An easy read that will make you feel cosy.

📚 fake dating
📚 friends to lovers
📚 single parent (aunt)
📚 dual POV

🚫 (closed door)

“If I had to handpick a family to pretend was mine got just one day, I was extreme glad it was this one”

|Thoughts|
A story, that whilst is deals with grief, also highlights some of the joys of life. Loved the dynamic between Cooper and the children, some sweet bonds there. And super sweet that he consider Charlie (Mini Coop), when she starts ‘dating’ - although interrupting her date was also done for selfish reasons.

“I came on behalf of Mini Cooop. He would want me to do background checks”.

Again, we have some horrible parents (and at least one good one).

“Not that my mom hated me or that I hated her. It was that neither of us understood the other. Not since Will died.”

Whilst there wasn’t a whole lot in terms of plot, it was mainly driven by character development and the ‘not dates’ that Cooper and Madeline go on together. It was a generally lighthearted romance with a happy ending.

“I mean it, Madeline. Whatever Kane you’re in, I’m right there behind you”

This is book 2 in the Aspen Peaks series. This can be read as a standalone.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5/5 stars

This book warmed my heart! It was a wholesome winter read. Cooper gives golden retriever vibes! Madeline is a single aunt with guardianship over her niece and nephew. The kids play such a large roll in this book! It was warmed my heart reading about the relationships the kids had with May!

As a huge skier, I personally loved this book. Juliana Smith described the mountain and Cooper's ski lessons perfectly! It's the perfect book to read at this time of year! Makes me more excited for the ski hill to open!

I was kindly provided with the ARC of this book by NetGalley and the team of editors in exchange of an honest review, thank you ✨
OH MY GOD🙂‍↔️🙂‍↔️✨✨✨

I lived for this book✨ you know me, give me a book with faintly father/mother and I would be devouring it!!

The only reason it took me two and half days to read this book was because u had a very busy weekend because other way, I would finished it in one sitting. I was soooo invested reading May, Coop, Mini Coop and Half-Pint story that I was crying by the end of the epilogue (don’t worry those were happy tears)

Madeline and Cooper were sooooo cute!! He is everything and more I could ask in a MMC, the way he always ALWAYS was for her and the kids, my heart was so full 🥹❤️‍🩹 and my girl, she was so underestimating herself, but she was the most strong, callable and giving person, she lived for her kids and when Cooper was in the picture, everything just fell in place.

The kids just stole my heart and in that very specific moment in the hospital, ahhhh I lost it🥹❤️‍🩹

This books is A MUST, trust me, would leave your heart feeling soo good and warm ✨

Cooper Graves is a ski instructor at his family’s struggling resort in Aspen. With a competing resort drawing business away, things are looking tough. When a popular family magazine reaches out wanting to do a feature on Cooper and his wife, he faces one problem—he doesn’t actually have one.
Enter Madeline Sage. She’s balancing nursing school with a part-time job cleaning at the ski lodge while raising her two younger siblings, Charlie and Piper, after a family tragedy. When Cooper meets her at one of Charlie’s ski lessons, sparks fly. And with the magazine deadline looming, he sees Madeline as the perfect fake girlfriend to help save his family’s business.
Snowed Under was absolutely worth the wait. I fell in love with Juliana Smith’s books back in 2022 when she released Baggage Claim, so you can imagine how eagerly I was waiting for this one. And it did not disappoint!
This is exactly the kind of love story I love—real people with complicated lives, loving in messy, brave, and beautiful ways. Cooper and Madeline might start off with a relationship of convenience, but watching them grow so genuinely invested in each other is just heartwarming.
The chemistry between these two was electric—they were just meant to be. Cooper using Mini Coop to start a conversation with Madeline made for such a fun first meeting, and it had me laughing. Their “not-dates” were adorable, and those feedback emails added such a playful touch.
The kids played a big part in this story, and Juliana nailed it with how they were written. Their dialogue and relationships felt totally natural, and watching Cooper try to win them over was just the sweetest thing ever.
If you like fake dating, no third-act breakups, winter sports, found family, and tragic backstories wrapped in cozy holiday vibes, then Snowed Under is the perfect read for you.
Thank you to NetGalley, Juliana Smith, and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes:
⛷️ Romcom
🎿 Opposites Attract
⛷️ Single Aunt + Nephews Ski Instructor
🎿 Fake Dating
⛷️ No Third-Act Breakup
🎿 Hallmark Vibes

SNOWED UNDER by Juliana Smith ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I quickly fell in love with all of the characters. Madeline is admirable in everything she takes on. Cooper is a dreamboat and his approach with Madeline and the kids melts me. Piper is hilarious and I loved Cooper trying to win her over! This book is cozy, refreshing, funny, sweet, and will give you all the warm fuzzy feelings!

