It's been a few days since I finished the book, so I unfortunately don't have a lot to write in my review other than I absolutely adored this book. I thought it was light-hearted, funny, and super easy to read. From the time I started it, I literally could not bring myself to put it down.

Being a sucker for anything Christmas, I'm more often than not disappointed by "Christmas" books...but not this one. You definitely wouldn't go wrong reading it!

4.5 ⭐️ Set in the same world as Holiday Romance (my favorite Christmas read of 2022), Snowed In follows two childhood friends who make a pact to fake date for the holidays.

This was such a fun and festive holiday romcom with its fair share of depth. I loved the emphasis on family dynamics, both with siblings and parents, and the full cast of side characters that added a layer of realism to the plot. While this is a standalone, I highly recommend reading Holiday Romance first as Molly and Andrew make a lot of appearances!

Read if you like:
-Fake dating
-Forced proximity
-Witty banter
-Dual POVs
-No third act breakup
-Grumpy cinnamon roll hero
-Small town Ireland setting

Pub: 11/1/23

Loved it so much! I don't know how, but Catherine Walsh managed to incorporate my favourite tropes in this story - runaway bride, snowed in, fake dating, small town - and they all fit in perfectly!
Loved the humour in the story, strained, but loving family dynamics (sibling relations so on spot!), and there was so much sparks between Megan and Christian - adorable couple (Megan, girl, you made me think about knitting again). I was immensely happy to meet all the Fitzpatricks again and let's not talk about the engagement scene - God, the most funny and touching one, I even shed a tear, and I never cry during such scenes. And now, after reading "Snowed In", I feel like I needs must reread "Holiday Romance".

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Bookouture for this advanced readers copy.

Snowed In, Catherine Walsh (ARC)
Rated - 4.5 / 5 ✨

Thank you so much to Catherine Walsh, Bookouture & Negalley for allowing me to read this book before it’s released 🤍

Megan and Christian are both heading back to their hometown in Ireland for Christmas, and they’re both nervous about going. After leaving the golden boy of the town at the alter four years prior, Megan is not looking forward to facing everyone again. Christian loves his family but hates all the sad looks of being alone at Christmas. So after literally bumping into each other, they make a pact to help each other through the holiday season, a contract is written and signed… what could go wrong?

Where do I begin, other than to say I loved this book. Everything about it was so gorgeously written, the story, the location, the characters, it was a magical festive read.

I loved both of the lead characters, they were so well written, and the chemistry between Megan and Christian felt so natural, it was full of witty banter and secret glances, it never felt forced. It wasn’t just them though, even the supporting characters were great, you could really place yourself into the dynamic of the families and friends. Add in the location of a small town in Ireland, during Christmas, with snow, perfection.

If you love fake dating, forced proximity and a dual pov read, then you’ll love this book.

Frothy, festive, fun.

Snowed In is not a work of great literature, but then it doesn’t pretend to be. It’s a lovely Christmassy romantic comedy that I sped through in less than a day. The characters are likeable and believable and the writing is good. I enjoyed the setting and the various family members. I’d recommend to anyone looking for a bit of Christmas coziness.

Snowed In was the perfect cozy, Christmas read. This was my first book by Catherine Walsh and I’m excited to dig into more. Her writing style is fun, the characters are witty and charming, and the romance was top notch. I found myself grinning several times at some of the sweet scenarios and wishing I could be a part of the setting. I loved that it was set in Ireland, with small town vibes along with a cozy winter cabin. I was surprised at how long it took for them to get “Snowed In” at the cabin (this part doesn’t come until almost 75% of the way through the book), as the title and description made it seem like that was a big part of the plot. I also wanted a little more development of the MMC, Christian. I loved him and how sweet and romantic he was, but there were several mentions of his previous relationships and how they never worked out, but no explanation why. He also brought up several times that he wasn’t happy at his job, but there was so resolution about that (even in the epilogue). I wanted there to be a bit more of a conflict or something to give the book more depth. Most of it came from Megan’s previous relationship with her ex. It seemed like it was a little too easy and smooth going for the two main characters, and while I don’t need a third act breakup in every book, I at least like a little push and pull to give it more of a story. That being said, I really enjoyed the banter between all of the characters including the family members, the romance and gestures big and small were adorable, and the book overall was really enjoyable.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This was another cute fake relationship trope so that two long time friends/acquaintances can get through the holidays after not having gone home in a long time. The last time Megan was home she left her then fiancée at the altar with Christian being the first person she sees after her abrupt exit. Several years later the meet in a bar and decide to act like they’re dating to make it home for Christmas. It’s got a lot of the typical things for this trope but it’s a cute story and worth the read.

