This was a fun and cozy read. The plot was believable and fun and sets up a lot of close interaction between the main characters, Thea and Simon.

These two are adorably awkward and kind of fumbling with the idea of being around each other. I like Thea’s anxiety at having to find a new way to act and behave in her new work setting. Her environment is different now and it’s a change that unnerves her. Simon has reservations about working with Thea given their history from high school, but I liked that he addressed that early on.

Lots of great communication during spicy scenes without it being stilted and still being sexy. Good communication in general and support of each other. Those early days in a relationship are full of fumbling and getting to know each other and navigating tricky things and this book captures it all. Very lovely to have it set during the holiday season and a touch of family conflict brings some drama to the story.

This was a fun and uncomplicated read that was enjoyable and great for the holiday season!

Thank you to Adele Buck and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book for review.

🎄 The Anti-Social Season by Adele Buck 🎄
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶️🌶️.5

This was a sweet and SURPRISINGLY steamy read that had me rooting for Simon and Thea from the start. Simon, a quiet librarian, finds himself face-to-face with his high school crush, Thea, who has no memory of him. After resigning as a firefighter, Thea is thrown into a new role in social media, and it’s Simon who has to train her. Watching these two awkward, introverted characters stumble into something more than just work partners was adorable and relatable.

What really stood out was the chemistry between them, especially when Simon, the shy librarian, turns out to be *much* more confident in the bedroom than Thea expected!🔥 Their open and honest communication about both their emotions and desires was refreshing to see in a romance. It’s more than just a slow burn—it’s a story about two people finding someone who really understands them. This book definitely surprised me with how steamy and heartfelt it got!

Adele Buck’s lovely and quiet The Anti-Social Season is for those of us who find the holidays stressful, but still love some parts of it. It’s for the people who have to deal with unreasonable family demands, and co-workers who think they can do your job better. It’s for those of us who don’t want to be perceived, except by the right person. And it’s for those of us who have had to make big life changes because of anxiety.

Thea and Simon went to high school together, but weren’t friends (he had a huge crush on her so naturally he was an ass to her). They went their separate ways and Thea hasn’t thought about him in more than a decade. When Thea tenders her resignation after a decade as a fire fighter, her boss asks if she would like to become the department’s social media manager. Since she has no better plan, she accepts and is given the library’s part time social media manager as a temporary mentor. It’s Simon! After a rocky start, they find they work well together and then they start doing other things well together.

Both Thea and Simon are dealing with changes in their lives that are challenging. After Thea saw Sean get hurt in Fake Flame, she doesn’t want to run into burning buildings anymore. She needs to get up to speed on social media fast if she wants to keep this opportunity to stay a member of emergency services. Simon’s family has moved to the other side of the country, but still demands that he be the guy who does all the work to put the holiday celebration together. While they are figuring out how to be themselves in these new situations, they are more open and vulnerable with each other than they would be otherwise.

Adele Buck writes grownups who are fully adult but still figuring out life, and I love that.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Harlequin and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

A fun, steamy, grumpy x sunshine, dual POV holiday romance that sees male public Librarian, Simon giving social media lessons to Thea, a burnt out firefighter whose new job is to handle the First Responder's social media accounts.

While Simon deals with his demanding family who keep putting pressure on him to travel across the country for the holidays, he finds he'd much rather spend his time with Thea. What follows is a charming and spicy snowed in over the holidays romance that was good on audio.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and finished copy in exchange for my honest review. I enjoyed this one a lot and would recommend to fans of authors like Tessa Bailey. I mean honestly who can resist a hot, nerdy male librarian lead??

The Anti-Social Season is book two in the First Responders series by Adele Buck.
This was such a cute easy rom com. It was everything I was expecting from that. It had the humour, it had the loveable characters.
This was the perfect holiday rom-com.
A delightful read that will have readers flipping the page’s. Adele Buck's engaging writing style and well-crafted plot make this novel a must-read for anyone in search of a captivating love story with a fiery twist.

