Holiday Unscripted by Natasha Madison

Narrated by Jason Clarke and Samantha Cook

Related to the Something So Series but can stand alone

“I know nothing good can come from this. I also know I will throat punch anyone who comes in and tries to stop us.”

I went into Holiday Unscripted by Natasha Madison thinking it was a standalone, but it turns out it’s connected to the Something So series. That said, it worked just fine on its own. I could tell it was a bit of a family reunion with characters from earlier books, and one of them felt oddly familiar. Turns out I read the first book in this series almost ten years ago. The romance itself, though, absolutely stands alone.

Elizabeth is a doctor living in Australia. She left the States seven years ago after her brother’s best friend, who’s basically family, quietly broke her heart. Now her brother is getting married over Christmas, a holiday she openly hates, and she’s forced to fly back home.

Things immediately go from bad to worse. The airline loses her luggage. The wedding hotel has a pipe burst. Guests are suddenly sleeping in her bedroom. And the only place left for her to stay is… you guessed it. Her brother’s best friend’s spare bedroom.

The wedding week is packed with holiday and pre-wedding activities, and the banter between Elizabeth and Nate was genuinely fun. That said, Elizabeth really bothered me at times. She was so negative and mean that I just didn’t like her for a good chunk of the book.

Nate, on the other hand, was an absolute delight. He’s a veterinarian with a new clinic, an adorable dog, and the patience of a saint. Total golden retriever energy to Elizabeth’s black cat. I loved how strongly their shared history came through and how clear it was that they’d both been holding onto feelings for years while pretending to hate each other. Once they finally got past that tension, I loved them together, and I started warming to Elizabeth a lot more.

“Don’t close those fucking eyes. Waited seven fucking years to see those eyes again. Don’t fucking close them.”

Of course, reality looms. Her life and career is in Australia… (or at least she keeps insisting it is, even though her whole family is still in her home town). His vet clinic is in the U.S. How do you bridge that kind of distance?

“I’ve realized I’ve been holding myself back, waiting for you.”

The Narration:

Jason Clarke and Samantha Cook did a fantastic job with this audiobook. Their comedic timing was spot on, and the emotional moments really landed. There’s a big cast of characters, but every voice felt distinct and easy to follow. I’d absolutely recommend this one in audio.

The Down & Dirty:

Holiday Unscripted by Natasha Madison was a fun Christmas romance, and I think I would’ve loved it even more if I had read the entire series and fully appreciated the long-term character reunions at the wedding. I loved the banter, the holiday chaos, and the festive setting, and there was just the right amount of spice to keep things interesting.