Cute but ultimately underwhelming. Perhaps it was that the characters from previous books I hadn’t read played such a big part, but I had a hard time connecting with the story. Declan was my favorite kind of grump, but his family had a lot of issues and it felt like that could have been given more weight. And Holly just didn’t grab me.

The pacing was a little off for me too. I wasn’t expecting the prank war to end so soon, or for Declan to spend so much time wondering if Holly was interested in someone else when she obviously wasn’t. And for a Christmas book, it just didn’t put me in the Christmassy mood.

Still, it was a cute, quick read.

I enjoyed Codi Hall’s other two in this series, but this one fell a little flat for me. I liked getting to see all of the characters again and getting Holly’s story, but the beginning was very slow and couldn’t hold my attention as much.

The start of the book was slow but once they really started interacting it picked up pace. I enjoy the back and forth that Holly and Declan have. They were cute and I really liked it once Declan moved into her house. The fact that there was no third act break up and they just had a conversation was really nice too.

I received an arc through netgalley.

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

I enjoyed Along Came Holly. It was a cute, fun read. I tend to gravitate to holiday romances when I find them so I was happy to get the chance to read this one.

I enjoyed reading this cute, quirky holiday romance. This is the third book in the Mistletoe Romance series. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know these fun Christmas loving characters throughout the series.

Holly and Declan are the picture of grumpy/sunshine. Declan was a real grump, but he grew on me throughout the book. I found myself smiling and laughing at their antics. Grumpy/sunshine always makes for fun sexual tension and banter.

Read if you like:
🎄Grumpy/sunshine
🎄Small town vibes
🎄Christmas fun
🎄Lots of Quirky characters

I definitely recommend checking this series out. Perfect fun for the holiday season.

I previously read There’s Something About Merry and enjoyed it, so when I saw that Along Came Holly was being published as a book, I wanted to read it.

I was enjoying it and then the prank war started.

I hate pranks. I hate prank wars. I hate pranks when they involve people’s jobs, and when there isn’t an already strong, positive relationship between the pranker and the prankee. This dislike extends to books.

So I skipped to the end to see how Holly and Declan got together and called it a day.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC. All opinions are my own.

★ ★ ★ | 🌶.5

18+ | Check TW

!! POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD PROCEED WITH CAUTION !!

*A special thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

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This was definitely my least favorite of the Mistletoe romances.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved Holly. She was just the right amount of quirky and spunky and I had been looking forward to her story. But I felt like Declan could have been better. He was just an asshole for a majority of the book and then made this miraculous turn around for no real reason.

I also wish there had been more chemistry and tension between Holly and Declan. For an enemies-to-lovers story, there wasn’t enough angst. It then turned into a FWB romance, but a very watered down version. The tropes definitely needed some development.

However, it was a cute read. I will probably read the next one, if there is another. Especially, if it’s Delilah and Anthony or Sam’s story. The teasers were definitely there and I’m into it.

My final note is more of a note for the entire series, not just this book. For a Christmas series, they’re not very Christmas-y. There are some Christmas elements, but I wish the whole series were more Christmas-y.

🎄Grumpy/Sunshine
🎄Enemies to Lovers
🎄Small Town
🎄Holiday

Along Came Holly is the third book of the Mistletoe Romance series of interconnected standalones. This is by far my favorite of the series! I loved Declan and Holly especially their banter! Their pranks against each other had me laughing out loud and giddy as all get out. Holly loves Christmas and goes all out for it and even has her own Christmas shop. Her shop neighbor, Declan, despises anything to do with Christmas especially his cheerful neighbor. This was the perfect holiday read and reminded me of a Hallmark movie but added spice!

While the plot was engaging and fun, it fell flat at times and didn’t feel unique. The town and side characters were nice, but often detracted from the main characters. I also didn’t connect with them until almost the end of the book, which made it a struggle to want to keep reading. I neither loved it, nor hated it.

This book is a holiday read with a grumpy/sunshine trope.

At times, I did feel like the 'grumpy' was taken a bit too far and he was quite mean, particularly to Holly (who was supposed to be the love interest).

The use of the town name 'Mistletoe' also felt a little bit lazy.

