Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for an eARC copy of The Mistletoe Pact, despite being given this book my thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

First off let's start off by saying I DNFed this at 35%. Lets continue with saying, I never DNF books, I hate not finishing things but this was just painful. Sometimes people say, maybe it was bad for you because it wasn't written for you, but trust me, a contemporary romance set at Christmas with a dual timeline and dual POV was made for me, but this one - god this one.

I'll start off by saying, the characters in this book are 30 and painfully "hip", which means they're not hip at all and really just come off as cringe-y and hard to read. Not a single character in the book felt developed at all, and I can say almost for certain that if I continued, they still wouldn't be. It feels like there's no real relationships or personality to anyone other than like... white and British. I've read many novels about white, British people and I've cared far more about those characters than any single one in this novel.

I don't want to waffle on about everything I disliked in the first 35% of this book but overall, Dan and Evie didn't have distinct voices at all, couldn't even really tell that the chapters were in different POVs, the writing was just... out dated, and the characters felt like they were trying to be realistic in that "i'm a disaster, you have to relate way." There's literally a drunken wedding in Vegas and not even that got me excited... overall do not recommend this book.

Hooked on this author and her books. What can I say. I liked this book. Must read. Do it. If you do anything else. Read this book today. Great read and enjoyable.

This is a love story about two people who have known each other for a very long time. When they are younger they make a pact to marry if they are both single when they turn 30. Somehow when this happens they are on vacation in Vegas, so naturally they get married and a lot of awkwardness and flashbacks happen.

My favorite part of the story was the focus on the main characters family relations. It gave more than your typical romance would and was something I could easily relate to.

The one thing I didn’t care for was that the story is billed as a Christmas romance and much of the book takes place outside of December and I didn’t get a huge Christmas vibe from it. However, this is a very enjoyable love story.

3.5 ⭐️

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

I am a huge fan of everything Christmas!! So a Holiday romance book? Yes please. This was a hallmark holiday wholesome story.
The story started out strong and kind of slowed down later on but it was a fun and easy read overall. I enjoyed it.

Thank you Netgalley & The publisher for giving me an early access to the book in exchange for an honest review!
Overall Review: 3 out of 5 Stars

This book gave me cozy Hallmark/Lifetime Christmas movie vibes. I loved the cover and I enjoyed the whole premise of friends to lovers pact. Evie & Dan gave me the little butterflies that you get when reading or watching a cozy romance. I do feel like the book had missed the mark with the drunk Vegas marriage and the characters taking forever to admit that they had feelings for each other. Granted I did enjoy the novel I just felt the slow burn to be a little too slow for a stand alone rom com. The time jumps sometimes left me little confused but I managed. I did like the POV from both characters, I feel like more romance novels need the dual POV. I want to feel the love from both ends!! Dan had moments where he could have worked on listening but i think that added a better conflict to the overall story

I would recommend this book if you enjoy snow day cozy rom com movies/books. I would put this in that category because it’s just that little sweet comfort to be in for the upcoming holidays!

I really really wanted to love this book. I'm a huge fan of holiday romances. Unfortunately I found myself disappointed by this book.

Evie and Dan have been friends for years. On her 22nd birthday they make a pact to get married on her 30th if they are both still single. On her 30th birthday they wake up in Vegas married. They quickly get a divorce and agree to go the separate ways. Part of my disappointment came from this as I felt it would have been a lot more interesting if they stayed married, especially considering they posted it all over social media. Which brings me to the first issue which was the fact they posted it everywhere and it was never really brought up by anyone. Even if it written off as a joke this is still a major plot hole.

Another issue was the timeline, it often was quite jumbled and unclear. While then and now can be well done, the jumps and back and forth were quite confusing in this book. Her sister's age was one part of this. I also felt the book just went in circles for the majority of it with no real plot or character development. Overall it was just a meh holiday book. Although for a book with mistletoe in the title there was a disappointing lack of Christmas spirit.

This was a nice, easy read which I enjoyed.

The dual timeline between now and then and alternating chapters really helped with getting to know and love both Evie and Dan.