Thank You NetGalley and Afterglow Books by Harlequin for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

3.5⭐
This is a cute romance set during the holidays with a spice level just above Hallmark, but those are the vibes. It's very low angst, there are no major hurdles to overcome for Simon and Thea in their relationship. Instead, the story seems more focused on their individual emotional growth and ability to set boundaries.
Thea Martinelli is a firefighter who is dealing with some anxiety and mental health struggles after a member of her team is injured on the job. She doesn't want to leave her firehouse family, but she can't stay. When she goes to turn in her resignation, her boss offers her an alternative way to stay in the fire service by taking over as their head of social media. While she has a communications background thanks to her college degree, she doesn't have experience in this area, so she's referred to another county employee who handles the social media for the public library system for some on the job training.
Simon Osman recognizes Thea right away because he had a huge crush on her in high school. Thea is attracted to him right away, but takes a little time to put together their past. He comes off a little timid to me at first.
I appreciated a romance featuring MCs in their 30s, but it was so low drama I didn't really feel invested in the stakes. This book has some good mental health representation in dealing with anxiety, and boundary setting with toxic family members, but overall I wanted a little more drama. It's all a little too easy (totally subjective) for my taste. Overall I would say this is a lighthearted, low-angst, sweet and steamy (There's some spice in there for sure) holiday romance to ease you into the season.
Thanks to Netgalley, Harlequin/Afterglow, and Adele Buck for the ARC opportunity.

This is cute, but the opening chapters read like a slice-of-life story with nothing really at stake. DNF.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

This book is the epitome of a holiday "hallmark" romance. I honestly think Adele Buck could pitch this storyline to Hallmark, and they'd probably love it. If you're a "here for the vibes" reader, this is a great holiday romance.
Thea and Simon are such a warm, feel-good holiday couple. What I mean by that is, while they are both growing as people throughout the story, the growth isn’t a mountainous hurtle. The two of them are just imperfect people learning to embrace themselves amidst transition and to find balance amongst changing life dynamics.
This story had some of my favorite tropes of forced proximity and he falls first. While I didn’t love some of the tension around their “past” and Simon’s feelings, I did appreciate how this added to the theme of accepting one another for who they are and who they’ve each become. I loved how they were able to compliment one another and show how their differences as people can be embraced and even celebrated with the right partner. Thea’s character did a great job of helping Simon feel seen and appreciated, and every scene where she did this gave me all the holiday romance warm fuzzies. Simon’s thoughtfulness and mindfulness was incredibly sweet and endearing, and he was exactly the type of person Thea needed in her life in this season.
The interactions and characters outside of Thea and Simon is underdeveloped. Thea overcoming her anxious aversion to her squad felt like a checked boxed, not a deep moment of reunion and acceptance. Thea’s relationships with her family members felt like points thrown in to drive the plot or to show how she can “relate” to Simon, rather than natural progression of the story. There was a consistent feeling of plug-and-chug in most of the story outside of Simon and Thea’s interactions. It made the whole story feel shallow overall. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing for me. I started reading this when I needed something light and fun, so I appreciated that this was a light and easy read, even if there wasn’t much depth.
My only true complaint is I wish the self-righteous Christian archetype in Mary-Pat’s character wasn’t so aggressive. There is so much hatred in the world, especially during an election year. I want an escape from the social discourse, not an aggressive representation of it in a story where most characters are underdeveloped. I loved the way Thea and Simon bonded during the drag queen story hour. If the author must make a statement, let that be it. Have Mary-Pat be a self-important, judgmental, annoying coworker, and remove the religious aspect. Keep the inclusivity and toss out the hatred. There is enough everywhere in the real world.
Overall, I still really enjoyed this book. I loved Thea and Simon’s progression. I loved the simple joy of two people growing together in a magical time of year. It was full of cliches in the best way, and I think most people who love holiday romances would enjoy this. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s still an enjoyable read for sure.

📖: The Anti-Social Season (First Responders Book #2)

✍️ By: Adele Buck, read Fake Flame and gave it 5 ⭐

📃 Page Count: 261 eBook

🗓️ Publication Date: 10-22-24 | Read 10-19-24

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Afterglow Books |Harlequin, and Adele Buck for this ARC 🔥! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

🌎Setting: D.C.

Genre: Holiday, Rom-Com, Adult Fic

Tropes: Christmas, unrequited high school crush, opposites attract, dislike to lovers, family drama, found family, grumpy/sunshine, workplace romance

☝🏾POV: 3rd person, single-Thea

⚠️TW: anxiety attack-h

💭Summary: Thea is done with being a firefighter. She hasn't been the same since her coworker Sean's injury, so she decides to resign. Her boss offers her a new opportunity working in digital media because she has a communications degree. She agrees and the librarian in town Simon has been assigned to train her. She doesn't remember him from high school, but he had a big crush on her. As they work together, their attraction turns into more.

