Book Review - The Naughty List Agreement by Katherine Garbera

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Title: The Naughty List Agreement

Author: Katharine Garbera

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: 6th October 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

She needs a toy maker. He needs a wife.

The only problem? It's giving alarm bells instead of sleigh bells…

Cora Quill’s Winter Wonderland festival is the gold standard of holiday magic, until her toy supplier implodes. Her only hope? Nick Bari―the infuriatingly hot but grumpy toymaker she already fired.

Nick’s got his own problems – he needs to find a wife before Christmas Eve so he can stay Santa Claus and save the holiday season. Helping Cora out isn’t exactly a high priority. And she’s on the naughty list. (He checked. Twice.)

But when a desperate Cora comes knocking, he agrees to make her a deal…

Could this be the Christmas miracle they both need? Or the most festive trainwreck ever?

Dear Santa, 

I've been very naughty this year, because when I started the book The Naughty List Agreement, it distinctly says that it is to be read as an advent calendar, with one chapter per day for the month of December in the run up to Christmas. 

And well given I was reading it on my kindle and that first chapter ended in such a moreish way, that I had to continue onto the next, and the next until I had finished the book and it's still only November. 

But Santa, this is such a clever idea for a book, each chapter really is quite bite sized, so easy to fit in each day, and I noticed that the end of each was written in such a way that you would be keen for it to be tomorrow to read the next.  And this a concept that works especially well in a paperback form. 

And naturally I have definitely been naughty this year, because like Clara, I apparently couldn't resist Nick Bari, or to give him his proper name - Santa (yes you! - ok this format might be getting weird now). 

I absolutely enjoyed learning about how Nick and Pete (Krampus) between them control Christmas, and the naughty and nice list.  One preaches joy and compassion and the other works on fear.  And I really enjoyed learning about Gold and Black Lumen, the actual magic behind the season. 

This book feels as though it has taken concepts from multiple Christmas blockbuster films, and merged them in a unique and fresh feeling way. It felt familiar but new. And well the chemistry between him and the women he is clearly attracted to is off the charts. 

Cora however is on the naughty list, and he needs to redeem her and more in order to save Christmas and for him to keep being Santa. 

I was a massive fan of this book and could imagine it would make a nice TV serial drama over the month of December, small bite sized episodes, perfect for the short attention span viewers of today.  

So Santa, although I have been a bit naughty, please do put Katherine Garbera onto your nice list, for writing such a fabulous book about you. 

Thank in advance and Merry Christmas. 

Rachel

Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.