A Billionaire for Christmas takes a delightfully over-the-top premise—a grief-fueled Christmas bucket list—and grounds it with emotional depth and genuine character growth.

Molly shines as a protagonist: quirky, determined, and grieving the loss of her best friend, she’s thrown into a whirlwind of absurd holiday dares that push her far outside her comfort zone. Her dynamic with Levi—the brooding, emotionally guarded billionaire—is classic opposites-attract, but Lyons avoids clichés by weaving in vulnerability and witty banter that make their chemistry feel earned.

The French Alps setting adds charm and escapism, while the humor (think karaoke in Santa suits and ski lift mishaps) keeps the tone light. Although some tasks stretch believability and the ending feels a bit rushed, the story strikes a strong balance between heartfelt grief and rom-com hilarity.

Overall, this is a cozy, funny, and surprisingly touching holiday romance—perfect for readers who want a snow-drenched escape filled with love, laughter, and healing.

This was cute. In the beginning, I didn't expect to like it, as the character got into such highly unlikely/unbelievable situations that it kind of made me roll my eyes. However, I'm so glad I pushed through! I ended up loving the FMC by the end once I got to see her true personality show! I also loved the character development for the FMC, the MMC and his siblings. Overall, it was wonderful. Such a cute read!

I received this ARC from NetGalley and Boldwood Books to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.

A Billionaire For Christmas is a story about Molly who is a chef. Molly had lost her best friend/business partner. Ava's will says that Molly needs to finish a bucket list that Ava could not. While working, Molly meets Levi who is a billionaire and the perfect fit for one of the bucket list items.

I really liked the concept, and the beginning was fun. It started to get muddled when Levi's family showed up. There is a lot of other drama and Levi seems to think Molly is up to something. Molly saving the day suddenly changes his mind and they fall in love. It was all over the place.

I liked Molly. I could not get a real feel for Levi. There was a lot of description for things and it seems like everyone is yelling or screaming about something which bugged me.

It is a cute book though and a quick read. Just not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this e-ARC. This review is my own opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for the chance to read this book I tried but struggled with the characters I just couldn’t relate to them.. Some of the characters on the sideline I thought to be very selfish and at times I found it hard to relate to the story. Sorry

This book is a sparkling holiday romp that had me laughing, swooning, and wishing I were sipping hot chocolate in the Alps. Molly is a delightful heroine—determined, witty, and utterly relatable as she tackles her late friend’s outrageous bucket list while trying to save the restaurant they built together. The “12 days, 12 impossible tasks” premise instantly hooked me, and each challenge brought both comedy and charm.

Levi, the infuriatingly handsome billionaire, is the perfect romantic foil. Their chemistry sizzles from the moment they meet, and the playful banter mixed with high-stakes holiday chaos kept the pages flying by. The snowy French Alps setting added a magical, cinematic feel, making every mishap and flirtatious encounter even more immersive.

Beyond the laughs and romance, I loved the heart at the center of the story—the friendship, loyalty, and sense of honoring loved ones’ wishes. It’s funny, sexy, and sweet all at once, making it the perfect holiday escape for anyone who loves romantic adventures with a festive twist.

oh this is just the kind of book that will make any day better but will make a Christmas time feel joyous. if anyone stressed around Christmas or struggles with it then this book would definitely be one to be whipped out again then. its a laugh, a smile, a heart cheer of a book. if you haven't see Jo and her work before then you need to just go take a peek at her other books and titles to know you are here to feel good and Jo will help you do just that with her gorgeous works.
Jo brings a seam of humour and giggly feels throughout this book, even in the moments not purposefully made to be so. there is just such a light, bright, good feels vibes to it. she also in the meant to be funny moments has you doing those involuntary cackles.
we've got a woman in this book who is brilliant. Molly is a very talented chef. but things took a turn when she lost her friend who's also her business partner. and things take a real turn when the restaurant they both own is given to Molly but with terms. terms which is transpires need to be met or she risks her business! because Ava has left a bucket list. and this needs to be done in order for Molly to get her inheritance. whaaaaat? and trust me this list isn't your ordinary so we are off and ready for an excitement adventure ahead. is Molly ready though? well, she hasn't a choice.
we've got a billionaire who's grumpy of course so being stuck with our main character female isn't ideal. but right back at you mate from her perspective too! Levi doesn't want romance or to be involved with this dizzy woman's antics. but come on Levi we and you aren't resisting Molly. she is wonderful and you might just find yourself melting for her too.
we've got snow. we've got the building of our pairs connection.
we've got forced togetherness. we've got more connection.
we've got cheeky feels and naughtiness. and the deepening of their connection.
we've got touching moments and family and friends dynamics that fill your heart. and of course something real, very real becoming apparent in their connection.
alongside this Jo gives us the depth we need to. and that is where you truly know an authors shines. because that balance is never easy and some really dont get it right. Jo gets it so right. the vulnerability and emotional moments and backstory are really well done. as well as of curse sharing and showing Molly in her grief.
oh and you will be overjoyed at the things on the to-do list for Molly. you will smile those big goofy smiles reading them.
all in all this is one perfection of a book. a joy to read. and i wanted to stay with it long after i finished. wanted to bottle the feeling it gave me and inject it into my veins.
brilliant.

