I was so excited to see a Hanukkah romance book in the holiday selection this year. I think this story had promise, but ultimately I found myself skimming, and putting it down a lot.

I struggled with this book. I found the character's dynamic confusing. They don't get off to a good start but it also has these aspects of "insta love" that I didn't care for. I mean this book takes place over one week and they went from thinking each other is cute and not knowing each other, to being in a fight, to being in love.

Andies only personality trait was being a teacher and being good with kids. It was a huge part of the plot like she is moving because she can't get a job in her state and Leo is trying to get her to stay. Well, she's a preschool teacher so duh she's gonna be good with kids. why is that so surprising to everyone in the story? And why does being good with kids make her this diamond that Leo needs to capture quickly before someone else does?

Their struggles and the plot were so repetitive. It was only brought up a million times about how Andie is so good with kids and she is so self-righteous about being a teacher. Leo has a huge chip on his shoulder because his father holds a grudge against him because he broke something in the store as a kid. It was like being hit over the head with these two plot points. We get it! Overall, this book could have used a good hard editing.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases 10/15

Andie Williams is facing her first Chanukah alone after her father's death, with job uncertainty looming and a move across the country ahead. Leo Dentz, her neighbour with a long-standing crush, finally musters the courage to invite her to dinner when he notices her struggling with groceries and Chanukah candles. As they share the holiday together, their bond deepens each night, but they must confront Andie’s upcoming move and whether this season of miracles can lead to a new beginning for them both.

Okay, I'm not exactly sure what to say about this book. Yes, I'm a slow reader, but it took me almost a month to finish it, and I really don't like DNF-ing a book. I also went back and forth a lot on how to rate it; I'm not sure whether it deserves two or three stars, and I'm still kind of on the fence.

I didn’t like Andie at all. It’s sweet how much she cares about preschool kids and how she’s looking for a job where she can really help them, but at times she felt awkward and just plain weird to me. Leo, on the other hand, saved the day. He's a great character, absolute book boyfriend material. You can see how hard he tries, even though some people around him don’t get it. I really liked how persistent he was in his efforts. As for the supporting characters, Millie seems super interesting, wrapping everyone around her little finger, but I also really liked Leo's brother Dean—I'd probably read a book about him before reading this one again.

Hmm, what exactly didn’t I like? Honestly, I’m not sure. I was initially drawn to the idea of eight days of Chanukah and was curious to see what would happen, but there weren’t any standout events—it felt like a lot was overlooked. Everything kind of dragged on, and I think the book could have been cut in half without all the repetition. Overall, it’s cute, but it just didn’t live up to expectations.

I wanted to like this book so much but there was just too much I didn't like about it to give three stars. It's been so great to see the increase in romance and holiday stories featuring Jewish characters in both novels and holiday movies, but this one just fell flat for me. My problem with this book was that I just couldn't get myself to like Andie. She's self-righteous and so judgmental. She starts out all about her passion for working with under-privileged children and then ends up taking a job at the temple preschool. She also makes multiple comments about how different preschool programs just don't meet her standards - and I get that we all have standards when it comes to places we work, but she probably could have found a job somewhere in the state of Massachusetts where she could have tried to institute some changes. I was especially mad at her when she was discouraging of a co-worker who said she was applying to a Kindergarten job - if you're committed to working with children it shouldn't matter what grade they're in (especially when the alternative is being unemployed). She also makes Leo feel like he's a bad guy/failure on multiple occasions and he's just such a nice guy that I felt so bad for him. As for Leo, I did really like him. He is trying so hard to prove himself to his father and then Andie and neither one really seems to appreciate who he is. He does seem to have a propensity for putting his foot in his mouth, but her reaction to him was so over-the-top that it just made her seem really thin-skinned. He wasn't insulting her or her profession but she's so immediately defensive that she doesn't even give him the chance to clarify what he meant. And then when she turns all her anger on him following the desk incident (which let's be honest, we all knew something terrible was going to happen there) and basically tells him that he's weak made me wonder why he would want to try to win her back at all. She had no idea what it was to have an unsupportive and critical parent and yet felt she could judge Leo for continuously trying to earn that parent's respect - she really couldn't see past the fact he had two living parents to see that does not always mean there are no problems. Overall, I thought the premise here was really cute but it just didn't live up to expectations.

