I found that I unfortunately did not like this book as much as Baggage Claim.
The premise was really good but I feel like a lot of things Cooper did and said seemed a little juvenile for his age. The jokes that were made also landed kind of flat for some reason.

There were also a few discrepancies and continuation errors that I just could not look past, as well as the poor formatting of the ARC.
I understand that ARCs are unfinished and can have mistakes in them, but some of it was just unreadable, to the point where I had to read through a paragraph 3-4 times just to figure out who said something.

✨️"You are valuable. He left them for you. You are my Madeline."✨️

Cooper, a children's ski instructor, finds himself in need of a fake girlfriend to save his family's ski lodge. He meets Madeline, the aunt of one of the kids in his class, and they decide to make an arrangement that benefits the both of them.

If you want a heartwarming, funny and emotional story, this is the perfect book you! I was laughing out loud at multiple scenes. I found the writing beautiful and descriptive. I could picture everything so clearly. Their relationship developed from strangers to friend to lovers and I love those type of romances to much. Cooper and Madeline took so much time to get to know each other! I really enjoyed how we find out more and more about the characters while they get to know each other. It makes me connect to their relationship and characters.
This book deals with difficult topics, like family issues and self discovery. I think the author did a great job on these topics. It made me understand the characters more, and I could feel for them so much. I loved Cooper as a character. He notices these little things about Madeline and would do anything for the people he loves. I loved the way he expresses his love and feelings for Madeline, even when they were just friends. I teared up a bit at the end, because it was such an heartwarming and important part of the story!

The only thing that bothered me a bit was that in some sentences the quotes ("...") were left out, when they were needed. It made me a bit confused at times. But after some time I got used to it!

All this led me to my final rating of 4⭐️. Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this E-arc!

This book truly made my heart so happy! I loved the realness and raw emotions throughout this book. The strength Madeline has is absolutely admirable and I love how we saw the highs and lows of her life now as a single aunt of 2.
Cooper was the most warmhearted goofball that will protect the ones he loves at all cost. Cooper and Madeline showed in their relationship how opposites attract and how to simply bring out the best version of one another. I absolutely loved seeing Piper and Charlie grow throughout this book and how strong and independent they are. This book truly was so beautiful!

thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review ✨

i loved this book. wow.

Madeline is the legal guardian to her two year old niece and her nine year old nephew after her brother and best friend died and left them to her. she’s juggling parenthood with nursing school and working as a cleaner at the local ski lodge. Cooper is a ski instructor at his family’s lodge, trying to do anything he can to bring more custom to the lodge after a new lodge opened up nearby and business slowing down as a result. Cooper gets invited to do an interview with a family magazine, the only stipulation is he needs to bring his wife and kids too. after meeting Madeline, Cooper hatches a plan to fake date his way into her heart and kill two birds with one stone, bring more customers to his families lodge and win the girl.

this was such a fun book. Cooper as the MMC was just *chefs kiss*. he is sweet and funny and honest and mature!!! i cannot explain how amazing it was to read a book with a mature male character (mentally mature, he still at times behaved like a big kid).

Madeline is so real, her feelings and thoughts and struggles and doubts were so relatable and believable. her love for those two kids is undeniable, and her strength at balancing so much and dealing with her judgy mother is phenomenal.

the chemistry between Cooper and Madeline is so beautifully written, i felt all of it. the admiration, the happiness, the warmth and the love. it jumped off the page and developed and grew so naturally, i was rooting for them the whole time.

my only issue with the book is a few plot holes and formatting but it is an uncorrected proof of the book so i know it’s not perfect and so this didn’t impact my rating at all.

i would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a sweet, fluffy read with real and beautiful romance and lots of smile-to-yourself moments.

Let me tell you, Snowed Under by Juliana Snow hit just the right spot for me. It’s a quick, sweet read that’s perfect for anyone who enjoys a romance with a little bit of emotional depth, without getting too heavy.
Fake Dating
Opposites Attract
Romcom
Holidays

Perfect to set the mood in this chilly weather!

#SnowedUnderchristmasbookholidayromcomfakedatingromcom #NetGalley

Love on the slopes? HECK YES THERE IS! Snowed Under by Juliana Smith is the perfect winter romance to read snuggled up by the fireplace while the snow falls.

This is my kind of love story. It's about real people with messy lives who love in messy, scary, wonderful ways. Even though Cooper and Madeline start off as a relationship of convenience, their investment in each other is so wholesome and delightful to read! I felt very connected to the vulnerabilities and strengths of each of these characters. Coop's love for those kids had me WEAK. Dream man. Madeline of course, what a gem.

I am pleased to say there is no psychological messing around with the kids via a third-act breakup or anything of the sort. That would have really ruined this book for me and I was holding my breath until I made it through.

