Very enjoyable. Great writing, great plot, great characters. Everything a reader could wish for! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I actually liked this one better than the previous 'How to Slay' book as the storyline was a lot less chaotic - even though I didn't quite buy the Fearne / Erin thing, nor the ending. I loved the Christmas market setting (even in August) though and both main characters. But once again it's all about the writing for me as I absolutely love Sarah Bonner's witty, punchy writing style and relatable references. I too vowed to post every single day before quickly running out of content just days later.

Sarah Bonner is fast becoming an auto read author of mine with these fabulous How To Slay Books, and when you set one at my favourite time of the year for fiction - Christmas, then I was always going to devour this,

And Jessica Williams is my sort of serial killer. What an odd sentence ot write, but I hope you know what I mean. She is a massive fan of Christmas and has worked out the person who is least likely to be suspected of murder is Mrs Clause.

And thus she spends her winters being Santa's wife in a different place each year. Only this time she starts to get to know the community better than normal, starts to make real friends (give or take having to hide her double life). and overall the body count is rising higher than she anticipated,

And believe it or not, not all the bodies are down to our known murderer. And Jessica always has a great reason to put someone on the naughty list.

I loved her, but this is just one aspect to this story, and all the other threads and plotlines help make this into the really impressive book that it is.

I'll would never have predicted the ending but totally loved that too. Just a brilliant book.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I absolutely love Sarah and the Slay books!
Never will you root for the killer as much as you will in How To Slay At Christmas. It’s never too early for a Christmas story!
A bit of silliness and a bit of total revenge where revenge is deserved.
Is love in the air or is Jessica finally meeting her end?
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Sarah Bonner's new, How to Slay at Christmas, is a wickedly dark and twisted holiday thriller that brings the "slay" into sleigh bells. This holiday comic thriller is an ideal read for those who enjoy their Christmas with a side of murder and a lot of dark humor.

The tale revolves around two women: Jessica Williams, a homicidally cheerful Mrs. Claus who employs her holiday work as a front for killing anyone who threatens to dampen the holiday spirit, and Fearne Dixon, the drudge wife of a Christmas market manager. The death toll mounts as Jessica's list of "naughty" individuals gets crossed off, and Fearne reaches her breaking point.

The writer has written a witty, gory, and really humorous book. The contrast between the upbeat holiday atmosphere and the bloody killings is genius, and the novel reads like a new approach to the psychological thriller genre. Bella Mackie, Katy Brent, and Amy Tintera fans will consume this subversive yuletide treat. Just don't let Mrs. Claus catch you as a grinch!

It may be August. It may be yet another stifling, awful hot day in England - however I am already in Christmas mode. I was going to be fair and wait until September to start my festive reads - September is acceptable, right? I mean, mince pies are on the shelves. Anyway, getting this arc made my day, I yearn for the festivities. This is a twisted festive read unlike the other holidays books I read. Admittedly I've never finished a Christmas thriller (although watched many Christmas slashers) so this was perfect to get into it. Gripping, amusing, different. Will definitely be buying a trophy copy! This is worth dipping into Christmas early for sure. Mrs Claus punishing people is such an interesting plot, not one I've heard before. I love the dark humour, don't read enough books like that. Highly recommend!

Favorite Quotes:

Wow. Well that really does go to prove you can’t judge a book by its cover. She looks so prim and proper and then BAM! It’s all fairy porn and werewolf harems.

Not that I don’t like what I do. But it’s not exactly a respectable pastime is it? When people ask what you do for fun, it would be far easier if you could say you like reading or building Lego or whatever, rather than killing scrooges.

Spoiler alert: I’m still convinced I’m in my twenties and that fate is just playing some kind of cruel stunt on me by making me look like I’m mid-forties.

‘I don’t use TikTok.’ It was set up a few years ago when I was having a crisis of confidence about my writing career and thought I needed to do more myself. I vowed to post to TikTok every single day for three months to see what happened. I lasted four days before I ran out of content and lost the will to live. Sometimes I get an urge to try again and then I remind myself just how painful it was and have a large glass of wine instead.

I read something last year about how the average person consumes over six thousand calories on Christmas Day. I’m treating that as a challenge that I fully intend to beat.

