A cozy, easy read that will definitely put you in the holiday spirit and wish for Christmas to get here even quicker!

I absolutely adored Megan and Christian’s story. Everything about their growing relationship felt authentic and I was smiling every time they were together. The banter and humor throughout was great as well as every setting was described so well and so easy to picture. This book has substance and depth beyond just the normal feel good Christmas moments.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a feel good romance with festive spirit! Also, adding all of Catherine’s books to my TBR!

I love, love, love Christmas rom coms. Walsh’s Holiday Romance was one of my absolute favorites last year so I had high hopes for this book and it did not disappoint! With excellent tropes (fake dating, forced proximity, friends to lovers), a lot of humor, and just a little spice, this was literally everything I hoped it would be! A must-read for the Christmas season!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoture for the ARC of this fantastic book!

Oh how I love me a good slow-burn. The title and tagline of this book is a little bit mis-leading, because I don’t think forced proximity is the main plot of this story, but that didn’t make me enjoy it any less.

The fake dating and the slow-burn in this is absolutely delicious. I truly liked Megan and Christian, as well as their respective families. They all felt very real to me, and I love that the author didn’t fall into the trap of making it all TOO MUCH.

This was one of those books that just had me grinning and squeeing all the way through, as well as hitting me right in the feels, and I didn’t want it to end. This ended up being one of my favorite rom-com books I’ve read to date, and I’ll definitely be looking up more books by Catherine Walsh!

Christian and Megan are both dreading going home for the holidays for different reasons. Megan hasn’t been back for 5 years, ever since she left her fiancé at the altar and became the talk of the town. Christian is tired of being pitied and questioned by his family as the only one who isn’t in a relationship. After growing up together and reconnecting in Dublin where they both live, they decide the solution to both of their problems is to go home together and pretend to be in a relationship. Of course, many things go wrong (and right!) as they usually do in books with fake dating, forced proximity, and family/friend/ex-fiancé drama.

This book would be a great cozy winter read and reminded me of some of my favorite romcom movies (especially The Holiday and The Family Stone). Just the right balance of light and easy moments, serious moments, witty and funny banter, and general awkwardness. I enjoyed the dynamic between the different characters, although it was a little hard to keep them all straight at times. Apparently this is a sequel to another book by Catherine Walsh which is about Christian’s brother Andrew and his girlfriend Molly and how they met. I didn’t know that before reading but I’d definitely go back and read that one too. Overall, a sweet and slightly spicy holiday romcom that felt like a warm hug. Thanks to NetGalley for this advanced reader copy before it’s published on November 1st!

While it is a standalone story, Snowed In takes place a little over two years after Holiday Romance. This is determined by Zoe, Molly’s twin sister, who gave birth in Holiday Romance. In Snowed In, the story begins with Christian (Andrew’s brother) and Zoe hanging out with her now two year old toddler, Tiernan. Keeping the same snappy dialogue and Walsh wit, Snowed In takes us back to the small town we fell in love with before, reintroduces us to the Fitzpatrick clan, and shows us that with a little Christmas magic, anything is possible. I will warn you, read Holiday Romance first; otherwise, you will have spoilers and may not understand the story of Andrew and Molly that continues in Snowed In.

Megan just needs a win! It’s bad enough that she is still deemed a social pariah for running out on her wedding day five years ago. Yes, she left the village golden boy Isaac at the alter but she just couldn’t face the rest of her life being with the only man that was her first… well everything! She figured life would be waiting for her when she finally broke free. What was waiting for her, horrible first dates and failed relationships. It wouldn’t be so bad if she was doing well in her career but, while she loves her job, saying she lives a modest lifestyle is an understatement. All of this she could cope with but the idea of returning to her village, aka the scene of the crime, after all these years away is not helping her look forward to the upcoming holiday. That has to be why she was willing to entertain Christian Fitzpatrick’s outlandish plan: Being each other’s fake date (i.e. backup) while they are home for the holidays. Christian’s family would avoid meddling in his life for once and Megan may actually survive running into Isaac, the scrutiny of her town, and her mother’s fundraiser. It’s a plan that is just crazy enough to work… or one hilarious failure to watch!

I never want Walsh’s books to end! When you hit that last page and she beautifully wraps up the story, you feel like she just gave you a one of a kind gift. Her stories and characters are so relatable! Life isn’t automatically easy for them. Things don’t just magically work out and suddenly there is a choreographed dance number. Her characters feel pain, shame, disappointment, heartbreak, and stew in self doubt. I can only assume (being from the US) that all Irish families are as close as she portrays and the support system illustrated is more fact than fiction. If so, the level of envy goes above and beyond!

