🎧This was a cute YA Christmas story. There’s enemies to lovers,independent bookshop, and family bonds. Ariel was a great character and had a lot of depth. This book dealt with a lot of difficult topics while still being fun and light. However, I could do without the explicit language and innuendo as it didn’t add to the story. The audiobook narration was very well done. I loved both narrators and production was seamless.

Publisher: Soho Teen
Author: Abiola Bello
Audiobook: Recorded Books

🔔Content: explicit language, innuendo, grief, eating disorders, loss

Huge thanks to NetGalley, author, and publisher for an audiobook arc of this fun story’s!

This is definitely a cute story, but I am just not vibing with it. I am not connecting with the characters and I don't feel their relationship is real.

This is a cute, feel-good, YA holiday story. I loved that the setting was a bookstore. I very much enjoyed Ariel's character, and the chemistry between her and Trey was very good. I enjoyed the dual POV, and it was a huge bonus that the audiobook had two different narrators! Loved this! It was a cute bookish holiday romance, but probably one that I won't remember!

This was such a cute dual POV Young Adult holiday romance.

I really enjoyed this quick read. The narrators were great too and I loved the Christmas playlist aspect of it. (I may or may not make a playlist with all the songs on Trey and Ariels playlists) I appreciated the POC main characters, Trey and Ariel, and the focus on family and friendship.

If you want to read a cute and cozy Christmas YA romance (and some inspiration for your Christmas playlist), look no further!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

This was such a dream to read. I love books that are set in or around bookshops, and this one definitely didn't disappoint. Once again, I was reminded of the importance of independent, local owned bookstores, and what they can bring to a community.

Wonderland, the black owned book store that's been in Trey's family for generations, is struggling. He's always known that, but hadn't been aware that it was getting to the point where his mother was fielding offers for the store. He can't imagine his life without Wonderland, even if he doesn't want to take over running the store after college.

Ariel is a talented artist, and she's gotten accepted into the Art Institute of her dreams - the one her own father went to! However, it isn't cheap. She's going to need to start saving money - fast. Scholarships go out to those who's art has had an impact on their community, but how is she supposed to do that? First thing, she needs a job.

When Ariel starts working at Wonderland, and learns that the store needs to come up with something relevant to get public interest again, she teams up with Trey to come up with ideas to help the store. Even if he's not a fan of how she got the job, she quickly finds her space there.

There's no denying the attraction between the two, but Trey is dating Blair, one of the most popular girls at college. He'd never cheat on her, but as he gets to know Ariel, he starts seeing some of the problems that have existed in their relationship for awhile now.
While I had hoped that Blair would be quickly out of the picture - she was NOT a favorite of mine - instead I felt the relationship was resolved in a mature, realistic way, which gave the story a greater depth.

I listened to the audio, and while I enjoyed both Ben Bailey Smith and Nneka Okoye, I did have a slight issue with Nneka Okoye's delivery of some of Ariel's dialogue. Not having the physical book, I wasn't sure how it was written, but Nneka's voice would often go up at the end of sentences, turning a lot of what she said into questions. This made Ariel seem constantly unsure and hesitant. I'm not sure if it was a narrative decision, or if it's truly how Ariel was written, but it did change my opinion of her a little bit.

Love in Winter Wonderland is a YA, winter romance. I enjoyed the theme of family and coming together to make your parent's sacrifices mean something and working hard and the power of social media, when used for good. I am not exactly sure that I loved the characters and the "villain/mean girl was indeed just that and I didn't enjoy her much at all, but then again are you supposed to?
Overall, I feel mixed about this story. I loved the book's setting and the main idea, but I just felt that even with it being a YA book, it fell a little flat.

This was a really cute YA holiday romance. As a reader and lover of all things books, I loved the plot to save Trey's family bookstore. I also enjoyed the grief exploration with Ariel. What I did not like about this book was Trey being in a relationship with a different girl for 90% of it. It made all of Trey and Ariel's flirting and near kisses feel like cheating. Also, Trey decided he didn't want to jump into another relationship, so the book ends without them really being "together". So all in all this is a cute book, but not great on the romance side.

I did really enjoy both narrators and that the chapters each corresponded to a Christmas song.

A lovely, tender coming of age novel with a dash of romance, set against the backdrop of a family run bookshop that's seen better days. A quick and delightful read.

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for the early release copy of Love in Winterwonderland by Abiola Bello.
A happy and romantic love story that is sure to warm your heart! The book kept my attention and I listened in one day. The reader did a great job and I enjoyed the performance of the book.
I look forward to exploring other books by this author.

This was a cute ya romance.

Ariel is a great character with a great story.

I also loved the book store setting!

Is it too early for Christmas romances?! @jesswiththebooks doesn’t think so, so I’m leaning in. I’ll admit I’m not usually a consumer of Christmas romance books but when I saw this book about saving a bookstore before Christmas I was like “well now I have to read it 🤣”
This is a YA romance. Tre and Ariel are an unlikely match. Tre is a popular guy dating one of the popular girls. They have been together forever off and on, his parents own a struggling bookshop that has been a community staple but can’t seem to compete with the new big bookstore in town. Ariel is new to the school, a bit nerdy and artistic but with a style all her own. She needs a job to help pay for the world class art program she got into that her late father also went to. Ariel gets a job at the bookstore conditionally and the rest is history.
I love books about bookstores and book lovers. This was a sweet romance and I was rooting with them to save an indie Black owned bookstore that has been a pillar in their community. Gentle reminder to shop indie bookstores because this is a very real problem!
I loved the chapters that started with each of the characters songs from their Christmas playlist which was a bonus and I added some to my own!
I appreciated the diverse cast of characters and that Ariel wasn’t a straight sized FMC (though the cover doesn’t quite match this 🤔). This was an audiobook and the narrators were great!
I didn’t love the cheating storyline and the pitting female characters against each other. This is such an old plot device and ID love to see romance novels move past the “catty/jealous women” stereotypes.
It is a Christmas romance through and through so they overcome the odds in record times while falling in and out and back in love (basically think Hallmark Christmas movie).
Overall a cute cozy romance that I breezed through so fast on audio! It is out now!

Thank you @netgalley for my copy! #loveinwinterwonderland #netgalley

Four Stars! This was a perfect book to get you into the holiday spirit! The story follows two teens- Ariel (MFC) and Trey (MMC) as they balance life, holidays and saving the small indie bookstore that has been in Trey's family for generations. Ariel is also grieving the loss of her Father. There is also romantic feelings between Trey and Ariel, which spells nothing but trouble as a)Ariel works for Trey's family and b) Trey has a girlfriend (who cannot stand Ariel). I would highly recommend this book to anyone who a) is looking for a book set in the holiday season, with a great holiday playlist (both characters provided holiday songs they are listening to at the start of their chapter) b) a story about a book store c) a Romeo and Juliet story without the death at the end.


Trigger Warnings:
-Discussion of death of a parent (father) passed away before story starts
-Disordered eating (binge eating)
-Body image issues
-Bullying (female on female)
-Self Esteem Issues

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance reader audio book in exchange for my review.

Step into the vibrant world of Wonderland, a beloved Black-owned bookshop in the heart of London, where each chapter is punctuated with the soulful notes of iconic songs that resonate with the spirit of the story. In "Love in Winter Wonderland" by Abiola Bello, the heartbeat of small businesses and the magic of literature come together in a heartwarming and romantic tale that will warm your heart and inspire the entrepreneur in you.

Meet charming and handsome Trey Anderson, a high school student who juggles the pressures of school popularity with a part-time job at his family's cherished local bookshop, Wonderland. With every turn of the page, Trey's life is infused with the melodies of aspiration and resilience, echoing the competition reminiscent of "You've Got Mail"țs iconic bookshops.

On the other side of this enchanting tale is Ariel Spencer, a quirky and creative artist seeking to fulfill her dreams of attending a prestigious art program. An opportunity to work at Wonderland offers the answer to her tuition woes. As you dive into the chapters, you'll discover a playlist of songs that weave the tapestry of Ariel's artistic journey.

The story takes an unexpected turn when Trey and Ariel, with a backdrop of song-inspired storytelling, unite to confront a neighbourhood gentrifier who threatens Wonderland's existence. Together, they strive to keep the bookshop's doors open before the looming Christmas Eve deadline. With each chapter, the music and lyrics complement the love story that unfolds—a hate-to-love journey that will leave a lasting impact.

