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jaimereadsromance's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars
This is my first time reading Jennifer Snow, which means that I stepped right into the middle of this series. However, I don’t feel like that had any effect on this story for me.
Ash and Emma are immediately established as longtime FWB so it’s already clear that they have a connection that goes beyond best friends.
Forced by an injury to face head-on a rivalry with his older brother, a possible addiction to pain medications and a future that might not include his best friend, Ash is dealing with a lot. However, he came across as too self-absorbed and assuming. I didn’t like how he just expected that Emma would be sitting around waiting for him to be done with his career so that they could start their future while never having such a conversation with her about it. He’s seemed so caught up in his career achievements and goals that he couldn’t see much past all of that.
Although I didn’t appreciate the way Emma’s sister went about criticizing and judging Emma and Ash, I did agree with her on certain points. Emma did kind of seem like a pushover when it came to Ash, except when she finally wasn’t anymore. It’s like I was waiting for that moment where she would stand up to him and stand up FOR herself.
Overall this story was a simple, easy read that was a good way to meet a new-to-me author. I could see myself picking up the other books in the series sometime soon.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for voluntary review
This is my first time reading Jennifer Snow, which means that I stepped right into the middle of this series. However, I don’t feel like that had any effect on this story for me.
Ash and Emma are immediately established as longtime FWB so it’s already clear that they have a connection that goes beyond best friends.
Forced by an injury to face head-on a rivalry with his older brother, a possible addiction to pain medications and a future that might not include his best friend, Ash is dealing with a lot. However, he came across as too self-absorbed and assuming. I didn’t like how he just expected that Emma would be sitting around waiting for him to be done with his career so that they could start their future while never having such a conversation with her about it. He’s seemed so caught up in his career achievements and goals that he couldn’t see much past all of that.
Although I didn’t appreciate the way Emma’s sister went about criticizing and judging Emma and Ash, I did agree with her on certain points. Emma did kind of seem like a pushover when it came to Ash, except when she finally wasn’t anymore. It’s like I was waiting for that moment where she would stand up to him and stand up FOR herself.
Overall this story was a simple, easy read that was a good way to meet a new-to-me author. I could see myself picking up the other books in the series sometime soon.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for voluntary review
bfdbookblog's review against another edition
4.0
Maybe This Christmas is another solid read in this series. The story is a bit predictable but I always like friends-to-lovers stories because the history and emotions are so rich between the characters.
Emma and Asher are pretty great together and like-minded in what that what and need from each other. I love their history and friendship along with the passion and chemistry in their physical relationship. On the surface they appear to be a match made in heaven. They both made assumptions without talking to each other which led them down a rocky road that was almost unrecoverable.
Most of the side characters bothered me in this story – except Jackson and Asher’s mother. Emma’s sister is an overpowering, self-center jerk to Emma and her running over Emma made Emma seem weak. Ben was frustrating until near the end. The new character we see briefly was pushy and while needed to push the story along didn’t make the story any better.
Again there were a couple of hockey factual inaccuracies that didn’t detract from the story but frustrated me nonetheless. I got past that and the major announcements unrealistically made on national television because they were sweet gestures that helped the story along.
If you’re in the mood for a quick read with a good friends-to-lovers theme, this is the perfect book for you.
Emma and Asher are pretty great together and like-minded in what that what and need from each other. I love their history and friendship along with the passion and chemistry in their physical relationship. On the surface they appear to be a match made in heaven. They both made assumptions without talking to each other which led them down a rocky road that was almost unrecoverable.
Most of the side characters bothered me in this story – except Jackson and Asher’s mother. Emma’s sister is an overpowering, self-center jerk to Emma and her running over Emma made Emma seem weak. Ben was frustrating until near the end. The new character we see briefly was pushy and while needed to push the story along didn’t make the story any better.
Again there were a couple of hockey factual inaccuracies that didn’t detract from the story but frustrated me nonetheless. I got past that and the major announcements unrealistically made on national television because they were sweet gestures that helped the story along.
