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The Worst Christmas Wife
A Grumpy Boss Holiday Rom Com
by Katie Bachand
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
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Pub Date Dec 06 2021 | Archive Date Mar 15 2024
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Description
She found the perfect job just in time for Christmas. The only problem is her new boss is a grumpy, stubborn, seriously handsome workaholic who lives to get on her nerves. And now he wants to MARRY her?!
Bring on the eggnog, it’s going to be a long Christmas!
THE WORST CHRISTMAS WIFE is hilarious, heartwarming, and the perfect Christmas love story.
A Note From the Publisher
THE WORST CHRISTMAS WIFE is intended to a be quick dose of fun, happy Christmas! The book you can sit down with and read in a night or two, smile as you go, and leave you feeling all of the best emotions the season can bring.
Enjoy!
Advance Praise
"Laugh out loud funny!" - Amazon
"When I read the sample, I couldn't put the book down, so I had to purchase it, I was not disappointed at all! This book is a great book to read by the fireplace with a cup of coffee, hot chocolate or get a mug of eggnog to have a drink with the characters of the book. You will laugh out loud throughout the book and feel like you are watching the characters come to life as if watching a hallmark movie. I really enjoyed the author and can't wait to read more of her books!" - Amazon
"Freaking loved this book! It’s like a Hallmark movie, but not cheesy." - Amazon
"Christmas movie perfect!" - Amazon
"Loved this Christmas read! The bantering between the two main characters is great. Was a fast read. When it ended I wanted more. Loved the book!" - Amazon
"I literally laughed out loud more than once while reading this. It was funny and romantic all at the same time. Can't wait for the next book from her." - Amazon
"Favorite Christmas book. I read this on Kindle Unlimited last year and it was my favorite Christmas book that I read that I had to order a physical copy. It is so cute!!" - Amazon
"The perfectChristmas book to binge read with a couch, soft pillows and blanket and eggnog!! I bought the Kindle version late last night and read bits and pieces throughout the day today. I just couldn't put it down. I just finished it. I laughed, giggled, and had a tear or two.
I have to point out that the "scene" when Ava, Hendricks. and Robert were in the office going over the contract had me picturing Hendrick as a younger Harrison Ford! And the way they introduced themselves, was hysterical to me." - Amazon
"I loved this book. The story was so good and made a great Christmas book. I have read several of this authors books and they are all great. Highly recommend!" - Amazon
"So good!"
"I’ve enjoyed all of Katie Bachand’s Christmas stories. They all have wonderful characters and beautiful settings. The Worst Christmas Wife was fun from beginning to end!" - Amazon
Available Editions
EDITION | Ebook |
ISBN | 9798777963680 |
PRICE | $4.99 (USD) |
PAGES | 232 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
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this was such a sweet and easy read! definitely hallmark vibes and im all for it - the ending was so sweet and had me tearing up - i loved the flow of their relationship and the side characters were great! a sweet fake marriage grumpy boss romance
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4 stars out of 5
If you are a fan of Hallmark Christmas movies, this book is for you! I really liked the banter between Hendricks and Ava and I am so happy with how this book ended. The Worst Christmas Wife was a short and sweet read which had me smiling most of the book. My favorite character in the book was Geoffrey, everyone needs a best friend like that.
In The Worst Christmas Wife we follow Ava as she starts a new job at Hendricks business. He is grumpy and anti Christmas where Ava is the complete opposite. Hendricks is trying to win over a famous client and asks Ava to marry him to get the deal to design her house.
I am looking forward to reading more from Katie Bachand in the future since this was such a cute book.
Thank you Netgalley and Katie Bachand for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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A delightful short read about Ava and Hendricks who agree to a fake marriage so Hendricks can land a famous client to design her house. He’s the grumpy boss and she’s the over the top Christmas loving decorator. I enjoyed the humor and banter between the main characters as well and the side characters who were determined that the lead characters end up together. If you love Hallmark Christmas movies this is the book for you.
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The Grinch/Scrooge vibe in the book was very enjoyable. This gave me watching hallmark movies feeling. I caught myself smiling for most of this read. I definitely will be picking up more books by Katie Bachand.
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I aspire to be like Ava in the sense that she stands up for herself and doesn’t let anyone tear her down. I love how we can see Hendricks and Ava slowly falling in love with each other the more they spend time together. I thought it was hilarious how Cameryn knew they were faking their marriage. It made me happy that she gave them the job regardless of the fact that they lied to her. I really enjoyed Ava’s personality and her love decor. The way her visions for a space were described were amazing. All in all, I really enjoyed the fact that Hendricks proposed to Ava properly. I’m not going to lie, I was hoping for some spice but even without it the book was amazing! I wish we can get an epilogue someday and maybe some spice in there.
