This was super cute and perfect for Christmas! With references to funny pop culture things (yay for Star Trek!) and an MC with debilitating anxiety, I loved the journey this book took me on.

At times it was hard to understand the FMC’s anxiety but I think that’s kind of the point - if you don’t suffer from it you may not get it, but the book helped me see a different side to it.

Also loved the lack of a 3rd act break up 😅

Highly recommend!

My rating: 4.5*

---
I received a free copy of this as an ebook but purchased the audio myself. All opinions are my own.

Mackenzie enjoys her job as a graphic designer, where she works with her best friend and housemate. But she’s less than thrilled when her boss says she’s up for a promotion to a supervisory role that will mean supervising staff and working more closely with clients, even though it will mean a pay rise—which she needs to pay for her mother’s nursing home.

Sofiya has pitched Mackenzie against Jeremy Fletcher, her longtime secret crush, and someone who always has the right words to say. But Mackenzie has to try, for her mother’s sake. And she’s noticed something about Sofiya’s promotion strategy: promotions always happen around Christmas, and always go to the person who does the best job of bringing Christmas cheer to the office.

I have mixed feelings about office romances in general, and about the trope that pitches the hero and heroine against each other for a promotion (which is probably a hangover from years working in HR).

I think Sarah Monzon managed those two aspects of the plot brilliantly.
It was funny and believable and romantic. And while the story certainly delivered on the romance front, that wasn’t what made it special.

I loved the way the story featured a main character with a mental health issue—social anxiety–in a sensitive and realistic way.

I loved the way the story struck just the right balance between believing God for healing while acknowledging that God sometimes uses modern medicine to perform that healing.

I appreciated the acknowledgement that mental health issues are health issues, that doctors can help, that it’s not enough to think positive or practice gratitude or even pray for healing.

I especially loved the way we gradually got to know the real Jeremy and watch as he began to see–and fall for–the real Mackenzie, social anxiety and all.
Like Kiss Me on Christmas, All’s Fair in Love and Christmas is a fun Christian Christmas romance which delivers all the romantic feels along with a healthy view of people with mental health challenges. (If you enjoy this, I also recommend checking out Sarah Monzon’s 2022 release, Kiss Me on Christmas).

Recommended for anyone looking for a Christmas rom-com or for a Christian workplace romance with a serious side.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

Oh y’all this is such a fun Christmas romance! All’s Fair in Love and Christmas by Sarah Monzon is perfect for Hallmark and the like but with an added depth that makes it even more than a feel-good romcom. It delighted me from beginning to end, and I had to remind myself to breathe at least a couple of times from all the repressed romantic tension between Jeremy and Mackenzie.

Mackenzie is an instantly likeable and empathetic character who struggles with social anxiety and occasional panic attacks. But when she’s relaxed and can truly be herself, she’s charming and witty and smart. She cares about people and wants them to feel valued. She also happens to be in love with her coworker Jeremy (not that she can tell him) … who also happens to be her current rival for a company promotion. A promotion that comes with a raise they each need for personal – and important – reasons. And ohhhhhhh my goodness, the chemistry between them!! Just delicious. I grinned so many times as I read their interactions, and I also did my fair share of melting at Jeremy’s wonderfulness. I loved watching these two grow more comfortable with their mutual attraction and once Jeremy turns on his swooniliciousness in full, brace yourself!

I laughed out loud a lot while reading All’s Fair in Love and Christmas, especially a certain ballet scene (and the character’s thoughts leading up to it). Pure romcom gold. But there are also some incredibly sweet scenes that almost had me hugging my Kindle from all the feels. And one of the things I loved most was the approach the author took to Mackenzie’s anxiety. I was thrilled that her best friend helped her see the role of faith AND therapy/medicine in helping you cope with anxiety. It’s something that Christian fiction – and Christians in general – need to be better at acknowledging and discussing, and I’m so proud of Monzon for addressing it so fully.

