A Christmas story about our favorite maid. Molly's grandma would put out a big advent calendar and fill each day with a special treat. But at the hotel gift exchange a few years ago, the employees embarrassed Molly. Now, they are having another gift exchange and she is nervous about it. Her boyfriend, Juan Manuel is intent on making this Christmas special for Molly, along with filling the advent calendar. But when she see's Juan doing some strange things, she starts to doubt her relationship.

This is a feel good novella for the holiday season. Great characters and plot.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Molly the Maid is in the holiday spirit! This was a sweet novella with lots of festive cheer and lighthearted mystery (really a mystery to nobody but Molly) at its core. Prose continues her series with her strong writing and familiar characters who are preparing for Christmas festivities. I can’t wait to see where this series heads next!

I have enjoyed the other two books in the Molly the Maid series and was excited to read this Christmas themed novella as the holidays approach!

If you enjoyed the other two, I think you will enjoy this one. It is more of the same with Molly being completely oblivious to what is really happening around her. She is her usual quirky self and it is a short and sweet addition to her story. I really enjoyed it and I am not huge on novellas.

This is one you definitely don’t want to read without reading the others.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

🎁 Book Review 🎁

The Mistletoe Mystery
By Nita Prose
Published: 10/1/24

Verdict: I liked it a lot. I enjoyed the other Molly the Maid books by Nita Prose, and this one had fun and festive holiday theme. I like the quirky qualities and sweet dispositions of the characters in her books. I’m really feeling the need to get into the Christmas spirit this year. I usually don’t decorate or start into holiday books this early, but I just want to feel the joy now! This was a comforting holiday book, because of the familiar characters and setting. It was more of a romance than a mystery, but that was okay. If you liked the other Molly the Maid books, and you need a sprinkle of holiday spirit, you’ll enjoy this novella.
Stars:⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Thank you @netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse for the opportunity to read a digital arc of this book!

#themistletoemystery #nitaprose #mollythemaid #christmasnovella #holidaynovella #holidaystory #comfortingchristmasstory #festivenovella #netgalley #ballantinebooks #penguinrandomhouse #bookstagram

This story ends with Holiday cheer though Molly spends in distress because of Juan's strange behavior and she begins to wonder if he may be cheating on her. It is pretty clear where it is going from the reader's point of view, but Molly isn't the best at picking up social cues.

There isn't any real mystery here and it definitely helps if you have read either of the previous books to get a feeling for Molly but if you are a fan it is a nice story to see Molly getting a happy ending.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Nita Prose brings us a Christmas novella to celebrate Molly Gray at the holidays. She loves the holidays ordinarily, but this Christmas season brings up questions about who she can trust and what is going on with Juan Manuel, the love of her life, as he is acting quite strangely. All the normal cast of characters are present in this book, which centers around the Grand Regency and Molly's apartment. I was so excited to read this novella as I love the Molly the Maid books. This one, however, did not meet my expectations. I think this is due to the situation appearing so obvious to this writer. Thus, I was just waiting to get to the end to see that I was right about what was happening in the book. It was not a slam dunk for me, but it might be for all the other people out there who have fallen in love with Molly the Maid and all her friends.
Thanks to Netgalley and Ballentine Books for the opportunity to read this e-galley in exchange for my honest review.

Another hit from Nita Prose. You'd think that a holiday mystery would be too much but I thought this was perfect! I love Molly and I want to be friends with her sooooo bad! I'm always having a fun time when I read these books and this one just proves that I will read anything Nita comes out with!
Thank you Netgally for the ARC

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars)

Nita Prose has crafted a wonderfully festive and suspenseful story in The Mistletoe Mystery, making it a perfect holiday read. This cozy mystery is set in a charming small town, where holiday celebrations take a mysterious turn, and every chapter brims with seasonal cheer mixed with suspense.

Prose’s characters are delightful, each bringing warmth, humor, and their own quirks that make the story engaging and memorable. The mystery itself is well-paced and filled with twists that kept me guessing until the end. I also loved the rich holiday details—from twinkling lights to mistletoe moments—that created a cozy, immersive winter setting.

If you’re looking for a feel-good mystery to read by the fire, The Mistletoe Mystery is an absolute joy and will surely get you in the holiday spirit! Highly recommended for fans of festive, small-town mysteries.