Cooper is a ski instructor at his families lodge, and Madeline works at the lodge while balancing college and raising her niece and nephew. Cooper needs Madeline to pose as her girlfriend for an article being written about the lodge, and reluctantly, she agrees.

Perfect if you like:
•Fake dating.
•Workplace romance.
•Slow burn.
•Dual POV.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
Mood: 🍩🌮

4 Stars!

Snowed Under by Juliana Smith is a delightful, heartwarming story about two coworkers brought together by fate and a fake dating arrangement that grows into love, trust, and a deep friendship.

The story centers on Cooper, a ski instructor at his family’s lodge in Aspen, who lives for skiing, adrenaline, and honoring the legacy of his late grandfather. Then there’s Madeline, who works at the lodge as a cleaner while juggling nursing school and raising her late brother’s two kids. With so much on her plate, Madeline craves stability, structure, and zero distractions.

When Cooper is asked to participate in a feature about his family’s lodge for a magazine, he enthusiastically agrees—until he realizes the article wants to include his “family”… and he’s single. With a little convincing, Madeline agrees to pose as his girlfriend, and in return, Cooper promises to help her rediscover herself outside of her responsibilities. What starts as a simple arrangement turns into a series of “non-dates,” deep conversations, and heartwarming moments with Madeline’s kids, leading Cooper and Madeline to find a family in each other they never expected.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Juliana Smith did a fantastic job bringing Cooper and Madeline’s story to life, with thoughtful details that made their connection feel genuine. You can truly see why these two fall for each other as they open up and grow closer. The way the author navigated their relationship, especially with children involved, felt both realistic and heartfelt. And how could anyone not adore Mini Coop and Half Pint? They’re absolutely precious!

This book is a perfect, cozy holiday read. I loved watching Cooper and Madeline’s love unfold without the usual third-act breakup drama. It’s refreshing, sweet, and full of charm.
Recommended for anyone who enjoys:
• Closed-door romances
• Workplace romance
• Friends to lovers
• Fake dating
• “He falls first” tropes

I loved this book from the first sentence! I laughed, I cried, and I REALLY wished I was in Aspen/knew how to ski. I’m an SLP and get a little hesitant when a character is written as a speech therapist, but it really seemed like she did her research and I was pleasantly surprised! The kids were my favorite part of this book and that is normally not the case. Another excellent read by Juliana - further cements my rule to never miss one of her books!

JULIANA SMITH DOES IT AGAIN. I’m typing this with tears in my eyes because that ending? Absolutely amazing, it was everything. “SHES MY MADELINE. I OWE HER EVERYTHING” ??? EXCUSE ME WHILE I GO UGLY CRY FOR THE NEXT HOUR OR SO.

Gosh, I was so excited to get into this book after reading For The Record and falling in love with Juliana’s writing and characters, and this was just everything.

I loved how realistic it felt because being a single parent and especially in the case of Madeline isn’t easy, and it made so much sense why she was so hesitant to date or not knowing who she was for so long because she lost a piece of her and everything around her so quickly and had to become a mother figure to her niece and nephew. I loved Cooper and the way he too was realistic because that chapter when Piper is in the hospital and him running out? Like that’s a completely sincere human reaction that I just wanted to hug him.

I loved how it was a bit of a slow burn, but again realistic. I loved reading about these two that had been through difficult situations in life and finally find someone they could let their guard down this.

Lol don’t get me started on the kids, I loved them so much!!! BUT OMG THAT ENDING??? The way that Cooper immediately just calls them his and our girl and my boy, like my eyes won’t stop tearing up about it.

I loved, LOVED this book!!! Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read it!

I have not had this much fun in a book for a while! It is the perfect combination of sweet and gut wrenching.

I loved both Madeline and Cooper right from the get go, and watching their relationship blossom was spectacular. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me kick my feet because it was so sweet. I firmly believe that we all need someone in our lives to play question games with and watch the fire until the early hours of the morning.

I loved how this book portrayed friendship, parenthood, and what it looks like to find yourself again after you’ve felt lost for so long. It was such a fun ride and left me feeling all of the warm fuzzies.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for an eARC of this book, I loved it!

