Finishing up with the last of 2025 books over the next week or so – this was an audio listen on Audible.

Cozy for the Holidays

~Liz Maverick

Cozy for the Holidays by Liz Maverick is a quick, festive read that works just as well any time of year. I listened to the audiobook and truly enjoyed the narrators, their performances were engaging and well done, even though the story itself didn’t completely land for me. It wasn’t bad, just not quite great. I almost hate saying that, because it’s rare for me not to genuinely love something I read or listen to, especially when it’s a casual, guilt-free pick and not tied to an ARC, alpha, or beta read.

The story centers on Sophie, an adorable, nerdy, book-loving heroine with a long-standing crush on Caleb, a handsome, intelligent science guy who, unbeknownst to her, feels exactly the same way. Caleb thinks he’s found the perfect investment property, until he realizes the joke is on him: the top-floor apartment he expected to be fully furnished is completely bare, while the ground-floor retail space he planned to convert into another apartment is overflowing with inventory. And not just any inventory. A bookstore. Packed. With. Books.

Caleb understands science, and sure, that requires the occasional book or twenty. But a full-blown bookstore is well outside his expertise. So he calls in Sophie, the biggest book nerd he knows, hoping she can help him deal with the books quickly so renovations can begin. Sophie rushes over, unaware of what she’s walking into, and when she steps inside, her excitement and joy are immediate and infectious.

Caleb, however, is determined to get rid of the books as fast as possible so he can move forward with his plans, all while scrambling to furnish an apartment that was supposed to already be complete. The question becomes: can Sophie liquidate the inventory in time? Will she convince Caleb to temporarily open the bookstore to clear stock and recoup some costs? Or will a neighborhood holiday block gathering nudge him into committing to far more than he intended?

You can probably guess how it unfolds, but where’s the fun without listening to find out?

Cozy for the Holidays is a fast listen with characters full of personality. That said, for me, the story lingered a bit too long on one central point: Sophie and Caleb’s unspoken feelings for each other. While this is expected in a cozy romance, the repetition became excessive, and I found myself wishing the plot had taken a few alternative turns to maintain tension without circling the same emotional beat.

Where Maverick truly shines is atmosphere. The vivid descriptions and emotional cues made it easy to visualize each scene as it unfolded. I felt immersed in the bookstore as more and more books were discovered, and the emotional dynamics between Caleb and Sophie, the care, jealousy, protectiveness, and longing, were clearly conveyed and believable.

Despite my frustration with the repeated internal monologues about their mutual crushes, the overall story was sweet and enjoyable. The audiobook narrators were excellent, and if you’re looking for something light to listen to while doing housework or multitasking, something cozy that doesn’t demand your full attention, this is a solid choice.

As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. I have not been promised any compensation, current or future, by the author or publisher for a fair and honest review.

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