🚺 Heroine: Thea Martinelli (32) ten years as a firefighter turned social media coordinator for the Emergency Services Department

🚹 Hero: Simon Osman (32) librarian and part time social media coordinator

🎭Side cast

• Sean and Felix: Thea's former squad mates, BFFs

• Luca: Thea's cousin who was a firefighter but moved out of town w/ his family because the job got too dangerous.

• Mary-Pat: "the Opps," Simon's coworker jealous of him

• Amy: Simon's branch supervisor

• Chloe: Simon's coworker/cheerleader to hook up with Thea

• Ashley: Simon's overbearing sister. Their parents moved to CA to be closer to her.

• Mrs. McAnally/Mrs. M: owns the house Thea rents in exchange for looking out for her.

🤔My Thoughts: I didn't connect with the couple as much as Sean and Eva from book one. Simon was a boring misanthrope and Thea a burnt-out quitter (her word). I liked Simon's sister Ashley more because she brought the drama. I had to skip the step-by-step pasta making and all the work jargon. I had high hopes but was a little disappointing. I will still read more books in the series because of the firefighter trope.

Range of emotions: 😬🤔🙄
🌶️: Spice 4/5
😭: Emotion 4/5
❤️: Couple 3/5
⭐️: Rating 3/5

This was cute and festive but ultimately it was not a true winner for me. They (especially he) were too hung up on high school at their big age. The dialogue felt stiff and repetitive . I do think someone will like it, it just wasn't for me personally.

This story expertly blends humor, tension, and heartfelt moments to craft a love story that feels both genuine and swoon-worthy.

The evolution of Simon and Thea's relationship is masterful. Their muddling through a professional relationship while fighting mutual attraction and some high school baggage felt so authentic. I also thought the familial relationships portrayed in this book were very realistic. Perhaps because I have an overbearing mom and a dad who is frequently resigned to/tired of it?

I so enjoyed this book and I see it's the second book in a series, so I'll be rushing off to read the first one ASAP.

I’m the first to admit I’m an Adele Buck fan girl. So when Harlequin offered me an advanced copy, there was no way I couldn’t jump on the opportunity. I adored Fake Flame and knew Anti-Social Season would be just as good. And I was absolutely right.

First off, I got my favorite flavor of grumpy/sunshine in which one of them (in this case Simon) is a buttoned-up stickler for the rules and the other (Thea) is a giant goofball willing to do anything to make him crack. The balance of stiff and chaotic energy feeds my chaotic gremlin soul and I am 100% here for it every time. The fact that Simon was an undercover smex god who worked hard for his gold stars definitely didn’t hurt my love for him.

I will admit I would have loved a deeper dive into Thea’s anxiety issues. I think the topic was handled well but not given the depth of exploration that I would have liked from someone so bold and brash on the surface.

I’ve been reading Adele for years and I’ve loved watching her talent change and grow and I cannot wait to see what comes next from her. Whatever it is, I’m here for it!

"The Anti-Social Season" – The Steamy Holiday Romance You Didn’t Know You Needed!

Get ready to dive into The Anti-Social Season, the swoon-worthy holiday romance that’s sure to warm you up this winter! This time, fan-favorite Thea (remember her from Fake Flame earlier this year?) takes center stage, and let me tell you, her story is a total delight. When she crosses paths with Simon while trying to navigate the wild world of social media, sparks fly—both in the heart and in all the steamy places!

One of the things that makes this story pop is the dual perspective. You get to see things unfold from both Thea’s and Simon’s points of view, with the narrative smoothly shifting between them—even mid-chapter. Now, I know not everyone is a fan of those in-the-moment perspective changes, but for me, it added so much depth! You really get that full 360-degree view of the romance and tension building in every scene, which only makes the connection between these two feel even more real.

But this book isn’t just about fun and flirty banter. The family dynamics hit close to home, with Thea and Simon navigating the tricky waters of familial expectations. The tension? Absolutely delicious. It’s one thing to fall in love, but advocating for yourself and standing up to your family? That’s the real challenge, and it’s handled so thoughtfully in these pages.

