This was super cute! Holiday romance gold!
Right from the very first page I immediately liked the relationship between Nick & Noel. They’re obviously close friends and I enjoyed seeing their friendship before anything romantic happened. It really displayed their friendship which I feel in most friends to lovers romances gets glanced over.
I also liked that the holiday spirit was super cheerful and heartwarming. Definitely gets you into the holiday spirit!
I think the pacing was perfect and the length of the story just right. Would definitely recommend this!

This was an absolute blast! I love Christmas books and this one was no exception. Nick and Noel were both such endearing main characters; we get both of their perspectives which made them so realistic and lovable! They had great personalities and their friends-to-lovers romance was perfectly done and escalated so well. If you've ever read one of my reviews with this trope you know it's a real hit-or-miss for me but this one 100% delivered, they read like great friends but also like the best couple and it was excellent! There was also such a great group of side characters on both characters' sides! They were so much fun in their own right and I'd love for there to be books about them as well (at least the ones that aren't married, haha). There was also a strong sense of found family; Noel has some commitment issues because her parents died in an accident 10 years prior to this book and she's still working on her acceptance and not wanting a committed relationship. Nick's family has embraced her as their own and seeing that dynamic was so sweet. This wasn't *as* heavy on the Christmas elements, it took place from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve and they have a Christmas concert and sell Christmas trees but it's mainly about the romance. Regardless, this one will make you smile (I smiled so much!) and it's just a great time!

Nick and Noel’s Christmas Playlist is a feel good holiday read. I’ve read it this October, but this book made me feel the holiday season already because of all the Christmas elements written on it.

The story is adorable. It’s a best friend to lovers trope with lovely characters whose story had me giggling, frowning, and teary-eyed. Noel is a woman any man would adore. And Nick… well, Nick is a dream, that’s for sure.

This book is lovely and it’s a perfect Christmas read! It is light and warm. Plus it felt kind of interactive because you are given the choice to play the songs mentioned as you go through the book. It’s fantastic!

Comical, uplifting, and delightfully heartwarming!

Nick and Noel’s Christmas Playlist is a sweet, charming, friends-to-more RomCom about the supportive and hardworking Noel who suddenly finds it harder and harder to keep her attraction for her longtime friend in check, and the sexy, hesitant Nick who may not be as heartbroken about his recent breakup as he thought, and who may actually want to be more than just someone to hang out with for his best friend, Noel.

The prose is warm and light. The characters are thoughtful, fun-loving, and endearing. And the plot is an engaging tale of friendship, family, community, tender moments, self-discovery, merry preparations, a touch of romance, and a soundtrack of some of the most unforgettable Christmas songs of all time.

Overall, Nick and Noel’s Christmas Playlist is an amusing, entertaining, festive tale by Hall that is an adorable mix of sweet romance, family drama, and a whole lot of holiday cheer.

❝ Tell me you meant every word you said earlier. That you don’t want anything more with me, but my friendship. Say no right now and I’ll let you go.” In this moment, locked against Nick, anticipating his kiss, she couldn’t come up with a single reason why they wouldn’t work.
“Say it.”
“I can’t. ❞


There is something to be said about reading a Christmas Romance in the middle of September.
From the Christmas themed names to the snow-covered small-town setting Nick and Noel's Christmas Playlist is a warm, sweet, and fluffy friends-to-lovers romance, that perfectly captured the Hallmark Christmas spirit.

The humor and the banter between the friends and family were not only fun, but it also provided the perfect break from the constant push and pull of Nick and Noel's relationship.


Of course, there were a few parts that I could have done without, such as, Amber and Noel, Amber in general and Nick being the good guy 24x7. In those moments I genuinely questioned if Nick was really that good or just plain dumb.

Amber wasn't a nice person and no matter her reasonings, which If I am being honest were more like excuses, didn't absolve her of her behaviour. She was plain mean and there wasn't any valid reason for it.

Despite there being sadness of dealing with parents death and the way it shapes a child's life, these heavy topics don't overshadow the lightheartedness and the joyful nature of holiday read. Nick and Noel's Christmas Playlist was the perfect holiday read and the best part is that you can read it at any time of the year.


4 Stars!

📖⭐️ BOOK REVIEW 📖⭐️

Book: Nick and Noel’s Christmas Playlist
Author: Codi Hall
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5)
Publication Date: 5th October 2021
TW: Death of a parent, grief

Nick and Noel’s Christmas Playlist is an utterly fabulous romantic comedy based around friends to lovers. It’s a book that warms your heart from start to finish.

