This book is just adorable!
The story follows Trey, whose family-owned bookstore, "Wonderland", is in danger of closing down. Meanwhile, Ariel has her heart set on attending a prestigious art program and ends up working in "Wonderland" to cover her tuition. Trey and Ariel don't initially get along, but they quickly warm up to each other as they work together to save the bookstore before time runs out. Trey is cool, but honestly, Ariel steals the show. Her passion and vibrant personality shine throughout the story. Overall, this was cute, cozy and fun. The narrators did an amazing job bringing the characters to life, and that cover is simply beautiful.

Thanks NetGalley and SoHo Press for the ARC of this book.

3.5 stars rounded up. My loves: the setting, I adored the little bookshop run by Trey’s family, the fact it was Christmas. I really loved the black owned business and the rallying of the community and Ariel’s lovely mural showcasing black authors (I really wanted to see this in person!) I vibes with Ariel, her artistic and creative background, her spirit and work ethic.

My not loves: Of course I disliked Blair. She didn’t have a redeeming quality in her, not even when she was being vulnerable. We are told Trey and Trey’s parents like her, but I have no clue why. To go along with that- Trey. The book opens with him forgetting his girlfriend’s birthday. Why does he continue to date her throughout the book? I don’t care how busy or pressured you are if you are a teenager dating someone for years you don’t forget their birthday. I also did struggle with how the characters were in university but felt so much younger. The bullying, the raging party.

If I could have removed the “popular clique” aspect, if Trey could have just not be dating Blair, if we could have focused more on Trey and Ariel I do think I would have loved this book.

Regardless I did enjoy listening.

What drew me into reading Love in Winter Wonderland was the title, cover and blurb. I loved Ariel and her determination as a young artist who’s trying to follow in her Dads footsteps. I also loved Trey, an musically gifted young man who is trying to find his calling and also help his family's book shop from shutting down.

Overall I have to give this book a 5/5 stars. The ARC is still in the early stages of the manuscript stage so changes may happen before the book is available for the general public. This book may appeal to people who like Cozy Romantic Christmas Books Thank you Netgallry for the ARC!

Super cute rom com with a bookstore in need of rescuing?! Say less! I enjoyed this book so much! The audio was fantastic, the dual perspective by each narrator gave so much depth to each character, and I was in so many of my feels throughout. Ariel is the absolute best, and I teared up on more than one occasion through her journey. I wanted to reach into the book and shake Trey more than a few times too, but at the same time, he was so lovable. Definitely recommend this super cute, feel all the feels, wrapped with a Christmasy bow of a book!

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for the audiobook arc in exchange for my honest review!

This was a very slow burn christmas themed story. I thought it had some really cute moments. I loved that each chapter began with a Christmas song sung by a black artist and that a big portion of the story was about saving a black owned bookshop. A cute book for the holiday season.

audiobook specific: I liked both of the narrators. They did a good job at bringing the characters to life.

content warning: past death of a parent, eating disorder

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Love in Winter Wonderland" by Abiola Bello is a book that had its moments, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The British setting and the focus on a Black-owned independent bookshop facing gentrification were promising elements, giving the story a charming and realistic backdrop. I also appreciated the pop culture references and the use of 90s music in the narrative.

However, the story had some significant drawbacks. Trey's main character got off to a weak start by forgetting his girlfriend's birthday, which didn't bode well for his next relationship. Moreover, the fact that he remains in that relationship until nearly the end of the book, coupled with what felt like emotional cheating, made the romantic development less enjoyable.

The excessive use of slang in the characters' speech and internal dialogue made them feel younger than their college-going ages, which was somewhat distracting. Additionally, the instant-love aspect of the relationship and the rushed resolution of character conflicts felt unrealistic and convenient.

While the book did handle themes of grief and binge eating with some depth, I wished for more guidance, especially in a young adult context. The representation of Black culture was a positive aspect, but it needed further exploration to immerse readers in the story fully.

Ultimately, "Love in Winter Wonderland" had potential with its unique setting and cultural elements, but the execution left much to be desired. It may resonate with readers who enjoy young adult romance with a British backdrop, but it wasn't quite the gift I hoped for.

“𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚋𝚢 𝚏𝚊𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚐𝚒𝚏𝚝 𝙸 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚊𝚜𝚔 𝚏𝚘𝚛.” 💝

📖 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙒𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙒𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝘼𝙗𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙖 𝘽𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙤

🎄This was such a fun, heartwarming, Christmas love story! My review is based off of the audiobook, which was so well done! The narrators were incredible and really made the story magical. ✨

🩶At the heart of this story was a black-owned indie bookstore called Wonderland, that had come on hard times. The community that surrounded this bookstore in their time of need was amazing.
Working together, Trey & Ariel come up with new ideas to save the bookstore. There was undeniable chemistry between Trey & Ariel. Ariel had recently suffered a loss and struggled most of her life with body image issues. Throughout this story Ariel slowly reclaims her image and confidence and I loved it! Trey was stuck in a relationship he wasn’t sure why he was still in. I think there will definitely be readers that can relate to being in a relationship because you have already put so much time in.

