This was a really good read! I enjoyed everything about this book from the plot to the amazing characters. This story was well written and very engaging. The main characters were fun to get to know and root for and the secondary characters were written to help move the story along. There's some angst and drama, but just enough to make this story interesting. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family, and I look forward to what's next from this author.

Baking and a s@x shop its the recipe for christmas success. I really loved how much whimsy was in this book as well as the sapphic side. The holidays in my opinion need to be full of joy and i really liked how even though our MCs weren't always too happy with their family situations they fell for each other.

Aurora Rey and Jaime Clevenger wrote another fabulous book together. I enjoy both their writing styles.
The MCs were well developed and full of chemistry. The wit and banter were a lot of fun to read.
The secondary characters were well developed and added to the storyline. They were a great support when needed.
The ansgt was well done. The make-up scene was done spectacularly.
This duo is phenomenal together and alone, and I look forward to the next book that comes out soon.

Casey Stevens’ becomes a social pariah when her cheating social media star wife and her divorce. Her friend Kit invites Casey to escape for a while to Rocky Springs - Kit’s quaint and cute (and very small) hometown. Casey is enamored by the small town and decides to follow a long time dream - to open her very own sex shop - The Sweet Spot. And it’s not your ordinary sex shop - but something classy and educational.

Tara McCoy and her sister Shawn run Coy Cupcakes. Tara had returned to Rocky Springs a couple of years earlier after becoming disillusioned by the New York baking scene. She knows a thing or two about starting over, pursuing your dreams and is determined to turn her family bakery into a destination for locals and tourists alike. Tara isn’t exactly keen when The Sweet Spot opens right next door to the bakery. But Casey is sweet and charming and hot!

Frosted by the Girl Next Door is a bit of a forced proximity, sapphic holiday romance. If you like it sweet and a little spicy, with a dash of holiday drama, you’ll love Frosted by the Girl Next Door!

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Tara McCoy is busy trying to update her family's cupcake shop. She does NOT need a adult toy store opening across the way.

Casey came to Rocky Springs to escape her past, but on impulse decided to open a shop. With, yes, sex toys but classy. She did not expect the town to be up in arms over it...

Casey vs the 'family values' types drives the drama, while her feud with Tara gives romantic tension. The writing is good, as expected from these two writers, and I liked both the heroines and supporting cast.

Then the Ex turns up....

Mild gripe: foer once could the heroines actually get back at the villain, instead of 'saving' them? Just saying... The ex, in this case....

Small spoiler: Casey trying to do the Twelve Days of Christmas with the resources of a small town is hilarious.

3.5 stars out of 5

Casey is running away from a bad Hollywood breakup and lands in Rock Springs in Colorado. She also decides to open a sex shop next to Tara's family's cupcake shop. They of course get closer, but, there are definitely bumps in the road. Big ones and little ones.

I wish I'd liked this more. The beginning had such tension and I really didn't like Casey, even by the end I liked her more, but, still not as much as I think I was supposed to. And then there was Shawn. It was probably because Shawn was a secondary character, but, Shawn drove me crazy too (not in a good way) in this book.

This is your typical cute Christmas romance. A classic take on the city girl moves to the small town, but this time it's to open a sex shop. She receives a lot of pushback from the community but ultimately finds acceptance.

Despite the summary, Casey and Tara never really feel like enemies. They are attracted to one another from the beginning and after a slight hiccup they strike up a friendship. Their dynamic is easy and the way they interact is very comfortable.

When it comes to the drama of the story, I wasn't the biggest fan. I thought Casey's lack of communication was silly and she should have just told Tara what was happening. But obviously her character had hangups about being vulnerable, so in that way it makes sense she didn't say anything. However, it still made it frustrating to read at times. Despite this, it was still a pretty sweet story and there wasn't a whole lot of angst or challenges that weren't easily overcome, this book is cozy. Overall, 3.9/5 stars rounded up.

Frosted by the Girl Next Door starts off like a typical holiday romance. Woman, Casey Stevens, decides to move to a small town and open a shop to escape drama in the big city. She meets the small town, next door baker, Tara McCoy, and romance ensues.
The fun twist in this story is that Casey is opening an upscale sex toy shop. So Casey and Tara have to deal with some small-minded people, Casey’s drama from LA following her to Colorado, and their own personal baggage.

This was a cute, high spice story. I thought the main characters had a good dynamic and I could feel their attraction. The side characters were funny and helped provide good perspective for the main characters.

The lack of communication between the characters that caused issues felt a bit forced and unrealistic, but not so much that it made me dislike the story.

Overall, a lot of spice and a lot of heart. A solid choice for a quick holiday read.

