3.5 ⭐️

Cute short story to get you in the Christmas mood. Perfect little holiday rom-com fit for the Hallmark Channel.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was over the top, all things Christmas packed into a nice, quick read.

If you want Hallmark in a book then look no further.

I enjoyed this one & it certainly helps with the Christmas spirit.

*Received ARC through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed**

This was a cute, clean, easy read! It was the perfect book to get into the holiday spirit! I loved feeling like I was jumping right into a hallmark movie. The characters were so easy to love and the plot was so fun. I ABSOLUTELY loved the banter!

If you love hallmark christmas movies then you will love this cute little novella. The town is magical in this enemies to lovers, forced promixty rom com romance. Two rival authors are forced into the same magical christmas town competing for the editor position. While there they are forced to see the magic around them and each other. It's a cute, short feel good christmas 🎄 story.

I’ve read some great Christmas books recently. It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas by Julianna Keyes was the latest. I really enjoyed it.

Like the synopsis said -- definitely Hallmark like, could see this one as a Christmas movie for sure- if you like to believe in the magic of Christmas and watching hallmark movies this is for you! Eve and Will head to Noelville a place that exists for Christmas lovers- 100 people at a time in a magic Christmas village both are trying to get the head writer job at their travel site job and have been ser up to go with each other by their boss because they are both a couple of scrooge mcducks, you know what's gonna happen and you embrace it any way - a fun quick read for the holiday season

Such the cutest little short story about Christmas! Grinchy vibes with no spice! Such a cute read! If you’re looking for a perfect Hallmark Christmas read, this is the one for you!

This book was so cute. A short Hallmark style novella with the back drop of a quaint Christmas town. Funny, sarcastic, engaging, magical. I really enjoyed this arc. Thank you for the opportunity.

It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas by Julianna Keyes

4*

Two writers who are 'penemies' get thrown in to writing a story about Noelville for a chance to win a promotion.

This story has all the makings of a Christmas hallmark movie, in the best way possible!

The plot is your classic enemy to lovers, close proximity, Christmas romance novella, with a coziness akin to being snuggled up in your favourite chair in front of the fire with a warm beverage, the numerous references to hot chocolate and gingerbread only makes you crave for these all the more.

I hope Julianna expands on this novella, particularly with this cast of characters and the Live Laugh Travel team, it would be *magical* to see Eve and Will carry on adventuring in a full length novel!

Cute little fun winter and holiday read! I love Christmas and this was super cute - I’d love to go to Noelville IRL. Enjoyed the banter, dry humor, and sarcastic quips - my dream dialogue lol.

Nothing flashy, nothing super emotional, fun little penemies to lovers fluffy piece.

A Christmas Rom-Com for people that found Hallmark movies too much!

She and He from the City to a Magical Christmas Town... there is cider, nutcrackers, snow and Christmas tree but isn't the usual syrupy romance!

I had so much fun reading it and often laughed

Thanks to the author and the publisher to have it available on NetGalley

Grinch visit the small town hallmark critters. A boss matching their two employees secretly enemies for a promotion. Long time sweetheart running into but in mind is the enemy you’re falling for. For a short novel romance I very much enjoyed it felt I was living the hallmark movie.

What do you get when you put two Ginches in a small town obsessed with Christmas???? Kicking feet apparently!
Low stakes, no spice, Christmas feel good novella.
Two writers battling it out for one senior position and a match making boss who sends them to Noelville- to send a week immersed in Christmas cheer.
I love enemies to lovers, add in coworkers and Christmas? You had me at hello!

If you're a fan of Hallmark-style romances, this novella has everything you'd want and more! It's packed with Christmas spirit, festive traditions, and set in a charming little town that takes holiday magic to a whole new level. The story follows two main characters who, of course, dislike Christmas (for different reasons), but the charm of this magical town slowly works its way into their hearts, leading to the perfect holiday happy ending.

