such a fun and cute read. these are really special books that come out this time of year. they are just what we all need. and i like how they come out this time of year, it brings that feeling of the time to us all here right now. and to be honest right now these books are never more needed.
the cover is cute, the title is cute and the book is very cute. it a YA book and i think that fits(you can see the ages of the characters for a start)
the book is set in the charming Briar Glen at Christmas. 17 year old Emma is back home from boarding school. shes not alone though and has bought her boyfriend Sam. but things are already complicated because Emma left her best friend behind. and she felt something for him before she left. and how she left wasn't on the best of terms with him. will this the season to be merry or the season that brings her misery.
we get to know Emma and Aiden through a multi type of timeline. so we get to see more of their friendship in the past too and how they came to be where they are. and of course how they came to FEEL for each other. its a nice little touch that adds more depth and care to the book and our pair.
i think this is def a younger novel. buts no bad thing though and its nice to read something that touch lighter sometimes.
i think it showed a lot relatable emotions of the age. you get in your head in different ways, hung up on the here and now in different ways. of escaping and futures. small towns seem to small often when you are younger, in a different way. and young love and angst can rage hard lol.
this is a great read and i had a really warming and cosy time with it. i was rooting for the characters in this book and liked how the ending did fit with the ages of the pair.

I loved this one! Emma coming back to her small town for Christmas with her boyfriend made for such a cozy, feel-good read. The coffee shop vibes, holiday spirit, and slow-burn romance with Aiden kept me smiling the whole way through. Perfect if you want a sweet, festive story to curl up with! I can't wait to re read during Christmas season.

This was such a an adorable YA themed romance. I loved the boarding school aspect and also her one true love Aiden holding out for her back home. Things get complicated when she returns for a visit with her new bf Sam but it’s such a cute romance to see friends who have more intense feelings for one another come out in this beautiful novel with a holiday twist.

This was lovely and cute and cosy which I loved, it’s got me really looking forwards to hot chocolates and the colder months. My only issue with the book is it’s in 3rd person which is more a personal issue as I find 3rd person harder to get into.

A short, cozy, festive Hallmark-style holiday romance perfect to get you in the mood for the Christmas season! Emma and Aiden’s miscommunications kept the story moving, and while the ending was predictable, the small-town sparkle of Briar Glen made the journey feel festive and warm. I loved the whole peppermint hot chocolate idea - so cute! I struggled a little to keep up with the flashbacks and would have liked the story to be a bit longer with more character development but overall a fun read. I loved Mackarel the dog 🫶 such a great addition! but by the end .
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

This was such a sweet read! Yes, the ending is fairly easy to predict, but Emma and Aiden’s journey getting there was still charming. I really enjoyed the use of flashbacks—though I do think it might have worked better if they had been tied to one character’s perspective rather than presented in a broader, all-knowing way.
Briar Glen gave me major cozy small-town vibes, the kind you’d expect from a Hallmark-style Christmas setting, and I loved how the sense of community was woven in. If anything, I actually wish the book had been a little longer. The characters are lovely, but I wanted more time with them—especially in the beginning, where some extra detail about their personalities and motivations could have made me feel even more invested. The ending captured their emotions beautifully, and I found myself wishing that same depth had been there earlier on.
Still, Emma and Aiden were such a sweet couple, and this book is perfect for anyone looking for a light, heartwarming winter romance. I didn’t realize there’s another book set in this world, but it didn’t affect the experience at all—so you can jump in here without worry. I’ll definitely be picking up the other story from Briar Glen!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the author for the ARC.