Thank you NetGalley, Bold Strokes Books, Aurora Rey, and Jamie Clevenger for the ARC.

I was very interested in the concept of the book when I first found out about it, but I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as did! The characters we developed very well. The rocky start to the main characters relationship, I felt added to the dynamic they had. There were some difficulties and challenges throughout the book that kept you really invested in the outcomes. There were some light hearted and sweet moments I really enjoyed, with that being said when the author said their was a little bit of sweetness and a whole lot of spice, that was no joke! Their was definitely some spicy scenes throughout the book. Overall this is definitely a book that should be picked up immediately and read instantly!

This book is so cute. It could have been a bit longer to really flesh out the relationship but overall I loved it. The main characters are cute, the angst wasn’t too intense, and the ending was satisfying.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.


Casey needs distance to figure out what she wants in life after a messy divorce in which she never should’ve married Pavia in the first place and her Hollywood parents. She arrives at Rocky Springs at quaint town where she believes she can make a fresh start with the help of her friend Kit she decided to open up a sex shop some town people are not as accepting. Tara didn’t want to return home being in NY was great but admit she missed home she decided to to turn her family business with her sister Shawn into success she has plans to make bigger then her hometown. Casey and Tara meet they somewhat hit it off but then Tara assume something and they kind of get into it but eventually they find common ground and start to spend time together. Love the characters romance was good I like Casey trying to win Tara back after having miscommunication even though Tara blew it out of portion in my opinion but overall enjoy the read.

Thank you to the authors and NetGalley for this arc! If I am being honest, I was completely pulled in by the adorable cover of this book. When I read the synopsis, it was an immediate request on NetGalley.
If you’re wanting a holiday read with a Hallmark setting and LGBTQ+ representation, look no further.
This was a fun, spicy read for me, but something with the chemistry/connection of the MCs was just missing for me. It felt like it was missing a little depth…angst…something that just kept you from putting it down, but maybe the author was just going for a cozier vibe. Overall, it was a fun read. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4!

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for this amusing book

casey wants to open up a sex shop in rocky springs...she finds this little town just what she needs to escape her lifestyle back home and the horrendous circumstances she had found herself in.... she had found the ideal location

she wasnt expecting the backlash from some of the townies..... least of all from her neighbour tara another business owner, she thought they could be friends.....

but as the shop opened and it people started to take an interest though she would always have her doubters who would hound her for whatever reason they needed to feel big about themselves casey shop was starting to do well....

casey just hoped that things with tara would go the same way.... so when tara offered to help casey decorate her window for the competition what could casey really say

but storm clouds are on the horizon for casey as her past catches her up....

i have to say i thoroughly enjoyed reading this book...so many inuendoes and funny scenes but its the whole christmassy feel that pulls you in... well plus the spicy scenes really

The combination of bakery / cakery owner meets sex shop owner was definitely a different dynamic but in the end I enjoyed the relationship!

i absolutely loved frosted by the girl next door! aurora rey and jaime clevenger have created the perfect holiday romance that’s cozy, charming, and absolutely swoon-worthy—a must-read for anyone who adores small-town holiday romances.

the story introduces us to casey stevens, who’s landed in the picturesque town of rocky springs, looking to start fresh after a messy public breakup. she’s hoping to open a classy, trans-positive, sex-positive shop to reinvent herself, but her new neighbor, tara mccoy, isn’t exactly thrilled about it. tara’s all about keeping her family bakery as the go-to spot in town, and she’s wary of what a “seedy” shop next door might mean—even if the new owner is drop-dead gorgeous.

this book checks every box for a feel-good holiday rom-com! casey and tara have the best kind of “opposites attract” chemistry. their initial clash quickly transforms into witty banter and an attraction that had me hooked from the start. the authors capture the holiday magic so beautifully: holiday town traditions, snowy streets, festive baking scenes—all of it feels like stepping into the ultimate holiday town. with every page, the festive spirit is almost tangible as casey and tara’s reluctant partnership turns into something so much deeper.

not only do we get a fantastic romance with plenty of spice and sweetness, but frosted by the girl next door also brings in all those classic hallmark rom-com elements that make the story irresistible. there’s a perfect “meet cute" (it’s so simple yet so adorable i’m still thinking about it after finishing the book), just the right amount of rivalry with witty banter, supportive friends and family who add heart and humor, and holiday traditions that make the setting so warm and inviting.

by the end, i was completely rooting for these two and smiling ear-to-ear. this book has all the heart, humor, and holiday cheer you could want, and it’s ideal for curling up with on a chilly night. frosted by the girl next door is everything i adore about holiday romances—a story full of warmth, love, laughter, and the spirit of the season. if you’re a fan of small-town rom-coms with holiday magic and a dash of heat (one of the main characters is a sex shop owner, so expect the heat to be 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️), don’t miss this one!

thank you, @netgalley and @boldstrokesbooks, for the e-arc. 🩷

Girl meets girl. Girl opens sex positive sex shop in small town. Local baker has feelings about it.

if those 3 sentences appeal to you, you will love this holiday small town book! Frosted by the girl next door is about Kit, said local introverted baker who meets Casey and the adventure starts from there.

