Amanda BrownReviewed in the United States on November 19, 2024
Rating: 5/5⭐️ Spice: 4/5🌶️
Tropes/what to expect:
❄️ Holiday romance
🎄 Enemies/rivals to lovers
❄️ Small town
🎄 Fake dating
❄️ Forced proximity
🎄 rom–com
This should definitely be on your TBR for the holiday season, it is the perfect book to get you in your feels and into the holiday spirit. Tons of holiday activities, competitions, lots of love and Christmas is everywhere. This book was quite literally the spicy Hallmark version of The Grinch and I loved every single page. I literally ate it up! Meghan did an amazing job incorporating The Grinch into the story. The Dr. Seuss-like openings to every chapter were brilliant, it added so much to the Christmas vibe of the book, and they were hilarious!!
OMGG the banter, the angst, the tension, and the CHEMISTRY!! I can’t even begin to put into words the amazingness of this book, of Cole and Storee. I was laughing my rear off the entire time I read this book. The sassy comebacks by Storee, the sarcastic ribbing of Cole, it was entertaining. It felt real, it felt like I was reading about my husband and I. We love to rib on each other, get on each other's nerves just because. I loved how real the characters felt from the way they portrayed themselves, their emotions, their feelings, and how they handled things thrown at them. The way their relationship developed was natural, enemies/rivals to lovers.
The slow burn with the slow heat which Meghan Quinn always does a fabulous job with, was on fire. There was so much tension between Cole and Storee you could feel it through the pages.
Cole and Storee needed each other after, they helped each other overcome their pasts and traumas and find that Christmas Spirit again. I loved watching the growth and development of both characters. And the side characters of the whole town are amazing.
I highly recommend adding this to your holiday TBR list! How My Neighbor Stole Christmas is honestly the perfect holiday read. It’s a festive, laugh out loud, spicy, sweet, and dreamy romance.
The Candy Cane scene did me IN it was 🥵 (iykyk) 😉
TrixieReadsDailyReviewed in the United States on October 19, 2024
This is such a great rom-com retelling of a grinch-style story!
Cole and Storee were childhood friends, with possibly a crush, before Storee moved away 10 years ago. But now she’s back in Kringletown to help her Aunt Cindy recover from a surgery and Aunt Cindy wants Storee to enter the town’s Kringle competition. Cole has gotten wind of Storee entering the competition and can’t let an outsider win, so he decides to give up his reclusive ways and enter the Kringle competition too.
The resulting story is a work of art. I laughed, I cried, I gasped, and I was sweating while reading. There’s wit, banter, friends, spice, and quite the funny narrator all wrapped up in this hilarious story. Highly recommend, especially for the holiday season!
OlafvonSnowmanReviewed in the United States on November 16, 2024
I like Meghan Quinn, she does a good job of writing romcoms with spice and good spice mind you- not that calm quiet spice you might get in a typical romcom (which has its place too!). And this book was no different.
She built the characters nicely, you could tell the end from the beginning, but you loved them and wanted it to happen. They had the perfect friction moments and the perfectly crafted tumble in love and lots of spicy moments (one with a candy cane that I'm not soon to forget ... It was ... Well you tell me.) And it had just enough Christmas to be in the mood but not over the top.
At the end of the day it was cute and a good romcom. It wasn't Meghan's best, but it was a nice way to ease myself into the silly world of Christmas and romcoms mashed together (the only kind of romcoms I watch anymore are Christmas ones OR the millennial aged ones bc I grew up on those and have great memories.)
I loved in CO for years and Meghan had me wishing I was in Kringle, I could imagine the small mountain town and where I'd live (might've looked like Vail or Eagle but who's telling).
So if you like the sound of all of that, if you sound like me, go ahead and read it. It'll put you in the Christmas mood, or at least start to.
That said, it wasn't Meghan's best. Which to be fair, she writes a lot, she has a formula that works. And so they all can't be good.
She changed up her formula slightly and took a page out of The Grinch and Twas the Night Before Christmas. I liked the allegory and I liked the switch up in her typical story telling.
I didn't love the narrator to character talk (the break of the fourth wall) It was weird and a little unhinged and lacked the injection of humor she was going for. I didn't mind the rhyme she built throughout but it didn't add value to the overall story. However, she did a good job building it. I can't imagine that was easy.
I also hated the twist at the end. I will not spoil it. But it didn't read well to me. And again, added very little value to the story but also took away from the character development that Quinn had done throughout. I understand it's meant to evoke sympathy but she'd done a great job garnering that from the audience throughout the twist was unnecessary. The outcome would've been the same without it. And if anything it made me angry at the individual who pulled it. So many book on focus on that lack of communication skills, someone keeping something from someone else instead of just asking or explaining. And a lot of it is for the plot, so I can deal. But in this case, it made me sad and mad.
