BLURB:

All she wanted for Christmas was a boyfriend for the holidays…
All he wanted was for her to take her crappy first dates elsewhere…

Quirky Holly Jackson was unlucky in love, yet her romantic heart refused to give up her search for companionship—even after her fiancé left her at the altar on Christmas Eve.

Grumpy restaurant owner Kai Kane wanted nothing to do with love. Unfortunately for him, when an eccentric Holly kept entering his restaurant nightly with a different first date, his annoyance grew.

When Kai volunteered to help Holly find a suitor it was for one reason only: to get her out of his restaurant and on to a second date with someone at a different location.

It was all going great until Kai became increasingly jealous of the connection Holly developed with another man. The more Holly fell for Kai’s pick for her, the more overprotective he became.

Kai quickly realized that all wasn’t fair when it came to love and the holidays.
He was going to have to step up his game if he wanted a shot at the ultimate prize—being Holly’s favorite date.

MY THOUGHTS:

Brittainy Cherry’s The Holly Dates is everything I could ever want in a holiday romance. I laughed, swooned, and cried—like, actual tears streaming down my face cried. One scene that broke me (in the best way) was when Holly brought leftovers from her mom’s Thanksgiving dinner to Kai’s house, telling him he’d never have to spend Thanksgiving alone again. I mean, come on, who wouldn’t lose it at that?

Holly and Kai’s connection is so real and heartfelt, you can feel it jump right off the page. Kai’s grumpiness wasn’t over the top, either—it was just enough to make his soft moments with Holly hit even harder. And can we take a moment to talk about Kai’s little brother, Mano? That kid stole my heart with his humor and charm. He added such a fun and loving layer to the story.

This book had everything I love: a well-done slow burn, the fake dating trope (a personal favorite!), and so much heart. It’s funny, romantic, and full of those feel-good family vibes that make holiday stories so special. Plus, it wasn’t overly spicy, which I actually appreciated because it let the emotional depth shine through.

If you’re looking for a holiday book to warm your heart and put you in the festive spirit, this is it. The Holly Dates is sweet, touching, and absolutely perfect for curling up with a cozy blanket and a cup of cocoa. Cherry nailed it with this one!

Happy Reading Folks!