Member Reviews

This book reminded me of You've Got Mail mixed with other fun romcoms. There's aspects of a crazy Christmas competition combined with heart and a need for both the hero and heroine to get the promotion that will go to the winner. And both are great characters. It's a truly enjoyable read filled to the brim with the best of Christmas and pure fun.

Was this review helpful?

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This is my first Sarah Monzon book and I absolutely loved that this is a workplace romance set around Christmas time. It follows Mackenzie and Jeremy two very talented designers competing for a promotion around Christmas time Mackenzie was a relatable character as she battled with social anxiety and it's so adorable that the person she is competing against is her workplace crush. The author created characters one can root for , relate to because the romance is multi-faceted . The characters deal with grief, being a guardian to his niece and family and how far people (or not so far) for a salary increase. It was quite enjoyable.

Was this review helpful?

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the work of Sarah Monzon since the very beginning and I think All’s Fair in Love and Christmas might be my favorite so far.

Mackenzie has a problem. The cost of care for her mom, who has Alzheimer’s, is increasing beyond Mackenzie’s means. Thankfully, she’s thrown a lifeline when her boss informs her she’s in the running for a promotion. Unfortunately, she’s up against her longtime crush, Jeremy. the winner will be the one to bring the most Christmas cheer to the office.

What Mackenzie doesn’t know, is that Jeremy also needs a pay bump. As the legal guardian for his twin niece and nephew, college is only a few years away and he needs to be setting more aside. He figured he’d be able to beat introvert Mackenzie, but then started to notice her. Really notice her.

I’m not telling you any more. At least, about the plot. What I can say, is that I loved this book. I didn’t really want to reach the end. Monzon has created a masterclass in a wonderful Christmas novel. Fun premise, great main characters you can relate to, excellent supporting cast, and plenty of festive curveballs (should that be snowballs?). Plus Mackenzie’s mom loves the Packers, and as a WI grad, that always going to be a win for me.

I highly recommend All’s Fair in Love and Christmas. I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley, the complete enjoyment is all my own.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed reading All’s Fair in Love and Christmas. Mackenzie has severe social anxiety and struggles to talk to people. She’s had a secret crush on her colleague, Jeremy, for years. Her boss at the graphic design firm has set up Mackenzie to compete with Jeremy for a job promotion after Christmas. Mackenzie’s mother has Alzheimer’s and is living in an expensive care facility. A pay rise next year would take financial pressure off Mackenzie.

Jeremy is raising his twin niece and nephew on his own, and he doesn’t have time for a relationship around work and caring responsibilities. A job promotion would assist in topping up the twins’ college fund. His colleague, Mackenzie, is shy, and she wasn’t on his radar until the promotion opportunity arose.

A fun romance develops as they embrace the joy of the Christmas season. Jeremy starts to see Mackenzie and get to know her. I appreciated learning more about the struggles that people may face when dealing with debilitating social anxiety. I recommend All’s Fair in Love and Christmas to contemporary romance readers who like Christmas romcoms with multilayered and quirky characters who are dealing with relatable issues, and a relevant faith element in the story.

Many thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

Was this review helpful?

Mackenzie Graham just wants to make beautiful graphics, take care of her mom, and not attract anyone's attention. Her social anxiety keeps her from more than surface relationships with most people, and it especially keeps her far away from Jeremy Fletcher, her attractive coworker. Then her boss declares that the holiday promotion will go to either her or Jeremy, and the competition is on. Who can out-Christmas the other and win the promotion?

Mackenzie needs the promotion to help with her mom's bills at the memory care facility. Jeremy needs it because he's raising his twin preteen niece and nephew. Both are grieving their own losses during the holiday season—Mackenzie with her mom's early onset Alzheimer's, Jeremy over the death of his sister.

Jeremy had never really noticed Mackenzie before, but now that they are rivals he is paying a lot more attention. Her quiet but thoughtful ways make him take notice in a completely different way.

I thought the portrayal of social anxiety was realistically portrayed. Mackenzie desires to do better, but it's not an obstacle easily overcome, and even when she makes strides there is the occasional regression. While I enjoyed all the Christmas activities, I also wondered where Mackenzie and Jeremy had the funds to pull off their festive feats. The romance was super sweet and slow burn, though at the same time it somehow felt a little rushed, probably due to the length of this shorter novel. Also the whole forced workplace rivals thing and its resolution was kind of gimmicky. Though it did seem a bit of a stretch, the story is fun, has some depth and a faith arc, and also captures the spirit of the season. If you're looking for something new to read this holiday, All's Fair in Love and Christmas might be the book for you.

I received my copy of the book from NetGalley. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Was this review helpful?

