Not exactly what I expected. The insta-love was killing me. The guy being in a relationship until the last few pages of the book and yet pining for this woman he just met after years was a torture. I mean, the author tried to showcase Vanessa as the bad girlfriend who’s controlling and nagging, but what do you expect from her when you’ve been lousy, ignorant, and overall a bad boyfriend. And did I mention that the feelings totally came out of nowhere!

This was a fun little read for the holiday season! I did miss the usual quirky characters that typically grace Mary Kay Andrews books but understandably there was only so many characters that could be introduced into a short story like this.

This was such a fun and entertaining book! Mary Kay Andrews writes the best books and once again did not disappoint.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Rating: 3.8

Mary Kay Andrews is one of those authors that I will immediately buy without even knowing what the story is about... She just has that power over me! And this story was another one of her books offered on NetGalley prior to its release and had to snag it (especially because it's a holiday novella and everyone's ready to read those!). While this story was cute and very hallmark, it wasn't as Holiday-y as I wanted it to be but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it; it's quick, cute, and fun.

Tilley has found herself in a predicament - she's newly divorced, kicked out of her current housing situation because of her sweet as can be puppy, and scrambling to find a solution for herself. Luckily, she works for a property management company that conveniently has a house that's not rented that she can find herself sleeping in until its next guests receive it. Or can she? What happens when the homeowner passes away and George, a family relative responsible for fixing up the home, returns to the property?

This is such a short story that I don't want to give away any more fun parts of the story, so you'll have to pick it up yourself. It's a quick read and a sweet romance that I would have loved to see turned into a full-length story. To me, that's the telling of a good short story but also leaves me hanging and wanting more. The only thing I wanted more of with this story was 'believability'; there were some moments that I had to truly suspend disbelief but that was likely my own Florida living mind that struggles to picture any home that's not a typical Florida home (lol). Mary Kay Andrews will continue to be one of my favorite authors - there's no changing my mind on that one!

Thanks to NetGalley and Mary Kay Andrews in collaboration with Amazon's Original Stories, for providing me with a copy so that I could provide an honest review.

It just wouldn't be Christmas without a holiday read from Mary Kay Andrews. I appreciated a quick story right now when there's not much time to devote to a longer commitment. What a fun story! Thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Original Stories and the author for a copy to read and review.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC of a delightful short story by Mary Kay Andrews. If I see her name attached to anything I know I will want to read It! I certainly understand how hard it is to release two novels a year but I was already missing a Christmas novel from MKA. I was excited to see she was releasing a short story. I read this in one sitting on a rainy Sunday afternoon. I enjoyed every minute. Even through it was classified as a Christmas story it was only set during December. The story didn't have a Christmas theme. Two "strangers' reconnecting from high school. If you want a quick feel good story I highly recommend!
Thank you!
Leslie Ponder

I was not expecting to get a holiday read from Mary Kay Andrews this year since we had already gotten a new full length novel from her earlier this year with Summers at the Saint, so this holiday novella was just the most wonderful surprise!

Tilly Farriday is newly divorced and temporarily homeless while she and her dog Smoosh are waiting for their new apartment to be ready in a couple of weeks. Tilly works for a rental agency and decides that the solution to her housing issue is to stay in one of the properties that her company hasn’t rented out in over a year. If no one has rented it in over a year, what are the odds anyone will want it over the Christmas holidays? Well, unfortunately for Tilly, the owner
shows up. Or more precisely, the deceased owner’s handsome great nephew, George Holloway, who has inherited the place and wants to clean it up and put it on the market.

What follows is the most delightful and heartwarming story. First, there’s pure comedy gold as Tilly tries to hide from George even though she has clearly left clues all over the house that someone has been there recently, including a tiny Christmas tree! Then, once she is forced out of hiding, the story takes an awkward but then ultimately flirty and heartwarming turn as Tilly and George decide to
hang out and get to know one another and realize this accidental meeting might be the best thing that has happened to either of them in a long time.

Holiday Hideaway might only be 72 pages long, but it is packed with humor and heart!

This one was cute and quick but you can't get the same level of character development that you normally get in Andrews' novels with something this short. However, I would love to see a full novel about George and Tilly in high school - I think that would make a great story! An easy way to take a break during this holidays. 3.5

Holiday Hideaway is a very quick holiday read by Mary Kay Andrews. Tilly works for a vacation rental office, has been kicked out of her apartment for having a dog, rented a new place she moves into in January, but it's only December ! She has no place to go and no money left so she comes up with an idea to live at a rental property that no one is in. This fills the gap that she needs until she can move into her new apartment. It's the holidays so no one is looking to rent this old house anyways. What could go wrong?

Tilly hears a car pull into the driveway. As she looks out, she sees a man and he's getting a duffel bag out of the back! Oh no, it looks like he's coming in to stay for a bit. Tilly runs around gathering what she can, grabs her dog, and heads for the attic. The food she bought for the week is still on the kitchen counter and in the fridge. Damn. The attic is quite cold so she gathers up as many sweaters and quilts as she can. She and her dog Smooch snuggle together on the couch. George Holloway is here because his uncle died and left him and his cousins this house. He volunteered to come and see what needs to be done to sell it.

Tilly can hear him talking on the phone from 2 stories down because the house is old and needs a lot of work. She recognizes his voice! Does she know this man? When he starts singing a Christmas carol she knows who he is. George aka Sticks was in glee club with her. She'll never forget his beautiful baritone voice. He calls the rental office and Tilly answers as she's the only one still working. She finds out what he wants and how long he plans to be there. She knows she's in big trouble as she can't stay in the attic indefinitely! Smooch needs to go out and she needs to use the bathroom and eat! Ugh.

