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>

4.5 stars!

This was another fun celebrity filled romance from Kayla Olson! I had so much fun just like with the Reunion. The mix in of celebrity tweets/ gossip fanfair between chapters was so much fun! I was definitely hooked from the start and consumed this one in 2 days!

I loved that this definitely gave you boy band heart throb vibes as the world biggest boy band breaks up after one of its members goes missing eight years previously. Currently, one of the two main boys is using a ghost writer to publisher his tell-all book from his POV and our FMC is said ghost writer. Alix was actually the last interviewer to speak with the missing boy band member all those years ago and after hearing how Sebastian speaks about Jett, she’s inclined to believe there was more going on behind the scene.

Part blossoming romance, part mystery, we follow Alix as she holes up in a fancy Vermont resort to write Sebastian’s book about his life in the boy band while she meets and falls for the resorts ski instructor! While I think it took a second to get to the main part of the story, once we got there I was so hooked and raced to finish!!

Love Kayla, love anything she writes!! Thank you Netgalley and Atria for this ARC!

I enjoyed Kayla Olson’s previous book, ‘The Reunion’, and I was excited to get an ARC of her latest release. In ‘The Lodge’, Alix is ghostwriting the memoir of a famous former boy band member. He sends her to Black Maple Lodge to focus on writing where she meets a cute ski instructor named Tyler.

Is this book predictable? Yes
Is it remotely believable? No
Does it give fun winter vibes? Yes

I don’t mind books being predictable as long as the story is good, but I had to suspend my belief for most of the plot of ‘The Lodge’. Alix doesn’t question a lot of things that happen and Sebastian’s behavior is inconsistent. However, if you’re looking for quick and atmospheric read, this book is for you.

3/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5!

I loved this!!! The first 20 ish percent was kind of slow and had me wondering if the whole book was going to be this way but then things really picked up and I devoured the rest!

This is a COZY book but also drama-filled! I am so glad I requested this book from NetGalley and finally picked up a Kayla Olson book because it was just fun. This is for all my girls who loved boy bands growing up (or still might lol) it was giving me N’Sync, Backstreet Boys, One Direction vibes a lot!

Celebrity Romance, Ski Lodge, Snowed In tropes with lots of coffee, foods, hot chocolate + big pretzels? Gondolas, Penthouses, a CAT. I mean, I was meant to read this book lol.

And a moment of silence for the cover because it’s freaking cute. 🥰

The Lodge by Kayla Olson is the perfect blend of romance, mystery, and cozy vibes. The snowy lodge setting is dreamy and makes you want to grab a blanket and hot cocoa (or maple latte) while reading.

While the love story and the mystery are engaging, some of the twists feel a little predictable, and a few plot points aren’t wrapped up. But the characters are so likable and the story so cozy that it’s easy to overlook those small flaws.

Overall, The Lodge is a fun, feel-good read that’s perfect for winter. If you’re into cute romances with a side of mystery, this one’s definitely worth picking up.

4/5 Stars

This was a super cozy read perfect for a cold winter day in front of a fire. I loved the ski area vibes! Alix and Tyler had a very sweet relationship and I was surprised in a positive way about the mystery elements in the story. I was engaged and entertained the whole time. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Lodge by Kayla Olson
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced reading copy! I had a lot of fun with this story. It was filled with drama, dream dates, and a cozy atmosphere ❄️

What would you do if you were signed on to ghostwrite a tell all book about *NSYNC or One Direction? Could you obey to your NDA and stick to the script or would you be tempted to dive deep into the rumor mill?

This was a cute book. It was predictable, but in a cozy hallmark way. Like you know where it’s going, but you’re going to stay along for the ride.
The writing was pretty straightforward, there was some growth with the main characters (except the sister, I was ready to throw hands with her).
There was also a mysterious element to it, but it was easy to pick up early on if you paid attention.
Perfect book if you need to just turn your mind off and get lost in a closed door romance.

I liked this book, it was cute and a nice read. I loved that there was more than just a romance book and there was a different plot with it. It made the book much more interesting!

The mystery and drama was so fun to read and it was pretty good. I loved Alix and Tyler together and I adore them! I do have to admit though it took me awhile to get into it and want to read more, the mystery definitely helped me with that.

This was such an enjoyable and cozy winter romance read with some light mystery. I would definitely recommend!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the arc in exchange for an honest free review!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

In this small town, single POV clean romance we are following Alix and Tyler as they learn to lower their walls and share their secrets.

Alix has been hired to ghostwrite a memoir for a member of one of her favorite boy bands. When she needs to get away from the hustle and bustle of NYC, her subject sends her to a ski resort in Vermont to spark her inspiration. But it's hard to focus on the task at hand when her sister is constantly needing her help hundreds of miles away.

Tyler is a recluse ski instructor who just wants to keep to himself, spend as much time in the snow as he can, and definitely stay under the radar. But when an intriguing woman moves in next door to his penthouse, he can't help but want to learn more about her.

The romance in this novel is second to the characters individual journeys with a lowkey mystery plot underlying every move. Though I called the "twist" from the very beginning, I still found the plot enjoyable and both characters went through a good transformation that had me cheering for them.

Characters - 7 out of 10
Atmosphere - 9 out of 10
Writing - 8 out of 10
Plot - 7 out of 10
Intrigue - 8 out of 10
Logic - 7 out of 10
Enjoyment - 7 out of 10
CAWPILE Average Score - 7.57 out of 10
Star Rating - 4 out of 5
I was provided an ARC copy by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a cozy & cute romance set in a snowy lodge in Vermont. It was perfect for this time of year and had me craving hot chocolate, soft pretzels the size of my face, honey nut lattes, and a hot ski instructor. 😉

Alix is ghostwriting a celebrity memoir for an ex-boy band member and gets to stay in his penthouse at a ski resort in Vermont to work in peace and quiet. What’s supposed to be time spent grinding on this book turns into an unexpected romance with the ski instructor, Tyler, who lives in the penthouse next door.

