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.

I had a hard time getting into this Christmas romance. I wanted to feel more from this book, experience what the characters were experiencing instead of being told about it. It was a cute read, just not one I'd pick up again.

A great Christmas story with a predictable ending. The characters were very real and the story was a great afternoon read.

Melody’s favorite time of year is Christmas. Her and her husband set a lot of family traditions at the holidays. But her husband has been gone for most of her sons’ lives. They are ten and he’s been gone since they were four.

Melody has continued on and done the traditions with her boys each year. In a way it’s keeping her close to her husband but it’s also something she enjoys.

But, here’s where it gets sad, her boys feel like they’re too old for the traditions this year. They don’t seem to want to do anything Melody has planned. They’re growing up and want to spend more time with her friends.

The one thing the boys care about doing is related to all the cookie themed events in their town. But the mean mom on the committee has caused all the events to be canceled and no one has the nerve to cross her and do it themselves: well, nobody but Melody!

Melody would do anything to preserve the remaining traditions that her kids still enjoy. So she heads the committee.
She can’t even bake yet suddenly finds herself in direct competition with the school principal Jonathan.

Jonathan always seemed stuffy and buttoned up to her. And his sense of style reads old man. As a fashion designer, Melody would love to change his wardrobe. And they get in a silly bet that she can do that if she wins.

But crazy things start happening that bring to light someone trying to sabotage Melody.

I honestly felt really sad for Melody for most of this hook. First because her little family didn’t seem to care about her traditions anymore. Secondly because you’d have to be a real jerk to sabotage a cookie event managed by a widowed mother if young twins. And finally because she might have a new chance at love but the situation is less than ideal.

I was very pleased with the ending but I wish this book was less sad overall.

I got to read an early ebook copy from NetGalley. Thank you!

Melody Monroe is determined to restore Christmas cheer to her twin boys after their father's passing. When the school’s cookie committee falls apart, she takes matters into her own hands, clashing with the infuriating school principal, Jonathan Braxton. What starts as a competitive rivalry turns into a blossoming romance, and Melody begins to wonder if love could be the missing ingredient to her holiday season. A heartwarming tale of second chances and festive magic.

The Christmas Cookie Wars was a cozy romcom that hits all the holiday feels. The premise was cute and the author weaved the Christmas festivities into the story well. I loved that she was a widowed mother which is rare and refreshing.
While this story hit a lot of common tropes, the primary couple didn't have as much chemistry as I would have hoped and I grew frustrated at times with the lack of progress of the main character, who fixated on traditions too much. However, the small time Hallmark vibes were on point enough I could overlook those factors.

Thank you to Eliza Evans, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was such an adorable Christmas read! A young single mom in a cookie war with her twin boy's school principal, thrown into being in charge of the holiday events in town to make sure her kid's school clubs are funded... so much fun! This book definitely had me in the holiday spirit! The characters were charming and the plot was adorable! I mean what's not to love?!
Definitely a recommend from me!

This was a surprise hit for me - I laughed out loud (the emojis!) and cried at times. Eliza Evans will now be an auto-read for me at the holidays!

As someone whose favorite holiday is Christmas and who always loves a good Hallmark movie, I had high hopes for The Christmas Cookie Wars and I’m happy to say Eliza Evans didn’t let me down.

The story, while straightforward, gives the reader hope in second chances at love, but still has twists and turns that you don’t see coming.

I loved how The Christmas Cookie Wars had me grinning from ear to ear, and was such a cute, feel good read that I devoured it in one sitting.

I will be going back to read Evans’ previous book, and look forward to reading more of her works in the future.

Special thanks to NetGalley for granting me access to this ARC

Cozy, Heartfelt, and Full of Holiday Charm

The Christmas Cookie Wars is a sweet treat of a read, filled with festive vibes, quirky fun, and a heartwarming reminder to stay true to yourself. I really liked the main character’s humility and authenticity. She didn’t need glitz or drama to shine, and her grounded perspective made the story all the more refreshing. The holiday rivalry was lighthearted and entertaining, and the writing struck the perfect balance between wit and warmth. It’s a cozy Christmas book that’s as comforting as a plate of freshly baked cookies.