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3.5✨
Ohh! This could easily been a 4 or 4.5✨ read but the ending felt so rushed 😭😭😭 still I enjoyed it so much!! And I was fully invested in this one and couldn’t stop reading it!! The plot is basic and it’s a quick read, also the characters are very well written, I loved them!! Would recommend this to read if you want a quick Christmas romance read.
Tropes: GrumpyxSunshine, Boss assistant romance, fake relationship, cosy Christmas reads, Workplace romance
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Thank you Netgalley and Katie Bachand for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The Worst Christmas Wife has you laughing and aching for love! It's a fake marriage story that turns into so much more. This story was made for Hallmark. Ok, not really but it should be a Hallmark movie! It's a quick and fun read!
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This was not your average fluffy Hallmark Christmas story. It was a sweet story of a grump of a boss and a Christmas loving assistant thrown into a fake relationship together for work. This book definitely was a Christmas love story just not as frilly as others. It was more direct but in the end the Scrooge’s heart thawed and he found the love of the holidays he was missing due to Ava and her enthusiasm of all thing’s Christmas. I enjoyed this advanced copy from NetGalley and although it’s a little different than I was expecting, it was well done
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I enjoyed this it was a lovely Christmas story. I loved the difference with many other Christmas stories. I liked Ava and Cole they were lovely and sweet
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Three and a half stars.
Ava is a frustrated interior decorator with a Christmas fetish. After her last boss stole her designs and bad-mouthed her she's been having trouble getting work. Then one of her roommates tells her a world-famous architect's PA is retiring. He's young, grumpy, and hates Christmas, but he needs a new PA and Ava would be perfect.
When Hendricks Cole's PA Matilda foists Ava on him he is beyond irritated. The only thing stopping him from firing her is that he does need a PA desperately and his old PA is now sunning herself in far-off climes. But he isn't going to make things easy for Ava, no siree. Hendricks is trying to win a pitch to build a new forever home for Camryn Wren, a famous movie writer, producer, and director and he needs Ava to help him learn everything there is to know about her.
Since Camryn is famous for her schmaltzy Christmas romances, Ava suggests Hendricks watches a few of her movies to really get a feel for her vibe. But what Hendricks takes away from watching the films and doing his research is that Camryn is all about family, and a married man has a much better chance of getting the commission. So he proposes a fake-marriage contract to Ava, until 31 December or when he wins the contract, whichever falls sooner. In return she gets a wodge of cash and the chance to decorate both his homes, as well as introductions to his other clients.
Hendricks is all about the architecture, the clean lines. No fuss, no knick-knacks, no rugs or throws. So when Camryn tells him she can't really sign off on plans without visualising the fully decorated and furnished rooms. So now Hendricks must work with Ava to pull together designs for Camryn's new home.
If you like hallmark Christmas movies, opposites attract, fake-relationship romances then this is right up your street. Its cute, sweet, and very, very Christmassy.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
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"The Worst Christmas Wife" is giving Hallmark Movie Channel, hot cocoa, and plaid blanket vibes. Gruff architect Hendricks Cole ends up with Christmas loving interior designer Ava as his new assistant. Desperate to get a job with the queen of Christmas movies, he promotes Ava from assistant to wife - fake wife, of course. Thus begins a frantic push to design the perfect home. Hendricks comes to realize that Ava's ideas are necessary to a successful pitch, and that Ava herself might be necessary to a successful life.
As a Christmas lover, I really enjoyed the descriptions of all of Ava's Christmas obsessed decorating. I did wonder, however, how her designs hit the remainder of the year, I also found Ava's single-handed installations of decorations and even furniture more than a little unbelievable. I did love Ava's roommates and her family. Sweet with small traces of spice, just like a Hallmark movie.
4 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary ARC of this book. The opinions herein are my own.
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Christmas obsessed Ava finds a new job just in time for the holidays. Her new boss, Hendricks, and her could NOT be more different. He is grumpy, obsessed with his work, AND does not celebrate Christmas—whereas, Ava is optimistic, family oriented and LOVES Christmas. Will her new job work out? Will they get along?
