If you're looking for some spicy short stories for the holidays, look no further! Each story in this collection can be read in one sitting or even an hour car ride!
My personal favorite of this collection was Ali Hazelwood's 'Cruel Winter With You'. Ali did a great job in a short number of pages developing the main characters' love story. Best friends brother + forced proximity = a great holiday short story.
For any reader who can't commit to a full book during the busy holiday season, reading one of these is a great option.
Disclaimer: Readers who do not like open door, spicy scenes should avoid this collection.

Most of these were completely unhinged and I’m pretty disappointed despite loving these authors’ full length novels 😕

My individual ratings/reviews:

Cruel Winter With You ⭐️⭐️ - Marc was actually so creepy asf and the wallpaper thing SENT ME and almost sent my phone at the wall across the room. Why do you have to do me like this Ali?!
Merry Ever After ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Unpopular opinion probably but Marc gave me worse cringe vibes from Ali’s story than Luke from this one… which is saying a lot about this book… but also me.
All By My Elf ⭐️⭐️ - Messing around in the back of a wiener mobile during a snowstorm… okay.. no thank you.
Merriment and Mayhem ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Arguably the only good one and definitely the best out of all five! I would have read a full length slow burn novel of this!
Only Santas in the Building ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - This one was going fine and was pretty cute then it lost a whole star for the reference to stuffing her stocking with his large candy cane and went downhill quickly.

Avg total 🟰 2.8 ⭐️s

Thank you to the authors, Amazon Publishing, NetGalley for the ebook and audiobook copies. I read as part of a Tandem Collective read along!

A really cute set of romances! Because they're short stories they do all mostly feel very insta love but I don't mind that as long as there's full commitment to the insta love.
I will say these were marketed as light spice and they are not, probably at least a third of each book.

Four of the stories were quite sweet, two grieving family new town loves, a sort of second chance love, and a later in life love that were quite cute.

One star off bc I have no idea what was happening with Tessa Bailey's Paul Bunyan story and was quite literally laughing hysterically through some of it. This is my third book of hers that I didn't enjoy so I was only mildly hopeful a story this short couldn't be that bad (wrong)

Thank you NetGalley for the copy!

This is a delightful group of stories and perfect to get into the swing of the holiday season. I think, if I had to pick, my favorite one is Olivia Dade’s. This story was a perfect mix of humor, heart, and a steamy encounter!

i loved every single one of these christmas short stories! they were all so cute and fun to enjoy! ali hazelwood can do no wrong in my eyes

The "Under the Mistletoe Collection" was the perfect set of short stories to get into the holiday spirit with. A holiday collection by some of the top authors, full of romance, holiday spice and fun. I loved this collection!

How could someone not enjoy a string of novellas written by these amazing authors? They couldn’t. I will forever be obsessed with Ali Hazelwood and feel she is incapable of writing something that I do not love.

Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood - 3 stars
It was cute, but I didn't love that Marc had a HUGE crush on Jamie for YEARS without saying anything.

Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey - 1 star
Wayyyy too much insta-love for me.

All by My Elf by Olivia Dade - 2 stars
Some plot holes and I HATE the miscommunication trope!

Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur - 4 stars
Very cute and unique!

Only Santas in the Building by Alexis Daria - 4 stars
I really liked this one, but it's kind of weird that two stories in this series have the same name.

This was such a fun readalong and just a perfect way to get into the holiday spirit! Under the Mistletoe was a collection of novellas by some amazing authors, Ali Hazelwood, Tessa Bailey, Olivia Dade, Alexandria Bellefleur, and Alexis Daria. The short length of the stories made them a perfect short escape from the chaos of the holidays. There was spice in all of them, some more than others so be prepared.
Cruel Winter With You by Ali Hazelwood
This was perfect! Snowed in with her best friend’s brother Jaimie has to decide if she is going to give Mark a 2nd chance. One of my favorite stories in this collection. There was depth and a backstory and I loved it!

Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey
This story of instant attraction was spicy from the beginning.

All By My Elf by Olivia Dade
This one had me laughing at the ridiculousness of the vehicle. A game of never have I ever while snowed in leads to long held feelings to be revealed.

Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur
I was immediately drawn in to this sweet and spicy book. With a small town setting, an embarrassing meet cute, and a hot fireman there is so much to love in this story!

Only Santas In the Building by Alexis Daria
Perfect story to wrap up the collection! Full of Christmas and a secret Santa leaving ornaments I loved these characters! So much kindness and love along with some spice has this story staying with me.

Thank you for the opportunity to read these novellas! So much fun and perfect quick and spicy reads to get into the holiday spirit.

🎄Cruel Winter with You
This novella was so great! I wish it was a hair longer because I just loved the characters, but Ali did an amazing job with all the characters that you felt like you really understood where the characters came from and what was going on. Loved the ending!

🎄Merry Ever After
I was not a fan of this book. I felt like the characters were underdeveloped and there wasn’t a spark between Evie and Luke. They were so quick to take their clothes off and jump into bed. I wish there was a little bit more to this novella. It didn’t seem like there was any conflict either except that Luke thought Evie was married and the conflict was nonexistent.

🎄All By My Elf
I thought this book was super funny and there were some great moments. There was a bit of spice and it worked perfectly for this book. The characters were well developed for this novella!

🎄Merriment and Mayhem
I thought this was such a fun read and I totally cracked up when Everleigh had broiled the cookies instead of baking them. There were very cute details about the two characters, which made you really love the characters. The story was simple, but super sweet!

🎄Only Santas in the Building
This was an absolutely cute story and it packs a lot of story in a short novella! The writing flowed really well and there were really sweet parts to this story.

This collection was not my favorite. I struggled with connecting with the characters. I know that they were short stories, but I felt like it was a lot of spice without a lot of substance. My favorite story was Alexandria Bellefleur's. I enjoy her writing, and I loved that she always has bi characters in her stories.

As a whole this was very mixed. A couple were so good (Ali Hazelwood’s, especially) and a couple were horrendously bad (Tessa Bailey…what happened). Cute for the holidays but wish they were all on the same level.

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5

As the days grow shorter and the cold winter nights set in, there’s nothing quite like cozying up with a festive romance collection to get into the holiday spirit. Under the Mistletoe collection offers readers a fun mix of heartwarming stories, each with its own unique twist on pining, second chances, and holiday magic. Some stories leave a lasting impression, while others fall a bit flat, but overall, this anthology provides a satisfying blend of sweetness, spice, and seasonal charm.

**Cruel Winter with You** by Ali Hazelwood – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story hits all the right notes: snowed-in setting, unrequited love, and a dash of holiday warmth. Marc, a tech millionaire, has been harboring feelings for his older sister's best friend, Jamie, since childhood. When the two are forced to spend time together during a snowstorm, sparks fly. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and the emotional depth—especially as Jamie finally admits her own feelings—is genuinely touching. The banter is sharp, the romance is swoon-worthy, and there’s a perfect blend of heart and heat that makes this a standout.

**Merry Ever After** by Tessa Bailey – ⭐⭐⭐

Tessa Bailey’s writing can be a guilty pleasure, but *Merry Ever After* didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The small-town setting, cowboy hero, and single mom trope are things I usually enjoy, but something about this one felt off. While I appreciated the soft, caretaking nature of Luke, the hero, but overall he felt a bit offl. There was potential for a lovely, tender holiday romance, but the execution veered into a bit of cringe territory at times. Still, fans of Bailey’s work will likely find something to enjoy here.

**All by My Elf** by Olivia Dade – ⭐⭐⭐

If forced proximity, quirky holiday jobs, and pining are your thing, Olivia Dade’s *All by My Elf* might be right up your alley. The plot—a couple of adjunct professors navigating a wacky holiday side gig aboard a wienermobile turned mincemeat mobile—could be described as absurd, but in the best way possible. William, the soft-hearted hero, and Nina, the brilliant but emotionally guarded heroine, share an undeniable connection. While the premise is fun, I did feel like the story could have benefitted from a longer format to really develop the relationship and flesh out some of the more comical moments. Despite that, the sweet, slow-burn romance is worth the read.

