i love christmas short stories. they are so sweet and fun and that’s exactly what these are. i highly recommend for the season!

It’s almost the holiday season and what’s better than a few holiday novellas from some bestselling romance authors to get yourself in the mood! 🎄

Ali Hazelwood’s short story was by far my favorite of the bunch! I loved Marc and Jamie’s story and that despite being a quick short story, their relationship began way before the beginning of this one. They had been friends for forever and once Marc listened to the voicemail Jamie left for him I legit was sobbing on the train to work. Ali just has a way with words that pulls on your heartstrings!

Tessa’s story was great and had the foundation to be an amazing story! I’m just not a huge fan of “insta love” so I wish there was room to draw out their relationship more! But of course that’s impossible to do with a short story!

Olivia’s was my least favorite of them all. I just didn’t feel the chemistry between the characters and the whole plot/setting was just not my cup of tea.

Alexandria’s and Alexis’s stories were tied as my next two favorites behind Ali’s! They both had the most Christmasy vibes to them and each of the men in the stories were so sweet! They were perfect holiday stories!! ♥️

If you’re in the mood for some sweet holiday short stories, then definitely check these out! Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of the entire collection! The Under the Mistletoe collection releases on November 12! 💚

Loved this collection of short stories from my fave romance authors. Great for when you need a spicy little snack of a read.

Perfect for the holidays! As a mood reader I love a story that fits the season and these 4 shorts stories were just perfect. This collection has something for every reader. You can find different tropes and levels of spice. They will all warm your heart, bring the holiday spirit and have you swooning. My personal favorite was Cruel Winter With You by Ali Hazelwood because of the anxiety rep. Some of these are super cheesy but I still really enjoyed them!

Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood is a cute Christmas novella which you can easily read in one sitting. The story was adorable, the two main characters were very lovable, and the miscommunication trope - not a favorite of mine - worked very well in a shorter story. A charming holiday read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey had it's moments but there was something lacking for me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

All by My Elf by Olivia Dade is very short but very sweet holiday story. A wonderful addition to all the Christmas novellas out there; this was my first read by Olivia Dade but won't be my last! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur: I loved this! Merriment and Mayhem has everything I want from a Christmas romcom, it is sweet and fun, and also quite steamy, and I just loved everything about it! Just like the best Christmas movies that you can watch again and again, here's a story you'll want to read every year. All the feels. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Only Santas in the Building is my first Alexis Daria read but won't be my last - this story made me joyful and warm all over, it made me shed a couple of tears, and it made me giddy with happiness. It had everything that I, a huge Christmas enthusiast, want from a holiday read - and more! All the feels, all the stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Very enjoyable collection, I especially loved Ali Hazelwood's, Alexandria Bellefleur's and Alexis Daria's stories! All cute and spicy, quick reads; I read them all in one sitting. Some are more Holiday-themed than others, but all were a fun read.

Thank you so much to all authors & Amazon/Brilliance Audio Publishing for giving me the ALCS and ARC in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are my own.

✨

Cruel Winter With You- by Ali Hazelwood

Wow, I mean wow guys. I knew already that Ali Hazelwood is unstoppable, and able to have an absolute chokehold on your heart in any length of book, but especially with her super power with novellas…but…WOW. This one hands down has burrowed into my soul the fastest, and will live there forever toasty and warm snuggled up next to Love on the Brain and Stuck with You. It’s beautiful, it’s raw, it’s heartfelt and oh so real. It’s endearing and revealing and will make your heart feel a lot less alone even if you are at your most alone. I read it in one sitting and cried, laughed, and cried some more, I just FELT the whole way through. I hugged my kindle when I finished because it’s been so long since I’ve felt so unbelievably seen by a book like this. It felt like someone crawled inside my brain and shone some light where it’s darkest, and filled with cobwebs and angry goblins, and offered to give that dark piece of me a hug. I have no idea how she does it, but here I am cry hugging my kindle on a Tuesday night and I am in no way ashamed to admit that to the entirety of the internet. It’s books like this that are why I am a reader. The feelings I felt every single page I read, and this feeling I have right now as I type this review. That hard to describe feeling that only other readers know the meaning of, where you feel seen and heard, and torn apart and healed at all the same time because you realize it’s not just you who felt these things? Yup, that’s the one!

Our FMC Jamie (a pediatrician) is in my opinion, impossible to not root for. She’s soft, kind, and incredibly relatable in her flaws and fears. She’s home for Christmas and gets caught in a storm with just the person she is scared to face right now, the guy whose heart she broke. It’s truly a Christmas miracle that’s collision was meant to be.

