Cute, cozy, and set in Ireland - what more could a girl ask for?? I wasn’t as swept up in this one as Holiday Romance but it hit the spot to get me out of my reading slump.

Snowed in by Catherine Walsh ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Firstly I loved this book, this story is the definition of cosy, Christmassy vibes, especially those scenes set in the snowy cabin in the mountains!
We meet Megan first, who is running away from her hometown wedding to her long term boyfriend. Five years later Megan hasn’t been home since and she is dreading returning for Christmas and seeing her ex fiancé. As the story progresses you begin to understand her reasons for running and why she hasn’t been home. I thought that this was dealt with very well (and I found myself cheering Megan on when she finally confronted Issac!)
Before returning home Megan runs into Christian who she knew from back home. It transpires that neither of them want to be single when they return home for the holidays so the pair make a pact to be each others fake dates…and that’s when the fun begins!

The banter and connection between Megan and Christian was perfect and I was so happy that we get both of their POVs.
I also loved the different family dynamics and relationships explored in this book. In particular Christian’s struggle to prove to himself and others that he adds value to his family. Until coming home the only way he felt he could do this was by climbing the corporate ladder so he could contribute to with money to make up leaving the family farm. This has put a strain on his relationship with his father and explains his reluctance to look for a real long term relationship. Ultimately he comes to the conclusion that life isn’t just about climbing an invisible corporate ladder to prove you’re worth. Especially if you have no idea where it leads to. I just really loved this message.

It was lovely to also get a glimpse at how Andrew and Molly were getting on after reading their story in ‘Holiday Romance’ last Christmas (another gorgeous Christmas read!).

Catherine Walsh is one of my favourite writers and Snowed In is another gorgeous story with likeable main characters, fake dating/friends to lovers tropes, while also adding depth to the characters through their relationships with their parents and siblings. It also has the all important happy ending I crave when picking up a book like this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Snowed In will be out on 1st November!

If you want a cute and hilarious holiday romcom this is a great choice! This runaway bride + fake dating + friends to lovers romance will leave you laughing and misty eyed as it delves in to the complexities of familial relationships around the holidays. And it takes place in Ireland which is another great bonus for me 🙌🏻

My full book review will be posted on November 1st to my website www.apageinherbook.com

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this book very much. Now I well say it was very predictable and probably a common concept but I genuinely loved it and could even see this being a big book and maybe a movie one day. It’s cute for Christmas time and probably will read again

'I’ve been searching for something my whole life, and nothing’s ever clicked. And I think it’s because I was looking for you.'
(From the book)

'Snowed In' is my fourth book by Catherine Walsh. I loved 'One Night Only' & I enjoyed reading this one, too.

The book opens with a scene where Megan is running away from her own wedding and bumps into Christian. Five years later, they again bump into each other, and somehow connect instantly. Not odd because they practically know each other since their childhood as they belong to the same Irish village.

Megan is supposed to return to her village after five years (first time after that escape) and she's anxious about it for obvious reasons. And then Christian comes up with a plan. To pretend to be in a fake relationship, to support each other when they go back to the village. Of course, they eventually fall in love, but this journey is quite interesting.

Catherine Walsh's writing is engaging and I immediately connected with her style and the characters. Their chemistry and conversations are endearing. Christian, especially, are very likeable.

I like the Irish setting and the descriptions of its environment and culture. There are multiple characters but each one is important in their own way. Doesn't feel cluttered.

Just two things that bothered me: there is a situation that comprises back to back intimate scenes, which seemed too lengthy to me. It kind of takes away the emotional bonding that was burgeoning. One, nice emotional scene would have been more effective, in my opinion, as it was nice to see their fake relationship turning into the real one. Also, the epilogue is completely unnecessary.

Overall, it was a fun, entertaining read, with happy, Christmasy vibes.

kay this settles it, Catherine Walsh writes the best Christmas rom-coms!! I fell in love with her 'Holiday Romance' last year and this follow-up was just as amazing 🙌

This read was perfectly paced and packed with Christmas vibes. It was very easy to get into the story and I basically binged it until it was finished. And the fake dating?! Brilliantly executed 🤌 I'm so happy these characters could communicate in a realistic way!

Both Christian and Megan are such likeable characters and they have great chemistry. Very swoony. I was also a big fan of the messy families, quirky details and the little bit of spice we got. The story touches on some heavy topics, but they're not explored on a deeper level.

