This book was full of festive joy and Christmas cheer. I adore books that have got 'You've Got Mail' vibes/retelling.

Merry & Clark's chemistry was intense & fire. I loved the single parent trope added to the mix.
Both the characters had amazing growth & the side characters were perfectly blended.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a great fan of Christmas books and Hallmark films (even in August), but I struggled with this one.

It was about 150 pages too long, and had far too many things going on, to the point that none of them were dealt with well.

For example, two people (Merry and Clark) meet on a dating app and start chatting, only to meet up and fall in love in their small town (he works on her family's farm) before they meet up on the app, This in itself would have been a great plot for the book but this was 'resolved at about 30% in. Merry wants to take over her father's farm, is roped into a Christmas tree festival, a Christmas parade and she starts a side hustle making crochet penises. Add to that a blast from Clark's past sweeps in and sweeps out again for no apparent reason taking up a couple of chapters. This book would have been greatly improved if it had been edited.

It wasn't the worst book I've ever read, but it wasn't the fluffy Christmas romance I was expecting and if it was a Hallmark film it would be 4 hours long with no ads.

There’s Something About Merry is a romantic Christmas delight! Merry and Clark are endearing characters and all I wanted was for them to find love and joy in their lives. I chuckled at many scenes in this sparkling novel, my heart broke a little, but the swoon-factor was the very best part!

This one is pretty spicy and has a few unfavorable words in it however the storyline is great and you simply just want to keep reading! I could’ve done without some of the language and the spice, but we never quite know what is going to happen which makes it all the more endearing! A great read!

Well rom-pals™ I’m back again with another advance review! I’m here to share my early review of Codi Hall’s holiday romance There’s Something About Merry.

As always, huge thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC, thoughts below are my own.

After I got over my initial, oh my god it’s August and I’m reading a holiday romance, I was able to come back down to earth and really focus on what I was reading. This was released last year as an Audible Exclusive, and much like Cara Bastone’s Seatmate is now getting a book version, huzzah!

I’ll get this one over with quickly: I didn’t love it. I wanted to, it really had all the parts I was sure to love: single dad, co-workers, cast of potentially wacky characters, small town vibes. But as a whole there were a few things that just felt off.

But before I rain on our proverbial holiday parade, what did I like? Jace (Clark’s son) was adorable, and stole most of the scenes he was. Daisy and Butch (a Great Pyrenees and Bloodhound respectively) are very fun and adorable dogs (I’m really grasping at straws here). Oh and Victoria (Merry’s mom) she seemed like a perfect mix of both Grace and Frankie (from one of my favourite Netflix show and my ideal style icons).

Things I struggled with, were plentiful. When we meet Merry she’s in a HUFF about not being taken seriously at her family tree farm. She wants to take over one day, but her dad (apparently) is resistant and has brought in Clark Griffin (which HAS to be a reference to Clark Griswold?!) to be the farm foreman. Merry is displeased, and we’re told that this is her passion and dream. She’s kind of resentful of Clark, but they are trying to make their professional relationship work.

She’s also getting over a relationship that’s gone badly, and is maybe ready to put herself out there. Clark is also working through the trauma of having a child when he was 20, being essentially abandoned by his own parents and brother, oh and his baby momma just up and left their newborn and vanished.

So right away I’m sitting here like, ok so Merry and Clark are going to need to figure out how to work together for her to realize her dream of taking over the tree farm and Clark is going to have to grapple with his abandonment issues and it will snow at the end with a perfectly timed engagement yada yada.

BUT WAIT, no we end up on the snakes and ladders of plot(s) and storylines, and reader when I tell you by the end of this book I was ready to hang up my stockings and call it a freaking day. We also get a little side bar you’ve got mail moment between Clark and Merry, which was a real cringeworthy Merry moment.

Then there’s the abusive town drunk who is kicking puppies (I wish this was a metaphor), and the crocheted penises (which were referred to as Voodoo penises, which felt yucky and kind of disrespectful of the whole Voodoo being a practiced religion and all…), oh and the woman who abandoned Jace and Clark shows up, with strangle marks on her neck, announces her uncle sexually abused her as a child (and that’s why she did not want to have a son), and then asks Clark for what I can only assume is tens of thousands of dollars for her and DAUGHTER to escape to start a new life. But not before Clark has to gently remind Merry (after she’s like I DON’T UNDERSTAND PEOPLE WHO DISLIKE CHRISTMAS) that not everyone in the world follows Christianity and celebrates Christmas, and capitalism is bad. Good grief.

Oh and remember when Merry wanted to run the farm, Clark basically wraps that storyline up by just pulling her dad aside and being like “Merry wants this, she’s serious”, babe she’s been mocking up dongs wearing bowties, and organizing a holiday fair, does she really? Anyways. UGH.

