Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own

A book that truly encompasses most girlhood fantasies with a romance novel ending.

I love when a romance novel is so good that spice isn't missed. In fact I would probably skip it to keep going to the drama. Wonder book, I'll definitely will be reading Kayla Olson books in the future

Kayla Olson’s The Lodge, out today, is the perfect wintery rom-com escape—a cozy, heartfelt story that feels as comforting as a steaming cup of hot cocoa after a day on the slopes. This book transported me back to my teenage years, listening to boy bands and daydreaming about what it would be like to meet one of the stars.

The story follows Alix Morgan, an entertainment journalist turned ghostwriter, who lands her dream job working on a memoir for Sebastian Green, a former member of the iconic boy band True North. When Sebastian offers her a luxurious penthouse at a Vermont mountain lodge to complete the project, Alix jumps at the chance to leave her noisy city apartment behind. But while the scenic backdrop of Stowe inspires her creativity, she finds herself distracted by the charming ski instructor next door, Tyler.

The setting of this novel is a love letter to Vermont winters. And it’s not just my imagination—the resort described in the story is literally on the other side of the mountain I skied on just last week. Olson captures the essence of the area perfectly, from the cozy lodge ambiance to the crisp mountain air, making the setting feel as familiar and inviting as home. From Alix and Tyler’s fireside dates to their playful moments on the slopes, the atmosphere is pure magic, brimming with seasonal warmth and charm.

What sets The Lodge apart is its multi-faceted storytelling. Through Sebastian’s candid voice memos, Alix’s professional challenges, and Tyler’s own perspective, Olson gives readers an immersive experience. The plot skillfully weaves Alix and Tyler’s budding romance with the deeper mystery surrounding True North’s breakup—particularly the enigmatic disappearance of its lead singer, Jett Beckett. As Alix dives into her work, the shadow of the boy band’s troubled history looms large, touching on themes of power dynamics and exploitative management within the music industry.

As someone who grew up loving bands like Menudo (and later learning about the troubling scandals behind the scenes), I appreciated how Olson didn’t shy away from exploring these dynamics. The discussions around binding contracts and the inherent power imbalances made the legal part of my brain light up—it added depth and complexity to an otherwise lighthearted story.

But this book isn’t all serious. It’s a rom-com at its core, filled with meet-cutes, flirty banter, and side characters you’ll adore—Julie, her brother, and even the hilariously self-absorbed Sebastian Green, who adds just the right amount of drama. Every page feels infused with joy, from the steamy coffees and seasonal treats to the swoon-worthy ski dates.

I flew through The Lodge and loved every moment. If you’re looking for a cozy, romantic escape with just the right balance of humor, mystery, and winter vibes, this is the book for you.

The Lodge is a romance set in ski resort in Vermont about Alix being a ghostwriter for Sebastian who was famous for being in a boy band. The book has an element of mystery as well with the disappearance of Jett, who was in the same band.

I really enjoyed how Alix and her experience at the ski resort. Her meeting with the ski instructor Tyler and their growing relationship. To her making friends with the staff at the resort.

I really enjoyed Tyler and Alix together. Tyler was such a cinnamon roll with his attention to her.

I enjoyed the voice memos and social media articles that were in between the chapters to give us an insight to the past for True North. The narration of Andi Arndt, Graham Halstead and Gilli Messer was perfect in bringing the story to life.

Thank you @atriabooks @simon.audio for a copy of the book.

This is a perfect fit for readers who crave a heartwarming, feel-good romance with a touch of mystery, a dash of humor, and a cozy small-town setting, making it an ideal choice for fans of lighthearted, emotional, and closed-door romance stories.

BOOK REVIEW: The Lodge by Kayla Olsen ⛸️🎤🚠❄️💻🎿💬

as someone who can’t resist a romance set in a snowy town or cozy resort, I jumped at the chance to read The Lodge when I saw it on NetGalley—and bestie, let me tell you it did not disappoint! this cozy winter romance was the perfect way to kick off my January reads. from the snowy Vermont setting to the hot ski instructor, this book had me hooked from the very first chapters!

