This was a cute, feel-good, Hallmark-y Christmas story reminiscent of Gift of the Magi (and for us millennials, it of course conjured images of Mickey and Minnie’s Gift of the Magi).

Molly the Maid, the titular character of the Molly the Maid series, has a new mystery to solve - what’s going on with her amazing boyfriend and why is he acting strange? Is her life about to be turned upside down? Our FMC struggles with understanding social cues and reading the intentions of others, leading her to live by very specific rules that help her navigate life. Can she solve the mystery and save her favorite season?

I haven’t yet read Nita Prose’s book 1 of this series (The Maid) though it is sitting on my shelf. I’ll be sure to pick it up to learn more about Molly and her adventures as a neurospicy heroine.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

*Nita Prose's novella, "The Mistletoe Mystery," is the 2.5 installment in the Molly the Maid series, and it transports readers back to the cozy, festive setting of The Regency Grand Hotel during Christmas. While the premise of a holiday-themed mystery involving our beloved Molly is enticing, I found the story to be somewhat underwhelming.

As a fan of Molly the Maid, I had high hopes for this novella, but it didn’t quite deliver the charm and intrigue that I’ve come to expect from the series. It felt more like a filler between the more substantial novels, and I don’t think readers would miss much by skipping this one in anticipation of the upcoming third book, *The Maid's Secret,* which I’m eagerly awaiting.

That said, if you’re looking for a light, festive read that features Molly, this could still be an enjoyable pick for the season.

My thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this advance copy.

**Overall Rating: 2.5/5**

This Christmas novella is a light read for anyone who's a fan of The Maid series. Molly is back—this time in the holiday season—with her endearing, heartwarming approach to life at the Regency Grand Hotel, and accompanied by her charming boyfriend, Juan Manuel. However, I did miss the mystery aspect that I would expect from this series.

I love this twist on the beloved Molly! I expected some kind of spooky, mystery dealing with Secret Danta! I don’t want to spill the beans, but I was totally wrong! It’s a great romantic novella. I loved seeing happiness for Molly, and I was so glad to read about her again!

I love Molly the Maid and I know this is a light Christmas novella, but it might be too light. I'm happy that Molly has her sweet boyfriend, but this started slowly for me since so much focused on their domestic life when I was more interested in getting back to her domestic service at the hotel and seeing how those characters were doing.

Spoiler: This mystery is not a murder so the stakes are pretty low and I missed the detective.

I'd say this book is fine but was an unneeded entry to the series.

I love Molly! This was just a sweet and cute novella. I did want to shake Molly a few times but it was understandable. Can’t wait for another MollyMystery!

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an eARC in exchange for this review.

This was less Agatha Christie, more Debbie Macomber. I love the character of Molly but this focuses more on Molly's love life. There were times Molly was acting like a cliche basic bee which drove me crazy. It's incredibly predictable but somehow I still enjoyed the end despite it being no surprise. Not bad if you're a die hard or enjoy cheesy closed for romance but totally skippable.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

It was nice to be back with the characters that I've enjoyed in the previous two books in this series. I liked how the first chapter gets the reader back with a quick refresher, and we learn it's Christmastime with the upcoming hotel staff Christmas party.

As far the "mystery," it wasn't a mystery because the reader will easily pick up on what's going on. Only Molly is in the dark, mostly because of her quirks of not picking up on social cues. This one just didn't seem as endearing as the other two books because of how it treated Molly.

I don't need a novella, I need a full book! I miss our girl Molly and I need her to solve another mystery!

This was a cute novella and I really love this author - she really has a great character that I've grown to care about over the past three books. More Molly please!!!

A lovely little Christmas story, featuring my favorite maid. While it’s easy for the reader to see what Molly doesn’t, the outcome is still heart warming.

Oh, Molly, you've done it again—sniffing out secrets like a bloodhound with a festive bow on its head. But this time, it's not just any mystery; it's a holiday whodunit that could put Santa himself on the suspect list!

Molly Gray is back, and she’s as endearing as ever. But instead of solving crimes with fingerprints and forensic evidence, this time she’s armed with tinsel and the unmistakable scent of gingerbread. Molly, our favorite super-sleuthing maid, is knee-deep in holiday cheer at the Regency Grand Hotel, where Secret Santa gifts are exchanged with all the subtlety of a snowball to the face. But as we all know, when Molly's involved, nothing is ever simple. What starts as a harmless holiday tradition quickly snowballs into a full-blown mystery that could unravel the festive cheer.

And can we talk about Juan Manuel for a second? The man is practically a walking Hallmark movie—dashing, devoted, and determined to give Molly the Christmas of her dreams. But even with all his holiday spirit, Molly can't shake the feeling that something's off.

The story is a heartwarming reminder that not all mysteries come with a dead body—sometimes, they come with mistletoe, awkward gift exchanges, and a whole lot of heart. So, grab a cozy blanket, a cup of something warm, and settle in for a holiday tale that’s equal parts mystery and merriment. Just be sure to keep an eye on your own Secret Santa gift—who knows what secrets might be lurking under the wrapping paper!

