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I'm Scheming of a White Christmas
Tilly Grayson is finally back in the city she loves, New York. She's exactly where she wants to be and is loving every moment as a personal shopper at the prestigious Marlowe Department Store. That is until Brady McKinnon walks in one cold December day. Brady may have been Tilly's high school crush, but he publicly humiliated her back in the day. Something she's never been able to forget. So, when the perfect opportunity presents itself - a Christmas party at a chic New York apartment - it could be time to get her revenge... But has Brady changed? And will Tilly realize it before it’s too late?
If you love a second chance romance you will love Tilly and Brady's humorous chick lit story!
If you love a second chance romance you will love Tilly and Brady's humorous chick lit story!
52 pages, ebook
First published January 30, 2017
58 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Kate O'Keeffe
91 books861 followersKate O'Keeffe is a USA TODAY bestselling and award-winning author who writes exactly what she loves to read: laugh-out-loud romantic comedies with swoon-worthy heroes and gorgeous feel-good happily ever afters. She lives and loves in beautiful Hawke's Bay, New Zealand with her family and two scruffy but loveable dogs.
When she's not penning her latest story, Kate can be found hiking up hills (slowly), traveling to different countries around the globe (back when we used to be able to do that), and eating chocolate. A lot of it.
Get a free book when you sign up to Kate's newsletter at kateokeeffe.com.
When she's not penning her latest story, Kate can be found hiking up hills (slowly), traveling to different countries around the globe (back when we used to be able to do that), and eating chocolate. A lot of it.
Get a free book when you sign up to Kate's newsletter at kateokeeffe.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
December 14, 2025
This was really cute and I’d probably give it a PG rating (cussing, some alcohol, bullying, and 😣 creepy comments from a side character)
It’s a former bully to lovers romance (the MMC was the bully but he took accountability for it and I love that)
Best quotes: “He leaned in, and brushed his lips against mine. It was achingly good. He pulled away for a moment before kissing me again, wrapping his arms around me, pulling me into his wonderful, warm, firm body.
I’m kissing Brady McKinnon!”
Awww 🥰 “Okay, how are you going to explain this one, Tilly?
“Is that another New Zealand tradition?” he asked, clearly dumbfounded.
“Yes!” I replied, relieved he’d come up with an almost believable explanation for me. “It’s . . . considered bad luck to . . . to drink from a beer that’s been held in the hand for more than ten minutes at Christmastime.”
What?
He grinned. “I’ll be sure to drink my beer faster in the future then.”
“Or put it down on the table in between sips. You could do that,” I offered reasonably.
He nodded. “I guess you can never be too careful with these things.”
He smiled at me and the hamsters banged against the walls in my belly.
He dropped his chin. “I thought you’d hate me after what happened.”
I shrugged. “I did.”
“Past tense?” The look on his face was . . . hopeful.
“We all do things we’re not proud of and would rather forget.” Such as Three Point Revenge Plans.
“True. You know, I always kind of liked you.”
“You did?” I squeaked.
“Yeah. I’ll admit, you’re much cuter these days, but you’ve always been really nice. I remember how fun it was doing that history project together. I liked you.”
“I saw it. That idiot Tobey stole our present from under the tree and gave it to his boss! Can you believe it?”
I let out a nervous, high-pitched laugh. “I know. Only he didn’t steal it. I gave it to him.”
She shook her head. “Genius, girl. Genius.”
It’s a former bully to lovers romance (the MMC was the bully but he took accountability for it and I love that)
Best quotes: “He leaned in, and brushed his lips against mine. It was achingly good. He pulled away for a moment before kissing me again, wrapping his arms around me, pulling me into his wonderful, warm, firm body.
I’m kissing Brady McKinnon!”
Awww 🥰 “Okay, how are you going to explain this one, Tilly?
“Is that another New Zealand tradition?” he asked, clearly dumbfounded.
“Yes!” I replied, relieved he’d come up with an almost believable explanation for me. “It’s . . . considered bad luck to . . . to drink from a beer that’s been held in the hand for more than ten minutes at Christmastime.”