So nice to have a Hanukkah romance to add to the holiday stories, and we definitely want more because I love seeing myself with Jewish reputation in books! This is a great read for the holiday season and I loved Andie and Leo spending the holiday together and learning about each other. And now, I think I need to make some latkes after reading!

Andie is a preschool teacher who is about to lose her job due to her school closing, and plans to accept a new job in Ohio. Leo is her neighbor who has had a crush on Andie, but never made a move. It's the first Chanukah since Andie's father's passing, and Leo and Andie wind up celebrating the first night together, when both realize they are Jewish. Throughout the week of Chanukah, they start celebrating more nights together, and get to know each other. But with Andie planning to move to Ohio for a new job, and Leo figuring out if he'll be able to take over his family's antique business, will their relationship be able to grow towards a future together?

I absolutely loved this book for many reasons, including Jewish representation, and representation of a character with hearing aids, as I recently had to get hearing aids this year. As an educator, I loved Andie's story being a pre school teacher, and shedding light on the important work that teachers do. I highly recommend this book, and will be sharing it with my friends this Chanukah season.

I have been diving into holiday reads early this year and I was excited to try this one. Andie and Leo have been neighbors who have eyed each other for a while. Finally the two meet, but Andie will be moving to Ohio for a job opportunity so Leo only has eight nights to spend with her. Leo was loveable but I did find him bumbly at first, mostly I think it was due to his disability and being awkward, but it was a little odd. Their first night doesn't go too well, but both of them realize they need to give it another chance.
As the days go by, they get closer and closer and she starts meeting his family and growing close with them too. They are all she has been wishing for and the move is looming over her. I liked the found family aspect of this book, even if his dad was not ideal.
They both have issues they are dealing with in life but it doesn't get too heavy in this read.
In the end, I wasn't able to really connect with the characters as I wanted to and found that I was just reading to know the story's end. If you want a light read that centers around Jewish traditions and is heartwarming, then pick this book up. 3.5 stars.
Thanks to Alcove, Miri White and Netgalley for an early copy.

This super sweet and semi-spicy book is sure to win hearts this holiday season.

I really enjoyed all the characters, including Leo's dad, they were well-written and well thought out. I liked how Leo was a three-dimensional MMC with family issues and a disability. His story arc with his brother was a delightful side story.

I thought Andie's dilemma was well thought out as well. Does she stay or does she go? She's a beloved Preschool teacher whose program is closing and she got an amazing job offer in Ohio. But things are heating up at home with Leo! What does she do?

The only thing preventing me from giving it five stars was the job plotline. At one point they were going to continue to fight to keep the program open, then it was a lost cause, so that just disappeared. Then it was brought back up again. Then I thought she took the job offer in Ohio but she really didn't. But she dwelled on it and left it hanging. It felt confusing.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cozy, fun book. I enjoyed it a lot!

"I just devoured 'Eight Nights to Win Her Heart' and I'm still grinning from ear to ear! Andie's story is so relatable - trying to navigate a tough time, feeling lost and alone. But then Leo comes along, and his sweet, gentle pursuit of her heart is just _sigh_. I loved how they took things slow, sharing eight special nights of Chanukah together. It's a beautiful, feel-good holiday romance that's all about second chances, love, and finding light in the darkness. Perfect read for the season!"
Thank you to the author, Alcove press and Netgalley for the E-arc.

*I’d like to thank NetGalley, Alcove Press and Lucy Miri White for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“Eight Nights to Win Her Heart” is White’s contemporary romance debut and tells the story of Andie and Leo.

