I love Christmas books, I love reality tv, I especially love books with a reality tv spin. This was a major disappointment, with bad writing and unrealistic scenarios.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review.

A cute, quick, romantic read with a few really heartfelt moments. Sadie and Max have chemistry and make a really cute couple, but I would have loved to see a bit more of how they fell for each other. They seemed to go from completely at odds to in love really quickly. I really liked both of them, but they both have some serious emotional issues that never really get addressed. I get that it’s not that type of book, but those issues are the things keeping them apart, and they suddenly just disappear.

At times, the dialogue felt a little clunky, but my main issue with the book was that it took me far too long to understand the structure of the competition show they were competing on - and I’m still not sure I totally get it. I think it would have really helped to have a bit more of a description of it early in the book, because it didn’t feel intuitive enough for me to figure it out as we went.

I liked the premise of a Christmas romance that takes place in a fictional American Idol in Nashville.
Sadie is a talented singer just looking for a break. Max is the son of a music legend trying to make his own way.

For me the conflicts and misunderstandings went on for too long. So I as the book went on I was more annoyed than enamored with #Saxie.

*I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I am required to disclose that in my review in compliance with federal law.

I received a copy of this book through Net Galley for an honest review. Thank you!

A solid three star holiday read. I actually like this one better than The Holiday Switch that Maggie Knox put out last year. In All I Want for Christmas, Sadie is an aspiring country music singer, and Max Brody comes from country music legacy. The first almost-half of the book is about the two of them on a show called Starstruck (basically American Idol but country music only), and how they fare through the competition and publicity stunts (ie, fake dating!). After the show wraps we fast forward almost a year to find Sadie and Max sort of not connected to each other yet still fake dating? And then we see them figure things out at the one-year later contracted performance for the Starstruck reunion on the Grand Ole Opry stage.

Overall this feels very much like a Hallmark movie in book form. The writing style is simple and effortless to read. There are a few trigger warnings for death of family members and attempted male forcing himself on a woman. The Christmas vibes are there but a very subtle touch. I read this in October (right around when it came out) and it didn't feel too out of place seasonally. Honestly I think this book could have been set any time of year and it would have felt the same. The character development isn't amazing but it isn't bad. The setting isn't overly immersive but it is there. The writing isn't overly flowery or prophetic, but it gets the point across and is well written. That's why this gets a solid three from me...it's good, it delivers, there is nothing bad about it, but there's also nothing wow about it either.

If you like American Idol, winter, and Christmas, then add this book to your TBR

Maggie Knox are back with another holiday story. Overall, I very much enjoyed this romance. I will admit that miscommunication trope was utilized a bit too much to ratchet up the drama, but the fun, sweet, and heartwarming parts of this story made up for it.

This book featured a grumpy-sunshine pairing, but I must say, Max was a sweet cinnamon roll of a grump. He was weighed down by his grief, his difficult relationship with his father, and the burden of being the son of country music royalty. But when I learned more about him, he won a piece of my heart. Just seeing him interact with his dog, Patsy Canine, had me melting, and after I learned about the activity that helped him relax, I was fully won over. Sadie was someone to root for, and I was eager to see her conquer Nashville, but even better was these two together.

I liked the role of the Starmaker competition in setting this romance in motion. I especially loved the duets. The chemistry and sparks between Sadie and Max really shined there. But it was those more private moments where the romantic vibes were strongest. The Banff trip was probably one of my favorite parts. There was so much fun, cheer, and swoon when they were away from Nashville, and it was where I really felt the strength of their connection. Their first Christmas together was also wonderful. It was another time that Max revealed his sugary sweetness.

Though this book wasn’t perfect, the positives outweighed the negatives for me. Filled with lots of holiday cheer and heartwarming moments, I found myself cheering for this couple, proud of their personal growth, and wearing a smile when I got to the end.

I really enjoyed this book! Christmas romances are always a good choice. There are a couple of instances throughout the book where Sadie and Max don’t communicate their feelings, intentions, or explain what is going on at the time. For me, this gets quite frustrating. I just want to shake them and say “JUST TELL HIM/HER WHAT IS GOING ON!” Aside from that, I really enjoyed the story of Sadie and Max, seeing their connection, how much they love each other and their bond through music.

