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Sugar Valley #1
A Little Magic
Nine years to fall in love. Eight nights to learn the truth. One chance to rewrite the past.
Ellie Klein fled Vermont after graduating high school, and she hasn’t been back since. Not to see her overbearing parents nor her distant brother, not even to visit her temperamental cat and beloved dog. And most importantly, she hasn’t been back to see Theo Fox. Her first love and brother’s best friend has been but a distant and painful memory for the last seven years.
When Ellie’s travel site lands her back where it all began, her goal is to get in and out without seeing anyone from before. But life has other plans when she’s caught in a blizzard that leaves her seeking refuge in a cabin owned by none other than the infamous Theo.
Theo Fox has been winning collegiate hockey and NHL championships since Ellie disappeared, but all he really wants is a second chance with the woman he can’t stop loving. When she shows up unannounced in Vermont, he’s determined to find out why she left and never returned. And if he has a little magic on his side, how to get her back.
Told over the course of nine Christmas Eves and eight nights of Hanukkah, A Little Magic is a cozy, nostalgic story of young love, finding your voice, and the complexities of what it means to be a family.
Ellie Klein fled Vermont after graduating high school, and she hasn’t been back since. Not to see her overbearing parents nor her distant brother, not even to visit her temperamental cat and beloved dog. And most importantly, she hasn’t been back to see Theo Fox. Her first love and brother’s best friend has been but a distant and painful memory for the last seven years.
When Ellie’s travel site lands her back where it all began, her goal is to get in and out without seeing anyone from before. But life has other plans when she’s caught in a blizzard that leaves her seeking refuge in a cabin owned by none other than the infamous Theo.
Theo Fox has been winning collegiate hockey and NHL championships since Ellie disappeared, but all he really wants is a second chance with the woman he can’t stop loving. When she shows up unannounced in Vermont, he’s determined to find out why she left and never returned. And if he has a little magic on his side, how to get her back.
Told over the course of nine Christmas Eves and eight nights of Hanukkah, A Little Magic is a cozy, nostalgic story of young love, finding your voice, and the complexities of what it means to be a family.
12 pages, Audible Audio
Published November 1, 2023
200 people are currently reading
7420 people want to read
About the author
Lindsey Lanza
4 books384 followersLindsey Lanza is a bookstagrammer turned author originally from Columbus, Ohio. She is a tech start-up enthusiast by day, a voracious reader by early mornings, nights and weekends, and now writes love stories when she gets a spare moment. You can most often find her laughing about nothing with her husband Erik, perusing a dessert menu, consulting clients on zoom calls or obsessing over her Sheepadoodle Wally. Speechless is Lindsey’s debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,117 reviews
December 12, 2024
“So what if choice breeds uncertainty and regret, isn’t that what freedom is? Having the ability to regret things? Being able to make a decision and knowing you’ll deal with the consequences, good or bad? I wanted that power. I wanted it desperately.”
★ 3.5 stars
I really did like this but can we please start using realistic timeframes for second chance romances?! Because what do you mean they didn't talk for 7 years because of a misunderstanding that could have been cleared up with a 5 minute phone call... Although, I do think the characters were better off from the time apart. They needed time to grow on their own as they were so young, especially Ellie. I just wish it played out differently.
Other than the 'reveal' towards the end, I did enjoy this. Ellie and Theo are super sweet and relatable characters. I loved the dual timelines and emotional depth to their relationship. There's something precious about first loves and friends to lovers. It's so innocent. The shelf of snow globe gifts, the birthday cards, sneaking around and first kisses while ice skaking? Adorable. They are soulmates 🥺
I LOVED the represenation in this as well - Ellie has a chronic illness (lupus) and it was interesting reading about it. I really did feel for her and how restricted she was growing up, I don't blame her for being resentful toward her family for how they treated her. Theo also suffered a big loss when he was a child and this story pulled on my heart strings. The dual timeline was the perfect choice.
I honestly flew through this book in less than 24 hours. This is a new author for me and won't be my last read of hers!
You'll like this if you enjoy:
ˋ°•*⁀➷ small town romance
ˋ°•*⁀➷ second chance
ˋ°•*⁀➷ first loves
ˋ°•*⁀➷ best friend's brother
ˋ°•*⁀➷ snowed in / festive / hanukkah
ˋ°•*⁀➷ chronic illness representation (lupus)
ˋ°•*⁀➷ dual timeline & POV
ˋ°•*⁀➷ open door spice
*This story touches on the death of a parent (off page)*
Quotes:
“All I ever wanted was that cozy kind of love. The gooey heart, curled toes, crinkled eyes kind of love. The kind that feels like hot cocoa warming my bones. Summer rain, fluffy socks, s’mores by the fire. That small kind of love you get lost in from too much happiness to ever wonder what else is out there.”
“She’d say that you could only ever have one favorite, one person you wanted to spend every moment with, one person that could make any bad day better; and if that wasn’t the person you married, you’d always regret it.”
“It was like I had opened a book to my own dull story and rewritten the words, creating events that only existed in dreams.”
── ⊹ ࣪ ˖♡˖ ࣪ ⊹ ──
It’s such a red flag that she moved away and left her dog with family (I could never) BUT second chance romance x brother’s best friend tropes are my guilty pleasure so here I am with festive read #15 of 2024 🎄
★ 3.5 stars
I really did like this but can we please start using realistic timeframes for second chance romances?! Because what do you mean they didn't talk for 7 years because of a misunderstanding that could have been cleared up with a 5 minute phone call... Although, I do think the characters were better off from the time apart. They needed time to grow on their own as they were so young, especially Ellie. I just wish it played out differently.
Other than the 'reveal' towards the end, I did enjoy this. Ellie and Theo are super sweet and relatable characters. I loved the dual timelines and emotional depth to their relationship. There's something precious about first loves and friends to lovers. It's so innocent. The shelf of snow globe gifts, the birthday cards, sneaking around and first kisses while ice skaking? Adorable. They are soulmates 🥺
I LOVED the represenation in this as well - Ellie has a chronic illness (lupus) and it was interesting reading about it. I really did feel for her and how restricted she was growing up, I don't blame her for being resentful toward her family for how they treated her. Theo also suffered a big loss when he was a child and this story pulled on my heart strings. The dual timeline was the perfect choice.