Alix Morgan finally gets her big break ghostwriting the memoir of Sebastian Green, a former member of the iconic boy band True North. trading her cramped apartment for a luxury penthouse at a Vermont resort, she dives headfirst into the project. but piecing together Sebastian’s story isn’t without it’s complications, especially with the mystery of Jett Beckett, True North’s missing frontman, looming in the background. when Alix isn’t working, she’s falling head over skis (literally😅) for Tyler, a charming ski instructor who just might be the spark she didn't know she needed. between the slopes and the resort’s cozy atmosphere, their romance unfolds with all the heartwarming, wintry vibes you could possibly want.

quick thoughts:
🎤the throwback to ’90s boy band mania was such a fun and unique addition to the story! I loved how the mixed media (emails, interviews, and articles) added depth and context to the True North mystery

⛷️Tyler stole my heart with his sweet and thoughtful dates (seriously, where can I find someone like him?!)

💗Alix and Tyler’s love story was so wholesome and heartfelt, I was ALL IN for every sweet moment

✍️the epilogue was perfection–a sweet and satisfying ending to a charming story

if you’re craving a little winter magic, romance on the slopes, and some nostalgic ’90s vibes, The Lodge is the perfect read for a chilly January day.

Kate’s rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Atria eARC
If you’re a boy band lover and like a behind the scenes look at a celebrity memoir’s ghostwriter, then I recommend giving this romance a go! Alix goes to a ski resort in Vermont to work on the memoir she’s ghostwriting for a member of the boy band, True North. And she just happens to have the sweetest, and sexiest, neighbor/ski instructor. I really liked how this book balanced Alix’s job and the burgeoning relationship. There were some really tender moments between these two, and I loved the thoughtfulness of Tyler. A particular side characters drove me a bit batty - and I wanted more resolution/growth from them. Still, it didn’t detract too much from my enjoyment. This would be a perfect read for when you’re snowed in, want something light and easy for an afternoon.

Alix Morgan, just scored a big break as a ghostwriter for a former band member. As a previous entertainment journalist, who just happened to heavily cover that very boy and, It’s like she has been preparing for this her whole adult life. Not only does she have a dream job but she’s also been offered a month long stay at a ski resort-both a perk and incentive to get the book finished quickly. Excited for some uninterrupted writing time, Alix soon finds herself pleasantly distracted by her handsome neighbor who is also the ski instructor. But their attraction could turn out to be more than just a distraction from her writing as she quickly finds herself falling for him.

I really enjoyed Olson’s previous book, The Reunion, so I was so excited to get the advanced copy of her newest release. I went in mostly blind and just knowing I liked the author. I loved the premise of a ghost writer with former boy band star and was waiting for those two to fall in love, the big star with a normal person. I was pleasantly surprised by the ski instructor and the dates he plans are swoon worthy 🤩 I found myself a little annoyed at some of the characters at times but I loved the boy band nostalgia and the ski lodge setting. This has all the winter vibes and pairs perfectly with a cozy blanket and hot cocoa.
Rating: Liked

I know the year just started, but this is going to be one of my top books of 2025.

It is hard for me to read and enjoy Single POV of romance books because I have gotten spoiled with getting Dual POVs. That said, The Lodge is Single POV and I was captivated the entire story (and the single POV was necessary for the storyline).

I cannot wait to see what Kayla Olson writes next for us!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, I couldn't connect with this book or the characters in the story. From the other reviews it looks like I am not the only one, so that's good, but I am still dissappointed because I was looking forward to reading this book. With that being said, I may try this book again at a later date.

The Lodge by Kayla Olsen has the perfect blend of romance and celebrity drama. Written in the same style as The Reunion, with a blend of prose, celebrity gossip articles, and comment threads, it was a fun read from start to finish!

Synopsis:
Alix Morgan has finally gotten her big break, ghostwriting a memoir for Sebastian Green, one of the lead singers of boy band True North. Due to a tight deadline and a cramped living situation with her younger sister, Alix is offered an all expenses paid trip to a secluded ski resort in Vermont so she can focus on writing.

Once there, she meets her neighbor Tyler, a handsome ski instructor at the lodge. At the encouragement of her best friend Chloe, Alix decides to risk it and have some fun with him. As they hit the slopes and hit it off, she wonders if it might even be worth it to let herself fall for him. Secluded in this snowy setting, everything feels perfect.

