I LOVED THIS! The story was incredible and I really loved how it was narrated! I haven’t read or listened to a YA novel in so long, but this book reminded me why I should read more of them! I really enjoyed how to topic of Autism and ND as a whole was navigated through romantic story, it was so well written. I absolutely loved Jasper, she was so likeable!
My biggest issue with audiobooks can be the narration, but this narrator had me hooked, I loved her voice for this story.

🎧Audio Book Review🎧

Some Like It Cold
Elle McNicoll

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Sometimes a book just comes along and totally blows you away!
I've plenty of books that I love certain aspects of - but one that makes me feel so many emotions and that I know will stick with me for a long time and that I absolutely adore every bit of - is pretty rare.
Well, this book has just done that!

I was around 63% this morning and knew I wouldn't finish today but I just couldn't put it down! I had to keep reading and every time I stopped, I couldn't stop thinking about it and I raced back to it!
Everything else was on pause today until I got to the very last word!

First of all, I pre-ordered this just from the gorgeous front cover - even without reading the blurb! - yep, I'm impulsive!

The writing style was captivating right from the first page and I knew that I was going to love this!

I absolutely fell in love with every single character - of course there were those who came across as annoying - but where would this story be without them!
Every single one played their part perfectly - but obviously Jasper and Arthur were the stars for me!

Jasper is neuro-divergent. Something very close to my heart, having and ND son - but to see this so perfectly portrayed in a novel was amazing! So much to relate to for me and I'm sure, for many other readers too!
Showing all her strengths and weaknesses mean that we see Jasper at her best and worst but we also see how others relate to and treat her as well.
This means that this book will educate as well as allow people to feel seen!
This is huge!

I'm really quite lost for words with this one - I don't want to let any spoilers sneak in and so am avoiding anything storyline - but I loved the character dynamics, friendships, relationships and development throughout the whole book.
I loved the small town setting and I loved the messages too.

I felt so many different emotions while reading and I cried happy and sad tears over the course of the book.
What can I say - please please, everybody should read this book!




💕Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC copy - this is my honest review 💕

I wish this book was around when I was younger. Honestly that feeling is a common theme for me whenever I finish Elle McNicoll’s books. As a late diagnosed autistic, having accurate and relatable representation was what led me to realising I could be autistic. I can’t explain how much it means to be that children, young adults and beyond have books like these to see themselves in, as well as neurotypical people being able to gain a better understanding of how it feels being neurodivergent.

Some Like It Cold made me laugh, it made me cry, it had me nodding in understanding and feeling all of those familiar frustrations on Jaspers behalf.

Every second of this book was perfect, I literally wouldn’t have changed a single thing. The storyline was really well paced and kept me thoroughly entertained, the characters (even the bad ones) made me feels all the feels and rage and sorrow. The representation was great. The Christmas vibes were perfect.

I’d rate this higher than 5 stars if I could.

4.5 stars

Headlines:
Perceptions
Family expectations
Being neurodiverse

This whole audio was a delight, I couldn't turn it off, needing to see what was going to happen with Jasper and needing some comeuppance for her family and they way they were. This whole story was a beautiful exploration of life through Jasper's neurodiverse eyes and equally how she was perceived.

This family was tough to read, they controlled and did not accept Jasper's differences beyond the label. She had been trained and conditioned to do what was expected of her and this story started as she returned home from a break from university with plans to step outside of their expectations. The story unravelled from there. I couldn't stand her sister despite some later redeeming features and as for the mother and weak-willed father, they were equally awful.

One person truly saw Jasper and that was Arthur. He was a wonderful character, charming and yet a bit of a grump. His long term crush was endearing. These two grew a friendship that was most lovely and unintentional. This part of the storyline was joy.

There's nothing preachy about this book but we all need some insight into the neurodiverse experience, whether we have that experience personally or live with someone who does, it's great to see this representation woven so well into a super-engaging story.

Ultimately, this book felt uplifting but real. The difficulties Jasper experienced weren't diluted but her warm and kind personality rubbed off across the book, making it hopeful.

I listened on audio and the narration pulled out the characterisation so well.

Thank you to First Ink for the audio review copy.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillian UK Audio for my ARC copy of this.

This was such an easy to follow story line with a really easy to listen too Narrator. I think the story was well written and is a nice quick YA contemporary romance . Although in the end this wasn't for me, I have recommended it to friends I think will really love it.

This book combines the well loved trope of small town romance with a rare neuro-divergent representation. It was obvious that the author shared her own experiences through Jasper‘s struggles which made it all the more authentic. This book was kind of like watching a Hallmark show but with more plot and much more personality - cosy and interesting!
The story was 100% character driven. Their voices were consistent and their relationships realistic. Nobody in this book was perfect but not one character was 100% evil. I liked the fact that Jasper was completely loyal to her sister even though she definitely is a total bitch haha. But still she wasn’t made to be the classic mean girl villain. She had her bright moments but was unapologetically herself. It was refreshing to see a main character stick up and find excuses for such an objectively unlikable character instead of villainising her which is usually the case. Author‘s usually make their MC talk bad characters down in order to make them in turn all the more lovable. It‘s a lazy way to do it and absolutely unrealistic. All of McNicoll‘s characters had their own convictions and morals which made them all three dimensional and REAL.
While not being a life-changing novel, compared to others in the romance genre, this book is a refreshing, modern and realistic take on the small town trope with much needed ND rep.

