Included as a top pick in bimonthly October New Releases post, which highlights and promotes upcoming releases of the month (link attached)

***

4.5 stars.

First impressions: This made me so happy. At first I thought this was a standalone, but now I’m not so sure. It works better as a companion to THE SUMMER OF LOST LETTERS, especially if you want to fully understand the grandparent hostility storyline. RTC when it’s not midnight.

***

Okay, I was expecting to enjoy this because the previous installment (featuring Shira’s cousin Noah) was cute and because I love the author’s contemporary romance novels under a different pseudonym. But I was not expecting EIGHT NIGHTS OF FLIRTING to grip me by my heart and squeeze it tightly. I loved it all: Shira’s boisterous and loving Jewish family, the Hanukkah traditions, the practice flirting lessons, the mystery subplot about nineteenth century Nantucket whaling (yes, I’m serious), and just… everything. Reynolds just knows how to craft a well-paced YA romance with multiple storylines (this is rarer than it sounds, so I’ll give flowers where it’s deserved!).

But the real reason this story resonated was Shira, a teenager who felt all too similar to my own teenage experiences. I’m not Jewish, but Shira’s anxiety surrounding friendship/flirtation is so relatable. It’s absolutely true that some people are experts at putting themselves out there in a social setting. And then some people, like Shira and me, struggle heavily and wonder if we missed the memo on how to be a teenager. Also: it is 100% possible to be lonely in a large family while still having a loving relationship with everyone.

These aren’t perfect comps, but I’d recommend Reynolds for fans of Jenn Bennett and Sarah Dessen, even if these books don’t get as angsty. I semi-regret reading in June because this is SUCH a perfect winter read (seriously, they get snowed in and don’t have electricity for a night), but I guess that’s what audiobook rereads are for!

Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Young love burns as bright as a candle in this YA enemies-to-lovers, fake dating novel.

Shira thinks she knows what she wants: a romance with her great-uncle's intern, Isaac, who's spending the holidays with them on Nantucket. But when her first crush, Tyler Nelson, gets snowed in with her ahead of their families' arrival, Shira comes up with a plan: have the smooth-talking Tyler teach her to flirt. Shira keeps trying to convince herself the butterflies in her stomach aren't real. Why are conversations with Isaac so hard and flow so naturally with Tyler?

Shira's an awkward teen trying to figure out the big things in life: friendship, love and her future. I adored how relatable her constantly killing moments of chemistry out of fear made her. Shira's both relatable and authentic as she tries SO hard to get her perfect holiday romance. Tyler's perfect as the golden playboy with a beating heart hidden behind his thick walls, and Isaac adds a sense of mystery.

From hot chocolate to gingerbread houses to lighting the menorah, this book provides all the holiday cozy feelings. I also appreciated the focus on Hannukah and what it's like to be Jewish as the rest of the world celebrates Christmas.

This was a charming YA romance that I plan to read again.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

THIS BOOK WAS SO FUCKING ADORABLE I CANNOT RECOMMEND IT ENOUGH!!! First, this is one of the best book with Jewish rep that I have read. There is so much love expressed by Shira about her love of her culture and religion. She is constantly talking about all the different thing she loves and just has so much joy and happiness for her religion. Second, the romance in this was chefs kiss. Shira is for sure clueless the entire book, but that is something that makes the book really entertaining for me personally. Y'all need the read this as soon as it comes out, it is amazing.

I loved this one so much! I loved the writing, being back on Nantucket during the winter and getting to know the family even better. I flew through this book in one day. I really want a story about the grandparents and how they came to be.

I simply ate this up. There are so many classic scenes — it’s just like fanfiction, in the best way possible. Fluffy, easy to read, and all around adorable.

Tyler is such an endearing love interest, I loved getting to know him over the course of the book. His and Shira’s interactions and the way they continue to show up for each other had me swooning.

The pacing of this was also spot on. No part felt too long or like the plot was dragging and it was very easy to fly through it (I finished in a day). Really, the only issue I had is that the handwriting font/whenever they’re taking notes is hard to read.

Overall, a precious story that I am obsessed with and will certainly be recommending upon its release.

𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀 Eight nights of flirting
Autor: Hanna Reynolds
Género: romance
Páginas: 400
Puntuación: 4/ 5⭐️
Holis!! Hoy les traigo la reseña de esta historia romántica ambientada en la época de Hanuka que leí en colaboración con PHR internacional como ARC y que me súper gustó! Muchas gracias por la oportunidad! El libro se lee súper rápido y te teletransporta a la época más linda del año!!

