While I did enjoy this more than the average holiday romance, I needed more groveling and yearning from Finn. Melanie gave in too quickly. It didn’t help that the 3rd act conflict involved him getting upset with her again. But it was a fun and quick read with second chance and holiday vibes. There were also some deeper topics (cancer, cheating with side characters). 3.5⭐️

Thanks NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this Christmas romance! I enjoyed Emily Stone’s new tale about the aftermath of Finn and Mel's breakup. The storyline was typical of the genre, yet Stone’s protagonists had depth. They were imperfect and their issues were not simplified, but complex. Stone does not give us the details of the breakup until the end of the novel, so I was not automatically routing for the couple as I usually do for this genre. The reasons for their complicated relationship was not apparent, and I could not predict the characters’ next actions (which I usually do) which made the book a fun, yet emotional journey. Once I was past the premise (Finn needs Mel to pretend to be dating him to make his family happy over the holidays) and delved into the underlying issues (communication and family dynamics) the story skirted along the women’s fiction (as opposed to classic rom com) genre line. I will definitely grab Stone’s other Christmas novels to read closer to the holiday season!

Loved this book!! This was the perfect Christmas in July read with the perfect setting for the story. A sweet second chance romance I think anyone would enjoy.

Thank you so much for the advanced copy of Yours For the Season. One thing that I really enjoyed in the story was the setting. I spent a couple weeks in Scotland a few months ago so I thought it was a great setting to get Finn's family together for the last "perfect Christmas." I didn't feel connected with Mel/Finn as a past couple and it was hard to root for them getting back together after they faked their reunion for his family. There wasn't enough tension and I thought using Susan getting sick towards the end of the book was unnecessary for Finn to realize that he needed/wanted to be will Mel. Overall, I thought the story was okay.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

I always look forward to Emily Stone’s holiday books! I picked this up for Christmas in July reading, and it was cute, heartfelt and emotional read.
I love any sort of fake dating, and this book also had the “it’s always been you” trope, which is also love! Overall, an easy holiday read, but not a stand out to me.

Unfortunately, this was my least of Emily's books that I've read. The story itself was actually good, but the characters were not interesting and didn't make me want to know anything more about what was going on in their lives. I'm going to decline doing a goodreads review so that I don't contribute to its rating.

The premise for Yours for the Season sounds cute, but in reality it's really annoyed me. If this happened to me, not even a trip to Scotland would make me say yes.

Yours for the Season is a second chance romance with a bit of A Family Stone vibe! This story follows Mel, a jewelry designer, now business owner and Finn, a house flipper. 6 months after Finn and Mel break up, Finn shows up at her flat asking her to come to Scotland to come celebrate Christmas with his entire family because he told his mom they were back together. Mel agrees and the rest is history!

I enjoyed this book! I loved the family aspect and seeing what was going on with the different members of Finn's family from Mel's point of view. I thought it was unique because you have chapters in the present from Mel's point of view and then some chapters from the past from Finn's point of view. I felt like this really helped the reader to understand how they came to be as a couple as well as why Mel would even consider coming to Scotland with Finn in the first place. I really enjoyed all of the sibling banter, as well as the dialogue between Finn and Mel.

This was a sweet holiday read and if you are looking for a Christmas Romance with some family drama sprinkled in- this is for you! Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine/Dell for the ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: Yours for the Season
⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎄🏴‍☠️☃️✨

Christmas time shenanigans? Check.
Family chaos and heart? Check.
Fake dating your ex... in Scotland? DOUBLE check.

Yours for the Season had so many cute elements, and as a huge fan of the fake dating trope, I was especially excited to see it with a festive, second-chance twist. There’s something so magical about Christmas stories set in Scotland—add a fake relationship with your ex, and it’s basically holiday rom-com gold.

I really enjoyed the sibling dynamic between Hattie, Finn, and Mark. It felt warm, messy, and real. And Susan? Absolutely loved her—such a sweet and grounding presence as a mom.

That said, I had a harder time connecting with Mel and Finn as a couple. I was definitely rooting for them to rediscover their spark amidst the magic of a Scottish Christmas, but I didn’t find myself as emotionally invested in their journey as I’d hoped.

