I’m not usually a fan of cheesy romances, but I can always appreciate a good Christmas read to set the holiday vibe. This one has all the festive feels—snowstorms, small-town drama, and just the right amount of chaos.

Tia’s city-girl energy clashing with Quincy’s small-town charm made for some fun moments, especially with their whole fake relationship situation. Between falling into horse manure (yikes!) and preparing for the Winter Ball, there’s enough going on to keep things light and entertaining. If you’re in the mood for a cozy, holiday read this season, this might just be it.

I rarely read Holiday themed books when it's not the holiday season because I want to be fully immersed in the holiday vibe, irl and in my fictional world at the same time.

But I did not hesitate to sign up when I opened the email offer from @hearourvoicestours for a chance to read Only For The Holidays. I read Abiola's previous book Love in Winter Wonderland last year and enjoyed it. She writes YA stories the way I love them; cute and fun with the typical teenage chaos that most of us can understand or relate to.

I finished Only For The Holidays and when I tell you I LOVED it, I LOVED IT! This Christmas themed, coming of age, romance story did not disappoint! Mrs. S dropped some parenting gems in her conversations with Tia that had me snapping my fingers! My only disappointment was the ending, which suits the title, but I couldn't help but want more. It felt a bit rushed and I wasn't ready for Quincy and Tia to end yet but nevertheless I'm ready for more Holiday themed books bonus if they are cute YA stories like this one!

This is my first time reading a book by Abiola Bello and I must say that I enjoyed the Christmas holiday and Y/A theme. Tia is a city girl from London on break from her boyfriend and finds herself at Saiyan Hedge Farm with her mother. Tia has an instant dislike of the farm and has no desire to be there. Qunicy is a country boy and his family runs the farm. The Winter Ball is on the way and Quincy and his family will be hosting it. Tia and Mike are dating but when he ask Tia for space she is definitely not a happy camper. Quincy is going thru a break up. Quincy finds himself in a dilemma when with no date for the Winter Ball even though he has informed everyone that he has a date. With Tia and Quincy both being without a dates for the Winter Ball they both embark on fating dating each other. Not a bad idea because they are both great for each other. So, what happens when their fake dating turns into the real deal. What is going on with Mike, will he cause problems for Tia and Quincy. This a great read and the book cover is awesome. I don’t get a chance to read many YA books but this is one that I recommend reading.

I received an ARC via Netgalley and Soho Press / Soho Teen I am leaving my review voluntarily.

Only for the Holidays by Abiola Bello is a charming, heartwarming romance that will sweep you off your feet. Bello’s witty writing and lovable characters bring to life a story filled with love, family, and the magic of the holiday season. A perfect feel-good read that leaves you with a smile, making it ideal for fans of festive, romantic comedies.

This was a cute romance between two 18 year olds navigating relationship drama around the holidays. While the central romance is fulfilled, there are side character arcs that feel incomplete. It also felt unrealistic that finances never came up considering they are on opposite ends of the financial spectrum.

Despite knowing that contemporary romance books are not my cup of tea, I still decided to read Only for the Holidays, which has a bit of swearing and no on-page spice beyond tension/kisses. In truth, I found this book to be as unremarkable as every other contemporary romance book I have read this year, even though the pacing was more satisfyingly executed than most. In particular, my grievances stem from the dull plot, the mediocre characters and the way that Tia/Quincy dealt with their overarching conflicts. I honestly felt that Tia was quite whiny. That and her prickly personality truly deterred me from connecting with her. :/ Quincy, however, was nice enough, I suppose, though too hung up on the past. Perhaps it has something to do with EVERY single character bringing up his ex girlfriend 24/7. Furthermore, this book takes place over two weeks, but after just one, Tia and Quincy were unbelievably already in like with each other…I would like to conclude by mentioning that this is not to say that this book is not worth reading, but rather a reflection of my struggle to find contemporary romance books that I find even a teensy bit enjoyable. Anyway, I still recommend reading Only for the Holidays if the book description entices you xoxo

I loved Love In Winter Wonderland, so I was ecstatic to hear that Abiola Bello was releasing a new holiday book, and it did not disappoint. The characters, the setting, and the storyline were all fantastic. This book is perfect for anyone who is looking for a cute and quick read over their holiday break.

