3.5 Stars

This was a sweet Holiday story. Melody is determined to make Christmas special for her twin boys as it’s a hard time of year since they lost their father. When the annual cookie war celebration is at risk to be cancelled Melody goes all in to save it and the holiday for her boys.

Melody doesn’t anticipate developing a friendship and eventually romantic feelings for the boys principal.

Naturally there’s a lot of Cookie baking going on which dragged a little bit, the sabotage and mystery piece in the story that added more fun to the story.

As Melody gets to know Jonathon better her heart begins to heal from the loss of her husband and she allows herself to feel a joy she didn’t think she would feel again.

Melody and Jonathon were a couple the more we got together, the more I wanted to cheer for them!

Thank you NetGalley, Eliza Evans, and Putnam Books for my gifted ARC.

Romance Content: Just Kissing

There isn’t a holiday that makes me think about cookies more than Christmas, which is what makes Eliza Evans’ The Christmas Cookie Wars a fun and festive read. I am familiar with Eliza by way of her previous novel, The Christmas Cafe, and while The Christmas Cookie Wars wasn’t quite as engaging as its predecessor, it is still an enjoyable read, especially if you are into sweet and sappy holiday romance movies.

In this novel, Melody, a widow of twin boys, takes over her sons’ school’s Christmas Cookie Club, except there’s one problem - she is no baker, and pretty soon, everyone is going to know it. As Melody tries to coordinate cookie swaps and baking challenges (while not wrecking everyone’s fun due to her lack of skills and experience in the cookie department), she keeps finding herself entangled in holiday hijinks with the school’s swoony principal. Is it possible that something OTHER than cookies is being whipped up in Melody’s kitchen?

The Christmas Cookie Wars is a mixed bag, providing lots of opportunities for readers to indulge in some holiday baking while not having to take on the task themselves, but it also suffers from a bit of ennui. Melody’s relationship with her sons and the fact that she is utterly hopeless in the kitchen are the highlights of this novel, whereas the romance, which is supposed to be the focal point, falls to the wayside, failing to keep me engaged or invested. That’s not a dealbreaker for me, especially considering the fact that I don’t understand why so many holiday novels are written as romances - yes, you can have Christmas without a love interest - but overall, this book is just lacking in spark and spunk.

This was such a sweet, funny, and heartwarming story. As the mom of a 10 year old son, I felt all the feelings of my sweet baby growing up and becoming a young man just like in this book. I laughed, I swooned, and I cried. This book, while heartwarming and sweet, does tackle a difficult subject. I enjoyed the hijinks and loved all of the Christmas events that took place throughout the book. I wish I lived in a small town like this! If you are looking for a sweet Christmas romance, take this one for a spin!

Melody is a widow raising energetic twin sons and running a successful fashion design business in a small mountain town. She manages it all successfully - even if the boys are late to school occasionally and their cookies are baked from store bought dough. When the school's Queen Bee mom who runs all the things quits the Cookie committee, Melody volunteers to keep the fun traditions going for the town, especially her kids. The hunky principal has reservations; she is the mom with the tardy kids and store bought cookies after all and he is the three time winner of the cookie contest.

With the help of her family, Melody gets all of the cookie events back on track. Along the way, there are some funny near-catastrophes, lots of holiday festivities in a town that loves its cookies, and a sweet love connection. Jonathan is the definition of a hidden cinnamon roll love interest.

I loved Melody's family and how close and supportive they are. The third act conflict was realistic and believable. I really liked how much grace and kindness Melody showed to the bullying types. She also has to navigate grief, keep memories of her husband alive for her children, and adjust to the boys growing up. How does that make Christmas look this year?

My only disappointment is that the advance reader copy didn't have the recipes because I want to make Jonathan's grandma's cookies.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. I am required by law to disclose this. #TheChristmasCookieWars #NetGalley

This book was not my favorite. While I liked Melody and Jonathon together, the writing was sososo dry and repetitive. While the actually events changed, the same things kinda just kept repeating over and over and got really old after the first few times.

I liked the kid’s bonds throughout the book, but they all kinda felt one dimensional to me. This definitely wasn’t bad, but I also would not recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the advanced copy!

3.5 ⭐️

Recipe for this book:
1 cup holiday
1 cup second chances
1/2 cup “competitors” to lovers
2 cups heartwarming

Warm, fuzzy, and sweet, The Christmas Cookie Wars was the perfect way to kick off my holiday reading. If you like Hallmark movies and enjoy a Gilmore Girls Stars Hollow feel, this is a great book for you!

Thank you Penguin Group Putnam | G.P. Putnams’s Sons and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

The Christmas Cookie Wars by Eliza Evans
PUB Day: October 22nd, 2024
Thank you, NetGalley & Penguin Group Putnam
4.5 ⭐️

FMC: Fashion Designer
MMC: Elementary Principal

This was my first book by Eliza Evans but it was such a great read from the beginning! I absolutely fell in love with the two main characters in every way possible! Love how their relationship developed throughout the story and showed perseverance through all the challenges life threw at them! I could totally see a sequel to this book being made to show their happily ever after.

