This was a fun little Christmas in July romance! I enjoyed the format of the story with glimpses of the holiday movie they were working on throughout the book. I also liked the revenge plot turned romance story line. It was very creative and made for a very unique story with wonderful character development!

There wasn't anything glaringly bad with this book, it just landed flat to me. To start - when the author mentioned "not having to choose" at the beginning, I thought that the bisexual romance would be a little more drawn out, but it really was very brief. I also liked the initial idea with Jax/Matt, but felt like it fell to the wayside when that was the best part of the plot.

I also felt like there was too much going on with the backstories. Mariah's relationship with her parents had the chance to be really impactful, but the book ended without a strong resolution. And I feel like we barely know anything about Ellie and why she has a compulsive need to constantly be happy and make everyone else happy. And on underdeveloped characters, I would have enjoyed seeing more about their castmates, because it felt like their attitudes towards Ellie flipped like a switch.

I did enjoy the dynamic between them, and felt that the chemistry was real. I just wish that it could have been a little more drawn out and we could have leaned a little more into their character development.

Enjoyable read but a bit spicier than expected. I expected hallmark but it wa more hallmark after dark 😆. Didn’t stop me from enjoying it! Great story and I loved the friends to lovers storyline.

This is one of my favorite sapphic romances in a long time! It was so cute, and I absolutely adored the grumpy/sunshine dynamic between the main characters. Their personalities were so different, but that contrast only made their connection feel even stronger and more genuine.

I listened to an advance listening copy of the audiobook, and I loved that each character had her own narrator. The dual narration really enhanced the experience — both voice actors did such a great job bringing out the emotions and making the story feel so alive. It completely pulled me in.

The plot was fun and heartwarming — a perfect holiday read! While the pacing dipped a little in a few spots, it didn’t take away from how enjoyable the story was overall. I’m already planning to listen to it again this holiday season.

This book was everything you would want for a Christmas in July special! Mariah and Ellie encompass all the good feelings that come with a grumpy sunshine trope along with a side of revenge. I love how their relationship blossomed and the trust they found in one another just strengthened the bond. Lindsay Maple wrote a beautiful Friends to Lovers Romance that I devoured. And both narrators hit the nail on the head.

Mariah and Ellie are two characters I really came to enjoy. It took me a little bit to really get into the book, but once things started to get juicy, I was sucked in! I thought that the way they handled the situation(s) they were put in was a lot more mature that I would have reacted given the circumstances. Had me giggling and kicking my feet when they realized they were into each other!!! Bi-Awakening done right. Loved all the representation that was put into this book!!

All the spice of a Murphy holiday romance novel, except spicier. I love the setup of this novel. I love the combination of tropes. I love pretty much everything about this book. Highly recommend for your summer holiday festivities.

Ellie is living her best life being part of the cast of a holiday Christmas movie filming in small town, Canada. She’s not a lead and she’s gonna put up with a lot in order to hopefully get recognized, but she’s living her best life… Homeowner of the Airbnb is renting making the filming getaway even better!

Mariah is the make up artist is returned to her small home town to do the make up for this holiday Romance when she’d rather be in Hollywood doing special effects on a gory horror, movie or creepy sci-fi flick! But everything’s not lost, the hometown hunk has hit on her. She’s having a nice feeling with him while she’s here…

That is until Mariah and Ellie find out that there hot romances are one in the same! Now the small town actress and make up artist gang together revenge, and happened to find chemistry and romance between themselves!

This was such a fun for the script where for the first part of the book I was totally into these two individual romances and the friendship Ellie is trying to make with Mariah… And once I find out that they are both being played decides to give this friendship a chance the real sparks start flying! The opposite personalities made for such a great pairing and the hydrates they create or so much fun!

I listen to the audiobook narrated by Lauren Sweet & Angelina Rocca, the first thing first I want to say thank you for casting a dual female narrative for this story! I enjoyed both of their voices and the work they did with their characters. The voice chemistry was excellent and the differentiation between both narrators really made the individual characters pop!

Thank you netgalley for sharing this audiobook with me! I thought the narration was great, it was easy to follow the characters and the storyline.

This one was like a warm Hallmark Christmas hug mixed with a great sapphic romance and a glimpse into the film industry. We’ve had our downtown core shut down many a time for Christmas filming in the warmer months so it was neat to see it reflected in this story. I grew up fairly close to these locations mentioned in the book and I loved the feeling of comfort and home the writing left me with.