❤️As far as romance, this is a cute YA read! The playlist from this book is perfect!🔥

4.5⭐️

Tropes: African American Romance, YA, contemporary romance, holiday love story, audiobook, British love story, college/high-school romance, black artist representation

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love books with bookstores and characters who are introvert and artistic. I could relate with Ariel, with her self consciousness and her need to work hard to get into college.

One thing that bothered me was the pre-break up attraction between Trey and Ariel.

Overall, it was a fast paced, cute romance novel.

Love in Winter Wonderland is a heartwarming holiday romance that will melt even the coldest of winter hearts. This enchanting story transports the readers to a picturesque London backdrop where they meet two captivating characters. Trey Anderson, the charming and handsome young man, juggles the demands of school popularity with his work at his family's beloved local bookshop, Wonderland. Ariel Spencer, on the other hand, is a quirky and creative individual with dreams of attending a prestigious art program.

Their paths intersect when Ariel lands a job in Wonderland, setting the stage for a delightful and heartwarming tale. However, the idyllic setting is threatened by the looming closure of the bookshop due to neighbourhood gentrification. Trey and Ariel join forces in a race against time, determined to save Wonderland from closing its doors before Christmas Eve.

The author weaves a story that is not only filled with holiday magic but also explores themes of community, determination, and the power of love. As Trey and Ariel work together to protect Wonderland, they find themselves drawn to each other in unexpected ways. Their hate-to-love journey is filled with charming moments and sweet surprises. It is a delightful read that captures the spirit of the holiday season. Abiola Bello's storytelling is warm and inviting, making it the perfect book to cosy up with during winter. The novel serves as a reminder that love can bloom even in the chilliest of seasons and that the magic of the holidays can bring people together in the most unexpected ways.

The narrative is a perfect blend of love, community, and the enduring power of hope, making this book an ideal choice for those seeking a feel-good and festive read. So gather your finest hot chocolate and settle down for a cosy read!

"Love in Winter Wonderland" is a cute new YA contemporary romance between 2 high school students, Ariel and Trey (please excuse my spelling; I listened to the audio books and have not clue if names are correctly spelled).

What I liked about this novel is that I really believed these could be high school students. There are a lot of cliques in the school they attend, and you see some "mean girl" characters throughout the story. The 2 main characters also go through a lot of problems typical to high school(bullying, obsession over weight/eating disorder, relationship issues). The main characters were really sweet and totally dedicated to helping each other save the local black owned bookshop, Wonderland. I also felt their relationship progressed at a realistic pace (there was character development along the way where you could read each characters thoughts as they began to crush on each other).

What drove me absolutely bonkers was the use of the word "college". From my understanding, college can occasionally be used in place of the word "high school" or "secondary school" in England. However, going into this book, I was unaware of that fact, and so for the first 35 minutes of the audiobook, I was like, why are these college students acting like high schoolers? Then they mentioned Trey's age, and that was my only clue that these kids were actually in high school. Every few sentences the characters are like "see you at college" and it drove me insane. Why wouldn't you just say "see you at school"? No matter if you are actually in high school or college/university, you would never say "see you at college", just "see you at school" or "see you in class". I think if this is to be published in the US, you should make a change, because there could be some deep confusion as to the targeted age range of this book based off if these are high school, or college kids. You might get the wrong audience reading this as a result.

Overall the audiobook narrators were spot on! I felt like they spoke like today's youth and it made me feel immersed in the story. I loved how clear their voices were and I could really tell when they changed what character they were speaking as. They kept my attention with their performance, and I would definitely listen to another audiobook with these narrators.

4/5 Stars
Thank you to netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the male and female dual narration on this book! It really brought the two main characters to life and made the story so much more fun to listen to! This book is about a small black owned bookshop that’s been in the family for generations and is struggling to keep its doors open. Amidst trying new ideas to keep the shop afloat is an attraction and budding romance between the son Trey, and Ariel who got a part time job at the bookstore over the holidays. It’s a sweet story and a perfect winter getaway read! I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes romantic comedies with some holiday cheer thrown in!

Love in Winter Wonderland is a cute teen romance between two soulmates that haven't had the chance to really know each other until they decide to team up to save a family owned bookshop.

This romance is good generally speaking : it is fast-paced and easy to read, the writing is good and the plot is interesting, despite it's lack of originality. I liked how the young characters were naturally social media savvy, how they were portrayed as passionate, with an entrepreunarial (or should I say activist) mindset - quite inspirational for the readers. The positive representation of Black people is also perfection and I assume that this must be one of the main goals the author was aiming for. However (spoilers coming), I wasn’t so happy with the portrayal of Blair (the antagonist), the stereotypical "girly-popular-mean-girlfriend who doesn’t care about books or art or anything that isn’t herself". It is such an overused and rather harmful cliché, especially when the protagonist is the equally cliché "curvy wallflower with a kind heart and artistic soul that doesn’t follow fashion trends etc". By trying to legitimize or validate one, the author is (unintentionally maybe ... I hope) stigmatizing the other. Also, I can’t agree with Ariel (the protagonist) being the good guy in this story when she shamelessly pursues someone's boyfriend (and only have like one thought about Blair that comes way too late in my opinion). Trey, in comparison, handled the situation a little bit better, even though his behaviour was often impulsive and immature, but I guess that's normal, they're only 17 after all.