I was excited to have found an audio offer here on Netgalley for one of my anticipated winter romance reads. I love me some Hallmark Christmas Love and this title's description checked all the boxes of what I like. Unfortunately, rather swiftly I realised that this one is not working for me. "This is a nice place. Why don't you make a movie about how nice it is?- Because no one would watch it". Feels like the writer also didn't think people would read about a nice place, as this fictional town + people really annoyed me. The writer also really likes using the names. Maybe as a print version this isn't as bad, but in the audio version I couldn't help but be extremely annoyed by the use of all the names all the time. She used "Jasper" 12 times on the first 2 pages alone. "I don't think we'd be able to move the books out, Christine." Mrs Holden said gently, with such compassion ...] rather than the affront and disbelief Christine deserved. "It smells in here Chrissy" one of the Bridesmaids said nervously. "Yes," Chrisine agreed. - Is an example with another name. The parents are also pretty awful, here are just 1 example used in the first few minutes. " You pay rent at your family home? " - Arthur. Arthur seemed OK as the romantic interest, he called the others out on their behavior and I liked the slow burn aspect.  The second half of the book was more enjoyable but unfortunately by then I wasn't that interested anymore. 
The narrator was great, but I think this is one of the few stories that works better for me in print.

Audiobook review:
4.5 stars. Such a great romance. If romance is your thing, I definitely recommend this. FMC is neurodivergent so there’s a bit more of it than just your regular romances.
Only thing I would have liked differently was a Male Narrator for Arthur's chapters.

I raced through this snatching a listen whenever I could. Stayed up far too late in a foolish attempt to get to the end. Absolutely brilliant.

I'm already a big fan of Elle McNicoll and this cemented that admiration. A beautiful story brilliantly told and a great narration on the audiobook.

Jasper is probably one of the only book characters i have ever related to as much as i did and so this book just felt very special to me and to be honest I feel seen as if as an autistic woman someone else gets it and was able to put into words how we feel! Which to be honest can be difficult to do.

So...Jasper arrives home and she has a big secret she is afraid to tell her family and so she puts it off, I loved how she arrived home and really made an entrance lol.

I really really didn't like her family, her dad was the only one who seemed to have her best interests at heart but her mother and sister were absolutely awful.

Now onto Arthur, what a cutie pie, he may not have been the friendliest to her but he always saw her and always thought she was special, i loved that the cinema played the old movies and Jasper went every night they were on. Only for us to find out Arthur played them especially for her.

I loved the narration and the narrator of the story but i had one grumble about it, The accents were British but there were a lot of American phrases like gas, so i felt a little muddled by that.

overall probably my favourite festive book of the year and will feel special to me for years to come!

Jasper is back in her old town (think Rory returning to Stars Hollow) after being away for nearly two years to attend college. But she’s got a secret, one she knows her family won’t like.

Jasper also has the worst big sister ever (I’m sorry, but her sister and mom can get in the bin!), and is roped into helping her plan the wedding of the century, whilst helping her mother plan the Christmas ballet.

On top of this, her grumbly high school enemy, Arthur, has decided to make a documentary about the town, and it just so happens her family is front and centre.

The story follows Jasper and Arthur as they each fight their own demons in their small town.

‘Some Like It Cold’ was a fab YA book with lots of important messages that everyone should read.

Thank you MacMillian audio and NetGalley for the ARC.

Gosh this one has caused real conflicting feelings and I have so many thoughts about it. Might be a long rambly review…i apologise in advance 🤣

I was expecting a light holiday romance with an autistic main character. Whilst there is a romance central to the story and the autism representation is AMAZING, this was not light! At least not for me. I actually found reading this INCREDIBLY stressful.

That’s not to say it’s not good! It’s very good. As an autistic woman myself, I find Elle McNicoll’s way of writing about autistic women the most relatable I’ve ever come across. Which obviously makes sense as she’s autistic too.

Her books are actually quite a challenge for me. Like I’m simultaneously re-traumatised and healed through reading them. My response to them is pretty visceral.

For so much of this book I struggled. Other than Jasper and Arthur, most of the characters gave me the ick. There was just so much overt and subtle nastiness and I was pulling a disgusted face most of the time reading. I mean I have experienced periods of my life when I’ve come across people like those depicted and it captured so well the micro-aggressions aimed at autistic people and indeed anyone who is a bit different. It definitely triggered a lot of unwanted memories if I’m honest.

One of the hardest moments for me was when her best friend, Odettte doesn’t believe her after an incident. I’ve had similar situations happen to me so many times. And you just want to be like I’m autistic, I’m not gonna lie or cause unnecessary drama, do you even know me!? I just want to help you.

Also Jesper’s family. Ugh. Hated all of that dynamic. Then it seemed to be resolved quite easily in the end. Not sure that quite added up.

However, I equally hated the shaming film about the family dynamic. It worked for the story, but that was so cruel. If something like that was done in real life and I was in Jasper’s situation, I’d be standing up and saying switch this off now!

Yeah there was a lot I didn’t like. But it’s complicated because I also appreciate the strength of the representation. I’m not sure I’ve ever read a character I identified with more than Jasper, in terms of personality (not the family and wealth stuff).

The portrayal of overcompensating by being the most perfect version of yourself, being what everyone else needs you to be and never letting the mask slip because people will instantly turn against you. Yeah that hit really fucking hard. So like me before I became chronically ill. Spinning a dozen plates, looking the most calm and collected person, being kind to everyone (even when they’re cruel). People going…how are you doing it all? Or assuming you secretly think you’re better than everyone. Whilst inside you feel the biggest chaotic mess and break down in private every day. Yeah I felt attacked 🤣😂

I will say, Jasper finally telling everyone her true wants and desires, as well as finding the person she could lose her mask with, was very healing. I cried. A lot.

There is soooo much more I could talk about, but this review is way too long already.

I’m giving this 4⭐️
The autism rep is 5⭐️worthy!!
There was just some bits of the plot I wasn’t too keen on and the experience of reading it was so stressful on a personal level!
I need to read something escapist now…