e-Audio, 07:41:04
Narrated by: Ebony Ford & Tony Roberts
Release Date: November 5, 2024
Published by: Recorded Books, Inc.
Read from: November 5-7, 2024
Stand-alone
Source: Library’s Libby
Content Warning: Possession, Fighting, Violence
For Readers Interested In: Holidaze, Romance, Contemporary, Racial/Ethnic Diversity (Black), Adult, Realistic FictionA neat freak Scrooge and a Christmas-loving ball of chaos must coexist for a week, and the friction and separation that ensue make the most magical time of the year highly remarkable.
After pumping her hard-earned savings into a business plan that doesn’t pan out, Noel Anderson is left financially strapped and needs a way to earn money to stay afloat. She decides to rent her apartment as an Airbnb for the Christmas holidays while visiting her family for Christmas. What she didn’t plan on was coming down ill and having to cancel the trip.
Kanton Joseph is on the cusp of securing a lucrative business deal. In order to get a one-up on his competition, he rents an Airbnb in the same apartment complex where his potential client resides. He’s surprised when he shows up, and the owner of the Airbnb not only wants to cancel the reservation but is still occupying the space.
With great reluctance, Noel and Kanton agree to cohabitate for one week. Noel attempts to stay out of Kanton’s way, but they undoubtedly cross paths, causing friction between them. They immediately clash on everything, most notably with their views on the holidays. Noel is determined to have a very Merry Christmas despite her temporary housemate, which is the source of Kanton’s irritation. Eventually, the two begin to soften toward each other and Kanton learns to view things through Noel’s eyes.
Will the holiday magic fizzle, or will these two spark a connection they didn’t realize they needed?
*MY THOUGHTS*
There are two other books that have a holiday house swap in them, but I didn’t finish those. I know that everyone’s holiday is different, but I just can’t take sad holiday books. ESPECIALLY not at this point of life. I needed all the happy. So imagine how scared I was when I opened this and saw this one also had a house swap. But because of one little difference, I enjoyed this one so much more.
Ok so the thing that made this one different than the others was the fact that she ended up staying when he came to stay at her house. So even though he was upset and escaping his current situation, he still had Noel there to help him change his mood around. And that she did.
Ok so the main characters were a little much. Like Noel was shoving Christmas down this poor man’s throat lol But I didn’t actually care about that because I think I would too. I love Christmas and I wouldn’t hold that against her, but it WAS a bit much for a newcomer like he was. She should have pushed him in a little bit at a time lol Kanton was a Scrooge for real lol But at some points he didn’t make sense. Like at the ending when he figured out what happened, he didn’t get mad enough at that other person and he didn’t beg the OTHER person enough for me. Not for the epilogue anyway. He got mad at some of the weirdest things.
The romance between them was cute tho. I loved watching them fall for each other during the different holiday themed things they were doing. I think that’s what made it for me. I needed that Hallmark cozy movie feeling after this craziness that I was going through after the results and let me tell you, this gave me everything that I needed. Oh! Also, I can’t lie lol Him being so hard but basically melting whenever Noel said something had me smiling so hard lol I loved seeing her chip bits of him away.
But, the only thing I didn’t like was the epilogue. We are introduced to his mom and she’s been nothing but terrible to him. And then we see her again and get a sentence about how she changed after what happened and IDK, I wanted more? Like that counts as trauma and was a serious subject. I think she should have done some on page groveling. I get that Noel had boundaries, but I think she deserved more. Noel deserved a stress free Christmas without being on pins and needles. (I will say tho, her pick for her pjs? Impeccable lmao)
Definitely a solid book to get you in the mood for holiday season! I hope that you add this to your TBR! It will truly make you feel like you’re watching those holiday movies that Noel loved so much!
Overall, I give this
