Snowed Under taking us back to Aspen Peaks? Sign me up!!

This book has.it.all! Opposites attracts, single aunt, ski instructor, self discovery, humor, banter, fake dating...it's all just chefs kiss! I really enjoyed Cooper and Madeline's story. The fake dating to save the ski lodge was a fun touch, although at times it didn't feel like true fake dating. The chemistry between them was there the whole time even when Madeline was denying him. But, that didn't stop me from loving it. I do like the first book in this duo better, but nevertheless, this is a great one too!

Snowed Under by Juliana Smith is a light, cozy read that has its moments, but ultimately didn’t hit the mark for me. The story follows Olivia, who gets stuck in a snowstorm at a remote cabin with her ex, Ethan, after a holiday getaway goes awry. The premise is promising—forced proximity, second chances, and wintery romance—but the execution left me a bit underwhelmed.

Olivia and Ethan’s chemistry is supposed to be palpable, but their relationship felt more like a series of predictable misunderstandings and clichéd moments. Some of the dialogue was so over-the-top that it pulled me out of the story, and the pacing was inconsistent. There were parts where it dragged, especially when the focus shifted too much to the quirky cabin antics instead of developing the emotional tension between the characters.

While Snowed Under has its charm, with a few funny moments and a sweet ending, it didn’t quite live up to the potential the setup promised. For readers who enjoy light, feel-good romance with minimal conflict, it could be a fun pick, but it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy!

Madeline is working part time while also in school for nursing full time. On top of that, since her brother and his wife did, Madeline is the sole guardian for Charlie and Piper. While trying to balance everything, she finds herself losing bits and pieces realizing she doesn't even know who she is anymore.

Then enters Cooper. Cooper's family owns the ski resort in town and he gives lesson to kids as part of his job. But a new ski resort just opened up and he has noticed less people at the resort. When a family magazine offers to feature him and his family to help get more patrons in, he jumps on the opportunity. The only issue, he doesn't have a wife and kids. He creates a plan to pretend that Madeline and her niece and nephew are his family ,and in return helps Madeline discover who she is.

I really enjoyed book one, but I like book two even better. I love Madeline and her sweet niece and nephew. The hardships she was experiencing, feeling like she was losing herself, felt so real especially as a mom of three. I can't even imagine being thrown into motherhood with kiddos who were not mine with no experience. This was such a beautiful story of finding yourself and realizing it's okay to do what makes you happy and not what you think you're supposed to do. Embracing the chaos in finding the good in every moment.

5/5⭐️ *no spoilers*

This book was sooo wholesome!!!!!! I loved every single second of it! Coop and Mads are my favorites!
First of all the winter and ski season vibes are immaculate and it made me want to be there!! So cozy, so fun and so beautiful.
Mini Coop and Half Pint????????? The cutest little kids in the entire world and I love how kids are incredible judges of character and they just KNEW Cooper was a good one (even if some did take longer than others iykyk). Their relationship with Madeleine and Cooper later on is just so endearing OH HOW I LOVE KIDS.
Mads and Coop were very real and relatable people, with baggage, trauma, the whole shbang! But their growth and success was so amazing to witness. The way they were able to help and heal each other and help each other go on and be happy is so special to me.
I laughed, I cried, I swooned, I giggled. This was a roller coaster of emotions and I wouldn't want it any other way!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!💜

I am a sucker for opposites attract romances! This was a fun read in a unique setting. Definitely a good romance to add to your list.

(4.5 ⭐️)

It was the perfect book to start my winter holiday reading season 🎄

This book made me smile, laugh, blush and cry 🥹 It was so lighthearted and cute, and literally felt like a warm hug 🤍

Now I have to read the fist book because I didn’t realize that this was part of an interconnected standalone series and I have to know Finn and Olive’s story 🫡

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Juliana Smith for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Snowed Under is the second book in the Aspen Peaks series, but it reads perfectly fine as a standalone. The story follows Cooper, a ski instructor helping run his family’s lodge, and Madeline, a nursing student juggling school, work, and guardianship of her niece and nephew. With themes of grief, love, and family, this book struck a great balance between emotional depth and feel-good romance.

I really enjoyed watching the characters—both the leads and side characters—grow. The kids added a sweet dynamic, and I appreciated how the book explored the challenges of healing from past wounds while finding comfort in others. Also, the winter setting? Absolutely nailed it. Not overly festive, but still full of that crisp, cozy seasonal charm.

If you’re in the mood for a wholesome, low-angst romance with a swoony hero (seriously, where can we all find a Cooper Graves?), this one’s a great pick!

Enjoyed this quick read form this author. Went back and read the first one after reading the story of Madeline and Cooper. Looking forward to the third one. I recommend this book especially if you want to read books that are set at a ski resort and in the winter. Thanks to NetGalley for this advanced copy.
#SnowedUnder
#NetGalley

A charming holiday read with lovable characters! I really enjoyed this book and I'm glad I had the chance to read it. 🥰

It's a great pick if you like:

Fake Dating
Opposites Attract
Dual POV
Single Parent Dynamics
Meet Cutes
Closed Door/Clean Romances

Very surface level. A great winter holiday romance kind of read. You definitely can finish it in one sitting. A single mom romance if that entices you.

