Yours for the Season is a heartwarming, witty, and emotionally rich holiday romance that effortlessly blends humor with healing. Set against the magical backdrop of the Scottish Highlands at Christmas, this story offers more than just cozy seasonal vibes—it dives into heartbreak, forgiveness, and rediscovery. Melanie is a refreshingly relatable heroine whose sharp wit and emotional vulnerability make her journey with ex-boyfriend Finn both entertaining and deeply touching. The fake-dating trope is used to perfection, with sparkling banter and slow-burn tension that keeps readers eagerly turning the pages.
Author Emily Stone masterfully balances the charm of a romantic comedy with genuine emotional depth. Finn's chaotic attempt to salvage his family’s Christmas by enlisting Mel in a staged reunion sets the stage for hilarity, but it's the evolving sincerity in their interactions that truly shines. As old wounds resurface and long-buried feelings rekindle, the story transforms into a moving tale of second chances. With memorable supporting characters, delightful holiday scenes, and a satisfying emotional payoff, Yours for the Season is a perfect festive read for anyone who believes love deserves a second shot—even if it starts with a little revenge.

This is the second book I've read by Emily Stone, and I really enjoyed it. She does a great job at making a story really emotional while still keeping the lighthearted aspects of standard contemporary romance. I really enjoyed this one and will be recommending it to my friends this holiday season.

Overall this book was a very fun Christmas Romance and I had a really great time reading, laughing and tearing up during the process. I think the problems between the couple were done well and very well shown that it was all a big problem with communication. I also really enjoyed how each of the characters were fleshed out very well. They were all very distinct from eachother which is very important with such a big cast. My main critiques are how the problems with the sister and sister in law were resolved. I feel that a lot of it was brushed under the rug with Hattie and Dylan talking off page and Kristin's secrets coming out when Susan had her episode but we never get closure on how the conversation went with her and Mark. I really was invested into those subplots of the book and was a little dissapointed that they all just worked it out off page. My biggest critique is how the proposal was handled. Finn is describes as someone who cares so much about Mel and will put in the thought when it counts like putting her name on the presents and the big show of winning her back at the hotel. I dont think he would do an off-handed proposal at his sisters wedding, no ring, no getting on 1 knee. I was glad to see a glimpse of Hatties wedding but the proposal left a bit of a sour taste. Overall I did have a really good time reading. I am American and obviously in a different tax bracket then this family which I did not mind while reading other than needing to look up some things like what an Aga is. Some clarifications on more niche things might help the book be slightly more approachable for wider audiences but nothing that has to change. I would definitely recommend this book for people looking for a fun, quick, Christmas rom-com.

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this delightful book. It's a second chance romance set at Christmas time. Great main characters and wonderful secondary characters as well. It's a dual point of view romance and a dual time line romance. Very cute, really sweet and funny. I think it would be perfect to get you ready for the holidays or to read when you need a break from your own family at the holidays.

Emily Stone is an auto read for me and this one was no different. Enemies to lovers… great banter… emotions and conflicts… what more could you want?!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this arc!

If you are a crier, you will shed tears near the end of the book. The book opens with an amusing premise. Finn broke up with Melanie (Mel) at his sister Hattie’s engagement party. It is six months later, and Finn unexpectedly shows up at Mel’s door. His mother has planned a family Christmas in Scotland and is expecting Mel to be there, as Finn has led the family to believe they are back together. Mel was devastated when Finn broke up with her. However, she also really liked his family, especially his mother, Susan. So, she agrees to pretend they are back together for the five days of the family Christmas, with plans to “break up” with Finn afterwards. Of course, pretending to be a couple is harder than expected, for multiple reasons. Which will lead to some humorous moments, as well as some rather sweet and tender moments. Especially, as multiple members of Finn's family have potentially life-altering secrets that will be revealed during the holiday trip, and both Mel and Finn will confront their past and realize the misunderstandings and assumptions about themselves and each other that caused their relationship to end.

Here's the rub of "Yours for the Season": we know, right off the bat, that our male lead (Finn) is really going to have to work hard to earn back our female lead (Mel) and win over us as readers. The book starts six months after Finn has not only broken up with Mel, but done it in humiliating, public, and painful fashion, so we're already automatically on Mel's side when her reappears with a bit of a wacky proposal. And kudos to Emily Stone for smartly and subtly allowing us to see Finn's reasons (and, in turn, his more vulnerable traits), mostly thanks to some extremely well-deployed flashbacks. Still, the book isn't as "cozy" as Stone's others, because while all of her books are rooted in tragedy (and, of course, the hope our characters will see their way out of the darkness), Stone flips the script here, teasing a (sorry to say, extremely obvious) twist the entire time, constantly ready to crash down on our heads (and Mel's and Finn's and his entire lovely family). While I enjoyed getting to spend time with Mel, Finn, and the family, the discomfort of knowing that still more sadness was just out of frame, lurking on every next page, kept me from fully enjoying myself. I like Stone's messages, and "Yours for the Season" continues that tradition (again: it's OK to find joy after pain), but the twist on her usual formula left me feel less than cozy.

