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Joy to the Girls is a cozy, heartwarming novella that wraps up Alex and Molly’s love story with holiday sparkle and emotional depth. Set in a picturesque town during their final college winter break, the story blends festive charm—ice skating, snowball fights, and matchmaking—with the tension of secrets that could change everything. As they help their friend Cora pursue her crush, Alex and Molly must confront their own fears about the future. It’s a tender exploration of love, growth, and the bittersweet beauty of change. Perfect for fans of She Gets the Girl who want one last sleigh ride with these unforgettable characters.

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I loved 'She Gets the Girl', so getting to spend more time with Alex and Molly in this cozy little holiday novella was such a treat. 'Joy to the Girls' picks up during winter break and brings all the sweet, slightly awkward, totally heartwarming moments you'd expect from these two.

It’s a quick read, but it still gives you those emotional beats and relationship growth that make it feel worth it. I especially liked seeing how Alex and Molly are navigating their new relationship in a more “real world” setting—family, holidays, and all.

Not a ton of drama, which honestly worked for me. It’s more about comfort, connection, and little moments that feel real and familiar. If you loved the original like I did, this is the perfect bonus dose of their story—like getting to hang out with old friends for the holidays.

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A short, cute, and cozy holiday novella. A sweet companion to She Gets the Girl that continues and enhances the characters. I loved every page of it.

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Joy To The Girls
Authors: Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick
Source: NetGalley
Publication Date: September 30, 2025

Change is scary, and for Alex and Molly, graduating means being in love but moving an ocean apart. The girls are too scared to release their secrets to each other and ruin a good relationship. They both have two-year offers for continued studies, but not together, and it’s hard to communicate how important these opportunities represent. This story takes place over Christmastime, during a trip to a charming and scenic Christmas village with their two besties, who are falling in love. Secrets can tear people apart, but before the seasonal retreat ends, they get the opportunity to give each other the best Christmas gift; their gift is the permission to chase a dream with the understanding that two years won’t break them apart. Love always finds a way—cute YA and LGBTQ novella.

#Joytothegirls @closeddoorromance @rachaellippincott @whoisalysonanyway #christmas #cutecover #novella @simonandschuster #YA #Teen #LGBTQ @netgalley #love #future #change #comingofage

I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.

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Thank you Netgalley and to the publisher for providing me with this ARC, in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately miscommunication in books is a peeve of mine. I did enjoy the Chrismas vibes as a break in this summer heat.

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I really loved She Gets the Girl when I read it a couple of years ago, so I was super excited to get more of Alex and Molly. Unfortunately, my excitement dissipated pretty quickly. I know that writing books is a way that Lippincott and Derrick make their money, but they clearly only wrote this as a way to capitalize on the Success of She Gets the Girl and get people interested in their other holiday story, Make My Wish Come True. In my opinion, there was no point to telling this story; at least not as it is. I think it would’ve been great if we’d gotten a full length novel that went into the conflict surrounding what happens with Alex and Molly after graduating - can their relationship survive when they’re separated by an ocean? If they had put in the time and care that continuing Alex and Molly’s story deserves, this would’ve been great. As it is, it’s fine... but it’s just a cash grab.

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This book asked me to 1) believe that a sapphic couple is afraid of communicating with each other; 2) root for said sapphic couple despite their lies of omission; and 3) enjoy the least-resolved resolution I’ve come across in quite some time. Christmas Lite vibes couldn’t save it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!

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Thank You to NetGalley and Simon Teen for the arc!

This is a cute Christmas themed follow up to She Gets The Girl. While I did enjoy seeing the girls back together, the miscommunication trope will always take me out of the joy very quickly. BE ADULTS AND TALK TO EACH OTHER!

3.5 ⭐️

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4.5

This was so cute! I think this was a genuine and understandable extension to the characters previously seen in She Gets the Girl. Both our FMCs are struggling with communication about their futures as they approach college graduation which truthfully felt so genuine. They both had their struggles their freshman year of college together and those fears and struggles definitely come back up to the top of their relationship as another big change is approaching. I also enjoyed the sub-plot of getting Cora (a character from She Gets the Girl) to get with the girl she's been crushing on; it was a nice call-back/foil to Alex and Molly's relationship journey.

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like all their other books i loved this so much! i need more of them i wish this was longer

thank you netgalley for the e-arc!

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Thank you Netgalley and to the publisher for providing me with this amazing ARC, in exchange for my honest review.

It was cute and wholesome. BUT! Ugh, miscommunication in books will be forever so annoying to me. I did enjoy the cute Chrismas vibes.