This did not work for me, but it might work for you! There were definitely some “vibes” but not a lot of coherent plot, but also I guess there was some holiday warm-fuzzies and some o**l s*x in a woodwork shop so not all is lost. If you’re interested, grab your copy of There’s Something About Merry wherever you get your books when it drops in print form September 6th 2022.

“Just because a dream isn’t elaborate, doesn’t mean it isn’t extraordinary.”

Are you looking for a cheesy Hallmark Christmas movie in book format? Then look no further. Merry Winters has a sister named Holly, their brother’s girlfriend is named Noel and they live in Mistletoe, Idaho.

Merry wants to learn the family tree business so she can take over when her dad retires, but he hires a new foreman.

Clark worked on the tree farm in his teens and is back helping out the Winters. Now he’s a single dad and barely talks to Merry, except thats not exactly true. Both of them set up anonymous online dating profiles and ended up matching, so they’ve actually been talking online. Their version of flirting was so cringey, I died a little inside.

There was definitely a big focus on the fact that Clark was a single dad. While I don’t read single parent books as I can’t relate, it was incredibly realistic that Clark didn’t want to date because of his son. He didn’t want Jace to like someone, only for it to not work out in the end.

Holly, Merry’s sister is hilarious, and I liked her way more than Merry. I would absolutely read a book about her and I’m hoping she gets with Sam, Clark’s brother, even though that would make this family dynamic even weirder than it already is.

This book was so cheesy, some good, and some not so good. I absolutely love well written spice in just about any book, but this was a bit odd. We have all this Christmas Cheer in the land of Whos and then BAM Clark starts talking about his aching cock…. I was getting whiplash. It also had kind of weird pacing. They didn’t talk, then they were talking, talking-not-knowing-they-were-talking, then bad, then first date acting like they’d been together for years.

Overall this was a light and fun read. Maybe would have enjoyed it more in November/December. I love Christmas though so I can’t complain too much.

Thank you Netgalley for providing a free copy of this book so that I can review.

P.S. #Voodopeens i would have ordered an ipb one!

❄️ Single Dad
❄️ Christmas story

3.5 ⭐️
1.5 🌶

There’s Something About Merry by Codi Hall
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Publication date: September 5, 2022

Merry and Clark knew each other in high school, but kept their mutual crush on each other a secret. Now, several years later, they find themselves as neighbors and working together. They both begin messaging a stranger on an online dating site, not realizing they are talking to each other. Will life get in their way of connecting with each other?

This book is the second in a series about a family in Mistletoe, Idaho who have a Christmas tree farm. Book 1, titled Nick and Noel’s Christmas Playlist, was a popular read released last October. This one tells the story of Nick’s sister, Merry, and how she finds love.

This is a cute romantic comedy that felt very much like reading a Lifetime movie. I loved the welcoming family, Christmas tree farm, and single dad trope - but the dialogue felt a little forced to me and the pacing was odd.

It felt very realistic in the sense that the main characters said awkward things to each other while first dating. 😅 MMC, Clark, will have readers swooning over his adorable son.

Perfect for you if you like:
Single dad trope
Dual POV
Small town romance

Thank you to sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for the advanced review copy. There’s Something About Merry is also available as an audiobook on Audible.

This might be my favorite holiday read of the year. Think Hallmark if only Hallmark was rated R!

There's Something About Merry follows the story of Merry and Clark. Clark is a single father, and while I usually find children annoy irl, his son Jace was a bright and cute spot in the story that helped Merry and Clark see each other's true intentions without a long, drawn out confrontation. Merry's sugary sweet personality and Clark's guardedness complimented each other in the best ways. The things I truly loved about this story were that 1.) I didn't have to wait until halfway through the book for them to figure out they were chatting with each other online 2.) there is room to continue their story and 3.) the SPICE!!. This was by far the spiciest holiday romance I have read and has now set the standard of what I want in a holiday book! @authorcodihallgary please give me more books like this one!

I started reading this book and didn’t realize it was #2 of the Mistletoe Romance series. I didn’t read the first book, but I really enjoyed this one! This book gave me all the feels, it was super cute. I loved the two MC’s, Merry and Clark. Clark is my maiden name so right away I knew I was going to like this book🙌 I suggest going in blind, I just read the synopsis and it gives it all away. Let’s just say, Merry doesn’t have the best of luck in the boyfriend department and Clark is a single dad who works for her families Christmas Tree Farm. Loved the small town feel and how family doesn’t have to be something your born into😍

Highly recommend this book! It made me laugh out loud, smile and tear up.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

Publish date: September 6, 2022

This was a cute, small-town, holiday romance, set in Mistletoe, Idaho. Merry was a great main character, as she was relatable and funny, but you could understand some of her angst about dating and men. Clark, in my opinion, was a fantastic love interest. He was cute, charming, and a great father to his 7 year old son, Jace. I enjoyed a lot of this story. The setting, the flirting, the angst, the will they or won't they, and the family dynamics. I also enjoyed the online dating aspect, kind of relating back to the 90s movie You've Got Mail. This book was a quick read for me, and I think it would be a perfect Christmas romance. It kind of reminded me of a Hallmark movie, just in book form.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the e-ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

* I received an arc in exchange for an honest review
This book was so cute. Definitely gave me hallmark movie vibes with how the characters and setting came together. The pacing was weird as it was very slow and then BAM instant romance but other than that it was a good read! The story was interesting enough that it wasn't instantly predictable

I was excited to get this ARC from netgalley as I loved the story of Nick and Noel by this author. This book follows Nick's sister Merry and her love interest Clark. It was a very cute Rom-com and a perfect Christmas read, as the whole town seems to be built around Christmas. It times it got a little cheesy, but for the most part I enjoyed the journey of Merry and Clark.

