In Abiola Bello’s YA debut, Love in Winter Wonderland, two teens go from dislike to falling in love over the Christmas holidays while working together to save a local, Black-owned family bookshop from shutting down because of neighborhood gentrification. I love YA/Teen romances, especially with Black lead characters/couples, and over the last few years, I’ve gotten into British Black YA and New Adult romances. Bello’s YA debut was an entertaining novel.

Bello’s vivid storytelling, worldbuilding, description, language use, and colorful and natural-sounding dialogue create visual images with each word, drawing you into her multilayered love story from the first scene. Her complex characters are fascinating, likable, flawed, and, at times, frustrating as she develops them through emotional, funny, dramatic, snarky, and charged interactions. In combination with her writing style, all these qualities make the pages fly by quickly. I love Bello’s introspective and insightful exploration of self-esteem, artistic expression, popularity, and emotional healing. The cover is super cute, perfectly capturing Bello’s hero and heroine and a pivotal scene from the novel nicely.

Creative, artistic, and quirky, Ariel Spencer follows in her father’s footsteps with her calling to be an artist and painter. Her dream is to go to the same prestigious art program he attended, but she needs the money to pay her tuition. A job at Wonderland Bookstore will help her achieve her goals. Trey Anderson is charming and handsome, but he struggles to balance working at his family’s bookshop, Wonderland, with the pressures of his popularity, social life, and girlfriend.

Devoted readers and book lovers Ariel and Trey reluctantly team up despite their differences to save Wonderland—a place each loves very much—and discover that they have far more in common than not. Working together at the book stop fosters the growth of a surprisingly deep connection fueled by a burgeoning attraction that complicates their lives as they fall for each other and their lives unexpectedly change.

Bello tells Ariel and Trey’s story in alternating first-person POV. One of the novel’s coolest aspects is that Trey and Ariel are really into playlists and how each chapter begins with the POV character listing a song from their Christmas playlist. Learning about new Christmas songs and versions of songs recorded by artists I was unaware of was excellent. I also love Ariel and Trey’s discussions of books, and Bello’s exploration of YA romance and book love through their evolving relationship. The book Love that fills the pages of Love in Winter Wonderland is incredible and 100 percent relatable to YA romance and book lovers, who will get a kick out of the characters’ book Love and discussions about popular YA series.

I love Bello’s development of Ariel and Trey’s relationship and connection and her description of their building temptation. She smoothly develops their attraction and feelings for each other from not exactly enemies to lovers, but a kind of apathetic dislike to co-workers to friends with the potential for more. In addition to working at the shop together, Ariel and Trey begin to have conversations about books, music, their dreams, and life.

Ariel’s a lovely, kind, talented, resilient young woman with a sweet spirit. I really like her. She struggles with issues concerning insecurity, self-confidence, and self-esteem, particularly regarding her art and her body and self-esteem. Still, she hides it pretty well, burying those feelings and keeping them at bay with her painting, art, and dancing. I love her relationship with her cousin and friends, which helps to further her character development.

A good-looking, popular guy with a beautiful girlfriend, Trey doesn’t have any complaints about his life except when he needs a break from popularity’s pressures. Although he comes off as primarily shallow, Ariel discovers there’s more to Trey while working to save Wonderland. Unfortunately, he behaves like such a jerk for much of the novel, which makes him appear undeserving of Ariel because of how mean and rude he is to her. Honestly, that makes it hard to root for him, in addition to dating a mean girl. I genuinely hate how cruelly he treats Ariel when she’s late for their interview and tries to explain why. After working with her at the store, spending time with her and their brothers, and seeing her interact with their shared friends, he should have known Ariel’s character better than that. It’s not like he doesn’t know his girlfriend is manipulative, moody, rude, and treats people she looks down on horribly. But somehow, he’s the only person who doesn’t see it? His relationship with his BFF Boogs and his younger brother helps to soften, reveal, and evolve his character and offer hope of redemption for him.

An angsty, funny, sweet, and sexy Christmas/Holiday romance, Love in Winter Wonderland explores themes of the creativity of Black artists and writers, supporting Black businesses, following your dreams, facing your fears, self-esteem, standing up for yourself, gentrification, self-acceptance, self-love, self-confidence, grief, loss, and healing and recovery. I highly recommend the novel for Black British Love, book Love, YA romance, and enemies-to-lovers romance fans.

