Overall, this book was pretty solid as far as friends-to-lovers romances go. Nick and Noel had a deep understanding of one another that was absolutely undeniable, and the underlying tension was practically perfect. Nick was a true sweetheart, and definitely a fella any girl would be lucky to snatch up, and I just absolutely loved his POV and just how he was as a human. I also really loved all of the side characters (especially my cutie patootie, Pike) and just, this book was so sweet at times! It gives you a cozy vibe when the festive elements are thrown in and it just brought a smile to my face.

However, those parts were definitely overshadowed by most of the conflict, and Noel's behavior, honestly. I will never understand why some authors choose to use an ex and vilify them in order to add conflict to the story, especially when it forces the characters to be immature and catty. I'm not here for an ex-girlfriend whose only addition to the story was to cause drama and pick on the heroine, who then turns around and whines and complains and acts vastly younger than her age of 26. Honestly, it ruined a lot of the book for me, and it made it incredibly hard to cheer for Noel because she already had so much baggage that this on top of it? It wasn't fun.

I also kinda wish the music had played a bigger role in all of this, as well as the holiday season. We spent very little time actually on the Christmas tree farm or mentioning that it was Christmas, and while Nick and Noel did send each other playlists and songs, it just felt like an afterthought. I wish they had been woven into the plot a little more.

All in all, I loved the hero and the side characters, I could leave everything else. But you can bet your sweet butt if Pike gets his own story I'm dropping everything to read it.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for my review copy of this book!

Cute and fun holiday read!! I wish this one had more of a 'un-putdownable' factor but it was an easy read in the busy lead up to Christmas. I like how this one was a bit more PG then your typical Christmas books/movies!

*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book for review, all opinions are my own*

I loved this book, it was a great choice to read at Christmas, it has been a long time since I did read a friend of the lovers but I loved this.
I needed this book.
It's a quick and hot story to read, I loved the themes of family, mourning, love, fear, and overcoming.
The only thing I did not like was the plot of ex's that do not get over and keep trying to break up the main couple, I think this plot of the horrible ex was just created unnecessary drama, I found the female rivalry unnecessary too, I did not hate as much because in the end it was kind of resolved.
I found the romance very well developed, I loved the chemistry of our main characters and I loved how they talked to solve things.
I think in the end is a great romance and I recommend this book to read, mainly at Christmas!

I thought this was a cute book for the most part. The frequency with which things were being blamed on the antagonist of the story felt a little one note to me. It felt like the main character was not taking any of the blame for situations in her past and all conflict was put on one person. Other than that, I thought the romance was cute, the touching moments touching, and it definitely put me in the holiday spirit.

I wanted so much more (and at the same time so much less) from this new friends-to-lovers romantic comedy.

The relationship between Nick and Noel was as sweet as pie, and their constant tug-of-war between being friends and something more was relatable and rewarding.

But aside from that, this novel was a mess.

Firstly, the antics between Noel and her longtime arch-nemesis (not to mention Nick’s ex-girlfriend) were entirely unbelievable and quickly became tiresome.

And ultimately, they only made Noel less likeable.

The immature banter between Nick and his friends was another low-point for me, often times crossing the line between off-beat and offensive.

The subtle homophobia was not lost on this reader.

Even the holiday elements seemed to be an afterthought. They were gimmicky and insincere, almost as if the publisher requested a holiday romance at the last minute.

I mean, a few name changes and references to snow do not a Christmas novel make.

In trying so hard to be so many things, but without putting proper thought or commitment into any of them, this novel ultimately fell flat for me.

A steamy friends to lovers romance. I admit that I almost dnf’d this early on because it was all steam and little plot. Thankfully the story picked up and ended up being a fun read. Maybe it is my age, but I did get tired of the cattiness between the female characters, I’m just not into immature drama. If I knew these women in real life, I would not want to be around either of them.
Overall this was an enjoyable holiday read, but I didn’t care enough for the characters to want to continue with the series.

An awesome friends to lovers Christmas story! Loved all the music references and really got me in the Christmas spirit!

Nick has just come home from eight years in the army. He is permanently home and hoping to take things to the next level with his long time girlfriend, Amber. However, Amber has decided instead to break up with him for another man. Meanwhile, Nick's best friend, Noel, has just found out the man she has been casually sleeping with has a girlfriend. When Nick and Noel run in to their exes, while out drinking together, they decide to pretend to be dating. Only, when they kiss to prove their relationship, sparks fly. Maybe this whole time their hearts were already spoken for, by each other.

