This was a cute sapphic Christmas romance which gave me all the same warm fuzzies as watching a Christmas Romance movie!! It was super easy to read and the characters were very likeable but for me I don’t think it had quite enough special spark to become a new favourite- however if you are looking for a cute fun quick read this won’t disappoint!

"Honeymoon for One" by Rachel Bowdler is a heartwarming LGBTQ+ Christmas romance that unfolds against the enchanting backdrop of the Canadian winter. Robin Ellis, seeking an escape from a challenging year, stumbles upon her forgotten honeymoon, leading to unexpected encounters with the reserved ski instructor Neve. The story beautifully navigates the complexities of holiday romance, blending festive charm with a poignant exploration of love's resilience. Bowdler crafts a delightful narrative that captivates fans of Sarah Morgan and leaves readers with a warm, festive glow.

This was a beautiful winter romance. The perfect cosy, feel-good story with gorgeous characters and a stunning location. I really enjoyed this one and would highly recommend.

Another good read
Perfect book to curl up with and to get lost in
Will have you hooked from the first page
Thanks NetGalley

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

A lovely heartwarming LGBTQ+ Christmas romance that takes readers on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected love. The story follows Robin Ellis, a tired and overworked woman who finds herself on an unplanned honeymoon after a cancelled engagement. Seeking solace and adventure, Robin embarks on a ski trip in Canada, where she crosses paths with the standoffish ski instructor, Neve.

The author does a commendable job of creating a vivid setting, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the starry Canadian skies and feel the magic of the holiday season. The chemistry between Robin and Neve is palpable, and their rocky start adds an element of tension and excitement to the story.

However, while the romance between the two main characters is engaging, it sometimes feels rushed and lacks depth. The development of their relationship could have been explored further, allowing readers to truly invest in their journey towards a happily ever after.

Additionally, the plot follows a predictable trajectory, adhering to the conventions of a holiday romance. While this may be comforting for fans of the genre, it may leave others craving more originality and surprises.

Overall, a pleasant read that offers a charming LGBTQ+ love story set against the backdrop of the holiday season. While it may not break new ground in terms of plot or character development, it provides a cozy and enjoyable experience and one I’ll still recommend.

Robin is a twentysomething, who experienced a breakup with her fiancee eight months prior, but neglects to remember to cancel her honeymoon. She opts to take the trip anyway, despite it being a Christmas ski vacation in Canada--and her disinterest in skiing. There she meets Neve, a ski instructor (naturally), who begrudgingly gives the klutzy Robin lessons. Standard girl meets girl, girl loses girl, etc story flow. However, what makes this title a little different--and not necessarily in a good way--is that it could easily have the title "Mother issues". Not one but three characters have challenging relationships with either an absentee mother who abandons her children for a more exciting life or a mother who gives the silent treatment as a form of punishment and guilts her children into not leaving her. There were definitely some darker themes here that weren't given the full story or full resolution that they deserved by bringing them up in the first place. Back to the central pairing, I didn't feel there was any chemistry between these two opposites. Robin's only real personality seems to be that of "hot mess"--whether she's falling on the slopes, tripping, dropping food on herself, making bad puns. At one point, she's watching Bridget Jones' Diary and I think Bridget is probably what the author was trying to base her on, but that attempt falls flat on the page. Neve's personality is all "people disappoint me, I love me dog instead". She's not exactly a charmer either. None of their scenes or their sudden realization of mutual interest make much sense or feel "sparky".
While I do enjoy a good cozy Christmas-time romance story, this one lacks in all areas aside from it being Christmas. I'd recommend passing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Embla Books for an eARC of this book.

I thought this was a very cute story. My favourite parts of it was seeing Robin go off on her own and make decisions for herself. Robin starts off in a really difficult place with her life, feeling unappreciated, unhappy, and recently dumped. She starts off the story really passively and not wanting to try new things or do something different, but I really enjoyed watching her open up and start to enjoy new things.

One thing I really enjoyed in this book was that both Robin and Neve had complicated relationships with their mothers. I liked how it was explored and they both had to reconcile their feelings. I really liked the discussions of how maternal relationships impacted the characters and how they are effected by it now as adults. I really liked watching both Neve and Robin grow into their own and make choices about how they want those relationships to go moving forward.

This was a really sweet Christmas romance and I loved seeing both characters make the decisions that would make them happy, rather than what they thought they should do.

