3.5

I enjoyed the overall premise and story. The characters and their dialogue felt underdeveloped, especially the first 40% ish percent. It felt like a corny fan fic almost. But it did get better. I just wish the problem & resolution was drawn out a bit more;...it was all packed into the last 20% percent and just felt unnecessary conflict and too quick a resolution.

3.5⭐️

Here’s to the first holiday book of the season! The start of this book really kicked off the holiday vibes right and I was feeling the setting and the holiday competition.

I love second chances and really this is a second chance at a first chance because Hayden shut Char down after their first kiss years ago. I liked the tension and banter between the main characters and could definitely feel it, although their lusty thoughts and the “will they or won’t they” between them did become repetitive after a while. I found myself wondering why they were still confused after they talked so many times. The spice was fun though😉

The found family is really good here, in fact I found all the familial relationships really cute and wholesome. I especially liked the relationship between Charlotte and Penny(her brother’s fiance). Hayden’s daughter’s dialogue was really realistic for her age which is something I usually don’t find and I enjoyed that as a mother of young children myself. Hayden’s anxiety around his daughter was also really relatable!

A fun start to holiday reading!

**Thank you to Forever GCP and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.**

Okay, this book is the definition of a cheesy romcom. It was so cute and full of holiday spirit. I adored all of the scenes during their ski trip. The slow burn without being to slow. My only complaint was Hayden’s lack of communication but that was his point and a major part of his character development so… But in the end the story was so cute and an easy read

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for this eARC!

Book review Christmas sweater
📱 Christmas Sweater Weather
By Jaqueline Snowe
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

👦🏻Best friends brother
💒 Christmas wedding
👰🏻‍♀️🤵🏼Bachelorette weekend
❄️ Snow bank
🤕 injury
🚙 one car (new one bed trope)
👧🏻 Sweet Gwen
⚾️ Sports coaches
🏅Competitions
💗Big family love
👦🏻 Single dad
🗣️ dual POV
🎥 could be Hallmark movie

Its never too early for Holiday books in my opinion. The Holidays fly by and I feel like I never get to read as many as I want. This book was so cute! It was easy to read and I loved the characters. I could see this becoming a Hallmark movie. Hayden is the cutest protective single dad and Charlotte is his perfect counterpart. Add this to your Holiday TBR immediately! It’s out today!

Thank you Netgalley, Jaqueline Snowe and Forever Publishing for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest reviews.

On the way to her brother’s bachelor/bachelorette weekend at a resort a few hours north of Chicago, Charlotte Calhoun is pushed into a deep snowbank by a skidding 18-wheeler during a snowstorm. The last person she wants to rescue her is Hayden Porter, her brother’s best friend and her long-time crush who broke her heart three years before after she drunkenly kissed him and proclaimed her love. Yet, with mistletoe in abundance and being paired off to compete in crazy Christmas games, it is soon obvious that the attraction is not one-sided. As a single dad and busy college coach, Hayden is in no place for a relationship, but the sexual tension between the two is potent, and he’s tired of fighting his attraction. Now they just need to make sure her brother doesn’t find out because the Christmas-obsessed Calhoun family is too important to him to lose if things don’t work out between them.

Although it’s not technically a second chance romance, it plays out like one. For most of the book, Hayden is the perfect book boyfriend. However, I get really frustrated when guys put on the brakes, whether for legitimate reasons or not, without consulting their love interest. It’s insulting to the woman and implies a lack of trust when it’s really just their fears and insecurities winning out.

Other than the afore-mentioned frustration, I enjoyed this story with plenty of sexy banter, a smoking hot single dad, and a plethora of Christmas cheer. If you’re in the mood for a very steamy Christmas on steroids romance, check this one out.

If you're looking for a cute fast holiday read, add this to TBR. There is SO MUCH pining and I was here for it. Also, Haydens mom and that phone call? I was laughing so hard! I loved the entire group and was not expecting this to be as emotional as it was.

🎄Brother’s Best Friend
🎄 Sports Romance
🎄 Friends to Lovers
🎄 Single Dad
🎄 Forbidden
🎄 Holiday Rom-Com
🎄 Found Family
🎄 Dual POV

Thank you Forever for my copy! All thoughts are my own.

