The characters were surprisingly well-rounded and the author avoided doing the cliche things with situations. I really felt Mackenzie's competing feelings of social anxiety, worry for her mother, and the push to be braver than she felt because of love (and not just romantic love). The way that Jeremy and Mackenzie move from acquaintances to friends and more felt genuine. Very enjoyable read!

All's Fair in Love and Christmas includes all the fun, Christmasy cheer you're expecting from a seasonal Christian romance. Lots of happy holiday moments with delicious goodies, hot chocolate, ice skating, and decorating in this office-based romance.

Mackenzie with her sometimes-crippling social anxiety is a natural for the reader to root for, and Jeremy is a super-nice guy, understanding of Mackenzie's social awkwardness. Event the supporting characters are almost all perfectly likable people, so what's not to love?

Writing is solid, the romance is slow and sweet, and there are a couple other threads to keep things interesting, including Mackenzie's mom's battle with early-onset Alzheimer's, a "battle" for the office promotion, and a light faith theme. The characters are presumably mostly Christians and behave as such.

For a feel-good Christmas romance of the Hallmark variety, you can't go wrong with All's Fair in Love and Christmas.

4.5 stars

This is my new favorite of Sarah Monzon's books. Both Mackenzie and Jeremy had flaws and quirks that endeared them to me. Mackenzie's anxiety was realistically portrayed and I love the way Sarah Monzon approached it.

A sweet and fun Christmas romance. I really liked the main character, Mackenzie. She was funny and sweet and relatable. I appreciated seeing anxiety represented in this book. It was taken seriously and portrayed treatment in a respectful and true to life way. Her office crush was endearing and unfolded in a delightful and natural way. The background characters round out the story in a nice way, and I loved the holiday setting. Inspy readers will definitely want to add this one to their holiday TBR!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

All’s Fair in Love and Christmas by Sarah Monzon is the perfect Christmas book. I have long been a fan of this author and I loved the workplace competition in this book. Readers who love sweet romance, especially those set at Christmas time, will adore this book. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bethany House Fiction for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

Each Christmas season, Mackenzie's workplace goes all out for the holiday and someone gets promoted. And generally it's the person with the most Christmas spirit. Mackenzie never imagined with her social anxiety she's been up for the promotion, but extenuating circumstances have her battling with tinsel and holly with her unrequited office crush, Jeremy, for the position.

Jeremy is one of those people with a life plan. And this promotion is a pivotal part of his next steps. He needs the raise to support his twin niece and nephew, of whom he is guardian. But Mackenzie, who he didn't previously pay much attention to, is worming her way into his thoughts as he appreciates her quirky personality.

They each are fighting for a promotion, but perhaps their hearts are on the line as well.
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Mackenzie is so relatable. Her little quips about how she feels interacting with others made me feel seen many times. And Jeremy is so swoony! I love a confident man who can support a partner in every aspect of life.

Plus, I love how capable Mackenzie is. I feel like sometimes the quirky female character isn't great at much but Mackenzie is very talented. And I adore that Jeremy appreciates her as a whole person.

The grand gesture in this one is so precious. I just wanted to give everyone a group hug.

If you like a Hallmarky feeling Christmas romance, this one will scratch that itch for sure.
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This is a closed door, kisses only rom com.

Content Warning: Mackenzie's mom does have Alzheimer's and this is a subplot of the book.

Such a fun and fast read! I loved the character arcs and setting. The banter between the two MCs was perfection.

At Mackenzie and Jeremy’s job, the employee with the most Christmas spirit gets promoted every December. While the two compete for the promotion by out Christmasing each other, Mackenzie and Jeremy end up falling for each other.

Soooo this super short read just wasn’t for me - it was way too corny.

So sweet, so funny, so festive! I loved the opposites-attract theme with Jeremy and Mackenzie both trying their best to get an edge over the other in the unofficial competition for a promotion. I appreciated that it wasn't merely for personal ambition, but each of them provide support for family members and are thinking of them as they pursue the advancement. Jeremy is a friendly and charming guy, but some of his missteps prevent him from getting past Mackenzie's protective shield. The social anxiety she experiences also makes it difficult for others to get to know her better, but getting out of her comfort zone and making Christmas special for her coworkers helps her in ways she did not expect. I loved that she had a close friend who is always ready for shenanigans and keeps her grounded when worries are overwhelming. When Jeremy and Mackenzie slowly open up and see the deeper layers in each other, their attraction and chemistry develops naturally to something more, and their work relationship shifts as well. There is a lovely balance of humor, romance, angst, and emotion in this holiday heart-warming story that is perfect to read any time of the year!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Mackenzie and Jeremy. They are co-workers at a design company. Mackenzie has a crush on Jeremy for two years. Mackenzie has anxiety, it makes it hard for her to socialize. Their boss has them competing for a promotion. They have a blind double date. They each have issues but together they work them out and fall in love.

