The Holiday Hate-Off (Hideaway Harbor #1) by Angela Casella – cozy and festive holiday romance

The Holiday Hate-Off is emotionally warm, cozy and festive holiday romance that delivers on banter, heart, and holiday magic.

Synopsis

Welcome to Hideaway Harbor, a cozy coastal town in Maine! This series of interconnected spicy romcoms can be read in any order.

All I want for Christmas is his complete and total destruction.

Lucy

The only thing standing between me and an idyllic Christmas in Hideaway Harbor is Enzo Cafiero, the hot jerk whose family runs the Italian market next door to the coffee shop where I work.

He hates me because I convinced his girlfriend to break up with him a few months ago. In my defense, his now-ex ran into the coffee shop sobbing. All I did was make her a latte and validate her feelings.

He didn’t even live here at the time—they were just visiting—but he does live here now.

He ditched his cushy NYC consulting job so he could save his family business. I’d admire his loyalty if he didn’t seem determined to ruin my Christmas. Because within minutes of his return, we’re trading barbs, destroying each other’s holiday events (RIP Santa Speed Dating), and having price wars.

I loathe him. And, unfortunately, I really want to push him under the mistletoe.

Enzo

Hideaway Harbor is the last place I want to be. But family means everything to me, so I left the big city to help mine.

Getting dragged into a full-on holiday feud with the girl next door wasn’t part of the plan, but I’m living for my hate-off with Lucy.

The truth is, I’d rather argue with her than get along with anyone else.

The Holiday Hate-Off is a small-town enemies-to-lovers romcom with dueling shopkeepers, sharp banter, intense chemistry, secret letters (think You’ve Got Mail), and close proximity.

Review

First things first, I absolutely loved this book. The Holiday Hate-Off is pure entertainment, the kind that makes you smile without realizing it, laugh at unexpected moments, and root not only for the main characters but also for the town itself. Lucy and Enzo are easy to love, but so are the side characters and the small, charming chaos of Hideaway Harbor. It honestly feels like the perfect book to pick up when you want something comforting, festive, and emotionally satisfying.

The Holiday Hate-Off begins with Lucy, who is new in town and still carrying the weight of loss. After her mother’s death the previous year, she followed her best friend to Hideaway Harbor and now works as a barista at the local coffee shop. The shop owner has quietly taken Lucy and her friend under her wing, giving them stability and warmth when they needed it most. Lucy loves Christmas deeply, but last year she could not bring herself to celebrate because grief was still raw and overwhelming. Throughout the year, she follows a checklist her mother left behind, using it as a way to cope and keep moving forward.

Now that the list is complete, Lucy is determined to celebrate Christmas the way she used to with her mother. She plans to throw herself into every festive activity the town has to offer. What she does not plan for is Lorenzo Cafiero, known as Enzo, the eldest grandson of the neighboring restaurant owner. Their first interaction four months ago was disastrous when Enzo storms into the café and yells at Lucy, wrongly believing she is responsible for his breakup. From that moment on, Lucy loathes him, and now he is back in town.

Enzo, on the other hand, does not like Hideaway Harbor at all. He has always wanted to leave, and he knows this town is not where he plans to stay. He returns after four months away because his grandmother’s restaurant is struggling financially. Having recently quit his job in New York, he sees this as a temporary stop where he can brainstorm ideas, stabilize the business, and then return to city life as soon as possible. His plan is neat and controlled. Lucy is not part of it.

When Enzo learns something about Lucy that does not sit right with him, his intentions are genuinely protective. Knowing how this town works, he offers Lucy something she desperately needs, believing he is doing the right thing. Unfortunately, given their past interactions, things escalate quickly, and what starts as concern turns into a full-blown Holiday Hate-Off.

Enzo thrives on the challenge Lucy presents, and their competitive holiday battles become the highlight of the season. What begins as rivalry slowly shifts into something deeper, but the real question remains whether it is enough to make Enzo stay.

