I enjoyed this cute holiday book. I wouldn’t say it had a huge holiday theme just set around the holidays. I found a few of the characters a bit annoying. Overall the love story was cute. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest review.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media!

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narrator(s): ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Spice: 🌶️
Tropes, etc: Love Triangle
POV: Single, 3rd Person
Cliffhanger?: No

Brief Summary: Felicity hates Christmas, but her night turns around when a man in a penguin costume brings a sick kitten to the animal shelter where she works. They bond over their mutual hatred of the holiday while they nurse the kitten back to health. Things get complicated when Felicity’s ex shows up to win her back.

The Praise: The premise of this was really interesting to me. I really liked the beginning, when Felicity and James were bantering and getting to know each other.

The Critique: After the first few encounters, Felicity just became…kind of annoying. Her insecurities about herself that stemmed from her father’s behavior and how she ended things with Adam felt forced and didn’t make a ton of sense.
This also just wasn’t very Christmasy at all. Felicity and James meet on Christmas Eve and talk about disliking it, but that’s where it ends. Based on the name, cover, and the blurb, I was expecting it to be centered more on the holiday.
The narrator did fine in general, I just felt like she sounded older than Felicity was described so her voice just didn’t really match the story for me.

Final Thoughts: Overall, the book was fine. I just wish Felicity’s issues with herself made more sense. Also I wouldn’t call it a holiday read.

Christmas. All alone. A penguin man saves a kitten and warms Felicity’s heart. This was a fun read with two Scrooge’s during the holidays and some romance. I loved the light hearted nature of this read and the humor involved. It did take a weird turn in the middle that made sense with the plot but didn’t keep the same mood. This is a good romance for the pet loving scrooges with hope in the holiday season.

I really enjoyed this absolutely sweet Christmas Novel. It was a wonderful way to start the holiday season. I loved the chemistry between the characters from the very beginning.

Often good rom-coms have something to do with a holiday. The Night Before Christmas by Nicola Knight is all about Felicity and James, who meet on Christmas Eve at the animal rescue where Felicity works. They rescue a kitten and its mother and then bond over their similar disdain for Christmas. The chemistry between them seems to be leading to a quick romance, yet complications keep presenting themselves, to keep the two apart. Felicity’s childhood love and ex-boyfriend Adam proves to be the biggest obstacle.

Giving off Bridget Jones vibes throughout the book, including a main character who continually finds herself in crazy situations and a love interest channeling his inner Daniel Cleaver, The Night Before Christmas is a story about self-discovery wrapped in a rom-com. It’s a great holiday read, though it might not be as light as the reader was anticipating when the main character starts to uncover secrets from her childhood. Animal lovers will appreciate the personalities of the side characters who live at the animal rescue who insert their own special fun into the book.

I enjoyed the audiobook. The narrator did a wonderful job, and I often found myself laughing out loud. I could not wait to find out what happened next for the beleaguered heroine and her “Penguin Man.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC audiobook. All opinions are my own.

"The Night Before Christmas" by Nicola Knight - 5 Stars**
"The Night Before Christmas" by Nicola Knight is a heartwarming and enchanting holiday tale that beautifully captures the spirit of. From the very first page, Knight's evocative writing draws you into a world filled with warmth, magic, and the joyous anticipation of the season.
The storyline is delightful and expertly crafted, weaving together themes of love, family, and the magic of Christmas. The characters are relatable and endearing, each with their own unique quirks and stories that add depth to the narrative. Knight ability to create rich, multidimensional characters makes it easy for readers to become emotionally invested in their journeys.
What truly sets this book apart is its ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia and wonder. The descriptions of holiday traditions, cozy gatherings, and the beauty of winter create a vivid atmosphere that makes you feel as if you’re experiencing Christmas alongside the characters. Knight’s storytelling is both whimsical and poignant, making it a perfect read for anyone looking to get into the holiday spirit.
The pacing is just right, with a perfect balance of festive cheer and heartfelt moments that tug at your heartstrings. The themes of hope, redemption, the importance of togetherness resonate beautifully, making it a story that lingers long after the last page is turned.
Overall, "The Night Before Christmas" is a charming and uplifting read that will surely become a holiday favorite. Nicola Knight has created a delightful story that reminds us of the magic of Christmas and the importance of love and family. This book is an absolute treasure and a must-read for the holiday season!

I was loving this fun rom-com and was halfway through when it disappeared off my Net galley shelf (even though it was downloaded - I guess it archived on the 15th as that's when it went missing). Such a fun story and I loved the narrator's cool, beautiful voice and accent. A fun one before Christmas and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a happy ending since I lost it right before I got there!

(won't highlight on my blog since I did not finish it, though I would have liked to!)

I really liked the meet cute in the beginning but about halfway through I realized nothing was really happening and I found myself kind of bored. So I ended up not finishing it at about 50%

What's not to love, 2 grinches, a ton of cute furry friends, and an unforgettable meeting. I really enjoyed this holiday novel featuring 2 people who seem to hate the holidays just as much as the other does. And for each their own, very similar, reasons. A chance meeting has them figuring out their lives and in the end who to be with. There were a lot of misunderstandings but everything always works out in the end.
The audiobook was well done and I'd like to read more by this author!

