This is not what I expected from the novel, but it was a pleasant surprise. Set at Christmas, with the protagonist, Felicity Brooks, hating Christmas, it was much more than a holiday story. At it's base, Felicity bonds with Penquin-Man (yes, you have to read to find out who/what this is!) over rescuing a kitten on Christmas Eve. Penquin-Man makes quite the impression at first, but later disappoints. Couple this with Felicity still reeling from a break-up with Adam. She needs a break from both men and decides to return to her childhood home to clear her mind. She finds out secrets that help her make sense of the past and to make decisions for the future. Read to find out who gets Felicity's heart.

This is a cozy Christmas story for animal lovers where the female MC has to choose between the new adorable guys who just came into her life or the ex with mixed history who just came back. It was a little predictable, but sometimes it's nice to know how a story is going to go.

The characters go from scrooges to people who enjoy the magic of Christmas because they found love there, and all along the way there are cute animals and Christmas cheer for readers to enjoy.

This heartwarming holiday story will resonate with readers who enjoy tales filled with laughter, poignant moments, and relatable characters. As the narrative unfolds, readers will find themselves immersed in a world where personal growth and the intricacies of relationships take center stage. The realistic portrayal of romance, coupled with emotional depth, makes this book a compelling choice for those who crave a story that tugs at the heartstrings and leaves a lasting impression.

The festive backdrop of the holiday season adds an extra layer of warmth and charm to the story, making it a perfect companion for cozy nights spent curled up with a book. Whether it's the witty banter between characters, the tender moments that evoke a sense of nostalgia, or the exploration of complex emotions, this book offers a rich and satisfying reading experience that will stay with readers long after the final page is turned.

This quirky Christmas romance is the perfect blend of humor, heart, and holiday cheer! Felicity’s transformation from a Scrooge to someone who just might believe in Christmas magic is both hilarious and heartwarming. The unexpected penguin costume, adorable animals, and two swoon-worthy love interests kept me hooked from start to finish. A feel-good read that proves love can sneak up on you, even when you least expect it!

I love a cute Christmas romcom or cozy mystery, unfortunately I didn’t really get either of those from Santa Overboard. Takes place during Covid, which I didn’t realize when I requested the audiobook from NetGalley. There isn’t much drama, or substance to this book, and it felt very one note to me. The narrator was great though, and was the only reason it stuck with this book until the end.

I really really wanted to like this one, but unfortunately I just couldn't get into it. I got to about 20% and just couldn't anymore. I very rarely don't finish a book but this one just didn't grab my attention. I tried giving it a break for a minute and coming back to it, thinking maybe it was just me, but no, it wasn't me. I didn't enjoy the narration and while the very beginning was promising, it totally lost me.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I was able to find the audio version through my local library app.

What a cute story with a cute little penguin in the story. The characters are cute, and the cover is adorable. Perfect for the Christmas season!

While the cover makes "The Night Before Christmas" look like a light-hearted rom-com, it is anything but.

Felicity meets James on Christmas Eve when he brings a suffering kitten to the shelter she works at. And while seeing a full-grown man dressed as a penguin is a bit of a surprise, she knows exactly what she needs to do when she sees the kitten and sets to work. While they eventually save the kitten's life and find her mother as well, sparks begin flying between Felicity and James. They especially connect over the fact that they ae both over Christmas and want to avoid it as much as possible.

It turns out that both of them have reasons for their feelings that are based on past pain and trauma, so the story does eventually start to get pretty deep. Trust and abandonment issues abound, and it takes time and hard work for them to reach a point where they can accept each other just as they are.

So, as much as I think the cover is cute, I also think it does a bit of a disservice to the book because it's not the light-hearted feel-good Christmas read the cover implies.

Despite that, I thought the story was a good one overall.

