I went into this book expecting a wholesome, holiday centred cosy romance however what I read was not quite a romance at all, rather it felt more like a contemporary fiction with elements of a romantic subplot.

Whilst there were some elements of the story which I found appealing such as the relaxed/lighthearted vibe, the book for me fell flat with uniting this with characters and emotions. Throughout the book we see Mitch maturing, realising that he does not want to deal with homophobia, politics and family drama over the holidays and reflecting in an attempt to develop his sense of self but these crucial and more intriguing elements are not given the time and development which I would have liked.

Happy Holigays is not only a very short book but also, in my experience, a quick read due to its simple language which makes it difficult for the reader to become fully invested in the characters. Many side characters aren't even given names and the main 'cast' is small yet they lack a certain depth that would allow them to build the intimacy and connections which are essential in cosy and holiday-vibe stories.

Some of the plot points were slightly predictable for my tastes which in itself is not an issue however there is a lack of emotional involvement (both with the reader and the characters) and in turn the 'romance' itself doesn't feel real, making the ending somewhat unsatisfying. We learn of Mitch's feelings for the love interest suddenly - after having him sleeping around and hooking up for over 60% of the book - and without really being able to see how he comes to this realisation whilst I believe the emotion and chemistry which felt most prominent and real was with a different character entirely.

The SA scene (which readers are not warned about in advance despite the content being potentially triggering) is not only unnecessary but poorly handled with Mitch laughing it off at first before later getting angry and defensive. It is a disappointing approach to the subject matter and adds no value whatsoever to the story or characters which leaves me to wonder why it was included at all.

Additionally, the love confession scene felt rushed as it came late in the book and was moved over quickly to a somewhat wholesome but abrupt ending. What should have been one of the biggest plot elements in a 'romance' book was not thoroughly explored, the emotions not really delved into and the arguments not quite resolved which made the ending somewhat of a jarring read.

The book seems to have potential and I can certainly see where the appeal may lay however the execution fell flat for me.

2 Stars

Great book, loved the storyline and the attachment to the characters, just wished it wasn’t closed door/fade to black!

So Mitch hooks up with other people and there's some talk of him doing that. The SA scene was uncalled for and I could've done without that. This didn't really feel like a romance and it was very character-driven. There's also scenes and not chapters. There were some funny moments and at least the newly published cover is better

Such a sweet romance book. I love the way each character was described and everything was developed. It is a light-hearted, quick read. And these types of wholesome, pure romances are needed to keep us going.