The audio is easily 4+ stars
The story for me is meh

My first annoyance was the constant breaking of the fourth wall with the narrator. It just didn't work for me. I enjoyed a portion of this, the competition and our mcs opening up to each other. I didn't care for her sister at all, she's a real c u next Tuesday. The miscommunication at like 90% is a huge nope for me. If made the ending so rushed and brought me out of the story completely.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a huge Meghan Quinn fan, and I was really interested to see how she'd do a Grinch-inspired story. This was another great book of hers. It had all the humor, wacky, spicy, and swoony moments of a Meghan Quinn book. I also loved the town and the people of Kringle as well. Not sure I could ever live in a town so dedicated to Christmas, but the idea made for a great story. This is a great holiday read to grab in the upcoming season, and I'd definitely recommend if you're a fan of her other books.

Read if you Love:
-Fake Dating (but also not fake dating??)
-Small Town
-Friends->Strangers->Lovers
-Christmas/Holiday Books

Christmas in Kringletown is a big deal! So when Great-Aunt Cindy breaks her hip, and her two great-nieces come help take care of her after not seeing her for a decade, she enters Storee in the town’s Christmas Kringle Competition on her behalf.
However, Cole, the boy-next-door isn’t thrilled about Storee being back in Kringletown and enters the competition to make sure she doesn’t win.
But Cole and Storee were friends growing up, so what happened between now and then? And how did Cole lose his Christmas spirit?
If I know one thing for sure, it is that if I pick up a Meghan Quinn book is that I will be laughing, swooning, and fanning myself!
The on-the-nose humor throughout is stellar! The Dr. Seuss-style rhymes, the narrator’s sass and their conversation with Cole took the book to a whole new level!
Storee and Cole’s fought, bantered, teased, and loved in a way that made me feel all their feelings!
The cast of side characters added a colorful layer of fun to the story, and they helped highlight the real, soft, and heartfelt moment between our main couple.
And the steam is, as expected, impeccable!
I cannot imagine a better book to start your Christmas season reading with!

This hilarious enemies-to-lovers story had me laughing out loud while also hitting me right in the feels.

After facing a tragedy 10 years ago Cole Black, the ultimate Christmas grump, is all about hibernating through the holidays.
Enter Storee Taylor, his old friend turned enemy and festive rival, who’s determined to win the town's Christmas Kringle contest.
Their banter is everything!
Watching their fake dating antics unfold is pure gold, especially as they start to realize their feelings are way more real than either of them expected.

What I loved most? The depth beneath the holiday fluff. Storee's journey of self-discovery while dealing with feelings of isolation and Cole's struggle with grief add so much heart to the story. Their growth together is super uplifting.

Plus, the audiobook cast is fire! Vanessa Edwin, J.F. Harding, Robert Hatchet, Emma Wilder, and Shane East.
I couldn’t put it down and finished it in a day.
If you're into grumpy-sunshine dynamics, small-town charm, and a sprinkle of spice, you NEED to check this out. Perfect for cozying up with some hot cocoa!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I will never look at a candy cane the same way ever again 🤣

Cole and Storee were friends once upon a time. But now they’ve become competitors in the Christmas Kringle Contest. It’s a series of competitions to see who can have the most Christmas spirit in town.

This book was soooooo good! Storee and Cole were so much fun and I couldn’t put this book down! The banter and chemistry between these two was perfection. Meghan Quinn always writes the most hilarious and spicy reads! Definitely an auto buy author for me!

📘: How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn
🗓️: October 15, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley, Meghan Quinn, and Sourcebooks BloomBooks for this ARC!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

🎄Holiday
🎄Fake Dating
🎄Enemies to Lovers
🎄Neighbors
🎄Childhood Friends

Hands down my favorite holiday book ever! How can it not be when it is a retelling of my favorite Christmas movie, The Grinch?! What is not to love with neighbors, who are ex childhood friends, go toe to toe with each other to win the Christmas Kringle competition. And there is even a story narrator that interacts with the main characters and had me giggling! Storee and Cole have both lost their Christmas spirit but when Storee is talked into competing for the town cheermeister Cole decides that there is no way he is letting her win. I absolutely loved this book and all of the characters! Especially Aunt Cindy! She’s such a hoot! There is no way to do this book justice with a review. Just trust me and go read it! You won’t regret it!

Thank you NetGalley, Meghan Quinn, and Bloom Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I really loved this one and I think it would be perfect to read during the winter months.

This one follows Storee Taylor as she moves back to her old town to take care of her Aunt Cindy. She has a strange relationship with the town and especially with her neighbor Cole. Things heat up as the town Christmas Kringle contest starts and they both enter.

The competition is super fun and I loved reading about all of the challenges. They were super unique and added to the enemies-to-lovers trope. Speaking of, Storee and Cole’s relationship is really fun, romantic, and sweet. I loved seeing the progression and seeing Storee begin to appreciate the town and the holiday season.

I highly recommend this one, especially for romance fans, but it has something for everything. It also highlights family, friendship, grief, and making the most of every day. Thank you again for letting me read it early!