When Leo isn’t losing himself in a restoration project for his family’s antiquity business, he is dreaming about his friendly neighbours Andie. They had shared some friendly conversation, but Leo could never bring himself to ask her out. That is until an old menorah falls into his hands, and his niece Millie suggests making a wish by lighting it.
Leo finds Andie amidst her groceries, which had fallen out of her broken shopping bag, and promptly spots the menorah candles among her purchases. He basically invites himself in, and learns that Andie is about to move to Ohio for a preschool job.
Andie who also had nurtured a crush on her handsome neighbours, decided to spend her remaining days with the kind man from next door. But things get tricky when every evening spent with Leo feels very right, but her move is looming over her. Leo decides then and there that he would use his remaining eight nights with Andie to convince her to stay, and find out where their connection might lead them.

“Eight Nights to Win Her Heart” by Miri White is a cosy, feel-good holiday-themed romance that gives you all the feels. There still isn’t much chanukah-themed media out there, so I am grateful that White took it on herself to create the Jewish equivalent to a Hallmark movie. She did a great job with doing so.

Leo and Andie are such a beautiful couple. Leo is absolute book boyfriend material. He is kind, loving and mature. I also appreciate not only the representation of a Jewish man, but also the representation of a person who is hard of hearing and unashamed of it. I loved the way Leo noticed all the small things about Andie and fell in love with the entirety of who she is. My heart melted when he guessed her favourite colour right simply by taking a look around her half packed apartment.

Andie is also an absolute gem. I could totally relate to her as someone who also only has her dad left. The bond that creates and pain that must come with such a loss hits very close to home. Through it all Andie remained a rather hopeful person wishing for love and family. I loved how passionate she was about her career, and how clear she set her boundaries with Leo when he overstepped.
Leo and Andie’s romance was very sweet. They instantly have a connection, however Andie’s looming move threatens the spark that is about to ignite. Both of them aren’t without flaw, but they compliment each other so wonderfully that even flaws turn into an opportunity to grow. Andie gives Leo a place to simply be and experience true acceptance. And Leo gives Andie a true companion and a family. I absolutely adored how welcoming Leo’s family was towards Andie.

The writing of the novel is simple yet compelling. I think there is room for growth when it comes to dialogue, but it doesn’t bother me much that sometimes the dialogue feels a bit unnatural. Plot wise I appreciate how every opened plotline was closed at the end, leaving a seamless ending. However, I am still curious how strip dreidel works. I need the instructions for scientific reasons.

Overall, a great contemporary debut with a Jewish twist that I can only recommend for the upcoming holiday season!

I'm sorry but this was a complete miss.
"The number of grammatical errors and typos was so high that it made me doubt whether it had ever gone through an editor. The chemistry was lukewarm at best, and there wasn't enough substance to make you want to know more about the characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Eight Nights to Win Her Heart" by Miri White is a heartwarming and charming Chanukah romance that shines brightly amidst the festive season. This debut novel brings together a unique blend of representation, capturing the spirit of Chanukah while celebrating love, perseverance, and personal growth. Perfect for fans of Rachel Lynn Solomon and Jean Meltzer, this story offers a refreshing take on holiday romance with a Jewish twist.

Plot Summary: Andie Williams is bracing herself for her first Chanukah alone following the recent death of her father. With her job on the line and a potential cross-country move looming, Andie’s future feels uncertain. Enter Leo Dentz, her shy, hard-of-hearing neighbor who has harbored a secret crush on her for years. When a chance encounter over spilled grocery bags and a glimpse of Andie’s drugstore Chanukah candles sparks a conversation, Leo seizes the opportunity to invite her over for dinner on the first night of Chanukah. What begins as a simple act of kindness soon blossoms into something more as they navigate the eight nights together, finding solace and joy in each other's company.

Review: Miri White's novel is a delightful exploration of romance and tradition set against the backdrop of the Festival of Lights. Andie and Leo's chemistry is tender and genuine, unfolding gradually as they share meals, stories, and Chanukah rituals. The representation of a hard-of-hearing hero is a refreshing and much-needed addition to the romance genre, providing depth and relatability to Leo’s character. His determination to step outside his comfort zone to pursue Andie is both endearing and inspiring, making him a standout romantic lead.

