I absolutely devoured this book. I've read other books by the author and they never disappoint. They are light a slow paced but a quick romcom read.

Along Came Holly by Codi Hall is the ultimate Christmas romance! Holly is basically the embodiment of Christmas spirit, and with her place in the Winters family in the quaint town of Mistletoe, it’s impossible not to love her festive energy. When she makes it her mission to win the town's Festival of Lights, she reluctantly calls on her neighbor, Declan, who just so happens to be the biggest Christmas Grinch you could imagine.

Declan despises Christmas—and yet, here he is, stuck in a town that practically thrives on it. What he hates even more is Holly and her infectious enthusiasm for the holiday. Her determination, cheeky humor, and overall zest for life drive him crazy in the best way possible.

What starts as a begrudging partnership quickly evolves into something more as they team up for the Festival of Lights. Their growing chemistry and banter had me grinning from ear to ear, and I loved seeing them navigate their differences while discovering all the magic the season has to offer.

This book is pure holiday goodness. It gave me all the warm, fuzzy Hallmark movie vibes, bringing me back to my childhood memories of Christmas cheer and hot cocoa. I can’t wait to add a physical copy to my bookshelf and revisit these two again and again!

Is this the first Christmas opposites attract, grumpy sunshine, she-loves-christmas-and-he-hates-it romcom I’ve read this holiday season? No. Am I complaining? Never because I eat it up every time.

It was a cute lil Christmas romcom. Abit slower paced than what I'm used to, and I would have enjoyed it alot more if I was able to connect to the characters.

Highlight: Leo the cat!

*Along Came Holly* by Codi Hall is a delightful, feel-good festive romance filled with charm, humour, and just the right amount of holiday magic. With its classic enemies-to-lovers trope and small-town charm, it’s the perfect book to cosy up with during the Christmas season.

Holly is an absolute joy—full of festive spirit, optimism, and a determination to spread Christmas cheer no matter what. Declan, on the other hand, is her complete opposite: grumpy, brooding, and about as cheerful as a lump of coal. Their prank-fuelled rivalry is hilarious, and the banter between them is sharp and entertaining. The chemistry between these two is undeniable, and watching their frosty relationship slowly melt into something more was incredibly satisfying.

Hall does a great job of balancing light-hearted humour with moments of emotional depth. Both Holly and Declan have their own reasons for the way they are, and as their backstories unfold, it’s easy to see why they clash so much—but also why they might be exactly what the other needs.

The only reason this isn’t a five-star read for me is that some of the plot points felt a little predictable, and at times, the story leaned into holiday clichés a bit too heavily. That said, clichés are part of the fun with Christmas romances, and *Along Came Holly* delivers exactly what it promises—a warm, sweet, and festive love story that will leave you smiling.

If you love grumpy-sunshine romances, small-town settings, and a story brimming with holiday spirit, this is one to add to your Christmas reading list!

This Christmas novel took me longer to get through than I expected. It was definitely slow and filled with way too much descriptive filler, making me lose interest in ever really wanting to pick it up again . Too mild for my taste in romance books. Just couldn’t fall in love with the one dimensional characters . I also didn’t realize this was the third book of the series - whoopsie ! Don’t know if I’ll read the other two now ..

HOW IS THIS ONE OF THE OLDEST ARCS ON MY NETGALLEY??

Y'all. I slept on this one for too long! Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the eARC of this one! These are my honest thoughts.

I LOVED HOLLY AND DECLAN. Their shops are neighbors, and Holly is literally a Christmas elf with a holiday store, and Declan is literally a grumpy anti-Christmas Scrooge. They battle it out throughout the holiday season in their small town of Mistletoe, and trying to get back at Holly leads Declan to participating in some holiday festivities (with a little help via retaliation from Holly and some gnomes...). The more time they spend together, the more they grow to like one another, in one of my favorite forms of enemies-to-lovers.

I haven't read the other Mistletoe books, but I will be going back to correct this error immediately. Holly's family and the town of Mistletoe both bring so much joy to this book, so I can only imagine how much fun the previous stories are!

Add this to your holiday/seasonal tbr! You won't be sorry!

Codi Hall’s Along Came Holly is a delightful holiday romance that sparkles with festive cheer, witty banter, and heart-warming moments. Set in the quaint town of Mistletoe, Idaho, this enemies-to-lovers tale is as charming as a cup of hot chocolate on a snowy evening.