This is the first book I have read by Jo and was happy to receive an advance copy. Molly has hit a tough time. Her best friend and business partner died last year and has left her the share of the restaurant they run to her. There is a stipulation that she needs to complete her bucket list by Christmas Eve,in 12 days.She has no money and is struggling with the restaurant. She is working as a chef in the French Alps in a swanky resort full of millionaires to make extra money. She sees this as a chance to finish the bucket list. She gets herself into some scrapes. She meets Levi and she really fancies him and she tries to get him into a hot tub,naked. Nothing goes to plan and she vows to keep away from Levi but she keeps bumping into him. She takes a job to work for a rich family cooking for them at Christmas,they have a fabulous chalet and she meets Toby who looks after them. He has to go and collect them and as they won’t be back till the following day,he tells he to enjoy the facilities. So,she tries to tick off more of the bucket list and is in the sauna naked when who walks in but Levi. Turns out it’s his chalet and his family are coming for Christmas,she can’t believe it. You must read the book and find out what Molly gets up,I loved the book,couldn’t put it down.

Amazing book loved the characters and plot. I couldn't stop reading I stayed up all night. I loved the book so much thank you for the arc.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was hooked from the beginning.

Molly is still grieving the loss of her friend and she given a bucket list that she has to complete in order for things to go back to how they were to some extent.

The story follows Molly as she tries to complete the list, which included catering for burlesque hen night, avalanches, catering for a family that doesn’t get on and plenty of funny moments.

Levi, who is a billionaire, helps Molly out on a few occasions and their relationship also has its ups and downs.

I highly recommend this book.

I absolutely adored this ridiculous, hilarious, whirlwind romance. This truly felt like the definition of rom-com. It literally had me laughing out loud, squealing with delight, and eating it up like candy. I read this book in August and was worried it might be too holiday-esque but it wasn't. It was the perfect, lighthearted romance I needed. Somehow Jo Lyons took this unhinged bucket list concept (from riding camels in costumes to being naked in a hot tub with a billionaire) and made it believable. While the main characters were engaging, I did struggle with the side characters being so selfish and downright rude, but I'm glad I stuck with it because it all wrapped up nicely with a Christmas bow in the end.

2.5 Stars
One Liner: Depends on how you like the FMC

Talented chef Molly’s best friend and business partner, Ava, passes away, leaving a bucket list of things to do. However, due to a legal mix-up, Molly’s inheritance is at risk unless she completes the bucket list before Christmas Eve.
A determined Molly goes in search of a billionaire to help her tick off an item on the list – to share champagne with her in a hot tub. A luxury ski resort in the French Alps should make it easy, right? Molly does find a billionaire, a handsome grump, Levi, who doesn’t seem to be interested.
The story comes in Molly’s third-person POV.

My Thoughts:
Right! If you like OTT madness and outlandish scenes, you might enjoy the book more than I did. It does have Kinsella vibes with the FMC doing such weird stuff that I was triply embarrassed on her behalf.
Also, this is my third book dealing with the same trope – the FMC grieving her dead best friend. Of all three, this is the one I liked the least. Not because it is more lighthearted, but because I couldn’t feel the FMC’s love or grief for her bestie.
The writing is actually good. It has a terrific pace, which explains the extra 0.5 stars. I finished the book in a single sitting. However, even that doesn’t make up for the issues.
The setting is pretty cool. I enjoyed the descriptions of the place, the snow, the resort, the cabins, etc. It’s detailed enough to paint a picture but not too lengthy.
The FMC makes it very hard to like her in the first 20-30%. That level of childishness from someone who is almost thirty made my head spin. Sure, it can be funny if you like hot-mess-despo kind of fun. I don’t even understand why she wants to act like a deranged stalker when actually explaining her situation would make it easier. Some strange compulsion, I guess.
Things do get a little better, but then the MMC’s family should get an award for being what they are. OTT stuff again. I know the book doesn’t take itself seriously, but I like to have some respect for the main characters.
The scenes with food were fun enough, though not my kind. I’m not into aphrodisiac molecular gastronomy or whatever, where the quantities are minuscule and look like they should be in an art museum. Give me a proper slice of chocolate cake. But anyhoo, it was done well.
While the book had comedy, the romance was non-existent. They went from full-blown lust to love-you in no time. And that too, when they barely had a meaningful conversation. How do you fall in love with someone you didn’t even properly talk to?
The bare bones are quite good, but I think the execution overdid the ‘embarrassing escapades’ and the outlandishness, making it hard to take any of it the least bit seriously. Even escapist fiction should have something to root for!