4.25 stars

This was a cute, cozy, holiday romance! I really enjoyed the setting of a ski resort and all the fun snowy vibes.
Madeline was such a good guardian for her niece and nephew and was stretching herself thin to make sure they had everything they needed while also dealing with her nursing school and her difficult relationship with her parents.
Cooper was the ultimate golden retriever/ cinnamon roll boyfriend. He was so sweet to Madeline and made an effort to get to know not only her but the kids as well. You could tell that he would do anything for them and that he really cared about them.
This was overall a very light and sweet book but it did deal with some heavier themes. I liked the way Juliana Smith handled the grief from the kids losing their parents and Madeline losing her brother as well as Cooper’s fears of not being able to step into the roll of being a parent/guardian. Sprinkle in a little bit of fake dating a Slim Jim obsessed toddler and you get this wonderful book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC!

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op for the ARC of this novel.

This book was so sweet. It wasn’t overly christmasy but the ski lodge setting really gave it Christmas/winter vibes.

I loved Cooper, Madeline and the kids so much. Their backstories were heartbreaking but also the found family aspect of this book was so good.

I loved that it didn’t have the 3rd act breakup. It might be my least favorite parts of a romance book. I loved the communication between Cooper and Madeline. It was such a nice and refreshing change for a romance novel.

The fake dating troupe is always hit or miss for me but this one was a big hit! I loved the nicknames Cooper gave everyone (half-pint, mini coop, etc) and Ioved the addition of the kids and their personalities.

I haven’t read the first one in this series but I will definitely be picking it up this holiday season.

4.75/5 rounded up to 5 for this review.

Review: Snowed Under by Juliana Smith ❄️❄️❄️❄️

If you are looking for a book perfect for winter but it isn't Christmasy, this is for you! I would recommend it through the winter months when snow is on the ground but the Christmas tree is put away.

Madeline has custody of her niece and nephew after her brother and his wife were killed in an accident. Cooper is a ski instructor for Madeline's nephew. They start going on "not dates" for fake dating reasons that don't really matter, but really just because they want to get to know each other. Just go with it. 😆

Cooper did not make a good first impression to me. He kind of overstepped, but he really grew on me. He is sunshine and extroverted and trying to do the right thing. I loved that eventually his goal was to help Madeline find what she likes and what makes her her. That was so sweet and the evaluations after their dates were funny.

The kids played a HUGE role in this story and the author did an excellent job writing them. Their dialogue and relationships felt really natural. Cooper working to win them over was so sweet.

While the banter started off slow for me, I felt myself swooning and enjoying the dialogue and writing style more and more as the book went along. By the end I was loving it and ready to pick up Juliana's other book Baggage Claim.

The family dynamics are rough, but realistic. Everyone involved is working through a lot of grief and people do that in different ways. I cried twice and I don't cry while reading books very often.

Pick this up if you like:
Golden retriever men
He falls first
She makes him work for it
Two cute kids
Ski instructor x lodge cleaner
Fake dating
He's the sunshine
She's hard to get
Single mom/aunt
Closed door

This is the perfect book to read with hot chocolate, a fireplace and snow on the ground outside.

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC of Snowed Under in exchange for an honest and independent review.

First and foremost, HUGE Juliana Smith fan here! I’ve read a number of her books at this point and I hold a special place for several of her previous works. That being said, this was the first book of hers that I’ve read and just felt lukewarm about. It isn’t that the idea wasn’t interesting or pulled at your heartstrings. It just wasn’t the page turner that I usually encounter with Juliana’s previous books. Part of that may be that I simply have zero interest in skiing or Aspen in general, but the storyline was just a bit too slow for my liking.

In addition to overarching plot line, I really could not stomach the MMC. He came off as incredibly arrogant and egotistical, which was an immediate hard pass for me. It’s really hard to get into a book when you just cannot stand one of the two main characters. Also on the list of characters I could not stand were Madeline’s parents. The way they treated her and their actions later in the book regarding her tuition money created an actual visceral reaction within me because my level of dislike for them was so high.

I wish I could pinpoint exactly why this one just didn’t hit home for me like all her others before Snowed Under. Overall, I felt that the storyline was promising and Madeline’s niece and nephew were absolutely adorable, I just found myself bored and falling asleep at points in the story. Even though Snowed Under fell flat for me, that in no way deters me from reading everything Juliana writes in the future. Typically, her books are always a grand slam in my opinion, but I understand that you can’t always win them all!