However, when her writing research and real life begin colliding and crashing into their relationship, Alix and Tyler have some hard choices to make.

Will they trust one another or run?

If you enjoyed The Reunion, like books with text messages and online articles, or enjoy a romance book set in a cozy setting, you’ll enjoy this book!

Thank you to Atria Books for an advanced reading copy through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Loved this book! Quick and easy read to start out the year. Although this is technically a romance novel, I’d also say it has aspects of cozy mystery. Loved the two main characters and I’ll be dreaming of staying in a cozy lux lodge for the foreseeable future.

What a perfect romcom!! I absolutely adore everything about this book. I was captivated from start to finish. There's romance, along with a bit of a mystery. The book weaves these storylines together beautifully until it all comes together at the end.

Not only is this swoonworthy, but it will also keep you on your toes. It brings to light many things; how our society treats celebrities, how we consume social media, where our moral compass lies, and where you decide to draw the line, and what's most important to you in life.

The winter setting is cozy, the plot will keep you entertained and you'll be rooting for the characters in more ways than one! 5 stars perfection for me, a definite must for your tbr!

Thank you Atria and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy! Release day is 1.7.25 💜

Tags:
-celebrity
-close proximity
-secret identity
-mystery

Closed door spice
(kissing only)

First person

If you are a fan of 90's boy bands and all the drama that surrounds them, then this is the book for you!!

3.5 stars

While I really enjoyed most of this book, I did have to wait until release day to finish on audio. Shortly after starting this I knew my preferred Format on this due to the way the book was set up it would be best enjoyed by me on audio. It was a little slow to start and because of the interviews and recordings that’s why I enjoyed it best that way. I would still recommend this to anyone looking for a little celebrity suspenseish. I loved that it was set up like his biggest fan pulling though for him. Overall I would just recommend this one on audio.

Kayla Olsen hits it out of the park again! I was a huge fan of the Reunion so when I saw this gorgeous book being offered through netgalley I literall jumped at the chance.

This book has the PERFECT cozy vibes with all of your favourite romance elements including forced proximity and the banter is perfect. I think its a great book to start your 2025 reads!

This book was super cute. Seriously, if you’re looking for a winter romance, look no further, this book has it all.

I loved both the FMC and MMC and honestly would’t change a thing. The perfect snowy book for winter. This is my second Kayla Olsen and it won’t be my last. Happy pub day!!!

Thank you for the opportunity to read an e-arc for The Lodge by Kayla Olson. This one really surprised me and I enjoyed it a lot. I'm more for fantasy books, but every so often a rom-com grabs my attention.

STAAAPH!! I loved this so much! I’m 100% the target audience for this book as I am a boy band girly. Grew up on N*sync and Backstreet Boys and I can fan girl on command at literally anything. I think The Lodge is meant for a very specific audience which includes people that unironically love the movie Popstar with Aaron Carter, The Biggest Fan with Chris Trousdale (Dream Street) or dare I say the fictional boy band Du Jour from Josie and the Pussy Cats. Lol because my mind literally went straight to Seth Green when I read that Sebastian would be a central character in this story.

Ok, but seriously if any of this is resonating! I think you’ll love The Lodge.


Read if you like

🥨 Soft Pretzels
🎤boy bands
😍forced proximity
🎿a gorgeous ski instructor
⛄️ snow
⚡️freak storms
⛸️ice skating
🐱a cat named puffin
☕️hot coco & marshmallows

This was a fun holiday read with a twist of mystery. with the inclusion of text threads and articles it really adds another layer to the story. the couple had some cute moments but there were times where they just wasn’t any chemistry and it seemed a bit off.

Ending 2024 with my last 5 star read! This was so cozy and I honestly do not have anything bad to say about this book. I really enjoyed that the main characters were realistic/relatable, and their romance was strong enough that no spice was needed to reflect their feelings for each other. The best part, the pacing! Sometimes in romance books it feels like we don’t truly see a resolution in the main characters' storylines until the last few chapters, so I very much appreciated that it was a steady story with a super cute ending.