Advanced review copy provided by Soho Teen via Netgalley for review.

Love in Winter Wonderland is an easy breezy Christmas story that gets the holiday nostalgia started early.
Being a small, Black-owned bookstore owner, (Asè Book Boutique) I have to say that I was just a tad biased going into this book. I assumed that I was going to like it. My assumption was accurate (thankfully).

Wonderland is a Black- Owned bookstore in London that's failing. Trey, whose parents own the shop, and Ariel, the other main character, come together to save the shop. With the help of their community and influence, the two work together to keep the bookstore open and possibly (😉) fall for each other during the process.

This was such an easy read. The buildup was slow, but not slow enough to lose interest. There is an obvious attraction between the MC's that I wanted them to hurry and act on. Right when they would get close, Blair, Trey's girlfriend from the pits of Mean Girl-ville would show her fangs and get in the way.

The main conflict in this book is between the main character's girlfriend, Blair, and Ariel. Blair is a major irk, across the board. She lowkey knows that her boyfriend has a thing for Ariel, who is the antithesis of Blair's how existence. So unfortunately, Trey and Ariel couldn't immediately act on their emotions, but the chemistry was clearly there.

There were some moments in the book that felt a little random but worked for the story. There are moments where we get a peak into Ariel's eating disorder that has been triggered due to grief. Those moments felt dropped in and somewhat random. I would have liked more on this or none of this.

Overall, this YA romance was innocent and very wholesome. It was a cute story and a great way to warm up to the upcoming Christmas season.

Before I start with my review, I just want to apologize for my late review. I've had a lot going on the past weeks I couldn't open NetGalley and post my review!

I just want to start by saying Abiola Bello is one of my favorite authors at the moment! What a great book and what a great author!

One of my challenges this year is to read a book by an author of color and that this is the book I chose.

I'm baffled by the style of writing. I love the fact that the setting of the book is revolved around books and a book shop that is owned by a family of generations. I also love that it's in a community of color and everyone is very supportive.

The chemistry is real. The sparks are real. I love the friendships and the cliques. The whole college vibe is very relatable; with the bullying and the popular kids and the not so popular kids and the struggles of being in a long relationship that is kinda shaky. I love the loyalty the friends have for each other. Even the very recognizable difference between Santi and Blair is just perfect.

For all you Gossip Girl fans, you know what they say, don't EVER mess with Blair!

The characters are very unique in their own way with the way they look and dress and act. How they wouldn't change for anyone or anything. I just can't get over how beautiful Bello's writing is! I think I'm more amazed by her writing than the actual book. Don't get me wrong though, I absolutely love the book!!

What a great Christmas book. Just the right book to get you in the Christmas mood!

*Black Lives Matter*

Love in Winter Wonderland is a sweet book written for young adults (think late Junior high and high school) that is a typical hate to love romance trope. It is a well written story line with strong characters.

Trey is a popular high school boy who also happens to work at this families book store, Wonderland.

Ariel is a creative, quirky, sweet young woman who wants to join an arts program but needs the money to do so. Therefore she gets a job at Wonderful. When the bookstore is at risk of closing the teens work together. They go from not liking one another to building a friendship and more.

Read this cute, teen summer romance to find out whether the bookstore is saved and whether romance blooms fully for Trey and Ariel.

British bookshop at Christmas time?! Yes, please!!

This was an adorable, wholesome Christmas story that I highly recommend. Perfect book to put you in the Christmas spirit. This was a realistic girl which was refreshing to read about and truly appreciate in a story. Especially one where the audience is teen girls!! I love that they can see life is not always one size, one way!

If you want a cute, fun Christmas book don't skip this one!

I won’t lie, the representation is what drew my attention to the tour… however, the book makes me so happy and ready for Christmas.

I love books that revolve around indie bookstores; I love them even more when it’s Black-owned. Trey wasn’t the best character or book boyfriend, and I wished I learned a little more about him. (That is one of my cons out of the way!) With that said, his chemistry with Ariel was just a chef’s kiss. It felt natural and organic. The synopsis said it was a “hate-to-love” journey, but I didn’t really get that vibe. (This is my other con. Last one, I promise!) I was hoping to get that enemies-to-lovers trope, but honestly, I’m okay that I didn’t.