Still, this is a charming, cozy second-chance romance perfect for curling up with during the holidays.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Mel is facing Christmas alone. Her parents are away on holiday, her best friend is in Australia and her boyfriend Finn left her 6 months ago in a humiliating public breakup. So when Finn asks her to spend the week of Christmas with his family and pretend they’re back together in exchange for her getting revenge by publicly breaking up with him at the end of the week, she agrees.

I couldn’t connect with the characters and found myself mindlessly turning the pages and ultimately skipping the flashback chapters. That’s not an author problem - that’s a me problem. It was through no fault of the author or her writing. I just simply didn’t click with the story.

I still recommend the book for those that swoon for a second chance romance and love a cozy Christmas in Scotland.

3.5 stars

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up. I love a good Christmas romance! I really enjoy books that switch between timelines so I get to see things play out. I think the author did a great job with that. Also the setting? Loved. The whole Scotland vacation during the holidays was adorable. The FMC Mel I feel was extreamly likable and relatable when it comes to her personal & work life.

I’m not normally a fan of second chance romances. That being said, I do think it was done well. Having to fake date it’s easy to slip into old routines with someone. It was obvious that Mel and Finn still had lots of feelings for each other and I would’ve loved to see more of that expressed. I do feel like the last 25% of the book was rushed and we could’ve gotten some more insight into the characters feelings and why things happened the way they did.

Overall I think it was such a cute holiday romance!

Thank you to Net Galley for this book on exchange for a honest review.

🏠❄️ Yours for the Season – Emily Stone

What if your ex begged you to fake-date him for Christmas… and you agreed—strictly for revenge? 🎄🔥

Mel dumped her ex at his sister’s engagement party. Now he wants her to fake date him for Christmas in the snowy Scottish Highlands. Her price? She gets to dump him again—this time, on her terms. But snowflakes, small-town charm, and one ridiculously cozy cottage later… their fake love starts to feel dangerously real.

What to expect:

✨ Exes-to-lovers
🛷 Fake dating + festive chaos
🏠 Highland holiday magic
💬 Banter, heartbreak, and real feels
💞 Emily Stone's signature emotional gut-punch

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the ultimate cozy holiday romance—with just the right amount of drama, healing, and mistletoe. If you loved Love, Actually with a twist, grab this ASAP.

#YoursForTheSeason #EmilyStoneBooks #HolidayRomance #FakeDatingTrope #ExesToLovers #ChristmasRomCom #Bookstagram #WinterReads #TBR2025 #RomanceReaders #CozyReads

Yours for The Season has an unusual plot but I can't say I haven't watched weirder things (hence the movie EXmas). I was intrigued by the premise and my love for the setting (I love Scotland lol).

Finn dumped Mel six months before the story starts in one of the most humiliating ways possible. I think this made the plot a hard sell from the start but I just rolled with it. With that said, I would say once the story gets going and the characters communicate about why Finn did what he did, the romance becomes an emotional & heartwarming journey. I liked that we got the flashbacks in his POV (helping me warm up to his character). Mel is easily likeable and will have you rooting for her the whole book.

I thought the fake dating and one bed trope were cute and done well. The second chance romance is emotional and feels realistic. The chemistry the characters had was good too. The slow burn made sense here and the tension between Mel and Finn was great.

Absolutely loved the Scotland setting, especially with the holiday vibes. It was so cozy and scenic.

A unique, emotional and charming second chance romance.