If you’re in the mood for a quick read with a good friends-to-lovers theme, this is the perfect book for you.
livspileofbooks's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
kendrabetweenthelines's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
thebookdisciple's review against another edition
3.0
Maybe This Christmas is a friends-to-lovers sports romance with a holiday theme! Emma, once an Olympic bound athlete, is a physical therapist and her best friends, Asher, is a pro hockey player. Asher is injured and needs Emma's help. Emma has been trying to work up the nerve to tell him she loves him, worried he won't return the feeling.
Asher is consumed by hockey. He welcomes his no strings sex with Emma because it doesn't interfere with his ultimate love, playing hockey. But, his injury forces him back home to recover and spending a lot of time with Emma makes him see things in a different light. Because Emma lost her shot at professional athletics years before (due to injury), Asher is starting to get a sense of how she felt then. Now, Emma has a chance to go to Florida and enter a Ph.D program for physical therapy. The only thing that could alter her course? Asher.
Sometimes I wanted to shake Emma because Asher did not deserve her devotion. But, I understood her. She could no more walk away from the possibility than anyone could. Asher made me crazy with his single minded focus on hockey. However, I understood it. It was his life and he just wasn't ready for anything else until it was forced upon him. I did want to punch Emma's judgmental sister a few times though (she comes around by the end but in the beginning...grrrr)! Her dad and Asher's mom's bickering adds a bit of family angst to the story. Overall, if you enjoy sports romance and Christmas romance, Maybe This Christmas is a great pick! You don't have to have read about Asher's brothers in the previous 2 books to enjoy this book (I haven't read them and it wasn't a hinderance at all!)
- POV: 3rd
- Tears: no
- Trope: friends-to-lovers, hockey
- Triggers: none
- Series/Standalone: stand alone within an interconnected series
- Cliffhanger:
Spoiler
no - HEA:
Spoiler
yes no epilogue
Christmas stories and hockey romance...then you will probably like Maybe This Christmas!
Maybe This Christmas
joy761's review against another edition
3.0
Cute and steamy Christmas romance. Three stars only because it seemed silly why the two characters were apart. I know every romance has to have the black moment where the couple breaks up and it’s always contrived, but this breakup seemed particularly pointless.
Do recommend though for a fun holiday read.
Do recommend though for a fun holiday read.
beckyreadsitall's review
2.0
Ehhh. I liked that this book dealt with some issues he characters were working through, but there were a lot of inconsistencies in personalities. The main character’s sister was a straight-up bitch, and the author had so much going on with everyone you really only get to see the couple together and happy for a couple pages at the end.
gerireads's review
4.0
This was another heartwarming, holiday read from Jennifer Snow about two best friends who found love with each other. You know me, I'm a sucker for a good friends-to-lovers story, and Maybe This Christmas delivered on the romance big time.
Asher Westmore and Emma Callaway have been best friends for years. Then they became best friends with benefits, which suited both of them just fine. Asher is a hockey placer for New Jersey while Emma is pursuing a snowboarding career. Then life comes at you fast.
For Emma, that change came when she took a serious tumble during a qualifying snowboarding competition for the Olympics, ending her career. These days, she's a physical therapist in her small town of Glenwood Falls. Her friendship with benefits with Ash is going strong but lately, she had been feeling adrift. Not really sure whether she should get back into snowboarding or pursue a doctorate in physical therapy. There's also her relationship with Asher. Emma's feelings for her best friend is definitely deepening and she's not quite sure if he feels the same.
Asher is about to hit a huge milestone of his career. He could almost taste it. But a knee injury and a hard hit from his own hockey-playing brother derailed that milestone for him. Now he's back in Glenwood Falls to recuperate with Emma's help, of course.
While this book can be read as a standalone, I would highly recommend that you read the previous books in the series to get a background of Emma and Asher's relationship. I don't think it's necessary but I think it would enhance your reading experience.
That said, I have not read any book in the series prior to this one but I didn't feel lost and I was able to pick up the threads of the story very easily.