Our MMC Marc (a tech billionaire) is easy to fall for and one readers will absolutely MELT over. I know I sure did very quickly. I’ll leave his carefully crafted unveiling to Ali because I keep it spoiler free and there’s no way I could ever even pretend I could have a fraction of her timing and this man deserves her justice!

The pacing and plot had me racing to the next part and incapable of putting it down. The shifts in time and tale added so much intensity and intrigue, I wouldn’t have wanted to read it any other way. Truly, this was a perfect showcase for Ali’s timing and capacity to reveal just enough when it’s oh so right. She gave us so much tension, realistic build up while somehow giving us a really clear picture of who these complex characters are. Again, such a talent when it comes to this short story format. It in no way felt rushed, or like insta love, I truly feel like I know these characters and all I can say is, PLEASE ALI CAN I HAVE SOME MORE?

In my honest and wholehearted mind, this was an absolute smash hit, and I can’t think of a single second I didn’t love. In fact, I loved it so much I’m going to reread it right this very second even though it’s 1 am, sleep be damned! I’m not ready to let go of how this book made me feel just yet…maybe not ever!

✨✨✨

All by my Elf by Olivia Dade

This was my first Olivia Dade read and I’m so sad to say this one was unfortunately my least favorite of all of the books in this collection. It’s hard to pinpoint, but I couldn’t find myself being invested in the romance or characters, and the story felt like it lagged a lot at the beginning with minimal humor and I kept wanting for the story to grip me. I guess the characters felt a little cookie cutter for me without having their own unique voice. For how short it was I think maybe the pacing just wasn’t to my liking. I didn’t really feel the odds and again that attributed to me not being very invested. It wasn’t bad, however it just wasn’t gripping for me. Maybe I’ve read too many holiday romances so it felt like it didn’t stand on its own. However for someone looking for a low stakes, easy reading, sweet palate cleansing holiday romance this would be a great pick!

The audio and narration was however great and fit the voice of our FMC and MMC. The narrator brought a lot of emotional tone and timing that really kept the book afloat for me.

✨✨✨

Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey

This was my first Tessa Bailey read and unfortunately just wasn’t for me. I don’t mind insta lust one bit nor do I mind insta love but this felt really rushed for both. We get a high dose of insta lust in my opinion without any building blocks. It all hits in the first chapter and I think giving the characters more than one interaction would have helped here. It also felt a bit rushed on the plot and how the characters connected again after their first talk in chapter one. It felt like maybe I’d missed something as it went on so I think maybe this book just needed an extra chapter or two in my opinion. Overall I think this story just wasn’t for me.

This would be a great read for anyone who is looking for an insta lust/love, single mom, farmer cinnamon roll holiday romance that jumps right into it without too much fluff. It’s an easy read and low stakes so it’s perfect for anyone looking for that!

The narration however was fantastic for both and I especially liked the narration for our MMC, will be looking into their other titles because I enjoyed his work so much!

✨✨

Only Santa’s in the Building by Alexis Daria

This novella was exactly what I was looking for! Well thought out and plotted with the right amount of back story, and build up. We’re given the perfect amount of information when we need it and I loved how realistically it all played out. It’s unfolding was fun, endearing, relatable and fun! I am excited to see what else the author has written after enjoying their writing style so much. The perfect holiday novella to make your heart feel warm and fuzzy!

Narration was spot on to the voice of the FMC and felt like the perfect match to the tone of the story itself. I will definitely be recommending and relistening to this title again!

Thank you to Alexis Daria and Brilliance audio for this ALC

✨✨✨

Thank you net galley and publisher for this ARC. This was a fun series of short stories to get in the holiday spirit. Some of the authors are new to me.

Gosh, how I love holiday romances! And when you get a bunch of authors I love or knew I would love together, its pure MAGIC!!

Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood
This was a yummy morsel about Jamie (FMC) and Marc (MMC), her best friend’s young brother. There is so much tension!!! Marc has been in love with Jamie forever and has made his intentions known throughout the years that HE WILL WOO HER DAMMIT! After a drinking game brings all the feelings and emotions to an end on a stormy winter night, Jamie FINALLY gives in to what she’s been fighting all along, realizing that she is good enough for him.

Favorite quote: “Marc makes my heart leap and my body glow and my brain rest, and that’s not something I could bear to have and then let go of.”

Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey
Oh my freaking goodness!!! Evie, a single mom with a sassy side, and Luke, a sweet, giant farmer with a heart of gold are literally the cutest stinking couple!! This was the steamy, lovey dovey, size difference holiday romance I wanted from Tessa Bailey and she delivered!!! Very much had a city girl/country boy feel to it too which was amazing!

Favorite quote: “Something about her on my doorstep feels right. Like she was meant to show up sooner or later.”

