I got an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks, NetGalley!
Shoshanna, a Jewish teen, loves working at her favorite local bookstore. But lately, things aren’t going great at home. Her moms are constantly fighting, and her beloved car is on the brink of death. When her boss announces a holiday bonus to the person who sells the most books, she sees it as money she can get to fix her car. But there’s only one person standing in her way: new hire Jake, who doesn’t even read leisurely. But why can’t she stop thinking about how cute he is when she’s trying to ‘take him down’?
This is the first book of the author’s I’ve read. What drew me to this book was that it was about a teen working in a bookstore (which next to being a professional book reviewer is my dream job) and that it took place during the holidays. Now, I’m not Jewish, but I also wanted to learn a little bit about Hanukkah. I feel like the first part that drew me in was that it took place in a bookstore mostly, but I stayed for the holiday stuff and the characters and plot.
Shoshanna was very creative in trying to get one up on Jake in the race to see who could get the bonus, and I loved that he combated her almost every time. I also enjoyed the times where they had to work together, and she was trying not to like him but seemed to not be able to help herself. Very entertaining.
I can’t point out something particular about the book I didn’t like. It just seemed to work. I even liked Myra (the wheelchair-bound boss), the moms, Jake’s mom, just…it all seemed to work (I said that already, didn’t I?)
I would recommend this book if you like holiday romances that aren’t heavy on the holiday stuff, trying-not-to-fall-in-love-with-each-other romances, or even if you’re in the mood for a different kind of holiday romance. Heck, if you love reading YA bookstore stories, you should read this. 5 out of 5 stars. If you still don't believe me, check out the trailer on the author's Instagram feed.
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