There are “that was cute, sweet fine” romance books and there are “that was cute, sweet and everything I needed” romance books. I’m so glad to say that this one was the latter!

Alix Morgan is a writer and has just gotten a new deal to be the ghostwriter of a very popular ex-boy band member. She, of course, finds herself put up to write in a gorgeous Vermont ski resort and just happens to be living in the penthouse next to a quite handsome ski instructor.

The cozy, snowy winter vibes were everything in this book. I wanted to be in a cute ski outfit, cuddling next to a giant fireplace in a log cabin. And I just really enjoyed this book as a whole. It’s not the deepest romance you ever read, but it was the perfect combination of cute, fluffy and a believable love story for me.

As far as spice goes, this was a no/low spice book with kissing only. I always appreciate when an author can convey the chemistry and romance of a couple, but keep the spice level low! Highly recommend for your cozy winter reading!

I LOVED The Lodge. It was engrossing, enveloping, and felt like reading a warm hug. I loved both the FMC and MMC. The HEA was fantastic and overall I laughed, cried, and couldn't put this book down. Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the complimentary advanced readers copy. All opinions are my own!

I love when a little mystery is combined with romance. This was a really good read and I was super interested in the characters!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. Kayla Olson's The Lodge is a cozy, heartwarming rom com set against the snowy backdrop of a Vermont lodge, perfect for fans of light romance and charming small town stories. The novel follows a writer who, seeking inspiration and solitude, retreats to a lodge in Vermont to finish her latest book. The plot follows a predictable trajectory, with the romantic arc unfolding almost exactly as expected. The predictable nature of the story detracts from the excitement, and readers may find themselves waiting for a twist or a deeper exploration of the characters' emotions that never quite materialize.The setting in Vermont is undoubtedly beautiful, and Olson does a wonderful job describing the lodge and the surrounding wintery landscape, but there is a certain lack of conflict or stakes to keep the reader engaged. While the picturesque setting provides a cozy backdrop, it doesn't offer much in terms of plot development. While The Lodge offers a cozy escape and provides a satisfying light read for fans of winter romance, it lacks the depth and emotional complexity that could have turned it into a standout story. Its predictability and underdeveloped characters hold it back from truly leaving an impact. It's an enjoyable read for those looking for a feel good romance, but those seeking something more substantial may be disappointed.

Nearly every girl had that boyband that they followed religiously and the what-if questions that came about when they broke-up. For those looking for boy band closure, The Lodge fills that niche and looks at what fame and fortune can do to certain people. I enjoyed reading and uncovering the mystery reason to why it all fell apart. Definitely a must read!

4.5 stars! This was such a cute and cozy romance. I absolutely loved the setting because it made me feel as though I was on a snow vacation. I found both main characters endearing and mature. Perfect winter romance!

This book was delightful! I enjoyed her last book, The Reunion, and was intrigued by the synopsis for this one. I’m a big boy band fan and into celebrity gossip, so it ticked all the boxes for me. Alix and Tyler were a great pairing, and I think many readers will enjoy this.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

This had compelling language from the start, which made The Lodge easy and quick to get into. It reads quickly, too. As a romance, it's cute and intriguing with a bit of mysterious twists and turns as a subplot. While, yes, I clocked the twist way before the reveal, I still just HAD to figure out what would happen next.

Thank you Atria for one of my more anticipated romances for 2025! I really loved The Reunion from Kayla Olson last year , one of those sweet spot romances that was satisfying not just for the romance but for how the female main character was written.

The Lodge hits the right notes too, sweetly satisfying slow burn romance, great setting and rich secondary characters, and the kind of pop culture behind the scenes themes that I just love in a romance. There is solid banter with Alix and Tyler, which I just crave in a romance, and a romance that felt natural, not forced, with all the right chemistry notes. Olson has a talent for writing female main characters who are independent, smart, and interesting (avoiding some of the ugh quirks that creep into female MC portrayals in romances, such as self doubt or lack of identity) and I can't wait to read what she writes next!

Loved the sizzling why choose romance !
Ghost writer turned investigator is my best trope as of this year!

Who doesn't love the vibes of a perfect winter read? A romance mixed with mystery to give the perfect read to so many

This book made me want to turn on the fireplace and cozy up with hot chocolate. It has the perfect cozy winter vibe. I can’t wait to re-read this on my annual snow trip!