3.75*

يالله !!! وايد وايد عيبني 😫 ما توقعت أتأثر بسببه بهالشكل الحقيقة...الكتابة جداً جداً مرضية والشخصيات - جميعها الحقيقة - بس خصيصاً شخصية البطلتين وايد عيبوني ! رغباتهن ومخاوفهن وردات فعلهن وايد مفهومة بالنسبة لي 😫💖 سعيد إني قررت أعطي هالكتاب فرصة !

translation: (ya Allah !!! I liked it so much 😫 I didn't think it would affect me in this way to be honest... the writing style was so satisfying, and I liked the characters - all of them tbh - specifically the two main characters ! their desires and fears and reactions were understandable to me 😫💖 I'm glad I gave this book a chance !)

In this winter-centric story we follow Robin who lives in the UK and who was supposed to get married, but the engagement was called off by her fiance, and in the fuss and mess of that fallout she forgets to cancel her honeymoon to the snowy mountains of Canada. Her sister convinces her to go on the honeymoon anyway since it is already paid for, and while in Canada, what does Robin find? None other than that pesky L-O-V-E bug. Enter ski instructor with ski lift full of baggage, Neve. Neve almost made it to the olympics in skiing but when her grandmother died Neve left those dreams behind so she could take care of her grandfather. Robin and Neve briefly try to avoid a romantic entanglement, but their chemistry is hard to deny and they end up agreeing to a holiday fling. As you can probably imagine, by the end of the holiday both women struggle to think of their relationship ending. Pick up this Honeymoon for One to see how it ends. Thanks to @netgalley for this ARC copy.

Fun, cute, and characters will a lot of depth and heart. Pretty much exactly what I was hoping for from this read! As a longtime lover of christmas hallmark movies, this scratched the itch in my brain that has been longing for more sapphic winter romance stories.

Sorry, not for me. A little too much, 'by the numbers' and though the story was ok, that's about it Good luck with your next one, Rachel!

A brilliant read and one I really enjoyed. The characters are loveable and varied, the plot is one that is engaging and medium paced. I found myself completely drawn into the story and enjoyed the writing style.

Rate: 3.75

When I read this, I was obsessed with books with Christmas Sapphic Romance. It didn't matter if it was predictable because as long as it made me feel something positive, I'll instantly like it. It did have parts that I liked which is why I gave it three stars, the point seventy-five is because of Robin. I admit it was such a chaotic start between Robin and Neve. There are also times that I get irritated by the miscommunication trope but then there's a part of me that knows it happens in real life. Especially when you kept relapsing and in a toxic cycle.

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Aw this is such a cute Christmassy romance!
I loved the Canadian setting, the descriptions were stunning and I also loved that it wasn’t too Christmassy meaning it could be enjoyed all year round.

Robin is just the cutest character and I was rooting for her throughout to find her happy ending.

There was a lot of miscommunication which as a romance trope I don’t love but still cute and enjoyable and I’d encourage others to give it a go.

Honeymoon for One is a nice, safe romantic comedy. The storyline is quite predictable but it was interesting to see how the characters got to their inevitable ending. The dual narrative made it more interesting to read and the characters were likeable.

This was a cute, middle of the road romance. A little predictable, maybe, but the characters are likeable and it makes for a book you're happy you read, though I don't think it'll necessarily stick with me.

This was a wonderful holiday romance set in a small Canadian ski town. It's very exciting to read a story like this with two female leads as there are not enough of them yet in this world!

DNF @ 27%. I tried so hard to get into this. I just couldn't. And I refuse to spend time reading books that I don't want to read🤷🏻‍♀️

Honeymoon For One by Rachel Bowdler

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Embla Books and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Robin Ellis has had a year she'd like to forget. She's tired, overworked and most definitely not ready to spend the holidays with her rowdy family in Manchester. So when she discovers she forgot to cancel her honeymoon she sees this as the perfect opportunity to get away; it's time to relax and embrace adventure!

The last thing she expects is to clash with standoffish ski instructor Neve. But despite their rocky start these two unlikely people can't help but fall for each other under the starry Canadian skies.

They know that holiday romances don't last, and Robin has had her heart broken one too many times before, but can they overcome the distance between them and find a happily ever after together?

My Opinion

When the wedding was cancelled, Robin forgot to cancel the honeymoon and is persuaded to still go on the holiday by her sister. I wasn't a fan of the skiing descriptions but the rest of the book was really enjoyable. A really festive book with a lot of community spirit.

Robin hates the cold and snow, but is it something she can grow to love? Have a read and find out.

Rating 4/5