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The Lodge: A Novel
USA TODAY BESTSELLER
From the author of The Reunion, a cozy rom-com about a writer who decamps to a Vermont lodge for work but finds herself distracted by the charming ski instructor next door.
Alix Morgan just got her big break as the ghostwriter of a memoir by Sebastian Green, a former member of the boy band True North. And when he offers her a penthouse at a luxurious resort in Vermont, she jumps at the chance to work far away from her noisy, cramped apartment.
Her career as an entertainment journalist has been building toward this dream job—after all, she used to cover True North and was one of the last people to interview former front man Jett Beckett before he disappeared. As she combs through her client’s voice memos, the specter of the missing lead singer remains, and fans are desperate to know the full story.
But Alix also has time for some fun at this glamorous resort, where she begins ski lessons with a handsome instructor named Tyler. As Alix and Tyler fall in love on the slopes, Alix’s work takes a complicated turn—and the mystery of True North’s downfall may be hers to solve.
From the author of The Reunion, a cozy rom-com about a writer who decamps to a Vermont lodge for work but finds herself distracted by the charming ski instructor next door.
Alix Morgan just got her big break as the ghostwriter of a memoir by Sebastian Green, a former member of the boy band True North. And when he offers her a penthouse at a luxurious resort in Vermont, she jumps at the chance to work far away from her noisy, cramped apartment.
Her career as an entertainment journalist has been building toward this dream job—after all, she used to cover True North and was one of the last people to interview former front man Jett Beckett before he disappeared. As she combs through her client’s voice memos, the specter of the missing lead singer remains, and fans are desperate to know the full story.
But Alix also has time for some fun at this glamorous resort, where she begins ski lessons with a handsome instructor named Tyler. As Alix and Tyler fall in love on the slopes, Alix’s work takes a complicated turn—and the mystery of True North’s downfall may be hers to solve.
349 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 7, 2025
305 people are currently reading
23669 people want to read
About the author
Kayla Olson
10 books629 followersKayla Olson lives in Texas, and can usually be found in near proximity to black coffee, the darkest chocolate, Scrivener, and an army of Zebra mildliners.
THE SANDCASTLE EMPIRE has been translated into 14 languages—for more specifics on where to buy in France, Turkey, Spain (Spanish and Catalan), Romania, Denmark, Brazil, Serbia, Poland, China, Taiwan, Czech Republic, Russia, and Germany, please visit www.kaylaolson.com
Social media:
Twitter: @olsonkayla
Instagram:@authorkaylaolson
Facebook: @authorkaylaolson
Blog: olsonkayla.wordpress.com
THE SANDCASTLE EMPIRE has been translated into 14 languages—for more specifics on where to buy in France, Turkey, Spain (Spanish and Catalan), Romania, Denmark, Brazil, Serbia, Poland, China, Taiwan, Czech Republic, Russia, and Germany, please visit www.kaylaolson.com
Social media:
Twitter: @olsonkayla
Instagram:@authorkaylaolson
Facebook: @authorkaylaolson
Blog: olsonkayla.wordpress.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,299 reviews
December 16, 2024
3.5★
main thoughts:
This was a pretty fun and entertaining book and it did have some good holiday vibes🫣 I was also not really expecting the mystery aspect so that took me for surprise. I am a bit disappointed though because I guessed the plot twist in about two seconds so nothing actually shocked me. Overall though I loved the vibe of everything I just wish this book was a bit longer and I wish I enjoyed the romance a little more, it was still a fun read though don’t get me wrong. I do also want to mention that the little article sections and texts threads were fun to read throughout the book which was nice.
characters:
Alix: I liked her for the most part I’m not obsessed, but I think she was a pretty chill and caring person. I wished we explored her dynamic with her family more though but I liked to see how they got along at the end.
Tyler: I liked him the little things he did were cute, but I just wish we knew even more about him, he was still a good mmc and a cutie though at times 🤭
romance:
Listen I don't hate them together I just didn't feel as much chemistry as I wanted to, like they had their moments, but it wasn't enough for me personally I wanted more. I feel like if I liked the romance more this would have got a higher rating tbh. At first I though everything was moving too fast and then it slowed down again and picked up fast in the epilogue so I don’t know honestly😭 people might like them more though and I do think they had good potential just needs more execution.
extra:
I would still recommend this book it was easy to read and it’s still a cute and cozy book and the drama at the end was kinda fun😭
thank you netgalley for providing me with a e-arc of this book in exchange for a honest review!!
pre review:
╰┈➤ finished on december thirteenth, 2024
okay this was pretty cute as well rtc
⛷️pre read:☕️
╰┈➤ started on december twelfth, 2024
omg yayyy another arc and holiday read, say less🤭
main thoughts:
This was a pretty fun and entertaining book and it did have some good holiday vibes🫣 I was also not really expecting the mystery aspect so that took me for surprise. I am a bit disappointed though because I guessed the plot twist in about two seconds so nothing actually shocked me. Overall though I loved the vibe of everything I just wish this book was a bit longer and I wish I enjoyed the romance a little more, it was still a fun read though don’t get me wrong. I do also want to mention that the little article sections and texts threads were fun to read throughout the book which was nice.
characters:
Alix: I liked her for the most part I’m not obsessed, but I think she was a pretty chill and caring person. I wished we explored her dynamic with her family more though but I liked to see how they got along at the end.
