A really sweet second chance holiday romance that just got better as the storyline unfolded. Will definitely add to my holiday book stack.

This book was filled with so many emotions. It was the sweetest romance story and just reminds you how sometimes you just need to be open & talk, rather than assume. I want a part 2 with the life after the wedding of Hattie to see what happens with each of them. Thank you for allowing Susan to live!

I read Emily Stone's holiday novels every year and I'm still waiting for one to live up to how much I loved Love, Holly, her 2023 release. While this didn't quite make it to that level for me, this was a solid rom com with alternating timelines and a satisfying ending. I was a little frustrated with the MMC throughout the novel but got a bit less frustrated as the backstory was explained. Overall, a solid holiday read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Second chance romance disguised as fake dating, miscommunication, found family, friends as family, dual timelines (flashbacks)

Cute holiday romance that is low angst and low spice.

Finn is a house flipper who broke up with Mel six months ago out of the blue. He shows up at her door asking for a second chance in the way of a week holiday over Christmas with his family.

Mel runs her own jewelry company and is absolutely shattered when Finn breaks up with her. She tries to move on to no avail and sees the family holiday invite as a chance to ‘get back at’ Finn for how he dumped her.

There just wasn’t much to this book I felt like. The premise was weird to me as to why the “fake dating” even happened in the first place and the miscommunication trope was frustrating. It seemed like a conversation could have fixed everything in this case. I did like some of the family members, but overall the book read in a way that I felt detached. I also knew something was coming and what it was throughout the book. It wasn’t a bad book, but it lacked depth overall. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I was hoping to enjoy this more. I loved the two main characters and their love story. I thought the theme of miscommunication is so real. So many couples do not know how to openly communicate to avoid issues. I loved Finn’s whole family and would love to read more about them. I did not enjoy the dual timeline. Some of the flashbacks I felt did not need to be included. I also had a feeling about Susan, not sure why but I saw that coming.

This book has holiday romance, second chance, faking dating, slow burn and dual timeline all set in Scotland! I love that this book gets a little deeper and have the characters working to rebuild their trust and slowly open up again.

I enjoyed reading “Yours for the season” by Emily stone. It was a cute holiday romance with low spice. I will always enjoy “fake dating”. This might be my first book of fake dating where the couple had previously been together. All the characters were likable and connected well together. I enjoyed the timeline with flash backs of the past and the flow of the story.
This is my personal problem and no fault of the author is that I struggling reading books in third person, however it not change how I felt about the book. I would recommend anyone looking for a cute cozy holiday romance

I enjoyed this book set in the Scottish Highlands. The author did a great job with character development. I'm hoping/assuming this will be a series based on the whole family...? At any rate, Finn and Mel certainly had some things to discuss amongst the Christmas festivities that Susan has planned. I was surprised at where Susan's storyline went. Recommended Christmas read.

This book is a sweet and seasonal second chances/forced proximity romance that I couldn't put down. I would have loved the story if I only got Mel's POV, but the Stone masterfully pulls you back to before the breakup and tells that story from Finn's POV. It gave the plot depth and context that I wasn't expecting initially and was part of what kept me captured and waiting for resolution of their misunderstanding. I really enjoyed this book and the characters developed. If there was a sequel for any character it would be at the top of my TBR pile!

A nice holiday read. I liked reading about the different places they saw in Scotland, it was a bit different for me and I enjoyed it. However, by the time the reason that prompted the breakup was revealed, I just felt a little lost in terms of how big of a deal I thought it would be vs what it was.

#Review: *Yours For The Season* - Emily Stone - ARC [16+]
3.8/5✨
2/5🌶️

When I saw on the author's page that this book is available at request on Netgalley, I ran so fast for a chance at getting a copy. I must thank Emily for promptly accepting me for this e-ARC.🤗

Melanie and Finn had a bumpy past, which was still hurting them both. They were in a relationship which ended when Finn decided that it was best to part ways, even though they still loved each other. But now he really needed Mel to pretend that she was still his girlfriend for only one week, after he told his mom they may have gotten back together. Mel didn't want to have anything to do with Finn again, but in the prospect of celebrating Christmas alone, she concluded that it was better to accept Finn's offer, especially because she really liked his mother. But what happens when their still very much present feelings play a huge role in their destinies and when they need to share one bed for that one week together?

It was nice to follow the imperfect fake relationship Mel and Finn had. It was a pretty big miscommunication between them, not wanting to hurt each other even farther than they've already did. But all those unspoken things may weight more than they could imagine and sorting them out may change everything between them. Of course, it couldn't miss the emotional side from this story, which was something I haven't expected. I'm gonna confess that the way this story was written has bothered me a bit, because of some pretty repetitive questions Mel was constantly having in her head. I usually ignore the small errors from ARC's, but the ones from this book kind of took me out of the story pretty often.

