Book Smart Kate

Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 Audiobook: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

by Meghan Quinn (October 15, 2024) Huge thanks to @meghanquinnbooks and @hambrightpr for the gifted advanced copy of this delightful read, packed with all of Quinn’s signature charm, spice, and wit.

When Storee Taylor returns to her great-aunt’s Christmas-obsessed small town for the first time in a decade, she’s less than thrilled. After all, she’s only there because she drew the short straw to help Aunt Cindy recover from a broken hip. But Aunt Cindy has a bigger challenge in store—she wants Storee to compete in the fierce Christmas Kringle contest on her behalf. Enter Cole Black, Cindy’s neighbor and Storee’s former childhood crush, who is determined to keep someone like Storee—who openly dislikes their Christmas-loving town—from winning the coveted title. To thwart her, Cole decides to step out of his comfort zone and enter the competition himself, sparking a holiday rivalry like no other.

The two neighbors find themselves locked in a festive battle, from eggnog and fruitcake competitions to holiday lights displays and candy cane-making challenges. Their banter and antics escalate, leading to a fake-dating arrangement to appease the gossipy townspeople. But in true Quinn fashion, this fake dating ignites some very real, sizzling chemistry between them.

This book is everything you’d expect from a Meghan Quinn rom-com: hilarious, spicy, and brimming with heart. Beneath the festive rivalry lies a touching story of Cole’s struggle with loss and how Storee helps him rediscover the joy of the season. If you’re a fan of small towns, nosy but lovable neighbors, laugh-out-loud hijinks, and quirky details like a Happy Days TV show-themed nativity scene, an eccentric American Girl-themed guest room, or questionable candy cane usage, you’re going to adore this holiday romp. It’s another gem from Quinn!

I also picked up the audiobook on Audible, which features fantastic duet narration by Vanessa Edwin and J.F. Harding, with a lively full cast including Robert Hatchet, Emma Wilder, and Shane East. The audiobook adds an extra layer of fun to this festive, feel-good story!