This ridiculously hilarious holiday novel is perfect for all the crazy Christmas lovers! Hal, the over-the-top holiday spirit incarnate, warms you up like a hot cup of peppermint mocha coffee on a cold winter night. His exuberant and cheerful personality is the perfect complement to the pessimistic hot-mess that is Bettie. It took me a little time to adjust to the writing and storyline, but suddenly, everything clicked, and I couldn’t put the book down. Take a hefty dose of magical realism, sprinkle in some chaos and some romance, and you have the perfect mix for a cute and fun holiday rom-com. This opposites-attract swoony romance should be on everyone’s wishlist for the upcoming holiday season!
Thank you, NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, and Sarah Hogle for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Goodreads Blurb:
Bettie Hughes once knew the comfort of luxury, flaunting a ridiculous collection of designer shoes and a stealthy addiction to CBD oils. That is, until her parents snipped her purse strings. Long obsessed with her public image, Bettie boasts an extravagant lifestyle on social media. But the reality is: Bettie is broke and squatting in Colorado, and her family has no idea.
Christmas, with its pressure to meet familial expectations, is looming when a drunk Bettie plays a vinyl record of “All I Want for Christmas Is You” backwards and accidentally conjures Hall, an unexpectedly charming Holiday Spirit in the form of a man. Once the shock wears off, Bettie knows she’s stumbled upon the greatest gift: a chance to make all her holiday wishes come true, plus a ready-made fiancé.
But as the wiles of magic lose their charm, Bettie finds herself set off-kilter by Hall’s sweet gestures. Suddenly, Bettie is finding her heart merry and light. But the happier she gets, the shorter Hall’s time on earth grows. Can Bettie channel the Christmas spirit and learn to live with goodwill toward all men? Or will her selfish ways come back as soon as the holidays are over?
From the author of Twice Shy comes a sprightly Christmas novel, a rollicking romp through the absurdity of family holidays and the hope of new love.