DNF
My first book by this author. The blurb was intriguing, but I just didn't feel the connection between the MCs. They made a naughty and nice list, each chapter representing one of the items on the list. The chapters were really short, and maybe that's why I just didn't feel connected to this book. I DNFed a few chapters in, sadly.

I really enjoyed Valencia and Gideon’s story enemies to lovers with a holiday twist always works for me. Their banter was sharp, the chemistry was very hot, and I loved the idea of the “naughty and nice” holiday list. It made the book feel festive and playful while still delivering some emotional depth.

I also appreciated that Alexis Daria gave us more than just the steam (though there’s plenty of that ). The story touches on trust, forgiveness, and moving forward, which made the romance feel more meaningful.

The only reason it’s not a full 5 stars for me is that a couple of the list items felt a little over-the-top, and the pacing in the middle got a bit quick. But overall, this was a super enjoyable read that put me in the holiday mood.

If you like sexy holiday rom-coms with heart, you’ll want to add this one to your December TBR.

3.5★

Look, this is certainly not a summer book, and I feel like if I read it during Christmastime, I would've eaten it up. You see, reading about ice skating and gift wrapping just doesn't hit as hard when you're lying on the beach. Still, it was a pleasant change from the usual world building-filled fantasy books that get me stuck in a reading slump for months on end.

In this sweet and spicy Christmas novella, our FMC goes to a party and meets her childhood arch-nemesis (as she called him, cause I personally would label him a bully), they hook up, and continue doing so until Christmas. Enter an asshole ex and some daddy issues, with a sprinkle of a sassy best friend (I am literally in love with Fern, like, she was my favorite character in this entire story), and a cute cat on top. I loved the premise of this story, as well as the execution, and although I would've liked to see Gideon grovel a lot more, I guess the low-key trauma bond out MCs had was neat enough.

The spicy scenes were written really nicely and the character dynamics as well, I loved the way you could feel the chemistry between our MCs running hot. Bonus points for LGBTQ+ rep (especially Rodrigo my love).

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Alexis Daria, Montlake and Netgalley for the arc.
This was a quick, cute and spicy read, perfect for the holiday season. The concept of the bucket holiday list was really interesting, I could feel Valencia and Gideon's chemistry from the start; something that I appreciated is that the physical and mental connections were balanced, despite the book being a novella heavily focused on spice.
Some inner monologues and scenes gave me second-hand embarrassment and the end felt rushed, but I had a good time reading.

Thank you NetGalley & Montlake for this ARC!
A holiday spicy novella that’ll leave you smiling, blushing, and brimming with festive cheer!
If you loved this one, don’t miss the author’s other cozy Christmas novella Only Santas in the Building!

TW: bullying

I really enjoyed this holiday novella! The smut and the list were EVERYTHING 😏🔥 but what really made me smile were all the Christmas activities they had planned out in NYC. Every single one had me grinning and honestly made me so excited for Christmas to come 🎄💫. I loved the history between the main characters and how their relationship grew into something beautiful. The perfect mix of spice, heart, and holiday charm! 💖

Oooo I am never disappointed in Alexis Daria books. So steamy yet the perfect mix of humor and holiday season. I love the christmas vibes and the 12 days inspired theme. I will be enjoying this again around the holidays wrapped in a cozy blanket sipping on hot chocolate while ignoring the worlds political problems.

Also Valencia and Gideon are amazing choices for character names and I am so in love!

The Holiday Hookup List by Alexis Daria is a sizzling, festive enemies-to-lovers romance that occurs over the twelve days of Christmas. After a rough breakup, Valencia isn't feeling the holiday cheer—until a chance encounter with her high school nemesis, the charming Gideon, leads to a spontaneous hookup and an even steamier arrangement. What begins as a playful "naughty and nice" list of holiday-themed fun quickly deepens into something more, as both discover that maybe this Christmas connection could last beyond the holiday. This is very much not a Hallmark style holiday romance!
This was a quick read with a strong emphasis on chemistry, leaning more into spicy moments than intricate plotting. That said, it does touch on the characters' shared history and personal growth since high school, adding emotional depth to their rekindled connection. Underlying themes of family tensions and emotional distance add a layer of depth, helping to support the story beyond its playful, passion-driven surface.

A short novella full of everything naughty and nice! This was a fun and spicy read with Latinx rep perfect for the holiday season 🎁

Highly recommend this for anyone looking to add a book to their holiday TBR that's a steamy fun time and full of Christmas in NYC vibes ❄️🏙️🩵

Pub Date: October 7, 2025

The Holiday Hook Up List by Alexis Daria is the perfect holiday novella to get you in the Christmas spirit — with just the right amount of steam that only Alexis can deliver. Let me tell you, I definitely enjoyed going through the hookup list with Valencia and Gideon.