🎿❄️ Snowed Under ❄️🎿
By Juliana Smith

✨ Thank you NetGalley and victory editing for this ARC - out 11/23!

🎿 Ski instructor
❄️ Single aunt
🎿 Fake dating
❄️ Loss/Grief
🎿 Slow burn
❄️ Dual POV

🎿 was instantly charmed.
Maybe because I’m from a snowy town with a neighboring ski resort so it felt a little familiar.
❄️ With a very character heavy narrative it’s important that the characters are relatable and likable. Both were true here. [and it also helps that Cooper is 👩🏻‍🍳💋 - wonderful]
I loved their personalities and quirkiness. Even the side characters felt genuine and added to the story. Especially little Pipes and her speech 🥺.
✨ Absolutely don’t miss out on this wonderful read, so get ready to cozy up with it this winter! ✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️: No

I absolutely love the single parent/guardian trope so I was really excited to dive into this book. This book is a companion novel to Baggage Claim but can be read as a standalone.
If you are looking for a good old romcom book with the most adorable characters this book has you covered.
Madeline and Cooper's' meet cute with Cooper pretending to be Mini Coop's dad was hilarious. Also the nicknames Cooper gave everyone were adorable. Charlie, Piper and Lola have my heart especially Half Pint cause that girl is the most terrifying and cute at the same time.
The journey of Madeline finding herself was so beautiful and Cooper is such a sweetheart. I mean I'm honestly jealous of Mads cause I want my own Cooper now.

The balance between the emotions and the humor was well written cause one chapter I'm laughing and the next I'm tearing up. These were such special characters and I'm so glad to have read this book.

**Review: 3.5/5 Stars**

*Snowed Under* by Juliana Smith is a lighthearted holiday romcom that follows the classic fake dating trope with a twist. In this story, reserved aunt Madeline Sage finds herself unexpectedly teamming up with her nephew’s fun-loving ski instructor, Cooper Graves, to save the local ski lodge and keep her family afloat. The opposites-attract dynamic between these two leads, paired with their evolving “pretend” relationship, adds a fun, charming tension to the plot.

While the chemistry between Madeline and Cooper brings some warm moments, Cooper’s character may feel a bit over-the-top for some readers, coming across as cocky or even crass at times, particularly in his humor. There’s also some inconsistency in the story’s pacing and certain details, such as minor continuity slips and occasional punctuation errors, which can be a bit distracting. Despite these, the scenes with Madeline’s niece and nephew add depth to her character, highlighting her sense of responsibility and heart.

Overall, *Snowed Under* is a cozy, quick winter read with plenty of playful banter and a few laugh-out-loud moments, even if the humor doesn’t always land. It’s a good pick for fans of low-stakes, holiday-themed romance who enjoy an opposites-attract setup and the charm of a small-town ski lodge. While it could benefit from some refinement, it’s still a delightful escape for the holiday season.

Snowed Under by @author.juliana.smith
Pub date : November 23 rd /2024
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thank you #Netgally and Victory Editing Netgally Co-op for the Arc .

Snowed Under swept me off my feet from the moment I saw the beautiful cover, and after diving into the story, I’ve completely fallen in love with every character and scene. This book is a perfect blend of humor, romance, and heartfelt emotion.

Madeline and Cooper's journey is a masterclass in opposites attract. Their chemistry had me laughing, squealing, My heart genuinely went "babum babum" with every moment that pulled them closer together! Their first interaction is hilariously unforgettable, setting the tone for a love story full of playful banter and genuine connection. The development of their bond, from a fake relationship into something undeniably real, had me rooting for them through every complication.

Madeline’s relationship with her niece and nephew, Charlie and Piper, is simply beautiful. Watching their little family grow and heal together warmed my heart. The author did a brilliant job of portraying Madeline’s strength and vulnerability as she navigates her new role as an aunt, student, and caretaker. Charlie’s care for his aunt and Piper’s adorable, lively presence brought so much life and love into the story, making me tear up and smile, sometimes all at once.

Cooper is such a fantastic character, and his arc from a carefree, confident ski instructor to someone who realizes what truly matters is captivating. Cooper’s playful nicknames“Little Coop” and “Little Pint”brought a fun energy to the story. The characters, like Lola, Finn and Olive add even more warmth and humor to the story.

