This was a cute story, very hallmark chirstmas movie, would be a good holiday read.
Chiara and Jamison were such a cute story. I love a childhood friends reunited as lovers plot, the family dynamic and older brothers was also adorable.
I did find parts of it perhaps trying a little hard to be on trend. I think I also was wanting something else to happen to give some more excitement to the story.
Overall an easy read and perfect for those looking for something over the holiday season.

I throughly enjoyed this romance, this was my first book that I’ve read by this author and sure won’t be my last. Mia did a great job at making feel the yearning that Chiara and Jaxson had for each other. I loved how she fleshed out these characters who I’m not familiar with but made me feel as if I was. I loved how Chiara and Jaxson helped each other to grow. Thanks for this arc

Small Business BookTok ARC Reviews: “Last Christmas Crush” by Mia Hientzelman

Note: This ARC was given to me for free by the author and I am reviewing this book voluntarily.

After a messy breakup and years of being treated as the “little sister” of the Family, all Chiara Fortemani wants for Christmas is more independence and freedom to express as much authority in the family business as her brothers. When Jameson West, her ex's best friend, comes to town, he's not only helping out with Fortemani Holiday events, but he wants to reconnect with Chiara, and maybe, give her the Holiday Romance she never knew she needed!

From the author behind the “Love and Games” series, Mia Heintzelman is back with her third installment in the “Fortemani Family” series! This book not only delivers some fun, Holiday Romance and hijinx, but Heintzelman continues to flesh out her world and characters in such a way that you'll feel like you've known these characters as friends or your neighbors next door for all your life! Chiara and Jamison’s chemistry delivers on the classic Childhood Friends-to-Lovers trope while also written in a way that allows the characters to learn from each other and grow for the better in regards to building strong relationships and boundaries.

This book also has a subplot that effectively tackles a historical off-page death from childbirth in POC Communities and the impact it leaves on surviving family members. Hientzelman brings to light a dark truth that many African American women face a huge risk of maternity deaths through birthing complications in the United States. She not only discusses this issue with care, but she wrote the book as a tribute to the many mothers of color who have died from birthing complications. If you’re looking to read a Holiday book that emphasizes the importance of family, love, and self-healing from trauma and grief, then don’t miss out on this book when it hits online shelves on October 17, 2024!

Rating: 5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Meter: 4/5 🌶🌶🌶🌶

- Tropes to Expect: Childhood-Friends-to-Lovers, Ex's Best Friend, Holiday Romance, Pining, Second Chance, He Falls First, Self-Healing, and Home for the Holidays.
- Trigger Warnings: Relationship Anxiety, Friendship Conflict, Mild Family Conflict, and Discussions of Maternity Mortalities.

I normally don’t start Christmas reads until November but I couldn’t pass this one up. This was PERFECTION. Like the most perfect Hallmark-y, spicy but romantic and hilarious romcom. LOVED

I felt an immediate draw to this cover and had to know the character's story. I thought Mia did a good job crafting a spicy but sweet romantic book that drew me in from the first chapter. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.