I could not put this one down! It was pretty short read and I absolutely read it in one sitting. It’s a sweet holiday, grumpy/sunshine romance with a happy ending. It was very PG—think Hallmark movie—but still kept my attention. I think it was the suspense of their butting personalities and them trying to resist each other that kept me hooked. I loved all of the characters and their personalities. It was fairly predictable at times, but I still loved it!!
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a cozy holiday (PG) romance!
Thank you NetGally and Katie Bachand!!
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I love great christmas stories with love and a grinch :)
It's very funny to read and the story is great, all the things that happen.
I love her friends and her family and also Mr Grumpy Boss.
Have fun reading!
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“The Worst Christmas Wife” by Katie Bachard is a delightful, lighthearted read that truly captures the essence of the holiday season. This heartwarming tale is akin to a Hallmark movie in book form. It is a perfect choice for those seeking a cozy and feel-good Christmas story.
Katie Bachard’s writing style is engaging and relatable. While it may not offer groundbreaking plot twists, it more than makes up for it with its heartwarming message and the warm, fuzzy feeling it leaves you with. In the world of holiday-themed books, this is a delightful addition that will leave you with a smile on your face and a renewed appreciation for the magic of Christmas.
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The Worst Christmas Wife by Katie Bachand was a very enjoyable holiday romcom!
This was an adorable book that had many layers that kept me engaged in reading the entire time.
A fantastic book that was hard to put down.
I found myself smiling through the hole book, and it was difficult to put down once I picked it up.
This book truly had me so hooked with every word.
The writing is amusing and sweet. The characters are charismatic, supportive, and endearing.
Heartwarming, relatable, compelling, funny and oh so sweet!
I adored it and will be looking forward to her next upcoming title.
"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
Thank You NetGalley and Katie Bachand for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
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Cute holiday grumpy x sunshine, boss x employee, fake wife, billionaire romance. I enjoyed all the Christmas and decor descriptions, it really came alive in my mind.
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Sweet romance book centered in romance, it gives hallmark vibes but in the best way possible. I would have loved to read it on December, to get totally in the mood for the holidays
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I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! Lots of family interaction and many interesting characters. The plot moved right along, and I liked the ending!
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I loved this!!!! It was such a fun read and really enjoyable. I definitely recommend it. Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC on exchange for an honest review.
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Fun, crazy, grumpy, Christmassy, entertaining and oh so easy to read. And this quote sums it up for sure.
"THE WORST CHRISTMAS WIFE is hilarious, heart-warming, and the perfect Christmas love story."
I loved it, read it with ease, smiled, laughed and enjoyed. This is Christmas and this is a fun book to read to get you in the Christmas mood and spirit. Fun, short and sweet, cute and very readable.
Thank you NetGalley and Katie Bachand for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
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This was such a fun feel good Christmasy read I enjoyed it so much and is very short so you will definitely finish it in one go
It was so damn cute
Thank you Netgalley for the arc🫶🏻🫶🏻
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A fun festive read, the story of Hendricks and Ava. He needs a take wife to help him get ahead with work, but what happens when real feelings get involved?
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A quick Hallmark-movie-like read. Cozy Christmas time story perfect for when you’re craving that sweet easy read this time of year.
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Thank you Netgalley and Katie Bachand for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The Worst Christmas Wife has you laughing and aching for love! It's a fake marriage story that turns into so much more. This story was made for Hallmark. Ok, not really but it should be a Hallmark movie! It's a quick and fun read!
4 stars
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What if Scrooge was in a romcom? Hendricks and Ava will tell the tale! Ava is a Christmas-obsessed interior designer tasked with decorating Hendricks's home with all things Christmas! Antics and banter ensue for a Hallmark-worthy read!
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This book was adorable. It's the perfect book to put you right in the Christmas mood and even get you out of a read slump. It was very fast paced, and it felt exactly like a cozy, comforting Hallmark movie! It was also absolutely hilarious, and I loved the dynamic between Ava and Hendricks. The storyline was also brilliant, and it was every bit as cute as I expected going int0 it.
It did feel a little too fast paced to me, but I think that also made the book exactly how it was intended. A quick, sweet, Christmassy read. However, I did struggle with the third person pov which is definitely a personal problem, not a fault of the author.
Overall, this book was adorable and I definitely recommend it to put you right in the Christmas mood.
Thank you so much to Katie Bachand and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. <3
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The Worst Christmas Wife...
