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Hot Spring Remedy
Snow, steam, and a second chance.
Reluctant socialite Kai has thirty-five days before his family starts shooting the next season of their reality TV show, revealing a life he’d rather keep private―and one that feels increasingly scripted. Desperately needing a break, Kai escapes to his childhood best friend Hiro Asada’s inn in rural Japan. He finds peace in the thousand-year-old hot springs, but his yearning for Hiro resurfaces at the worst Hiro is about to inherit the inn, and his parents expect him to marry within the year.
Hiro’s traditional family loves him for who he is, but they can’t imagine two men running the inn. Meanwhile, Kai has a TV contract his lawyer insists can’t be broken. Hiro and Kai need to think outside the box―and solve their problems before Christmas Day, when Kai’s show shoots its annual holiday special.
Originally published as The Winter Quarters. This edition has been revised and expanded with an added epilogue.
Reluctant socialite Kai has thirty-five days before his family starts shooting the next season of their reality TV show, revealing a life he’d rather keep private―and one that feels increasingly scripted. Desperately needing a break, Kai escapes to his childhood best friend Hiro Asada’s inn in rural Japan. He finds peace in the thousand-year-old hot springs, but his yearning for Hiro resurfaces at the worst Hiro is about to inherit the inn, and his parents expect him to marry within the year.
Hiro’s traditional family loves him for who he is, but they can’t imagine two men running the inn. Meanwhile, Kai has a TV contract his lawyer insists can’t be broken. Hiro and Kai need to think outside the box―and solve their problems before Christmas Day, when Kai’s show shoots its annual holiday special.
Originally published as The Winter Quarters. This edition has been revised and expanded with an added epilogue.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 26, 2024
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
November 22, 2024
Originally published as The Winter Quarters by Anna Veriani
The cover is cute and one of the main characters remind me of Li Shang from Mulan 😍
Beautiful Japanese culture and imagery invoked as you begin reading about Kai, a reality tv star and his childhood friend Hiro, heir apparent to his family’s inn.
Kai is under a lot of pressure being in a reality tv show with his mum and fake boyfriend. He escapes to Asada Inn. Hiro is under a lot of pressure as well. He has come out to his Japanese family , who are about to retire but feel like the inn that has been in the family for generations, needs a man and his wife to run it well.
“She shook her head. “My sons don’t care one bit who’s gay. I raised them better than that. They just can’t picture it: how Hiro would pass the inn on, what it might mean for our business.”
This is a slow burn romance with what feels like insurmountable obstacles to be together for the main characters.
Kai’s mental health have been adversely affected being on reality TV and it’s not something he really wants to be doing. His ‘fake’ boyfriend is a complete dick. I feel like his character really showed growth by the end.
Hiro’s grandmother was a standout secondary character for me , with her love and care for family ( which includes Kai) the inn and her own secret love.
Sweet friends to lovers romance that has a happily ever after. 4 stars , I enjoyed it.
The cover is cute and one of the main characters remind me of Li Shang from Mulan 😍
Beautiful Japanese culture and imagery invoked as you begin reading about Kai, a reality tv star and his childhood friend Hiro, heir apparent to his family’s inn.
Kai is under a lot of pressure being in a reality tv show with his mum and fake boyfriend. He escapes to Asada Inn. Hiro is under a lot of pressure as well. He has come out to his Japanese family , who are about to retire but feel like the inn that has been in the family for generations, needs a man and his wife to run it well.
“She shook her head. “My sons don’t care one bit who’s gay. I raised them better than that. They just can’t picture it: how Hiro would pass the inn on, what it might mean for our business.”
This is a slow burn romance with what feels like insurmountable obstacles to be together for the main characters.
Kai’s mental health have been adversely affected being on reality TV and it’s not something he really wants to be doing. His ‘fake’ boyfriend is a complete dick. I feel like his character really showed growth by the end.
Hiro’s grandmother was a standout secondary character for me , with her love and care for family ( which includes Kai) the inn and her own secret love.
Sweet friends to lovers romance that has a happily ever after. 4 stars , I enjoyed it.