I honestly flew through this book in less than 24 hours. This is a new author for me and won't be my last read of hers!
You'll like this if you enjoy:
ˋ°•*⁀➷ small town romance
ˋ°•*⁀➷ second chance
ˋ°•*⁀➷ first loves
ˋ°•*⁀➷ best friend's brother
ˋ°•*⁀➷ snowed in / festive / hanukkah
ˋ°•*⁀➷ chronic illness representation (lupus)
ˋ°•*⁀➷ dual timeline & POV
ˋ°•*⁀➷ open door spice
*This story touches on the death of a parent (off page)*
Quotes:
“All I ever wanted was that cozy kind of love. The gooey heart, curled toes, crinkled eyes kind of love. The kind that feels like hot cocoa warming my bones. Summer rain, fluffy socks, s’mores by the fire. That small kind of love you get lost in from too much happiness to ever wonder what else is out there.”
“She’d say that you could only ever have one favorite, one person you wanted to spend every moment with, one person that could make any bad day better; and if that wasn’t the person you married, you’d always regret it.”
“It was like I had opened a book to my own dull story and rewritten the words, creating events that only existed in dreams.”
── ⊹ ࣪ ˖♡˖ ࣪ ⊹ ──
It’s such a red flag that she moved away and left her dog with family (I could never) BUT second chance romance x brother’s best friend tropes are my guilty pleasure so here I am with festive read #15 of 2024 🎄
December 9, 2023
Flirty. Cute. Steamy. Hot!! 😍😘🫣 Rated R for language and adult content. 🤗 This was a great holiday read. 🎄I was along for the ride and loved it.😝
did-not-finish
December 21, 2023DNF at 2%. Maybe it is horrible for me to say but it feels like the book starts off with the heroine whining and it irritates me.
December 25, 2023
I was excited reading this book. It was cute. But then, quickly, when the characters were about 12&14? It veered off into unbelievable, cheesy , and frankly a bit skeevy for my taste. And it continues on like that, but with a "conflict" that makes me irate and in the end, none of it was all that interesting.
I can do middle grade, YA,NA but what I can't do is a mishmash of these styles that don't have grounding in any one space-or voice. And nothing is exploited or explored with nuance - as a reader I was mildly insulted. I was impressed the flashbacks read young until I realized actually the whole book read young?
I don't know, a bit of a bummer!
I can do middle grade, YA,NA but what I can't do is a mishmash of these styles that don't have grounding in any one space-or voice. And nothing is exploited or explored with nuance - as a reader I was mildly insulted. I was impressed the flashbacks read young until I realized actually the whole book read young?
I don't know, a bit of a bummer!
October 21, 2023
“What about us? What would our collective noun be?” (...) “That’s easy. We’re magic.”
Shout out to all my second chance and first love tropes girlies!!!
A Little Magic tells the story about Ellie and Theo, two people who have been magically (re)connected even as they tried to deny it. Ellie's a strong, beautiful, and chronically ill woman, who's been shelved by her mother as child, and was only held by her dreams of living an adventure—which she only knew the true meaning of when she was 9 and visited the Sugar Valley Village, where she met Theo for the first time. And Theo is Ellie's older brother's best friend; he's the dearest character ever—a dreamer, who has always loved animals and playing hockey, and that always had the best ideias until he lost his life as he knew. They loved each other when younger and after 7 years since they broke each other's heart, she's back and they finally meet again.
Their friendship once started with annual meetings, short gazes and little gifts. And as the years passed and their lives changed, so did their relationship. They became more important to each other, more presente. They became someone the other could always rely on. I mean, they both went through a lot throughout the years—Ellie because of her lupus and overprotective and overbearing mother and Theo, by losing his parents and the perspective of his future—, and the author did such a great job by showing how they always each other to count for support.
After things happened and everything went down, Ellie moved far away from home and cut contact with everyone and Theo moved on with his life (or at least tried to) and became a professional hockey player. They haven't seen and barely heard from each other in 7 years, and after all this time, when Ellie goes back to Sugar Valley, they finally meet again.
Their relationship in the past started sweetly and smoothly. I loved how their friendship turned into love, into something romantic, as they continued to be each other's favorite person throughout. And I loved the way they reconnected after so long. It didn't feel forced for a single moment, even though it was fast, it felt natural and real. Maybe it's because of the chapters transitioning between the past and the present—which I don't usually like but worked so well in this book, because it never felt forced, it was just a choice of way to show their story and love, and it was great to read and follow it.
And there has to be something about Lindsey Lanza's way of writing that makes me always fall for her characters and books, I think. That's her second book released, the second one I read, and the second one I feel obsessed with. It is such a cozy and good story, and I have to highly recommend it to anyone who loves a story about true love and real, deep and intense connection.
Shout out to all my second chance and first love tropes girlies!!!
A Little Magic tells the story about Ellie and Theo, two people who have been magically (re)connected even as they tried to deny it. Ellie's a strong, beautiful, and chronically ill woman, who's been shelved by her mother as child, and was only held by her dreams of living an adventure—which she only knew the true meaning of when she was 9 and visited the Sugar Valley Village, where she met Theo for the first time. And Theo is Ellie's older brother's best friend; he's the dearest character ever—a dreamer, who has always loved animals and playing hockey, and that always had the best ideias until he lost his life as he knew. They loved each other when younger and after 7 years since they broke each other's heart, she's back and they finally meet again.
Their friendship once started with annual meetings, short gazes and little gifts. And as the years passed and their lives changed, so did their relationship. They became more important to each other, more presente. They became someone the other could always rely on. I mean, they both went through a lot throughout the years—Ellie because of her lupus and overprotective and overbearing mother and Theo, by losing his parents and the perspective of his future—, and the author did such a great job by showing how they always each other to count for support.
After things happened and everything went down, Ellie moved far away from home and cut contact with everyone and Theo moved on with his life (or at least tried to) and became a professional hockey player. They haven't seen and barely heard from each other in 7 years, and after all this time, when Ellie goes back to Sugar Valley, they finally meet again.