**Merriment and Mayhem** by Alexandria Bellefleur – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This one was a fun ride from start to finish. Everleigh’s efforts to honor her late grandmother’s holiday traditions by hosting one last Christmas celebration turn into a series of hilarious disasters. From a kitchen fire to being stuck on the roof, everything that could go wrong does—until Griffin, the sexy firefighter, swoops in to save the day. The chemistry between Everleigh and Griffin is palpable, and their flirty banter is a joy to read. This story had me laughing, swooning, and wishing it was just a few pages longer. It’s one of those feel-good stories that you’ll want to revisit every holiday season.

**Only Santas in the Building** by Alexis Daria – ⭐⭐⭐.5

While *Only Santas in the Building* isn’t as explosive as some of the other stories in the collection, it still packs an emotional punch. Comic book artist Evie and her upstairs neighbor, Theo, are both secretly harboring crushes on each other. The story delves into themes of grief and healing, with a healthy dose of holiday charm. Evie and Theo’s connection is sweet, but I didn’t feel the kind of electric chemistry I was hoping for. However, the gentle pace of their relationship and the way they both navigate their personal struggles made this a heartwarming read overall.

---

Overall Thoughts:

This collection offers a little something for everyone. Whether you're in the mood for a snowed-in romance, a quirky holiday job, or a firefighter swooping in to save the day, these stories provide the right mix of humor, heart, and holiday magic. While not every story hit the mark for me, the gems in this collection—*Cruel Winter with You* and *Merriment and Mayhem* in particular—are worth the price of admission. Perfect for a cozy winter evening with a cup of cocoa in hand.

I loved the Ali Hazelwood and Tessa Bailey books, but I didn't care for the others. I especially loved the audio of the Ali Hazelwood book!

After enjoying Amazon's Valentine's Day collection, I was really looking forward to the holiday-themed short stories. Unfortunately, they were a let down. The only one I enjoyed was Ali Hazelwood’s Cruel Winter – which I’d give a solid 4-star rating to. Typically, I really like Tessa Bailey, but WTF was that? It was so odd and kinda gave me the ick.

Novellas and short stories are hard. They need to have a believable HFN in the space where most full length books have hardly passed the meet cute.

I prefer them when the couple already knows each other, such as friends/coworkers/neighbors. They can skip the getting to know you and get to the romance, so it feel like more than an extended hook up. I’m fine with a HFN, as the depth of a HEA in 100 pages is nearly impossible.

Three of these short stories were already friends, and I liked those better. The other two had the meet cute dash to relationship. Also, they are only tangentially related to Christmas. They take place at christmastime. Again, the authors can’t spend a lot of time on Christmas when they only have less than 100 pages for the romance.

This got 3.6 stars rounded up to 4

These stories were a mixed bag. Loved the first and the last one but the three in the middle were a little cringe. Cute concept though and love the length.

Book 1:

Yeah that was a good one 😂

Best friends little brother? Okie dokie!
Is he gone for her literally all his life? Yep!
It was adorable honestly.

Book 2:

I mean I love the storyline! Single mother of a 5 month old baby meets huge farmer who is a gentleman?! Heck yes! I wish we weren’t throwing around “daddy” and “yes sir” so much. But that’s kind of Tessa’s thing. I wanted more background and less fucking? Idk. Overall the story was too fast but the epilogue was cute!

Book 3:

This just didn’t work for me at all?! It felt like these two never had a single conversation but just stared at each other for a few months until forced proximity intervened and then they banged inside a wiener mobile?? Okay! Also girl, get some confidence! You’re smart as hell! Any man would be lucky to have you!

