I think I was in the right place mentally for this book because I couldn't stop reading it. I had to force myself to put it down and go to sleep last night.

Don't get me wrong, there were things that rubbed me the wrong way (interactions with Gwen, an all white cast of characters, much too quick and easy of a resolution) but there were many more that made this a great read. I think this will make it as an entry to my "funk reading list."

I loved the humor in this book. Except for the back and forth between Holly and Gwen. It just felt too mean-spirited to be between BFFs. I understand what Spencer was going for - hell, I have friend where our normal conversations are filled with jabs and snarky remarks but theirs seemed to be too much for me to believe.

The apartment complex reminded me a bit of Tales of the City, except more raunchy and funny. Not a bad thing at all.

The chemistry between Meredith and Holly was super charged and I loved every sex scene. A lot. Their time spent in Hawaii was hilarious and I honestly never wanted that part to end.

I really enjoyed [b:30 Dates in 30 Days|51872065|30 Dates in 30 Days|Elle Spencer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1560928304l/51872065._SX50_SY75_.jpg|71387058], too, and think Ms. Spencer is quick becoming a go-to author for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the chance to enjoy and chat about this one. ( )

Holly Hudson is a story editor and screenwriter for a small TV network. Her dream is to write a lesbian holiday romance movie. She has other dreams, involving Meredith Drake, another employee of the network upon whom Holly has a massive crush.

"The Holiday Treatment" throws Holly and her crush together under extremely unlikely circumstances, and against all odds they hit it off, only to have life get in the way. It sounds like a standard rom-com, and it is, but it's also really funny. I'm not ordinarily a laugh-out-loud reader but I chuckled my way through most of this book. The story is told from Holly's point of view and her self-doubt and tendency to ramble struck a chord with me from the first chapter. It's also heart-warming and hella sexy, much more so than you're likely to see in any made-for-TV holiday movie. ( )

Holly is a writer for a thinly veiled Hallmark like channel (or maybe these days it's more like GAC). Meredith is an executive at the same channel. They run into each other on vacay in Hawai'i. It goes great until they get back to LA, and Meredith and Holly are suddenly in different positions. They sorta make it work, but, they also hit some really big bumps in their relationship.

We also get to go home with Holly to her "north pole esque" hometown. Oh, and it took me awhile to get used to Holly's friends, but, once I did they were sone of my favorite characters too.

I'd love another book in this Christmas world too. And as a fan of the good Hallmark and Lifetime Christmas seasons, I loved just how much this was like one of those, but, ya know... way more lesbian. ( )

(i'd actually give this like a 2.5, edging sliiiiightly closer to 3 but not enough, unfortunetly).

I wanted to like this more than I did. I listened to the audiobook version, and while I liked the narrator, I wasn’t in love with the story, or the characters. Holly said and did things that made me genuinely yell out loud "girl, please just stop talking" more than once and not in the ‘oh this is so awkward but adorable way’ more in the ‘this is deeply embarrassing way’. The romance just kind of didn’t feel believable to me, which, on top of not really loving the main character, was kind of the biggest downer for me, since the focus was kind of on the romance. I think this is mostly due to basically just showing a one night stand, assuming they’re suddenly in love, and my god i was also like, holly.... yeah OBVIOUSLY she is not going to just maybe lose her job for a one night stand, you DINGUS and then speeding though the relationship with time cuts that just didn’t let the relationship develop much beyond them clearly having sexual chemistry. And look, I get it, this is meant to be a short and sweet queer holiday romance and those stories all usually kinda surface level anyway, and that’s FINE, it wasn’t bad, it just was a slight letdown. espesically since holly herself made SEVERAL speeches about how queer people need genuine holiday romance stories in the media, i was kinda like.... you dropped your OWN ball, babe. ( )