A review by genuine_sarcasm
A Holly Jolly Ever After: A Christmas Notch Novel by Sierra Simone, Julie Murphy

funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This is a really cute book. It's better than some of the other "spicy" rom-coms. It was balanced as far as story and spice goes. So that was pleasant. The reason I did not give it a 4 star rating was because the MC gets "stupid" in that "dumb girl trope" type of way - which I cannot stand a female being a "dumb girl" as any part of a plot device to move the story along. Why does the MC have to be stupid?

Explanation of the "stupid" >>
She meets a guy she likes. The have sex. She finds out she's pregnant. She decides, on her own, that she won't tell him. He confesses his love to her. She still doubts him and whether or not he wants her. She continues to make decisions and assumptions without talking to anyone or asking questions.


I get that the point of the "dumb girl" trope might be that she's "scared of her own feelings" but why can't a MC be scared and honest and misunderstand? 

Anyway, despite that - the story was cute. It reminded me a little of Britney Spears getting together with Joey Fatone based on the whole premise of the book.

I am interested in the other books in the series and I will say
the introduction and ending chapters were solely put there to set up for another "stand alone" book.
However,  in the beginning, I was wondering what the first chapter had to do with the story - it felt so out of place. 

TL/DR - cute story, balanced between spice and having a plot, ridiculously fast read.