How My Neighbor Stole Christmas

Super cute, spicy Grinchy Hallmark rom-com.
But then it kind of just ended? Idk, seemed like a semi-abrupt ending that left me a little disappointed

Meghan Quinn’s holiday romance, “How My Neighbor Stole Christmas,” plays homage to Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” Every Christmas, Storee Taylor and her sister Taran spent the holiday with their Great Aunt Cindy in the festive town of Kringletown. Storee’s childhood friend, Cole Black, lived next door, and though their friendship was marked by constant bickering, they were close. However, ten years ago, Storee left Kringletown after an embarrassing incident, vowing never to return. Sadly, on the same night she expressed her dislike for the town Cole called home, his parents were killed in a car crash. Left abandoned, Cole needed his friend, but Storee's sudden departure left him feeling more alone. Thankfully, his friend Max and the community of Kringletown rallied around Cole, ensuring he was taken care of. Now, at 29, Storee works as a movie editor for Lovemark films, and she and Taran have returned to Kringletown to care for their elderly Great Aunt Cindy after she breaks her hip. Great Aunt Cindy, always the competitive spirit, asks Storee to enter and win the Christmas Kringle competition—a title that has eluded her for years. The competition features a variety of festive activities, including acting in a Christmas play, candy cane making, fruitcake tasting, and a Christmas light display. Confident in her ability to win, Storee’s plans hit a snag when she discovers that Cole, the town’s self-proclaimed Christmas grinch, has entered the competition as well, determined to thwart her victory. As Storee and Cole begin to spend more time together, Cole hatches a plan to convince the town of his Christmas spirit: pretend to date Storee. Storee reluctantly agrees, fearing that if she refuses, the town will side with Cole in the competition. However, as they navigate their fake relationship, they begin to realize their long-held misconceptions about each other may have been wrong. Soon, they must decide what matters more: winning the competition or exploring their rekindled feelings for each other. The playful banter and over-the-top nature of the competition provide plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, adding a lighthearted touch to the novel. Quinn’s quirky characters and the whimsical setting of Kringletown—where Christmas is celebrated year-round—complement the fun, festive storyline. However, Cole's frequent breaking of the fourth wall occasionally disrupts the narrative flow, and his bickering with the narrator can make the fairy-tale premise feel immature at times. Additionally, the repeated mention of lederhosen (appearing nearly 20 times) becomes tiring and feels excessive. Despite these minor flaws, the novel offers the cozy, feel-good holiday romance typical of a Hallmark movie, albeit with a bit more spice.

The author has a clever writing style, but to me the book didn't move easily through sections. It got kind of pornographic for a while there too. The ending was somewhat unsatisfying, because there was lots and lots of teasing in the beginning, but the book kind os comes to an abrupt end.

Spicy christmas book

3.75/5, rounded up for Christmas magic.

This was way more delightful than I thought it was going to be. Laughed out loud multiple times. Was better than a Hallmark movie and loved the side characters as well.

Also, Taran’s behavior was childish and I hate the third act fight SO MUCH.

Fourth wall break was actually funny imo.

Mild epilogue spoiler:
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The pregnancy/child in the epilogue was cringe but that is my personal (correct) opinion.