Eight Nights to Win Her Heart by Miri White [ARC Review]

 *I’d like to thank NetGalley, Alcove Press and Lucy Miri White for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

“Eight Nights to Win Her Heart” is White’s contemporary romance debut and tells the story of Andie and Leo.

When Leo isn’t losing himself in a restoration project for his family’s antiquity business, he is dreaming about his friendly neighbours Andie. They had shared some friendly conversation, but Leo could never bring himself to ask her out. That is until an old menorah falls into his hands, and his niece Millie suggests making a wish by lighting it. 

Leo finds Andie amidst her groceries, which had fallen out of her broken shopping bag, and promptly spots the menorah candles among her purchases. He basically invites himself in, and learns that Andie is about to move to Ohio for a preschool job.

Andie who also had nurtured a crush on her handsome neighbours, decided to spend her remaining days with the kind man from next door. But things get tricky when every evening spent with Leo feels very right, but her move is looming over her. Leo decides then and there that he would use his remaining eight nights with Andie to convince her to stay, and find out where their connection might lead them.

“Eight Nights to Win Her Heart” by Miri White is a cosy, feel-good holiday-themed romance that gives you all the feels. There still isn’t much chanukah-themed media out there, so I am grateful that White took it on herself to create the Jewish equivalent to a Hallmark movie. She did a great job with doing so.

Leo and Andie are such a beautiful couple. Leo is absolute book boyfriend material. He is kind, loving and mature. I also appreciate not only the representation of a Jewish man, but also the representation of a person who is hard of hearing and unashamed of it. I loved the way Leo noticed all the small things about Andie and fell in love with the entirety of who she is. My heart melted when he guessed her favourite colour right simply by taking a look around her half packed apartment. 

Andie is also an absolute gem. I could totally relate to her as someone who also only has her dad left. The bond that creates and pain that must come with such a loss hits very close to home. Through it all Andie remained a rather hopeful person wishing for love and family. I loved how passionate she was about her career, and how clear she set her boundaries with Leo when he overstepped. 

Leo and Andie’s romance was very sweet. They instantly have a connection, however Andie’s looming move threatens the spark that is about to ignite. Both of them aren’t without flaw, but they compliment each other so wonderfully that even flaws turn into an opportunity to grow. Andie gives Leo a place to simply be and experience true acceptance. And Leo gives Andie a true companion and a family. I absolutely adored how welcoming Leo’s family was towards Andie. 

The writing of the novel is simple yet compelling. I think there is room for growth when it comes to dialogue, but it doesn’t bother me much that sometimes the dialogue feels a bit unnatural. Plot wise I appreciate how every opened plotline was closed at the end, leaving a seamless ending. However, I am still curious how strip dreidel works. I need the instructions for scientific reasons.

Overall, a great contemporary debut with a Jewish twist that I can only recommend for the upcoming holiday season!