Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal by Meghan Quinn
Reading Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal felt like having the Christmas spirit injected into my veins. Meghan Quinn brought her A game when writing this, her second Christmas romance taking place in the picturesque setting of Kringletown, Colorado.
The first novel in these interconnected standalones, How My Neighbor Stole Christmas, was a retelling of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, so naturally Quinn had to step it up and give us a retelling of Home Alone for book two.
A Cozy Nod to a Classic Christmas Chaos
Our main characters both have a bit of Kevin McAllister in them, while the rest of this quirky town takes on traits of the other beloved characters — from the shovel-wielding neighbor to a tarantula named Buzz.
You could make a drinking game out of spotting the movie references, and I’d like to think John Hughes would’ve enjoyed this take on his classic movie.
The story starts out with a bang when Max comes charging in to warn the family of potential competition to their family Christmas farm. While on his walk around their property, he overhears people concocting a plan to use the neighboring land. He lacks attention to detail, though, so we really don’t know for sure what they’re up to.
The Spirit of Home Alone Returns to the Heartland
Right away, the Home Alone references kick off the giggles. He’s the Kevin of the family, down to the attic bedroom his father has sent him to after his outburst.
When Max wakes in the morning, he finds himself alone, no family in sight. Yes, the 30-year-old doofus has decided his family must have somehow disappeared, and I knew instantly this was going to be exactly what I needed to get into the holiday spirit.
Turns out Max’s parents had decided to go on a surprise European vacation until Christmas, leaving Max to run the farm. But thanks to our omniscient narrator, we know there are, in fact, neighbors who present a challenge to our beloved Max.
Speaking of the neighbors, Betty has just found out her Uncle Dwight owns the land next to Max’s family and has a plan to create a Christmas farm complete with Santa’s village, bonfires and hot chocolate, and he wants Betty to run it.
The thing is, Betty has been floating since her year-round Christmas store closed, and she needs a purpose. It looks like she’ll be moving to Kringle and taking on this project.
As you can imagine, hijinks ensue while Max’s plan to woo Betty unfolds. He thinks he can make her fall for him, break her heart and run her out of town — destroying her plans to build a Christmas farm next door.
Betty may lack a filter, but she’s no pushover. A Kevin-esque character in her own right, she’s up for a challenge.
The Home Alone references are endless and come from all directions, whether it’s Betty knocking over the bronze statue in front of a store or chucking a two-liter of Pepsi at Max’s head after he’s found stalking up to Betty’s house equipped with a crowbar.
Proof That Holiday Spirit Can Be Equal Parts Naughty and Nice
It’s worth noting I had just finished what some might consider this year’s most devastating dark fantasy before reading Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal, and I truly thought I’d never find a book funny again. That was until I realized I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes for most of this book.
We should talk about the spicy scenes as well. Quinn is known for bringing the heat, and this was no exception.
This isn’t a family-friendly Christmas romance. She builds tension so well you’ll find yourself yelling at the characters to KISS! Which they do thanks to an abundance of mistletoe. Things really heat from there, and like in book one, there may be some “fun” with Christmas desserts.
I appreciate that Meghan Quinn pumps out hilarious and spicy romcoms multiple times a year, but they never feel derivative of her prior work. The story lines and attention to detail are impeccable. Whether it is an interconnected hockey series or annual Christmas books inspired by the classics, she doesn’t miss.
About Meghan Quinn:
New York Times, #1 Amazon and USA Today bestselling author, wife, adoptive mother and peanut butter lover. Author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect combination of heart, humor and heat in every book.