While I loved everything about this book, what I loved most was that Walsh kept the evolution of the relationship realistic. The vulnerability of the characters, the sibling relationships, the parent/child dynamic and evolution of understanding - she delivered and then some! Add to it the sarcasm that only Walsh can deliver and the conversations that you swear you have heard from people around you (i.e. real talk) and you can’t help but read this book from beginning to end as soon as possible.

Humor and heat are two things Walsh does exceptionally well! While nowhere near the primary focus of the book and placed deep within the story, when Christian and Megan light the initial match that starts a smouldering fire between them, you get a glimpse at the potential intensity. When that finally turns into a full blown flame, it is hot, emotional, intense, and absolute perfection, especially for these two characters.

I am crossing my fingers and toes that Walsh writes Aiden’s story so we aren’t done with this little village just yet. Snowed In is a wonderful winter treat that will put a smile on your face, warmth in your heart, and a growl in your belly (they talk about food a lot!)

4 1/2 stars

What a wonderful, adorable, heart-warming story. Megan and Christian are so wonderful together. I'm not sure if you'd call this second chance as they both had crushes on each other back in school when they were younger, but both thought the other didn't know they existed.

Megan going on to almost marry her first real boyfriend and Christian being there seeing her at her lowest and they still get the HEA they both deserve.

The cast of secondary characters are a hoot! They really do make the story a believable going home for Christmas story. It's a really good read and pretty quick, so you know you want to pick this up for the holiday season (as you should).

Thank you, Netgally I gifting me with an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

A second win by Catherine Walsh! This was such a fun winter read. The setting is urban and rural Ireland. The MCs have fabulous sarcastic banter throughout the book and the supporting characters are well-rounded. There wasn't a moment that felt unnecessary or boring, instead I kept wondering "when? how? where? why?". Thanks for a great read!

I'm so lucky I got to read this one thanks to @netgalley and Catherine Walsh for the ARC. It took me a little but to get in to this one, but I'm so glad I didn't give up. This was the perfect holiday read. It's cozy, and heartwarming, romantic and fun. There's the perfect amount of banter, and family time, and holiday vibes. I really loved it. I will definitely be checking out more of Catherine's books! 100% recommend this one for a holiday romance read!

Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture, and Catherine Walsh for an eARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

The holidays, fake dating, friends to lovers, forced proximity, small village, dual POV? Check, check, check, check, check again! An easy 5 star read with some great open door spice. I devoured this so quickly and it really set the bar for my holiday reads this year! This is an interconnected series but Snowed In can be read as a stand alone.

I fell in love with Megan and Christian and their banter and their chemistry immediately. They set some ground rules but can they or will they want to stick to them? And the grand gestures? Swoon. Being snowed in has never seemed so darn good. What sealed the deal for me? No third-act breakup. We have romance, healing, great family dynamics and well developed supporting characters. The characters truly feel relatable and realistic and I love this world. I felt the plot had great substance with the levity of a rom com.

I love love love Catherine Walsh and her writing style. This did not fail in Snowed in! A holiday read never fails to bring my heart joy. Megan's character is easily relatable, fun to read about, and overall 10/10.

When fake dating becomes all too real from the beginning, can it turn into something great or will it fizzle out fast as the fake fades!?! A delightful Christmas rom com that is a sweet romance, but also a look at being strong enough to stand up for yourself. She was known as the runaway bride, but not in a fun and loveable way. He was known as the troublemaker, yet while both pasts are somewhat true, they are by no means the whole of who these characters are. Once again, this author has delivered a wonderful romance to delight and entertain as well as provide a great message of seeing one's self-worth and not letting anyone tear it down. This is a slow burn with just a bit of spice as we near the end, but it is quality spice and fits the story well. I absolutely loved these characters and the plot which makes me even happier to find that there was a book before this one which makes me hope that there might be more coming in this series! I'll definitely be going back to snag the first book and I'll be watching/hoping for more of the characters in the future as well!

Sooooo good! The perfect Christmas romance to start your holiday season.
Not gonna lie, I’m a big fan of Catherine Walsh and I was super excited to receive the ARC for Snowed in! After reading and loving Holiday Romance last year, I knew this would be the perfect way to start the festive season (it was October 1st, but who’s counting).

Megan hasn’t been home for the holidays in years, ever since leaving the village golden boy Isaac at the altar. Meanwhile Christian is tired of his family’s sad eyes whenever he shows up home alone. When Megan literally bumps into Christian at a pub in Dublin, they come up with a pact to fake date during the holiday season. Snowed In is a fake dating Christmas rom-com set in a small town in Ireland. While it’s a stand-alone, I still recommend reading Holiday Romance (available on KU) before to meet Christian and his family. Both are, in my opinion, some of the best holiday romances out there.

