Overall I think that was a very good romance book! I am super excited to see all of the sapphic romance coming out, especially for the holidays. This definitely is not as fluffy as they were marketing it as but overall was a good book. It's not my favorite sapphic romance to recently be released but I do think it is fun and worth reading.

Overall I enjoyed this book, it wasnt to mujch it didnt lack anything really. Was it one that i will remeber meh But it was good and I would reccomend

I really enjoyed this book. It was just so lovely. The two main characters are brilliant. Both had family issues which could be relatable for some which made a good story.

It wasn't over the top at all just very heartwarming. It reminded me of Sarah Morgan's books.

The log cabin and the skiing made it a lovely festive read. Thank you.

Robin Ellis is 26 and has had a year from hell 'a year she'd like to forget' and does not want to spend Christmas 'subjected to her bizarre family'! Sorry but I loved that line! They are all from Manchester she goes on further to describe them as 'chaotic and irritating' but 'still the most familiar people in the world' which I thought was very sweet and true for all of us. As you know from the title it's a holiday for one in Canada. We are told 'Calgary there is so much to do there 'but we do not get any greater scene setting later in the book.

Neve has 'a frustrating job [as a skiing instructor]' and ends up teaching ungrateful Robin who did wish for skiing, she  wanted nothing of the sort, she wanted to lye by a pool in the sun she wanted the polor  oposite things that's the problem  between her an her ex fiance, she she cheated on her four months after they'd gotten engaged.
We learn later how Robim  dropped out of uni to go to catering collage now a pastry chief in a restaurant. Three years ago her father passed away suddenly during a fishing trip out at sea. Wanted her to travel and try new things hence being brave enough to go.

Robin's sister Lexi encourages her to go on non-honeymoon, she is Robin's constant companion on the phone during the trip. There  are lots of other smaller characters in this novel so it's great to here some of their storylines, for example Imima Neve's old coach who states that 'deep down you'll meant to be a skier not an instructor'.


In my opinion this book could have finished about 50% of the way through, I just got a bit bored of it. Moreover I think this might be suitable for the older end of the young adults section as the characters are not long out of education and trying out in their careers.
I did like the fact it explored a modern day open gay relationship figuring out who they are. It's not very oftern you get gay characters as such strong  central roles. 


Many thanks  to NetGalley and the publishers as I recieved a digital complimentary copy of this book. Opinions exppolressed are completely my own.k

If I had a dime for every F/F book that was marketed as fluffy Christmas romance and turned out to have a lot of depressing and dark backstory, I'd have, well, two, but it's still weird it happened two holiday seasons in a row on Netgalley lmao.

Holiday for One had an implausible premise to begin with, but that's every hallmark channel movie, isn't it. Still, it'd have been better that she -chose to go on her own-, rather than look like an idiot for not cancelling her honeymoon bookings. There are like, emails and phone notifications and bank alerts nowadays, I dunno.

Our British main character, Robin, started off on the wrong foot with me, cracking awful dad jokes (recommending they call a mounted wall moose head Moose-olini? Dictator jokes????) and catapaulted into Just No land even when the preferable character of the love interest showed up.

Protag Robin's clumsiness, awful embracing of Canadian stereotypes, and general confusion at life were just not it for this reader. There was a comedy of errors and physical comedy vibe that I suspect might translate decently to screen, but were absolutely cringe to read. And keeping a toxic ex on your social media? The disbelief mounted and mounted til I was just not taking in anything from the text.

Side note to the editors, there's a passage where Robin says "That's my queue" to go instead of "cue". I think nobody working on this gave a fig, lol.

This wasn't for me, but as always I hope it finds its readers who'll enjoy. Two stars.

A romantic story about who helps you when things go all wrong. Well, how about a dog, a ski instructor and a bakery that accept you for who you are and help you try something new. Robin whose been jilted and can't do one more Christmas at home decides to use the honeymoon she no longer need, for herself to heal and try something new. She finds both in Canada. Since Robin hasn't done anything new since her dad died, everything is a bit scary but she does it. She learns to ski and ice skate which are funny. She finds a job she loves and she fines a woman to love but there is a lot of awkwardness, misunderstandings and facing up to past struggles that need to be understood before new love happens, but it does.


I want to thank Embla Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this story.

I am not pure enough to love this book. It's really confusing, because the things i didn't like about it feel like the misogynist critiques people level against romance--it's too saccharine! everything is too flat and predictable! the characters aren't complex!--but i LOVE romance and that is most of what i read! I think i just like it with people who are a little more cynical or snarky and that wasn't what i got here. The humor came from like, bad motor skills?

