This was my first read by this author, and as much as I enjoyed Sariah's writing style, this story was not for me. The writing in general was great, and it was really easy to read - not only because it was a novella, but because I appreciate how Sariah's writing creates a vivid picture in my head as I read.

This story is perfect for readers who love elements of time travel and also Scotland! While the concept was interesting, I learned that some of these tropes and story elements are not my favourite. Overall, it's a cute, lighthearted story set during the holiday season, great for a short Christmas read if that's what you need.

This was a fantastical story about believing in the magic of Christmas and the power of true love.

Maren and Duncan fell in love with each other at first sight, but the clock was ticking, so they made the most of their time together. Duncan was so effusive when it came to her, expressing himself in a way that left me swooning 😍 Him being a handsome Scot definitely helped 🤭

I loved the mix of old and new, seeing how the people navigated the 16th century whilst also not being confused by the wonders of the modern world.

And the traditions! There were quite a number but oh so interesting to learn about. This was definitely a refreshing view of Christmas and how it's celebrated by a different culture.

Finally, what was definitely the main point was how abundantly the people loved each other and embraced the magic of true love. So good!

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is about Maren travelling with her friend Penny to try and find her lost uncle, the got stranded in a snowstorm and transported back in time. There she meets Duncan who she instantly fall in love with. The only problem is that she only able to stay there for a week or forever, Maren is forced to choose between love or going back home to say goodbye to her dying mother.

This is such a well written romance. This is a heartbreaking beautiful story. It has a fast pace to it. I love the storyline, I would of preferred for this to be a full length novel instead of a novella.

Loved the relationship between Duncan and Maren, they say they sweet talked to each other was so lovely and cute.

Thanks NetGalley and the Publisher for giving me this arc for an honest review.

This was such a sweet, fun, christmassy read! It was very magical and fanciful and something about the Scottish culture always feels like a perfect Christmas setting. This was certainly the best way to get into the Christmas reading season, and was a perfect holiday season read! If you are looking to get a couple more books in this year, this was a great, quick read!

FYI-- This was a closed door romance, which I love!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for this advanced copy.

This is a holiday love story with a Brigadoon-esque plotline. I don't particularly care for the "love at first sight" trope, so this was not a great read for me. I love magical realism elements in storytelling so I'm willing to suspend some disbelief, but this love story was just far too cheesy and unbelievable. The characters know literally nothing about each other and have nothing in common, yet they are instantly "in love" and willing to give up their entire lives to be together. If you are a fan of that trope, you will probably enjoy this quick read, but it was not for me.

Thanks to Montlake for the ARC via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I have been meaning to read this author and jumped at the chance to review an early copy of this novella. I hope readers will connect with this book more than I did! I definitely should have read the description a bit more before going for it…
This is an insta-love romance between a modern female and a Scottish lord from the seventeenth century. I’m not a fan of insta-love, nor am I a fan of historical romance. I’m usually ok with some time travel but not going back centuries. It’s a quick read, and if you’re into these things, I bet you’d like it! I plan to read more from the author, but this wasn't the right book for my interests, sadly.

Sariah Wilson can be a hit or miss author for me, and this one unfortunately wasn’t one of my favorites. I did love the idea of this book, a Christmas time travel romance. But I am not a fan of the insta love romance trope, I think that was the problem for me. This novella is a super quick and holiday read, and I know others loved it, so I do recommend checking their thoughts on it too!

A time travel romance book. Set mainly in historic Scotland. When the friends get stuck their will they both be returning home? A great short read.

I'm generally a Sariah Wilson fan and I'm going against the majority on here, but I am just not an insta love fan. And because of that, I couldn't buy into Maren and Duncan's feelings for each other. I really wanted to like it and the cover is gorgeous, but this one wasn't for me.

Time travelling Christmas story set in Scotland. Cheesy and undemanding. Lots of Scottish Christmas traditions thrown in for good measure. When it comes to time travelling in Scotland, Outlander did it better.

Ahhhh!! I absolutely LOVE Brigadoon. It's one of my all time favorite musicals and this book was one gigantic nod to the classic film. If you have never seen Brigadoon, you might think that this story is unrealistic and the insta love might drive you nuts. BUT. If you have watched Brigadoon and loved it, then you are going to LOVE this story. And also, if you haven't watched Brigadoon, you should. It's magical and wonderful and lovely.

This novella had tons of Scottish Christmas, New Year and wedding traditions. It was full of family and friends, celebrating and being together. That Duncan was swoony and had the BEST lines in the story. SAAAAWOOOON! Every time I would come across a nod to the film, I would smile because it seriously made me happy.

I loved being swept up into a magical story. It was unrealistic, just like the movie, fluffy and romantic. It felt like the perfect escape. It was nostalgic and new at the same time. I'm singing right along with Gene Kelly right now, It's Almost Like Being in Love. 🎵 I think I'll go watch the show now.