I thought this was a cute little romcom. The jury is still out on whether I liked Cooper / Madeline as a couple, but it was still a romcom. 😌

Very cute wintery novel. I loved the way she took care of her nephew and niece, and I loved the way that Cooper helped to take care of them all.

One small thing that bugged me as someone who skis were some of the descriptions surrounding this, such as 'he tightened his skis' - you can tighten your boots but not your skis. However, I only noticed this because I am familiar with skiing and if the descriptions had been about for example baseball, which I know nothing about, these small errors wouldn't have mattered!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this read!

Almost cried reading this!

Madeline works as a housekeeper in a ski resort while also studying for nurse school, oh and she’s also taking care of her two nephews and nieces because her brother and best friend died in a freak accident. Cooper works as a ski instructor and also kind of owns the resort, he also needs a fake wife to save it, who better to ask than the very hot aunt who picked up her nephew from one of his classes. He just didn’t expect her to refuse and keep refusing. He is ready to do anything to make her say yes. She’s worried and he’s determined, what could go wrong? Or what could go right?

I do think I preferred this one to the first one, I could relate so much more to Madeline. Her nephew, Charlie (or Mini Coop) and niece Piper (Pipes or Half Pint) are the cutest and most adorable things ever, even after such a horrible and traumatic event, well mostly. There are of course some bits I wish were different because I could see it coming from a mile away but then there are also some things I did not expect at all. Which I really liked.

Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Zero 🌶 but I'm so okay with that!
a MelReads hot-take: Forget shadow daddies...Cooper Graves is a SNOW DADDY! 🎿🤍
Favorite character: the 3 year-old girl.

In all seriousness, Snowed Under is a story of grief, loss, and finding love in the most unsuspecting places. There is absolutely zero spice in this story--which I was really looking forward to reading, but honestly...this is a story of family and grief and it wouldn't have been right. The love-plot of this story was the slow kind of love. You read this book and can see the love story before the character's even do and that's a beautiful thing.

Side bar: this is a part of a series, but you don't necessarily have to read the 1st book before this one. I didn't...but will be reading it now because I loved the characters in this story so much.

Snowed Under, so delicately, portrayed grief and loss of a loved one and how you're never really the same afterwards. Juliana Smith did a superb job of depicting a character who is so consumed by the needs of others, that she forgets who she is--she loses herself as a girlfriend, fiancé, aunt, and Cooper (the snow daddy, himself) is the one to help Madeline discover herself again. I think Madeline's backstory can be healing to some readers, and triggering for others. Please take care as you read. 💜

On a lighter note, the characters in this story were laugh-out-loud funny. Cooper has the best personality--cocky, confident, and protective. Yet, he's also goofy, hilarious, and sassy. I loved how each character had their own unique personality traits--and I honestly kept picturing Madeline's mom and dad as Richard and Emily Gilmore (from Gilmore Girls). *shrug*

My absolute favorite character in this entire story is the 3 year-old girl, Piper. That girl is feisty and mean and she brought so much humor to this story. 💜

Tags:
❄️fake-dating
❄️friends to lovers
❄️slow burn
❄️no spice
❄️HEA
❄️no second-act breakup (thank you!)
❄️death of a family member (off page, before story)
❄️speech delay rep
❄️mention of alcohol abuse in past


Thank you to Juliana Smith, Victory Editing and NetGalley Co-op for a galley of this book.

This is lighthearted romance that brings a bit of charm to the workplace romance genre. The characters are likable, and the storyline is engaging, but it doesn’t quite reach its full potential. The chemistry between the protagonists is enjoyable, but there are moments when the pacing feels uneven, which affects the flow of the story.

While there are several funny and heartwarming scenes, some of the plot points feel predictable, and the character development could have been deeper. Despite these minor issues, Its still enjoyable read for anyone looking for a feel-good romance with a few laughs along the way.

Rating: 3/5

I was left with warm feelings and happy emotions once i was done with this book. The emotions throughout the book however... they were all over the place.

These two characters have an absolute cutest meet-cute and their story contains some fake dating (which I absolutely love) as well as heavy topics and single "mom" situation. I loved Juliana Smith's writing and the plot was an emotional rollercoaster!

I feel like this is a perfect, cute, fluffy, emotional and real winter vibe story! I will absolutely reread this again when there is snow outside <3

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher as well as ofcourse to the amazing author Juliana Smith for an advanced reader copy in exchange of an honest review.

this was such a cute book!! I loved the dynamic between the two main characters and how they developed throughout the story!