Such a quick, fun read! The characters had excellent tension and I loved their holiday-themed names.

Johnathon and Gabby hooked me from the first page. I loved their workplace banter. The You’ve Got Mail similarities were lovely and enjoyable. Christmas elements with bookshop owner enemies to lovers perfection.

I don't know how to explain it, but this felt like if Lizzie Mcguire or another early 2000s teen tv show based on the experience of a female mc with her inner monologue was an adult holiday romance with an autistic mc, and it was exactly what I wanted - WITH THE ONLINE IDK WHO YOU ARE THING TOO?!?!?!?! My A Cinderella Story loving heart is SHAKING.

How did Chloe manage to shove almost every trope I love in here in so many pages. Like actual pure Christmas magic. It was so fucking cheesy and I loved every single second of it. 10/10 a favourite read of the year, if not of all time.

I love love love Gabriella and her autistic, book loving, Christmas obsessed heart. She has a cat named Gingerbread and is just oh so relatable and loveable and yes yes yes yes yes. I don't normally like 1st person pov and will often dnf in the first few chapters because of it, so the fact I loved this book so much despite it being in 1st person pov shows how much I love Gabriella as a character & Chloe's writing. Also yes her taking her own pillow and fuzzy socks, my autistic queen.

As always, Chloe hits it out of the park with her autistic rep, and manages to get me emotional like so few authors can.
'I love myself for who I am, every part of me, the parts that fit easily in this world and the parts that don’t, but it’s a whole other thing to ask someone else to love me for all of those parts, too.'
Way to come for me there, Chloe.
While people’s expressions aren’t easy for me to interpret, the longer I know them, the better I’m able to observe patterns and memorise their meaning.
YES YES YES. So many of my friends get confused as to why I find it hard to read facial expressions but often know their emotions and pick up on it before other people, and I’m like it’s because I’ve memorised your patterns and expressions so I either know what it means OR I know it’s different to your standard so something’s different?
They don’t understand what pursuing friendship and romance is like for me, how being autistic and demisexual means not just the exposure of myself, like it is for anyone when they meet people and try to forge a connection, but weighing when and how to trust someone with the truth of who I am, a truth that’s not always been met with understanding or acceptance or kindness.
this this this this this this this. Chloe just gets it.

And PLEASE where do I find my own Jonathan because this man. THIS MAN. The bodywash thing?! I would simply die if someone noticed/did that for me. No, like seriously, my note next to that little scene simply reads 'fuck me'. And when he walks her home and she has her headphones in and is stimming and humming and he's just letting her be ohmygod. AND THE HAND FLEX?! Anyway where do I find one, because this is what I need in my life (and to recreate the ladder scene hehehe).

I spent the whole time reading this gasping and giggling and stimming and just filled with so much joy, it's pure Christmas magic and I recommend it with my whole heart. If someone could please make this into a movie RIGHT THIS SECOND (and cast me as Gabriella) that would be great because I need to see this on a screen more than I need air to breathe.

The Mistletoe Motive is one of the cutest books I have read all year. This is the story of Gabby and Jonathon, coworkers who butt heads over how the bookshop they work at should be run. However, in the month leading up to Christmas, their icy demeanors begin to melt and they work hard to deny their growing attraction to each other.

I loved the demisexual representation in Gabby, as well as the autistic representation. It was really well done in that neither of those aspects of Gabby took over, they were simply a piece of her, which was really awesome. Jonathon is an absolute sweetheart who does his best to make Gabby happy and comfortable. I especially swooned at the scenes where Jonathon defended Gabby from her toxic and manipulative ex.

This was super cute exactly what I needed.I loved Gabby and Jonathan's relationship .They have such a great banter these two, sigh they were so adorable and sexy at the same time.

”What is it?” “Your capacity for joy,” he says quietly. “It’s…humbling.” A compliment from Jonathan Frost. And not just any compliment—one that makes the heart of me feel seen and glowing, like candlelight spilling from a window on a dark, cold night.”

I love reading Christmas books and this one was amazing to put me on the spirit of Christmas, it's so heatwarming and the story is enjoyable.I loved the writing and it was fast paced too!

Another delightful read from Chloe Liese with shades of "The Shop Around the Corner" thrown in. Expect the inclusion of a neurodivergent character and one with diabetes for a book that more accurately represents the variety of Americans.

