Christmas off Script by Evie Alexander

A Romance Novel published by Emlin Press (11/04/24)

Summary:

Ella and Leo have always been best friends. They’ve known each other for so long and so well that they can easily finish each other’s…. Sandwiches. Ella has a lot going on. She’s been dumped by her long-term boyfriend. Her best friend, Leo, is only interested in her as friends but she’s always had feelings for him. Add to the mix her ex Zach coming back on the scene and her dad about to be released from prison. Leo is the perfect best friend but he’s always secretly had a crush on Ella. What will it take for them to overcome their fear of affecting their friendship and just admit their feelings and attraction for each other?

Keywords:

Friends to lovers, Christmas, Holidays, Foxbrooke, Christmas Panto, Cinderella, Steamy, Forced Proximity

My Review:

Friends to lovers is one of the best romantic tropes and this book delivers the bestest of best friends to fexiest of fexy lovers.

I love a good fairy tale retelling and this is a classic Cinderella retelling that features a story within a story – the pantomime mirroring real life throughout the novel.

Ella is funny, kind, smart, gifted, caring, thoughtful and stunningly beautiful – at least according to Leo. She fully embodies some of Cinderella’s qualities – kindness, compassion, forgiveness, and patience. Almost to a fault! I’m glad Leo was there to get mad on her behalf because Ella is the most understanding and forgiving person, and she doesn’t hold onto anger like so many of us. Leo is the friend who always loved her and will do anything for her, even just as a friend. He is obsessed with Ella in the best way, in the most unrealistic way, in the most fantastical swoon-worthy I-wish-Leo-was-my-best-friend-turned-lover way.

As soon as the heat picks up, there are quite a few sex scenes. The intimacy was also full of romantic sex tropes.

I absolutely love a good Holiday read; this one is full of the Holiday spirit. There are so many Christmas and British Holiday traditions, along with Ella and Leo traditions. I’d never heard of a Christmas Quiz before this book.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

This novel was published by Emlin Press on 11/04/2024 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.75

Links for more information

Goodreads