Cute rom com but I felt like it kind of ended abruptly. I finished the last chapter and then bam! Epilogue. I called the twist pretty fast so it’s definitely predictable but I don’t mind that when it comes to this genre, most romcoms are predictable. Her sister Lauren was also really annoying and I felt like Alix forgave her too fast for making some pretty huge mistakes. Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC!

Super sweet and cozy read! Has a little mystery in there that I wasn’t expecting, but am not mad about! This overall was a really cute book!

I enjoyed this romance with a touch of mystery. I’m not much of a boy band fan, so I can’t really speak to that part of the book, but the wintry descriptions (taking place February-March) at a Vermont Ski Resort were cozy and inviting. I was intrigued enough with the mystery of how everything was going to come together that I didn’t want to put it down. Overall a fun winter read for after the holiday season!

✨ARC Review✨

The Lodge by Kayla Olson tugged at all of my heart strings! (Music pun, intended) 🎸 This is a romance book for lovers of a celebrity romance that is very light on the spice but full of romantic dates. Also, he cooks for her?? Like, say no more. (booking my trip to Vermont now, thank you very much) This book does flash between the FMC perspective, “audio files” from the individual she is ghost writing for, and various news “posts” like twitter and broadcasts so it can be a little overwhelming and slightly confusing in the beginning but once you understand the changes in the writing, it’s smooth sailing. AND just a freaking adorable read.

This book started as a cute winter romance with plenty of cozy vibes, but it lost its charm once the drama with the band took center stage. The story felt like a less impactful, cheesier version of Daisy Jones & The Six, lacking the depth and originality I was hoping for. While this wasn’t the book for me, I’d recommend it to anyone in search of a low-stakes, light romance to enjoy during the colder months.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

3⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of The Lodge.

Alix is headed to a beautiful resort in Vermont to work on ghostwriting a book for former boy band member Sebastian. The band he was in broke up when another member Jett disappeared almost a decade ago. Alix is struggling to connect with Sebastian to discuss his questions about his book. She decides to brush up on her skiing in her downtime and meets her neighbor Tyler who is a ski instructor and they hit it off instantly! As Alix gets deeper into the book she makes a discovery that could set the pop culture world on fire!

This book had a very different plot than anything I have ever read. There were some cheesy parts but overall a good love story but I did not expect the small mystery aspect of this book. Overall I enjoyed it.

3.5⭐️ rounded up - ah this was cute!

This was a great winter read, and would be perfect to enjoy sitting by a fire while drinking hot cocoa and watching the snow fall. It was cozy, and while it had conflict, it wasn’t anything that felt high stakes. I was in the mood for something *feel good* and light, and this delivered! Such a different premise of many other romances I’ve read, which made it even more fun. This is for all the girls who loved boy bands back in the day!

The best way I know how to describe this type of book is “Hallmark movie.” I love Hallmark movies, but I mention this so the reader goes in with the right expectations, as those types of stories aren’t for everyone!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for an advanced copy to read and review! All opinions are honest, and my own.

This is a cute cozy winter-ish read (not set around a holiday). I really enjoyed both FMC (Alix) and MMC (Tyler). However, would of enjoyed it a lots more if told it dual pov (would be nice to really know more of Tyler's back story). I also enjoyed the interviews, "voice" memos, text cover that sometimes thrown in between chapters. My biggest gripe is i feel like conflict was always resolved too quickly and it made it feel like there was any real tension. If the books was just a few chapters longer to flesh the story out a little bit more, it would of made it better.

4 stars

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

This was a cute story, great for people who like romance with no spice. Was hooked on the story and loved the celebrity drama.

60/100 or 3.0 stars

While I enjoyed my time reading this, and it was fun, there isn't all that much that is memorable.


The characters are simply fine. The "twists" were predictable in a way that did take away from the story for me. The younger sister, Lauren, was really just there to make drama and add to the twists. The book could have been a 3.25 or 3.50, but the ending was too far for me. The stroy takes place within an eight month window, most of it within a month, and the ending was too much. In this case, a more open ending would have been just fine. I don't want to give spoilers, but if you read it you will know what I mean.

A cute romance set in a picturesque ski lodge! Couldn't ask for a better winter read. I loved the way kayla wrote Alix and Tyler's relationship and how it stayed strong throughout the unfolding drama. Made for a guilty pleasure read.

Thank you to the publisher for the free ARC, out January 7!

Rating: 5/5 stars

Alix Morgan is an entertainment journalist hired to ghostwrite a memoir for former boybander Sebastian Green—whose bandmate Jett Beckett disappeared suddenly eight years before. But when she heads to a Vermont ski lodge for a writing retreat, Alix may just find the clues to unravel Jett’s disappearance…and a hot ski instructor to warm up the cold weather.

I ADORED THIS BOOK. A ski instructor romance was everything I never knew I needed, and the cozy snowy vibes were absolutely perfect (I’ll be needing cocoa and soft pretzels STAT). Also, if anyone out there ever wants to win my love, this book could be an instruction manual for perfect dates (every single meal sounded AMAZING, truly).

