide to have a healthy competition of which Christmas is better - busy city or wholesome country. It's a very sweet premise and Spangler manages to make both characters completely shine throughout the novel. It was lovely to follow their Christmas adventures and the romance that developed between them.
I highly recommend a read - particularly if, like me, you love a bit of holiday romance. ❤️
Many thanks to Rachel Spangler for providing me a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
February 18, 2023
Rachel Spangler is always a good bet as a writer (see what I did there!) Enjoyed the story, loved the atmosphere created with words. Recommended.
November 26, 2022
Sweet Christmas romcom
This Christmas f/f romcom really makes the most to show the great fun of a country Christmas vs. the Christmas season in NYC - wonderful descriptions. I loved the idea of a bet, I loved the easy bantering and wit going on all the time. The main and secondary characters are all good people. And this would not be a great Christmas feel good romance without Ava and Bex kissing under the mistletoe.
This Christmas f/f romcom really makes the most to show the great fun of a country Christmas vs. the Christmas season in NYC - wonderful descriptions. I loved the idea of a bet, I loved the easy bantering and wit going on all the time. The main and secondary characters are all good people. And this would not be a great Christmas feel good romance without Ava and Bex kissing under the mistletoe.
January 7, 2023
A warm-hearted holiday read with a very festive story line, lovable characters. and memorable locations and events in both Vermont and New York.
January 2, 2023
3.5 stars
Rachel Spangler's Christmas Mouse is a solid sapphic holiday romance that I'm glad to add to my May-ReRead-At-Christmas-Time pile. Christmas Mouse pairs two characters who unabashedly love Christmas but have different ideas of what the perfect Christmas is. Born-and-raised in NYC Bex believes there's no better place on the planet to celebrate Christmas than New York City. Born-and-raised in Vermont Ava believes nothing can compare to the snowy and idyllic small country town feel her spot in Vermont provides around the holiday. So at Thanksgiving, when they first meet, they turn it into a bet. Each person will prove that their Christmas is the best Christmas. And what follows is a really wonderful look at the things that do make Christmas so magical and charming. And, of course, they fall in love. The only problem is that making a relationship like theirs work just isn't practical, not when Ava's life and family are in Vermont and Bex's career and chosen family are in NYC.
I really did enjoy this novel, but there was one thing--no, two things--that really bothered me:
The first is minor, but it drove me nuts. I know "country mouse" is a term that's used, but I was over it really quickly in this book. Ava and Bex kept referring to themselves as "country mouse" and "city mouse" and it stopped being cute after the first time. And, yes, I realize Spangler ties that whole idea into the title, but I really wish they hadn't. I hated it.
The second is the big issue: What happens to these characters, this relationship, once the twinkle of Christmas lights comes down for the year? Who are they the other 11 months out of the year? Their whole reason for forming an attachment is 100% around their love of Christmas, and I wonder what happens to them when the mistletoe comes down.
Rachel Spangler's Christmas Mouse is a solid sapphic holiday romance that I'm glad to add to my May-ReRead-At-Christmas-Time pile. Christmas Mouse pairs two characters who unabashedly love Christmas but have different ideas of what the perfect Christmas is. Born-and-raised in NYC Bex believes there's no better place on the planet to celebrate Christmas than New York City. Born-and-raised in Vermont Ava believes nothing can compare to the snowy and idyllic small country town feel her spot in Vermont provides around the holiday. So at Thanksgiving, when they first meet, they turn it into a bet. Each person will prove that their Christmas is the best Christmas. And what follows is a really wonderful look at the things that do make Christmas so magical and charming. And, of course, they fall in love. The only problem is that making a relationship like theirs work just isn't practical, not when Ava's life and family are in Vermont and Bex's career and chosen family are in NYC.
I really did enjoy this novel, but there was one thing--no, two things--that really bothered me:
The first is minor, but it drove me nuts. I know "country mouse" is a term that's used, but I was over it really quickly in this book. Ava and Bex kept referring to themselves as "country mouse" and "city mouse" and it stopped being cute after the first time. And, yes, I realize Spangler ties that whole idea into the title, but I really wish they hadn't. I hated it.
