This was a whoosh of a ski run! I really enjoyed this story from the instalove to the rom com worthy dates and golden retriever energy that Tyler (ahem) brought to the stage. I also really appreciated that despite the formulaic (predictable) arc of romance novels, this book lets the leads communicate (mostly) maturely and get to the root of the issue! Of course there are a few moments of 'will they?' but that's just par for the course (I know, the wrong metaphor but I don't ski) in this genre.

This book strikes a great balance between the central character's main motivations and her own development as well as the other leads priorities, skills (ahem, skiing) and issues. It asks some good (but not too deep) questions and allows characters to shine for who they are.

This novel follows Alix as she tries to ghostwrite the memoir of a once upon a time boy band’s lead singer. Except that it’s not so simple! She is offered a penthouse suite in Vermont to really get down to work but she has yet to speak with said lead singer and is very distracted by the gorgeous ski instructor next door. Will they or won’t they? And who is he really?

3.5 stars. This was a cute, cozy romance between an entertainment reporter who is ghost writing a book, and the ski instructor at the lodge where she is staying. I really enjoyed our main characters and their romance. I thought the atmosphere was very cute and well done, and I loved seeing all the dates Tyler took Alix on. I felt like we saw a lot of character growth from both characters over the book, which I love in a romance. I will say the plot and its twist was pretty predictable, but still overall a cute, fun read.

Alix gets hired to be a ghostwriter for a memoir for one of the members of a former boyband, eight years after one of the other members disappeared after a fight. Now, as Alix finds herself at a ski resort in Vermont, she meets Tyler, a ski instructor, and the two become close during her month there. Alix starts to delve deeper into what happened eight years ago and gets more than she bargained for.

The plot of this book was good, not really something that I've read before in a rom-com, but also not really extravagant in a way that made everything complicated. I did enjoy the story and the slight mystery that was thrown in with what happened to the missing band member. It really added an extra bit of enjoyment to the story, because for a bit, until I figured it out before the big reveal, figured out what happened, I was also wondering what had happened and it kept me from getting bored.

The characters were so sweet to each other, which just made me like the romance even more. I did like Alix and Tyler, separately, and together, they were even better. The banter was great, the progression of the relationship was natural, and their dates were just perfect. I just wish that we got to see more about our MMC and his past, and what else led up to what happened in the past. However, I didn't really like the whole "running away" thing in the present. I understand why he felt like he had to, I just didn't want to see it and it was a little disappointing, but also redeemed afterwards.

Lauren really had me wanting to fight. She was really ruining everything and spreading information she shouldn't have and then getting mad at her sister for not telling her things? Wow... I wonder why....

However, the true VIP of this book, is Puffin, out sweet angel who deserved so much more screen time.

Thank you to Kayla Olson, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is my honest review.

The Lodge by Kayla Olson was the perfect cozy romance book that I needed to read this winter. Set in picturesque Vermont this book gives all the Hallmark movie vibes. Throw in a hot ski instructor and you know things are going to get good. This charming novel will warm your heart. I highly recommend!

I received this book as an ARC a few months ago and for some STUPID reason did not read it right away. This book was truly great. (In SNL character Stefan’s voice) it has everything: boy bands, celebrity drama, a gossip writer, snow, cats named Puffin and mystery!
I had no expectations. I actually already own Kayla Olsens book The Reunion, but it’s on my never ending TBR. But now that I’ve read this, I think it’ll be my next physical read.

Tyler is definitely one of my new book boyfriends. And Alix is a great FMC.

The concept is that gossip writer Alix has been asked to ghost write for a former boybander (Sebastian Green) upcoming memoir. She is set up to stay at a luxury snow lodge for a month to write the book and subsequently meets a hot ski instructor. While they slowly get to know one another, a secondary story is being told in alternating chapters. We find out that the band Sebastian was in dissolved after one of his bandmates (Jett) mysteriously disappears at the height of their fame. Jett and Sebastian also had a contentious relationship, and as the story unfolds, we learn more about their relationship.
But the best part of this book is the development of Tyler and Alix’s relationship. It seems natural and swoonworthy.
Side characters, like Alix’s sister who is a HOT MESS and the adorably quirky barista at the coffee shop are fun additions to break up the two main storylines.
I won’t discuss the mystery aspect, but I will agree with some other reviewers and say that I did see it coming but still liked the reveal and its impact on the overall story.
The end had me blushing! My first 5 star read of 2025!


many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest come here

The Lodge, while entertaining in the moment, was ultimately fairly predictable and at the same time not all that memorable. I thought the premise was interesting, but that the main male character was a little whiny. Just my opinion. That being said, it was a fun way to spend an afternoon. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc.

