Deck The Palms Book Review By Annabeth Albert

Woo I do love my Christmas books that’s for sure! I won’t lie, I heard mixed things about this book, after reading a few Christmas books from Annabeth Albert you can bet I was going to give it a go after I loved the previous ones I read. My firm favourite from Annabeth has to be Catered All The Way!

I will say I’m not sure what the hate with Deck The Palms was all about but I found it very enjoyable, festive and a decent read. I can see some things that maybe grated a little and the whole enemies to lovers trope didn’t quite hit the mark but other than that, a jolly good read.

Spoilers will be in italics if there are any so don’t spoil it for yourself!

Deck The Palms Synopsis By Annabeth Albert

Nolan Bell has a holiday dilemma…

As a New Yorker dreaming of Broadway, I never expected to spend winter in Hawaii. But when my Army officer brother asks for help, I find myself stepping in as a substitute choir teacher near his base, tasked with planning the school’s holiday lights festival.

Enter Merrick “Merry” Winters—the grumpy yet irresistible shop teacher. Winning over a crowd is my specialty, but Merry’s another story. Still, I need his help to pull off the festival.

The more time we spend together, the more Merry’s grumpiness fades, revealing a dedicated single dad with deep roots on the island. What starts as a fling quickly feels like so much more.

Now, I have to decide: chase my Broadway dreams or risk it all for a future with Merry?

Deck The Palms Book Tropes

Here are some popular tropes in Deck the Palms:

1. Fish Out of Water: A Broadway dreamer finds himself in an unfamiliar setting—Hawaii—and navigating a new role as a choir teacher.
2. Grumpy/Sunshine: Nolan’s upbeat personality clashes with Merry’s reserved, grumpy demeanour.
3. Forced Proximity: They’re thrown together to plan the school’s holiday festival, leading to unexpected sparks.
4. Single Dad Romance: Merry is a dedicated father raising twin boys, adding emotional depth and stakes.
5. Holiday Romance: The festive backdrop sets the stage for a whirlwind seasonal romance.
6. Opposites Attract: Nolan’s flashy city dreams contrast with Merry’s grounded island life.
7. Small-Town/Community Spirit: The close-knit school and local traditions bring heartwarming moments.
8. Slow Burn: Their relationship develops gradually as they work together and learn to understand one another.
9. Found Family: The connection between Nolan, Merry, and the twins creates a new kind of family dynamic.
10. Career vs. Love Dilemma: Nolan faces a tough choice between his career aspirations and a future with Merry.

Where To Buy Deck The Palms Annabeth Albert

Want to get Deck The Palms by Annabeth Albert? Look no further. I read this on KU but you can also buy your own physical copy if you wish.

Deck The Palms Book Review

Take a look for the book review for Deck The Palms by Annabeth Albert. I’d love to know what you thought about the book and if you’re yet to read it, I highly recommend you give it a go and see what you think yourself.

Deck The Palms Book Rating – 3.75/5

I really liked this book. I understand what some people have said but I really did enjoy this read. Let me know what you thought about Deck The Palms. Do you agree with my rating or do you think I was too nice, too harsh or spot on.

I will say that compared to the other Christmas books from Annabeth Albert, this one has to be my least favourite which is a shame.

Deck The Palms Plot – 4

The plot was decent. Easy to follow and flowed with ease but I thought it lacked the tension and hard-hitting story, unlike Annabeth’s other Christmas books which is a big shame. It’s still worth the read but don’t get too excited.

Deck The Palms Charachters – 4

I loved the twins, naughty rascals! That being said I found Merry and Nolan to be a little bit too flexible. In one moment one of them was making all the effort and in the next, it flipped and it was difficult to figure out who was doing what at time.

Deck The Palms Emotional Rating – 3

I didn’t cry. I thought it was a cute book, there were moments when I awwed but other than that it didn’t evoke many emotions within me.

Deck The Palms Ending – 4

The ending was super cute, a decent ending to wrap the book up and no unanswered questions which is always nice.

Deck The Palms Spice – 3

I don’t include the spice rating in the overall rating because some books have spice and some don’t. Deck The Palms had spice that’s for sure but it wasn’t overly heavy and didn’t feature throughout the book, the spice was sparse but equally decent and true to life.

Get Your Copy