And with that I'm off to read another Meghan Quinn book bc not only did this book put me in the mood for Christmas stories but also for more Meghan Quinn. Be on the lookout for more reviews about ridiculous falling in love stories! I do hope you enjoy How My Neighbor Stole Christmas.
Amanda C.Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2024
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
“How My Neighbor Ruined Christmas” by Meghan Quinn was the perfect holiday rom-com! This book was cute, laugh-out-loud funny, and oh-so-spicy—everything I could want in a festive romance. Meghan Quinn has such a gift for mixing heartfelt moments with hilarity, and this story was no exception.
The chemistry between the characters was off the charts, with plenty of playful banter and swoon-worthy moments. And can we talk about the narrator? Absolutely hilarious! They brought the characters to life with impeccable timing and so much personality—it felt like watching a holiday rom-com come to life in my head.
If you’re looking for a fun, steamy, and uplifting holiday read, this is it. Meghan Quinn has delivered another winner that’ll leave you smiling long after you’ve turned the last page! Highly recommend!
AshleyReviewed in Canada on November 23, 2024
Absolutely LOVED everything about this book! Definitely put me in the Christmas mood and loved the concept of an all year round Christmas Town. Loved the banter between the main characters and the overall character development. Was super heartwarming and a very fun read! Highly recommend! Also that candy cane scene 😍🤣
PlaytimeASMRReviewed in Canada on October 24, 2024
I could not put this book down. The book gave me such a cozy vibe that it felt like home. It was interesting reading all the characters names and then piecing them together to which movie character they were supposed to be. It was magical it was like a hallmark movie but dirtier. Put me in the mood for Christmas even though it’s only October and I look forward to reading this 100 more times before the holidays.
Chandra ShorttReviewed in Canada on November 19, 2024
It was everything I wanted it to be and then some! A fun holiday Romance that plays into the Christmas and Grinch theme perfectly!
Kindle CustomerReviewed in Canada on November 5, 2024
I could not stop laughing at this book. Love it !!! And the candy cane .. Just wow so yummy.
A (Canada)Reviewed in Canada on October 16, 2024
While I really like some of this author’s other books, I wasn’t able to get into this book at all. I stopped after a few chapters. I’ll try another one!
Amanda BrownReviewed in the United States on November 19, 2024
Rating: 5/5⭐️ Spice: 4/5🌶️ Tropes/what to expect: ❄️ Holiday romance 🎄 Enemies/rivals to lovers ❄️ Small town 🎄 Fake dating ❄️ Forced proximity 🎄 rom–com This should definitely be on your TBR for the holiday season, it is the perfect book to get you in your feels and into the holiday spirit. Tons of holiday activities, competitions, lots of love and Christmas is everywhere. This book was quite literally the spicy Hallmark version of The Grinch and I loved every single page. I literally ate it up! Meghan did an amazing job incorporating The Grinch into the story. The Dr. Seuss-like openings to every chapter were brilliant, it added so much to the Christmas vibe of the book, and they were hilarious!! OMGG the banter, the angst, the tension, and the CHEMISTRY!! I can’t even begin to put into words the amazingness of this book, of Cole and Storee. I was laughing my rear off the entire time I read this book. The sassy comebacks by Storee, the sarcastic ribbing of Cole, it was entertaining. It felt real, it felt like I was reading about my husband and I. We love to rib on each other, get on each other's nerves just because. I loved how real the characters felt from the way they portrayed themselves, their emotions, their feelings, and how they handled things thrown at them. The way their relationship developed was natural, enemies/rivals to lovers. The slow burn with the slow heat which Meghan Quinn always does a fabulous job with, was on fire. There was so much tension between Cole and Storee you could feel it through the pages. Cole and Storee needed each other after, they helped each other overcome their pasts and traumas and find that Christmas Spirit again. I loved watching the growth and development of both characters. And the side characters of the whole town are amazing. I highly recommend adding this to your holiday TBR list! How My Neighbor Stole Christmas is honestly the perfect holiday read. It’s a festive, laugh out loud, spicy, sweet, and dreamy romance. The Candy Cane scene did me IN it was 🥵 (iykyk) 😉
TrixieReadsDailyReviewed in the United States on October 19, 2024
This is such a great rom-com retelling of a grinch-style story! Cole and Storee were childhood friends, with possibly a crush, before Storee moved away 10 years ago. But now she’s back in Kringletown to help her Aunt Cindy recover from a surgery and Aunt Cindy wants Storee to enter the town’s Kringle competition. Cole has gotten wind of Storee entering the competition and can’t let an outsider win, so he decides to give up his reclusive ways and enter the Kringle competition too. The resulting story is a work of art. I laughed, I cried, I gasped, and I was sweating while reading. There’s wit, banter, friends, spice, and quite the funny narrator all wrapped up in this hilarious story. Highly recommend, especially for the holiday season!