Tyler: I liked him the little things he did were cute, but I just wish we knew even more about him, he was still a good mmc and a cutie though at times 🤭
romance:
Listen I don't hate them together I just didn't feel as much chemistry as I wanted to, like they had their moments, but it wasn't enough for me personally I wanted more. I feel like if I liked the romance more this would have got a higher rating tbh. At first I though everything was moving too fast and then it slowed down again and picked up fast in the epilogue so I don’t know honestly😭 people might like them more though and I do think they had good potential just needs more execution.
extra:
I would still recommend this book it was easy to read and it’s still a cute and cozy book and the drama at the end was kinda fun😭
thank you netgalley for providing me with a e-arc of this book in exchange for a honest review!!
pre review:
╰┈➤ finished on december thirteenth, 2024
okay this was pretty cute as well rtc
⛷️pre read:☕️
╰┈➤ started on december twelfth, 2024
omg yayyy another arc and holiday read, say less🤭
February 13, 2025
2 stars might seem harsh because this book wasn’t bad, it was just so forgettable, and the writing felt very basic to me. The amount of times she said “his eyes were full of stars” or some other cliche line was annoying. It read like boy band fanfiction, but not in a fun way. There’s a “plot twist” in this book that I thought was sooooo obvious. There was no chemistry between these two either, and the main character kind of drove me nuts.
I liked it for the cozy, winter atmosphere and the setting but that’s about it. I don’t think I’ll be reading from this author again after disliking this book and her other book The Reunion.
I liked it for the cozy, winter atmosphere and the setting but that’s about it. I don’t think I’ll be reading from this author again after disliking this book and her other book The Reunion.
October 9, 2025
This one is on me, my expectations were too high.
For starters, I have to try falling for a man with a bun — no hate for Tyler, he's a good man, but it’s not an attractive look for me.
And then, you try to gaslight me into believing that that ending is the most romantic (yet still modern) thing a woman can look for.
Listen, it was okay.
Tyler’s hair aside — maybe you're into that, idk —, the whole concept of the story is captivating and well-played. I'm not entirely objective on the matter because I was one of those crazy boy band fans, and those group dynamics gave me war flashbacks — also, Truth Direction?!
But, talking about the before and after of the band, until Alix and Tyler meet, and how she handles the situation once she finds out the truth… it felt both real — as in, the possibility of ratting him out for a great amount of money — and thoughtful.
The last 20% of the book, tho. Let's just say she lost me at the HAE she pushed on the whole thing, trying to fix a couple of narratives that didn't truly find their place in the long run.
↠ 3.2 stars
Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
For starters, I have to try falling for a man with a bun — no hate for Tyler, he's a good man, but it’s not an attractive look for me.
And then, you try to gaslight me into believing that that ending is the most romantic (yet still modern) thing a woman can look for.
Listen, it was okay.
Tyler’s hair aside — maybe you're into that, idk —, the whole concept of the story is captivating and well-played. I'm not entirely objective on the matter because I was one of those crazy boy band fans, and those group dynamics gave me war flashbacks — also, Truth Direction?!
But, talking about the before and after of the band, until Alix and Tyler meet, and how she handles the situation once she finds out the truth… it felt both real — as in, the possibility of ratting him out for a great amount of money — and thoughtful.
The last 20% of the book, tho. Let's just say she lost me at the HAE she pushed on the whole thing, trying to fix a couple of narratives that didn't truly find their place in the long run.
↠ 3.2 stars
Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
December 25, 2025
જ⁀➴°⋆. 3.5 stars
"you're going to make mistakes. everyone does. but you have a choice: you can face the hard things, or you can run from them."
➳ overall thoughts
i enjoyed this cute, cozy book and i think it was a perfect transition into the winter season! i mean, it takes place at a fancy ski resort and our mmc is a ski instructor; you can't really go wrong with that 🤭 plus, the storyline involves drama surrounding a boy band, and as a one direction girly at heartthough i don't always like to admit it, i ate it up!
➳ synopsis
alix morgan, an entertainment journalist, has been hired to ghostwrite a memoir for a world-famous sebastian green, a member of a boy band called true north. to add on to the attention, another one of this band's members, jett beckett, has been mysteriously missing for eight years, and fans have been speculating to this day, hungry for answers. as alix spends more time at the ski lodge, she encounters new people along with clues that may be attached to jett beckett's disappearance...
➳ romance
the romance in this book was pretty cute! i loved alix and tyler's interactions and banter. and it was just so adorable—ice skating dates, soft pretzels and hot chocolate, watching a meteor shower on a ski lift? when's it my turn 😮💨
➳ mystery
this book actually had me kind of shook at the main revelation. but the sole reason i think it took me by surprise was because i went into this book thinking it was merely a cutesy little rom-com (which it still was) but there was also a tiny aspect of mystery i wasn't really expecting. when i started this, i disregarded the connection between the boy band and the story's main focus at the lodge. but if you tried to figure out the twist, it honestly wouldn't have been hard to put two and two together... but i won't say anymore than that as to spoil it. because i didn't suspect it, it really hit—i was like omg wait what, plot twist?? 🤨
➳ characters
alix
i thought alix was a fun and lovable character. i enjoyed seeing her work as a journalist/ghostwriter because i find writing jobs fascinating hehe
tyler
tyler was super sweet and i liked his character! it was also fun that he was alix's next door neighbour and taught her how to ski. and in the end, he chose alix despite everything that happened 🫶🏻
side characters
i loved alix's bestfriend, chloe, and julie was sweet too, i loved watching her whip up coffees like a pro. wish we got more of her and river tho, i think that could have added to the story. there were some characters i kind of hated tho, like sebastian, jason (their manager), and honestly alix's sister at times—she was kind of annoying. though by the end i guess she wasn't all that bad, but still.
and of course, i loved puffin the cat. he deserves a mention <3
➳ concluding thoughts
overall i thought this was a cute book! i loved the wintry, snowy vibes and it made me wanna go skiing hehe. i would recommend this if you want a short and sweet little winter read 💌❄️
Thank you so much NetGalley and Atria Books for this arc!
⛷️| pre-read
journalist falls for a ski instructor at a ski lodge work trip? say less 🤭 this sounds like a cute winter read!
and i need to get my netgalley ratio up
"you're going to make mistakes. everyone does. but you have a choice: you can face the hard things, or you can run from them."