All By My Elf by Olivia Dade
Nina and William are part-time professors who are picking up holiday gigs in a wiener mobile to make ends meet. While Nina thinks her crush is unrequited, and that couldn’t be further from the truth! Add in a dash of overnight forced proximity in said wiener mobile, a mutual pining from afar, and a consent king, and you have this fun little story! I’ve never read Olivia’s work before, but I’ll definitely be checking her out!

Favorite quote: “If I had to spend one more night without you, I’m not sure how I’d survive it.”

Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur
Definitely the most fun of the bunch! We have I-don’t-do-casual FMC Everleigh and hot stuff flirty firefighter MMC Griffin, and the chemistry was OFF THE FREAKING CHARTS! Everleigh keeps finding herself in these perilous situations, and who is there to help other than the flirty firefighter she is sure things wouldn’t work out with. This was a small town, found family story full of deliciousness and insta-lust. I will be picking up more from Bellefleur.

Favorite quote: “If you knew half the thoughts I’ve had about you, saint would be the very last thing you’d dream of calling me.”

Only Santas in the Building by Alexis Daria
Overworked and grieving Evie always has the worst luck running into her upstairs neighbor and crush, Theo. But she doesn’t have time to worry about that with mounting deadlines that keep her working a LOT more than the average person. When she’s invited to a holiday party in the building after her deadline, she thinks this is her change to show Theo she doesn’t always look like Adam Sandler. Oh, and she has someone leaving handmade ornaments on her door every day, but it’s not who she thinks it is….I totally connected with Evie on her workload and Adam Sandler appearance, but also really wanted her to get Theo, the sweet but sultry neighbor!

Favorite quote: “It’s time to take charge of my own narrative.”

Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Original Stories, Ali Hazelwood, Tessa Bailey, Olivia Dade, Alexandria Bellefleur, and Alexis Daria for the opportunity to read this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.

Under the Mistletoe Collection (ARC)

Pub date: November 12th, 2024

Overall rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you to Amazon Original Stories, Netgalley, and the authors for access to these ARCs in exchange for an honest review!

This collection of short stories is perfect for curling up by the fire and embracing the holiday joy, magic, and romance in each read! All of these stories were so much fun! ❤️💚🎄

Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2/5 🌶️🌶️

For two former childhood friends, a blustery winter storm stirs some frosty—and scorching—memories. He’s the one who got away. She’s the one who broke his heart. Overall this was such an amazing holiday short story that I absolutely ADORED!

Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey

3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️

A single mother working in a thrift store. A giant farmer who can’t find jeans that fit. When opposites attract, they find themselves making alterations in more ways than one. Evie wants to stay single all the way, but Luke is in it for the long haul. A quintessential Tessa Bailey story filled with romance, spice, and heart!

All By My Elf by Olivia Dade

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2/5 🌶️🌶️

Nina and William are underpaid adjunct professors at the same university. When their holiday side hustle has them stranded by a blinding blizzard in the middle of nowhere, there’s nothing to do but cuddle up for warmth and play a game of Never Have I Ever to pass the time. A unique, adventurous take on a classic romance trope!

Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur

3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
2/5 🌶️🌶️

When Everleigh Dangerfield’s baking disaster necessitates a call to 911, firefighter Griffin Brantley douses the flames in the kitchen, but the ones he stokes in Everleigh are an entirely different story. If Everleigh is game for a change of plans, he can give her the merriest Christmas of her life. A quick, fun read filled with romance and laughter!

Only Santas in the Building by Alexa Daria

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2/5 🌶️🌶️

All Evie Cruz wants for Christmas is a nap. She wouldn’t mind unwrapping her sexy upstairs neighbor like a present though. Luckily, the building’s Santa-themed party and a surprise sprig of mistletoe give her just the opening she needs to make all her wishes come true. Such a cute love story between the MCs and the chemistry was evident throughout!

This was a super fun collection of winter holiday short stories! I'm always down to read a fun short story collection, especially when it's about holidays. All of these stories were light and easy reads. All of these authors are super talented romance writers. My favorite stories were Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood, Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur, and Only Santas in the Building by Alexis Daria.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was a fun compilation to read- in the end a lot didn’t work that well for me but since they’re novellas they’re such quick reads that you don’t mind pushing through.
My favorite was the Ali Hazelwood book- i really liked that one and would read it again. 4 stars!
Alexis Daria: 3 stars
Olivia Dade: 2 stars
Alexandra Bellefleur: 3 stars


Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Cruel Winter With You by Ali Hazelwood

This is a best friends brother situation. Marc has been in love with Jamie since they were children. They finally get to work things out while stuck in a snowstorm on Christmas Eve. Considering the limited space in this short novella, Ali Hazelwood does a good job. Their long history is told via flashback with enough present day action to make things interesting. Did I feel like there were gaps in the story? Yes. But…novella.