Of course it was a five-star read for me. This was
Chloe Liese's first novella and she nailed it! It
wasn't rushed and the timeline was perfect. I feel like everything was and happened where and when it was supposed to.
Gabriella Di Natale and Jonathan Frost couldn't be more opposites. They've been enemies since the moment Jonathan was hired to work at the same library as Gabby.
Gabby was such an amazing character. I LOVED
her personality and her way of seeing things.
Reading her was an absolute pleasure.
I fell in love with Jonathan in the first scene*heavy sigh* but I knew I was gonna be totally simping over him. I mean a 6"2 hawtness of a man who works in a library, bring you your favorite hot cocoa each morning, plays hockey, and reads the books you like?? SIGN ME UP RIGHT NOW.
Based on what you just read you can guess it was inevitable to fall in love with him.
In short, READ THIS AMAZING HOLIDAY
NOVELLA RIGHT NOW.

This was a super cute Christmas novella! This was enemies-to-lovers done right with a festive girl who loves Christmas and the independent bookstore for which she has worked for years and the very un-festive grump who has been antagonizing her since the day he started keeping the books a year ago. As a gal with autism, it's hard for Gabriella to find just the right environment to shine and be comfortable, but the bookstore has been her dream job come true. Jonathan was hired to help do the bookkeeping and co-manage the store with Gabby, but after a rough year, the store's owners break it to the pair that unless something drastic happens, one of them will likely lose their job come Christmas. Gabby and Jonathan make a bet that whoever has the highest sales will be the one who stays. With a few hijinks and Gabriella's looming meet-up with her online friend-who-might-want-to-be-more, Gabby and Jonathan go head to head to try to beat each other and save the store.

I saw the mistaken-online-identity hint of a trope and was instantly sold, as it is my personal catnip, and I was not disappointed! Ms. Liese is quickly becoming an auto-read author for me!!!

The Mistletoe Motive is a new Christmas novella from one of my all-time favorites, Chloe Liese.
I am always eager to read holiday stories during this time of year so when I found out this was coming, I couldn't wait. Something Chloe has always managed to do, in everything I've read by her, is to make a large spectrum of people feel seen. The Mistletoe Motive is no different.
Chloe packs SUCH a punch in a short form novella, I never doubted her but I also didn't expect to get SO caught up in my feelings.
This is the story of Gabriella Di Natale, autistic & anxious bookish angel, and Mr. Jonathan Frost, who may not be as cold as we assume, is holiday perfection. TMM is like a beautiful love-child of The Hating Game and You've Got Mail. It was so fun to see the themes from these classics told from Chloe's always unique and loving point of view.
Quite simply, this book is lovely and beautiful and even in writing this review and looking at a few of my favorite moments, I'm starting to tear up again. Something I've realized I am hungry for in my books and other consumable media, is that I love when communication is open, and the misunderstandings that so often are the catalyst DON'T have to be present to move a story or relationship forward. Gabby & Jonathan have so many preconceived notions about the other that they get caught up in their own ideas they don't have the conversations... until they do. Because that's some damn good storytelling.
I will leave you with one quote that made Gabby feel seen, and made me feel seen:
"I've figured out that change stresses you and unknowns give you unbearable anxiety."

In short: I loved this book. A million thanks to the author, to Valentine PR, and NetGalley for this ARC. All views expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed this holiday romance. Enemies to lovers is one of my favourite tropes, and it was done so well in this book. I'll definitely be reading more from this author.

Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Mistletoe Motive by Chloe Liese

When the two most different people in the world end up working at the same humble little bookshop, Jonathan Frost and Gabriella Di Natale's only common ground is their mutual contempt for each other. With the owners requests to boost sales during the holiday, they both conclude it means one of them will have the go. Neither of them ready to step down, they strike a bargain that whoever sells the most book will remain at the bookstore.

CW: Autism, type 1 diabetes & demisexual representation, discussions of ableism and an toxic ex who won't quite pursuing.

As always, Chloe Liese writing is enchanting, every little detail coming to life, truly gifting us a cozy and magical Christmas atmosphere. This was a slow burn like no other, with a their first kiss at the 51% mark. However, do not fret the steam in this book goes well beyond the physicality of it. It flows like lava beneath every word, the sexual tension building stronger as they learn each other in a brand new light. Rediscovering their bond, the one they have unknowingly been forging through their heavy banter and sideway glances.

Gabriella Di Natale was the heroine I didn't know I needed, I saw so much of myself in her. A little closed off from the world, one that feels harsh and unwelcoming, in need of just a little spark to enlighten her way to happiness. Her character felt so real, the assumptions she had and the heat on her cheek from learning the truth. Her fears of vulnerability and truly being herself with anyone that could hurt her. I loved how she struggled to open-up & how we saw her put herself out there and show her soft underbelly to Jonathan.

Jonathan was the grump of everyone's dream. I loved how attentive and observant he was, I find people with that quality highly underrated. I loved how confusing their communication was in the beginning, because their approach to life is so different. But in all that "enemies to lovers" vibe the banter was delightful, but not hurtful, fiery but also tender when they sat down and finally hashed everything out, trusted each other and took the very first step towards love: friendship.

