FESTIVENESS LEVEL 100! So, I don't wanna call this book basic, BUT from time to time it might have been. On one hand, that was exactly what I was looking for (so who am I to judge), and it truly checked all the boxes I want in a fun Christmas romance — including the very festive NYC setting, many holiday activities, and heart-warming characters you just have to love. On the other hand, I wouldn’t have minded a little more plot about Noa and Evie’s individual lives, independently from their relationship. Secondly (in my opinion), the 3rd-act breakup felt very random, and the TikTok career… well, I doubt you can make it on that platform with that kind of long-form content. Anyways, not to paint this book in a worse light than it actually deserves: Especially the picturesque, dazzling description of the festive Plaza and NYC was doing it for me — the decorations, luxurious interior, the kind staff who took Evie under their wings from day one. I adore that kind of vivid detail. Not to forget the one or other peek behind the curtains of the famous luxury hotel. Aka the book did a great job transmitting the festive atmosphere to us readers and was entertaining!

This book isn’t particularly deep, but I still enjoyed a sweet, romantic Christmas story. I love listening to something like this while wrapping gifts, decorating, and doing all those cozy holiday things—it gave me just the Christmas vibes I was looking for. It also did wonders for my ever-present longing for New York, which was a lovely bonus. A small side note: it’s the first book that deals with the loss of a mother that I was actually able to listen to. It helped me face that kind of storyline in a very gentle way, and I appreciated that.