This was such a fresh and fun closed-door romance. Even with it being closed-door, the author conveyed allll the tension and chemistry between Alix and Tyler! I also loved that there was some suspense behind the backstory of the boy band member she’s writing about—I had my suspicions, but I loved the twist and the execution of it all.

This is the perfect snow-day romance! I loved the writing and the dialogue between Alix and Tyler. I was absolutely swooning over this fictional man! 🥵

This was so much fun, and even though I liked how it ended, I just wanted a bit more. Maybe I’m just disappointed that it had no spicy scenes after all that 😆. Overall, this is a solid 4.5 ⭐️ rating. I enjoyed it, and I think it’s going to be a hit with all romcom lovers—especially those who loved their boy bands growing up. 🙃

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria, for the advanced copy!

This is a light, cozy winter read for sure. Part romance, part mystery, with some boy band late 90s/early 00s nostalgia thrown in. Fairly predictable, but sometimes that is just what you want in a book. As someone who lived in Vermont for a bit and visits often, the descriptions often felt more "inspired by" than realistic, so if you know Vermont well, this may annoy you. If you don't, you'll probably love it and want to book a ski trip to Stowe ASAP.

A cute book, I really appreciated the actual plot line following outside of the romance! The characters were very well formed and I loved how sweet their romance was.

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books and Kayla Olson for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.75⭐️

This was a cute book, easy read. Can be read anytime but especially fun in winter since it’s told from a dreamy, snowy ski resort in Vermont.

Alix has been an entertainment journalist for 10years but recently scored a dream contract - to be the ghost writer for a celebrity memoir for a boy band member she her heavily covered over the years. The boy band broke up 8yrs ago under wild circumstances when one member disappeared.

She is under an NDA so cannot tell anyone she is ghost writing this book - including her younger sister who is staying with her and extremely distracting and needy. Due to the tight deadline, she is sent to a remote ski resort in Vermont so she can focus on the memoir and meet with the subject of the book, Sebastian.

The last thing she expects is to meet a handsome ski instructor who might be the exact distraction she wasn’t looking for.

Ok so this was romance but also had a smidge of mystery…not going to get into that so I don’t spoil things. I didn’t have it 100% figured out but part of it.

I liked the book but some of the characters were annoying and their actions hard to overlook (mainly Sebastian being a stereotypical celebrity, also Jett being disagreeable and rude until you learn more about him and what he was going through and Alix’s sister Lauren made me want to bang my head against the wall).

I’m not sure if it was due to the no spice but the romance wasn’t that impactful to me. I also wish there was more resolution after the issues with Sebastian and Lauren.

Tyler was a gem. The dates he took Alix on - chefs kiss. And him cooking for her, yes please!

I thought including articles and blog posts from the past and present throughout the book was really unique and interesting. It clearly showed that fans are psychotic - enough said.

“The Lodge” is a winter dream! I had the most fun getting wrapped up in this story. Alix’s ghostwriting career takes her to the Vermont snowy mountains while she works on a memoir for a famous boy band artist. She meets a hot ski instructor and uncovers some secrets along the way. This novel was simply fun and peaceful. The characters are so heartwarming and the atmosphere is idillic.

For those who love:
🩵 Cozy Ski Lodge
🩵 Snowy Winter Atmosphere
🩵 Boy Bands
🩵 Writer + Ski Instructor
🩵 Fun Secrets!
🩵 Great tension without the spice

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

The Lodge by Kayla Olson

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Atria Books, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Lodge is such a cozy, sweet romcom with impeccable winter vibes! I especially loved the focus on self-discovery/growth, the super cute romance between the MCs, and the additional mystery element.

Alix is an entertainment writer who covered boy band True North and she was one of the last people to interview member Jett Beckett before his disappearance. Now she is a ghostwriter for another member of True North’s memoir. Alix is sent to a penthouse suite at a ski resort in Vermont to focus on writing the memoir. While she’s there, she meets Tyler, a ski instructor, who lives in the other penthouse suite on her floor. From there, the story delves into a multitude of connecting events that are excellently written.

Alix and Tyler’s relationship developed naturally and their adventures at the ski resort were super fun to follow along with. I also really, really enjoyed the boy band mystery woven throughout the story! The Lodge is perfect for anyone looking for an entertaining, lighthearted winter romcom.

Read if you like:
❄️ Closed door/low spice romance
❄️ Writer FMC
❄️ Boy bands
❄️ Romance with an element of mystery
❄️ Cozy winter setting

Alix is a ghostwriter for Sebastian Green who is an old member of a boy band that is adored by everyone. True North was huge and one of the members goes missing. Seb keeps his name in the media and has a lot to say in his upcoming book, but needs Alix’s help to write it. He sends her away to Vermont to write it where she runs into a ski instructor, Tyler who she ends up really falling for. Alix finds herself in a really hard situation where she has to choose between money and security and love. I like how Olson brought in family drama and the a day to day things that most of us have to deal with. Her sister being one of them, for example.

This book is a fun winter read. It is cozy, the romance is pretty bland and kind of feels flat. I did enjoy the book though. The writing was descriptive and made for an easy read.


*Thank you NetGalley, Kayla Olson, and Atria for an ARC copy in exchange for a honest review*