I love a happy ending but I love the journey there even more. This is a love story to all the small town communities. And for the girls (and guys) who think they can't be loved

Some Like It Cold is a fun and enjoyable YA novel with a unique twist. It follows Cole, a neurodivergent teen who navigates relationships and life in a way that feels authentic and refreshing. The representation of neurodivergent characters is a standout, making it a meaningful read.

This was my first novel by Elle McNicoll and I loved that the book offers a blend of humor, heart, and a relatable protagonist. It’s a solid 3-star choice for anyone looking for lighthearted YA with meaningful representation.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books for the eARC.

I enjoyed this YA romance. The author gave an excellent voice to our main character who is also neurodivergent. The sister annoyed me, but I had to remind myself that that was the point. LOL.

4/5 🌟 This was my first read by Elle McNioll and I devoured it. You'll want to pick this up for a fun Christmas read! I will definitely be reading more of her books.

Some Like It Cold was a heartwarming YA romance with emotional depth and a sweet romance arc. I read it in one sitting and was swept into the nosy Lake Pristine community!

Jasper has such a big heart and I really enjoyed her character growth and story arc. Arthur was such a grump but I adored how strongly he loved his family.

Read for:
- Neurodivergence representation
- Small town
- YA romance
- Empathetic handling of themes like grief, bullying, and manipulation
- Classic films
- A film contest weaving the story together
- Ballet

Thank you to Wednesday for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

This was cute, but the writing didn't draw me in. The narrative itself and conversations were stilted for me. But for anyone looking for a small town romance, this one has some charming moments.

Thank you to Wednesday books for an eARC to review.

Tropes: Small Town, Romance, Frenemies To Lovers

Themes: Autism, Perfectionism, Controlling Parents

This book was like a cute Hallmark book romance with some more intense themes. Our main character Jasper is coming home from her first semester of college. She has autism and has masked her entire life, so she feels like no one knows her. The entire town is excited that she is coming home, but no one is more excited than Arthur. His dad passed away recently, then he and his brothers took over the local movie theater than their dad ran.

The emotional turmoil that Jasper's parents and sister put her through are a lot. I don't think Christine did enough to earn back me liking her as a character. But I think both she and Jasper were examples of what can happen when your parents have unrealistic expectations. It was a lot.

Arthur is adorable and needs to go to therapy but I enjoyed the relationship between him and Jasper. His little sister Grace, was a wonder side character and she really added to the over story and helped show some character traits.

Overall a cute read. The grand gesture at the end was absolutely adorable.

This is a fantastic book for anyone who loves enemies-to-lovers and small-town romances. The heroine, Jasper, is absolutely captivating! She’s kind-hearted, always wanting the best for others—even when she struggles to find happiness for herself. Jasper has a neurodivergent perspective, which sometimes lands her in uncomfortable situations. I found myself completely immersed in her journey—she’s gentle, loving, and truly someone you’ll root for as she seeks her own happiness.

Elle McNicoll’s writing is effortlessly engaging. Her style feels like a warm conversation, often sprinkled with humor, and she describes everything just right. It’s the perfect tone for the story she’s telling. The book features a range of quirky characters—some kind, some not so much, and some surprisingly nicer than expected. It’s a rich, layered story with more complexity than you might expect at first glance.

Jasper is self-aware but sometimes falls into the trap of convincing herself of things that turn out to be untrue. She’s adept at masking her true self to fit in, which takes an emotional toll. These themes are handled with such authenticity and could resonate deeply with readers who identify with Jasper’s experiences. Her inner struggle—wanting connection but also protecting herself—feels incredibly personal yet universal.

Arthur, though, knows exactly what he wants, and that’s Jasper. Even though they don’t always get along, he’s always had feelings for her. Jasper, on the other hand, struggles to see how someone could love her so easily.

This YA novel is a gem that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. It feels like being transported to a town straight out of Gilmore Girls, where every character has depth and something they’re working through. It’s a heartwarming yet emotional story that I wholeheartedly recommend.

I am grateful to Wednesday Book and St. Martin's Press for granting me access to a digital copy of this wonderful book through Netgalley. All opinions throughout this review are my own.

I’m sorry, but this book was terrible. It was such a slow read, and not in a good way.

