Mariama J. Lockington really outdid herself with this one!

I’ve never read a dual POV book where one character’s story is told in verse while the other is told in prose. It was such a unique experience that I absolutely loved it.

Lyric was heartbreakingly more perfect than she thought she was. She had flaws, but she let her abandonment issues overshadow the love she had from people who weren’t related to her—except for Grandma Viv—but who still adored her. I loved that she learned that she didn’t have to have her whole life figured out right now and could just live in the moment. Enjoy it.

Juniper was also perfection personified. She wasn’t abandoned like Lyric, but she had trust issues and didn’t want to be forced into the norm of graduating high school and going straight to college. She was a non-linear kind of girl, and I loved how she stood up for her dreams.

Lyric and Juniper together were the perfect balance of past traumas and understanding things most wouldn’t. They didn’t see it at first, but of course once they figured it out, the love and understanding outweighed the traumas they had.

This is one of the best YA novels I’ve read so far.

My first sapphic romance read! It had some adorable winter moments. I wish I could have sipped some hot cocoa and snuggled up in a cozy setting while reading this book. However, I found it a bit challenging to connect with Juniper’s character because her perspective was presented in verse. Despite this minor drawback, I still enjoyed the overall read. Thank you to Macmillan & Netgalley!

Fake dating + holiday content creation + soft queer chaos? Yes, please. This tender and joyful YA romance is everything you want in a cozy winter read—with just enough emotional depth to break your heart a little before warming it right back up.

🎄 Meet the Girls:

Lyric: foster care survivor, beauty influencer, bold lips, bold boundaries. Christmas? No thank you. Relationships? Even less.
Juniper: sweet, sparkly, and a holiday romantic... but also lowkey spiraling. Her moms just got back together, her future is on hold, and her gap year dreams are hanging by a glitter thread.
They’re total opposites—and perfect foils. When they collide in a meet-cute worthy of a Hallmark movie (but much, much gayer), Lyric proposes a plan: pretend to be girlfriends in holiday-themed sponsored content. The money gets split. No feelings involved.
…Right?

💗 What You’ll Love:

A fake dating plot that delivers big feels without losing its fun
Dual POV: Lyric’s sharp, emotional prose + Juniper’s soft, dreamy verse = perfect contrast
Found family, queer joy, and learning how to let someone actually love you
Holiday coziness (ice skating! gingerbread! snow selfies!) with a side of real-life stakes
Mental health, class, and family complexities handled with care and heart
🧣 The Vibe:
“I don’t do relationships” girl accidentally falls in love with the holiday-obsessed softie
Tender, slow-burning trust built between two girls who are both just trying to stay warm
Fake dating but with emotional consequences™
Queer joy, chosen family, and the reminder that you are worth a happy ending
🎁 Final Thoughts:
Mariama J. Lockington has given us a sapphic love story that’s sweet without being saccharine, cozy without being shallow, and full of sparkling, lived-in emotion. You’ll laugh, tear up, and maybe even believe in the magic of snow days and second chances. This isn’t just a holiday romance—it’s a story about belonging.

I loved how authentic and genuine the characters in this book felt, each with significant flaws and real life problems. Things that I did not enjoy as much included the seemingly incessant name dropping of brands (iPhone, Nike, etc,) because it started to feel kind of similar to the feeling of seeing sponsored ads on social media.

I really enjoyed it. I liked the characters and the plot lines. The characters had solid development throughout the book, which built the romance up quite nicely. <spoiler>I didn't love the lack of support that Juniper got from her moms. I think that any parent should support their child even if it isn't what they wanted them to do. I think their worries were valid, but not how they handled it in the end. </spoiler>I also don't enjoy when authors use an excessive amount of references to modern day things (e.g. iPhone, Facebook, Nike) when it isn't necessary. I think it detracts from the story. Overall, I enjoyed it and would read her work again.

Content/Trigger Warnings:
Graphic: Abandonment, grief, and mental illness
Moderate: Infidelity

This is my first read from the author and certainly not my last.

There are a lot of elements that I enjoy like fake dating, opposite personalities, dual POV & third act breakup.
The writing style took some time to get used to but once I locked in, the story moved swiftly.
This is heavily emotional read, but the characters are both lovable and memorable. I appreciated the
multilayered characters and moments. It truly gave intense depth to the storyline and MCs.

This is a perfect read for those of us who are apart of the LGBTQ+ community.
It is also perfect as a winter book rec for your TBR.

Very cute YA fiction I loved the main characters I will say I’m not a fan of the influencers popping up in books I’m reading but I understand it’s how the times are right now. IG wasn’t earth shatteringly good or bad mid for me but I would recommend it to my little cousin so there’s that.

Thank you to Net Galley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This Modern Queer Love Story was soo super cute! I am a sucker for all things Christmas so once I saw the cover I knew that I would enjoy this book! Following the story line of Juniper & Lyric who meet by chance and begin fake dating! I always love seeing how fake dating plays itself out!!

I really enjoyed the book!! This will definitely be a great read for the young LGBTQIA+!!!

I really liked the mixture of verse and prose, though I did struggle to get into it at first. The characters were amazing, adorable and so relatable.

I adored the romance created between the two characters, with a perfect holiday winter setting. I definitely related to Lyric and how she struggled with that time of year, as do I- so I loved seeing a character with a mindset like mine directed at the holiday snd winter season.