The characters in this story were extremely likeable and ‘normal’ which is exactly how I like my characters. I loved the minor characters just as much as the main. Pile and Anthony were hilarious, they are the kind of friends everyone wants to have. The songs and playlists were a fun addition to the story and I loved how Hall combined all the songs into a list at the end.

Overall, this is a perfect read to get you in the mood for the Christmas season as it is set in the Christmassy town of Mistletoe but I reckon it’s a great read for all year round, I personally loved it!!

Thanks so much to @netgalley, @sourcebookscasa and Codi Hall for the Advanced Reader Copy of Nick and Noel’s Christmas Playlist in exchange for an honest review. Be sure to go check it out on October 5th 💫

I thought this was a super cute romance and perfect for getting you into the holiday spirit. I loved how the author added in all of the subtle Christmas themed details throughout the book. I thought Nick and Noel complemented each other throughout the book and the author showed how to be supportive of Noel's trauma.

I think this a great holiday read that everyone should pick up this year.

This dual perspective holiday romance was full of small town charm, childhood friendships, fake dating, steamy chemistry and the best incorporated music playlist I've seen accompany a book! Highly recommended if you're looking for a fun, fast-paced Christmas read. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy!

Nick and Noel was one of those holiday books that you want to see on Netflix as a movie. Nick is a super hot veteran who is just about to start his life as a civilian. He returns to his hometown to his best friend who happens to be Noel... Gah without spoiling anything, his return was awesome, the twists and turns we got between Nick and Noel and their friend group and their romantic relationships were awesome. The story had a really great pace and it felt so genuine. There were really emotionally charged moments between the main-characters but also some of the side characters that helped the story move forward in a very authentic and beautiful way.

Another thing to love about this story was that it had a great steam level! So many holiday books are fully closed door which is fine in a lot of situations but this story definitely called for a little more steam and we got it. The story was also funny. There were so many moments that had me laughing or cringing with the characters as if I was part of the story!

I adore this story and am now a die hard Codi Hall fan and am digging into her backlist where she writes as Cody Gary.

4.5 stars for this sweet and swoony Christmas romance that definitely caught me by surprise. Codi Hall is a new-to-me author and I look forward to reading more from her.

Nick and Noel have been best friends since they were in diapers. Their mothers were best friends before them and when Noel’s parents die in a car accident, Nick’s parents treat her like family. When Nick gets back from his Army deployment and finds his long time girlfriend has been cheating on him, Nick and Noel try to exact their revenge with a little public make out session. In their small town of Mistletoe, they need to keep up appearances so they agree to some casual fake dating to make their exes jealous. Naturally they start to catch feelings but Nick is a relationship guy and Noel doesn’t know if she’s capable of commitment and the potential for loss.

This is an adorable friends to lovers romance with a dash of fake dating - two of my favorite tropes. It’s got enough steam that you don’t feel like you’re watching a Hallmark movie and enough holiday cheer that you get those vibes but don’t find yourself dripping in it (just the right balance for me but maybe not enough for die hard Christmas romance seekers 😆) I loved all the side characters which set this up for a delightful series.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the early copy. All opinions are my own.

I’m pretty torn on how to review this book, there were parts I loved and parts I disliked and not a lot in between.

First, the good. The friends to lovers romance was so sweet, and the pacing of it was believable to me. For long term friends a lot of time it doesn’t make sense that there would be a sudden switch to lovers, but it worked for me in this scenario.

The hero and heroine are enjoyable, their relationship is fun and light just like friends should be. I also enjoyed the hero’s family and their mutual friends.

I really enjoyed the author’s writing style, it was super easy reading and I was fully invested to keep reading the whole time.

Unfortunately, the book fell apart for me with the main source of conflict. A good deal of the book revolves around Nick’s ex-girlfriend. They break up at the very beginning of the book, and she keeps popping up all over. She’s over the top, petty, and one dimensional. This would be fine if she was only in it briefly but she’s in the book a LOT and it was just too much. It’s a shame that a book published in 2021 is still just pitting women against women instead of creating real conflict.

I also didn’t like how the characters interacted with her. Noel also turned petty and one dimensional every time they had a run in, and Nick was a pushover who didn’t consider anyone else’s feelings when he would see her. If you could remove Amber entirely I would have loved this book, but unfortunately it was impossible to ignore her since she showed up about every 10 pages to cause trouble.

This last thing is a smaller point, but I feel the Christmasy nature of the book is oversold in the blurb and cover, it’s barely Christmas oriented and the Christmas tree farm mentioned is barely in the book at all. That doesn’t make it a bad book, but I do feel it’s a bit misleading to the reader.