This was a cute Christmas read. It was also a quick read. If you love Hallmark movies, this is right up your alley. It's a charming story about Ava and Hendricks. Hendricks being The Grinch and Ava being the lover of Christmas. Hendricks wants to land a deal and finds out he would look best if he had a wife. That is where Ava comes in. And that is where the contract comes into play.
As Ava and Hendricks spend more time together, we can see Hendricks heart growing. He claims Ava didn't follow the contract, making her the worst Christmas wife.
Enjoy this sweet story.
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This is the perfect holiday romcom that will pair well with the rest of the books on my Christmas season TBR! It’s funny with warm fuzzies.
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The Worst Christmas Wife by Katie Bachand is my first book to read by her. It is everything you think it will be by the name, but it doesn't disappoint. It's a grumpy/grinch, fake arrangement trope that has you laughing and swooning. I look forward to reading more books by Katie.
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Talk about the cutest Xmas Rom Com. So cute! This was a happy, fun read that will get anyone in the mood for the holidays. Lovely!
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This book was made to be turned into a Hallmark Christmas movie 100%.
It was a cute, funny, quick read with a nice Christmassy love story that definitely got me into the Christmas book spirit.
Also that dedication? Oof.. had me in tears.
Thank you for this advance copy.
3.5 ⭐️s
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Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!
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First off, I love the setting of this book. The scene that is laid out by the author is the most magical winter wonderland and I adore it. I also love the characters very much. There was just enough of banter and of course we love confident women. My only negative would be the pacing. They went from acquaintances to in love in basically a week. While I can be okay with insta love, I am more of a slow burn girl. However, this was a very cute Christmasy romance that is perfect to read for the holidays.
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I read this book in a day and I never looked back! The twist and the plot were pretty easy to identify but the different POV's kept me intrigued to see how everything was going to unfold. A couple of the characters were so unlikable that it made it hard to feel bad or connect with them in any way. I do wish that the ending would've given a little more, I wanted to know how the characters dealt with the aftermath.
*I received a copy of this eARC via NetGalley*
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Genre: Romance
Trope: Fake Dating, Grumpy/Sunshine
Rating: 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read if you like: Hallmark Christmas Movies
I thought this was a fun, Christmas read! I felt like I was watching a Hallmark movie unfold before my eyes.
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I’ve been holding on to this book to read as an holiday read and it delivered! If you are looking for a grumpy x sunshine, surrounded by Christmas vibes this one is for you. Hendricks Cole is basically the grinch while Ava Brown lives and breathes Christmas. When Ava, who is a passionate interior designer starts working for Hendricks, she can tell he isn’t happy about it but as a big opportunity presents itself, they are pushed to get a lot closer. Ava sprinkles her love of Christmas around while he desperately tries to ignore it.
𝖱𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝗂𝖿 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾:
𝖥𝗈𝗋𝖼𝖾𝖽 𝖯𝗋𝗈𝗑𝗂𝗆𝗂𝗍𝗒
𝖥𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝗅𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌𝗁𝗂𝗉
𝖦𝗋𝗎𝗆𝗉𝗒 x 𝗌𝗎𝗇𝗌𝗁𝗂𝗇𝖾
𝖧𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗄 𝗋𝗈𝗆𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝗏𝗂𝖻𝖾𝗌
𝖢𝗁𝗋𝗂𝗌𝗍𝗆𝖺𝗌
I would so watch this as a holiday movie. Also planning on grabbing another book from Katie Bachand:𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖢𝗁𝗋𝗂𝗌𝗍𝗆𝖺𝗌 𝖫𝗈𝗏𝖾 𝖢𝗈𝗅𝗎𝗆𝗇!
✵𝖬𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗄𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝖪𝖺𝗍𝗂𝖾 𝖡𝖺𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝖽 & 𝖭𝖾𝗍G𝖺𝗅𝗅𝖾𝗒 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗀𝗂𝖿𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗆𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖠𝖽𝗏𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾𝖽 𝖱𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋’𝗌 𝖢𝗈𝗉𝗒 𝗂𝗇 𝖾𝗑𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗆𝗒 𝗁𝗈𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝗏𝗂𝖾𝗐.✵
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'Tis the season to read ALL the holiday books and watch ALL the holiday movies and this one reads the way a Hallmark movie feels! It was super cute, sweet and funny with hijinks and banter, plus lots and lots of Christmas cheer. The Worst Christmas Wife is a grumpy sunshine, opposites attract, fake relationship, falling for the boss, festive romance and I loved every single aspect of it. The main characters are Hendricks, a grumpy architect seriously lacking in Christmas cheer, and Ava his new personal assistant who loves all things Christmas and interior design. In order to land a huge client, Hendricks proposes a fake marriage contract to Ava: he lands the client and she gets some money and free rein to decorate. The longer their charade goes on, the more Hendricks realizes he needs Ava for more than just landing this pitch. The side characters are lovable and memorable which is always a plus. I would have loved a bit more from the ending, which is pretty much always the case for me because I always want more content with characters I love, but if you're looking for a sweet holiday romance this is a great read!
