The Holiday Hookup List by Alexis Daria | Christmas Romance
If you’re looking for a steamy holiday romance to check out this season, look no further. I have the perfect book for you! It’s called The Holiday Hookup List by Alexis Daria. It’s about a woman named Valenia and her sexy high school archnemesis who she reunites with at a club in Brooklyn. Are you interested? I know you are! So keep reading for my full The Holiday Hookup List book review for all of the details, as well as my honest opinions.
And if you’re looking for more Christmas recommendations, click here.
What is The Holiday Hookup List by Alexis Daria About?
The twelve days of Christmas have never been hotter! Spice up the holiday season with this sizzling enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy by an internationally bestselling author.
Valencia
After calling it quits with my cheating fiancé, I’m definitely not feeling the Christmas spirit this year. But when my best friend invites me to a holiday dance party, I show up ready to shake my ass.
Except I must be on Santa’s naughty list, because who do I run into? My infuriatingly sexy high school archnemesis, Gideon Noble.
The pulsing music, red and green strobe lights, and Gideon’s bitable bottom lip make me reckless, so I drag him onto the dance floor.
And then? I take him home with me.
Gideon
If this is my second chance with Valencia, I’m not wasting it.
We’re both alone this Christmas, so we create a naughty and nice list that would make Santa blush: twelve days of wholesome yuletide cheer, and twelve nights decking each other’s halls.
As Christmas Eve, and the end of our list, approaches, I realize that twelve days with Valencia Torres isn’t enough.
I want forever.
But does she? (from Amazon.com)
My Initial Thoughts
I had a couple of thoughts when I first started reading this book.
- I like Alexis Daria’s writing style
- I like that this story takes place in NYC. I love movies and books that are set in NYC at Christmastime. It just feels so dreamy and magical.
- I thought it was weird how Gideon Novle was basically like, Valencia’s middle school bully? I know people change as they grow up and mature but it’s like… ew. I’m surprised she didn’t run away from him at the club after his years of torment! Even if he is extremely hot now!
This book is Way Spicier Than I Thought It Would Be
And that’s fine. I respect it. I just wasn’t prepared. Lol. But to me, this spicy Christmas-themed romp is equal parts sweet and sexy.
Let me explain.
After Valencia and Gideon realize that they are both along for the holidays, they make a pact together. For the 12 days of Christmas they will participate in 12 Christmas themed activities around the city (like ice skating and seeing Christmas lights), as well as work their way through a list of sexy holiday activities in the bedroom.
It’s very fun because although they are just a woman and her childhood nemesis, it’s clear that they have incredible chemistry. The lines blur as their challenge continues and neither of them knows what to make of it. Especially because neither of them wants to go their separate ways when it’s all over. Their intense mutual attraction is undeniable by that point.
But Was it Enjoyable?
Yes, this book is enjoyable. If I’m being completely honest, I don’t read a lot of spicy romance. I prefer to read romances where the focus is on feelings and heartfelt conversation, rather than steamy sex scenes. So I did feel like this book was a bit much for me. I might have skimmed some of the scenes with explicit sexual activity just because there were so many of them.
But I still found it to be a great book. The backstory for Valencia and Gideon was really interesting. In early chapters, he comes clean to her about why he acted the way he did during their school years. And I’m not going to say that it was excusable, but it was sweet how he apologized to her and seemed to really feel regret.
In Conclusion
Would I recommend this super-steamy enemies-to-lovers romance? Yes I would! It’s filled with so many sweet and sexy moments. I fell in love with the main characters and was rooting for them to figure things out for the rest of the book. This was their first Christmas together, and hopefully it will be the first of many!
So settle yourself in with a hot holiday treat like hot chocolate, and dive into this new release Christmas romance!