November 27, 2024
3.5 rounded to 4 stars
A cute holiday romance in two friends learning
to stand up for themselves and for each other to have their hea. All in all, a solid slow burn and low heat romance with a beautiful understanding of Japanese culture. Was beautiful to see how accepting of Kai Hiros family was in accepting as he was. Some parts were a little too cliche for me in a year of so many great holiday romances, just fell short in that respect for me at least
A cute holiday romance in two friends learning
to stand up for themselves and for each other to have their hea. All in all, a solid slow burn and low heat romance with a beautiful understanding of Japanese culture. Was beautiful to see how accepting of Kai Hiros family was in accepting as he was. Some parts were a little too cliche for me in a year of so many great holiday romances, just fell short in that respect for me at least
December 11, 2024
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
Hot Spring Remedy was previously released as The Winter Quarters, but this new version has more content and an epilogue. It’s also cute, cozy, and kind of charming. Kai lives the life of a reality TV star, with oodles of money and the expectation that, at all times, he will look perfect. His mother is, after all, a fashion designer, so he must always have perfect clothes, perfect hair, and a perfect smile. Living in America, his only connection to his Japanese culture is Hiro and his occasional visits to the inn, as his grandparents on both sides are gone and Kai has nothing to do with his father.
This is a charming little read, holiday adjacent, as it takes place in December, but the focus isn’t the holiday but the warmth and love of friends, community, and family. It’s low angst, high romance, and well worth the read. I hope you enjoy it!
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
Hot Spring Remedy was previously released as The Winter Quarters, but this new version has more content and an epilogue. It’s also cute, cozy, and kind of charming. Kai lives the life of a reality TV star, with oodles of money and the expectation that, at all times, he will look perfect. His mother is, after all, a fashion designer, so he must always have perfect clothes, perfect hair, and a perfect smile. Living in America, his only connection to his Japanese culture is Hiro and his occasional visits to the inn, as his grandparents on both sides are gone and Kai has nothing to do with his father.
This is a charming little read, holiday adjacent, as it takes place in December, but the focus isn’t the holiday but the warmth and love of friends, community, and family. It’s low angst, high romance, and well worth the read. I hope you enjoy it!
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
November 24, 2024
Ah such a cute love story!
This is the perfect book if you just want to enjoy an easy love story about two friends. It may be predictable at times but all the wholesome moment between Hiro and Kai make up for it.
It was very refreshing to me to read a book that was based in Japan. It introduced me to new traditions and it just gave me a break from the usual US setting.
Tropes:
Slow burn
Friends to lovers
Size difference
Spice 🌶️
This is the perfect book if you just want to enjoy an easy love story about two friends. It may be predictable at times but all the wholesome moment between Hiro and Kai make up for it.
It was very refreshing to me to read a book that was based in Japan. It introduced me to new traditions and it just gave me a break from the usual US setting.
Tropes:
Slow burn
Friends to lovers
Size difference
Spice 🌶️
December 6, 2024
Thank you so much for the arc! ❤️
This story was so sweet and I really enjoyed it. I practically read it all in one go. 😂
The book had a steady pace, with growing tension between two lifelong childhood friends that both believed that they missed their chance.
The story is sweet, with a tiny bit of drama, which is bound to happen when friendship is involved.
I feel like the Japanese cultural aspects were handled well too, stuff was not dumbed down for the reader. I appreciated the brief descriptions explained in a neutral tone.
Hiro and Kai were so sweet together! I swear. So many cute moments. Also the side characters were amazing too! It was sweet how everyone was rooting for them and their relationship.
This story was so sweet and I really enjoyed it. I practically read it all in one go. 😂
The book had a steady pace, with growing tension between two lifelong childhood friends that both believed that they missed their chance.
The story is sweet, with a tiny bit of drama, which is bound to happen when friendship is involved.
I feel like the Japanese cultural aspects were handled well too, stuff was not dumbed down for the reader. I appreciated the brief descriptions explained in a neutral tone.
Hiro and Kai were so sweet together! I swear. So many cute moments. Also the side characters were amazing too! It was sweet how everyone was rooting for them and their relationship.
May 7, 2025
A very sweet and satisfying romance.
The mutual attraction between Kai and Hiro plus the respective responsibilities that kept them from each other (Kai's TV contract, Hiro's family inn) was very nicely balanced, creating a nice back and forth of romance and obstacles that helped ramp up the tension without feeling melodramatic or fluffy.
The very very Japanese setting and culture might not be familiar to everyone, but I found it incredibly refreshing, even if it made the world feel a little small being mainly confined in the Asada inn walls.
The story was great but stumbled a little towards the end, when Kai returned to America to try and get out of his contact. The realistic and believable portrayal of Kai and Hiro's problems unfortunately felt undermined by the unbelievable way that Kai gets out of his stopped ironclad contract by essentially threatening a rich, giant media conglomerate with bad press. Despite not having to suspend my disbelief for a majority of the story, having to believe that Kai was magically able to escape his Mom's tv show by just the threat of bad PR was disappointing (as if the TV people were incapable of managing or twisitng Kai's words).