I loved Ellie and Mariah’s story. The revenge on the cheating hookup was hilarious and I was rooting for them all the way through.

I think this would be a great read for the summer months but also for the holiday season for something a little bit different than the snow falling romances. I will 100% be picking up anything else this author writes.

As a bisexual woman who adores Christmas, I needed to read this. I really enjoyed reading the growth of Mariah and Ellie’s epic love story from coworkers to forever partners. I just didn’t like the in between scenes of the movie that was being filmed? Definitely not necessary but heartwarming nonetheless

This is a first time author read for me and I really loved her style!!! I always love a good bi-sexual romance and this one did not disappoint. It had all the angsty moments and hilarity that a cozy romance should have. I really enjoyed the co-vengeance plot the two female leads decide on against the two-timing (probably 5 timing let’s be honest) man-whore. The buildup from friends to lovers was also a much appreciated slow-burn. So so good! Can’t wait to read more by this author in the future!

Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin Audio for the audiobook arc in exchange for an honest review!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If John Tucker Must Die, a Hallmark Christmas movie, and a self-love journey had a baby... it would be Holly Jolly July. This book? ICONIC. First of all, let me just say: If you've ever screamed at your screen while watching John Tucker Must Die like, “YES, QUEENS, TAKE HIM DOWN,” then you’re gonna live for this story. I came for the festive revenge plot, and I stayed for the emotional depth, the soft healing, and the absolutely swoonworthy slow-burn romance between Ellie and Mariah.. It’s cozy chaos with character growth. It’s Hallmark, if Hallmark let the girls have a little rage and range. Beneath the surface, this book is also a gorgeously written story about finding yourself, healing family wounds, chasing big dreams, and opening your heart to unexpected love-all wrapped in twinkle lights and peppermint lattes.

Now let’s talk about Ellie and Mariah.
Their relationship? Chef's kiss. It’s not insta-love; it’s earned love. You watch them move from reluctant allies to real friends, and then—beautifully, achingly—into something deeper. The way they see each other, truly see each other, is just... breathtaking. Mariah’s walls don’t just fall; they melt, slowly and vulnerably, under the warmth of Ellie’s care. And Ellie? She’s the kind of love interest that feels like home—steady, sincere, and quietly devastating in the best way. It’s sweet. It’s a love story wrapped in garland and glitter that still manages to feel grounded and real.

One of my favorite elements of Holly Jolly July was the Hallmark-inspired movie storyline woven into the book. The fictional Christmas movie that Ellie was starring in felt like its own cozy, heartwarming narrative — complete with small-town charm, romantic tension, and festive spirit. I found myself just as invested in the plot of Ellie’s holiday film as I was in the actual book itself. It was like getting two feel-good stories in one, and I loved how seamlessly the author blended that nostalgic, Hallmark-movie magic into the summer setting of the main story.

So yes, you get the satisfying “girls vs. f*ckboy” arc (with excellent takedown execution), but also:
🎄 A main character healing from deep-rooted family trauma
🎄 Big “follow your dreams even if they scare you” energy
🎄 Cozy holiday vibes without being over-the-top cheesy
🎄 A beautiful romance that feels like warm cocoa after a snowstorm
🎄 And an HEA that had me wiping away a tear and kicking my feet.

Holly Jolly July is festive feminist fiction at its finest 🤌🏻❤️

Fable review: Check out this review on Fable
https://fable.co/review/1520061f-7484-4ed0-ae23-407e9d7b31a7/share

3.5 ⭐️ thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
I LOVEDDD the revenge plot. Such a fun story line, but It lacked definitive representation. Why must every bi/lesbian plot line must include the stereotypes. You can just be gay without having own a Subaru, or have dyed hair, etc.

I found the two FMC lacked spark. There was no lust, no want, they just seemed bored. One was preppy, annoying and such a “pick me”. The other was boring and sad.

This was SO beyond adorable!!! I loved how natural Ellie & Mariah's relationship blossomed! The character growth was top notch!! It was extremely heartfelt!!

Goodreads review posted on: 08/06/2025

Mariah and Ellie’s story was cute and full of pranks for a cheating male side character. Matt (Jax) was seeing both Ellie and Mariah and they decided to get even with him after finding out he was seeing them both. Ellie and Mariah met on a movie set with a hallmark-themed Christmas movie that Ellie was a supporting character on and Mariah was her makeup artist.

