I saved this October release to enjoy reading during my Christmas Eve flights from Boston to Savannah. It was an enjoyable way to spend my first flight, but then when my one hour layover turned into a four hour delay, I lost my reading momentum. I picked it back up and finished it while lying in bed after a lovely Christmas day with my family.
Sadie and Max are contestants on the next country music reality show - Stargazer. When they have to sing a duet, the public assumes they are seeing sparks fly between the two, impressed by both their singing and their chemistry, and dubs them #Saxie. The show organizers ask them to consider continuing in the competition as a duo, both to help with ratings and to keep both alive in the competition as long as possible. And, to add to what the public expected, the organizers pressure them to fake date throughout. But miscommunications happen as soon as the competition ends, and Max runs away to his hideaway in Banff while Sadie heads home to Michigan to help with a family situation. Over the course of a year, the two stay separate while the world contemplates what’s happening with their favorite couple. As the year comes to an end and the duo need to perform a one-year anniversary song on Stargazer, Sadie and Max try to figure out how they can make it work out.
If you like reality TV music shows and country music, I think this may be up your alley. While some of the events happen during Christmastime, this book doesn’t have too much Christmas content - I don’t think it’s only a holiday season read. The miscommunication and immaturity bothered me after a while, but I really enjoyed the first half of the book. Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A fun look at what it’s like having to “fake” a relationship, during the holidays, while competing on the big stage for a recording contract and a step into the world of music. #Saxie, aka Sadie and Max, fight their feelings for each other, while trying to navigate around the sharks in the vast ocean of the music world. Is their love strong enough to overcome those who don’t believe in #Saxie, who think their relationship is fake for votes and views? I enjoyed this story, however, there were some plot holes that I wish were resolved in the end. A cute holiday story for your reading enjoyment.

From the author(s) of The Holiday Swap, All I Want for Christmas is the story of Sadie and Max, two aspiring country singers competing for a recording contract on a hit reality TV show. When their chemistry explodes during an on-screen duet, a fake dating publicity stunt ensues and ends up leading to some (gasp!) very real feelings.

If you’re looking for a cozy holiday romcom to close out the year, this will be just your cup of hot cocoa. I really enjoyed The Holiday Swap last year and had high hopes for this one, but it ended up being a bit lackluster for me. Kind of like the literary equivalent of that predictable Christmas movie you turn on in the background while making cookies, but it never really grabs your attention and consequently you can’t remember much about it. This would make a good “palate cleanser” after reading something heavy or dark. And country music fans might have fun with the references to country songs and stars of years past.

CW: The story touches on sexual harassment, coercion, and assault in the entertainment industry.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the complimentary copy of this work!

#Saxie

What happens when a want to be country music star and the son of a famous singer get paired together on a Christmas themed singing contest? This novel has it all- holiday romance, a slow burn, forced proximity, and enemy to lovers- all set in Nashville over Christmas.

I really thought that I would love this one but it fell flat for me. The relationship didn't make any sense and there was no real chemistry for me. The MC's fought for no reason most of the time. It just wasn't my cup of tea. I know holiday romances can be hallmark like and that is fine with me usually. But this just seemed way too dramatic.

What I liked: the characters were enjoyable. I liked it was broken up into the past, present and future sections. Overall the author writes a good story.

What didn't work for me: I enjoyed the story, but it was missing connection and depth. It had all the elements for potential, but it could have been so much more. While it is meant to happen around Christmas time the story wasn't heavy on Christmas. This story could have happened at anytime of the year. I didn't get the love connection with the main characters. To me the two were just really great friends.

If you want a light and fluffy romance this is a good option. I just wanted more from the story.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Sadie and Max were as sweet as southern sweet tea. I absolutely loved the insta-love which I usually am not a huge fan of. I also am a huge sucker for a main character who uses quintessential southern phrases. Knee high to a grasshopper will always get me to be partial towards a novel.

All I Want For Christmas was such a sweet holiday romance read that I can totally envision as a Hallmark or Netflix Christmas movie. It is the second holiday romance by writing duo Maggie Knox, who you may remember wrote last year's The Holiday Swap.

The book follows country singer's Sadie and Max who are both contestants on a reality singing competition show. Max is the son of Country Music royalty, meanwhile Sadie really needs to win this competition in order to make it in the music industry. The two are suddenly thrust together as a duo and are asked to fake a romance to increase ratings for the show. One thing they're not faking is their electric chemistry when they perform music together and that chemistry slowly becomes evident off the stage as they spend more and more time together.

A special thanks to @NetGalley and Penguin Group for my ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I just reviewed All I Want for Christmas by Maggie Knox. #AllIWantforChristmas #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL] I really liked the character development of the story and the chapters from the main characters point of view. Some of the story did drag on, but overall a really cute, fast Christmassy read!

