Misbooked for Love

by Maria Rigou

Some things are worth the risk—because love, just like snow, can come when you least expect it.

Clara's much-needed solo vacation takes a frustrating turn when she finds her ski resort villa double-booked with Tom, a devastatingly handsome assh***.

Forced to share space, their initial tension sparks a hilarious clash of wills that turns normally bubbly Clara into an indignant mess. As they navigate awkward encounters, unexpected moments of vulnerability start to break down their walls.

Set against a cozy, snow-covered backdrop, this strangers-to-lovers romance explores what happens when two people with very different lives find themselves stuck together—and maybe, just maybe, discover there's more between them than a misbooked vacation.


- Latina FMC
- Strangers to Lovers
- Forced proximity
- Single Dad
- Holiday Romance / Vacation Fling
- Small Town

Genres: Romance, Holiday, Novella

188 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 16, 2025

Reviews

[ya.vl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Тут можна цілих 6⭐️ поставити.
Я вже давно таких чудових новел не читала😍 я навіть просльозилась в кінці🥲
Вони такі хорошенькі, такі сонечка. Ну я не можу.
Я навіть тут жодного мінуса в новелі не знайшла. Однозначно добавлю в свій топ.
«Ніколи ще так не був радий помилці бронювання»🤭❤️❤️

[joni ౨ৎ - hiatus · Rating 3 out of 5]

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎꒰🧾꒱ 𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎

𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙: jan 9
𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 jan 10

🤍┆❆ 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𐙚
this was pretty cute but it felt like it lacked something, overall a good winter/valentine's day novella!
rtc

💌 ┆⌗ 𝐩𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 ೀ
this novella looks cute, the reviews look pretty good + this is supposed to give valentines day so yayy!

thank you to the author for an arc!!

[Анастасія ꒰⁠⑅⁠ᵕ⁠༚⁠ᵕ⁠꒱⁠˖⁠♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ненавиджу моменти коли ти щось не те чуєш, і замість поговорити ти словесно нападаєш на людину і звинувачуєш, що той зраджує своїй партнерці. Хоча жгг почула телефоний дзвінок, де чгг розмовляв з донькою(вона її не чула, думала, що дівчина), жгг подумала що він зрадник і йому все ок, але це їй не заважало цілуватися з ним, а потім і слова не дати вставити як напасти зі звинуваченням.

[пустунка · Rating 3 out of 5]

героїня думає, що чоловік зайнятий іншою жінкою, але все одно йде на побачення з ним і цілує його (насправді це було не так). після цього моя оцінка вже не могла бути гарною.

3/5 ⭐️

[andrea.el · Rating 4 out of 5]

•ARC review•
such a cute and fun read

this was short novella but it was done so right that it just blended together well, the slow burn, the banter and the vibes were everything ❄️🏂🩵

[Elisa Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review
I loved every moment of this! It’s such a cute fast paced read. It truly shows that sometimes the thing that gets in the way of your happiness if yourself. Also that the amount of time you spend with someone doesn’t necessarily reflect the quality of the connection. A real connection can be made in a short amount of time and when you find the person that you love, you do what you can to hold onto them.

[Leticia Q · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

Love that it had both characters' perspectives, and they share their struggles and find a connection. I wasn't sure how the relationship would end, seeing as to the distance and work, but I'm glad it all turned out at the end. I like that Ellie (daughter) was involved in the interaction with Clara. I love the chemistry between Clara and Tom. This is a great read for winter and, of course, for Valentine's.

[Ashley’s Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay I met this author at a signing event and grabbed this novella immediately. Let me tell you I am so glad I did!

I love novellas, I love holiday novellas I love them all! I’ve only read one other Valentine’s Day novella so I was super excited to find this one and I am obsessed!

Forced proximity ✅
Ski lodge ✅
Strangers to lovers ✅
Takes place in CANADA (because we all love Canada right now😂) ✅
Vacation Romance ✅
Single Dad ✅

For real though I read this in one sitting and cannot recommend it enough! 🩷🩷🩷

[Sierra Nathans Lightner · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was teetering between 2.75 and 3 stars for this one, but we’ll stick with 3. Thank you to the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve never read a Valentine’s Day book before, so I was excited! And the premise of the book was right up my alley — double-booked room, forced proximity. I also don’t think I’ve read a book by an Argentinian author before, so that’s also cool!

I’m not sure if it’s because this was a novella, but this one missed the mark for me. The relationship between Tom and Clara did not feel genuine or real. It also gave me a huge ick that even though Clara thought Tom was already in a relationship (he wasn’t) she still went ahead and kissed him and kept saying things like “I shouldn’t even be looking in his direction, but I don’t stop” and calling it “just a little adventure.” girl HUH. Besides that it was good for the most part.

