I couldn’t resist jumping back into another of Molly the maid’s adventures, especially with a festive twist. I expected the usual cozy mystery, but Nita Prose surprised with a Christmas romance. The only mystery this time involves Molly’s doubts about her sweet boyfriend, Juan Manuel, and his odd behavior.

The story revisits Molly's past bullying and a cringe-worthy Secret Santa moment, while highlighting her deep bond with her grandmother. The heartwarming ending suits the Christmas romcom vibe perfectly. I’m eager to see what’s next for Molly! 3.5 stars rounded up to 4!

Big thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC!

Molly....Oh how I missed you! I once again enjoyed this book by Nita! I have really enjoyed all of these books and this one was no different. A fun Christmas read!

I received an electronic ARC from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine through NetGalley.
Molly, Juan and the rest of the staff are back for a sweet holiday story. This novella's mystery offers hints throughout for readers. The delight is in seeing how Molly interprets every mysterious action while suspecting what is really happening. Prose continues to develop her characters as we see even more about Molly's relationship with her grandmother and her continued trust in Juan. It's refreshing to read a shorter story that focuses on the characters. I look forward to more mysteries but enjoyed this fun holiday read.

This is a must read and a must have. This was a short and sweet read.  
A quick reminder of how wonderful the holidays can be.
Two things learned:
***Things do not always are as they appear.
***The greatest gift we can give is LOVE!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I love Molly the maid and was really excited for book 3 in her series. Although I went into this thinking it was another murder mystery for Molly, it was more of a short romantic drama/mystery. Normally I don’t read that genre but I actually really enjoyed this because I like Molly and following her life! I appreciated the Christmas vibes and it was like getting a nice update on what Molly has been up to. Definitely recommend for a quick, fun read but I do recommend you read her other stories first.
Thank you Nita Prose, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Company - Ballentine Books.

we can skip halloween this year. i'm ready for christmas! usually i have a hard time rating novellas because of how short they are, but molly and her friends get five stars on this one hands down! it's the perfect little holiday novella to reunite me with my favorite cast of characters, a fun mystery, and all of molly's charm. the perfect story to hold me over until the next installment!

A quick, fun, easy read that fans of the series will love to get cozy and immerse themselves in come holiday season. I love Molly and her quirky personality. It was cute and I can't wait for the next full-length novel in the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for a complimentary copy of this novel! Molly the Maid is back again in this magical and heartwarming novella, but this time the mystery she has to solve is her own. With Christmas right around the corner, both Molly and her boyfriend Juan are excited for the festivities! And with the quickly approaching Secret Santa gift exchange at the Regency Grand Hotel, Molly has mixed feelings. On top of all this, her boyfriend Juan has been acting very strange. Will the Secret Santa exchange be another total flop this year or will it finally be a joyous event? What has Juan been acting so strange lately? Will Molly be able to solve her most personal mystery yet and enjoy the magical holiday season?
This was a wonderful and heartwarming quick read perfect for the upcoming Christmas holiday! 5 stars, AVAILABLE October 1, 2025

I enjoyed this book. It was nice to visit with the characters again. I loved the other books in the series, so I was excited to receive this one as an ARC. It was short, sweet, and to the point! I caught on to what was happening fairly early on but appreciated the twist and depth the author added so it wasn't so straight forward. Nita's writing is solid and very easy to read. If you have read the other books in this series, I would definitely pick this one up!

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinions.

I first adored Molly in her previous stories, and I still adore her! She's on the spectrum, and takes life quite literally. Think: A grown up Amelia Bedelia who has a strong work ethic and loyalty to her friends.

Molly has some doubts about her life in this novella, but it's Christmas time and some holiday surprises come her way!

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

If you enjoyed The Maid, and found Molly the Maid to be a heartwarming heroine, you’ll love this quick read that brings back all the characters and settings. This is a wonderful way to get excited about Christmas, and see life through the uniqueness of Molly’s eyes.

Nita Prose creates old-fashioned charm that is so missing in today’s stories. Can’t wait to read more of her work.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC.

What I liked: Molly the Maid and the rest of the characters from the Regency Grand Hotel are back. A fun/quick palette cleanser between reading more meaty books.

What I disliked: Why promote as a mystery? Really, this is just a cute Christmas holiday short story.