"Love in Winter Wonderland" is a beautiful symphony of themes, blending the magic of black-owned businesses, the enchantment of bookshop-themed tales, and the power of art and music to unite hearts. Set against the backdrop of a London winter, this YA Christmas love story captures the essence of the holiday season and the enduring spirit of community. As you immerse yourself in the dual point of view storytelling, you'll find that this read is a heartfelt gift that keeps on giving, no matter the season. Whether you're a fan of bookshop novels or a lover of "You've Got Mail," this enchanting novel will resonate with your heart and soul.

Special thanks to NetGalley, RB Media, Recorded Books, and the editorial team for giving me the opportunity to review the ARC in audiobook format and to you, my reader, for taking the time to read this honest personal book review.

If you are interested in other of my book reviews, make sure to follow me on GoodReads! #LoveInWinterWonderland #NetGalley #LifeLongLearning

This was a lovely winter read and a 3.5 stars for me personally. I gave it 4 stars for motivation, for author to keep working on her craft.

I think it was nicely written and an easy read perfect for cozy December nights but I though it was too idealistic at times and the teens were acting more grown up than most adults.

3.5 stars
Love in Winter Wonderland is an adorable ya romance. I loved the narrators and thought they brought a lot to the story. A black owned bookshop that is struggling. The son and friend come up with a plan to save it. It’s a sweet story of family and teen love. I put the authors others books on my list and can’t wait to read them! Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an audio version for my honest review. This has everything I like in a cute, heartwarming holiday read.

I loved the set up and representation of this one! An independent and family owned bookstore struggling to stay afloat mixed with a heartwarming holiday romance that brings all the warm and fuzzies. I wished there was a bit more depth to the characters and their backstories, but overall this was a greasy fun read

This book is the perfect Christmas romance and with an amazing playlist. I immediately fell in love with the characters. The narration in the audiobook is perfection, each character has a distinct voice and point of view that’s easy to follow.

The story takes place in London and is told from the points of view of Trey and Ariel. Trey is the popular guy whose parents own a bookstore called Wonderland. He is trying to balance his obligations to family with what he wants for his life. Ariel is the quirky artist who doesn’t fit the popular mold. I won’t say more about their relationship, that’s one of the best parts of reading/listening to this book.

Bello does such a wonderful job of telling both Trey and Ariel’s story. Because she moves from person to person we see events from both perspectives and it makes this book so much richer. The movement from perspective to perspective works especially well in the audiobook, which I listened to via NetGalley.

If you love Christmas, bookstores and good music you will love this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of “Love in Winter Wonderland” by Abiola Bello. All opinions are my own.

Firstly, the audiobook of this novel is SO good. I’m not usually a big audiobook listener but the narrators here were wonderful. It was always clear who was talking and what they were saying.

The actual story I also enjoyed. It put me right in the holiday spirit! Great YA high school romance. Loved the friendships that were displayed too. Would recommend!

This book was sweet and I loved how it was completely centered around the Black community.

My only hiccup was with Trey’s character. He was slightly dislikable but somehow you still wanted Ariel to be with him.

It was a wonderful YA Christmas story,

Love in Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello
Audiobook narrated by Ben Bailey Smith and Nneka Okoye
3 stars

Wonderland is a black family owned business selling books that has fallen on hard times when a big box bookstore opens nearby, and they have until Christmas to make enough money to continue running their store or settle with selling it off to another company. Trey is the son of the couple running Wonderland, and his romantic interest Ariel comes to help out with her creative style.

This was a super sweet holiday comedy and the narration of the audiobook had to be one of the best audios I have listened to EVER. These two narrators were beyond perfect.

The book had a good plot but there were several things I didn't like from the book. Generally people don’t enjoy cheating plotlines, especially when they drag on through most of the book, but I tried to look past it because it is a YA and these feelings Trey is going through do happen a lot to kids who just don't understand romance and relationships yet. The biggest issue though was when the “big bad” of the story happens which is almost always a miscommunication issue, Trey turns kind of into a terrible guy and takes the side of his girlfriend who he doesn't even really like at this point. THAT'S RIGHT, he is still in a relationship with another girl during the moment that most romances would be reaching their peak.

In the end they promise to take things slow because he was with another girl literally a day ago, but they honestly don't go slow at all. The plotline behind the bookstore, and all the fundraising and trying to save a black owned business was exactly what I needed in my holiday reads but the romance fell flat for me.