EDIT: I’m changing my rating to 2-2.5 stars because I really did not like that she still went for it lmao

[tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was such a cute novella

short but sweet, this is the story about clara and tom, two completely different people who seem to be at the right place at the right time. But is it really just that? Or could the undeniable pull between them be something more ?

I really enjoyed this! The tension between the characters and its built up was pretty good for the book's short length and i liked seeing their relationship grow as time passed. Tom and Clara both were so good mcs and i really liked them both. Clara, traumatised and scared to love again for fear of being left alone all over again and Tom, a single dad, with more things than he can handle messing with his mind. But, although the two had a rocky start, together they fit like puzzle pieces and it's so endearing.

My only slight complaint would be that there was no explanation of what they actually did as related to the way they kept in touch after the vacation and what else happened after their meet-up. However, it is in my honest opinion more than just plausible and acceptable considering the length of the book and it's being a novella only.

Thanks to the author for providing me with the ARC of this review. i really liked it and am very glad to have been chosen as an ARC reader.

[Fisha426 · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC

Short novella, that I wish was longer, would have loved to spend more time in Canada with Clara and Tom. But loved the short sweet story as well.

The spice level was perfect. It has dual point of view, with the perfect cadence of switching between them. If your a fan of forced proximity, this one's for you!

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A huge thank you to Maria Rigou for sharing an e-ARC of Misbooked for Love with me in exchange for an honest review!

This Valentine's Day novella was absolutely adorable! I am a huge fan of the forced proximity trope, and I felt like the plot made sense and followed it well. I am always concerned about pacing in novellas, but I think Maria NAILED it! I do not feel like anything was rushed, and I also appreciated how it was not insta-love either. I think the character introductions were done super well and I felt like I knew a lot about them early on in the story.

I did have mixed feelings about how Tom handled 2 particular situations. First, he let the miscommunication about having a daughter and talking to her go on for way too long, and I found myself being like "dude just say it was your daughter, why are you beating around the bush and making it seem like you have a secret wife or something!!". Second was I did not like the way he left after the end of the trip. I felt like he took the easy way out instead of giving Clara the goodbye she deserved.

I absolutely LOVED the scenes where the hotel kept putting them in various valentine's day themed activities thinking they were a couple and I also really enjoyed watch the relationship progression. Overall, this is such a cute holiday read and I recommend it for anyone who wants a cute Valentine's Day read with forced proximity, single dad & spice!

[Natiley Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

I loved this story! It was so heartfelt and loving—a perfect break from the dark, intense romances I've been reading lately. As a Valentine novella, it's short and sweet, making it an ideal read for the season.

The way Clara and Thomas's relationship builds is beautifully done, and I appreciated how they overcome their own challenges by the end. Meeting at a Valentine-themed hotel adds a whimsical touch, and there's a hint that people might have played matchmakers, though we never find out for sure.

I also enjoyed the unique aspect of their occupations, which I haven't encountered in other books before. It brought a refreshing twist to the story.

I'm definitely planning to reread this as we get closer to Valentine’s Day!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clara, a flight attendant who is looking for a relaxing getaway, books a villa at a resort in Canada to figure out her next steps. Tom, a retired Polo player, is also staying at the same resort to clear his head. Unfortunately for them, they get booked to the same villa and there’s nothing else available. It doesn’t start out smoothly and they get on each other’s nerves but they keep bumping into one another and the chemistry seems undeniable. I loved reading about their mishaps and them coming to realize that fate seemed to bring them together. If you want a short, sweet and also a spicy valentines novella, definitely check this one out!

[Gabi | whatsgabireading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Misbooked for Love by Maria Rigou is a super fun and adorable Valentine’s Day novella. This story brings together all the best elements of a short and sweet romance, with just enough tension and chemistry to keep you hooked. The small-town charm, the forced proximity between the characters, and the dynamic of a single dad and a strong, Latina FMC made for a delightful read. It’s the perfect book for Valentine’s Day or any day you’re in the mood for a heartwarming love story.

Tropes:
🩷 Valentine's Day novella
🩷 Small-town romance
🩷 Forced proximity
🩷 Single dad
🩷 Latina FMC

I gave this novella 4 stars—short, sweet, and full of cute moments that make it perfect for romance lovers.

[Kaylyn Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc Review!!!
3.5!! I really enjoyed this story. I loved the fact that it was a short romance book but not instalove. I think this could get some people out of a reading slump. And it's literally less than 150 pages so you could get through this really quickly. I really liked the characters and how they were with each other. There wasn't an unnecessary amount of spice and I could tell they really cared about each other. The ending was also really cute and I definitely recommend this book!

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was an ARC copy that I received and I finally confirmed with myself that I’m not a huge fan of novellas.

They are way too fast paced for me.

I loved the plot and the characters, I just wish this could have been a whole book.

I loved Tom’s character and loved the importance that he gave to his daughter.

