This Christmas, love is the best surprise of all . . .
Merry Sinclair used to adore Christmas — until heartbreak ruined her holiday spirit. Working in New York’s famously festive Carroll’s Department Store over the holidays is not helping matters. Until she meets new employee Christian, whose easy confidence and deep chestnut eyes make her heart skip.
Estranged heir to a global empire, Christian Carroll hasn’t set foot inside his family’s store in years. But when his father tells him the company’s struggling, he reluctantly agrees to return, on one condition — he’ll work undercover as a janitor.
The last thing he needs is a distraction in the form of the charming and quirky store-greeter he can’t seem to stay away from.
As Merry and Christian grow closer, their connection becomes undeniable. But when Christian’s true identity is revealed, Merry must choose — can she trust him with her heart, or will past heartaches keep them from finding their own place under the mistletoe?
Hunter has secretly been in love with her best friend’s brother Dylan for years, despite barely registering as a blip on his radar. She’s not even in the friend zone—more like friend zone adjacent. But her luck is about to change: Dylan is taking over her spare room, and she’s being promoted to roommate. Could this be the moment Dylan finally notices her?
Not so fast. When Dylan moves in, he carries more than just boxes—he brings complications. Suddenly, the dream of living under the same roof turns into a daily struggle. Dylan is off-limits, for reasons Hunter couldn’t have anticipated, and the closer they get, the harder it becomes to ignore her feelings.
But Hunter’s determined to keep her heart in check—no matter how difficult the task. She just has to avoid ogling him in a towel. Definitely don’t imagine what’s under the towel. And try not to swoon when he bakes cookies.
But after he saves her from a terrible date and they’re forced to share a sofa bed at his parents’ house, her emotions reach a breaking point. She’ll have to either move on or move out. Will she tell him the truth—or lose him forever?
This book delivers a heartfelt, trope-filled romantic comedy with emotional depth and likable leads. Set around a forced proximity scenario, the story follows Hunter, a STEM-savvy engineer harboring a decade-long crush on Dylan—her best friend’s brother—who unexpectedly becomes her roommate. The twist? Dylan has a girlfriend.
Hunter is an especially strong protagonist: relatable, funny, and refreshingly grounded. Her dating attempts to move past her crush are hilarious yet realistic, and her response to misogyny on a date is empowering. Her role as a woman in engineering adds a layer of representation rarely explored in rom-coms. Dylan, meanwhile, is the quintessential golden retriever love interest—sweet, loyal, and slightly oblivious. His prolonged struggle over his existing relationship is drawn out but ultimately sincere.
Despite being told in third person (which may not be everyone’s favorite), the writing is engaging, and the mutual pining, seduction plans, and slow-burn chemistry create a rewarding emotional payoff. The inclusion of fertility issues like PCOS and endometriosis adds real-life relevance, though these could’ve been explored more deeply. Still, the story ends on a hopeful and satisfying note.
This book is ideal for fans of slow-burn angst, friends-to-lovers tension, and plenty of romantic humor. It’s warm, witty, and well worth the read.
My Sanctuary 