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The adorable college-aged couple from the very fun YA romance "She Gets The Girl" return, whom whilst embarking on a Hallmark worthy Christmas get-away together to play matchmaker for two of their closest friends, find themselves in need of some holiday spirit if they want to achieve a merry Christmas and a future together without letting the very big secrets that they're both keeping from each other tear them apart.

Having now read all three of their collabs, the college set rom-com "She Gets The Girl", the cozy yet emotionally deft Christmas romance "Make My Wish Come True" and now the cutesy holiday novella "Joy To the Girls" Alyson Derrick and Rachael Lippincott have really proved that they are a great team together, just like messy Alex and anxious Molly from "She Gets The Girl" (which I loved and gladly recently reread so I could be caught up)!
Their ability to create fully developed and beautifully flawed characters shines through in every well written interaction between Molly and Alex, which is why I felt so excited to read this sequel! But while "She Gets The Girl" was an original and fun rom-com with a lovely romance and many truly laugh-out-loud scenes, "Joy To The Girls" is not too dissimilar from "Make My Wish Come True" Derrick and Lippincott's previous Hallmark-esque attempt. Even going so far as to set it in the same cutesy small Christmas town and with many references to that book, which never landed very nicely. But while "MMWCT" had a compelling developing romance and a great side goal to make the town more inclusive to bolster it over its well trodden and cliche ridden tv movie style path, "JTTG" only has too easily solvable problems and a couple with simmering chemistry, whom even though they're great can't make this novella meet their own high bar.

(Slight Spoiler To Follow)

When the secrets were finally revealed, the couple's fight felt emotionally dishonest and fake,
as if it was just inserted to fulfill the "easily solvable crisis at 80 percent of the story" quota, while Alex and Molly's part fight part make up gingerbread house making scene felt equally false.

(Spoiler Over)

I actually did appreciate the variety of swear words and use of the middle finger which added a bit of fun spice to this holiday tale and I loved getting to read about Molly and Alex again and I hope that the existence of this short novella means that we will be getting a longer, hopefully more complex, full length novel soon! If so, I can't wait!

I reccommend this for lovers of Hallmark and Netflix's (not GAF, you homophobic sell-outs) familiar and easy to digest Christmas movies. or for those who loved Molly and Alex just as much as I did.

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Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had high hopes for this one don’t get me wrong I love the cute Christmas vibes and seeing Molly and Alex again. My biggest issue with She Gets The Girl was that is as readers never got to see the couple actually be a couple. So I was excited for this novella for that reason along with seeing Cora getting her happily ever after. What made me not sold on this novella was the fact that the two main characters were keeping huge secrets from each other almost the entire story. Overall it was a cute holiday read.

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I loved getting to revisit characters we love so much. Seeing Alex and Molly’s development FLOURISHING was such a good feeling, despite what life had thrown at them, at the end of the day they had each other. This was soft, and silly and moving, the relationship that is true, and relatable to day to day life. I thought it was the perfect length and update from ‘She Gets The Girl’. I definitely recommend to read after a refresh on SGTG! The comfy, warm and simple things felt so refreshing written within them. Both authors are so devoted to their work and you can tell.


Thank You: Net Gallery and Simon Teen for the arc! Beyond excited for everyone else to get to read it!

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This is a very cute follow up to She Gets the Girl. It’s sweet and emotional with just the right amount of conflict for a novella.

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Molly and Alex are back and my heart is full. Full of love and joy. Those books and those characters mean the world to me. I didn’t think I would fell in love so much when I read “She gets the girl” but I did. And now Alex and Molly are all grown up and I’m so emotional. Comfort books, both of them.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

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Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!

This was a super cute addition some of my favorite characters!! The only thing I’m not a fan of is miscommunication tropes and it’s frustrating that a majority of the book was this. Other than this I loved it!!

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This was a much needed cozy Christmas read. I will need to read it again when I read She Gets The Girl so I can enjoy these character that much more! I mean Molly and Alex were here in love although hiding something from each other, that didn't stop them from trying to help Cora and May get together! I mean I almost got a toothache by how sweet these two couples were.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the arc.

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I read this book quite quickly as it was only a short novella however this being said, I really enjoyed it! It was short and sweet and to the point. I maybe would have liked a couple extra chapters to slow the pacing a bit but I understand the fast pacing for a short novella. Overall it was a quick, sweet, simple follow up to Molly and Alex’s story! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.

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Wholesome with a little spice, Joy to the Girls was indeed a joy to read. As much as I wanted more, I think the authors gave us just enough. Just enough tension (every type of it), just enough lovey dovey, and just enough heart-melting moments Alex and Molly fans were craving for. But I have a feeling fans are going to want more of May and Cora.

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