The novel seemed to be all over the place in terms of plot, pace, conflict and drama. Some things were brought into the story but never really panned out to be anything more than a side mention, or never mentioned again. A lot of the conflict felt artificial and the resolutions too easy. I felt the book could have been shorter with more of an impact had some items been reworked and/or removed. I was also expecting more steam, as I had seen some reviews saying this book had lots. Sure, there was some steam, but quite often it was cut short or too abrupt. They were constantly being interrupted and when they finally were able to have some intimate moments it fizzled after a while. I wanted more from the two people who had suppressed their feelings for each other for so long. I also could not understand Noel's friend Gabby's blind devotion and loyalty to Amber. Amber has been Noel's enemy since high school, but Gabby fails to see how poorly Amber treats Noel. Amber continuously belittles Noel, in front of her friends and family, and little is done to stop it. How is this wretched person worth Gabby's time when she shows no concern for feelings, no remorse, and continues to antagonize everyone around her? It just baffles. Even if she had a hard upbringing, does that excuse her absolute bully behaviour? The most emotional moments were those ones where Noel is still coming to terms with the loss of her parents. The impact their deaths had on her life are looming. She fears marriage and children, thinking she will lose them. She avoids familial settings because they bring back painful memories of what she has lost. She is slowly working through her insecurities and her fears, with Nick and his families help. I really liked seeing Nick being a stand up guy, not pressuring her into a life she is not ready to have. He understands her and he is willing to be there for her, whenever she needs him. The music aspect of the book was done well, so while other factors were turning me off the book, the music continued to pull me in. Noel's connection to music stems from her parents, the singing talent she inherited, and her and Nick sharing a love for everything musical. Nick loves making playlists and handing them out to people in certain situations, it is how he emotionally connects with others and the world. I would have loved seeing Chapter titles being song titles, or song lyrics starting off Chapters, but no such luck. However, there is a playlist at the end of the book, which I fully appreciated, it perfectly pulls the reader into the world Nick and Noel have created within this book, into the town of Mistletoe and their mending hearts. Fair warning to anyone reading this book, the story was very gendered (which made me cringe quite a few times). Lots of gender stereotypes and heteronormative language in regards to relationships and sex. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for sending me an earc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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