OlafvonSnowmanReviewed in the United States on November 16, 2024
I like Meghan Quinn, she does a good job of writing romcoms with spice and good spice mind you- not that calm quiet spice you might get in a typical romcom (which has its place too!). And this book was no different. She built the characters nicely, you could tell the end from the beginning, but you loved them and wanted it to happen. They had the perfect friction moments and the perfectly crafted tumble in love and lots of spicy moments (one with a candy cane that I'm not soon to forget ... It was ... Well you tell me.) And it had just enough Christmas to be in the mood but not over the top. At the end of the day it was cute and a good romcom. It wasn't Meghan's best, but it was a nice way to ease myself into the silly world of Christmas and romcoms mashed together (the only kind of romcoms I watch anymore are Christmas ones OR the millennial aged ones bc I grew up on those and have great memories.) I loved in CO for years and Meghan had me wishing I was in Kringle, I could imagine the small mountain town and where I'd live (might've looked like Vail or Eagle but who's telling). So if you like the sound of all of that, if you sound like me, go ahead and read it. It'll put you in the Christmas mood, or at least start to. That said, it wasn't Meghan's best. Which to be fair, she writes a lot, she has a formula that works. And so they all can't be good. She changed up her formula slightly and took a page out of The Grinch and Twas the Night Before Christmas. I liked the allegory and I liked the switch up in her typical story telling. I didn't love the narrator to character talk (the break of the fourth wall) It was weird and a little unhinged and lacked the injection of humor she was going for. I didn't mind the rhyme she built throughout but it didn't add value to the overall story. However, she did a good job building it. I can't imagine that was easy. I also hated the twist at the end. I will not spoil it. But it didn't read well to me. And again, added very little value to the story but also took away from the character development that Quinn had done throughout. I understand it's meant to evoke sympathy but she'd done a great job garnering that from the audience throughout the twist was unnecessary. The outcome would've been the same without it. And if anything it made me angry at the individual who pulled it. So many book on focus on that lack of communication skills, someone keeping something from someone else instead of just asking or explaining. And a lot of it is for the plot, so I can deal. But in this case, it made me sad and mad. And with that I'm off to read another Meghan Quinn book bc not only did this book put me in the mood for Christmas stories but also for more Meghan Quinn. Be on the lookout for more reviews about ridiculous falling in love stories! I do hope you enjoy How My Neighbor Stole Christmas.
Amanda C.Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2024
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 “How My Neighbor Ruined Christmas” by Meghan Quinn was the perfect holiday rom-com! This book was cute, laugh-out-loud funny, and oh-so-spicy—everything I could want in a festive romance. Meghan Quinn has such a gift for mixing heartfelt moments with hilarity, and this story was no exception. The chemistry between the characters was off the charts, with plenty of playful banter and swoon-worthy moments. And can we talk about the narrator? Absolutely hilarious! They brought the characters to life with impeccable timing and so much personality—it felt like watching a holiday rom-com come to life in my head. If you’re looking for a fun, steamy, and uplifting holiday read, this is it. Meghan Quinn has delivered another winner that’ll leave you smiling long after you’ve turned the last page! Highly recommend!
AshleyReviewed in Canada on November 23, 2024
Absolutely LOVED everything about this book! Definitely put me in the Christmas mood and loved the concept of an all year round Christmas Town. Loved the banter between the main characters and the overall character development. Was super heartwarming and a very fun read! Highly recommend! Also that candy cane scene 😍🤣
PlaytimeASMRReviewed in Canada on October 24, 2024
I could not put this book down. The book gave me such a cozy vibe that it felt like home. It was interesting reading all the characters names and then piecing them together to which movie character they were supposed to be. It was magical it was like a hallmark movie but dirtier. Put me in the mood for Christmas even though it’s only October and I look forward to reading this 100 more times before the holidays.
Chandra ShorttReviewed in Canada on November 19, 2024
It was everything I wanted it to be and then some! A fun holiday Romance that plays into the Christmas and Grinch theme perfectly!
Kindle CustomerReviewed in Canada on November 5, 2024
I could not stop laughing at this book. Love it !!! And the candy cane .. Just wow so yummy.
A (Canada)Reviewed in Canada on October 16, 2024
While I really like some of this author’s other books, I wasn’t able to get into this book at all. I stopped after a few chapters. I’ll try another one!