Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Some Like It Cold" by Elle McNicoll offers a heartfelt blend of romance and personal discovery, set against the backdrop of a charming but complex small town. The book follows Jasper Montgomery, a neurodivergent teenager who returns to Lake Pristine with the intention of saying goodbye, only to be confronted with unresolved issues and unexpected connections, particularly with Arthur Lancaster, a filmmaker with whom she shares a turbulent past. Through McNicoll's vivid descriptions and rich character development, the town itself becomes a character, with its snowy streets, quirky locals, and simmering secrets. I commend this book for its representation of an autistic lead character, especially with the uniqueness of Jasper’s artistic characteristics and behaviors. I would love to see more representation like this in YA books!

Jasper’s journey is both tender and empowering, especially in how the story explores her experiences as an autistic woman. McNicoll skillfully captures the challenges Jasper faces, such as masking her true self to fit in and the emotional toll of always being misunderstood. These themes are written with authenticity, which may resonate deeply with readers who may share similar experiences. I think a lot of readers, especially younger YA readers, will be able to relate to Jasper. Jasper’s internal struggle—balancing her desire for connection with the need to protect herself—is portrayed in a way that feels both personal and universal.

The romance between Jasper and Arthur is the highlight of the book, embodying a delightful enemies-to-lovers dynamic with slow-burn tension. Their chemistry is undeniable, and McNicoll expertly weaves humor and heartache into their interactions. As their relationship develops, it mirrors Jasper’s own journey toward self-acceptance, making the love story not just romantic but also deeply affirming. Arthur’s perspective adds depth to the story, offering insight into his own vulnerabilities and creating a more rounded portrayal of their connection. The way their relationship developed was both authentic and tender, and I just loved seeing their relationship progress throughout the book.

However, not everything in Lake Pristine is cozy. Jasper’s family and some townspeople, particularly her sister Christine, treat her with a mix of emotional distance and outright cruelty. While Christine and other characters do grow over the course of the novel, the depiction of their behavior—bordering on emotional abuse—can be hard to reconcile with the otherwise uplifting tone of the story. Despite this, "Some Like It Cold" has just so many different aspects I loved, especially with Jasper. Jasper’s creativity, her love of design, and her unique way of seeing the world defy traditional narratives, offering a fresh and much-needed perspective in the romance genre.

Overall, Elle McNicoll’s YA debut is a heartwarming, if sometimes emotionally challenging, story about love, belonging, and the courage to be oneself. With its snowy setting, complex characters, and empowering message, "Some Like It Cold" will appeal to readers who enjoy cozy romances with a meaningful twist.

DNF @ 30%

I wanted to love this one since I was excited about a holiday book with a neurodivergent main character, but so far I'm underwhelmed. I'm not a fan of the writing style, and I'm really struggling with many of the side characters, like Jasper's family, who are truly awful to her. I understand that these characters are not meant to be likeable, but it doesn't make for a very enjoyable reading experience, especially for what I was expecting in a holiday read. I'm not invested enough to continue reading, so this one is not for me, unfortunately.

This was very cute small town holiday romance. I loved the small town everyone knows everyone feeling. Arthur and Jasper are great characters and while they were 18/19 they felt older. Jaspers family was very trying and it was amazing Jasper was as strong a character as she was. If you want a hallmark type story but better.

An adorable cover on a sweet and drama-filled story.

I liked our main character and the rep of her being neurodivergent. The masking, covering, and the responses were great rep and I appreciated it. But wow, the family drama! You really have to be able to suffer through an awful family to enjoy this one. But the romance was cute enough, the town was wonderful, it kept the story entertaining and I loved the cozy feel. Cute and sweet, just wish it had been just bit lighter on the family drama. It's a good holiday read!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

I couldn’t get enough this book was so adorable, it’s a slow burn, really funny, gave me all of the amazing feels of what a cutesy romance should be like, especially for a YA. And the DRAMA!!!! Lol.

Thanks to Netgalley & St. Martin's Press for the E-ARC! OMG!! So funny & cute. Loved the characters too! Will definitely read more from this author.

Small town drama can be a hit or miss for me. In this book it was definintly a hard, hard miss. The busy body town folk were at the very centre of the story and I couldn't see past their hateful and spoiled behavior to even figure out if I could tolerate the main character. It was overdramatic to the point it was cheesy.

This was DNF'd at 18%. I tried, I really did but when you feel like as a reader you are putting more effort than the characters do, it is time to part ways.

An ARC was providing to me via NetGalley by Wednesday Books. All opinions are my own.

This book is a cute winter read. As someone who has read middle grade novels by Elle McNicoll, I think she handled the transition to YA pretty well. There were times where the writing felt a bit too young for the age this book is marketed too, and at times it felt like the author used big words to compensate, but in a way, the writing style felt like it could have been an intentional choice, and not one that I dislike.

The characters, the story, and the town it’s set in, are full of charm. Lake Pristine feels straight out of a Hallmark movie, twinkle lights and all. The background characters actually feel like characters, which I find a lot of books lack. Sometimes the characterization feels a bit over the top, and the dialogue is cheesy at times, but none of it felt overly distracting or out of place.

Jasper as a character is amazing. She is written in a way that differs from how most authors portray autistic characters. As an autistic person, I enjoyed seeing myself in her, while also getting to see the diversity of the autistic experience.

Overall, I really like this book, and it lived up to my expectations as someone who has read other works by this author. Winter is coming soon, and “Some Like it Cold” is a great book to cuddle up with by the fire.

