3.25⭐️

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books, and Kayla Olsen for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited to read this book after reading the blurb and while I did enjoy it, I also found it to lacking in some areas. I thought the plot was great, ghost writer heads to the mountains for some peace to write and meets a mysterious ski instructor that’s connected to the book she’s writing (cozy hallmark romance mystery).

Where I think it fell flat was the character development (for all the characters), the instalove but the main female character is also thinking of exposing her love interests secret, and the very fast resolution for the mystery and aftermath. If these areas were improved upon, I feel like the book would be so much more enjoyable and not take you out of the story. Overall, this book gets a 3.25 rating as I enjoyed it and it had a good plot set up.

Alix Morgan has scored an amazing celebrity memoir ghostwriting contract for Sebastian Green and a beautiful place to do it. As she lugs Puffin, her cat’s carrier to one of the two penthouse suites she is reminded that this winter wonderland oasis is her new home for the next month- no distractions, only writing. Well, maybe there is a small distraction in the form of the neighbor next door who happens to also be the handsome ski instructor. Also, she is having a terrible time getting in touch with Sebastian to talk about his memoir. Cozy up with a blanket, cat and cup of cocoa to enjoy this new gem by Kayla Olson.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

3.5 stars!
A meet cute with depth! Told from the POV of Alix, who is currently ghostwriting a memoir for one of the world's biggest pop stars. She is staying at a ski resort in Vermont to focus on her writing where she ends up falling for the ski instructor whose room is right next door to hers. He plays guitar and cooks? Count me in.
Turns out her neighbor has some secrets of his own.
The story takes a turn from romance to a bit of an edge of your seat mystery. For fans of entertainment and pop music. Who love a good winter wonderland setting on a cozy mountain.
The spice was always interrupted and they never made it past a kiss, so l'd give this a PG rating. They fell SUPER quick but it didn't feel forced as there was depth in their conversations, but I think less insta love and more slow burn spice would have really enhanced the story.
Definitely a cute and quick read for the holiday season.

I was charmed by The Lodge, probably even more so because I didn’t expect it. I’ve found a lot of romances angsty or overly navel gazy or too reliant on miscommunication. The Lodge had perfect winter (but not Christmas) vibes, just enough plot to keep it interesting, and fun characters. Although I read anything from 1-4 chili peppers, I feel like see less in the 1 chili pepper arena, especially ones that don’t also feel preachy. I love that I have a 1 chili pepper romance to recommend to my friends that are looking for that. I’ll definitely be reading more from Kayla Olson!

It was kind of a struggle to feel anything for Alix. I just couldn’t believe a person who would almost betray her love for money. I REALLY disliked her sister. This plot was really good, and I’ve enjoyed Kayla Olson’s previous book quite a lot, but this fell flat.

If you are looking for a cute, funny, and cozy winter romance, with an aspect of mystery that will make it hard to put the book down, look no further. This was 4.5/5 start for me!

Summary:
Celebrity journalist Alix Morgan is hired to ghostwrite the memoir of a famous ex-boyband member, Sebastian Green. She is flown from NYC to Stowe, Vermont and is set up in a luxurious penthouse at a beautiful ski lodge to focus on writing. Soon, she discovers she is right next door to a cute, rugged looking ski instructor. As she gets started on this book that she can't tell anyone about, she realizes she may get answers about the disappearance of another member of the boyband that Sebastian famously didn't get along with. Eight years after the disappearance, no one has been able to find out what happened, but Alix soon learns that not everything about that disappearance is quite what it seems. This story follows her writing journey, her budding romance with the guy next door, and the twists and turns that come with digging into a mysterious past.

Thoughts:
This book was enjoyable from beginning to end. I read this book around the time I went on a trip to the Northeast US because I knew it was set in Vermont, and that honestly made it the perfect read for me. Regardless of that trip, this book was really immersive with fantastic descriptions that made it easy to imagine. It also felt really realistic to me in terms of the struggles the characters faced and the interactions they had, and I found the main character to be extremely relatable. I could picture this story happening in real life, but it also had the classic Hallmark movie feel. I thought the plot was really unique, and I loved the breaks between chapters that included mixed media. There were parts of the story that had me shocked, there were parts where I got a little emotional, and there were parts that made me giggle, all of which was well executed. I can't really think of a better ending to this book, and I am so thankful I was given the chance to read it!

