Merry Christmas, you filthy animal by Meghan Quinn

 

Published by Bloom Books on October 14th, 2025

464 pages

I read the paperback version

Back Cover

Nothing says I love you like trespassing, public humiliation, and a town-wide Christmas spectacle to win your crush back.

Atlas "Max" Maxheimer did not sign up for this. One minute, he's anxiously trying to keep his family's Christmas tree farm from imploding. The next? He's passed out in the snow after getting clocked by a suspiciously strong bottle of soda.

Enter Betty: new in town, full of holiday cheer, and helping her uncle open a rival tree farm next door. Max is convinced she's out to destroy everything Evergreen Farm stands for. Betty thinks Max might be one sleigh short of a winter parade.

Cue the holiday chaos.

Between blizzards, blown reputations, wildly misguided romantic plots, and one stolen ornament with a seriously tragic backstory, this small-town war turns into something far messier―and much more delicious―than either of them expected.

My review

Believe it or not, it’s the first book I read from this author and I saw it so much on my Instagram that I thought I should give it a chance. It’s because I subscribed to a live with the author in December and I was curious to know more about her writing.

It’s the book 2 of two after How My Neighbour Stool Christmas, but you don’t have to read it to understand the story. What I liked the most about the book is the sense of humour especially when Betty hits Max with a 2l of Pepsi. I didn’t laugh like this since a really long time and I have to thank the author for that.

Hard to choose my favorite character, but I chose Betty just because I recognize myself in her awkwardness and she is one of the funniest characters I ever met. She is smart, but weird in the same time, I think lot of women can find themselves in her.

Max is also a cool character and brings lot of spice in the story. Just for your information, I recommend it for a public over 16 years old because of intimate scenes. I just thought that he is using the F word a little too much to be my favorite. It was one of the things that make me put the book down. In the same time, he is a grumpy guy with a big heart.

Excerpts

“You’re currently unemployed. You’re single. And you’re living with your parents in their basement, crocheting because you have nothing else to do with your life besides visit the senior living center on Thursday nights, where you puzzle with people whose names are Murgatroyd, Harold, and Henrietta.” (p.19)

“Please,” I beg of him. “I can’t take this right now. It feels like I was hit in the head with an iron.”  

“More like a two-litter of Pepsi,” (p.46)

Two years ago, when Cole was in a dark place where he couldn’t celebrate Christmas, he pulled a 180 on everyone and entered the town Christmas Kringle competition. (p.68)

“..And you have to stop thinking this being a me thing. This is a you thing. I’m not investing in a farm; I’m investing in you. So have some pride in the fact that I trust you with this project. And honestly, you’re the only one that I trust.” (p.94)

“Great timing. No one likes waiting until the end of a story for a kiss. Think you can squeeze in some more? Her lips are fucking amazing.” (p.183)