I loved this romance read.

Everything flowed so well and the characters had legitimate chemistry, you just wanted to be them. There was something so enticing about their dry, sarcastic humor that kept me going. I genuinely found myself laughing countless times at their banter. It reminded me of Lorelai's quick wit in Gilmore Girls.

I've yet to come across a romance where the girl doesn't do something cringe (until now), so this read was truly refreshing. Megan had all the attributes of a woman written by a woman, which is so incredibly important. I tire of reading the, "oh, look at little me, i'm so small and petite and a thread of fabric is enough to fit around my whole body." Megan was none of this, and I appreciate Catherine Walsh for it.

Everyone's saying it's a great holiday read, but I will be enjoying this book all times of the year.

It was kinda hard to get into, honestly almost dnf. It's a slow burn, which i wasmt expecting. But still good once you get into it. Cute Christmas story to start the season. Absolutely loved Megan and seeing how she coped with returning home after running out on Isaac. Definitely recommend giving it a read!

catherine walsh has done it again!

walsh has such an excellent skill of writing her characters in a way you can so easily immerse yourself into their world. i have loved every single book of hers and this one is no different — an amazing read and so festive.

‘snowed in’ follows christian (brother of andrew in holiday romance) and megan. they grew up in the same town, bump into each other as she is fleeing her own wedding, and she spills a drink on him 5 years later in dublin. they agree, in order to avoid the awkwardness and pitying looks from their families, to fake a relationship as they head back home for christmas.

i absolutely adored megan and christian’s story. everything about the progression of the pair felt to authentic and this is something walsh consistently excels at.

this is the perfect read to get you into the festive mood and i can’t wait to read more from catherine walsh.

out november 1st !! 🩵

thank you to bookouture, netgalley, and catherine walsh for access to this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Snowed in follows the story of Christian and Megan on an old friends, fake dating venture - all in order to get their families off their backs. Something which most people will be able to relate to.

What makes this book a great read?

Pacing = on point
Writing = brilliant
Banter = amazing

Side characters don't feel like side characters, they feel fully fleshed out. I'm a sucker for dry humour and that's exactly what this book had.

Snowed In gives Christmas vibes without being too Christmassy, a perfect and easy read for this time of year.

Overall, this is a cute, cute, cute book with laugh out loud moments, loveable characters and believable story lines.

Thank you to Catherine Walsh and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I really look forward to reading more Catherine Walsh books in the near future!

4.5/5 - Megan doesn't want to go home for Christmas. Ever since she was a runaway bride at her wedding five years ago, she has been the town pariah. Especially, since Isaac is the towns golden boy and no one understands why she left him at the alter. Christian is tired of his family questioning his relationships, and doesn't look forward to another holiday at home, being the only single one. Megan bumps into Christian in a Dublin pub and they agree to fake date through the holidays and the return to their small town. But with everyone home for the holidays and feelings working themselves in to the mix, things are about to get messy. Can this fake dating relationship turn into a real one?

This is a wonderful, Christmas rom-com, taking place in Ireland. I love Catherine Walsh's writing of small town Ireland, she is able to transport me there so easily. This book also made me laugh out loud so many times and the banter with Christian and Megan was wonderful. I loved how Christian was so supportive of Megan, recognizing how hard it was for her to return home, even though he didn't understand the reasons. I thought his protectiveness was fierce and really saw how much he cared for her. I thought Megan's perspective on things was very balanced and seemed to work for their relationship.

With the humour and fun, there was also some depth to the story that allowed us to look at the characters and what they had been through. I also loved all the side characters and getting to see some from previous books, and get to know new people.

This was a fun, sweet, holiday romance that I loved. I loved the holiday, Irish setting and the storyline itself. It would be perfect for picking up this holiday season! Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.

Read if you like: fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, runaway bride, Christmas romance

This book is a delightful romantic comedy that takes place in Ireland. It's the perfect read for the holidays, offering readers a heartwarming tale of fake dating and forced proximity. Although "Snowed In" is a fantastic romantic comedy, there were a few instances where the plot felt a bit predictable, and I would have liked to see a few more surprises.