#NetGalley #NursesWhoRead #TeachersWhoRead #AutisticBookworm

I am always somewhat skeptical when I read a single parent book for different reasons. But this book was done wonderfully with the parents and kids.
Melody and her twin boys, Tate and Finn, were so much fun to read about. Them learning to cook was an adventure in itself, which I completely understand as I've been teaching my 8-year-old daughter how to cook. The flour fight was perfect.
This book was exceptionally holiday - and cookie - themed. It made me want to bake cookies every time I picked it up!
I do wish it was more show than tell, as the latter creates blander books with less feeling. I wanted more of the romance between Melody and Jonathan. I needed to see them interact in a romantic setting more than twice. They mostly hung out at school functions, talking about their kids, and we are told everything else.
Overall, I did enjoy the book.
3.5/5 stars rounded up.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review. I enjoyed this small town romance! It is the holiday season and Melody is stretched thin between work, taking care of her twins, and baking for their school's fundraiser. When she finds out the school is cancelling bake sale events for fundraising opportunities, she steps in to lead the cookie committee and keep the fundraiser alive. With the help of the handsome principal, she learns to slow down and appreciate the holidays, strengthen her relationship with her boys, and fall in love. This book definitely gave off Hallmark movie vibes!

This book is adorable! It’s the sweetest little holiday read! I really fell in love with Melody and Johnathon. They were both easy characters to love. I found myself rooting for their HEA the whole time!

The Christmas Cookies added a fun touch. I loved all of the different events and competitions throughout the book. Prepare to crave cookies after reading this one! The side characters really added a lot to the story too. I want Melody’s sister to have a book! She added some great banter.

If you are looking for a fun book to put you in the holiday spirit, then I highly recommend grabbing this book!

This was a great book to get you in the mood for the holidays. It was a great Holiday Rom-Com with Hallmark vibes.
Fast read and a great holiday read!



Thank you to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons and Edelweiss+ for the ARC

HELLOOOO CHRISTMAS BOOK SEASON!!! I am so excited to dive into my TBR, the Christmas trope is my favorite trope.

I am on my audiobook grind right now apparently. I ALSO did this book on audio and I loved the narrator!! She really had the most relaxing voice and gave so much personality to the characters. Overall, this is the PERFECT Lifetime Movie-esque Christmas book that is definitely sweet. No spice here, so it’s perfect for anyone that loves romance without the SMUT.

This book has:
-cookies galore
- perfect snowy setting in Colorado
- widowed single mother
- hot principal
- small town drama

Overall, if you are in the need of a feel good sweeeeet romance definitely pick this up!

I found this to be a really fun read in between some other more serious reads. I liked the rivalry and how it developed into something more. These were quirky and fun characters. And it really helped get me into the holiday mood.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

This is a quintessential Hallmark movie. It will bring to mind those heartwarming Christmas tales where the female character is only lightly sketched while the male embodies all the best qualities on paper. However, the story never truly delves into how these characters come to be. There are plot holes that remain frustratingly unresolved, leaving you wondering why certain interactions unfold as they do. The whole idea of cookie week feels hastily executed, and the dynamics between characters lack depth. Yet, if you’re in the mood for a feel-good story, where everything tidily wraps up at the end with a perfect ribbon on top, then this is the book for you. Just don’t anticipate anything more profound than a Hallmark movie.

This book is a hallmark movie in book form! A great book to start the holiday season with. The only reason I gave 3 stars instead of 4 was because I felt like there was a lot more room for character development.

"I never know what to say to you. I mean, I never feel like I say the right thing to you. The things I want to say.”

This was a fun read! I really enjoyed reading how Melody and her sons’ principal, Jonathan, butt heads as they are in charge of the Christmas cookie committee. I was expecting a little bit more enemies to lovers between Melody and Jonathan and we didn’t get so much of that. It was more that they just didn’t see eye to eye and everything, but they were pretty much polite with one another. The chemistry between the two of them was everything and I loved all the hilarious scenes the two of them get themselves into. While this book is a close door romance, the kisses were especially hot! I really like how this was more a slow burn romance. One thing I liked about this book was how Melody’s sons were quite realistic for fictional kids. I liked that they had their emotions and sometimes they acted up instead of being goody two shoes. The ending was perfect and I like that it had the perfect amount of holiday feels!

Read if you like:
3rd person heroine’s POV
Single mom romance
Single mom x School Principal
Holiday romance
Closed door romance
Realistic kids
Slow burn romance

I thought the characters and the plot were great. When done successfully, romances with single parents are something I really enjoy. What a wonderful, beautiful holiday romance! It was like a hallmark movie in a book, and I loved it! The main characters' romance developed slowly and was very sweet.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin group putnam for this eARC.

5/5, one of my favorite holiday romance books this season! I love the main character's relationship with her children. The storyline was wonderful and the relationship build was slow and sweet. It was so easy to picture everything happening in this one. I loved it and didn't want it to end!

thank you to netgalley and penguin group putnam for this eARC!

this book was adorable! i really enjoyed the plot and the characters. i’m a big fan of romances with single parents when it’s done well, i think it’s very cute, and this was done well. it’s the perfect holiday romance; its simple, its incredibly christmassy, and its not spicy. it’s definitely corny. i think most holiday novels (especially romances) are a little corny by definition, but it’s not easy to ignore in this one, so if corny isn’t your thing this book probably isn’t for you. for me though, it definitely is the right vibe for what this book is. i don’t really have any specific critiques or a part that really stood out, it truly is just an adorable, christmas, small town love story. this book will be perfect for that cozy christmas vibe and i’ll definitely be recommending it in december!

This felt familiar, and not in a good way for me. It was missing a spark, not only to really deliver as a Christmas romance, but also with the romance in general. I did think it was cute, simple, and sweet, and will definitely find it's audience! It's just not me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Evans, and PRH for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.