Christmas in Spite of You but K. C. Mills gave me big city Hallmark movie vibes. Loved the MCs and the plot points. You need to read this book.

Okay, y'all, listen up because I just finished the cutest, most Christmassy book ever, and I need to scream about it! It's called Christmas in Spite of You by K.C. Mills, and seriously, Netflix, Amazon Prime, MTV Studios, or HULU needs to get on this, like, yesterday. This has "instant holiday classic movie" written all over it.

You know how some authors just never disappoint? K.C. Mills might be one of those for me. I adored Noel and Kanton, the two main characters. The whole story just played out like a movie in my head, with all the best tropes of a Christmas romance: grumpy/sunshine, cheesy Christmas activities, and a grand, swoon-worthy gesture. I literally wanted to run and decorate my house in the most Hallmark Christmas way as soon as I finished.

Big shoutout to K.C. Mills, Black Odyssey Media and NetGalley for the ARC! I had such a blast with this book. It gave me all the warm, fuzzy Christmas feels with a beautiful Black love story at its center. The holiday banter was hilarious, watching Noel slowly but surely transform Kanton's Grinchy attitude was so heartwarming, and there were even some hints of spice to keep things interesting. It was just refreshing.

The basic premise is that Noel, who's a Christmas-obsessed whirlwind of holiday cheer, ends up having to share her apartment with Kanton, a total neat-freak Scrooge, during Christmas week. Talk about opposites attract! Their interactions are so funny, and the tension between them is just perfect. K.C. Mills really nailed the mix of humor, tension, and holiday magic. It’s the perfect escape.

Seriously, this might be one of my favorite Christmas reads ever. It has the perfect balance of sweet romance and a compelling storyline. I was hooked from beginning to end, which is saying something because sometimes Christmas romances can be a little predictable. But not this one!

Noel is trying to get her new interior design business off the ground, and things are a little tight financially. So, she decides to list her apartment on a sharing site to make some extra cash. Meanwhile, Kanton is in Atlanta for a huge business deal, and because it's Christmas week, finding a hotel is impossible. So, he books Noel's apartment. But when he shows up, Noel's still there! Cue the forced proximity and hilarious shenanigans.

The "how it started vs. how it ended" is just perfect. It starts with "There's no place like home for the holidays" and ends with "That's why darling, it's incredible, that someone so unforgettable, thinks that I am unforgettable too." Ugh, my heart!

This book is like Hallmark met BET+ and gave us the cutest, most heartwarming forced proximity romance. Noel is the traditional, kind of Christmas lover—real tree, all the decorations, Christmas movies, fuzzy socks, the whole nine yards. And Kanton? Well, let's just say he gets a serious dose of Christmas spirit thanks to Noel.

There are so many great moments: Noel's gifts for Kanton were so thoughtful, Kanton's efforts to make Noel happy were adorable, and Noel's best friend Simone giving her hilarious advice was just the cherry on top. If you're looking for a sweet, angst-free, feel-good Christmas story, this is it. It’s so cute!

I also loved the banter between Noel and her best friend. It felt so real and added so much humor. I did wish we'd seen a little more of Noel's "boss lady" side, but overall, it's a good solid holiday read. Go add Christmas in Spite of You to your TBR right now. You won't regret it!

This was such a fun holiday read! Noel and Kanton are the ultimate opposites—a Christmas-obsessed whirlwind and a neat-freak Grinch—forced to share the same space during the most wonderful time of the year. Their banter is hilarious, and the sparks flying between them add just the right amount of spice to this festive romance. K.C. Mills delivers a delightful mix of humor, tension, and holiday magic, making this story a perfect seasonal escape!

I’ve had this book for quite some time but I wanted to save it for the holidays. This is a very hallmark/ lifetime type of book… like I could literally see it playing out on tv as I was reading it. It was slow paced in a way that made them fallin for eachother believable to me. Too often these type of stories tend to get cringey but this one remained cute. Adored Noel’s relationships with all of her friends.

This was a spicey holiday read. I'd probably give it somewhere between 4 and 5 flames. It's a strangers to lovers story, but I'd warn those who don't like fast love romances against it.

