This book is such a good time and it had me completely immersed in the holiday spirit and festivities! The rivalry between Cole and Storee at the beginning was unprecedented. These competitions were hilarious and the townspeople are so quirky and lovable! I loved how Cole came clean with Storee and how soft her heart is. She didn't judge him. Everyone is great, Max is the bestest friend that some could have lol. This book is pure Meghan Quinn comedy gold that is heartfelt and shows the great bond of a small town! I 100% recommend this book and it will get you prepped for the holiday spirit!!

Arc provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Storee travels to Kringletown, where it is Christmas all year round, to care for her aunt after a fall. Her aunt quickly guilts her into entering the annual Kingle competition, which prompts Cole to join as well to keep her from winning. What will happen when two former friends square off for Christmas glory?

Read if you like:
-The Grinch
-Rivals to Lovers
-Friends to Annoyances to Lovers

Did I enjoy this book? Yes. Did it make me laugh? Yes. Was it festive and fun? Yes. But was it also about 200 pages too long? Also yes. The story lagged at times and there were way too many competitions. This would have been better as a novella. Not a bad book, just a huge investment for a Christmas stand alone.

Meghan Quinn is always a must read and now a Christmas novel, yes please.

The whole Grinch vibes throughout the story were amazing and a masterpiece.

The enemy to lovers was well thought out and written well.

I loves Stores and Cole. They may be one of my character couples.

Nothing gets me more than a Authentic feeling connection! This Enemies to Lovers Grinch story has everything cozy, wholesome, and a tiny bit smutty!

I pray we get the Best Friends story soon because he was a hoot!

Definitely recommend as a Holiday read!!! Less stress and all around Christmas spirit in this one!

Modern Day Grinch..

Cole lives in a town that celebrates Christmas 365 days a year. Yes, he works with reindeer but that is the extent of his jollyness. It’s been more than a decade since he participated in the festivities and he didn’t see that changing any time soon. Until Storee..

Growing up, Storee and her sister would visit her Aunt in a town that did Christmas year round. She use to love it until…the accident. She hasn’t been back in over a decade but now her Aunt needs her, and much to her dislike, Storee and her sister are off to help. While there, Storee gets guilted into participating in the annual contest, the same contest where the accident happened 10 years prior. But she didn’t expect her biggest rival to be Cole.

Loved the poems, lol. Oh my goodness..this was funny and so entertaining. You will have to wait a bit for the sparks and the steam but you will understand why as soon as you read. Such a cute, fun read for the Holidays.

This book had me absolutely laughing my ass off while reading it! The banter between Storee and Cole is top freaking tier and Meghan never disappoints on making me laugh!! The narrator and the poems along the way are so perfect and honestly make the story so much better!

After having spent a decade away from Kringletown, Storee and her sister return to help care for her Aunt Cindy after a broken hip. While there, she sees Cole, who was once the boy that she was friends with when her family would visit every holiday season. Cole is less than thrilled to see her back in town and even more upset when he finds out she is competing in their annual Christmas competition in place of her aunt. The only logical solution is for Cole to also enter and try to beat her….even though he’s boycotted the Christmas season for years.

The tension between these two is THICC and their banter is so fucking funny I couldn’t help but laugh! I absolutely love it! And I love the competitiveness between them for this competition. After a heated first kiss they both are trying to push down any lingering old feelings for each other. It might be a slow burn, but when the spice hits, it FREAKING SLAPS!

ᴛʀᴏᴘᴇꜱ:
🎄 Christmas romance
🎅 Holiday competition
💕 Childhood friends to enemies to lovers
🏘️ Small town romance
✨ Fake dating
🤍 Forced proximity

Definitely add this holiday rom com to your TBR for a good laugh! It releases on October 15th!

Thank you to Meghan Quinn and her team, in addition to Sourcebooks Bloom Books and Netgalley for the ARC of this in exchange for my honest review!