Since this is a Christmas book, I'll also rate it on my personal "Is-it-Christmassy-enough Scale". I believe it deserves a ⛄️⛄️⛄️/5, Christmas is indeed on everyone's mind, but it feels more like a deadline than a celebration, the spirit isn’t really there.

Finally, I'll also say that both narrators were really good, I enjoyed listening to this audiobook !

Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for sending this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Love in Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello
Narration by Ben Bailey Smith and Nneka Okoye
I requested this ALC on a whim because of the holiday theme and the fact that it is mainly set in a bookstore in London. I’m so glad I did because I absolutely loved it. The main characters are around 17 and 18 years old. if you are in the USA don’t be confused by the mention of college because that is what they call upper level high school in the UK.
There was some negative focus on fat by the mean girls at school but we all know there are always mean girls in school. It is a bit disconcerting that Ariel doesn’t stand up for herself for so long but finally she does. The bookstore is owned by a Black family that has been in the business for several generations and the part of the story focused on the family and friends of the main characters is very sweet and touching. There are lots of holiday references and the Christmas playlist at the beginning of each chapter was great. I listened to some of the music during breaks from listening to the book.
The narrators were both new to me but they were excellent. I will look for more of their work.
I am old enough to be a grandmother to the main characters but I can recall being that age and the book struck home for me so I think it would be appropriate for most ages of readers.

This was a really cute, well-written YA holiday romance with a Christmas theme. It gave Hallmark movie kind of vibes with a dash of relationship drama. The beginning was a slow-burn but as our MC’s grow closer the pacing gradually changes.

The novel follows Trey Anderson as he balances the pressures of school popularity and working at his family’s beloved local bookshop, Wonderland. Then there’s Ariel Spencer quirky and creative who needs tuition for the prestigious art program of her dreams, and an opening at Wonderland is the answer. When Trey and Ariel learn that Wonderland is on the brink of being shut down by a neighborhood gentrifier, they team up to stop the doors from closing before the Christmas Eve deadline and embark on a hate-to-love journey that will change them forever.

There wasn’t an instant connection between the two MC’s but I did enjoy the alternating perspectives and watching their chemistry build. Trey was in a relationship the majority of the book but I could tell the situation would eventually end. The drama involving Trey, Blair, and Ariel made the novel a little more appealing. Trey and Ariel were also the most layered but the side characters helped move the story forward.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. The plot was engaging, the bookstore, and Christmas setting added a cozy uniqueness to the storyline making this perfect for the holiday season. The song playlist with each chapter was a plus. Special thanks to @hearourvoicestours & @sohoteen for my gifted copy and being apart of this awesome tour!!!

Rating: 3.5/5⭐️

This YA love story, based around Christmas time, follows Trey's family's bookstore who are financially struggling. Cue Ariel who manages to step into the fold, help sell books and set up bookish events. The storyline was very high school with Trey being the boyfriend of the most popular girl and Ariel being one of the girls no one ever notices but it is always uplifting to hear when a jock realizes the worth of someone so little. I loved Ariel in this book! If you like YA and want a cute holiday bookish romance, definitely pick this up.

I have a Trey who is very close to me so that is part of the reason why I wanted to read this book, but I am so glad I did. It's such a cute, sweet holiday read. I don't necessarily think it is the most complex or thought provoking subject matter but sometimes you just need a fun light hearted read. I will always love a story with a bookstore in it. They just feel extra cozy. If you are looking for a cute holiday read, then definitely check it out!

When eccentric artist Ariel gets a job at Wonderland Books, she clashes with Trey, the store owner's charming son. But they soon unite to save the cherished shop from closing forever—and embark on an unexpected journey from animosity to love.

This is a cute and engaging audiobook. The narration is brilliant. I loved the characters, and while the plot isn't particularly believable, it was still a fun read.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

It's time to save the indie black-owned bookstore.

Trey is the popular boy who works at his family's bookstore even though he doesn't actually want to run it. Ariel dreams to go to the same art school her father attended. When Trey's family bookstore is at risk of closing, he comes up with a plan to make a quick buck. In come Ariel who starts working at the bookstore after his father's accident. Both of them together try and save the store before Christimas.

I wasn't super comfortable with Trey being in a relationship with someone else over 75% of the book. I get being 18 and your feelings being confusing, but the moment he started questioning if he had feelings for Ariel, he should've ended things with Blair. It was still kind of cute and Christmas wasn't that much of the focus.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc version of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

sooo cute!! i loved the winter vibes and how a lot of it was sent in a Black owed bookstore!!! this story was truly heartwarming and very romantic!!

The pacing was fantastic. I was hooked the whole time. I loved the characters, they were well developed. It is a great holiday read.