I received this eARC version from NetGalley & Katie Bachand a couple years after the release so if you haven't already read it when it came out in 2021, this holiday season is the perfect time to check it out!
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All the makings of a the perfect Hallmark Christmas Rom-Com movie ! Loved this book. Gave all the Christmas feels!
Received from NetGalley
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So this was a super cute Christmas book. There's absolutely no spice in this book. Very hallmark and adorable. Grumpy boss MMC & a very sunshine assistant. The side characters were
fun.
Nothing very extensive in plot which makes this a very easy and fast festive read.
Read if you like:
* No spice
* Grumpy / sunshine
* Fake dating/marriage
* Christmas
* Hallmark movies
* Third POV
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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I loved this book! I devoured it in only a few sittings and wish there was more to read. The story line was paced very well and the characters were easy to love!
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* Grumpy/sunshine
* Scrooge/Grinch he hates Christmas
* Fake dating/marriage
* Christmas themes
* Hallmark movies
* Third POV
I really enjoyed this short Christmas Hallmark vibe novel. There were so many cute and funny moments. I could absolutely picture the hallmark movie as I was reading. Loved the side characters as well. They were hilarious AND we even got some hockey in there!
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We join Ava and Hendricks as they embark on a professional relationship that soon takes an interesting turn.
This had all the best tropes... Fake relationship, forced proximity, grumpy sunshine... I enjoyed the dynamic between the two main characters but I also loved the friendship between Ava and Geoffrey... Everyone needs a friend who's honest, supportive and loyal to the end and that was him
A fun, Christmassy read
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The Worst Christmas Wife was an adorable holiday read! The length was perfect and the writing was quick and easy to follow.
I’m such a sucker for the grumpy x sunshine trope, and I thought Katie Bachand did a good job of balancing Hendricks serious nature with Ava’s quirks. I loved that Hendricks opened his heart easily to Ava’s friends and family, which meant opening himself up to love Ava.
The way Katie described Ava’s holiday decor sounded so magical and makes me want to step up my game in my own home. I would hire Ava too!
Overall, I recommend The Worst Christmas Wife to anyone who loves a Hallmark-esque holiday romance that will warm your heart faster than Ava and Geoffrey’s spiked eggnog!
Thank you to NetGalley and Katie Bachand for an advance copy. These are my honest thoughts.
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Cue the Hallmark movie. I really enjoyed reading The Worst Christmas Wife by Kate Bachand. In this book we meet Ava and Hendricks. Ava gets a job as the assistant to Hendricks who is an architect. Ava is a designer who is hasn't made a name for herself in the industry yet. Hendricks is trying to get the opportunity to build the dream house of a retired actress. In researching her, he finds that she is all about family. To get the edge up in getting the job, he asks Ava to be his fake wife.
It was a little slow in the beginning, but as I read on I really enjoyed it. I liked how Ava was able to get Hendricks to enjoy Christmas and enjoy her family and see what is important in life. Ava and Hendricks really complimented each other as an architect and designer. I feel they brought out the best in each other and complimented each other in so many ways. I would love to have had an epilogue and flash forward to a sneak peak a few Christmas's later.
Read this book if you enjoy
* grumpy sunshine
* Fake dating
* Christmas themes
* no spice
* hallmark movies in book form
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others. Thank you Netgalley and Kate Bachand. I voluntarily read this book and gave an honest review.
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Oh, my gosh!
I truly loved this story!
Grumpy boss
Savvy designer
Their story makes for a laugh out loud story that I read in just a few hours.
Beautiful Christmas/Holiday romantic comedy that I highly recommend.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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I loved this book & all the characters. Hendricks was the perfect grinch and Ava was the best main character who helps change his perspective on it all. Camryn saying she knew made my heart melt for them
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This is the cutest feel good Christmas book! Ava is an out of work interior designer who is obsessed with Christmas and being Holly jolly. When her BFFs aunt wants to retire from her assistant position for Billionaire architect Hendricks Cole, he gets Ava the job without a hitch. Soon after, Hendricks has the incredible opportunity to design a home for none other than the famous “Christmas romance” actress Camryn Wren and he’ll need alot of help from Ava to pull it off. Mixing Ava’s love for Christmas and Hendricks Grinch like disdain for it made for adorable comedy and a heartwarming story. Highly recommend for getting in the Christmas spirit!
