As soon as Nov 1st hits I love nothing more than a holiday romance and this one delivered.

Thank you NetGalley for the read.

The Twilight structure really does make such a good romance read! Enemies, together, apart and then a new beginning. I loved Gwen's strength, smarts and creativity even though she's a doctor. And I equally loved Caleb's insecurity despite being mega famous.

I loved them getting to know eachother over Christmas! 🎄 And of course I read the spicy version 🔥

The only thing I didn't love was Caleb exclaiming that eventually he would take what was his... It wasn't my feminist dream.

Such a good Christmas read which I'll definitely pick up again next year 🎁 ❄️

(Also reviewed on Amazon)

This is a cute love story between a celebrity and a doctor. It gives me Abby Jimenez vibes with its heavier topics such as going through grief and healing and going to therapy etc… ⁣
I wish it wasn’t that much of a slow burn though and the conflict was stretched out too much so it got a bit redundant for me. I also felt that her obsession with counting many times he says her name a little bit annoying 😅 but overall I did enjoy this one, 4/5 stars for me! ⁣ Thank you Melissa, publisher and Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review. I also appreciate that a percentage of the proceeds go to cancer research, that's amazing! I have a more detailed review on my instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/C0J4vcXL4Ut/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=ODhhZWM5NmIwOQ==

I really enjoyed this book! I love the vibes and the story! I love the Christmas theme and grateful it wasn’t in your face and it wasn’t the plot. Caleb and Gwen were so cute together and I love the way the author made them real and vulnerable. I could picture the whole book, even started to make an aesthetic reel before I finished! Really recommend if you need a feel good romance! 🥰❤️

I loved this cute story of a love between a movie star and an ER doctor. When Caleb decides he needs a break from his movie star life, he winds up at the home of Gwen’s mother while she is house-sitting at Christmas. They immediately have sparks but are sparks enough to save them from the limelight and themselves? I thought this holiday romance had a lot of heart and just the right amount of steam. Gwen and Caleb both have their own issues to work through and I think it gives this story a lot of depth in character development. I will be reading the sequel when it comes out!

I will say this is a very good book to pick up during the holiday season. If you enjoy Banter and spicy this is the perfect combination. I highly recommend this book, it gives you all the feelings. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This was such a fun holiday read. I loved the setting and the romance and banter was so good. I would highly recommend this book for Christmas time!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Holiday star is an enemies to lovers, celebrity romance, forced proximity, with hilarious characters and scenarios.

The story was just so heartwarming. Gwen and Caleb wasn't just so adorable together, but also comedic, especially when Pip's in the picture. It was so fun to read how their relationship developed from enemies to friends then to lovers. It did got me all teary eyed when obstacles came their way and how they overcame it. That HEA was well deserved 🥹. The book also deals with some serious topics like dealing with grief and alcohol addiction.

For me this isn't just a Christmas romance, but a love story worth reading and can be read all year round💛. Please also note that Holiday star has two versions: a.) with sweet, clean, closed door scenes b) with spicy scenes, so basically anyone can read this anytime 😆.

Holiday Star is a good story to get you in the holiday spirit. Gwen is house sitting for her mom and new stepdad when Caleb who is her stepdad's famous nephew also decides to crash. They both have great individual storylines and they intertwine nicely. They are complete opposites from one another and their forced proximity to each other helps develop their feelings with one another.

While I did enjoy the book, there were some parts that fell flat for me. It was very fast paced until it wasn't. I felt that it dragged towards the ending of the book and made it hard to finish. I still think this is a good holiday book for this time of year and wouldn't deter anyone from reading this book.

Did I read this book in 24 hours? Yup. Did this book make me feel all the emotions? Yup. I’m normally not a big fan of the “insta-lovers” plot but this book worked! Insta-lovers to we broke up to… 👀 will they get back together? I also loved how they each learned they could be a movie star and a doctor but also be other things! Their “main career” didn’t have to be their sole identity. The childhood trauma of losing a parent and then feeling like everyone was going to suddenly disappear in life struck a familiar chord for me as I lost my mom when I was 15. This book is also unique because the author offers a spicy or a nice version. It was a holiday read as there was a lot of leading up to Christmas scenes in the beginning, but the book continued for the next year. I’d put this on your TBR list for any time of the year, not just a “in the holiday mood.” You know a book is good when I literally devour it!

A cute cosy Christmas themed romance which definitely gets you in the Christmas spirit!
I really enjoyed this book and I’ve been on a Christmas romance binge and this fit in perfectly.
The story follows Dr Gwen and Caleb. Two very different characters who both have different issues and healing they need to overcome.
Caleb is a celebrity who is dealing with more than people know. Caleb decides to hide from the world at his uncle’s house which is where Dr Gwen is also staying after find out her mother is leaving for Japan and needs Gwen to house sit. Their relationship starts off pretty bumpy with Gwen not being happy Caleb is there. It doesn’t take long for the attraction and relationship to grow.
I loved that after the break up Gwen makes sure that Caleb gets help before getting back together with him. It also shows how Gwen has overcome her problems.
The book touches on a variety of topics such as mental health, grief, alcoholism, loneliness and more.
I enjoyed the authors writing style and found it easy to follow along.

I loved that the author provided both a Spicy and a clean version of the book!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A cute, fluffy, holiday themed romance. Filled with tonnes of chemistry, a forced proximity plot, celeb-non celeb relationship and a HEA.

I loved how Caleb and Gwen's relationship developed, it didn't feel forced and their chemistry was undeniable.

I also LOVE the fact the author released 2 different versions of this book (one spicy, one clean) so that all readers feel comfortable with what they're reading. It's such a thoughtful gesture.

