A fun play on the classic grinch story! Loved that this author turned it into a banter, romcom! There’s definitely spice for a Christmas book but I loved it! Let’s set the record straight though, Die Hard is for sure a Christmas time movie!

I absolutely loved it, but I’m not surprised since I will read anything Meghan Quinn writes! This was a cute modern telling of the Grinch as a romcom. I also really enjoyed the short rhyming poem summaries at the beginning of every chapter – they were so cute and funny! Who knew Meghan Quinn was also a fun poet too! There was such good banter, giggles, depth with small town community, best friend guy banter (which always brings me back to Meghan books! The agitator series is my fav because of the boy buddy banter), a fun Christmas competition, and the right amount of spice!

The premise is that the handsome, grumpy Cole Black lives in the town of Kringle, which is Christmas all year around. He lost his parents in an accident the same year that the lovely and spunky Storee Taylor (don’t you love the names??) stopped visiting her aunt in Kringle every year due to her being super embarrassed by an incident that occurred in the town. The two used to be friends since Cole lived next-door to her aunt, but she said some things before she left that he can’t get past. They haven’t seen each other in 10 years until she comes back to help her aunt and she enters the Christmas contest, which awards the person with the most Christmas spirit. Cole hasn’t felt like celebrating Christmas since his parents passed but can’t let Storee win and enters as well. They say keep your friends close and your enemies closer… But what if your enemy becomes TOO close?

I love everything Meghan Quinn so loving this was so shocking or surprised! Add in a little Christmas cheer? Sign me up!

The prologue absolutely killed me
These two had the most killer banter and angst and I love her characters coming to life and I am rooting for them the entire time. Add in a little grumpy Christmas spirit? Phenomenal!

Spice 🥵
Banter 🤣
Christmas cheer ✨

Absolutely adored this book, it made me want to make eggnog and start singing Christmas songs in September! It brought all the charm of a rom-com with the addition of a holiday classic, complete with poetry, jokes from the "narrator" talking to the MMC, and names that included "Cole Black".

The holiday "Spice" was perfection, as can be expected from Meghan Quinn, but what really stands out is how she balanced the growth and progress through grief that can come around the holidays.

I most adored the best friend, Max (yes, like the dog from the grinch!), and would love for him to have his own story. He truly was a literal "golden retriever"!

This was the perfect fun book! If you've ever read MQ it's her great comedic words. Thanks for the ARC Netgalley

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5

This fun holiday romcom was the perfect way spend my weekend & it really put me in Christmas spirit early, making me long for December!

Although this was my first introduction to Meghan Quinn, I fell hard for her writing & the funny banter that took place throughout the book between the characters and that also included the narrator (which was so much fun!). It was also more steamy than I had expected it to be, which was a very pleasant surprise. It was the perfect mix of light-hearted and emotional without making it cheesy. There was also a tad bit of angst, but only enough to keep the story interesting and relatable, and also to make you cheer for the main characters.

Thank you to Meghan Quinn, NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for the gifted ARC to read this book before its release!🎄

This book is for you if you love these tropes:

🎄 Enemies to Lovers
🎄 How the Grinch Stole Christmas Retelling
🎄 Fake Dating
🎄 Dual POV
🎄 Small Town

Yall have no idea how much I needed this book today. Today was just not my day and when I was looking for something to read I was reminded of this arc in my kindle library. I immediately knew I selected correctly. Because I can always count on a Meghan Quinn book to cheer me up.

“How My Neighbor Stole Christmas” is basically an enemies to lovers romcom retelling of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Also for the record no our MMC is not a green Grinch monster. Instead he’s a love able grump with a backstory. And our MFC is a Christmas loving red head returning to her old childhood home to help her ill Aunt Cindy.

The concept of the book revolves around enemies to lovers trope competing in a Christmas contest was absolute perfection. Also don’t get me started on the banter in this book. Some might find it cheesy and corny. But I absolutely loved it and found myself busting out loud several times during Storee and Cole’s interactions. And to top it off each chapter starts off with a Dr. Seuss type narration poem that had me dying and truly made the book so unique.

Also let’s not forget the spice! Ms. Quinn did not disappoint. The barn scene in particular holy guacamole;)

Usually I’m not a Christmas book girly but Meghan Quinn has sold me. I will read anything this woman writes. And as of right now this probably my favorite book by her.
Overall if you can’t already tell I highly recommend this book and I can’t wait to pick up the pretty B&N exclusive in a couple weeks!