The second is the big issue: What happens to these characters, this relationship, once the twinkle of Christmas lights comes down for the year? Who are they the other 11 months out of the year? Their whole reason for forming an attachment is 100% around their love of Christmas, and I wonder what happens to them when the mistletoe comes down.
January 15, 2026
This was cute, it was, but it took me ages to get through 😭 I think because there was like no angst and minimal tension, and every conversation revolved around Christmas activities (which okay, it’s a Christmas themed book, but it got tiring) and the city vs the country. There wasn’t enough to keep me hooked or wanting more, and I felt like the characters could’ve been more fleshed out - they were basically perfect angels.
There were cute moments that made me smile though, and nothing I hated, so 3 🌟
If you like minimal angst, pure fluff novels then you might really enjoy this :)
There were cute moments that made me smile though, and nothing I hated, so 3 🌟
If you like minimal angst, pure fluff novels then you might really enjoy this :)
October 24, 2022
Christmas Mouse is what a Christmas romance should be all about, holiday cheer and love. Love for your traditions, your family, your friends and that special someone. Bex and Ava meet on Thanksgiving and are both adamant that their hometown and their traditions are what Christams is all about. So they set upon proving that to eachother. Is the where or the who that makes a Christmas a perfect holiday? Read the book and find out, it’s low angst and perfect to put you into the hliday spirit- even if it is October :).
Free ARC from the author.
Free ARC from the author.
November 30, 2024
This is adorable. Super low angst, slow burn, open communication, and ALL the Christmas stuff. The steam level is very low, but it’s not about that. It’s about pure, unadulterated love for all things Christmas.
December 6, 2024
A cute betting romance between two women who love Christmas in their respective communities (city and country)
The story was incredibly cozy and highlighted the best of both Christmas experiences. At times, I found it a little too cozy with not enough angst or pining to push us to the next part of the bet.
If you want something, feel good and a little different you might enjoy this holiday read.
The story was incredibly cozy and highlighted the best of both Christmas experiences. At times, I found it a little too cozy with not enough angst or pining to push us to the next part of the bet.
If you want something, feel good and a little different you might enjoy this holiday read.
November 30, 2024
3.5 stars
This was a cute sapphic Christmas book! Big city girl and a small town girl try to convince each other which place is better to spend the Christmas season. It’s very sweet and talks about all the Christmas traditions.
This was a cute sapphic Christmas book! Big city girl and a small town girl try to convince each other which place is better to spend the Christmas season. It’s very sweet and talks about all the Christmas traditions.
October 31, 2022
My thoughts…
This is the perfect queer “Hallmark” holiday romance and it needs to be on everyone’s Christmas reading list. It is a lighthearted, fun tale full of great characters and sweet romance. Readers will smile throughout as they get caught up in the antics of city mouse Bex and country mouse Ava. These two lovely and charming characters bring it home big time, making this romance a must read for the holidays.
Holiday romances can be quite predictable with their overused tropes and themes, but Spangler does a nice job giving this one a fresh, new angle. They enthusiastically take the classic country mouse/city mouse storyline and turn it into the most heartwarming, feel-good holiday romance. Furthermore, they manage to explore many long-held Christmas traditions with endearing care. The passion with which holiday cheer and romance is infused into this tale will no doubt make readers appreciate many of their own cherished and beloved Christmas traditions. Beware: A renewed fervor and ebullience for all thing’s Christmas can not be resisted.
Final remarks…
Christmas Mouse has loads of appeal and charm; I could completely envision it as a Hallmark movie. Ava and Bex are adorable and their romance is completely engaging. I enjoyed every minute with them and would absolutely recommend that other readers get to know them too. They’ve got the perfect amount of holly-jolly sizzle, and who doesn’t need that during the holidays?
