3.5⭐️ rounded up - ah this was cute!

This was a great winter read, and would be perfect to enjoy sitting by a fire while drinking hot cocoa and watching the snow fall. It was cozy, and while it had conflict, it wasn’t anything that felt high stakes. I was in the mood for something *feel good* and light, and this delivered! Such a different premise of many other romances I’ve read, which made it even more fun. This is for all the girls who loved boy bands back in the day!

The best way I know how to describe this type of book is “Hallmark movie.” I love Hallmark movies, but I mention this so the reader goes in with the right expectations, as those types of stories aren’t for everyone!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for an advanced copy to read and review! All opinions are honest, and my own.

This is a cute cozy winter-ish read (not set around a holiday). I really enjoyed both FMC (Alix) and MMC (Tyler). However, would of enjoyed it a lots more if told it dual pov (would be nice to really know more of Tyler's back story). I also enjoyed the interviews, "voice" memos, text cover that sometimes thrown in between chapters. My biggest gripe is i feel like conflict was always resolved too quickly and it made it feel like there was any real tension. If the books was just a few chapters longer to flesh the story out a little bit more, it would of made it better.

4 stars

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

This was a cute story, great for people who like romance with no spice. Was hooked on the story and loved the celebrity drama.

60/100 or 3.0 stars

While I enjoyed my time reading this, and it was fun, there isn't all that much that is memorable.


The characters are simply fine. The "twists" were predictable in a way that did take away from the story for me. The younger sister, Lauren, was really just there to make drama and add to the twists. The book could have been a 3.25 or 3.50, but the ending was too far for me. The stroy takes place within an eight month window, most of it within a month, and the ending was too much. In this case, a more open ending would have been just fine. I don't want to give spoilers, but if you read it you will know what I mean.

A cute romance set in a picturesque ski lodge! Couldn't ask for a better winter read. I loved the way kayla wrote Alix and Tyler's relationship and how it stayed strong throughout the unfolding drama. Made for a guilty pleasure read.

Thank you to the publisher for the free ARC, out January 7!

Rating: 5/5 stars

Alix Morgan is an entertainment journalist hired to ghostwrite a memoir for former boybander Sebastian Green—whose bandmate Jett Beckett disappeared suddenly eight years before. But when she heads to a Vermont ski lodge for a writing retreat, Alix may just find the clues to unravel Jett’s disappearance…and a hot ski instructor to warm up the cold weather.

I ADORED THIS BOOK. A ski instructor romance was everything I never knew I needed, and the cozy snowy vibes were absolutely perfect (I’ll be needing cocoa and soft pretzels STAT). Also, if anyone out there ever wants to win my love, this book could be an instruction manual for perfect dates (every single meal sounded AMAZING, truly).

The mystery element and celebrity drama of this were the perfect additions and kept me FULLY entertained the entire time (Kayla does mixed media interludes between chapters SO WELL and I love them SO MUCH). I can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on this in a couple weeks! (Also, I’m in the acknowledgements of this book, which is an actual bucket list item, so thank you Kayla for making my day!!!)

CW: mentions of death of parent

ARC Book Review!

The lodge by Kayla Olson

5 / 5⭐️

1 / 5 🔥


I can’t stop. Dipped into another 2025 ARC🙈

I’m so glad I did!! I read this over Christmas and it was the perfect winter read (not Christmas focused but felt appropriate). I literally could not put it down and don’t have a single bad thing to say. The characters were perfection, the setting was beautiful and the ending had me feeeeling.

Thanks @netgalley for this advanced reader copy! The lodge by Kayla Olson comes out January 7, 2025


This book is for you if you like :

Mystery
Snowed in
Ski resort vibes
Intentional romance
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I sadly dnf:ed this… i just felt like i coudnt connect with the characters or the story. However, it is a very cute idea. But it just wasnt for me sadly.

This is the perfect winter romance!! The snowy Vermont resort setting complete with fireplaces, mountain views and maple lattes made it such a cozy read. The main characters, Alix and Tyler, were both so kind and I thought they handled conflict in realistic, mature ways. They were already sweet characters on their own, but I loved how they brought out the best in each other too.

Summary: Alix Morgan, a ghostwriter for Sebastian Green's memoir, uncovers True North's mysteries while falling in love with ski instructor Tyler at a luxurious Vermont resort.

I couldn’t get enough of this one and it’ll definitely be on my list of favorite romances this year!

The perfect winter (non-holiday) read. I could easily envision the Vermont lodge. This story had a little bit of insta-love, but the entertaining subplots gave this book substance.

thank you netgalley for the e-arc. a cute and cozy atmospheric read that was perfect for the holiday season.

Thank you to Atria Books and Kayla Olson for this ARC.

I am a big seasonal mood reader, so when I saw that “The Lodge” was set in a Vermont lodge during the winter, I knew it was the perfect read to get me in a snowy mood. ❄️

⛷️What did you love the most?
I loved the overall plot of this book. Yes, I did guess the twist early on, but it didn’t ruin any of the book’s ambiance for me. The plot was very cute and heartwarming (except for the sub-plot with Alix’s sister; more on that below).

The setting of a Vermont lodge in a small town was also incredibly vivid, and it made me want to learn to ski as soon as possible. It is the perfect combination, from the warm hot chocolate to the cozy fireplace cuddling scenes.

⛷️What to expect:
❄️Single POV
❄️Celebrity memoir ghostwriter
❄️Winter rom-com
❄️Cute ski instructor

🔥Steam level: closed-door

⛷️How was the romance?
This is a closed-door romance, but I felt that was the perfect choice for this plot. The chemistry and romance of Tyler and Alix were so addicting to read. I loved their communication, consideration of each other’s privacy and work, and the way their relationship progressed. Even being closed-door, there is still enough tension and chemistry to make you fully root for this beautiful couple.