This story is so cute! Perfect for this time of year, with the holidays right around the bend. I loved the characters, as they sought to compete for a promotion at work and to prove to their boss who has the most Christmas spirit. But, things aren't as easy as they originally thought as they begin to see the other. This is such a fun story!

Was this review helpful?

All's Fair In Love And Christmas is the PERFECT holiday romcom. With a workplace romance and an amazing endearing female MC, there is so much to love here.

It's a sweet romcom that completely melted my heart. I am so excited to read more of Sarah Monzon's books. It was purely delightful.

Was this review helpful?

Well this book was like a warm, squishy hug. Soft and sweet — perfect for those holiday romance lovers who enjoy a good ol’ wholesome read with some faith-filled messages in between.

This book touches on social anxiety in a can’t-look-but-can’t-NOT-look, beautiful way. You feel for the heroine in a visceral capacity. I wanted to help rescue her from herself. But luckily, she didn’t need me. She had Jeremy and a good set of friends.

I appreciated the fact that Monzon addressed what many of us who possess faith and yet still suffer from anxiety struggle with — prayer over medicine or medicine over prayer. Both are valid forms of healing. Both are sometimes required in some measure. And it’s OKAY to seek medical help for your mental health. It’s okay to accept outside-of-prayer help and seek the individuals God gave the knowledge to help you.

This story has lots of elements of Christmas and fun. If you love the feel-good vibes of all the Christmas activities similar to a Hallmark movie, I think you’ll really enjoy this one. I loved learning bits about other cultures’ traditions at Christmas.

When you’re ready to amp up your excitement for Christmas, be sure to grab this short, sweet, light-hearted Christmas novel.

💕 kisses only
🙉 no foul language

Was this review helpful?

Okay, I thought I felt seen by Isadora Bentley, but then comes Mackenzie Graham.

This was such a cute holiday book, y’all! The story centers around Mackenzie and her coworker (and secret love interest) Jeremy Fletcher as they compete in Christmas shenanigans for a promotion at work.

I’m a sucker for a good slow burn romance and this totally satisfied. I also loved the character growth seen in both MCs, but especially Mackenzie. And Jeremy was a stellar guy! 😍

So grateful to Sarah for the social anxiety representation! I really enjoyed getting to know Mackenzie and seeing her evolve.

This is a perfect read for the holiday season! Highly recommend!

Was this review helpful?

my thoughts; ALL'S FAIR IN LOVE AND CHRISTMAS. This story is a reminder of the chicklits I used to love. Part first person, part third person. I liked Mackenzie, who among us hasn't felt so insecure and at aloss. I know I did as a highschooler,though I started to outgrow it in college. I didn't care for Jeremy so much. He was a major jerk at first, but I did grow to like him. I enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more by this author. I was given a copy free and all opinions are my own

Was this review helpful?

Looking for a holiday romance that will make your heart skip a beat? Look no further than Sarah Monzon's "All Is Fair In Love and Christmas"! While it may start out slow, the payoff is well worth the wait. Set in an office setting, the story follows Mackenzie and Jeremy as they compete for a promotion at their graphic design firm. While Jeremy never noticed Mackenzie before, she's been harboring a crush on him for years.
But this book is so much more than just a cute romance. Monzon tackles important topics like mental health and social anxiety with sensitivity and grace, making this book more than just a fluffy holiday read. And while the characters do mention their Christian faith, it's not the main focus of the story.
If you're looking for a book that will make you laugh, cry, and fall in love all at once, "All Is Fair In Love and Christmas" is the perfect choice. 4/5 stars from me!

Was this review helpful?

I love a good workplace rivals to more story! 3.5 stars rounded up to 4
This is my first book by this author and I really enjoyed her writing style.

Socially awkward MacKenzie has been crushing on her coworker, Jeremy, for a few years. They discover they are competing for a big promotion and start to try to do as many amazing Christmas-y things to win over the office and their holiday loving boss. I definitely wanted more enemy behavior and tricks back and forth.

The main message of the book has an underlying theme of faith that things will work out the way they do for a reason. And, MacKenzie works through some of her anxiousness feelings in social settings and realizes she can't pray it away. Sadly, I think there are a lot of people out there who still believe that so hopefully this message of love, faith, and pro therapy will resonate with readers need to hear that message.

Thank you again to the publisher for my eARC!

Was this review helpful?

It's a delightful read that weaves humor, heart, and the warmth of Christmas joy into its pages. It's a workplace rivalry that unfolds in the midst of a festive competition. Mackenzie, a graphic designer with a secret crush on her colleague Jeremy, finds herself pitted against him in a Christmas job promotion contest.
Mackenzie struggles with social anxiety. I struggled with this a little and I felt it was over the top and could not relate. It made me feel that she could not perform the promotion. The author did a good job of showing her strengths as it went along.