This story was a bit different than what I was used to read by the author, being more fun and not that emotional like the other books I've read by her were. Still, I wanted to know how things would turn out for the characters, if they could amend things or not.

✨Tropes
#SecondChanceRomance
#FakeDating
#OneBed
#ChristmasStory
#ForcedProximity
#Miscommunication

This was an unusual premise for a holiday romance novel. I have read the enemies to lovers plot before but this story was about two people, Mel and Finn, who were in a serious relationship and then fake date. Finn dumped Mel at a very public and humiliating way and Mel is trying to do everything in her power to get over him. Fast forward and Finn is coming to Mel asking her to pretend they are back together so she will spend the holidays with his family. Mel agrees because she loves Finn's family, however she plans on being the one to dump Finn at the end of the week. As you can probably predict things don't go quite the way she plans.

This was a solid romance. Emily Stone is a great writer and I have enjoyed previous books of her. I loved the setting in Scotland and the author did a great job setting the Christmas mood. My only complaint is Finn. Knowing that he dumped Mel before they really got into the story made it very difficult to like him. I enjoyed reading about the other characters and finding out more about Mel's life. I did enjoy this story but did not love the premise.

Thank you to Dell Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.

If you're looking for a cute holiday romance, this author definitely gets my vote. They're fluffy. The characters are likeable. There's drama. There's a cheese factor. It's the book version of a Hallmark movie. This one definitely delivers. A guy is afraid to disappoint his family and asks his ex to pretend that they're back together. So they go on a Christmas holiday in Scotland with his entire family. And I'm sure you can guess where this is going, but you didn't hear it from me.

This book was such a predictable “romance” novel and I still wound up loving it.
Great characters and great writing were the keys.
Mel and Finn had a sudden and traumatic break up and the reader meets Mel as she is still suffering a loss she doesn’t really understand. Finn comes back into her life and asks her to spend Christmas with him and his family to make things perfect for his mother who was very fond of Mel. Against her better judgement and the advice of her best friend she agrees.
The book alternates between the present- Christmas in Scotland and flashbacks to give insight into Mel and Finn’s relationship and their break up. The characters all really come to life with this format. They all have their angst of course.
The ending is of course satisfying but by then I felt so entranced with the characters it only seemed right.
Thanks to NetGalley and Dell for the ARC to enjoy. I have always enjoyed this author’s works

"Yours for the Season" proved to be a captivating read, immediately engaging the reader. The depiction of mutual affection, unbeknownst to the parties involved, is particularly endearing. The narrative's compelling nature resulted in rapid consumption, completed within a single day. Appreciation is extended to NetGalley and Emily Stone.

Themes:
Fake Relationship
Second Chance Romance
Holiday Romance
Forced Proximity

I adored the characters in the book, but the premise is patently absurd. I wish there had been another way to get Mel to be around Finn’s family without this ridiculous agreement. But I loved all of the characters too much to complain by the end.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Mel and Finn must navigate awkward family traditions, shared memories, and lingering feelings by pretending they’re back together for one week over Christmas. As the line between fake and real blurs, Mel starts to question whether she’s truly over Finn—or if this second chance might be the real deal. Add in festive charm, snowy landscapes, and a few family secrets, and you’ve got a heartwarming, slow-burn romance. I'm already in the Holiday season!

So many thanks to NetGalley, Dell/Penguin Random House for the ARC!

This story beautifully captures the complexities of love, heartbreak, and the unexpected twists life can throw at us. Melanie's year has been tumultuous, marked by a disappointing work life, the loss of her best friend, and a public breakup with Finn, the man she thought was her soulmate. When Finn unexpectedly appears at her door with a proposal to pretend they're back together for Christmas, the narrative takes a charming turn.
The setting in the Scottish Highlands adds a picturesque backdrop to the unfolding drama, and the dynamics within Finn's family enhance the emotional stakes. Melanie’s reluctance and the conditions she sets for their arrangement bring humor and tension to the plot. The character development, particularly as Mel navigates her feelings during the week, adds depth to the story.
While the premise might seem light-hearted, it delves into deeper themes of self-worth and reconciliation. The chemistry between Melanie and Finn is palpable, making readers question the authenticity of their emotions as the week progresses. Overall, this book is an engaging read that balances romance and personal growth, leaving readers rooting for Melanie’s journey. A delightful escape just in time for the holidays!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Emily Stone is the queen of Christmas reads and she's back with another one. If I am being completely honest, I really just want to see her write something else. We've got this "we're broken up but will pretend to save face" trope once again that feels very ridiculous in the first place, and as much as I like the characters that she writes I just want her to change it up some. Naturally they fall back in love and she's questioning everything, et cetera et cetera.....

I just really want a different holiday, different version of characters, different bonding experiences from this author because the Christmas books are played out. Maybe I am not in the holiday spirit due to the heat of the summer but this wasn't great for me.