To summarize, A Billionaire for Christmas is a fast-paced, mindless read if you want something to engage you for a couple of hours. That said, you may like it better if you don’t mind the FMC’s antics.
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

This book kicked off with tons of potential and delivered on the laugh-out-loud comedy it promised—at first. Molly and Levi meet on the night Molly discovers she has just ten days to complete her late friend’s bucket list before losing the restaurant they built together. The chemistry between them? Hot from start to finish.

But as the book unfolds, things get a little muddled. The author introduces Levi’s family and a whole web of personal drama, which made it harder to keep track of the characters and plot. Somewhere along the way, the lighthearted humor that hooked me in the beginning starts to fade. Levi doesn't appear as much as the other characters, and I find it hard to see how Molly and Levi really spend a lot of time together.

Still, if you’re into steamy romance with a unique premise, it might be worth the read. Just be prepared for a shift in tone halfway through.

2.5 rounded up to 3 stars
This book is a rom-com set at Christmas time in the Swiss Alps. The story is rather entertaining but I had trouble believing it and relating to any of the characters. Molly is kind of a doormat for the most part of the book and Levi is completely arrogant and both of them change their minds every 5 minutes. Also Levi's family is obnoxious and rude and I find it very hard to believe that Molly (or anyone) would still befriend them. The romance between Molly and Levi seems to be purely based on sexual attraction and thus the HEA didn't feel very believable to me. Also there were several inconsistencies like Molly waking up in the morning without having slept a wink - if you haven't slept you can't wake up.
All in all a fairly entertaining book but not a must-read for me.

This was an enjoyable festive read. I did find it fast paced and I felt it missed something but other than that I still enjoyed the story and the great mix of characters. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t sure about this story at the beginning because I felt frustrated at the female lead character’s decisions and choices. I didn’t warm to her straight away. However the author made me realise that her behaviour was out of the ordinary for her due to what was happening in her life. Loss makes us react differently, anxiety and worry can consume you.

I loved how the story progressed and you got to see what a caring and kind soul she was. I really enjoyed how the book built and it turned into a spicy but warmhearted love story. I’m glad I stuck with it.

A Billionaire for Christmas, by Jo Lyons was another Christmas NetGalley find. This is my first book my Jo Lyons and I like her writing. Not so much a Christmas feels book, but a romance novel with a crazy and overbearing family to boot. When Molly's best friend Ava leaves are a list of things to do before Christmas, Ava really pushed Molly out of her comfort zone. Enter in the billionaire, Levi. He turns Molly's world upside down and she turn's Levi's world right side up. This was a fun quick read, but I was hoping for more holiday feels.

This was an adorable and festive romcom that made me laugh, crave hot chocolate, and want to book a ski trip immediately. Molly’s mission to finish her best friend’s over the top bucket list had the perfect mix of chaos and charm, and Levi grumpy, ridiculously handsome billionaire was such a great romantic foil. The setting in the French Alps felt magical, and some of the escapades had me grinning like an idiot. I will say a couple of moments leaned a bit over-the-top, but honestly, that’s half the fun in a holiday romance. Cozy, flirty, and perfect for a snowy weekend read.

3⭐️

I really wanted to enjoy this as a holiday rom-com however, it fell a little short for me. It was a fun story of Molly having to complete a bucket list in order to keep her business. I enjoyed the lesson of living life to the fullest, and enjoying the journey, however I was hoping for a little more throughout the book.

I could not put this down! I devoured it in two days as I was hooked! I really felt for Molly and her grief at losing her friend, then being handed her bucket list to complete.
Each chapter took me on a journey I was not expecting from naked saunas to burlesque hen nights, luxury chalets, avalanches, family feuds, and loads of laughs along the way.
I adored Levi, the aloof billionaire who inadvertently came to Molly's rescue on more than one occasion. The push and pull between them was delightful and I enjoyed the blend of hot and cold between them.
His chaotic family were equally brilliant and the end had me crying happy tears.
If you are looking for a rollercoaster ride of a festive read with spice, laughs, snark and secrets this is it!

4.5 star for me.My first book by this author.
We meet Molly who just lost her best friend and business partner, Ava.After Ava passes away she leaves Molly their restaurant,and wild bucket list to complete.Molly get restaurant after she's done each challenge before Christmas Eve,which is only 12 days away.

When I start reading this book, I was thinking- Christmas theme,maybe little bit romance,same old,same old.Well I was in for surprise.All start with broken camel and that wedding speech ,have me laughing like I didn't laugh in a long time reading chic lit.
I just could feel how awkward and embarrassed Molly was,and her banner with Levi leave me smiling and shaking my head.

There was enough of Molly and Levi action,that I was satisfied with romance.Some spice was included,which I like.

The family was bonkers,it was funny how they interact, but sometimes I was not happy how they treat Molly.Levi could be stubborn,and it could take him to long to let Molly explain some things.
But that was just minor (0.5 star )setback for me.

If you like to laugh,and don't take everything seriously this book is for you.
I would recommend this book,and definitely will be checking out other author work.

Thank you netgalley and publisher for arc.