Book: Mingle All the Way: A Novel by Susan Mallery
Reviewed by Rie
Rating: 4/5
If you're looking for a cozy holiday romance with plenty of Christmas cheer, family relationships, romance, and a few laughs along the way, this is a lovely one to pick up!
This was my first time reading Susan Mallery, and I really enjoyed it. The Christmas Wedding Guest was definitely my favorite of the two stories, particularly because of the relationships. I absolutely loved the sister relationship, and the unexpected wedding that brings everyone together made for such an enjoyable storyline. There were plenty of laughs and sighs along the way, and the whole thing had that cozy, feel-good quality I was hoping for.
One character who particularly stood out to me was Harrison. He's such a sweet, intelligent kid, and I loved watching him bond with Reggie's dog. His backstory was genuinely sad, but seeing how much he had overcome and the maturity he showed beyond his years made me happy. I also really appreciated the different romantic relationships. Reggie and Toby were easy to root for given their history, and I loved how Micah supported and accepted Dena. Those relationships were a highlight for me.
My only real reservation was that some of the romantic developments felt a little quick. Reggie and Toby's progression made sense given their history, but there were moments where things seemed to go from meeting to declarations of love rather quickly. It didn't take away from my enjoyment, but it was something I noticed.
The collection also includes the novella Say You'll Stay , which I enjoyed, although I preferred the longer story. I liked getting to know Shaye in the main book and was glad we got to see more of her story in the novella. Both stories can certainly stand on their own, but I enjoyed the connections between them, especially since they take place in the same town. One small suggestion: I actually think this collection would have worked better with the novella first, since its timeline precedes The Christmas Wedding Guest .
And can we talk about the setting? A town that practically celebrates Christmas 24/7, complete with a Christmas in July fun run? I mean, if you're going to commit to a holiday theme, you might as well commit! The Christmas atmosphere felt like an integral part of the stories rather than just a festive backdrop, which I really appreciated.
The writing was well done, the dialogue was great, and there was a nice balance of funny and emotional moments. The audiobook was also a good listening experience, with narration I thought was well delivered.
Overall, this was a great holiday romance read that delivered exactly what I was looking for. It didn't quite give me that WOW feeling that would push it to five stars, and it's probably not one I'll be dwelling on for ages, but I had a genuinely lovely time with it. I'm also interested in reading the sequel to The Christmas Wedding Guest , so this was a very nice introduction to Susan Mallery's work!
Content note: Includes an on-page car accident and subsequent injuries.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for providing me with an ARC of this audiobook!