I had high hopes for this one based on the blurb but it didn’t quite live up to them. Yes it’s festive and set at Christmas- loved the cabin and festive activities- but the first half of the book felt too long and like it needed a good edit, too many words that didn’t add anything to the story.

I really wasn’t a fan of Aaron at all until later in the book, I thought he was really nasty to Poppy and that made it hard to root for him and their relationship.

Overall an ok read and certainly Christmassy if that’s what you’re looking for.

Thanks to Netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

The chemistry between Poppy and Aaron is undeniable, from the start you are shown the many different sides of both MCs.
Poppy, a young interior designer wanting to prove her worth to her boss and Aaron, an ex military man with some deep pain.
These two overcome the initial tension and unease and fall fast into a friendship/situation-ship to avoid their obvious but at the time unwanted feelings for each other.
Secrets are kept and revealed and their relationship just grows, all while trying to maintain ‘professionalism’ between them.
These two are destined to be together and after a brief time apart are able to come together and make each other very happy.
Overall a very good read and would recommend !

O loved this book. It was funny, strong, sad, emotional, loving and sweet. It really makes you feel all the emotions.
I was captivated by the story and the pace was just perfect for me.
This book has a lot of my favorite tropes and scenes:
- High school secret crush
- Forced proximity
- Grumpy / sunshine
- Enemies to lovers
- F**** it moment
The story is about Poppy, and interior designer that is trying to prove herself on her job and here comes Aaron that was sabotaging her. He is the damaged hero that doesn´t believe that he deserves anything good and pushes away everything good.
It’s a book that approaches serious themes but in a verry graceful way.
Quotes:
“I was the big bad wolf. She was little red knit socks, walking straight into my den.”
“Worthwhile”
“You’re home”
Overall: perfect book for someone who likes a grumpy hero and a sunshine heroin, with a lot of personal development and growth.

The writing sparkles with wit, and the exploration of vulnerability and healing through creativity is incredibly moving. Poppy’s journey of self-discovery amidst the turmoil of her professional and personal life is a refreshing take on romance. As layers are peeled back, you can’t help but root for these two to find their way through the wreckage and into each other’s arms. All in all. this is a delightful blend of charm and emotional depth, perfect for anyone who loves a story where love transforms not just the heart but the very spaces we inhabit. I couldn’t put it down!

A cute and cosy read that got me very excited for winter. A great read if you’re a fan of grumpy x sunshine and a bit of forced proximity. I’d definitely recommend and can’t wait to reread closer to winter!

Well this was a cozy cute one! One could technically argue it was a second chance romance AND an enemies to lovers trope. And just who doesn’t love a two for one special? I’ll tell ya- Nobody! This book got me super excited for the holidays. The cabin described in the story is picturesque. The only travesty reading this book was that I couldn’t do it snuggled up next to a fireplace because it’s still too dang hot! But I digress…

Poppy is an interior designer and has been tasked to do a home makeover on a cabin in the woods. A big promotion is on the line, so she needs this project to go as smooth and fast as possible. Insert Aaron. He is home early from deployment and has no clue his sister made all these arrangements for his home. So naturally he is incredibly annoyed by Poppy’s constant presence (until he isn’t) and the fact that his house is a literal construction site. Oh and clearly the hippocampus function of his brain is failing him because he has forgotten that he went to high school with Poppy and kissed her! Only she hasn’t forgotten…So this forced proximity is just too good to be true folks!

This was a perfect palate cleanser for me. This is not for everyone though lol. The book reminded me of indie published romances from way back in the day like 2012-2017 era. It’s under 300 pages, grumpy sunshine, and forced proximity.

Poppy is determined to finish the cabin and get her well earned promotion. Aaron is determined to keep Poppy out of his cabin and life. What starts as a negative experience transforms into something different. This book creates a love/hate warm Christmas vibe with all the feels.

Thank you netgalley for an arc of When in December by Kendra Mase

Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, for the ARC!

When in December (294 pages) drops on October 8th, and honestly... it was just meh. Not terrible, not amazing, just kinda there. You know those books you read when you’re in the mood for something easy and light? This is one of them. I wasn’t mad about it, but if I’d never read it, I wouldn’t have missed out.

✧ Grumpy x Sunshine 💕
✧ Opposites Attract 💖
✧ Forced Proximity 💗
✧ Grieving MMC 🖤
✧ Slow Burn 🔥
✧ Workplace-ish (renovating his cabin) 🛠️

Poppy is this bubbly, optimistic interior designer hired to renovate Aaron’s cabin, but he had no clue about it and was not thrilled when he found out. Aaron’s dealing with some serious grief after leaving the military, and his brooding, rude attitude didn’t exactly win me over. He even calls Poppy a <i>homemaker</i> in a not-so-cool way. 😒 But, as these stories go, he eventually comes around and sees that Poppy’s actually fantastic at her job. Classic slow burn.

Poppy had a huge high school crush on Aaron and they even shared a kiss back then, but he doesn’t remember her at all! The grumpy x sunshine dynamic is cute, but it didn’t have the zing I was hoping for. The ending was pretty predictable, and while there were some sweet moments, the story didn’t offer much that stood out.

Overall, it’s a decent read if you like these tropes, but don’t expect it to be groundbreaking. It’s one of those books that’s fine for a light read but might not stick with you.