The writing was enjoyable, and I felt like I was with Ariel (mostly) throughout the book. I was with her at the party, listening to Ja Rule while also thinking, “I’m way too much of an introvert for this!” but enjoying myself as well. (Who doesn’t love 2000s music?!) I loved that each chapter came with a Christmas song… yup, the book came with its own Christmas playlist.

Ariel was such a relatable character, dealing with way too much. She’s dealing with mean girls and grief, and it’s handled very well. I would have preferred a little more time for Ariel and Trey as a couple, but this is a YA book.

This book was the perfect distraction I needed from such heavy topics I’ve been reading lately. It also provided me with much-needed relief from schoolwork. This was a light-hearted, wholesome story. It showed what two young people can do to save something you care about.

I really enjoyed this early fall holiday read. The romance was a little strange considering most of the book the main character was with someone else, but the chemistry between the two was really there. I’m mainly a sucker for most books that take place in a bookstore and even more when we have to SAVE it. I’m immediately on board. I would recommend this book to any of my students as a great lift me up holiday tale.

I zoomed through this book. I love black love and especially young black love. The fact that this storyline is centred around a black-owned bookstore. Say no more

Trey Anderson is charming, handsome, and dating the most popular girl at school. However, he loves his family bookstore and his family, and they need help before they lose everything.

Ariel Spencer is an artist and loves to read. She can be awkward but needs a job, and Trey's family bookstore is the place. This is where she starts the plan of how they can save Wonderland.

I loved everything about this friends-to-lover book, and I would recommend it to anyone.

So, firstly, I misread this as being about older teens because I read "college" and didn't realize it was British college, not American college lol So this is very much a young adult book. Nothing steamy, but lots of more age appropriate cuteness. I don't read a lot of romance so I can be kind of picky with what I read in the genre, but this one features two black leads, a bookstore, and Christmas time, so I wanted to check it out - but the comparison to You've Got Mail is WAY off. Just because there's a bookstore doesn't mean it's like You've Got Mail lol

I think what I'm most impressed with is Bello's distinctive voices for her characters and the fact that she's written teens that aren't tiresome. I thought I reached a point where I just don't "get" YA anymore, after a few off-books with unbearably self-involved youths. I know all kids are like that but some authors just focus on it too much and that is not fun to read, and in fact Bello makes a plot point out of it haha

My only disappointment was that there was all the set up of a delightfully unhinged antagonist but it turned out my predictions were completely off... there was a conflict but the stakes never felt too real. Everyone is good at everything and they're all amazing and Rihanna is even a fan. I know it's romance but give us sabotage! Is it the big money property developed? Is it the narcissistic and jealous girlfriend? Ugh.

I read the book as I listened to the audiobook as well, mainly because I just didn't like most of what Trey's reader did. Ariel's was fantastic, but Trey's reader, outside of dialogue, was so wooden and robotic and it would just take me right out of the story when he started speaking again.

Overall this is a VERY cute YA romance, with likable leads and a feel-good story perfect for the holiday season. I genuinely enjoyed it, even if there were parts I thought could have been done better.

Love the You’ve Got Mail vibes, the playlists and the overall Christmas vibes. It was a sweet romance between two teens who team up to save a struggling Black-owned bookstore. It was a cozy winter and Christmas story great for the holidays.

I had a bad day yesterday & decided that my usual spooky book would not be a good idea so I decided to give this book a try, hoping it would change my mood. Boy did it. I devoured this in one night and completely fell in love with Ariel & Trey and the winter setting. I was a tiny bit disappointed in the ending but not enough that I wouldn’t re-read this again & again.

Love in Winter Wonderland is a beautiful and heartwarming Christmas romance about a small black owned bookshop struggling to keep its doors open, and the budding attraction between son Trey and part time employee Ariel as the two get together to use the power of social media to help save the indie bookshop from closing. I loved that each chapter is accompanied by a Christmas song by a Black Artist. It was a really cute story geared to a younger YA, 14-17 yrs old.

This was a sweet YA Christmas romance and I was living for the Black British rep!
I loved how wholesome this storyline was in terms of 2 teens coming together and using the power of social media to help save a Black owned indie bookshop from closure.

I loved how natural the 2 MC’s chemistry was, they clearly became good friends while working together before the romantic feelings and it didn’t feel forced to me.