Mel thought she was done with Finn after he blindsided her with a breakup—in front of a crowd—six months ago. So when he shows up just before Christmas asking her to pretend they’re back together for a week-long holiday in Scotland with his family, she’s understandably ready to slam the door in his face. But then he throws in the one thing she can’t ignore—his sweet, over-the-top Christmas-loving mom, who Mel truly adores. The deal is she plays his girlfriend for the week, and at the end, she gets to dump him in front of everyone. Revenge, meet rom-com setup.
What follows is a mix of cozy winter charm, slow-burning tension, and some much-needed emotional unpacking. Mel’s pain feels real, but so does the pull she still feels toward Finn. The story alternates between present-day and flashbacks from Finn’s POV, giving us a glimpse into what really went down—and spoiler, it wasn’t as simple as just a bad breakup.
The fake dating trope is fun here, but what makes this story work is the honesty between the characters as they start facing what tore them apart. There’s humor, vulnerability, family drama, and just enough holiday magic to soften the heavier themes. Plus, the Scottish Highlands setting? Perfection. It’s cozy, it’s festive, and you’ll want to book a cottage trip immediately.
This one is more than a holiday romcom. It’s about forgiveness, missteps, and giving love a second shot when the timing finally feels right.

᪥ Holiday Romance
᪥ Scottish Highlands
᪥ Second Chance
᪥ Fake Relationship
᪥ Close Proximiy
᪥ 3rd Person Dual POV

5/5 stars! I adore Christmas books, but I love how this one was different. Not this perfect, Hallmark-y couple. A couple who basically were using each other, either for trips, family functions, or just revenge. However life, as it often does, had another plan. I loved this book and am looking forward to reading more.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Yours for the season.

I found the book to be enjoyable overall.

My only problem was that it could have been set anywhere. When I read books that are set in special places like a beautiful cabin in Scotland in the winter, I expect there to be good descriptions that make me feel cold, like I am there.

I liked the Romance and I liked the MMC's family, it was cute and fun.

YOURS FOR THE SEASON ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Release date 10/7/25. I always love to read a Christmas book in July! Emily Stone is always an author I turn to for a hallmark Christmas style novel. Her writing is easy, comforting and has heart. Mel and Finn broke up 6 months ago. Although life for Mel is busy as ever, her heart is still there. When Finn approaches her to pretend they are back together for the holidays, madness ensues. Overall an easy read, with the holiday flair and family dynamics that keep you invested. Nothing particularly memorable about this one, but a good cozy read. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.

Christmas, Scottish Highlands, cottage, exes and family - The recipe for another great Emily Stone Christmas novel.
Likable characters and a wintry location make for a good winter read.
Yours For the Season follows mother Susan and her children Mark, Hattie, Finn and their partners. Christmas family fun (curling, pottery painting) go hand in hand with some secrets family members aren't ready to share yet.

I received an advanced reader copy via NetGalley.

Emily Stone is a comfort author to me. I feel like I can always expect her books to feel like home and this one did just that!

Melanie’s year has been anything but merry.  The low was being dumped by Finn out of nowhere and in the most humiliating way in front of his family.  So she definitely isn’t expecting him to show up at her door two weeks before Christmas…especially with a surprising proposal.  Somehow Melanie finds herself agreeing to spend Christmas with his family and pretending to be his girlfriend again.  Her reason for going along with the plan is she thinks it will be the perfect opportunity for revenge when she gets to dump him this time around.  But Christmas in the enchanting Scottish Highlands, while pretending to be in love with her ex may lead to something more than she planned.

“There’s never been anyone else for me, Mel—and there never will. You know that right? It’s only ever you.”

Emily Stone just knows what I want in a holiday romance.  She gives me all the heart tugging and swoon worthy moments I could ask for.  Throw in a little magic of the season in an idyllic holiday setting and I’m putty in her hands. 

I loved watching Mel and Finn navigate their still very present love for the other, even alongside the acknowledgement that this is temporary.  I ached for Finn and his feelings that he wasn’t enough or that Mel deserved more/better than him.  I loved that Mel was so willing to reassure him that is not how she saw him, and even after the humiliation of their breakup, she allowed herself to be open to a second chance with him. 

“I never stopped loving you.”

And of course, who couldn’t love Finn’s family members and watching them go throw their own things brought another element to this story…especially his mom and her worries about her children and just wanting them to find their happiness.

Mark your holiday calendars, this one comes out on October 7, 2025!

Thank you Emily Stone, Dell Romance, Random House Publishing, and Netgalley for this advanced readers copy.  It was the perfect read for a little Christmas in July feels.