This book kind of confused me. The story was cute - kind of a twist on your typical cynical city folk finds love with small town Christmas lover - and the writing was good. Great actually. It had me hooked from the beginning, the banter between the FMC & MMC was top notch and laugh out loud funny.

I read reviews that complained about a lack of spice (which is my reading preference, I only read clean and closed door romance) so I was excited to find a cute Christmas novella that felt like a Hallmark movie in a book. Where I got confused was with the pointed innuendo and times crass implication of sexual intimacy. That doesn't really fit in a Hallmark-ish (or clean) read. Not to mention the swearing and taking the Lord's name in vain (although to be fair, there wasn't much of that, but there were enough instances that I took note).

It seems this book isn't spicy enough for spicy readers or clean enough for clean readers, it's a book that's trying to please everybody and ends up pleasing nobody.

A fun little Christmas novella!

Eve is ready to make this Live Laugh Travel Christmas writing assignment her best and she makes herself comfortable on a train headed to Noelville. As she sits waiting for the empty seat next to her to fill with her editor, Blanca, her “penemy,” Will Fowler, appears and takes the seat. Will explains that he has also been chosen for the assignment and that the seat she believes to be Blanca’s is in fact his. Was Eves boss testing her to see if she could in fact stay professional while dealing with one of her most annoying coworkers or secretly trying to play matchmaker? Eve believes when she tells him “Happy Holidays” as she exits the train, that she will not have to deal with him anymore this trip. To her dismay, their cabins are next door neighbors. Cue the annoying huff again.

As the two of them work separately to write the best article for Live Laugh Travel, they begin to learn more about each other. They start to see each other as humans instead of that annoying coworker fighting for the top spot.

The way I see Noelville when I read this book makes me think of the movie Elf, the Grinch, the Santa Claus, and the Polar Express all mixed together and baked as a delicious Christmas cookie.

For fans of enemies to lovers, this was a quick and fun holiday novella. The middle was a bit slow and the ending felt rushed but overall, I enjoyed it! I give it 4 stars for an enjoyable Christmas read.

this books was the perfect book to read to start of the Christmas season, I enjoyed every minute of the book and can't wait for more people to find and read this book when it is released. it had the perfect amount of 'enemies to lovers' and unlike many books only a little bit of spice right at the end of the book! THIS WHOLE BOOK WAS PERFECT.

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas by Julianna Keyes had me hooked with its premise: two Christmas grumps forced to face the holiday spirit. Think Hallmark meets Scrooge—times two—and watch their hearts grow three sizes.

Will is not looking forward to being sent to a small town to experience Christmas and write about it, and finding out his nemesis will be there as well is the ultimate insult. Eve, on the other hand, sees this trip to Noelville as her shot at a promotion, even though she’s never really experienced Christmas. Their journey through the charming small town, meeting quirky townsfolk who rope them into holiday festivities, and spending time together outside of their usual office rivalry creates the perfect Hallmark-style story.

The banter between Will and Eve is hilarious, filled with dry puns and witty comebacks that make their interactions a joy to read. Watching them come to terms with their growing feelings was the icing on the cake—so ridiculous they couldn’t imagine it might affect their writing or jeopardize their promotions.

This book captures the magic of Christmas, showing how it can bring out the best in even the grumpiest of people. If you love clean romances with all the quirky charm of a Hallmark movie, this is the perfect holiday read for you.

Thank you to Net Galley and Victory Editing NetGalley co-op for this ARC.

Travel writers Eve and Will are pitted against each other for a promotion and have to write a review on Noelville the week before Christmas. The only catch? They both hate Christmas.

This novella is a sweet, lighthearted read. It describes itself as "Hallmark with snark" and lives up to the expectations.

It explores enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and small town romance tropes and is perfect for anyone who enjoys those.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book!!

What a great book!! It had me hooked from page one! I couldn’t put this down. I finished it in one sitting. I enjoyed the storyline and the characters. This was a first for me by this author but it will not be my last!!

Quick Christmas book about to 2 travel writers sent on assignment to Noelville the week of Christmas to compete over who can write the best story for a promotion. If you don’t have access to a Christmas movie, this will do… because “the story doesn’t change” the people do.

This was a cute story; very much Hallmark-esque with a predictable plot and storyline. The irony of it, though, is that's exactly what the characters bucked against in the beginning so hard. That's what makes it a good story: you know how it's going to end... and the characters know how it's supposed to end... and yet, they .... well, I won't write any spoilers. There was little to no conflict; just an easy-going flow with periods of heightened happiness.
Overall, it was a quick, easy read. It's a good story for when you want to read but don't want anything heavy or serious.

This is a cute Christmas novella that makes for a lovely, cozy hour or two of reading. It follows Eve and Will who are both wanting the same promotion but their boss has sent them to a Christmas village and whoever writes the best story will win. The problem is that they can't stand each other! The novella is set in such a gorgeous Christmas village and I really want to go there! The descriptions were vivid and I could picture everything so well. Inevitably Will and Eve start to see each other in a different light away from work and I loved seeing how they got to know each other. This is such a cute, hallmark movie of a story and I enjoyed it.

Cute, funny novella about coworkers/enemies being sent on the same assignment to a Christmas town to write a travel article. Both main characters are up for the same promotion and are trying to one up each other. There is no maliciousness, just some verbal sparring. The story is around these two finding the Christmas spirit, and each other. No spice, easy read. Check it out.

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

This was charming and made me actually laugh out loud several times. I would have loved this if it had been a fully fleshed out novel instead of a novella, but it was still a satisfying holiday read

This novella was a cute Hallmark-type movie in a book! So, low spice, but I enjoyed the sassy banter between Eve and Will. If Noelville was a real place as described in the story, I would definitely want to go!

What happens when two rival writers, that don't enjoy Christmas get sent to the most Christmasy place on earth? Hallmark cuteness. Eve and Will are both vying for a promotion and are sent to write competing pieces on the magical Christmas town of Noelleville. Will their fued deepen or will magic happen? This was a sweet little Hallmark-esque novella about how even the most skeptical hearts can fall in love with Christmas, and maybe even each other. If you love tv Christmas movies, you will enjoy this book!

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!