This was my first time picking up a holiday romance book and I surprisingly liked it. The vibes, the winter and bookshop aesthetic, and not to mention the beautifully-pleasing playlist.

However, first off, I felt underwhelmed about Jonathan and Gabby’s chemistry. They indeed looked good together, but there was something lacking about this story. However, secondly, the plot was beautiful and simple, and it made me feel like I was watching a Hallmark Christmas movie, which I actually appreciated a lot.

Additionally, I can’t say how much personal this became for me because of the disability rep. I have already gone from highlighting every quote in which Gabby mentioned the difficulties of being a neurodivergent individual in a neurotypical world. I have ADHD, and so a few of the symptoms sometimes overlap with that of ASD, that was why I was so happy to learn about how it’s like for other autistic individuals, most especially with the sensory issues, building up routines, and the hyperfixating to borderline obsession. I’m so thankful to this book for making me feel heard and seen. Also, I loved learning a few things about Jonathan’s T1D, since two people in my life have T3D and has lived through medication and frequent hospital trips and check-ups for as long as I can remember.

To finish this review: I never really put much thought into the budding romance, only because to me, it was fine. But I did laugh, feel butterflies, and may have also teared up and smiled so badly my cheeks hurt so because of how much I could relate to Gabby, as a fellow neurodivergent who’s faced ableism multiple times growing up. I really I can’t say much more about the romance, because I was busy learning instead, but thebppo made me feel all warm and fuzzy, and it also made made me realize I will never find my Mr. Reddit.