[Amanda Hopwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute story! Very fast paced quick read
Clara books herself a gateway in a snowy Canada resort to get way from life for a bit . Tom was planning to take his daughter to this resort as well so spend time with his daughter but she got snow in so he had to make the trip alone . Find out what happens when these two strangers get booked in the same room …..

[Jenny’s Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine wanting a fresh start then finding out you book the same room and finding him naked you go to the front desk and demanding another room unfortunately you booked when tourists come the most into town. You have no other choice than to share your room with this single dad.

Rate 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Summary

Single Dad
Ski Dates
Retired Polo Player
Flight Attendant
Fresh Start

Misbooked for Love 💗 is a quick short novel best if you are planning your monthly February Valentines TBR I highly recommend this book.Thank you Maria Rigou for the advance Arc.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the concept of this book, but the execution of it fell flat. Their love story didn’t feel genuine to me.

[Gab · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love when a book does exactly what it said it would

Misbooked for Love is a Valentine's Day romance novella with excellent winter vibes (honestly could be a holidays read!). There's forced proximity, characters looking to escape their day-to-day life, and a caring single dad, what more could one want?


Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC. 🥰

[maiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first ARC review!!

Such a short and sweet read. This is my first time reading anything from Maria Rigou and it didn't disappoint. Even though this is set around Valentine's Day, I feel like it had perfect wintery/Christmas vibes. Clara and Tom had great chemistry and I almost wish this was longer so I could learn even more about them!

"I told you, I'm not done with you yet."

[ryen · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review!

This book was such a nice, quick read & very atmospheric! Great winter/Valentine’s vibes!

I felt like Clara & Tom’s relationship wasn’t very believable, there wasn’t anything that happened that showed me that they really liked each other. It just felt like they were together because of the forced proximity. I know it’s difficult to accomplish this because novellas are so short, but I just felt like I needed something to prove that they were attracted to & liked each other.
There were also quite a few grammatical errors and some sentences that just didn’t make sense. I also felt like a lot of scenes needed more context & dialogue!

However the last 30% of the book was really sweet! I really liked how Tom & Clara were really considerate of each other and wanted to make things work. Would definitely recommend picking this up if you want a quick atmospheric read!

[Tiffany Turner · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️.5 rounded up to two
ARC REVIEW

I was sent an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

The idea for the book is good but the novella fell very flat for me.
One of my favorite tropes is forced proximity. So I was excited to see how this went.

I do feel like the book had a lot of filler words. Everything was in too much detail but none of it concentrated on the actual plot.

A huge problem I have with this book was the FMC believed the MMC was in a relationship and still decided to peruse him. There could have been a conversation before hand to atleast ask him if she was correct in assuming that he was in a relationship. Instead, she still made the first move. He may have kissed her first but he knew he wasn’t in a relationship. She first walked up to him, putting her hand on his jaw, touching him because she couldn’t stop herself even believing him to be in a relationship.

I don’t know if it was intentional or not but there’s a comparable part to how the FMC feels about how her relationships end and the movie “Good luck chuck” where she feels like every person that she’s with immediately finds their happy ever after with the next person they date after her.

At this point, there was no chemistry, no dialogue really in where they got to know each other at all. Their relationship felt forced.
I understand this is a novella, but there were too many words that didn’t really say anything, when we could have used that space for more banter, conversation and really getting to know the characters but we didn’t.
They were talking about falling for each other but what we saw in the book was really them having maybe a handful of awkward conversations and nothing else. To me that is more instalust to instalove versus a slow burn even though it took them a minute to actually decide to do something.

The one thing I liked about the book was that she didn’t instantly quit her job and move to New York to live HEA. She continued her job, continued traveling and they did the long distance thing.


What could have improved this book for me was having more conversations, more banter, especially if this is supposed to be more towards a slow burn novella.
Less details for everything else. I get setting the tone or “world building” by describing everything and describing your every thought but maybe a little less of that and a little more of the mentioned above.

A great story can still fit into 130 pages. It doesn’t have to be 300+ to have great, relevant dialogue and plot. I would love to see this author fix a few things from this novella and rework the story.