What?
He grinned. “I’ll be sure to drink my beer faster in the future then.”
“Or put it down on the table in between sips. You could do that,” I offered reasonably.
He nodded. “I guess you can never be too careful with these things.”
He smiled at me and the hamsters banged against the walls in my belly.
He dropped his chin. “I thought you’d hate me after what happened.”
I shrugged. “I did.”
“Past tense?” The look on his face was . . . hopeful.
“We all do things we’re not proud of and would rather forget.” Such as Three Point Revenge Plans.
“True. You know, I always kind of liked you.”
“You did?” I squeaked.
“Yeah. I’ll admit, you’re much cuter these days, but you’ve always been really nice. I remember how fun it was doing that history project together. I liked you.”
“I saw it. That idiot Tobey stole our present from under the tree and gave it to his boss! Can you believe it?”
I let out a nervous, high-pitched laugh. “I know. Only he didn’t steal it. I gave it to him.”
She shook her head. “Genius, girl. Genius.”
September 13, 2020
This was just what I needed today. I’ve been feeling a little down since I was laid off on Friday and needed a diversion.
I found this beauty and it was perfect!
Just enough sass, hysterics and fun to make me smile.
I can think of a couple of guys in high school I would love to pull a prank on like this.
It has me giggling still even after the fact. Who am I kidding, I would totally do this to my ex-husband and die laughing the entire time.
I found this beauty and it was perfect!
Just enough sass, hysterics and fun to make me smile.
I can think of a couple of guys in high school I would love to pull a prank on like this.
It has me giggling still even after the fact. Who am I kidding, I would totally do this to my ex-husband and die laughing the entire time.
Read
December 5, 2024well, that was silly haha
November 28, 2017
Tilly had potential as a character. She’s finally living and working in New York City. She has a job that fits her well and working in a department store is a perfect set up for a Christmas story. When the guy she had a crush in high school shows up, she gets tongue-tied, nervous, the whole nine yards. Happily, he invites her to a party in spite of her awkwardness. The catch is that even though now she’s beautiful, in high school she was a bit of a nerd and he was incredibly mean to her.
She and her roommate plan revenge. The problem with the whole story is the revenge plan. It is so juvenile and stupid. I don’t think I could be friends with someone who actually planned and then went through with it. And I don’t see how the guy could still want to date her, even if he didn’t bear the brunt of the prank.
She and her roommate plan revenge. The problem with the whole story is the revenge plan. It is so juvenile and stupid. I don’t think I could be friends with someone who actually planned and then went through with it. And I don’t see how the guy could still want to date her, even if he didn’t bear the brunt of the prank.
September 9, 2022
This book wasn't bad. The plot was not as believable, but it was still enjoyable.
May 28, 2023
The female protagonist and her BFF are horrible people!
This novella is billed as romantic comedy, but the so-called humor involves disgusting pranks that are the farthest extreme of humiliation humor, including poisoning someone with an overdose of laxatives. For their cruel and vindictive behavior, the female protagonist and her BFF should have been arrested for assault!
This novella is billed as romantic comedy, but the so-called humor involves disgusting pranks that are the farthest extreme of humiliation humor, including poisoning someone with an overdose of laxatives. For their cruel and vindictive behavior, the female protagonist and her BFF should have been arrested for assault!
December 7, 2019
From the title you would believe someone is scheming but not revenging on a high school nemesis. All I can say is someone is getting coal in their stocking this Christmas.
December 1, 2025
3.5 stars really!
November 19, 2021
This book actually ended up keeping me up at night. I was hoping for light and fun ‘romantic scheming’ as it is a Christmas novella. That is not what I got. I am all for revenge, but this one rubbed me the wrong way. The MC’s are supposed to be 24 or 25 and the revenge prank Tilly plans with her friend Lana is so juvenile and over the top, I wanted to run away from the both of them.
