This book had all the bones of being cute but the pacing felt a little off for me and dragged a bit in some places. Perhaps I just wasn’t in the mood for this book when I read it because there’s no real reason it should have taken me this long to finish it. However, I loved both MCs, the bisexual, always ready with a joke to avoid talking about his true feelings Asa and uptight, rule following Lauren, a former foster kid abandoned by her drug addicted mom who can’t seem to believe in anyone sticking around for her. They both have rough family histories, get along like oil and water, work at a kitschy place called Cold World in Florida, and when their animosity suddenly turns to attraction, they have to deal with their past in order to fight for their future.

ARC from publisher, review is all mine.

Content warnings, reference to child abuse, parental abandonment, foster kid, homophobia, toxic parental relationships

Lauren Fox is a bookkeeper for a Cold World, a winter themed tourist spot in Orlando, Florida. She likes her job and the people except for Asa Williamson. Asa likes to tease and provoke Lauren. Think of it as the guy who pulls a girls pig tails because deep down he likes her. But I find those kind of guys really annoying. The owner Delores talks to Lauren, Asa about coming up with ideas to increase revenue and they can work together or separately. Of course they end up spending time together thinking of a way to help their work home.

The back stories for the leads help show how they react to things around them. Lauren was a foster child and everything feels temporary to her. Asa is Bi and was thrown out while by his conservative preacher father while still in high school. He relies on his found family and doesn’t like change.

I’m probably in the minority by I didn’t get her attraction to him. He’s a nice guy and at first I was getting The Hating Game, enemies to lovers vibe. But ultimately their lack of communication frustrated me. There are many positive things and I still recommend the book. I especially like when she stands up for him at a baby-shower and the friend group. The cover is also very memorable. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review. (3.5 Stars)

First, lets talk about this cover!!! WOW

In this enemies to lovers romance, two co-workers at Cold World, a icy attraction in Florida, must develop a plan to save the facility from being sold. Its cozy atmosphere is outdated, and now they must adapt to a new audience. Lauren, a known ice queen, and Asa, bi-sexual, lovable and blue haired, are forced to let down their guards for the greater good including their hearts.

Their frosty connection melts slowly as they learn not to judge a book by its cover. They are opposites in every way but perfectly warm-up together in trust and understanding. The cast of employees and friends are an absolute blast. This is not your typical romance novel, and a small heart will grow three sizes at its conclusion.

Thank you Berkley Publishing/Berkley Romance for the complimentary copy.

I listened to this audiobook and the narration is just fantastic. I adore the idea of a cold wintery theme park in Florida, although a challenge to pull off, and the creativity in how to make it even better. This book just fed my soul with love and kindness. The representation for Lauren and Asa is just beautiful and I love how they eventually connect and support each other in the best ways despite their initial misunderstandings. The humor is the best, the story so well-written, and the overall message: love is love.

With Love From Cold World by Alicia Thompson
Narrator: Lindsey Dorcus
Rating: 4 stars
Steam: 2 chilis
Pub Date: 8/1

This book was an absolute delight from start to finish! Set in the quirky and fantastical amusement park, Cold World, located in Orlando, Florida, this book is a rollercoaster ride of fun, love, and heartwarming moments.

Lauren Fox, the bookkeeper of Cold World, is the kind of character you can't help but root for. She's reserved, a bit introverted, and harboring a secret crush on the wrong guy. Enter her coworker, the ever-enthusiastic Asa Williamson, who's determined to bring joy and excitement to every moment. Their dynamic is pure gold, and their witty banter adds a dash of humor to every page.

When the owner challenges them to develop a revenue-raising idea, the sparks fly as Lauren and Asa enter into a rivalry that eventually brings them closer together. It's heartwarming to witness these polar opposites discover their common ground and grow to appreciate each other's unique qualities.

The setting of Cold World is a breath of fresh air, and I found myself wishing it were a real place I could visit. Thompson paints a vivid picture of this whimsical winter wonderland amidst the Florida heat, making it easy to get lost in the magic of the story.