Ariel really carried this book for me, she had so many layers to her personality and was dealing with a lot like weight issues (binge eating), grief (losing her dad), applying for her scholarship to art school and also dealing with bullies.
All while being an amazing friend to Trey and saving the bookshop.

This will be my most favorite ya read of the year. I absolutely loved most of the characters, Including Ariel. She was absolutely my most favorite character. This story has all the holiday feels and is so charming and heartwarming. It kept my interest from beginning to end. The plot was enjoyable, as well as the development of the characters. Such a delightful and beautiful read just in time for the holidays.

Thank you to NetGalley, HearOurVoices, and SOHO Teen for the e-ARC and audiobook copies.

This was my first Black YA Christmas story. I love Christmas, so this read was a no-brainer, even though it was September.

We are introduced to Trey Anderson first, who is battling to support his family's bookshop while also wanting to pursue his dreams as a singer. One thing is standing in the way: he has stage fright. Ariel, my favorite character, is an artist with the goal of getting into a distinguished art program. The one thing holding her back is money. This is where Wonderland, the indie family-owned bookstore, comes in. Wonderland is in need of saving as it is struggling to keep up with the competition. The author sheds light on not only the struggle of owning a minority business but also the factors that go up against them in the book industry.

Ariel carried this book for me; she was multi-layered and compared to Trey, who drug a relationship he wasn't interested in for 90% of the book. I did not particularly like him entirely because of that, but I understand they were kids, so I give grace there. Someone on here said emotional cheating occurred, and I 100% agree. Ariel dealt with the grief of losing her father, binge eating, bullying, and financial struggles. Ariel was just more interesting as a character overall because of the adversities she faced.

I loved the 66-track Black Christmas playlist, but that may have been the only thing that really reminded me of Christmas. The story just lacked that Christmas feel for me, so if you are looking for that in this novel, I wouldn't recommend it for that purpose. The audiobook was great and helped me fly through the story. I loved Ben Bailey Smith and Nneka Okoye as the narrators for this story. It was perfect and I'm glad I requested it.

I would recommend this book if you love bookstore-centered stories and books set in the UK.

This was such a cute and fun read. Trey’s family owns Wonderland Bookstore which is in need of help to prevent it from closing. Ariel needs a job to save money to get in the art school of her dreams. She ends up in Wonderland as her part time job and gives Trey ideas that they could use to try to raise the money that Wonderland needs.

It might have just turned to Fall but this winter YA romance got me in the mood for Christmas. It was so much more than just a romance. A journey of Ariel coming into herself, a little love triangle action, complicated friendship dynamics. All the high school things. I really enjoyed the story and look forward to more from this author

This book was a joy to read! If you're in the mood for a heart-warming young adult romance full of holiday cheer and diverse characters, I highly recommend Love in Winter Wonderland. This novel follows the journey of Trey, a young black man who finds himself falling for Ariel, a charming and caring young woman who shares his passion for books, music, and his family's indie bookshop. The chemistry between Ariel and Trey was electric, and their banter and flirtations kept me smiling.
One of the things I liked most about this book was its emphasis on family and community. I loved going on this journey with Trey, Ariel, and their respective families. I was rooting for the family bookshop's survival every step of the way, and it was so fun watching how the cause brought the community together. I also appreciated how the author tackled important issues such as racism and size discrimination in a sensitive and respectful manner, without detracting from the overall romance and spirit of the story. For those who are not quite ready for the major Christmas vibes, don't worry....the Christmas holiday in this book provides a lovely backdrop to the story, but isn't the main focus.
Overall, this book is a delightful and heartwarming read that I'd highly recommend to any fans of young adult romance, especially those looking for diverse representation. So, pour yourself a mug of hot cocoa and cozy up with this charming YA holiday romance!
#SaveWonderland
Thank you Soho Press, Soho Teen, and Netgalley for this digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed Love in Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello. The publisher thankfully granted my wish to read it and I am so grateful. This was a cute holiday read about the importance of family, true friends, and finding love where you least expect it.

I've watched You've Got Mail so many times as I was growing up and so the comparison of this book to that movie was what initially caught my attention and it didn't disappoint. I liked the enemies-to-lovers trope we see happening and the whole premise of the book -- saving Wonderland from it's bookstore competitor and neighborhood gentrification.

