This is a cute light read that was quick to listen to on audio. Over all I give it 4 stars not a new fave but worth the read definitely

Jasper is the black sheep of her family, thanks to her autism, which her mom has basically had her hide since childhood. Her family aims for perfection and focuses on her older sister, Christine, who is getting married on New Year's Eve. Jasper reluctantly returns home to Lake Pristine for the wedding festivities, with the secret knowledge that she's dropping out of college with dreams of going into interior design.

SOME LIKE IT COLD has a lot of good points to make about neurodivergence and autism, but good grief, it gets repetitive, as if it's beating us over the head with Jasper's diagnosis! It doles out symptoms like we're reading from WebMD, rather than learning about an actual human. Her sister Christine is horrible with no true redeemable qualities, making it difficult to root for the sisters to reconcile.

Jasper's love interest is Arthur, who has remained in Lake Pristine to run his late father's movie house. The two were childhood enemies, but with Jasper's return this childhood hatred turns into a spark. This is quite confusing, as it seems like they truly hated each other, and the story never makes clear how that hate actually manifests as unrequited love.

The story has some cute points, including its picaresque small town holiday setting and Jasper's friendship with Arthur's little sister, but it's bogged down by repetition and a lack of forward momentum. There's also far more telling than showing with the prose, making the book feel very long. Note that this is characterized as YA, but both Jasper and Arthur come across as older.

Overall, this has some fun Christmas aspects, but I couldn't quite get past all the flaws.

I’m going to be honest. I’m not a lover of romance reads; they rarely do it for me and I tend to stay away from them. But I saw the cover of this one and read the description and decided to pick it up as a palate cleanser because I’ve been reading plenty of darker, heavier things lately and was looking for a seasonal light read. But this wasn’t it. It’s advertised as being “big hearted” and I also assumed this meant it would be somewhat heartwarming as well, but it certainly wasn’t either.

My biggest issue with this one was just how awful people were for no good reason. Almost every character acted like they’d been sucking on lemons their whole life even though they hated lemons. I tried to figure out why the author chose to make everyone so awful and I couldn’t come up with a great reason. It also made the characters feel rather flat and more like caricatures than real people. It also made it really difficult to keep reading. And then I think there were supposed to be a couple of “heartwarming” moments when characters who were complete jerks had a change of heart, but rather than offer any explanation, they just completely flipped the script and said the opposite of how they’d been acting the first 85% of the book.

The romance was fine, but I was so distracted by the secondary characters’ behavior that I don’t have much to say about it. Despite this being set in December, I also just didn’t get those vibes even with the mentions of a Christmas festival or it periodically being mentioned that it was cold. The setting was also lacking, minimally described, and I don’t think the book ever says where it’s taking place.

If you’re looking for a family drama/coming-of-age with a little romance, then you may enjoy this one. Don’t read this looking for cozy, though. My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Elle McNicoll's Some Like It Cold is a beautifully layered small-town romance that stands out for its unique blend of emotional depth, sharp wit, and refreshing perspective. Jasper Montgomery, the golden girl with a hidden vulnerability, returns to Lake Pristine with plans to leave her past behind. Arthur, the introspective filmmaker with a knack for storytelling, sees her as a reminder of old wounds and the muse he never expected. Their chemistry crackles with authenticity, drawing readers into a nostalgia, growth, and connection-filled narrative.
McNicoll's portrayal of Jasper as an autistic heroine is not just brilliant, it's inspiring. She offers a nuanced and heartfelt representation that is both empowering and tender, moving readers with its authenticity. The vibrant cast of characters and the vividly drawn town of Lake Pristine provide the perfect backdrop for an intimate and universal story. Themes of self-discovery, forgiveness, and love are handled with McNicoll's signature charm and sensitivity.
This novel stands out not just for its romantic appeal but also for its celebration of individuality and the beauty of embracing one's true self. Some Like It Cold is a testament to the power of coming home—to a place, to a person, or to oneself. The story lingers long after the last page, offering warmth and hope like a comforting winter embrace, leaving readers uplifted and encouraged.

The autistic representation was great but I was bored most of the time. This should have been marketed as general fiction because there’s no romance at 35% in and that was not what I was expecting of. And so many mean people in the story. The sister was so annoying and arrogant on top of everyone. A disappointing read.

Absolutely loved this book. Nothing bad to say about it. I loved the characters and how the relationship grew throughout the story. The sister I could’ve done without, she was just rude all the time and I dislike it took her so long to realize how she treated people.

3.5 stars rounded up. This was a really cute, somewhat festive tale featuring an autistic heroine. I liked the main characters and the small town vibes. The secondary characters were a mixed bag and were often unlikable. The story takes place during the holidays but it wasn't overwhelmingly festive. I found the writing kind of stiff at times, but it was a cute story and I always like seeing books with neurodivergent leads.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

A cute, feel good holiday romance about a neurodivergent character. Not my favorite, but worth the read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC copy of this novel in return with an honest review.

Jasper is returning home for what she thinks is one last visit....and she's holding on to secrets.

Little does she know that she is going to be expected to partake in her sister's wedding AND she runs into her teen rival during her visit.

I didn't really get into this one - it was just ok for me.