This was a quick, festive romance, perfect for the holidays! I loved the musical backdrop. I wasn't a fan of the miscommunication plot device, but the overall story made up for it. A wonderful pick for the holiday season!

Sadie and Max are teamed up by the producers of the reality singing show, Starmaker. They are basically guaranteed that if they appear to be a team both on and off the stage, they will not get eliminated early on in the competition. Neither wants this, but both want the win and the prized recording contract more than anything.

Max is the jaded son of a country legend that needs to make it on his own. Sadie has been trying to make it in Nashville for a while and this is it for her. After agreeing to fake it, the media goes crazy for the 'couple" and dubs the "Saxie". They maybe could be friends, but insecurities, the pressures of the competition, and the dark side of fame, and the pressure of faking a romance get to them.

Just when it seems they have a chance to get what they both want, they have to decide to be honest with each other and themselves. And that may not even be enough...

This book is so much more than a fake relationship trope. I really enjoyed the behind the scenes of the music industry. And it is a Christmas romance so what is there not to like?

This was my first Christmas romance for the year, and it was a delightful and fun read! Watching how the relationship between Sadie and Max develops over an extended period of time allowed for more character development and showed how sometimes we all need time/space to work through our own issues. Maggie Knox did a great job of setting the scene and drawing the reader into the story. Definitely recommend!

A dog on the cover means I'm sold lol. There are some really cute moments between Sadie and Max. This has all the Christmas feels and aesthetics...log cabin in the woods...Opryland at Christmas!
I wish Sadie and Max spent more time together throughout the book to develop their relationship. Even though it takes place over a year it feels as though their actual time together is minimal.
I would recommend as a cozy Christmas book for this holiday season.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Really looking forward to an uplifting, cute holiday love story... and this was ok, just not quite there. I think the authors followed a similar blueprint as other quaint reality singing competition -dislike/distrust (not quite enemies) - fake dating - legacy celebrity romances, but it lacked some chemistry to really bring in the holiday magic.

This was cute and sweet, if lacking much substance. It felt like a lot of good storylines were started, but then resolutions were rushed at the end. I enjoyed the country music/Nashville setting, and it definitely has the feel good, festive bones I want from a holiday romance.

2.5 stars

*I received a digital copy of this eBook in exchange for my honest review.*

Sadie and Max are selected as contestants on the famed reality singing show Starmaker. Each thinks they've finally made it in Nashville. They pair up for a duet and the world is captivated by their on stage chemistry. With fans going wild, they decide to fake the romance until their final performance to help their careers along. Will the world find out their sham, or will real feelings blossom?

I loved the premise of this book. I love country music. But this was far from the country I know and love. I didn't love either main character. Max is not book boyfriend material for me. What I wanted: Tough, handsome cowboy. What I got: Knits sweaters for dogs and runs away from all of his problems while making excuses for his behavior. We discover Sadie met Max one other time years before she joined the show. Her reason for being mad at him was just stupid. That's a long time to hold a grudge against someone who didn't even know her and owed her nothing. And she essentially does the same thing to Max that she got mad at him for doing to her.

There is so much miscommunication and back-and-forth in this book that you'll walk away with whip lash. Some of that is fine, but at 82% into the book these guys still couldn't get it together. I can't see these two actually making it long term the way they handle situations.

I did enjoy the cutesy country music references (The dogs name- Pasty Canine, and The Song Sparrow after the Blue Bird) and the dual POV's. There are plenty of Christmas vibes to help you feel in the spirit.

I hate to admit this one just wasn't for me.

Thank you NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the opportunity to read and review this book.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: October 4, 2022

I love an enemies to lovers/fake dating trope more than most others and this definitely delivered on that front. Two competing contestants on a music competition show team up for the PR and realize maybe they don’t hate each other as much as they thought. This suffered from an instant-love issue. There are so many annoyances that suddenly are ok…for no reason and without any work being done to figure them out. It was a little too on the nose with other plot points. It tried to be hinting and instead came off as glaring reveals so there was no surprises as you got further along. That being said, I still enjoyed this country music Hallmark movie romance!

There is no second book slump for the writing duo, Maggie Knox!

