This was So. Much. Fun.

I may be dating myself here, but if you remember the ‘Saved By The Bell’ murder mystery party episode, this is a full length novel of those vibes but also set at Christmas and also real criminal activity, not just a game.

I really loved Maggie and felt for her with all she’d gone through. I admired her strength and resiliency that it seemed like everyone could see but her. She’d been conditioned to doubt herself and it was lovely to see her confidence grow. She was so intelligent and had fantastic instincts. As she gradually learned to believe in them and recognize her own value, I was steadfastly rooting her on.

Some of that confidence was aided by Ethan. Ethan who truly gives off epic Chris Evans energy. So charming. So competent. So down bad for Maggie even when she doesn’t realize it. His unwavering support and belief in her was exactly what she needed. He allowed her the space and backup to lead the charge and slowly learn how to trust herself. I was swooning just as much as every other woman over this man.

The mystery element was fun even as it felt high stakes. It led to great situations that brought Maggie and Ethan together. It forced proximity, it landed them in only one bed, it gave a “who did this to you?” moment—it served on the romance tropes and microtropes is what I’m saying here. It was closed door, but the tension and chemistry was still there.

Truly, this was such an entertaining read. I had the best time. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Ally Carter and don't think that she could write anything that I wouldn't devour. The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year was no exception! It's a cozy mysterious romance. The plot is interesting and fast paced. The characters (even the not-so-good-guys) are loveable. We'll need more of Maggie and Ethan.

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year is fantastic! I made the mistake of starting it in the evening and could NOT put it down until I was finished. Brilliant plot with multiple twisty mysteries, the wittiest of banter, and two captivating leads. This book is a love letter to Agatha Christie and traditional locked room/closed circle mysteries. Enthralling, intricate, heartwarming, and thoroughly un-put-downable!

📚Book Review 📚
🎄The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter 🎄
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Let me just start by saying this book is 5-stars on top of my Christmas Tree! There, I said it!

Why do I love this book so much? I'll try to do it justice! In 'The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year' by Ally Carter, we meet mystery writer and hardcore mystery genre fan Maggie Chase. That's enough to already get me on board with Maggie, but there's more. Maggie finds herself in a position where she and Ethan Chase, another mystery author (whom she can't stand!) is solving a mystery from the queen of crime, Eleanor Ashley.

So, we've got an Agatha Christie-type epic author, who has two amateur sleuths who happens to be MYSTERY writers, who happen to also HATE each other, solving a crime in a mansion at Christmas.

SIGN. ME. UP.

Carter's writing blends humor and depth, making this a fun read that doesn't skimp on the character developments. The book manages to be mystery, christmas cozy, romance and funny all at once -- and excels at each of them!

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter combines romance and mystery into one fantastic package that I plan on opening and enjoying every Christmas. Seriously. The three lamest Christmas movies that I watch every year are officially being replaced with this book. I will re-read The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year every Christmas.

Maggie Chase, the main character of this book, is a delightful mix of vulnerability and feistiness. Her relatable qualities make it easy to empathize with her and impossible not to root for her. She is a cozy mystery writer and book lover, and she's on a mission to solve a puzzling mystery. The perfect amateur sleuth.

I don't want to spoil anything about this book, so I will not go into too many details, but I will say that the setting was brilliant, the mystery was well-plotted and fun, and there was the perfect amount of kissing (not too much).

Above all, the writing was magnificent. This book will make you feel things. I laughed a lot. Ally Carter has a fantastic sense of humor, and she really uses it in this book. I also blubbered at one point because I felt quite touched.

This book has a heavy dash of will they/won't they and is also heavy on mystery. What I'm trying to say is that there is a nice balance. There is romance, but the book is not "smut," i.e., there is not too much action on the page.

This book would be fun for romance readers who like mystery and suspense. It would also be fun for cozy mystery readers who don't typically read romance. I highly recommend it to both groups.

I don't know if there is going to be a follow-up to this or if it is a stand-alone novel. But if this were to become a series, I would definitely read more.