Jeremy is equally endearing with his caring nature and penchant for planning. The theme of trying to control things is skillfully woven into the story, adding another layer to his character.

The Christmas traditions from various cultures sprinkled throughout the book were a joy to explore. This story is brimming with Christmas spirit, featuring both familiar and new traditions that add to its charm.
The romance between Mackenzie and Jeremy was swoon-worthy and endearing, a clean and charming love story. In addition to being thoroughly entertaining, this book delivers messages of love, forgiveness, sacrifice, self-acceptance, friendship, and loyalty. It's a heartwarming and inspiring read that I would recommend.

Was this review helpful?

This is a nice little Christmas romance. Two co-workers, Mackenzie who 's mom has Alzheimer's and Jeremy who is raising his sister's kids, are pitted against each other for an end of the year promotion. It seems the way to the boss's heart is Christmas. They both need the promotion and the raise that comes with it so they try to out Christmas spirit each other in the run up to the 25th. Of course, there is an attraction and they are both very nice people. So it is more cute than cut throat.
It gets 4 starts on my Christmas romance scale but would get 3 on my books in general scale.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an eGalley of this title.

Was this review helpful?

Well, to be honest, the fifth star is just because the story is just so over the top cheerful and sentimental and cozy. Sure, there's a good bit of nerves involved in the romance, but they're just such delightful ones, and of course they all get properly ironed out by the end. I wanted to squeeze the characters and pat them on the head like a fond grandmother by the time I got to the final chapters!

I don't like large crowds so I was able to empathize quite easily with our heroine's panic at times of public notice. The author stuck us right in her shoes with all the feels on that respect.

The hero is really busy and doesn't feel he can get on with his life until his late sister's kids are grown. It's up to his close friends and one spunky coworker to change his mind about that...

I hope to get a hard copy in time for a cozy Christmas reread in a few months!

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

Was this review helpful?

I just didn't get this at all, the chemistry wasn't there, the workplace rivalry was pretty out of control instead of endearing.

Was this review helpful?

This. Is. So. Good!

Somehow, this book is my first by Sarah Monzon--and it definitely won't be the last!

The humor was fantastic, the pop-culture references were on point (and I promise I'm not biased just because Monzon referenced _The Mandalorian_), and the characters were so very endearing (except perhaps Frank). :D I loved the incorporation of Christmas traditions from around the world (quelle surprise, being the travel--and tradition-loving--girl that I am!), and I'd love to try a few of my own this Christmas (so brownie points the book released now, while there's plenty of time to plan!).

A truly endearing and heartwarming seasonal read, well worth it. I'm so glad for an unexpected rainy day, so I could pivot my plans and while away the day + enjoy the read on my new-to-me, wonderful covered porch. :)

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

This was an absolutely delightful and witty read. Watching Mackenzie and Jeremy attempt to out Christmas each other was both charming and sweet. The ending was both endearing and perfect for this lovely story.

This book is similar to her Sewing in SoCal series and her Book Nerds and Boyfriends series with a sweet romance and lots of humor that has become a signature of Ms. Monzon.

With all the humor infused into this book, Ms. Monzon does not lose the true meaning of Christmas. She captures it perfectly.



Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I love Christmas and rom-coms but I just couldn't get into this story.. I liked the characters but didn't feel any chemistry between them. I like sparks and sizzle and cute banter between Mackenzie and Jeremy.. You could tell Mackenzie thought Jeremy was cute but she was too shy around him to really talk to him and his character seemed to be more about helping her out of her shell then having true feelings for her.. It was more like them being pushed together then them wanting to be together. I felt like there was a lot going on in the story and maybe that was part of what kept me from being pulled in. There is the office competition for the promotion, who can out-Christmas the other one, the introvert aspect of Mackenzie (along with her lack of confidence), the mental health issue with her mom having Alzheimer's,, Jeremy raising his niece and nephew, and then the romance of Mackenzie and Jeremy.

Was this review helpful?

In All’s Fair in Love and Christmas by Sarah Monzon, Mckenzie and Jeremy work for the same graphic design company. In December, someone in the company receives a promotion. This year both Mackenzie and Jeremy are the ones who are up for the promotion. One of the sure fire ways of receiving that promotion is to demonstrate the most Christmas spirit. Let the games begin!

All’s Fair in Love and Christmas is a great inspirational rom-com. The story includes some very humorous scenes such as Jeremy attempting to dance a number from the Nutcracker for his co-workers. I definitely recommend reading All’s Fair in Love and Christmas and, I look forward to reading more books by Sarah Monzon.

Was this review helpful?