I found this book to only be okay. I enjoyed some elements of the story, like the connection between Noel and Nick, their history, and her anxieties in regards to relationships (stemming from her parents' tragic deaths when she was 16).

The novel seemed to be all over the place in terms of plot, pace, conflict and drama. Some things were brought into the story but never really panned out to be anything more than a side mention, or never mentioned again. A lot of the conflict felt artificial and the resolutions too easy. I felt the book could have been shorter with more of an impact had some items been reworked and/or removed.

I was also expecting more steam, as I had seen some reviews saying this book had lots. Sure, there was some steam, but quite often it was cut short or too abrupt. They were constantly being interrupted and when they finally were able to have some intimate moments it fizzled after a while. I wanted more from the two people who had suppressed their feelings for each other for so long.

I also could not understand Noel's friend Gabby's blind devotion and loyalty to Amber. Amber has been Noel's enemy since high school, but Gabby fails to see how poorly Amber treats Noel. Amber continuously belittles Noel, in front of her friends and family, and little is done to stop it. How is this wretched person worth Gabby's time when she shows no concern for feelings, no remorse, and continues to antagonize everyone around her? It just baffles. Even if she had a hard upbringing, does that excuse her absolute bully behaviour?

The most emotional moments were those ones where Noel is still coming to terms with the loss of her parents. The impact their deaths had on her life are looming. She fears marriage and children, thinking she will lose them. She avoids familial settings because they bring back painful memories of what she has lost. She is slowly working through her insecurities and her fears, with Nick and his families help. I really liked seeing Nick being a stand up guy, not pressuring her into a life she is not ready to have. He understands her and he is willing to be there for her, whenever she needs him.

The music aspect of the book was done well, so while other factors were turning me off the book, the music continued to pull me in. Noel's connection to music stems from her parents, the singing talent she inherited, and her and Nick sharing a love for everything musical. Nick loves making playlists and handing them out to people in certain situations, it is how he emotionally connects with others and the world. I would have loved seeing Chapter titles being song titles, or song lyrics starting off Chapters, but no such luck. However, there is a playlist at the end of the book, which I fully appreciated, it perfectly pulls the reader into the world Nick and Noel have created within this book, into the town of Mistletoe and their mending hearts.

Fair warning to anyone reading this book, the story was very gendered (which made me cringe quite a few times). Lots of gender stereotypes and heteronormative language in regards to relationships and sex.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for sending me an earc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When Noel lost her family ten years ago her best friend became her family. Nick and Noel have been in each other's lives since birth and have always relied on each other to get through life. Now that Nick has returned from the military he expected to pick things up with his long-time girlfriend but when she breaks up with him on his first day home, Noel and their friends set out to cheer him up with a night of fun. But when both of their exes show up at the bar, a kiss between the two best friends meant to make them jealous suddenly makes Nick and Noel question everything. Could their happily ever after have been hiding right under the mistletoe all along? "Nick and Noel's Christmas Playlist" was a quick, fun and festive book. I read it in less than 24 hours! For those of you who like some spice in their romance and love a good Christmas song, give this holiday book a try. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Every year, I get so busy in December that I make little time for Christmas books. I decided that this year that was going to change, and I added a whole bunch of holiday novels to my TBR list, including Codi Hall’s Nick and Noel’s Christmas Playlist. In fact, I didn’t even read the synopsis for this story - I judged it solely based off the cover! Had I learned a bit more about this novel before picking it up, I would have discovered that it was originally produced as the first in a three book series in audio for Audible. I also would have learned that this story is heavy on the romance genre tropes and characteristics, which is normally not my thing (I read very few true romances), but I didn’t mind it so much here.

Nick and Noel have been best friends since forever. Nick is home fresh from the military, and Noel is still grieving the loss of her parents in a tragic accident many years before. When Nick’s long-term girlfriend dumps him for another guy, his heart is broken and he wants to shove a new relationship in her face. So what does he do? Option Noel to play his “fake girlfriend.” As you guessed it, these best friends soon discover through their faux relationship that they have very real feelings for each other, despite wanting different things out of life. Nick is traditional and wants it all - a wife and kids; whereas Noel has written off a family forever. Can these friends-to-lovers make it work amidst the hustle and bustle of the holiday season?

