Let the (COOKIE) 🍪 games begin!
Melody Monroe is a widow and raising two twin boys, who are ten.
She also runs her own boutique, and designs most of the clothes.
Jonathan Braxton is the principal at the school the boys go to, is hot, and is known to be a bit tough on the students. (but he's hot, so does it even really matter?!)

When Melody learns the annual Christmas cookie events will not be happening, she decides to take over and head the committee and make sure the fundraising event is a success, even though that means she has to work with Jonathan. Soon, a small argument turns into a town-wide bake-off between her and Jonathan, and before she knows it Melody finds that her competitive spirits have turned romantic....and she isn't quite sure how to feel about that. Love isn't exactly in the recipe cards for her. BUT, it is the holiday season after all, right? So with some wonderful holiday magic sprinkled in the mix, they might just have the ✨perfect✨ recipe for love after all!

HUGE thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a copy of this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. I loved how cute-sy and romantic this was and look forward to reading more by this author!

This was an absolute win for me. It's a sweet story about a widowed single mom (to twin 10-year-old boys!) and her quest to keep the magic of Cookie Wars alive for her kids and the community; finding romance and trouble along the way. 🎄🍪

This is the ✨️perfect✨️ Christmas read to get you in the holiday spirit. I loved the characters (dimension! flaws! reality! growth!) and the overall real-life vibes of the whole story. The community events sounded so fun and made me pine for a magical Christmas cookie event in my community!

I picked this one up after the holidays (just never had the time in December) when I was looking for a little infusion of Christmas in my life, and it was an excellent fit! I'm sure I'll reread this during the holidays in the future, and I'll definitely check out her other holiday book. 🎄🥰

Thanks to Netgalley + Putnam for this digital ARC 💖

I remember requesting this and I feel bad because it really wasn't for me. I think the writing style is on the whole too simplistic and it feels like someone's first book. Each instance of interaction between the characters feels a little stilted or saccharine, like they're more puppets hanging around and then the author decides it needs to be cuter.

The Christmas Cookie Wars by Eliza Evans is the perfect holiday romance filled with charm, sweetness, and plenty of festive fun. From the very first page, Evans transports readers to a cozy town filled with the warmth and spirit of the season. The plot is both heartwarming and entertaining, with just the right amount of competition, humor, and romance to make it a delightful read.

The characters are incredibly endearing, especially the two leads who have great chemistry and a delightful banter. Their journey is one of growth, self-discovery, and a little holiday magic. The competition surrounding the town’s annual cookie contest adds a fun, lighthearted touch to the story, but it’s the underlying themes of community, family, and love that truly make the book shine.

Evans’ writing is engaging, with vivid descriptions that make you feel like you’re right there in the middle of the holiday festivities. The pacing is perfect, and the book strikes just the right balance of warmth and drama, leaving you with a smile on your face by the end.

Overall, The Christmas Cookie Wars is a perfect read for fans of holiday romance and cozy, feel-good stories. It’s a sweet, festive treat that will put you in the holiday spirit and leave you wishing for more.

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁: Oh man this book makes me crave baking and cookies, my family thanks you. This one didn’t disappoint it was a fun story chalked full of family, small town shenanigans, accidental texts, lots of holiday vibes and all the cookies! I love seeing stories with more mature characters that have more real life issues to juggle before they can get to the HEA.

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: Melody is a single mom trying to do it all but she can’t seem to get the twins to school on time. That’s how she keeps ending up in Principal Braxton’s office, again. After a gentle scolding and a promise not to be late again this year, Melody finds out the cookie dash and all activities leading up to it have been cancelled.

This can’t be her goal was to give her kids the most magical Christmas and it will be ruined without these events. Cookies are part of Cookeville’s history, so she tells Jonathan aka Principal Braxton that she will be the new cookie president this year and take the events on last minute. It doesn’t matter that she can’t bake she will enlist friends and family to help.

The only problem is the town’s queen bee who usually runs the event doesn’t want it to happen and will make it hard every step of the way. Follow Melody along on a journey of cookies and town spirit as she shows her boys the magic of the season. She may even find a surprise romance with the school principal along the way.

𝑭𝒂𝒗 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆: “I don’t want to picture Mr. Braxton in anything, thank you very much.” Kels let out a cackle. “That works too.” “I mean, I don’t want to picture him at all!”

𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅:

* Rivals Over Bet to Lovers
* Widowed Boutique Owner FMC
* Hot Divorced School Principal MMC
* Single Mom to Twin 10yr Olds
* War with the Town Queen Bee
* President of the Cookie Committee
* Holiday Activities Galore + Cookies
* Trying to Creating the Magic of Holidays
* Cookeville Cookie Capitol of Rocky Mountains
* Single POV

🍪💕🚌📓✏️🍪💕🚌📓✏️ 🍪

This was cute!! I love how wholesome it was and funny! I also appreciated that there wasn’t any language or spice. A little hallmarkish but cute for the holidays!

4.5 stars

I am someone who can read Christmas themed books all year long and this one was such a heartwarming, romance that gave us glimpses of small-town charm, family healing, and a good dash of competitive spirit.

Melody Monroe is a mother determined to restore her twin boys’ Christmas spirit,so when she finds herself in a cookie-baking rivalry with the no-nonsense school principal, Jonathan Braxton, sparks start flying.

Melody and Jonathan’s story was full of warmth, humor, and perfect amount of holiday magic. Melody’s journey of rediscovering joy after such an incredible loss, while balancing motherhood and her own grief is touching, and the slow-burn romance with Jonathan is full of adorable banter and undeniable chemistry. The baking competition just adds that fun, festive layer that keeps the story engaging.

As for the audiobook experience, the narration is excellent. The dual narration does a fantastic job bringing Melody’s determination and vulnerability to life while also showing us Jonathan’s reserved yet endearing nature. The cute little voices for the twins add authenticity, making the listening experience even more immersive.

The only reason for the slight deduction? I am not a huge fan of 3rd act breaks or breakups. I really felt like Melody and Jonathan could’ve talked out their problems without taking a break entirely. But overall, it was an adorable listen!

A heartwarming holiday rom-com that will leave you craving cookies. The story delves into themes of family, love and the magic of the holiday season. A definite feel good story.
Many thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Did I end up hungry after this , absolutely yes 😅😭. I want cookies now. The characters in this book were extremely charming. Loved the story and the plot , super sweet and cute. Definitely a great holiday read .

Melody Monroe was not planning on spending the holidays locked in a competitive baking showdown with the grumpy school principal, but here we are. Trying to bring some Christmas magic back into her twin boys’ lives, she steps up to revive the school's Yuletide Cookie Club—only to find out she has to co-chair it with Jonathan Braxton, the most infuriating man in town. When things spiral into a full-blown bake-off, the flour flies, the holiday spirit cranks up, and Melody realizes that maybe—just maybe—there’s more than just rivalry in the air.

This book leans hard into the festive chaos, mixing rivalry, romance, and small-town charm into a sweet, slightly messy, but very entertaining story. Melody is fiery and fun, Jonathan brings that broody, reluctant love interest energy, and the side characters? Pure holiday gold. It’s a Hallmark rom-com with a competitive edge, though at times, the predictability and a little too much back-and-forth bickering slow things down. But honestly? That’s part of the charm.

It’s festive, heartwarming, and full of sugar-fueled banter. I’m giving “The Christmas Cookie Wars” 3.5 out of 5 stars! If festive baking battles, small-town holiday drama, and a dash of romantic tension sound like your kind of holiday treat, this one is worth unwrapping!

*The Christmas Cookie Wars* by Eliza Evans offers a sweet, cozy read perfect for the holiday season. The premise of a cookie-baking competition mixed with family drama and romance is fun and festive, making it an ideal book to curl up with by the fire. The small-town setting and holiday spirit add to its charm, and the characters are likable, with the rivalry between the main characters providing some entertaining moments.

That said, the plot is fairly predictable, and the story doesn’t quite bring anything new to the holiday romance genre. The pacing can be slow at times, and while the romance is sweet, it felt a bit rushed toward the end. Some of the secondary characters lacked depth, leaving them feeling a bit flat.

Overall, *The Christmas Cookie Wars* is an enjoyable, lighthearted read, but it doesn’t quite deliver the holiday magic or emotional depth that would have made it unforgettable.