Overall, I look forward to this book's release and I can't wait to read more of the author's books! 10/10 would recommend.

Amazing book loved the characters abd plot. I couldn't stop reading I stayed up all night. Ii loved the book so much thank you for the arc.

This was a cute story! I liked how Juniper and Lyric’s personal lives didn’t have magical happy endings at the end, it made the story more realistic/believable to me. One part that I didn’t love was Juniper’s chapters being told in verse. It wasn’t bad, but I don’t really think it added anything to the story, so it could have been skipped in my opinion.

This is a cute ya book about two beautiful young ladies who fall I love. Of course they have their up and down.. I enjoyed it. Definitely a read for my lgbtq+ young readers.

I have no complaints about this book. I am a selfish reader so of course I always want more in the end but the ending was cute. Lyric & Juniper are more complex than meets the eye (literally cause the cover gives super sweet but there was def some drama). They were both relatable and had some understandable challenges. There are a lot of flashbacks but they compliment the story well imo. I like how even though each chapter does not have its own name, there is a theme that helps set the tone. There is a lot of queer representation and there isn’t unnecessary trauma behind that. “People be gay” like Quinta Brunson once said and that normal so it should be treated normally.

Mariama J. Lockington’s I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm is a heartfelt and refreshingly modern queer romance that captures the magic—and messiness—of love during the holidays. Told through the dual perspectives of Lyric and Juniper, with prose and verse seamlessly woven together, the novel explores themes of vulnerability, identity, and chosen family. Lyric, a guarded makeup influencer with a difficult past in foster care, and Juniper, a holiday-loving dreamer navigating family uncertainty, are opposites who find unexpected chemistry when they agree to fake a relationship for social media sponsorships. What begins as a business arrangement quickly becomes emotionally complicated, as both girls start to confront what it means to be truly seen and cared for.

Lockington’s writing shines with warmth, honesty, and a keen emotional sensitivity that brings both main characters to life. The alternating styles—grounded prose for Juniper and expressive verse for Lyric—reflect each girl’s inner world in a way that feels both intimate and immersive. With sparkling dialogue, thoughtful exploration of complex family dynamics, and a romance that builds with just the right balance of tension and sweetness, this story stands out as both a feel-good holiday read and a poignant coming-of-age tale. It is a charming, affirming, and deeply moving novel that will leave readers swooning

3.5 stars!

I enjoyed this so much and had a lot of fun with it. When I was reading I was completely lost in the winter wonderland world! My only complaint is that the romantic aspect didn’t feel very believable bc I don’t think there was a lot of time for feelings to really blossom to where they’re in love in the end. But I love the emotional aspect of this book and wasn’t expecting that at all

Lyric, a makeup influencer and cosmetology student, is afraid to pursue romance, whereas Juniper, whose mother's separation made Christmas her least favorite time of year, longs for a gap year. When they meet, they reach an agreement to appear as a couple for a series of holiday-themed social media posts, blurring the borders between genuine and phony.

Mariama J. Lockington delivers a tender, wintery romance that wraps around you like your favorite cozy sweater. I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm stands out for its dual narrative style written in both prose and verse, alongside themes that dig deeper than your average holiday love story.

We follow Lyric and Juniper, two girls navigating grief, change, and identity, who form a fake relationship for holiday-themed social media content. What begins as a creative arrangement quickly turns into a journey of real emotions, vulnerability, and unexpected connection.

Lyric's character is especially relatable. Her responsibility as a caretaker and the way she often puts herself last is portrayed with honesty and care. Her friendship with Kiana is a highlight that is strong, loyal, and grounded. And Grammy Viv is a standout character. She's bold, unfiltered, and full of love.

This book offers more than festive romance. It explores grief, complicated family dynamics, healing, and what it means to open your heart after hardship. While I would have liked more insight into Juniper’s internal growth, the alternating perspectives kept the story balanced and engaging.

A heartfelt, inclusive, and beautifully written story that mixes real-life emotion with holiday joy. A wonderful read for anyone who loves character-driven romance with heart and healing.

This was just the cozy read I have been needing for months. It will be perfect for the upcoming winter. Juniper and Lyric’s chemistry was undeniable and Lockington’s poetic writing left me wanting more. I love fake dating schemes and this one was top tier. My favorite minor additions to the book were the lip of the day and song of the day. I can’t wait for this to hit the shelves!

Wow! Honestly, currently an emotional wreck!

This my first read by this author but will most definitely not be my last.
The characters are memorable, humanly realistic in their complexity (feelings and actions), diverse in so many ways and definitely stick with you beyond the story ending. Their banter, internal dialogue and journey make the story a beautiful journey that captures you from the beginning and never lets go.

The realism, humor, love and growth of all the characters make this an unforgettable story. There are as many laughs as tears, true tears. The setting truly fits the story and adds a needed layer of grounding and understanding of the characters’ worlds, upbringing and world views. This was truly a YA romcom with true life lessons and a timely story in today’s world.

I highly recommend this read for all and especially those who don’t get to see themselves in stories often and those who often feel they hold the weight of the world alone and seeing those around them maybe challenging.

This was a wonderful read .I was hooked from the first chapter. Seeing the development in the characters and their relationship through the story was super cute. This was my first book by this author . I would definitely recommend this book to my readers . I loved the authors writing style.