I absolutely loved this book! It’s the ideal pick to get into the holiday spirit. Yes, it’s predictable, but it never feels cringey or overdone. The characters have real personality, and their humor kept me smiling like an idiot through most of the story. Plus, the fact that they share a history together avoids that rushed feeling that shorter stories can sometimes have.

Rated PG, this novella is a super cute, cozy romance that’s a quick, heartwarming read, ticking all the boxes for a cozy winter romance. Highly recommend it for your holiday reading list!

Thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas by Julianna Keyes is a cute holiday romance that feels festive without overdoing the sweetness. The story follows rival travel writers Eve and Will, who find themselves stuck in the ultimate Christmas town, Noelville, competing for a promotion by writing the most magical holiday piece. Of course, sparks fly, but what makes this book work is its self-aware humor and witty banter. It’s like a Hallmark movie but with a bit more bite.

The novella length keeps it quick and engaging, perfect for a cozy afternoon read. While the plot is somewhat predictable (it knows it’s leaning into holiday clichés), the chemistry between Eve and Will feels natural, and their interactions add a fun, snarky twist to all the holiday cheer. If you’re looking for something light and festive with a good dose of humor, this one’s a solid pick for the season, I highly recommend.

This was the perfect book if you are looking for a cute little holiday romance like a Hallmark movie. It is perfectly sized and has just enough tension to make you feel butterflies when these two are together. Rival writers are sent to a holiday town to write the perfect holiday read, who knew that they would just end up falling for one another and the Christmas themed town would make them like the holiday more than ever. There were elements that were exactly what I was hoping for and elements I was questioning, but all in all the book was just a fun cozy feel good read.
Thanks to Victory Editing, Julianna Keyes and Netgalley for a copy.

It was so good it was like a hallmark movie in book form its about two rivel writers who meet to do a story in vt.

This was a cute story! It’s a short read but a perfect holiday romance to get yourself into the Christmas spirit. I found myself grinning the last 20 or so pages as the story wrapped up with a neat little bow.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.
“Hallmark with Snark

Two rival travel writers are sent on a once-in-a-lifetime holiday to learn the true meaning of Christmas without killing each other…

Eve Sherwood has never been a fan of Christmas. Too commercial, too busy. But when her editor assigns her to write a piece on Noelville, a special one-week Christmas experience, she has to go. She knows her job is to write a predictable holiday story, but how much gingerbread can one girl eat?

Will Fowler doesn’t believe in magic or Christmas, and certainly not the magic of Christmas. And he’s none too happy when he boards the train to Noelville and finds his nemesis, Eve Sherwood, already seated. Now he’s supposed to tolerate the faux cheer and the snow and the non-stop jingle belling with her sleeping in the quaint cabin next door?

Eve and Will know this trip is a test to see who can set aside their disdain and write the most absurdly sappy story in order to win an upcoming promotion. They know how the standard holiday script goes: Cynical city person travels to a small town, helps save Christmas, and falls in love with the attractive local. But what happens when two cynical city people travel to Noelville, help save Christmas, and accidentally fall for each other?”

I have never read anything by this author before but thoroughly enjoyed the book and hope that Julianna will decide to write a follow up story for Eve and Will as they continue their travels.

I loved both Eve and Will and their banter throughout the story. The plot was somewhat predictable, but that didn't stop me enjoying the story.

I will definitely be looking out for Julianna Keyes’ books in future and it was interesting to note that she also writes thrillers as Elaine Murphy so will look out for those too.

Wow did i love this! This book felt like a self- aware Hallmark movie, full of cynicism and Christmas magic. I absolutely adored the two main characters and would love to see them featured in another book! While this was a short novella, I felt drawn into it far easier then i usually do with books this length. The banter was bouncing off the pages and I actually laughed out loud several times.
The plot was sometimes cliche and predictable, but that didn't really take away from any of the enjoyment for me.
Would recommend 100°%