I thought this was a cute read with a kinda messy plot. There was just a lot going on with the pranks, YouTube videos, secret living arrangements, jealousy and bachelor/bachelorette party, and somewhere along the way the Christmassy romance vibes got overpowered. I would've liked more of Holly and Declan together, both banter and spice, to be fully invested in their love story. Now I'm more intrigued to find out what happened to some of the other characters 😅

It's still a light, quirky and entertaining read and I'm very happy to check off my first Christmas read of the season!

Holly has such a great spirit and sunshine in human form, and Declan is the epitome of grumpy. And I loved watching their prank war, and seeing the development from enemies to lovers.

It was great to be back in Mistletoe and catch up with all the previous characters and glimpse into how their lives are now.

Declan's shy, cautious relationship with people made me feel sorry for him, and want him to just let people in and trust them, especially since they were so nice (mostly) !

If you love Christmas, grumpy vs Sunshine, a touch of spice, enemies to lovers and small town then this is the book for you.

Along Came Holly was super cute. I was looking forward to a book about Holly and Declan but it was not as strong as There's Something about Merry. I did enjoy revisiting the town of Mistletoe and getting to see the human side of Declan. I don't know if the pranks made sense for the story but I guess that is showing Holly's personality. I would definitely recommend this series.

Review: Along Came Holly - Codi Hall

I was lucky enough to receive this book as an ARC.

This is Book 3 of the Mistletoe Romance Series!

Holly Winters is not about to let her grumpy neighbor Declan steal her holiday joy…even if he does look rather handsome under the mistletoe. Holly Winters owns the jolliest holiday shop on Main Street and this season is shaping up to be the best yet. The only pit in her figgy pudding? Declan Gallagher, the owner of the hardware store next door. He's the scroogiest man in all of Mistletoe, Idaho. Then Holly's revenge prank escalates into an all-out war with her Grinchy neighbor, and the situation turns sticky when she realizes she needs his help. Declan can't believe the nerve of his oh-so-cheerful neighbor hiring him to set up her holiday lights display, but the money is too good to pass up. Despite his utter loathing of excessive decorations, he throws himself into getting the job done, only to encounter sabotage at every turn. To his astonishment, Declan finds himself championing the very woman who used to get under his skin. Then one rooftop kiss has him thinking maybe the season's traditions aren't as heinous as he believed. Declan's heart has grown three sizes since Holly came along, but how can he admit he's falling for the one woman he shouldn't want?

🥰Enemies to Lovers

This book had me hooked from the beginning!! I loved the angst and tension between the two characters!!

I loved Holly and Declan’s characters! I really loved the storyline of Declan helping Holly change the type of social media content she filmed.

I definitely recommend this book!! I cannot wait to go read book 1 and 2 of the series!

Rating: 4 / 5⭐️’s

The story follows Holly who owns a Christmas shop in the town of Mistletoe. If you are familiar with the other two books in the series then you know that Holly is Merry and Nick’s sister. 

Next door to Holly’s Christmas shop is a Declan’s hardware store that his father owns but he now runs since his dad is unable to now. 

Declan is a Scrooge. He doesn’t like anything about Christmas, from the decorations to the loud Christmas music. Declan and Holly begin bickering with one another over it and then it turns into a prank war. 

The prank war was hilarious. From the window displays, to the glitter explosion. It will have you laughing out loud. Holly is such a lovable character. I love how she was able to break Declan out of his cold Christmas-less shell. 

This book is the third in the Mistletoe series however, this can easily be read as a standalone. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I had fun and throughly enjoyed this festive Christmas novel. Holly and Declan are both funny and likeable, well developed characters.
I rooted for them and enjoyed the story.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A cute festive read with a rather classic trope of a grinch-like character. A bit conventional. I was hoping for a stronger concept. But given my current string of Christmas reads the genre seems to leave little leeway for off-the-beaten-tracks storylines.

This was such a cute Christmas-y romcom! I read it outside on a chilly day with a blanket, to maximise the cute, cozy vibes, but I could picture reading this with a mug of hot chocolate by the light of the Christmas tree. This is the third book in the Mistletoe Romance series, but it can be read as a standalone; I haven't read the first two, but I plan on it now! Read if you enjoy opposites-attract, dual POV, small town setting and a prank war that leads to ~feelings~. Best part? No third act breakup

This books has all the Grumpy/Sunshine feels and I loved it all. I'll always love a book that has the Grumpy/Sunshine trope in.

I absolutely loved Holly and Declan. They were just fab characters.