Their relationship in the past started sweetly and smoothly. I loved how their friendship turned into love, into something romantic, as they continued to be each other's favorite person throughout. And I loved the way they reconnected after so long. It didn't feel forced for a single moment, even though it was fast, it felt natural and real. Maybe it's because of the chapters transitioning between the past and the present—which I don't usually like but worked so well in this book, because it never felt forced, it was just a choice of way to show their story and love, and it was great to read and follow it.
And there has to be something about Lindsey Lanza's way of writing that makes me always fall for her characters and books, I think. That's her second book released, the second one I read, and the second one I feel obsessed with. It is such a cozy and good story, and I have to highly recommend it to anyone who loves a story about true love and real, deep and intense connection.
October 4, 2023
THE WAY I LOVED THIS.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
I won this book in a giveaway from the author before release which of course meant I wanted to pick it up before then. AND GOSH DANG. This might be the holiday book of the year y’all.
This had People We Meet on Vacation vibes but make it winter with a snowed in cabin and two people who never stopped loving each other seven years prior. I loved the chronic illness rep and I FELT all of the emotions Ellie was feeling deeply. The complicated family relationships, wanting to be free and so many themes inbetween.
The dual timelines brought out the emotions. It was PRECIOUS watching a young Theo and Ellie became friends and how that brewed into this deep and passionate, soul mate kind of love. The snow globes?? The ice skating?? The sneaking trips to see each other?? OH MY GOSH YOUNG LOVE.
I liked the current timeline plot too and that you could tell how GONE Theo was for Ellie. And when that third act came up and all of the details were revealed I was ANGRY. Which is a compliment because I am deeply attached to these characters. It was a sympathetic battle of understanding and I like how that was handled too.
Everything was incredible about this book. If you’re looking for a spicy holiday romance. Look no further. THIS IS THE ONE.
Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Holiday Romance
- Language: some strong
- Romance: 3-4+ open and fade to black
- Violence: low
- Trigger/Content Warnings: Chronic illness (lupus), loss of parents, strained family relations
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
I won this book in a giveaway from the author before release which of course meant I wanted to pick it up before then. AND GOSH DANG. This might be the holiday book of the year y’all.
This had People We Meet on Vacation vibes but make it winter with a snowed in cabin and two people who never stopped loving each other seven years prior. I loved the chronic illness rep and I FELT all of the emotions Ellie was feeling deeply. The complicated family relationships, wanting to be free and so many themes inbetween.
The dual timelines brought out the emotions. It was PRECIOUS watching a young Theo and Ellie became friends and how that brewed into this deep and passionate, soul mate kind of love. The snow globes?? The ice skating?? The sneaking trips to see each other?? OH MY GOSH YOUNG LOVE.
I liked the current timeline plot too and that you could tell how GONE Theo was for Ellie. And when that third act came up and all of the details were revealed I was ANGRY. Which is a compliment because I am deeply attached to these characters. It was a sympathetic battle of understanding and I like how that was handled too.
Everything was incredible about this book. If you’re looking for a spicy holiday romance. Look no further. THIS IS THE ONE.
Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Holiday Romance
- Language: some strong
- Romance: 3-4+ open and fade to black
- Violence: low
- Trigger/Content Warnings: Chronic illness (lupus), loss of parents, strained family relations
December 19, 2023
“I keep breathing.
In, out. In, out.
Eventually the pain will go away.
It always does.”
This book was exactly what I needed right now in my life. A little context on my personal situation, I was diagnosed with MS almost a decade ago and it has mostly been under control, except for a few flares here and there. But for the past three weeks, the pain has been particularly debilitating. I have spent days in bed not feeling like myself, hating my body for giving up on me but also feeling so alone. Needless to say, I haven’t been in the best state of mind lately, and this happening kind of made me miss out on the fun of the Christmas season a bit, A Little Magic is the first thing that made me feel ever since my flare. This book made me feel so seen and understood, it brought me to tears. And even if it’s tough, I at least can try to feel grateful about this.
Ellie is a pretty amazing main character. She is kind, thoughtful and generous, and she has been diagnosed with Lupus when she was just a child. Now, I know almost nothing about Lupus, but I know the pain, the fear and the hurtful comments, of auto-immune diseases. And the representation was honestly mind-blowing. The situation she was in growing up hurt me, I know her family was trying to do their best, each of them in their own way, but between her mother’s over-protectiveness, her father’s lack of interference and her brother’s jealousy, she wasn’t surrounded by the best people for her. Thankfully, enters the iconic Theo, her brother’s best friend who is tender, supportive, an attentive ear and yet very empowering to Ellie.
“So when I finally escaped, I don’t know. I kind of felt like I had done the impossible. Dared to dream. Become a penguin that could fly. Wings are just a state of mind, right?”
I enjoyed the dual timelines; I was particularly invested in the one that was taking place in the past. The dual POV was satisfying and absolutely necessary to help us grasp this book to its fullest. I have always been a fan of friends-to-lovers, especially when said friendships start in early childhood like it was the case in this book. This trope is rarely properly written in my opinion and fortunately, this book is one of them. A Little Magic also relies on the second chance trope, which can easily be messy depending on why the main characters need that second chance. The holiday vibes were spot on, Hannukah (Ellie’s family is Jewish), Christmas (Theo’s family owns a family tree farm), birthdays (Ellie is born on December 24th), feasts, snow angels, winter breaks and New Years. I loved every second of it.
My main issue with A Little Magic is that their initial break up was caused by miscommunication which is something I loathe in books. In this particular case though, I kind of see why they did not try to communicate further about their feelings, even if I’m not pleased with this development, it managed to not ruin the book for me (which honestly it could have). I’m mad that this much pain and longing has been caused because they could not manage a simple conversation that could have solved everything. So much time wasted makes me mad, especially since auto-immune diseases tend to worsen over the years. But I’m proud of who Ellie became and how independent she grew up to be and I’m not sure she could have evolved this much without ghosting everybody, so I guess it was a loss for a win.
“The problem with anger though, is it only hurts those who hold on to it.”
January 5, 2024
Oh my gosh this book was so sweet and steamy and endearing and I just adored it!!!
December 15, 2024
4.5⭐
The story begins unfolding during the characters' childhood. Ellie has lupus and spends most of her time at home. I want to add that I love chronic illness rep, and this trope is perfectly portrayed here. One winter, she meets Theo, her brother's best friend, and from that moment, her life changes because she finally gains her first friend and a reason to look forward to her birthday🎁
The book features two timelines that are seamlessly intertwined. I absolutely adored the characters — Ellie is a kind and talented girl who longs to spread her wings beyond her parents' constant care.
"𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅, 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕?"
I fell in love with Theo — his care for Ellie and his desire to make her life better won me over. His own story deeply touched me as well❤️🩹
A Little Magic is now my favorite holiday book! It’s the first book in the Sugar Valley series, and I’m already eagerly awaiting Maya and Liam’s story🥰
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
❅ friends to lovers
❅ second chance
❅ chronic illness rep
❅ forced proximity
❅ family drama
❅ winter holiday vibes
The story begins unfolding during the characters' childhood. Ellie has lupus and spends most of her time at home. I want to add that I love chronic illness rep, and this trope is perfectly portrayed here. One winter, she meets Theo, her brother's best friend, and from that moment, her life changes because she finally gains her first friend and a reason to look forward to her birthday🎁
The book features two timelines that are seamlessly intertwined. I absolutely adored the characters — Ellie is a kind and talented girl who longs to spread her wings beyond her parents' constant care.
"𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅, 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕?"
I fell in love with Theo — his care for Ellie and his desire to make her life better won me over. His own story deeply touched me as well❤️🩹
A Little Magic is now my favorite holiday book! It’s the first book in the Sugar Valley series, and I’m already eagerly awaiting Maya and Liam’s story🥰
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
❅ friends to lovers
❅ second chance
❅ chronic illness rep
❅ forced proximity
❅ family drama
❅ winter holiday vibes
November 28, 2023
4.5 rounded up 💫 and I’m officially a Lindsey super fan!!
✨childhood friends to lovers
✨second chance romance
✨brothers best friend
✨dual POV + dual timelines
✨Lupus representation 👏
✨family dynamics
✨an ICONIC book boyfriend 🥹
✨all the holiday feels - Hanukkah, Christmas (a family tree farm😫), birthdays, New Years!
Honestly this book was PRECIOUS!! It’s like a holiday version of Love and Other Words? But this conflict felt more believable? Just super cute, a little steamy, funny, flirty! read it!!
✨childhood friends to lovers
✨second chance romance
✨brothers best friend
✨dual POV + dual timelines
✨Lupus representation 👏
✨family dynamics
✨an ICONIC book boyfriend 🥹
✨all the holiday feels - Hanukkah, Christmas (a family tree farm😫), birthdays, New Years!
Honestly this book was PRECIOUS!! It’s like a holiday version of Love and Other Words? But this conflict felt more believable? Just super cute, a little steamy, funny, flirty! read it!!
October 22, 2023
Ah, I so badly wanted to love this one. Told in past and present, this second chance romance was brimming with feel-good, precious moments. It totally captured the magical essence of the holiday season.
It’s been seven years since Ellie Klein left her sheltered life behind in Vermont. But when work lands Ellie back in her hometown, she is forced to face the past—especially when snowed in with childhood love Theo Fox.
The chronic illness representation, including the strain it can bring on familial relationships, was really hard-hitting and beautifully explored. And overall, I enjoyed the way the two timelines were incorporated together, each sort of revealing aspects to the other in an unputdownable way.
That said, I wasn’t quite sold on this romance. While I love a great backstory, I felt the past timeline took too much precedence. And don’t even get me started with the revealed conflict—I was annoyed. But mostly, with the seven year gap in their relationship, I just had a really hard time believing this ending.
(heat level: a few open-door scenes, mild to moderate details)
It’s been seven years since Ellie Klein left her sheltered life behind in Vermont. But when work lands Ellie back in her hometown, she is forced to face the past—especially when snowed in with childhood love Theo Fox.
The chronic illness representation, including the strain it can bring on familial relationships, was really hard-hitting and beautifully explored. And overall, I enjoyed the way the two timelines were incorporated together, each sort of revealing aspects to the other in an unputdownable way.
That said, I wasn’t quite sold on this romance. While I love a great backstory, I felt the past timeline took too much precedence. And don’t even get me started with the revealed conflict—I was annoyed. But mostly, with the seven year gap in their relationship, I just had a really hard time believing this ending.
(heat level: a few open-door scenes, mild to moderate details)
November 3, 2023
4.75⭐️ rounded up!! Second chance romances are one of my FAV tropes, and without a doubt, one of the hardest tropes for authors to get right because there’s past, present and and inkling of a future?
Lindsey nailed this one and I absolutely ate. It. Up. And I had tears streaming down my face, I could hardly read the words on my kindle 😂
Processing my feelings but Theo is to be protected at all costs. Same with Ellie. 😫❤️🩹🐧
Edit - My only qualm with the book was that I had to suspend a bit of belief in regards to the # of years apart. Seemed like there needed to be more catch-up time before the HEA?
Lindsey nailed this one and I absolutely ate. It. Up. And I had tears streaming down my face, I could hardly read the words on my kindle 😂
Processing my feelings but Theo is to be protected at all costs. Same with Ellie. 😫❤️🩹🐧
Edit - My only qualm with the book was that I had to suspend a bit of belief in regards to the # of years apart. Seemed like there needed to be more catch-up time before the HEA?
October 3, 2023
4.5 stars!
Oh my heart 🥹 You know your heart is going to be thoroughly wrecked when you’re tearing up at the 20% mark. After not seeing each other for seven years, Ellie and Theo are reunited but quickly find themselves stuck at his cabin (that he built for her!)… during a blizzard ❄️ One cabin was the trope I didn’t know I needed.
Lindsey serves up a spectacular treasure trove of the best tropes:
🦦 childhood friends to lovers
🦔 forced proximity - one cabin AND they’re snowed in
🐧 brother’s best friend
🦥 second chance with your first love
Nicknames will ALWAYS make me melt and swoon, and Theo Fox has the most precious, affectionate monikers that will leave your heart in a puddle of feels. I mean Theo’s “hey, birthday girl” gripped my heart as much as Westley’s “as you wish.”
Theo and Ellie had the most tender love story full of first kisses, pining, birthday & holiday traditions, snow globes, snow angels, and random animal facts. The dual timeline had such a grip on my heart and I could not turn each page fast enough. Along with their blossoming love, Lindsey writes openly, and with such honesty and vulnerability, about grief and chronic illness. When others felt uncomfortable in the face of loss, grief, and complex family dynamics and avoided certain conversations, I loved how Ellie and Theo never stopped checking on each other and were committed to providing the other with support.
This book had me kicking my feet and squealing with delight! Hands down, one of the BEST second chance romances I’ve ever read. I HIGHLY recommend adding it to your TBR!
Oh my heart 🥹 You know your heart is going to be thoroughly wrecked when you’re tearing up at the 20% mark. After not seeing each other for seven years, Ellie and Theo are reunited but quickly find themselves stuck at his cabin (that he built for her!)… during a blizzard ❄️ One cabin was the trope I didn’t know I needed.
Lindsey serves up a spectacular treasure trove of the best tropes:
🦦 childhood friends to lovers
🦔 forced proximity - one cabin AND they’re snowed in
🐧 brother’s best friend
🦥 second chance with your first love
Nicknames will ALWAYS make me melt and swoon, and Theo Fox has the most precious, affectionate monikers that will leave your heart in a puddle of feels. I mean Theo’s “hey, birthday girl” gripped my heart as much as Westley’s “as you wish.”
Theo and Ellie had the most tender love story full of first kisses, pining, birthday & holiday traditions, snow globes, snow angels, and random animal facts. The dual timeline had such a grip on my heart and I could not turn each page fast enough. Along with their blossoming love, Lindsey writes openly, and with such honesty and vulnerability, about grief and chronic illness. When others felt uncomfortable in the face of loss, grief, and complex family dynamics and avoided certain conversations, I loved how Ellie and Theo never stopped checking on each other and were committed to providing the other with support.
This book had me kicking my feet and squealing with delight! Hands down, one of the BEST second chance romances I’ve ever read. I HIGHLY recommend adding it to your TBR!
December 24, 2023
Oh, I felt the magic!
I freaking love it when a new-to-me indie author writes my best holiday read of the year and Lindsey Lanza pulled it off!
A LITTLE MAGIC is all the best things! A brother's beat friend who is a major Cinnamon Roll hero AND a pro hockey player. A badass woman in stem who has lupus and who is Jewish (the representation, bitches! THE REPRESENTATION). Chapters about their sweet childhood and teen years together. Forced proximity with only one bed and ALL the chemistry.
This book had me hooked from start to finish. I loved Ellie and Leo. And the Christmas and Chanukah magic in this book is on point. The steamy scenes were fire and the sweet scenes left me with a happy sigh.
I absolutely loved A LITTLE MAGIC. I need everyone to read it immediately...that's an order! Then you can report back and tell me you loved it too.
𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟: Rated R / 2-4 descriptive sex scenes, may have harsh language.
𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦: death of parents, bullying at school, lupus
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗦: 3/5 - You will definitely feel some feels.
👇🏻𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗞 𝗠𝗘 𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘👇🏻
INSTAGRAM | YEAR OF SMUT CHALLENGE
I freaking love it when a new-to-me indie author writes my best holiday read of the year and Lindsey Lanza pulled it off!
A LITTLE MAGIC is all the best things! A brother's beat friend who is a major Cinnamon Roll hero AND a pro hockey player. A badass woman in stem who has lupus and who is Jewish (the representation, bitches! THE REPRESENTATION). Chapters about their sweet childhood and teen years together. Forced proximity with only one bed and ALL the chemistry.
This book had me hooked from start to finish. I loved Ellie and Leo. And the Christmas and Chanukah magic in this book is on point. The steamy scenes were fire and the sweet scenes left me with a happy sigh.
I absolutely loved A LITTLE MAGIC. I need everyone to read it immediately...that's an order! Then you can report back and tell me you loved it too.
𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟: Rated R / 2-4 descriptive sex scenes, may have harsh language.
𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦: death of parents, bullying at school, lupus
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗦: 3/5 - You will definitely feel some feels.
👇🏻𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗞 𝗠𝗘 𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘👇🏻
INSTAGRAM | YEAR OF SMUT CHALLENGE
October 11, 2024
4.75 stars
THIS WAS SO GOOD!!
Sweet, swoony, and more emotional than I expected from a holiday-themed romance. It can be hard to pull off a dual timeline story, but it worked incredibly well here — probably because I was invested in Ellie and Theo’s story from when they first met, and the flashbacks weren’t just a tease about why they separated.
I loved their budding friendship when they were kids, which grew into a precious first love that matured as they got older. Ellie and Theo were both dealing with tough issues (check TWs), but the way they supported each other over the years was so moving.
The side characters were also well written, with Ellie’s brother Ezra (also Theo’s best friend) having an interesting arc of his own.
Highly recommend this one — I got all the feels while listening to the audiobook. 🥹
THIS WAS SO GOOD!!
Sweet, swoony, and more emotional than I expected from a holiday-themed romance. It can be hard to pull off a dual timeline story, but it worked incredibly well here — probably because I was invested in Ellie and Theo’s story from when they first met, and the flashbacks weren’t just a tease about why they separated.
I loved their budding friendship when they were kids, which grew into a precious first love that matured as they got older. Ellie and Theo were both dealing with tough issues (check TWs), but the way they supported each other over the years was so moving.
The side characters were also well written, with Ellie’s brother Ezra (also Theo’s best friend) having an interesting arc of his own.
Highly recommend this one — I got all the feels while listening to the audiobook. 🥹
December 27, 2025
Oh my friken god. I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much in my life.
November 22, 2023
I’m giving this book 5 ⭐️ because reading a book about a Jewish woman with Lupus who believes in love, magic and herself —- it was everything for me. This book is filled to the brim with whimsy and as the author says in her authors notes, Theo is a National Treasure and we must protect him at all costs. If you are looking for a book to read this holiday season THIS. IS. IT.
October 7, 2023
omg the feeeeeeeels of this book. I really enjoyed it!!!!
January 10, 2024
Friends to lovers, snow globes, ice skating and one crappy brother at the crux of a huge miscommunication trope.
I loved it.
He's a retired professional hockey player and she escaped her mother's smothering (as she struggles with lupus) leaving her family and her ex behind.
I loved it.
He's a retired professional hockey player and she escaped her mother's smothering (as she struggles with lupus) leaving her family and her ex behind.
December 12, 2023
4.5 stars! A Little Magic is a second chance romance with brother’s best friend, childhood friends to lovers, chronic illness rep (heroine lupus), snowed in, and has both Hanukkah and Christmas rep. The audiobook for this one is on hoopla and Libby and I really enjoyed this one!
This is told in dual timeline, and I was totally taken with the past chapters particularly! It was so sweet seeing Ellie and Theo when they were young and how sweet he always was with her. And then later on as they became teenagers and feelings started to develop between them too. They even kept their relationship a secret from everyone for a while which of course lead to some tension in the entire situation. I will say the reason they were apart/what happened to keep them away from one another for 7 years was frustrating. You could see it coming but it was also just annoying. 😅 The present-day chapters of them snowed in together didn’t super sell me or captivate me like their past chapters, but I really adored them together in the end!
I loved how he calls her “Adventure Girl” (or AG for short), he teaches her how to ice skate and play video games and make snow angels when they’re younger, he buys her snowglobes, I loved all the caretaking and seeing him be there for her during flare ups and try to help with her lupus care. This was just a super sweet story with some emotional pull to it as well and I really loved it!
This is told in dual timeline, and I was totally taken with the past chapters particularly! It was so sweet seeing Ellie and Theo when they were young and how sweet he always was with her. And then later on as they became teenagers and feelings started to develop between them too. They even kept their relationship a secret from everyone for a while which of course lead to some tension in the entire situation. I will say the reason they were apart/what happened to keep them away from one another for 7 years was frustrating. You could see it coming but it was also just annoying. 😅 The present-day chapters of them snowed in together didn’t super sell me or captivate me like their past chapters, but I really adored them together in the end!
I loved how he calls her “Adventure Girl” (or AG for short), he teaches her how to ice skate and play video games and make snow angels when they’re younger, he buys her snowglobes, I loved all the caretaking and seeing him be there for her during flare ups and try to help with her lupus care. This was just a super sweet story with some emotional pull to it as well and I really loved it!
December 29, 2023
This book was everything
May 21, 2024
Cute fluffy romance! Would say this is perfect for the Christmas holidays. I liked the childhood friends turn soul mates trope and brother’s best friend trope. I also liked that Ellie has lupus and Theo always treated her normal and built their relationship when she was 9 years old. Theo suffered a major loss and Ellie and her family were always there for him. I could see the conflict that happened a mile away but still didn’t affect the storyline much, as I feel it needed to happen. Overall a good read.
December 22, 2023
This was a truly perfect holiday romance book
December 26, 2023
This whole book was a little magic! I loved everything about it. Theo is a front runner for new book boyfriend.
Also, karma IS a cat. (IYKYK)
Also, karma IS a cat. (IYKYK)
September 10, 2023
4-4.25 still deciding.
Full RTC!
Thank you to Lindsey Lanza for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Full RTC!
Thank you to Lindsey Lanza for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 22, 2023
Read if you like:
👥 Forced proximity
👫 Childhood friends-to-lovers
🛏️ One bed
❄️ Winter wonderland
🙈 Brother's best friend
🏒 He plays hockey
🗓️ Dual timeline and Dual POV
💊 Chronic illness rep
🦊🐧 The cutest nicknames
Lindsey Lanza knocks it out of the park yet again, ladies.
I read an ARC of Lindsey's first book, Speechless, on NetGalley when it first came out and now it is one of my favorite contemporary romances of all time. So you just KNOW I was beyond excited when I heard she was writing a wintery romance, and I am here to tell you it 👏 did 👏 not 👏 disappoint.
Lindsey's books render me speechless (haha..see what I did there?), striping these reviews of my otherwise precise and calculated nature. So, without further ado, please enjoy my chaotic thoughts on this book; if the list of tropes didn't have you convinced already that is.
🦭 Theo and Ellie are both such vivid characters. I loved spending time with them both as individuals and as a couple. I have never read a book where you can just FEEL how meant for each other the two characters are, and I applaud Lindsey HEAVILY for that.
🦦 The flashbacks are so tender and sweet! At one point, I was a little worried that there wouldn't be a lot of time spend in the present day and that the past was dominating the narrative, but it PAID THE FUCK OFF, y'all. I don't think some of the quotes at the end would have hit as HARD as they did without the knowledge of Ellie and Theo that Lindsey gives us through those flashbacks.
🧀 The dynamic between Ellie and Theo regarding his parents was the sweetest thing. Ellie's simultaneous sensitivity and candor characterized her so well and really bonded the pair over such a tragic event. Ellie's kindness toward Theo that first year was adorable, especially the way that she carried on Theo's parents' traditions. Those moments really struck a chord with me.
🐚 Theo is one HELL of a book boyfriend, ladies. Def a man for those of us who are sentimental creatures, adventure seeking, and a little nerdy. I loved watching him grow up into a respectful, kind man; someone that Ellie (and all of us..hehe) deserved.
🦥 I REALLY felt for Ellie growing up; it definitely hit a nerve from my own adolescence. I'm so glad that Theo entered her life and she got the happy ending that she deserved.
🧍♂️Okay, Ellie's dad is an interesting character. I really liked him and then really hated him at times. He did such a wonderful job raising Theo, which was so incredibly sweet, but I think he dropped the ball a bit protecting Ezra and Ellie, which was sad. I hope he gets a bit more redemption in Ezra's story (we better be getting Ezra's story because he needs some good redemption too!).
🔮 Oh my gosh -- the snow globes! Theo's snow globes for Ellie throughout the years were so thoughtful. AND THE SNOW GLOBES IN HER ROOM AT THE END: ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? AND THE LETTERS???
💜Chapter 21.
Enjoy these out of context quotes that had me SOBBING relentlessly:
"Watching a movie with El, in the middle of a snowstorm, it feels like those stars I'm always wishing on finally came through."
-
“It was never the kind of love we could replicate with someone else.”
-
"What do you miss the most?"
"You"
-
"'Sometimes I missed you so much,' he starts, the words coming out on an exhale, 'it was like I forgot how to breathe.'"
-
"Please don't laugh. I was going to get a snow globe."
"On your ass?"
"On my heart."
Okay, if you've made it all the way down here, thank you. I loved this book with all of my heart. End of story. Did I mention I cried a lot? Cause I did. And youmight will too.
Thank you Lindsey for an early review copy◡̈
👥 Forced proximity
👫 Childhood friends-to-lovers
🛏️ One bed
❄️ Winter wonderland
🙈 Brother's best friend
🏒 He plays hockey
🗓️ Dual timeline and Dual POV
💊 Chronic illness rep
🦊🐧 The cutest nicknames
Lindsey Lanza knocks it out of the park yet again, ladies.
I read an ARC of Lindsey's first book, Speechless, on NetGalley when it first came out and now it is one of my favorite contemporary romances of all time. So you just KNOW I was beyond excited when I heard she was writing a wintery romance, and I am here to tell you it 👏 did 👏 not 👏 disappoint.
Lindsey's books render me speechless (haha..see what I did there?), striping these reviews of my otherwise precise and calculated nature. So, without further ado, please enjoy my chaotic thoughts on this book; if the list of tropes didn't have you convinced already that is.
🦭 Theo and Ellie are both such vivid characters. I loved spending time with them both as individuals and as a couple. I have never read a book where you can just FEEL how meant for each other the two characters are, and I applaud Lindsey HEAVILY for that.
🦦 The flashbacks are so tender and sweet! At one point, I was a little worried that there wouldn't be a lot of time spend in the present day and that the past was dominating the narrative, but it PAID THE FUCK OFF, y'all. I don't think some of the quotes at the end would have hit as HARD as they did without the knowledge of Ellie and Theo that Lindsey gives us through those flashbacks.
🧀 The dynamic between Ellie and Theo regarding his parents was the sweetest thing. Ellie's simultaneous sensitivity and candor characterized her so well and really bonded the pair over such a tragic event. Ellie's kindness toward Theo that first year was adorable, especially the way that she carried on Theo's parents' traditions. Those moments really struck a chord with me.
🐚 Theo is one HELL of a book boyfriend, ladies. Def a man for those of us who are sentimental creatures, adventure seeking, and a little nerdy. I loved watching him grow up into a respectful, kind man; someone that Ellie (and all of us..hehe) deserved.
🦥 I REALLY felt for Ellie growing up; it definitely hit a nerve from my own adolescence. I'm so glad that Theo entered her life and she got the happy ending that she deserved.
🧍♂️Okay, Ellie's dad is an interesting character. I really liked him and then really hated him at times. He did such a wonderful job raising Theo, which was so incredibly sweet, but I think he dropped the ball a bit protecting Ezra and Ellie, which was sad. I hope he gets a bit more redemption in Ezra's story (we better be getting Ezra's story because he needs some good redemption too!).
🔮 Oh my gosh -- the snow globes! Theo's snow globes for Ellie throughout the years were so thoughtful. AND THE SNOW GLOBES IN HER ROOM AT THE END: ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? AND THE LETTERS???
💜Chapter 21.
Enjoy these out of context quotes that had me SOBBING relentlessly:
"Watching a movie with El, in the middle of a snowstorm, it feels like those stars I'm always wishing on finally came through."
-
“It was never the kind of love we could replicate with someone else.”
-
"What do you miss the most?"
"You"
-
"'Sometimes I missed you so much,' he starts, the words coming out on an exhale, 'it was like I forgot how to breathe.'"
-
"Please don't laugh. I was going to get a snow globe."
"On your ass?"
"On my heart."
Okay, if you've made it all the way down here, thank you. I loved this book with all of my heart. End of story. Did I mention I cried a lot? Cause I did. And you
Thank you Lindsey for an early review copy◡̈
August 25, 2023
(crying so hard) oh my god this book and its angst and its pain and its hea 😭
Ngl, this book deals with a lot of painful issues and painful scenes interwoven between the cutest second chance romance (so yeah, READ THIS BOOK, but read it with tissues coz I almost started crying at Starbucks today)
The romance is the cutest thing I've ever read 😭 this is a second chance romance, and the povs alternate between past and present, and we see them getting close in both timelines. The reason for the first breakup which we discover towards the end is devastating (promoting a whole new set of tears), and I loved the themes of eventual healing and forgivance and living for the happy moments <3
There's also a miracle of Hanukkah thrown in, honestly that was so poetic 😭
TWs - MC with lupus and she goes through a lot of physical pain on page, same MC whose family treats her like glass because of her chronic illness, mentions of cheating, death of parents in a car accident, feeling abandoned by parents/sibling, sudden end of a relationship
-- ty to the author for an advanced copy!
Ngl, this book deals with a lot of painful issues and painful scenes interwoven between the cutest second chance romance (so yeah, READ THIS BOOK, but read it with tissues coz I almost started crying at Starbucks today)
The romance is the cutest thing I've ever read 😭 this is a second chance romance, and the povs alternate between past and present, and we see them getting close in both timelines. The reason for the first breakup which we discover towards the end is devastating (promoting a whole new set of tears), and I loved the themes of eventual healing and forgivance and living for the happy moments <3
There's also a miracle of Hanukkah thrown in, honestly that was so poetic 😭
TWs - MC with lupus and she goes through a lot of physical pain on page, same MC whose family treats her like glass because of her chronic illness, mentions of cheating, death of parents in a car accident, feeling abandoned by parents/sibling, sudden end of a relationship
-- ty to the author for an advanced copy!
October 5, 2023
This book is PURE magic. Not just ‘a little magic’ - a whole lot of perfect, wintery, holiday goodness filled with sweet love kind of magic.
This is not one thing I didn’t love about this book but here’s a few (lot) of my favourites:
-nicknames (AG - swoooooooon)
-wintery goodness - skating, hot chocolate, Hanukkah, Christmas, SNOWED IN
-chronic illness rep (and how it impact an entire family)
-THEO - this man is perfect. From the sweet kid/teen he is in the flashback scenes - to the romantic man he becomes
-Ellie - she was such an inspiration. I loved that we got to see her grow and follow her heart
-brother’s best friend, young love, second chance romance
-thinking about the characters non stop when I’m not reading it
-the last 15% made me SOB. BAWL. UGLY CRY. It was so beautiful and perfect and just the best ending
This is the holiday romance to beat for me this year - I’m totally ok with having read the best one first. It’s going on my reread list for sure.
This is not one thing I didn’t love about this book but here’s a few (lot) of my favourites:
-nicknames (AG - swoooooooon)
-wintery goodness - skating, hot chocolate, Hanukkah, Christmas, SNOWED IN
-chronic illness rep (and how it impact an entire family)
-THEO - this man is perfect. From the sweet kid/teen he is in the flashback scenes - to the romantic man he becomes
-Ellie - she was such an inspiration. I loved that we got to see her grow and follow her heart
-brother’s best friend, young love, second chance romance
-thinking about the characters non stop when I’m not reading it
-the last 15% made me SOB. BAWL. UGLY CRY. It was so beautiful and perfect and just the best ending
This is the holiday romance to beat for me this year - I’m totally ok with having read the best one first. It’s going on my reread list for sure.
December 16, 2023
4.5 stars
Are you looking for a book with a little bit Christmas, a little bit Chanukah and a whole lot of romance? Pick up A Little Magic by Lindsey Lanza. There’s a whole bunch of romance tropes in this book, but everything works: brother’s best friend; childhood friends to lovers; second chance romance; only one bed, snowed-in, etc. There’s Jewish rep and chronic illness rep, both of which were dealt with lovingly.
Ellie Klein was diagnosed with lupus when she was young and her parents (her mother especially) was extremely protective of Ellie, never letting her do a lot of things her brother and friends did. It grated. They live in Vermont and her older brother plays hockey and is on a youth team with Theo Fox. Theo’s family own a multifaceted place called Sugar Valley - they’ve got an ice rink, a petting zoo, a hot chocolate place, and more. Ellie’s birthday is on Christmas Day and they agree to go to Sugar Valley to check it out. Ellie is taught how to ice skate by Theo, who couldn’t be kinder to his friend’s younger sister. He gives her a snow globe for her birthday. And so the relationship starts. They go to Sugar Valley every year for Ellie’s birthday/Christmas. When tragedy strikes Theo’s family, the Kleins step up and everyone becomes even closer.
We find out at the start of the book that Ellie hasn’t seen or heard from Theo in seven years - which is a LONG time given that they’re in their 20s. She’s living in northern California and runs a small, influential travel blog company, which is how she winds up going back to Vermont, to write about Sugar Valley. She gets stuck in the snow and caught in a blizzard with Theo. We get chapters that show us how they became friends and then in a relationship (they never really made it boyfriend-girlfriend officially). Some chapters were from Ellie’s POV and some from Theo’s. We eventually find out what caused the rift - and I was very upset about it!
I particularly loved the very subtle Chanukah miracle (no spoilers!) that Lanza includes.
I listened to the audiobook from Tantor Media, which was narrated by Shaina Summerville and Stephen Borne.
Are you looking for a book with a little bit Christmas, a little bit Chanukah and a whole lot of romance? Pick up A Little Magic by Lindsey Lanza. There’s a whole bunch of romance tropes in this book, but everything works: brother’s best friend; childhood friends to lovers; second chance romance; only one bed, snowed-in, etc. There’s Jewish rep and chronic illness rep, both of which were dealt with lovingly.
Ellie Klein was diagnosed with lupus when she was young and her parents (her mother especially) was extremely protective of Ellie, never letting her do a lot of things her brother and friends did. It grated. They live in Vermont and her older brother plays hockey and is on a youth team with Theo Fox. Theo’s family own a multifaceted place called Sugar Valley - they’ve got an ice rink, a petting zoo, a hot chocolate place, and more. Ellie’s birthday is on Christmas Day and they agree to go to Sugar Valley to check it out. Ellie is taught how to ice skate by Theo, who couldn’t be kinder to his friend’s younger sister. He gives her a snow globe for her birthday. And so the relationship starts. They go to Sugar Valley every year for Ellie’s birthday/Christmas. When tragedy strikes Theo’s family, the Kleins step up and everyone becomes even closer.
We find out at the start of the book that Ellie hasn’t seen or heard from Theo in seven years - which is a LONG time given that they’re in their 20s. She’s living in northern California and runs a small, influential travel blog company, which is how she winds up going back to Vermont, to write about Sugar Valley. She gets stuck in the snow and caught in a blizzard with Theo. We get chapters that show us how they became friends and then in a relationship (they never really made it boyfriend-girlfriend officially). Some chapters were from Ellie’s POV and some from Theo’s. We eventually find out what caused the rift - and I was very upset about it!
I particularly loved the very subtle Chanukah miracle (no spoilers!) that Lanza includes.
I listened to the audiobook from Tantor Media, which was narrated by Shaina Summerville and Stephen Borne.
December 25, 2023
Perfect holiday read. It's what I wish "love and other words" or "meet me at the lake" were. Similar stories - second chances, dual timeline but done SO FREAKING WELL. I knew I'd like it when the ratings and comments about chronic illness were cheered on. But I mean it opens with the Playlist of my dreams. And daaang if every song doesn't fit so well. I laid sickly today with pain and this book was like being so seen. It was just lovely and probably a bit of right time right place book for me today but it gave me all the feels. If all to well was a book with hope at the end it is this.
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