Critiques:
My only criticism of what I read was that there were some descriptions that were repeated a couple of times. For one room the characters went into, I think it was described the same way three different times, which felt unnecessary and repetitive to me. It didn't happen very often, but enough that I noticed it was a trend. It didn't affect the reading experience for me at all, though. I have read other books that may have been slightly more polished, but I picked this up for a cozy mystery romance and it did not disappoint. Perfect writing does not a perfect book make.

Final Words:
This book was one of the cutest and best written cozy romance books I have read in a while, and the added mystery aspect put it a step above. I loved my reading experience and was sad for it to end. I will definitely look for more from this author, and I would highly recommend it to other cozy romance lovers.
 
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a quick cute read! I loved The Reunion and this book was just as good! I liked the characters and the coziness of the lodge, even the coffee shop felt cozy. Five stars!

This one was just okay for me! The Lodge focuses on FMC Alix, a ghostwriter, and MMC Tyler, a ski instructor, who both meet at a ski lodge in the winter. I unfortunately didn't connect with Alix as a character at all. Her decisions, especially related to Tyler and the reveal that happens later in the book, really started to annoy me - how could she be wrestling with that decision while also being in love with him?? I also really really hated Alix's sister and couldn't stand seeing the way she treated Alix, and the way Alix would just let it happen. I understand toxic family dynamics, but it felt a little caricatured and I wanted Alix to assert herself even just a little bit more. The fun parts of this story were the setting, as well as the banter between Tyler and Alix, as well as the writing style of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Kayla Olson for providing this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book was cute. Very cheesy and Hallmark esc, but I found it overall enjoyable. It was a perfect read for right now as the temperature dips lower and lower and you just like the thought of snow but haven't had it for ages already yet. I thought the mystery aspect of this book was interesting as well. Overall a good book!

Okay as a native Vermonter I have some hot takes about how my home state was written (not just because I used to use my friends to sneak into ski resorts). Definitely a hoakey book with a main character who I wish was more mature and a little more of a plot that made sense. Some of the characters, Sebastian especially, did not show much character development and I felt like the book careened between a fluffy romance and a mystery too much.

As we approach the colder winter months, a romance book set in a cozy ski village in Vermont with a celebrity twist sounded right up my alley. This book follows entertainment journalist Alix as she heads to Vermont for a month to ghostwrite the celebrity memoir of an old boy band lead singer, Sebastian. The boy band had a series of scandals, namely, the disappearance of one of its other members, Jett.

At the resort, Alix meets a charming ski instructor, Tyler. Immediately, it's not hard to figure out that Tyler is Jett, the aforementioned missing boy bander. The two fall in love but of course, Tyler's famous past eventually comes to light and leads to some turmoil.

Overall, I thought this was cute and cozy and perfectly fine. I wish the ending had been a little less cheesy and Hallmark-y, but that is the standard for this type of romance book. I also didn't enjoy the element of Alix's younger sister, because I felt like their relationship was full of apathy and it made it hard to sympathize with either one of them. It read like the author needed a way for the big celebrity secret identity to be revealed, so she threw in Alix's little sister as a plot device.

My favorite part of this book was definitely the setting, it was atmospheric and lent itself well to the vibe of the story. Overall, I think this makes a decent winter romance read, but isn't anything too memorable!

this was a good book! I do think there was a bit too much romance for me, as I was looking into the mystery part more. It was cheesy and overdone romance, but it was okay other than that. I liked the writing style and how fast I was able to read it

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

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

Alix Morgan is an entertainment writer who gets her big break as the ghostwriter for Sebastian Green, former band member of the boy band True North. The band broke apart when band member, Jett Beckett disappeared and fell off the grid. Now she has the opportunity to get Sebastian’s side of the story as she works on his memoir.