⛷️Do you recommend this book?
I must call out the one thing I absolutely despised about this book: Lauren, our FMC’s sister. I wish she didn’t exist because the relationship between her and Alix was just plain toxic. There is no good resolution here as her behavior is swept under the rug (even though she GASLIGHTS Alix multiple times). Just because she’s the youngest kid, Alix excuses her behavior. Like…no?!

Okay, now that I’ve ranted about that little aspect, I do have to say this book was adorable. I highly recommend it if you love rom-coms. The cozy, wintery vibes are perfect, the romance is adorable, and while the twist is predictable, it still makes the plot fun to read.

4.5/5

A totally fine romance/mystery that had some holiday vibes but weirdly threw a mystery in. The biggest killer was the lack of likable characters

This felt like it started good and then everything kind of went downhill.

My biggest complaint is that it reads like a YA novel without actually being one. I'm pretty sure Alix and Tyler and Sebastian and others are supposed to be in their early thirties but their actions and conversations feel much younger. Lauren feels like a high schooler.

Tons of interesting themes and topics are brought up over the course of this story. Unfortunately, none of them are explored with any kind of depth. It's like they're included for the shock factor of the moment and then swept under the rug. There's also a lot of telling and not enough showing.

There's zero spice. That in and of itself wouldn't bother me (not everything needs to be spicy) but the romantic scenes feel defensive. Like they're apologizing and defending themselves for not being spicy? There was a weird tone. Also, the whole romantic storyline was very insta-love and I didn't like that one bit.

The sense of place is on point, though! It's very wintry and delightful. Another reviewer said it best: this reads like a Hallmark movie.

<i>Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.</i>

4.5 stars!

This was another fun celebrity filled romance from Kayla Olson! I had so much fun just like with the Reunion. The mix in of celebrity tweets/ gossip fanfair between chapters was so much fun! I was definitely hooked from the start and consumed this one in 2 days!

I loved that this definitely gave you boy band heart throb vibes as the world biggest boy band breaks up after one of its members goes missing eight years previously. Currently, one of the two main boys is using a ghost writer to publisher his tell-all book from his POV and our FMC is said ghost writer. Alix was actually the last interviewer to speak with the missing boy band member all those years ago and after hearing how Sebastian speaks about Jett, she’s inclined to believe there was more going on behind the scene.

Part blossoming romance, part mystery, we follow Alix as she holes up in a fancy Vermont resort to write Sebastian’s book about his life in the boy band while she meets and falls for the resorts ski instructor! While I think it took a second to get to the main part of the story, once we got there I was so hooked and raced to finish!!

Love Kayla, love anything she writes!! Thank you Netgalley and Atria for this ARC!

I enjoyed Kayla Olson’s previous book, ‘The Reunion’, and I was excited to get an ARC of her latest release. In ‘The Lodge’, Alix is ghostwriting the memoir of a famous former boy band member. He sends her to Black Maple Lodge to focus on writing where she meets a cute ski instructor named Tyler.

Is this book predictable? Yes
Is it remotely believable? No
Does it give fun winter vibes? Yes

I don’t mind books being predictable as long as the story is good, but I had to suspend my belief for most of the plot of ‘The Lodge’. Alix doesn’t question a lot of things that happen and Sebastian’s behavior is inconsistent. However, if you’re looking for quick and atmospheric read, this book is for you.

3/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5!

I loved this!!! The first 20 ish percent was kind of slow and had me wondering if the whole book was going to be this way but then things really picked up and I devoured the rest!

This is a COZY book but also drama-filled! I am so glad I requested this book from NetGalley and finally picked up a Kayla Olson book because it was just fun. This is for all my girls who loved boy bands growing up (or still might lol) it was giving me N’Sync, Backstreet Boys, One Direction vibes a lot!

Celebrity Romance, Ski Lodge, Snowed In tropes with lots of coffee, foods, hot chocolate + big pretzels? Gondolas, Penthouses, a CAT. I mean, I was meant to read this book lol.

And a moment of silence for the cover because it’s freaking cute. 🥰

The Lodge by Kayla Olson is the perfect blend of romance, mystery, and cozy vibes. The snowy lodge setting is dreamy and makes you want to grab a blanket and hot cocoa (or maple latte) while reading.

While the love story and the mystery are engaging, some of the twists feel a little predictable, and a few plot points aren’t wrapped up. But the characters are so likable and the story so cozy that it’s easy to overlook those small flaws.

Overall, The Lodge is a fun, feel-good read that’s perfect for winter. If you’re into cute romances with a side of mystery, this one’s definitely worth picking up.

4/5 Stars

This was a super cozy read perfect for a cold winter day in front of a fire. I loved the ski area vibes! Alix and Tyler had a very sweet relationship and I was surprised in a positive way about the mystery elements in the story. I was engaged and entertained the whole time. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Lodge by Kayla Olson
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced reading copy! I had a lot of fun with this story. It was filled with drama, dream dates, and a cozy atmosphere ❄️

What would you do if you were signed on to ghostwrite a tell all book about *NSYNC or One Direction? Could you obey to your NDA and stick to the script or would you be tempted to dive deep into the rumor mill?

This was a cute book. It was predictable, but in a cozy hallmark way. Like you know where it’s going, but you’re going to stay along for the ride.
The writing was pretty straightforward, there was some growth with the main characters (except the sister, I was ready to throw hands with her).
There was also a mysterious element to it, but it was easy to pick up early on if you paid attention.
Perfect book if you need to just turn your mind off and get lost in a closed door romance.