Bottom Line: All’s Fair in Love and Christmas by Sarah Monzon is everything fun and Christmas-y and romantic while also delivering a story layered with meaning. The faith threads are heartfelt and sincere, but not preachy or forced, and the spotlight on social anxiety and Alzheimer’s are written with sensitivity and thoughtful insight. I fell in love with Mackenzie and Jeremy, along with the fabulous supporting characters, and I loved watching them fall in love with each other. If you’re looking for a book that makes you smile, swoon, laugh, and sigh happily while lifting your heart and filling you with Christmas spirit, then make All’s Fair in Love and Christmas your next read!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.
This was a great Christmas enemies to lovers!

Full disclosure:

I received a free e-galley copy. The opinions are my own.

The author writes in the style of "Hallmark." Most of the time its a happy ending. This reviewer does not know a supervisor on this country that would encourage a romance between 2 colleagues. It's nice to have a feel good story in the end, though.

Recommended for public libraries.

The characters were surprisingly well-rounded and the author avoided doing the cliche things with situations. I really felt Mackenzie's competing feelings of social anxiety, worry for her mother, and the push to be braver than she felt because of love (and not just romantic love). The way that Jeremy and Mackenzie move from acquaintances to friends and more felt genuine. Very enjoyable read!

All's Fair in Love and Christmas includes all the fun, Christmasy cheer you're expecting from a seasonal Christian romance. Lots of happy holiday moments with delicious goodies, hot chocolate, ice skating, and decorating in this office-based romance.

Mackenzie with her sometimes-crippling social anxiety is a natural for the reader to root for, and Jeremy is a super-nice guy, understanding of Mackenzie's social awkwardness. Event the supporting characters are almost all perfectly likable people, so what's not to love?

Writing is solid, the romance is slow and sweet, and there are a couple other threads to keep things interesting, including Mackenzie's mom's battle with early-onset Alzheimer's, a "battle" for the office promotion, and a light faith theme. The characters are presumably mostly Christians and behave as such.

For a feel-good Christmas romance of the Hallmark variety, you can't go wrong with All's Fair in Love and Christmas.

4.5 stars

This is my new favorite of Sarah Monzon's books. Both Mackenzie and Jeremy had flaws and quirks that endeared them to me. Mackenzie's anxiety was realistically portrayed and I love the way Sarah Monzon approached it.

A sweet and fun Christmas romance. I really liked the main character, Mackenzie. She was funny and sweet and relatable. I appreciated seeing anxiety represented in this book. It was taken seriously and portrayed treatment in a respectful and true to life way. Her office crush was endearing and unfolded in a delightful and natural way. The background characters round out the story in a nice way, and I loved the holiday setting. Inspy readers will definitely want to add this one to their holiday TBR!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

All’s Fair in Love and Christmas by Sarah Monzon is the perfect Christmas book. I have long been a fan of this author and I loved the workplace competition in this book. Readers who love sweet romance, especially those set at Christmas time, will adore this book. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bethany House Fiction for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

Each Christmas season, Mackenzie's workplace goes all out for the holiday and someone gets promoted. And generally it's the person with the most Christmas spirit. Mackenzie never imagined with her social anxiety she's been up for the promotion, but extenuating circumstances have her battling with tinsel and holly with her unrequited office crush, Jeremy, for the position.

Jeremy is one of those people with a life plan. And this promotion is a pivotal part of his next steps. He needs the raise to support his twin niece and nephew, of whom he is guardian. But Mackenzie, who he didn't previously pay much attention to, is worming her way into his thoughts as he appreciates her quirky personality.

They each are fighting for a promotion, but perhaps their hearts are on the line as well.
_____
Mackenzie is so relatable. Her little quips about how she feels interacting with others made me feel seen many times. And Jeremy is so swoony! I love a confident man who can support a partner in every aspect of life.

Plus, I love how capable Mackenzie is. I feel like sometimes the quirky female character isn't great at much but Mackenzie is very talented. And I adore that Jeremy appreciates her as a whole person.

The grand gesture in this one is so precious. I just wanted to give everyone a group hug.

If you like a Hallmarky feeling Christmas romance, this one will scratch that itch for sure.
_____
This is a closed door, kisses only rom com.

Content Warning: Mackenzie's mom does have Alzheimer's and this is a subplot of the book.

Such a fun and fast read! I loved the character arcs and setting. The banter between the two MCs was perfection.

