thank you to netgalley for the arc xoxo

This was so mind-blowingly cute??? This hit so many good romance tropes on top of being such a fun little cozy mystery book. Most of the other characters are outrageous in the best way.

I thought the first couple of chapters were a little slow, but once we get to the mystery it starts flying. The chapters are short and it’s easy to get through. very charming and a lot of fun.

Would recommend it if you want a light Christmas book filled with romance and mystery!

and i do love when my men are needy and in LOVE.

Maggie Chase despises Ethan Wyatt, the two rivaling each other in the book industry. She works to avoid him at all costs but it has become increasingly difficult as his cool-guy persona grows and grows in publishing. It’s also Christmas time, another thing Maggie despises; she has a complicated history with Christmas. So when Maggie receives a letter from a fan who wants to fly her to England for Christmas she’s obviously hesitant but her beloved friend, Deborah, pushes her to go and promises her that she won’t regret it. What she doesn’t know is that Ethan has accepted the same letter and now they’re both trapped in an English mansion together during Christmas . When the host of the party—and not just any host but an icon in the book industry—goes missing from a locked room, the two are forced to work together to solve the mystery.

Hi hello it’s me and no I wasn’t hacked. I read a romance book! Now to be fair, the mystery aspect of it may have been what truly lassoed me. My main qualm with romance books is always the same and it’s a personal thing; it’s why many people read romance and why I abhor it. Sex. Spice. Whatever you want to call it. I don’t like it, I don’t care, it doesn’t add to the plot (I said it!), I don’t want it in my books. So when I saw early reviewers calling this a “closed-door” romance… Well that in addition to a mystery and a snowy landscape, I was in.

I actually adored this book. It was witty and playful without being too cheesy and the short chapters move the story along at a quick pace.
He has GOT to stop calling her “sweetheart” though 🤮 and it was a little frustrating how quickly Maggie went from “I hate you” to “omg his abs”.

Overall, this was a cute and fun read—very Knives Out vibes with a romance sub-plot—and I would definitely recommend it to my fellow readers who want an easy to read holiday story without the spice (I see you).

That’s enough romance for me for the next two years (nothing personal) ookkkk bye.

Thank you Avon Books and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review! Available 09/24/2024!

Murder and mystery and romance, oh my!!

Ally Carter's latest novel, The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year, is sure to be a hit with romance lovers and fans of murder mysteries alike. Full of sweeping tension, present and past flashbacks, and twists nobody will see coming, I found myself racing to the last page. Admittedly, the first 15-20% are a bit slow, but once the story picks up, it feels like a spring. The perfect book to add to your winter TBR. Not too holiday-y to read any other time of the year.

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year was the perfect enemies to lovers trope! This book had mystery, romance and a fantastic plot twist. I couldn’t put this book down!

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

Rating: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: Closed door

An ENORMOUS thank you to HarperCollins, Avon, Netgalley, and Ally Carter for access to this ARC!

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year is one of my favorite reads so far! I’ve enjoyed every single Ally Carter book, but this one is just absolutely incredible. From the winter setting to the mystery to the romance, this was so fun. The banter, the chemistry, the supporting cast of characters, and the setting on a rural English estate all make this one a must read.

Having a mystery novel with elements of romance set in an English manor during a snowstorm with all the suspects locked-in together further increases the excitement of this read. It was ingenious to have the two main characters, (Maggie and Ethan), who are both mystery authors, solving the disappearance of an iconic mystery author (with nods to Agatha Christie throughout).

This is a heartwarming, laugh-out-loud, and addicting story that I’d love to read over and over again! Maggie’s courage, strength, and bravery coupled with Ethan’s kindness and determination make these two even more special and lovable.

Tropes:
- Rivals to lovers
- Slow burn
- Closed door
- He falls first

This was by far: "The Most Wonderful Disappointment of the Year" - I so wanted to like this book. Like all of Ally Carter's books - they have such a great premise but total fail to deliver and instead give you unbelievable storylines and confusing plots that make no sense.