I love Nita Proses The Maid series and this novella was no exception. It is the perfect short holiday story. I love how this book dives into Molly and Juans relationship as well as the way Molly thinks and feels. It shows her in a more vulnerable way that I am loving.
One of the reasons I love this series is because Molly struggles to understand social norms and ques. She is somewhat naive because of how she was raised and thinks in very literal and black and white. It is just who she is. Nita Prose never says in the book why Molly is this way but her behaviors and thoughts allude to her being somewhat on the spectrum. That is my opinion and I could be totally wrong! But as someone who is around people on the spectrum it makes the most sense. For this reason, some people may not like this series. It definitely reads different then “normal” books which shows what talent Nita Prose has!
This novella doesn’t have a murder but there is still lots of suspicious things happening! This book is the perfect good feeling book for the start of the Christmas season! Super quick read, I finished it in an hour
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine for sharing this brilliant novella’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

"Molly the Maid has a whole new mystery to solve in this heartwarming novella from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid and The Mystery Guest.

Molly Gray has always loved the holidays. When Molly was a child, her gran went to great lengths to make the season merry and bright, full of cherished traditions. The first few Christmases without Gran were hard on Molly, but this year, her beloved boyfriend and fellow festive spirit, Juan Manuel, is intent on making the season Molly's mofinst joyful yet.

But when a Secret Santa gift exchange at the Regency Grand Hotel raises questions about who Molly can and cannot trust, she dives headfirst into solving her most consequential - and personal - mystery yet. Molly has a bad feeling about things, and she starts to wonder: has she yet again mistaken a frog for a prince?

A heartwarming, magical story about the true spirit of the season, The Mistletoe Mystery reminds us that love is the greatest mystery of all."

Can we make it mandatory that series we love have to have Christmas novellas? Because that would really make my holiday season.

A charming holiday whodunit, blending mystery with heartwarming seasonal cheer.

The novel centers around Molly Gray, the delightful and neurodiverse protagonist from The Maid and The Mystery Guest who finds herself at the center of a Christmas mystery.

As Molly navigates her relationship with her boyfriend Juan Manuel and uncovers clues, readers are treated to her unique perspective, filled with sharp observations and moments of touching vulnerability.

The festive backdrop—complete with twinkling lights and the chill of winter—adds a layer of warmth, making the mystery feel light yet engaging. The eccentric, well-developed characters from the hotel staff to the guests, each have with their own secrets and motives adding to the mystery.

The Mistletoe Mystery was an enjoyable, feel-good story that combines humor with a clever mystery that is perfect for the holiday season.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this arc.

Ok, let me start with the fact that I thoroughly enjoyed The Maid and The Mystery Guest...this one, not so much. It was cute but it felt like I went from Cozy Mystery series to Junie B Jones. While I understand that some of Molly's charm is how literal she is and that Juan Manuel loves her just the way she is but this one was a bit too juvenile. Maybe some will call me a Grinch but I would like to send a Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ADC.

Molly and Juan are enjoying their time together, living in their old apartment. Everything is lovely as they prepare for Christmas, until Juan starts sneaking around. Molly begins having doubts about their relationship as they get ready to celebrate.

Loved getting to see them at home and being comfortable around each other without the stress of their being a murder to solve. There were so many moments I could see what was happening and caught myself smiling like a fool, as if they’re my closest friends.

This is the third book in the Molly the Maid series. It is actually a seasonal novella so it is 2.5 in the series. It’s Christmas time and Molly and Juan Manuel are busy decorating and getting ready for the holidays. They are also preparing for the Secret Santa gift exchange at the Regency Grand Hotel where they both work. But as the exchange gets closer, Molly begins to feel uneasy. She senses that something is going on with Juan Manuel and begins to question her trust in him and their relationship. Was she wrong about him all this time? This was a fun little story and had a sweet, heartwarming ending. I’m a fan of this series and look forward to more from Molly and her friends at the Regency Grand Hotel.

The Mistletoe Mystery is a fun, easy read that will warm the hearts of Molly the Maid fans! This is a light-hearted read that centered around Juan Manuel’s proposal to Molly. There was no real mystery, just a short novella that will make your heart happy!

More fun with Molly the maid! This time it's December , with all the busyness of the holidays. Molly and Juan Manual are busy working at The Regency Grand Hotel, Molly as head maid, and Juan , recently promoted to pastry chef. The usual characters are also here; Mr. Snow, Mr. Preston, Angela, Cheryl and lily.
As the month of December progresses, Molly gets suspicious about Juan's schedule and sneakiness. We also learn about Molly's time growing up; how she was bullied by classmates and made fun of. All I can say is that this novella has the perfect ending! A wonderful short, romantic, funny Christmas story! Can't wait for more of Molly's adventures.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with this digital copy in exchange for. my honest review.