TW: grief, death of a parent, alcoholism, addiction

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!🫶🏻

I really enjoyed this book. I preferred the first part that was taking place during the holidays, since I chose to read this during the holiday season- definitely put me in the Christmas spirit! However, the passage of time was necessary to the plot, so I understand why the whole story couldn’t take place at Christmas. I wish we would have seen more from Jenny at the end, she sort of disappeared. Overall, good book that I would recommend as a holiday read!

Holiday Star is a poignant narrative that intricately weaves the compelling stories of Gwen and Caleb, two characters whose journeys of healing and rediscovery form the heart of this emotionally charged novel.

<spoiler> Gwen's resilience in the face of profound grief becomes a beacon of hope for us readers. The narrative skillfully navigates her transformation, showcasing not only her ability to cope with the loss of her father to cancer but also how she integrates this experience into her burgeoning career as a doctor. The portrayal is both heartrending and inspirational, offering a narrative arc that feels authentic and empowering.

On the other side of stardom, Caleb's path to recovery in rehab serves as a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit. The story beautifully captures his pursuit of a dream beyond Hollywood's glitz—the dream of becoming a singer. His journey is one of redemption, illustrating the transformative power of self-discovery and the pursuit of one's true passion.</spoiler>

The rekindling of the romance between Gwen and Caleb adds a layer of warmth to the narrative. The second chance at love is tenderly portrayed, demonstrating that healing is a process that can lead to unexpected joy. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, making their love story a captivating element of Holiday Star.

Incorporating grief, career aspirations, and the pursuit of dreams, Holiday Star is a multifaceted gem that resonates on various emotional levels. It's a testament to the human capacity for resilience, self-discovery, and the enduring power of love. This winter, let Gwen and Caleb's inspiring journey warm your heart and remind you that, even in the face of loss, there is room for new beginnings.

3.5 🌶
Enemies to lovers
Second chance
One house
Actor X Doctor

Having obtained this gem via NetGalley, I can attest to the accessibility of this emotionally charged tale. The platform continues to be a treasure trove for discovering impactful stories that deserve wider recognition. I highly recommend Holiday Star to readers seeking a profound and uplifting winter read. Let this review serve as a beacon, guiding others to this literary gem that not only entertains but also resonates with the human experience.

Let me start by saying I loved this book. I received this book as an advance copy to read.the book was well written. It was the perfect book to read around the holidays. The characters are relatable. Gave me all the feels.

I love that there is a steamy and non steamy version. It is a cute celebrity romance story. It has its ups and downs making it more realistic. Fun quick holiday read.

A celebrity in hiding. A doctor with no one to spend Christmas with. I knew I would fly through this Christmas love story. I loved the colon cancer awareness and focus on mental health. However, I did feel the story could have been much shorter. At about 50% of the way through I thought for sure I was nearing the end of the book. I felt like the second half really dragged on. Overall though, it was a sweet, feel good love story.

Also, I do love that the author offered an “open door” aka spicy version as well as a “closed door” version.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC.

I really liked this book at the beginning, I will say the whole cousins but not really thing was a little weird for me. I also wasn’t sure about the break up being in the middle of the book, it threw me off and it was taking a long time for everything g to fall back in place.

This book literally felt like a hug, I absolutely loved it. If you’re looking for a cutesy Christmas romance then holiday star be your next read.

I’m a sucker for a celebrity romance so this book sold me just from the synopsis. Gwen as a character was brilliant, I loved the depth we had with her. I felt really emotionally involved in this book. I liked the themes of self love and valuing yourself.

Caleb will make you swoon, him and Gwen are the sweetest couple 🥺

Also the fact there’s a clean closed door version and a spicy open door version??! OBSESSED. Obviously I’ll be choosing the spicy one but I think it’s such a great option to have as I know not everyone enjoys having those scenes in romance books.

If you’re in the mood for a cosy, comforting Christmas romance then this is the perfect book for you 🥰🎄✨

P.S 10% of all proceeds go to fund colon cancer research so there’s even more of a reason to buy the book 💕

** Spoilers** Did this book give me big holiday vibes? No. Did I love it? Yes! I would 100% recommend this book to all romance fans. I’m not usually a romance book fan unless it has an underlying theme of war (historical fiction) or fantasy but this one actually kept me intrigued. I am also a fan of Twilight and Taylor Swift so references to both were fun. The storyline was predictable in a general sense (resistance to romance to fast romance to conflict to resolution) but the way that Melissa weaves the plot is very unique and I’m not sure I’ve read a romance book about a movie start before. I love that Gwen is a strong woman and doesn’t immediately go running back to Caleb. It definitely kept me hooked! I read the spicy version FYI and it was definitely spicy 😂 I loved it but these were some of the more graphic open-door scenes that I’ve ever read! I was not expecting it.
My tips for other readers would be - read this if you want romance, not Christmas vibes. And if you don’t like open door scenes choose the sweet over spicy version! Overall great book 4+ stars.

Okay so this book was such a cute Christmas read. Even though it doesn’t just contain Christmas. It starts near the holiday and ends near the holiday. I’m also a fan of the title referring to the tree star her dad got when Teddy was little. I enjoyed the fact that Gwen doesn’t just take Caleb back without a little work on his end.
References:
Twilight book he picks up to read that first Christmas! Yes :)
Taylor Swift at karaoke night singing Blank Spaces! Yes :)
Stephen King reference to favorite author of Gwen! Yes :)
I enjoyed the development of the characters as well as the side characters and I can’t wait to read the next book in this love story!
Thank you NetGalley and Melissa Dymond for this ARC!