I adored The Reunion and had high hopes for this one! It was fun and sweet, but unfortunately it was a bit predictable and fell a little flat for me.

It was incredibly readable - I finished it in less than two days. i just wanted a bit more of everything - more mystery, more character development, etc. The subplot with Alix's sister I found a bit frustrating and unnecessary as well.

Overall, it was perfectly enjoyable!

This book was very cute with great winter vibes! I really enjoyed the relationship in this and the social media aspect was fun too. The plot definitely held my attention more than the relationship but I liked it nonetheless!

Alix Morgan has been an entertainment journalist for years, and just got the opportunity of a lifetime to ghostwrite the memoir of one of the members of the hottest boy band of all time, True North. Alix can’t write in peace in her NYC apartment, so the publisher sends her to seculded Vermont ski resort Black Maple Lodge. Alix meets charming ski instructor Tyler and decides to mix in some fun with her work. Little does she know, she’s about to be at the center of the mystery of what happened to Jett Beckett, True North’s singer who disappeared eight years before.

This was so fun, I loved it! I’m a huge pop culture/celebrity gossip aficionado and I love the way Kayla mixes pop culture into her adult romances! The mixed media elements add a colorful touch to the story.

The romance between Alix and Tyler was so stinking cute! The dates that he planned were pure winter romance perfection and I swooned right along with Alix.

I also really enjoyed the mystery element even if I was able to figure it out pretty quickly. It added to the story without being too overpowering to the romance.

Thank you, @atriabooks for an advanced digital copy of this book!

The Lodge, set in snowy Vermont, is a delightful winter read that perfectly captures the cozy and serene atmosphere of the season. The story follows a ghostwriter seeking a quiet getaway to focus on her work, only to find herself drawn to Tyler, the ski instructor living next door. With its inviting hearths and picturesque snowy landscape, the resort setting brings the winter vibe to life and creates a perfect backdrop for the romance to unfold.

The romance between the lead characters, Alix and Tyler, is beautifully done, with just enough tension to keep readers hooked. Their chemistry is undeniable, making their slow-burn connection feel natural and heartwarming. The pacing is steady, and the tension surrounding the mystery of how the story will come together adds to the intrigue, making it hard to put the book down.

However, the main character’s sister felt like an unnecessary distraction. Her presence was sometimes annoying, and I wanted to skip over those sections. Fortunately, the rest of the story more than made up for it. With witty banter, endearing moments, and a lovable romance, this is the perfect post-holiday read for anyone in the mood for a cozy, feel-good rom-com with a hint of mystery.

This was a sweet read. The scenery/setting was my favorite part and is perfect for the winter season. A light hearted, closed door romance for boy band lovers- the similarities/knock offs between One Direction cracked me up.

this was actually so cute! i loved the lore behind seeing both ends of tyler’s story and how alix plays into it- while the ending was predictable, i didn’t mind because i enjoyed reading the whole story to get to the end point. i didn’t like that alix didn’t stand up to her sister - i felt like that would have been a great part of her own growth, but still loved the entire delivery overall!

Alix has the opportunity of a lifetime if she can just get her sister to leave her alone and focus on ghost writing a pop sensation's memoir. She is sent to a lodge a bit off the grid and promised dedicated one-one one time to interview him. Only he rarely responds, if ever, and she is encouraged by her best friend to make the most of her getaway. The boy-next-door/ski instructor gives her the perfect excuses to take breaks and enjoy Vermont.
I enjoyed The Reunion last year so it just made sense to read another from Kayla. I can't pinpoint exactly why this didn't work for me as well. It is insta-love at it's finest (there's a moment of tension between the MC and love interest that could have given this book some needed depth but it was glossed over) and the epilogue does assist with it but... I think it was a little too surface level for me. I also recently read another book with a very similar premise so the comparison game was very strong with this read. I would try another from Kayla in the future. I like her voice quite a bit and I'm curious how another would sit with me.
Thank you to Atria and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

The cozy, wintery vibes were definitely on point! I loved the Vermont ski resort setting with mountain views, blazing fireplaces and a quaint coffee shop serving delish lattes. The storyline was very enjoyable- Alix is ghostwriting a memoir for an ex-boy band member who loves attention and drama. While trying to take breaks and enjoy all the ski resort has to offer, she decides to try ski lessons. Tyler, the sexy ski instructor was an added bonus! There were some adorable, dreamy moments in this closed-door romance that made me smile and I loved the elements of mystery within the book. While I couldn’t stand Alix’s sister, it showed how patient, caring and supportive Alex was. Highly recommend adding this to your TBR this winter!