This is a very slow romance build. I stopped reading at 7%. DNF


*******************************I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest opinion.*************************************

This is the second book in the Mistletoe series. I haven’t read the first one of the series, but I’m definitely gonna snag it after this one!

This was such a cute holiday story! The town of Mistletoe sounds like a dream, especially at Christmastime. I really enjoyed all of the characters - the Winters family and Jace were so lovable. The relationship between Clark & Merry was adorable and so sweet. And of course, the best part was Merry’s side business making & selling crocheted voodoo peens 🤣

There is most definitely something about Merry this Holiday season. This book was so much fun to read. It was a laugh out loud Rom Com with the holiday flair this Christmas loving reader couldn’t put down. The winters family Christmas tree farm was the perfect setting for this story. Clark the single father to Jace is hired as the new Forman on the winters family farm. Merry is back home after several failed relationships, and a year long dating hiatus. Sparks fly between the pair but Is the chance of love worth taking the risk? Find out for yourself and pick up this book!

There’s Something About Merry by Codi Hall
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This cutely crafted Hallmarkesque holiday read features favoured festive tropes including: seasonally thematic names; a Christmas Tree farm; a single father; an adorable kid; forced proximity; a couple that “𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵” get together; meddling loved ones; feel-good family vibes and a happily ever after — but with an intriguing plot twist and a little more 𝘴𝘶𝘨𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘦 than is typically included in the made for TV movies.

❤️ The pros
The characters are a uniquely lovable, dynamic and well-matched pair. A combination of cute and comical moments punctuate the easily flowing plot. There is a dash of deeper content at play, but overall this is a lighthearted and easy holiday read.

💔 The cons
At times the story dragged a bit for me and could have been a little bit more tightly edited to ensure it entirely held my attention through to the end.

❣️ In summary
In a few words this quirky, family-centred romcom is marvellously merry and brilliantly bright. Highly recommend for holiday romance enthusiasts who adore festive films everyone “loves to hate” — but deep down really just loves.

❄️ 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘌-𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸. ❄️

SUCH a cute book, I am not a hallmark movie watcher so while I thought this was gonna be a cute and fun read I was not expecting to love it as much as i did!

This is a lighthearted feel-good holiday story following Merry and Clark, who had fleeting feelings for each other as teenagers and now once again as adults. The story can be a bit chaotic at times, there was definitely a scene or two that felt like it should’ve been taken out but over all it was such a good read and I devoured it. The way Merry and Clarks relationship bloomed was really precious,

I absolutely loved the maturity of everyone in this book, and that the “dramatic” scenes didn’t feel too over the top because they were handled correctly; also the fact that there was no third act break up. I would however have liked to see a little bit more spice thrown in.

If you love small towns, supportive family and friends, Christmas, and HEA’s this book is definitely for you.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. This was my first by Hall and I loved it! If you are a Christmas Hallmark movie fan, this will be your jam! It is a tad cliche and predictable, but the story and wonderful characters make up for it. Can't wait for more.

3.5 Stars This was such a cute second change (or third chance?) romance! I haven’t read the first book in this series of standalones, but luckily it wasn’t necessary and it wasn’t difficult to understand who the characters were or their backstories. Merry Winters is coming off a year of being single after a series of bad boyfriends and decides to try online dating. She connects with a guy on a dating app, who turns out to be Clark Griffin, her neighbor, high school crush, and her parents’ employee at their Christmas tree farm. Clark is a single dad who had a crush on Merry when she was in high school and when he discovered she was his online crush, he was shocked and made a mistake. Now he has a second chance (or maybe third chance if you count their high school selves) to make things work with Merry. I loved the dual POV in this, especially when you heard Clark’s thoughts about seeing Merry take care of his son. Definitely recommend this one!

Be sure to be in a Christmas mood for this one since it reminds me of a Hallmark movie in reference to absolutely everything being Christmas-y. Not a bad thing, it’s just currently 100 degrees here with the heat index and I guess I’m just not 100% in the mood for a full fledged Christmas story.
With that being said, I thought this story was well written and I enjoyed the characters very much. He’s a single dad who has came to her family’s farm as the newly hired foreman. A job Merry wanted. They knew each other in school, but were never friends. What starts off as friendly become more when they meet in a dating app…