I was excited for a mini installment, and to catch up with Molly, however this just felt really unnecessary and had me cringing at times. I'm not sure that I will continue with Molly anymore.

I love Molly so this was so fun to read especially during a week where I was NOT feeling the state of the world. I hope there are more Molly the Maid mysteries coming our way.

The Mistletoe Mystery
💚 ❤️ Nita Prose

🌟🌟🌟

What a sweet novella! I adore this series, especially Molly! This novella focuses on her and Juan Manuel’s life together shortly after book 2 in a Christmas time setting.  Of course I wanted much more of a lengthy mystery - but hopefully that will be coming with another book. If you’ve followed Molly the maid this is a quick hallmark read for your holiday! 💚❤️

#mistletoemystery #nitaprose


Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book!

3.5 stars rounded down to 3!

This was my first holiday read of the season and what better way than to be back with Molly the Maid and the rest of the characters. The Regency Grand and the holiday activities Molly and Juan Manuel did were so warm and cozy, I felt like I was in NYC during Christmas time. The other characters were great as usual and I’m actually starting to enjoy Cheryl’s banter and antics

I picked up on the story line and plot right away, which was fun to realize what was going on for Molly and Juan.

I wish I could have rated this one higher, however I felt like the mystery was lacking and it was replaced by Molly’s doubt of Juan Miguel and she assumed he was a “bad egg”. I would have loved if Molly went on a search for clues to see what Juan was up to (ex: searching in the dark laundry room at the apartment and around the hotel for what he was doing) but this story felt overtaken by Molly’s doubts. I understand why, since Molly is a special girl, but it was too much for me personally.

The ending was so happy and sweet and I’m happy for them! I’m excited to see how this story sets us up for the next book coming in 2025! Thank you to Ballantine Books, Random House Publishing and Nita Prose for my ARC copy in exchange of my honest review!

Short and saccharine sweet, Molly the maid gets a Christmas surprise in this novella that continues the series.

Increasingly suspicious of her beloved boyfriend, Juan, Molly is worried this holiday season. He’s been disappearing with alarming regularity and evading her questions. Is he not meant to be the love of her life?

Listened to the audiobook while following along in the ebook provided by the publisher. I appreciate the Molly stories as she gets discombobulated because she takes everything so literally. The narrator did a great job voicing the characters and that enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Definitely you will want to have read the previous two books in this series.

You can't help but love Molly The Maid. I have read and enjoyed every book in this series so far. This is such a cute Christmas short story. I recommend for anyone who wants to read a Christmas mystery.

This was a fun little read! As it’s not my normal type of book, I loved seeing Molly with a good surprise. This definitely puts me in the Christmas Spirit!

3.5 stars

This was a lighthearted holiday mystery novella. But I was kinda disappointed with the mystery overall - yes I get the fact that it was supposed to be lighthearted, but I kinda wanted <i>more</i> of a mystery element.

What a cute story! I've read all the books in the Molly Maid series, and this holiday novella was a sweet surprise. If you love cozy mysteries/romances, especially set during the holidays, The Mistletoe Mystery will not disappoint. And the story sets up a plot development for the next book in the series. Much thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the opportunity to read this delightful eArc.

I have enjoyed all the books in this series so far they are easy reads and the characters are ones that you can root for. This was a nice addition to the series and perfect for the holidays.

What a sweet novella! Molly the Maid is a charming if not mildly infuriating character. I love her and Juan Manuel's love. This was the perfect little Christmas love story.

If you're looking for a quick holiday read, look no further! Molly is back in true Molly fashion.

"Mistletoe Mystery" by Nita Prose is a charming holiday read filled with mystery and warmth. Molly Gray is an endearing character who feels both relatable and unique as she navigates the festive season and an intriguing Secret Santa gift exchange at the Regency Grand Hotel. Prose skillfully captures the holiday spirit while weaving in suspense. Molly’s reflections on trust, love, and family traditions add depth and heart to the story, making it more than just a holiday mystery. A delightful, cozy read that reminds us of the magic of the season and the importance of those we hold dear.

Thank you Nita Prose, Random House Publishing - Balentine, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!