I definitely recommend this one for anyone looking for a light and cute Christmas read!

genre & tropes: rom-com, winter & christmas romance, fake dating, set in ireland, runaway bride, post-argument forced proximity, a lovingly protective mmc, hea, no third act breakup.

snowed in is my first winter/holiday book of 2023 and i'm so glad that it was because it gave me all the cosy feels i expect from a holiday rom-com. catherine walsh's writing is light-hearted and easy to follow, the book was fast-paced and didn't feel dragged on, and the chemistry between megan and christian gave me happy tingles. with some fake dating couples the chemistry kinda lacks honestly and the author just springs the suddenly-real attraction on you but i felt that walsh did a perfect job sliding us into the romance.

i have to say this book made me want to be in the same cabin christian rented out with a mug of chai latte and my dogs curled up by my feet, with snow outside... this is how you know a holiday rom-com did its job.

there was depth to the story and all of the side characters, in my opinion, and none of the side characters blended in with each other and all had distinctive personalities—which i really have to applaud because in my opinion not a lot of contemporary romance authors can accomplish this feat well but catherine walsh did it perfectly. extra scores for the book being set in ireland.

anyway, it just made its way onto my list of 'holiday reads' which i will be shoving down all of my bookish friends' throats when october is over, and i LOVE zoe so i might have to pick up the book about molly and andrew just to see more of her.

i would give criticism but i really don't have any.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

💗 This book was PERFECT. Hands down my favourite Catherine Walsh book yet!!! If you’re looking for funny-banter, witty remarks, sarcastic jokes and all things sweet and fun, it’s Catherine’s books you should read. I am OBSESSED with her writing.

🩵Snowed In follows my favourite Fitzpatrick brother—Christian—and his childhood classmate—Megan— as they meet years later after she runs away from her wedding with ex fiancé Isaac. It’s a beautiful small-town romance that will make you smile throughout the book.

🩷 I love the chemistry that the characters have in this book! I am an absolute sucker for fake dating romances AND holiday romances and the fact that these two were combined so beautifully has left me giddy! I also LOVE the positive family environment that this book develops and the sibling bond because i am also a sucker for cute-funny sibling relationships 🤷‍♀️

💚If this book isn’t on your reading list for the holidays then you are seriously going to be missing out. I am 100% sure that it’ll be my favourite holiday romance this year and it’s just October!!? I’m doing a little quest for finding the best holiday romances this year and this book just made it to the top of my list 🙌🏻

GO ADD THIS BOOK TO YOUR TBR LIST! ITS WORTH IT!

Age rating: +14 (1 intimate scene)
Trope: fake-dating, small-town romance, childhood friends, holiday romance
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️

The perfect Christmas read 🎄❄️

-Forced proximity
-Ireland setting
-Fake dating
-Christmas Romance

This book makes you want to grab a cup of tea, sit by the fire, and read it all in one sitting. It was perfect, the characters, the cozy vibes, and every setting was described so well and was very easy to picture. I loved Megan’s relationship with her mom and the “feel-good” family dynamics. Megan and Christian were a very easy couple to love from the start.

I loved that this book had the depth and substance offered beyond the typical Christmas-themed romance. While many holiday reads tend to focus primarily on the festivities and the romance itself, this book surprised me with its layers of storytelling.

I'd Highly recommend it to anyone who wants a great Christmas read. I’ll definitely will be reading more books by this author in the future!

No third act breakup!! 🙌


Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with the early copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

Really enjoyed this one. Made me laugh, cry, scream. All the emotions one looks for in a good read. I love a cynical main character, but two? Sign me up.

I had not read anything by this author before, but decided to take a chance.

This book uses the fake relationship trope, and while the plot is one that has been done many times before, the characters are likeable enough to keep the reader’s attention, and the pacing is good.

A cute, lightweight, Christmas read that can easily be read in under an hour.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest opinions.

5 years ago Megan left her fiance at the altar and started a new life in Dublin. She hasn't been back to her hometown since but she promised her mom that she would come for Christmas this year. When she meets Christian - who is also from her hometown - in a bar he comes up with a fake-dating plan in order to keep people of their backs.
I completely enjoyed this book. It was funny, entertaining and a perfect read for the Christmas season. I loved both main characters and was rooting for them right from the start. Meg's and Christian's siblings were very entertaining supporting characters and I will definitely read Andrew's and Molly's book next.

3,75*rounded to 4* When I start a Catherine Walsh book I get enchanted in her writing.

A runaway bride with a new life, a lost ex-"bad boy" trying to fit in the world.
What a pair of leading character for this new Catherine Walsh novel.
Megan left her hometown on her wedding day five years ago without explanation never turning back, but she now she has to face her old ghosts because it's almost Christmas and her brother is flying back from Australia to celebrate with the family...
Christian in a good guy, he was the handsome bad guy at school but he went a long way since then leading the Dublin new branch of a luxury real estate company. He's from a big family where everybody seems to have found love but him...
Tired of being the odd one in the family, when he suddenly meets Megan in Dublin, he sees a solution in proposing her to fake date on Christmas to shelter each other from family and people?

Reading this book I was firstly again charmed by Catherine Walsh fresh writing, hooked by what really happened to Megan five years ago to leave everything behind and fell a little for Christian with his need to fit, his good heart and the need to protect Megan.
I guess I felt a little less of the Ireland background that usually permeats Walsh books, but it was lovely nontheless.
I really liked Christian Family and I was pleased to know that Molly and Andrew are featured in Holiday Romance, which I wish to read as soon as possible.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for providing this book as an arc in exchange of an honest review.

