Reading When in December by Kendra Mase felt like curling up in front of a fireplace on a snowy evening—cozy, heartwarming, and filled with just the right amount of tension. Poppy’s determination to prove herself as an interior designer instantly drew me in, and her task to transform a remote cabin into a holiday haven had me rooting for her from the start.

But what truly made the story special was Aaron. He’s gruff, guarded, and completely thrown off by Poppy’s presence in his cabin. Their dynamic—he’s grumpy and a little broken, while she’s sunny and driven—was so entertaining. The fact that they share a forgotten high school kiss adds a sweet layer to their budding connection, making every interaction feel both charged and meaningful.

What I loved most was how Mase wove deeper themes of healing and self-discovery into the romance. Aaron’s journey to open up, paired with Poppy’s resilience, gave the story emotional depth. The festive setting, complete with picturesque snowy cabins and holiday cheer, made it the perfect winter escape. If you love a good “grumpy meets sunshine” romance with a side of Christmas magic, this one will warm your heart.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this book so much that I bought my own copy so I could read it again!

Thanks so much if I need a word to describe this book I'm going to say resilient because that was the vibe for me.. I just love it I love Poppy story and development, I think the author made a wonderful job

As someone who DNF'd a handful of books with renovation as the main plot, I was so worried I wouldn't enjoy this one. BUT Kendra's writing sucked me in right away! I also haven't adored an FMC as much as I did Poppy in a long time; I just want to give a hug! And I also haven't come across an actual handsome broody MMC who's an absolute jerk to his love interest since Wattpad days; I just love Aaron so much! And with these two, their banter and romance felt refreshing 😌

Verdict: A must-read when you're snowed in a cabin!

An engaging and entertaining second-chance romance. A few interesting side characters and a dog is eventually added to the tale. Heartbreaking back story for the former soldier. Nice to see this is the start of a series. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

This book felt exactly like a hallmark movie that would take place over the holiday season. More sweet than spicy, the thing I enjoyed most about this book was picturing the home Poppy was building for Aaron's family. The messy kitchen covered with sticky icing from the slightly over-baked gingerbread houses Poppy and Aaron made with his niece and nephew, the protective dog curled up next to Aaron's nephew, the shades of dark green, the handmade bookshelves, and of course how beautiful, festive and warm the home was with the christmas tree and family around it. While I appreciated the sensitive topics touched on (endometriosis, PTSD) I personally would have liked a little more depth with these characters and their arcs (and a little more romantic/sexual tension - but that's a personal - preference!) If you're a fan of hallmark christmas movies and prefer sweeter books to spicy books, this could be a good choice for you.

When in December by Kendra Mase was a truly wonderful grumpy/sunshine story.
A sweet second chance romance and enemies to lovers read that felt utterly cozy and heartwarming.
The characters were engaging and felt so realistic.
This was my first time reading anything by Mase and I have to say it was amazing.
A heartwarming winter contemporary romance.

Thank You NetGalley and Victory Editing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This was a fun little cosy Christmas read and I enjoyed the slow burn of the relationship between Poppy and Aaron

4.5/5 - thank you NetGalley for the ARC! I really loved this book. Poppy is working on a promotion and has the opportunity to decorate a cabin for the holiday. She thought it was owned by a Sarah but turns out Sarah’s brother, Aaron, is living there after being recently medically discharged from the Army. Plus Aaron and Poppy knew each other in high school.

Aaron and Poppy have undeniable chemistry (all closed door). I sped through this book. In parts, the emotions could have been deeper but I really liked and would recommend for a feel good holiday read.

When in December was such a cute, fast read! I loved it! I love a good second chance and this did not disappoint!

Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and Kendra Mase for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When in December is a story about Poppy and Aaron. Poppy is a junior interior designer on the brink of promotion, thrilled to be leading her first solo project. Soon she finds out it’s far from ready for her and will come with obstacles and delays.

Aaron is home early from a physical rehabilitation treatment center and is not happy to find out his sister has hired a design firm to update his cabin. Aaron has dealt with several losses and would prefer to shut out the world and get back to the Army.

This has a sweet second chance element to it that I enjoyed. I liked that both Aaron and Poppy had emotional and physical aspects to contend with and overcome.

The one thing that seemed a little abrupt to me was when it was getting spicy and suddenly faded to black, just felt like it really caught me off guard and pulled me out of the story a bit.

This book had me hooked.

I really liked Mase's writing. I thought the writing style was good and the pacing done well. I also really enjoyed the characters. They felt well developed and realistic.

If you want solid romance When in December delivers. This book had everything: funny, sad, sweet and heartfelt. Poppy and Aaron were perfect for each other. I liked their relationship a lot. It felt very real and romantic. I am also a sucker for grumpy x sunshine trope so these two definitely did it for me. This is a slow burn but it is so worth the wait.