➳ overall thoughts
i enjoyed this cute, cozy book and i think it was a perfect transition into the winter season! i mean, it takes place at a fancy ski resort and our mmc is a ski instructor; you can't really go wrong with that 🤭 plus, the storyline involves drama surrounding a boy band, and as a one direction girly at heart
➳ synopsis
alix morgan, an entertainment journalist, has been hired to ghostwrite a memoir for a world-famous sebastian green, a member of a boy band called true north. to add on to the attention, another one of this band's members, jett beckett, has been mysteriously missing for eight years, and fans have been speculating to this day, hungry for answers. as alix spends more time at the ski lodge, she encounters new people along with clues that may be attached to jett beckett's disappearance...
➳ romance
the romance in this book was pretty cute! i loved alix and tyler's interactions and banter. and it was just so adorable—ice skating dates, soft pretzels and hot chocolate, watching a meteor shower on a ski lift? when's it my turn 😮💨
➳ mystery
this book actually had me kind of shook at the main revelation. but the sole reason i think it took me by surprise was because i went into this book thinking it was merely a cutesy little rom-com (which it still was) but there was also a tiny aspect of mystery i wasn't really expecting. when i started this, i disregarded the connection between the boy band and the story's main focus at the lodge. but if you tried to figure out the twist, it honestly wouldn't have been hard to put two and two together... but i won't say anymore than that as to spoil it. because i didn't suspect it, it really hit—i was like omg wait what, plot twist?? 🤨
➳ characters
alix
i thought alix was a fun and lovable character. i enjoyed seeing her work as a journalist/ghostwriter because i find writing jobs fascinating hehe
tyler
tyler was super sweet and i liked his character! it was also fun that he was alix's next door neighbour and taught her how to ski. and in the end, he chose alix despite everything that happened 🫶🏻
side characters
i loved alix's bestfriend, chloe, and julie was sweet too, i loved watching her whip up coffees like a pro. wish we got more of her and river tho, i think that could have added to the story. there were some characters i kind of hated tho, like sebastian, jason (their manager), and honestly alix's sister at times—she was kind of annoying. though by the end i guess she wasn't all that bad, but still.
and of course, i loved puffin the cat. he deserves a mention <3
➳ concluding thoughts
overall i thought this was a cute book! i loved the wintry, snowy vibes and it made me wanna go skiing hehe. i would recommend this if you want a short and sweet little winter read 💌❄️
Thank you so much NetGalley and Atria Books for this arc!
⛷️| pre-read
journalist falls for a ski instructor at a ski lodge work trip? say less 🤭 this sounds like a cute winter read!
January 10, 2025
3˖⁺‧✮
is it just a story about entertainment journalists falling for ski instructor while being on a work trip? because i was left stunned in a middle of a novel. i wasn’t expecting and i could never even imagine this happening. if you decide to read this book and this moment doesn’t shock you then well, you smarter then me.
throughout the book we follow Alix who was given a task to write a book about a famous singer (Sebastian). he was part of boy band, called True North; and there is a lot of drama that was happening as group was performing. author (not Alix) makes it very obvious for us to hate both Sebastian and his team mate. they were both manipulative, unprofessional, in a way, and just, honestly annoying.
i actually hate a lot of characters in this book. i wasn’t a fan of Sebastian, from the beginning. just his characteristics and behavior was not it. Tyler was sweet and talented, nothing much to add. Jett and the other guy who made sebastian join the group were definitely wrong and confusing. they made me question my point of view.
story was definitely entertaining and fun; writing was easy but had some general mistakes: when we were reading text messages, i couldn’t define what was message and what was thought.
all the dates that Tyler made for Alix were sweet and overflown with cuteness. winter atmosphere was instantly present and i really want to go ski, now…
Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for this arc.
is it just a story about entertainment journalists falling for ski instructor while being on a work trip? because i was left stunned in a middle of a novel. i wasn’t expecting and i could never even imagine this happening. if you decide to read this book and this moment doesn’t shock you then well, you smarter then me.
throughout the book we follow Alix who was given a task to write a book about a famous singer (Sebastian). he was part of boy band, called True North; and there is a lot of drama that was happening as group was performing. author (not Alix) makes it very obvious for us to hate both Sebastian and his team mate. they were both manipulative, unprofessional, in a way, and just, honestly annoying.
i actually hate a lot of characters in this book. i wasn’t a fan of Sebastian, from the beginning. just his characteristics and behavior was not it. Tyler was sweet and talented, nothing much to add. Jett and the other guy who made sebastian join the group were definitely wrong and confusing. they made me question my point of view.
story was definitely entertaining and fun; writing was easy but had some general mistakes: when we were reading text messages, i couldn’t define what was message and what was thought.
all the dates that Tyler made for Alix were sweet and overflown with cuteness. winter atmosphere was instantly present and i really want to go ski, now…
Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for this arc.
January 20, 2025
I LOVED this book. There was a little bit of mystery behind the romance, and it was CLEAN romance!! I've kind of been in this completely accidental clean romance kick recently and loving it.
I don't really need the gratuitous schmex scenes! Definitely, some tension and fade-to-black moments are present, but overall, I felt like I really got to enjoy and experience their love story better that way.
Finished this in 24 hours and it was fantastic! DEFINITELY picking up the author's other romances!!
Follow me on Instagram for honest reviews, bookish freebies & giveaways! 🦋 || Check out the new Southern Lady Reads YouTube channel!!
I don't really need the gratuitous schmex scenes! Definitely, some tension and fade-to-black moments are present, but overall, I felt like I really got to enjoy and experience their love story better that way.
Finished this in 24 hours and it was fantastic! DEFINITELY picking up the author's other romances!!
Follow me on Instagram for honest reviews, bookish freebies & giveaways! 🦋 || Check out the new Southern Lady Reads YouTube channel!!