The story was fine enough! The characters were likable enough! It's a solid 3/5 stars, but nothing to write home about.

If you're in need of a cozy holiday romance, then I highly recommend this book. I enjoyed the storyline and really enjoyed both characters. There is also quite a bit of depth added in the backstory of each character and I think that helped develop the chemistry between the two.

This is a very hallmark-esque type romance, so the meet cute moments are exactly what you might expect! This is a two POV story and we follow Robin as she heads out for the honeymoon she forgot to cancel after breaking up with her cheating fiance. She goes to this small town with lots of charm and skiing where she meets Neve, the local ski instructor. Cheesy moments abound in this book, but I love that as a queer reader, I get to read a cheesy romance with two women!

I highly recommend reading this with a blanket and hot chocolate. Enjoy!

I received an ARC for my honest feedback.

Honeymoon for One is a sweet romance, centering on Robin who, months after having just been unceremoniously cheated on and dumped by her fiancee, realises that she forgot to cancel their honeymoon, and Neve, the ski instructor at the resort where Robin ends up, convinced by her sister to use the honeymoon on her own.

At first, Robin and Neve do not click. Whatever the polar opposite of clicking is, they do it. But, as they’re sort of forced to spend more and more time together, each starts to thaw. Probably a highlight of this book was their relationship, how it built slowly, and how it made you believe they hadn’t just met each other. By the end of the book, they’d only known each other for about two weeks, but it didn’t feel like that, which is a hallmark of a good romance author for me.

Of course, this believability is, I think, helped by the fact that both Robin and Neve feel like real people. They’re not cardboard cutouts being shoved into a plot progression that the author thinks they should fit, without any consideration to whether they do fit it—it’s Robin and Neve and their personalities that drive how the plot goes. If it doesn’t make sense for Robin and Neve to act in a certain way, they don’t.

I think this is the best part of the book, how much thought and care has been put into developing the characters. And it’s not just Robin and Neve who benefit from this, but all of the side characters too. It’s one of those romance novels where you hope there’ll be a sequel that focuses on some of the side characters, because they feel like they should be allowed their own story.

Possibly then, the one reason that I didn’t rate this book more than 3 stars (which, I would like to take a moment to stress, is a good rating. It means I liked it) was that, at times, it felt a little dry. Robin and Neve’s attraction was there on page, but I just didn’t feel it so much. That might have been why the middle section seemed to drag a little too.

But on the whole, this was a book I enjoyed reading and what much more can I ask for?

There are a lot of things that I enjoyed about this novel: I liked the omniscient narration of the two main characters inner thoughts and feelings. The grand romantic gestures and bad puns. Who could resist a ski instructor who patiently helps you stay on skis and skates, buys you a new coat, takes you on a dog sled jaunt and then makes a pickup truck blanket nest for viewing the aurora borealis?

The descriptions of the holiday market had me craving hot cocoa (seriously!) and smelling evergreens. The interactions and internal dialogue were enjoyable but there was a lot of repetition. For example: why saddle both with "mother issues," a recently deceased relative -- plus being dumped six months earlier? That's an awful lot for a couple of women in their mid-20s. Isn't it enough to be young and confused?

Despite the narration of the inner thoughts of Neve and Robin, I still felt like I didn't know them really well. Much was made of Neve's defensiveness and bitterness toward her mother. Robin's insecurity and self-esteem issues, and even Nick's obliviousness to Hazel. Most of the other characters seemed pretty flat, and Margo seemed like a wasted character, not doing much to expand Hazel's backstory or move the plot. I did enjoy how Neve's mom turned out to be the kindly airline steward.

I'm not entirely sure what Clement Falls looks like: there. must be mountains since they ski, and I'm a bit confused about the cottage that Robin rented. If there's heaps of snow - is the hot tub on an enclosed/covered deck? Why on earth would she wear a swim suit if she's alone in her cottage with a private hot tub? When Neve shows up after the crash -- Robin looks through cupboards -- wait, does this cottage have a kitchen? At the end, there's a reference to Robin's mum (whatever her name is) getting up in arms over a "one-week holiday" -- they did ALL that stuff in one week? Including Robin working 3-4 days at Hazel's bakery? Time was confusing.