This was a fun rom-com book. I loved the winter Vermont vibes. Alix is an entertainment journalist who is looking to escape her younger sister for some peace and quiet while she ghostwrites a memoir for a former boy band member. Sebastian. Sebastian sends her to a lodge in Vermont to help her write but what Alix doesn't expect is the hunky neighbor who is also a ski instructor. Sparks fly but there is more to her ski instructor than first meets the eye.

I loved the way the novel was written. In between the story there are texts and past news articles. This was a fun way to get caught up on all of the back story and kept my interest while reading. There was also a twist which I did figure out pretty quickly but it definitely helped to make this a great read. The romance was great and really made me want to cozy up with my loved one at a lodge in Vermont. Overall, a wonderful winter romance read with a great twist.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

The Lodge by Kayla Olson

Entertainment writer Alix Morgan has been given the biggest opportunity of her career, ghostwrite the memoir for Sebastian Green one of the frontmen of the very popular boy band True North. The band effectively broke up shortly after the other lead Jett Beckett disappears. Nearly a decade later people don’t know the whole story and it is Alix’s job to give them one.

I have read quite a few romance novels in the past year, more than I have previously. To say that this one stands out is an understatement. I was suspicious of the twist in this for a while and it is so good. The first part of the book is a slow burn but keeps you interested, after about a third of the book I literally could not put it down. It is one of those where you want to find out what happens next and you are so engrossed in the story you don’t realize hours have passed.

The characters are great and even those I thought were more on the annoying side added to the story in a way I didn’t expect. There is a lot to this story to love. I went in not knowing anything about what to expect from this one and it easily was a five star read for me.

LOVED this book! I couldn’t hardly put it down once I started, it was so good! I actually got this arc in September and was saving it for colder months. It sure did deliver!! From the cozy Vermont lodge setting, boy bands, a winter-y wonderland with some little twists and turns along the way, but all in all an easy, fun winter read. It was a hit with me and highly recommend for any of my fellow rom-com loving friends! This book comes out in just a few days - mark your calendar for January 7th, because you’re going to want this on your tbr list this winter!!! Also if you haven’t read Kayla Olson’s “the reunion,” I highly recommend that one too :)

A huge thank you to Atria Books via NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I liked this author's last book a lot and this one was equally feel good! You have to suspend disbelief a little but the setting was dreamy, the romance was authentic and it also felt unique to me. The characters were well written and I enjoyed this winter wonderland romance!

The Lodge comes out next week on January 7, 2025 and you can purchase HERE.

"Have you ever gone ice skating before?" Tyler asks once we're done with dinner.

"Only long enough for my brother to trip and fall and get his left pinkie skated over. I was eight."

Tyler grimaces. "Gruesome. Well. I promise nothing like that will happen, because I'm not going to let you fall." The idea of him breaking my fall-those lean, muscular forearms and his (for lack of a better word) capable-looking hands-makes me feel all sparkly inside.
It's almost enough to make a girl want to fall on purpose.

I am an absolute sucker for a story set at a ski lodge, so I was so excited when I read the description for The Lodge. It sounded cozy, light and fun, which was exactly what I was looking for, and it definitely delivered (the fact that I finished the last chunk of the book while we were also experiencing a snowstorm was a delightful treat)!

Olson’s pacing is excellent and is made even better by the text messages, social media posts, emails and texts interspersed between the chapters. Though there isn’t much spice, the chemistry between Alix and Tyler is fantastic. I loved them from the get go. And even though I figured out the big twist pretty early on, Olson still does a nice job sprinkling clues throughout for Alix and the reader to find. The family storyline and discussions on the price of fame help to keep this book from being too one note and all came together quite nicely.

If you are looking for a fun and snowy winter read, I definitely recommend checking out The Lodge when it releases on January 7th!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-Arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you Netgalley and Atria books for this arc.

3.5 ⭐

This was really nice, cozy and fun read. I finished it within two sittings. I really enjoyed the story overall but the big *mystery* in the book for me was really easy to figure out. I think the pieces get connected pretty early on in the book, so maybe that's why i didn't give this a higher rating.

Overall though, I genuinely liked this. I loved the interactions between her and Tyler. I wish we could've gotten a little bit more of Tyler's side of things but that was just a personal preference.

I do love a boy band though, so this was very much an enjoyable read for me.