This is Not a Holiday Romance is a delightful, fun-filled enemies-to-lovers Christmas story that is packed with humor, heart, and holiday magic. Nina and Tristan's banter is electric from the start, and their prank war adds a hilarious layer to their dynamic. The tension between them is palpable, and the setting—a cozy, snowed-in holiday retreat—offers the perfect backdrop for their simmering chemistry to finally bubble over. While the romance is swoon-worthy, some readers may wish for a bit more depth to the characters’ growth. Nonetheless, it’s a charming and festive read that will have you rooting for them until the very end.

This is my first book by this author, and unfortunately, I’m disappointed. Despite being marketed as a rom-com, it really doesn’t feel like one. The insta-love aspect was too much for me, and their connection felt forced—everything between them happened way too suddenly. While it had its cute moments, I found it mostly boring, and I was just waiting for it to end. I was hoping for more depth and development in the plot, especially with Tristan. I also wished we’d see him working through his issues and growing as a character on his own.

I read this entire book in one sitting and absolutely LOVED it. This was the perfect rivals-to-lover's, out of bounds, forced proximity that I love and the banter and chemistry between Nina and Tristan was insane and had my tummy doing somersaults. It was the perfect level tension that was palpable but not in your face raw explicit spice, which I was glad about as it fitted the storyline perfectly. I loved that they both had vulnerabilities which seemed realistic based on their long term 'non-friendship' and I was pleased that when they had (understandable) conflict towards the end it was super drawn out and that Dylan was able to come round (although his reaction at THAT scene was perfectly understandable!).
The friendships in this was amazing, total ride or die, between Dylan and Tristan, and between Nina, Rowena and Hunter.
Everything I want and more from this book with some of my favourite tropes! Going straight into book two now!

Unfortunately I did not enjoy this book. I found it really cringey and it was just not for me. I finished the book only because it was such a quick read.

First of all thanks for this early copy. Second this was such a nice book. I enjoyed the setting and the characters a lot. It was supper entertaining. The two Mc were relatable which I did enjoy immensely. Definitely a really good book and i will be recommending

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁: I’m always down for an enemies to lovers romance, throw in best friend’s little sister and I’m sold! I know it’s not the holidays anymore but you can’t go wrong with a snowed in story in February especially when the groundhog sees its shadow. If you want a quick, cute, mildly spicy read this week: this one’s for you!

Nina loathes her brother’s best friend since day one he’s teased her and called her a gremlin. So when her brother brings the dark prince of evil to her family Christmas it means game on. But being snowed in with your enemy, who you may also have a crush on can only go one way. Let the prank wars begin.

Tristen just realized his best friend’s little sister is gorgeous, wow she’s grown up. When his family bails on him yet again, being accepted into his besties family means a lot. But Nina is making this holiday difficult, she’s insisting on a war and he can’t let her win. But as each day passes they keep upping the antics the lines between hate and love blur.

But you can’t have feelings for your best friend’s little sister because if he finds out there is only on choice and it’s not her…

𝑭𝒂𝒗 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆: “What are we doing?” “We’re falling, Nina...falling into something real, something that scares the hell out of me, but something I can’t resist.”

𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅:

* Best Friend’s Little Sister
* Enemies to Lovers
* Snowed in for Christmas
* Prank Wars & Nicknames
* Forced Proximity
* 5yr Age Gap
* Found Family
* Dual POV
* Spice

💥💋🎄❄️ 💥💋🎄❄️ 💥💋🎄❄️ 💥💋🎄❄️💥

This Christmas rom com is indeed a Holiday Romance. But I enjoyed that it was trying to be tongue in cheek.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the audio version. I don't know I was looking forward to this one but I did not like any of the main two characters...maybe the male main character but the female was awful! She was very selfish, childish and just...well annoying. I didn't find any of the pranks they did to each other funny, it just all started getting more and more absurd. Sadly this was a pass for me.