All I Want for Christmas is a great holiday romance. It is filled with Christmas magic set in the Nashville country music scene. The classic tropes of enemies-to-lovers and fake dating are brought to life by, Sadie and Max. The two are spontaneously thrown together as a duo during their time on a country reality show, but quickly learn you can’t fake chemistry.

This book is a slow burn that had me on the edge of my seat. In fact, I had to put my book down at times, because all I wanted to do was shake some sense into them. While the reader is forced to wait patiently for the two to get their act together, once they do it is pure perfection.

This book is a cute, fast read. It does cover some more difficult topics such as death, sexual harassment, the breakdown of family, etc. While these are difficult subjects to read, Knox does a good job of keeping it on the lighter side.

Special thanks to NetGalley.com and Penguin Group Putnam for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

All I Want for Christmas is a romance centered around Sadie and Max. The two singers are brought together through a singing competition show. When their duet goes viral, the show and their agents decide they are are the new "IT" couple. The only problem is that they can't stand each other.

Thoughts:
There are some really cute moments between Sadie and Max. This has all the Christmas feels and aesthetics...log cabin in the woods...Opryland at Christmas!
I wish Sadie and Max spent more time together throughout the book to develop their relationship. Even though it takes place over a year it feels as though their actual time together is minimal.

I would recommend as a cozy Christmas book for this holiday season.

While I was not a fan of Knox’s release The Holiday Swap last year, I was open to giving her another chance and delving into this as enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes. However, this turned out to be another miss for me.

My issue with The Holiday Swap last year was that it had a very slow moving plot and not enough happening. Strangely, it’s like Knox went the complete opposite way for this release. The dialogue is disjointed, the characters were emotionally immature, the plot was full of unnecessary drama. While I understand that miscommunication as a plot device works when it’s used well, the lack of communication in this book shot past being useful and charged straight into annoyance.

I would only recommend this to others if they go into the book expecting the adults to act like teenagers.

Happy Pub Day to All I Want for Christmas by Maggie Knox! Ok the premise of this book is so fun. A reality show romance, the fake dating trope, the holidays, etc. And I really did enjoy parts of it, but others I found a little cringe-worthy unfortunately. If you can get past the cringe, this book is very fun. The characters are fun, I especially liked Max. Also, I'm a country fan so I think this added to my enjoyment of this book. All in all, if you're looking for an exciting holiday romance and can handle some cheese, I think you'll really enjoy this.

Sadie and Max have interacted with each other for just over one month total and have 'broken up' 3 times already. Honestly, that summarizes the majority of the book. I have never read something with more unfinished sentences (from being cut off) and interrupted confessions and lack of communication. Just one of those is bad enough, and this had all three MULTIPLE TIMES. And then they just get back together and 24 hours later there's something else SUPER DRAMATIC that happens, but heaven forbid they talk about it like the adults they are. It felt like I was reading about high schoolers. I'm just gonna say it, Max sucks. Whiplash from his moods and so inconsiderate of others when he's being all broody and woe is me. And the book starts out with him being all, 'wow I want and need this so bad' about the competition and when he gets it he is a total spoiled brat and refuses to fulfill his contract until the last minute. AND HAS THE NERVE TO GET MAD AT SADIE WHEN HE WOULDN'T ANSWER HER CALLS OR TEXTS FOR 11 GD MONTHS. Sadie basically just rolls over and ends up being the one to apologize to him and forgives him immediately. That is of course, until their next being blowout about xyz 24 hours later. FRUSTRATTTTTING. Not great, Bob.

Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. Right to Jail.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my (too?) honest review.

Two contestants- one grumpy, one sunshine - meet on a reality country music competition. He’s the hometown hero, son of one of country music’s most beloved singers. She’s a girl from a small town trying to get her big break. When they’re forced to team up for a duet, their on-stage chemistry is an explosive as their behind-the-scenes rivalry. The public is absolutely ‘shipping them, so their managers strongarm them into a fake-dating arrangement with the promise that they’ll make it to the finale of the show. But as the pair spend more and more time together, the walls they’ve spent so much time building up around themselves slowly start to crumble. But their pasts hold them back every time they try to make a real go of a relationship.

Set in Nashville and Banff over the course of several holiday seasons, this sweet and charming romance is like a holiday Hallmark movie.