Tia's heart is broken when her boyfriends asks for a "break." She and her family head out on a Christmas vacation where she meets Quincy, who also recently had his heart shattered. They make a fake dating deal and fight their attraction while trying to figure out where they stand with their exes. This was a fun, holiday read! I felt the pacing was put on fast forward at one point but, overall, I enjoyed it.

This was such a cute and cozy read. Truly a sweet a romance that felt like reading hot cup of tea. Delightful, sweet and really shit the spot for my first Christmas read of the year. It warmed my heart! I loved the relationship between Tia and Quincy infused with the family dynamics on both sides. Truly reminding me that the end of a relationship that you thought might last forever is not the end of your story.

I love a good holiday romance story.

Favorite Quotes:
❄️You need to set boundaries so nothing like the Ross thing can happen. ✔️

❄️I even wrote poems and made love-song playlists for her. I was just a kid . . . but no one lets me forget it. 😂

❄️You’re amazing, Tia, and you don’t have to settle down with the first guy that pays you attention. He asked you for space via text. That’s a real dick move. And he said if either of you are drawn to someone else, you should see it as a sign. It’s not your fault that you’ve found Quincy. 🤔

❄️They say truth hurts, and they’re right— Willow’s. ‼️

❄️I know we haven’t known each other long, but there’s something special here, don’t you think?” My heart starts to swell with happiness. 😜

Ok being honest………. When I first saw this book, it was last year. That’s why I have the UK cover. I NEEDED it. But at the time I didn’t know it was the UK version. I just bought it on Amazon and then it took forever to show up. So by the time I got to it, it was too late. I remember putting it aside to read this year. And let me tell you how perfect it was!

Ok as you all know, I read horror all the time. So this summer when all the horror started coming out, I jumped on it. I definitely did a Summer Ween marathon. And of course at this point I was in my bag. But by then I was like ummm ok I’ve read all of my scary stuff and it’s like 15 days to Halloween lol But having this worked out perfectly.

Ok so the number one thing about this was the characters. I LOVED Quincy. He was very attentive and he wore his heart on his sleeve. I loved that he was so mature too. I hated that he wasn’t exactly confident tho. That girl did a number on him and I hated her lmao (No fr I felt like he was my son lol) As for Tia, I was annoyed by her for a lot of this book lol I kept yelling that TikTok sound at her, “STAND UP!” He sounded terrible immediately. And I knew he was going to get worse. (Spoiler Alert: HE DID.)

The romance itself was just ok. She spent so much time worried about that asshole that I worried she was never going to admit that she didn’t like anymore but she liked Quincy instead. But she was really weird about it. And just like in her other romances, Bello always has them fighting and flirting until the very end. It’s always annoying that I have read all of this book and barely get to see what happens to them lol And I really wish that she would have gone a little more past where she ended it. I wanted to see what happened when she got caught. I wanted to know what happened to her mom and the person. I wanted to know what happened to THEM. But it was just weird. She ended it in the middle of the scene when they were just getting into their relationship for real.

But, I can’t complain too much because the tropes were there and if nothing else, I enjoyed reading those. The fish out of water trope of the girl on the farm was hilarious. Girlie pop got a free vacation and still complained! I don’t think I would have let her finish the sentence lol And then it was from her mom so it could have been free? But I do think maybe she had a point when the poop on the shoes thing came up lmao And the fake dating thing was also good. I don’t love when the thing that sets off the fake dating is so serious, but still. Everything else was good tho. You can’t really mess up fake dating unless it’s really bad lol

This wasn’t filled with enough holiday cheer for me tho. It was just them playing in the snow and stuff. This is just a weird me thing tho because I don’t ever see snow, so all I HAVE IS holiday decor and fun. But this was really weird. But otherwise, this was a lot of fun. I hope this is going to be a hit this holiday season!

