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Lily Morton is one of my go-to authors whenever I’m looking for a sexy, funny, low-angst read, and in Merry Measure – a standalone Christmas romance – she delivers all those things and more. It’s a charming friends-to-lovers story that’s full of warmth, humour and Christmas spirit (the bottled kind as well as the other!), featuring two wonderfully endearing leads and a marvellous supporting cast. Fans of Ms. Morton’s will need no urging to pounce on this one – and if you haven’t read her yet and are in the mood for some festive sweetness and snark, then here is as good a place to start as any.
Primary school teacher Arlo Wright is flying to Amsterdam for Christmas, where he’s joining his brother Tom and a few other close friends in order to celebrate Tom’s engagement to his boyfriend Bee… as soon as Tom does the actual proposing. Arlo is terrified of flying, so he’s glad to be travelling with his brother’s best friend Jack Cooper, upon whom he once had a massive teenage crush, and who is now as much Arlo’s friend as he is Tom’s.
Arlo and Jack arrive at the hotel to discover there’s been a mix-up with the rooms – and Arlo discovers that maybe his crush on Jack isn’t quite as dead as he’d thought it was. Jack had originally intended to travel with his boyfriend, but they’ve recently broken up; Jack contacted the hotel to cancel his double occupancy, but instead, they’ve cancelled his room – and this close to Christmas, it’s going to be nigh on impossible for him to find anywhere else to stay in the city. He’s about to start looking anyway when Bee suggests that Jack share Arlo’s room – it’s got two beds after all – and after a couple of moments of awkwardness, Arlo agrees. After all, what could possibly go wrong?
Okay, so it’s all a bit predictable, but Ms. Morton transcends the tropes and puts her own stamp on them. Arlo and Jack are totally adorable, both individually and as a couple. Arlo is a complete dork in the best way; he’s scatty and warm and funny, his brain-to-mouth filter doesn’t always work and he’s vibrant and full of life. Jack is equally lovely; quieter and more reserved, he’s the “measure” to Arlo’s “merry”, a bit of a perfectionist whose predilection for tidiness and detail and planning comes out more strongly when he’s anxious. He knows Arlo had a crush on him when they were younger (he thought it was sweet) and knows he’s grown out of it, which is probably for the best. But the previous Christmas something shifted and Jack experienced a real coup de foudre, suddenly seeing Arlo in a completely different light, the pull of attraction hitting him completely unexpectedly. But not only is Arlo is his best friend’s little brother, the Wrights have been more like family to Jack than his own has ever been, and he doesn’t want to screw that up. He hopes he’ll be able to go back to seeing Arlo the way he did before – but that hasn’t happened, and Jack doesn’t think it’s going to happen any time soon.
Jack and Arlo have chemistry by the bucketload, and their transition from friends to lovers is perfectly believable because of the way their relationship is set up; this is a short-ish novel, but the romance doesn’t feel rushed or forced because they’ve been known each other for so long and have always held a special place in each other’s lives. They speak and act like adults – which I loved – and although Arlo does jump to a couple of conclusions born of his own insecurities, the author doesn’t allow them to fester or become ridiculously overblown. These guys talk to each other openly and honestly, those small moments of trust and intimacy showing just as strongly as the snarky banter or the love scenes, why they are such a good fit.
One of the hallmarks of Ms. Morton’s books is the way she writes close friendships and familial relationships. Most of her series centre around a particular friendship or family group, and in much the same way, this story features a terrific supporting cast of close-knit friends and family who tease each other mercilessly but who obviously love and care for each other deeply. And while I’m not generally a fan of the ‘evil ex’ trope, there are times when watching such characters get their just desserts is so thoroughly delicious that I set aside my reservations and just enjoy it – which is exactly what I did here when Jack’s obnoxious ex turns up at a very inauspicious moment.
Merry Measure is a fun, sexy, feel-good read that’s peppered with laugh-out-loud moments and full of festive cheer. The Amsterdam locations are gorgeous and vividly described, the characters are warm and funny, and the romance is delightful. It’s just the thing to while away a few hours on a chilly winter’s evening.
Buy it at: Amazon
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Grade: B+
Book Type: Contemporary Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 09/12/20
Publication Date: 12/2020
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.
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Putting this on the TBR pile!
I just pickedup my first Lily Morton book, Rule Breaker, on audio per your recommendation. I’m adding this one, too,for a nice holiday read.
BTW, I’m really enjoying Angles in the City by Garrett Leigh. Thanks for that, too!
I also very much enjoyed this one, too. I do think Lily is hard on ex-boyfriends – they’re always so very villainous! That’s probably my only complaint about this story – the angst felt a bit overdone and over the top. I loved the supporting cast & wish we could get Bee and Tom’s story – maybe she’ll give us a wedding short or similar. I get LM’s newsletter but I didn’t get the short. Worth trying to figure it out?
The story was included with the Newsletter on 2nd Dec announcing the release – and I liked it. I sent you a link via email.
Got it! Loved it! Thank you!
It’s quite a long short, set on a weekend between the end of the book and the epilogue. There is sex, lube, Jack’s mum and the set up for the epilogue.
I don’t think it’s the best of her shorts, but I always like a bit more!
I think the extra scene is worth it. It adds depth to Arlo and Jack’s relationship by showing another conflict they have to deal with, expanding something alluded to in the epilogue. I think you will enjoy it.
Great review, Caz, I would only differ on the grade as I’d give it A-.
It’s such a wonderful read – just so full of warmth and joy and all of Lily Morton’s usual gifts.
Arlo and Jack are pretty special as a couple, even if you put them in competition with her others! It’s got snow, Christmas Carols and plenty of drinking and shagging set against the background of Amsterdam – just what I want in a Christmas story!
I was really worried when the Evil Ex appeared because I really disliked how the author used this trope in a previous book, Best Man. But, pheww, it worked in this one IMO, adding just enough tension.
And as Lily Morton usually does, there is also an extra if you subscribe to her newsletter.
I’m up to 6 books/shorts on my Christmas reading binge and this is by far my favourite so far.
Thanks. I really liked it, but it was maybe just a bit TOO sweet for my taste (probably why the Garrett Leigh worked that little bit better for me). It’s definitely one of the best seasonal reads I’ve read this year though.
I think I would also give the book an A- in the end. I liked how the Evil Ex was dealt with – Jack was very firm that their relationship was over and it wasn’t drawn out. I keep re-reading the scene where Tom finds out about Arlo and Jack and talks to them individually. The way Arlo and Jack speak about each other – so romantic. I also love the last paragraph of the epilogue – fantastic ending!
I completely agree with everything in this review! When I read it the first time, I felt it was a slight story – shorter than Ms. Morton’s more recent books, a well worn trope, and low angst. I did find the length and setting rather perfect for a Christmas novella. The descriptions of Amsterdam were wonderful. However, after that initial read, I kept thinking about it (the mark of a good book!) and have gone back more than once over the past week to re-read parts. It is just so darn charming! My opinion of the book just seems to be improving over time and it is definitely a book I could read every Christmas.
What I would really like now is a book giving us Tom and Bee’s story…
I had a similar experience – I originally gave it a B, then thought about it a bit more and upped it. As to length, I’ve read some books classifed as full-length that are shorter than this!