December 5, 2024
[1.25] The Lodge is just professional one direction fanfiction mixed with Daisy Jones & The Six if it was written by a 13 year old girl on wattpad. and that is offensive to all of the 13 year old girls on wattpad. this book would have been so much better if there was more focus on unravelling the mystery of the band instead of Alix and her ski instructor flirting over salad with no dressing. do NOT even get me started on Alix’s fuckass annoying sister Lauren. i wish this book ended with her getting crushed by a giant snowball.
thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review
thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review
April 17, 2025
DNF’d @ 60%
Ok so imma be real, this book really wasn’t THAT bad. The issue is that it just wasn’t that good. I felt no connection to the characters at more than halfway through, at this point in the book i should be invested and im just not.
This book was okay, Alix and Tyler seem great and all - but there’s no chemistry, no yearning, nothing that really makes me feel like these two should be together.
I don’t know, this book just felt really mediocre over all.
Ok so imma be real, this book really wasn’t THAT bad. The issue is that it just wasn’t that good. I felt no connection to the characters at more than halfway through, at this point in the book i should be invested and im just not.
This book was okay, Alix and Tyler seem great and all - but there’s no chemistry, no yearning, nothing that really makes me feel like these two should be together.
I don’t know, this book just felt really mediocre over all.
January 31, 2025
3.5⭐️
0🌶️
TLDR; A quick no spice romance read between a somewhat jaded entertainment journalist and the lodge’s mysterious ski instructor.
Alix Morgan, an entertainment journalist turned ghostwriter for boy band True North’s lead singer, Sebastian Green, escapes the big city to a luxurious ski resort in Vermont to work on Sebastian’s memoir. There she meets the hot mysterious ski instructor, Tyler. As their love story progresses Alix begins to question the disappearance True North’s other lead singer, Jett Beckett, 8 years prior.
While I *liked* this read, I didn’t *love* it. It was fun. It was cute. It was mysterious-ish. Buuuuut it was also veryyy predictable. I liked Alix and Tyler but there was something just missing for me both in their relationship and the book as a whole. I wished there had been a touch more yearning and chemistry between our main characters to feel less instalovey and I wish the twist had more possible outcomes.
0🌶️
TLDR; A quick no spice romance read between a somewhat jaded entertainment journalist and the lodge’s mysterious ski instructor.
Alix Morgan, an entertainment journalist turned ghostwriter for boy band True North’s lead singer, Sebastian Green, escapes the big city to a luxurious ski resort in Vermont to work on Sebastian’s memoir. There she meets the hot mysterious ski instructor, Tyler. As their love story progresses Alix begins to question the disappearance True North’s other lead singer, Jett Beckett, 8 years prior.
While I *liked* this read, I didn’t *love* it. It was fun. It was cute. It was mysterious-ish. Buuuuut it was also veryyy predictable. I liked Alix and Tyler but there was something just missing for me both in their relationship and the book as a whole. I wished there had been a touch more yearning and chemistry between our main characters to feel less instalovey and I wish the twist had more possible outcomes.
September 15, 2024
Okay,I had low expectations, but this truly gave me some nostalgic vines! Boy bands, drama, a bit of mystery, and a whole lot of swooning! Yall.... Tyler, whew he's up there now on my top 3 fave book boyfriends. I loved the FMC. She seemed so genuine and dedicated to her work. I loved that her bestie forced her to get out of her comfort zone. Her sister is a heaping pile of mess, but it made for some interesting twists. This gave me Nsync/Backstreet Boys vibes with the whole Lou situation but a bit of mystery to it. I truly loved this, and I loved reading through the two main character's falling for one another. The ending was refreshing!!
I received this ARC from Atria Books to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
I received this ARC from Atria Books to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
January 6, 2025
જ⁀➴ 4/5 ⭐️
✧.➛ you have to risk making mistakes in the first place if you’re ever going to get better at dealing with them
2025.01.05
💌 release date: jan 7
꒰ ❄️꒱ - this book follows alix who’s ghost writing for a celebrity. she gets the chance to stay at a penthouse in a luxurious ski resort to complete her writing and jumps at the opportunity. she finds out she has a pretty hot neighbor at her penthouse, turns out he's ski instructor. they chat and he starts to help her out on the slopes and they spend more time together, having dinner and going skating. lines start to blur and they end up catching feelings. this is kinda insta love, completely clean so it's just some heavy making out, 13+, and it's perfect for winter.
꒰💞꒱ - cute winter story about a writer and a ski instructor who are neighbors falling in love. one’s a writer and the other’s a ski instructor. the main characters are easily likeable, tyler was so sweet. both are witty and perceptive, seeing right through the other. it was pretty wholesome and sweet, with cozy vibes. perfect read for a snowy day in! super fast and easy ready - takes place on a ski resort.
────୨ৎ────
꒰🚠꒱ tropes
🤍neighbors
❄️boyband
🤍writer x ski instructor
❄️small town
🤍closed door
❄️snowed in
thank you so much to atria books and netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review
pre-review
2025.01.02
ahh I loved this!! started late last night and sped through the pages, full review to come!!
also no spice!!
✧.➛ you have to risk making mistakes in the first place if you’re ever going to get better at dealing with them
2025.01.05
💌 release date: jan 7
꒰ ❄️꒱ - this book follows alix who’s ghost writing for a celebrity. she gets the chance to stay at a penthouse in a luxurious ski resort to complete her writing and jumps at the opportunity. she finds out she has a pretty hot neighbor at her penthouse, turns out he's ski instructor. they chat and he starts to help her out on the slopes and they spend more time together, having dinner and going skating. lines start to blur and they end up catching feelings. this is kinda insta love, completely clean so it's just some heavy making out, 13+, and it's perfect for winter.
꒰💞꒱ - cute winter story about a writer and a ski instructor who are neighbors falling in love. one’s a writer and the other’s a ski instructor. the main characters are easily likeable, tyler was so sweet. both are witty and perceptive, seeing right through the other. it was pretty wholesome and sweet, with cozy vibes. perfect read for a snowy day in! super fast and easy ready - takes place on a ski resort.
