I was fully expecting something light and fluffy when I started reading this. Boy was I wrong. It starts out adorable and makes you laugh in the first 2 pages. But then about 40% through it gets heavy. It covers topics and should probably have a few content warnings before you start.
While I appreciate the authors take and the fact that feminism is very well shown it felt like the book was supposed to be super adorable with a bit of tough moments instead of a full on depression and woke culture preached in. I agree with everything said it just didn't match the first half.

Ella and Ben's romance story. Overall, I liked it fine, but got a little heavy topic wise in the middle. Started out light, but then turned. I do think the topic is important, but didn't expect so much focus on it. Actually found myself skimming a bit in the middle, and looking for scenes with the two dogs. Would recommend,

I am sorry to do this but I DNF’d this book. I got 30% through and then I found myself not wanting to pick it up again. I liked what I read but not enough to continue on and this might just be because of the state of mind I am in. I might give it another go down the road!

Yay! This was such a fun, cute, easy read. I whizzed through it in a day and fell in love with the characters and their stories! I love that this covered some very important depression and mental health problems as well as a lot of rumpy pumpy, and it had dogs! What more could you possibly want?! Brilliant!

This novel was absolutely riveting. The book revolves around Ella Jones who lives in the northern reaches of Maine. It's quite boring there, with only the snow and skiing with her family to keep her busy. Then comes Benjamin Kakoa who is in need of a break from fame and celebrities. Ella decides that it's her mission to tear down Ben's impenetrable walls, hoping he opens up with his difficult past.

The absolute confidence Ella had was just so sweet. Ben might have been a hard shell in the beginning, but there were so many scenes in the book that was just so sweet. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves romance and brilliant writing.

I liked the book until I got to the the middle of the it. The book started off as light and cute. Which is what I expected when I picked it up, but then it got very serious and dark. I didn’t care for that. Though I appreciate the author in discussing a serious topic, I wasn’t ready for it during this time. I loved Ella and Ben as a couple and thought they were adorable.
I received this Arc from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

What a lovely cover. The story plays in winter. And it's wonderful. It is very romantic and snowy. I like it so much.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Navessa Allen for this ARC.

This was a great read. By the cover I thought it would be another sugary sweet romance about white people. But this book was a breath of fresh air for me. This book talks about toxic masculinity, privilege, sexuality, racial issues and more while still being a fun read. I think what really sets this book apart from other YA and romance books is it’s effort. I can tell that Navessa Allen really tried to be very inclusive and diverse. The first half was really funny, I absolutely adored Ella’s humour! Near the end the books becomes more hard hitting, but I thought it was appropriate.

The beginning was like a true 5 star book for me. It was light, fluffy and flirty and I couldn't stop reading. The second half was a lot heavier and the flirty tone was completely gone. Don't get me wrong, it was done very good, but the ambiance changed completely. This book went from sweet and fluffy to a book where I was able to cry with every chapter. This was totally not what I expected. I wasn't completely invested in the story anymore. The pacing was off and the second half of the book seem to only consist of life-lessons about mental health. Very important, but just not what I came for.

Ella and Ben are great characters. Their interaction is amazing and Ella is such a sweetheart. Their relationship is so beautifully written and I loved reading about them together.

A very positive thing about this book are all the dogs. I loooooved them!!

This book did handle a lot of heavy topics, which you should be aware of in case they might trigger you.

This book was cute, sweet, and had some good humor. I really liked both main characters, I really loved the setting. It's clearly written by a feminist author, who treats both characters with respect. The plot and premise were easy to fall into, an ex professional football player grieving his brother moves to a remote location to get himself sorted. A small town artist befriends him, and there's mutual attraction but a commitment on both of their parts for different reasons to maintain a platonic relationship.

But, this book had a lot going on. I truly enjoyed sticking with the main characters, a select neighbor, Ben's parents, and their dogs (who are absolutely characters-very heavy supporting ones), but there's a point when there's too much noise. And the depth with which Ella's diverse yet successful family was treated felt like a lot of uniformity and telling how they were different (Somali adoptee who is a surgeon, Afghan adoptee who's a wonder student and probably going to PhD, etc, an Italian sister-in-law who is a psychiatrist, Jane the successful journalist from India, etc) aside from this, their approach to problems and dialogue and voices were almost identically perfect. The only person with a distinct voice was Megan, the sole introverted sibling and person to call her sister an asshole (who backpedaled and then advised in the most neutral and human of ways).