Nick and Noel’s Christmas Playlist is one of the few friends-to-lovers storylines that I have read, so I found it pretty enjoyable. But if you are a seasoned romance reader? You might feel as if you have heard this story before. This novel is also fairly light on the Christmas, so if that’s your reason for picking it up (like me), then be forewarned that this is more of a dramatic, millennial-focused romance novel with a little bit of Christmas sprinkled in. I say dramatic because, well, there’s a lot of drama here. Between the catty ex-girlfriend, to the stereotypical relationship fights, my head was spinning with how much mayhem these characters have in their lives. Nonetheless, it makes for good entertainment. I also wasn’t prepared for the “heat” level of this story. I was expecting a charming Christmas tale, but be advised, this book is steamy and explicit. You wouldn’t guess THAT from the cover!

I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy the romance genre and want to read a book set against the backdrop of Christmas. If you are not typically a romance reader, you may become annoyed with this novel’s characters and trope unless you keep an open mind. Also, do not read this novel unless you are prepared for some hot and heavy love scenes.

I friggin’ loved this book. A fun, steamy, Christmas-y read!

A few things I loved:
-all of the Christmas references - the town of Mistletoe, the character names all being holiday themed - such a fun treat in a Christmas book
-friends to lovers - always my favorite - this was unique as Nick’s family took Noel in when she was younger, so they grew up like family - ok that sounds weird, except it wasn’t….ok maybe it is. Lol
-the audio narration was perfection. Nick’s narrator is 👌
-spicy and sweet
-conflict that was solved with COMMUNICATION - crazy right?

Things that weren’t my favourite:
-Amber - she’s the absolute worst. The. Worst.
-yes there was cattiness and conniving exes - Was it a lot? Yes - but think Regina George type of mean girl - and we all love to hate her right?

NICK ANS NOEL’S CHRISTMAS PLAYLIST by Codi Hall was a pleasant surprise. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I’ve seen some mixed reviews for this one but I decided to form my own opinion. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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THIS WAS GREAT! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Nick and Noel are best friends since diapers. Nick finally comes home after reenlisting in the military and is home for good now. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Nick with a broken heart from longtime girlfriend Amber, Noel feeling scorned by Trip, and a (not so fake) kiss has these two jumping into a fake relationship where their very real feelings start to surface. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I absolutely ADORED the two of them together and their close group of friends. Anthony and Pike (aka fish) had me cracking up. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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If you like: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Hallmark After Dark ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Playlists ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Cinnamon Roll Men ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Independent Heroines ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I just wasn't pulled in by this book and stopped reading about 20% in. Nick was bland, Noel was 'one of the guys and not like other girls' (which is a trope that I hate because it almost always means she hates other women), and Nick's ex was straight up awful. I read other reviews that revealed that at one point, the women got into a physical fight, and I'm just not interested in that dynamic.

DNF This book was not bringing me any holiday joy. I realized I was 20% in and hated both of the main characters, so I flipped through the book to see if they improved and it didn't look like they did. I checked a few goodreads reviews which confirmed that they didn't really get any better. They were both just immature and Noel's rivalry with Nick's ex was just toxic. I don't need to read books that don't make me happy.

Nick and Noel's Christmas Playlist had some of the elements I love in a romance, but unfortunately for me this was a big disappointment.

The characters were waaaaaaay too immature and I would have thought they were 18 and not in their mid-20s. The lack of communication and completely unlikable characters. This had some nice steam to it and I liked the song references/playlist but otherwise this is a skip.

Nick and Noel’s Christmas Playlist was a fun holiday read. This was a fun holiday romance and I loved that it was the beginning of Codi Hall’s Mistletoe Romance Series. I can’t wait to read more about this family.

The basic outline of Nick and Noel’s Christmas Playlist goes like this:
Nick comes home after getting out of the military, but his homecoming is less than perfect. He breaks up with his long-time girlfriend. The one thing he is looking forward to is working at his family Christmas Tree farm with his best friend Noel. A “fake” dating kiss leads to all the feelings between the two of them.

This was a quicker read for me and totally got me into the holiday spirit. I loved these characters, although some parts were a little more far-fetched for me, I am reading fiction and it added to the story line.