────୨ৎ────
꒰🚠꒱ tropes
🤍neighbors
❄️boyband
🤍writer x ski instructor
❄️small town
🤍closed door
❄️snowed in
thank you so much to atria books and netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review
pre-review
2025.01.02
ahh I loved this!! started late last night and sped through the pages, full review to come!!
also no spice!!
November 14, 2024
The Lodge by Kayla Olson follows Alix Morgan as she is trying to ghostwrite the famous Sebastian Green's memoir with almost no help from Sebastian aside from his voice notes about how much he hates his former boy band team member, Jett who disappeared. To help her focus, Sebastian sends her to a beautiful penthouse in picturesque Vermont where she meets Tyler. Tyler is her dreamy neighbor and a ski instructor who she starts developing a relationship with while trying to write the novel. And that's all I'll tell you about the book.
Okay, this book was so good but I guessed the twist almost immediately which was a big bummer. If you don't guess the twist immediately it would be sooo good though! My favorite part was that Tyler and Alix had great chemistry and their story was so sweet. However, I did not like the entire subplot with Alix's sister Lauren. Overall this closed door romance was charming and a nice cozy read. I would recommend it but don't try to be too clever and solve it because I was bummed out when I had.
Tropes: closed door romance, small town romance, cozy romance
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Kayla Olson for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Okay, this book was so good but I guessed the twist almost immediately which was a big bummer. If you don't guess the twist immediately it would be sooo good though! My favorite part was that Tyler and Alix had great chemistry and their story was so sweet. However, I did not like the entire subplot with Alix's sister Lauren. Overall this closed door romance was charming and a nice cozy read. I would recommend it but don't try to be too clever and solve it because I was bummed out when I had.
Tropes: closed door romance, small town romance, cozy romance
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Kayla Olson for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
September 12, 2025
This was absolutely a 6⭐️ read for me!
Ski lodge in Vermont? ✅
Rockstar in hiding ✅
Journalist ✅
Cute cat ✅
I loved this book so much when I was least expecting it. I was not disappointed at all!
I beg of you to read this book, it’s not holidayish, it actually takes place in March I believe!
Ski lodge in Vermont? ✅
Rockstar in hiding ✅
Journalist ✅
Cute cat ✅
I loved this book so much when I was least expecting it. I was not disappointed at all!
I beg of you to read this book, it’s not holidayish, it actually takes place in March I believe!
November 8, 2024
There are “that was cute, sweet fine” romance books and there are “that was cute, sweet and everything I needed” romance books. I’m so glad to say that this one was the latter!
Alix Morgan is a writer and has just gotten a new deal to be the ghostwriter of a very popular ex-boy band member. She, of course, finds herself put up to write in a gorgeous Vermont ski resort and just happens to be living in the penthouse next to a quite handsome ski instructor.
The cozy, snowy winter vibes were everything in this book. I wanted to be in a cute ski outfit, cuddling next to a giant fireplace in a log cabin. And I just really enjoyed this book as a whole. It’s not the deepest romance you ever read, but it was the perfect combination of cute, fluffy and a believable love story for me.
As far as spice goes, this was a no/low spice book with kissing only. I always appreciate when an author can convey the chemistry and romance of a couple, but keep the spice level low! Highly recommend for your cozy winter reading!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-galley!!
Alix Morgan is a writer and has just gotten a new deal to be the ghostwriter of a very popular ex-boy band member. She, of course, finds herself put up to write in a gorgeous Vermont ski resort and just happens to be living in the penthouse next to a quite handsome ski instructor.
The cozy, snowy winter vibes were everything in this book. I wanted to be in a cute ski outfit, cuddling next to a giant fireplace in a log cabin. And I just really enjoyed this book as a whole. It’s not the deepest romance you ever read, but it was the perfect combination of cute, fluffy and a believable love story for me.
As far as spice goes, this was a no/low spice book with kissing only. I always appreciate when an author can convey the chemistry and romance of a couple, but keep the spice level low! Highly recommend for your cozy winter reading!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-galley!!
January 1, 2025
At first I was enjoying this book. Then Lauren came along. Alix putting up with Lauren’s stupidity just ruined it. She wasn’t a child but Lauren acted like a tween. Who gets saddled with a coworker moving in and can’t ask them to leave? What kind of person nonchalantly gets their sister evicted and had no sorrow over it. The same kind of person that leaks sensitive data and then says whoops my bad. The rest of the story was fine but I couldn’t recommend this due to Lauren’s character.
August 6, 2025
Thank you @AtriaBooks for my #gifted copy of The Lodge. #AtriaPartner
I really enjoyed The Lodge! This cozy, clean rom-com hit the spot with a sweet romance, a snowy resort setting, and just the right amount of drama. Alix Morgan, a celebrity journalist turned ghostwriter, gets the opportunity of a lifetime writing a memoir for Sebastian Green. Yes, that Sebastian Green from the boy band True North. And then there’s Tyler, the charming ski instructor who had me smiling every time he was on the page. Their relationship felt natural and heartwarming.
Now… let’s talk about Lauren. Alix’s sister had me talking out loud to my audiobook like she was my actual sibling. 😬 She was driving me nuts. But honestly? Props to Kayla Olson for writing her that well. Lauren was meant to be frustrating, and wow, she nailed it.
And that ending? Perfect. The epilogue was so sweet it brought tears to my eyes. It was everything I didn’t know I needed. If you’re looking for a wintry rom-com with a touch of nostalgia and a lot of heart, this one is worth picking up.
I really enjoyed The Lodge! This cozy, clean rom-com hit the spot with a sweet romance, a snowy resort setting, and just the right amount of drama. Alix Morgan, a celebrity journalist turned ghostwriter, gets the opportunity of a lifetime writing a memoir for Sebastian Green. Yes, that Sebastian Green from the boy band True North. And then there’s Tyler, the charming ski instructor who had me smiling every time he was on the page. Their relationship felt natural and heartwarming.
