Rating: 👍🏻

I know, I know. It’s July. And I’m in the Northern Hemisphere, which means it’s hot AF and this chronically ill ghoulie is getting by one blast of AC at a time. But earlier this month I read another book set during the holidays—by accident!—and then I came across this short, sweet, and spicy novella when I was looking for a, well, short, sweet, and spicy novella to read at bedtime. So I decided I might as well continue this Christmas in July thing.

(Aside for a quick blogger’s note for context you probably don’t actually need but this is my blog and I’ll do what I want to: I am usually reading three to four books at a time. I have a daytime read or two, I have an audiobook for chores and my weekly library volunteer gig, and I have a novella for nighttime reading because I AM PRIORITIZING SLEEP ((I’m not yelling at you, I’m yelling at me))—and I know from experience that reading a full-length novel at bedtime is a really great way to give my insomnia all the motivation it needs to insomni-ate. Or whatever.)

ANYWAY. Holiday Games was just what I needed. Under 100 pages (just). A cute holiday story with close proximity between strangers who are attracted to each other. A KITTEN. Believable instalust (though to be fair, I don’t usually require my instalust to be believable in a novella). They get snowed in and thus trapped together. And the power goes out, so how will they stay warm (wink wink nudge nudge)?? Oh, and did I mention there’s a kitten?

While this one hasn’t stuck with me (I read it a couple weeks ago) as much as some of my other shorter faves, I liked it, and I think it’s a good one if you’re looking for something you can read in a sitting with a bit of spice. Also there’s the aforementioned kitten. Which she keeps. (That's not a euphemism, btw.)