But it's not just fun and games in this book. The author skillfully weaves in deeper themes and complex backgrounds for both protagonists. Asa and Lauren share difficult upbringings, and their shared desire to help kids going through similar struggles adds an emotional layer to the story. Watching them open up to each other is heartwarming and endearing.

The romance between Lauren and Asa is beautifully written, full of tender moments and hilarious mishaps. Their journey from denial to acceptance, all while navigating their workplace frenemy status, is nothing short of entertaining.

Thompson has crafted a truly delightful and heartwarming tale. I loved both the ebook and the audio, narrated by Lindsey Dorcus. If you're in the mood for a feel-good romance with characters you'll fall in love with, then this book is an absolute must-read!

Read if you like:
*forced proximity
*slow burn
*enemies to lovers
*workplace romance
*bisexual rep
*dual POV

Thank you so much NetGalley and Berkley Romance, for my advanced copy and PRH Audio for my free ALC.

I was intrigued by the cover of With Love, from Cold World and decided to give it a try. I truly loved the found family and the characters were all likeable, but there was just something that didn’t quite work for me. The pacing was on the slower side and the story didn’t really hold my attention. The transition from enemies to lovers also didn’t flow naturally for me and as much as I wanted Asa and Lauren together, I just didn’t feel their chemistry.

Lindsey Dorcus’s narration was enjoyable, but I occasionally had difficulty determining which character was speaking. I wanted to love this one, but I’m not sure why this book didn’t fully work for me. It might just be a case of “it’s me, not you.”

Audiobook Review
Overall 3.5 stars
Performance 4 stars
Story 3 stars

CW: foster care, MMC was raised in a conservative religious household and was kicked out as a teen because of his sexuality, involuntary outing, biphobia, sexual harassment, family estrangement, parental drug addiction and death from overdose (past)

*I voluntarily read and listened to an advance review copy of this book*

Asa is a great character. Lauren was good at times….and annoying at times. I really don’t like miscommunication or lying/hiding things. When that happens in a book, 90% of the time in automatically against it. The miscommunication in this one was minimal at least. I liked the setting for this story. Cold World has a lot of potential! This story had a good cast of side characters as well as the main characters. I loved when Lauren told Daniel how it was and when she stood up to Asa’s parents.

For the most part, I enjoyed this book, but I have mixed feelings about it.

I loved the setting, the original plotline, the openess of the characters (as/towards parts of the LGBTQIA+ community and their overall cammaraderie and goofiness - I'm jealous I never had housemates like that!), the creativity, the writing... but strangely enough, I didn't quite connect with the main characters or their love story, I'm sorry. :(

I felt like something was missing... or stagnant, if you will. Their enemies to lovers chemistry was fun at the beginning but it somehow lost the spark along the way? I can't really put my finger on it. It was just... slow. Like, you knew they had potential for this magical 3D love story but you only got the 2D version. Not to mention that sometimes it felt like I was reading a YA book, not one about people in their late twenties, with real life and adulting and a work rivarly. It all felt immature.

But what I also can appreciate is the different themes addressed in this book, the realistic and emotional way it was all portrayed (ie about coming out, foster care, having that fear of change or rejection... I loved all of that).

But like I said, I couldn't quite relate to Lauren and I needed to see "more" to understand they "whys" of their falling maddly in love. And even more of them actually being IN love.

So 3-3.5 stars

I do believe most people will love this tho, I mean look at all the reviews! I guess it just didn't hit the mark for me, sorry :(

*thank you Berkley for the ARC!

this was absolutely what i needed!!! i know it isn't releasing until august, but it was the most perfect christmas in july read for me (:

the characters were absolutely lovely. the way they were polar opposites of each other- lauren being uptight and seen as robot like, and asa who has a bubbly and bright personality and they were still able to blend and come together beautifully had me in awe.

they each had their own traumas and struggles they have faced in their lives and are stilling learning how to navigate their lives through it and it was very hard hitting to read. i think it was written in a manor that you can tell lots of thought and care was put into.

i really loved the cold world plotline and found myself wanting to visit this little place and asking myself "why don't more places exist like this anymore ):"

seeing the mmc being bisexual and for there to be an array of lgbtq+ characters made me happy. i enjoyed every second of these characters (:

overall i really enjoyed these characters and the book as a whole. between butting heads and getting stuck at work overnight, i enjoyed every moment of lauren and asa's story.

thank you netgalley and berkley for providing me with this arc (:

Enjoyed this one. So many tropes rolled into one - enemies to lovers, grumpy sunshine, work romance, found family, one bed (office floor?). It was just a fun read but so much more.