I already mentioned the dogs. There's a lot of dog minutiae. You might like it. Some of it was cute. I appreciate then being fully integrated into this book, bc dogs are a huge part of people's lives. But for me, it got a little draining.

Finally, I don't know Navessa's background, and it doesn't matter, but the discussion on CTE didn't need to infodump. Often, there were paragraphs that read like lifts from articles, and didn't strike me as particularly authentic ways for either character to think of medical issues. I think about if I explain pathology to my children, or immunity to my husband, or a host of other knowledge I read and learn about on the daily, I don't use "necrosis," or "IgG" even though they might be how I think of things. And paragraphs full, when I'd prefer this edited down, put into layman's terms and move on. If two researchers or surgeons discuss this, it makes total sense. But it didn't make any in this context.

So while I loved the characters, the slow burn, the setting, I wasn't particularly impressed with the way some of the story, both medical and social didn't feel organic. Because their relationship really did. But their relationships to others was fraught with perfection and read like group therapy after several years of practice.

I will also say that I think the depression episodes incredibly done, including their impact and resolution with a loved one or three equally satisfying.

I think what I'm trying to tell you here in my review that if this book had been focused and edited down it could've been spectacular. However, there was a little too much perfection, and a little too much going on to detract from the couple's connection and taking from characters that I really truly enjoyed.

Still, I'd give it a chance, if it at all appeals, and I'll continue to follow and try the author's books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author Navessa Allen for this ARC!!

Ella lives in a small town in the cold, northern part of Maine with her two adorable Huskies, Sam and Fred. She is prepared for a long winter filled with boredom and monotony, broken up with a bit of skiing or quality time spent with her family.

She is utterly unprepared for the arrival of Benjamin Kakoa, an ex-football star turned advocate in need of a break from fame and notoriety. Ella's humorous and easy going nature ensures they become fast friends and before you know it they are falling in love with each other.

It was a fun easy read for me. The main character, Ella, has such a vibrant personality that you cant help falling in love with her. The dogs in the book are so adorable and that it just makes this book a lot more enjoyable!!

I really appreciate the way the author dealt on the topics of mental illness with such ease and clarity that it becomes very easy for the readers to relate to. One of the topics which was dealt with in this book was CTE, which was new to me, so I am happy that I chose this book since I could gain some information as well.. And I loved that the author highlights the importance of having family and friends around you during the difficult times since it becomes easier to cope with the difficulties due to the constant love and support that one gets from their loved ones!!

Complementary copy given for honest review and opinion.
What an emotional roller coaster! This book was so eye opening and real and raw! It loved it from beginning to end.

I was expecting a cute Hallmark-Esque romance with a small-town vibe. While that was definitely an aspect of the book, the writing was often emotionless and unnecessary at times. I’m sorry but I really didn’t like this book.

I’m not usually this harsh with my reviews and while I did enjoy Ella and Ben’s relationship, the novel was weirdly paced and rather predictable.

Ella Jones lives in a quaint cabin with her two adorable Huskies, Sam and Fred, in a tiny northern town in Maine. What is usually a monotonous life becomes shaken up when ex-NFL star Benjamin Kakoa arrives and befriends her. Crushing is an understatement to Ella’s feelings for Ben, but will Ben let her into his turbulent life and past his defensive wall?

I was immediately drawn to the story description and it was perfect for my mood at the moment. I wanted a sappy and emotional romance, and this one reminded me of Sweet Home Alabama, so I was all over it. However, what is with the author’s preachy tangents?! I’m not saying they weren’t important or I didn’t agree with them but it felt unnecessary to the storyline. I get that Ella and Ben like talking about a variety of topics: political, religious, etc. , but do we really need pages of journal articles from the author on those topics? Also, it just felt disrespectful listening to two Non-African American characters ramble about THEIR thoughts on racism in the country?

I did, however, really love the personality Allen gave Ella! Ella is the cutest soul and has an amazing and quirky personality. Allen did a great job at making comical situations for Ella. I actually laughed out loud at some of those moments like when she a color-clashing outfit in the beginning.

Just so I’m not totally harsh, the parts of the story that just described their dates were actually adorable, and I wish there was more of that in the story instead of information overload on depression medication terminology and brain-related injuries in football.