The tagline says it all: The twelve days of Christmas have never been hotter! This sizzling enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy brings the perfect balance of holiday cheer and toe-curling spice. Valencia, still reeling from a cheating fiancé, finds herself at a holiday dance party… and face-to-face with her infuriatingly sexy high school nemesis, Gideon Noble. One reckless dance leads to a night together, and soon they’re making a “naughty and nice” list—twelve days of wholesome yuletide cheer paired with twelve nights of heat that would make Santa blush.

What I loved most is how Alexis wove together humor, heartfelt moments, and passionate chemistry. The banter sparkled, the holiday vibes were cozy yet electric, and the romance had me rooting for Valencia and Gideon every step of the way. By the time Christmas Eve rolled around, I wasn’t ready for their list — or this story — to end.

If you’re looking for a festive, flirty, and downright fun romance to curl up with this holiday season, this one deserves a spot at the very top of your TBR.

This was a great holiday novella. It was so good. I enjoyed Valencia and Gideon relationship so much and the queer representation. It had everything I would want in a holiday book. I love how both characters changed and grew and learned from mistakes made. This was also nice and spicy and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!!

I loved The Holiday Hookup List. It was sweet and super duper spicy. I normally don’t love a second-chance romance but this one just felt different. I loved the chemistry between Valencia and Gideon. This was just perfect, I wish it was longer but I think a novella was the perfect length!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I’m not as “woke” as some readers may be, so much of the material in this book was disturbing to me. I didn’t care for the bisexual references throughout the story despite Gideon and Valencia being in a heterosexual relationship. I almost quit reading the book, but I continued to the end since I had received an ARC. I will definitely read the descriptions better before requesting books by authors that I’ve read before and also met at our local bookstore. I almost ended after the 3rd chapter, but I didn’t want to feel like a quitter.

Deliciously smutty — somewhat insta love that manages to be emotionally intelligent — all while capturing the charm of the Christmas spirit. A good and quick read for the holiday season.

Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for a complimentary EArc in exchange for an honest review.

The Holiday Hookup List is a fun and festive romance filled with charm, humor, and holiday spirit. Alexis Daria brings her characters to life with vibrant personalities and relatable emotions, making their journey toward love feel authentic and engaging. The witty dialogue and cozy holiday setting add extra warmth to the story, creating the perfect read for anyone who loves feel-good, seasonal romance. It’s a joyful and uplifting book that left me smiling.

The amount of spice and sexual tension packed into this short novella is top tier. Ho Ho Ho...All I want for Christmas is more spicy, fun holiday reads like this. The characters were great, I laughed and blushed throughout the story, the tropes were perfect. The ending made me so happy. The chemistry between Valencia and Gideon (sidetone:loved the characters names) was on a whole different level. I loved this one from start to finish. Searching for more written by this author because I enjoyed this one so much!

This was such a fun and festive little romance. The Holiday Hookup List gives us a classic high school rivals-to-lovers setup, but with a holiday twist and a whole lot of steam. Valencia is still recovering from a rough breakup and just trying to survive the season. Enter her former rival with a hookup pact and a whole lot of unresolved tension. Chaos (and chemistry) immediately follows.

I loved their banter and the way their dynamic shifted from playful jabs to something warmer and more vulnerable. There’s definitely some emotional growth here, even if it was a bit light. With a book this short, it’s hard to dive too deep, and I did find myself wanting a little more time to really feel their connection on a deeper level.

Still, it was such an enjoyable read. The pacing was great, the vibe was festive without being over the top, and the heat was definitely there. This felt like the kind of holiday romance you can devour in one sitting with a blanket, a hot drink, and a smile on your face.

If you’re in the mood for something quick, sexy, and Christmassy with a little bite and a lot of heart, this will hit the spot

Sweet and sexy holiday fun all in one book
Mini-Synopsis
When characters set out to complete a festive hookup challenge, attraction turns real—leading to playful conflict and emotional payoff in a holiday NYC setting.

These characters showed a lot of growth from the start to finish

It made me want to put my Christmas tree up in the middle of July

This was such a cute story! I was a little worried that the spicy scenes and different sexual challenges might come off as too much, but they were actually fun and tastefully done. I really liked how sweet Gideon was—his loyalty and the way he never gave up on his feelings for Valencia made him so endearing. He was always there for her, which made their connection feel genuine and heartfelt.

what a cute novella! super spicy work from Alexis Daria. i thoroughly enjoyed and cannot wait to read her next