Booked For The Holidays Book Review
Booked For The Holidays is a cozy, heartwarming novella that delivers all the fan-favorite tropes we love—brother’s best friend, small town charm, second chance romance, and of course, the perfect seasonal vibes.
Here we meet Juniper and Liam, lifelong family friends who have spent countless holidays together. Liam has long been part of the family thanks to his close friendship with Juniper’s brother. But what he doesn’t know is that Juniper has harbored a huge crush on him for years. Last Christmas, she finally decided to step out of her comfort zone and show him how she felt—without saying a word. Just when things started to heat up, Liam panicked and left in a rush, leaving Juniper heartbroken and humiliated.
Fast forward a year later—Juniper has moved on. She’s living independently and running her dream business, a charming romance bookstore in the cozy town of Cedar Hollow. Life is good… until Liam shows up again. With nowhere to stay during the busy holiday season, Juniper’s mom offers him a guest room—Juniper’s guest room. What Juniper doesn’t know is that Liam isn’t just back to visit; he’s back to make amends—and to win her heart for good.
My Thoughts
This novella has so many elements that will warm a romance reader’s heart—the tropes, the festive nostalgia, the bookish setting, and of course, a swoon-worthy, slightly cocky book boyfriend. It’s the kind of story you can devour in one cozy afternoon (or, if you’re like me—a homeschool mom and self-proclaimed slow reader—over the course of a few days).
The pacing flows beautifully, the writing keeps you hooked, and it’s genuinely hard to put down—trust me, the only reason I stopped reading was when my Kindle hit my face!
I gave it four stars because while I loved the story, I did wish for a little more relationship development between Juniper and Liam. At times, Liam’s confidence in his redemption arc felt a bit too easy. But given that it’s a novella, the faster pacing makes sense. There was also a tiny moment near the end that made me cringe a little—not a dealbreaker, just a personal quirk.
Overall, Booked for the Holidays is sweet, festive, and full of heart—a must-read addition to your holiday TBR.
This was an ARC copy, but it’s already out now and available on Kindle Unlimited!
If you’ve read it, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my review and for visiting the site. Don’t forget to follow me on all major social platforms @moodvibesbooks, and make sure to subscribe to the newsletter so we can keep the bookish conversations going.
Until the next book travel, M.
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