Una chica de 16 años en busca del novio perfecto para estas fiestas. Pero el amor no siempre se da de acuerdo a lo planeado. Shira Bannel tiene un plan, conseguir un novio estas fiestas. Incluso ya tiene al candidato Perfecto en la mira, el asistente de su tío, un chico confiable atractivo y brillante. ¿Cuál es el único problema? Que Shira es un desastre en el coqueteo. Cuando su vecino y primer amor con el que no se lleva bien vuelve a aparecer en su vida juntos empiezan a tratar de remediar esa situación. Pero las cosas nunca salen como uno las planea.

Bueno una mezcolanza de clichés ajjaja pero bueno si bien creo que Shira podría ser considerada una protagonista demisexual pero no queda establecido. De igual manera me gustó la resolución de la historia y la familia caótica de Shira. Tyler el vecino es lo más ❤️ y la tensión si se pudo ver jajja
No hay mucho spice, se puede leer tranquilo a cualquier edad. Un libro lindo para pasar el rato con personajes tiernos y una ambientación bonita!

¿Uds lo conocían? ¿Les gustaría leerlo?
Los leo
🐱 ⋆ 🐾 🎀 𝒟𝒶𝒾𝓊𝓊 🎀 🐾 ⋆ 🐱.

Thank you to netgalley for my advanced copy of this book!!!

I really enjoyed reading this! I loved Tyler and Shira and their families and their Nantucket holidays.

Other things I loved:
- The Jewish rep
- Shira teaching Tyler about Hanukkah
- the mystery Shira and Tyler were trying to solve
- Feelings can evolve over time and they went from Shira being bitter to the two of them being friends to deciding they wanted to be together romantically
- Large family gatherings


This one now has a special place in my heart 🥺 I just loved the characters and the vibes of this book. I love that both Shira and Tyler learned how to be friends (to other people and each other).

Oh my GOD i am 100% obsessed with this book! it has everythin- romance, fun, witty banter, a trapped inside with no way out enemies to lovers, and more importantly- Jewish rep! It is so rare for me to find a book that I can relate to, especially during the holiday season when everything is all about Christmas. It was so refreshing to have this set during Hanukkah and Shira is someone that I see myself in completely. I definitely feel that pressure in my love life but something about it coming from another Jewish girl who understands that side makes my heart happy. Definitely read this if you love holiday romances or if you're also looking for some religious diversity!

What a cute read!! Shira is your typical awkward teenager and I love it. Reminded me so much of me! Plus I don't think I've read a book revolving around Hanukkah, so a first for me!

Good for anyone who likes Olivia Abtahi's book or the movie Let it Snow :)

When I requested this book, I didn’t really know what to expect other than it sounded cute. As soon as I started reading it though, I couldn’t put it down and fell in love with it instantly. Full of heart and family, Eight Nights of Flirting was an adorable story about opening yourself up to others and finding love where you least expect it.

Shira Barbanel is horrible at flirting, but she’s determined to change that this Hanukkah so that she can finally make a move on her crush, Isaac. When she arrives at her grandparent’s estate in Nantucket, she begrudgingly allows Tyler Nelson, her former crush who rejected her years ago, to spend the night after a power outage. She talks him into giving her flirting lessons, and over the course of the next few days, he helps her learn to move past her self-consciousness.

Again, I didn’t really know what to expect but this book ended up being a call-out post for me/my younger self. Internally, Shira finds herself awkward and agonizes over her interactions with other people, especially with her crush. Tyler helps her realize that all of this internalized and that outwardly, this comes across as if she doesn’t want to interact with people on purpose. Instead, as he tells her, people are more concerned with their own lives than anything else. It was really nice to see Shira open herself up to others over time, including Tyler. She also reaches out to friends with whom she doesn’t usually talk to outside of school.

I also liked seeing how this impacts her dynamic with her large extended family. Although her entire family is very tightly knit, she can’t help but feel a little left out, especially since she doesn’t see her cousin Noah, the person she was closest to, as much now that he’s in college. She learns to focus on the moments she gets with her family as opposed to the moments where she misses them. I also liked seeing the chaos and the love amidst a large family.

As for the romance, Shira and Tyler’s relationship was my favorite part of the book! Two years ago, she worked up the courage to act on her crush of four years, but Tyler rejected her. Since then, she’s determined not to think of him at all, something she’s been successful at until this holiday season. As they spend more time together though, she realizes there’s more to him than his cheery playboy exterior.

I just really loved their dynamic. Shira’s bad at being her true self with other people, but since she’s so determined to not let Tyler get to her anymore, she speaks to him openly. In turn, Tyler feels like she’s the only person he can be himself around. Although it initially seems like he has a care-free attitude, we soon learn that he also doesn’t really get close to others. Their conversations were both heartfelt and funny, and I just loved their scenes together. There was one where I was almost screaming, like the tension…and I just loved the last chapter! It was such a cute way to end the story.