This book immediately won my heart because we love boy bands.

Other than the nostalgia, good vibes and cozy vibes I didn’t love the characters. I felt the story was predictable.

I loved this book. It is exactly what I look for in a romance and I cannot put that in words. Only I know it when I see it. This was a lovely book.

What an enthralling RomCom! From the first page, I was drawn into the mystery of the disappearance of Jett Beckett. Obviously, I knew from the blurb who he was, but I needed to know what happened!

Alix is an incredibly strong main character. Normally in RomComs there's always a weird quirk or something that irks me about the lead female character, but I loved Alix's perspective. She was intuitive and the perfect personality for an entertainment journalist.

Tyler and Alix's relationship did seem to spark quickly, but it felt organic and not at all forced. I was shipping them the entire novel and I loved the ending!

I could not put this book down once I started!

This is the perfect winter romance!

Alix and Tyler had such fun banter and their romance was adorable! I also really enjoyed seeing ghostwriting a celebrity memoir as Alix’s career. Bookish careers are so fun to see in a story, and this twist on the common main character as an author made it even better.

And the setting! Even though I don’t ski, I want to hop on a plane to Vermont.

The Lodge releases January 7th of next year, so if you’re looking for something swoony to read while wrapped in a cozy blanket, in front of a fire, or while drinking your favorite warm beverage, this is the story you need! Preorder or ask your library to buy a copy soon!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed the last 30% of the book a lot more than the first 70%. I think the pacing was just kind of slow, and then incredibly rapid. The book also leaned heavily into the insta love trope which just isn’t my favorite. It is a closed door romance as well, so perfect for someone that prefers reading romances without explicit scenes! That being said it was cute and quirky and I loved the premise of the book! The MMC was adorable, but I didn’t love the FMC, and since it’s in her POV that made it difficult to read at times. I do think the resolution wrapped up the story nicely, it just quickly brushed over everything.

This is a cozy love story that addresses some pretty deep topics. The story explores the theme of this density; taking control over who we once were and who we really want to be by facing our biggest fears. It is also a story about giving grace to people and not judging a person because you don’t know what they are really going through. I empathized with the characters and the turmoil they were experiencing. At times, the story got a little heavy but it made the sweet, lovely moments seem more genuine. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC copy of this book. These are my own opinions.

Reading this book was like curling up by the fireplace with a cup of coffee (hot chocolate, tea, wine...) inside of a snow globe. ❄️ I couldn't have asked for a better book to evoke the feeling of a cozy winter day. I loved seeing Alix and Tyler's love story unfold. She was skittish to open her heart again after a bad relationship and he was shrouded in mystery, always changing the subject when his past came up. But they had chemistry, both on and off the slopes, and he was so sweet and loving toward her, always respecting her work as a ghostwriter and not prying into whose book she was writing. (She had to keep it a secret that she was a ghost-writer for a famous member of the former boy-band True North.)There was a fun twist about halfway through the book, and even though I saw it coming, it was fun to watch it play out. As someone who grew up during the height of the boy-band era, it was a lot of fun to read all the blurbs, press releases and message board comments as Alix did the research for her book. The feelings of nostalgia for those years, combined with the Vermont ski lodge setting added to the coziness and fun of this sweet book. I highly recommend it, especially to read during the cold winter months!

Thank you to Netgalley and Atriabooks for the arc edition of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

This book was a rollercoaster ride in the best way possible. I went into it knowing there would be a celebrity aspect but I loved how social media was incorporated into each chapter. It gave the story another dimension and made it feel like you were in the world. The relationship between Alix and Tyler was slightly too fast-burn, but I liked how realistic their conversations and actions were. They were flawed but likable characters and I loved seeing how their story progressed.

Alix has her most exciting writing assignment yet-ghostwriting the memoir of a former boy band star. Things ended abruptly for his group, with the other lead singer disappearing entirely. She settles in at a ski resort ready to get writing, but finds herself drawn to one of the ski instructors.

This book made me want to drink some hot chocolate & put on fuzzy socks. This is saying a lot because I read it during October in Florida! It has the perfect vibe for a cozy winter read, and I highly recommend picking it up!