Strengths…
Well-written
Wonderfully developed characters
Fantastic use of trope
Nicely developed themes
Fun and engaging romance
Entertaining, well-constructed dialogue
This is the perfect queer “Hallmark” holiday romance and it needs to be on everyone’s Christmas reading list. It is a lighthearted, fun tale full of great characters and sweet romance. Readers will smile throughout as they get caught up in the antics of city mouse Bex and country mouse Ava. These two lovely and charming characters bring it home big time, making this romance a must read for the holidays.
Holiday romances can be quite predictable with their overused tropes and themes, but Spangler does a nice job giving this one a fresh, new angle. They enthusiastically take the classic country mouse/city mouse storyline and turn it into the most heartwarming, feel-good holiday romance. Furthermore, they manage to explore many long-held Christmas traditions with endearing care. The passion with which holiday cheer and romance is infused into this tale will no doubt make readers appreciate many of their own cherished and beloved Christmas traditions. Beware: A renewed fervor and ebullience for all thing’s Christmas can not be resisted.
Final remarks…
Christmas Mouse has loads of appeal and charm; I could completely envision it as a Hallmark movie. Ava and Bex are adorable and their romance is completely engaging. I enjoyed every minute with them and would absolutely recommend that other readers get to know them too. They’ve got the perfect amount of holly-jolly sizzle, and who doesn’t need that during the holidays?
Strengths…
Well-written
Wonderfully developed characters
Fantastic use of trope
Nicely developed themes
Fun and engaging romance
Entertaining, well-constructed dialogue
December 30, 2022
Cute and entertaining. I enjoyed getting to know all the traditions and how the main characters simply grew on each other through talking, sharing memories and that they loved the most.
Christmas is not a place, it's the people you celebrate it with.
Christmas is not a place, it's the people you celebrate it with.
January 10, 2025
⭐5
Rep: lesbian mc/ lesbian mc
This was a perfect cozy Christmas/winter novel (I'm still not giving up on the Christmas season!). There was an instant attraction between a "city mouse" Bex and a "country mouse" Ava at their meeting at Thanksgiving, but their relationship blossomed very slowly and steadily through their determination to convince the other one that their own way of celebrating Christmas is superior. I found both main characters funny and cute, their dates super romantic, and their thinking actually surprisingly level-headed and realistic for a romance novel! I appreciated there not being much drama, and the vibes being very warm and cozy all the way through. Probably my favorite Christmas novel I've read so far!
Rep: lesbian mc/ lesbian mc
This was a perfect cozy Christmas/winter novel (I'm still not giving up on the Christmas season!). There was an instant attraction between a "city mouse" Bex and a "country mouse" Ava at their meeting at Thanksgiving, but their relationship blossomed very slowly and steadily through their determination to convince the other one that their own way of celebrating Christmas is superior. I found both main characters funny and cute, their dates super romantic, and their thinking actually surprisingly level-headed and realistic for a romance novel! I appreciated there not being much drama, and the vibes being very warm and cozy all the way through. Probably my favorite Christmas novel I've read so far!
November 12, 2022
There is nothing better than a Christmas Hallmark movie, except reading one! Ava and Bex both love Christmas. Ava thinks it's better in Vermont and Bex thinks NYC is better. They have a bet going, with each showing the other the beauty they see in their respected places. We, the readers are the winners! What a glorious book! It is light hearted and beautiful! Thank you Rachel! 5 stars.
December 5, 2022
No specific spoiler but maybe a hint ? So just a little warning here !
I gave a five stars to this book, because according to the author and what this book was meant for, it did accomplish its goal - a romcom, LGBTQ+, where the cliffhanger is not some toxic het thing but something relatable, about decision, boundaries.
A city mouse meats a country mouse and both are totally in love with Christmas, but mostly about where they celebrate Christmas. After one silly bet, turning into a wonderful bond between the two women, what they love about Christmas becomes more - more than just a place, more than just Christmas, but about who they spend Christmas with.