1 - we have the cliche beginning of the cheating husband.
2 - we have the YA plot of a poor college student who befriends a super wealthy BFF. It was kinda silly in Death and Other Details but at least it related to the plot in that show.
3 - This wasn't a mystery. They didn't investigate, they didn't look for clues. And there were way too many characters haphazardly thrown in at the first dinner party. It worked in Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None but here it just read like the character list of the first page of a play. Like hey - meet this guy, shakes hand, alright now this person, nods head, great now this meet this person, smiles, okay now onto the next person and the next and the next....
4 - There can be nothing more tacky than writers insulting other writers b/c of the genre they want to write. This instantly made the main character unlikeable.
5 and most importantly - what was the plot? I couldn't follow anything going on in here. And then at the end, the geriatric rich lady is back in her own house. What was the point of disappearing for an entire year. She's already a recluse in the secluded countryside. Not only was this an incredibly underwhelming revelation - but it also explained nothing. We have a super frail, old lady with no skills beyond seating for long periods of time in front of a laptop go missing/runs away for no reason at all. There's no danger she needs to escape, there's no far off land she can't take a private jet to and she has no survival skills that we know of. In fact, we barely even get to hear her say 2 sentences and then she's gone until the last chapter.
6 Maggie was completely unlikeable. The main character wanted nothing except to whine in flashbacks about how tough her life was but also remind us how rich she was and how successful she was. It didn't evoke sympathy, just boredom.
7 There was no chemistry between Ethan and Maggie. It didn't even make sense why they got together.
8 It didn't feel Christmas-y at all

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC

“The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year” is a delightful visit to a cozy winter manor filled with mystery and romance. I am forever drawn to the setting and atmosphere of a story like this one. There is no better setting for a mystery novel than a snowed-in, classic English manor where all the suspects are locked-in together. It was clever to have the two main characters, both mystery authors, solving the disappearance of another well-known mystery author. The personal journey and character growth was genuine. The romance was angsty and heart-warming. The original “Knives Out” is my favorite movie and it was so fun that this book had similar themes, but with the addition of romance! I loved all the nods to Agatha Christie.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Starting this review by simply saying Ethan Freaking Wyatt. Swooning. The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year simply was just that, and was one of my favorite reads so far! Maggie Chase (Margaret Elizabeth that is) is an author who finds herself invited to England for Christmas, a holiday she 100% dreads since the death of her parents. Shes is not given many details about the invitation, just that her number one fan wishes to spend the holiday with her. She arrives and finds out she’s spending the holiday with Ethan Wyatt (her arch nemesis) and her ALL TIME favorite author, Eleanor Ashely. But things take a major turn when Eleanor disappears out of thin air. Everyone is a suspect in this eclectic group, the butler, a duke and duchess, an inspector, a doctor, a new lawyer, a long lost cousin, and a relative with very sticky fingers. When attempted murders start adding up, Maggie must find Eleanor and solve the biggest crime of the century.

I loved this story! I found myself grinning many times reading it, laughing out loud and kicking my feet. Maggie and Ethan have the best banter and Ethan is up there on my list for book boyfriends! I enjoyed the classic “who done it” theme- everyone loves an old school Nancy Drew story. Maggie’s growth as a character was so well written, after all her past experiences she is able to find self confidence and follow her instincts. I’m rating this 4.5 stars and will definitely be recommending it to friends this upcoming holiday season! Thanks to Net Galley, Harper Collins Publishing, and the author for the advanced copy. All opinions above are my own.

Ally Carter is an absolute joy to read in The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year! The Queen of Cozy Mystery Maggie Chase is in for the Christmas of her lifetime as she’s invited to a mystery Christmas house party at an English estate with her nemesis, Thriller writer Ethan Wyatt—but what they think is a Christmas party becomes a race to solve a crime as their host, the most famous mystery author Eleanor Ashley disappears and they’re each other’s only allies. This is bingeable and fun. I just wanted to give Maggie a hug. Divorced and betrayed by her best friend, she is constantly questioning her own judgement and has made herself so small, so it was just a delight watching her find her bravery. She’s strong and resilient and loves so big. And Ethan! I loved having some of his POV in there; it adds so much. He is also so resilient and kind and protective. It’s my favorite kind of enemies-to-lovers/he falls first kind of trope. I will say it maybe felt a little rushed, but I loved every moment still. The twist of Ethan and his feelings broke my heart for him, and their banter and romance is so sweet. And I loved the mystery/Knives Out vibes for this! It’s addicting and heartwarming, and I just really liked this one!

Thank you netgalley for the arc!! This was such a fun holiday read! It's advertised as Knives Out with a holiday rom-com twist, which I honestly think is the perfect description. I'm always trying to figure out what's coming next when I'm reading any book, and I love when a book takes me by surprise - which this one certainly did. I liked both the main characters, and really enjoyed when the book switched to dual pov. There was good balance of mystery, comedy, and romance, although I would have liked a bit more of the back story between the two characters. I feel like the romance moved too quickly, and although past encounters are mentioned, I wish we'd gotten more of those earlier connections between the fmc and the mmc. In terms of writing, the pacing was good and the plot was engaging. I would have also liked to see more of the side characters/suspects, though I understand with this also being a romance why the main two were the focus. Overall, I enjoyed this book and think its a really solid holiday read!