I found the writing difficult to get into and relate to. I appreciated the neurodivergent representation and heartfelt story. I liked the slow-burn romance and the cozy, wintery setting. The pacing was a bit slow and the writing was somehow too descriptive or flowery.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an electronic advanced readers copy of this novel.

After 18 months of college, Jasper is heading back to her hometown. Hiding the news that she dropped out of college to pursue design school, she noisily interrupts a very public proposal for her golden child sister, Christine. Also in attendance is her high school colleague Arthur, who is determined to win a documentary contest about small towns.

Some Like It Cold by Elle McNicool is a coming of age story about an autistic young woman who is trying to find her place in the world. I enjoyed her character but at the same time the plot seemed frustrating, although maybe that's the point of it. I thought some of the characterizations and plotlines were somewhat unrealistic and tilted towards almost a revenge fantasy plot for whoever the main character stood in for. It had potential and I wished I enjoyed it more but it was not for me.

Some like it cold is a cute story with a coming of age feel. You can’t help but love and feel for jasper and Arthur and root for their success. Took some getting used to the setting and story lines but once used to it the storyline flowed and showed you a nice picture.

I was unable to finish this book and thus will not be posting a full review. I did not enjoy this and after repeatedly trying to force myself to continue, I gave up. I didn't find the characters believable or likable. Thank you for the opportunity.

I really loved this book!! Elle McNicoll always does such a great job at writing autistic characters! I was super excited to see that she had a YA romance coming out this year. This is her first YA book, but I have read and loved her middle-grade books, A Kind of Spark and Keedie.

I loved how she wrote Jasper’s character, she really reminds me of me at that age. It was great that while her autism was mentioned in the story, and impacted the plot, the story was about so much more than her autism. I really related to how Jasper felt like she had to mask her autism in order to fit in with the people in her town. It made me happy that despite that, Arthur accepted and loved her for her true self, and supported what her dreams for the future.

Overall, I recommend this book to anyone looking for a cute and cozy YA romance, especially if they like reading autistic representation!

First off, many thanks to St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the ARC! This was an incredibly sweet, cozy and heartwarming read for all to dive into. The characters were like a warm hug and I could not get enough of them, the overall scenes and the ending. I really, really enjoyed that this one felt real.

Absolutely loved this story. I really enjoyed the representation of a person with autism sharing real and not an exaggerated message. Sometimes I feel like storylines that focus mainly on the diagnosis, it makes the person seem unreal. This was written perfectly and shared a truth but the character isn't defined by their title. Thank you for that. I loved how this storyline played out allowing the reader to want to continue to found out more. Each chapter titled as a scene was cute. Really enjoyed character progression and sharing of background to help to make a connection. Overall, I absolutely enjoyed this story and would love to read more from Elle McNicoll in the future. Highly recommend!

Sweet, cozy light read with a fresh perspective! This one has all the right elements for a great holiday/wintery escape book. I loved Jasper’s perspective and development. Finally a female protagonist on the neurodivergent spectrum! A lot of my students will connect to her and see themselves in her, which is always something I’m looking for when choosing classroom books. At times there was a little hardness/angst that I wasn’t expecting, but for me that made the book more realistic and not just a trite sappy romance. This was a quick read for me and definitely one I will put on my shelf at school.

Wow! What a fun, Gilmore girls vibes , small town, wintery love story. I absolutely love the Autism representation in this book. As someone who has worked with individuals with Autism for the last 17 years, it was refreshing to see a more realistic viewpoint from Jasper, the female main character. Often times, autism is portrayed from a male viewpoint so I truly appreciated a female voice. The plot made me nostalgic for small town life and a winter romance. Perfect YA read. I can’t wait to recommend it to all my older students especially those on the spectrum to read.

3.5 stars!

This story is such a nostalgic version of growing up in a small town, and about the importance of kindness and community. I absolutely adored this story and though the story started a bit slowly, it turned into quite the dramatic finish!

Absolutely recommend, and thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Oh wow! Buckle up for a rollercoaster of emotions with this absolutely heartwarming, unbelievably witty, irresistibly charming, and profoundly thought-provoking story featuring the incredible Jasper! She's not your average character; she's neurodivergent, fiercely independent, and on a thrilling quest to navigate the twists and turns of her diagnosis, the complexities of friendship, and above all, her burning desire to carve out her very own path in life. With her overprotective and controlling family always on her back, Jasper's determined to break free and follow her heart's deepest desires. Let's not forget the intriguing Arthur (does she like him or not), changes brewing with her best friend (does distance make the heart grow fonder or creates more distance), and the task of dealing with her bridezilla sister (I’m warning you that she is a lot) - all wrapped up in the coziness of a quaint town under the spell of winter (my favorite season). The characters? Utterly believable and oh-so-charming. The setting? Simply delightful. And the message about pursuing your dreams, being true to yourself, and steering your own ship? It's going to stay with you long after you turn the last page. Trust me, you don't want to miss out on this gem!

I really enjoyed this arc read as someone who is neurodivergent I really connected with the story. I love YA genre books and I love, especially why a romance because you don’t need something super spicy to be invested into the characters and their stories. So I really appreciate that. Jasper was such a relatable character because autism is some thing that is hard to diagnose in women and it’s something that is not talked about enough. I also love dual POVs so we love that!

I’m someone who masks and is able to put it on and off easily and people are shocked when I tell them I’m on the spectrum and it’s so relatable watching jasper navigate that!

I genuinely loved this story and how multifaceted it was it it was more than just a love story. I feel like it was also a love story for Jasper to love herself.

Thank you so much NetGalley for letting me read this amazing story!