Now, let’s talk spice. This book turns up the heat fast. Thea and Simon’s chemistry is off the charts, and when they start exploring their relationship, things get hot—like, spicier-than-Fake Flame hot (yes, it’s possible!). It’s the perfect mix of sweet holiday romance and scorching passion, making it an irresistible read from start to finish.

So if you’re looking for a holiday romance that’s as heartwarming as it is spicy, look no further. The Anti-Social Season will have you hooked, and Simon and Thea might just become your new favorite couple. Don’t miss out on this one—it’s the perfect holiday treat!

Another home run holiday romance for 2024! This one was an ARC and I had forgotten its premise between requesting it, receiving it, and reading but it was a quick read and I ended up really enjoying it.

Thea and Simon, who sort of knew each other in high school (he had a crush on her, she found him upright), end up as sort of colleagues but she doesn't recognize him when they meet again, so it's a rough start.

She'd been a firefighter for ten years but after seeing her friend and co-worker injured, she developed anxiety and couldn't remain in the job, even after he got better and returned. Instead of having her quit entirely, the county offers her probationary period in a new social media manager role created for Emergency Services, and about a month to prove herself. Simon is a librarian and social media manager for the library, who gets voluntold to help train her in the weeks leading to Christmas.

Even with the awkward beginning, the attraction is immediate on both sides and only grows as they spend more time together, eventually going on a date (and more). The steamy parts were good and scattered throughout (I wouldn't necessarily call it a slow burn or a fast one). The progression of their relationship was lovely, especially as they dealt with family drama on both sides regarding them together and the upcoming holidays, and learned to communicate with one another.

I could tell as I read that the author had worked in libraries because some of the situations and internal thoughts during Simon's POV were spot on what I've experienced or heard from others, and I was right! I didn't know until I went to start reading that this is actually the second book in the series, but it's standalone so it was fine. We did meet one of the MCs from book one, though, so I went back and read it, and it was worth it. I'm looking forward to the next book as well.

Overall, a very enjoyable holiday story, and one I might consider reading again someday. Thanks to Harlequin for the ARC! Available now.

When I read the synopsis of this book I thought it was very cute and wanted to read it. I really wanted to like this book but Thea and Simon were constantly getting in their own way with relationships. One minute they're getting along great and the next they are at each others throats. One person does something wrong and the other is pissed off and so it goes for the other. Eventually they get back together and the cycle begins again. At times I'm still not sure what they were pissed off at each other about.

I think this book would've been better if they weren't constantly pissed off. If they put their differences aside then I honestly think it would've been a better book and not so boring.

Thea and Simon have a complicated relationship, often creating issues where there aren’t any due to miscommunication or overreactions. Despite getting along well, their relationship is frequently disrupted by misunderstandings, which they struggle to address maturely. After periods apart, they reconnect but seem to fall into the same patterns.

This heartwarming story focuses on second chances and new beginnings, with a festive charm that many readers will enjoy. Although their past connection adds depth to the story, it sometimes overshadows their present-day romance. Overall, this is a light, quick holiday read, perfect for fans of workplace romances with a bit of spice and a cosy, uplifting tone.

this is such a cozy, lovely story! I loved the almost second chance aspect of Thea & Simon’s story as former classmates and one sided crush from high school. I loved the communication between the characters & how they grow so close in that. between clearing the air on past misunderstandings, getting to know each other now, and growing in their attraction, they are always communicating how they’re feeling and that made the story so cozy and comfy to read.

it also has some great elements of how our goals and passions and emotions change over time and sometimes it’s that time and change that brings the best relationships. a truly lovely, cozy story!

thank you for the arc!

A cute rom com! But not quite my favorite. Doesn’t mean it isn’t a good story and I do think others will love it. Thea and Simon are great but I wish I had felt more love between them. There just didn’t seem to be much for me. I did skim through some chapters and did enjoy some! I can definitely see how Thea would babe burnout so I’m glad she was able to find something else!

Fun, cute rom com. Thea, a former firefighter, is offered a job as social media manager for the fire department. She is et to learn the ropes with Simon, who works at a library. Little does she know, they went to the same high school and Simin had a crush on her. Off to a rough start, with no sparks flying, they set off on the path to get her ready for her new job.

Personally not for me. I tried to get into it and even gave it two different tries in case it was a mood thing, but I was not able to get past the first 15%. I know a lot of other readers will love this book though.