Now… let’s talk about Lauren. Alix’s sister had me talking out loud to my audiobook like she was my actual sibling. 😬 She was driving me nuts. But honestly? Props to Kayla Olson for writing her that well. Lauren was meant to be frustrating, and wow, she nailed it.
And that ending? Perfect. The epilogue was so sweet it brought tears to my eyes. It was everything I didn’t know I needed. If you’re looking for a wintry rom-com with a touch of nostalgia and a lot of heart, this one is worth picking up.
January 12, 2025
Looking for a cozy winter rom-com to add to your tbr? I’ve got the perfect recommendation!
Thank you @atriabooks for my #gifted copy!
Alix’s career is about to take off. She’s been hired to ghostwrite the memoir for a famous boy band star. The band rose to quick fame, but tumbled when one of the members disappeared. To help her focus on her work, the Star offers to send Alix to Vermont. While there, she meets Tyler, a ski instructor. As she becomes more smitten with Tyler and her research into the band progresses, she realizes she might be able to figure out what happened to the missing band member.
I LOVED this book! @authorkaylaolson crafts an adorable rom-com complete with cozy mystery vibes. Throughout the story, we get bits and pieces of what happened to the band via articles, interviews, etc. I really enjoyed how the narratives were woven together.
Alix is a great protagonist and Tyler is a wonderful male lead. The chemistry between the two of them didn’t feel super rushed even though the romance happens rather quickly.
The Lodge is already out!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#litbylillireviews
Thank you @atriabooks for my #gifted copy!
Alix’s career is about to take off. She’s been hired to ghostwrite the memoir for a famous boy band star. The band rose to quick fame, but tumbled when one of the members disappeared. To help her focus on her work, the Star offers to send Alix to Vermont. While there, she meets Tyler, a ski instructor. As she becomes more smitten with Tyler and her research into the band progresses, she realizes she might be able to figure out what happened to the missing band member.
I LOVED this book! @authorkaylaolson crafts an adorable rom-com complete with cozy mystery vibes. Throughout the story, we get bits and pieces of what happened to the band via articles, interviews, etc. I really enjoyed how the narratives were woven together.
Alix is a great protagonist and Tyler is a wonderful male lead. The chemistry between the two of them didn’t feel super rushed even though the romance happens rather quickly.
The Lodge is already out!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#litbylillireviews
January 3, 2025
This was a fun rom-com book. I loved the winter Vermont vibes. Alix is an entertainment journalist who is looking to escape her younger sister for some peace and quiet while she ghostwrites a memoir for a former boy band member. Sebastian. Sebastian sends her to a lodge in Vermont to help her write but what Alix doesn't expect is the hunky neighbor who is also a ski instructor. Sparks fly but there is more to her ski instructor than first meets the eye.
I loved the way the novel was written. In between the story there are texts and past news articles. This was a fun way to get caught up on all of the back story and kept my interest while reading. There was also a twist which I did figure out pretty quickly but it definitely helped to make this a great read. The romance was great and really made me want to cozy up with my loved one at a lodge in Vermont. Overall, a wonderful winter romance read with a great twist.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
I loved the way the novel was written. In between the story there are texts and past news articles. This was a fun way to get caught up on all of the back story and kept my interest while reading. There was also a twist which I did figure out pretty quickly but it definitely helped to make this a great read. The romance was great and really made me want to cozy up with my loved one at a lodge in Vermont. Overall, a wonderful winter romance read with a great twist.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
January 10, 2025
When Alix Morgan heads to Vermont to ghost write for a former boy band member, the last thing she expects is to be completely taken with the local ski instructor.
Set in one of my favorite places on earth during my absolute favorite season, this super cute romance with emotional depth was just what I was craving in my post holiday blahs. While the story took the ultimate journey of your typical romance, there are some crazy fun twists that make this story unique, as well as a few wholly relatable characters who could exist off the page as easily as on it. And while this book is closed door/low spice, it is not short on swoon-worthy romance or character chemistry.
🎧 Andi Arndt, Graham Halstead, and Gilli Messer absolutely bring this story to life with their narration. I highly recommend checking this one out on audio, especially because of the mixed media nature.
Read if you like:
▪️forced proximity
▪️boy band drama
▪️insta love
▪️books about books
▪️mixed media (texts, gossip, news)
▪️Vermont setting
Thank you Atria and Simon Audio for the gifted copies.
Set in one of my favorite places on earth during my absolute favorite season, this super cute romance with emotional depth was just what I was craving in my post holiday blahs. While the story took the ultimate journey of your typical romance, there are some crazy fun twists that make this story unique, as well as a few wholly relatable characters who could exist off the page as easily as on it. And while this book is closed door/low spice, it is not short on swoon-worthy romance or character chemistry.
🎧 Andi Arndt, Graham Halstead, and Gilli Messer absolutely bring this story to life with their narration. I highly recommend checking this one out on audio, especially because of the mixed media nature.
Read if you like:
▪️forced proximity
▪️boy band drama
▪️insta love
▪️books about books
▪️mixed media (texts, gossip, news)
▪️Vermont setting
Thank you Atria and Simon Audio for the gifted copies.
October 1, 2025
So I put off reading this one because I didn’t love the cover. Goodness what I wrong! This is an absolute gem of a closed door romance. I stayed up most of the night to finish it and loved every moment of it. The flirting is kick your feet swoon worthy and the tension will make you question if you should pause or keep devouring the pages. 10/10 give this one a read with a hot chocolate and soft pretzel, a honey nut latte, or a triple vanilla froot loop latte for the adventurer, and a soft blanket.