My Review:

The name Sarah Bonner has become synonymous with the idea of smirk-worthy good fun to me. The little pea in my brain leaps for joy whenever I pick up one of her cleverly penned missives. I revel in her witty snark, wry humor, and snappy inner musings. I adored this tale; it kept me gleefully engaged from start to finish.

I absolutely love the how to slay books, this one was no different! This was so good! Christmas vibes are impeccable and it’s 100% a cosy Christmas story just with alot more murder! These don’t follow on from each other and are complete standalones. They really are so good! I cannot recommend enough!
This book is focused around Mrs Christmas and a Christmas market setting. Along with covering her tracks she actually allows herself to make friends and become attached to the area. Of course this causes complications.
The ending was also so perfect and I totally did not see that coming at all!

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Release date - 7th August 2025

This book was fun and quirky. Mrs. Claus making a Naughty List was so funny. So part felt a bit slow but it was witty and the friendships were great and really interesting to see. The twist was great and unexpected

How to Slay at Christmas is a wonderfully dark and witty festive thriller that turns the holidays upside down. Sarah Bonner blends humor, suspense, and just the right amount of gore to create a story that’s as entertaining as it is original. Jessica’s vigilante “Mrs. Claus” antics are outrageous and clever, while Fearne’s reluctant involvement adds sharp contrast and plenty of laughs. The plot is fast-paced, full of twists, and captures the chaos of Christmas in the most unconventional way. A brilliantly twisted holiday read—festive, funny, and fiendishly addictive.

Who better than Mrs. Claus to take care of people on the naughty list? That's what you get in the new book from Sarah Bonner.

"Jessica Williams loves all things Christmas and takes a job as Mrs. Claus in a Christmas market. And what better opportunity to take out all the miserable people who ruin the Christmas spirit. Who would suspect Mrs. Claus?

Fearne hates Christmas. Her husband runs the Christmas market and constantly takes her for granted, continually adding things to her schedule.
But then bodies pile up and an old rival returns.

What happens when the lives of the two women collide?"

This is dark comedy from Bonner. She has that rare ability to make a reader cross that morally gray line and make you agree that "He had it coming" Jessica is not quite as stealthy as previous characters and has to deal with witnesses. There's also a storyline throughout of someone apparently tracking Jessica down. Bonner saves that surprise for the end.

Another entertaining story from Bonner.

Forget about Santa’s list, it’s Mrs. Claus’ naughty list you don’t want to end up on!!

She's making a list, she's checking it twice...
Jessica Williams loves the food, the drink, the fairy lights, the opportunities to take out all the miserable people who ruin the festive season for others. And what better cover for her murderous intentions than taking a job as Mrs Claus at the Ellsbury Christmas Market grotto? After all, who would possibly think Mrs Claus could stab a man through the eye with a Phillips-head screwdriver?

Fearne Dixon hates Christmas. As the long-suffering wife of the Ellsbury Christmas Market's manager, she's sick to the back teeth of it and it's still only November. But then the bodies start piling up, an old rival arrives back in her life, and Fearne reaches breaking point. When the lives of the two women collide, who will end up on the Naughty List?

I was craving a little Christmas joy in this hot hot summer so I jumped on the chance to ARC read this one. I thought I was festive and a little quirky. I really liked the idea of the murdery Mrs. Claus! I enjoyed the friendships that the characters made with each other, although I do wish one certain character could have ended up at the top of that dang list! Iykyk! lol

All in all I liked this one and will recommend it to all of my murdery Christmas lovers! 😂😂

How to Slay Christmas was just great! I fell in love with how Sarah wrote this one. It was pretty unique.
Jessica’s character was great and who doesn’t love Christmas. She may just love Christmas a little too much.
Fearne was a great character too. I felt for Fearne. She puts up with a lot and I mean a lot. In ways she’s a dang saint.
Jessica is looking to become the next Mrs Claus of Ellsbury Christmas Market. She plans to punish the people who’ve all been naughty over the year. Didn’t see that one coming did you?
This was a different type of book but it’s one that just keeps you invested and curious to see what happens next. I loved it. There were some parts that I was NOT expecting. The twists were definitely a shock. The ending was a shock! Made you gasp kind of shock.

I definitely enjoyed this one!

