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sarastwilight_'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying and Body shaming
bookobsessedmommy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book is so stinking cute! This is basically a black YA Hallmark movie about two students trying to save a local bookstore. They're initially wary of one another, but as they work together a "will they, won't they" ensues. The MCs are young, and while they make some ill-advised choices, they acknowledge that and learn from them. Their chemistry is slow building but completely organic and sweet. There is a bit of diet culture, but nothing too egregious. I will definitely read more by Abiola in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Bullying, and Fatphobia
ajamwelch's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
First book I’ve finished in one setting in a while! Loved it! Cute, cozy, YA winter romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder and Bullying
ilovecafeandlibros's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I typically don’t read too many YA books. So I told myself in 2024 I’d dive into the genre a little more. This author’s writing is relatable and fun. While reading this book, I kind of felt like a teenager again 🫠🤣 a great reminder of how I DON’T miss those complicated messy “Do you like me,too?”, moments with the opposite sex.
I loved the Christmas songs at the beginning of every chapter. What a fantastic touch!!! I found myself pulling the song up on Spotify to listen as I read the book! Great way to feel festive!
If you’re looking for lighter material, enjoyable, a HEA trope as well as a fast read, check this out next holiday season.
A few dislikes: I feel like an opportunity was missed to highlight societal norms on weight and beauty. It was touched on briefly in regards to Ariel’s look and size. An issue that is huge among teens (and adults) thanks to social media, celebrities and social standards of beauty.
There was also no accountability for Blair and her awful personality other than getting dumped by her on again off again boyfriend Trey. No one held her accountable.
I loved the Christmas songs at the beginning of every chapter. What a fantastic touch!!! I found myself pulling the song up on Spotify to listen as I read the book! Great way to feel festive!
If you’re looking for lighter material, enjoyable, a HEA trope as well as a fast read, check this out next holiday season.
A few dislikes: I feel like an opportunity was missed to highlight societal norms on weight and beauty. It was touched on briefly in regards to Ariel’s look and size. An issue that is huge among teens (and adults) thanks to social media, celebrities and social standards of beauty.
There was also no accountability for Blair and her awful personality other than getting dumped by her on again off again boyfriend Trey. No one held her accountable.
Content Warnings
Minor: Fatphobia, Eating disorder, and Bullying
earofthedog's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Death of parent
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Bullying
Minor: Sexual content
colleen_corleone's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
It was fine. It's a middling teen romance, but I appreciate the black cast.
It was almost indistinguishable from the majority of teen romances.
I personally hated the inclusion of the eating disorder behavior. The only time Ariel indulges in it is when 2 people who are mean to her infer she's fat. They don't even have to say it or belabor the point and she's off on a binge.
It bugs me because the way it's portrayed does not feel authentic to my experience. Ariel's internal monologue is not representative of someone recovering from binge eating. It's mentioned as a thing she used to do, and then we get a single instance of her binging and it doesn't affect her mental state at all before or after. If it wasn't first person, I'd have been more lenient.
I'm not a fan of Trey. His mood swings and attitude were annoying a lot of the time.
I can't relate to: Boy has a shitty gf of 2 years. He hits on this other chick and near cheats a few times, but he's a good dude who loves his girl. Sure? But no.
Being the ONLY person who couldn't believe Blair would hurt another person is just peak dumbass to me.
Ariel's self esteem bugged me a lot. Other than her weight, there was no mention of or explanation for her poor opinion of herself. Why does the opinion of a girl she doesn't even like and knows is a jerk on purpose matter? Literally everyone else in her life bends over backwards to show her love and support. It's weird.
Saving the bookstore stuff was fine. It was cute. Not particularly moving, because you know the outcome.
Overall it was a quick read. We need more representation in stories and this does that. If I hadn't read dozens of similar stories by now, this would have been awesome.
It was almost indistinguishable from the majority of teen romances.
I personally hated the inclusion of the eating disorder behavior. The only time Ariel indulges in it is when 2 people who are mean to her infer she's fat. They don't even have to say it or belabor the point and she's off on a binge.
It bugs me because the way it's portrayed does not feel authentic to my experience. Ariel's internal monologue is not representative of someone recovering from binge eating. It's mentioned as a thing she used to do, and then we get a single instance of her binging and it doesn't affect her mental state at all before or after. If it wasn't first person, I'd have been more lenient.