Super cute Christmas workplace romance! I really enjoyed this story! The main characters, Jeremy and Mackenzie, are just wonderful. Mackenzie has anxiety but her friends and Jeremy are there for her. I loved how much Jeremy helped her and she learned to get help. The grand gestures in this story are fantastic! There are so many wonderful Christmas elements. And I love how Mackenzie makes her coworkers feel special by doing a holiday tradition they had growing up for them. This book has great Christian content about having faith and is very clean. Overall, I really enjoyed this romcom and I definitely recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from netgalley . All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Utterly charming and heartfelt, this opposites-attract-workplace- romance was the perfect faith-filled read for Christmastime.

Probably my favorite distinctly Christmas-y read this year, this book has it all. It's a feel-good rom-com, with amazing main and supporting characters, full of heart, flirty, but solid themes of faith and trusting God with the unknown.

Mackenzie was my favorite, she's a big-heart introverted heroine with a heart of gold, quiet yet observant she finds a way to bring Christmas to each person that she interacts with in a meaningful way. Jeremy is handsome and outgoing, likable, and able to laugh at himself as well. Behind it all he is an amazing "parental" to his niece and nephew, and I just loved him and Mackenzie together.

Overall, a wonderful Christmas rom-com that was everything that I could ask for and more, filled with humor, faith, and heart. You won't want to miss another amazing book from Sarah Monzon!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What a fabulous enemies-to-lovers Christmas romance! This is my first read by Sarah Monzon, and it certainly won’t be my last! I just looooved the workplace rivals tension that resulted when both MC’s were competing for the same promotion at their design firm😍 The lengths they went to in order to outdo one another were HILARIOUS!!🤣

However, what I appreciated most about this story was the anxiety representation!! Although I do not personally struggle with social anxiety, I have friends that do. Reading this story gave me a more in-depth understanding of what it is like to live with anxiety and how to best support those individuals. Furthermore, I really loved how Sarah Monzon tied faith elements into this story. Seeing our FMC (MacKenzie) rely on the Lord for strength in persevering through her social anxiety was both inspiring and encouraging🙏🏻

Read if you enjoy….
💚 Social anxiety rep
💚 Workplace rivals romance
💚 Single dad
💚 Faith elements

Overall, I HIGHLY enjoyed this sweet Christmas romance & would recommend it to others!! P.S. I listened to this story on audiobook and both narrators were fabulous! They really brought the dual POV’s to life🤩

🚨TW: brief on-page anxiety attack, side character with Alzheimer’s
🚨CW: no language & just kisses!

This holiday office romance was fun and unique! I appreciated how each main character had a close friend who was there to talk them through situations (and set them up a time or two, as well!). The workplace competition scenario might have been a bit more Hallmark than would be realistic, but it made for a great story. Good clean romance that made me laugh and kept me reading!

Overall, I enjoyed this book! I enjoyed the snarky first-person female protag’s voice. Loved the humor sprinkled throughout the story.
Our pour heroine is stuck in insecurity. She overthinks everything—what Meyers Briggs’ updated personality charts calls “turbulent.” She habitually rejects herself, undervalues her own strengths and positive traits, and fears she’ll fail in social situations. She has difficulty communicating her thoughts due to paralysis of social anxiety.
Her bff will help her overcome her tendencies, and the heroine will use interesting strategies to do so.
I felt the author did a fantastic job with the heroine’s characterization and her hang-ups. Her storyline resonated with me as genuine, flawed, and relatable. I cheered for this heroine to overcome. Hooked, I was curious how she would.
The faith element was interesting here too. The heroine prayed for deliverance, but it didn’t come the way she expected. I loved this subtle thread.
The flawed hero has some growth ahead of him too. He’s confident, but perhaps teetering on cocky. He doesn’t always have compassion on others, he blurts things out to his buddies, and he overlooks the underdog at work. His nobility is in his guardianship of his sister’s orphaned children. So we don’t dislike him for long. It was satisfying to watch him grow as well.
I liked that the male protag was the planner. This is a welcome twist on the usual trope. Another helpful author choice was putting the female MC’s voice in first-person narrative, and the male MC’s voice in third person. That helps readers track whose POV we’re in as we come back to the story.
Watching the heroine find her voice, celebrate her strengths, and overcome her fear kept me engaged. The simple answers didn’t solve it. I loved that! God often takes us through a process to find healing or breakthrough. He overcomes our misguided attempts or beliefs while teaching us the truths that set us free. He answers our prayers over time. I loved that part of the book. Kudos to the author for going deeper than a surface, pat answer.
I love the competition and the aptly chosen title wording. They’re at war, after all.
My only drawback was with Frank. Not that the author included him, but that, at first, the hero’s pursuit didn’t feel any different than Frank’s. This is a fine line—not to write heroes who come across as creepers as they back heroines against walls. Otherwise, this book is very, very well written.
I also read her book Kiss Me on Christmas and appreciated her inclusion of an autistic child. See my review on this blog for that book as well! Sarah is making a name for herself (at least with me) of competently writing about autism and anxiety disorders. I appreciate these deeper layers and tougher topics, especially since she doesn’t gloss over these challenging issues nor does she offer easy answers. Her work feels authentic because of her approach. She’s on my list of authors to watch!