I adored Asa and Lauren. They both had their issues and life has dealt them both a dirty hand. But they overcame and are living their lives. They are both giving back - Lauren as a GAL in the foster system and Asa on the LGBTQ+ hotline. Their hearts were so big! Their banter was so entertaining.

When she was crushing hard on someone else at work I was yelling NO GIRL! Don't you see what's right in front of you?

Found family is one of my favorite things to read about and Asa and his roomies were fantastic. I loved getting a glimpse into that whole relationship as much as the romance.

Also the whole winter wonderland type theme park in FLA was interesting.

I ended up loving this book far more than I ever expected.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Pub for my gifted copy, and Let's Talk Books Promo for letting me be a part of this Berkley Buddy Read.

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance, Netgalley, and PRH Audio for an advanced copy of this!! All thoughts and opinions are still my own.

This was absolutely flipping delightful. I was nervous to pick this up because I didn't love this author's first book. But the cover of this pulled me and I'm so glad I gave this a shot - because I fell in love with this romance.

This is a holiday adjacent contemporary romance following a bubbly, bi hero and an uptight, reluctant heroine. They are coworkers at an Orlando attraction known for making it snow in Florida (inside their snow globe at least). When they're forced to work together (and sleep in the same office at one point) they start to fall for each other.

This romance was sweet and adorable and at times hard-hitting. Both main characters have internalized trauma from their past holding them back from aspects of their life. But despite their differences, their chemistry and connection was amazing.

The setting was fun, the side characters were hilarious (what entity do I have to make a sacrifice to for a John romance??), and the holiday aspects were fun but not overwhelming (which was nice since I read it in July lol).

Between mistletoe mishaps, adorable games, only one office ("bed"), and a delightfully queer cast of characters, this book completely stole my heart.

Content Warnings: Biphobia, Religious bigotry (kicked out as a teen), Sexual Harassment, Foster Care, Drug Abuse/Overdose (in past, off page), Loss of a Parent, Unintentional Outting (in past), Pregnant Side Character

With Love, from Cold World is the story of a close-off payroll manager and everyone's favorite extroverted employee at a snow theme park in Orlando.

I appreciated the inclusion of a bisexual main male character, and at times this book hit the right beats. However, overall it was just not for me. I kept waiting to connect with the characters in any meaningful way, but instead I felt like I was reading ABOUT them not experiencing them.

Just look at Asa's hair!!!!!!

The cover totally drew me in and the book itself did not disappoint. I liked how fully fleshed Asa and Lauren were. Although their two personalities seemed so different on a surface level, at the core these two had such a yearning and capacity for love that they were definitely meant for each other.

Such a fun book! I liked all the supporting characters including Cold World. I also have to make another mention for the cover. It is soooo pretty and stands out in this current sea of cartoon covers. The representation was also ACE and I especially loved that it didn't feel like tokenism.

Thank you so much to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC.

A quirky little romance book about two people coming together to help save a very odd theme park in the middle of Florida. Who wants to vacation in Florida at a WINTER theme park??

This author also wrote "Love in the Time of Serial Killers" which shows the offbeat quirkiness you can expect in this book.

