A review by fiwwa
The Mistletoe Motive by Chloe Liese

lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I. CAN'T. STOP. SMILING.

“You don’t like them?”
“Not a bit,” he says. “Mint chocolate is foul.”
“Then why do you have mint chocolate M&Ms?”
“Because I saw them at the grocery store after work today and thought of you and bought them.”

That scene that I saw from booktok video convinced me enough to read this novella. I mean, mint chocolate lover girl? That's me. Having a guy who appreciates my love for mint chocolate is what I need. And guess what, I love it so much. The enemies to lovers, the banters, the slow burn, the You've Got Mail references (which is the best).

I'm gonna start with Gabriella Di Natale because why not? She's amazing. I can see Kathleen Kelly in her: how she loves the bookstore so much, it's like a second home to her, but her business brain isn't the best, still great but isn't the best. She loves peppermint cocoa and I'd be glad to give her a high five for that, also has the best taste in romance books. And also... in love with a stranger online.

Jonathan Frost, on the other hand, didn't like romance until someone made him read Jane Austen. This man is something.
Remembers Gab's weird (it isn't weird but to him it is) drink order, reads Gab's favorite romance books, change his cologne because he knows Gab can't handle strong scents, and keeps a mint choco candy because Gab likes them although he hates them. Oh and he bought a Christmas tree because Gab is festive while he's agnostic. OH AND HE BOUGHT THE BOOKSTORE AS THEIR WEDDING GIFT???
Can this man be any more perfect? Is there even a real man like Jonathan Frost?

I love the chemistry between the two characters in fact I might be obsessed THEY'RE JUST THE CUTEST??? I'm not even counting all the scenes that gave me butterflies when I read them.

This book has all the trope that I love and again I mention this again but it's literally You've Got Mail but make it Christmas which is my favorite movie ever. Enemies to lovers? Check. Slow burn? Check. Workplace rivals? Check. Grumpy and sunshine? Check. A perfect hero? Check. Not to mention it has a good representation for autism, demisexual, and type 1 diabetes.

I don't celebrate Christmas but hey, Santa, one Jonathan Frost for me, please?

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