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How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn
Meghan Quinn’s How My Neighbor Stole Christmas sets out to be a charming holiday rom-com, and while it does deliver festive vibes, it didn’t fully meet my expectations. The story borrows some delightful Grinch inspired elements, with one character embodying the grumpy holiday hater slowly won over by Christmas cheer, while the other brims with seasonal enthusiasm. It’s a classic dynamic that gave off Gilmore Girls energy. Specifically, the fiery Lorelai Gilmore and stoic Luke Danes vibes. Their banter and tension were fun to follow, but the execution felt uneven.
The romance builds slowly, with the first half leaning into flirty holiday antics that set the stage well. However, by the 60% mark, the story takes a turn into full-blown lust, with steamy scenes dominating the narrative. While I’m not opposed to spice in a rom-com, the tonal shift felt abrupt and out of place given the lighter, more playful setup. It left me wishing for a bit more balance between romance and humor.
One thing that didn’t work for me at all was the random narration at the start of each chapter. The style felt like an over-the-top attempt to emulate Dr. Seuss, with rhymes that seemed forced and didn’t add much to the story. Instead of enhancing the holiday cheer, it came across as trying too hard, and I often found myself skimming past those sections.
The central conflict, reminiscent of a Hallmark movie, was underwhelming. The misunderstandings driving the drama felt flimsy and easily avoidable, making it hard to feel invested in the resolution. And while the ending is sweet, it’s also extremely cheesy, tying things up with predictable tropes.
Lastly, the book could have benefited from some trimming. At times, it felt unnecessarily long, with repetitive scenes that slowed the pacing. That said, Quinn’s humor and the festive setting still made for a few smile worthy moments. If you’re looking for a steamy holiday romance with Grinch and Gilmore Girls vibes, How My Neighbor Stole Christmas might work for you. For me, it was an okay but forgettable read. You can pick this up on Kindle Unlimited if you just want to try this book out.
⚠️⚠️SPOILER⚠️⚠️
This whole rivalry started when Storee said some not so nice things and left town abruptly on the day that Coal’s parents died. He held onto it for 10 WHOLE years. Which, by personal experience, I don’t blame him.
But when the conflict was finally addressed, that whole thing went out the window with a one word sorry. It was totally forgotten. I was wondering why we spent almost 60% of the book with him holding that grudge and it just to be forgotten quickly. Never to mention again.
The conflict at the end IRKED me. I thought it was going to be the typical Hallmark conflict of the FMC leaving the small Christmas town and then she realized she wants to stay. Oh no, not this one. Without rationalization or communication he just goes “you were using me for the competition, I thought I loved you.” and storms off and leaves. After he discovered someone pulled all his Christmas lights down. It felt childish to feel “used” in a silly competition.