I also found the repeated references to Neve's mom being part of a "jet set" - Chardonnay (with a capital C) drinkers -- rather than expensive champagne (I mean, chardonnay is delicious but it's hardly exclusive). "Frostbitten" seems overused -- and it's pretty specific -- I expect hyperbole from Robin (esp with her apologies) but not so much from our omniscient narrator. Finally, there are a LOT of "Honeymoon for One" books and movies out there, heterosexual & queer -- maybe tone down the "jilted" bit and focus more on the domineering mum and insecurity? Isn't it enough "girlfriend and I had a non refundable trip planned so I'm going anyway?"

Overall - yes, it's an enjoyable story and a great start. I'd love to see it polished a bit more to remove some of the redundancies and continuity issues (like the "empty airplane seat" next to Robin - if someone doesn't check in, that seat would be given away!). We can also do without descriptions of Robin's uncle stripping down and dancing in the kitchen at the family party. Thanks for letting me read this -- I feel like I whooshed straight past Halloween and right into the December holidays.

I really loved this lesbian holiday rom-com. It is quite funny, but the romance between Neve and Robin is so wholesomely sweet too. There was a moment where I realised that Neve is possibly one of the most romantic characters I've read in lesfic. She pulls out a few showstoppers to woo Robin, which I really loved to read. I also just loved their general vibe together.

I highly recommend a read if you're looking for a sweet, funny lesbian rom-com set at Christmas.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Embla Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

Incomplete review as I did not finish the book.

I enjoyed the beginning of Honeymoon for One, and the idea of a solo ski vacation for Christmas. I enjoyed the festive vibes with the snowy, Christmassy setting. I enjoyed the LGBTQ+ representation.

I read to 50% of this book and found a lot of repetition i.e. Robin being clumsy was mentioned numerous times. I also felt the plot was very slow to move forward and the book did not hold my attention at this point.

I will not be finishing this book and will not post a review on Instagram.

After the breakdown of her relationship, Robin ends up going on what would have been her honeymoon alone. She meets Neve, her ski instructor and the pair don’t see eye to eye, but it doesn’t stay this way for long.

This was the perfect Christmas romcom, I loved all the characters and it was set in the most beautiful Christmas setting. The main characters where compelling and I couldn’t put the book down.

I was disappointed with this one, I felt the characters were flat and the relationship between one of them and her mother was unrealistic and a bit overpowering for the storyline. I felt it dragged a bit although the descriptions made me want to go to Canada for Christmas!

It's a great, feel-good Christmas rom-com.

This book just made me feel good. I was just happy for them as they got to know each other and bocome more. I couldn't necesaarily build a connection with the characters on an emotional level but I didn't really mind as this book was sort of your typical Christmas town romance (but make it queer).

I would recommend this book to those who just want a cute Christmas rom-com without too much emtional connections to characters.

Thank you to Embla books, the author and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC.

Thank you for my eARC.
I loved the premise of this but something fell a little flat, and I struggled to read the toxic relationship ship with her mum. A DNF for me, sorry.

Honeymoon for one is a fun read. It has a lovely location, great characters, is romantic and heartwarming, uplifting, joyful and full of lots of Christmas joy and spirit.

This was a really sweet and fun Holiday Rom-Com with two different yet complimentary women.

I loved our MC Robin, the British pastry-chef! She was very quirky and funny, and more than a little accident prone. But still had an open, charming quality that was so endearing.

Her love interest is Neve, a ski-instructor who is more closed off, kind of prickly like a cactus. Both women have their issues, pertaining to past hurts from relationship and family. It was lovely to see them get to know each other and become something more.

This has your typical Winter Christmas town and community feel, with lovely supporting characters. You just really find yourself rooting for the couple, and wanting them to work it out, and become something more, opening their hearts and leaving behind hurt and pain.

It just gave me everything I want from a Christmas WLW Rom-Com read, and I would absolutely recommend it to others wanting the same!

Thank you for the advanced copy, it was a joy to read. Loved how it wasn’t the typical love story. Enjoyed reading about Robin and Neve and the banter they have with each other.

Honeymoon for One features Manchester UK dessert chef, Robin, who sets off on her honeymoon to the Canadian Rockies alone when she forgets to cancel the honeymoon after her fiancée, Lexi, cheats on her. Within the first day of her trip Robin meets the resort’s ski instructor, Neve, in the woods by her cabin when she mistakes Neve’s Husky dog for a wolf. This sets off the beginning of a comical and interesting relationship between the two women.

I enjoyed the setting of the story, the comedy (Elk on John), and the reality about family, abandonment, and relationships. A very solid full length book from Rachel Bowdler. 4 stars

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