The story excels in its portrayal of Chanukah traditions, seamlessly weaving in cultural elements without over-explaining them, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the holiday spirit. The menorah's glow, the warmth of shared meals, and the joys of community and connection are vividly brought to life, making this book a cozy read perfect for the holiday season.

Pros:

Strong representation of Jewish culture and disability, adding depth and authenticity.
Sweet and genuine romance with well-developed characters.
A cozy, festive atmosphere that captures the essence of Chanukah.
Cons:

The romance, while sweet, may feel a bit predictable at times, with familiar tropes that align closely with traditional holiday rom-coms.
Some readers might find the dialogue slightly stilted, and the pacing of the relationship a touch too quick for a slow-burn preference.
Final Thoughts: "Eight Nights to Win Her Heart" is a lovely, feel-good holiday romance that offers a much-needed representation of Jewish culture in the romantic comedy genre. Andie and Leo’s story is not just about finding love but also about embracing life’s uncertainties and leaning into the miracles that come with opening one’s heart. With its endearing characters, gentle humor, and festive charm, this novel is a delightful addition to any holiday reading list, especially for those seeking a cozy, inclusive romance to warm their hearts during Chanukah.

I really wanted to like this book: we need more Chanukkah books, and the fact that we have disability representation in this story too is an added bonus. I ended up DNF'ing this pretty quickly. I'm no English professor but the insane amount of commas and run-on sentences was a distraction to me. I think it would have benefited from another round of edits to clean up the grammar. I'm still giving it three stars because I do hope this book succeeds and I am sure there are readers out there who can more easily ignore sentence structures.

This one was a difficult one to rate.
For the wonderful characters (with the exception of Leo’s father- ugh!)-*****
For the many beautiful details of the Chanukah celebrations and parties-*****
(And I dare anyone not to crack up over the Maccabean sword fight!)
Andie’s pre-school teaching, that she loved so much-*****

Then, we have the steamy stuff. Quite a few graphically described sex scenes, in fact.
Steaminess Rating-❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

So, yeah, hard to rate. Eventually, I settled on a 3.5.

*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

I was so excited to read this book but the characters all felt like they were lacking dimension. Unfortunately had to DNF 100 pages in. I was hoping for a cute book with chemistry but ultimately what I read fell flat.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was SO looking forward to a Jewish holiday romance, but I was sorely disappointed. I told my mom "I feel antisemitic for not liking this," but this Jewish girl was actually devastated at how bad this book was.

First of all, the original conflict was beyond ridiculous. Like, yes, don't shit on teachers, but it is absolutely bonkers to have a teacher move from Massachusetts to Ohio for teaching. There are so many opportunities within New England, at least establish some sort of Ohio connection? Add in a SPRINKLE of realism for me, I dare you.

While we are at it, make the ten-year-old read like a ten-year-old. The only thing that actually felt right was when she was quoted as reading "Wings of Fire." Otherwise, I don't know if the author has actually met a human ten-year-old.

Or an editor, for that matter. The number of typos and grammatical errors were STAGGERING. The sentences themselves were super clunky, and this book was the perfect example of telling and not showing the readers anything. Over and over, the author told us how attracted they were to one another, with zero chemistry to back it up. An editor would also remind the author that Dean Dentz is a ridiculous name, Williams is NOT a common Ashkenazi Jewish last name (which is what seemed to be established), and two Keeping Up with the Joneses references is too many.

I feel cheated out of the stirp dreidels. I feel cheated out of a good Hanukkah romance.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and Alcove Press for an eARC in exchange for my honest review. Please continue to publish Jewish romances, I just hope they are better than this one.

Thank you to Miri White, Alcove Press and Netgalley for a sneak peek at this Holiday Romance.