Cute holiday read and sweet characters! Overall a great book and glad I got to read it. :)

Thank you NetGalley and Juliana Smith!

I LOVE JULIANA SMITH! She has yet to disappoint me. This is a perfect holiday read. Read if you love: strangers to lovers, found family, winter sports.

this was so wholesome, great chemistry. i like that thencouple wasnt rushed and that there wasnt a TAB. would definitely recommend

This was such a wholesome winter read for me. I love a good fake dating, romance story that is lighthearted and fun to read. The meet-cute in this book was funny and really drew you in to continue reading. I appreciate that they discussed past struggles in a very real way that did not feel like it was too dark or unrealistic. The children were portrayed in a very funny lighthearted way and the bond development was great.

Thank you to NetGalley and Juliana Smith for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This heartwarming winter romance is full of lovable characters and tender moments. Cooper, the goofy ski instructor with golden retriever vibes, brings a lighthearted charm to the story, while Madeline, a single aunt caring for her niece and nephew, showcases resilience and strength. The kids steal the show, adding warmth and depth as Cooper becomes a father figure to them. Their bond with him and Madeline was touching and brought me to tears during that scene.

Cooper and Madeline’s relationship is sweet, and Cooper’s character growth is a highlight. However, I wished we saw more of their “get to know you” conversations instead of just hearing they happened, as it would have deepened their connection.

While the fake dating trope felt unnecessary, the found-family dynamic and serious undertones balanced perfectly with fun moments. Overall, this wholesome romance warmed my heart—an ideal winter read full of love and growth.

What a beautiful story filled with sizzling romance and witty banter. I absolutely loved this book. Both of our main characters are so well-developed and have so much going on in their lives. I really enjoyed Madeline and seeing how she grew throughout the story. To sum it up, this beautiful book is about a woman who is willing to sacrifice anything for the ones she loves but is faced with so many responsibilities that she loses herself in the midst of it all. Then Coop comes along and helps her on her journey of self-discovery. Coop has to be my favorite MMC written by Julianna! He was literally perfect. This book had me crying, giggling, and wishing that a Coop Graves actually exists. Another amazing book by Julianna Smith. She never fails to deliver.!

Thank you NetGalley, Julianna Smith, and Victory Editing for providing me with an ARC copy of Snowed Under - in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

This is not my first read from Julianna, so I was not surprised to once again be reading a genuine, wholesome and feel good romance that was perfect for this cold winter season! Please note: This story is the second installment in the series - but can be read as a standalone. Book one is: Baggage Claim.

Read if you love:

-Fake Dating
- Opposites Attract
- Dual POV
- Single Parent Vibes
- Meet Cutes
- Closed Door/Clean Romances

Our leading man, Cooper agrees to do a feature on his family's ski-resort and quickly realizes that it is a family feature.... and he is very much single! He immediately begins searching for a solution - as he is willing to do whatever it takes to help the family business. Bring in our leading lady Madeline - a woman who recently lost her brother, and took in his two children - facing her own problems of schooling, not knowing who she is anymore... and a mother who loves to hound her about needing to get a boyfriend. Neither have time for a real relationship, but have the need to not appear single - them teaming up seems to be the perfect solution all around... but as they spend more time together the lines of their fake relationship and real life begin to blur.

While this storyline contains complex topics and discussions - the author handles with care and offers tons of laugh out loud moments that made it impossible to put this one down!

If you enjoy this - I also recommend to check out other works of hers including - Per My Last Email!

I absolutely loved every single second of this book! I’m genuinely at the point where if Juliana asked me to read her shopping lists, I would!! I’ve never ran as fast to read a book when my request was approved. I found Juliana’s work last year through Instagram and I’ve loved everything that I’ve read! Snowed Under was the perfect read leading up to Christmas.

The relationship between Madeline and Cooper is everything and more! There was so much chemistry between them from the moment they met and it just kept getting better and better! I was 100% rooting for them. There was just so much love and Julian’s writing depicted this so well. Both in the relationship between Madeline and Cooper and also their relationship with Piper and Charlie.

Piper and Charlie’s characters were written beautifully and they truly felt like real, complex characters and they also stole my heart! I adored how much Madeline stepped up and cared for these children. It made my heart hurt, in the best possible way and seeing Cooper’s relationship grow with them made it all just that little bit more special.

The communication between Madeline and Cooper really made their relationship for me. It was refreshing to see them sharing their struggles and working together through them.

I honestly loved everything about this book, which is no surprise! Please read it if you haven’t already! :)

This fake girlfriend/family story was very appealing to me. It’s a tale full of emotions, a story about discovering yourself, figuring out who you really are, and about family and love. A very beautiful and emotional story with wonderful characters. A delightful read.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for NetGalley.

Looooooved it! Such a great wintery book to escape into. The fake dating aspect is always a hit and it was done really well. Can’t give it enough praise.