I would've liked a messier conclusion where Kai got out of the contract but had to pay some sort of price on doing so and not the "Kai gets out of his contact, his TV boyfriend is outed as an awful person, AND, Kai gets money to start a charity foundation" fairytale ending we got.
Hiro, not being the main focus of the story, was fine even if it felt like he didn't have much agency. His problem about his parents not accepting his desire to marry a man wasn't really much of a problem since we're only told it and we don't really get to see that disapproval in action (that's a bit of it when Kai first starts serving tea to the guests, but after that, it's never a issue).
TL;DR Sweet, romantic, emotional. Grounded and believable until the last 20% where things kinda just wrap up nicely, unfortunately leading to a very clean and neat ending where an imperfect one probably would've been more satisfying.
The mutual attraction between Kai and Hiro plus the respective responsibilities that kept them from each other (Kai's TV contract, Hiro's family inn) was very nicely balanced, creating a nice back and forth of romance and obstacles that helped ramp up the tension without feeling melodramatic or fluffy.
The very very Japanese setting and culture might not be familiar to everyone, but I found it incredibly refreshing, even if it made the world feel a little small being mainly confined in the Asada inn walls.
The story was great but stumbled a little towards the end, when Kai returned to America to try and get out of his contact. The realistic and believable portrayal of Kai and Hiro's problems unfortunately felt undermined by the unbelievable way that Kai gets out of his stopped ironclad contract by essentially threatening a rich, giant media conglomerate with bad press. Despite not having to suspend my disbelief for a majority of the story, having to believe that Kai was magically able to escape his Mom's tv show by just the threat of bad PR was disappointing (as if the TV people were incapable of managing or twisitng Kai's words).
I would've liked a messier conclusion where Kai got out of the contract but had to pay some sort of price on doing so and not the "Kai gets out of his contact, his TV boyfriend is outed as an awful person, AND, Kai gets money to start a charity foundation" fairytale ending we got.
Hiro, not being the main focus of the story, was fine even if it felt like he didn't have much agency. His problem about his parents not accepting his desire to marry a man wasn't really much of a problem since we're only told it and we don't really get to see that disapproval in action (that's a bit of it when Kai first starts serving tea to the guests, but after that, it's never a issue).
TL;DR Sweet, romantic, emotional. Grounded and believable until the last 20% where things kinda just wrap up nicely, unfortunately leading to a very clean and neat ending where an imperfect one probably would've been more satisfying.
December 4, 2024
“I’ve thought it so many times in my head that it’s just a fact to me. The seasons change as we rotate around the sun. In the summer the cicadas hum; in the winter it snows. And I’m in love with Kai Ledging.”
This beautiful book, oh my goodness. I really, really enjoyed this book. Kai is a reality TV star who can’t remember the last time he was truly happy with his life. He escapes to Japan, to an Inn run by his best friend Hiro’s family. Both have secretly been in love with the other for years. Over the course of a month together, this love is built upon until neither wants to be without the other. But each has obligations that will keep them continents apart. Can they find a HEA?
I loved so many aspects of this book. The secondary characters are so well-developed, it feels like we know some of them as well as we know the MC’s. The descriptions of the scenery, the clothing, the inn, the rituals, all painted a vivid picture. The actual hot springs factored in less than I expected based on the title, but I didn’t necessarily feel like I was missing anything.
This beautiful book, oh my goodness. I really, really enjoyed this book. Kai is a reality TV star who can’t remember the last time he was truly happy with his life. He escapes to Japan, to an Inn run by his best friend Hiro’s family. Both have secretly been in love with the other for years. Over the course of a month together, this love is built upon until neither wants to be without the other. But each has obligations that will keep them continents apart. Can they find a HEA?
I loved so many aspects of this book. The secondary characters are so well-developed, it feels like we know some of them as well as we know the MC’s. The descriptions of the scenery, the clothing, the inn, the rituals, all painted a vivid picture. The actual hot springs factored in less than I expected based on the title, but I didn’t necessarily feel like I was missing anything.
June 10, 2025
This was incredibly cute, and hot, but mostly heartwarming. Despite the cover, I assumed it’d be more on the YA-side, but was pleasantly surprised we got some spice. (Was waiting for more hot spring action, but I’ll take the massages). Kai is a reality TV star in NYC due to his rich, fashion designer mother. He’s slim and androgynous, the complete opposite of his best friend, Hiro. Kai describes Hiro as bear-like, big, strong, and can carry Kai like a sack of rice (no, literally). Hiro’s family operates a ryokan, which he is set to inherit as soon as he gets married.
