Thought the characterisation was very strong in this, but I found it took ages for me to read - something about the pacing was off I think.

Sadly I feel unable to finish this book. I found the writing style very stunted and the chapter breaks make the storyline difficult to follow.

So far I have little interest in how the story is progressing and I am struggling to stay focused enough to finish.

A cute holiday romance. It took me a while to get into this and the pace dragged at times, but I enjoyed the fake-dating trope and the family dynamics.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'Only for the Holidays' by Abiola Bello.

This is such a nice Christmas read for everyone even if you aren't so fond of Christmas. Warm and cozy with great family dynamics and a story of love, 'Only for the Holidays' shines through. My only qualm and the reason I can't rate it more than okay is just because our main character just stressed me out way too many times for me to love her. I just felt annoyed by her and not in the way I like.

Rating: 2.5 stars

City girl, Tia Solanke is trying to prepare the perfect birthday celebration for her boyfriend, but she is stunned when he asks for a break instead. She is hoping they can work it out, but her mother whisks their family away from London to a small town for Christmas. She meets Quincy Parker, a handsome country boy, who has issues with his ex. Tia agrees to fake date Quincy and soon starts to realize, that maybe a permanent break from her boyfriend is what she needs.

Things I Liked:
✨ Winter Romance
✨ Fake Dating
✨ Dual POVs

This is a cute holiday romance that feels like watching a Hallmark movie. Quincy and Tia’s banter is sweet, and I loved the cute moments between them! It was fun getting both POVs and seeing how each MC cared for one another. This read is perfect to curl up with!

Thank you to Net Galley and Simon & Schuster Children's UK for the ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review!

If you want to gently start gearing up for the Christmas season, or if you just want a feel-good wintery rom-com, look no further than Only for the Holidays. Laden with first love, excellent family dynamics, and a lighthearted storyline, this YA contemporary romance provides the warmth we all need on blustery October days.

Only for the Holidays is a festive, fake-dating novel featuring Tia, a loyal, loving and headstrong girl who is devastated when her boyfriend, Mike, suggests they need a break. Tia is determined to win him back, so she powers along with the birthday extravaganza she has planned for Mike’s 18th birthday. However, her plans are derailed when her mom announces they will be spending time on a farm for a couple of weeks to stay in a cosy cottage over Christmas. Not only does she have to deal with bad phone signal and sheep hellbent on destroying her wardrobe, but she also has to contend with Quincy, the son of the owners of the farm. Quincy has problems of his own. His family have been selected to host the biggest event in town - the annual winter ball. However, he hasn’t got a date for the ball, despite telling everyone he has…that’s when Quincy comes up with a plan. If he can get Tia to London to win Mike back in exchange for being his date to the winter ball, it’s a win-win situation for the both of them. However, what they didn’t factor in was a growing romantic attraction between them.

This book was so cute. Let’s break down just why this was such a fun, festive read!

1. The characters
I instantly warmed to the characters. This book featured dual POVs which really allowed Tia and Quincy’s unique personalities to shine. I loved Tia. She was feisty, headstrong, loyal, and big-hearted. I loved how the author depicted the nuances of her personality. She was extremely dedicated and loyal to Mike, even though it was clear she deserved way better than him. I loved how the author balanced her headstrong nature with her more vulnerable, sensitive side. Then there was Quincy, who I adored! He was a golden retriever in human form, let me tell you. His gentleness and patience with Tia, his loyalty, and his forgiveness were so endearing.

The cast of side characters was excellently written too! I loved Tia’s family, from her hard-working, loving mom to her caring older sister and adorable baby sister. Quincy’s brother Cam, his sister Drew and his best friend Eliza were also written with distinguishable personalities. I know it can be tricky to write side characters with enough depth to be unforgettable and be a positive addition to the story, but the author succeeded in this.

2. Relationships
The family dynamics were so good, y’all. I loved that the parents actually parented?! That’s the equivalent of gold dust in a YA book. When Tia throws a hissy fit or goes against her mom’s wishes, she gets reprimanded for it. The parents in this book are involved, they love their kids, and they discipline them. It was so good seeing realistic parent-child dynamics! I especially appreciated the fact that even though Tia and Quincy were 18, their parents were still really involved in their lives. I feel like that isn’t usually represented in books, so kudos to the author.

I also loved Tia’s relationship with her older sister, Willow. They told each other pretty much everything and had each other’s backs - it was so wholesome. Additionally, I loved Quincy’s relationship with his brother and sister - it showed the bickering rife in sibling relationships but also the steadfast love and loyalty.

3. The romance
Firstly, Mike sucked. I’m glad Tia realised her worth - I was cheering her on when she realised Mike just wasn’t worth it.

I loved Tia and Quincy’s relationship. It was a very natural progression, from wary strangers to friends to something more. I loved how they encouraged and embraced each other’s flaws and imperfections, and I loved how they helped each other become better versions of themselves. The fake dating element was so cute too…as soon as they started catching feelings, it made my heart feel warm and fuzzy inside.

4. Plot and writing
I loved how Only for the Holidays was written. The dialogue was realistic and the writing flowed smoothly. It was extremely easy to get swept up in the happenings and emotions of the story! Just for comparison's sake, this book was nearly 400 pages and I read half of it in one sitting. The other day I read a 500-page book and it took me around a week to get through. It was just so readable (for want of a better word). The plot was good too! It kept me engaged the whole way through, and I was compelled to keep reading to find out how Quincy would overcome the betrayal of his past, if Tia and Mike would reconcile, and if Tia and Quincy would finally get their HEA.

The only downside that prevented me from giving this book 5 stars is there was quite a lot of swearing, which I wasn’t expecting from a YA book. I personally prefer language to be more PG in the books I read, but I know a lot of people don’t mind as it makes the book more realistic. Also, I know Mike and Tia were on a break…and I guess Tia had wanted to set boundaries around whether or not they were allowed to see other people and Mike wanted to see if there was a spark with other people…so I guess it didn’t count as cheating but it did make me a tad uncomfy that they weren’t officially broken up. Probably not worth mentioning, but thought I’d put that out there.

If you’re looking for a cute Christmas romance that explores family and friendship dynamics, the difficulties of first love, and an unexpected romance, you’ll probably love this book!

This is a cosy and cute holiday romance.
Much like the author's previous book, I was hooked on this and it definitely got me into the Christmas spirit!
I loved the range of characters and especially adored the mmc, I appreciated how the romance wasn't too babyish in comparison to other YA books that I've read and applaud the author for that fact.
I could see this being made into a Netflix Christmas movie, it even has the potential to be the first in a series of books in the created setting as there were many other romances that I found myself wanting to know more about!
Loved it, thank you to the Author and Publisher for my copy!

3 stars

This was such a fun and cute holiday read.
I love the setting and the family aspects and dynamics.
Our Hero was fantastic. I liked his relationship with his siblings and good he was with our heroine.
Now... I didn't like our heroine. She felt like a "pick me girl," and that's my least favorite type of h.
Overall, this was a wonderful holiday read that I'll definitely reread during the season.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Festive, romantic, and funny. A good rom-com that made me smile and root for the characters
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Can I just say Tia and Quincy is such a soulmate type of names? Just rings nice and sound pleasant to the ears to hear them together. I love a good fake relationship/date premise and this one came on a silver splatter. This book has me geared for the Christmas holidays (i don’t celebrate them) so if you want cute holiday cutesy romance book, this is for you!


Happy publishing day!


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Devoured this in one sitting - a beautiful story of young love and yes the nice guys should finish first! Tia and Quincy’s dual pov helps move this story along at a great pace and gives us insight into their developing relationship. So many laugh out moments and the right amount of spice for a YA (is nothing more than you wouldn’t want your mum catching you read!)

This was such a good book that made me so excited for Christmas!
I can’t wait to read more from this author

City girl Tia is devastated when her first boyfriend who she loves, asks for a break just before both Christmas and his 18th birthday party which she has organised. Her home life which has been difficult over recent months seems to be taking a turn for the better and her mum decides to treat the family to a couple of weeks in the countryside over the Christmas break. Tia is not thrilled as this means she will miss her boyfriend's birthday party and not be around to try to fix their relationship.
Quincy has grown up on his family farm which offers luxury breaks in the countryside. He has recently broken up with his girlfriend and is not speaking to his best friend either and is throwing himself into helping out with his family's Christmas guests.
A booking mix-up and a snowstorm conspire to throw Tia and Quincy together and she agrees to be his fake date for the Winter Ball in return for a favour. The story is told alternating between Tia and Quincy's point of view as they both resolve their relationship issues, mend some bridges and reach a better understanding of their friends and members of their family..
Only for the Holidays is a cozy, sweet YA winter romance, the perfect fireside read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon &Schuster for the ARC.

"Only for the Holidays "is a ya winter romance written by Abiola Bello.

