This set of novellas was not for me. There were a couple with a promising premises or scene, but for the most part, the stories fell short.

To be fair, these are meant to be very short stories (around 50 pages each) and we can’t hold them to the same review criteria as a full-length book.

But I’m not confident I’d read a full length book of any of these stories if given the option, perhaps Bellefluer’s. I typically adore Hazelwood and Bailey, but these selections were not the typical quality we see in their other works (and they were two of the weakest works in this series).

I waited so long to review this as I’d hoped to be able to find something positive to say. I can’t, but I will admit I am not the target reader for this and hope others love it. There’s something really special about a multi-author holiday novella collection that’s a manageable length for this busy season. Historical romance has done this for years and they are some of my favorite reads.

Thank you to the publisher for the eARCs of this collection in exchange for an honest review.

If you were considering snagging Amazon’s latest novella collection, here’s the tea: I thought only 2 of ‘em were worth reading!

Much like their Valentine’s collection, Under The Mistletoe—a series of five novellas, all penned by beloved romance writers—was super uneven. With stories by Ali Hazelwood, Tessa Bailey, Olivia Dade, Alexandria Bellefleur, and Alexis Daria, I thought this would be a fun seasonal read, as I’ve largely enjoyed books by all of these authors. Sometimes during the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it’s easier to pick up quick novellas/short stories designed to be downed in a single sitting over a long novel.

WELP—the only ones I’ll recommend are the entries by Ali Hazelwood (I think this would actually be a super cute book) and Alexandria Bellefleur, with Alexis Daria’s being a big old maybe.

Swipe for the full ranking, as well as thoughts on each. Tbh, was pretty disappointed with these—they mostly felt very mediocre and super phoned in.

It’s such a cute holiday listen full of amazing short stories and something that will help you when either you are needing something mindless to listen to are looking for a cute listen, snuggled up to the fireplace

This was such a cute collection of short stories. Personally Ali Hazelwood’s was my favorite of the bunch.

Really enjoyed all 5 stories and cannot wait to read them completely. Love that they were all tied to Christmas and the holidays.

This was a cute collection of holiday romance stories by some amazing romance authors. My favorite was probably Cruel winter with you by Ali Hazelwood and then Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur. I also discovered I’m not a huge Tessa Bailey fan. Overall, it was a cute holiday collection.

Five short, mostly steamy romances, perfect for the holiday season. Each of these authors knows exactly what they're doing, and there's something for everyone here: a slower-paced romance between two neighbors, a fast-and-heavy love-at-first-sight between customer and store owner, and lots in between.

Under the Mistletoe Collection is a wonderful and warm anthology of holiday short stories by authors like Ali Hazelwood, Tessa Bailey, Olivia Dade, Alexandria Bellefleur, and Alexis Daria. Each story offers a unique take on festive romance, from snowbound reconnections to charming neighborly encounters. I particularly enjoyed Hazelwood’s Cruel Winter With You, which blends heartfelt emotion with hilarious banter. While some stories resonated more than others, the collection as a whole provides a cozy, heartwarming escape perfect for the holiday season. It’s a quick read that captures the magic of Christmas and the complexities of love, making it an ideal companion for a chilly evening by the fire. Recommend highly!

An official excellent collection of stories to fit any romance reader. Highly recommend, especially around the holidays! Olivia Dade’s was the standout!

Enjoyed these spicy holiday stories, but obsessed with that Ali Hazelwood one! So good and angsty and spicy!!

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.)

This was a fun collection of short stories and a great read for the festive period. I enjoyed some stories more than others but as a whole found them each to be endearing, emotional and wholesome festive! My absolute favourites would have to be Cruel Winter with You and Merriment and Mayhem!

Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and the various authors for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. ❤️

This is a delightfully spicy set of holiday romances that get you in the holiday spirit and make you fall in love at the same time! Perfect for a cozy night in under the holiday lights, I enjoyed every single story! My only complaint: I'd have loved full length novels of them all! Absolutely recommend!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

This was a really sweet collection of Christmas stories. My favourite was Ali Hazelwood's one. But the others were really enjoyable too. Totally recommend!

[ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review]

This collection of short stories had some hits, but more misses. And with only five stories, that isn’t a great ratio. Ali Hazelwood is a master when it comes to crafting great characters and romance in short stories/novellas so it’s no surprise that hers was the standout. The others were all lackluster in comparison. It was a good idea to have these heavy-hitter romance authors write little holiday short stories, but this really was disappointing.