Ava is this country Vermont woman, living from her passion with strong and beautiful family and friends, showing like a warm blanket to the really upbeat life of Bex. This beautiful doctor, working with her Ava's cousin Howie, lives in the Big Apple like a real lesbian NYC, loving the rythm of the city, doing a real eloge of this place. She shows consideration, patience and passion to what she does and who she interacts with. As soon as you dive into the blossom of their relationship, you see the ultimate question that both will have to face, but until the end, you trust them as they do with each other.
I gave a five stars to this book, because according to the author and what this book was meant for, it did accomplish its goal - a romcom, LGBTQ+, where the cliffhanger is not some toxic het thing but something relatable, about decision, boundaries.
A city mouse meats a country mouse and both are totally in love with Christmas, but mostly about where they celebrate Christmas. After one silly bet, turning into a wonderful bond between the two women, what they love about Christmas becomes more - more than just a place, more than just Christmas, but about who they spend Christmas with.
Ava is this country Vermont woman, living from her passion with strong and beautiful family and friends, showing like a warm blanket to the really upbeat life of Bex. This beautiful doctor, working with her Ava's cousin Howie, lives in the Big Apple like a real lesbian NYC, loving the rythm of the city, doing a real eloge of this place. She shows consideration, patience and passion to what she does and who she interacts with. As soon as you dive into the blossom of their relationship, you see the ultimate question that both will have to face, but until the end, you trust them as they do with each other.
January 8, 2023
Another (last of the season?) Christmas themed book and it definitely delivered.
I did think the first 10% of the book was not as well done as the rest. But once the descriptions of all the holiday activities commenced, it picked up. It made me want to visit both NYC and Vermont some December!
I did think the first 10% of the book was not as well done as the rest. But once the descriptions of all the holiday activities commenced, it picked up. It made me want to visit both NYC and Vermont some December!
December 5, 2023
A little after Christmas, but this enjoyable Hallmark movie-esque read definitely helped me hold on to the holidays for a little longer. Thank you, Rachel, for this forever reminder of my first trip to P-Town and hope to catch you at Womencrafts next time! :)
December 26, 2024
mildly engaging ya
December 18, 2023
I really, really enjoyed this! The set-up, a very Country Mouse and a very City Mouse sparring over which place has the better Christmas—and agreeing to spend time in each other's turf to conclusively decide said bet—is simple enough, but it's the characters who sell it. Bex loves her life in the city, is nothing like the Hallmark characters who just need to learn the true meaning of Christmas—she's a doctor, but warm and welcoming; she goes to the winter markets and the Nutcracker and enjoys fine dining for the holidays—and I loved that part of the drama included "I have an amazing job and I'm not going to leave it" being actually explored and seen as a non-negotiable. Gah. Loved that.
Similarly, Eva has friends and family and community all around her, and major roots in Vermont. Her business(es), her closest people, everything but love, really, and none of that is worth running away to the city over, and that, too, is never really up for negotiation. If they're going to find a solution to their situation, it's going to involve compromise.
And I cannot tell you how much I appreciated that ending.
I listened to this one on audiobook, and while it was good, I would caveat that the performer chose this kind of endlessly peppy voice for Eva, and I often found I didn't mind taking breaks from listening to the book after dogwalks, which isn't always the case. It wasn't terrible, and it didn't ruin the book, so I don't want to overstate it, but I think it came more from being unfortunately following a couple of really well performed books (I mean, who can stand up to Nicola Victoria Vincent?)
Similarly, Eva has friends and family and community all around her, and major roots in Vermont. Her business(es), her closest people, everything but love, really, and none of that is worth running away to the city over, and that, too, is never really up for negotiation. If they're going to find a solution to their situation, it's going to involve compromise.
And I cannot tell you how much I appreciated that ending.
I listened to this one on audiobook, and while it was good, I would caveat that the performer chose this kind of endlessly peppy voice for Eva, and I often found I didn't mind taking breaks from listening to the book after dogwalks, which isn't always the case. It wasn't terrible, and it didn't ruin the book, so I don't want to overstate it, but I think it came more from being unfortunately following a couple of really well performed books (I mean, who can stand up to Nicola Victoria Vincent?)
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