Two Hanukkah Romance Reviews

It’s the seventh night of Hanukkah and New Year’s Eve. These are my last reviews of the year. I wish there were more Hanukkah books on audio, because I had hoped to fit a few more in. But as I’m seeing everyone’s end-of-year recaps I realize I better catch up on that!

One Night Two Holidays: A Christmas and Hanukkah Novella by Ali Brady

Narrated by Julia Whelan & Teddy Hamilton

After falling in love with Until Next Summer by Ali Brady, I couldn’t wait to dive into One Night Two Holidays. As a Jewish woman, I love seeing Jewish representation in romance, but as someone who married outside the faith and raised my kids celebrating both holidays, I especially appreciated how this story blended the two traditions.

Jack is a medical resident in Chicago, completely burnt out from working loooong hours, and looking forward to visiting his parents for Christmas. But when a snowstorm grounds all flights, his plans are derailed. Frustrated, he takes out his stress by attacking some snowmen in his apartment building’s courtyard. Nessa, who’s alone for Hanukkah while her roommates and parents are out of town, sees her cute neighbor going full Hulk on the snowmen—and their adorable meet-cute sets the tone for the rest of the story.

When the power goes out in their building, they pool their resources and spend the night in Nessa’s apartment, which conveniently has a fireplace. What follows is a heartwarming (and steamy) mix of traditions—gift exchanges, stockings, and even a game of strip dreidel.

I loved how the story balanced humor, heart, and the perfect amount of spice. I also learned a little about BOTH religion’s traditions and I loved that! My only complaint? It was too short! I wish it had been a full-length romance because I didn’t want it to end.

Julia Whelan usually works better for me as the voice of older, more serious heroines, but I really enjoyed her lighter, more playful performance here. Teddy Hamilton was, as always, fantastic. If you’re interested, the audiobook is only available on Julia’s new website, Audiobrary.

Rating: 4.5 Stars, 3 Heat, 5 Narration

Purchase One Night Two Holidays by Ali Brady

Kindle | Paperback | Audiobrary

Home for the Holidays by Allie Lasky

Home for the Holidays by Allie Lasky is a Hanukkah hockey romance that delivers plenty of spice with a side of holiday charm.

Rachel, a nuclear physicist, has just been dumped by her boyfriend of six years—and left homeless in the process. With nowhere to go, she’s forced to couch surf, which is pretty embarrassing for someone as accomplished as she is. Enter her meddling mom and a matchmaker friend from the temple, who let her know that her high school boyfriend’s little brother has a spare room she can crash in.

Only… Jake is all grown up now. And not just grown up—he’s a professional hockey player.

Jake has had a crush on Rachel since he was a kid, and now that he has the chance to be around her, he’s not letting it slip by. Their chemistry is instant, and the heat between them builds quickly. But until Jake throws Rachel over his shoulder, I didn’t realize she was a size 26!

I’m always here for a plus-size heroine, but the reveal about her body type felt a little sudden, with no prior hints or insecurities mentioned earlier in the book. That said, I absolutely loved how Jake worshipped her curves—soft rolls and all—and how proud he was to be seen with her. It’s completely unrealistic that there’s zero negativity about her weight, but honestly? It made for a nice fantasy.

The story also includes plenty of Jewish representation, as they spend Hanukkah together with their families. But make no mistake—this book leans heavily into spice. The romance was hot, but I do wish there had been a little more story to balance it out. It also felt like it might be part of a series, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was supposed to already know some of the other characters.

If you’re in the mood for a quick, spicy hockey romance with plus-size and Jewish representation, this one might be for you.