This book felt like a 2016 YA contemporary, and I mean that as a compliment! I feel like a lot of YA contemporaries now focus on the trope of it all, or maybe one plot line and the romance. And sure, this can be fun, I’m not denying that, but it was really refreshing to read a contemporary book that balances multiple aspects and has you deeply invested in every moment. There was a whole underlying plot line about one of Shira’s ancestors possibly being in love with a sailor on a Nantucket whaling ship, and I enjoyed it because it’s one of the ways Shira and Tyler bond.

Heartfelt and funny and romantic, Eight Nights of Flirting depicts what can happen when you open yourself up to other people. I loved the characters and the romance, and I think it’s now one of my favorite reads of the year! I can’t recommend Eight Nights of Flirting enough, especially if you’re looking for a sweet holiday rom-com with an adorable romance and fun family hijinks.

The Hanukkah YA rom com my heart needed! Eight Nights of Flirting made me laugh and kept my attention so well. I never wanted to put it down because I was so invested in Shira. I absolutely adored the Jewish representation and the Hanukkah/holidays setting. I felt like it was nice to see the budding interfaith relationship. At times this book felt a little outlandish, but it also reminded me of being a teenager with a crush and all of the feelings that come with that. Overall, I thought this book was a heartwarming quick read.

I loved the premise of this book, especially the forced proximity trope! I didn’t immediately connect with the main character, but after a little i started to really like her. this book also did a great job of keeping the reader to never want to put the book down, since we were yelling at Shira to see how what she wanted was right in front of her!

I originally thought this was a stand-alone. To my surprise I discovered that there is another companion book set in this world. I have never read a Hanukkah romance, and staging this one in Nantucket made it all the more perfect. Shira’s road to self discovery is wonderful as well! All in all, I would recommend this book as a fun and magical YA read!

This is such a funny, delightful wintry romance — totally charming and extremely swoony!!!

This book is perfect for any young adult who loves romance and holiday romances. For Jewish young adults, especially, this book is a definite must. Also, anyone looking for a sweet and charming Hanukkah romance will not be disappointed. I also think Eight Nights would be an excellent buddy read, either with a friend over Winter Break or between parent/child this holiday season. A great way to connect, through the power of books, and the romance of Hanukkah!

Eight Nights of Flirting by Hannah Reynolds is about a young, socially awkward, still-trying-to-figure-herself-out Jewish teen, named Shira. In an effort to spark a relationship with an older boy named, Oscar, she enlists the help of Nantucket’s most popular hottie, Tyler. Tyler, unfortunately, also happens to be the person who humiliated her as a pre-teen. Over the course of the book, however—with both Hanukkah and a seaside mystery serving as the backdrop—Tyler and Shira must come to reassess who they are, and what they actually want in life, and love.

Some Things I Loved About This Book:

*If I could only use one word to sum up Eight Nights of Flirting by Hannah Reynolds, it would be windswept. Everything about this book, from start to finish, reminded me that I was on the shores of Nantucket. The characters and their growing flirtation. The mystery of lost love, and a sailor. The large mansion, on the shore, littered with visiting family and Hanukkah magic. All of this combined with Reynold’s writing style—truly elegant and lovely—made me feel like I was constantly crashing beside waves during some epic winter storm.

*It’s unique! Truly, I haven’t really read any book quite like Eight Nights, yet—and I think that’s a good thing! And while I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t have as much experience with YA as other genres, I feel like Reynolds did an excellent job creating a Hanukkah romance for a younger audience. Also, the banter between Shira and Tyler is just adorable. I kept wondering what it would have been like for me, as a teenager, to be reading this book… and I think I would have been full-on obsessed.

*I loved the little spin into genealogy, and a romantic mystery involving a sailor, that Tyler and Shira take together. It gives depth and flavor to the narrative, and also adds to that mysterious feeling of the setting.

*It wasn’t afraid to tackle some difficult topics, including parental pressure, anxiety, homophobia, dating, and sexuality. In short, and despite the fact that the book feels magical, it doesn’t veer away from heavier topics. That being said, you never feel weighed down by the issues.

*I adored how much effort, and energy, went into making Hanukkah a big family celebration for the Barbanel’s. It gave me all those typical Christmas feels, while still remaining remarkably centered in Jewish tradition. For that, I am very grateful that this book will be on our shelves! And I think fans of The Matzah Ball, searching for additional Hanukkah reads, will also enjoy this title.

This book is perfect for any young adult who loves romance and holiday romances. For Jewish young adults, especially, this book is a definite must. Also, anyone looking for a sweet and charming Hanukkah romance will not be disappointed. I also think Eight Nights would be an excellent buddy read, either with a friend over Winter Break or between parent/child this holiday season. A great way to connect, through the power of books, and the romance of Hanukkah!

This is a book I am thrilled to recommend. Thank you Hannah Reynolds for writing it. I know that it is going to hold a special place in the heart of many readers.