Review Detail

JOY TO THE GIRLS is a follow-up to the 2022 book She Gets the Girl. If you want to know how Molly and Alex got together, it is important to read that book first. This novella follows them three years after the events of the first book, on a holiday trip with two of their friends. As they try to get their friends together, the secrets between them build up. Will it be too much to handle or can they get through the holiday season unscathed?

What I Loved:
Following two students as they get ready to embark on a new journey, the authors do a solid job at giving them realistic goals and concerns. The two of them are still young and still figuring things out, but there are certain things that they already know that they want from the future. It’s a refreshing bit of fresh air to see characters acting their age and dealing with problems that make sense for their age group.

The romance is very sweet. For the main two characters it’s an established romance, something that is casual and second nature to them at this point. Even when the plot gets a little bumpy, that undercurrent of love is still there. And getting to see them witness the blossoming relationship between their friends is also really cute. This book allows readers to see two romances at different stages of their life.

The characters are likeable and feel fleshed out, even the side ones. While this is a novella sequel to a full-length novel, the authors try to provide enough details in this book that those who haven’t read the first book since 2022 will still be able to remember it. This includes hinting to the characters’ depths and making them feel like three-dimensional characters.

What Left Me Wanting More:
While the conflict was handled well and fit with the characters’ age and personalities, some more time for clean-up after would have been nice. The couple seemed to swing from one end to another and back again really rapidly. Extra time to fully develop and talk about their feelings would’ve made the relationship feel that much stronger.

Final Verdict:
A fun winter read, JOY TO THE GIRLS is faithful to the characters introduced in the first book. Cozy cuteness blends with angst and worry in a way that creates an unforgettable read.