Just in time for the holiday season, I didn’t get to any Christmas romances but. .

The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer

With all those Christmas romances, here’s a Hannakuh surprise! Sort of. Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is a rare Jewish MC with a huge secret. Her bestselling books are Christmas romances. Yes, she’s a Christmas junkie with their reindeer, peppermint sticks and happily ever afters by the fire with a cup of cocoa.

But when her editor suggests she tries a Hannuku romance to reflect her own faith, she comes at a complete block. While Hannakuh is moving, it’s origins and its celebration do not lend itself to mistletoe kisses or any sort of cheer. So she agrees to help at a fundraising “Matzah Ball” in hopes of finding inspiration.

She isn’t expecting to meet Jacob Greenberg, who is doing his best to make the most successful 8-day celebration ever. He certainly wasn’t expecting Rachel to offer to help as they both tightly hold to their summer camp grudges against each other.

While Rachel may not see much to be jolly during Hannakuh, this was a very joyful book. It helps that Rachel and Jacob may hold some bitterness about their ill-fated summer romance and breakup when they were teens, they are able to connect better as adults especially as Rachel reveals her secrets. Not just the Christmas one but her chronic fatigue syndrome that makes 8-day volunteering more than a bit exhautsing but crippling after awhile. Nonetheless, together he helps to cheer her and break through her resentment against herself and her body and her fear that holds her back.

Jacob had his own troubles but honestly, his story kinda faded in the background compared to Rachel. That was a bit disappointing as a good romance in my opinion would make me equally interested in both MCs as an individual and a couple. However, the book is clearly steeped in the traditions of Juddaism, showing that it may not have the iconic sleigh-ball rides with your sweethearts, it does bond family and community.

Even though the idea that these two would still be so hung up on their romance from years seems a bit unbelievable, I enjoyed the premise focusing on a different holiday romance.

Battle Royal by Lucy Parker

I chose this because after reading Rosaline Parker Takes the Cake I was in the mood for another British bake-off romance. Sylvia was a lucky semi-finalist, displaying her mouth watering creations on Operation Cake when the judge and pastry chef idol, Dominic rips her work to shreds because it’s too elaborate and glitzy (and fell all over his face). All decoration with less focus on flavor.

But due to her fan appeal, she has been invited back to the show, and once again Domnic and Sylvia come head to head.

Now this part of the premise was fun especially as it veered slightly to give some good ol reality tv drama from other contestants trying to psych out of the competition.

But this gets overshadowed with the romantic subplot. Normally that would be interesting and important especially the scandal of judge impartiality but the bigger drama surrounds his role as a prince trying to be a normal person and there’s this whole royal love affair mystery that I just didn’t care about. I wanted the focus to be on cupcakes not secret royals. So yeah, not for me.

Love-Con by Seressia Glass

Inspired by reads on cooking competition romances, I decided to pick this one up. This focuses on the world of cosplaying of which Kenya has made big gains as one of the few people of color and body positive cosplayers. Getting on the show, Cosplay or No Way, offers Kenya not only the chance to win top prize but also added exposure to her cosplay and costuming business that she desperately wants to turn from side job to big store.

But this is a couple’s competition so she asks her best friend, Cameron to fake date with her. He says sure, what could possibly happen? You know what happens.

Not only did it deliver a very real message about the shaming and overt racism of cosplaying and reality tv communitites who want to tear Kenya down. But reality tv only ups the drama by contacting Cameron’s ex just as the two start to see their friendship as something more.

Very cute and fun!

Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

The latest Steminist novel discusses an issue very near and dear to my heart. GRE and other standardized tests suuuuuuuck and should be banished from the graduate process.

That’s one of Bee’s main subjects as her internet alter-ego, WhatWouldMarieCurieDo?

Her tweets have caused quite a stir as she discusses the pitfalls and the sexism of being a female in the STEM fields. Which she is currently in as a neuroscientist in the BLINK project. She’s the head of the project but no one will listen to her direction or heed her advice despite being the superior. It probably didn’t help that she had a completely unwanted damsel-like fall into the arms of her archenemy, Levi. The co-head of the project.

I enjoyed the slow build-up of their romance especially as things weren’t so quick and easy as in Hazelwood’s previous book. Bee had been foremly engaged and Levi used to be married so both hold baggage from their previous relationships. But it helps that they are co-heads so it automates much more time spent in each other’s company and when you don’t talk about your project you get into the little details of each other’s personal lives, their dreams and passions of which both have plenty.

But while the romance was not, I was far more interested in the standardized test controversy and the heated discussions it brings in the lab and the subsequent fallout when Bee’s twitter is hacked and her reputation ruined.

However, there were two things weighing it down. One was Bee’s internet friend who, because you know it’s a romance, was just so obviously Levi in real life that it was painful that it was taking Bee so long to put it together. The second was a dramatic gunman comes on the scene for a last minute dramatic moment that just felt wrong and overwrought for what was a primarily realistic romance.