Holly Winters is the embodiment of holiday spirit, running her cheerful holiday shop with unbridled enthusiasm. Her neighbour, Declan Gallagher, is her polar opposite: a grumpy hardware store owner who can’t stand Christmas festivities. Their feud, sparked by a hilariously mischievous revenge prank, evolves into a full-blown war of wills. However, when Holly hires Declan to help with her shop’s holiday lights, their rivalry takes a surprising turn toward romance.

The chemistry between Holly and Declan is electric, with their snarky exchanges giving way to tender moments and a slow-building connection. Holly’s infectious optimism makes her an endearing heroine, while Declan’s gruff exterior hides a depth and vulnerability that make his transformation all the more satisfying.

The small-town setting of Mistletoe, Idaho, is brought to life with vivid descriptions of snowy streets, twinkling lights, and festive traditions, making it feel like a character in its own right.

Hall’s writing is light-hearted and fun, perfectly balancing humour and heartfelt emotion.

This was just not it for me. I think romances filled with pranks aren't good for me. I couldn't get into it.

With a charming blend of humor, heart, and holiday cheer, Along Came Holly is the perfect read for anyone looking to get into the festive spirit. It reminds us that love can bloom in the most unexpected places, even amidst a flurry of decorations and playful sabotage. A delightful addition to any holiday reading list.

Rating: 3,5 stars ⭐️

Tropes:
grumpy x sunshine ☀️
brother’s best friend ✨
friends to lovers 💕
second chance 😘
slow burn 🔥

This is a delightful Christmas rom-com filled with charm, humor, and swoon-worthy moment.

If you’re looking for a feel-good, heartwarming romance, Along Came Holly is a must-read!

The story follows Holly, a quirky, lovable woman who finds herself in a whirlwind romance with her best friend’s brother, Luke. The chemistry between them is electric, and Hall’s witty dialogue makes their banter irresistible. With a perfect balance of humor and heart, the book explores themes of love, family, and second chances.

Thank you to Netgalley, Codi Hall and the publisher for providing me with this copy. All opinions are my own.

Really tried to start this book multiple times but could not get into it the storyline enough to enjoy it.

I found Declan to be unneccessarily rude, even for a grump character and Holly was a bit annoying at times.This is an entertaining enemies to lovers book.

This book didn't really work for me, which is definitely reflective of me as a reader rather than the actual writing. The characters felt immature to me, but others in my buddy read chat really enjoyed it so maybe "it's not you, it's me" on this book.

This Christmas/holiday book was the first book by Codi and I loved it. The plot of enemies to lovers at Christmas was so interesting and I loved how the characters, were total opposite when it come to their feelings about the holidays. This book was everything that a good holiday read needs to be,

Holiday romances are always fun! I enjoyed this a lot. Thanks a lot to the publisher for my advanced copy.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the copy of this eARC for my honest review. All ratings and any reviews are opinions of my own.

Book 3 of 3 in the Mistletoe Romance Series! Love a good Christmas season rom-com!
This one is slower than the previous two but still enjoyable.

Grumpy sunshine, need I say more? Pranks abound when two neighboring shop owners are at odds on how to celebrate the holiday season. Along Came Holly is swoon worthy with Declan the grumpy hardware shop owner who has more going on in his personal life than anyone could imagine, and Holly who just wants to win the Festival of Lights competition. I love when prank wars just turn into all out flirting, the rivalry creates delicious tension between the characters.

This was a festive Christmas read! The romance was great, and I liked all the characters in the book!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

I was so excited to receive this arc just in time for christmas! One of the standout features of Hall's writing is her ability to create well-rounded and relatable characters. Each personality is intricately developed, making them feel like old friends by the time the story concludes. Holly, the central character, is particularly endearing with her quirks and flaws, making her journey one that resonates with readers on a profound level.

The plot is expertly paced, providing a perfect balance of lighthearted moments and more poignant ones. The themes of self-discovery, love, and the power of community are interwoven seamlessly, creating a narrative that is not only entertaining but also thought-provoking. Hall's writing style is both accessible and engaging, making "Along Came Holly" a novel that readers of various tastes can appreciate.