January 10, 2025
Ok, this one is for my fellow boy band lovers! Alix is hired to spend a month living at a ski lodge while ghostwriting Sebastian Green’s memoir. Sebastian is a member of the boy band, True North. Another one of the band member’s, Jett Beckett, has been missing for eight years. There has always been speculation that Sebastian was tied to his disappearance somehow because of their infamous animosity and rivalry towards each other. What Alix doesn’t expect is to find herself falling for Tyler, the hot ski instructor that lives next door.
This was a perfect romance to curl up with during cooler weather with the wintery lodge setting. I’m not a skier but I could absolutely be convinced to spend time in a penthouse suite at a ski lodge. Especially if there’s a hot ski instructor as my neighbor.
The Lodge has so many things that I loved - a swoon worthy romance, boy band and music industry drama, mystery, amazing side characters and a perfect wintery setting. I absolutely enjoyed how Olson wove it all together. The reveals were expected but that’s because they fit and made sense with the overall story. Bonus - I enjoyed the mixed media elements of texts and news articles that gave us back story in between chapters.
If you’re looking for a fun, boy band/celebrity romance with a perfect winter feel - grab this one! It was such a fun, cozy read.
This was a perfect romance to curl up with during cooler weather with the wintery lodge setting. I’m not a skier but I could absolutely be convinced to spend time in a penthouse suite at a ski lodge. Especially if there’s a hot ski instructor as my neighbor.
The Lodge has so many things that I loved - a swoon worthy romance, boy band and music industry drama, mystery, amazing side characters and a perfect wintery setting. I absolutely enjoyed how Olson wove it all together. The reveals were expected but that’s because they fit and made sense with the overall story. Bonus - I enjoyed the mixed media elements of texts and news articles that gave us back story in between chapters.
If you’re looking for a fun, boy band/celebrity romance with a perfect winter feel - grab this one! It was such a fun, cozy read.
January 10, 2025
4.5 stars
Thanks for the free e-arc and #gifted ALC @atriabooks & @simonaudio #partner
Set at a ski lodge in Vermont, Kayla Olson’s new romance is the perfect read for this time of year. I read it while curled up next to a roaring fire, watching the snow fall, and loved how perfectly this book’s vibes fit with my own cozy setting.
Alix Morgan is an entertainment journalist who used to cover the famous boy band True North and has now been hired to ghostwrite the memoir of one of its former members, Sebastian Green. When Sebastian offers up his penthouse at a luxurious ski resort in Vermont as a quiet place to write, Alix jumps at the chance. Not only is it a wonderful alternative to her noisy, crowded apartment, it’s also an opportunity for Alix to have some much needed fun in her downtime, especially since there’s a super cute and charming ski instructor named Tyler who lives in the penthouse across the hall!
There’s a bit of a mystery that unfolds surrounding Alix’s ghostwriting gig, the boy band, and a missing lead singer that made for an interesting read, much of which is given to us via Alix’s research, through the use of mixed media elements.
I of course was all about the budding romance between Alix and Tyler. From their very first meeting, you could just feel that Alix and Tyler had a special connection. They were adorable together and I loved all of their cute, flirty banter over ski lessons and lattes, but I also felt like things quickly became more than just a good time for both of them, like they recognized something in each other they had been missing. Yes, maybe it moved quickly, but somehow it still just felt right and I just really liked that for these two characters, especially after learning more about each of them and what they’ve been through.
I alternated between the e-book and the audio. Andi Arndt, Gilli Messer and Graham Halstead narrate the audiobook and do a brilliant job of bringing Alix, Tyler, and all of the other supporting characters to life.
Thanks for the free e-arc and #gifted ALC @atriabooks & @simonaudio #partner
Set at a ski lodge in Vermont, Kayla Olson’s new romance is the perfect read for this time of year. I read it while curled up next to a roaring fire, watching the snow fall, and loved how perfectly this book’s vibes fit with my own cozy setting.
Alix Morgan is an entertainment journalist who used to cover the famous boy band True North and has now been hired to ghostwrite the memoir of one of its former members, Sebastian Green. When Sebastian offers up his penthouse at a luxurious ski resort in Vermont as a quiet place to write, Alix jumps at the chance. Not only is it a wonderful alternative to her noisy, crowded apartment, it’s also an opportunity for Alix to have some much needed fun in her downtime, especially since there’s a super cute and charming ski instructor named Tyler who lives in the penthouse across the hall!
There’s a bit of a mystery that unfolds surrounding Alix’s ghostwriting gig, the boy band, and a missing lead singer that made for an interesting read, much of which is given to us via Alix’s research, through the use of mixed media elements.
I of course was all about the budding romance between Alix and Tyler. From their very first meeting, you could just feel that Alix and Tyler had a special connection. They were adorable together and I loved all of their cute, flirty banter over ski lessons and lattes, but I also felt like things quickly became more than just a good time for both of them, like they recognized something in each other they had been missing. Yes, maybe it moved quickly, but somehow it still just felt right and I just really liked that for these two characters, especially after learning more about each of them and what they’ve been through.
I alternated between the e-book and the audio. Andi Arndt, Gilli Messer and Graham Halstead narrate the audiobook and do a brilliant job of bringing Alix, Tyler, and all of the other supporting characters to life.
December 30, 2024
3.5/5
This had the best cozy vibes and would be perfect to curl up with this winter! The lodge where Alix is staying sounds absolutely gorgeous and even though I have no desire to ski I would love to stay there just for the food and the ice skating. Alix and Tyler’s developing relationship was so charming and sweet, the little dates he planned for them were beyond adorable. While I adored them there were some truly awful secondary characters that never redeemed themselves fully for me. This was light and fluffy, very Hallmark movie style problems but overall really cute, despite the little twist being really obvious.
