Book Review: The Bright Side of Christmas

Somehow it’s already July which means it’s that time of year for me to read some Christmas in July reads because there’s always way too many that I want to read in November/December. The first one I’ve read this year so far is The Bright Side of Christmas by Morgan Elizabeth. This is the first book in the Holly Ridge series.

The novel follows Wren King and Adam Porter. Wren is an elementary teacher in her small hometown of Holly Ridge. She is the town sweetheart and always the first one to offer to help anyone out or to say yes when asked for a favor. Since her grandmother passed earlier in the year she has taken over the decorating committee and is determined to make this holiday season in Holly Ridge amazing. That includes making sure every house on her street is lit up and decorated for Christmas – a tradition the street has had for decades.

The problem? Adam Porter is new to town and no one knows much about him since he hasn’t talked to anyone in town. He’s Wren’s neighbor and when she goes over to ask him about decorating his house he tells her he won’t be doing that since he hates Christmas! Adam is a popular songwriter who has had writer’s block for the past year. His last hits were Christmas songs and he doesn’t want to be known as only a Christmas songwriter. Adam moved to Holly Ridge thinking a small, quiet town would give him some peace and maybe some inspiration. He was not counting on his neighbor being persistent on him decorating his house to the point of adding decorations to his house every morning before he wakes up.

The two are both stubborn and like to push each other’s buttons. He doesn’t want to decorate. She won’t let him be the only house without decorations. As the two get to know each other more as neighbors they naturally start to develop feelings for one another and their unwillingness to compromise before starts to shift into wanting to help each other out.

I really liked this book and was hooked from start to finish. I liked Wren, Adam, and all the side characters. I especially was rooting for Wren when she had a crash out towards the end of the book haha. The relationship that develops between Wren and Adam seems really realistic and to happen naturally. Overall, it was a really entertaining spicy Christmas romcom.

I’m looking forward to continuing the series. I think the next book that follows Hallie and Jesse will be highly entertaining.

Read this if you want a spicy small town Christmas romcom with the enemies to lovers trope.

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