It pains me to now have loved this book. One, because I adore Forever titles. Two, because I loved Snowed in for Christmas by the same author last year! I loved the tropes of this book and found it to be an enjoyable read, but it didn’t become a new favorite or have that “unputdownable” feeling I crave. I didn’t feel like it captured the cozy vibes of the holidays either, which based on the title and cover, I anticipated!

While I didn’t love it, I do think it will be a fun, easy, sexy read this Fall and holiday season.

Synopsis:

“Charlotte Calhoun has avoided Hayden Porter, her older brother’s sexy-as-sin best friend, ever since that mortifying night when he flat-out rejected her. Fine. Except this Christmas season, they’re thrown together at a snowy ski resort for her brother’s bachelor party, complete with mistletoe, cozy fireplaces, and adjoining rooms. She can tell herself to get over Hayden, but holiday cheer is turning to holiday lust every time he is within ten feet of her. Between being a full-time single father and his high-pressure college coaching job, a romantic relationship is off the table for Hayden. But he’s fought his attraction to Charlotte for as long as he can. A one-night stand is starting to sound like a good idea—as long as her brother never finds out. But with two long weeks until the wedding, hiding their growing feelings is going to take a Christmas miracle.” —NetGalley

What I Liked:

The Tropes—The tropes of Single Dad and Brother’s Best Friend just hit different in a holiday book. I really enjoyed these elements and they were probably my favorite part!

The Concept—I thought it was fun to have the competition element at the beginning of the book and that’s where you get most of the festive vibes.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

The Romance Writing/Language—I hate saying this, but it was a little cheesy for me. It felt like leaning into trends that people hype up on TikTok instead of being natural to the characters.

The Pacing—The opening felt very disjointed before leading into the “meat” of the novel.

Didn’t Feel Like a Holiday Book—I think this would have been stronger if it didn’t try to involve the holiday season. It felt like an aftermath to me vs purposeful and cozy!

Character Authenticity: 3.5 Spice Rating: 3/5 Overall Rating: 3/5

Content Warnings:

car accident

A cliche plot but one which has been done well in the past. Brother’s best friend is my favorite trope and the reason I cannot walk away from a book which has one. I have read a couple of fun books on the Christmas theme, but did not seem upto the mark. It had potential, but definitely felt odd in terms of both writing and editing. The writing wasn’t very evolved and in terms of editing, there were typos, then the MMC kept repeating every few pages why he can’t be with her or how stressed he was for finding a nanny for his child, and so on - I mean it was said more times than needed. The chemistry was good, a couple of open door scenes as far as I read, but halfway through, I lost interest and could not finish.

Thanks again netgalley for the arc.

This is my second book by this author but I have absolutely no hesitations about reading more. A great holiday romance that is all at once serious, funny, adorable (who doesn't love a precocious child), and zany (I have so many ideas about quirky holiday celebrations now lol) and some pretty amazing bedroom activities that had me blushing (not really, I don't blush THAT easily lol). Charlotte and Hayden have been "friends" for a long time. Hayden considers her family his own. Circumstances have kept them apart (his brain, her pain) but having to interact for her brothers wedding allows them to finally dip a toe in. The ending has me tearing up (some of the serious stuff) and all in all it was an enjoyable story and HEA.

Christmas Sweater Weather by Jaqueline Snowe is the sweetest Christmas romance story!
This holiday romance novel is a wonderful, heartwarming tale that perfectly captures the spirit of the season.
We had well-developed characters and a plot that was very engaging.
The chemistry between them is well-crafted, with each interaction adding depth to their relationship.
A satisfying and endearing holiday romance, making it a perfect read for the season.

Thank You NetGalley and Forever for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Quick Summary: An in love with my brother's best friend/best man romance

My Review: Christmas Sweater Weather by Jaqueline Snowe is a contemporary romance with a strong family vibe and lots of holiday appeal.

About the Book: Charlotte Calhoun has loved Hayden Porter for most of her life. They, in fact, have a history together, since he and her brother are besties. Too bad that history - their history - suffered from a devastating rejection. Now, with her brother's wedding looming, they are drawn back into each other's orbit. Will they finally decide to take a chance on love?

My Final Say: So, I loved the dynamics in this book. There was a lot going on, which kept the story moving. I was particularly fond of the family angle. Four different scenarios to family life made for interesting reading. It was also nice to see how important little Gwen was to what drove the lead characters.

Other: I think this book would do incredibly well in an audio format.