I'm not a fan of Trey. His mood swings and attitude were annoying a lot of the time.
I can't relate to: Boy has a shitty gf of 2 years. He hits on this other chick and near cheats a few times, but he's a good dude who loves his girl. Sure? But no.
Ariel's self esteem bugged me a lot. Other than her weight, there was no mention of or explanation for her poor opinion of herself. Why does the opinion of a girl she doesn't even like and knows is a jerk on purpose matter? Literally everyone else in her life bends over backwards to show her love and support. It's weird.
Saving the bookstore stuff was fine. It was cute. Not particularly moving, because you know the outcome.
Overall it was a quick read. We need more representation in stories and this does that. If I hadn't read dozens of similar stories by now, this would have been awesome.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, Body shaming, and Bullying
Minor: Death of parent
There's a single, brief but detailed scene of binge eating. Mentions of previously binging.thirdeyeangel23's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This may be my favorite holiday read of 2023. Love in Winter Wonderland follows two teens who fall hard while fighting to save their beloved family book store. This story has everything from tender young romance to the importance of preserving black history and family. This was funny, sweet, a little angsty, and everything I love about Christmas romcoms.
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Eating disorder, Grief, Body shaming, and Death of parent
dianaschmidty's review against another edition
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Okay, so this book started off really cute! I loved the vibes of them working in a bookstore at Christmastime and it also gave my 2000s teen drama vibes, which I loved. This book would have easily been at least four stars, maybe higher, but then we hit the 70% point…
(This is going to have slight spoilers because I can’t properly rant without them)
At the 70% point, this became a retelling of Mean Girls, but whereas Regina George is hilarious and iconic, Blair is just annoying and psychotic. And for some strange reason, Trey’s fine with that?!? Him not believing Ariel right away is one thing, but spending the night at Blair’s after learning (and ignoring) what she did is insane! Especially for a YA book! Also, once she confirms what she did, he’s not even positive that he wants to breakup with her and calls her “amazing.” Like, a psycho that bullies practically everyone, doesn’t have any interest in anything you like, and locked a girl in a classroom because she was a little jealous is considered “amazing”?!?!?!? I guess this can all be chalked up to stupid 18 year old behavior on both parties, but also, it gave me the ick.
I did really like the narrators’ accents. I often have trouble understanding non-American accents, especially when I speed up the narration, but I had absolutely no issues with understanding and I really liked both narrators’ voices.
I would be interested in reading books by this author in the future, but I really wish the last 40% of this book was a lot different…
Thank you to NetGalley, RB Media, and Abiola Bello for providing me access to this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Fatphobia, Toxic friendship, Body shaming, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Cancer, Classism, and Infidelity
wren_rainbow's review against another edition
4.25
This book was just so good and really cute and wholesome!! A wonderful Christmas time black love story! I’m definitely rooting for Ariel and Wonderland. Also, I’m not ashamed to admit that I sobbed for a couple of minutes towards the end ❤️ I highly recommend listening to the playlist as you read this book. So glad I’ve come across this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Bullying and Fatphobia
Minor: Death of parent and Cancer
emimero's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Death of parent, Bullying, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Grief, Fatphobia, and Eating disorder
I couldn't stop reading it !!! if you enjoy Hallmark movies like I do go for it right away. I loved the diversity in this story so refreshing, the strong community supporting each other, the Christmas vibes and some sweet and loveable characters, and it's in a bookshop I could have I resist to that story ? But more than that, at the beginning I thought the writing wouldn't be the best but it turned out to be so nicely written, with some music references for each titles that makes you want to listen to that playlist while reading this book. The fast paced framed with short chapters was wonderful with an back and forth between the 2 main protagonists. Even if you know what will happen at the end, it's the journey that matters here and really I need more of these books with that style of writing. I loved that the story was lighthearted and positive overall with some challenges and events. It's the kind of stories that makes you full and empty when you finish it just because you want more of it. I usually don't read the acknowledgements but even those were interestingly well written and I loved having a better perspective of what were Abiola Bello's intentions, which she completely nailed and made me understand better how and why this story was so well written. Thank you for this wonderful relaxing story Ms. Bello.