I’m not saying those topics weren’t interesting, but the writing made it boring and there is a better way to show and not tell that information. It totally affected the flow of the story. The one thing Allen is really talented at is writing beautiful descriptions about anything from Maine’s landscapes to the family dynamics at Ella’s home. I particularly loved it when she was writing about Christmas-time at Ella’s house and the chaotic energy there. It’s truly a skill and I hope to see more of that in her writing!

Honestly, I tried to focus on those moments I liked and enjoy that, but I really didn’t. I think this book has potential, but the flow is not there and I would only recommend this book if you like those long tangents and if it wouldn’t distract you from the story at hand.

About:

So we have Ella he lives in a small town in the cold, northern part of Maine where she runs a small hand-made stationery/paper business and is super close to her family.

Enter Ben, a former professional football star who is hiding away from the spotlight and the media in Ella's home town. Ella and Ben quickly become friends as Ella uses her humour to break down his walls and before you know it they are falling in love with each other.

But Ben has a sad past and secrets locked away about his future that they both need to accept before they can move on and live their blissful love.

♡

Review:

I really liked this book! It took me a little while to actually get into it but once i did i really enjoyed it. Both the characters were so lovable and Ella was such a good main character. I loved her personality, humour and quirks and how she didn't have that I'm not like other girls attitude when she actually wasn't like everyone else.

The grief representation in this book was so good, as it properly displayed and discussed how people deal with grief in a realistic way which made me like the book so much more! I didn't even know that CTE existed before this book and now I feel as though I know so much about it and could tell you all about it, so I thought that representation was good. Also the mental health representation was so accurate and I really commend the author for making it as realistic as possible.

This book evoked a lot of emotion within me so I also commend the author in making this book so emotional but also comforting in a way. The relationship between Ella and Ben was really cute and I loved how they went from friends to lovers and not strangers to lovers. Friends to lovers isn't my favourite romance trope but it really worked in this book and I enjoyed it. The small town setting also fit this book so well and I loved the empathy for dogs in the novel. I love dogs so much and I thoroughly enjoyed how they played such a huge role in this novel. The angst between Ella and Ben was next level as you were just like are they gonna do it or aren't they 😂.

The only problem was that there were a few spelling mistakes that I picked out when reading it and I really can't deal with spelling mistakes. I know it's hard to pick them out but I have a really keen eye for that and it just annoyed me a little. Also one of the sexy scenes between Ella and Ben was a little weird and made me a bit uncomfortable and I can't pin point exactly why. Maybe it was the language used to describe it? I'm not too sure but that was one of the parts I didn't enjoy.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend this to my romance loving friends.

♡

Snowed In by Navessa Allen - 4/5 🌟

Excuse me? Did I just find a new favorite book? I LOVED THIS!

Judging from the cover, you can say that this book is a cozy rom-com, but in reality it's much more than that. Elle lives in a small and predictable town with her two puppies. Enters Ben, a professional athlete who urgently needs a change of air. From this premise you can name a lot of books that apparently have the same plot, but no, this was MUCH more than just romance.

"Snowed in" is a journey of personal growth, touching on topics such as mental health and the importance of the people around you being there for you in difficult times. Here you can find healthy and positive relationships, family, friends, puppies and, in the end, a book that can make you feel much more.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When Ella is introduced to her new neighbour Ben, she is shocked to say the least. The newly retired football superstar has landed in her very rural community grieving and in the middle of a big lawsuit against the league he was once so successful in. Snowed In is a compassionate look at what love means while dealing with mental health struggles and plays host to hoards of warm, unique characters I looked forward to hearing more about.
At time, Snowed In tries too hard to have all the answers but overall, I was completely and so happily surprised by the depth of this story and how Allen embraces the challenge of writing a therapy-positive, diverse love story.

4.5/5

I recieved this ebook from the author via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I almost cried. I was expecting a cute winter romance but this is more than that. Winter, snow, huskies, a beautiful small town, a large family, friendship, puppies and romance. What an amazing recipe for a good book.

This is the story of Ella and Ben. Ella lives with her two huskies in a small town with hard winters. This is about her life taking a turn when she meets Ben, a professional athlete who needs a break from fame. They started being friends and then they wondered if they could be more. But reality hit hard and they didn't know if they could handle it.