Meghan Quinn's How My Neighbor Stole Christmas is a delightful and spicy twist on the classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Set in the enchanting town of Kringletown, where Christmas is celebrated year-round, the story follows Storee and Cole, two rivals competing in a festive Christmas contest.

While it took me a while to fully immerse myself in the story, once I did, I was captivated by Quinn's unique take on the classic tale. The main characters, Storee and Cole, are both complex and endearing. Their banter is hilarious, and their growing connection is heartwarming. Cole's past trauma and Storee's absence create a compelling dynamic that drives the plot forward.

Things I loved about this story:

Second Chance Romance: Revisit old flames and explore the complexities of rekindling a past relationship.

Small Town Charm: Experience the cozy atmosphere and tight-knit community of Kringletown.

Christmas Magic: Immerse yourself in the festive spirit and holiday traditions of a town where Christmas is always celebrated.

Steamy Romance: Indulge in passionate encounters and sizzling chemistry between the main characters.

Rivals to Lovers: Witness the transformation of enemies into lovers as Storee and Cole navigate their growing attraction.

If you're looking for a festive, spicy, and heartwarming read that will leave you feeling merry and bright, How My Neighbor Stole Christmas is a must-read. Thank you Meghan Quinn, NetGalley, and Sourcebook Bloom Books for the ARC of this book. I voluntarily read it and gave an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This book will be a great addition to our library collection.

I found How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn to be a delightful holiday romcom. Storee and Cole’s second chance romance is set in a charming Christmas town, filled with witty banter and heartwarming moments. The unique take on How the Grinch Stole Christmas adds a fun twist, and the narrator’s interactions with the characters are hilarious.

While the pacing is slow at times, the overall charm and humor make it a perfect holiday read. Meghan Quinn’s engaging dialogue and relatable characters shine through. Highly recommended for holiday romance fans.

4/5⭐️

This is like a spicy version of the grinch! I loved this book because of how funny it was! It has enemies to lovers in it which is my all time favorite! And the enemies enter a competition which made it so much better!

Each chapter started with a funny cheesy Christmas poem about what was happening at that point which had me cracking up.

The spice was pretty spicy throughout this book so just a heads up!

While this book was initially just supposed to be about the Christmas competition and Christmas activities it did end up having a lot of depth to the story with information about grief and what it’s like losing parents as well as feeling lost and alone in life and how to navigate that.

Storee was such a fun and definitely relatable character with her feeling isolated and alone after being so consumed by her job. I loved watching her come out of her shell and find herself and her happiness.

Cole was such a sweetheart after of course he got rid of his grumpiness. But watching him navigate his feelings for storee and the misunderstanding from when he last saw her was really interesting. I loved watching how storee helped Cole get through his grief and help him love Christmas again.
I really enjoyed this Meghan Quinn book and will definitely be reading more from her! This was a really good Christmas read.

I WAS SO HONORED TO GET THIS BOOK FROM MEGHAN QUINN as her writing is legendary and amazing! This novel was no exception you will love it beginning to end. Grinch inspired cover makes it all the better as well. 10/10

Book Review: How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn

How My Neighbor Stole Christmas is a delightful holiday romp filled with humor, heart, and the perfect dash of festive spirit. Meghan Quinn takes the classic enemies-to-lovers trope and infuses it with her trademark wit, creating a story that’s as warm and cozy as a cup of hot cocoa on a winter’s night. From the moment you start reading, you’ll be drawn into the charming world of Kringletown, where Christmas cheer is a way of life and where even the biggest holiday grump can’t escape its magic.

What really stands out in this book is the emotional journey you go through with Cole and Storee. You can feel the tension and frustration between them, but underneath it all, there's a deep vulnerability that slowly emerges as the story progresses. Cole’s transformation is especially satisfying—his shift from a Christmas-hating recluse to someone who begins to open up and enjoy life again is gradual, believable, and filled with sweet moments that tug at your heartstrings. Storee, with her relentless holiday spirit and fierce loyalty to her aunt, brings an infectious energy to the story, making her impossible not to love.