Thanks to Net Galley and Avon Books for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a delight! I grabbed this thinking it was connected to The Blonde Identity (I don't think it is, though there were definitely some similarities when it came to the heroes), but I was not at all disappointed when it was something totally different. This is a modern take on the classic locked-room mystery (a la Agatha Christie) with a bit of an enemies-to-lovers romance subplot thrown in. Maggie Chase is a successful mystery novelist who has had a pretty rough year - she caught her husband cheating on her with their mutual best friend just before Christmas, almost exactly a year before the start of this story, and she's been struggling to make ends meet (for reasons that are explained later in the book). She gets talked into going to the annual holiday party that her publisher throws, where she crosses paths, unfortunately, with her professional nemesis. Ethan Wyatt is one of the most popular novelists with Maggie's publisher, and he writes what she calls "leather jacket guy books" (which I found very evocative - I'm imagining Jack Reacher/Jack Ryan type of stuff). Before she leaves the party, Maggie gets a very mysterious invitation that her publisher tells her will be life-changing. She can't resist the mystery, so she finds herself on a private plane - unfortunately with her nemesis - and eventually lands in England where she and Ethan are taken to Mistletoe Manor, which happens to be the home of prolific Queen of Mystery novels Eleanor Ashley, who Maggie idolizes. Eleanor has invited Maggie, Ethan, and one other author, along with various and sundry family members to spend the Christmas holiday with her, but it gets more complicated when Eleanor disappears... from a locked room. When their fellow author ends up getting poisoned, it's up to Maggie and Ethan to try to figure out what happened to Eleanor, which gets harder and harder as it becomes clear that there's a killer (or at least would-be killer) at the manor with them. They go from enemies to allies to friends to something more fairly quickly, but it reads pretty realistically in context - these seem like the kind of conditions that would accelerate a relationship. I loved the chemistry between the main characters, the twists and turns of the mystery, and the clear love that Carter has for the genre. Content warnings: references to childhood poverty, death of parents, other traumatic childhood experiences, cheating, MAJOR marital gaslighting, and attempted murder.

I loved this book so much. It was well written, entertaining and cozy. The characters were well developed and extremely likable. I have already preordered copies to sell at my store.

Y'all, how do I even write a review for this? Short version - I absolutely and completely adored this! I simultaneously wanted to devour this as quickly as possible, and I wanted to savor every word. It was a brilliant blend of so many things - It had wit, but also feels. It had romance, but also thrills. It had chills, but also tenderness. It was just a perfectly blended novel.

So, what's it about? Well, I'm glad you asked. Maggie writes cozy mysteries, and Ethan writes thrillers. They're both invited to the home of legendary author Eleanor's home for Christmas. And then, she vanishes, and they find themselves as main characters in a story they might write, and they've got to figure out what the heck is going on. As they do, the character development is so, so good, and I loved how their relationship was built and evolved.

I could go on and on about this one, but I'll stop myself and tell you simply that you need this book in your life for all of the reasons I have attempted to articulate. Thank you to NetGalley for the early look at this September 2024 release!

I have strong memories of reading Gallagher Girls in my small town bookshop and I’ve been meaning to read Ally’s new adult book. I hadn’t read The Blonde Identity yet when I requested this (but am going to read soon!) and this brought me the same brand of giddy happiness as an adult.

This has the making of a perfect cozy reread for each holiday season. There’s no way this is the only time I read this book.

The PINING. Ethan is so attractive and only more so with each chapter. You could cut the tension with a KNIFE. The way these two bicker and banter is everything. The: “wanna make out?” throughout the changes in their dynamic.

But Maggie is the best part of this book, and I think by the end of her story she’d believe that too. She’s so relatable and sad in ways that pack a punch. Watching her take back some of her confidence had me feeling so proud of a fictional character.

I feel so lucky to have gotten to read this prior to release. I can’t wait to snag a physical copy to annotate at the end of September, and for whatever books Ally’s going to put out next.

I have SO MANY quotes and annotations on my kindle. This was my perfect holiday in July read. Thank you SO much, Avon and Harper Voyager, for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest and free review.

This book was absolutely adorable! I loved how much Maggie doubted herself and Ethan didn't let her. I love a one-sided rivals to lovers story and the combination of Maggie being convinced he hates her while he's actually her number 1 fan was so cute. I loved the banter. It was funny and it kept the story moving pretty quickly. The way the mystery was told felt like classic Clue - full of monologuing about potential motives and questioning all the house guests. Despite the murder attempt, the story felt very cozy and low-stakes. I enjoyed the romance so much that I didn't mind that the mystery wasn't very high stakes. I would have liked there to be more twists and turns with that aspect of the story though. It felt like a bit of an afterthought and I wish that we had gotten more development for that plotline. Overall though I loved our main couple and was very invested in their story. This is such a cute Christmas rom-com and I definitely recommend it if you're looking for a romance with a little mystery thrown in on the side.

3.5 stars. Mistletoe Manor is the perfect setting for a Christmas mystery! I love that the main characters are mystery authors themselves and prove to be the best detectives. Maggie and Ethan have the best enemies to lovers vibe. Their banter is excellent. Overall cute mystery romcom.

The author who introduced me to the world of secret spies and boarding schools when I was a teen, now creates a Christmas book reminiscent of one of my favorite new IPs: Knives Out.

Synopsis:
Meet Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt: the new Queen of the Cozy Mystery and Mr. Big-time Thriller Guy. When they both accept a cryptic invite to attend a Christmas house party at the estate of a reclusive fan, neither is expecting their host to be famous and universally loved author, Eleanor Ashley, the Duchess of Death herself. But suddenly, the bridge is out. The phones are down. And the most famous mystery writer in the world just disappeared out of a locked room three days before Christmas. Maggie has to wonder: Is Eleanor in danger? Or is it all some kind of test? Is Ethan the competition? Or is he the only person in that snowbound mansion she can trust? As the storm worsens and the stakes rise, every clue will bring Maggie and Ethan closer to the truth—and each other.