The final chapter had me on the edge of my seat, and I was in tears as I read through the emotional, powerful conclusion. Cooper and Madeline’s journey of healing and love is unforgettable. It beautifully captures the essence of healing, love, and the bonds that can bring people back to life after tragedy. It’s a perfect blend of laughter, romance, and the magic of second chances, making it a solid 5-star read for me. I absolutely loved every moment and highly recommend it!
#inspirational #NetGalley #SnowedUnder

This is my fifth Juliana Smith book and quite possibly my favorite. I loved both the MMC and FMC, and the kids were just the absolute cutest too. I enjoyed the banter, the character growth, and the resolution (I absolutely got emotional at the end). I had some minor quibbles in a couple of places (I wanted a more fleshed out dialogue around the working mom/self-care conversation) but seriously: a fun and sweet wintry read for this upcoming holiday season!

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗:
SNOWED UNDER is an opposites-attract romantic comedy where a reserved single aunt and a confident children’s ski instructor partner together in an attempt to save a local ski lodge.

𝙼𝚢 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎:
There is SO MUCH to love about this one!

Cooper & Madeline had the most hilarious meet-cute. I was snort laughing so hard! The chemistry between Cooper & Madeline was perfect. They had the best banter, but what I really loved was just how much they understood one another.

The kids were also a really great element to the story & I loved that we got to see development between them & Cooper.

We also got to see more of Finn & Olive from Baggage Claim, which I loved!

Overall this is a super cute, cozy read.

What you get:
❄️fake dating
❄️hilarious kids
❄️golden retriever mmc
❄️single guardian aunt
❄️holiday romcom
❄️opposites attract
❄️workplace romance
❄️no third act break up

I loved Juliana Smith's Baggage Claim, I was excited to read another winter book from her! I liked this one, but not as much as Baggage Claim. It was a cute winter/holiday read!

This book was an absolute delight—I loved every single moment! May and her kids completely stole my heart; they’re such a precious family, and I felt so connected to them. Cooper, along with “Mini Cooper,” is beyond adorable, and the dynamic between Cooper and “Half Pint” is both chaotic and utterly endearing. The chemistry between May and Cooper is undeniable, and they’re such a perfect match that I found myself rooting for them from the start.

The story wrapped around me like a warm blanket; it was so comforting that I wanted to live within its pages. I genuinely didn’t want it to end and even found myself tearing up when I reached the final page—I just needed more, especially a longer epilogue to stay with these characters a little longer.

This was so sweet, the perfect cozy romance for winter. We have Madeline, who has entirely lost who she is. After her brother and best friend’s passing, she’s left as sole guardian of their two small kids, along with being a nursing student and part-time housekeeper at the ski lodge. On top of all that, her nagging mother who seems incapable of helping out with the kids insists the one thing missing from Madeline’s already hectic life is a man.

Cooper is a children’s ski instructor at the lodge and in an attempt to rectify his disorderly past and save the family ski resort, he agrees to be interviewed by a well-known family magazine. All he’s missing is the wife and kids he claimed he had.

As Madeline and Cooper decide to help each other out, we find there’s more to both of their stories. In becoming friends, can they help one another heal and overcome tragedies of the past?

- [ ] Opposites attract
- [ ] fake dating
Overall the vibes were cosy but some things stood out to me because they were in almost every chapter.

Many times when attempting to quote one of the characters, the actual quotes ( “”) were left out which left to confusion. There were some slight inconsistencies with the timeline. If in the beginning of chapter 3 (Cooper’s POV ) he says he has half an hour to ski in peace after his lesson, two pages later he changes it to one hour.

About Cooper:
Personally I didn’t like him as a character since his first POV. He felt extremely childish, cocky for no reason and vulgar. His first proper sentence when trying to impress Madeline being “And they say the mountains are Aspen’s best view” while she’s cleaning something under a table? Ew.

About the writing:
Minus the punctuation mistakes , the jokes were weird. Sometimes addicting too many details it’s unnecessary and it ruins the point. To set the scene with an example: Maddie listening to something in her headphones related to diseases that Cooper hears , (because apparently it’s this loud ), he comments on it and then she says regarding the heart disease department “one of the not so sexy diseases. If any are sexy”.
No, none are sexy. These kinds of unnecessary comments ruin the scene for me and they’re not funny.

Quite a few spelling and grammar mistakes. Many times in the middle of the sentence there were words starting out with a big letter.
Chapter 7 had a completely different shrift than the rest of the book!? The missing quotes were triggering me the most (poking my eyes out).

A few things about the story:
Preparing for this interview pretty much during the whole book and then they get asked literally 2 questions??

The epilogue was nice and well thought out however one sentence there was misleading as well. When they get asked by the interviewer about their second child ,Maddie says “A girl this time. Hopefully not as feisty as our first one”. Which would lead you to believe she gave birth to a girl already and is going to give birth to another one but no. They are referring to the adopted kid . It’s just… I know who they are talking about BUT it is misleading written this way.

