Cozy, Heartfelt, and Full of Holiday Charm

The Christmas Cookie Wars is a sweet treat of a read, filled with festive vibes, quirky fun, and a heartwarming reminder to stay true to yourself. I really liked the main character’s humility and authenticity. She didn’t need glitz or drama to shine, and her grounded perspective made the story all the more refreshing. The holiday rivalry was lighthearted and entertaining, and the writing struck the perfect balance between wit and warmth. It’s a cozy Christmas book that’s as comforting as a plate of freshly baked cookies.

Thank you to Eliza Evans, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy this delightful story before its release. It was an absolute joy to read!

👧🏻Single mom
😢Widow
🍪 lots of cookies
🤬Sabotage
👗 Clothing boutique
🏫 Principals office
🍲 food fight
🤫 Secret romance
👨🏻He falls first

As a mom, I laughed out loud during the first chapter. This was a cute Holiday romcom about a single mom finding love after loss. I loved all the cookie events and cute small town feel. If you didn’t get to it this year, add it to your TBR for next year.

This book was a very cute holiday read. It gave me Hallmark movie vibes and it was easy to pick up. The characters were lovable and the plot was fun. There were a few moments that dragged on a bit and I just can’t fully believe that the person causing all the problems could actually pull some of it off. Overall this was a quick read and one I very much enjoyed.

A fun Chrismas romance centered around a school bake off.

I really loved the setting of the story as well as children and the fun cookie bake offs. The romance wasn't quite what I was hoping for as I didn't see myself really liking the romance too much. I actually preferred all of the antics going on at school more than the romance. I will say there were a few innuendos here and there, but it wasn't enough to hinder my enjoyment of the story. I did like how it ended and wrapped up at the end. Especially with some of the side characters at the school.

*thank you to #NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book to read. All thoughts are my own.

If you're looking for a cozy, low-stakes romance that feels like a warm hug, this book is perfect for you. The title might suggest a brewing conflict between the two main characters, but surprisingly, the "war" isn't what you'd expect, which made for a refreshing twist! I can easily see myself picking this up during the holiday season, especially while staying with my in-laws—it’s a clean, feel-good read with just enough romance to keep you hooked.

The characters are well-developed, though I found myself wanting more from the male lead’s perspective. The third-act conflict was a solid choice, but I do wish it had come earlier in the story, giving more time for the resolution to breathe. That said, the pacing didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment.

Highly recommend this for anyone impatiently counting down the days until the holidays. It’s a festive, heartwarming read that will get you in the seasonal spirit!

A cute and clean romance! I loved the single mom aspect. The small town charm was prevalent throughout and it was full of festive fun. This was a fun read that made my heart smile!

The Christmas Cookie Wars is an interesting romance between a widowed mom of twins and their middle school principal. Set in the premise of the town's Christmas cookie crawl and full of secret rivalries, this story is interesting, entertaining and fun. It's a sweet holiday romance in the end.

Warning reading this will make you want cookies + Hallmark Holiday Movies.... Thank you to NetGalley, Eliza and Penguin Publishing for the eARC!

What To Expect:
⭐ Grumpy guy x sunshine girl
⭐ Secret Relationship
⭐ Mean girls with a holiday twist
⭐ Holiday Baking and competitions
⭐ Closed door clean romance very Hallmark!

My Thoughts:
I loved this cover, I wanted to eat all cookies, I loved the characters and the sweetness of their storyline but of all the holiday cozy books I read this one took me the longest and wasn't one of my top favorites. It felt sometimes forced as if the connection between the two characters wasn't genuine. The dialogue felt like it was missing that undercurrent you get with a good Hallmark romance. The two twin boys were absolutely the sweetest and comedic relief. I love their get it done, we will win it attitude. Shows just how much of a great mom Melody is to them.

The bullies of the schools cookie committee give me PTSD from my high school days. I can't stand women like them. It had a very mean girls vibe.

All in all it is a quick read. It has the holiday cozy vibe to be read and at the end of it there is a HIGH likelihood you will want cookies reading this!

Synopsis:
Melody Monroe will do anything to get her nine-year-old twin boys to muster up the holiday spirit. Especially since they lost their father, the boys have started questioning the point of Christmas at all.

When Melody learns the school’s cookie committee has disbanded due to dissension in the top ranks, she can’t let the boys lose another ounce of Christmas joy, so she decides to take over the cookie committee herself, even if it means dealing with the infuriating school principal, Jonathan Braxton.

Soon, a small argument turns into a town-wide bake-off between her and Jonathan, and before she knows it Melody finds that her competitive spirits have turned romantic. Love isn’t supposed to be in the recipe for Melody. But with a little holiday magic, she and Jonathan might just bake up something special.

Sometimes you just need a warm and fuzzy holiday rom-com to distract you from all the craziness of the holiday season, and The Christmas Cookie Wars was perfect for that. I chose to read this while I was in the midst of my three-day Christmas bake-a-thon, and it was nice to settle in with a book about Christmas cookies (and with a heating pad, LOL) after a full day of baking them myself.