Thank you again to NetGalley & Bloom Books for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review
The Neighbour who Stole Christmas by Megan Quinn

❤️🎄Grinch who stole christmas meets Hallmark romance ❤️🎄

Tropes and Thoughts
🎄Sexual innuendo- this was a highlight for me, laugh out loud moments sprinkled through out- this book is most definitely a bit naughty
🎄The story line rhymes before ach new chapter- I appreciated the author taking the time for prose, it added that little bit extra that made me smile at the start of each chapter
🎄 The banter between the “narrator” and Cole - muah 😘
🎄 Old ailing great aunt Cindy Louis - sound familiar, its all these Easter eggs that just MAKE this book ❤️
🎄 A tree farm complete with reindeer
🎄 Kringletown complete with a Santa
❤️ Second chance romance
🍆 Open door romance


Characters
🎄BFF Atlas aka Max - he needs his own love story
🎄 Sister who is complete opposite of our FMC , she is hyper fixated and organized, methodical
FMC- Storee ( that name though) , lost her love of Christmas, fallen out of touch with family
🎄 MMC- Cole Black - recluse, quiet, loyal, helps everyone in the community
🎄🎄 Community of Kringletown- so many amazing meddling quirky side characters (Martha, Mae etc)

Overall
Naughty and nice and alllll the spice 🍆❤️
Stuff your stocking with this read 😉😏

Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for my digital ARC in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.

How My Neighbor Stole Christmas

I was soooo very lucky to have received the eARC of this book.

Meghan Quinn’s work is literally some of THE BEST out there and this book was exactly that. I don’t know how many people realize this, but it is EXTREMELY difficult to find a Christmas book that actually makes you FEEL Christmas. I felt it in every part of this book. So much so that I looked up from reading and was shocked to see my fall decorations for half a second. Not even kidding. This book had everything I need in a Christmas book. And I’ve read many.

Aside from that, Meghan has the uncanny ability to make you fall in love with her characters and it’s not always the main characters. In this book, I fell in love with Max (Atlas). Omg he is the perfect friend to Cole and brought many laughs to the story. The Christmas competitions were so fun and I loved Aunt Cindy. But my two FAVORITE things about this book were the talks between Cole and the Narrator and the poems. The Dr. Seuss inspired poems had me cackling. Before I reread this book, which I will SO be doing, I want to go back a few times and reread the poems.

So as you can see, you need to read this book. In my opinion. Meghan Quinn knows how to suck you into her books. All the feels. Love, laughter, heart pounding spice and happiness all rolled into a cute little Christmas present just for you.

Thank you NetGalley, Bloom Books and Meghan Quinn from the bottom of my heart for this opportunity to read such an amazing book!

How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn was a cute and spicy novel that will get anyone in the Christmas Spirit. It is loosely based on How the Grinch Stole Christmas, with pieces of the original story interlaced into this one. It was very Christmas themed, with the setting being a town called Kringle where Christmas is celebrated year round. The Narrator of the story comes back at each chapter head with a few lines of poetry either summarizing where the story has happened or foreshadowing what's coming next.

The characters themselves were likeable (mostly). They had quirks that some may find off putting, but I found them to be classic Quinn from the laughs to the bedroom scenes. They story itself was full of banter and was so funny, in a true romcom way. The steamy parts were top tier and right on par with Quinn's previous works. I liked Cole's story, I felt like it meshed with his backstory well. I liked how he came around and fell in love with the town again after everything that had happened to him in the past I also liked Storee, and I loved her connection to Lovemark. I thought that was a good counterpoint to Cole Black (lol) and the long time pining was good tension to read. Some of her story was a bit annoying, but it didn't hiner my overall opinion of the book.

I also felt like the plot flowed well. Quinn's novels are a bit on the long side, but there was so much happening in the story that I liked the length. The competition was fun to read and I loved the situations that it put the characters in. Jimmy's story was my favorite!!! Overall, it was cute. I don't typically love a holiday book but I do love Meghan Quinn. This encapsulated her writing style well and was fun to read, albeit a bit cheesy and over the top at times.

The Grinch meets friends to enemies back to friends to lovers meets small town holiday competition…oh the perfect spicy chaos Meghan Quinn has gifted (pun intended) us! Storee and Cole’s banter throughout the book is infectious! I loved the integration of an outside narrator…who is feisty as can be! It makes you really feel like you’re living in a holiday movie!