This was everything I want in a holiday rom-com book. It is like a watching a hallmark movie. I appreciated that the tension between them was due to how they viewed their childhood. Often we only think about an experience from our point of view and miss that the other person might see the scenario completely differently. It was a fun and unique spin on the tension of a brother's friend romance.

This book has it all: enemies to lovers, Christmas, family traditions! I was swept up and enjoyed it in the best way!

A fantastic Christmas rom-com from Camilla Isley! Enemies to lovers, with a hilarious prank war in between. I loved the steamy chemistry between Nina and Tristan - and the plot is the perfect blend of romance and humor! Can't wait to read Isley's next book! 4.75 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

All Nina Thompson wants for Christmas is to avoid her brother’s best friend, Tristan. Tristan is seriously hot, but ever since he embarrassed Nina as a teenager, she has been getting revenge through pranks. But this Christmas she will have a break and be able to relax with her family.

Then the doorbell rings and there is Tristan. When they are trapped together in a snowstorm, their chemistry can’t be ignored. But Nina isn’t ready to forgive and Tristan doesn't want to betray his friend so they decide this is just a secret Christmas fling and definitely not a holiday romance!

Beyond the fun premise, the novel offers surprising depth, exploring Nina and Tristan on a deeper level that made their story so much better.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy of "This Is Not a Holiday Romance” by Camilla Isley.

I liked the premise and trope of this book a lot. Enemies to lovers plus add in the fact the main male character (Tristan) is the best friend of the main female character's (Nina) brother. it is a win win. However, I think the attitude and lack of emotional depth Nina has just wasn't a good fit for my personal reading tastes. I completely understand that the comments Nina overheard Tristan say were devastating for a young girl. I even get harboring those feelings into adulthood. Nobody says forgiveness is a given or even a right, but Nina acted like a severely petulant child throwing tantrums through most of the book. It was a little hard for me to get past that. There were some nice spicy scenes, and some laughs throughout, but overall it wasn't the cute holiday romance I wanted/expected.

Camilla Isley did what she did best in this one. She writes fun short and cute rom-coms. While I sometimes found the FMC to be insufferable at times, especially in moments when it was obvious that Tristan was trying to be nice, but as always, she turned it around, and I had a lot of fun with this one! I chatted about this one on my Booktube channel. Overall, 3.5 stars!

Nina and Dylan, fight all the time, like they are five year old siblings. Nina also wants to avoid Tristan, Dylan’s roommate and friend, as mucha as she can, but during the spirit of the holiday season enemies turn to something else.
I love this funny story, it’s my first book by the author and I really enjoyed it.

This is a really cute seasonal romance, I love the enemies to lovers and brother's best friend tropes so I was excited for this and I think it was entertaining if a little cringey! A quick easy festive read.

Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I really enjoyed this. It was light hearted, enemies to lovers romance novel. It was funny and heartwarming at the same time. I need a part 2 with Rowena's story.

I have never read anything by this author, but I will be looking out for other books they write in the future. I really enjoyed the story as well as the pacing of the story.

I love a good enemies to lovers romance, but this one wasn’t for me unfortunately. The pranks Nina and Tristan play on each other felt very childish and their whole chemistry/connection felt very forced. These are characters in their late twenties and early thirties but especially Nina kept behaving like a teenager. While I can understand her hurt and insecurities I cannot believe that this is how an actual adult would behave (even considering that we might be transported back to our teenage selves during the holidays in our hometowns). Tristan was a bit more mature but not so likeable either. He’s known this woman for 15 years and has never before realised that cruel words can hurt another person? Jeez …

If you're looking for a cosy, light hearted Christmas romance, this is maybe worth a shot. However, whilst I initially liked this book and the banter between the two MCs, like most enemies to lovers books, once they reached the relationship stage it just became really boring. The switch up was also just kinda sudden and drastic, so I didn't particularly care for the couple at all. It also didn't help that the two were SO immature for their age (a thirty year old calling her nemesis the prince of darkness?!?), it almost would have been better if they were college students.