Sebastian generously offers his Vermont penthouse in order for her to peacefully write the novel for the next month. It’s there she meets ski instructor Tyler. She spends her mornings writing and her afternoons taking ski lessons from Tyler. Their relationship begins to blossom as they get to know each other, but Tyler is harboring a secret that could change everything.

I really liked Alix and Tyler’s relationship. It was wholesome, and I enjoyed watching them grow closer. Both are sweet, caring people and when Alix figures out Tyler’s secret (which isn’t really much of a plot twist) they talk about it like adults. Ms. Olson shies away from the miscommunication trope, which I appreciate. There was palpable chemistry between the two, and there was a natural rapport between them that grew into deeper feelings. Their banter was sweet, and you can’t help but feel cozy and warm as you read the novel. It was like a warm cup of hot cocoa.

Unfortunately, things take a turn when Alix’s flighty sister shows up unexpectedly along with Sebastian. Unknowingly, she is the catalyst for the turn of events that unfolds. Tyler must decide if holding on to his secret is more important than building a life with Alix.

This has small-town, Hallmark vibes with very little angst and likable MC’s.

I actually just loved this book.

It was so easy to get swept up in the drama, romance, suspense - all while being well written. The author is in full control of her characters and your opinions about them, and artfully changes the readers mind over the course of the book.

Is there a twist? Yep. And could I predict it relatively closely? Yes - but that didn’t take away from the joy and integrity of the book.

Highly recommend for Emily Henry fans, looking for a winter romance.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC!

I’m really in the mood for winter/lodge romances (I know I’ll regret saying that in January) it had some kinks throughout. I don’t think I was fully sold on the story. Some of the characters didn’t resonate with me but it was a good palate cleanser of a book.

What a fun premise for a romance book. I was hooked from the beginning and read in one sitting. The descriptions of the lodge and ski resort made me want to pack up my bags and head to the mountains.to join Alix as she's sent to the lodge to ghost write a book for a former boy band member. Along the way, as she writes her book, she wonders whatever happened to one of the singers in the band who disappeared. At the same time, she meets a ski instructor Tyler, who might just distract her from her ghost writing job.

The Lodge was a cute, cozy read that was enjoyable to read. I found Alix to be likable and the setting to be absolutely charming.

All 👏🏻 the 👏🏻 stars 👏🏻

This book was PERFECTION - and it’s only in ARC form.

Truly blown away, clearly affirmed by the fact that it is currently WAY past my bed time.

Alix and Tyler are adorable. He is such a cinnamon roll, they both are really. They were both such caring people, and HILARIOUS. I laughed out loud several times.

The Lodge sounds like exactly the place I want to spend the next snow storm stranded at. It sounded absolutely amazing and Kayla did a wonderful job setting up the scene.

I did figure out the bit of a twist pretty early on, but it didn’t take away from the story AT ALL, it just made my anticipation that much stronger.

Bravo.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I am a huge fan of The Reunion and of course Kayla Olson! Didn't really know what to expect when I started reading this book, but it was predictable- as any romance books. I love the drama and somewhat of a mystery- I specially love seeing them start falling in love with each other!

Thank you for the eARC.

I can tell that this is going to be one of those super cozy reads that goes viral on BookTok and it will confuse me why it goes viral.

This book was, for all intents and purposes, fine. Cute enough. I loved the epistolary storytelling through blog posts, old articles, and text messages. That was super creative. The setting itself was beautifully described. But the characters? Pretty unmemorable. The only thing I really remember about Alix ten minutes after finishing the book was that she kept describing herself as prepared for everything while being an absolute mess. What Tyler saw in her, I could not tell you. Tyler himself was wayyyy too perfect of an MMC...a singular flaw would have done wonders for making him seem like a human.

Side note: I'm a Lauren in my twenties and I'm not that stupid. It was really hard not to drop-kick the Lauren character. They could have made her at least a little bit redeemable, but nope.

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