Sparks fly as snow falls! :)

Alicia Thompson's novel, Love in the Time of Serial Killers, was the reason I became eager to read this book, With Love, from Cold War! Going in blind, as I usually do with most books, I found myself captivated after just the first chapter.
• The story plot is incredibly imaginative, featuring a workplace enemies-to-lovers rom-com set at a winter wonderland amusement park during Christmastime, surprisingly located in sunny Florida.
• The FMC, Lauren, works as a bookkeeper at Cold War and is portrayed as conservative, somewhat awkward, and uptight. In contrast, her coworker Asa is her polar opposite, with blue hair, tattoos, a laid-back attitude, and a year-round Christmas spirit.
• When Cold War's boss asks Asa, Lauren, and her son David to collaborate on revamping the amusement park within a limited budget, Asa and Lauren recognize quickly that David’s ideas aren’t set in reality, so decide they must work together. Despite initial misconceptions, as they get to know each other, they find they have more in common than they thought. Their backgrounds become an essential part of their love story, making it incredibly relatable.
• While this may seem like a wintery story to cool you off during the hot summer, you'd be mistaken! Asa and Lauren's relationship heats up quickly and becomes quite sizzling.
• I thoroughly enjoyed the chemistry and banter between Asa and Lauren. Additionally, the author thoughtfully delves into serious issues like childhood trauma, addiction/substance abuse, and the foster care system, adding depth to the narrative.
• I recommend reading this book if you enjoy: LGBTQ+ representation (MCC is bisexual, with a lesbian best friend and non-binary roommate), themes of found family, a workplace romance with forced proximity, opposites attract dynamic with grumpy/sunshine characters, Christmas vibes that include a Secret Santa exchange, ice skating rink, mistletoe fun, and a real-life snow globe, and, of course, a satisfying HEA.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing the ARC.

I absolutely adored this book! I love me a good grumpy/sunshine, especially when the grumpy one is the FMC. Although Lauren probably is more prickly than grumpy, with a debility combination of shyness and people pleasing that has a tendency to get her into trouble with Asa more often than it doesn't. And of course Asa is both parts fascinated and aggravated with her, and as truths are bared and truces formed, they both realize that there is so much more to eacg other that it's hard to understand why there was animosity in the first place.

This book had such a warm gooey center that I just wanted to devour. I loved both Lauren and Asa, I loved their dynamic and how they tormented each other, I love how everything came together in the end. This book was well written and well executed and I will be looking forward to reading more from this author.

4.5 Stars

As a native Floridian and Orlandoan AND as someone who worked in the tourist attraction industry in central Florida, this romance hit me in all the feels and nostalgia and I just adored it.

Cold World is a fictional version of the many mom & pop tourist attractions in Orlando that are just a blip but have their own culture and world and our two main characters are the total opposites who attract. We have a bit of workplace rivalry. We have a bit of grumpy sunshine. We have mutual understanding around past trauma. We have a GLORIOUS found family.

We. Have. A. Masterpiece.

This book was such a refreshing romance and tackled some pretty important topics around the foster system, mental health, people pleasing etc. and it also had probably one of my new all time favorite book boyfriends, Asa. He not only made me swoon, but he also held my heart as the bisexual baby whose life I related to a bit too much.

I highly recommend this read, especially on audio if you have the change. The narrator does an incredible job.

Absolutely LOVED this!! Alicia Thompson did so well with her second book! I love the concept of Cold World in Florida! The workplace enemies to lovers was so well done! Great work, can't wait for the next one!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you Berkley Romance for the eARC. I LOVED this book. I could see myself re-reading it for sure. Perfect Christmas in July moment for me! I am in love with Asa. 10/10 would recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing a DRC of this title.

I’ll be honest that I requested this one mostly because of the beautiful cover, but I found myself really moved by With Love, From Cold World. I related to pieces of both Asa and Lauren’s stories, and I loved seeing how they built a relationship together despite past hurts. This was my first time reading Thompson, but– along with books like The Seven Year Time Slip by Ashley Poston and You, With a View by Jessica Joyce– Berkley has had some really strong recent offerings that balance poignancy/loss and romance, and WLFCW totally lives up to those books’ billing. The only thing that didn’t totally work for me was Asa’s teasing in the beginning, which did veer a little mean-spirited at times, but, thankfully, Asa gains a better understanding of Lauren fairly quickly and moves away from those kinds of comments. All in all, this was a wonderful read and one that I will definitely be sure to recommend to my patrons looking for a tender, moving contemporary romance. 4.5 stars.