How My Neighbor Stole Christmas

By: Meghan Quinn

Narrated by: Vanessa Edwin, J.F. Harding, Robert Hatchet, Emma Wilder, Shane East

Length: 13 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

A new winter holiday, enemies-to-lovers romance, from the undeniably funny and always spicy, USA Today bestselling author, Meghan Quinn.

Living in a year around Christmas town has its drawbacks. The caroling, the decorations, the insanely cheery spirit, it never disappears. It's why I like to hibernate away in my cave - I mean housekeeping a healthy distance from the holly jolly spirits.

And all was going according to plan until my nemesis, Storee Taylor, moved in next door to care for her Aunt Cindy. Without blinking, she turned my simple world into a real nightmare-before-Christmas, especially when she decided to enter the town Christmas Kringle contest - which she was determined to win.

Well guess what? Over my cold-hearted body.

There was no way I was going to let her win, not after the history we'd shared.

So despite my promise to myself of never participating in the sickening Christmas season, I entered the competition as well. That's right, I planned on beating Storee at her own game by pretending this grump’s heart grew three sizes this season.

And it was working until feelings between us started heating up.

We pretended to date.

We kissed.

And well, sparks flew from there.

Which led to one explosive night involving Christmas lights, the competition, and a ladder. Don't let me convince you who stole Christmas, I think you need to find out for yourself . . .

©2024 Bloom Books (P)2024 Meghan Quinn

Fantastic blend of Dr. Seuss, Christmas and RomCom

This one really got me into the holiday spirit and it's only just Canadian Thanksgiving.

It was exactly what I would expect from a Meghan Quinn rom-com (laughter, embarrassment, a burn so slow you don't know if you'll ever get there) but at the same time it was completely different too. I think the addition of the omnipotent narrator that rhymed his way through gave it a real Dr. Suess feel for this Grinch inspired rom-com.

I wasn't expecting it to be so much and I chuckled every time there was a cute character name with grinch vibes or the hero Cole argued with the narrator over his choice of words/focus. The fourth wall breaks were really fun to listen to.

Storee and Cole have a complicated history. She's a little out of touch with her childhood friend and he's a little bitter over how their last interactions went all those years ago. But through this competition to find out who is the Chrismas-iest townsperson, they reconnect and repair what time has broken. We get over the top competitiveness, sweet generosity, a weird combination of "fake dating" and "keep it secret" because the fake dating is an excuse to be together when they aren't suppose to like each other (it's complicated but emotionally impactful, trust the process).

The audiobook was performed in Duet by a multi-cast of top notch voices. Vanessa Edwin and JF Harding take the biggest load as Storee, Cole and all the various side characters. Emma Wilder is Storee's sister Tarin and Robert Hatchett is Cole's holly jolly sidekick Atlas (aka "Max") and our crew is rounded out with Shane East as the impeccable rhyming narrator. Everyone seemed to have a lot of fun with the performances, I mean who wouldn't? Vanessa & JF really gave it their all with Storee and Cole's emotional archs from pettiness and anger to vulnerability and on to passion and playfulness. I really had a blast with this book.

I requested and was provided with an advanced copy of the audiobook. These are my honest opinions.

Steamy, heartfelt, and laugh out loud

The moment this book was announced, I couldn’t wait to read it! “How My Neighbor Stole Christmas” is a steamy, heartfelt and laugh out loud enemies to lovers Christmas rom-com that had me laughing one moment and swooning the next.

Ever since an embarrassing moment when she was a teenager, Storee hasn’t been back to Kringletown. But when her beloved Great-Aunt breaks her hip and needs help, Storee and her sister, Taran, go back to help her. On her first night there, she runs into the boy she had a crush on, Cole Black. But Cole is a grumpy man now who doesn’t celebrate the Christmas spirit. And when Storee’s aunt guilts her into entering the annual Christmas competition, Cole signs up too because he can’t let Storee win. While two go head first into the competition, there’s a chemistry between the two neither was expecting.

I absolutely loved everything about this story and could not stop listening once I started. I was smiling from the prologue and kept on smiling throughout the whole book. I loved before each chapter, we had a swoony British man narrating the Christmas story built in. Storee was so much and I loved her spirit. She’s caring, genuine, and finds herself again. Cole is a grumpy delight who won my heart from the beginning. His past story on why he stop celebrating Christmas broke my heart but Storee was the sunshine he needed back in his life. Their banter was hilarious and had me laughing out loud more than once. And the obvious chemistry between them sizzled slowly but once it ignited, it burned red hot. I probably blush next time I see a candy cane. There’s so much to this story and is the perfect Christmas rom-com for the season.

This full cast was absolutely amazing and made the story so much fun! Vanessa Edwin was perfect as the fun and energetic Storee. I will never tire of listening to J.F. Harding, he was the sweet grumpy lumbersnack. Emma Wilder was wonderful as Taron. And Robert Hatchett was the best friend Cole could ask for.

A Delightfully Exceptional Story & Listen🎧

This novel is absolutely amazing, a holiday story that will outshine all others, one that will captivate your attention and put a smile on your face the entire time. Meghan Quinn has outdone herself with the witty dialogue, which is brilliant and so are the chapters poetic starts, which lift your mood and holiday spirits even more. Storee Taylor and her sister went to stay with their great aunt Cindy who lives in Kringle Town, where it is Christmas year round while she recovers from her injury. The town steps it up for the holidays with a contest every year for the residents of Kringle to compete in. Storee’s aunt usually took part in the competition, but she’s hurt, so she asked Storee and her sister to do it for her. Cole Black lives next door to Storee’s aunt, and he remembers Storee very well, even crushed on her, but not all he remembers is good, especially the last he saw of her. He lost a lot back then, and never really recovered from those losses. Thankfully, he had a good friend, Max, and his family, helped him out. Cole’s first run in with Storee was hilarious, though she did not understand all his angst, but she kept going with busting his chops. When Cole finds out Storee and her sister are entering the Christmas Kringle contest, it puts a fire under him to enter the contest, one he never entered before despite the residents urging him to, but he preferred hiding out during the holidays and being a Scrooge. So is in and with the help of his friend Max goes head to head with Storee and her sister. I loved all the layers of this story and how it all plays out, with plenty of drama, humorous dialogue and shenanigans, heartfelt emotions and a slow burn but so worth the wait romance. Meghan Quinn, thank you for this wonderful story, the laughs and the emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧 And for the splendid narration, a multi-cast production, Meghan Quinn chose the perfect cast to bring her characters and story to life. Performing the roles of the two lead characters are J.F. Harding as Cole Black and Vanessa Edwin as Storee, with Robert Hatchet and Emma Wilder playing the support roles and Shane East as the storyteller at the top of the chapters and some hilarious dialogue with Cole. These mega talented voice artists did an amazing job portraying the characters, humanizing them with their voices and personality, capturing all their emotions and having you feeling each one. Their talent and voices complemented each other and their performance elevates this already brilliant story to another level. They are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another exceptional listen.

Just a heartwarming story!

This still has a Meghan flair but even more impressive is the heartwarming side of this. Huge fan of all of M.Quinn but this one had my heart.

Adorably devious

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this book, and I will definitely be enjoying it again as it gets closer to Christmas. When Storee Taylor agrees to help take care of her Aunt Cindy, after a nasty fall, she doesn’t expect to find herself competing in the town’s Christmas Kringle competition. Let alone taking it so seriously. But as Christmas gets closer and the games begin, Storee starts to remember all the things she used to love about this year round Christmas town…and the people in it.

A story based on How the Grinch stole Christmas

A story based on How the Grinch stole Christmas, fake dating, and second chance tropes
Cole and Storee knew each other from when she visited her great aunt for Christmas. When they were 17, things happened to each of them that caused them to have a rift. Storee and Cole used to sit on his porch and talk about their days. On this Christmas visit, she had embarrassing moments in front of the town - accidentally causing a woman to fall into the lake and other things. She went to talk to Cole but he was in shock because his parents were missing. She didn't find that out but left when he wasn't talking to her. Eventually, Cole found out that his parents were killed in a car accident. He shut down and didn't celebrate any more. His best friend and his family took care of Cole. His friend is still taking care of him. He has Cole enter the Christmas contest knowing that Storee is entered also. Storee and her sister are back to take care of their aunt because she broke her hip. They decide to go all in to win the contest. As they all do the competitions for the contest, Cole and Storee begin to get close. It eventually leads to them getting involved secretly. Will this interfere with the contest? I liked this audiobook with JF Harding and Vanessa Edwin and the multicast narration - it added a lot to the book.

Best Christmas Rom Com Ever

I already loved Meghan Quinn's books but this has to be my favorite! The first chapter had me laughing so much I was like, there's no way the entire book can be this good. I was wrong!

Storie Taylor and her sister goes back to her aunt's hometown to help her after she falls and breaks her hip. She hasn't been back in 10 years since an embarrassing mishap that caused her to leave on Christmas morning and never return, leaving her friend Cole behind in the process.

Cole isn't happy the sisters are coming back for the holiday season, and when he finds out Storie has entered the towns annual Christmas competition he enters it himself with his BFF as his sidekick.

Storie doesn't understand why he seems to dislike her so much, especially since they haven't seen each other in 10 years. And Cole doesn't want to tell her that the day she left he got the worst news of his life.

There's tension in the beginning that flows into understanding, then friendship, and then more. The spice is *chefs kiss*. The competitions are filled with hilarious moments, including some hip thrusting for the elderly ladies to appreciate.

Hands down one of my favorite Christmas romance books ever.

Meghan Quinn

This is a great listen! I love Shane East’s part. The entire book is great, and I recommend you listen if you want a good romcom with a little spice mixed in.

Charming Holiday RomCom

What a charming, sweet and funny Christmas romcom to get you in the holiday spirit. Absolutely loved this modern day Grinch retelling. The characters were lovable and quirky. Story and Cole were hilarious. Their chemistry was intense from the start. The narration by Vanessa Edwin and JF Harding was incredible. Loved their banter and made you laugh out loud. If you are looking for a holiday rom com with all the bells and whistles, check this one out!!

SO MUCH TO LOVE

Full cast narration: Vanessa Edwin, JF Harding, Robert Hatchet, Emma Wilder & Shane East.

I want to start by saying: GO BUY THIS AUDIOBOOK!! RIGHT NOW. Stop reading right now, and go get this.
You will not be disappointed.

In this fun twist of the Grinch, Storee and Cole are competing for the title of "Christmas Kringle" in a series of contests to prove who has the most Christmas spirit to represent this year around Christmas town for the next year. Storee wants to win for her ailing Aunt Cindy, and Cole wants to win to prevent his nemesis Storee from winning.

With Shane East providing the 'narration' between chapters, this full cast totally delivers an experience that will get you in the mood for the holidays.

This cast is perfection! JF Harding and Vanessa Edwin as Cole and Storee delivered the comedy and the spice. Robert Hatchet and Emma Wilder as the sidekicks in the competition kept me laughing out loud.

This was funny, heartfelt, spicy, and funny again. With the town as the backdrop, and almost a character of it's own, I did not want this to end. I wanted more. I will definitely add this to my Christmas Tradition listen list.