This is the follow up to last years, The Holiday Swap and this year the authors have another holiday hit on their hands. A quick paced hard to put down fun and festive read that will have you grabbing the holiday cookies and hot chocolate while settling in for a great read.
When Nashville country singers Sadie and Max are paired together for a competition on the famed reality singing show Starmaker, they really don't like each other. Sadie's producer say's they must fake-date since they are a singing duo and it'll skyrocket their career. They only have to do this until their last televised show, it shouldn't be that hard to do, right?
If you like the fake dating trope/ enemies to lover's trope this one is for you.
Their first televised fake kiss feels so awkward so why is Sadie all of the sudden feeling so complete being in his arms? Why can't Max keep his mind on his music and not Sadie?
You've got to hand it to Max, he's a guy who knits dog sweaters in his spare time and has an adorable little dog that he totally pampers.
When Max catches Sadie in the arms of her slimy producer, there must be more to the story, but he storms off. I really disliked the producer's character, he's totally unprofessional and wants more from Sadie than a great song.
Max is trying so hard to prove he's not like his father who is a famous singer, made a lot of mistakes in his personal life and also a drinker. He tries to distance himself from him but does admit they need to have an important talk. I have to give his father credit for trying with Max.
After many starts and stops will Sadie and Max be able to stay together and make beautiful music together? With a few bumps along the way I enjoyed seeing how Sadie and Max's relationship progresses.

Pub Date 04 Oct 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

A few brushes with fame under her belt, songstress Sadie Hunter is beginning to wonder if her big break will ever come. Musician Max Brody is wondering the same thing, but for different reasons. Growing up in the shadow of his famous father, he longs to be taken seriously. So when they are both selected to be contestants on the popular singing competition, Starmaker, each hopes this will finally be their chance to make a name for themselves.

But when the two meet, it’s not exactly merry and bright. Although Max finds himself drawn to Sadie’s beauty, he’s put off by her frosty demeanor. Only Sadie recalls what Max does not- a chance meeting in the past that solidified Sadie’s seeing Max as a world class jerk. The tension thick, Sadie and Max get paired up as a duet, the world instantly enamored with their chemistry. Overnight #saxie are trending all over social media, being dubbed the next big thing, both on and off the stage. Yet one problem remains- Sadie and Max can’t stand each other. Can these singers put aside their differences for the sake of fulfilling their passions, or will they each be left singing a different tune?

I was today years old when I learned Maggie Knox was a conglomerate of popular authors Karma Brown and Marissa Stapley. While I have yet to read either author’s solo work, I felt something was missing from this book. A short and sweet read, I loved the premise- an enemies to lovers romance set against a musical backdrop at Christmas time!? Sign me up!!

While the execution grabbed my interest, as the story played out, their relationship became a bit of a broken record, steeped in one too many missteps and miscommunications. While you knew where everything was headed, and holiday reads aren’t exactly known for being deep in context, I still feel a bit more melody was needed to make this particular Christmas story ring true.

This couple shouldn’t be together. They couldn’t even talk to one another. This was such a disappointing book.

Such a cute, quick holiday read filled with love and missed romance. Two competitors on a singing show, are paired up when their chemistry is undeniable. They are not happy to be paired up, but it was that, or face elimination. As they are faking their romance, real feelings start to shine through. Lack of communication, forces them apart for a year, and maybe the romance wasn’t really there. Will they be able to set aside differences to appear on the reunion show before Christmas? Really enjoyed the characters and the flow of the story.

This was a cute holiday romance set in the world of country music. There was a fake dating trope and storylines of grief. Perfect for holiday reading.

I loved Maggie Knox’s last holiday read but this one felt a little too cheesy and forced for me. This follows two country singers, both trying to make it big on a tv show. One who is trying to make her big break and the other coming from a line of famous singers with celeb status already. He knits, has a dog, and is a bit of an arrogant jerk before changing his ways. An enemies to lovers trope unfolds but just never feels authentic and the heavy aspects of the plot just didn’t work for me.

One of those books that has a lot of potential, but for me it fell flat. The plot was all over the place. The character development isn’t the best but it isn’t bad either. I didn’t love it but I also didn’t hate it. It was the perfect read to kick off the holiday weekend chaos that is about to ensue. It’s very light hearted and honestly predictable. Grab a hot cocoa, a comfy reading spot and dive in, it’ll be a quick read.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
▫️Fake dating
▫️Holiday stories
▫️Reality TV
▫️Miscommunication trope

It’s cute but the reason I gave it 3 stars is because it included things that I am uncomfortable with. Plus, once you think a conflict is over, another one occurs. There were too many conflicts in my opinion.

I loved this book and enjoyed every minute of it. I wanted to read some winter tales for the Christmas season and this one started me off just right. The whole time I was cheering Sadie and Max on wanting it to work out. I loved the twists that happened during the story telling and made me want to read more by this author.

Thank you #netgalley for the advance copy

This was a cute story. Fake dating meets The Voice (which has currently become my whole personality). I did like the characters and the way the story touched on deeper topics such as loss and sunshine after the storm. I did, however, struggle with the miscommunication trope. While it is life, I just wanted to lock them in a room and MAKE them talk to each other. The love story was sweet - but I would only recommend to certain readers.

Sadie and Max are two struggling country singers just looking to make a name for themselves. They join a reality singing competition called the Starmaker in hopes of making all their Nashville dreams come true. What they don’t expect is for the crowd to love their on stage chemistry when they unexpectedly get paired together for a duet. They agree to go on as the infamous #Saxie but it doesn’t help that they can’t stand each other. Will these two defeat all odds and be able to fake this relationship on and off stage to win the competition? Or will their dreams of being country music royalty be crushed forever?

This one was peak Hallmark Christmas movie for me! It’s a classic fake dating/grumpy sunshine trope. It has cozy Christmas vibes, lots of snow, and all the drama of a reality tv show! Make sure you all check this one out!

This one was released on October 4th, 2022. A big thank you to Netgalley, the two lovely ladies who make up Maggie Knox, and the publishers for granting me access to this ARC!