Melody Monroe is the widowed mother of twin nine-year-old boys, and she is determined to make Christmas magical for them. That shouldn’t be a difficult task, given that their hometown always does The Most when it comes to celebrating the holiday season with lots of vibrant decorations and festivals. But this year, the school’s Yuletide Cookie Club has been abruptly disbanded. Melody knows she has no choice but to take over the cookie club herself, even if that means she has to interact more with the boys’ principal, Jonathan Braxton. Jonathan is strict and uptight – but he’s also an amazing baker who has a grudging appreciation for her boys’ rambunctious spirits, and when Melody finds herself pitted against him in a town-wide bake-off, she has to admit she’s starting to catch feelings in spite of herself.

The Christmas Cookie Wars is pure sweetness all the way through, with heartwarming holiday vibes, a setting that’s right out of a Hallmark movie, cozy characters, and a swoon-worthy romance. There is conflict, but it’s the kind of conflict that is sort of comforting, because you know everything is going to work out in the end. It’s the perfect holiday read when you just want something that’s going to make you feel good and remind you of the magic of the season. And there are lots of mouthwatering cookies, too; what more could you possibly want? Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the complimentary reading opportunity.

The Christmas Cookie Wars is a sweet, Hallmark-esque holiday romance set in a small town where Christmas and cookies rule. Melody, a widowed mom of two, steps in to revive her sons' school cookie swap and cookie daze fundraising club, bringing her closer to Jonathan, the charming principal. Their playful rivalry over cookies soon turns into something more as Melody navigates her feelings after years of single- and especially widowhood.
This heartwarming story beautifully balances festive cheer with the emotional journey of a mother adjusting to life and traditions after loss. Cozy, uplifting, and perfect for the holidays, it's a delightful read I'd highly recommend! I loved the cast of characters especially Melody's supportive sister and mother !

This book was so cute and perfect for the holidays. A single mom raising two sons is determined to connect with them and starts to head the cookie committee. Along the way her and the principal start to fall for each other. 3.75 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! This is an adorable holiday read that I didnt want to end. I enjoyed the romance with the characters and liked each of the families. Being a teacher I understood the parent volunteer drama all too well. I wanted the story to continue and to see the main characters romance continue-I was so sad when this ended! I will be posting my review on my bookstagram on 12/29! @bookofthemeg

I was a bit disappointed that this second Christmas novel by Evans is set in a new location, I was hoping to catchup with characters from the first novel. I enjoyed Melody and Jonathan and their struggles to figure out what life looks like after loss. If you are a fan of The Great British Baking Show this is the perfect holiday read.
3.5 stars

I thought this book was super cute and I really enjoyed the characters. I loved experiencing Melody's growth and seeing her fall in love again. Jonathan is such an endearing MMC. The children characters were believable; Finn and Tate were so much fun, and then the added Ainsley!! There were times I was anxious... because of Charlene and her "antics". 🤭 Overall: a super sweet book with fun characters and a cute town, and only the sweetest kisses! 😘

I wanted to like this book much more than I actually did. The description sounded wonderful - parenting challenges, holiday fun and cookies! I did find the main characters and their story to be engaging. It just seemed to take too long to play out. Thanks #NetGalley

The Christmas Cookie Wars is a cute holiday book. It’s very Hallmark style but I still enjoyed it. Melody is a widow whose boys are always in trouble and tardy to school which requires conversations with the elementary principal who is very single and hot. When someone needs to step in and assist with the cookie celebrations – Melody volunteers and finds herself getting to know the principal a little better and realizes he isn’t as bad as she thinks. Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy!

This gave such cute, Hallmark Christmas vibes! This book was so wholesome and perfect for the holiday season.

All the cookie related activities and the romance were very cute but the writing and pace weren’t keeping me as engaged so I did feel like I had to push through it a lot and it took me a lot longer to finish. Overall a very cute holiday read!

If you're looking for a book filled with clean Christmas spirit, this is the book for you. I appreciated how much of this book is rooted in traditions and family spending time together, with just a sprinkle of romance. I do love that our main character is a "woman of a certain age" who has dealt with the death of her spouse and that her love interest also has a past. I think that makes it more interesting and the character seem not as one dimensional. The only downfall of this book is that it felt a bit elementary at times and the dialogue and romance scenes became a bit cringe. That being said, I did enjoy the Christmas vibes that the book had and the Christmas Daze celebration sounded like a fantastic town tradition. Overall, I give this book a rating of 3.25/5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

A fun Christmas read with lots of fun and funny escapades of a harried mom trying to bring Christmas joy to her twins that have lost their father.

This was ok for a very early Christmas book, even though I read it later than I was supposed to. I liked this better than I thought I would. Yes, it reminds everyone of a Hallmark Christmas movie BUT I felt the romance was not as swoony as it could have been. I liked the stories of the side characters more than the romantic aspect.

Just ok. I like the Joanne Fluke Hannah Swensen series more than this stand -alone book by this other author. Maybe I am Scroogey about this book.

Recommended for the side characters NOT the romance.

THanks to Netgalley, eliza evans and publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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