🎄Book Review🎄
*
Summary-
Meet Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt:
She’s the new Queen of the Cozy Mystery.
He’s Mr. Big-time Thriller Guy.
She hates his guts.
He thinks her name is Marcie (no matter how many times she’s told him otherwise.)
But when they both accept a cryptic invitation to attend a Christmas house party at the English estate of a reclusive fan, neither is expecting their host to be the most powerful author in the world: Eleanor Ashley, the Duchess of Death herself.
That night, the weather turns, and the next morning Eleanor is gone.
She vanished from a locked room, and Maggie has to wonder: Is Eleanor in danger? Or is it all some kind of test? Is Ethan the competition? Or is he the only person in that snowbound mansion she can trust?
As the snow gets deeper and the stakes get higher, every clue will bring Maggie and Ethan closer to the truth—and each other. Because, this Christmas, these two rivals are going to have to become allies (and maybe more) if they have any hope of saving Eleanor.
Assuming they don’t kill each other first.
*
Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
*
My thoughts- This was the perfect way to kick off my holiday reads this season! A fun combination of thriller and romance, with lots of drama. I enjoyed the characters but at the same time I really wanted more from this. It had the potential to go deep, if Maggie’s divorce was more resolved it would have been great. It was a good enemies to lovers, but it could have been even better if the characters had a bit more depth.
*
QOTD- Any fun weekend plans ?! We’re getting our Christmas tree tonight and decorating then going on a nice little date night this weekend 🥰.

🌲The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year - Ally Carter

4.25 ⭐️ - Oh I liked this !! This is a fun mystery that takes place around Christmas and has romance. This was short, exciting, and cozy for all the winter vibes! This one is all over bookstagram right now and rightfully so.

Maggie Chase is a big time cozy mystery author. Ethan Wyatt is a famous thriller author. Maggie hates Ethan and he thinks her name is Marcy. But when both of them accept a cryptic Christmas invitation, neither is expecting it to be from the most powerful author in the world: Eleanor Ashley, the Duchess of Death herself. The next night the weather turns, the snow builds, and Eleanor is gone. As the storm gets worse and the stakes get higher, every clue in Eleanor’s disappearance brings Maggie and Ethan closer to the truth… and also each other.

I loved the premise of this book. I was so into the mystery authors solving a mystery! This was funny, fast-paced, and took lots of twists and turns. Was there a lot of characters though or was it just me? I loved the crossover connections between our main characters pasts and present and how it brought them together, not only romantically, but professionally to solve this murder mystery. I enjoyed listening to this one - short chapters! - so I definitely recommend the audio! Try to pick this one up soon before the holiday season is over. It’s perfect to mix up with those hallmark love stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC! I love everything Ally writes, so I was thrilled to read this. And it DID NOT disappoint! I laughed, I cried, I HAD to know what happened next. Everyone needs to read this book!

4.5

Setting: UK
Rep: n/a

Knives Out is one of my favourite films of all time so I leapt on this book the moment I saw Knives Out as a comp. I love a mystery, I love books about authors, and turns out I really enjoy a romystery. Move over, romantasy, there's a new bitch in town.

Ally Carter and I go way back, all the way to my teen days. Her adult offerings of late have kept me going. So imagine my enthusiasm on coming across a new adult novel by Carter, one just in time for the holiday, brimming with hijinks.

Romance is a genre that embraces it's tropes but sometimes this comes across too-too. I especially find this to be the case with holiday romances. Carter manages to perfectly blend romance and mystery in this fun locked room story of two mystery writers trapped together for the holidays.

Ethan and Maggie jump off the page and I could not put The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year down. This would be a great title to gift to those in your life who enjoy a good romcom but aren't necessarily romance readers. It was fun, sweet, and perfectly paced.

Rating: 5 stars!

What a cutie little mystery with Knives Out vibes. Two authors who hate each other are invited to a strnage home for the holidays. Someone goes missing, someone is almost murdered, and rogue events start happening in the old house. A quick read!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyagerfor an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A new twist on the locked room mystery! Loved this! Eleanor is a force, Maggie(Marcie) and Ethan are phenomenal! I loved everything about this clue like mystery rom com!

this was so much fun! We’ve got a snowed in/locked door mystery set at Christmas time. The MCs are rival mystery writers trying to solve the case of the author who inspired them!! It was bingeable, short chapters, and a closed door romance. We love our leather jacket guy!! Will be recommending to anyone who wants a holiday read that isn’t hallmark-y!

What a fun read! I wanted a Christmas book with a touch of mystery and this delivered! It was a holiday rom com with a mystery thrown in and I ate it up! Enemies to lovers top tier.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

• mystery meets rom com 🎄
• enemies to lovers
• witty banter

The dynamic between our two main characters is really great! While I wasn't *super* interested in the main story, I did enjoy following along with their crazy antics. Overall, a fun enough holiday read.

🗣 Thank you to SOTC/Morrow Marketing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book via early ebook! All opinions are honest and my own.

What a wonderful, fun book to read during the Christmas season! I love a great cozy mystery and this one is a fast paced, cannot wait to see what happens next kind of book. I highly recommend this book because it has it all: romance, mystery, adventure and heart. The banter is fantastic and you just want it to go on and on. Great for that flight or road trip this holiday season.