Classic friends to lovers tropes ensue. They both love each other and neither had a clue, despite snuggling all the time, and everyone else definitely knows something’s up. But there’s just enough tension surrounding their respective careers and responsibilities to keep it interesting. And obaachan was just the sweetest. Yay for loving, accepting grandmas. Also yay for kotatsu snuggles.
Classic friends to lovers tropes ensue. They both love each other and neither had a clue, despite snuggling all the time, and everyone else definitely knows something’s up. But there’s just enough tension surrounding their respective careers and responsibilities to keep it interesting. And obaachan was just the sweetest. Yay for loving, accepting grandmas. Also yay for kotatsu snuggles.
November 23, 2024
******Originally published as The Winter Quarters. This edition has been revised and expanded with an added epilogue.******
This wasn't a bad book but it wasn't for me.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
manufactured angst 3/5
heat 2/5
story 1.5/5
POV dual
3rd act break up: sorta
This wasn't a bad book but it wasn't for me.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
manufactured angst 3/5
heat 2/5
story 1.5/5
POV dual
3rd act break up: sorta
December 8, 2024
Kai needed a break from the reality TV life that he was contracted to be in with his mother. He is weary of it and so he travels to spend time with his bestie Hiro and his family in their rural Inn. Kai is thinking that the time away will allow him to be refreshed and then he will be able to go back. But Kai and Hiro are meant for more than being just friends and as they spend time together at the Inn the nature of their relationship changes and Kai is slowly absorbed in a different way into Hiro's family but they also fall more deeply in love and eventually do something about it that changes both of their lives for the better. This was such a lovely story. I liked them both and Hiro's family as well.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 29, 2024
I enjoyed this slow burn romantic holiday love story. I will admit it is not the typical type of book I read but it was well done. Hiro and Kai are old friends both facia a future they do not want. Kai is part of his families reality shows and is need of. A break. Thus he escapes to hiro’s family in rural Japan where old feelings resurface. Hiro has his own issues in that he is expected to marry and inherit the family inn. Both men must figure out how to change their fate as their loves grows. The start of this book however is Hiro’s grandmother who is the grandmother we all want. I did receive an ARC and leave this honest review.
December 12, 2024
“Are we celebrating that I belong to Kai from now on and forevermore?” Hiro asked. “Because if so, these celebrations could have happened when I was about six.”
This is a best friends to lovers slow burn with minimal spice. Kai has been inlove with Hiro for their whole life. Unbeknownst to him, Hiro shares his affection. Both men have obstacles to cross, but they learn they must work together to get their HEA. It's a beautiful romance with a lot of culture and class. I'm hoping it will soon be available in audio. It ended far too quickly for me. I'm confused about how Kai didn't know about Hiro's feelings for him. That man was the definition of heart eyes.
This is a best friends to lovers slow burn with minimal spice. Kai has been inlove with Hiro for their whole life. Unbeknownst to him, Hiro shares his affection. Both men have obstacles to cross, but they learn they must work together to get their HEA. It's a beautiful romance with a lot of culture and class. I'm hoping it will soon be available in audio. It ended far too quickly for me. I'm confused about how Kai didn't know about Hiro's feelings for him. That man was the definition of heart eyes.
dnf
December 2, 2024Edit to remove star rating since this book isn’t a good fit for me, but others might like it more.
This book isn't for me, but it would appeal to those who love graphic novels, the plot line reads a bit YA queer J-drama/K-drama with random smutty things making it +18.
It's obvious the author is very knowledgable in Japanese culture with the way they throw around japanese terms without much explaination, but perhaps it would suit a wider audience better if it was explained, at least on first encounter.
It was unfortunately too YA for me, however perhaps those who are into new adult light k-drama/j-drama with a bit of +18 would enjoy this.
This book isn't for me, but it would appeal to those who love graphic novels, the plot line reads a bit YA queer J-drama/K-drama with random smutty things making it +18.
It's obvious the author is very knowledgable in Japanese culture with the way they throw around japanese terms without much explaination, but perhaps it would suit a wider audience better if it was explained, at least on first encounter.
