Are you a fan of small town romances? If so, I have the book recommendation for you Some Like it Cold is a book that you will love.

I had trouble connecting with the characters in the story and was sort of confused with some of the dialogue in the book- mum vs mom (are we in the states?) and how much older the characters seemed to be versus the age they were supposed to be. The main reason for my dnf-ing the story was the formatting of the actual arc file I received. It made it pretty challenging to read on top of my lack of connection to the story of characters.

A contemporary romance with a strong storyline and some interesting twists and turns! There were some thoughtful places created in the setting, including aspects of the town where the story is set, Lake Pristine.
I struggled to get into this book at the beginning but I’m glad I stayed with it, as the middle of the story was very strong and well-paced. For me, the tone of conversation and some of the plot points among the characters made it hard to believe they were teenagers. It also took me a long time to imagine the overall setting of the story, the difference between ‘the city’ and Lake Pristine. While these aspects removed me from the story occasionally, overall this was a good read!

Some Like It Cold features Jasper, a young woman with autism trying to escape the confines of her privileged, small-town family. She returns home for Christmas to say goodbye to her hometown, but things change when she pulls into town right as her sister gets an engagement ring. Jasper finds herself in charge of pulling off a wedding for her over-the-top awful sister and trying to find solace in her old friend and old movies.

The good:
- Representation of neurodivergence is excellent. Jasper is very self-aware when it comes to her triggers and struggles.
- Romance between Arthur and Jasper is sweet and kind of lovely, as she nurtures his younger sister in ballet as well.

The not as good:
- Jasper's family is really ridiculously awful. Rich people behaving badly to the extreme. She is saintly next to them and it's a little unbelievable all around.
- I cannot believe her sister gets engaged in December and wants a New Year's wedding, even if she knew about the engagement and was already planning. That's not a wedding planning timeline.
- McNicoll is Scottish. I think this is supposed to take place in the U.S., because there is a big deal made about the drinking age being 21. But there are some terms used (like hen do) that felt very U.K. and that was awkward to me.

For me, this book was fine, but I do love what it adds to representation for neurodivergent main characters with their own love stories.

I thought this would be just another cute romance, and it was, but I liked the characters more than i usually do this time. I didn't find them to be overwritten or irritating, it was less a classic romance and a more a general fiction with romance as the backbone. The focus was on Jasper and her growth through the couple of weeks this book takes place rather than just her romance with Arthur. If you are looking for a real romance I'm not sure this is for you, but if like me you want more storyline and character development with the romance you'd probably like this one.

This cover drew me in, but the small town had me hanging around. I enjoyed the characters in this book and how you can grow/change your mind. Thank you for the early access!

This was SO cute! I absolutely fell in love with the FMC, Jasper! Even if the name confused me at first lol
She was all things good. She was kind, nerdy, helpful, patient and sweet but also....she felt so deeply. Her biggest flaw, was letting others aka as her sister and bff stomp all over her. It's what made Arthur angry too. The utter disrespect Jasper's family showed her.
But Jasper couldn't see what everyone else did, that she was special, beautiful and amazing. Arthur did a bad job at both expressing and hiding his feelings and it led to some miscommunication.
Jasper was autistic and didn't mind discussing her neurodiversity, especially around Arthur who just didn't get it.
The romance was SLOOOOOOW burn. Like geez, just a warning (SLIGHT SPOILER IN NEXT SENTENCE), they don't get together til close to the end of the novel 😂
So yeah, no spice, if that's all you're looking for. But it was still so romantic. Arthur had it BAD for Jasper and while the book may have lack in "intimacy" it was still intimate how Arthur made Jasper feel SEEN! It took her a while but he opened her eyes and just realized, she could be loved just as she is. It was beautiful 🥹
Of course, like all romance novels they had squabbles but just overall I loved Jasper as much as everyone else in this small town. She was such a refreshing character. So good it made others feel awful, but also so relatable in that sometimes we mask, we hide, we just want to make others proud but it shouldn't be at the expense of ourselves. It's okay to say NO, to say STOP, and to do things for ourselves sometimes. Especially big life decisions.
I can't rave about this enough. Adorable small town romance that just hit me right in the heart. A MUST READ! Everyone go PREORDER NOW haha