Early December is such a busy time. Last minute work commitments and family obligations can make a person crazy. For Mackenzie Graham, she also has to worry about the annual promotion. The person with the most Christmas spirit, Mackenzie is so shy she hasn’t really ever worried about competing for the role. This year she is a contender and she is up against her workplace crush. It’s takes everything in her to be up to the task because she could really use the raise. Her competitor Jeremy Fletcher wants and needs this promotion. He is confident he has what it takes to win. Mackenzie and Jeremy start to get to know each other better and things get complicated. Both are so close to winning, it should be a race to the finish but both are losing steam. This is such a cute book. The characters really resonate with me. The struggle is real and no one knows what others are going through. All’s Fair in Love and Christmas by Sarah Monzon checks all the boxes for a Holiday read. I want to thank Netgalley and the author for my copy, for an honest review. It was my pleasure to read and review this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of All's Fair in Love and Christmas. Forget Hallmark movies, I cannot get enough of Christmas rom-com novels at this time of year!

Mackenzie Graham wants nothing more than to do her job without drawing attention to herself and without having to talk to people any more than necessary. So when she’s put into the spotlight as a contender for a promotion, against a man she’s had a crush on for two years, for a boss who has a history of promoting the people who show the most Christmas spirit, she will have to force herself out of her comfort zone. Jeremy Fletcher really needs that promotion, since he’s raising his twin niece and nephew after the deaths of their parents, so he plans to use his penchant for meticulous planning to win the promotion. Mackenzie throws a wrench in his plans, though, by being much more than the quiet co-worker he’d never really paid attention to before, now that she’s been thrust front and center for him.

This is bizarrely the 2nd book I’ve read this holiday season that has a lot of overlap with my own life. Mackenzie’s mom has Alzheimer’s and has days where she doesn’t remember Mackenzie and/or is extremely agitated. My mom had Lewy body dementia, which declined quickly, but during that time, we dealt with a lot of memory issues and agitated states (even before we knew that she had dementia). Also, I have social anxieties similar to Mackenzie, though mine seem to be a different flavor, so to speak. While I recognized a lot of the inner monologue and choices made to avoid being in the spotlight, I don’t think I could bring myself to do some of what Mackenzie does to try to win the promotion—though possibly with such a powerful motivator (needing to pay for her mom’s care), I could. There was a certain thing she does a few times to try to push herself to be more confident that I KNOW I would never do, and that angle doesn’t really go anywhere anyway, so it’s a little strange in the story anyway.

I was a little thrown off by the many references to TV shows and movies at first, but I think that’s just because I don’t actually read a lot of contemporary fiction—more historical or even SFF. But even in those references, there were a lot made to shows and movies I love, so it made me feel all the more connected to both main characters. Jeremy’s little shudder over thinking about his pre-teen charges spending countless hours watching other people play video games on YouTube made me feel as seen as the reference to Mackenzie’s half-print/half-cursive style of writing. If I could stop here, this would probably have been a 5-star read for me.

There were a couple of things that stuck out to me throughout the story, though, that brought the rating down: I don’t care for 1st-person, present tense for one POV and 3rd-person, past tense for the other. It’s kind of a pet peeve of mine, especially since it almost never seems necessary to do it that way. I suspect the author wanted to be more “in the head” of Mackenzie, with her social issues, and didn’t feel the need to do that for Jeremy, but even then, why the present/past difference? And the Christian content was weirdly paced. I had seen this was marked as Christian, which is why I was surprised to see absolutely no references to God by 15% of the way into the book. There is, though, flirting and suggestive movements, lots of secular music and such, and then suddenly there’s a prayer and biblical reference that seem to come out of nowhere. To be clear, I do not expect every book marked Christian to be chock-full of prayers and references to God or even to have a solid Christian message or moral. But other than Mackenzie’s belief that her lack of faith keeps her from getting past her social issues (which I kinda wish had been explored more), I would never really know that these characters are Christians. Overall, though, I enjoyed the book. It contains a lot of Christmas charm and is not too sappy, as Christmas romances go. I recommend it for fans of Christmas romance, especially with some Christianity involved.