The main characters, Jasper and Arthur, were really the only worthwhile characters in this story. Everyone else was simply vile and downright mean. This took away from the lighthearted cozy vibe this book could have been.

I understand that Jasper being neurodivergent and having autism was the basis of her difficulties with her relationship with her family, but it wish it wasn’t such an integral part of the plot. With it being brought up over and over again, it really turned me off the rest of the story.

Overall, this story fell short for me and left me feeling disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Some Like it Cold by Elle McNicoll is about a neurodivergent college student with an exciting plot that I would love to see on the big screen. The book has a measured pace. Thank you to the author, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a heartwarming small-town romance with an enemies to lovers troupe. The imagery that the author uses really sets up the small-town feel. You are left rooting for both characters.

Filled with witty banter and lots of chemistry this charming romance checks all the boxes.

Charming, small town romance on a chilly day was perfection. It was an easy, quick read with some familiar feeling characters. Enjoyed and would read more from this author.

I thought this was a charming and sweet romance perfect for the winter time! Loved the neurodivergent representation! I'm a sucker for any small town romance book/movie. I

Would recommend for fans of…
❄️ The Heart Principle
❄️ Heartstopper
❄️ Gilmore Girls

If you’re not in the mood for any holiday reads, but still want something that feels seasonal, look no further than Some Like It Cold.

Some Like It Cold follows Jasper, who’s returned to her hometown with a new understanding of herself after learning she’s neurodiverse. The story has a lot of heart and characters you can’t help but root for, as well as a romance that is very sweet. Following Jasper’s journey and seeing her grow and learn to advocate for herself in the face of adversity and a less than supportive family, was very inspiring and I think a lot of readers will connect with her story, as it’s clearly one that’s very personal for the author.

The only thing keeping this from being a total WOW for me, is that in the end the book didn’t have much staying power. But, if you’re looking for a quick read that has depth, and ends in an uplifting way, you should absolutely pick this one up!

Some Like It Cold is available now. Thanks to Wednesday Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the neurodivergent representation with Jasper. She is an 18 year old who flies back home for her sister's wedding & is going to confess to her "perfect" family that she is going to drop out of college to pursue her dreams & not return to the small town she grew up in. I felt bad for Jasper everyone in the town including her family were horrible, I get why she wanted to leave it all behind. The romance with Arthur was sweet although definitely a slow burn! It was a charming story I think I would have enjoyed it more if the characters weren't so horrible to Jasper.

I wanted to love Elle McNicoll's SOME LIKE IT COLD. So much. However, the writing feels so stilted and the story development is choppy and uneven, like there are emotional and story beats missing.

I really enjoyed this, the writing was great and the character’s felt real. I liked the Gilmore Girls, small town vibe. Solid winter read

I DNF'd at 25%

I appreciated the autism rep and sharing the perspective of masking and people pleasing, and how that can lead to a bit of an identity crisis and not really knowing who you are/what you like. I thought the bucket list before leaving town sounded like it had potential to be a cute story line. What lead to my dnf was the confusion and mixed signals when it came to describing Jasper and how the town views her. There was so much emphasis placed on her being popular and considered to be like a local celebrity, but then there's a dancing scene where she's suddenly being perceived as weird and annoying? It seemed like that was being pushed after the discussion on neurodivergence and that just didn't make sense to me. I also didn't fully understand why Arthur and Jasper had so much animosity toward each other. I wish that back story had been more developed besides, "well, he called me Princess once." It's hard for me to accept enemies-to-lovers without a good backstory.

This was a cute and cozy ya romcom that fills you with warmth even if it takes place in winter. I really liked this story and the hate to love yet not really romance between Jasper and Arthur. In a small town that these two have grown up in, they don’t realize who they are to each other until Jasper coms back after over a year away at college. I loved Jasper and seeing her take off the mask she wears in this town and around her family. She captures what it feels like to love a place but not love who it makes you be. And some of that is due to her spending time with Arthur, the one person she can be herself around. The one person who sees beneath the mask and doesn’t judge her or expect anything more.

This was a fun ride!

Enemies to lovers, small town feel, a bit of a Gilmore Girls vibe to be honest!

This started strong, and I'll definitely be recommending it to my students!