Love Nina Prose and The Maid series! This was the perfect edition to the sequel! This was a short read that I would recommend to all my friends that have read the rest of the series.

This was a sweet little book but not what I was expecting from The Maid series. While I always adore going into Mollys mind, the story was obvious. I don’t feel that i learn more about the characters or their history. Thanks to Ballantine Books for an advanced copy of The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose in exchange for my honest review.

In the words of Mariah Carey… It’s tiiiiiime!!! (said in a very high pitched voice). Christmas is almost here and what better way to get into the holiday spirit than with a delightful holiday novella featuring one of the most charming characters in recent years: the one and only Molly Gray.

In The Mistletoe Mystery Molly will have to navigate the festive season while grappling with her anxieties and self doubt, particularly about her relationship with Juan Manuel. The story offers an interesting mix of a light hearted cozy read while delving into Molly’s psychology and the way her mind works.

The story deals with some themes like trust and doubt in relationships, self-worth and the questioning of your own value in your own eyes as well as those of your significant other, and the challenge that understanding social cues presents for a character like Molly, all while emphasizing the love and joy of the festive season.

I love Molly’s personal growth throughout the series. What could have been a character that remained superficial, focused only on her quirks, is becoming a fully fleshed out person, making her journey fully relatable and engaging for readers.

Even though the plot can be somewhat predictable, it is infused with so much charm and warmth that it makes for the perfect holiday escape. I am and will always be on Molly’s team.

Thanks to Ballantine Books for an advanced copy of The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose. I've enjoyed the Molly the Maid series but this was just okay.

I was hoping for a real mystery and you knew from the first chapter where this was going. I'm glad Molly has Juan and her friends, but this book was Molly being Molly...

Molly the Maid is Amelia Bedlia for adults!

Full of heart, love, and mistaken motives, The Mistletoe Mystery is a mystery to absolutely no one except Molly herself. As the days countdown to Christmas, her boyfriend Juan Manuel's actions become more and more confounding to Molly who is convinced that he must be thinking of breaking up with her. Of course, we get wonderful flashbacks of traditions with her beloved grandmother and cameos from most of the hotel staff that we have come to know over the course of the first two books.

While I did thoroughly enjoy this short novella with all the yuletide feels and think it makes the perfect bite-sized bridge between the second and upcoming third book in the series, I have to say it did leave me slightly disappointed. One of the things that makes Molly...well, Molly, is that even though she takes almost everything literally, it is her powers of deduction that show how bright she truly is. Unfortunately, The Mistletoe Mystery tends to treat her more like a fool than an astute and observant individual and I didn't like the feeling that we were pitying her in her inability to discern the truth. So, for me this one is 3.75 stars rounded up to 4 because it fell just shy of my expectations.

That being said, I can't wait to read the next book and hope that the Molly that we have grown to know and love is back solving crimes like her usual self.

Thank you to NetGalley, Nita Prose, and Ballantine for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow I cannot get over my love for Molly the Maid 🤗

This Novella was SO perfect for the holidays!! We find Molly having a bit of a hard time because she misses her Gran who made Christmas the most magical time. Thankfully, her boyfriend Juan tries really hard to make it feel as normal as possible for her. He helped keep traditions alive and created new ones for just the two of them!

We got lots of flashbacks from Molly's life and we really see how deeply she adored her grandmother. I loved getting more tidbits of their history together. Their relationship truly was so special! It's evident how much Gran shaped Molly into the woman she is today!

The mystery starts when Molly starts getting suspicious of Juan. I'm not going to give too much away, but it was a Molly Jolly Christmas, indeed!

A big thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this incredible ARC!!

Oh Nina!! I loved this one even if I knew exactly where it was going. It was a perfect short story to hold us until the next installment of this cukee maid

Thank you to netgalley and Ballantine books for allowing me to read the Mistletoe mystery. I read the two previous books and was happy to read this book. The mistletoe is a short novel that can be easily read in one day. This book is the follow up to the two previous novels but, you dont have had to read the other books since this one gives you enough context clues.

Molly Molly Molly. I loved this little holiday adventure with Molly the Maid. All our favorite characters and all our favorite Molly moments. This is a very special story and so happy I got to read it! Thank you for the ARC!