3.5-4/5 stars. The first half just really dragged on for me. I was really really hoping something would pick up but it took a long time for that to happen. Once it did, I did really love it! I was also getting tripped up through the entire book that the FMC was named Jasper. My brain had to work hard to remember that she was female.
I liked the small town aspect because that really developed Jasper as a person. She always felt like she had to hide her true self from everyone, including her family. I really appreciated learning about and reading from the POV of an autistic person. I felt a lot of her struggles and inner thoughts were relatable!
It was around Act 2, Scene 5 that I was still thinking not much had happened between Jasper and Arthur. No banter or tension. VERY slow burn. But like I said, after it picked up (around the time of the documentary showing), I really enjoyed it. A lot of great quotes and I loved Arthur.
I loved seeing Jasper's growth in this, along with the people in her life who learned more about her and how to love her and let her be herself.
"It was not pristine, but it was love."

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This was just a beautiful Christmas story with all the feel-goods I love during this time of year especially. Jasper is a neurodivergent who is autistic. Those on the spectrum have some degree of lacking the ability to socialize without some awkwardness due to overstimulation in certain social settings. What I didn't like is that her mother made sure that she knew she was "imperfect" so Jasper carried that label with her, culminating in her not being able to be her authentic self. But she is caring and nurturing and a genuinely good person. I thought her character was well-developed and I really felt for her plight, but she had self-growth and learned to stand up for herself and who she is.

I have been provided with a review copy of Some Like it Cold from NetGalley for an impartial review. This book was just so easy to get lost in. I completely got lost in the story and I just loved getting to see these new characters come together. I just absolutely love this story and I just didn’t want to put it down. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

I really appreciated the main character in this book being a neurodivergent female. It will always continue to be my favorite heroin as I myself am a neurodivergent female! 😁

This book was super cute and while I was disgusted with Jasper's family quite a few times I really loved watching all of their stories unfolding. Such a cute read and I suggest every one gives this book a shot! ⭐⭐⭐⭐ From me!!

Jasper heads back to town after 18 months away at school, thinking she'll be saying goodbye to this beautiful town where no one can accept her. Arthur is her high school nemesis and she can't help but run into him again since his family runs the local theater. I couldn't understand why everyone in this town seemed so mean but yet it's billed as kind of a Christmas wonderland? I was invested in Jasper and Arthur getting together but there were some moments where I was thinking that both of them needed to run away ;).
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Some Like It Cold is such a heartwarming story. It reminded me of Lessons in Chemistry and Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder….a leading lady who has challenges but that makes her endearing. Sometimes it’s nice to read a story through a different lens and feel that innocence of the main character. The world can be more difficult but the love they feel is so real and genuine.
Jasper came home to say goodbye to her hometown only to be sucked right back in. Arthur has a job to do and has no plans to revisit the past or his feelings for Jasper. Both Jasper and Arthur have supportive and loving families but they each have their own challenges to navigate and aren’t looking to add to the pile.
The story is written in several voices which gives you dual perspectives which I liked. I loved the pure innocence of the characters and the warmth the author makes you feel while reading it. If you’re looking for a feel good story look no further!

Sadly this is a DNF for me.
I could not bring myself to continue it, the story just didn’t grab my attention the way I was hoping.

If you are looking for a good to read on a cold winter day, this is it!

Some Like It Cold follows Jasper, a girl who returns home for the holidays (to a small town, no less!), but is planning on a new life away from her family, who struggles to understand her.

She runs into Arthur, her old childhood enemy, and the sparks ignite! I love enemies to lovers, so this checked a box for me in terms of fave tropes. I really enjoyed this book, and think it's perfect for the winter season!

I feel like this book is a bit mismarketed, or maybe I just misunderstood. It read less like a romance and more like a coming of age novel, focusing particularly on Jasper’s neurodivergence and her place in her hometown. Her family is pretty insufferable; honestly, pretty much everyone in the book is insufferable. Not my taste for sure, but I know there are folks who will enjoy it.

This fell flat for me. I really wanted to fully love it but I just couldn't. I however did love the atmosphere and setting ALOT.

Thank you Wednesday Books, SMP, NetGalley, and the author for the gifted electronic copy.

“𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘴, 𝘑𝘢𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.”

This was a cozy YA romance, with the added bonus of some really solid neurodivergence representation.

Jasper is coming home from college for the first time in a long time and she’s hoping not to be back again any time soon. Of course things don’t go to plan when Jasper’s sister Christine gets engaged and Jasper gets caught up in the wedding hubbub. If there is one thing that never fails to be true about wedding planning, it’s that the family dynamics and drama always come out to play.

We get to see how Jasper’s family functions and what those relationships are like. Christine is simply awful. Her parents never seemed to fully accept or adapt to Jasper’s diagnosis. And Jasper just gets walked all over. In the midst of all this we also have Jasper’s BFF (and her boyfriend and her new bestie) in addition to an old enemy(?), Arthur, from high school. Insert our enemies to lovers romance.

Overall this was a super cute and easy read. I absolutely adore small town vibes and enemies to lovers is a favorite trope of mine. Watching Jasper navigate all of these relationships, dynamics, and pressures just made your heart break for her at points. But then watching her own it in certain moments had me smiling and cheering for her. The neurodivergence rep was awesome, especially as the author disclosed that she too is neurodivergent. I do feel like at points it was over explained, but I can appreciate the authors passion for making sure the representation was accurately and respectfully done. There is something special about reading a story told from an “own voices” perspective 💛