The humor in this book is spot-on, and it keeps the tone light even when the characters are dealing with deeper emotions. Quinn knows how to write laugh-out-loud moments that balance perfectly with the more heartfelt scenes, creating a story that makes you feel good from start to finish. You’ll find yourself grinning as Cole and Storee trade barbs and then quietly rooting for them as their feelings shift from rivalry to something much more real.

What elevates How My Neighbor Stole Christmas beyond a typical holiday romance is the genuine warmth that permeates every scene. Whether it’s Storee’s dedication to her aunt or the way the townspeople rally around their festive traditions, there’s a sense of community and belonging that makes the book feel like a warm hug. It’s not just about the romance—it’s about finding joy, connection, and allowing yourself to be vulnerable enough to love and be loved.

If you’re looking for a festive, feel-good read with just the right amount of holiday magic, How My Neighbor Stole Christmas is the perfect choice. It’s a heartwarming story that will leave you smiling, wrapped up in the joy of Christmas and the beauty of unexpected love.

3 ⭐️
2 🌶️
0 💧

This book was a little like a fever dream. I didn't particularly love the first half - there was a lot of bickering and immature behaviour, and can't say I was a huge fan of the format style with a narrator either.

It did pick up in the second half once the MCs had the chance to actually talk and listen to each other, and it was a cute holiday novel from then on! It could have been a bit shorter I think, it felt like it dragged on for a little while and then wrapped up VERY fast.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for this ARC!

One sentence synopsis: Spirited neighbors go from rivals to lovers in this spicy spin on The Grinch.

This was so cute and just plain fun! Storee and Cole go from rival neighbors to lovers while competing in a town competition for having the most Christmas spirit. I love any story with a competition. 😂 While the plot follows predictable holiday tropes I loved the character’s banter and Quinn’s addition of Dr. Seuss-like poetry at the beginning of each chapter.

One downside, for me, was the character’s transition from rivals/enemies to lovers. I felt like one second they hated each other and the next they couldn’t keep each other’s hands off each other. 😂 I felt like the transition gave me whiplash. It was still cute and the spice was well written (I probably won’t look at candy canes the same).

Overall, How My Neighbor Stole Christmas is a fun, lighthearted read that will leave you smiling and in the holiday spirit. Perfect for fans of romantic comedies and Christmas cheer!

One of my favorite movies every holiday season is The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and this was such a cute take on it! From the poems, to the banter, to a little bit of competition with some spice thrown in made this book such a good read for me. The poems at the beginning of every chapter was a great addition to the book and I felt it really brought out the holiday spirit for me. I immediately wanted to decorate my house for Christmas 😂

This story begins with Storee (a Christmas loving redhead) returning to her childhood Christmas home to help her Aunt Cindy out. Cole Black is the MMC who is a grumpy pants around the holidays. I love how MQ described the grief felt around Christmas time. This book was one that touched a little bit of everything that goes on during the holidays. I truly felt the angst, tension, and connection between the characters and fell in love with their story. I love reading a book and having that immediate connection to the characters!

Thank you Meghan Quinn, SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books, and NetGalley for the ARC!

-Enemies to Lovers
-Grumpy Sunshine
-Christmas Competitions
-Small Christmas Town
-Neighbors

Storee and her sister Taran come to the rescue to care for their 91 year old great aunt who fell and injured her hip. Aunt Cindy lives in a small town in the Colorado Mountains. It’s like Christmas all the time, the details in this story really put you in the holiday spirit.

Cole and his best friend Atlas decide to join the contests because Cole is determined to beat Storee since she is not from here and hasn’t been in town for 10 years. Cole lost both of his parents 10 years ago and this is the 1st time he’s decided to even really get in the spirit of the holidays since their deaths.

I loved the banter, the competitions, the Christmasey town, the best friends and siblings relationships. It’s dreamy and superbly steamy. A truly great holiday book!

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