Neighbors, Andie and Leo are facing down a daunting Chanukah. With her current preschool being shut down in the New Year, Andie needs to decide if she wants to take a job in another state, away from the comforting memories of her deceased parents and all her friends. But how should she decide on her first Chanukah without her father?
Leo has his daddy issues (alright not like that but still). He is desperate to find a way for himself and his brother to prove to their stubborn and distant father that they can take over the family antique business and make up for their teenage indiscretions. And, maybe he's finally ready to do something about the lack of a love life... Luckily his meddling niece and a "magical" menorah come to his aid. Now if only he could be anything but his usually grumpy self and ruin everything.

This was a sweet and quick Holiday read that I think many people will enjoy, especially those who are looking to find Channuka represented or who are looking to learn more about this holiday and the Jewish faith. While I found the overall concept of the book to be lovely, the execution was lacking in the depth of character development. Many of the characters seemed to be written to fit a stereotype instead of embodying a more complex personality. This made it hard for me to really buy into the romance and the character's relationships with others in general.

What to Expect: neighbors to lovers, holiday date, grumpy x sunshine, holiday miracle, meddling family

Rep: hearing loss, Jewish culture.

TW/TC: ableism, death of parents, estranged family, job insecurity/loss

Stars 3.25/5 rounded up to 4 for its disability and minority rep.

Review on IG will either be posted just before pub date or closer to the Winter Holiday season (end of Nov/ early Dec).

Andie Williams has the difficult task of celebrating Hanukkah alone after her dad's death - she isn't sure where her career is going and planning a cross-country move, so she wants to experience some holiday joy before she moves. Leo Dentz is the neighbor who crushed on Andie in secret for years. He lives across the hall from her in their apartment building, then uses the excuse of seeing her drugstore Hanukkah candles when she drops her groceries, as an excuse to finally connect with her - by offering Andie to share the first night of the holiday together.

I enjoyed this book immensely! It was nice to see a main character with a disability - Leo uses hearing aids - because, we need more diversity in romance characters to reflect people in the real world. The pacing of the story is good and while there are moments of angst - it doesn't detract from the romance. The descriptions of Hanukkah are heartfelt and makes the reader yearn to be part of the celebrations.

This Jewish romance is perfect for fans of Stacey Agdern and Jean Meltzer. Whether you are Jewish or not, this romance will lift your heart and remind you that miracles can happen.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the free ARC. All opinions of this review are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This one was so cute and I loved every minute of it.. I need this to be made into a Hallmark movie ASAP.

Ok, so what was supposed to be a "sweet and clean romance" (according to another reviewer) was definitely not. Oh bother. *facepalms*

Foul Language:
We get this first thing out of the gates.
Shi**ing, sh*t, a*s, cra*, cr*ptastic, cr*ppy,

I had a really bad feeling when I saw the language in the very first chapter, so I started search skimming because who wants to spend time reading something if it's potentially got major content issues? Yep, it was a real beaut.

Sexual Content: there's so many uses of sexy, sex adorable (ridiculous) , that I could just puke. Leo hopes that he could have a holiday fling with Andie, and he gets his wish. Some way to celebrate your so-called faith.

So much uncalled-for spice/smut.

At 54% there's a very detailed open door scene. It all goes downhill from there. *retches* I was not expecting that, and I really didn’t want to "see" that. The problem with smut like this in a book is that it's addictive and damaging to the reader, and creates unrealistic expectations in real world relationships.

Not to mention that the act itself should be between a husband and wife only, not for the whole world to see or read. It's designed by God to be special and binding in marriage, not just a random sinful fling, shack or stand with any random person.

I'm seriously disappointed and disgusted with how this book turned out. I'd never read anything by this writer before, and I definitely won't again.

I do not recommend this book due to the negative, indecent and downright icky content that I did not at all expect when I requested this book. I tried out a read from a new-to-me writer, and I got burned.

I received a complimentary e-book from Alcove Press to review through Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and the thoughts and sincerely held beliefs above are my own.