3.75 stars, rounding up to 4.

If you don’t like cookies, this novel may not be the Christmas novel for you. Every time I sat down with this book I immediately craved cookies. Cookies, cookies, cookies literally everywhere. The hyperfocus on cookies did really work to tie the story together though, which I loved! Tying people together over baking is a top tier Christmas novel trope for me.

The Christmas Crush gave all the small town, cozy bakery vibes I hoped it would. I loved the contrast between New Hope and Elena’s corporate job. Giving us a glimpse at Lawrence’s small town life and getting to know his family and friends, ESPECIALLY Nana was enjoyable. Lawrence being a Nana’s boy was so cute. Elena and Lawrence also went on the sweetest first date, which was a really well organized way for us to buy into their relationship. I think that date was my favorite part of the book!

There were a lot of little details I appreciated including Gilmore Girls, Pride and Prejudice, and Taylor’s All Too Well 10 Minute Version. These details made the story realistic and relatable.

I was a little disappointed in Elena and Lawrence’s actions toward the end of the book. Their attitudes were a little out of character for what we came to know about them as the story went on. Additionally, I did find Elena’s boss so terrible it was almost unbelievable.

Elena and Lawrence’s cookie recipe at the end added a little something extra to the story and I’m going to try my best to recreate the recipe over this holiday season!

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Read if you love..
Christmas cookies
Small town vibes
Sweetest first date
Enemies to lovers
He falls hard

This book had a cute, classic Hallmark Christmas kind of feel to it and was a pretty enjoyable read. I loved the small town vibes, Lawrence's relationship with his Grandmother, and how much of the book featured cookies.

I thought the author did a great job of fleshing out the character's unique situations and the reasons behind their reactions to each other so it didn't just have a meaningless miscommunication conflict but actually worked through what the issues were.
The only problem I really had with the story was Elena's job. It was difficult to suspend disbelief enough in how this situation would have gone in real life and buy into the idea that they could both succeed, and I really struggled to get past her actually asking him to help her as if it was a reasonable thing to do.

3.5 ⭐️ Do you love Christmas cookies? I love Christmas cookies! So, let me tell you about Alcove Press’ newest book release called The Christmas Crush by Noelle Douglas that’s all about Christmas cookies. Picture small town New Hope, PA. Imagine a huge, burly, frightening man. That’s just Lawrence, your friendly neighborhood baker that bakes every cookie with love. He’s well established and well loved, so who could possibly compete with his cookies? Enter stage left, Elena, VP of Sparkle cookie, a massive cookie chain that puts more emphasis on the cookies aesthetic than how the cookie tastes. The glittering new location is set to open in New Hope on Christmas Eve with Elena overseeing the shops predicted success. If the shop doesn’t profit immediately, her job is on the line. Will the big corporate chain crumble the small town competition? You’ll have to read it to find out when it releases 10/8/24. This was a clean, feel good Christmas romance. I loved the small town feel-this is a town where everyone know everyone else. Douglas does a great job taking us to the towns festivities. We visit a cookie swap, a Christmas market, and the towns Christmas tree lighting. There’s not much of a rivalry between Lawrence and Elena. They decide fairly early on in the book to try and coexist to ensure the towns overall success. More emphasis is placed on Elena’s toxic corporate work environment and the changes she’s trying to make in her career. Overall, this is a fun, sweet, festive read.

To start, this cover is so cute. I absolutely loved this story! I’ve decided I absolutely love Christmas stories set in a bakery. I loved Lawrence from the very first scene. This was the perfect cozy holiday read and I could see myself reading it every Christmas! Can’t wait to get a physical copy!

This was an okay read for me. Maybe it's because I read a seasonal/Christmas read at the end of spring but it didn't make me feel the way I thought it would. I did like the authors writing and ability to tell a good story so that is a major positive. I honestly think it was a case of right book, wrong season for me, so I'm going to do a reread closer to winter time and hope that it gives me the feels I was hoping for.

This was a cute small town Christmas book!

Lawrence was making me crave cookies, and I loved his dog Sugar, she was adorable.

Elena and Lawrence start off as enemies, Elena was SO mean 😭 I felt so bad for Lawrence and I have no idea how he found her attractive still? Like what ???
I honestly didn’t like her most of the book so it was really hard to connect to her.

Overall a cute read but I did not like Elena 😅 if you like a small town romance, Christmas, cookies and enemies to lovers - I would give this a go to see if it’s the book for you.

The Christmas Crush by Noel Douglas is a charming holiday romcom that pits small town charm against corporate ambition. Marketing executive Elena Voss finds herself in New Hope, Pennsylvania, facing off against local baker Lawrence Higgins over Sparkle Cookie’s impending arrival. As their professional rivalry melts into personal attraction, the novel portrays a sweet and festive tale of love, community, and unexpected connections. Such a heartwarming holiday story!

Oh my heart!! I just love Christmas books all year round! Elena, a career-driven woman working for Sparkle Cookie, faces resistance from the locals of New Hope, Pennsylvania, especially Lawrence, a beloved baker, when she tries to open a new branch in their town.

Their initial clashes turn into cooperation during a festive cookie competition, where sparks fly and they start to see each other in a new light. The cozy, small-town setting and vibrant community spirit add to the charm, making the story feel like a warm holiday embrace.