ENGLISH

I am obsessed with Christmas themed books. I like the aesthetic, the ambiance, the brightness, and lightness of it. Likewise, I selected a couple of Christmasy books from Netgalley to read for November/December. This was the first to be read.

First things first: I enjoyed some details, but the things I did not like… Well, let's just say I was not able to enjoy the book fully because of them.

The plot is basically a rivals-to lovers story. She has been in love with her coworker for years, despite having almost never spoken to each other, and he did not even notice her that way. Until of course their boss puts them against each other for a promotion. So instead of doing their job and proving their value as workers, they decide to do Christmas things/traditions because the boss is known for giving promotions to people with the most Christmas spirit. Despite how stupid and cringy it might look, this is what I enjoyed the most about this book. In fact, I fell like this over the top unreal situations are what make fun this sort of typical Christmas movies or books.

The problem however were mainly the characters. The MC is socially anxious, which trust me I get, but it gets to a very stupid point where she gets to a psychologist (good thing). Suddenly she is able to use the tools they give her to talk to anyone, to not let her brain fool her and to solve all those problems. Yeah, sure. On the other hand, the love interest is supposed to be this very clever and organized person but the moment he notices her he “loses control”? Like, seriously? Those changes I understand, but them being so sudden… Plus, those things change because someone mentions God.

That is my biggest concern with this: the amount of times God, religion and prayer are mentioned. I understand it is important for US culture, but it felt like a Christian book more than a romance novel. And it always happened when the characters realized something important. It all just feels like a preaching for Christianity.

All in all, I enjoyed the Christmas spirit of the book and the overall plot, but the characters were annoying and the constant mention of Christian religion took me out of the book. This was definitely not for me.

SPANISH

Estoy obsesionada con los libros de temática navideña. Me gusta su estética, su ambientación, su brillo y su ligereza. Por eso, seleccioné un par de libros navideños de Netgalley para leer en noviembre/diciembre. Este fue el primero que leí.

Lo primero es lo primero: me gustaron algunos detalles, pero las cosas que no me gustaron... Bueno, digamos que no pude disfrutar plenamente del libro por culpa de ellas.

La trama es básicamente una historia de rivales de oficina a amantes. Ella lleva años enamorada de su compañero de trabajo, a pesar de no haber hablado casi nunca, y él ni siquiera se fijaba en ella de esa manera. Hasta que, por supuesto, su jefa los enfrenta para conseguir un ascenso. Así que en vez de hacer su trabajo y demostrar su valía como trabajadores, deciden hacer cosas/tradiciones navideñas porque la jefa tiene fama de dar ascensos a la gente con más espíritu navideño. A pesar de lo estúpido que pueda parecer, esto es lo que más me ha gustado de este libro. De hecho, me parece que estas situaciones irreales exageradas son las que hacen divertidas este tipo de películas o libros típicamente navideños.

Sin embargo, el problema fueron principalmente los personajes. La protagonista tiene ansiedad social, cosa que entiendo. Pero llega a un punto en el que va al psicólogo (cosa buena) y de repente es capaz de usar las herramientas que le dan para hablar con cualquiera, no dejarse engañar por su cerebro y solucionar todos esos problemas. Sí, claro. Por otro lado, se supone que el interés amoroso es una persona muy inteligente y organizada pero en el momento en que se fija en ella "pierde el control". ¿En serio? Esos cambios los entiendo, pero que sean tan repentinos... Además, esas cosas cambian porque alguien menciona a Dios.

Eso es lo que menos me ha gustado del libro: la cantidad de veces que se menciona a Dios, la religión y la oración. Entiendo que es importante para la cultura estadounidense, pero me pareció más un libro cristiano que una novela romántica. Y siempre ocurría cuando los personajes se daban cuenta de algo importante. Todo parece una predicación del cristianismo.

Con todo, me gustó el espíritu navideño del libro y la trama en general, pero los personajes eran molestos y la constante mención de la religión cristiana me sacó del libro. Definitivamente, no era para mí.

-Ele