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
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I LOVED this book!! It was so Christmas-y, it definitely got me into the spirit of the holidays! This book is great if you want something quick and easy to read this holiday season. I loved every single character, especially the gay friends. This was just a really fun read. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!
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Sigh! I loved this book so much. It was so stinking cute. It didn’t hurt I read it by my Christmas tree with instrumental Christmas music playing. This will be a yearly read for me! Perfect perfect Christmas love story.
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I really enjoy the fake dating trope. What could make that better - Christmas. This was a really cute easy read about an anti Christmas boss and his new Christmas loving assistant. A fake relationship is needed to win a new high profile client. From there real romance blossoms.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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This was Christmas and fake dating at it's finest! Absolutely adorable and definitely put me in the Christmas spirit.
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I loved this cute Christmas romance. It was fake dating at its best!! This book is absolutely gorgeous. I actually bought a paperback copy just to keep. I still think about this book days later!!!
I just reviewed The Worst Christmas Wife by Katie Bachand. #worstchristmaswife #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]
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Ava is looking for a new job to showcase her interior design skills and Hendricks is in the market for a new assistant for his architecture firm. In order to sign a huge client, they have to pretend to be married for a month.
I thought this book was cute and a great holiday read. The side characters were great, and helped keep the plot moving. My main issue is how quickly the book ended. It felt like a really rushed final chapter and took me out of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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This was an enjoyable quick festive romance read.
The banter was very enjoyable as their relationship developed. I always love a fake dating storyline and this was no exception to that. The forced proximity and grumpy sunshine tropes just made it even better.
It really felt like watching a hallmark Christmas movie while reading it. I’d definitely recommend you give it a try.
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The perfect little Christmas book, grab your hot chocolate or egg nog and curl up with a blanket in front of the fire and enjoy this romantic comedy.
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This book was so cute! I love reading holiday books around the holidays and this one fit the bill. I enjoyed the characters and the "fake wife" scenario. I was routing for them from the beginning and actually wished this book was longer so I could get more of them!
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Such a cute holiday read. I’m obsessed with a “I’m in love with my boss” grumpy-sunshine romance especially one that is CHRISTMAS themed.
This was such a good storyline and one that was both comedic and romantic without being so corny that it made you lose the plot.
I tend to find that a lot of holiday books give me no storyline and are all pretty much the same with little to no substance but this book was not one of those. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the characters and the witty banter between them all was just perfect.
Highly recommend!
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I surprisingly loved this book. It needs to be a movie immediately. It was so cute and I could just see it being a successful movie. I need more people to read this book! I can’t wait to read her other Christmas book this year.
I only gave it 4 stars because I wish there was more spice. Or rather ANY spice.
Thank you NetGalley for this ebook in return for my Honest review.
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I'm a sucker for a Hallmark Christmas movie, and this story had all the trappings and then some. It ticked a lot of boxes: grumpy/sunshine, office romance, fake relationship, and it was so much fun. I really liked Ava. I loved that she didn't take crap from Hendricks, particularly at the beginning of the story when he was at his prickliest. I liked Hendrick's transformation. The reader got to watch him soften and open up and really fall for Ava. There was a lovely amount of Christmas in this story, enough to convince the reader of the magic of the season without drowning in the details. I also really appreciated that all of the characters were smart and self-possessed. Camryn, the client, was a great addition to the story. Her no-nonsense motherly presence provided some great balance to the story. There was enough substance to the characters and the story to really believe that Ava and Hendricks not only were attracted to one another but had a chance at forever.
Thank you for NetGalley and Katie Bachand for the arc. All opinions are my own.
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I loved this holiday rom com. I loved how she was a take charge girl and she fit in with the last assistant. I loved how a contract was made for the fake marriage. The whole book was amazing. If you want a cute holiday rom com this book would be perfect for you. Thank you netgalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me to read this book.
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Im a big fan of rom-coms that don't fit into the typical Hallmark movie box ( although I'll still watch them as) This was such a quick fun Christmas book., A contract between the bruting grumpy employer and an over enthusiastic Christmas loving employee that turns into more. I especially adored the Gay bestie and his famous hockey playing hubby. The ending was a little rushed and didn't really need to be because of the build up throughout the story, but overall enjoyable.
