Book: My New Crush Gave to Me
Author: Shani Petroff
Rating: 5 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank NetGalley and Macmillian for this ARC.

There are very few books out there that make me pause and sigh. This is by far one of the cutest books that I have read in a long time. I normally don’t go for just pure fluff books, but there was just something about this one that I really liked. It’s a Christmas book that just seems to really get you into the Christmas spirit, even if it only September as I write this.

Charlie is just a fun main character. She is super organized and has a schedule for everything. She lets people know what she expects of them and will let them know if they don’t met her expectations. Her best friend, Morgan, is amazing and always has her back, no matter what scheme Charlie thinks of. So, the newspaper decides to hold a Secret Santa and, of course, Charlie starts planning right away on how to make sure she gets her crush’s name. Now, of course, she thinks that this guy is her soul mate, but as she comes to realize, maybe she doesn’t know as much about him as she thought. So, she reaches out to J.D, the crush’s cousin.

Charlie and J.D made this book for me. I loved all of their adventures and just how they interacted together. If it wasn’t for these two, I really don’t think I would have liked this book as much. Now, it is a slow developing a relationship between these two. Both are actually super sweet and completely devoted to everything that they do. You will find yourself cheering for them!

Shari’s writing and character development is just genius. Like I’ve already said, this book is pure fluff and there’s really nothing complex about it. This is just one of those books that is bound to put you in a good mood. I love how Shari gets into the head and souls of teenagers. Reading this made me feel like I was back in high school.

Again, a surprising good read! You need to put this book on your holiday to read shelf. It will lift your spirits and get you in the Christmas mood-trust me on this one!

This book comes out October 31, 2017.

The only thing Charlie loves more than Christmas is Teo Ortiz but he doesn't know she exists. What better way to get his attention than become his Secret Santa so he finally notices her. Charlie can't decided on what the perfect gift for Teo should be. So, she asks JD Ortiz (Teo's cousin) for help. The only problem is she hates him.
My New Crush Gave to Me is a great book and will get you in the Christmas spirit. You can't help but root for Charlie and hope that she gets her Christmas crush in the end.

This is a fun holiday read! I liked many things about the story -- the characters were sweet and realistic, the friendships were strong (and positively portrayed), and the cousins were intriguing. I especially liked how no one was *bad*, but they all had their weaknesses (and strengths). It was a nice slice of life in this character's world, and the romance was sweet without being cloying. I especially liked all the thoughtful acts throughout (by the MC, her bff, and. of course, JD. It's not that common in teen books, and I think it's great to see that teens can be just as thoughtful and caring as anyone else. All in all, I really enjoyed it.

This book was a story of opposites attract over a secret Santa gift exchange. I appreciated how the book was a clean YA novel without sex. I also like the self discovery/awareness that the main female character, Charlie, underwent. The author was a bit repetitive in driving home how structured and scheduled Charlie was. I liked how the J.D. was close to his Grandpa. Overall a delightful holiday read.

My New Crush Gave to Me is a delightful story of Charlie, a high school girl who is the co-editor of the school newspaper. She has a crush on Teo, one of the most popular guys at school. She is determined to win his heart and enlists help from J.D., Teo's cousin. This story is a humorous and engaging novel that is one that is a quick easy read. The title is derived from the Christmas carol, "On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me..." It makes great holiday reading.

What a super fun holiday read! Charlie is looking for a date to a big deal event and her sights are set on Teo, who unfortunately doesn't really know her. Luckily for Charlie, with secret Santa happening at the paper and the help of his cousin JD, Charlie is able to make a move on Teo. The cute way that JD and Charlie come together through the different aspects of the holidays is adorable. Christmas shopping, celebrating Hanukah, carol singing, tree decorating all make this a fun holiday read. The characters are well written and everyone needs a bestie that bakes! I enjoyed reading this story and felt like I was watching a hallmark holiday movie. I look forward to reading more by Petroff and it definitely put me in the holiday spirit! Thanks netgalley for an ARC for my honest opinion

Cute and fluffy, but sort of skimmed the surface of the characters. I didn't feel much of a tension and the plot was predictable and a little rushed at the end.