This was such a fun little Christmas romance!

We follow Noel, who loves Christmas and is struggling with her business and Kanton, a successful business man who hates Christmas.

Noel rents out her apartment for Christmas since her plan was to earn some extra money whilst she was celebrating Christmas with her parents, however she gets sick and cancels the trip to her parents and the reservation someone made on her apartment. At least that's what she thinks.

Turns out she did not in fact cancel when Kanton shows up, expecting to be alone in the apartment, and sees Noel still being there.

This book has lots of holiday cheer, Christmas spirit, forced proximity, and the typical Hallmark movie vibes! Perfect little holiday read.

This was such a cute holiday read. The plot was setup well though a little predictable but I am a sucker for him falling first or at the same time. Instant chemistry between the two MCs. They were likable and the little backstory of each was just right. My only critique is the inner monologue was a bit cringe.

Someone get Netflix on the phone because I need to be watching an adaptation of Christmas In Spire of You next year!!!! KC Mills never disappoints so it’s not surprising how much I loved Noel and Kanton. It really read like a movie and had all the things I love in a Christmas story. The grumpy/sunshine, the corny Christmas activities, and the grand gesture. Made me want to decorate my tree immediately! Thanks so much to KC Mills and Black Odyssey Media for the ARC.

Noel had big plans for Christmas, ready to celebrate the holiday with her family while renting out her apartment. But just when she thought everything was set, she fell ill. In the chaos, she forgot to cancel the booking, unaware that Kanton would arrive as scheduled. What unfolds when Ms. Christmas, full of festive cheer, is unexpectedly paired with Mr. Scrooge, a man who seems to embody the spirit of bah humbug? As they navigate the week together, can a sprinkle of Christmas magic transform their perspectives on life and love?

I rated this book a 4.5 star. I really enjoyed the banter between Noel and Kanton! It was top tier! Their relationship seemed really organic, and the chemistry was so good! Simone provided the comedic relief that I didn't even know I needed! I think that this was a good balance between lighthearted Christmas vibes and emotional romance/love story. K.C, Mills is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, and I can't wait to see what it released next.

🎄📚 Book Review: Christmas in Spite of You by K.C. Mills. 📚🎄

Tropes:
-Holiday Romance
-Forced Proximity
-Grumpy/Sunshine

What happens when you list your house for the holidays and forget to cancel it when your plans change? Well, you share a one bedroom apartment with a broody businessman, duh! Man this sounds just like the Noel's favorite Christmas Movies. She loves all things Christmas so of course the stranger sharing her apartment would not care about anything Christmassy! It's not a problem because Noel's makes it her mission to make Kanton see the joy in Christmas.

I absolutely love K.C. Mills as a author and I was so excited to get the chance to read this cute forced proximity Christmas Romance. I love the chemistry between the characters and let me be honest. Who wouldn't fall for Noel? She is such a sweet and caring character. If you are looking for love, motivation and all things Christmas, you are going to want to read this one.

This was a great pick to kick off my holiday reading with. I thought the mix-up that led to them having to share an appartment for a week was so fun. If there's one thing I enjoy in a Christmas romance, it's forced proximity, so that worked really well for me. It was a quick and enjoyable read, and it was nice to see these people connecting even though they're very different. This book didn't stand out to me a lot among all of the other holiday romances I've read, but I definitely enjoyed my time with this.

The description of the book made it seem like they would hate each other at the beginning but they never really did. They had a strong attraction to each other that they acted on fairly fast. It was so cute that she was trying to get him to understand the magic of christmas. The part where she gave him children's toys was adorable.

I received an arc through netgalley.

Christmas in Spite of You is the perfect holiday romance for anyone who loves a blend of festive cheer, witty banter, and unexpected connections. Noel and Kanton’s initial friction as reluctant housemates creates plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and heartfelt tension, while their journey toward understanding each other is both sweet and satisfying.

Noel’s determination to make Christmas magical despite her circumstances brings out the best (and worst) in Kanton, whose transformation from a Scrooge-like businessman to someone who embraces the holiday spirit is a joy to watch. The cozy holiday setting and their opposites-attract dynamic make this a delightful, feel-good read.