Yes, I know it's a bit early for Christmas books, but I'm days from my due date and couldn't be bothered with anything heavy or difficult, so a holiday themed novella was the ticket! I have enjoyed the other 2 Molly the Maid books I've read, but this one was my least favorite. While it takes place at Christmastime, it wasn't really as festive or "Christmassy" as I was hoping it would be. I also knew exactly what was going to happen from the very beginning, which is fine, but made it less exciting to continue reading. All in all, this was a super short, easy read, but definitely wouldn't rank in my top 10 holiday books by any means.

What a cute little Christmas Novella! I love Molly so much! It was so fun to be back in her world. A perfect little installment to one of my favorite series. Do I wish it had a little murder of course but it was still really cute.
4/5 Stars

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an arc copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

No one could ever make me hate you Molly Grey (and you two Juan Manuel). This is such a sweet Christmas mystery novella that is not at all what it seems. Really enjoyed getting to be apart of this party of Molly’s life in such tender details. Everyone needs to read this sweet love story this Christmas!!!

Thanks to Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Mistletoe Mystery: A Maid Novella by Nita Prose is a delightful holiday-themed mystery that captures the spirit of the season while keeping readers on their toes. Following the beloved character of Molly the maid, the story intertwines festive cheer with a puzzling whodunit that unfolds in a beautifully atmospheric setting. Prose’s engaging writing style shines as she expertly balances humor and intrigue, making it a fun and cozy read. I loved how the novella explores themes of friendship and redemption amidst the holiday chaos. This charming tale is the perfect companion for anyone looking to get into the holiday spirit with a touch of mystery!

I really enjoyed this book! It was a fast cute read! And I and so happy for Molly and can’t wait to read more of her journey.

The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I don’t usually enjoy novellas but I had to give this one a try! I love Molly the Maid and all her quirks.

She’s back with all her wit and charm. This one’s a little different without the usual murder and mystery that takes place. Instead, Molly the Maid is happily in love with Juan Manuel. Every year, Juan Manuel creates a new Christmas tradition to lift Molly’s spirits. This year though, she noticed how secretive he’s become. She begins to question if he truly is a a good egg after all.

Totally predictable but still enjoyable

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for my copy of The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose in exchange for an honest review. It published October 1, 2024.
I’m happy to get a new Molly the Maid book! This one was extra fun, and I just loved it! I loved how the reader is in-the-know, and you get to watch Molly eventually understand what’s going on.
I found this whole book to be sweet, but not in a Hallmark way.
I totally recommend this one!

No regrets reading the novella in the Molly the Maid Series.

It was a quick read about Molly's personal life than an evil mystery. I really enjoy the delightful conclusion of the Secret Santa exchange.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy!

The new holiday novella in the Molly the Maid series sees Molly and her love Juan Manuel preparing for a very special Christmas. Well … Juan Manuel is, I should say, and Molly is becoming more and more concerned about his secretive behavior!

There is no mystery in this one, despite the title. It seems plain to see where this is going, but perhaps it wasn’t meant to be a surprise for the reader. It’s sweet, leaning heavily on author O. Henry’s classic short story The Gift of the Magi at times. Juan Manuel’s efforts to make Molly’s Christmas special, especially in the absence of her beloved Gran, were heartwarming, and the ending will leave fans of Molly with a full and happy heart.

All that said, while I had an "Awww” reaction by story's end, there was no particular zing behind it. It was hard to watch Molly be so confused and increasingly upset by Juan’s behavior, even knowing things would be OK in the end, because I’m already aware from previous books how hard it is for her to read others’ behavior. I spent the bulk of the story just feeling sorry for her, instead of happy for where things were headed! I also deeply wanted more Gran in this. I think she’s my favorite part of the Molly books!

It’s a perfectly sweet story that should satisfy those who’ve grown to love Molly, and ultimately I’m still happy to see her get her most magical Christmas yet!

★★★ ½

Loved this book! Anything Nita writes I will read. The cozy mystery vibes are up my alley. I loved The Maid and The Mystery Guest. I read this in one sitting. It was a very quick and cute novella. I gave it 5 stars.

Short and sweet was the theme of this novel. I love the relationship between Molly and Juan Manuel. They are too cute and make my heart happy. It's clear what's going on to the reader pretty early on in the novella, and to see how clueless Molly is made me chuckle a few times. I am excited for Molly and Juan Manuel in the books to come...I also can't wait for her to have an actual case to solve again. Bring on book 3!