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Such a great book! Love the plot and the characters are so relatable! The story kept me engaged from the first page!
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This was a cutesy Christmas romance and I ate it up. It felt like a Hallmark movie and I imagined it that way the whole time and loved it for what it was. I have a soft spot for grumpy/sunshine and faking dating/marriage of convenience. Christmas romance is all about the vibes for me, it felt like Christmas and second chances. Also, I love how this one wraps up. It lets me stay in my Christmas vibes the whole time (and yes I know it’s technically after Christmas now but I’m just holding on to it this year!)
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This book was an absolute delight to read. I love me a good fake marriage, grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, workplace romance story that is set during the festive season. Ava is an interior designer who is the embodiment of the Christmas spirit. Hendricks is an architect that is as grumpy as a scrooge can be. The pair enter into a fake marriage, with a contract and everything, to try and win the pitch to design and build the famous writer, producer and director Camryn Wren's dream home. While the ending wasn't what I was expecting, I definitely enjoyed reading this book. I highly recommend it as one to read if you love a good Christmas romance.
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This quick holiday romcom had ALL of the tropes! Fake marriage of convenience, grumpy boss + sunshine, billionaire romance and office romance. The plot was cute and really grabbed me in right away!
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Absolutely freaking LOVE this novel. Hilarious!! Love love love her writing style. Can’t wait to read more (future) books from this author. Definitely my new favourite author!! Great job Katie!! Keep up the amazing work and writing! :)
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This is a very light hearted Christmas novel. Very enjoyable and fun read. The characters are loveable & there are so many Christmas elements which make it very fun
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A Great Way to Enjoy the Season
I thoroughly enjoyed Ava and Hendricks story. This isn’t meant to be an angsty deep novel. It’s meant to be a light hearted holiday romp you enjoy with a warm cup of cocoa and holiday treats. This novel is basically a Hallmark movie with all the holiday good feels.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy. Opinions expressed here are my own.
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The Worst Christmas Wife is a delightful Holiday Romantic Comedy. It is full of all the fun gimmicks that Rom Com fans love: Fake Romance, Grump and Happy, and Forced Proximity. When these two signed a contract to pretend to be married, the only clause left out was love. I received this book for review through Netgalley. Now I am hooked, and I can’t wait to read more of Katie Bachand’s books. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a quick Holiday Romance.
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Fun quick holiday story. I enjoy a fake romance holiday story. This was entertaining and enjoyable. I enjoyed Ava’s character and related to her in many ways.
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This story was everything I love about holiday channel movies without all of the cheesiness. Steam level was a zero but it wasn’t needed at all. The song and dance between Ava & Hendricks was so natural that it made this an easy read.
Ava has the best eye for interior design and walks in to Hendricks Cole’s office at the right moment. His current assistant is retiring and looking for her replacement. But he soon realizes he needs more than that to win over a high profile client.
I laughed out at loud, got the warm fuzzies, imagined where I can fit three Christmas trees in my house, cringed at the word glitter, and imagined her embarrassment about the snowman undies. I was bummed when it ended. I did want an epilogue to give me just a little more cabin snuggling and a lot more of her family & friends!
Side-note….I just found a new author to fan girl over! I’ll be diving into more of Katie’s books in the new year!
👉🏻Read if you like:
•Workplace Romance •Fake Dating •Christmas Theme •Grumpy Sunshine •Romcom •Christmas Movies •Family Fun •Hilarious Best Friends
🤔 What‘s your favorite holiday movie?
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬.
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Posting to Goodreads and Instagram today 12/19
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So much Christmas spirit - holy moly! I loved the banter between the characters and Mr. Scrooge came to realize how great his life could be. This was a very sweet holiday read. Non-existent spice, which isn’t my first preference, but the story was solid so I didn’t miss it as much.
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This was such a fun and sweet Christmas read. Thank you @netgalley and @katebachand for the ARC. Ava is a hoot! She is all sunshine and Christmas cheer with a side of spitfire. Hendricks is a grumpy Architect in need of an assistant. There is a high profile client he is trying to land, the only problem is she believes in Loves stories. What better way to land the client the make up a marriage contract with his assistant. This is a sweet slow burn. You don’t want to miss it.
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Thank you so much NetGalley and Katie for the opportunity to read this amazing story! I might ramble in this review and I apologize.