The characters were relatable, although I would have liked more depth with some of them. Quite honestly, I wish Trey's character was written better because I was not really rooting for him as a boyfriend for most of the book, and Ariel was more deserving than that. I did have a hard time getting a read on their ages, because they were being referred to as college aged and in college but there were just a lot of moments to me that made me question their age and I had to keep reminding myself that they were in fact in college.


3.5 stars rounded up.


Thank you, Netgalley and Soho Press, for my eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

"Love in Winter Wonderland" by Abiola Bello is a heartwarming YA Christmas romance that I'd rate at four stars. The narrative revolves around two teenagers who join forces through social media to rescue a struggling Black-owned indie bookshop, delivering a heartwarming message of friendship, teamwork, and determination.

Ariel and Trey's chemistry was beautifully authentic, evolving from strangers to friends to a deeper, more romantic connection without any forced moments. Ariel, in particular, was a standout character with her multifaceted personality, dealing with weight issues, grief over her father's loss, scholarship applications to art school, and bullies, all while being a vital friend to Trey and helping save the bookshop.

However, while Ariel shone brightly, Trey's character was less likable. His actions in his relationship with Blair, like forgetting her birthday and dancing with another girl in front of her, made it hard to connect with him. Overall, "Love in Winter Wonderland" is a heartwarming read offering an enjoyable holiday-themed journey filled with friendship, love, and support for independent businesses.

Important things you need to know about the book:

Love in Winter Wonderland is a medium to fast-paced book. The book starts fast, slows down around the middle of the book, speeds back up, and then slows down for the ending. I had no issues with the pacing of the book. It allowed me to digest some things that the author brought up and discussed. There was some lag in the middle (right around Trey’s shop party for Blair), but it didn’t affect how I liked the book.

There are trigger warnings in Love in Winter Wonderland. If any of these trigger you, I suggest not reading the book. They are:

Alcohol: Trey and Ariel underage drink throughout the book (in England, the legal drinking age is 18; both are shy of 18). Trey drinks until he is blackout drunk during Blair’s second birthday party.
Anxiety: Ariel suffers from anxiety due to bullying. Trey and his mother suffer from anxiety over the bookshop closing down.
Bullying: Ariel is bullied throughout the book by Blair and Bebe. She is bullied because of her weight, her painting (her hands are usually covered in paint), and her friendship with Trey. It is painful to read because, until almost the end of the book, Ariel doesn’t say anything back to them and internalizes everything.
Cancer: Ariel’s father passes from cancer before the book starts.
Cheating: I went back and forth on including this and eventually decided to include it. Trey emotionally cheats on Blair with Ariel. It never gets physical but emotional; he’s all in. Ariel discourages it at first but then gives in to it. Trey’s friends (including Blair’s sister) encourage his relationship with Ariel, which I found weird.
Death: Ariel’s father died from cancer earlier in the year.
Depression: Ariel’s mother suffered from a deep depression after Ariel’s father died. But she has come out of it by the time the book starts.
Eating Disorder: Ariel binge eats during the book. It is mentioned that she had an issue with binge eating and worked to keep her compulsion to do so under control.
Fat shaming: Blair and Bebe bully Ariel over her weight. Blair because she is insecure over Ariel’s relationship with Trey and Bebe because, well, Bebe is a colossal jerk.
Grief: Ariel is grieving the death of her father throughout the book.
Gentrification: Wonderland is a Black-owned business in an area that is in the process of being gentrified. Trey mentions that the area used to have multiple small businesses owned by different cultures that white developers were buying out. These white developers are looking to buy Wonderland, so Trey decides to save his family’s bookshop.
Sexual Content: There is sexual content in Love in Winter Wonderland. It mainly centers around Trey and Blair. There is a nongraphic sex scene, where Blair shows Trey her boobs (after he spends the night with her), scenes where they kiss, and one scene where Blair strips to her underwear and attempts to have sex with Trey. There are also a couple of near-miss kiss scenes between Ariel and Trey.

Language: There is a lot of language in Love in Winter Wonderland. There is swearing. There is also language centered around bullying.

Setting: Love in Winter Wonderland is set entirely in Hackney, England. Hackney is a borough of London. The author does a great job of describing Hackney and its community. She made it to a place that I would love to visit. I would also love to visit Wonderland!!

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

Trey hates working in his family’s bookstore, Wonderland. He doesn’t want to run it. Instead, he wants to be a singer. But his thinking changes when two things happen. First, his mother tells him that Wonderland is on the verge of closing and is considering a developer’s offer to buy it out. The second, Trey’s father falls and breaks his leg. The shop becomes his responsibility and, soon, his passion. He would do anything to save Wonderland.

