How My Neighbor Stole Christmas

I finally started an OVERHYPED (imo) book, and I didn't like it at all. When I started reading this, I was immediately in and out, I got 35% through it and had to pause it because I didn't want to DNF it and tried to give it the benefit of the doubt, but to me, it was simply boring. I resumed my reading today (Dec. 19th, 2024) and got to 38% before I decided to just DNF it. I'm not going to spend what I have left of 2024 on a book that I think is boring as hell and has childish ass MCs. You can't be boring and also have childish MCs, pick a freaking struggle.

3.75⭐
Meghan, I love you, but I hated how you made me hate the MC at the start of the book, just to have her be a normal functioning human halfway through.

I know I am not the biggest Christmas movie lover but this book felt like the perfect script for one. Recently Meghan's books have felt this way, and don't get me wrong, I'd LOVE to watch this on the big screen someday but I find I don't enjoy this kind of writing as much.

That being said Cole was a real nice surprise, he went from grump to real cute boy next door (pun most definitely intended) and I am so glad Storee dropped the city prissy attitude she had at the start of the book. I don't think I would have kept reading if that didn't happen

Way too long and weirdly structured.

I loved this book. It is a bit on the long side, but I didn't mind. The arguments between Cole and the narrator had me laughing out loud. 

Felt like the ending happened super quick after the rest of the book being  appropriately slow-medium paced. Felt a little jarring but overall it was a cute little cheesy holiday book.

This book was enjoyable but long. I feel like all the tiktok hype might be giving it unrealistic expectations.

The best part was side character Max, I hope he gets his own book, or a novella. I loved him.

There was some spicy scenes and the plot of a Christmas competition is always a fun one. However I really think it was dragged out a little too long.

This was really cute and sweet and funny. (I am so fond of the animated classic Grinch, the related jokes just made it better. Especially the snarky “narrator”.) The characters and relationship development were good, the town would be annoying to live in without a cheesy romance to distract you - really all of this was fun and hot, even though I'm not a big fan of romances.