I also thought it was sort of unclear what really happened back in high school. She says he asked her to the dance, Lana asks if he then stood her up, Tilly says No, he went with another girl (so he did stand her up then?). Then their revenge plot is to get him on the hook, then dump him at the Christmas party. Maybe something is lost in the New Zealand to American reading of it, but I don’t see how you can dump someone you aren’t dating.
Anyway, that is the part of her revenge plan I could get behind. The rest is teenage boy level antics that Lana pretends is a reference to Orange is the New Black, and I couldn’t believe that was the place she’d go to for a reference of a flaming bag of dog poop that feels like it's been a moment in almost every sit-com to exist (yes, that is literally their revenge plan, and laxatives).
**spoilers below**
When she sort-of aborts the plan (still gives the poop gift to his friend who she also pumps full of laxatives) Brady still chases after her and asks her out, if she can forgive him for high school he’ll overlook the fact that she has essentially poisoned his friend and cost him his job? I don’t know. Poor Brady seemed to have his shit together and be genuinely remorseful. I feel bad for the poor guy getting stuck with the monster that is Tilly. At least it was short, so I didn’t waste too much time with this horrible woman.
If you like juvenile pranks and morally indifferent characters getting their win, maybe this one’s for you, it certainly wasn’t for me.
I also thought it was sort of unclear what really happened back in high school. She says he asked her to the dance, Lana asks if he then stood her up, Tilly says No, he went with another girl (so he did stand her up then?). Then their revenge plot is to get him on the hook, then dump him at the Christmas party. Maybe something is lost in the New Zealand to American reading of it, but I don’t see how you can dump someone you aren’t dating.
Anyway, that is the part of her revenge plan I could get behind. The rest is teenage boy level antics that Lana pretends is a reference to Orange is the New Black, and I couldn’t believe that was the place she’d go to for a reference of a flaming bag of dog poop that feels like it's been a moment in almost every sit-com to exist (yes, that is literally their revenge plan, and laxatives).
**spoilers below**
When she sort-of aborts the plan (still gives the poop gift to his friend who she also pumps full of laxatives) Brady still chases after her and asks her out, if she can forgive him for high school he’ll overlook the fact that she has essentially poisoned his friend and cost him his job? I don’t know. Poor Brady seemed to have his shit together and be genuinely remorseful. I feel bad for the poor guy getting stuck with the monster that is Tilly. At least it was short, so I didn’t waste too much time with this horrible woman.
If you like juvenile pranks and morally indifferent characters getting their win, maybe this one’s for you, it certainly wasn’t for me.
February 7, 2017
Cute Quickie
A sweet short story for those in need of a happy-ending.
Predictable, but fun, and completely harmless.
Enjoy a break from life's harshness and relax with a fresh hope for good to win.
A sweet short story for those in need of a happy-ending.
Predictable, but fun, and completely harmless.
Enjoy a break from life's harshness and relax with a fresh hope for good to win.
January 3, 2019
Not my sense of humor, I guess
I may have thought this whole ‘revenge’ nonsense funny. When I was in third grade. Maybe. Probably not.
I’m a bit older now, however. It comes across as stupid, childish, and gross to me now.
This would not be a book I would recommend to my adult friends. And I certainly wouldn’t want a child to read it.
For me, this is a waste of time, and not a book I would recommend.
I may have thought this whole ‘revenge’ nonsense funny. When I was in third grade. Maybe. Probably not.
I’m a bit older now, however. It comes across as stupid, childish, and gross to me now.
This would not be a book I would recommend to my adult friends. And I certainly wouldn’t want a child to read it.
For me, this is a waste of time, and not a book I would recommend.
December 15, 2022
This had so much potential for the characters and plot, but the immaturity of the MC and her roommate in addition to the mild swearing killed this for me. I also didn’t full understand what happened in the past… Would have loved it to be clean, had a more mature plan of revenge and maybe a hilarious “plan gone wrong” fail that would have brought the MC’s to an even playing field to kick off a romance… instead this was childish and just not at all for me.