Ariel is a quirky, shy artist who has known Trey from afar for years. When she gets invited to apply to the same art program her father attended, Ariel knows she needs a part-time job to cover the tuition. So, when the job at Wonderland falls in her lap, Ariel accepts. She becomes deeply involved in Trey’s plans to save Wonderland. But, with a monetary amount that is staggering (50,000 pounds) and a two-week time limit, she needs to think fast. What Ariel doesn’t take into consideration is her developing feelings for Trey. As the Christmas Eve deadline looms and the developers become brazen in their attempt to buy Wonderland, Ariel wonders if they will make it. She also wonders if her heart will survive working so close with Trey. Can Trey and Ariel save Wonderland? Will Trey realize that Ariel is the girl for him? Or will he miss his opportunity?

Main Characters:

Trey Anderson: I didn’t like Trey when the book first started. But his character growth throughout the book was terrific. He went from being a slightly self-involved kid only interested in his needs to this fantastic young man who wanted to save his family’s legacy. My only quibble with him was that he strung Blair and Ariel along. It wasn’t intentional, but he did it. And his treatment of Ariel when she missed the interview was awful, considering who was behind her missing the interview and how it happened.

Ariel Spencer: I loved her. Her character growth over the book was similar to Trey’s. I liked that she finally told Bebe and Blair what she thought of them. Of course, not before being put through hell by them. I loved her strong and supportive friend base (Annika and Jolie were her true ride-and-die friends). My only quibble with her is that she kept letting Trey in, and he kept hurting her. I wondered how the future would be for both of them.

Secondary characters:

Each of the secondary characters was great. They were just as fleshed out as Trey and Ariel. Of course, some of them did get what was coming to them. Others were great as the supportive best friends or parents. The main secondary characters are:

Trey’s parents and younger brother (Clive, Mrs. Anderson, Roen), Trey’s best friend (Dre Denton aka Boogs), Boogs girlfriend (Santi Bailey), Santi’s identical twin sister and Trey’s girlfriend (Blair Bailey), Bebe Richards (Ariel’s bully, Blair’s frenemy, and Annika’s cousin), Noah Spencer (Ariel’s younger brother), Annika (Ariel’s best friend), and Jolie (Ariel’s other best friend).

My review:

Love in Winter Wonderland is a well-written book focused on Trey and Ariel’s budding relationship and Trey and Ariel trying to save Wonderland, Trey’s family bookstore. This book touches on numerous subjects, from bullying to gentrification. The author did it in a way that it didn’t feel forced down your throat, and you wanted Trey and Ariel to succeed.

The storyline centers around Trey, Ariel, and their rush to save Wonderland. I liked that it was written realistically. Trey tried raising the money without the internet before listening to Ariel and posting about the shop’s plight. And, it took traction. I liked that while I knew it was a foregone conclusion that Ariel and Trey would save the shop, the author didn’t cement that idea at the end of the book. I also liked that Trey’s father slowly realized that he needed to modernize how he sold books. If Trey’s father wanted his business to survive, his store had to compete with the boxcutter bookstore down the street. It was painful to read, but I am glad he finally saw the writing on the wall.

The storyline centered around Trey and Ariel, and their relationship was cute. I liked seeing how they went from frenemies to friends to something more. But I wasn’t a huge fan of Trey cheating on his girlfriend. I want to clarify that he was emotionally cheating (he checked out of their relationship emotionally right after Ariel started working at the shop, so 3-4 chapters into the book). That aside, I loved the back-and-forth and the banter that Trey and Ariel had. Of course, they ran into issues (that pesky girlfriend), but they overcame them by being open with each other.

The end of Love in Winter Wonderland was what I expected. I did like how the author wrapped everything up. I also liked how she left it as happy for right now instead of a happily ever after. And the author’s note broke my heart. Before I forget, the author also does include a playlist for the book. At the beginning of each chapter (be it Ariel or Trey), she had a Christmas song sung by Black artists. I wrote each one down so I could listen to them (and yes, Mariah is featured).

Many thanks to Soho Press, Soho Teen, NetGalley, and Abiola Bello for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Love in Winter Wonderland. All opinions stated in this review are mine.