The mystery element and celebrity drama of this were the perfect additions and kept me FULLY entertained the entire time (Kayla does mixed media interludes between chapters SO WELL and I love them SO MUCH). I can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on this in a couple weeks! (Also, I’m in the acknowledgements of this book, which is an actual bucket list item, so thank you Kayla for making my day!!!)

CW: mentions of death of parent

ARC Book Review!

The lodge by Kayla Olson

5 / 5⭐️

1 / 5 🔥


I can’t stop. Dipped into another 2025 ARC🙈

I’m so glad I did!! I read this over Christmas and it was the perfect winter read (not Christmas focused but felt appropriate). I literally could not put it down and don’t have a single bad thing to say. The characters were perfection, the setting was beautiful and the ending had me feeeeling.

Thanks @netgalley for this advanced reader copy! The lodge by Kayla Olson comes out January 7, 2025


This book is for you if you like :

Mystery
Snowed in
Ski resort vibes
Intentional romance
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I sadly dnf:ed this… i just felt like i coudnt connect with the characters or the story. However, it is a very cute idea. But it just wasnt for me sadly.

This is the perfect winter romance!! The snowy Vermont resort setting complete with fireplaces, mountain views and maple lattes made it such a cozy read. The main characters, Alix and Tyler, were both so kind and I thought they handled conflict in realistic, mature ways. They were already sweet characters on their own, but I loved how they brought out the best in each other too.

Summary: Alix Morgan, a ghostwriter for Sebastian Green's memoir, uncovers True North's mysteries while falling in love with ski instructor Tyler at a luxurious Vermont resort.

I couldn’t get enough of this one and it’ll definitely be on my list of favorite romances this year!

The perfect winter (non-holiday) read. I could easily envision the Vermont lodge. This story had a little bit of insta-love, but the entertaining subplots gave this book substance.

thank you netgalley for the e-arc. a cute and cozy atmospheric read that was perfect for the holiday season.

Thank you to Atria Books and Kayla Olson for this ARC.

I am a big seasonal mood reader, so when I saw that “The Lodge” was set in a Vermont lodge during the winter, I knew it was the perfect read to get me in a snowy mood. ❄️

⛷️What did you love the most?
I loved the overall plot of this book. Yes, I did guess the twist early on, but it didn’t ruin any of the book’s ambiance for me. The plot was very cute and heartwarming (except for the sub-plot with Alix’s sister; more on that below).

The setting of a Vermont lodge in a small town was also incredibly vivid, and it made me want to learn to ski as soon as possible. It is the perfect combination, from the warm hot chocolate to the cozy fireplace cuddling scenes.

⛷️What to expect:
❄️Single POV
❄️Celebrity memoir ghostwriter
❄️Winter rom-com
❄️Cute ski instructor

🔥Steam level: closed-door

⛷️How was the romance?
This is a closed-door romance, but I felt that was the perfect choice for this plot. The chemistry and romance of Tyler and Alix were so addicting to read. I loved their communication, consideration of each other’s privacy and work, and the way their relationship progressed. Even being closed-door, there is still enough tension and chemistry to make you fully root for this beautiful couple.

⛷️Do you recommend this book?
I must call out the one thing I absolutely despised about this book: Lauren, our FMC’s sister. I wish she didn’t exist because the relationship between her and Alix was just plain toxic. There is no good resolution here as her behavior is swept under the rug (even though she GASLIGHTS Alix multiple times). Just because she’s the youngest kid, Alix excuses her behavior. Like…no?!

Okay, now that I’ve ranted about that little aspect, I do have to say this book was adorable. I highly recommend it if you love rom-coms. The cozy, wintery vibes are perfect, the romance is adorable, and while the twist is predictable, it still makes the plot fun to read.

4.5/5

A totally fine romance/mystery that had some holiday vibes but weirdly threw a mystery in. The biggest killer was the lack of likable characters

This felt like it started good and then everything kind of went downhill.

My biggest complaint is that it reads like a YA novel without actually being one. I'm pretty sure Alix and Tyler and Sebastian and others are supposed to be in their early thirties but their actions and conversations feel much younger. Lauren feels like a high schooler.

Tons of interesting themes and topics are brought up over the course of this story. Unfortunately, none of them are explored with any kind of depth. It's like they're included for the shock factor of the moment and then swept under the rug. There's also a lot of telling and not enough showing.

There's zero spice. That in and of itself wouldn't bother me (not everything needs to be spicy) but the romantic scenes feel defensive. Like they're apologizing and defending themselves for not being spicy? There was a weird tone. Also, the whole romantic storyline was very insta-love and I didn't like that one bit.

The sense of place is on point, though! It's very wintry and delightful. Another reviewer said it best: this reads like a Hallmark movie.

<i>Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.</i>