Starlight at Snow Pine Lodge

by Rachel Barnett

Three friends. One Christmas escape. A week that will see their lives changed forever... Making headlines is something socialite Tania knows all too well. After her latest scandal goes too far, she decides the perfect solution to her problems lies in a remote ski lodge away from the cameras. Clara is learning to take each day as it comes after a sudden tragedy rocked her whole world. A trip to the French Alps couldn't have come at a better time, a chance to heal and get back on her feet. To her friends, Rose is the glue that keeps the group together. The first person they call in times of need and one always to put others before herself - even if it comes at the cost of her own secret heartache. As Clara, Rose and Tania head to Snow Pine Lodge, what waits for them there is far more than the relaxing break they were expecting. Between uninvited guests, a brewing snowstorm and old secrets bubbling to the surface, these women will need to lean on their friendship more than ever before if they're to face up to their pasts and fight for the relationships they really want... A festive new novel from Rachel Barnett about love, self-discovery and the power of friendship to blissfully lose yourself in this Christmas. For fans of Sarah Morgan, Jennifer Bohnet and Cathy Bramley, Starlight at Snow Pine Lodge is the perfect cure for those cold, wintry evenings.

Genres: Christmas, Audiobook

336 pages, Paperback

Published September 26, 2023

Reviews

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starlight at Snow Pine Lodge introduces us to a group of 3 friends, who take a trip to Snow Pine Lodge in the French Alps. Socialite Tania just wants to hide at her family's ski lodge after her latest scandal. Clara is trying to find her equilibrium after the death of her husband and child and Rose is the glue that holds them together. She's the one they call when they need help, but Rose has secrets of her own that she wants to share with her friends. Things don't always work out the way you plan as a snowstorm is heading their way, uninvited guests who up and secrets are revealed that will rock them. Their friendship is what they will lean on to heal, reveal secrets and make decisions for their futures.

This was a wonderful story, blending descriptive writing with turmoil, healing and more. All 3 of the friends have their own storyline, but it is Clara's story that is the center of the book. Rose has invited her friend Madeleine and her story is woven in with Rose's. There are several themes in this book including grief, secrecy, parental issues, troubled childhood and drugs. Rachel Barnett does a wonderful job of exploring the LGBTQ issues that involve hiding your true self from family and friends. With other unexpected guests, there are some fun and some heartbreaking moments. I enjoyed this book with all its storylines, and although it wasn't really festive, it was wintry. Sara Novak narrated this audiobook and does a fine job with all the characters and their stories.

[eleanor · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was okay but nothing special, i found the friendships and relationships a bit nauseating and i feel as though nothing was really achieved or happened - i wouldn’t recommend

[Kirsty (BookBlogger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starlight at Snow Pine Lodge by Rachel Barnett

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Embla Books and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Three friends. One Christmas escape. A week that will see their lives changed forever...

Making headlines is something socialite Tania knows all too well. After her latest scandal goes too far, she decides the perfect solution to her problems lies in a remote ski lodge away from the cameras.

Clara is learning to take each day as it comes after a sudden tragedy rocked her whole world. A trip to the French Alps couldn't have come at a better time, a chance to heal and get back on her feet.

To her friends, Rose is the glue that keeps the group together. The first person they call in times of need and one always to put others before herself - even if it comes at the cost of her own secret heartache.
As Clara, Rose and Tania head to Snow Pine Lodge, what waits for them there is far more than the relaxing break they were expecting. Between uninvited guests, a brewing snowstorm and old secrets bubbling to the surface, these women will need to lean on their friendship more than ever before if they're to face up to their pasts and fight for the relationships they really want...

My Opinion

Whilst this is a festive book it is not all happy, nevertheless this is a lovely book to read and I felt that the difficult topics were handled delicately. A very emotional read that is still filled with festive joy. It took me a little while to get into this book but it was a great read.

Rating 4/5

[Ritu Bhathal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since the weather has made a bit of a downturn, it feels right to be reading Christmas-themed books in August, and I dived into Starlight at Snow Pine Lodge with high hopes.
Tania and Rose are staging an intervention for their close friend Clara.
Having faced a huge loss, Clara is floundering in life, and her friends think a week away at Tania's family lodge for a spot of skiing and a Christmas that means she won't be alone is the best thing for her.
Though both the other women are struggling with their own battles.
Tania is the daughter of an uber-famous Hollywood actor and half-sister to Lysander, a huge name in his own right in modelling. She's spent her life in the spotlight, but never for what she wants to be known for. And this trip might be just what she needs, as she flees the paparazzi and rumours circulating about her.
Rose, on the face of it, seems to be the one who has everything together; however, she's got her own secret turmoil. She invites one of her own friends to the trip, who brings a different spin to all their problems.
There is beautiful scenery, uninvited guests, sadness, happiness, romance and relationships; plenty to keep a reader busy!
An easy read, filled with lots of threads and points of view, so you have to keep on your toes to know who is thinking what.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Embla Books for an ARC.