This book was what I was hoping it would be, it was light and enjoyable. It held my attention and was adorable with a Christmas twist! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and enjoyed the characters. The writing was nice and the book was what I was hoping for! An enjoyable read for sure!

I probably should have held off on reading another Christmas-y YA book, but what can you do. I fought with myself the entire book on whether or not I would DNF it, but honestly, it's a quick read. It's rather predictable - I wasn't expecting it not to be, and part of my issues could be my own single, black cold scrooge like heart.

I just couldn't get on board with the main character. I get the neurotic, needing to plan everything and the anxiety that comes when it's not. However, Charlie never grows or learns that maybe it's okay to not be as structured and neurotic, or that she might need to get help for it. The character isn't immature....she's simply flat. And what's funny is she is quiet possibly the most well rounded character. 

For example, at some point she realizes that she's read a bakery order wrong. Her best friend doesn't really get mad at her, no one sits her down to try to get her to figure out that maybe her obsessing over this guy is causing her to overload herself. It's just......flat and boring. 

I get the need for the perfect for you boyfriend, I get the desire to win and being one track minded. I can almost forgive the fact that she doesn't really make any of the Secret Santa gifts or even try, but pawns it off on JD(??) But there's really.....no action in this book. There is a gossip queen who hates the main character, and that doesn't play into the story at all. 

I know that if this had been a Hallmark holiday movie, I would have watched it multiple times, and I shouldn't hold a holiday book to a higher standard. But maybe I would have had an actual attachment to the main character.

Oh...don't mind me over here.

I am just basking in the cute. Let the cute wash over me and I shall bask in the gloriousness!



My New Crush Gave to Me follows Charlie, a total Type A live-by-the-rules-and-so-help-you-if-you-break-them person. She likes to win. She has to have things her way. So obviously, she and I are not meant to be friends. How sad for me. Woe is me the Type B personality, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants-and-let's-do-something-spontaneous-person. Charlie isn't terrible, but in the beginning she is extremely self-centered...or at least comes across that way. We gotta start somewhere though, right?

The biggest after Christmas bash of the year comes in the form of her friend Noelle's birthday party, held on December 26. Why is this a problem? Well, our precious Charlie does not have a date, and a date is required for this "Lover's Ball." (I totally vomit-sympathize with Charlie here. GROSS. BUUT it moves along the plot, so here we are.) Charlie has her heart MIND set on Teo Ortiz, the all star athlete, student, all around guy at their school. The only problem is she doesn't really know anything about Teo, so she enlists the help of his cousin J.D. Whom she hates. You see where I am going with this?



So. Needless to say, J.D. and Charlie don't get along. They fight all of the time because they are complete opposites to each other. Where J.D. is spontaneous, Charlie lives by a schedule. They are both passionate about what they love...which is completely different. Charlie is Type A. J.D. is Type B. I swoon.

This was a delightful read. I loved seeing Charlie grow as a person and learn to level out a bit. Schedules aren't a bad thing, but sometimes, you just need to experience life.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers over at SwoonReads for giving me an ARC of this book.

My New Crush Gave to Me will be out on October 31.


If you want a cute story with excellent banter, a POC love interest, (THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SPELLED OUT FOR YOU THANK THE BOOK LORDS) and a fiery red-headed MC, I would recommend picking up yourself a copy.

A sweet and funny YA romance! Purchase where light-hearted romances are popular!

A Secret Santa romance? Sign me up!

This book promised to warm my heart up in time for the holidays and completely delivered. I was absolutely delighted with the characters and pacing and plot and pretty much everything. Charlie is a realistically flawed perfectionist who comes off as a bit of a whiny comtrol freak sometimes . She's a teenager and is definitely written like one and I'm here for it!

This is a lighthearted YA romance that I really and sincerely hope my Secret Santa gets me come December.

I do hope the red and white knit cover is final because it completely embodies the "Christmas spirit" (ala Charlie) of this book.

I absolutely adored this book! I've read another book by Shani that was just as good! I loved that the characters felt real, and especially the friendship between Charlie and her best friend. J.D. was the perfect guy, and there were some very funny moments! This book also makes me wish it was Christmas already!