Three stars. Thank you NetGalley for the arc of this new upcoming book in Molly the maid series. I was very excited for a Christmas novella! Overall the book itself was a little lackluster. Without too many spoilers the misunderstanding trope in this book was frustrating especially since you knew what the outcome would be. The plot was quite predictable. I did like the Christmas vibes sprinkled throughout.

I had such a fun time with this book. I think it was a prefect mini mystery set in this universe and really am excited to get mroe stories set in this world following molly. I think this book gave me both mystery vibes and holiday vibes! I really loved this story even thought there was some predictable moments!!

This was a cute, Christmas themed short story. It involved Molly and her boyfriend preparing for Christmas and the staff Christmas party at the hotel they work at. Molly suspects that he is doing shady stuff after he starts acting suspicious.

It was very clear where the story was going from the beginning, but it was still a cute Christmas read. A very quick read. I’d say 3.5 rounded up.

Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

A holiday Molly the Maid novella! The new story sweeps back to when Molly was a child and we learn about her holiday times with her Gran. Simultaneously, her boyfriend Juan is doing his best to replicate fun new traditions that will keep Molly cheery.

There is a mystery a foot, but it is a pleasant and cozy one - a joy for all Molly fans.
#randomhouse #mollythemaid #ballantine #nitaprose #themistletoemystery

If you’re looking for a cheery little peek into the world of Molly and Juan Manuel, this is a super quick light turn.

What a cute, festive addition to the Maid series! I absolutely adore Molly the Maid and just couldn't resist reading this one. I usually steer clear of novellas since they tend to lack in depth and structure, but this wasn't one of those instances at all. This short mystery story ticked all of my boxes, and I really enjoyed it. All of the normal characters were in attendance and Molly shined with her quirky personality. This was such a happy, feel-good read that made me smile and long for Christmas and colder weather. It's August and way too hot! If you're a fan of this series, you don't want to pass this one up. Molly 2.5 is an in-between novella that follows The Mystery Guest and precedes the upcoming 3rd novel, The Maid's Secret. It can be read as a stand-alone, but I would definitely recommend starting from the beginning. You can thank me later!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for granting me early digital access in exchange for my honest review!

Molly and Juan Manuel are the world’s sweetest couple. I adore all of the characters that make up the staff of the Regency Grand Hotel and their love for Molly shines bright in The Mistletoe Mystery. The perfect story for a gloomy day, this book is sure to bring you cheer!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

omg 🥹🥹🥹

everything about this was so precious. i loved being able to read more about molly and juan manuel’s relationship.

it’s best to go into this one blind honestly, just know that you will be smiling the whole time you are reading it 💓💓

thank you netgalley and random house for this arc in exchange for a review!

review to come on instagram closer to pub day on october 1st!

I could not love this short story more! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I'm a huge fan of Prose's Maid books and this one did not disappoint. It has been fun to see Molly's evolution. The story is perfect for fans and Christmas lovers!

This is a delightful little addition to this series. Molly and her boyfriend, Juan, both work at the bustling Regency Grand Hotel, where Christmas preparations are in full swing. Amidst the holiday chaos, Molly notices Juan's peculiar behavior, as he rushes about their apartment building and the Regency Grand Hotel. In the end, Juan surprises her and makes it a Christmas to remember.

Such a lovely treat to have this uplifting novella about Molly the Maid in time for the holidays! I read it all in one evening, delighted to have the opportunity to read another installment in Molly's life. There's not much of a mystery in this very short book, but it was a joy to read. It will help hold me over until the next full-size novel is available in the spring. Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for letting me read an advance copy of this book. I think it will be a perfect holiday book to read and gift this year with its positive messages. Readers will be left feeling good after reading this, and it will be a nice escape from the stress of the busy holiday season. I highly recommend this book.

The Mistletoe Mystery is the latest installment of the stories of Molly the Maid by Nita Prose, and was a fun slice of Christmas to combat this current Summer heat.

This novella is very atmospheric with very likable characters. We follow a loving, long term couple who try to bring cheer and joy to everyone at the Christmas season. Except this time, something is amiss. I enjoyed reading their story and their sweet Christmas traditions together.

My only quip was I predicted the mystery and its resolve very, very early on in the novella. This did not, in any way, make it less enjoyable for me.

Thank you endlessly to NetGalley who gifted me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

This novella was so cute! I read the first in the series and the second is in my TBR. I absolutely adore Molly! In the half way through, readers would know what will happen in the end, but Molly doesn't see it and draws all the wrong conclusion and speculations and it was funny and so cute. Thank you so much Nita and her publisher for letting me read this cute novella and get Christmas spirit a head of time!

Fans of Molly the Maid will enjoy this short and sweet novella around the holidays. There isn't a mystery in this one, it's more of a slice of life to give you a little more of your favorite characters.

For those that were disappointed in Juan's role in the second book, you will enjoy the focus in this one! It's the Molly and Juan show with some miscommunication thrown in. 😉

Heavy on Molly trying to interpret the behavior of those around her, this novella focuses on holiday traditions and her gran as well. If you love thinking about what makes the holidays special for you, you will love thinking about the traditions that Molly and her Gran had and those she and Juan have added.

Thank you to netgalley for an ARC to enjoy.

I absolutely love Molly the Maid. This is one of my favorite book series because of the heartfelt characters.

Although short, this story is just as heartfelt as the others in the series. Molly finds herself struggling through the holiday season and missing her Gran a little more. She has great support around her with Juan Manuel, Mr. Preston, Angela and more! I enjoyed getting a better glimpse into Molly and Juan's relationship. What a great novella to get you into the holiday spirit! I definitely recommend reading the other two books first so the back story makes more sense.

Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine books for the ARC. I loved it!
PUB DATE: 10/01/24

Molly loves Christmas and has enjoyed reviving old traditions and creating new ones with her boyfriend. There is something weird going on with him that Molly can't quite parse, but she is determined to keep up the holiday cheer. This is a sweet, short entry into Molly's series that will hold readers over until April when the next full-length story published.

Molly loves Christmas and the traditions it brings. Now with Juan Manuel, Molly is creating a new life and new traditions with the man she loves best. As Christmas draws near, Molly can't make sense of a new mystery- What is going on with Juan Manuel? Why does the new woman in the building seem to know him? And after a bad experience with the hotel's previous gift exchange, does she really want to participate again, and what happens if she doesn't?

Molly is delightful and while I'm delighted that she's back, there was very little momentum even in such a small story. I'll still read all the Molly the Maid stories though, and buy them for our library.

I love Molly and her adventures, and really enjoyed the first two books. This was a sweet Christmas story about Molly, Juan, and friends. I would give this a 3.5. It is a fun novella, but there is not any depth to the story and the mystery was very predictable. I did find myself smiling while reading. It is a very light, quick holiday read.

I absolutely adored this novella on Molly the maid and Juan Manuel. It was so nice getting a glimpse into their relationship more. The holiday season is quite difficult for Molly with missing her Gran, but never fear Juan is there to lend a holiday cheer. Throughout this novella we will see a lot of misunderstandings and mishaps. While it may be a short read it is a very good story. I definitely recommend reading the other two books first so this will make more sense.

Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine books for the e arc. I loved it!
PUB DATE: 10/01/24

https://www.thebookery.org/post/book-review-the-mistletoe-mystery

Book Review: The Mistletoe Mystery
Start thinking cooler thoughts as you count down the days until Nita Prose’s newest installment of the Maid series releases in October!

By Mandy Crow

I’ve been captivated by Molly the maid since Nita Prose first introduced her to the world to her in The Maid in 2022. Since that initial book, Prose has furthered Molly’s storyline with 2023’s The Mystery Guest.

Read our review of The Maid here.

On Oct. 1, Prose is set to release the next installment of the Maid series, The Mistletoe Mystery, a holiday-themed novella that gives readers a glimpse into Molly and Juan’s first Christmas together. Recently, I got the chance to read an advanced review draft of the upcoming book and highly recommend adding it to your pre-Christmas reading list!

An Overview
In The Mistletoe Mystery, we find Molly and Juan getting ready to celebrate Christmas as a couple. They’re living in Molly’s apartment, where Molly keeps things nice and tidy and Juan Manuel whips up delicious meals in the kitchen while singing Christmas carols. Juan Manuel has taken an extra step to make the season even more special, counting down the days until Christmas with a homemade Advent calendar that reveals a special gift for Molly each day—and perhaps hints at more.

But even as Juan is intent on making this Christmas one of Molly’s happiest holidays, Molly begins to notice a few inconsistencies about her boyfriend and starts to doubt. Remembering an old story her gran once told her, Molly wonders if she has mistaken a prince for a frog again. Is Molly misunderstanding the clues or is she headed for disappointment again?

What I Love About the Book
I have always read Prose’s Molly as being on the spectrum. Throughout the Maid series, Prose has never labeled Molly, but, for me at least, it’s refreshing to see a character who struggles with social cues and thrives on order and consistency who is the hero of the book.

All of the Maid books, and The Mistletoe Mystery is no exception, are told in Molly’s voice. We get a chance to experience her inner processing and logic and see how these things influence her actions and decisions. As an aunt to a child on the spectrum, it’s powerful to read books that present someone who is “different” but still considered valuable, kind and beloved by her coworkers, friends and neighbors.

As a novella, The Mistletoe Mystery is also short. I often don’t have as much time to read during the holiday season, so a shorter story seems perfect for the a quick, sweet read that gets me in the mood for Christmas.

Parting Thoughts
The Mistletoe Mystery is a short, sweet novella that’s a perfect holiday-themed addition to the Maid series. Is it action-packed? Yes, but in the sense of regular people living regular lives, meaning the action is a little mundane and slower paced. If you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller with a new mystery unraveled at every turn, this probably isn’t the book (or the series) for you. Yes, you may see the ending coming from a long, long way off—but Molly doesn’t, and, in some ways, it’s fun to be in on the secret with so many of the characters in the book who try to hide it from her (badly, I might add).

Getting used to Molly’s syntax, logic and pacing takes a little time, but The Mistletoe Mystery might be the perfect way to spend a cozy Sunday afternoon this fall or holiday season.

The Bookery Rating: 📙📙📙📙
A sweet, short, holiday-themed story that continues the Maid series and gives greater insight into Molly’s reasoning, logic and relationships. Getting to know Molly takes a little time and understanding, but the effort is well worth it!


Nita Prose is set to release the next book in the Maid series, The Maid’s Secret, in April 2025. Pre-order now.


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