Title: Love In Winter Wonderland
Author: Abiola Bello
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by: Shakera
Genre: Contemporary Romance, YA
Publisher: Soho Teen
Date of Release: October 3, 2023
Pages: 313
Format: Kindle (Hear Our Voices)
I won’t lie, the representation is what drew my attention to the tour… however, the book makes me so happy and ready for Christmas.
I love books that revolve around indie bookstores; I love them even more when it’s Black-owned. Trey wasn’t the best character or book boyfriend, and I wished I learned a little more about him. (That is one of my cons out of the way!) With that said, his chemistry with Ariel was just a chef’s kiss. It felt natural and organic. The synopsis said it was a “hate-to-love” journey, but I didn’t really get that vibe. (This is my other con. Last one, I promise!) I was hoping to get that enemies-to-lovers trope, but honestly, I’m okay that I didn’t.
The writing was enjoyable, and I felt like I was with Ariel (mostly) throughout the book. I was with her at the party, listening to Ja Rule while also thinking, “I’m way too much of an introvert for this!” but enjoying myself as well. (Who doesn’t love 2000s music?!) I loved that each chapter came with a Christmas song… yup, the book came with its own Christmas playlist.
Ariel was such a relatable character, dealing with way too much. She’s dealing with mean girls and grief, and it’s handled very well. I would have preferred a little more time for Ariel and Trey as a couple, but this is a YA book.
This book was the perfect distraction I needed from such heavy topics I’ve been reading lately. It also provided me with much-needed relief from schoolwork. This was a light-hearted, wholesome story. It showed what two young people can do to save something you care about.
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