Cole’s trusty best friend Max and Storee’s Aunt Cindy Louise is such a cute nod to the original Grinch story! There are so many “laugh out loud” moments throughout the book! I have a new found appreciation for candy canes…thank you, Meghan Quinn!

This is definitely a good book to get you in the holiday spirit! Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy! All opinions are honest and my own.

If you want to get into the Christmas spirit this is the book for you! It is a loving combination of The Grinch, Elf and touch of 50 shades of grey, all mixed together into such a captivating feel-good read. I love the writing style and the format, easy to follow and easier to fall in love with the characters, places, and plot. The ending makes me yearn for more, but wraps everything up in to a tight big red fluffy bow. One of my favorite Christmas reads of the year!

4 ⭐ 2 🌶

This is such an adorable Grinch retelling, it put me right into the holiday mood. The characters were so cute and fun and Meghan always has me laughing out loud. This is definitely a slow burn with a friends to rivals to lovers feel.

I don't know what it is about Tarans (looking at you Faerie Taryn) but they are just really easy to hate characters. I had a really hard time liking her and my stomach actually dropped at one point because of something she does... The epilogue does help my attitude towards her, but ugh. Max on the other hand was adorable and hilarious and I loved him so much. Same with Aunt Cindy and pretty much every side character in this story.

Cole and Storee were so sweet. I loved their past and how they came back together and helped each other through their pain. Cole's backstory broke my heart, but I was so happy for his found family and his happily ever after.

Summary:

Storee arrives back in Kringletown to help her ailing aunt after 10 years away, and the cute neighbor Cole seems to have turned into quite the Grinch while she’s been away. When they both enter a competition to be named Christmas Kringle, the rivalry—and their feelings—heat up.

Title: How My Neighbor Stole Christmas
Author: Meghan Quinn
@meghanquinnbooks
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5

Tropes:
Dual POV
Christmas
Enemies to Lovers


Triggers:
Loss of parents (off-page)
Grief Journey
Candy Cane Play


Whitney’s Thoughts:
A perfect rom com to escape the stress of the holiday season. Feel-good, laugh out loud, and full of spice! The pacing felt a little off to me around the middle of the book, but it was still so much fun to read!

I didn’t know I needed a hilarious, enemies to lovers with a Grinch influence and rhymes at the start of chapters…but I did. I do.
This was such a fun read with snarky banter, spicy spice and found families.
The end felt a little rushed but I love every other aspect of the story and writing so I can’t even be disappointed. In true Meghan Quinn fashion it kept me hooked and laughing the whole time.

Thank you so much to the publishers and NetGalley for approving me for this ARC, unfortunately I had a hard time liking the main character of the story to the point where I ended up stopping the book at 25%. I always know that in a Meghan Quinn novel, there is going to be the best chaos, some incredibly sexy moments, and is overall a great time--and it was bound to happen that I found one I didn't like. I literally loved everything about the plot, the characters, the town, EVERYTHING aside from Storee... and she isn't someone you can glaze over while reading. Her constant entitlement and lack of accountability may better as the book goes on, but like I said before, I made it to 25% and I could see no light at the end of the tunnel which caused me to feel as grumpy as Cole (not Connor).

I am officially in the Christmas spirit! Meghan has officially made September the new December with this enemies to lovers Christmas read. I laughed so hard while reading this one, but I expect nothing less from this author. She is the queen of romcom! There is excellent banter with plenty of spice and was such a fun read! Definitely pick this one up to put you in the holiday mood.

Bella inherits her aunt's house in Peppermint cove, she decides to enter the annual Christmas contest, but her neighbor has other ideas. quick funny read

Celebrating Christmas in September with this book- YES PLEASE.

I’m a die hard Christmas fan so I was really excited for this book- and listen, hard agree Die Hard is NOT a Christmas movie 😆

The banter was great, the spice spicin. Meghan’s books never disappoint me and this was no exception. I really loved it!

This was a fun reimagining of The Grinch. I loved that the side characters had the same names as the original. The plot was funny and watching Storee and Cole fight with each other to win the Kringle competition got me in the holiday mood. The pacing was a bit slow and I wished they connected more with each other sooner instead of assuming the other was a terrible person. The miscommunication trope felt dragged out a bit.

I do think this is a fun holiday read and will be enjoyed by many!