A lovely romance read that I would recommend!

This was my first time reading a book by Kendra Mase, and I absolutely loved it! While the beginning felt a bit slow and it took me a few chapters to really get into the story, the plot was adorable and left me with a warm, fuzzy feeling. I especially enjoyed the dual POV, which gave great insights into both Poppy and Aaron’s backstories. I'll be recommending this book to everyone I know, and I can’t wait to read more from Kendra Mase!

What a cute cozy Christmas read! It has all the good stuff. Grumpy/Sunshine. Forced Proximity. I'd definitely read more from this author. Get a cup of hot chocolate and give it a read.

This sparkling Christmas romance has it all! There’s a holiday design contest, a mountain cabin, a troubled war vet, a spunky designer and a dog. Kendra Mase weaves these elements into a heartwarming story that will keep you turning the pages. Decorator Poppy Owens is determined to win a promotion and turn a supposedly unoccupied cabin into a gorgeous Christmas retreat. Aaron Hayes is the vet, staying at the family cabin while healing from injuries and grieving the death of a friend. The last thing he wants to deal with is Poppy’s cheerful optimism. The last thing she wants are the memories of her passionate, unrequited high school crush on Aaron. There are no surprises here. You know the cabin will be decorated, Aaron and Poppy will overcome their difficulties and love will triumph. It’s Christmas, after all. Enjoy! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and Kendra Mase for this ARC.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

What to Expect:
••» Forced Proximity
••» Grumpy x Sunshine
••» Slow Burn
••» Opposites Attract
••» High School Crush

This book was a solid read—funny, heartfelt, sad, and sweet, all rolled into one. The story centers around Poppy, a bubbly, optimistic interior designer tasked with renovating Aaron’s cabin. The catch? Aaron has no idea about it and is *not* happy when he finds out. He’s fresh out of the military and dealing with some heavy grief, and his brooding, gruff demeanor didn’t exactly win me over at first. Aaron’s the classic damaged hero, convinced he doesn’t deserve anything good and pushing everyone away.

While the ending was a bit predictable, there were definitely some sweet moments along the way. If you’re into the grumpy hero and sunshine heroine trope with plenty of personal growth, this one’s worth the read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kendra Mase, the author, and the Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op team for the ARC opportunity.

I had high hopes for this one based on the blurb but it didn’t quite live up to them. Yes it’s festive and set at Christmas- loved the cabin and festive activities- but the first half of the book felt too long and like it needed a good edit, too many words that didn’t add anything to the story.

I really wasn’t a fan of Aaron at all until later in the book, I thought he was really nasty to Poppy and that made it hard to root for him and their relationship.

Overall an ok read and certainly Christmassy if that’s what you’re looking for.

Thanks to Netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

The chemistry between Poppy and Aaron is undeniable, from the start you are shown the many different sides of both MCs.
Poppy, a young interior designer wanting to prove her worth to her boss and Aaron, an ex military man with some deep pain.
These two overcome the initial tension and unease and fall fast into a friendship/situation-ship to avoid their obvious but at the time unwanted feelings for each other.
Secrets are kept and revealed and their relationship just grows, all while trying to maintain ‘professionalism’ between them.
These two are destined to be together and after a brief time apart are able to come together and make each other very happy.
Overall a very good read and would recommend !

O loved this book. It was funny, strong, sad, emotional, loving and sweet. It really makes you feel all the emotions.
I was captivated by the story and the pace was just perfect for me.
This book has a lot of my favorite tropes and scenes:
- High school secret crush
- Forced proximity
- Grumpy / sunshine
- Enemies to lovers
- F**** it moment
The story is about Poppy, and interior designer that is trying to prove herself on her job and here comes Aaron that was sabotaging her. He is the damaged hero that doesn´t believe that he deserves anything good and pushes away everything good.
It’s a book that approaches serious themes but in a verry graceful way.
Quotes:
“I was the big bad wolf. She was little red knit socks, walking straight into my den.”
“Worthwhile”
“You’re home”
Overall: perfect book for someone who likes a grumpy hero and a sunshine heroin, with a lot of personal development and growth.

The writing sparkles with wit, and the exploration of vulnerability and healing through creativity is incredibly moving. Poppy’s journey of self-discovery amidst the turmoil of her professional and personal life is a refreshing take on romance. As layers are peeled back, you can’t help but root for these two to find their way through the wreckage and into each other’s arms. All in all. this is a delightful blend of charm and emotional depth, perfect for anyone who loves a story where love transforms not just the heart but the very spaces we inhabit. I couldn’t put it down!