Nothing says I love you like trespassing, public humiliation, and a town-wide Christmas spectacle to win your crush back.

Atlas “Max” Maxheimer did not sign up for this. One minute, he’s anxiously trying to keep his family’s Christmas tree farm from imploding. The next? He’s passed out in the snow after getting clocked by a suspiciously strong bottle of soda.

Enter Betty: new in town, full of holiday cheer, and helping her uncle open a rival tree farm next door. Max is convinced she’s out to destroy everything Evergreen Farm stands for. Betty thinks Max might be one sleigh short of a winter parade.

Cue the holiday chaos.

Between blizzards, blown reputations, wildly misguided romantic plots, and one stolen ornament with a seriously tragic backstory, this small-town war turns into something far messier―and much more delicious―than either of them expected.

This book is pure holiday chaos and I had a ton of fun with it. Last year I read How My Neighbor Stole Christmas and had a blast with it, even though the infamous candy cane scene scarred me for life, but the characters were so fun that I knew I’d be back for book two. And here we are.

This installment shifts the spotlight to Max and Betty. We met Max in the first book, where he was a quick fave of mine in a lovingly dumb and adorkable way. He’s just as lovable here, trying to keep his family’s Christmas tree farm from collapsing while also trying to stay upright in the snow. Betty, meanwhile, is new to town, new to the holidays in this particular brand of festive madness, and helping her uncle launch a rival tree farm next door. Conflict is baked right in.

The chemistry between these two works immediately. They’re both a little weird, a little over the top, and a lot goofy, which makes their banter ridiculously charming. Quinn excels at that rom-com rhythm where the jokes land quickly and the emotional moments sneak up on you. I laughed out loud several times. There is a scene involving popcorn garland and a conversation about dipping your dong in eggnog that nearly took me out.

And yes, the candy cane is mentioned again. Probably more than necessary. But rest assured, no candy canes are harmed here. Instead, we get chocolate covered cherries, popcorn garland, and plenty of other holiday-adjacent shenanigans. This series is nothing if not committed to festive sexual chaos.

As for the spice, there’s no shortage of it. These books are spicy. Really spicy. And once Max and Betty find their stride, the heat level shoots up and kind of stays there for several chapters. Honestly, it’s probably why the page count is what it is. If half the sex scenes disappeared, you could cut this book down significantly. That’s not why people read these books, though. Quinn knows that most of her audience loves their spice and goes all in. If you’re someone who loves high heat in a holiday rom-com, you’ll be pleased. If you prefer a softer fade to black, you can absolutely skip the steamy pages and still enjoy the charm of the story. Just make sure you don’t skip that popcorn garland moment.

What sets this book apart, though, is how much heart it has underneath all the humor and spice. Max is trying so hard to hold everything together at Evergreen Farm. Betty is trying to rebuild her life while navigating the emotional landmines that come with being the new girl in a competitive small town. Their vulnerabilities balance out all the silliness, making the romance feel genuine instead of purely comedic.

We also get a few fun cameos from Storee and Cole, the couple from the first book. It gives the story a bit of continuity and adds to that cozy small-town vibe. There is just something ridiculously charming about this exaggerated, festive world that Quinn has created. It’s like stepping into a snow globe where everyone is slightly unhinged, fueled by sugar, and incredibly horny.

I liked this one more than the first book, which surprised me. The humor hit harder, the characters felt even more endearing, and the overall vibe was exactly what I want from a holiday rom-com. Yes, it’s hornier than my usual preference, but I had a great time. And I’m already hoping Quinn has more characters waiting in the wings for future installments. Evergreen Farm seems like a place with endless potential for holiday disasters.

If you want something funny, chaotic, heartfelt, and very spicy to kick off (or end) your holiday season, this is a solid pick. It delivers laughs, warmth, and enough festive absurdity to keep you entertained from start to finish.