I always look forward to a Meghan Quinn rom-com, and this one is pure festive fun. If you’re craving a cozy, funny, spicy romance with all the feels (and a healthy dose of Christmas chaos) Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal will not disappoint. It’s the perfect mix of humor, heart, and holiday cheer, proving that Christmas spirit can be both naughty and nice. 😉
Book Title: Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal
Author: Meghan Quinn
🎧 Narration: Full cast including Samantha Brentmoor, Teddy Hamilton, J.F. Harding, Vanessa Edwin, Robert Hatchet and Shane East
💋 Tropes:
- Enemies to lovers
- One bed
- Snowed in
- Cinnamon roll/Sunshine MMC
- He falls first
- Small town gossip
- Christmas shenanigans
- He saves her (and her tarantula)
- Mistletoe
- Home Alone Easter eggs
The Story
Remember Max, Cole’s holly jolly sidekick from How My Neighbor Stole Christmas? He’s back and even more lovable. Atlas “Max” Maxheimer’s family runs Evergreen Farm in the small town of Kringle. When his childhood rival, Dwight, hires his niece, Betty, to open a competing tree farm next door, Max hatches a mischievous plan to protect his family’s legacy: make Betty fall for him so he can break her heart, drive her out of town and save the family farm. But, of course, plans and hearts rarely cooperate. Cue the awkward conversations, meet-cutes, festive chaos, and endless Home Alone nods.
Fans of the first book will also be delighted to revisit Cole and Storee (now married with kids), and the rest of Kringle’s quirky residents.
The Spice
The first half of the book is a slow burn as the tension builds, but when the spice comes… 🥵🤣 Meghan Quinn delivers her signature brand of laugh-out-loud steam. Not only did she continue her theme of playing with food (ahem, still can’t look at a candy cane the same), but she gave us two fun new uses for Christmas treats! From naked arts and crafts time making popcorn garlands to chocolate-covered cherries, it’s equal parts hilarious and hot. I especially loved Betty’s confidence—she knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go for it. Go, girl!
My Thoughts
First of all, I HIGHLY recommend listening to this book. The full cast narration is spectacular and fully immersive. The narrator (played by Shane East) was perfection! I especially loved the parts where Max talked to him and thanked him. So playful. Listening to this book takes it to a whole other level.
I loved Max’s character so very much. The chaos inside his head! The awkwardness! The ridiculous battle plan and hijinks! And he met his match with Betty. I loved her lack of filter. They are basically the same person, and the ramblings and silly banter had me rolling.
Their first meet-cute was adorable, the way they played off each other before they knew they were going to be enemies. You could already feel the attraction and the fun banter with the fake harpoon. And then the way Betty reacts to Max’s spying and defending herself with a 2 liter bottle of Pepsi was hilariously awesome.
The Home Alone references were so much fun, starting with the comparison that Max is Kevin McAllister with his attic bedroom and his parents taking off unannounced to Europe, thinking they’ve disappeared. The battle plan drawn out in crayon. Knocking over the statue. All the holiday hijinks! “It’s what the French call les imbéciles.” And of course Buzz the tarantula! Let me know in the comments all the other Home Alone Easter eggs you picked up on!
The grand gesture happy ending will absolutely fill you with Christmas cheer. Honestly, this story begs to be made into a movie—someone please make it happen!
Final Thoughts
Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal is everything I want in a holiday rom-com: laughter, heart, heat, and just enough chaos to make it unforgettable. It’s a cozy cup of cocoa with a shot of spiked eggnog—and a reminder that love, like Christmas, is best when it’s a little messy and full of magic.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️