A huge thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca & NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

4⭐️ 4🌶

It’s way too early to be craving for christmas romance books but here I am! This was fun, light-hearted and heartwarming and it definitely satisfied my need for a good christmas romance read! 🎄

As I’m a huge fan of the friends to lovers and fake dating trope, this book was exactly what I needed! Nick and Noel were both such interesting characters individually but I also loved them together as friends and eventually to something more!

Given they’ve been together since birth, their chemistry and banter was just spot on! I loved their inside jokes, playfulness with each other and especially the role of music in their friendship. I enjoyed seeing them talk about my fave songs with the playlists they share with each other, it made me feel more connected to them! (It was fitting that I listened to christmas songs while reading this!)

Alongside these, their journey towards being more than friends wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. The few bumps in the road made for a angsty and frustrating conflict with Noel’s commitment issues and having to deal with her grief and Nick just recently getting out of a long-term relationship. There were moments when I would find myself tearing up after a funny scene 😭

But despite these, I loved the family dynamics and friendships they both had in this book! The Winters were a wholesome family that I wish I had. Pike, Anthony and Gabby were such amazing friends and the best support system they could ever have! I loved how they had important roles in both of their lives and that helped them in everything along the way.

Also, there was one scene where Nick’s sister, Holly, was having an argument with the owner of their neighboring store, Declan, and I was lowkey shipping them! Hoping for maybe a book about them? 😝

Overall, this book had my heart swooning all throughout on top of all the laugh out loud moments and scenes that had me crying! Their love story was so heartfelt and it gave me all the christmas romance feels (and the smut being spicyyy was a bonus! The sexual tension was were between these two!)

I highly recommend this if you’re looking for a fast-paced, heartwarming romance book (with a well-written friends to lovers trope) to read during the cold christmas season! 🎄

A cute, fun holiday read. There is talk of loss and trying to cope (or avoid) it. I think it was done well and the characters were lovable... minus Amber! She was just plain awful and couldn't stand her but im pretty sure that was what the author was going for. I liked it and recommend picking this up.

This is the best contemporary Christmas romance book that I have read this year! Loved almost all of the characters (looking at you Trip & Amber!), great humor and heart.

I didn't know that this was the 1st book in a series, but I am looking forward to the next books.

Many thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

This story was the literary version of a Hallmark Christmas movie. It was sweet and sappy and makes a perfectly lovely book to read over the holiday!

While it certainly wasn't a groundbreaking story, the characters were likeable and secondary seem to have been set up for future romances of their own.

I enjoyed the book, and I'll be happy to revisit the literary town of Mistletoe in the future!

Nick and Noel's Christmas Playlist is an adorably fun holiday read, and the 1st in the Mistletoe Series. These best friends are the perfect pair in this friends to lovers storyline. And ladies, Nick is a handsome good guy you'll be adding to your book boyfriend list. Just sayin'

Team #Nock for sure!!

The story twinkles with humor and love that will leave you giddy with joy. This cozy small town romance also has a great cast of secondary characters. Hall gives the reader the playlist at the end of the book - LOVE IT. Guess what playlist I am listening to this holiday season?

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebook Casablanca for the complimentary copy.

The perfect book to set the tone for the holiday season! This was a sweet and charming romance, with a great friends to lovers storyline. I knocked off a star because the will-they-won’t-they went back and forth a bit too much for my liking, but the steaminess of the romance made up for it. I really enjoyed the backup cast of characters, too, and I hope to see more books highlighting the Winters family in the future!

Nick and Noel's Christmas Playlist is a sweet romantic comedy that takes place in Idaho around Christmastime. I liked the main characters and their journey from friends to lovers. This book was a fun, quick romance that uses the fake-dating trope to allow the lifelong friends to realize their feelings for each other.

I loved Nick and Noel's relationship and while the story is humorous at times, it is also a tear jerker at times for me. I also loved Noel's relationship with Nick's parents and how good their relationship with Noel is. I could have done without the ex girlfriend drama and I wish the ending wasn't as drama-filled.

I will definitely will be reading more from the author and will be picking up the next book in this series!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

A sweet Christmas story! Love the friends to lovers theme, as well as the way that Noel fit so well with Nick's. family. I was cheering for these two to get together!

Nick Winter just out of the military and his Christmas homecoming 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. Then they kiss and everything changed. Can they become the couple they are destined to be?

Do yourself a favor and grab this book now!!! This is the PERFECT romcom to snuggle up with the holiday season! This is my first ever read by this author and I’m loving this childhood Best friends to lover romance. From the start, I enjoyed the bond between Nick and Noel and you could see how much they cared for each other. This is a perfect read if you are looking for sweet, fun, small town holiday romance. The banter between all of the characters will have you laughing and falling even more in love with them. I cannot wait for the next book in this series