Praise for Love in Winter Wonderland
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A PNBA Bestseller
“Brimming with heart-swelling chemistry and witty bookworm banter . . . A charming young adult book that will give you all the warm fuzzies.”
—Reader's Digest
“Love in Winter Wonderland addresses plenty of critical topics such as the importance of indie bookstores, the effects of gentrification, body diversity, grief over losing a parent, and more.”
—TEACH Magazine
“A sweetly seasonal YA romance, interwoven with thoughtful commentary on the Black Lives Matter movement and the importance of community.”
—The Guardian
“Abiola Bello introduces us to a winter fairy tale of love, where snowflakes and romance dance together. This heartwarming story explores the magic of the season and reminds us that sometimes love is the greatest gift.”
—City Magazine Slovenia
“Love in Winter Wonderland sparkles and shines right off the page thanks to gorgeous writing, witty dialogue, a magical setting and two characters you'll fall head over heels for as they’re falling for each other. I love, love, love this book!”
—Jennifer Niven, author of All the Bright Places
“A Black romance set in a Black-owned bookstore at Christmas time—yes please! The chemistry was palpable. The pacing kept me turning pages all night. And the story has stayed with me long after putting it down—the perfect gift for Black girls who crave a screen-worthy holiday romance.”
—Joya Goffney, author of Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry
“A dazzling love letter to bookshops, and the power of community.”
—Adiba Jaigirdar, author of Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating
“Like your favourite Christmas song, Love in Winter Wonderland is full of warmth, humour and joy. It's both a celebration of community and an affirmation of how thoughtful young love can be. A delightful read!”
—Michelle Quach, author of Not Here to Be Liked
“A GORGEOUS YA story of family, friendships, community, crowdfunding, art, books and romance, set in a Black-owned bookshop around Christmas. Heartwarming and heart lifting, it's an absolute JOY that made me cry buckets of happy tears.”
—Sophie Anderson, author of The House with Chicken Legs
“Love in Winter Wonderland is charming, heartwarming and perfect cosy reading in the countdown to Christmas, complete with the perfect holiday soundtrack! Ariel and Trey are such engaging and relatable characters that you can’t help but wish they were your friends.”
—Ciara Smyth, author of Not My Problem
“Look no further for your ultimate Christmas read – this is it! Abiola has crafted a story so charming and fun it will whisk you away. Bonus points for the superb playlists mentioned throughout too. I felt like Trey and Ariel were real people who I genuinely miss spending time with now the book is over. It has TikTok sensation written all over it!”
—Laura Jane Williams, author of Our Stop
“I devoured this delicious YA rom-com. I adored the festive Christmas time setting, but Love in Winter Wonderland is a treat to read any time of year.”
—Katherine Webber, author of Twin Crowns
“The most joyful, cosy and swoon-worthy love story. It’ll feel like Christmas no matter what time of the year you read it.”
—Kate Weston, author of Diary of a Confused Feminist
“What a wonderfully warm love story. I fell head over heels for our dark-skinned, curvy, redhead wonder Ariel as her character represents so much of what I wanted to read about as a teen. I think this book would be a very welcome title in any YA readers selection. Cheers to Wonderland!”
—Candice Brathwaite, author of Cuts Both Ways and I Am Not Your Baby Mother
“A heartwarming and uplifting story set in a Black-owned bookshop. This is the book we all NEED this winter. Gorgeous and joyous.”
—A. M. Dassu, author of Boy, Everywhere
“Original, exceptional, wholesome, and fun . . . [For] fans of Christmas themed romance novels, Love in Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello is a ‘must’ choice for the personal reading lists.”
—Midwest Book Review
“Indulge in this enemies-to-lovers romance featuring a kiss in the snow!”
—BookBub
“Snug, heartwarming, and sweet . . . A slow-burn romance with excellent character growth, Bello’s [YA] debut has the feel of a quintessential Hallmark movie but in book form.”
—Booklist
“Swoonworthy . . . With a feel-good conclusion featuring a kiss in the snow, an unexpected celebrity appearance, and a romantic playlist, Love in Winter Wonderland is a sweet novel.”
—Foreword Reviews
“Shimmers with holiday magic . . . A sweet opposites-attract romance enriched by affecting moments of emotional vulnerability.”
—Kirkus Reviews
2023-08-11
Two London teenagers develop an unexpected connection while trying to save a Black-owned bookstore.
Seventeen-year-old Trey Anderson is the golden boy of Corden College and, with his high-maintenance girlfriend, Blair Bailey, one-half of the campus’ power couple. Although his social life may be enviable, few people know that his family’s independent bookshop, Wonderland, is rapidly losing customers to its corporate rival Books! Books! Books! A few weeks before Christmas, Trey gets terrible news: Unless the shop generates a massive profit to pay off outstanding debts, his family will sell the business to real estate developers. Trey’s determined to keep their legacy alive—even if it means working with Ariel Spencer, also 17 and Black, an introverted classmate who wants to follow in her late father’s footsteps by attending the art school he went to. Hoping to earn tuition money, Ariel accepts a job at Wonderland. Much to Trey’s surprise, as the teens spend more time together, they reconsider their differences, growing closer. Bello’s YA debut, which is told through the leads’ alternating perspectives, shimmers with holiday magic. The layered narrative depicts their relationship with depth as they also join forces to get the community to rally around Wonderland. Ariel is described as “thick,” and her chapters thoughtfully explore her struggles with self-esteem and body image. The supporting cast reflects the diversity of the Hackney setting.
A sweet opposites-attract romance enriched by affecting moments of emotional vulnerability. (Romance. 14-18)