Ally Carter can do no wrong. This book had me hooked right from the beginning. The Most Wonderful Crime Of The Year is full of mystery, romance, and some very cheeky main characters that I adore. I also loved the way a present day police interview was interwoven throughout the whole story. Definitely felt very Knives Out but still felt fresh. It's not spicy at all but it doesn't mean I wasn't kicking my feet like a teenage girl. Maggie was such a great female lead and I'd love to read another book one day with her solving another mystery.

The Most Wonderful Crime Of The Year by Ally Carter
Was a super cute holiday romance with a bit of a two way to it.
Loved and felt so bad for Maggie everything she went through the year before but I’m so glad she was able to overcome those hardships and I loved Ethan we of course didn’t know in the beginning but this man has been in love with her. Such a cute romcom would totally recommend.
Tropes
-work rivals
-slow burn
-closed door romance
-he falls first
Thank you net gallery for the arc.

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

4.5 stars

Boy did this keep me on my toes! I really liked Maggie and Ethan. As you learn more about Ethan the more he grows on you. I think this moved at a really good pace and wasn’t confusing, even with a big cast of characters. I like this new Ally Carter much better than her release from last year. And I was a HUGE fan of her Gallagher Girls series growing up.

I would recommend this book!

I really enjoyed reading this one! I've been a longtime fan of Ally Carter and I adored "The Blonde Identity," so that does not come as a surprise at all.
The characters were so fun, and their banter was so refreshing. I don't remember the last time I read banter that felt so real and different at the same time. The characters were fun, though I do wish there'd been more dimension to them. The mystery was also fun and flowed well, but I do wish the reader could've been able to solve it too. That just didn't feel possible given how the reader isn't given so many details until the ending. Still, it was very enjoyable and fun!
The midway addition of Ethan's POV was startling and did feel a bit random, but I enjoyed his chapters and still enjoyed the books structure regardless.
The romance was so cute and fun! I had so much fun with these two.
This was such a fun and cozy novel (despite/including the whole murder mystery) and I'll definitely be coming back to reread this in the winter.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

This was so fun! Classic Ally Carter. The banter was great. "Wanna make out?" made me laugh every time. That, and Ethan continuously calling Maggie by the wrong middle name. The back and forth timeline doesn't always work well; it does here though. I wish there had been a little more back story, particularly for Ethan. If you're a big mystery reader, you'll figure out whodunit but that won't detract from the fun along the way. I could definitely see this as a movie.

2.5 ⭐️This book had an intriguing premise—a “murder” mystery involving a mystery writer—but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The plot was fairly predictable, which made the story feel a bit flat, as there wasn’t much else to keep my interest.

I also struggled to connect with the characters. The repetitive “damsel in distress” trope, with a male character swooping in to save the day, became tiresome. The lack of character growth was disappointing, and the ending didn’t offer any surprises. While the concept was fun, the execution left me wanting more.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Loved it, obsesses with it, gonna go read it again as soon as I post this review! Thank you so much to Netgalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for approving my request! The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter was laugh-out funny, full of banter and intrigue, and I read the whole thing in one sitting. This a great read for those who don’t want spicy scenes in their romance novel but still want a ton of tension and yearning.

This was a fun and cozy holiday twist on a knives out mystery. The setting on a rural English estate with all the magical (and scary) Christmas vibes was perfect, and I think it'll be the perfect thriller to recommend this holiday season, especially with the adorable cover. I wanted a bit more from the characters at times, and it's my personal pet peeve when authors portray their own industry totally inaccurately (it's the one thing you don't have to research!!!), but this was a solid read that will for sure sell well this Christmas.

I have loved every Ally Carter book I have read. This was no exception. Not only was it fun and funny, I loved the undercurrent of how words can empower or destroy. In a world that wants to let you think the woman is crazy, this was such a great story to say...No she is NOT!! The locked room mystery was fun and the "Reveal" was a treat!

Wow… this book had me hooked from the first chapter. Both MC chemistry is off the charts. The plot was fantastic. Everything just blended so well. It was like I was watching my own Clue unravel before me but with romance. The romance wasn’t the main focus which makes the book so much better. It’s the mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat . Can’t wait for her next book ❤️

Highly recommend to anyone who loves a good mystery , and romance.

Thank you NetGalley, Harpercollins , and Ally Carter for the opportunity to read and arc of her upcoming book in exchange for an honest review.