Thank you to Nicola Knight, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

Though the title of this book sounds like this will be a sweet and fun-filled Christmas book, it is not. Though our main character meets James, the Penguin Man, on Christmas Eve it is about as Christmas time we get, other than everyone hating Christmas and a lot of trauma occurring around this holiday. This also appears to be a sweet cozy romance. Also, it's not like there is a ton of drama, so much drama from all the exes. I liked the meeting of Felicity and James, it was sweet and saving kittens! Adorable, I actually wish we kept going with that line and had these characters keep meeting because James wanted to adopt the cats, etc. James does wind up volunteering at the shelter and these two get to know each other then we insert the drama. Just really weird stuff out of the blue. Overall, the story is ok. Again, I wouldn't call this a holiday read. The main character isn't that likable but I do like James and Felicity's co-worker Andrea. Also, cats, I like the cats and dogs.

Super cute story where Felicity encounters a man dressed as a penguin, of all things, and he helps her rescue a kitten and then finding the momma cat who lost her baby. This book centers around animal rescue as these two get to know each other and even though both are relationship adverse they find themselves growing closer until they cannot deny their feelings. Great Christmas story.

The Night Before Christmas by Nicola Knight
Narrated by Hannah Curtis
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Romance, Women's Fiction
Published: November 8, 2024

The Night Before Christmas by Nicola Knight is a sweet holiday romance.

I liked the characters, but the story got a little too deep for me and I lost interest.

I enjoyed the narration by Hannah Curtis.

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

I would say that I enjoyed the beginning of this book. Although not my attitude to dislike Christmas, I understand the reasons from the characters point of view. However I was less engaged with this story the farther along it went. The characters all had such major personality flaws that I didn’t find myself connecting with any of them or hoping for a better outcome.

I received a copy of this audiobook from netGalley for a honest review.

This is a lighthearted, sweet romance with some trust issues thrown in. I really enjoyed this Christmas Eve animal rescue book and will look for more from this author. I laughed and got emotional with this story.

As much as I wanted to like this, I found myself bored and uninterested. I ultimately decided to give it up after 7 chapters (about 10%). I did enjoy the narration, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough to entice me to continue through. Although I did not enjoy this Christmas read, I think it would be a great story for the right audience, and I would still recommend it to others.
Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, for the opportunity to listen and review this advanced copy.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I DNF this at about 40%. There was far too much drama for this to be a fun Christmas read.

DNF at 60%

This unfortunately was just not for me. I didn't find the story interesting, I didn't feel there was much chemistry between the two MCs, and not enough backstory was given about either character to be interesting.

There is also not much Christmas involved for being marketed as a Christmas book.

This book started out fairly exciting. A woman who hates Christmas is working at an animal shelter on Christmas Even, when an attractive man shows up with a rescued kitten. Together they find the mother and save the day! Cue romance, the end.

But no, there is a LOT of ex drama, family trauma, and general nothing that happens in between. This book kind of fizzled between 50-70% and then got a bit better at the end. Also, the narration was slow. Even with the British accent, 3x was too slow.

Most Christmas romance books are sweet and funny. I'm not sure this counts as either. There was some romance, but it revolved so much around the main character's trust issues and past traumas that there was nothing particularly sweet or funny about it. Ultimately this book was a miss for me.

I appreciate the ARC!

Felicity works in a pet shelter on Christmas Eve. She hates Christmas, due to heartache in the past. When a man dressed as a penguin shows up at the door, holding a distressed kitten, she has no idea how this will change her life and her opinion of the holiday! The story begins to reveal her past and the mysteries of this unusual man. While this fits the category of a "typical" romance story, it was a fun book to listen to and it kept my interest in how this would be resolved. A great holiday read or listen!
Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for providing an advance review copy of this audiobook. My opinions are my own.

Nicola Knight has written an original and sweet holiday story in The Night Before Christmas.

The story wanders a merry chase, and Knight weaves some unexpected surprises into the tale, with a happy ending everyone can enjoy.

The audiobook is nicely performed by Hannah Curtis.

Another super cute Christmas book, but this one has animal rescue at its heart! Yay! It’s somewhat predictable as most books of this genre tend to be, but the Christmas readers know what they’re signing up for here and we love it! There’s also a story under the romance here about working through therapy which is wholesome.

Recommended for all the friends who enjoy our seasonal, feel good Christmas reads!