A Christmas, brother's best friend, grumpy/sunshine story with forced proximity and one bed that takes place on an island and it's written by Gracie Ruth Mitchell! Count me in!!!

I listened to an audiobook copy of this book and loved every minute! The narrators did a fantastic job of bringing the characters and the story to life. Their delivery was full of emotion and humor. It was a very engaging listen.

Beckett is maybe more shy/reserved than grumpy. He is definitely not a people person, but he has such a good heart. Molly on the other hand is sunshine personified. I loved how these two truly tried to see and understand each other. And watchout, Beckett has the sweetest protective side!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was my second Gracie Ruth Mitchell book and I’ve just finished another one because…new favourite author alert! Scrambling now to read through her back list. Love her unique brand of humour and the way she delivers believable characters with realistic backstories and then plops them into the middle of comedic mayhem. So. Much. Fun.

So we have Molly heading out on a Christmas cruise with her family and they meet up with her brother’s best friend who is working in the Virgin Islands. Of course, things go awry and Molly finds herself stranded with Beckett…in paradise. Eeeeeppp!!! But there are complications — of course!

Molly has had a secret crush on Beckett forever. He’s never seen her as anything but his best friend’s kid sister. Until she steps off the ship and rocks his carefully curated world. She’s not ‘Baby O’Malley’ any more but he doesn’t do relationships and her brother has warned him off so…

Eeeeppp — major grumpy/sunshine trope with a whole lot of heart. Loved Molly’s POV — all sass and snark punctuated with poignant introspection. And Beckett is the classic introverted grump. Talk about clashing personalities! But Molly is up to the challenge of getting Beckett to crack a smile now and again. The banter is priceless and I love the way the romantic tension slowly builds as the story progresses. Toe-curling perfection.

I really appreciate the epilepsy representation in this story. Molly’s overall attitude and the way she views herself, especially regarding how her condition could affect a potential relationship with Beckett, was so raw and real and emotional. The author really put her heart into developing Molly’s character and it shows. Brilliantly done.

And look no further then Beckett for book boyfriend material…even if his attention is given grudgingly at first. There’s no denying the sizzling attraction he feels for Molly, though he gives it an epic try! Which leads to some great comedic moments. But, oh my…when he gets all intensely tender and protective…be still my heart. Thud!

I listened to the audio edition of ‘A Not-So Holiday Paradise’ and thoroughly enjoyed the performances of Rylee Kuberra and John Rogers. They nailed Molly and Beckett’s personalities and increased my appreciation for these characters and their story. Highly recommend the audio edition of this book.

My thanks to the Dreamscape Select and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

I really wanted to like this one more than I did. I so appreciate and love that authors are bringing light to disabilities and showing really vulnerable pieces to their lives. Her epilepsy just made him love her more and want to protect her and it was just so sweet! However, it felt like the story was rushed to me. It makes sense considering the timeline of the story but there just wasn’t enough there for me to love this one. Cute, just not a knockout for me.

This was an enjoyable story that kept me entertained throughout. A story of a girl who has loved her brothers best friend her whole life and now she is stuck in a situation with him. I liked how it played out - Narration was only ok for me but solid story.

4 stars!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy

"It's possible that I have become unreasonably attached to you."

Molly's packing list is all well and good for a quick port excursion as part of her family’s Christmas cruise. But when the cruise ship leaves her behind, with only the contents of her bag and her brother’s best friend to keep her company? Well, she's got problems, especially since she's going to run out of medicine soon. They also don't make sunscreen strong enough to block the sparks that are growing between her and Beckett.

First of all, the author's note at the beginning was wonderful. I loved the message that just because one's body works differently doesn't mean it's undignified or something to be ashamed of.

Molly had epilepsy which was mostly managed by avoiding triggers and taking meds. Being stranded with Beckett without them was nerve-wracking especially as she didn't want him, her long-time crush, to be repulsed by her. He took care of her when worse came to worst even though it was terrifying for him.

It also brought them closer together but of course Beckett didn't want to start anything just yet. The O'Malley's had been a sort of pseudo family for him while growing up with an absentee mother and neglectful father. It made sense for him to not want to lose everything just because of trauma bonding. Their time apart was definitely for the best before they made things official.

I loved the narrators on this one. The male narrator brought out Beckett's frustration with trying to fight an attraction to Molly. The female narrator was bright in a way I imagined Molly would be.

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for an ALC in exchange for an honest review. It's available now!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
Steam level: 1🌶️ Kissing only

🌴Forced Proximity
🌴Friends to Lovers
🌴Clean Romance
🌴Plus size FMC
🌴Medical/Epilepsy Representation
🌴Dual POV

Molly and Becket are stranded on an island during a storm. They are forced to stay together while the storm passes and wait while her family returns to the Virgin Islands from their cruise a few days later on Christmas Day. Molly has had a crush on Becket since she was little and Becket only saw Molly as the annoying younger sibling naming her "Baby O'Malley' Years have passed and they have physically grown up and are both strongly attracted to one another.

It was a cute, easy read with a happy ever after. Really liked the story line especially the authentic representation of epilepsy. The narrators were okay. Cute rom-com.

Molly's had a crush on her big brother's best friend forever, but she hasn't seen him in years. Now that her family is planning to visit him at a stop on their cruise vacation, she's trying to play it cool. But mom's matchmaking goes awry when a tropical storm moves in leaving Molly stranded on an island with Beckett without her seizure medication.

I really like the inclusion of Molly's condition, epilepsy. The author has the same condition, and it nice to see an authentic portrayal. It certainly added a level of conflict into the story, knowing she was without her medication while stranded.

(This paragraph contains spoilers) I also really appreciated that when the feelings were sparking at the end, they didn't just immediately live happily ever after. They waited to make sure the feelings were genuine before committing or jumping in or making any big decisions.

The thing I'm finding about most 'sweet' romances, including this one, is how dang innocent they are. Sometimes it feels like the characters are significantly younger than they are. It's just something that tends to be a pet peeve of mine. It's not that there's no spice, it's that they just genuinely feel a little immature as people. Like extra responsible teenagers kind of. That's the vibe I tend to get.

As far as this being a holiday book, I'd say that vibe was not very prominent. There is some Christmas decorating going on, but this is more of a beach/vacation book than a holiday one, I'd say.

No snow? No Santa? No over the top decorations? Then it can't be a christmas rom-com right...... WRONG! A cute brothers best friend romance troup set in the Virgin Islands make a great christmas romance story. The duel aspect of the book make the quick storyline flow nicely never leaving you bored. Not only will this book make you want a tropical holiday it may encourage you to get your own christmas cactus.

thank you to netgalley, dreamscape select and author, grace ruth mitchell.
this was a holiday delight. i enjoyed the characters, setting an dynamic a lot.
there is also disability rep, for content warnings there is an on "screen" epileptic seizure- but the chronically ill aspect made this book feel real with it not just being mentioned casually but having discussions around medications and management.
this book was the perfect kick off to my holiday reads! i loved this book and highly recommend it.

I found this plot to be a little bit too far fetched for me to get into it. The idea that Molly and Beckett get stranded on an island during a storm when Molly is meant to be back on a cruise ship with her family and them not checking in/coming to get them when it's so close by is a little wild. So right off the bat I was skeptical and I think that clouded my judgement for the rest of this novel playing out because the following developments felt childish.

I listened to these two same audiobook narrators in Gracie Ruth Mitchell's other recent audiobook release, Beauty and the Beach, and I didn't find them as hard to listen to as I did this time around. The male narrator's reading of female dialogue is a bit rough, and the female narrator sounds pretty childish. It could just be my dislike of the characters' attitude/situation this time around.

Meeting her teenager crush after ten years end with them stranded in a tropical island near Christmas. Mollys and Beckett is an unusual romance with usual tropes: sunshine-grumpy, little sister best friends, close proximity but they are really meant to be together. The audiobook with John Rogers and Rylee Kuberra, makes a good story an even better one.

Adorably stranded on an island, a great grumpy/sunshine brother’s best friend. Communication was key between Molly and Beckett and it was marvelous, the ease of how they were both open with each other even if embarrassing was great character development.

A cute rom-com, brother's best friend, childhood crush with Christmas vacation gone wrong. FMC has epilepsy.

LMolly has been crushing on Beckett since the day he became BFF’s with her brother and the fifth member of her family. She knows he thinks of her as a little kid and always will, so has always tried to hide her feelings, though not all that successfully. When her parents plan a Christmas cruise, they also plan a day long excursion to visit Beckett. Molly is both excited and nervous. They’ve not seen each other in years and to his surprise, Beckett doesn’t even recognize her when they first see each other again. Unbeknownst to her, Molly’s mother is trying to play cupid leaving Molly and Beckett stranded on an all but abandoned island during a dangerous storm. When the cruise ship leaves with her family on it she is now stuck with Beckett until she can catch up with the ship at the next port. Their forced time together changes their relationship and good things happen. The best thing about the story was the way her epilepsy and the way it was integrated into the story. It was a part of Molly was, but not the entirety of her identity and did not diminish her in any way. It was respectful and honest and not used for fodder. Sweet, but found most of the characters immature and didn’t love the narration. Found it stilted. Uprated to 3 from what would have been a 2,5 rating if half stars available.

I became a Gracie Ruth Mitchell fan a few months ago, after reading Beauty and the Beach (from the “Falling for Summer” series). Her book was my favorite from that series so I was excited to read this one...and I really liked it!

The book starts off with a very thoughtful trigger warning as Molly, the main character, has epilepsy. This added an interesting layer to an otherwise sunshiny character...and to the story itself.

This book was cute, easy and uplifting…exactly what I expected. Definitely recommend if you're a fan of holiday stories and clean/wholesome romance.

3.9 rounded up to 4.

Much thanks to Gracie Ruth Mitchell, Dreamscape Select, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I adored this book! I had a great time listening. The characters were endearing and relatable with fun personalities, their conversation flowed smoothly. Funny, well paced, original. Or at least original to me.

I enjoy stories that feature characters with some kind of disability/disorder/divergence, like deafness, autism, limps, etc., because they instantly make the characters more relatable and give them a personal conflict. It's so satisfying to watch them overcome struggles and so heartwarming for them to fall in love. It's great to not be made to feel only those who have perfect physicality and complete functionality are attractive and worthy of HEAs. That's why anything Beauty and the Beast related sells like fuckin hotcakes. (Not to say disabilities, disorders, or divergence are beastly; metaphor, people.) So I gobbled up everything to do with Molly's epilepsy, and actually wouldn't have minded more of it.

The narrators, Rylee Kuberra and John Rogers, were talented and suited the characters and the material.

Overall well written and highly recommended. I've already checked if my library has Mitchell's other books. They do! Can't wait till it's my turn with them.

This wasn’t the book for me. I found the MMC a bit overbearing and the FMC kind of annoying. The insta-love from the MMC was abrupt and a bit unexplained and it always grates on my nerves when being plus size is the dominant personality trait for a plus size FMC. I did enjoy the ability to learn more about the experience of someone with epilepsy and think the author handled the issue well while giving readers a glimpse into the impact of such a serious situation.

2 stars

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I listened to the audiobook of this one and while doing so I kept messaging my book besties and telling them that they absolutely had to read this one. Or listen to it!!! I loved the audiobook of it. The two narrators were so much fun. They didn't just read they book, they added sound effects and lots of great emotion into their narration!

Molly and Beckett are so much fun! I was giggling so much while listening! I couldn't help myself. So funny! Molly is this pure ray of sunshine! Sure, she has struggles and stuff, but she doesn't let it get her down! She finds the joy in whatever is happening. And she also rambles. Like big time when she gets nervous. About fish! Hahaha! She's studying fish as part of her degree and I just loved all of her rambling and the tidbits we learned.

And Beckett, he's mr. grumpy pants! Ok, that's probably not 100% accurate but he's definitely not a people person. And he has his reasons. But he's really trying not to let Molly's beauty and zeal for life break through his persona. Lol! But just you wait because who couldn't smile at sweet and adorable Molly?!

This is a sibling's best friend, forced proximity, same room, holiday rom-com that will pull you in, make you life your head off, and have you swooning and smiling for more adorableness!!!

I will definitely be returning to this one when I need a good happy and sweet love story read!

Content: Sweet. Characters share a room together due to weather circumstances but it is clean. Molly has epilepsy and has a seizure. There are some kisses. Some mild innuendos and nothing more.

I received a copy from the producer, Dreamscape Select, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading & Listening!!!

I enjoyed listening to this book. The narrators were really good. It takes place during Christmas, but isn’t overly Christmasy. The story was interesting, though a little predictable. The characters are fun. It’s a good, clean, fun to listen to story.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for the opportunity to listen to this book.

I’ve really been enjoying the Gracie Ruth Mitchell books I’ve picked up - I can’t wait to dive into more of her catalogue! They’re quick, fun, easy (clean) romance reading.

This one had me a bit on-edge though, for a few reasons… from the author’s notes at the beginning, I knew there was a medical issue coming. She forewarned us of a trigger. I actually take a medication that the author and main character take (for a different condition that is off-label, but going cold turkey without weaning off is bad news!). It just had me anxious and nervous leading to this point, knowing it was coming… but, knowing this was an #ownvoices title and the character was living with the same medical condition as the author, so it would be written properly, was something to take to heart.

Also, being a travel agent who drills it into my clients that you watch the clock and do not miss a cruise ship departure time - yeah, that part of the storyline was extremely difficult for me!! But, it was the entire point of the plot, that somehow Molly stays onshore with her brother’s best friend Beckett, her family makes it back onboard, and they sail away with her critical medication…

This was a very well done and well written book - all my stress and anxiety for personal reasons put aside! I definitely recommend everyone reading it. Everything gets figured out even though it is far from perfect and there are definitely reasons Mitchell included the trigger warning for us at the beginning. Heed the warnings if you’re not keen on stressful medical trauma situations (or, like me, highly stressful travel related experiences)! Otherwise, it’s a fantastic read, though a clean, aka sweet & swoony, romance.

Narrated by Rylee Kuberra and John Rogers, I really enjoyed the audio version. You’re going to want to grab the newly released audiobook as it was a great performance by both narrators!

I received an advance listen copy from NetGalley and Dreamscape Select, and this is my honest feedback.