Book 4:

This was the most tame story! I would love a full blown story of this hot firefighter who keeps rescuing a woman staying at her deceased grandmas house on an island off the coast of Seattle. The backstory, flirtation, all perfect! They went from zero to 100 so quick I was taken back. And girl, raw dogging it with a complete stranger who you met a total of three times?! Yeah I get that he’s hot but BABES we need to raise our standards 😂😂

Book 5:

Okay so this man has been lusting after her for months and she didn’t get the memo while she lusts after him? Okay? We once again more from zero to 100 too quickly but at least Theo is wearing a condom in this one 😂 the punchy attempts at humor were eye rolling but the neighbors were cute trying to set them up. Also falling in love after banging for a week isn’t real? Okay bye.

Overall Average: 2.8 rounded to 3

Cruel Winter With You: 3.5 Stars

As a novella, I didn’t go in expecting a ton of development (there’s only so much depth you can put in a short amount of pages). Surprisingly, there was more depth than I expected. I loved the flashbacks to the past to understand why each character is the way he/she is and why they feel the way they feel. What I didn’t enjoy was how obsessed Marc was to the point it was borderline creepy. The drawer of pictures of her that he constantly kept with him?? It’s cute that he’s always had a crush on his older sister’s best friend but he was SO into her. Looking past his obsession, it was a cute, easy read. Not super Christmassy if you’re looking for that, more just wintery with the crazy snowstorm. Personally, I wish this novella was a little bit longer because of how fast the pace was but for a novella, it was done well. I think I would have rated it higher if there were more pages to really develop the plot and the characters.

Merry Ever After: 1.5 Stars

I love Tessa Bailey. To me, she’s the queen of spice because of how she writes and develops characters while adding spice into her full-length novels. The other books I’ve read by her have been excellent…I think novellas just aren’t her thing. The idea for a plot was there but wasn’t flushed out at all. Had this been longer, Bailey could have really developed our MCs more and given more backstory to them. The story as a whole was so so so fast-paced and unrealistic, and the dialogue had me gagging 🫣 (I cannot with calling a guy ‘daddy’). If you just want holiday smut, read this. If you want a holiday novella, skip it.


All to My Elf: 2 Stars

This story confused me - for the first 10-15% give or take, I had no idea what was going on. After finally figuring out what was happening, I struggled with the rest of the novella to understand the plot (if there even was a plot). The characters felt like high-schoolers to me rather than the professors in their mid-30s they were supposed to be (playing Never Have I Ever at 35? Just no). If the characters were younger, the story would have felt more believable but instead the whole thing felt unrealistic. I feel I would have enjoyed the story more if it were longer. There simply wasn’t enough time to develop the characters, feel a connection with the characters, and care about what happens to them.

Merriment and Mayhem: 3.5 Stars

This is probably my favorite out of the Under the Mistletoe collection. The meet-cute and connection felt more authentic and real than the other novellas, and the story felt longer than 58 pages. Bellefleur accomplishes so much buildup of character and plot in such a short story. The way the novella ended allows a reader’s imagination to create the next part of Griffin’s and Everleigh’s love story - I wish this story had been a full-length book because of how cute it was. Overall, while it wasn’t super overly festive, you still feel the holiday cheer as you read and get to enjoy a sweet (and a little spicy) feel-good novella.

Only Santas in the Building: 3.5 Stars

I thought Merriment and Mayhem was going to be my favorite, but after reading Only Santas in the Building, I’m not sure which one I enjoyed more. The novella was realistic and less Hallmark Christmas (but Theo would make the perfect Hallmark boyfriend), and I loved how this one was more plot-driven and less spice/romance-driven. Evie is learning to work through her grief after losing a grandparent while trying to enjoy her first Christmas without her grandmother, which unfortunately was very relatable for me and allowed me to feel a deeper connection to our FMC. This is definitely a short story that I wish I could keep reading - I enjoyed Theo and Evie’s dynamic and would love a full-length book to see what happens with them next.