Other than that if someone wants a pretty fast, winter read about fake dating and they overlook details such as above that personally bothered me, they’d enjoy the book more.


Thanks to NetGalley for the Arc!

Thank you NetGalley & Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

After having read Baggage Claim, I definitely was expecting certain - negative - things from this book, but this was a very pleasant surprise. I really liked Madeline and her little family, and I think the author managed to write her in such a real, raw manner that it just made everything about this book all the more special to me. (This book does have a trope I'm particularly fond of).

At times I did think the MMC was a bit immature and childish but I also found myself laughing and even tearing up at some of these scenes. I did enjoy the evolution of the couple's relationship, even if - at first - I was a bit more doubtful than what I would've liked.

All in all, this is the perfect book to put in the mood for some holiday reads if you're looking for something light and sweet.

Anyone who is Team Rachel on Ross and Rachel’s we were on a break dilemma instantly becomes a favorite… soooo hi Cooper!

Ugh this instantly became one of my favorite reads this year thus far! Madeline and Cooper made me giggle and had me kicking my feet up in the air.

Book Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Juliana hit it out of the park!)

I cannot tell you how many times my heart absolutely melted while reading this book.

If you want a book that will make you feel absolutely giddy and have the sudden urge to run away to a ski lodge where a hot instructor will beg you to be his fake girlfriend so he can save his families ski lodge…. This is the one!

Snowed Under by Juliana Smith is one of the sweetest books that I have read in quite a while. I love how Juliana combined humor as well as serious and very real life topics that are incredibly relatable. The humor though was absolute top notch. I still find myself laughing at Cooper’s interruption of Madeline’s date. Also his interactions with Mini Coop and Half Pint, absolutely hilarious and heart-warming. I also related so much to Madeline and her struggles.

Things that I loved:
💜 Shim-Jim’s
💜 The niece and nephew who quickly captured my heart
💜 All of the Disney Movie references
💜 Cooper and his silly antics.
💜 Madeline and Cooper’s relationship.

Thank you so much to Juliana Smith for allowing me to read this ARC via NetGalley!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cooper Graves & Madeline Sage
- strangers to friends to lovers
- Holiday romcom set in Aspen, CO
- Golden retriever MMC
- He’s a children’s ski instructor
- Single mom/guardian of two kids FMC
- “Not-dates” 🤭😍 & sorta fake dating
- Difficult family relationships for FMC
- The SWEETEST 9 yr old ever
- Sassy banter
- Nicknames 😂
- Bonding over grief

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book 2 of Aspen Peaks Series - releasing November 23, go preorder now!!!!! This is a sweet, fun, and flirty holiday romcom that had me laughing and crying. It wasn’t a cookie cutter holiday romcom but still have all the cozy holidays vibes. There were some plot curveballs in there that had my jaw on the floor and my adrenaline running. In the end, Juliana had me tearing up at the sweetest ending and chapter 33 will always get my heart. 🥹

Cooper and Madeline balance one another out so well and also work as a team so beautifully. I loved reading how involved and engaged both MCs were with the children. The boding between Cooper and Charlie as so so sweet. The children added lots of comedic moments but also really tender moments that got my mom heart. 🥹

Love Coop’s mom. Holy first kiss Batman! 🤭 I just 🤭 no words. So good! Love the way Madeline sacrifices everything for her niece and nephew without a second thought. Can’t stand Madeline’s parents. Also go Madeline!! IYKYK. Cooper is the definition of a green flag. Love Cooper’s wholehearted commitment. 💕 Being snowed in together 🤭😝 Chapter 32 & 33 😭😭

This is a closed door romcom. It has descriptive makeouts, innuendo, and light cursing throughout.

**Thank you so much to Juliana for letting me read this ARC via Netgalley. I received a complimentary copy. No positive review was required. All thoughts are my own.**

Songs:
“Can’t take my eyes off of you” by Frankie Valli
“Death Wise Love” by Benson Boone
“She used to be mine” by Sara Bareilles
“I don’t want to go to Heaven” by Nate Smith
“Greedy” by Tate McRae
“Beautiful as you” by Thomas Rhett
“True love” by Ariana Grande
“White xmas” by Sabrina Carpenter
“I can’t help myself” by Four Tops
“Here Comes The Sun” by The Beatles
“Sweet love” by Myles Smith

**Note for author: I only caught a few typos. There was a formatting/timing issue that I was confused about with Chapters 26/27/28, since chap 28 jumped back to the conversation from chapter 26. I still enjoyed the chapter and the conversation they had. Just confused that they went back and revisited it without clear indication with the new chapter of where they were or that they were revisiting it or if it was supposed to be like a flashback to previous conversation. Also, I loved the characters and especially Coop, May, the kids, and Coop’s mom.