[beereadsxo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll prefix this with the fact that I absolutely LOVE all things winter themed, especially Christmas, so I JUMPED at the chance to read a Christmas themed novel.

What I wasn’t prepared for was to have my heart ripped out and torn in two by this incredibly beautiful, wonderfully written heartfelt story.

All 3 friends have their own stories, and whilst it’s mostly centred around Clara’s trauma and recent loss, Rachel has seamlessly woven in all 3 (4 if you include Madeleines) stories into one, with each woman’s problems bouncing off the next.

I loved the themes explored in this (trigger warning for spouse and child loss) from Tania’s troubled childhood and parental issues, to Clara’s raw and fresh grief from a very traumatic incident, to Roses secret love affair with someone her best friends wouldn’t expect. I loved the exploration of the lgbt characters and how they navigated their relationship (from both POVS) and how the friendship dynamics changed over the course of the week with fresh revelations of affairs, drop ins by a famous model who happens to be the drug addict step brother of one of the girls, AND the ex lover of another 😬 and how things can take an unexpected turn for the best when you least expect it.

A really enjoyable read, quick and simple, with beautiful descriptions and hilarious dialogue. Very relatable characters made this extra special.

Thanks to @rachelbarnettauthor @thebookdealer and @emblabooks for this copy!

Starlight at the Snow Pine Lodge is out now ❄️

[Sue Plant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

It’s very picturesque plus very seasonal with it being Christmas and snow

This about small group of friends going away for a short break over Christmas but underneath tension mounts as each of them have obstacles to overcome

It’s not a classic Christmas tale it does have some serious issues but on the whole it’s a decent read thst keeps you hooked to the end

Well worth a read

[Susan in Perthshire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t understand the reviews that describe this as ‘cosy and cute’. I found it very well written - but utterly painful, filled with angst and very depressing - and not all what I’d expected from the cosy cover.

I rate it 5 stars for the writing but 2 stars for enjoyment- hence the three stars overall.

[LOIS · Rating 5 out of 5]

An authentic and compelling story of friends and family. This is an emotional book with difficult issues.,but it also challenges and uplifts. Set in the beautiful French Alps over Christmas, I found it hard to put down.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friends Tania and Rose and Miranda decide to take their friend Clara to Snow Pine lodge for a Christmas break. Clara has recently lost her husband and daughter in a car accident and is still grieving. Her two friends think it will give make a lot of difference for Clara to get a way a bit. When they arrive at the lodge, they meet Chef Tom and a surprise guest Tania’s have brother Lysander.
Tania has her own problems; she is a daughter of a super famous American actor, and she is hiding from the media after having an affair with a married man. She trying to lie low, until she meets a guy in a nearby bar called bar called Gill. Who at first, she wasn’t interested in but slowly warms to him.
This is a story not just about grief but starting new relationships and coming out in the snowy mountains in the French alps.
Thank you, Embla, for a copy of Starlight at Snow pine lodge This is a well written, romance story and overall, I enjoyed it. But in the latter stages of the for me personally it got a bit repetitive, and I started skipping pages until the last few chapters at the end which I thought was the best bit. 3.5 stars from me.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