It gave me major Friends vibes with the friends to lovers and Vegas wedding which made for a really fun read.

3 stars – The Mistletoe Pact by Jo Lovett is a friends to lovers trope (well, best friend’s brother to lover, really). I was thoroughly looking forward to reading this book, but it was challenging to finish. The story line was interesting, and I even liked the story jumping between the 2 main character perspectives. Dan and Evie were likable characters, but it was a little frustrating how they spent many years not acting on their feelings.

The real challenge was how each chapter jumped to various points in their history (past chapter, present day chapter, a year ago, present day…). The timeline was a bit all over and made the story difficult to follow. Also, not quite sure where the author was headed when Dan’s ex and baby were introduced towards the last quarter of the book.

A big thank you to Net Galley and Bookouture for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Great story full of romance and some angst. I loved following Dan and Evie’s love story with the ups and downs. When I was able to read, it was hard to put down. I would love a sequel!

3.5*
This book has two things I love most in books: a drunk Las Vegas wedding and Christmas. At first I wasn't convinced because of the friends to lovers (not my fave trope), but over the course of the book I got involved with the characters and I totally love them. And finally but not least, I just want to say that something that stressed me out was the lack of communication between the characters, but let's be honest, if it hadn't been like that, there would be no story.

The writing is good and the story started out alright. I just did not feel connected to either main character or their story. I’m sure a lot of people will really enjoy it but I couldn’t get invested enough to finish it.

Friends to lovers. A crazy night in Vegas and a secret pact to get you through the holiday season. The story is just as cute as the cover. If you're like me and look forward to the new Hallmark movies every season no matter how cheesy they may be then you need this book. It's funny and witty.

3.5⭐️

Friends to lovers, unrequited love, a drunk Vegas wedding - this British romcom had it all. I LOVED the main characters in this book. Their chemistry together was incredible. The book flashes from present day (post accidental nuptials) back to events of the previous ten years, which gave a great sense of their love for each other. I just wanted MORE time with them together! I found myself a bit distracted. Overall, still a great book!

YES. This must become a movie, series, anything. I want to see this cast out and played on a screen. Any screen. HERE FOR THIS.

What a feel good heart warming story. Characters that became family made it impossible to put this book down. I smiled the whole way through. This is a must read for a great start to the holiday season.

Ahh another Christmas book post from me…what a surprise 😂

Honestly guys I can’t help myself, reading Christmas books is just my thing😂

This was a really sweet and easy read and it also includes a ‘if I’m not married by this age’ marriage pact and we all love those in our romances, don’t we? 🙌🏻

If you like friends to lovers, Vegas weddings, CHRISTMAS and a lot of will they won’t they and especially if you love the Rachel/Ross storyline in Friends then you will really, really like this sweet, adorable Christmas read!

The Mistletoe Pact comes out on October 1st.

P.s this is a book where the main events take place at Christmas but it also shares the whole year with you. I always like to share that as I know some people like there Christmas books to take place only in December etc ❤️

Advanced copy from Netgalley ✨

Evie and Dan have known each other their whole life’s. One Christmas they make a pact to get married, if they are still single at 30. The book is written back and forth between current and past times.
The book is not a Christmas book, but it’s still a good read! Fall in love with Evie and Dan throughout their whirlwind of a friendship and relationship.

The Mistletoe Pact by Jo Lovett gives all the hallmark, missed-connection, holiday love story vibes you could want.

This story, told in alternating timelines, is everything I love in my hallmark Christmas movies – but in a book. A full cast of loveable characters, and a characters’ love story you can route for.

My one and only complaint about this book is that I wanted to yell at the characters because they weren’t communicating with each other.

If you’re looking for a light and fun festive read this holiday season then you need to pick this one up!

Thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In spite of knowing exactly how this book would end, because what is a feel good Christmas novel without a happy ending, I loved the back and forth perspectives from the past to the present day. Evie and Dan's path to love, centered around an annual holiday celebration was just the holiday novel we needed this year.

Simply adored this story. It was a fun romance book and I loved the writing. The interactions between Dan and Evie. It is a perfect Christmas romance book and one that I will reread.