Aly’s Reviews > The Twelve Loves of Christmas: An Advent Romance Collection > Status Update
Aly
is 68% done
All Roads Lead Home
3.5/5 ⭐️
I think the concept and writing of this one was adorable! I just feel that maybe it would have made more sense as a novel instead of short story. It just felt too over the top for these two to have supposedly been in love all this time and never reached out or tried to keep in touch, and one kiss and suddenly they’re ready to devote their lives together. I loved the family though!
— 6 hours, 0 min ago
3.5/5 ⭐️
I think the concept and writing of this one was adorable! I just feel that maybe it would have made more sense as a novel instead of short story. It just felt too over the top for these two to have supposedly been in love all this time and never reached out or tried to keep in touch, and one kiss and suddenly they’re ready to devote their lives together. I loved the family though!
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Aly’s Previous Updates
Aly
is 98% done
Is It New Years Yet?
1.5/5 ⭐️
I really struggle with any story where a main character is cheating/cheated (past tense for this one) and seeing them get over the issue so quickly so they can instantly be physically intimate themselves was not enjoyable for me. The writing itself is solid and the representation, but I just don’t like a cheating story. This one wasn’t very festive either.
— 3 minutes ago
1.5/5 ⭐️
I really struggle with any story where a main character is cheating/cheated (past tense for this one) and seeing them get over the issue so quickly so they can instantly be physically intimate themselves was not enjoyable for me. The writing itself is solid and the representation, but I just don’t like a cheating story. This one wasn’t very festive either.
Aly
is 92% done
Hope This Helps
4.5/5 ⭐️
This may be the most fun time I’ve had! The emails instantly drew me in and were adorably entertaining and I honestly just had so much fun reading this entire short story! My only complaint was that there weren’t anymore “holiday festiveness” but I really really enjoyed this one!!
— 3 hours, 24 min ago
4.5/5 ⭐️
This may be the most fun time I’ve had! The emails instantly drew me in and were adorably entertaining and I honestly just had so much fun reading this entire short story! My only complaint was that there weren’t anymore “holiday festiveness” but I really really enjoyed this one!!
Aly
is 83% done
Holiday Blackout
4/5 ⭐️
I loved that this story didn’t try to do anymore than it needed! I really enjoyed getting the brief background on these characters and their relationship and then seeing this special moment between them. I also really enjoyed seeing a different (albeit less festive) version of Christmas that so many adults experience.
— 3 hours, 38 min ago
4/5 ⭐️
I loved that this story didn’t try to do anymore than it needed! I really enjoyed getting the brief background on these characters and their relationship and then seeing this special moment between them. I also really enjoyed seeing a different (albeit less festive) version of Christmas that so many adults experience.
Aly
is 76% done
Skipping Christmas
2/5 ⭐️
This one really just didn’t click for me. The characters felt all over the place and I struggled with how the FMC particularly acted so young when she was meant to be a self sufficient adult. The concept was cute, but just didn’t draw me in how I wanted (the texts were also not formatted in my copy so it was difficult to read).
— 5 hours, 34 min ago
2/5 ⭐️
This one really just didn’t click for me. The characters felt all over the place and I struggled with how the FMC particularly acted so young when she was meant to be a self sufficient adult. The concept was cute, but just didn’t draw me in how I wanted (the texts were also not formatted in my copy so it was difficult to read).
Aly
is 58% done
A Solstice Kiss
3.5/5 ⭐️
I wanted to love this one so much more than I did! The writing was so good and the concept adorable! Unfortunately for it being a short story it felt like everything was insta-love. For short stories I am always happy to suspend my disbelief, but this was a bit too far for me. I think I would have loved for it to be more of a sweet curious affection/interest instead of insta-love more.
— 19 hours, 26 min ago
3.5/5 ⭐️
I wanted to love this one so much more than I did! The writing was so good and the concept adorable! Unfortunately for it being a short story it felt like everything was insta-love. For short stories I am always happy to suspend my disbelief, but this was a bit too far for me. I think I would have loved for it to be more of a sweet curious affection/interest instead of insta-love more.
Aly
is 50% done
Twelve Seconds to Forever
4.5/5 ⭐️
Best friend’s brother/second chance romance that I’ll eat up every time! I was initially going to HATE this story because there wasn’t a good reason to me for the brother to skip his sisters rehearsal and wedding, but getting both POV’s saved the day and made this one sweet and spicy in the best ways!
— 19 hours, 41 min ago
4.5/5 ⭐️
Best friend’s brother/second chance romance that I’ll eat up every time! I was initially going to HATE this story because there wasn’t a good reason to me for the brother to skip his sisters rehearsal and wedding, but getting both POV’s saved the day and made this one sweet and spicy in the best ways!
Aly
is 42% done
Ho Ho Oh No
2/5 ⭐️
The premise of this one was so cute with grumpy being pulled into a mall Santa Claus and sunshine being the elf that he gets snowed in with! Unfortunately there just wasn’t enough detail to pull me into the moment of this story as it felt like the writing just wanting to jump straight to the very detailed smut. I wanted a little more descriptive language to make me care more beforehand.
— 22 hours, 49 min ago
2/5 ⭐️
The premise of this one was so cute with grumpy being pulled into a mall Santa Claus and sunshine being the elf that he gets snowed in with! Unfortunately there just wasn’t enough detail to pull me into the moment of this story as it felt like the writing just wanting to jump straight to the very detailed smut. I wanted a little more descriptive language to make me care more beforehand.
Aly
is 33% done
Someone To Hold On To
2/5
This was cute and sweet, but really didn’t feel romantic. To be honest, while the premise was really fun, the characters were too childish when we knew they were meant to be adults. I wanted to enjoy it, but found myself cringing at how mean the FMC would be at times for no reason other than embarrassment.
— Sep 28, 2026 03:03PM
2/5
This was cute and sweet, but really didn’t feel romantic. To be honest, while the premise was really fun, the characters were too childish when we knew they were meant to be adults. I wanted to enjoy it, but found myself cringing at how mean the FMC would be at times for no reason other than embarrassment.
Aly
is 26% done
I’ll Be Home for X-Mas
4/5 ⭐️
Very similar to the first short story and just as cute and sweet! I loved the childhood friends to lovers to second chance romance and feel that it was nicely wrapped up. The writing was well done and the characters well established, I just wish there had been more of a concluding scene post airport. Very fun either way!
— Sep 28, 2026 01:54PM
4/5 ⭐️
Very similar to the first short story and just as cute and sweet! I loved the childhood friends to lovers to second chance romance and feel that it was nicely wrapped up. The writing was well done and the characters well established, I just wish there had been more of a concluding scene post airport. Very fun either way!
Aly
is 19% done
Decking His Halls
2/5 ⭐️
I am a sucker for a brother’s best friend trope, but this one just didn’t click for me. Not only was the writing extremely telling (ie, she did this, she thought thought, he did this), the story was entirely physical and not at all emotional—which doesn’t match my preference. It is an ideal short story for someone who wants a more smutty holiday short story with cute decor!
— Sep 28, 2026 01:43PM
2/5 ⭐️
I am a sucker for a brother’s best friend trope, but this one just didn’t click for me. Not only was the writing extremely telling (ie, she did this, she thought thought, he did this), the story was entirely physical and not at all emotional—which doesn’t match my preference. It is an ideal short story for someone who wants a more smutty holiday short story with cute decor!