Some Like It Cold is a wonderful, small town romance with a Gilmore Girls feel. This book is full of extremely well written imagery, giving a very nostalgic feel for those lucky enough to grow up in a small town. Elle McNicoll does an excellent job with the enemies to lovers trope. I can not wait to read more books by this author. This would be a great winter read!

Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press|Wednesday Books for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Some Like it Cold by Elle McNicoll is a poignant romance novel that captivates readers with its sweeping scope and emotional depth. McNicoll skillfully weaves a powerful ode to love in its various forms: from the bonds of community and the comfort of home, to the journey of self-discovery. This clever and poignant love story offers a healing narrative that celebrates the genre of romance itself.

This heartwarming small-town romance really really make my day. Actually, I really enjoy reading this novel and I want its sequel soon from the author. There is so much fun and humor also.

Billed as a small-town, young adult contemporary romance reminiscent of the Gilmore Girls, I eagerly accept an advance readers' copy of Some Like it Cold from NetGalley and Wednesday Books. Following are my honest thoughts and opinions.

I quickly and easily picked up on the similarities between the narrative and one of my favorite shows, Gilmore Girls. And, if you are looking for a simple, sweet story with a happily-ever-after ending, Some Like it Cold hits the mark. However, there were some things that I found distracting or that disrupted my enjoyment as a reader.

Right out of the gate: where are we? The author introduces readers to a delightful small town named Lake Pristine. We are also told the main character, Jasper, is coming home for the holidays after being away for 18 months "in the city" at school. Many setting details point to a location somewhere in the U.S., but other details gave me pause and took me out of the scene and story. (One small example: Mum vs. Mom made me think we were in Europe or England. But the author refers to "college" and not "university," which then made me think of the U.S.)

Another issue for me was some of the writing and dialogue. The characters are all in their late teens but behave and speak like much older and more sophisticated characters. At times, that made sense for Jasper, especially. Readers learn about her family and the expectations that have been placed on her for her whole life, so that tracks.

The story is sweet and has a few swoony moments that romance readers love. A young woman wants to pursue her dreams. She returns home to lay the foundation for a future on her terms because she thinks her family will refuse to support her. She is prepared to walk away from everyone and everything she has known and loved to follow her heart. Readers meet her family and friends, including the boy who has always vexed (and secretly loved) her.

Author Elle McNicoll sets readers up for a touching story about friendship, love, and bravely believing in yourself. But she also throws multiple stumbling blocks in the way of complete enjoyment. I never felt attached to the characters; I had to depend on the author's narrative for how to feel about a character or their behavior. What became the most frustrating was the constant reminder that Jasper is neurodivergent. I fully support a lead ND character; that detail made me want to read Some Like it Cold even more. But it became an overbearing detail that, ultimately, others Jasper to the point of being unreliable. We are TOLD over and over instead of being SHOWN.

I appreciate the story concept, the friendships and mentorship aspects written into the plot, and even the swoony sweetness of Jasper and Arthur's romance. Overall, however, Some Like it Cold left me disappointed.

Jasper is the proclaimed golden girl of her hometown. She's the one everyone counts on, everyone loves, but nobody really knows or understands. "Jasper who never said no." She's coming home for the holidays, but her doubts are her own.

I loved getting an authentic neurodivergent main character with a voice everyone needs to hear. Jasper is delightful and relatable - and I loved her story. I loved her rocky relationship with her sister, and then we add a love interest enemies-to-lovers thread, and here's the most fun holiday story for the season.

"This loopy town IS the story."

❄️❄️❄️❄️

"Some like it cold. I know I do. I like being warmed up."