I enjoyed this book! This was a naughty version of The Grinch! It definitely put me in the holiday mood! The banter between Storee and Cole had me laughing! It was top tier! I loved the little poems in the beginning of the chapters!The narrator was everything and had me laughing! Storee and Cole are the perfect definition of enemies to lovers! This was definitely a slow burn but totally worth the wait! The spice was definitely spicing!! I can’t wait to get my hands on the audiobook!!!

What to expect:
Enemies to Lovers
Dual POV
Fake Dating
Slow Burn
Lots of Banter
Small Town
Christmas vibes

Meghan Quinn’s holiday romance, “How My Neighbor Stole Christmas,” plays homage to Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

Every Christmas, Storee Taylor and her sister Taran spent the holiday with their Great Aunt Cindy in the festive town of Kringletown. Storee’s childhood friend, Cole Black, lived next door, and though their friendship was marked by constant bickering, they were close. However, ten years ago, Storee left Kringletown after an embarrassing incident, vowing never to return. Sadly, on the same night she expressed her dislike for the town Cole called home, his parents were killed in a car crash. Left abandoned, Cole needed his friend, but Storee's sudden departure left him feeling more alone. Thankfully, his friend Max and the community of Kringletown rallied around Cole, ensuring he was taken care of.

Now, at 29, Storee works as a movie editor for Lovemark films, and she and Taran have returned to Kringletown to care for their elderly Great Aunt Cindy after she breaks her hip. Great Aunt Cindy, always the competitive spirit, asks Storee to enter and win the Christmas Kringle competition—a title that has eluded her for years. The competition features a variety of festive activities, including acting in a Christmas play, candy cane making, fruitcake tasting, and a Christmas light display. Confident in her ability to win, Storee’s plans hit a snag when she discovers that Cole, the town’s self-proclaimed Christmas grinch, has entered the competition as well, determined to thwart her victory.

As Storee and Cole begin to spend more time together, Cole hatches a plan to convince the town of his Christmas spirit: pretend to date Storee. Storee reluctantly agrees, fearing that if she refuses, the town will side with Cole in the competition. However, as they navigate their fake relationship, they begin to realize their long-held misconceptions about each other may have been wrong. Soon, they must decide what matters more: winning the competition or exploring their rekindled feelings for each other.

The playful banter and over-the-top nature of the competition provide plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, adding a lighthearted touch to the novel. Quinn’s quirky characters and the whimsical setting of Kringletown—where Christmas is celebrated year-round—complement the fun, festive storyline. However, Cole's frequent breaking of the fourth wall occasionally disrupts the narrative flow, and his bickering with the narrator can make the fairy-tale premise feel immature at times. Additionally, the repeated mention of lederhosen (appearing nearly 20 times) becomes tiring and feels excessive. Despite these minor flaws, the novel offers the cozy, feel-good holiday romance typical of a Hallmark movie, albeit with a bit more spice.

"How My Neighbor Stole Christmas" is the ultimate spicy holiday romcom with a Grinch-inspired twist. Set in a year-round Christmas town, the story follows our festive-hating hero, Cole, whose life turns upside down when his childhood friend and rival, Storee, moves in next door. Determined not to let her win the town’s Christmas Kringle contest, he begrudgingly enters, setting the stage for a hilarious, heartwarming, and steamy rivalry that quickly becomes more than just about Christmas lights.

This book does a fantastic job blending classic holiday vibes with a modern, spicy twist. The second-chance romance between Cole and Storee is filled with playful banter, sizzling chemistry, and enough steam to fog up any holiday window. Their rivalry adds a fun tension, but it's the way both characters grow—particularly how they confront their past—that gives the story depth. Plus, the found family element adds a layer of warmth, making the book feel like a true Christmas treat.

Packed with campy humor, festive antics, and a memorable candy cane scene (iykyk) that will leave readers fanning themselves, "How My Neighbor Stole Christmas" is a must-read for anyone looking for a holiday romance with plenty of spice and heart. It's the perfect mix of festive cheer and fiery passion, making it hard to put down!

Absolutely loved this one, and it was quintessential Meghan Quinn in every way.

It started out a liiiittle on the overly cheesy side for my taste, but I was quickly swept away by Cole and Storee, and their friends-to-enemies-to-lovers fiasco. This story takes the Christmas theme and cranks it up about 10 notches. There are nods to the classic Grinch story in character names, lederhosen, rhyming chapter intros, and the narrator. The town Kringle-ee competition is everything holiday: eggnog, Christmas lights, fruitcake, and candy canes...if you know, you know. The setting in Kringletown, Colorado is almost nostalgic in Meghan's description of Ornament Park, downtown, and the local businesses featuring all of the holiday comforts.

Also featured is Meghan's classic humor, this book was hilarious. It features one of my favorite micro-tropes...meddling townspeople. The locals and their hijinks had me laughing out loud on several occasions, which I've come to expect with a Meghan Quinn book. And the spice!!! So delicious.

This is a comfy, cozy, hot-cocoa-and-fuzzy-socks, satisfying holiday read.

This one threw me for a loop! I was hesitant at about the 25% mark, thinking it might not be for me but once it picked up … it was beyond hilarious and cute.

This book has it all- banter, competition, spice and Christmas Spirit! I love Cole and Storee’s story! This is a must read for Christmas!

Hank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc.
I have enjoyed many stories written by Meghan Quinn and a spicy fun romance that is Christmas theme was a great addition! It will definitely get you in the holiday spirit.

4.75⭐, 3.25🌶️

"You made me feel things again, Storee. Anger. Annoyance. Determination. Lust. Wheras Before, I'm not sure there's much that I felt at all.

OH. MY. GOSH. When I say i love Meghan Quinn books for the humor and banter, THIS IS WHAT I MEAN! Yes its October and I listened to a Christmas romance novel, and while I'm still not in the Christmas vibes, I loved this book and know I'm going to do a re-read closer to the winter holidays to get me ack into the holiday spirit!

If you're willing to listen to audiobooks, THIS BOOK IS IT! The audiobook is a full cast and with JF Harding, Vanessa Edwin AND Shane East as the PERFECT narrator (Especially when Cole starts arguing with him. Literally HILARIOUS! This was just a great story, and the chaos and drama kept me so entertained!

🩷Enemies to Lovers (Former Childhood friends-ish)
🎄Fake Date turns to Reverse Fake Dating
🎅 Christmas Shenanigans & Games!
🎄Small Town Romance
🩷Full Cast Audiobook

Thank you Meghan Quinn, Hambright PR, Good Girls PR, and NetGalley (Sourcebooks Bloom Books) for an eARC and ALC of this book in advance of release in exchange for my honest review.

A very cute, funny, cheeky Christmas romcom novel. Felt weird reading it in October but glad I did! Very enjoyable and entertaining. Would recommend to anyone’s holiday TBR. Thank you so much for this ARC opportunity

Did I read a Christmas book in October? Yes, yes I did! But when Meghan Quinn releases one you have to do it! This was such a fun read! As per usual the humor was top notch and I was cackling through pretty much the whole thing. It gives all the warm and cozy Christmas feels and of course the spice was amazing too! Storee was hilarious and I loved her so much. Cole was the perfect grumpy neighbor. All the Christmas contests were such a fun twist!

The narrator’s clever humor and lively commentary infuse the story with an infectious energy, making you feel as if you’re right there with the characters. I can already sense that the audiobook will be a delight, bringing even more laughter to the experience. How My Neighbor Stole Christmas is a charming, playfully cheeky, and wonderfully festive read—perfect for kicking off the holiday season. If you’re on the lookout for a book packed with romance, a sprinkle of holiday mischief, and plenty of laughs, this is definitely the one to choose!

I always get excited to read a new Meghan Quinn book, and I was especially looking forward to this holiday rom-com! When it kicked off with a Grinch-esque poem about why Cole hates Christmas, I knew I was going to love this book. It was a perfect mix of small town fun, laugh out loud humor, and two interesting characters.

Storee has come to town after her Great Aunt had a fall and broke her hip. That puts her right next door to Cole, who is not happy she's there. Between the forced proximity and spirit of the holidays, though, it isn't long before their mutual attraction becomes much more. The two of them had great banter and were so entertaining.

This is definitely a new favorite from Meghan and I can't recommend it enough!

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄(5⭐️)
🔔🔔🔔 (3🌶️)

✔️ A Grinch inspired rom-com
✔️ Small Christmas Themed Town 🎅
✔️ Fake Dating
✔️ Friends to Enemies to Lovers

Thank you to @MeghanQuinn, @read_bloom, @hambright_pr, and @netgalley for my gifted e-arc! 🫶

It may be October but this book has me ready for Christmas! 🎄 This was such a fun and perfectly themed read, I truly loved every second of it. There are so many callouts to “The Grinch” aside from the obvious name, the rhymes/storytelling at the start of each chapter, the characters, and bits of the story itself, really all coincided together and created flawless tie-ins while also still being its own independent story. And this story was SO. 👏 FREAKING. 👏 CUTE. 👏 😍

Both of the main characters are charming and lovable….To the point where I couldn’t even decide who I wanted to win and be crowned the most festive Kringle. 🤣 A fiery red head and a Snow Daddy…I mean they seriously could not have been a better book couple. But by far the best part of this book was the banter. 🤯 It was consistently funny, full of surprises, and didn’t miss once.

I’ll put it to you this way…not only do I have my physical book trophy (Target special edition) on the way but I’m desperately hoping this gets turned into a Hallmark Christmas movie so I can watch it over and over again. 🎄

“And I swear on everything in me, the burst of electricity that pops between us…is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. It’s intoxicating.“

My first Christmas romance book of the season! And my first Meghan Quinn book! This was a fun, festive read. A spicy little twist of the grinch. I really enjoyed this one. If you love a good enemies-to-loves + fake dating trope and are ready to get into the Christmas spirit, add this to your TBR immediately!

Thank you to NetGalley and Meghan Quinn for the opportunity to read this ARC 🫶