I enjoyed how Asher and Emma's relationship transitioned from friends to so much more. It helped that the author already established that these two have an intimate physical connection. At the start of the book, they've been FWB for a long time. Years, I think. So it wasn't a leap in any way.
Despite being friends and then lovers, they both had to deal with a lot of issues not just between them but also with their families and careers.
For Asher it's dealing with his feelings of resentment for his brother Ben, Emma, and the thought of having to give up hockey. who always seem to achieve every accolade that Asher wants without struggle. Emma herself is dealing with a meddling sister and a father who is losing himself daily.
And speaking meddling...Emma's sister Jess got on my last nerve.
I mean, come on! She was positively heinous in her treatment towards Ash, turns up her nose at her sister's accomplishment, and she makes decisions about Emma's lovelife and career without consulting her. Sure, I believe that she's doing it because she loves her sister but gah! It was still annoying. I had to resist the urge to throw my Kindle against the wall whenever she was in the scene because I just can't deal with her meddling.
Fortunately for me, Jennifer Snow was able to write a really convincing romance between Asher and Emma. Despite some hiccups along the way, they were able to deal with their issues like adults. No unnecessary flouncing, drama or whatever. And Ash proved himself to be a really sweet and caring hero worthy of Emma and that one revelation in particular (which I won't spoil here) sealed the deal for me.
So if you're a fan of sports romance and the friends-to-lovers trope, I would recommend this book!
ARC provided by the publisher
Asher Westmore and Emma Callaway have been best friends for years. Then they became best friends with benefits, which suited both of them just fine. Asher is a hockey placer for New Jersey while Emma is pursuing a snowboarding career. Then life comes at you fast.
For Emma, that change came when she took a serious tumble during a qualifying snowboarding competition for the Olympics, ending her career. These days, she's a physical therapist in her small town of Glenwood Falls. Her friendship with benefits with Ash is going strong but lately, she had been feeling adrift. Not really sure whether she should get back into snowboarding or pursue a doctorate in physical therapy. There's also her relationship with Asher. Emma's feelings for her best friend is definitely deepening and she's not quite sure if he feels the same.
Asher is about to hit a huge milestone of his career. He could almost taste it. But a knee injury and a hard hit from his own hockey-playing brother derailed that milestone for him. Now he's back in Glenwood Falls to recuperate with Emma's help, of course.
She was the one person in the world he always knew he could count on and the only one he wanted to be with.
While this book can be read as a standalone, I would highly recommend that you read the previous books in the series to get a background of Emma and Asher's relationship. I don't think it's necessary but I think it would enhance your reading experience.
That said, I have not read any book in the series prior to this one but I didn't feel lost and I was able to pick up the threads of the story very easily.
I enjoyed how Asher and Emma's relationship transitioned from friends to so much more. It helped that the author already established that these two have an intimate physical connection. At the start of the book, they've been FWB for a long time. Years, I think. So it wasn't a leap in any way.
Despite being friends and then lovers, they both had to deal with a lot of issues not just between them but also with their families and careers.
For Asher it's dealing with his feelings of resentment for his brother Ben, Emma, and the thought of having to give up hockey. who always seem to achieve every accolade that Asher wants without struggle. Emma herself is dealing with a meddling sister and a father who is losing himself daily.
And speaking meddling...Emma's sister Jess got on my last nerve.
I mean, come on! She was positively heinous in her treatment towards Ash, turns up her nose at her sister's accomplishment, and she makes decisions about Emma's lovelife and career without consulting her. Sure, I believe that she's doing it because she loves her sister but gah! It was still annoying. I had to resist the urge to throw my Kindle against the wall whenever she was in the scene because I just can't deal with her meddling.
Fortunately for me, Jennifer Snow was able to write a really convincing romance between Asher and Emma. Despite some hiccups along the way, they were able to deal with their issues like adults. No unnecessary flouncing, drama or whatever. And Ash proved himself to be a really sweet and caring hero worthy of Emma and that one revelation in particular (which I won't spoil here) sealed the deal for me.
So if you're a fan of sports romance and the friends-to-lovers trope, I would recommend this book!
ARC provided by the publisher
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