This novella is part of the Under the Mistletoe collection. A very quick read and good little palette cleanser.

Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey

Tessa Bailey writes such great MMCs who love their women so much it hurts.

Farmer Luke has it bad for designer and single mum, Evie. So sweet but also a dirty talker when it counts.

I loved this dual POV quick read novella.

All By My Elf by Olivia Dade

This is the cute story of work mates William and Nina finally hooking up while stuck in a traffic jam in a blizzard. This book had some humorous parts, and a very sweet MMC, but it was too rushed for me.

Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur

A super quick story for accident-prone Everleigh and hot fireman Griffin. Was it fun? Yes! Did I want to hear Griffin's POV? Also yes!

Only Santas in the Building by Alexis Daria

A fun little story of neighbours Evie and Theo getting their HEA with a little spice along the way. This is single POV and done well with enough backstory given to make the relationship believable.

CRUEL WINTER WITH YOU
5 ⭐ 1 🌶️

I loved this story to pieces. It may be my favorite thing Ali has written; it was so sweet and cute and Marc was just amazing. From beginning to end I was so hooked and had a hard time putting it down to get life done. Jamie's anxiety about relationships broke my heart, but the way Marc pushed past her walls had me swooning so hard. The way it ended was absolutely perfect too. My only complaint is that it's a novella and not a full length story because I want so much more.

MERRY EVER AFTER
5 ⭐ 3 🌶️

This was such a sweet single mom novella, I loved Luke and Evie to pieces. Luke was a dirty talking Daddy, true to Tessa Bailey fashion, and I lived how strong and resilient Evie was. This is a short novella, but I thought Tessa packed a lot into this small space showing how strong and independent Evie was. The ending was sweet as pie and had me swooning hard.

“Under the Mistletoe” collection was adorable and came to me at the perfect time.

Personally, I love a collection/anthology of novellas because they’re a quick boost of serotonin and happiness, quick enough to read in a few hours, and it lets me be introduced to new-to-me authors alongside the comfort of writing in familiar with. The group gathered in this collection are top notch and all of the stories flowed together to sound as if they could have been written by the same author.

Ali Hazelwood’s story draws readers in with the prospects of a missed love connection between friends who could potentially become lovers. Their connection is palpable and the chemistry is there, but we have TJ work through what has been keeping them apart.

Tessa Bailey gives us two fish-out-of-water who connect *because* they’re different… and tenacious.

Alexandria Bellefleur provides some heat when her forced proximity gets fired up.

Olivia Dade gives into a bit of whimsy in her colleagues to lovers spin on romance. You’re not gonna believe where things start to get steamy.

Alexis Daria is a new-to-me author, but this tiny taste of romance between neighbors had me in my feelings. The sweet, small touches of nuance built into an excellent story and I can’t wait to dive into her backlist because of it.

I loved this collection. It had just enough cheer to get me in the holiday spirit without it being shoved down my throat, and now I am ready to start diving into holiday love stories with gusto.

This was such a cute collection of holiday novellas, and it definitely put me in the holiday mood!

Five romance authors try their hand at a Christmas story in this collection, and I only wish that a couple of these were full length books! We get everything from single moms to meet cutes to a best friend’s brother entanglement, all wrapped up in mistletoe. Some of these were extremely quick, making for fun bursts of reading throughout the day.

My favorite might be Alexis Daria’s novella, the first of her writing that I’ve read. I’ll be looking at her other books now!

Thank you to Amazon publishing for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

All the stories in this book were so cozy and perfect for a christmas read. They were so good, I wished I had more of them and more time with the characters. I enjoyed it a lot!

Absolutely stacked authors for these little shorts. They are all so wonderful and had such a good vibe, they were a delight to read!

It’s recap time of the “Under The Mistletoe” collection! I don’t usually read a lot of novellas, but this was the perfect way to try something new AND to get in the holiday spirit.

Without further ado, here is my ranking of these novellas!

5 Merry Ever After Tessa Bailey
4 Merriment and Mayhem Alexandria Bellefleur
3 Only Santas in the Building Alexis Daria
2 Cruel Winter with You: Ali Hazelwood
1 All By My Elf Olivia Dade

I really enjoyed this collection, and had so much fun reading them to get into the holiday spirit! If you see this collection, check it out!

these holiday romances are so much fun. I picked one up at a time over the course of several days and loved the almost instant gratification that I got from some of my favorite authors. They are just right to get me in the holiday mode.