Will George and Tilly meet? Will he remember her, also? When an accident occurs at the house, Tilly goes to the rescue. This is a fun story, but it was so short I felt cheated. I wanted it to go on and last longer. Holiday Hideaway is a fun read, but it doesn't feel complete. I'd love to have a second book featuring George and Tilly that picked up where this one left off. I rated Holiday Hideaway 3 stars because I think this is a one and done story with no second story coming. If you want a fun, quick read this is the book for you! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for an advanced copy of Holiday Hideaway in exchange for a fair review. #HolidayHideaway

Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of Mary Kay Andrew’s short story, holiday hideaway.
Things are not going well for Tilly, she is recently divorced and has no where to live, so she moves into one of the rental properties that she manages-no one has stayed in this one for a long time. But the owner of the house has recently died, and his nephew comes to check things out. He is surprised to find someone squatting in the house, but things quickly take a romantic turn. Cute story and very quick read. #holidayhideaway #marykayandrews #netgalley #bookstagram #advancedreadercopy #lovetoread #takeapagefrommybook #holidaystory

Thank you NetGalley for an e copy of this book. Every year I look forward to reading Andrews holiday book and this years was no disappointment! A down on her luck main character finds herself in a bind living in a house that doesn't belong to her. When the real owner shows up that's when the fun starts! This book was full of laugh out loud moments. The only thing I didn't like was that it wasn't longer!

This was a cute holiday novella. Tilly and her dog Smoosh are temporarily homeless, so staying at an empty vacation rental handled by the property management company she works for seems less like squatting and more like helping. When the cranky deceased owner's great nephew shows up to take stock of the property for himself and his cousins, Tilly is caught flatfooted in the attic, hiding until she can figure out a way out. Over the course of six days, Tilly and George, former high school glee club members, reconnect.

I was not a fan on this holiday short story. Way too many plot holes and unrealistic things were happening throughout this book for me to keep me in the story. I don't think I will read from this author again

A fun quick romance at Christmas with a squatter and a home owner. A unique set-up and fast to read.

The Christmas Season is so busy that it’s the only time of the year that I don’t mind short stories. In fact, I make a point of looking for the shorter Christmas themes. They are wonderful for adding festive cheer to what can be a very stressful and anxiety ridden time. Holiday Hideaway by the very talented Mary Kay Andrews hits the mark for readers looking for a little escape from the frenzy of holiday.

Tilly and George were wonderful characters and Tilly’s dog, Smoosh, was a little bit of a scene stealer, but I love stories that feature dogs or cats prominently so even better. Tilly has been evicted from her apartment because of Smoosh (what a Scrooge!) and her new apartment won’t be ready until after the holiday. With absolutely nowhere else to go and no money for a hotel because of the deposits she had to pay on her new place, Tilly is squatting in one of the vacant properties her employer manages. No big deal, right? It won’t hurt anyone.

George and his siblings and cousin have inherited this house from their Great-Uncle Gus who is not so great and probably knew Tilly’s landlord on a first name basis. George arrives from Boston to assess the house and what needs to be done to make it sale ready, unaware that Tilly is hiding out in the attic. What ensues is so much fun and I thought these two were a hoot. The awesome thing is that they already know each other from high school but don’t realize right away. Unforeseen events force Tilly out of hiding and she’s worried that George will have her arrested for squatting and she will be fired and homeless for real, but I absolutely loved how this all played out.

This story is really short and can be read in a couple of hours. The pace is pretty fast but the reader will have no problem keeping up and will likely be surprised when it’s all over. I would love to see this author revisit Tilly, George and Smoosh in the future.

My Final Verdict: Overall, I highly recommend this book to readers who love Christmas themes, lots of snow, festive cheer and dogs. Squatting in vacant houses is not recommended but putting on fuzzy socks and sipping eggnog by the fireplace while reading this book is a must.

Thank you to the publisher, Amazon Original Stories, who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

This was quick, cute, and predictable. Basically exactly what I look for in. Mary Kay Andrew’s holiday novella!

Adorable! I wish the book was longer and would love to read about these characters again! This was my first Mary Kay Andrew’s book and it won’t be my last!

A cute quick holiday read. Semi Homeless property manager squatting in an empty rental, what could go wrong. Oh yeah the owner of the house passed away and the nephew in charge of fixing the place up to sell shows up randomly.
Small town feel, friends to romance, clean, wholesome. I really enjoyed this short read!

This was a fun and delightful short story. Never thought I’d read a squatter romance story. It was so creative and I enjoyed it, even though the ending felt a bit rushed.

I love Mary Kay Andrews but I don’t love short stories. Because of this, Holiday Hideaway was just a meh read for me.

Tilly Farriday isn’t feeling very jolly this season. Recently divorced and broke, she’s squatting in one of her rental agency’s properties until her new home is ready. The sprinkles on top of the burnt Christmas cookie that is her life? The new owner shows up early, forcing Tilly to hide in the attic to save her job…and what remains of her dignity.

Because this book is short, the action starts on page one and it was hilarious picturing all of Tilly’s antics to stay hidden. However, the romance occurred too quickly, there was nothing Christmassy about this, no emotions evoked while reading and the whole was over extremely fast. Overall, it was a fun little read but nothing exciting.