I recommend this delightful read to everyone who might need a little Christmas steam and enchantment with a dash of Austen magic.

This book was pure magic, and I feel incredibly lucky to have been given a free copy to review by @valentine . As always, all thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

Gabriella is full of Christmas cheer from peppermint hot cocoa to paper mâché snowflakes. She loves the holiday season. Her co-worker is Scrooge himself. Jonathan has zero holiday cheer. He is ready for all the crazed-holiday shopper to be on their merry way. But when the bookstore they co-manage is on the verge of closing, they decide to work together save it and start a frenemy competition.

I really really wanted to like this holiday read. Even as a novella, it felt too rushed and too predictable. The You've Got Mail vibes weren't needed and didn't help to story develop. It would have been better if they focused on the growing relationship more. The autism representation was great, however, there was one point where it felt like Gabriella was overly explaining it for the readers. It was redundant.

I recommend it for anyone who like quick romances, with more steam than substance.

This was an amazing slow burn romance. I ADORE Chloe Liese and this was a perfect addition to her books. *chef's kiss*

Big thanks to Chloe Liese & Valemtine PR for the e-ARC of this book via NetGalley.

Overall I really loved this book. This was a cute and quick novella featuring opposites attract and a semi-epistolary relationship. For a romance featuring an epistolary romance this one surprised me because I'm not a huge fan of ones compared to YOU'VE GOT MAIL, which this one was, specifically because I think it's sketchy when one person is aware & works based off that knowledge (but really f that man in YOUVE GOT MAIL). ANYWAYS, Chloe Liese did a great job and I loved every second of this novella.

I love this book! My first by this author, and it was a home run from start to finish! Jonathan and Gabriella are delightful as sparring coworkers at an independent bookstore…trying to stay in business when a big box chain comes to town. Sound familiar? Honestly, it took me way longer than it should have to see the comparisons to one of my favorite movies/Broadway musicals!
But this story is so much more than that. It celebrates the challenges people face every day, while living and doing their jobs. Gabriella is such a strong and resilient young woman. She’s facing the challenge of being neurodivergent in a world where being a 20-something young woman in the workplace is hard enough. If her diagnosis wasn’t interwoven into the story, she would be still be a spunky, sassy, sarcastic and awesome character…the autism just adds more depth, if that’s the right wording.
Jonathan is that grumpy grump guy that I simply adore in romance! He’s buttoned up and oh so serious…makes you want to rumple him up a bit. He’s deliciously sarcastic but with hidden depths that were surprising in some ways. His connection with Gabby and their banter was fantastic! And his struggle with a hidden issue was handled beautifully and accurately. As the mom to a now adult daughter dealing with the same issue, I appreciate the factual and honest portrayal.
The Mistletoe Motive is not only one of my very favorite holiday stories of the year, but one of my favorite romances in general…full stop! I’m so glad I discovered this book and this author. I’ll be digging into the Chloe Liese catalog very soon.

This is a sweet, and sometimes very spicy, holiday love story with the best opposites attract and enemies to lovers romance in it. Two co-managers of a beloved indie bookstore are trying to get through the busy holiday season while also trying to grapple with their sizzling attraction to one another. It is well-written and has representation of someone with diabetes, as well as someone with autism. One of the best holiday romances I have read in a long time. Loved it!

4.5 stars. A sweet holiday novella with just the right amount of tartness. Bookstore co-managers Gabriella and Jonathan are complete opposites. He’s grumpy, she’s sunny. He’s all about the bottom line, and she’s more interested in holiday decorations and helping customers find the perfect book. Their rivalry threatens to bubble over at Christmas time, when the store owners tell them they might not be able to keep both managers, and the two agree to a winner-take-all sales competition. But it’s possible they may have more in common than they think, and things are about to get incredibly complicated.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

This was such a cute Christmas read. I loved Jonathan and Gabrielle together. I would definitely recommended this read to get you into the holiday spirit.

Fun holiday romance filled with Christmas cheer and a grumbling Scrooge. Gabby and Jonathan are exact opposites and somehow it makes sense that they should be together. Liese takes the reader into the world of a neurodivergent main character who struggles to understand the behaviors of her co-manager at a bookstore, misinterpreting his actions as ways to wheedle her out of a job. Missteps and frustrations ensue while mixed feelings of attraction and repulsion collide creating an entertaining read.

I had recently read the Bergman Brother’s series by Chloe Liese and was very excited to see a holiday book by her. In The Mistletoe Motive we meet Gabby a lover of the holidays and Jonathan, someone who barely tolerates them. Both Gabby and Jonathan are co-managers of a struggling independent bookstore. They do not agree on much, however, they both seem to have the bookstore’s best interest in mind. This is a nice holiday enemies-to-lovers romance, where misunderstandings abound.