I have never read anything by this author, but I will definitely be looking out for this author! The pace was great and I was hooked from just a few pages in!

The story of Chiara and Jameson. She is his best friends ex, so should be off limits, but they used to be best friends so will they find their way back to each other? A great read, and I liked how it is told from both points of view.

Last Christmas Crush is the third book in the Fortemani Family Series and I believe I did myself a disservice by NOT reading the first two books in the series before this one because it appears there was important interaction between Jameson and Chiara in the prior book(s).

This book just didn’t do it for me. I never fell in love with the main characters, the slow burn was too slow, and the story never delivered on the “steamy” promise.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Love the book! Love the characters. It’s the perfect holiday season romance and should be included on everyone’s Christmas reading list

I NEEDED this.

It's 80 degrees in October where I am, the fall leaves have barely fallen but here I am reading a Christmas novel.

I'm so so happy that I did read this! It's everything you need out of a Hallmark movie with spice. The Hallmark vibes: two people with a shared history go back home for the holidays. One of them is post break up and the other is having a major crisis of conscious when it comes to their career.

There's also "it's always been you" vibes because Jameson has been in love with Chiara since before forever and everyone knows except for her. Literally, his family and friends regularly roast him over how gone he's been for her. Even after he stood aside while she fell for his best friend.

This is just the coziest holiday romcom. Her family is the sweetest. Their friends are so much fun. I just want to hug everyone in this book and then read everything in Mia Heintzelman's universe!

Oooh, and there are also holiday inspired frisky scenes so it's perfect for curling up underneath a blanket with a warm mug of cocoa and flipping through the pages of this gem!

<i>Thank you to Tule Publishing & Netgalley for this advanced copy.</i>

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It was cozy and delightful!

If you love cozy stories that remind you of Hallmark movies, this one is perfect for you. It’s sweet, heartwarming, and will definitely put you in the holiday mood. The story has relatable and well-developed characters and a beautiful plot that truly captures the magic of love during the holidays.

These Fortaimani (sp) books are my favorite. I have loved them all. These are the type of books that should be made into holiday movies. I lvoed it. Just the right amount of spice and plot for me. This is a winner!

I got this book from Net Galley in exchange for a honest review. I promptly got the first two books in the series so that I could bring myself up to date.

Chiara and Jameson have a great friends to lovers story, except he ghosted their friendship six years earlier. To be fair, she was dating his other best friend while he was madly in love with her. Only, she didn’t know that he was in love with her. She hadn’t read the letter that he wrote her, confessing his love. He thought she just didn’t see it for them. She was clueless as to why he ended their friendship. They are forced to work together on a project. Then one phone call while she is tipsy and in the bathtub changes everything for them. Soon he has to decide if the life wants for himself is back in the city with a promotion he has been after or if it is with her in Napa.

I have enjoyed this entire series. This book did not disappoint. It wasn’t an easy road to happily ever after but the flow of the story made sense. There were some bumps in the road but they love each other and that never waivered. I can’t wait to read about the fourth sibling.

5 star read.

I am a Christmas hallmark movie fan 100% and this book gave me all those feelings!!! OMG, I was shedding tears by the end. Such a great Christmas love story!!

*Last Christmas Crush* by Mia Heintzelman is the third installment in the *Fortemani Family* series, following the story of Chiara Fortemani and Jameson West. The two childhood friends, who have secretly harbored feelings for each other for years, reunite at Chiara’s brother’s wedding after a long separation. With both back in their hometown for the holidays, they take the opportunity to rekindle their friendship, eventually deciding to explore the romantic connection they had long ignored.

Chiara, seeking more independence and respect in the family business, struggles with being seen as the "little sister." Jameson, the former best friend of her ex, steps back into her life just in time to help with the family’s holiday events. As they grow closer, the chemistry between them ignites, leading to a heartwarming holiday romance filled with emotional moments.

Beyond the romance, the novel tackles important social themes, notably the issue of maternal mortality in African American communities. Through a poignant subplot, Heintzelman highlights the alarming disparities in healthcare faced by women of color, making the book both a touching tribute and a call for awareness. *Last Christmas Crush* blends heartfelt romance with a meaningful exploration of family, growth, and social justice.

Yessssss ex's best friend troupe I love this. Throwing in some christmas cheer as well it was perfection. I ended up reading this in a day and decided to re read a few chapters because of how sweet this book was. I really liked that Jameson was the first person to speak his truth because normally its the woman in the situation that does so this was just amazing. I really loved how developed the characters were and how much cheer was weaved into every page.

Chiara Fortemani returns home for the Christmas food and wine festival, hoping to revitalise her family's vineyard after a tough breakup. Unexpectedly, she runs into Jameson West, her ex’s best friend, who’s always been off-limits due to the bro code. As they work together on designing custom gifts, their connection deepens through shared laughter and late-night conversations. When Jameson finally reveals his long-held feelings, Chiara finds herself torn between her past and the possibility of a new love. This big-hearted story about second chances, family ties, and holiday magic explores whether embracing fate could lead to a Christmas miracle.

I recently read a fun holiday romcom. Last Christmas Crush was so much fun. I couldn’t put it down. A five star read.

This book was exactly what I expected for the third installment in the Fortemani Family series.

I love the cozy second chance love, Christmas on the vineyard, and friends-to-lovers vibe. I have said before that these books give big Hallmark Channel energy. Mia does an amazing job of writing a well-to-do family of color with realistic love issues. The atmosphere of this book is like walking through a typical best friend's breakup, getting her through it, and watching her find love again.

"HE WAS YOUR FIRST"....UGH!

I laughed, I cussed, and I almost cried.

I loved this book. I think I will purchase this and the first 2 books for my sisters for Christmas!

Thank you Netgalley, Tule Publishing, and Mia Heintzelman for the e-ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion in this review.

A fun romance of 2 childhood friends who reconnect as adults. The story is sweet and not overly complicated which made it a nice easy read!

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.

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.