The Christmas Competition

~Zoe Allison

The Christmas Competition by Zoe Allison is the first of what I suspect will be many holiday novels dressed head-to-toe in every glittery, gaudy bauble readers crave in a cozy rom-com, and I am absolutely here for every sparkling second of them. And yes, despite temperatures soaring well over 100 degrees here in Texas, I still curled up in my reading chair with a blanket and pretended I could see my breath in the frosty air.

Christmas looks a little different for Nisa Ansari this year. Earlier in the year, her husband, Drew, requested a “trial separation” and already seems to have moved on with a new girlfriend. Even as she helps decorate the hospital where she works, that familiar tingle of holiday magic continues to elude her.

After scrolling through social media, Nisa discovers that her community is hosting a Christmas house-decorating competition. What better way to lift her spirits than by decking out her home in festive splendor, especially since Drew always considered such displays far too ostentatious? The grand prize is a relaxing spa getaway, something she could certainly use. But the real reward? Seeing the look on the face of her grumpy neighbor, and alleged cat maimer, Kerr Murdoch, as thousands of twinkling lights shine directly into his front window.

What Nisa doesn’t realize is that Kerr saw the very same community post and stopped by the hardware store on his way home to pick up decorations of his own, partly inspired by memories of how much his mother adored Christmas lights and perhaps partly to irritate Nisa.

When Nisa discovers that Kerr’s decorations are nearly identical to hers, the fuse is lit and a petty rivalry explodes into an all-out Christmas lights war. Somewhere between escalating displays, overloaded electrical outlets, and one rather unfortunate fire, feelings begin to shift. Could two cranky neighbors find common ground over yule logs, hot cocoa, and the magic of Christmas?

Allison creates characters who reach through the pages and tug your emotions in every possible direction. Nisa is unquestionably the heart of the story. She has spent years shrinking herself to fit the expectations of everyone around her, from her parents and sister to her husband. Watching her slowly unwrap her true self is heartwarming, even if readers with stronger personalities may occasionally want to gently shake her and tell her to stand up for herself.

Kerr initially appears to be the classic grump, but beneath that exterior lies a man shaped by abandonment and grief. His mother left when he was young, and her death came before he could ever find closure. In Kerr’s mind, everyone eventually leaves. Yet beneath the prickly armor beats a heart of gold. He loves animals, despite Nisa’s suspicions, and more than anything, he simply wants to be wanted and needed.

Together, Nisa and Kerr are delightful. Their rivalry feels organic, born from circumstance and personality rather than manufactured conflict. Their chemistry simmers beautifully beneath every argument and competitive jab. Readers will quickly become invested in their escalating feud while quietly cheering them on, knowing full well that all that crackling tension is destined to ignite like a fireplace on Christmas Eve.

The pacing does begin on the slower side, but that is far from a drawback. The gradual buildup lays the groundwork needed for the emotional payoff later on. Once the decorations go up, so does the momentum. The cozy Highland setting feels tailor-made for a holiday escape, and the decorating competition adds a delightful ticking clock to the story. The question of who will out-decorate whom, coupled with the increasingly ridiculous mishaps they encounter (poor Santa), keeps the pages turning. The banter sparkles, the escalation is gleefully absurd, and the enemies-to-lovers thaw arrives at exactly the right moment.

Overall, The Christmas Competition by Zoe Allison is a warm, funny, and low-stakes, high-heart escape that is exactly what holiday reading should be. Releasing just in time for the season, this is one readers will want to add to their festive TBRs immediately. Pre-order now on Amazon ahead of its October 20, 2026 release.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Berkley/Penguin Random House, and Zoe Allison for the opportunity to Alpha/Beta/ARC read The Christmas Competition. As always, all opinions expressed are entirely my own, Karen Brooks aka The Tx Lit Chic. I have not been promised any compensation, current or future, by the author or publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review of The Christmas Competition.