It has been a long time since a book hooked me from the very first page and refused to let go. I genuinely did not want to put this book down. If sleep had not been mandatory, I would have finished The Holiday Hate-Off in one sitting. Even so, I managed to get through all 400 pages within 24 hours, which should tell you everything about how addictive this story is.

The writing is fun, lively, and incredibly engaging. Hideaway Harbor feels like a real place, full of nosy residents, small-town businesses, a town matchmaker, a newspaper that thrives on gossip, and a calendar packed with holiday activities. The festive atmosphere is woven beautifully into the story, making this one of the most Christmasy books I have read in a while. While the town and side characters play important roles, they never overshadow the main characters. Instead, they enhance the story and add layers of charm.

Lucy is such an easy character to root for. She is warm, kind, and full of sunshine, even though grief still clings to her. Her love for her mother is deeply moving, especially knowing how much she gave up to take care of her during her terminal illness. She took online classes, avoided dating, and put her personal life on hold. At thirty, she is still a virgin, which has caused insecurity and complicated past relationships, but it also highlights how loyal and committed she is.

Lucy is smart, confident, and unafraid to speak her mind. She is the only person in town who can go head-to-head with Enzo and keep him on his toes. She initially finds him arrogant, and honestly, she is not wrong, but as she gets to know him, her opinion begins to soften. I loved that she kept an open mind and was willing to admit when she made hasty assumptions. Her journey is not just about romance but also about finding a place that truly feels like home, along with the family and love she deserves.

Enzo was fantastic. He is gorgeous and fully aware of it. He has rarely been denied anything in life, and his confidence sometimes borders on arrogance, but underneath all of that is a genuinely good man. He is a true gentleman throughout the story. His love for his family, especially his grandmother and siblings, and his devotion to the restaurant are unquestionable.

At first, his dislike for the town and Christmas feels puzzling, but as his backstory unfolds, it becomes clear why he struggles to live in a place that never lets you forget past pain. Watching Lucy bring joy into his otherwise grinch-like existence was incredibly satisfying.

Through her eyes, he starts to see the town and Christmas differently, and when he realizes that Lucy is it for him, that moment truly lands. The town alone might not have been enough to make him stay, but Lucy absolutely is.

The romance is a delightful hate-to-rivals-to-lovers story paired with the classic trope of she loves Christmas and he hates it. The banter between Lucy and Enzo is sharp, playful, and endlessly entertaining. Their holiday challenges and shared activities add so much fun to the romance and make their connection feel organic rather than rushed.

The climax was somewhat expected, as the buildup clearly pointed in that direction, but it was handled well. One thing I particularly loved was the anonymous letter writing between Lucy and Enzo. When they figure it out just before the climax, it does not turn into unnecessary drama. There is no third-act breakup, which honestly felt like a gift. The ending is uplifting, sweet, and deeply satisfying.

While the other books in the series do not directly follow the love stories of the remaining Cafiero siblings, I am fully invested and excited to continue. The second brother’s story is coming out next year, and even if I cannot finish the entire series before the year ends, I am absolutely sticking with it.

Overall, The Holiday Hate-Off is a cozy, festive, and emotionally warm holiday romance that delivers on banter, heart, and holiday magic. With lovable characters, a charming small-town setting, and a romance that feels earned rather than forced, this book is perfect for anyone who loves Christmas stories with depth, humor, and zero unnecessary heartbreak. A total win and a definite comfort read.

Book Links

Goodreads | Amazon.in | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk
(Free on Audible for UK and US (available also on KU))

What was your last favourite Holiday romance?

Just in case you missed,,,

• The Holiday Fakers (Hideaway Harbor #2) by Evie Alexander – fun and cozy holiday romance
• Fantasy as Literature- Why I Will Always Take Fantasy Seriously
• 2025 in Reading Blog and Life – A quietly fulfilling year

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