Walsh wrote yet again an amazing feel-good romance. Christian is completely smitten with Megan from the moment he sees her, but the growth of their relationship is what did it for me. I loved seeing those two get to know each other and work through their past together. Megan was such witty character and we finally got to see Christian for more than the flirty brother we knew. He was sweet, supportive, and so protective of Megan. They balanced each other perfectly and I adored both. The banter was perfect, and the chemistry between Christian and Megan was enough to melt a blizzard.

A swoony, friends to lovers, fake dating for the holidays slow burn, dual POV romance. Another hit from Catherine Walsh. I loved her book, Holiday Romance last year and this was a big win for me too. Family drama, small town Irish setting and tons of feels! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Steam level: open door, mild details

I absolutely loved this one! It was the perfect book to get me into the holiday season. Great characters. Good conflict. Fake date trope. Great chemistry. Wonderful setting. This book was so fun and heartwarming. This was my first Catherine Walsh book and it for sure won’t be my last. Huge thanks to Netgalley and the book publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

4.5! Loved!!! Such a cute book that had all the feels that I enjoy: forced proximity, fake relationship. Loved Christian and Megan together. Family was hilarious and made me wish for a family with similar bantar

SO CUTE! I loved this story about 2 old friends that are reunited, fake a relationship and end up falling in love. I loved the dynamic between Christian and Megan and how their relationship evolved. I was thankful they didn't spend a larger part of the book "snowed in" because I think it would have made it feel like it was dragging on, but I didn't think the book felt that way at all.

I loved this! It was delightful to read about the holidays with the Fitzpatrick family again. The pacing was excellent. A perfect cozy Christmas romance!

It’s been along time since Megan has gone home for Christmas, or home at all. After running out on her wedding five years earlier she has not returned to her home village since. But her brother is coming home from Australia this year so she will be spending two weeks back in a place she feels less then welcome in. But after running into a childhood friend who is also less then excited about the holidays at home the two hatch a plan to be each others back up and pretend to be dating.

I am not always a fan of the pretend dating trope, I don’t love how the characters feelings are handled a lot of the time. @catwalshwriter however does it beautifully. Megan and Christian are both really wonderful and strong characters in their own rights and they treat each other so well as a fake dating couple. I love the individual family dynamics that are playing out against the most amazing Irish village backdrop. It was cozy, I definitely cried and I had a lot of fun reading this. Releasing November 1 2024 it’s a perfect Christmas read. And now I absolutely need to read its predecessor Holiday Romance
Thank you to @netgalley and @bookouture for letting me review Snowed In.
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This is my first Catherine Walsh novel. I initially chose to read it because of the cover and the description. However, I am utterly glad I did! Her writing style is so easy and fluid that you get lost in the story with the characters.

This one begins with a runaway bride who flees to a new city, new life, new job; a horribly, bad date that turns her life around unexpectedly, meeting up with by chance, and in a splashing way, with an old acquaintance from her hometown. She is going back home for Christmas for the first time since she fled on her wedding day and is very worried about how she will be received by those in her hometown, including her ex-fiance.. He has to go back and spend time with his family who all seem to be happy. Unfortunately, for him, he is the one that always seems to be questioned about his life, his happiness, and his future. So, a plan is devised and off they go together to spend Christmas as "a couple". Through many adventures, hilarious situations, and a blizzard, these two end up right where life is meant for them to be.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it was a very easy read. I do enjoy Catherine Walsh's writing style and plan on trying out a couple other of her books.

We have some girls in our high school who enjoy books like this from authors like Colleen Hoover. This is one I will recommend to those girls when they ask for suggestions.

Five years ago Megan left her long term boyfriend Isaac at the altar on their wedding day and ran away, now she's going back home for the first time since that day to spend Christmas with her mum and her brother Aidan who is travelling from Australia to see his family, and she's dreading it because she knows how the community will react.

Christian is happy on his own but he hates seeing the reaction of his family every Christmas when he's the only single one there, so when Megan bumps into him in a Dublin pub they come up with an idea to get them both through the Christmas period, they will be each others fake dates and pretend to be madly in love, after all they've known each other since school so they can surely pull this off, but nothing ever goes to plan does it?

Snowed In is the latest rom-com by Walsh, told from the perspectives of both Megan and Christian in alternate chapters set in Ireland. I loved everything about this book, the fake boyfriend/girlfriend idea which you just know is going to turn into something else, the dynamics between each of the families and even the reactions of the locals towards Megan added to the mix of this lovely story, throw into that a snowed in scene in a woodland cabin with enough spice to warm the coldest of days and you've got yourself a very enjoyable love story with some great characters and I'm a sucker for a happy ending so was rooting for these two from the start. Another great read from this author that I didn't want to put down and I'm looking forward to more of her stories in the future.

I'd like to thank Bookouture and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.