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This Winter by Alice Oseman
5.0
emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: N/A
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

As a fan of the "Heartstopper" world, I was excited to read a novella set in the cozy, holiday time of year.
"This Winter" follows different characters from "Heartstopper" during what is supposed to be the happiest time of year: Christmas. Unfortunately, for many of the characters, this holiday is not as jolly as they hoped for.
This was a highly atmospheric installment of a "Heartstopper" story. I loved that this took place over Christmas, and Alice Oseman really leaned into the holiday theme. This story felt like a warm hug on a snowy evening, and I absolutely devoured it.
I loved all of the representation of different family dynamics in this story. For most people, there is often someone in their family that they do not get along with 100%. It can feel so isolating when you are told that family should come first, but family are the ones to be causing you so much turmoil. Charlie is having a difficult holiday, and his extended family is making it worse, so, of course, he finds comfort in Nick.
This was a super sweet, quick read that is a perfect addition to your winter TBR. 

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