This was my first book of Nicola Knights, but it will not be my last (once she writes more, I'll be sure to pick them up). This was a good Christmas-ish story. I like the idea of the main character HATING Christmas with ever fiber in her being, it was unexpected. I had the opportunity to listen to the audio of this & enjoyed the narrator's pace & voice. The image of a Penguin on the cover intrigued me, then once I understood the reason behind it, I loved it! This is a great story for those who love Hallmark type stories (like me). I definitely recommend this book!

I really really wanted to love this book. It started out really strong. I’m a vet tech so this type of book is perfect for me. I just had a really tough time paying attention to the story. It wasn’t a fun little holiday romance. The storyline was deeper than expected. There was a lot of ex stuff involved. I just think this one wasn’t for me. I thought the narrator did a good job. The story just didn’t hold my attention. Huge thanks to Dreamscape and Netgalley for allowing me to listen and review this book.

This gorgeous cover and the synopsis won me over but the story itself really stole my heart. I loved that Felicity and James bonded over their shared loathing of Christmas and affection for rescue animals. The holidays can be emotional so I appreciated that this audiobook addressed how challenging the holidays can be for many people. This wasn’t a light holiday romance but it definitely had some fun moments. Ultimately it gave me all the feels and I give it all the stars. Hannah Curtis was the perfect narrator for the heartfelt story.

**This charming debut** offers a refreshing twist on the romantic novel genre. Felicity Brooks struggles with deep-rooted trust issues stemming from her father’s sudden departure at Christmas when she was six. Haunted by her childhood and a difficult breakup, she finds solace in an animal rescue center, where she can share her love with the animals.

On Christmas Eve, her life takes an unexpected turn when a man in a penguin suit, James, bursts into the shelter with a tiny, near-death kitten. Their immediate chemistry sparks an adventure neither of them anticipated, but past relationships loom over their budding romance.

The story beautifully explores how childhood trauma influences adult relationships and the lasting effects of first love. With engaging twists and turns, it keeps you guessing about where it’s headed. Felicity’s journey toward healing and self-acceptance is heartwarming, enriched by a cast of supportive friends and challenging figures.

While it touches on the familiar “I hate Christmas” trope, the unique setting of an animal rescue and the whimsical penguin costume give it a delightful twist. Full of emotional depth, humor, and lovable characters, this is a captivating read. I thoroughly enjoyed Felicity’s growth and wish the author great success in her future writing endeavors!

Based on the description and cover, this was not as cutesy and fluffy as I thought. It started strong, and I was poised to recommend this to all my animal-loving friends, but I don't know if it was the dour way the narrator read it (sometimes that makes a difference) or if the mood was dark and annoying regardless of the reader. I did not find this book as sweet, light and romantic as I hoped.

The power the exes had over these characters was frustrating. I wanted more about the animals, but that wasn't to happen. I have seen people classify this as a rom-com, and I'm wondering how that's possible because I found nothing humorous after a man in a literal penguin suit shows up wet and disheveled at the door of a rescue. Were all of Felicity's clunky mishaps supposed to be funny? The falls and the missteps? They hit as unfortunate and distracted from the flow of the plot. 95% of the book had me frowning in annoyance or concern.

This had all the markers of being my cup of tea and yet it wasn't.

I know I’m supposed to be reviewing the audio, but I can’t get past how bad this book was. The only thing related to The Night Before Christmas was in the beginning and the rest of it was inconsistent and sort of all over the place. The elements were there, they were just scattered in a way that didn’t land.

The audio itself was good. The singer narrator did do a good job with the storytelling and cadence of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this advance listener’s copy.

This was a quick, sweet listen about Felicity, a pet loving, Christmas hating woman. It starts with a meet cute with James, also known as Penguin Man. I expected this to be a lighthearted book, but was pleasantly surprised that it was both a fun romcom AND explored some tougher topics for Felicity. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend!

*I received a copy of the audiobook on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

I really wanted to like this one from description I had read when requesting this book. Sounds like a cute take on Christmas with the described scrooge, maybe some family secrets in the mix and little rom-com. However, the weight the main female character carried throughout entire book of her past family drama became tiresome due to the repetitiveness. And for me it ended up taking away from the story, rather than building a little background and moving on or through it. It also wasn't that big of a Christmas theme to it, a couple of pieces happened around Christmas but overall the story fell short for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Net Galley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook. I’m a sucker for a good holiday romcom. I absolutely love them! This one though was not my cup of tea. It was really slow, I didn’t think the banter was cute, it was came off more annoying.

Certainly a cozy romcom for the holiday season. It have everything your looking for in a Christmas romantic story.

What a disappointment. This book started out really strong- There was fun banter, a man dressed in a penguin suit trying to rescue a kitten, lots of snacks and two scrooges bonding over a hatred of christmas....This lasts for only a few chapters and then a whole lot of nothing at all happens. Nothing.

I'm always on the hunt for a Christmas book that's, oh I don't know, actually christmas-y? This one was yet another let down on that front, and in general really. The Christmas bit only lasts a few chapters in the beginning and then the story painfully slowly moves on to reveal that literally all the men in this book are cheaters? There was no chemistry between Felicity and either of the men, and honestly they both threw up about a million red flags. And her friend wasn't much better.

This book was so slow, like molasses slow. I'm surprised I even finished it. This was just very much not for me.