Review: The Christmas Wager by Holly Cassidy

Thank you Penguin Group Putnam for my copy! All thoughts are my own.

I read a lot of holiday themed/festive books every year for my holiday reading guide. I thought the premise of this book sounded fast paced and fun, but I unfortunately didn’t love this one. It could be because it’s been very hard to focus on reading in October, due to the pain in the world. But I think it also just wasn’t structured in a way that worked for me. It’s still super cute and the small town vibes are elite!

Synopsis:

“One rivalry. Eight days until Christmas. Let the holiday games begin.

When L.A.-based real estate developer Bella Ross arrives in the sleepy mountain town of Maple Falls, she has one mission: to acquire the local failing Christmas shop, Always Noelle, securing the promotion of her dreams. Nothing can get in her way. Except the shop owner’s stubborn grandson, Jesse Harrison.

Both refuse to budge, until an unlikely wager is struck: Bella and Jesse will compete in the Maple Falls Holiday Games, an annual tradition of eccentric feats of strength and skills. Winner decides the selling price. They’ll give each other a run for their money, but as the competition heats up, Bella and Jesse’s icy feelings toward each other begin to thaw. It’ll take a Christmas miracle for them to admit there’s a spark, but what if it’s just another game?” —NetGalley

What I Liked:

The Small Town—I loved the small town vibes of this story! Maple Falls was so cute and it really felt like reminiscent of Stars Hollow or a Hallmark movie.
The Characters—The side characters were the best part for me! The town seemed so well formed and fully fleshed out. Clarence was obviously my favorite but anyone who knows me isn’t surprised to learn that.

What Didn’t Work for Me:

The Pacing—It took me foreverrrrr to get through this book. It just didn’t feel like things flowed in a way that made me want to keep reading.
The Premise—I love a good competition story but something didn’t click with this premise for me. It was cute and enjoyable but I really just didn’t feel the stakes!