[Mayras mini book reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review. Thankful and appreciated the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of its release date

Bias: Latina FMC and Latina Author (automatic ⭐️ for diversity in romance book)
Overall rating of story (w/o bias ⭐️): ⭐️⭐️⭐️
*Banter
*forced proximity
*valentine market
*funny incidents
*Single Dad
*vacation fling
*slow burnish

Spice rating: 🌶️
*2 vanilla scenes
*no dirty talk
*min descriptions

Recommend to: someone looking for a novella with a valentine backdrop, mild spice, banter, and slowburn 🌶️ to insta love ❤️
The banter between the main characters is entertaining. The scene is set very well and makes you get a good idea of how Valentine obsessed this little town is and how ironic that our FMC booked that resort. The situations the universe keeps pushing them together in are funny. The FMC is definitely trying to make the best of it. Seeing as how she already feels like the universe is always playing a joke on her.
The MMC is mainly dealing with feeling unsatisfied with work and guilt over his choices and how they effect his ability to be there for his daughter.
They bond over feelings of being lost and unsatisfied in their current life situations. A lot of their bonding must take place off page during the days they spend together. There are only 3 conversations that I say a deeper bond forms but 2 are almost the same conversation just in a different POV.
So makes me think insta to love and slow burn to acting on physical attraction. And honestly in a novella is about the only time I let that slide because they only have so many words. Just glad it wasn’t insta lust to insta love. The FMC does a good job of explaining why it feels like more than a fling in her internal monologues though. I have experienced that feeling IRL so I could relate and understood. I think they simply found their new beginnings in each other.
The epilogue is great too. Love how it gives us a glimpse of how they made their relationship work given they lived in different continents.
Bias: the use of Argentinian in the conversations between characters did not feel forced and read very naturally.

Spice rating: 🌶️ the spicy scenes are vanilla and intimate between the characters. Nothing too hot or steamy. Nice introduction to open door romance for someone new to spice.
I did have 3 icks. #2 #3 are a bit of a spoiler so don’t read it if you don’t want but #3 was kinda has me screaming WTF at the FMC.
1) they us protection but it’s never written of him disposing of it before they lay and fall a sleep in each others arms after finishing. I don’t know why but it bugged me.
🛑🛑🛑Mild spoilers
2) originally he was planning on being there with his daughter but had a wallet with multiple condoms. I’ll give you 1 emergency condom but 2 in a wallet ?! Was he planning on hooking up with someone there while his daughter was sleeping or does he have spontaneous sexual encounters often while traveling for work? The FMC even mentions having some in her suitcase but he stops her and pulls more from his pant pocket .
3) the FMC believes he has a GF or a wife and still makes the first move! Even after she tells us she’s been cheated on. It made me not like the FMC. Maybe if naturally he would of revealed it was his daughter not a GF/Wife he was speaking with and the FMC made a move after it would of been fine, just your run of the mill miscommunications but that’s not how it played out . She basically made herself the other women in her mind .

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

⚠️TW - mention of cheating (not MC)⚠️


🔥Spice Ahead (varying degrees)🔥
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 17



Clara went on vacation in hopes of getting away from the stress of the past few years, while Tom planned his vacation with the hopes that his daughter would be joining him. A severe snow storm prevented Tom from his plans with his daughter, and a mishap with the reservations at the resort they both booked had Tom and Clara in an unfortunate situation. Fate decided to play a hand in making sure the two of them kept being thrust together, which brought them from strangers to lovers in this cute and quick Valentine's Day novella. 4/5⭐

[Dawn Griffith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light, charming holiday romance, Misbooked for Love delivers on cozy vibes and witty banter. Clara’s bubbly personality clashes hilariously with Tom’s grumpy exterior, and their forced proximity at a double-booked ski villa leads to laugh-out-loud moments and heartfelt connections.

The snowy setting and single-dad element add warmth, and Clara’s vibrant, Latina heritage shines through. While the story is a quick, easy read, I wished for a bit more depth in exploring their lives beyond the villa.

Still, it’s perfect for fans of strangers-to-lovers and small-town holiday romances!

[Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up!

What happens when you book a week's vacation in the snowy mountains in a beautiful villa for yourself and then all of a sudden, a naked, soaking wet man walks out of your bathroom?

Add in that it is also Valentine’s weekend and it seems that Cupid has some plans for Clara and Tom.

This was such a great redemption story for Clara!! There was banter and attraction. There was caring and thoughtfulness. And the ending was very sweet, yet predictable.

Overall, this was a very cute Novella to read around Valentien’s Day, or in the Winter!!

[halleigh (taylor’s version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

got this as an ARC and I am so happy to be able to review - happy release day!!


this is giving everything that it needs to give for a cute novella. great characters, great tropes, an amazing setting!! the only thing is that i feel that it would have made more sense if it was a full sized book. it is great as a novella, but i think what is missing is more detail on how they fall for each that could only be found in a full sized book. BUT with that being said it does great with the amount of pages it is, so having more would make it unstoppable!

[Inma · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC Review ✨

Me ha sorprendido mucho la historia, la pluma de la autora te tiene enganchada desde el primer momento y los personajes son adorables.

Tom me ha parecido monísimo, tanto con su hija como con Clara. Crush de manual 🙂‍↕️☝🏼

Clara me ha encantado como habla las cosas desde el primer momento y como antepone su corazón y su bienestar antes de saltar al vacío.

No suelo leer muchas novelas pero esta me ha robado el corazón, es perfecta para San Valentín 😌