This book was everything I needed in a holiday read. The fake marriage. The Christmas vibes. The descriptions of the decorations. Ugh. My heart is so happy with this book! I’m obsessed with it. I want more! This story was so cute and maddening at times. It was absolutely perfect. I wouldn’t change a thing!
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This book is the definition of a cozy read for Christmas. It had elements like a Hallmark Christmas movie but better. I fell in love with the characters. I found the author did a great job providing a great profile of both main characters and bringing them together. The end was slightly predictable (like a Hallmark Christmas movie) but I didn’t mind as the whole read was great and had me in a choke hold throughout.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this Christmas book.
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This is a fine Christmas novella filled with grumpy/sunshine, boss/employee, fake dating with found family and a Christmas extravaganza (with a sprinkle of hockey).
Overall, I didn't love the dialogue in the beginning but once the story started to flow I finished it quickly. The side characters are great. The relationship progression is a little choppy but was entertaining and cute.
Thank you to the Katie, and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this work. I received an eARC and am leaving a review freely and honestly.
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The Worst Christmas Wife is a quick, fun, Christmas filled book that my fellow Hallmark movie lovers would enjoy for the season.
Ava is a very talented interior designer who LOVES Christmas. Hendricks is a self made billionaire architect who is described (by Ava) as Scrooge and the Grinch.
Ava needs a job and through some connections, ends up working for Hendricks. They seem to be total opposites, mostly when it comes to Christmas, but Ava is a very strong FMC and doesn't back down from grumpy Hendricks.
With a joint mission to win a huge client, they agree to be fake-married. Like any good Christmas romance, fake feelings turn to real feelings. I won't give any details away, but of course there is a happy ending.
The author did a fantastic job illustrating Ava's designs in words. I could vividly imagine the Christmas scenes that Ava was designing and executing and caught myself wishing I had Hendricks budget so I could design my home the same way.
I am not a writer, but I can imagine that trying to create chemistry, magical Christmas scenes, character development, and supporting characters in just over 200 pages is a challenge. Katie Bachand rose to that challenge and executed it wonderfully.
I definitely recommend this book to readers looking for a Christmas filled, feel good, romance for the Christmas season.
Thank you Netgalley, the publisher, and Katie Bachand for giving me a copy of this book for my honest review.
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This is a super cute romance! I loved reading it and it really got me in the holiday spirit.
It is a sweet romance, but the characters were likeable and the love story was believable.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read an arc of The Worst Chrismtas Wife. All thought expressed are my own.
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Another super cute Christmas read! I always love a fake dating story, but faking dating the new grumpy boss to win a job for the Queen of Christmas movies took it to a whole new level! It’s short and sweet with fun characters and banter. It is a yes from me!!
Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice Level: 🌶️/5
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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Mr. Sexy Grinch Hendricks needs the perfect Christmas wife to woo a new client. His new assistant, Ava, is smart, beautiful and obsessed with Christmas, she's perfect! What could possibly go wrong? Until Hendricks realizes that having Ava as a real wife might not be the worst idea...
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This cover is the perfect Christmas Romance cover. It is just so cute I had to read it. I am such a fan of fake relationships and billionaire romances. This book had it all those plus a grumpy boss and all the funny banter. Ava is an amazing interior designer with a hear to of gold who loves all things Christmas. Hendricks is the grumpy self-made billionaire architect. At first they do not get along. Then as they work together they discover that they actually work really well together. The tension between these two heat the more time they spend together. I cannot wait to read more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and Katie Bachand for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
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I really enjoyed this book! The Worst Christmas Wife is the perfect sweet Christmas romance. I feel like I got all the enjoyment of a Hallmark movie, but it was even better because books are always better than movies! Hendricks is the perfect grumpy counterpart to Ava’s sunshiney disposition, and to make it even better, this was a workplace romance. The instant chemistry between the two leads was perfect, and the way they each denied their feelings for the other made their miscommunication completely relatable, rather than frustrating. To me, the pace of this novel was perfect. I kept finding myself reaching for this one instead of my book club pick because I was so invested in the characters! I’m definitely looking forward to reading more books by this author in the future! If you love Christmas love stories, check this one out!
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I had such a good time reading this book! I was completely in love with the story and amazing characters, awesome character developement. It's a wholesome story and well written. It was fun and funny and so entertaining. It left me with a happily ever after ending. I loved it!
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Omg I LOVED this book! The Christmas vibes, the love story, the side characters... The Christmas world Katie Bachand created was stunning and so cozy. I am recommending this book to everyone! My Mom already just got it on Kindle Unlimited!