Elena’s journey from corporate climber to someone who values community, along with Lawrence’s steadfast love for his craft and his dog, Sugar, creates a touching narrative. The novel beautifully encapsulates the essence of Christmas: love, community, and the joy of coming together.

Bigggg thank you to Netgalley, Alcove Press, and author, Noelle Douglas for the opportunity to read this!

The Christmas Crush by Noelle Douglas has you wanting to curl up by the fireplace with a mug of hot cocoa. Elena works in a big city while Lawrence is a small town baker, everything you want in a Hallmark style book. I enjoyed the writing style however was not a big fan of Elena for most of the book, but she does redeem herself IMO. I do love nana and Lawrence (and of course Sugar).

Thank you netgalley for an arc of The Christmas Crush by Noelle Douglas

A sweet romcom filled with Christmas cheer and baking fun! I enjoyed the characters and their stories. This is a cozy read and I will read it again at Christmas! SO fun!

What a cute, festive holiday romance! I loved the small town vibes that Douglas was able to create within this book. Who wouldn't want to visit Lawrence's bakery? I loved Elena and Lawrence as a couple, and was rooting for Elena to ditch her job at Sparkle Cookie the entire time I was reading the book.

The writing felt a little awkward at first, but definitely did not feel like that the whole time. I do think this book will be perfect for the holiday season. Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book had everything I’d want in a holiday romance:
- Small-town
- Hallmark movie vibes
- Baker/Baking microtropes
- So so cozy

It hasn’t even hit peak summer weather yet and this book has me praying for an early winter!

Title:The Christmas Crush by Noelle Douglas
Release Date: October, 8th, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars


"The Christmas Crush" by Noelle Douglas serves up a delightful dose of small-town charm and holiday romance.

It follows Elena, a career-focused woman in the cookie industry, and Lawrence, a local baker fighting to preserve his bakery's uniqueness. When their worlds collide over a corporate expansion, sparks fly as they navigate a cookie competition together.

This book captures the essence of small-town life, blending heartwarming romance with delectable baking adventures. With well-developed characters and undeniable chemistry, it's the perfect cozy read for the holiday season.

Overall, a charming and delightful romcom that leaves you craving cookies and Christmas cheer!

Thank you to The Publisher Alcove Press ,Noelle Douglas & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

This read was so cute! Loved the writing and the characters. I will be reading this again in December.
Review will come later

The Christmas Crush by Noelle Douglas
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 8 October 2024

Career-driven Elena is scaling the corporate hierarchy, aiming for the summit. When Sparkle Cookie, her employer, unveils plans for a new branch, she seizes the chance to impress her superiors. However, the residents of New Hope, Pennsylvania, harbour reservations about a corporate giant encroaching on their quaint town with factories and truckloads of Sparkle Cookie goods clogging their roads. Undeterred, Elena resolves to showcase her capabilities and ensure the success of the new branch.

Meanwhile, local baker Lawrence and his loyal canine companion, Sugar, have been cherished fixtures in New Hope for two years. Their bakery, renowned for its cookies, faces a looming threat from Sparkle Cookie's arrival. Lawrence fears that the market for his artisanal treats will be swiftly overshadowed by franchise outlets peddling what he deems inferior, mass-produced cookies at every turn. Sparks fly when Elena and Lawrence clash at a heated town hall meeting. Lawrence is adamant about ousting Sparkle Cookie from town, while Elena is equally resolute in her mission to win over the townsfolk and make the New Hope location thrive.

As fate would have it, a cookie competition forces Elena and Lawrence to collaborate. Despite their initial animosity, their partnership ignites unexpected chemistry. Both are confronted with the sobering realisation of the sacrifices they're willing to make in pursuit of their ambitions.

I absolutely adored this book. It captured the essence of small-town life perfectly, just what I was craving. The romance was utterly charming, and the baking element was spot on!

The characters were impeccably crafted, their chemistry undeniable, making it a superbly cozy choice for the holiday season.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Alcove Press, and the author, Noelle Douglas, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Thank you for the ARC! I loved this book as I am truly a sucker for romance novels! The plot and character descriptions had me hooked from the beginning and I can’t wait to read more by this author! Will definitely recommend as it is such a sweet read.

Christmas, small town feels, cookies, and romance. You honestly can’t go wrong with that. This was a charming and heartwarming Christmas story. I loved New Hope. I loved Elena, Lawrence, and nana. Who doesn’t love a sexy baker. This story had charm, spice, and love. A fun read about Christmas and love. Don’t miss out!

3.25⭐️


Lawrence es panadero dueño de Sweet L’s Bakery, está pasando un mal momento porque una empresa quiere poner otra panaderia en el pueblo.
Elena trabaja para Sparkle Cookie y su objetivo es convencer a todos los habitantes del pueblo que acepten la apertura de la franquicia.
Se supone que deberían ser rivales, pero conforme pasan tiempo juntos se dan cuenta que no son lo que pensaban y empiezan a sentirse atriados. ¿Seran sinceros los sentimientos de Elena por Lawrence o será una táctica para vencerlo?

Es un libro ligero, perfecto para leerlo en la noche con un chocolate o café y unas galletas.



Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was wonderful. The small town vibes were just what I wanted. The romance was so cute and the baking aspect was perfect!

A small town, and a baker… this was right up my alley. Thank you NetGalley! I really enjoyed this one!