I laughed out loud, I held back my tears, I rooted for them, I was hooked from the beginning of the story, I felt that cuteness of the dogs and I wished I was there in the snow (for a little while at least). Such a wonderful and heartbreaking read.

I'm definitely going to search for more books by Navessa Allen cause this one was such a beautiful story.

**Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & the publisher for a chance to read & review an E-ARC of this novel!**

A swoony rom-com Christmas & winter read while I'm stuck in the middle of May in a pandemic in the South?! SIGN ME UP! While it took me a bit longer than I would have liked...this was just the push I needed to get over my little reading slump. I'm an essential worker & it's been rough during this quarantine...but this novel offered SO much more than just romance...it focused on mental health, self-growth, self-awareness, & building healthy connections within yourself & your support system. Just what I needed to hear during this time. Please find my extended thoughts below...along with some spoilers (beware). :)
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Things I Liked:
-the DOGS...oh the dogs...SO FREAKING CUTE! I wanted to jump into the book & squeeze them all!
-the focus on mental health, not using others as a crutch but as a support, & how to recognize unhealthy patterns & work toward changing them to better yourself & your relationships.
-the author's focus on decreasing the stigma surrounding mental health, therapy, & defying typical expectations of a "male" in society (to not have emotions, not to cry, be unafraid, etc.). This was a great theme in this book! I loved how it challenged stereotypes & worked to normalize all humans experiencing emotions & learning to manage their emotions in a healthy manner.
-the character development...I felt like I really got to know these characters, their personalities, & grow with them as I read!
-the alternative perspectives...I'm sucker for this writing style. I love getting into the mind of the characters. I especially enjoyed this in this novel because both main characters were so complex. They felt very genuine.
-the fact that although this was a romance read...it was not all sex, sex, sex. I really admire the way the author used physical closeness to depict how it can be used inappropriately in some relationships & that healthy relationships require more than just the physical aspects.
-the cover of the Kindle version is super cute!

Things That Didn't Sit Quite Right With Me:
-Of course...when Ben tried to push Ella way because he was unsure if she could handle all that could or might happen with his CTE...that broke my heart. I get where he was coming from...but it felt a little like he was making the decision for her at first. This was sort of smoothed over when both Ben & Ella decided to give it time to see where they both fell on the potential impacts of CTE on their relationship.

Overall, I gave this novel 4 stars! I think it would be a great read for those interested in reading romance, relationship development focused fiction, mental health related books, novels with advocacy for sports-related injuries themes, or just as a good wintery read at any point in the year.

Snowed In 

By: Navessa Allen

4.5/5.0


I absolutely devoured this novel. Right from the start of the novel, I fell in love with the characters. The writing style was easy to read and truly unique for each character. I loved Megan and Ella’s sisterly banter. Their banter, and just Ella’s humar in general, actually made me laugh out loud. This novel shows what it’s like to truly love someone and how family is always there for you no matter what. During this tough time, it is important to know that family is forever and that you can lean on family when things get tough.

It was a nice change of pace to have the stereotypical gender roles broken. Ella was not a girly girl; she loved to help with the renovations and work with her hands. Ben not hiding his emotions was very refreshing too. I loved how Ben’s therapy sessions normalized. So many people see therapy as a bad thing and it was nice seeing a novel show it is completely normal. Allen does a good job of showing how important mental health is. In a time like this where we are all quarantined, it is important to check in with ourselves and see how we are doing mentally. This novel did an excellent job of showing good ways of dealing with your mental health. I plan on purchasing this novel for my collection.



Author's Site: https://navessaallen.com/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Snowed-Love-Fame-Navessa-Allen

Review on my blog will be posted on May 25, 2020

<b> I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. </b>

I looooved this one! Definitely pick it up if you´re looking for a feel-good, adorable read filled with romance and most importantly DOGS!
Characters were well written and diverse, they were reflected and had a character development that I could definitely get behind. It´s easy to see that <i> Navessa Allen </i> has written books before. This is so well written and the story is well though-out, she obviously has done her homework and read enough research to actually be able to tell a story with reflected characters that know a lot about matters of the brain. And it´s so diverse it actually shocked me a bit in the beginning (in a good way). It was educational, without being annoying.

The title was a bit misleading, there is very little snowing in! That´s one of two complains I have, the other one being too long descriptions which didn´t feel completely necessary.