Don’t fall in love with your fake girlfriend’s sister.

It’s harmless when Will agrees to a fake relationship with his best friend and business partner. She needs an excuse to stay away from her ex-boyfriend while visiting her family for Christmas. And the fans of their online show have always wished for them to become more than friends. What better time to capitalize on that than while shopping the show for streaming services?

Chatting with a beautiful woman at the hotel bar the night before…is probably harmless too. Their chemistry is instantaneous, and he’s lost to her deep brown eyes.

Lizzy needs one night away before the chaotic week of Christmas, and the stress of dealing with her sister. When the winter storm cuts out the hotel’s power, and she finds herself falling for the sexy man whose hands she’d been lusting over. She has the one-night stand she never thought she’d go for.

Their night was perfect, but Will showing up for Christmas as her sister’s new man…that was less perfect.

My Review:

For those seeking the insta-love warm and fuzzies this holiday season, “Accidentally Under Your Tree” is perfect for you. Like your favorite holiday cocktail, it’s a mix of spicy, sweet, sassy, and a whole lot of humor. I’ve truly enjoyed Marty Vee’s writing, and this Christmas treat is another wonderful addition to her collection. Sit back as we revisit new favorites and old friends in Grand Ridge.

Lizzy is determined to find a way to mend her relationship with Rose. Their rift has gone on for too long, and it’s time for it to end. Easier said than done. To muster up the courage and take a break from the sheer insanity of her new life, Lizzy decides to blow off steam at the local hotel bar, only for the power to go out! What should have been sheer terror turns into a pleasant surprise when the gorgeous stranger she noticed at the bar attempts to comfort her. She should have just said goodnight and gone back to her hotel room, but there was something about this stranger that made her want to let loose, just this one time.

For Will, it was supposed to be an easy favor for his friend and co-star: give the audience what they want by pretending to date Rose, head back to Rose’s hometown for the holidays so she doesn’t have to face her ex-boyfriend alone, and land a streaming deal with Netflix. Easy, right? What wasn’t supposed to happen was meeting the woman of your dreams at a hotel bar, having an incredible night together, and then finding out that this woman is your now fake girlfriend’s sister, and you will all be under the same roof for a week. How could everything that felt so right and perfect less than 24 hours ago turn into complete chaos?

This story is adorably cute. As mentioned before, it’s perfect for individuals who love that insta-love connection between the two main characters. For those who need more time for the connection to flourish, they may grimace a little at the strong lead-in. I’ll give a friendly reminder that this is a holiday romance, so just call it “holiday magic” and accept it for what it is. A wonderful blend of humor, romance, spice, and holiday cheer, the timeline moves forward and backward over the course of the week – jumping from the night Will and Lizzy meet to various days before Christmas, depending on how the events relate to their initial encounter, all leading up to a countdown to Christmas morning. Marty does an excellent job pulling the reader into the holiday spirit while maintaining a little dramatic undertone from what’s going on in Lizzy’s personal life – whether it’s with her business, the residual impact of her ex, or her continued fallout with her sister. While I did feel the drama was a bit forced, especially when we discover how long Lizzy and Rose have been avoiding each other and the cause, it does add an element of realism. What are holiday family gatherings if not the perfect stage for some type of drama? It also provided the necessary ingredients for the third-act breakup and reconciliation.

The twist of Rose and Lizzy being twins but not identical made the situation for Will even funnier. It was interesting how he could pick out traits of Rose in Lizzy, but the probability of the stranger and his co-star being related made him dismiss them as quickly as they appeared. His inner monologue, overall handling of the situation, and his undeniable pull toward Lizzy is what made him my favorite character throughout the book. Lizzy was a bit high-strung for me, and while I believe it was necessary to show how opposite she was from her sister, it did cause me to pull back from her character or downplay her reactions more because they felt consistently blown out of proportion. For this reason, I favored Rose more and would have loved to see what happens with Lawrence as I became very invested in that side story.

The overall chemistry between Lizzy and Will was undeniable, from the moment she noticed his hands to the moment he used them to calm her when the power went out. It just escalated from there. Their one night together was at Marty’s signature level of heat, and essentially any scene with these two was destined to light up the pages.

I appreciated how Will was instrumental in the reconnection between Lizzy and Rose. The pain he initially caused Lizzy due to the misunderstanding was the spark needed to tear down the barrier between them. These two wanted to reconnect, but time, fear, and general stubbornness kept it from happening. Seeing how desperately Lizzy wanted to seize any moments with Rose showed just how close they used to be, adding yet another layer of complexity to the mix.

Having visited Grand Ridge during Hazel and Elijah’s story, it was wonderful to return to the eclectic mix of characters. While they remained in the background, allowing more focus on Rose, Lizzy, Will, Shay, and Lawrence, it was a delightful treat to have quick check-ins with old favorites.

Full of sweet moments, warmth, and festive cheer, Marty Vee once again proves she can make us laugh, sigh, and swoon with her ability to capture just what her readers want and love about her work. With fully developed characters, a whimsical town, relatable drama, and just the right amount of spice, “Accidentally Under Your Tree” is a holiday treat for anyone looking to add one more book to their winter reading list.

I am really hoping we get Rose and Lawrence’s story. Marty gave us so many reasons why these two won’t work, but you can’t deny the passion, love, and attraction between them. Hopefully, we get a chance to see their story unfold or at least find a way for Rose to have her happily ever after.