By far one of my favourite romance books I've read this year, I read it non-stop in one sitting. The storyline is the perfect pace and interesting. The writing is my absolute cup of tea, as well as the humour and the romance. It felt so cosy to read, like I had this gorgeous mid 2000's christmassy rom-com movie running through my mind as I read it. Christian Fitzpatrick now has a place in my heart, where do I get a real one?

This was the first book I've read by Catherine Walsh and I immediately went to download her previous book (set in the same Universe)! I thoroughly enjoyed this very cozy, light, and easy read.
I though the main characters had great chemistry and I really enjoyed the side characters too - another reason why I immediately downloaded her other book!

I loved that there wasn't a third-act break-up/drama and we got to see a slow burn romance as the characters realized their feelings for each other. I do wish we had a bit more of the "acting" situations between families that involved a bit more physical tension. I did love the more emotional side-stories of the main characters relationships and communication with their parents and siblings.

There was a content warning regarding the portrayal of a controlling relationship at the beginning of the book, which I appreciated. I acknowledge that this may be a trigger for some readers, but want to add that the mentions of this relationship and behavior, while important to the story, is not mentioned often and could be avoided during the read.

Overall, I think this book perfectly got me ready for the coming Holiday season and colder weather and I would definitely recommend it for anyone looking for an atmospheric, warm, and flirty (with some spice!) read.

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

You can always count on Catherine Walsh to leave you squealing and kicky-feeting through an Irish rom com.

Tropes: fake dating, snowed in, protective bf
Diversity: LGBTQ side characters

I actually laughed out loud and it felt like genuine Irish family banter in the dialogue.

One star taken off with how rushed the ending felt. I had hoped for a 75% of the book break up and make up which this story lacked. But overall great characters, easy read and perfect for a cold cold cold snowy night.

Catherine Walsh has quickly become one of my favorite authors and for good reason. Her books always offer the prefect amount of romance, comedy and emotional angst.

Holiday Romance was one of my favorite reads last holiday season and Snowed In features Christian, another Fitzpatrick brother. He is headed home for Christmas and is dreading the usual family interrogation about his personal life, even if they have the best of intentions. Everything changes when Christian literally bumps into Megan at a pub, she is a childhood acquaintance and has her own reasons for avoiding their hometown. Megan left her home as a literal runaway bride and Christian never quite outgrew his reputation as a troublemaker. Christian proposes a solution to all of their problems; pretend to be a couple to avoid their families' scrutiny and to help Megan feel comfortable enough to return home.

It seems simple enough, they even make it official by agreeing to terms and signing a contract on a bar napkin, but of course fake dating is never simple. It's not long before Christian and Megan develop a true friendship and open up about their fears and insecurities and as they grown closer their attraction becomes stronger. I loved the care that Christian and Megan had for one another, their protect instincts, their dedication to each other's happiness and wellbeing. Their shared history made their love story feel genuine and watching them fall in love was a delight.

Snowed In was the perfect read to start the holiday season* and I hope we get to see more of the Fitzpatrick clan in the future; it was nice to catch up with Andrew and Molly and honestly Zoe deserves her own hero, too.

4/5⭐ - Catherine Walsh's "Snowed In" is a delightful romantic comedy set in Ireland that had me laughing out loud and swooning in equal measure. This book is the perfect antidote to a chilly winter's day, offering readers a heartwarming tale of fake dating, forced proximity, and a love story perfect for the holidays.

The story begins with Megan making an Irish exist on her wedding day! She coincidently bumps into Christian, a childhood acquaintance, and he's the only one who sees her mid-escape plan. Fast forward five years later, Megan and Christan make a pact to pretend to be boyfriend and girlfriend to go home together for the holidays. Megan is terrified to face her ex-fiance and the town who has cast their judgements on her since her wedding day. Christian is tired of answering questions from his family about why he's single. What follows is a rollercoaster of hilarious situations and witty banter as they attempt to keep up the charade of being a couple to avoid awkward family interactions during the holidays.

Watching Megan and Christian navigate their differences while pretending to be in a relationship makes for a genuinely entertaining read. Their character development throughout the story is well-paced and believable, making their eventual romance feel earned and heartwarming.

While "Snowed In" is undoubtedly a fantastic romantic comedy, there were a few moments where the plot felt a bit predictable, and I wished for a few more surprises. However, this minor critique did not diminish my overall enjoyment of the book.

In conclusion, Catherine Walsh's "Snowed In" is a hilarious and heartwarming romantic comedy that will leave you with a smile on your face. With its engaging characters, laugh-out-loud humor, and a healthy dose of winter charm, this book is a must-read for fans of the fake dating trope and anyone in need of a delightful escape!

Gave me all the holiday feels! ❤️❤️❤️🎄🎄🎄
I really enjoyed reading this book, was smiling the whole time

I love a story that starts with a runaway bride and I knew during the prologue that I'd love this book.

As a big fan of Catherine Walsh's writing, I was so excited to get to read about the Fitzpatrick family at Christmastime again after falling in love with Andrew and Molly last year. Christian and Megan's story was full of just as much holiday cheer and banter as I'd hoped for. The perfect book for a cozy winter afternoon by the fire!