This is a hetero romance with an autistic protagonist. The autism is the only thing that makes the protagonist interesting—in every other way, she’s perfect and she just needs to find someone who can love her under her mask. Meh. I’m glad there are more books featuring autism, especially women with autism, but this isn’t one I loved. If you want a feel good story in which everyone ends up happy—sure. It’s brain candy. But there’s nothing else to it. They live in a perfect town and everyone loves her. Her family is perfect and rich, and while they start out as mean to her because of her autism, somehow by the end they are sorry for being mean and will live happily ever after.
The book is sweet and I liked some of the minor characters, like Odette and Hera.

I received a free temporary e-ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I was invited to read this book by the publisher. I really enjoyed reading this book! This book is about Jasper coming to terms with her relationship with the place she was raised, family, and the past. The characters in this book actually had a lot of depth, and were also incredibly relatable. And between Jasper and her love interest, Arthur, there is very obvious chemistry and it flowed very nicely (I also liked that we got both perspectives!). I also appreciated that the author made the town a character in this book - there was also a lot of depth in portraying the town, as well. This is just a well-rounded, good book that will put you in the perfect mood.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Some Like it Cold is a YA romcom with an autistic heroine, Jasper. I liked Jasper's character but her mom and sister were very unlikable characters.
It's a quick read and has some great parts but it was just hard to like the family and some of the people in town.
Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for my ARC.

This is such a sweet and cozy romance read. You will fall in love with Jasper while wanting to beat up her older sister, Christine. This book focuses on the budding romance between Jasper and Arthur and takes on the realities of small towns and needing to be perfect for your family while having autism.

After being away for what seemed like an eternity, 18-year-old Jasper Montgomery is finally making her way back home to the picturesque town of Lake Pristine for the holiday season. However, she's concealing some undisclosed secrets she is not yet ready to reveal. Meanwhile, Arthur, an aspiring filmmaker, is fervently working on capturing the essence of Lake Pristine, aiming to transform the quaint town into the backdrop for a remarkable small-town story fit for the silver screen. His ambitious plans are unexpectedly thrown into disarray when the town's beloved golden girl, Jasper, reappears. Strikingly, she also happens to be the figure who once served as the antagonist during his school days – someone who has lingered in his memory all these years.

Jasper's return to Lake Pristine is not without purpose; she is there with the sole intent of bidding farewell to her hometown. However, as time passes, interpersonal tensions in the small town begin to mount, and a particular brooding film enthusiast emerges as a compelling reason for her to linger.

This narrative promises an immersive experience. Jasper takes center stage as an autistic heroine in a deeply endearing, small-town romance that will undoubtedly tug at your heartstrings.

I enjoyed reading this incredible story. Thank you so much to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for an opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this one! Great and fun read. Highly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for my ARC.

I really liked this book because the characters were fun to follow. Their struggles and obstacles kept me hooked the whole time! I also love a good small town romance, so bonus points for that. The only thing I was confused by/didn't like was the UK slang that didn't match as well with the small town America vibe. Outside of that, great book!

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for the digital advanced copy!

10 * stars! This was such a beautiful book. It was such a sweet and lovely story. I enjoyed it from beginning to end. And I learned so much from it.

Jasper Montgomery is the Golden Girl of the small town of Lake Pristine. Away at college for the last 18 months, the entire town is a buzz knowing she is finally coming home. Well, everyone but Arthur Lancaster, the grumpy son of the beloved cinema owner. Or so we are led to believe… It would appear that there is more to Arthur’s grumpy exterior when it comes to Jasper. He seems to actually see Jasper for who she is, neurodivergence and all. While Jasper struggles with what her future is going to look like thanks to the pressure from her family, she never imagined that future might have to include Arthur once feelings get involved. Having a female MMC with autism is incredibly important as someone who has a family member with the same. Jasper is a strong and beautiful MMC and deserves a HEA with someone who loves her as she is - not as the person she is masking or thinking the world needs to see. This entire book was a warm hug on a cold Christmas night.