Everybody else loved this one, but it was a bit of a bumpy ride for me. It took awhile before the romance grew on me, just because it was a little confusing - there were layers, secrets, miscommunication, and multiple timelines to keep track of. I did really like the "he falls first" vibes and the way the hero won me over, so the second half felt a lot stronger than the first. I never did muster up much enthusiasm for the mystery element, which is a substantial part of the story, but it certainly did make for a fast-paced, entertaining read. I'm a fan of Knives Out, and this definitely pulls some elements from that. The banter and playfulness was a lot of fun, and it's got a fresh, unique vibe. Personally, the story sits somewhere between three and fours stars for me, but there's an audience that's going to eat it up.

The story follows Maggie, a romance writer who recently got divorced. She's just starting to realize how much her ex-husband gaslit and belittled her, so she's feeling pretty raw around Christmastime. So when her favorite author, an 81-year-old legend, invites Maggie to her home, it's a dream come true. Unfortunately, she also invited Ethan, a man who has been the bane of Maggie's existence for the last five years. His books have skyrocketed in popularity since he entered the scene, and the two have been hating each other ever since. So when Maggie's favorite author disappears and she sees a side of Ethan that she never knew existed, it's a shock to the system. The constantly carefree and charming man is showing a serious, competent side that makes Maggie feel safe in a chaotic situation - drawer her closer in ways she didn't expect.

This has gotten such rave reviews that I was excited to dive in, but I'll be honest and say that the first 30% or so did not win me over at all. Third person POV is tougher for me to get into, and with the uncertainty surrounding Ethan and Maggie's relationship and all the suspense, I simply wasn't feeling connected to the story at all. Maggie truly believes that Ethan hates her, and we're not given his side of the story until later on. I do often enjoy puzzling out a hero's feelings, but there was just so much other stuff going on. I didn't particularly like either character for a while. Once they start connecting and that takes precedence over the mystery, I started to like the story a lot more. We're with these characters as they figure things out and navigate their messy feelings, which means their relationship goes through a lot of changes in a short period of time. I appreciated that we did get Ethan's POV at some point, though I definitely wouldn't have minded a few more details about his side of things. It's really not that kind of story though - this is meant to be fun, suspenseful and a little flirty; a true romance/mystery combo. I'm rounding up my rating because the second half was stronger, and I liked some of the pieces very much. I received an early copy, and am voluntarily leaving a review of this adventure romance.

Brand	N/A
Rating	4.6 (149 ratings)
Price	$12.99
Category	Action & Adventure

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year: A Novel: An Enemies-to-Lovers Christmas Romance and a Cozy Mystery Set in the English Countryside.