Thank you to Eliza Evans, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy this delightful story before its release. It was an absolute joy to read!

👧🏻Single mom
😢Widow
🍪 lots of cookies
🤬Sabotage
👗 Clothing boutique
🏫 Principals office
🍲 food fight
🤫 Secret romance
👨🏻He falls first

As a mom, I laughed out loud during the first chapter. This was a cute Holiday romcom about a single mom finding love after loss. I loved all the cookie events and cute small town feel. If you didn’t get to it this year, add it to your TBR for next year.

This book was a very cute holiday read. It gave me Hallmark movie vibes and it was easy to pick up. The characters were lovable and the plot was fun. There were a few moments that dragged on a bit and I just can’t fully believe that the person causing all the problems could actually pull some of it off. Overall this was a quick read and one I very much enjoyed.

A fun Chrismas romance centered around a school bake off.

I really loved the setting of the story as well as children and the fun cookie bake offs. The romance wasn't quite what I was hoping for as I didn't see myself really liking the romance too much. I actually preferred all of the antics going on at school more than the romance. I will say there were a few innuendos here and there, but it wasn't enough to hinder my enjoyment of the story. I did like how it ended and wrapped up at the end. Especially with some of the side characters at the school.

*thank you to #NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book to read. All thoughts are my own.

If you're looking for a cozy, low-stakes romance that feels like a warm hug, this book is perfect for you. The title might suggest a brewing conflict between the two main characters, but surprisingly, the "war" isn't what you'd expect, which made for a refreshing twist! I can easily see myself picking this up during the holiday season, especially while staying with my in-laws—it’s a clean, feel-good read with just enough romance to keep you hooked.

The characters are well-developed, though I found myself wanting more from the male lead’s perspective. The third-act conflict was a solid choice, but I do wish it had come earlier in the story, giving more time for the resolution to breathe. That said, the pacing didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment.

Highly recommend this for anyone impatiently counting down the days until the holidays. It’s a festive, heartwarming read that will get you in the seasonal spirit!

A cute and clean romance! I loved the single mom aspect. The small town charm was prevalent throughout and it was full of festive fun. This was a fun read that made my heart smile!

The Christmas Cookie Wars is an interesting romance between a widowed mom of twins and their middle school principal. Set in the premise of the town's Christmas cookie crawl and full of secret rivalries, this story is interesting, entertaining and fun. It's a sweet holiday romance in the end.

Warning reading this will make you want cookies + Hallmark Holiday Movies.... Thank you to NetGalley, Eliza and Penguin Publishing for the eARC!

What To Expect:
⭐ Grumpy guy x sunshine girl
⭐ Secret Relationship
⭐ Mean girls with a holiday twist
⭐ Holiday Baking and competitions
⭐ Closed door clean romance very Hallmark!

My Thoughts:
I loved this cover, I wanted to eat all cookies, I loved the characters and the sweetness of their storyline but of all the holiday cozy books I read this one took me the longest and wasn't one of my top favorites. It felt sometimes forced as if the connection between the two characters wasn't genuine. The dialogue felt like it was missing that undercurrent you get with a good Hallmark romance. The two twin boys were absolutely the sweetest and comedic relief. I love their get it done, we will win it attitude. Shows just how much of a great mom Melody is to them.

The bullies of the schools cookie committee give me PTSD from my high school days. I can't stand women like them. It had a very mean girls vibe.

All in all it is a quick read. It has the holiday cozy vibe to be read and at the end of it there is a HIGH likelihood you will want cookies reading this!

Synopsis:
Melody Monroe will do anything to get her nine-year-old twin boys to muster up the holiday spirit. Especially since they lost their father, the boys have started questioning the point of Christmas at all.

When Melody learns the school’s cookie committee has disbanded due to dissension in the top ranks, she can’t let the boys lose another ounce of Christmas joy, so she decides to take over the cookie committee herself, even if it means dealing with the infuriating school principal, Jonathan Braxton.

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. Love isn’t supposed to be in the recipe for Melody. But with a little holiday magic, she and Jonathan might just bake up something special.