I personally loved the ending and that they vowed to work out their time and different professions rather than one giving up everything for the other. Ellie and Mariah are a quirky pair but they make it work through Ellie’s joy of Christmas and Mariah’s love for all things gory and creepy! Overall 4/5 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for the early read. I didn't know what I was getting into with this book, but I did finish it. This has far more graphic content than I would typically want to read, but for those who like a very high spice level in a book, this is for you. I didn't lower the rating due to that because it is my fault I didn't go into it with full knowledge of what I was reading.

This story takes place while the two main characters are making a movie -- an actor and a makeup artist. The reader really does need to suspend disbelief from the start because wouldn't the makeup artist tell the man she is staying with where she was working? That would have stopped the plot before it really started. The lead characters -- Ellie and Mariah -- were likable and easy to root for, and I always enjoy a happy ending.

The chapters alternate between the movie script and the actual story. I do think the entire movie script could have been left out. It was pretty mundane and not necessary to tell this story. Just indicating the setting was a movie set would have worked.

There were some very funny parts during the pranks where I actually laughed out loud, which is rare for me in a book. I recommend this for mature adults who want a quick and funny romance.

It's Christmas in July when a holiday movie is being filmed in Chilliwack, BC.

What a delightful book and audio narration! Ellie is sugar and spice, and everything nice, happy to be on set in 80°C temps acting in a sweet holiday movie. To cranky makeup artist, Mariah, it's just a job. Their differences make for a fun grumpy x sunshine partnership and eventual romance.

Dual POV and narration, with inserts of the holiday movie plot make for two stories in one. For the record, I'd watch that holiday movie, it took me a beat to get into the Holiday spirit, but once I got into it I embraced the fun holiday vibes and experienced the MCs discovering each other, banding together in revenge, becoming friends, and then more. A Canadian setting is a plus for me and I will be looking for other titles by Lindsay Maple.

The narrators Lauren Sweet and Angelina Rocca did a fabulous job! Not sure which narrator was which, but I especially loved the interpretation of Ellie. 👏🏼

🎧ALC REVIEW🎧
📚Holly Jolly July by Lindsay Maple
🎤Lauren Sweet & Angelina Rocca

DUAL NARRATION

Christmas in July? Yes, please! The whole premise for this book sounded so fun to me. Ellie & Mariah are both working on the set of a Christmas movie in the middle of the summer. They meet up on the movie set & a friendship begins to form. They both happen to be dating a man from the town they are filming in and to their surprise, they discover that they've both been cheated on.

They get together & form an alliance and decide to teach this guy a lesson by pulling a series of pranks on him. (Think Home Alone vibes) The jokes & pranks had me giggling out loud. The more time they spend together, the closer they become and they start wondering if this relationship could actually be something more?

The unique take on this story is that the Christmas movie script is woven in throughout Ellie & Mariah's story. Really made this audio a fun listening experience. Even though, there are lots of laughs & pranks, this one takes an emotional turn & the women discuss their dreams, insecurities, old relationships & hopes for the future. They find a real connection in one another & a future together. Even though this takes place in July, the holiday spice be spicin! There's MF & FF romance in this one.

🎧Let's talk audio: Lauren & Angelina were just so much fun to listen to in this fun & unique holiday story. Lauren's got all the sweet & sunshiny vibes going on in her performance & Angelina, as usual, brings sultry & sexy vibes to her character. This gives you the perfect balance & they make such a great pairing. I really enjoyed this unique twist to a Christmas in July story!

If you enjoy:
🎄Sapphic romance & genuine female friendship
🎄Workplace romance
🎄Opposites attract
🎄Friends to lovers
🎄Grumpy x sunshine
🎄Movie actress x make-up artist
🎄Hilarious pranking & shenanigans

Thank you Lindsay Maple, Harlequin Audio & NetGalley for the #gifted copy of the ALC. All thoughts are my own.

Unfortunately, this one was a DNF for me - strictly due to the audiobook narration. I found the narrator's voice grating and distracting, which made it difficult to stay engaged or enjoy the story. That said, the premise itself seems genuinely promising, and I do plan to pick up a physical copy in the future to give it another try. I'm giving it 2 stars because the concept had real potential, but the audiobook format just didn’t work for me personally.

This audiobook was amazing! The narration was spot on and added so much to the story. I loved reading about these ladies and all of the high jinx involved in the small town romance. It discusses friendship and love so well! I read the book and listened to the audiobook at the same time and it was a great experience! Perfect summer Christmas vibes