Rating: 3.75/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: 💛

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Forever (Grand Central Publishing)|Forever), and to NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to review a digital ARC of this work in exchange for an honest critique. It was a pleasure to read. I look forward to reading more from this writer.

Brothers best friend, forced proximity, a wedding setting and a cozy Christmas read?? What more could you ask for?! I loved this!! Definitely recommend reading, especially closest to Christmas!

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the arc of Christmas Sweater Weather by Jacqueline Snowe.

Charlotte has been in love with her brother’s best friend Hayden her entire life. A late night drunken bar kiss and professing her love was their undoing. Hayden friend zoned her right out of his life.

Fast forward to Charlotte’s brothers wedding and a forced weekend of togetherness. Charolette ends up in a snow drift that lands her in Hayden’s passenger seat. Her brother’s holiday themed wedding has them together at every turn.

Will a forced weekend of fun and love help Hayden realize he needs Charlotte in his life? Are the feelings mutual or is Charlotte doomed to the friend zone.

This cute holiday romance is a crowd pleaser for sure. Snowe captures all the fun of the season and the back and forth banter between secret crushes.

Pub Date: October 8, 2024
🌟🌟

This was a cute little fun holiday read! Loaded with Christmas shenanigans and romance.

Charlotte and Hayden are totally in to each other but she being the little sister and he being the best friend, they have the forbidden part down. They shared one kiss and she was rejected by Hayden and had not heard from him since. The little crush she had was not one sided though. Years later and they end up at a ski resort for her brothers bachelor party and now with the holiday cheer, its the right time.

Charlotte was a lot of fun and funny. The tension that was there was short lived but the read was a quick read so I didn't mind. This was adorable and totally something you should read if you are in the mode for a holiday romance. Tons of laughs and mistletoe.
3.75⭐️

If you like:
Holiday - Christmas
Brothers Best Friend
Forbidden Relationship
Friends to Lovers
Single Dad

3.5 rounded up

There was a lot that I liked about this book, unfortunately the stuff I didn’t like kind of overshadowed it for me. The initial vibe of the book was quirky, silly, and festive, then a day later it was multiple explicit scenes. I like reading explicit intimate scenes so that was not my issue, it just felt disjointed from the tone I got at the beginning. Intimate scenes with more vague descriptions and less explicit dialogue would have felt more authentic for me (OR maybe character setup that felt more mature to lead to those explicit scenes?) I think the quick timeline also made it hard for me to get on board. I would’ve loved heated moments at the resort and then continuing that when they got home before having them fully get together.

Miscommunication trope gets a lot of flack, usually for good reason, but specifically “I’m making the unilateral decision to end our relationship because of something going on with ME for YOUR own good” is a miscommunication I don’t enjoy. I was happy to see him get called out on it and I enjoyed his groveling but wish there had been a way to avoid that specific type of miscommunication.

I do think there’s an audience for this one; the “brother’s best friend” girlies will probably eat it up.

Christmas Sweater Weather had what I like in a holiday book. I was looking forward to reading a Christmas book that would fill me with a variety of emotions.
The characters were ok. The chemistry was lacking. The book itself will not be one that after reading it will stick with me for long.
Thank you NetGalley, Jacqueline Snowe and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the copy of Christmas Sweater Weather. This is my personal review.

I enjoyed reading Christmas Sweater Weather by Jaqueline Snowe. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

This was a sweet and endearing love story. I enjoyed it from the beginning to the lovely end. I look forward to reading more from this author. It will definitely not be my last book from her.

I had so much fun with this. I thought that it was going to be a cute little closed door Christmas romance and I was so happy to discover that it was a little spicy! I loved the banter. I loved all the characters. I now want each one of their own book!

I loved this book so much. Christmas cheer, brothers best friend, single dad and mistletoe!

Charlotte put herself out there, kissing her crush and brothers friend Hayden, for him to turn her down and push her away. Now, stranded in a snowbank on the way to her brothers pre wedding weekend, Hayden rescues her- and they finally talk about that night.

I loved how quirky Charlotte was,and unapologetically herself. Hayden has been a single dad and is scared to let someone in and be a good partner for them. Charlotte let him have his time in his head and I was do happy to see his friends helped him pull his head outta ya know.
Super cute and Christmas fluffy. With a few spicy scenes-good grief.