By: Elle McNicoll
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!
I wasn’t sure about this book when I first started reading it, but I wound up really enjoying it! I think it’s because the first part of the book felt a little disjointed for me. I didn’t quite know where the plot was going, there were a ton of characters, and it sort of felt all over the place. When the book starts, we meet Jasper who has been away at college. She is coming home for the holidays, and as she pulls into town, she sees her sister’s boyfriend proposing. Her sister Christine can be kind of a monster, but Jasper is the people pleaser. She’s always felt like she has to be. See, she’s Autistic and her family has always made her feel like she’s had to hide that part of herself away. Upon her arrival, she realizes that her best friend has another close friend, Sophie, who really isn’t a good friend to Odette. Then there’s Arthur, he’s hated her since high school, or has he? Jasper knows one thing, this is the last time she’s going to be home, she has other plans.
The neurodivergence rep in this book was fantastic. There is still a stigma out there for neurodivergence, including within families. Our family has experienced it as well, so that part of the book was easy to connect with. Do I think it was mentioned maybe one or two times too much? Personally for me, yes. But that’s okay. Jasper’s family annoyed me at times with the way that they treated her; I wanted them to be kinder to her. I especially wanted her sister to be more in tune with Jasper’s needs.
This is a cozy YA romance, once Arthur and Jasper come together, it’s really sweet. I wanted more from them. I wanted more of them. I did like the ornament scene, it made my heart melt. The ending was great, and I hope for Arthur and Jasper live a long life together!
This is out now, so check it out here.
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