Such a cute second chance Christmas romance! Perfect to read around the season! A little bit of spice but what's there is good.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

It’s the fake dating, holiday, rom-com that will melt even the frostiest of hearts!! Also a bit of second chance all wrapped into one. It’s funny, festive and full of heart. It’s cozy and perfect even if you’re reading it in the summer. Will HIGHLY recommend

What a sweet holiday romance! This gave me all the Christmasy feels and is perfect for any Hallmark lovers out there. Highly recommend this and other books by the author!

This is the perfect holiday romance—warm, emotional, and wrapped in the beauty of the Scottish countryside.

The story follows Mel and Finn, exes with complicated history. Six months after dumping Mel at his sister’s engagement party, Finn reappears with a request: pretend they’re back together and join his family for a Christmas getaway in Scotland. Yes, it's a fake dating setup—but with all the tangled emotions of a real breakup still fresh.

Mel's pain felt incredibly valid and well-written. Emily Stone did a fantastic job portraying the heartbreak, confusion, and vulnerability that linger after a difficult split. I appreciated how Mel didn’t just “get over it”—her emotional arc was honest and earned.

We get glimpses of Finn’s POV through flashbacks, and they really helped me understand him better—how deeply he fell in love with Mel, how sweet and genuinely in love he was, and even why he ended things (hello, miscommunication and misinterpretation). His perspective didn’t just soften the breakup—it actually made me kind of fall for him, too.

This book has:
✔️ Slow-burn romance
✔️ Fake dating trope
✔️ Miscommunication (though handled with depth)
✔️ A cozy and chaotic family Christmas
✔️ Gorgeous Scottish holiday vibes

Despite some tough themes, the novel left me with a warm heart and a hopeful smile. Definitely a great seasonal read if you're in the mood for second chances, emotional growth, and holiday magic.

Also, as someone who lived in Scotland for a while, the cozy holiday setting and scenic descriptions were a huge selling point for me. The festive charm, close-knit family moments, and snowy landscapes made it all feel extra special.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC!

This took me a bit to warm up to, but once I enjoyed the story. A slew of good and relatable characters. The main romance was well done and had a great chemistry. Enjoyable!

This is a very cute winter book!! It also fits well with winter season in general. I really loved the main characters and their relationship with each other and his family. It was a very cute cozy read!!

I found this book nearly impossible to put down! Even while reading it at the start of summer in sunny Florida, I was instantly transported to the cozy magic of Christmastime.

I especially enjoyed the dual POV structure—Mel in the present day and Finn from the beginning of their relationship to its end. It gave me major The Last Five Years vibes.

Christmas is my favorite time of year, so any romance set during the holidays is already a win—but this one was brimming with the kind of heart and holiday magic that makes a story truly memorable.

This was my first Emily Stone novel, and it certainly won’t be my last. I’m already planning to add more of her books to my holiday reading list.

A huge thank you to Penguin Random House and Net Galley for the ARC!

Mel is a jewelry designer with a rising profile. She dated Finn for three years and he suddenly and publicly dumped her six months ago. Finn dares to knock on Mel’s door to ask her to come to Scotland for Christmas and pretend they are back together, just this one time. Mel is furious but she also sees an opportunity for closure so she agrees. Over the next few days, Mel and Finn find that maybe they both still feel a spark after all.

This is a cozy second-chance romance. There are a lot of side characters and sub-plots but it feels more charming than hectic, due to the holiday theme and setting. There are also flashbacks to when Mel and Finn first met and at several other points in their relationship which helps readers understand how good they were together and how painful their breakup was. I enjoyed how Mel and Finn learned to navigate their new standing with one another and their willingness to reflect and change.

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Melanie is not having a good time of life. All aspects are unfortunate for her, but the biggest blow of all was her boyfriend, Finn, dumping her in front of many people during his sister's engagement party. However, two weeks before Christmas, he comes to Melanie asking for her help. He needs to spend Christmas in the Scottish Highlands at a cottage with his family, including his siblings who are in happy relationships. He told his mother that he and Melanie were dating again, to appease her desire for the perfect Christmas. Finn wants Melanie to come to his family Christmas and pretend they're still dating; while she is not so keen on helping him, she does still love his mother. But she instructs Finn that at the end of the holiday, she will publicly dump him, in a bit of a tit for tat. Except by the end of the actual vacation, Melanie cannot discern what feelings are fake or real.

I loved the setting for this book, I loved the Christmas holiday and the closeness of the family, I loved the activities they did together to celebrate the holiday - everything worked for me. I loved that Melanie took the high road, when she could have been bitter. I also appreciated Finn's version of the story, which helped make him more likeable. This should be an easy read and must-read for any reader (and at any time of the year!).

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine/Dell for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

loved this 2nd chance at romance. loved the different point of views and that they were able to get back together. Loved that this happened in the Christmas season with his family.

This holiday read was delightful. The characters were fun with a fake dating twist. I highly recommend this second chance love story. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

Emily Stone is definitely the queen of seasonal romcoms. You can't help but fall in love with these characters and the setting, Scotland! This was a quick, fun read with some tugs on the heartstrings.

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you want to swoon over some fun and flirty characters during the holidays, please add this to your TBR! I loved the fresh take on the fake dating trope and this was overall a quick and fun read.