4.5⭐️

Under the Mistletoe is a delightful holiday anthology that brings together a dream team of romance authors, each adding their own sprinkle of seasonal magic to this cozy collection. Whether you’re a fan of witty banter, heartfelt moments, or festive flirtation, there’s something in here for every romance reader.

Ali Hazelwood’s story was a definite highlight — charming, smart, and full of the chemistry she’s known for. Alexandria Bellefleur delivered a swoony, well-paced novella that had me smiling from start to finish. Tessa Bailey brought the heat and her signature sass, and while the dialogue was a bit over the top for me at times, I still appreciated the bold energy she brought to the mix. Olivia Dade crafted a warm, feel-good tale with her trademark depth and humor, and Alexis Daria’s vibrant storytelling added the perfect dose of sparkle and spice to round things out.

This anthology is a quick, joyful read that’s perfect for curling up with on a chilly evening. From small-town magic to mistletoe-induced kisses, Under the Mistletoe captures the heart of the holidays in five unique ways. A perfect stocking stuffer for your romance-loving heart

This was fine, but not great. Maybe I'm just not a novella person - I need more "meat" to my stories I guess.

I had a good time reading all the short stories in this collection. Ali Hazelwood's short story is my favorite. Her characters always feel natural and believable. I loved the spicy moments written in Tessa Bailey's short story, which is something I expect in her books. I also enjoyed the heartfelt moments, which made me feel like I had a safety blanket wrapped around me. Overall, I would read more by these authors.

Quick Summary: A holiday fluff and stuff collection

My Review: The Under the Mistletoe Collection is a compilation of five short stories by a number of popular authors. It is a 2024 release of Amazon Originals.

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Title: Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood

About the Book: "He’s the one who got away. She’s the one who broke his heart."

In My Own Words: A forbidden love romance between two friends who were waiting for the just right time to confess their love for each other.

My Final Say: The heart wants what it wants.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes

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Title: Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey

About the Book: "Evie wants to stay single all the way—she can’t trust anything more than friends-with-holiday-benefits. But Luke is in it for the long haul. "

In My Own Words: A "man in heat" romance that brings together a rugged farmer and a single mom, taking them from a FWB arrangement to more.

My Final Say: Strangers to lovers to partners can be the path to true love.

Rating: 3/5
Recommend: Yes

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Title: All By My Elf by Olivia Dade

About the Book: "...stranded by a blinding blizzard in the middle of nowhere, there’s nothing to do but cuddle up for warmth and play a game of Never Have I Ever..."

In My Own Words: Trapped in a hot dog of a job during a snowstorm allows for two people crushing on each other to get real.

My Final Say: A secret crush might just lead to a never have I ever experience.

Rating: 2/5
Recommend: +/-

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Title: Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur

About the Book: "When Everleigh Dangerfield’s baking disaster necessitates a call to 911, firefighter Griffin Brantley douses the flames in the kitchen, but the ones he stokes in Everleigh are an entirely different story."

In My Own Words: What do you get when a fireman and a damsel in distress hook up? Fire and chemistry.

My Final Say: A hot and hilarious ho, ho, ho romance where sparks fly all over the place - that is exactly the right answer to this special emergency.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes

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Title: Only Santas in the Building by Alexis Daria

About the Book: "All Evie Cruz wants for Christmas is a nap. And maybe some ornaments for her naked Christmas tree. And while she’s making a list, she wouldn’t mind unwrapping her sexy upstairs neighbor like a present."

In My Own Words: Neighbors in like share a special holiday moment in this 12 days of Xmas romance.

My Final Say: It's never too late (or too early) to take a chance on love.

Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes

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Final Comments: This was a quirky, fun, ha-ha-ho-ho collection. It's not too serious. It's fluffy and fantastic!

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

Appreciation is extended to the authors, to the publisher (Amazon Original Stories), and to NetGalley. Thank you for providing access to a digital ARC of this collection. It was a pleasure to review. The holiday theme was fun and the stories were entertaining. I look forward to reading more from these featured authors.

A fantastic collection of sweet, spicy, sassy holiday fun! I love each of these writers individually, but together their stories flow even better.

This is five stories by five romance, authors that I will read anytime they publish a book. All the stories are entertaining and cute and romance filled from start to finish. They are quick stories to read that can’t keep you entertained and make you feel happy by the end.