Justin had been a cop for five years and his partner was Kevin O’Rourke. Now Justin had to play Cop Kringle and his kid sister’s -Hannah-  best friend Lilly was a reporter and to be Justin’s elf. Lilly had been in combat situation as a correspondent. Everyone knew Justin was more of a grinch then a saint when it came to  Christmas. Lilly hadn’t seen Justin in ten years. Justin had been her big brother by proxy. But when Lilly saw Justin his face was stony and fierce. Words failed Lilly and words never failed her as she was a broadcast journalist. Talking was what Lilly did. It would be so much easier for Lilly to run. But if she did she would not get the slot at Channel 10. Lilly wanted to live here by Hannah and Mary-Justin and Hannah’s mom- Mary was more of a mom to Lilly than her biological mother. Her family of the heart- Mary, Hannah , and Justin included. Even at six years old Lilly had decided to marry Justin and seven year old Justin said he would marry Lilly but no kissing. Then they pinkie swore. Lilly told Justin her article had to be great as she wanted to be permanently be there with Mary and Hannah. But Justin was angry at her still he had been for ten years when he felt Lilly had abandoned his family and him when they needed her most. But that didn’t mean he didn’t miss her and her… Lillyness.  Then Justin and Lilly share a hot kiss under the mistletoe for the article. Justin realizes he cares about Lilly and not as a sister. Lilly also knows she loves Justin and always has. Justin also has anxiety from PTSD to deal with.

I really enjoyed this book, I loved Justin and Lilly together and how they interacted with each other. I really liked the plot and the pace. I would have liked to rate this 4’5 if I could have. I liked how close Hannah and Mary were to Lilly who really didn’t have a normal loving family life. I loved how protective justin was of Lilly even when he was angry at her. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I recommend.    

He has hang ups. She has determination. Caught in the chaos of Christmas can a Scrooge and his tempting elf unwrap a happily ever after? Marnie Blue is a genius. She tackles serious emotion wrapped up in a light - hearted holiday movie. Beat the holiday rush and make your heart rejoice with a humorous tale of the romantic variety. Mistletoe Kisses is Hallmark worthy reading.

The anime pretty much follows the book until the ending, which cuts out the part with the Linsdays.

Yes Marnie and Anna say they love each other. So that whole "queer baiting" thing is in the book too if you want to call it that. It's pretty much that Marnie was forced to marry Edward and then had kids.

Overall the book is pretty good if you like slice of life type books were not much happens and there's no super magic stuff going on.

I felt the part with the Lindsays was drawn out a bit much. They are mostly there to get you hyped for the big reveal of who Marnie was.

So I had a friend that said that "When Marnie Was There" (the anime movie from Studio Ghibli) was "queer baiting" as in the anime Anna and Marnie both say that they love each over and over and "that wasn't in the book!" She insisted that she had read the book many times.

Only... reading the book myself there are quite a few time that Anna says she loves Marnie, even one point where she puts her cheek next to Marnie's. Yes they use the word "love" and not just implying it.

So.. yeah, turns out she DIDN'T read the book. Not surprising.

Did the movie start out so slow? I can't remember