At Mackenzie and Jeremy’s job, the employee with the most Christmas spirit gets promoted every December. While the two compete for the promotion by out Christmasing each other, Mackenzie and Jeremy end up falling for each other.

Soooo this super short read just wasn’t for me - it was way too corny.

So sweet, so funny, so festive! I loved the opposites-attract theme with Jeremy and Mackenzie both trying their best to get an edge over the other in the unofficial competition for a promotion. I appreciated that it wasn't merely for personal ambition, but each of them provide support for family members and are thinking of them as they pursue the advancement. Jeremy is a friendly and charming guy, but some of his missteps prevent him from getting past Mackenzie's protective shield. The social anxiety she experiences also makes it difficult for others to get to know her better, but getting out of her comfort zone and making Christmas special for her coworkers helps her in ways she did not expect. I loved that she had a close friend who is always ready for shenanigans and keeps her grounded when worries are overwhelming. When Jeremy and Mackenzie slowly open up and see the deeper layers in each other, their attraction and chemistry develops naturally to something more, and their work relationship shifts as well. There is a lovely balance of humor, romance, angst, and emotion in this holiday heart-warming story that is perfect to read any time of the year!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Mackenzie and Jeremy. They are co-workers at a design company. Mackenzie has a crush on Jeremy for two years. Mackenzie has anxiety, it makes it hard for her to socialize. Their boss has them competing for a promotion. They have a blind double date. They each have issues but together they work them out and fall in love.

Super cute Christmas workplace romance! I really enjoyed this story! The main characters, Jeremy and Mackenzie, are just wonderful. Mackenzie has anxiety but her friends and Jeremy are there for her. I loved how much Jeremy helped her and she learned to get help. The grand gestures in this story are fantastic! There are so many wonderful Christmas elements. And I love how Mackenzie makes her coworkers feel special by doing a holiday tradition they had growing up for them. This book has great Christian content about having faith and is very clean. Overall, I really enjoyed this romcom and I definitely recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from netgalley . All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Utterly charming and heartfelt, this opposites-attract-workplace- romance was the perfect faith-filled read for Christmastime.

Probably my favorite distinctly Christmas-y read this year, this book has it all. It's a feel-good rom-com, with amazing main and supporting characters, full of heart, flirty, but solid themes of faith and trusting God with the unknown.

Mackenzie was my favorite, she's a big-heart introverted heroine with a heart of gold, quiet yet observant she finds a way to bring Christmas to each person that she interacts with in a meaningful way. Jeremy is handsome and outgoing, likable, and able to laugh at himself as well. Behind it all he is an amazing "parental" to his niece and nephew, and I just loved him and Mackenzie together.

Overall, a wonderful Christmas rom-com that was everything that I could ask for and more, filled with humor, faith, and heart. You won't want to miss another amazing book from Sarah Monzon!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What a fabulous enemies-to-lovers Christmas romance! This is my first read by Sarah Monzon, and it certainly won’t be my last! I just looooved the workplace rivals tension that resulted when both MC’s were competing for the same promotion at their design firm😍 The lengths they went to in order to outdo one another were HILARIOUS!!🤣

However, what I appreciated most about this story was the anxiety representation!! Although I do not personally struggle with social anxiety, I have friends that do. Reading this story gave me a more in-depth understanding of what it is like to live with anxiety and how to best support those individuals. Furthermore, I really loved how Sarah Monzon tied faith elements into this story. Seeing our FMC (MacKenzie) rely on the Lord for strength in persevering through her social anxiety was both inspiring and encouraging🙏🏻

Read if you enjoy….
💚 Social anxiety rep
💚 Workplace rivals romance
💚 Single dad
💚 Faith elements

Overall, I HIGHLY enjoyed this sweet Christmas romance & would recommend it to others!! P.S. I listened to this story on audiobook and both narrators were fabulous! They really brought the dual POV’s to life🤩

🚨TW: brief on-page anxiety attack, side character with Alzheimer’s
🚨CW: no language & just kisses!

This holiday office romance was fun and unique! I appreciated how each main character had a close friend who was there to talk them through situations (and set them up a time or two, as well!). The workplace competition scenario might have been a bit more Hallmark than would be realistic, but it made for a great story. Good clean romance that made me laugh and kept me reading!