An emotional and engaging story about family, friendship, grief and relationships explored in a glamorous ski resort location. Three female friends are the core characters; they are long-term friends, and one has suffered an unimaginable loss. The ski holiday is to keep her safe during the emotionally charged festive week. Although Clara is bereaved, Tania and Rose have emotional issues in their superficially perfect lives. Other notable characters are Madeline and Tom. Tania finds a gentle romance with Gull, balancing the emotional angst, but nothing is simple in their lives. Despite the emotion, this is an entertaining read. Believable characters and relationship dynamics immerse the reader in the characters' lives and draw their empathy. I like the ski resort setting, the varied characters and the tangle of emotional conflicts that need to be solved in this story.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Valerie Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
The blurb includes the words love, friendship and heartwarming. 3 people who've known each other a long time plus one go away together, in a beautiful snowy setting. What a mix they turn out to be: social butterfly Tania who cares little for any bystanders who might be hurt by her actions, Rose who won't even admit her current relationship to her friends, Clara who is locked away in her tragedy and poor Madeline trying to enjoy herself. As the story unfolded I disliked them and their behaviours more and more. In addition I felt as though the author was trying to increase the word count as much as possible - no-one laughed, they 'huffed a laugh'.
With friends like these who needs enemies, especially Clara's selfish actions close to the end of the story? I found the whole story depressing.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a while to get into this, but once I did, I found it hard to put down.
Tania takes her friends to her parents' lodge for Christmas. She is escaping an affair. She meets Gull. Can he tame her wild ways?
Her friend Clara is fragile and blames herself after the death of her husband and daughter.
Lysander is Tania's half-brother and is very annoying and arrogant. He thinks he's gods gift as he does modelling, but he has his own problems to work through.
There is plenty of skiing, drinking, and eating. I'm up for two out of the three.
There is a good mix of characters that bounce off each other well.
The setting sounds idyllic, perfect for Christmas.
An ideal Christmas read sat in a comfy chair with a decadent hot chocolate.
Thanks to Embla Books for the invitation to read in return for an honest review.

[Carole Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

brilliant

Escape to the French Alps with this heartwarming festive read. Friends Tania, Rose and Miranda decide to take their friend Clara to Snow Pine Lodge to escape a Christmas in which they will never forget.

It’s the lodge that anyone would want to stay in, luxurious, your own chef and surrounded by fabulous snowy views.

They spend a week together and all of them have their own stories to tell that will see their lives change forever.

Between uninvited guests, a brewing snow storm and old secrets which inevitably get discussed, these women will need to pull on their friendship more than they every thought was possible as they face their pasts and fight for what they really want.

I love everything about this book, it covers grief, the importance of friendship, romance, Rachel Barnett has written a deeply emotional story. Well worth a read

[Felicity Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous comfort reading at its best!! Feel good, warm hearted, escapist winter reading!! Loved it!!
A group of friends Tania, Clara, Rose and Miranda are spending Christmas week at a luxury chalet in the French alps that belongs in Tania’s family. Add in the chef, the brother and others, and it’s quite a complex mix! The intricate life stories of all the characters involved create quite a web of expectations, fears and their realities they are not facing until a snowstorm hits. No spoilers here!!
Scandal, tragedy, glamour and heartache are all here!
Loved this from the first page to the last!! Great writing, great personalities, festive reality on a different sphere!!
Thank you NetGalley and Embla books for the early read! Hugely recommended and enjoyed!!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Face value this book was great. It wasn’t a typical sickeningly romantic Christmas book. It had trauma and heartache whilst still set in a picturesque location with the cliche friendship group, there for each other. So why do I only feel I can give this 3.5 out of 5 stars?? Something was just lacking for me with the characters. There was only really Madeleine and Carla who had anything of substance and depth. The storyline has everything needed for a wintery romance - love at first sight, annoying family, death, and even sexuality is discussed but it all could have just been developed further and given so much more depth. An easy read and a good one if you want something a little less Christmas cliche but not quite making me feel all the Christmas spirit yet!

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tania, daughter of a mega famous actor and sister of an equally famous model brother escapes to her parent’s ski resort chalet to escape the scandal that’s threatening to break in the media. Alongside her are her best friends Clara, grieving over the loss of her family and Rose with a secret she doesn’t know how to share.

The Christmas break brings romance, unwanted guests, grief, drama, and the storm of storms challenging the girls’ lifelong friendship.

Some books need to be read on beach, this needs a roaring fire (or the heating on at least!) cosy socks and winter PJs. An easy read, but it I challenge you not to get emotional!

If you’re ready to start hunkering down for winter this isn’t a bad place to start.

Thanks to Tracy Fenton and CompulsiveReaders for this early copy.

[Staceywh_17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give anything to have a lodge in the French Alps, what a setting for a book - the snow, log fires, hot chocolate and snuggling under fleecy blankets.

Starlight at Snow Pine Lodge is a gorgeous, festive heartwarmer that would make an enjoyable addition to the Hallmark gallery - Four friends, Christmas and a Snowstorm (film title right there, see?)

I loved the girls characters, such a great mix of personalities and their reasons for wanting to escape for the festive period made for a mixed bag of emotional reading. Their stories include loss, grief and an affair - but will this be the much needed break they wanted or will it turn into something more?

[Bianca Duthie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an emotional read, but I'm glad I read it. The setting was beautiful, I really enjoyed reading about the lodge and the mountains. I love snow, so it sounded, for the main part of the story, so magical.
The characters were so strongly written that I'd love for this to be a series to see more of them all.
Trigger warnings of death, suicide, bullying, and drugs, so watch for these if sensitive to them.
The book primarily focuses on the 4 female friends. However, Lysander, Tom, and Gull quickly make their mark on the story, I only wish we had the occasional paragraph from their points of view.
It was a lovely read that's started getting me into the spirit for my cosy, winter romcoms.

[Harriet · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first of December rolled around and this book was queued up as my first Christmas read.

It focuses on three different women who are all taking a Christmas holiday for different reasons. I absolutely adored the setting, with the descriptions of the snowy mountains and drinking hot chocolate - especially because I read the majority of it today, cosied up with a cup of tea looking out at the frosty trees! The themes were far heavier than I was expecting but I really liked that, and found the book very emotional.

Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable read that contained surprisingly heavy-hitting topics!

[Dawn Probert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were interesting, engaging and well written.
This was sensitively written, interesting and the scenery descriptions were delicious.
I liked Tom the best, he was gentle, caring, interesting and patient.
Madeleine was also the best character too she was the best and the glue that kept them together and also she helped the trauma unfurl too.
She was kind, friendly and patient.
This was a great book, different to usual Christmas romances, I read it in a day and couldn’t put it down.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Christmas romance breaks away from the usual festive tales, exploring themes of loss, grief, and public scandal. Set against the backdrop of a French Alps chalet, Tania, Clara, Rose and Madeline have come away to escape their personal challenges.

While the characters are well-developed and interesting I found it hard to get into, there was a lot going on, maybe a bit too much for me.

Nevertheless, it's an emotionally charged journey with great female friendship.

Thank you to NetGalley and Embla Books for providing me with the ARC.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A group of friends decide to spend Christmas at their friends ski lodge, to help Clara through a particularly stressful time in her life. It was lovely to get to know the group of friends and the chef Tom, who looks after them so well. An idyllic setting for a Christmas book, and I could just imagine myself there enjoying a hot chocolate and all the delicious meals, surrounded by christmas card perfect views everywhere.
The book covers romance, friendship, grief and a wonderful ski lodge holiday. Perfect for the Christmas season.

[Barbara Lack · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is during the Christmas season. Two friends have brought a third friend to France to a family lodge for Christmas because she’s recently lost her family to a car accident. New friendships are formed, a romance begins. It was a very sad book for me. Quite depressing in some places. The author describes beautiful scenery. However, all happy scenes get taken ver by sadness oranger. Overall it is a well written book.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three friends head to the mountains for a Christmas to remember. It’s a week that will see their lives changed forever. Tania, Rose and Clara all have their own issues to face and are hoping a week in the mountains will help. How we throw in some unwanted guests and a major snowstorm and not everything will be plain sailing. I enjoyed this book. It’s a tale of friendship, loss, relationships and new beginnings. Thank you to NetGalley, Embla Books and the author for the chance to review.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rose, Clara and Tania are three friends on a getaway in the French Alps for Christmas. It's a perfect little holiday that they all need but when secrets are revealed and a snow storm hits the reality is anything but fun. This is the perfect escapism story that will take you away and get you in the Christmas spirit. I am really loving reading Christmas books for August. This one is the perfect blend of magic and the characters are appealing and the plot is tantalising.

[Helen O'Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so much more than the title and cover suggested to me. I thought it would be a schmaltzy Christmas romance but actually focused far more on relationships between old friends and new, and themes around loss and bereavement. It wasn't a quick read for me, but I really enjoyed it, together with the descriptions of the snowy resort it was set in.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an original festive Christmas novel with a darker side that made it more interesting.
It's heartwarming and festive but also poignant and I like the mix that works.
Compelling plot, well developed and liked characters
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas spent in a luxury, fully catered lodge, surrounded by fabulous snowy views. It should be a wonderful holiday but below the surface the friends have life changing decisions to resolve. A recommended read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Debra Tunnicliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely Christmas story set in the French alps about 4 friends who go on a skiing holiday who all have secrets. Loved the characters and their individual stories and the scenery sounded lovely and so inviting and makes you feel all festive. Would recommend to anyone who likes a good Christmas story with intrigue thrown in. Thanks to NetGalley & Embla Books for a ARC for a honest review.

[Hayley Copeland · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve given this book a 3.5. I’m normally pretty quick at finishing books but this took me the best part of three weeks. I felt like the first half was so slow and boring then everything was crammed into the last quarter. Maybe it was just how I was feeling at the time, I might try it again in a few months and see if I feel different about it.