Casey is wanting to change of pace so naturally opening a sex shop in a small town seems like the perfect idea. Casey quickly realizes this Gilmore girls-esque community isn’t going to be as progressive as her hometown of LA & has to navigate keeping the locals happy while also impressing the baker who makes the most amazing cupcakes around.

This was such a cute holiday book that will suck you in on the adventure!

Thank you NetGalley & Bold Strokes Books for the ARC!

Girl.baker moves home to small town Colorado- big town (Hollywood) girl moves to small town - opens sex shop next to girls family bakery - it's a fun LGBTQ+ story, about letting go of the pasts and not being afraid to let others in - i wish the character of Tara was flushed out a lottle bit more with her past to understand her reactions but over all the book was good and would recommend

I loved the premise of this baker and sex shop owner. Both battling tough relationships in the past but growing together. Miscommunication being an issue, is it something they can work through? Unfortunately this did not land with me like I thought it would a cute read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC copy of this book.

Frosted by the Girl Next Door was a super cute, spicy rom-com! I loved the cozy, wintertime in a small town vibes. And I ADORED the juxtaposition of the Sweet Spot being next door to the Coy's Cupcakes. I thought this read would be pretty tame when it came to spice levels, but I was pleasantly surprised by how hot the spicy scenes were. I did think that the big fight was a little far-fetched in it's believability, but perhaps that's because I have never been in a lesbian relationship before.

All in all I would recommend this one to anyone who is a fan of cupcakes, sex shops, ice skating, messy celebrity drama, and/or hot strap-on sex!

Casey is starting over in the little mountain town Rocky Springs after an ugly divorce, by opening a classy sex shop. While she doesn't feel ready for a new relationship yet, she meets Tara, the cupcake baker next door, who might just change her mind.

"The heart of Rocky Springs. With the snow and the holly-lined street posts and the ornaments strung on the bare-branched trees, the little mountain town truly looked like a Christmas card."

Frosted by the Girl Next Door is what you get when you say: Hallmark Christmas movie, but make it gay. This story is very sweet and I would classify it as a cozy romance. There is some conflict, but there are vibes of happily ever after throughout. This is further solidified by the fact that while there is anti-sex shop sentiment in Rocky Springs, Tara and Casey don't encounter any homophobia from the residents of the town.

The writing style is pleasant, which makes for an easy read. I really enjoyed the banter, but also the more serious conversations between our main characters. Tara and Casey share their insecurities and trauma, which adds to their relationship feeling real. The side characters, like Shawn, Natalia and Aspen are a nice addition to the story as well.

"A bookshop would be fun, but what she’d like even more would be an adult toy store. Not a traditional sex shop, exactly. Something classy. Something that took the taboo out of all the different ways people could explore and enjoy sex."

Overall the authors work quite well together, though I did notice a few inconsistencies throughout. For example the relationship between Shawn and Tara seems to constantly be in flux. One moment it's written “She and Shawn didn't have a teasing sort of relationship...”, but then teasing is a substantial part of their dynamic throughout the story.

Another place I noticed this was the constant shifting of the point of view in the story. Even within chapters. Since Tara and Casey use the same pronouns and the authors often omit the “X said” in dialogue, I was quite frequently confused about who was thinking what, and who was saying what.

While I did think it was good that Casey eventually confronts everything that happened before the start of the book, it left a bad taste in my mouth how Casey easily seemed to forgive blatant abusive behaviour.

“Finally, Tara tipped her head. “Be careful with me.”
Not simply be careful. Be careful with me. “I’ll catch you if you start to fall.” She spun to Tara’s left side. “If I can’t, I promise to fall too.””

This novel also features a few explicit sex scenes. Which comes as no surprise as this is an insta lust/insta attraction story. The sex scenes seem to mostly be focused on the pleasure of Tara, the femme in the relationship. I would have liked to see more from both perspectives. I did really enjoy the conversations around consent that were sprinkled throughout the story.

Frosted by the Girl Next Door is the book for you if you are looking for a relatively low stakes, queer cozy romance with a bit of spice.

"...everyone loves a kiss and make up story. Especially at Christmas.”