I loved the communication throughout this whole book. Everything felt very real. I really don’t always connect with the Friends to Lovers Trope and I thought this one was done really well, based on the comfortability and communication of these characters. I can’t say things didn’t go array at times but it felt realistic. The family and friends who played secondary characters. I'm looking forward to whoever's story is next! Also let’s chat about their playlists for a moment. I am here for any and all music additions into books. What could be better for me than music and reading!

My friend @megmcreads coined the term “The Hallmark After Dark” and this book totally fits into that category.

Thank you to Netgalley, Codi Hall and Sourcebooks Casablanca for my Advanced Reader's Ebook Copy. It was a great way to start this holiday season.

Nick and Noel's Christmas Playlist is a festive rom-com! With more will they, won't they than Ross and Rachel, this book pulls you in with a slow burn and a sense of anticipation. While at times this book read a bit more New Adult Romance, the story worked for me. I loved Nick and Noel's back story and the history they had with each other. I especially loved their friends and his family. I hope there are future books with this crew. And with moments of dealing with Noel's grief after losing her parents, this book also has great depth. This is fun book, sure to be a hit on your Christmas TBR!

This Christmas story just got remixed.

Nick Winter's Christmas at home is going nothing like he planned. What was supposed to be a memorable holiday with his long-time girlfriend goes sour when he learns she cheated on him while he was overseas. At least Nick can rely on his usual shift at the family Christmas tree farm with his best friend, Noel Carter, and her endless supply of Christmas tunes to lift his spirits. A night of fun together is just what he needs to forget about his ex.

But then they kiss. And it feels...so right.

If Noel can turn Nick's Blue Christmas merry and bright, this might be the last Christmas Nick spends with a broken heart. This year, they'll be Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree as a couple—as long as Nick's ex doesn't go standing under any mistletoe.

|| 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖

Nick and Noel’s Christmas Playlist
Codi Hall
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

|| 𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒:
When your best friend comes back to town after way too many years. He is here to stay. You are both single. You need to make your Ex’s jealous. What do you think is in store for Noel and Nick?

|| 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄:
•Steamy holiday romance
•Music playlists
•Fake Dating (sort of)
•Friends to Lovers
•MCs that are nurses 😍🙌🏻

|| 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒:
So this book goes on the naughty list because I was mislead 😂 for some strange reason I though this was a sweet little YA romance. It is not. They are adults. They do adult things. It is not closed door. 😂 I really enjoyed this one especially when the MCs were together by themselves in scenes. My only complaint is all the Christmas themed names, like it was a little over done. Also the characters dialogue was (in my opinion) written like what an old person thinks a young person should say. Sometimes it was funny, other times annoying. But the overall story was very sweet (and not sweet 🥵) and I definitely enjoyed the growth of Noel and Nick! I can already tell thanks to one scene that we have an enemies to lovers coming next with one of Nick’s sisters and I will for sure read it!

Thank you to sourcebooks Casablanca and netgalley for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Couldn’t finish this one, I was so excited and heard so many Greta things about it! It was like reading a hallmark movie Transcript. The main character name was Nick Wynter and his sisters were named Merry and Holly. So cliche and the dialogue was painful. Very disappointing read

I guess the first foreshadowing this book was going to irk me was its title. I know it might seem nit picky, but Noel has always been spelled Noelle if the Noelle in question is in fact, a girl. My grandfather was named Noel. I was almost named Noelle. Therefore I have a horse in this race. 😂

But moving on, Nick and Noel are childhood besties who have always had each other’s backs. So when Nick’s long time girlfriend (and Noel’s arch nemesis) breaks Nick’s heart, Noel is there to pick up the pieces. One night they spontaneously stage a kiss to make their exes jealous. Needless to say, the meaningless kiss doesn’t feel so meaningless after all. Suddenly, these two are catching feelings quicker than you can catch mommy kissing Santa Claus. Being friends has been nice, but have Nick and Noel been meant to be naughty all this time?

The friends to lovers premise is one of my favorites, even if it’s been played more than Jingle Bells. That being said, it’s been done better, many times over. I wanted to want Nick and Noel to be together, but I didn’t find myself caring all that much. Also the beef between Nick’s ex, Amber and Noel seemed revisited way too many times in this story to the part it started to feel like filler.

One thing I am a sucker for though are musical tie ins. I love the idea of creating the perfect playlist. I miss the mix tape days even more than I miss believing in Santa. All in all, this isn’t one playlist I’d put rush to put on replay anytime soon.