I love a cute Christmas book and this one did not disappoint. This was the perfect addition to my Christmas reads. I loved the characters and the banter.

The Christmas Cookie Wars by Eliza Evans is a delightful holiday romance that blends festive charm with heartwarming moments. Melody Monroe, determined to bring the Christmas spirit back to her twin sons after the loss of their father, takes charge of the school’s cookie committee. What starts as a simple plan to save Christmas joy quickly spirals into a full-blown competition with the infuriating school principal, Jonathan Braxton.

As the bake-off intensifies, Melody and Jonathan's rivalry begins to stir up unexpected feelings. Evans crafts a sweet, engaging story filled with humor, warmth, and a touch of holiday magic. Melody's determination to make the season special for her family, combined with her growing chemistry with Jonathan, makes for an enjoyable and heartwarming read.

With its small-town setting, endearing characters, and a perfect balance of romance and holiday cheer, The Christmas Cookie Wars is a cozy, feel-good book that will leave readers craving both cookies and love. It’s a delightful reminder that sometimes, love and holiday magic come when you least expect it.

This was a cute fun story with characters that felt like friends! While the outcome was predictable? It made the journey more fun.

I absolutely loved this book! I couldn’t stop smiling while reading it. The Christmas Cookie Wars reminded me of a Hallmark movie with a baking show twist. The characters were so well-written, and the storyline was super fun and charming. It’s a cozy, Christmas-y book with no spice, and I loved it! It gives off all the warm, Christmas vibes from hot chocolate and ice skating to Christmas cookies! This would be the perfect book to read during the holiday season. I loved it so much that I’m already planning to pick it up again during the holidays. I wish I could taste some of Mr. Braxton’s gingersnap cookies right now (or any of his cookies!!) One of the best Christmas books I’ve read in a while, and I’m not ashamed to have read it after the holidays. In fact, it filled my soul with the holiday spirit! Overall, I give this book five out of five stars. It was such a delightful and quick read!

Thank you Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.

This book is everything you’d expect from a holiday Hallmark movie in book form. Widowed single mom, Melody, is desperate to preserve holiday traditions and spend time with her rambunctious tween twin boys. It’s both her attempt at slowing time and keeping the memory of her husband alive. When mom drama threatens to cancel her favorite town tradition, Cookie Daze, and undermine the funding of the kid’s activities, Melody offers to be the Cookie Committee President. Melody naively believes that taking this one won’t be that hard, but what ensues proves that for some, everything that can go wrong, will. This position also requires her to get much closer to single, hottie principal, Mr. Braxton.

The book is about family, mom drama, a second chance at love and all things holiday spirit!

Thank you to Putnam and Penguin Random House Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book!

This is definitely the perfect holiday romance. It was all the best parts of a Hallmark movie into a novel. I loved the characters, the setting, and the plot. It isn’t a literary masterpiece by any means, but it is extremely fun and easy to get lost in. Favorite Christmas/holiday romance of the year. Should be on everyone’s holiday tbr if not already!

I really enjoyed this book. The cover is cute just like the story! I liked the enemies to lovers trope and the cute cozy holiday romance vibe with a little mystery mixed in and some fun cookie war contests!
Thank you NetGalley, Eliza Evans, and G.P. Putnam's Sons for my advanced copy.

The Christmas Cookie Wars is a cute holiday-filled rom-com that will get you in the festive mood. A super busy single mom finds out that the town’s Cookie Daze festival has been cancelled by the previous chairwoman and signs on to take over. Lots of humor, sabotage, and romance along the way.

This is a Hallmark movie in book form. Set in a small town, widowed single mother Melody is already known to the school principal, Jonathon Braxton, for always getting her twin boys, Tate and Finn, to school late. When the boys begin to question their Christmas spirit, and Melody finds out the Yuletide Cookie Club has disbanded, she decides she can kill two birds with one stone: get the principal on her side and restore the Christmas spirit in her boys. What she doesn't anticipate is how her feelings for Jonathan turn.

I loved the developing story and relationship between Jonathan and Melody, but I loved all the side characters even more. The boys are delightful, and so are Melody's mom and sister. The plot arc to figure out who is sabotaging all of Melody's efforts also held my attention. This is a perfect read for anyone wanting to escape into a sweet, fun, clean romance.