Thank you, NetGalley, and bookouture for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

I have always loved a good Christmas, rom-com, especially set in a little village, this one in Ireland. I love the winter wonderland feel of Christmas rom-coms, especially this one as they are literally snowed in to the cabin. Walsh did a really good job developing the characters to have their own personalities, not cookie cutter versions of each other like some books favor. I do also enjoy a good fake dating book as they usually bring some humor to the story. Christian was not a hard character to fall in love with.

I read this as a stand alone, not fully knowing when I started that it was part of the Holiday Romance book series. I have personally not read Holiday Romance however might because Catherine Walsh has a great writing style.

This book was amazing, however there was one thing that was hard for me. It almost felt as though half way through the book the story line was finished, and then a second one started. I had to take a break in the middle of the book and read another book before continuing.

thank you netgalley, bookouture and catherine walsh for sending me this arc!

You might think you're getting a run of the mill fake dating trope when you get into the book but it's done so well here; it's refreshing to see the FMC not jumping straight into the arrangement but there's a lot of thought, hesitancy and discomfort you get to see her go through - which is a very tangible emotion, making it feel as if you're seeing her experience it. I loved the peripheral characters, they are all very well flushed out. The emotions are all so justified, I loved the MCs navigating through what can only be described as awkward (bordering on cringe) situations and they come off as endearing, real and relatable. The chemistry is slow burn, and again, endearing, as you can them both fall for each other slowly as they discover each other more and more.

Not giving it out much without spoiling it, Megan and Christian are adorable MCs and this book will not disappoint! A really cozy, Chirstmas set up with beautifully well done characters. The writing is witty and crisp. Christian is such an amazing character, he is my favorite from the book! All in all, a great read!!

I really enjoyed Snowed In by catherine Walsh. I loved that not only did it tell the story of Megan and Christian but it continued the story in small parts for Molly and Andrew from her Holiday Romance book. I loved the characters growing themsevles and growing from friends to more than friends. I love the fake dating trope and this book delivered! The book left me wanting more from those who live in this small town in Ireland!

This book is SO CUTE!! I absolutely adore fake dating tropes and I think Catherine Walsh did it really well! From the beginning, this book had me laughing out loud at some moments and giggling/kicking my feet at others. I really enjoyed the banter between Megan and Christian (her making fun of him for always carrying a pen around - so cute! - "use your phone." "what, like an animal?"). And the sexy scenes were *chef's kiss* (though I wish there were a little more). But other than the banter and spicy scenes, I really enjoyed that Christian wasn't the typical overly protective/"touch her and I'll hurt you" kind (though I do like that), he instead let Megan sort things out herself which was good character development for her.
Overall, this book was so so cute and really enjoyed reading it! Feedback I'd give though is that I think it could've been longer so that we could've seen their relationship grow a bit more - it seemed rushed. Also, there were some spelling and grammatical errors which stood out to me, but no biggie.

4.25/5 stars for me!!

Snowed In by Catherine Walsh

A sweet holiday time fake-relationship turns into a full blown romance when Megan and Christian really get to know each other and their families.

I enjoyed how the story grew from Dublin to the small town where Meg and Christian were from. I totally appreciate the character development Megan had as the plot moved along. It was lovely watching them both mending their relationships with their families and friends, fighting their insecurities while at it.

I like the author's writing style and would love to read more of her novels.

❄️🍷🎄🩷🏔️

Thank you Bookouture and netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Super cute, super festive, holiday read! I know fall only just begun but this book has me really excited for Christmas!

I looooove dual POV books. Getting to see the perspectives of both Megan and Christian made the book very enjoyable! I really enjoyed the story from start to finish!

If you're looking for a Christmassy read, filled with lots of holiday fun and fake dating, this is the book for you!!

Snowed In: ★★★☆☆ (3) 🌶️🌶️ (2)

Pub date: Nov 1, 2023 - get your copy now!

*ARC Review*
The perfect holiday romance read! While there is usually that typical formula for romance novels, it's refreshing to read a book where the main characters, while having their flaws, have their life together and there's no need for some major drama to break them down before building them back up. Both main characters were easy to like and enjoyable to root for. The storyline was not over the top and their relationship growth felt believable. It also made me want to take up knitting! This should definitely be on everyone's winter TBR list!