Another great one about “Molly Maid”. I have enjoyed all the books about her thoroughly. I was happy to find out there’s going to be another book in this series.
This short story was a good, quick read, and so cute. I recommend “Molly Maid” books to a bunch of people who come to the library.
I like the fact that this whole series is about a neurodivergent woman, who takes a lot of things at face value. But over the years she has gotten better at catching certain nuances. I do love Molly and Juan and am looking forward to the next book!

The Mistletoe Mystery: A Maid Novella by Nita Prose

Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A HUGE thank you to Penguin Random House, Ballantine Books, Netgalley, and Nita Prose for access to this arc in exchange for an honest review!

After reading (and LOVING) Nita Prose’s other books, I was so excited to read this. All Molly the Maid books are extraordinary, and this novella did not disappoint! I thoroughly enjoyed the mix of cozy mystery and romance. Seeing how Molly and Juan keep Gran’s Christmastime traditions while building a life and traditions of their own was super heartwarming.

I only wish that this it was a bit longer! I enjoyed every second of reading this and I would recommend it to both mystery and romance lovers! The way in which Molly navigates grief and other rather difficult emotions while remaining positive and seeing the best in others is wonderful. I genuinely smiled the entire time while reading this. 💚

I uploaded my review to Goodreads. I will upload it to Amazon on release day.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Nita Prose for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Mistletoe Mystery coming out October 1, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I didn’t realize this was a novella, so it was so short. But I’m excited there’s a third book coming out! I love it! It was a short and sweet Christmastime story. It had some romance. It gave some more backstory into Molly and Juan Manuel’s relationship. I loved the other employees were celebrating together. loved the ending!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the Maid series!

I hadn't read the series by Nora Prose but wanted to get an idea about her writing style and the characters so read this novella first! The story was so cute and now I can't wait to read the series. This book doesn't deal with a mystery but you get to know all the characters and the vibe of the hotel. Plus it's Christmas themed which is always a favorite for me!

A quick read on a Christmas season story about Molly the head maid and her suspicions of her boyfriend Juan. Why is he being so mysterious? This will put you in the mood for the holiday season.

The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose is a fun novella about a new Christmas mystery that Molly the maid feels she must solve. Molly and Juan Manuel are enjoying the holiday season together. Molly loves Christmas, and Juan Manuel wants to make it the best one yet. However, when his behavior turns mysteriously sketchy, Molly wonders if they truly have a future together or if he is getting annoyed by her company. She feels she must solve the riddle of his behavior in order to find if they truly belong together.


I really enjoyed reading this novella. I’ve enjoyed the full series of books and am excited to read the third. However, I felt some details were left out of this one. As it’s told from Molly’s perspective, we hear about all of the stuff Juan Manuel does for her to show he loves her. I found myself questioning what she provides in the relationship as the story seemed to show that he took care of everything at the house and does everything for her. I get that it’s from Molly’s perspective, but he loves getting her surprises for her advent calendar, cooking for her, cleaning to her standards, and making her lunches at work while showing no reciprocal efforts demonstrating Molly’s affection. We’re just told she loves him. Also, I felt like the solution to the mystery was obvious to everyone but Molly and would have liked a bit more suspense. With that said, I thought it was a fun, sweet story and still really enjoyed reading it. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who has enjoyed the series.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for access to an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose
This was an endearing Christmas story that will warm your heart! Another adventure with Molly the maid and it's so sweet!
I really enjoyed this one and I think fans of Molly will love it!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC and the pleasure of reviewing this one!
4/5 ⭐s

THE MISTLETOE MYSTERY
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
GENRE: Fiction, Mystery

Molly the Maid returns in this sweet holiday novella. It’s the holiday season and there’s a new mystery for Molly to solve. It’s a quick read and a cute short story where everyone knows what is happening except Molly. At times, I can see where Molly can be so astute and other times I’m not sure why she is so dense. We have Cheryl give Molly misdirection but Angela and Mr. Preston keep Molly from straying too far from her fantasies.

Thank you to Random House, Ballantine Books, and Net Galley for the ARC of this book. For fans of the cozy mystery genre, pick up this novella. I do recommend reading the other Molly the Maid books though as there are many references from the other books and does not read as standalone.

The Mistletoe Mystery
A Maid Novella by Nita Prose
Tentative release date October 1, 2024

Molly the Maid is back for this very Christmassy tale. She’s reminiscing her Gran and the holidays she spent with her. She has now been making new traditions with Juan Manuel. This holiday season he has been acting weird and Molly is determined to solve this mystery.

I adore Molly and her personality. The relationship she had with Gran really hits me in the feels. This story was just the perfect holiday novella.

I don’t think I will forget this series and always love to recommend these books. Can’t wait to purchase this in the fall.

A very big thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this advanced reader copy!