Review: Who Needs Mistletoe? by Sarah Estep

Title: Who Needs Mistletoe?
Author: Sarah Estep
Publication Date: September 29, 2026
Publisher: Entangled: Amara
Format Read: Kindle e-ARC
Genre: Contemporary Romance

---

Entangled Publishing has helped me rediscover my love of the romance genre, so when I was approached to read the holiday romance Who Needs Mistletoe? by Sarah Estep, I said yes. Being perfectly honest, though, I had always avoided holiday romances before this, thinking, “Ugh. Cheesy.” Well, readers, this story taught me to stop blindly judging and instead go in ready to enjoy myself and perhaps even be surprised. This book blew my preconceived notions out of the water.

Ten years ago, Ivy Weaver thought she confessed her feelings to Austin, her next-door neighbor and longtime crush. It was actually his brother, Grant, who received the confession and responded so brutally that, after Ivy left town for college, she was too mortified to return. Now, a decade later, her parents need help packing up their house for a Christmastime move, and she has no choice but to come home. Austin suddenly seems interested, while Grant is desperate to make amends. What follows is a love story unfolding amid the chaos of the weeks leading up to Christmas, with friendships, life realizations, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.

The story is told entirely through Ivy and Grant’s perspectives. I found them both well-rounded and ridiculously relatable, but I also enjoyed their best friends, Brad and Tony, as well as both of their families. The setting is small-town Wisconsin, another thing I could relate to, at least the small-town part of it, having grown up in a Nebraska town of only 700. Estep captures the charm, the advantages and disadvantages of everyone knowing each other’s business, the brutal cold, and the snow. Basically, it felt like Ivy could have been me in Nebraska instead of Wisconsin.

Estep’s prose is light and easy to read, with plenty of romantic tension and lots of playful, sweet banter. There is a nice level of spice, including some surprisingly steamy moments, but the story remains approachable and natural, with humor and emotional honesty. It is a book about second chances, misconceptions and, ha!, preconceived notions; returning home to face a difficult past; family expectations; and choosing the person who actually sees you.

I had a blast reading this, and by the time it wrapped up, my smile was so big that aliens on Mars could probably see it. I’d recommend this to readers who love romantic comedies — think Sophie Kinsella or Emily Henry.

Nerd Rating: 🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓— a festive romance that completely won me over

---

What My Nerd Ratings Mean

🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓 5 Nerds: I loved it and enthusiastically recommend it.

🤓🤓🤓🤓 4 Nerds: I really liked it, with only minor things keeping it from being a new favorite.

🤓🤓🤓 3 Nerds: I liked it. Some elements may not have fully worked for me, but I still found plenty to appreciate.

---

Click here to learn more about Who Needs Mistletoe? and Sarah Estep.

---

Let’s discuss:
Tell me about a book that changed your mind about a genre or trope you thought you wouldn’t enjoy.

---

Support Indie Booksellers

Thinking about picking up a copy? Purchasing through the link below supports independent bookstores, and I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting indie booksellers and I Speak Book Nerd. 🤓💛🤓

Get your copy on Bookshop.org.

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

I read a digital copy made available by Entangled: Amara through NetGalley, and this review reflects my honest opinion.