Is it Christmas in October? Yes, it absolutely is! I adored this cute and funny YA romance. The fake dating trope was done so well, and there was plenty of chemistry and character growth to enjoy. Quincy’s maturity balanced perfectly with Tia’s lovable chaos, making their dynamic so engaging. I especially loved the diverse cast and the rich cultural representation, which added depth to the story. This one has all the cozy vibes for the winter season, and the physical copy is gorgeous! Highly recommended for a fantastic holiday read.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity.

Adorable just what you need for the holiday season.

This was a good read! I really enjoyed the plot and the characters. The story was well written and engaging. I would definitely recommend!

Only for the Holidays follows two lovable young adults Tia Solanké, a city girl who is dreading the festive season, and Quincy Parker, a country boy with a family-owned farm that was selected to host the biggest event in their town - the Winter Ball.

I am liking how the author developed the characters of Tia and Quincy as both of their voices shine in their own ways by highlighting their strengths while also acknowledging their weaknesses.

The dual POV also worked especially since the story reached its peak when both agreed to pretend as a couple until the ball. Their connection is igniting sparks and I am excited how they'll convince each other that it is still fake dating?!

If you're a fan of romcoms, fake dating, or books that emulate the hallmark movie vibes, then this one is definitely for you!

What a way to ease into the Christmas holiday! I initially wasn’t going to sign up for this, but I’m glad I did. I can see myself rereading this closer to Christmas.

Quincy and Tia were easy to root for. This was “messy” in the best way. There are things teens are dealing with, navigating, and figuring out who they are. With dual points of view, we see Quincy and Tia coping with all that and getting their thought process along the way. We got to see their personalities come through, and it was so much fun. Tia was dealing with the break-up from her boyfriend, who CLEARLY didn’t deserve her. And what better way to find that out than a fake relationship with the golden retriever “boyfriend” Quincy? I loved Quincy. I loved Tia and Quincy together.

The secondary characters were also great. Tia’s and Quincy’s family and friends are amazing. Their interactions were chef’s kiss. Bello does a great job of writing secondary characters that you can love equally as much as the main characters, and that’s difficult to do.

Sometimes, it takes being around a group of different people to realize you deserve better than what you currently have. It takes someone different from a different environment to make you realize that you aren’t being as valued as you should be. Once you recognize your worth, you’ll find the person meant for you. Tia and Quincy were the perfect example of that.

This was a cozy and fun read that will get you in the holiday spirit!

earc from Netgalley; Spoiler-free review.

I sound like a broken record saying this but I don’t read YAs!! But the cover and synopsis hooked me and I like reading Christmas-set stories. Tia and Quincy were both fun characters to read about and get to know. This is my first book by this author and I’d be interested in reading more of their work.

I wouldn’t say the premise of Only for the Holidays was super unique but I really loved the growth we get in Tia because she’s very dramatic at the beginning—like most teenagers who spend more time worried about relationships than the world around them. Quincy’s character was likeable immediately and he brings a calmness to scenes that I loved. Even with the drama around him, the kid has a good head on his shoulders.

THIS is what I expect when I see “young adult” as a book tag! It’s messy, cute, funny and has amazing, authentic characters! I love that it’s told from a dual point-of-view as well.

Thank you to Hear Our Voices and SoHo Teen!

Did someone say Christmas in October ?!? Yes yes they did! I absolutely loveddddd this story. It gave me all the cozy vibes leading into the winter season. The physical copy is just gorgeous and I highly recommend everyone reads it!

This charming YA tale definitely brought me into the wonderful world of Christmas and love. The two main characters were so vastly different but in order to keep up appearances did the best they could to present being the perfect couple. Finding love along the way wasn't part of their plan but it was so fun to read their development.
liked the way this story lined up, and the author payed really close attention to really shaping that "fake dating" plot. This was great for getting into the holiday mood with its small town feel and family oriented characters. This definitely got me ready for the holidays!

This definitely wasn’t for me as an audience but I did enjoy the writing style. I wasn’t a fan of the FMC and found there wasn’t much to like about her. For me!