I absolutely loved this book! It was funny and witty and honestly I couldn’t put it down. I already read and loved “How to slay on vacation” so I was afraid this new book would not have lived up to my expectations, but it nearly exceeded them. A very nice and funny read that I recommend!

Festive Fatalities..
Festive thrill fest in another darkly humorous tale of righting wrongs in, perhaps, the worst possible way. But.. a murderous Santa?… Just who will be on the nice list and who will be on the naughty list this year? Plenty of action, thrills and spills, twists and turns with a pacy plot and a cast of eclectic characters.

Never too early for Christmas 🤶 I think this might be the earliest in the year I have ever read a Christmas book but I am not sorry at all.. I love Sarah Bonner books, they are always so much fun to read, with a high body count, what’s not to love.

Jessica uses her job as Mrs Claus around the country as a cover for her real calling, taking out the bad people in this world and not getting caught. Who will be on her naughty list this year? Well, there are plenty of contenders in this village, who would have thought a Christmas market would be so violent!

It is a fast read, funny, dark and so entertaining. Add this to your festive TBR.

Thank you Boldwood Books for my copy of this book to read.

Crime? Check
Humor? Check
Amazing female empowerment? Check

“She is totally slaying it at work”

This story had me hooked from the start I was laughing I was intrigued.
There actually was a lot happening and the story paced really well and you really got to know them.
The side characters were amazing and it has all the ingredients if you want to have some little slaying this Christmas time around.

“Killing him feels good
It feels like justice
It feels like therapy
Oh, who am I kidding?
It feels like fun”

The ending like about the last 15-20% did feel very very rushed as if the book was coming to an end and the final strings all had to be tied together yet.
The ending didnt make a lot of sense it felt put in to be there without any knowledge of it in the rest of the book. I had hoped there were a bit more little sneaky links that would’ve tied the ending to the rest of the book.
Some parts also missed details.
Like for example the wife was keeping her author pen name a secret from her husband, she never speaks to him about it he doesn’t know, how does he suddenly know in the end? It came off as a pretty big deal for her so to have it casually thrown in that he knows felt off with the rest of the book.

“Some of the positions are surprisingly adventurous and they might give me some pointers for one of the books I’m writing under my pen name.”

This was such an enjoyable, fun read. I loved the setting of a Christmas market for the backdrop of the story. This would make a great holiday read as it had all the Christmas feels, with a hint of murder on the side!

The author created a cast of really likeable characters, and some who were certainly lacking any charm! The story is told from Jessica and Fearne's point of view with alternate chapters. It is well written and is darkly funny, but it also has a lot of heart. The ending was perfect.

Jessica uses the Christmas holidays to make sure bad people pay for their wrongdoing.  You wouldn't want to end up on Jessica's naughty list! 

Fearne is the long-suffering wife of Sebastian who organises and runs the local Christmas market. Sebastian is a control freak and likes his many rules to be followed... he will need to be careful that he doesn't end up on the list.

I loved everything about this, despite the murders, it was a feel good read and I will definitely be adding the authors other books to my tbr.

Wow what a book. This is like a Christmas movie but packed full of action. Like such a good book. I loved how different this was. Jessica loved Christmas I am so with her cause it's my favorite time of year.
I loved Fearne she was stuck in a marriage that was let's say not good no love it was sad really ( sometimes I feel this ) but she is the perfect partner for Jessica and all her plans and she had a lot. It's such a dynamic duo. But somehow it fits together!!
I mean seriously who wouldn't all the grinches that make Christmas awful gone. Me I would lol they take all the fun out of the holidays!!
This book for keeps you on your toes and you think you have it all figured out then we meet more characters and more things happen I will at times I felt confused and overwhelmed but I caught on quickly.
This was such a fun read and a really different experience to read but I throughly enjoyed this author and I'm gonna need more because I'm hooked.

What can I say - other than what a cracker this read was, dark funny crime thriller it promises and that’s exactly what you get.
Mrs Claus has a naughty list you really don’t want to be on!
Such a brilliant concept Jessica is just so badass I love her then put Fearne in the mix and you have an hilarious duo.
I read how to slay at work and how to slay on holiday which were both great too but I think this may have pipped them to the post such a fun dark thrilling read.
I cannot wait to see where Sarah Bonner takes us to slay next 😃

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