The story follows city girl Tia Solanké, busy with preparations for her boyfriend's birthday party. A boy she loves very much, for whom she would do anything, who suddenly asks her for a break just before the event. Upset and intent on winning him back, the last thing she wants is to spend Christmas away from London. So when her mother announces that their family will spend the vacations in White Oak, a small town in the English countryside, Tia's world turns upside down. Protesting is futile, so Tia has no choice but to pack her bags and leave with her mother and sisters. Arriving at Saiyan Hedge Farm, the place where they will be staying, Tia takes an immediate dislike to it. She falls into horse manure, is chased by sheep, and the Wi-Fi sucks. How can she stalk her ex now, talk to him and concoct the perfect plan to win him back? Country boy Quincy Parker and his family live in White Oak, run the farm, and this year they have been selected to host the biggest event on the town's calendar: the Winter Ball. Preparations are underway and Quincy is working around the clock to make it a success. The only problem is that he has told everyone that he has a date for the ball, when in reality this couldn't be further from the truth. At first, Tia and Quincy don't see eye to eye, until they both realize they have something to gain by pretending to be a couple. But when a snowstorm threatens to cancel the Winter Ball, their fake relationship is put to the test.

This romance was super cute! Extremely sweet, funny, and cozy, it made me laugh and smile a lot. It was a delightful read, almost a cuddle, that warmed my heart!

I loved the writing! Lively, effervescent and light, it kept me glued to the pages from beginning to end. The fast pace, combined with the short chapters, in my opinion made it easy to follow and devour. I adored the enchanting descriptions, captivating dialogues, and well-constructed characters. It is a passionate prose, rich in sentiment, which gave me a feeling of deep tranquility.

The setting is lovely! The story takes place in the small town of White Oak, in the English countryside. A place where everyone knows everyone, full of peculiar traditions, quaint places, and lots of animals! As a lover of small town romance I was delighted by White Oak! I found it a truly magical setting!

The plot proceeds quickly and smoothly, without any moments of boredom or heaviness. The story takes place over the course of about two weeks, during the Christmas holidays, and yes, maybe it is a little fast and with a slightly abrupt ending, but I loved everything about it! Seriously, this book managed to take me away from everyday life for a few hours, transporting me to this delightful town, giving me the feeling of being wrapped in a warm and cozy cocoon. I cannot express anything but compliments!

I loved Tia and Quincey, protagonists with their respective first person povs! Tia is a London girl, engaged to Mike, whom she loves deeply. She would do anything for him, even organize a big party for his 18th birthday. So when he asks her for a sudden break to reflect, her world collapses under her feet. Forced to spend her vacation in the country, risking missing the party she herself has planned, Tia finds herself reflecting deeply on their relationship, reevaluating many aspects of it. Tia is a character I enjoyed quite a bit! Determined, stubborn and witty, she loves to bake cakes and is a city girl through and through. She detests the idea of the countryside, distrusts animals, and goes into a crisis without Wi-Fi. She is a sweet and sensitive girl who would do anything for her family. Outwardly confident, she actually harbors many doubts. Insecurities that she gets to face while vacationing in White Oak, in what becomes a journey of self-discovery. I loved her growth journey! Also, her relationship with her sisters and mother is something fantastic!

Quincy is a boy born and raised in White Oak. Fresh from a bad breakup that has left him upset and heartbroken, he tries to get on with his life and help his parents in their preparations for the Winter Ball. Quincy is a boy who loves his small town, country life and animals. A skilled horseman, he provides riding lessons and helps manage the family property. Quincy is a caring and loyal person, sweet and sensitive, always willing to help others. A good guy, who does not want to harm or hurt anyone, even if it means suffering in silence. He is too cute a character, who won me over right away and whom I have grown fond of! I really enjoyed his relationship with his family and friends!

The relationship between Tia and Quincy is so cute and so much fun! They do not get off to the best start: Tia despises the countryside and everything about it, while Quincy on the other hand adores it. However, along the way, things begin to change, thanks also to the Winter Ball. In fact, tradition requires that each participant have a date. Quincy, however, after the breakup, has no one and pushed by excessive pressure, makes up a date. Unfortunately, everyone is already busy, so he runs the risk of getting screwed. At least until Tia arrives for the Christmas holidays. Tia wants to sneak back to London to attend her ex's party and win him back. Unfortunately, the town has no train lines or other available transportation, so she needs a backup plan. It is at this point that the two strike a deal: Tia will be Quincy's date to the ball, pretending to date him, and in return Quincy will secretly take her to London for the party. What begins as a fake relationship soon drives them closer together. I admit that the development of the romance seemed a bit quick, since the story takes place over about two weeks, however, I loved it so much! Tia and Quincy get to know each other, talk and confront each other, helping and supporting each other. Their interactions are too cute and often funny! Certain situations, certain exchanges of banter, made me roll with laughter!

The secondary characters convinced me! Who more and who less, I liked them a lot and loved their interactions with the protagonists!

All in all, this is a sweet, funny, and cozy ya winter romance that I absolutely recommend, maybe during the holidays!

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.