🎄 Book Review: All by My Elf by Olivia Dade (Kindle Edition, Under the Mistletoe Collection #3)
A quirky, snowbound holiday romance that mixes academia, awkward crushes, and spicy treats—Olivia Dade delivers a novella that’s equal parts funny, heartfelt, and socially conscious, though not without its bumps.
🧠 Overview
Published in November 2024 as part of Amazon Original Stories’ Under the Mistletoe Collection, All by My Elf is a 55-page romantic novella by Olivia Dade, known for her witty, body-positive romances. The story follows Nina and William, two underpaid adjunct professors moonlighting as holiday “treaters” in a repurposed Wienermobile, promoting Mrs. Claus’s Mincemeat Treats.
When a blizzard strands them on the interstate, their forced proximity leads to a game of Never Have I Ever—and the revelation of long-held secret crushes. But beneath the holiday hijinks lies a deeper commentary on the exploitation of academic labor and the emotional toll of professional precarity.
💘 Key Highlights
- 🧠 Social commentary: Tackles adjunct faculty struggles—low pay, job insecurity, and lack of recognition
- 💬 Slow-burn romance: Nina and William’s chemistry builds through shared frustrations and emotional honesty
- 🎄 Holiday setting: Snowstorm, festive snacks, and elf costumes add seasonal charm
- 😂 Humor and awkwardness: Olivia Dade’s signature wit shines through in the banter and blunders
“Secret crushes, spicy Christmas treats, heinous holiday traffic, and a fateful snowstorm bring good friends together in a funny, heartfelt short story…” — Goodreads summary
💬 Reader Reception
- ⭐ Goodreads rating: 2.59/5 from over 64,000 ratings
- 📖 Some readers loved the quirky setup and emotional depth, while others felt the pacing was uneven
- 🧾 Criticisms include a slow start, overextended workplace grievances, and a rushed romantic payoff
- 💬 “Funny, sweet, and so much fun from start to finish… but the holiday spirit felt more incidental than integral.” — Readers Enjoy Authors Dreams review
⚠️ Considerations
- 📄 Short format: At under 60 pages, it’s a quick read—best approached as a character vignette
- 📚 Part of a collection: Works as a standalone, but complements other Under the Mistletoe novellas by authors like Tessa Bailey and Ali Hazelwood
- 🧠 Tone balance: Struggles at times to juggle serious themes with lighthearted romance
🏁 Final Verdict
All by My Elf is a clever and emotionally layered holiday novella that blends romance with real-world frustrations. Olivia Dade’s characters are relatable and endearing, even if the story’s pacing and tone occasionally falter. If you enjoy romances that mix spice with substance—and don’t mind a little academic angst—this Kindle edition is worth a cozy read.