Content: kissing

- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to Sariah Wilson and Montlake Publishing for ARC pf Almost like being in love. ❤

Take me to Highglen! Oh Maren, dear Ma ren. This holiday Novella sends us back in time to a magical holiday village where Maren meets Duncan and has the chance to see her long lost Uncle.

Choosing love or family was a decision for both MC and the story was well developed for how short it was. It was nice to hear how the highlanders celebrate what we now know as Christmas. Simple times of love and celebration.

If you are looking for a short festive read then this is just the 🎟!!

My mom loved musicals and we watched them all when I was young as well as listened to the soundtracks on vinyl. One of her favorites was Brigadoon and one of the famous songs from that musical is Almost Like Being in Love, just like the title of this book which is kind of a reworking of Brigadoon. In this novella, Maren and her friend Penny are traveling the Scottish Highlands looking for Maren's uncle who had disappeared years ago. It is her mother's dying wish to find him. When they get lost in a snowstorm, they are rescued by the laird of Highglen which is like Brigadoon. It will only be there for a short while and if Maren and Penny want to stay in their own time, they will have to leave Highglen before it goes back. They learn about old Scottish ways and Maren falls in love with Duncan, the laird. She is torn between going back to her dying mother or staying with Duncan. While I did really like Brigadoon back in the day, I can't say that I really loved this story. It had its moments, but I found myself losing interest. I just don't think it was for me or perhaps not the right time for me to read it. I think many readers will like it though. This was my first Sariah Wilson read. I'll probably try another book by her to get a better idea of her writing style.

My sincere thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read Almost Like Being in Love and give my unbiased opinion of it.

"Love always ends in heartache. Even when you spend sixty years with someone, you'll either die or break up. But I've never met anyone who regrets loving another person with their whole heart, no matter what the outcome may be."

Almost Like Being in Love is a quick, fun Christmas novella based on the movie Brigadoon.

'Tis the season for lots of cheesiness, lots of Scottish-isms, and lots of insta-love in this book.

Overall, I enjoyed it. The setting is fun, the characters are entertaining, and the kisses are definitely swoony. I liked Maren and Duncan, and their romance is sweet and fun.

I struggled with the quick acceptance of the time traveling and some of the pedantic explanation of Scottish traditions and such. For a novella, it seemed imbalanced, with too much explaining of unimportant things and not enough moments building the characters.

This book was an entertaining read, and if you can suspend your disbelief and want to learn more about Scottish history and traditions, then I think you would enjoy this one.

Thank you to Sariah Wilson, the publisher, and NetGalley for the complimentary ecopy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I wasn't a fan of this time travel romance. I've read her other books and enjoyed them but just couldn't get into this one. I almost didn't finish it. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy. #NetGalley #TheChemistryofLove

Super cute Christmas romance. I loved the concept of a traveling village and learning about the older Scottish traditions. This was the perfect length for the story and it really helped to get me into the holiday spirit. Recommended for a quick, satisfying read.

It wasn’t until I was getting ready to write this review that I saw at the bottoms of the cover it says “novella” and I was going to say I found this story a little shallow and quick but makes sense if it’s a novella. Almost Like Being in Love reminded me of Once Upon a Christmas where there’s a magical land/time that only appears around Christmas time. Two friends, Maren & Penny, are visiting the Scottish Highlands when they get stuck in a snow storm and are rescued and taken in by a group of people from the 1500s…who welcome outsiders when their magical Christmas time appears during a winter storm…yeah it’s a bit out there. But Maren falls instantly in love with Duncan and wants to marry him but can’t stay in this world because her mother is sick. Oh and also Maren finds her “lost” uncle in this world who decided to stay and marry a woman in it. If you need a quick, magical, Christmas story this one’s for you

This was such a cute Christmas read with a twist...

Sent on a trip to Scotland by her dying mother Maren is transported in time (think Outlander but Christmas time...) and I have to say I loved it! It's definitely got Insta Love vibes but because of the time travel and her realisation of how short life is due to her sick mother it totally works. I really liked the two leads in this one and would definitely recommend if you're looking for a Christmas story with a big dash of make believe.

I recently completed a literary journey set against the enchanting backdrop of Scotland. The vivid portrayal of this location and the intricately developed characters were the story's undeniable strengths, captivating me throughout.

However, I found myself grappling with the incorporation of istalove and magic realism, elements that, regrettably, don't align with my personal literary preferences. Despite my struggle with these thematic choices, the characters' journeys were compelling, and the Scottish setting provided a rich tapestry for the narrative.

While this book may not have completely won me over, those with an appreciation for istalove and magic realism might discover a more profound connection with its unique charm.

As a life-long fan of Brigadoon, I was enchanted by this book. At first I was concerned the author would merely copy the story. But her take is unique and complements the beloved musical. And although there is a bit of singing in the book, it definitively is not a musical! Ultimately the book is about the power of love. I don’t want to spoil the story but suffice it to say that even readers who have never watched Brigadoon will be mesmerized by this very romantic story. A wonderful updated take on a classic story. A++++!