November 16, 2022
So there were definitely things I didn’t like about this. The characters act like they’re teenagers when they’re 25, trying to get “revenge” for something that happened in highschool by giving the other person dog poop for Christmas and give them laxatives…like…why? And the characters had 0 personality, they didn’t have any interests or background or anything.
December 30, 2022
Lana nudged me in the ribs, pulling me back to earth.
“Ouch! Why’d you do that?” I protested.
In response, she nudged me again, cocking her head to the side like a confused spaniel.
I turned to see what she was looking it.
Brady.
My heart leapt into my mouth. “What? What are you doing here?”
“You left so fast.” He puffed as he spoke. “So, I ran.”
“How did you know where to find me?”
“I guessed you’d be here.”
I glanced down at his hand. “You ran here with your beer?”
He lifted the beer up and looked at it as though he hadn’t seen it before. “Ha. I didn’t realize I did that.”
We stood for a moment together in silence until Lana said, “I’m going to head over and look at the thing over there.”
Before I had the chance to ask, she was gone.
I turned to Brady. “Why’d you follow me?”
“We…I didn’t think we’d finished talking.”
Tilly Grayson is finally back in the city she loves, New York. She’s exactly where she wants to be and is loving every moment as a personal shopper at the prestigious Marlowe Department Store. That is until Brady McKinnon walks in one cold December day. Brady may have been Tilly’s high school crush, but he publicly humiliated her back in the day. Something she’s never been able to forget. So, when the perfect opportunity presents itself-a Christmas party at a chic New York apartment-it could be time to get her revenge…But has Brady changed? And will Tilly realize it before it’s too late?
This was a quick, short, revenge love story between Brady and Tilly. Phase one of the revenge plan, I got behind on, but phase 2 and 3, seemed a little childish to me. I love that scene when Brady showed up at Rockefeller Tree with his beer bottle and realized that he ran with it in his hand. Swoon moment, realizing that his woman left quickly so he ran after her and not realizing what he was holding. 3 stars.
“Ouch! Why’d you do that?” I protested.
In response, she nudged me again, cocking her head to the side like a confused spaniel.
I turned to see what she was looking it.
Brady.
My heart leapt into my mouth. “What? What are you doing here?”
“You left so fast.” He puffed as he spoke. “So, I ran.”
“How did you know where to find me?”
“I guessed you’d be here.”
I glanced down at his hand. “You ran here with your beer?”
He lifted the beer up and looked at it as though he hadn’t seen it before. “Ha. I didn’t realize I did that.”
We stood for a moment together in silence until Lana said, “I’m going to head over and look at the thing over there.”
Before I had the chance to ask, she was gone.
I turned to Brady. “Why’d you follow me?”
“We…I didn’t think we’d finished talking.”
Tilly Grayson is finally back in the city she loves, New York. She’s exactly where she wants to be and is loving every moment as a personal shopper at the prestigious Marlowe Department Store. That is until Brady McKinnon walks in one cold December day. Brady may have been Tilly’s high school crush, but he publicly humiliated her back in the day. Something she’s never been able to forget. So, when the perfect opportunity presents itself-a Christmas party at a chic New York apartment-it could be time to get her revenge…But has Brady changed? And will Tilly realize it before it’s too late?
This was a quick, short, revenge love story between Brady and Tilly. Phase one of the revenge plan, I got behind on, but phase 2 and 3, seemed a little childish to me. I love that scene when Brady showed up at Rockefeller Tree with his beer bottle and realized that he ran with it in his hand. Swoon moment, realizing that his woman left quickly so he ran after her and not realizing what he was holding. 3 stars.
December 22, 2022
Brief Synopsis: Tilly has finally arrived back in NYC after spending her senior year there as a foreign exchange student. Not all of her memories from that year are ones she’s fond of, but she’s glad to be back. Until she runs into Brady. Her high school crush and the guy who humiliated her. When her friend decides to help her get revenge, she’s totally game. Until she realizes that maybe Brady has changed.
If you’re looking for a super short Christmas read, this is it. I think it’s maybe 50 pages long. I didn’t exactly love the whole premise of this story. The whole revenge thing seemed very high school for me, but I was glad that Tilly realized how childish it all was (though I’m not sad Tobey got what was coming). Because this is so short, it moves very quickly. And that’s something I don’t always love about novellas/novelettes. But it’s a really easy read if that’s what you’re looking for.
2.5⭐️
💗Clean Romance
If you’re looking for a super short Christmas read, this is it. I think it’s maybe 50 pages long. I didn’t exactly love the whole premise of this story. The whole revenge thing seemed very high school for me, but I was glad that Tilly realized how childish it all was (though I’m not sad Tobey got what was coming). Because this is so short, it moves very quickly. And that’s something I don’t always love about novellas/novelettes. But it’s a really easy read if that’s what you’re looking for.
2.5⭐️
💗Clean Romance
July 19, 2022
I’m Scheming of a White Christmas is a cute little novella by Kate O’Keeffe. I like reading novellas at night sometimes just so I can read until my eyes get tired without getting into a full book.
Tilly was an high school exchange student from New Zealand in New York City. She’s nerdy, a little overweight and pretty invisible. She falls for the hottest guy on the football team and is thrilled when he asks her to the dance only to find out it’s a joke. She’s devastated and goes home to NZ.
As an adult, she moves back to NYC and runs into Brady when he comes into her store. Their story goes a bit crazy as she gets wrapped up in revenge plus some old feelings returning.
I enjoyed this quick little story. The revenge definitely was amusing as Tilly and her friend plot how to get back at the high school jocks who tormented her.
Tilly was an high school exchange student from New Zealand in New York City. She’s nerdy, a little overweight and pretty invisible. She falls for the hottest guy on the football team and is thrilled when he asks her to the dance only to find out it’s a joke. She’s devastated and goes home to NZ.
As an adult, she moves back to NYC and runs into Brady when he comes into her store. Their story goes a bit crazy as she gets wrapped up in revenge plus some old feelings returning.
I enjoyed this quick little story. The revenge definitely was amusing as Tilly and her friend plot how to get back at the high school jocks who tormented her.
December 15, 2023
Revenge is a dish best served … at Christmas!
New Zealander Tilly Grayson spent a year in High School in New York.
She had a tremendous teenage crush on the handsome Brady McKinnon.
Out of the blue he invited her to the prom and then never showed up on the night.
She was heartbroken and humiliated.
She's back in New York and working as a personal shopper in one of the department stores.
You'll never guess who turns up – actually you will!
Her friend Lana comes up with a three-point revenge plan which will guarantee Brady's complete and total humiliation.
Only it doesn't quite work out that way.
“I'm Scheming of a White Christmas” is very short and doesn't quite pull off the mean-spirited element of the story but, overall, it's good fun.
3 Stars.
New Zealander Tilly Grayson spent a year in High School in New York.
She had a tremendous teenage crush on the handsome Brady McKinnon.
Out of the blue he invited her to the prom and then never showed up on the night.
She was heartbroken and humiliated.
She's back in New York and working as a personal shopper in one of the department stores.
You'll never guess who turns up – actually you will!
Her friend Lana comes up with a three-point revenge plan which will guarantee Brady's complete and total humiliation.
Only it doesn't quite work out that way.
“I'm Scheming of a White Christmas” is very short and doesn't quite pull off the mean-spirited element of the story but, overall, it's good fun.
3 Stars.
December 21, 2023
Really short but I didn't appreciate the content.
Tilly was an exchange student in high school that was humiliated by Brady after being dumped before a dance.
Now she's back loving in NY and River into Breast at her job. He invites her to a party and she, with her roommate, decides to get revenge on him... By the immatureness of lighting dog poop on fire and giving him laxatives.
It doesn't go as planned and when she runs, he chases her and forgives her for trying to humiliate him.
That's the story. Not worth reading though I love her other books
Tilly was an exchange student in high school that was humiliated by Brady after being dumped before a dance.
Now she's back loving in NY and River into Breast at her job. He invites her to a party and she, with her roommate, decides to get revenge on him... By the immatureness of lighting dog poop on fire and giving him laxatives.
It doesn't go as planned and when she runs, he chases her and forgives her for trying to humiliate him.
That's the story. Not worth reading though I love her other books
December 29, 2017
I don't normally read novellas, but I've wanted to read one of Kate O'Keeffe books for awhile, and I had time for a quick read so I sat down to this book. It you do want a light, funny, quick read than this is the book you want. It was charming and cute, and I'm just a bit glad that it wasn't sniff and smell! There is just a bit of poop in the story!
I will definitely be reading more of Kate's books.
I will definitely be reading more of Kate's books.
November 30, 2022
I know this was short, so I am attempting to judge quality rather than quantity here.
This story was funny (not LOL funny, but slightly smile to myself as i read funny). My problem is I finished it and immediately thought, “we’ll they’re never going to work.” Which is a terrible thought to have about two people you are supposed to be rooting for. That’s all.
This story was funny (not LOL funny, but slightly smile to myself as i read funny). My problem is I finished it and immediately thought, “we’ll they’re never going to work.” Which is a terrible thought to have about two people you are supposed to be rooting for. That’s all.
December 18, 2023
Short story about a 20ish New Zealander who moves to New York City and sees the boy who humiliated her seven years ago when she was a foreign exchange student. Her roommate convinces her to exact revenge on him and his friends. This comes across as childish. The roommate also seems a bit of a bully herself. So I liked(ish) it.
January 7, 2025
Cute story where a former high school crush is given a second chance. Tilly Grayson was an exchange student who was, in her own words, a nerd. She had a crush on Brady McKinnon but he had eyes for a cheerleader and humiliated her at a dance. Now they meet again and he apologizes to Tilly and says he was a total jerk. She accepts his apology and a dinner date.
January 30, 2026
The FMC in this book is a creepy, crazy woman who attempts to poison, humiliate and hoodwink an unsuspecting man for something that happened way back in high school. Not just that, she even stalks an old man to steal his dog's poop.
This wasn't remotely funny. She (and her equally cray cray friend) would be cooling their heels in a jail cell in a real-life scenario.
This wasn't remotely funny. She (and her equally cray cray friend) would be cooling their heels in a jail cell in a real-life scenario.
January 13, 2018
A short breezy Christmas novella. Kate O'Keeffe is a brilliant writer. I just wasn't that fond of the characters in this story. They're all too childish and hung up on things that happened in high school. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
December 5, 2021
Kate O'Keeffe certainly has a rye sense of humor, but it made me laugh and think of some of the more nasty tricks that were done on some of my friends and myself while in high school. Acquire "I'm Scheming of a White Christmas " for a light hearted entertainment. Kat
October 27, 2023
Lana is a terrible person and friend. There are a thousand other ways Tilly could have made Brady feel rotten about the way he'd treated her in high school...none of them involving poop. It's nothing short of a miracle that he was willing to forgive. I guess that's part of the power of love...?
December 7, 2023
This goes not look like a Kate o’keeffe book… 2 grown women acting like stupid teenagers and a story so weak as if it was written by a teenager… or is Ms O’Keeffe trying AI? Disappointing. And the cover of the version I read was not on Goodreads… maybe an update is due? Oh and why no page numbers? Not all of us are writers who know how many characters are needed to fill up a page….
August 12, 2024
This was a fun, quick Christmas party themed read by Kate O’Keefe set in NYC and is about a young woman named Tilly getting some revenge on her high school crush, Brady, who was mean to her back then.
December 11, 2024
Tilly, is back in New York and is a personal shopper. Boy is she surprised when her high school crush, who totally humiliated her, Brady, comes to her store in need of her services! Sweet revenge or a second chance romance? You’ll be laughing out loud to find out!
October 6, 2017
This was such a well-written, funny and cute story. I loved it! You can easily read this in one or two hours. I highly recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews