Ein Weihnachtswunder für uns

by Lizzie Huxley-Jones, Sophia Lindsey (translator)

Die queere Weihnachts-RomCom des Jahres geht in die nächste Warmherzig, witzig und voller Lebensfreude erzählt Lizzie Huxley-Jones davon, die Liebe zu finden, wenn man es am wenigsten erwartet

Christopher hat endlich das erreicht, was er schon sein ganzes Leben Er betreibt ein kleines Café in einem Dorf in Wales und kann sich ganz auf das Backen konzentrieren. Eigentlich hatte er sich schon auf Weihnachten in seinem Elternhaus in Südengland gefreut, doch dann kommt ihm ein Schneesturm in die Quere - der komplette Zugverkehr ist mindestens für die nächsten Tage lahmgelegt, Christopher sitzt fest. Und dann stolpert plötzlich ein ebenso attraktiver wie vorlauter Mann in sein Café, der ihm nur allzu bekannt vorkommt. Nash ist Schauspieler ... und hat Christophers Wohnung über die Feiertage gemietet, um die Ruhe und Einsamkeit zu genießen. Nun sitzen beide in einer viel zu kleinen Einzimmerwohnung fest, und die Funken fliegen ...

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Queer, LGBT, Holiday, Contemporary, Audiobook

417 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 23, 2025

About the author

Hello! Thanks for joining me in the 5 star recs zone. Please feel free to follow - I don't tend to add people back as I don't actually use Goodreads myself any more. I just come back here to pop down the recommendations that I post on Twitter and Instagram where I'm @littlehux so you're better off finding me there as I really don't use Goodreads much at all any more.

Official Bit:
Lizzie Huxley-Jones (they/them) is an autistic author and editor based in London. They are the author of the queer holiday rom-com Make You Mine This Christmas (2022) from Hodder Books, the summer romance Hits Different co-written with Tasha Ghouri (2024) from Hot Key Books, and Vivi Conway and the Sword of Legend (2023) from Knights Of. They write joyful stories that centre queerness and disability.

They are the editor of Stim, an anthology of autistic authors and artists, which was published by Unbound in April 2020 to coincide with World Autism Awareness Week. They are also the author of the children’s biography Sir David Attenborough: A Life Story (2020) and a contributor to the anthology Allies: Real Talk About Showing Up, Screwing Up, And Trying Again (2021).
They also work with writers and publishers as a sensitivity reader and editorial consultant, and were an editor at independent micropublisher 3 of Cups Press.

In their past career lives, they have been a research diver, a children’s bookseller and digital communications specialist.

They tweet too much at @littlehux, taking breaks to walk their dog Nerys.

They are represented by Abi Fellows of DHH Literary Agency.

Reviews

[Marieke (mariekes_mesmerizing_books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating 3.5 stars.

Under the Mistletoe with You is incredibly sweet. And witty. And oh, so Christmassy with the snow and the baking and the coziness.

I loved the scene with the puppies, laughed out loud about the text messages Christopher exchanged with his friends and family, and smiled every time Christopher and Nash annoyed each other. I believe this book will be a huge Christmas hit, and many of you will adore it.

I didn’t love love it, though. I really liked everything I mentioned above, but it might have been a bit too insta love (the book takes place in only a few days), a little too sweet for me, and somehow I need a little more angst. And I felt that the conversation about Nash being trans came a little late. Nash is just trans like it’s no big deal, and of course, that’s fantastic. No one talked about it, and everyone assumed he was a guy. But somehow, I couldn’t believe that he never had any issues as a trans teen, and for a while, it almost felt like he was a cis man with a trans sticker on his body. Only in the last part of the book did Christopher and Nash have some meaningful conversations about Nash being trans. I simply had wanted to see those conversations a bit earlier in the book. But overall, this story is charming and romantic.

Thank you, Hodder and Stoughton, for this romantic ARC.

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[Leigh Kramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I humbly petition Lizzie Huxley-Jones to give us a holiday romance every year, please and thank you. I was delighted not only for Christopher to get his romance but for him to have a romance with the “Hallmark” Christmas movie trans actor he’s been crushing on, Nash. Who unexpectedly has rented Christopher’s flat and then, even more unexpectedly, is stuck with Christopher when a massive snowstorm blows in.

This isn’t just about them getting to know each other but about Christopher getting more integrated into his new town in Wales where he’s opened a bakery. Since everything in the country is shut down due to the snow, the community has to take care of each other. This leads to some great subplots (bawdy mugs! Shaz owning every scene she’s in! puppies! reunited feuding neighbors!). It shows the importance of community life and the importance of helping others in the ways we can. And all the while, Nash and Christopher slowly get to know each other and then act on the spark between them.

I absolutely loved this. There were a few wobbles at the end, courtesy of “only in a Hallmark movie” romcom choices that made no logistical sense but would probably be perfect if Hallmark was brave enough to option this series. Now we just need Laurel, Ambrose, and Bryn’s books and more cameos from Kit and Haf who are living their best HEA.


Characters: Christopher is a bisexual white British bakery owner. Nash is a disabled gay trans white Canadian actor. This is set in Pen-y-Môr, Wales.

Content notes: on page seizure (Nash), anxiety, mild gender dysphoria, Christopher wonders if he might be neurodiverse, blizzard, Hollywood diet culture, past death of spouse (secondary character), past divorce (secondary characters), farm dog labor and delivery, stray cat rescue, Christopher’s sister has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, autistic secondary character, secondary character uses a walker, on page sex, alcohol, past marijuana, gendered pejoratives, mention of past death of grandparent, mention of past death of secondary character’s cat


*Buddy read with Vicky!

[Anniek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my most anticipated release for the holidays, and it somehow exceeded my already sky-high expectations. I took my time reading this to fully appreciate and savour it, and I would like to please live in this story.

This book takes the very common "snowed in together and there's only one bed" trope, but it expands it to include so much community care. It wasn't just Christoper and Nash's romance, but also Christopher finding his place in the new community he's moved to in the past year, and them helping out other people together due to the snowfall. This was such a good Christmas message, and one I think we really need right now.

But of course I also loved the romance. There's so much adorable awkwardness and so much bickering and I was absolutely charmed by it all.

[Ben Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cackle I let out at the Club Chalamet mention 😭

This was a great Christmas romance with some forced proximity, a strong sense of community, and of course only one bed.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I read this the day after the 2024 US election and I needed something happy and something hopeful and this delivered. I loved this author's first book in the series and I loved this one as well. I especially loved all of the community organizing and just the small acts of community that these characters show as they're snowed in. I love the concept of ending up trapped with one of your favorite actors but you don't tell him that you're a fan. I love the trans rep and the queer rep and the autistic rep and the disability rep. Everything about this book is hopeful and just a burst of queer joy. It is the perfect book to read at any time but especially during the holidays.

Of course I also liked this one because one of the main characters is a baker and I love baking books.

Queer trans disabled MC, bi autistic MC

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was absolutely lovely but I didn't go as feral over it as I did the first book. That's fine, it's probably healthier that way. Read this if you love communities coming together to help each other out. And kissing, obvs.

Will re-read. Will enjoy again.

[4.5 stars]

pre-review: Excuse me while I FROTH AT THE MOUTH.

[ullianachase · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐️

простенько, миленько, середина чуть чуть проваливается, а так структурно классический small town christmas romance где два гг потихоньку влюбляются и в свободное время выполняют мини квесты с помощью остальным жителям в заваленном снегом городке

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Gabbie Pop · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a Christmas hater, but a Lizzie Huxley-Jones enthusiast, so it says a lot about this absolute treat of a book that it was so delightful that it warmed even my cold, dead, Grinch-y heart.

Lizzie Huxley-Jones supremacy!!

[Jill]

abgebrochen bei ungefähr s250 sorry aber das war gaaaar nix!! 0 chemie und gar nicht funny :( Schade den ersten Teil mochte ich

[Sophia öphi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
also han bitz länger gha als erwartet...
es isch sehr sehr sehr kitschig, aber halt mega süess! es het nöd e mega spannig oder so geh, es isch meh eifach so eis nachem andere passiert. langsam. langatmig. viel inneri dialög wommer scho vorher zweimal glese het. aber ich empfiehls trotzdem allne wiehnachtsfreaks, wo uf de suechi nachemne süesse, ruhige wiehnachtsbuech sind. 🎄

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a festive treat! Probably more like 4.5 stars. Lots of festive fun with some romance trope eye rolling moments, but it was packed full of genuine emotions and relatable issues. Highly recommend this for lovers of queer festive romances!

[Manoek (manoeksbooknook) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Make you Mine this Christmas is my favorite holiday romance ever (and one of my favorite romances in general) so I was obviously very excited for the sequel!! And it did not disappoint!!

I adored the characters and their romance. But I maybe loved the small town vibes and the "snowed in during Christmas and helping out the community"vibes even more !

The conversations around disability (Nash deals with seizures and Christopher with anxiety) were also so well done and hit very close to home

[lauraღ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sort of behaviour could make you fall in love with a man.

This was soooooo cute. Really delightful little snowed-in, small town romance between a baker and a Christmas movie star looking for a getaway. Maybe it's more like. 3.75 stars, because there were a couple things that sorta bugged me. But it turned into a really wonderful romance. I read this author's debut last year, and I really enjoyed it, and it was so nice to revisit some of the characters. Christopher is a baker who quit his office job to pursue his dreams, and moved to Wales to open up his business. Nash is a movie star mostly known for starring in Christmas romcoms, and ends up in Wales while trying to figure out the next steps in this career. Christopher is a huge fan of his, but they end up not quite hitting it off, for various reasons. Nevertheless, they're stuck in the same small apartment in a small town for Christmas, trapped by the terrible weather, and they have to make things work.

This didn't quite grasp me at first. I did like the dynamic of Christopher having this huge crush on Nash from the movies, but finding him really irritating once he meets him in real life. Good basis for a romcom, and also just very cute. And to be fair, I found Nash a bit irritating too. Cocky, teasing, love interests can be cute... up to a point. Too much of it, and it's just annoying and immature, and Nash kiiinda got to that point. Christopher is awkward, a little prickly, and Nash loves pushing his buttons. Pretty sure a lot of people will find it charming and cute; I didn't, not really? But the rest of the book, thankfully, more than made up for it. I ended up really liking the forced proximity, the cosy vibes, and the way they opened up to each other so beautifully. After a period of intense prickliness. This is one of those books that does take place in a pretty short period of time, but they bond in a way that feels genuine and realistic. My favourite part of this was really the small town aspect. Christopher wants to really help out and be a part of his new community in this Welsh town, especially as an outsider, and this is his first Christmas with them. Nash, meanwhile, is looking for anything to take his mind off of his big decisions he needs to make. So they end up attending a council meeting and signing up to help a bunch of the villagers who've been negatively affected by the snow; who need assistance because of a disability; who need help help with food or chores. They cook together. They go on errands together. They go to a farm and there are puppies. They help and older couple reconcile. A kitty breaks into the apartment. It's all SO FREAKING CUTE, endlessly charming, and I found myself melting all the way through. I loved the discussions of fame and disability and transness. I loved the focus on small community, and togetherness, and the little friendships that they built in the village. I loved the banter, and how they really peeled each other layers back. Christopher was such an utter sweetheart; I loved him. At one point, Nash's teasing stopped being so grating to me, and the last quarter of the book was really swoony. I wanted a few more romantic moments, maybe, but there were a few really load-bearing scenes and moments that absolutely sold me on them as a couple. Particularly Christopher helping him through the seizure. 

I did feel like there were a few instances where Nash's dialogue felt more British than it should have, but I'm definitely not the nest judge. I think I wanted this to feel a liiiiittle more Christmassy, but I did enjoy what we got. It's really rare that an author can give me found family feels when a book takes place in such a limited amount of time, but I really adored the way this little village rallied about Christopher and Nash. Loved the glimpses we got of Kit and Haf, and I'm hoping the other side characters will get romances as well. Really glad I got to this. Super heartwarming, through and through. 

[himbeerbuch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Squeeeek so süß, wie Puderzucker auf einem Lebkuchenhaus!

[Nathi · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5 ⭐️ Ich fand das erste um Welten besser, irgendwie kam ich hier nicht klar mit dem Schreibstil und den Charakteren. Fand Nash irgendwie echt gemein?? War nicht mein vibe aber an sich schon süß

[DJO · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggled pretty hard with this one. I love the famous guy meets regular guy trope, esp when the regular guy has an already-established crush on the famous guy, but too much got in the way here.

My biggest issue was the ongoing, neverending, constant (there aren't enough synonyms) bickering and sniping between the MCs. It was exhausting and a total turn-off. Nothing cute about it at all. It wasn't fun and banter-y and it got completely in the way of any kind of chemistry between them. Even at the end, when Nash comes back, he and Christopher start sniping almost right away. Jiminy crickets. Yes, they exchanged sweet words eventually, but I was so, so over it by then.

Also I felt the issue of one of the characters being trans was oddly handled. It wasn’t mentioned in the blurb, which obvs is not required, but still, that’s something I like to know about an MC going into a story. And the way it was approached in the story just felt clunky. When it was first mentioned, it was so glossed over and tied to a discussion of one of Nash’s acting roles that I wasn’t sure what was being said. Then it was never mentioned again until around the 75% mark, when the MCs finally discussed it. It came across muddled and unclear and with way too much of an oh-by-the-way quality. I assume the author was trying to focus the story not on Nash’s trans-ness but on his relationship with Christopher but I ended up feeling like if you're going to sweep it under the rug so hard, why make the character trans in the first place?

I did love how the community came together to help and support each other during the snowmageddon and the story did have a nice Christmas vibe. But yeah, all the sniping and the lack of discernible chemistry made this mostly a miss for me.

[Tintenwelten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Als kurz vor Weihnachten ein Schneesturm alles lahmlegt, ist Christopher gezwungen das Fest zuhause anstatt mit seiner Familie zu feiern. Blöd nur, dass er seine Wohnung eigentlich bereits über die Feiertage untervermietet hat. Und so stolpert der attraktive und ihm äußerst bekannte Nash in sein Café. Dieser ist nämlich Schauspieler und Christopher sein größter Fan. Die beiden sitzen nun also wohl oder übel in der viel zu kleinen Einzimmerwohnung zusammen fest.

❄️

Wir erleben die Ereignisse aus den Perspektiven der beiden Protagonisten. Sie wirken nahbar und sympathisch – ihre Hoffnungen, Unsicherheiten und Probleme machen sie authentisch.

💖

Es ist eine wunderschöne Geschichte voller Queerness und Akzeptanz, voller Freundschaft und Liebe. Es wird humorvoll, romantisch, sehr emotional und herzerwärmend. Natürlich werden auch ernste Themen behandelt, aber auf eine respektvolle und „schöne“ Art und Weise, so dass die Handlung ohne größere Dramen auskommt.

❤️

Die Mischung aus Romantik, Humor und tiefgründigen Momenten zieht sofort in ihren Bann. Besonders gefallen hat mir die positive Botschaft, die direkt ans Herz geht: Weihnachten bedeutet mehr als nur Geschenke: und zwar Nächstenliebe, Gemeinschaft, Vergebung, zweite Chancen und das gemeinsame Mutmachen.

🎄

Ich mochte bereits den Vorgänger „Weihnachten - nur du und ich“ sehr gerne. Die beiden Bücher können allerdings unabhängig voneinander gelesen werden.

👍🏻

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Under the Mistletoe with You" by Lizzie Huxley-Jones was such a cozy and wholesome read - perfect for December! Thank you to my friend Kate for recommending it. 🩷

I loved the diverse cast of characters, and the side characters were an absolute hoot! I found myself rooting for Nash and Christopher the entire time, and it was so satisfying to see their story unfold. One of my favourite things about romance is knowing you can always count on a happy ending, and this book delivered beautifully! 🥰

I also adored the Welsh setting -- it added so much charm and atmosphere to the story. I wish we had more books set in Wales!

A lovely festive read that left me smiling.

4/5 ⭐

[Daniel Myatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a witty, Christmas themed romantic comedy filled with cliche after cliche, but that didn't matter at all.

I enjoyed this fun story about a community coming together after a dramatic snowstorm cuts off a small Welsh village and it's residents from their Christmas plans and their loved ones.

Nash was a brilliant foil for Christopher's 'straight' man, and I liked the development of their relationship.

I enjoyed it so much that I'm now reading the first book in this series (yes, out of order!)

[Insi Eule · Rating 5 out of 5]

So süß und cozy und weihnachtlich: ich habs sehr gemocht 🥰
Am Anfang hatte ich etwas Probleme mit dem Schreibstil, aber nach einer Weile war es einfach nur noch schön. Eine kleine Prise Humor, sehr besondere und sympathische Charaktere und Nebencharaktere, ein verschneites Dorf in Wales, eine gemütliche Bäckerei und ganz viel Winter- und Weihnachts-Vibes ❤️ Das perfekte Buch für diese Jahreszeit.

[Amélie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guess I now have a favourite Christmas romcom novel.

This simply has everything:
- (kinda) Enemies to Lovers
- Hurt/Comfort
- Only One Bed
- Bakery
- Community Feelgoods
- Amazing Friends and Side Characters
- and so much more, including some GREAT trans and disability rep

There is one last development towards the end that feels superfluous, like it was added only because it's an expected beat in this kind of story, but otherwise everything fits really well together. Soft, ridiculous and delightfully heartwarming. 

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

perfect christmas romance. 🥹🫶🏼✨

[Here_Lies_the_Bookdragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is this a perfect novel? Nope. Does it have pretty much everything I want from a Christmas rom-com? Pretty much, yes! I'm here for the vibes and the vibes delivered.
Excuse me while I spend the next few days daydreaming that in an extremely meta move Netflix gets one of their go to Christmas movie actors to make their final role Nash Nadeau.

[Darcy Bea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wholesome queer festive read! Loved returning to some of the characters from Make You Mine This Christmas (though this can be read standalone).

Loved the blossoming bickering romance of Christopher and Nash, the wholesome community vibes and the trans and disability rep!

I just want all the Christmas books from this author plz 😭❤️

[Charleen Lyska · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ne richtig sweete winter-weihnachtliche RomCom ❄️🧣✨🎄🤗

[jo.ojo.o Midnight · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nach 82% abgebrochen, war zu langweilig und ich bin mir zu 96% sicher, dass ich eh weiß, wie es ausgehen wird. Wirklich schade, Band 1 fand ich richtig gut. Aber dieses Buch ist einfach eine Aufzählung an Belanglosigkeiten und To Dos, die die Hauptcharaktere den ganzen Tag erledigen, es fühlt sich an wie ein Videospiel wo man die ganze Zeit etwas kochen und ausliefern und was auch immer machen muss, aber, surprise, in einem Buch ist das halt absolut langweilig.
Die Nebencharaktere fand ich eher nervig, vor allem diese alte Dame die immer unangebrachte, an der Grenze zu sexueller Belästigung stehende Witze gemacht hat (was man ihr nur durchgehen lässt, weil sie eine Frau ist, wäre sie ein alter Mann - puh). Und Jazz(?) war auch nicht so mein Fall, hat sie noch eine andere Charaktereigenschaft, als dass sie ihre Kinder hasst ("aus Spaß" oder so) ?
Die Gruppenchats waren schon auch lustig, allerdings halte ich es für etwas unrealistisch, dass Christopher nur mit seiner Ex und deren Geschäftspartner*in schreibt (warum haben die überhaupt eine extra Chatgruppe?) und nicht mit seiner besten Freundin und seiner Schwester.
Ambrose war wie auch im ersten Teil etwas drüber, aber immerhin überschreitet dey keine persönlichen Grenzen mehr.
Die Transrepresentation fand ich auch nicht gut gemacht, es wird zwar relativ am Anfang erwähnt, aber halt auch nur erwähnt und kaum weiter drauf eingegangen. Ich verstehe, dass die Autorin die Transidentität nicht zur Haupteigenschaft des Charakters machen wollte, aber das ist nunmal eine Eigenschaft, die einen doch eher großen Einfluss hat und keine kleine Nebensache. Dadurch, dass es so wenig ausgearbeitet war, kommt leider auch ein bisschen der Eindruck auf, dass der Chara nur trans ist, um halt noch ein bisschen Diversität reinzubringen (die in Sache Ethnie/Hautfarben noch Luft nach oben hat, aber die Representation von Menschen mit Behinderung fand ich gut). Außerdem wird in einer Szene erwähnt, dass die Transperson einen Penis hat und dann später, dass sie keinen hat. Ich sag ja, nicht gut ausgearbeitet.
Na ja und ein bisschen zu kitschig war das Buch natürlich auch, habe ich nach dem ersten Teil aber auch erwartet.
Hoffe das nächste Buch der Autorin wird wieder besser.

[Lila Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the part of a community coming together to help those in need, and I really don’t want to be a grinch, but:
1. Christopher is an insufferable main character. This constant annoyance about Nash was grating, and Nash really wasn‘t that bad. Christopher was extremely judgy and self-centered despite his wish to be a christmas hero.
2. I didn‘t feel any romantic chemistry between the two. They were bickering constantly, it wasn‘t cute banter at all. Even after Nash‘s big gesture at the end, Christopher is annoyed and reproachful.
3. The trans rep was odd. I really appreciate trans rep and agree with the author, who explains this in an author‘s note at the end, that trans rep doesn‘t have to be a big thing, that it can be casual. But to ignore it outside of a few mentions in the first 70% of the book or so, when it is related to Nash‘s profession (being a Hallmark leading man - unusual in this very cis-het-normative genre - and having become famous through his online videos as a trans teen), is odd. Surely it could have been acknowledged as a great sucess for the trans community that he has made it so far? And I‘m not entirely sure if this was translated weirdly, but I think there were inconsistencies in the way his body was described. There absolutely is no need to discuss a trans person‘s body, but there were contradictions in the few mentions there were.
4. All in all there was a lot that didn‘t make sense - so a Tiktok video from a private account of a random Welsh teen goes viral - so that several news vans arrive in a village that‘s supposedly so snowed in that barely anyone can get in or out other than in an emergency - but Nash‘s agent doesn‘t notice? Why would anyone even care about a Hallmark type actor being in Wales over the holidays? I feel like barely anyone would care if a megastar was there. And why is Christopher concerned that this media attention could out Nash as trans when he is out as trans and has been for his entire career?
5. The writing was weird. It‘s told in third person, which took some getting used to. Very repetetive, vague desciptions of feelings here and overexplaining of others there.
6. I demand justice for Ursula.


Oof. Merry Christmas anyway.

[Ritu Bhathal · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW of seizures and light transphobia.
A light-hearted MM romance with the added joy of Christmas, cake and animals!
Christopher is in the first year of starting his own business, a small cafe in a tiny Welsh village. It's been hard, not feeling a part of the tight-knit community and far from his family.
But with the aid of one ally, a stash of Christmas films and a hunky actor in said films, he's got through.
Just as the festive season kicks in, he's looking forward to a break, with his small flat rented out to someone for a few days, allowing him the chance to visit his loved ones.
Then British weather happens. Snow falls. Planes, trains and automobiles grind to a halt. Everyone's except the soon to arrive lodger, who raps on the door, and Christopher finds himself face to face, not with a woman, but a man. A familiar, handsome male. Who he's been drooling over the last few months. Nash Nadeau, the Rom Com heartthrob.
Neither can they leave, nor can they realistically fit into his teeny flat above the cafe, but they're going to have to manage because there are no other options!
Oh, what fun! Forced proximity to the hilt!
I enjoyed the difficulties these two had to go through, as they navigated their own feelings, as well as those around them, as a community rallies together to get through the freak snowstorm!
There is another book featuring Christopher, but I could read this as a stand-alone with no problems.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC.

[Ricky · Rating 2 out of 5]

there's this part in the book where they talk about how sometimes it's the things that annoy you that become why you love someone. or maybe it was the other way around, but anyway that's kind of how I felt about this book. that the things that I initially loved about it were the things that started to drive me crazy after a while. first of all I ended up randomly reading this book in German, which just to say I listened to the German audiobook. I always enjoy things a lot when I read them in another language so I'm not sure how I would feel about the English version. The first half of this book, I honestly was really loving. but it kind of starts to lose steam and become monotonous. It started reminding me of one of those video games, like those cozy games like Animal Crossing or LOTR Tales of the Shire or whatever it's called. those games where you do really basic little quests as you're kind of vibing. but it's not necessarily that interesting. like initially I was really enchanted because you're in this little town in Wales and the community comes together to help out old people and disabled people or whatever during a blizzard. there was a charming premise there, but at a certain point it started feeling like a gaming Sim or something where I felt like we were actually going through the moment by moment of this in a way that felts a little tedious to be honest. and I guess the same thing about the relationship. After a while it just started to feel kind of tedious to me. I really was enchanted by the first half though. also I really appreciated the diversity of representation here, but there was a certain point where the scale kind of tipped and it felt more didactic than I found enjoyable.