If you’re looking for a quick, heartwarming holiday romance, Christmas in Spite of You will leave you ready for your own bit of Christmas magic!

I really enjoyed this book! I would highly recommend this book to my friends. I really enjoy this book!

Synopsis:
When Noel finds herself sick and unable to go home for Christmas, she decides to cancel her house share for the week. Only, there’s a slight problem. She never canceled and now some random stranger is in her house for the holidays.

My thoughts:
This book was a quick read. A little corny at times and there’s miscommunication 🤮 but otherwise, entertaining. I like holiday romances, so this didn’t disappoint. Just wish people would actually open their mouths and talk about stuff. Please. Do it for Christmas.

⭐️: 3/5
🌶️: 2/5

Christmas in Spite of You is a holiday romance that I really liked from start. Noel, with her love for Christmas and endless joy, is the perfect opposite for Kanton, a no-nonsense businessman who’s not a fan of the holidays. When a booking mix-up forces them to share her cozy apartment, sparks fly in more ways than one. Their journey from strangers to something more is full of heartwarming moments, playful banter, and just the right amount of spice. A must-read for the season!

There are two other books that have a holiday house swap in them, but I didn’t finish those. I know that everyone’s holiday is different, but I just can’t take sad holiday books. ESPECIALLY not at this point of life. I needed all the happy. So imagine how scared I was when I opened this and saw this one also had a house swap. But because of one little difference, I enjoyed this one so much more.

Ok so the thing that made this one different than the others was the fact that she ended up staying when he came to stay at her house. So even though he was upset and escaping his current situation, he still had Noel there to help him change his mood around. And that she did.

Ok so the main characters were a little much. Like Noel was shoving Christmas down this poor man’s throat lol But I didn’t actually care about that because I think I would too. I love Christmas and I wouldn’t hold that against her, but it WAS a bit much for a newcomer like he was. She should have pushed him in a little bit at a time lol Kanton was a Scrooge for real lol But at some points he didn’t make sense. Like at the ending when he figured out what happened, he didn’t get mad enough at that other person and he didn’t beg the OTHER person enough for me. Not for the epilogue anyway. He got mad at some of the weirdest things.

The romance between them was cute tho. I loved watching them fall for each other during the different holiday themed things they were doing. I think that’s what made it for me. I needed that Hallmark cozy movie feeling after this craziness that I was going through after the results and let me tell you, this gave me everything that I needed. Oh! Also, I can’t lie lol Him being so hard but basically melting whenever Noel said something had me smiling so hard lol I loved seeing her chip bits of him away.

But, the only thing I didn’t like was the epilogue. We are introduced to his mom and she’s been nothing but terrible to him. And then we see her again and get a sentence about how she changed after what happened and IDK, I wanted more? Like that counts as trauma and was a serious subject. I think she should have done some on page groveling. I get that Noel had boundaries, but I think she deserved more. Noel deserved a stress free Christmas without being on pins and needles. (I will say tho, her pick for her pjs? Impeccable lmao)

Definitely a solid book to get you in the mood for holiday season! I hope that you add this to your TBR! It will truly make you feel like you’re watching those holiday movies that Noel loved so much!

I’m a KC Mills fan already so reading this was a fun. The best friend Simone stole the show so many times with her one-liners. Noelle and Canton were very cute. Canton wasn’t the villian ever really. He folding like laundry for his girl. 🤭

This is was like 2 chapters too long by the time the action started happening I was ready for their HEA. Overall very cute hallmark but hallmark after dark. 😏

Christmas in Spite of You was the perfect pick-me-up this week now that my tree is up! This holiday romance has everything you could want—sweetness, spice, and a lot of charm. Kanton and Noel bring that irresistible grumpy-meets-sunshine chemistry, with each page showing how their personalities balance and challenge one another in the best way. And everyone needs a friend like Simone; she is so funny! If you’re on the lookout for a cozy, heartwarming Christmas read this season, I highly recommend it. I want this to be made into a movie ASAP.
Many thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.