My Thoughts:
I love this. Our main characters are so easy to root for. He fell first and is so obviously smitten with her, but she cannot see it for the life of her. It is all the best parts of Knives Out, with a wonderful romance built in. The Christmas in the English Countryside setting perfectly fits the story. There is miscommunication (but not in the annoying third act break up way), he falls first, forced proximity, cozy cottage, workplace rivals, and more. A great amalgamation of many of my favorite tropes. The wrap-up is satisfying. The pacing keeps it moving. There's lots to love and not much not to like. I'm going to recommend this for my book club's December read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

Imagine if Agatha Christie wrote a locked room mystery romance and you have The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year. I loved it. Ethan remembering the elevator scene was the sweetest thing. Highly recommend this book.

This book is a perfect read for me: romances 💘+ mysteries 🔎 = my 2 fav genres. The banter between our main characters was adorable, which is another thing I absolutely love in a book.

Maggie & Ethan, rival authors for the same publishing company, are sent to the home of their biggest fan, who just so happens to be the best-selling author Eleanor Ashley, writer of 99 great mystery novels. They’re meant to spend Christmas with Eleanor and her family, but soon Eleanor goes missing and Maggie, Ethan and her family are tasked to try and find her. At first, Maggie is sure it’s a test and she’s guaranteed to win. But after some questionable events start occurring, she’s not so sure anymore. The bridge is out and with no cell service, will she be able to work alongside her arch nemesis to find her idol?

I really enjoyed the character building we see in the flashback chapters, and I was able to really feel for Maggie and Ethan simultaneously. The only thing I wasn’t crazy about in this book, and why I dropped a 1/2 star, was the overexaggerated romance and Maggie’s character changing to less strong and independent as the story unfolded. I hate seeing women who need a man to save them. Overall, though, a great read and I could not put it down.

This was cute! I thought both the mystery and romance elements were equally strong and I liked the main characters. I didn't think the side characters/suspects were anything to write home about but for something light and tropey like this it didn't matter all that much.

Lots of fun for readers, especially at the holidays! This is the perfect, cozy caper, full of humor and romance. A famous romance writer and a famous thriller writer (who hate each other, by the way), are both invited to a mysterious conference. When there's a murder, they have no choice but to team up and solve it. I look forward to recommending this to readers.

This book was so much fun. Two enemies forced together to solve a mystery. The result can only be an adventure and a bit of romance. I loved Ethan and Maggie together. They had great chemistry with each other. The plot kept me guessing on what was actually going on. This was a quick read that sucks you in from the start.

This book was the perfect ARC for my Christmas in July reading!

Everything about this was silly, interesting, mysterious, fun, and flirty! The premise was great- what’s better than being your favorite author’s favorite author (hi, Chappell Roan) and solving a murder mystery with a hunky nemesis? Nothing. The answer is nothing.

The banter and wit between Ethan and Maggie was so great. They were fun, sexy, romantic- it’s was the perfect “enemies-ish to lovers” situation. The plot was twisty and fun, I wasn’t expecting it all to come together the way it did at the end! I was actually surprised!

I would have loved a bit more of Ethan and Maggie’s backstories and honestly… maybe more spice (I’ll never have enough!) but I really enjoyed this read! I just flew through it! I would definitely read more mysteries that follow these two! I’d add this to your TBR if you’re looking for something light and charming!

4.5⭐️ An utter delight! I love a good locked room mystery and I love rich people getting knocked down a peg and I love love, so this book really nailed it all. Also, Ms. Carter, may I congratulate you on the sheer number of “who did this to you?” scenes??? Because DAMN. Impressive. Please oh please write an open door romance next time

i had so much fun with this read! this is a closed-door romance book with a murder mystery theme.

the main character, maggie chase, felt relatable, an author whose life got flipped upside down because (view spoiler)of a romantic relationship gone wrong.

a few days before christmas, a holiday that maggie associates with some traumatic memories, she's invited to a work party that she really doesn't want to attend. however, she is given an invitation to spend christmas with "her biggest fan." how can she say no to that?

everything's all bells and jingles until she finds out her workplace rival, ethan freaking wyatt was ALSO invited to spend christmas with this apparent mystery fan, who turns out to be maggie's lifelong author idol, eleanor ashley. however, this christmas is definitely far from normal as eleanor disappears, and it's up to maggie and ethan to solve the case.

however... it turns out that ethan has a secret or two up his sleeve as well, and maggie has no choice but to uncover each one.

i loved the romance building, the back stories between maggie and ethan (can we talk about tucson yet?), and the suspense. as a former gallagher girl reader i was not unsurprised i enjoyed this so much! i'm not a big christmas story fan but this one was very cute and i highly recommend this one to anyone who loves banter, mysteries, and rivals-to-lovers romance!