Maggie Chase is a brilliant cozy mystery writer. She loves writing and the fans love her. She has fashioned her own writing style but she still idolize her all-time favorite mystery writer Eleanor Ashley. When her agent informs her that ‘her biggest fan” has invited Maggie to spend Christmas at a remote English estate, she can hardly believe it and is a little reluctant. But agents can be pushy so she agrees to go. When she finds out the writer she despises most is also going to the same Christmas party in the English countryside, she cannot believe it. Ethan Wyatt is the cockiest, most annoying person she has ever met. He writes the big, action thriller type of books and is a darling of the publisher. He also calls her Marcie. She is regretting getting on that plane with him but wants to see this Christmas trip through. And the mystery fan turns out to be the reclusive Eleanor Ashley!

Once settled in, Maggie discovers there are quite a few additional guests. The first night dinner set events in motion and a real life mystery has to be solved. Eleanor has disappeared. A massive storm has stranded all of them on the estate. What happened to Eleanor? Who would hurt her and why? Ethan and Maggie team up to make it out alive and find Eleanor. Shenanigans ensue, thank goodness. What a story!

Oh my gosh, I LOVED this book!! I finished 5 mins before I had to be at work! It was such a good mystery with a cute side romance plot plus CHRISTMAS!!!! It was everything I didn't know I needed! It was so addictive and I didn't wanna stop. The audio was PERFECT! It's one I'll definitely reread again next Christmas. It was like Knives Out meets Inheritance Game but with a cute Christmas vibe and "enemies" romance. HIGHLY RECOMMEND esp the audio!

This book was so cute, quirky, and funny. I loved the story and characters. The perfect blend of romance, comedy, and mystery. I noted a few minor typos but no major issues.

Thank you Avon and NetGalley for allowing me to be able to get an eARC of The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year in exchange for an honest review!

This book is SO DANG FUN. I loved it so much. It combines both romance and mystery / suspense for me. I found this book to be so fun and Ally Carter did an amazing job writing it! I love the characters. Ethan’s protectiveness has me gasping for air.

A locked room, isolated location mystery romance? YES PLEASE!!
First off, I love the cover art. I know don't judge a book Yada Yada, but let's be honest here...good cover art draws interest.
I expected this to be a cheesy romance. It wasn't. There's romance, but it's a nice slow burn that makes it more believable for a rivals/enemies to lovers storyline. It doesn't jump in too fast, instead giving the characters room to develop both individually and into a romantic connection. I really enjoyed the dynamic between the two main characters. I had more than a few laugh out loud moments throughout.
The plot was great. Of course an aging mystery writer disappearing brings to mind Agatha Christie. As does the locked room mystery. There was more than one mystery to solve along the way, and the author did a nice job of bringing the story full circle.
All in all I really enjoyed this book. It's fun, well-written and has some great characters!
A big thanks to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC.

Thank you for the ARC!

I absolutely loved this! The mystery, the characters, the setting, the BANTER! It was fast-paced yet so fun and satisfying. I miss Maggie and Ethan already and would read more adventures of them.

I don’t think the cover fits the book but that’s my only criticism.

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 304 / Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release Date: October 8, 2024

Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt have been longtime rivals since graduate school. Now Maggie is the queen of cozy mysteries and Ethan is the king of action thrillers. Both have been invited to a Christmas weekend away at the home of Eleanor Ashley, a world-renowned mystery novelist and Maggie’s favorite writer of all time. So when Eleanor suddenly goes missing, Maggie is determined to find her or at least find out who’s responsible for her disappearance and possible murder. But, of course, Ethan has to involve himself in her sleuthing, which eventually turns from annoying meddling into welcomed flirting. Curiouser and curiouser!

This cozy mystery/romcom is the perfect Christmas read on a winter’s day under a comfy blanket next to a twinkling Christmas tree. I enjoyed the rivals-to-lovers banter and finally revealed revelations between Maggie and Ethan.

Thank you, @TheAllyCarter, @AvonBooks, @HarperVoyagerUS, and @NetGalley for my gifted copy.

A delightful holiday book with a fun mystery with a closed door romance. I loved how the book was framed and plotted. With the interview starting each chapter and a late added dual POV, it felt fresh and new and filled twists - some I guessed and so many more that I didn't. But most importantly there was a sense of depth to both the characters and the plot that is often missing from holiday books, but this one had in spades. Maybe one of my favorite holiday books.

If Carter writes it I will read it. I was an avid writer of hers while I was a tween and for her to keep writing and now for adults I just feel like I am dreaming.

4.5 stars
I've officially switched into Christmas mode, and this was the perfect read for it.
Did I pre-order this based solely on the title? You bet I did.
The Most Wonderful Crime Of The Year by Ally Carter is, first and foremost, hilarious. Just the mood I needed. But it's more than that. It's a locked-room (well, specifically, mansion) with all the associated tropes - sprawling country estate of legendary author Eleanor Ashley, snowstorm, power is down, bridge is out. And one bed for warmth, of course.
Authors Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt have been summoned to board a trans-continental flight - no details, just get on, we ride at dawn.
What follows is not only a fun rom-com, but also a great seasonal mystery with an entertaining cast of characters. And some heartbreaking emotional depth to our MCs to round it out.
Highly recommended!