A Very Inconvenient Christmas
by Becky Monson
Summary
It’s all fun and games until your rival becomes your Christmas complication.
My day is already a disaster—my ex is marrying my ex–best friend, and Cole Danner (a walking irritation in a very distracting plaid shirt) just sabotaged my biggest project. Then we both show up at the most Christmas-obsessed house in Arizona, fighting over the same rare reindeer collectible owned by Marigold Winters, a woman who takes “holiday spirit” to alarming levels.
One argument, one torn-in-half reindeer, and one very magical homeowner later… we’re pulled into a festive world of Marigold’s own making, tasked with completing a series of holiday challenges together, if we ever want out.
Now I’m stuck with Cole navigating magical errands, chaotic surprises, forced teamwork, and a spark that definitely shouldn’t exist between rivals. And somewhere between the bickering and Marigold’s unpredictable assignments, I’m starting to realize the most inconvenient part of this Christmas might be falling for the last guy I’d ever expect.
A laugh-out-loud, slow-burn holiday romcom filled with chaos, chemistry, and a dash of Christmas magic.
My Review
Becky Monson was a new-to-me author, and she has quickly become one of my favorite closed-door romance writers. The moment I saw she had a new Christmas release, I knew I had to pick it up. This book completely surprised me in the best way. I loved it from start to finish, and I also appreciated that there was no language and no spice.
Enemies-to-lovers is not usually my favorite trope, but this one absolutely worked. The romance is a true slow-burn, giving the story time to develop as Nora and Cole are forced to spend time together during their magical Christmas adventure. Watching their relationship shift from irritation to understanding to genuine affection felt natural and earned. Their chemistry was sweet and believable, and by the end, they felt perfectly matched.
I was not expecting this story to lean so heavily into fantasy, but that ended up being one of my favorite parts. What begins as a conflict over a property development and a rare Christmas collectible quickly spirals into delightful chaos. Thanks to the eccentric and holiday-obsessed Marigold Winters, Nora and Cole find themselves magically trapped in a winter wonderland filled with festive challenges they must complete together in order to escape.
One of the highlights for me was seeing both characters slowly reconnect with their love for the holidays. Their banter was warm, playful, and flirtatious, and the romantic progression felt refreshingly realistic. There is no insta-love here, which is impressive in a story under two hundred pages. It truly felt like a cozy burst of holiday magic.
This was also unapologetically Christmas-themed, which I loved. So many holiday romances barely scratch the surface of the season, but this one fully embraces it. From a Christmas tree farm and holiday markets to mall Santas, pageants, and snowy date scenes, it delivered everything I wanted in a festive read.
This book leans into its silliness, and while that may not work for everyone, it absolutely worked for me. It was charming, light-hearted, and full of heart, with a fun fantasy twist and meaningful lessons woven throughout.
If you are looking to shake up your holiday romance TBR with something cozy, whimsical, and a little unexpected, I highly recommend giving this short book a try.