This had the best cozy vibes and would be perfect to curl up with this winter! The lodge where Alix is staying sounds absolutely gorgeous and even though I have no desire to ski I would love to stay there just for the food and the ice skating. Alix and Tyler’s developing relationship was so charming and sweet, the little dates he planned for them were beyond adorable. While I adored them there were some truly awful secondary characters that never redeemed themselves fully for me. This was light and fluffy, very Hallmark movie style problems but overall really cute, despite the little twist being really obvious.
February 1, 2025
I received a galley of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book has a content warning for grief.
My experience reading this book is the worst kind of reading experience one can have, at least in my opinion. This book started of SO GOOD. I was just immediately encaptured by this book. I had a really fun time reading it. Somehow it just hit a lot of my favourite things. The back and forth between Alix and Tyler was just immediately so good. They had incredible chemistry, and their flirting had me giggling and kicking my feet. That plus the fun mixed media element to this book, I thought this for sure was going to be such a hit for me.
However, around the halfway mark something gets revealed (it's not meant to be a HUGE reveal, but it is something Alix finds out), and it changed the book for me. I feel like every character just became so incredibly unlikeable. They were all just so incredibly self centered. I don't know. I don't think it's weird to think of selling someone's huge secret for the money you desperately need for like a second before you dismiss it. However, I do think it is weird to think about that over and over and over again while at the same time claiming to love that person, and recognizing how much they needed to trust you to let you in like that. FUCK OFF. I truly can't believe that after that Alix tried to play the high horse after that. Ugh, I wish I could rant more with spoilers because it frustrated me so much.
Like I mentioned before though every single character has this issue, not just Alix. It's just that I can discuss that at least a little without any spoilers, but every single character thinks of themselves first and doesn't really care about others. However, the narrative keeps telling us they are the kindest people to have ever existed. It just makes them out to be massive hypocrites as well. It just frustrated me so much. It did so to the point that I even started questioning why I liked this to begin with.
So yeah, this book started of with me absolutely loving it, and ended with blind hatred. It's not a one star though, because I do need to give some flowers to the first half of this book because that was *chef's kiss*. I just wish it stayed that way.
This book has a content warning for grief.
My experience reading this book is the worst kind of reading experience one can have, at least in my opinion. This book started of SO GOOD. I was just immediately encaptured by this book. I had a really fun time reading it. Somehow it just hit a lot of my favourite things. The back and forth between Alix and Tyler was just immediately so good. They had incredible chemistry, and their flirting had me giggling and kicking my feet. That plus the fun mixed media element to this book, I thought this for sure was going to be such a hit for me.
However, around the halfway mark something gets revealed (it's not meant to be a HUGE reveal, but it is something Alix finds out), and it changed the book for me. I feel like every character just became so incredibly unlikeable. They were all just so incredibly self centered. I don't know. I don't think it's weird to think of selling someone's huge secret for the money you desperately need for like a second before you dismiss it. However, I do think it is weird to think about that over and over and over again while at the same time claiming to love that person, and recognizing how much they needed to trust you to let you in like that. FUCK OFF. I truly can't believe that after that Alix tried to play the high horse after that. Ugh, I wish I could rant more with spoilers because it frustrated me so much.
Like I mentioned before though every single character has this issue, not just Alix. It's just that I can discuss that at least a little without any spoilers, but every single character thinks of themselves first and doesn't really care about others. However, the narrative keeps telling us they are the kindest people to have ever existed. It just makes them out to be massive hypocrites as well. It just frustrated me so much. It did so to the point that I even started questioning why I liked this to begin with.
So yeah, this book started of with me absolutely loving it, and ended with blind hatred. It's not a one star though, because I do need to give some flowers to the first half of this book because that was *chef's kiss*. I just wish it stayed that way.
December 30, 2025
Cute, low stakes, predictable. Perfect for the week between Christmas and New Year.
January 16, 2025
Thank you Atria for the gifted copy!
Honestly such a cute read. I wasn’t necessarily rooting for Alex and Tyler, but I enjoyed their relationship. They seemed very natural together and perfect for each other. So? You didn’t really need to root for them because you just knew it was going to happen.
I think it’s a cute read for the winter months. The characters have some character development and I enjoyed that. But, they aren’t exactly the most interesting people. I don’t know how to explain it haha.
Overall, I’d recommend the book to others.
Honestly such a cute read. I wasn’t necessarily rooting for Alex and Tyler, but I enjoyed their relationship. They seemed very natural together and perfect for each other. So? You didn’t really need to root for them because you just knew it was going to happen.
I think it’s a cute read for the winter months. The characters have some character development and I enjoyed that. But, they aren’t exactly the most interesting people. I don’t know how to explain it haha.
Overall, I’d recommend the book to others.
January 4, 2025
When I first saw this cover I knew I wanted to read it. It was everything I had hoped it would be.
What I loved - celebrity intrigue/mystery; ghost writing career, the Vermont ski lodge setting; Tyler the hot neighbor/ski instructor and how everything came together at the end.
What I loved - celebrity intrigue/mystery; ghost writing career, the Vermont ski lodge setting; Tyler the hot neighbor/ski instructor and how everything came together at the end.
January 12, 2025
The Lodge is a cozy Hallmark movie in a book that has all sweet and charming moments with a bit of drama thrown in!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
All the cozy Hallmark vibes
Work romance
Ski resort
Bit of Mystery
Friendships
Ghost Writer
🔥Steam level: Closed Door
If you are looking for a weekend read, grab a mug of hot chocolate, a big fluffy blanket and curl up with this cozy romance!
Thank you Atria for this gift, a copy and exchange from my honest review.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
All the cozy Hallmark vibes
Work romance
Ski resort
Bit of Mystery
Friendships
Ghost Writer
🔥Steam level: Closed Door
If you are looking for a weekend read, grab a mug of hot chocolate, a big fluffy blanket and curl up with this cozy romance!
Thank you Atria for this gift, a copy and exchange from my honest review.
January 27, 2025
Cute and light, but forgettable.
August 24, 2025
This was so good! Just what I wanted in a celebrity romance.
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