It was unfortunately too YA for me, however perhaps those who are into new adult light k-drama/j-drama with a bit of +18 would enjoy this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2024
Beautiful book about discovering yourself and where you'll be happy..... and sometimes, it's the simpler things in life. I also loved the glimpses of traditional Japanese life ....very different views to what I'm used to but I enjoyed seeing it. Truly, this story was deftly written to weave contemporary context with traditional lifestyle. And the MC's ...... it wasn't a forced proximity and that's it, they acknowledged their feelings but there was quite a bit to decide, hence the angsty touch. Overall, it's quite a lovely book !!
December 5, 2024
Not what I was expecting in the best way.
Its beautiful and touching throughout, but still includes wonderful tidbits of traditional Japanese culture while sticking to a quietly adapting family with many secrets.
Its quick paced revelry takes the reader back and forth between New York and Japan with ease. It's cast of background supporting characters come in all shapes and sizes but none with small parts.
Highly recommend this debut novel.
Its beautiful and touching throughout, but still includes wonderful tidbits of traditional Japanese culture while sticking to a quietly adapting family with many secrets.
Its quick paced revelry takes the reader back and forth between New York and Japan with ease. It's cast of background supporting characters come in all shapes and sizes but none with small parts.
Highly recommend this debut novel.
December 11, 2024
EXCELLENT friends to lovers, mutual pining goodness! Kai and Hiro have been besties since they were kids, and were roomies in college. Kai's always been in love with Hiro but thought he was straight; Hiro's always known he needs to marry to carry on his inn's heritage and only recently admitted to himself (and his family... and Kai...) that he's queer. Add in a little completely voluntary proximity and some hot times and the onsen, and this is a steamy, touching holiday read.
December 13, 2024
Loved the Japanese inn setting of this one and was delighted to follow Kai and Hiro as they connect as more than friends in the peaceful setting. The complications of Kai's family's reality show and Hiro's parents trying to understand how they could run the inn were well handled and gave these two some challenges to overcome to get their HEA. I'd love to spend a holiday somewhere like the inn, for sure.
November 23, 2024
Oh this one is quite swoonworthy. Kai and Hiro are absolutely lovely. The picture painted here of Asada Inn and the hot springs was enough to transport me to Japan. I fell in love with Hiro’s family and Kai pretty quickly. Once I started reading it, I couldn’t stop until I finished. It was a lovely feel good story that I will probably read again and again.
December 5, 2024
This is a new to me author and from what I can see it’s their debut novel, this was a good holiday friend to lovers slow burn romance about Hiro and Kai. The author does well with the setting and descriptions of where the story takes place and it makes me want to visit the hot springs in Japan and I also really liked Hiro’s grandmother. Good read.
December 7, 2024
My first book by Mae and I enjoyed the culture in this sweet, slow burn storyline. A lovely romantic journey for the MC's as they have plenty of obstacles to overcome before they get the chance for the ending they deserve. Some brilliant secondary characters really helped the storyline along.
I received a free arc copy and this is my honest review,
I received a free arc copy and this is my honest review,
December 10, 2024
I loved this! Having lived in the very town that this book is set in, I was delighted to see all of the extremely accurate local details that were lovingly peppered throughout. Kai and Hiro's romance is slow-burn and sweet, and I loved seeing them overcome the seemingly insurmountable odds keeping them apart. This book was warm, lovingly-written, and a perfect winter read.
December 23, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. Good world building and wonderful characters. I loved both Kai and Hiro. Friends-to-lovers where one believes his love is unrequited. I really liked the dynamic and bond between them and how their relationship progressed to more. This is the first book I've read by this author and I would read more. 4 stars.
December 4, 2024
Hot Spring Remedy is the first book I have read by Mae Rossi and I will keep a look out for more. This is a sweet, slow burn, friends to lovers read about Hiro and Kai. I loved the characters and the storyline.
December 7, 2024
This is a new version of the story and it was very beautiful. His parents want him to go on their next reality show but he is not interested in doing it. He will leave and he will meet them but things are going to get very interesting for them both. See just how they both get on
January 5, 2025
3.5 stars. This was a cute holiday romance that was predictable in the way almost all holiday romances are. I enjoyed the Japanese inn setting. I was happy that Kai's mother wasn't too horrible and did actually help him out at the end. Great cover.
December 1, 2024
This wasn't totally what I expected but it was a good read. Four stars.
December 6, 2024
Lovely, slow burn, friends to lovers story!! Beautiful supportive family and friends, lovely side stories. Great characters.
December 19, 2024
This slow burn holiday romance is a unique story. It’s a fun read.
December 24, 2024
Really liked this one from a new to me author. It was sweet, fun and had lovely characters. Looking forward to this author in the future!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews