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Puck Struck #2
Yours for the Season
Making the yuletide gay
JT Cox never quite fit into Hart’s Landing. Playing on the boys’ hockey team and coming out young didn’t help. Now, thanks to an Olympic gold medal, JT’s name is on a sign greeting visitors to her hometown. Her family of artists and creatives still treat her as an odd duck, but elsewhere there’s a warm welcome. Especially from her best friend’s older sister, newly divorced Ali Porter.
Single for the first time since high school, Ali is ready to take the reins of her own life. She’s never had the chance to date another woman, and JT is an irresistible force of nature. When they team up for the town’s holiday contest, cocoa tasting and gingerbread decorating give way to snow-melting chemistry.
If teenage JT thought Ali was the prettiest girl on the planet, adult JT is completely smitten. But JT can’t see herself living in Hart’s Landing again and Ali can’t imagine leaving her job and her newly purchased home. And with Ali’s mom trying to plot a reconciliation with her ex, this holiday season might be bittersweet…or the start of something magical.
Puck Struck
Book 1: Wake Up, Nat & Darcy
Book 2: Yours for the Season
JT Cox never quite fit into Hart’s Landing. Playing on the boys’ hockey team and coming out young didn’t help. Now, thanks to an Olympic gold medal, JT’s name is on a sign greeting visitors to her hometown. Her family of artists and creatives still treat her as an odd duck, but elsewhere there’s a warm welcome. Especially from her best friend’s older sister, newly divorced Ali Porter.
Single for the first time since high school, Ali is ready to take the reins of her own life. She’s never had the chance to date another woman, and JT is an irresistible force of nature. When they team up for the town’s holiday contest, cocoa tasting and gingerbread decorating give way to snow-melting chemistry.
If teenage JT thought Ali was the prettiest girl on the planet, adult JT is completely smitten. But JT can’t see herself living in Hart’s Landing again and Ali can’t imagine leaving her job and her newly purchased home. And with Ali’s mom trying to plot a reconciliation with her ex, this holiday season might be bittersweet…or the start of something magical.
Puck Struck
Book 1: Wake Up, Nat & Darcy
Book 2: Yours for the Season
Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2025
84 people are currently reading
9323 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews
October 23, 2025
What a cute sapphic Holiday romance! I am all for Christmas cheer vibes and love a sweet small-town romance during the holiday season. It’s a perfect read for the holiday season with baking contests, snowman building contests, and small-town vibes. JT and Ali were also adorable together and I enjoyed the old friends to lover’s vibe this book was giving.
JT and Ali supported each other when they both needed a friend the most and their attraction and chemistry grew. I felt like both characters were super relatable and the challenges they faced would resonate with many readers. If you are wanting a fun and easy book to read or listen to during the holiday season, this is a great pick. There isn’t a wildly complicated plot and its not going to have you reeling in shock with twists and turns but if you want a wholesome read, you’ll enjoy it.
#Small Town Romance
#Best Friend’s Sister
#Friends to Lovers
#Sapphic Romance
#Christmas Romance
#Cozy Reads
JT and Ali supported each other when they both needed a friend the most and their attraction and chemistry grew. I felt like both characters were super relatable and the challenges they faced would resonate with many readers. If you are wanting a fun and easy book to read or listen to during the holiday season, this is a great pick. There isn’t a wildly complicated plot and its not going to have you reeling in shock with twists and turns but if you want a wholesome read, you’ll enjoy it.
#Small Town Romance
#Best Friend’s Sister
#Friends to Lovers
#Sapphic Romance
#Christmas Romance
#Cozy Reads
January 5, 2026
BABES - Let's talk about this book! Yours for the Season by Kate Cochrane was a super cute holiday read with all the cozy, small-town, snow-covered, sapphic vibes you’d expect in a holiday read.
JT Cox is this hometown hockey hero turned Olympic gold medalist who’s back in Hart’s Landing for the holidays, even though she’s not fully feeling the warm fuzzies about being home. But then she reconnects with Ali—her best friend’s older sister (yes, it’s giving forbidden-ish crush vibes), recently divorced and finally ready to explore life—and love—on her own terms. And listen… their chemistry is soft and sweet, with just enough heat to keep things interesting. It’s not super high-drama or angsty, but it's definitely the kind of vibe you crave in a holiday romance!
There’s cocoa tasting, gingerbread decorating, and the classic small-town holiday contest shenanigans. JT’s this lovable soft butch who totally stood out in her artsy family, and Ali’s navigating this big life shift with a lot of grace. It’s kind of a second-chance-at-first-love sort of story, and I really appreciated how grounded it felt.
Also, the COVER!?? OMMMGGGGG - So FREAKING PERFECT. I’m always here for a sapphic book that puts a masc main character front and center, and JT on the cover honestly sold me from the start. And Jeremy Parker narrating the audiobook? Cozy perfection.
If you’re into small-town settings, holiday glow-ups, and sapphics falling for the girl they’ve secretly crushed on since forever, this one will totally scratch that itch. This audiobook absolutely made me smile—that’s exactly what you need in a seasonal read. Snow, sapphic romance, and a little bit of flannel go a long way. 🎄💚
JT Cox is this hometown hockey hero turned Olympic gold medalist who’s back in Hart’s Landing for the holidays, even though she’s not fully feeling the warm fuzzies about being home. But then she reconnects with Ali—her best friend’s older sister (yes, it’s giving forbidden-ish crush vibes), recently divorced and finally ready to explore life—and love—on her own terms. And listen… their chemistry is soft and sweet, with just enough heat to keep things interesting. It’s not super high-drama or angsty, but it's definitely the kind of vibe you crave in a holiday romance!
There’s cocoa tasting, gingerbread decorating, and the classic small-town holiday contest shenanigans. JT’s this lovable soft butch who totally stood out in her artsy family, and Ali’s navigating this big life shift with a lot of grace. It’s kind of a second-chance-at-first-love sort of story, and I really appreciated how grounded it felt.
Also, the COVER!?? OMMMGGGGG - So FREAKING PERFECT. I’m always here for a sapphic book that puts a masc main character front and center, and JT on the cover honestly sold me from the start. And Jeremy Parker narrating the audiobook? Cozy perfection.
If you’re into small-town settings, holiday glow-ups, and sapphics falling for the girl they’ve secretly crushed on since forever, this one will totally scratch that itch. This audiobook absolutely made me smile—that’s exactly what you need in a seasonal read. Snow, sapphic romance, and a little bit of flannel go a long way. 🎄💚
December 7, 2025
A sweet Christmas story as most Christmas tales are. Not too much tension between the two MCs except the uncertainty if they can make it work and some miscommunications along the way. The real drama being between their respective parents and Ali's ex. Enjoyable story all the same!
August 7, 2025
Out October 23rd, 2025
Yours for the Season by Kate Cochrane deserves to be shouted from every snowy rooftop and sung in every holiday choir! This sapphic romance is a glittering gem in the Puck Struck series, delivering heart, heat, and holiday magic in equal measure. JT Cox, a hockey legend with a complicated past, and Ali Porter, freshly divorced and rediscovering herself, light up the pages with chemistry that’s both tender and electric. Their journey through gingerbread contests and cocoa tastings in Hart’s Landing is the kind of festive escapism readers crave, and the emotional depth makes it all the more satisfying.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Carina Adores for this ARC!
Yours for the Season by Kate Cochrane deserves to be shouted from every snowy rooftop and sung in every holiday choir! This sapphic romance is a glittering gem in the Puck Struck series, delivering heart, heat, and holiday magic in equal measure. JT Cox, a hockey legend with a complicated past, and Ali Porter, freshly divorced and rediscovering herself, light up the pages with chemistry that’s both tender and electric. Their journey through gingerbread contests and cocoa tastings in Hart’s Landing is the kind of festive escapism readers crave, and the emotional depth makes it all the more satisfying.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Carina Adores for this ARC!
January 4, 2026
Yours for the Season is a cozy, sapphic holiday romance filled with small-town charm, festive competitions, and gentle second-chance energy. From cocoa tastings to gingerbread decorating, the Christmas atmosphere is delightful and makes this a perfect seasonal read.
I really enjoyed JT and Ali together—the best friend’s sister dynamic and friends-to-lovers progression worked well, and their mutual support during vulnerable moments felt genuine. Both characters were relatable, especially in how they navigated identity, change, and new beginnings after long periods of feeling stuck.
That said, the romance leaned a bit too insta-love for my taste, and some of the family conflict felt awkwardly handled, which slightly dulled the emotional impact. Still, this is an easy, comforting read that prioritizes warmth over drama.
Tropes:
🎄 Holiday romance
🎄 Small-town setting
🎄 Athlete FMC
🎄 Best friend’s sister
🎄 Friends to lovers
🎄 Sapphic romance
A sweet, low-stress holiday story that’s perfect if you’re looking for something cozy, queer, and festive.
✨ Thank you to NetGalley and Kate Cochrane for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed JT and Ali together—the best friend’s sister dynamic and friends-to-lovers progression worked well, and their mutual support during vulnerable moments felt genuine. Both characters were relatable, especially in how they navigated identity, change, and new beginnings after long periods of feeling stuck.
That said, the romance leaned a bit too insta-love for my taste, and some of the family conflict felt awkwardly handled, which slightly dulled the emotional impact. Still, this is an easy, comforting read that prioritizes warmth over drama.
Tropes:
🎄 Holiday romance
🎄 Small-town setting
🎄 Athlete FMC
🎄 Best friend’s sister
🎄 Friends to lovers
🎄 Sapphic romance
A sweet, low-stress holiday story that’s perfect if you’re looking for something cozy, queer, and festive.
✨ Thank you to NetGalley and Kate Cochrane for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 21, 2025
Yours for the Season is a sapphic small town romance that follows JT, a gold medal winning hockey player who comes home for the holidays, and Ali, her best friends older sister whose she’s had a crush on since she was a teenager.
Ali, recently divorced and finally taking control of her own life is ready to take a chance on herself and in doing so, discovers just how grown up JT really is. The two women confide in one another about their lives, the struggles they face from familial pressures and discover a connection neither saw coming all while teaming us as partners for their hometown’s annual Christmas competition. Can they win the whole thing or just each other’s hearts?
To be honest, this book sounded so cozy and charming and while I did enjoy the first book in this series, Yours for the Season missed the mark for me. I found it really tough to get through as a lot of the dialogue felt unrealistic and the writing was choppy and stilted - it didn’t flow well at all. As individual characters, I like JT and Ali but as a pair, I didn’t really get the chemistry and everything between them seemed to happen in the blink of an eye without any buildup whatsoever and it meant I was never really rooting for them in the long run even as things progressed.
This book also had far too much ‘telling’ and not nearly enough ‘showing’ which often made it hard to really make sense of the world and who the characters actually are. JT and Ali’s internal monologues were so repetitive that I often found myself on more than one occasion wondering if was re-reading a part of the book I had already read.
If you’re looking for a light, sapphic small town Christmas read this book might be for you but sadly it’s just wasn’t for me.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for this ARC!
Ali, recently divorced and finally taking control of her own life is ready to take a chance on herself and in doing so, discovers just how grown up JT really is. The two women confide in one another about their lives, the struggles they face from familial pressures and discover a connection neither saw coming all while teaming us as partners for their hometown’s annual Christmas competition. Can they win the whole thing or just each other’s hearts?
To be honest, this book sounded so cozy and charming and while I did enjoy the first book in this series, Yours for the Season missed the mark for me. I found it really tough to get through as a lot of the dialogue felt unrealistic and the writing was choppy and stilted - it didn’t flow well at all. As individual characters, I like JT and Ali but as a pair, I didn’t really get the chemistry and everything between them seemed to happen in the blink of an eye without any buildup whatsoever and it meant I was never really rooting for them in the long run even as things progressed.
This book also had far too much ‘telling’ and not nearly enough ‘showing’ which often made it hard to really make sense of the world and who the characters actually are. JT and Ali’s internal monologues were so repetitive that I often found myself on more than one occasion wondering if was re-reading a part of the book I had already read.
If you’re looking for a light, sapphic small town Christmas read this book might be for you but sadly it’s just wasn’t for me.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for this ARC!
December 9, 2025
4.5 Stars
I really enjoyed this! Sporty masc returns home for Christmas and gets close to her first crush? Sign me up! It was so well written and such a great story. I did at times want to scream in Ali’s mums face to leave her alone about her ex husband 🤣🤣 let the girl get the girl!!
Also, the femme topping the masc!? Hell yeah!! 🫠
Highly recommend, I tandem read with the audiobook which also highly recommend!
Written in third person with 2x POV’s. Narrated by Jeremy Carlisle Parker. Return to Hometown, Masc/Femme, Starting Over, Sports (Hockey), Small Town. 4x Spicy Scenes.
I really enjoyed this! Sporty masc returns home for Christmas and gets close to her first crush? Sign me up! It was so well written and such a great story. I did at times want to scream in Ali’s mums face to leave her alone about her ex husband 🤣🤣 let the girl get the girl!!
Also, the femme topping the masc!? Hell yeah!! 🫠
Highly recommend, I tandem read with the audiobook which also highly recommend!
Written in third person with 2x POV’s. Narrated by Jeremy Carlisle Parker. Return to Hometown, Masc/Femme, Starting Over, Sports (Hockey), Small Town. 4x Spicy Scenes.
December 3, 2025
This book unexpectedly hit me so deep in the feels.
Award winning athlete JT Cox returns to her hometown Hart's Landing to visit her family for the holidays. However, it's not a bittersweet or happy return, it's pure and utter bitterness. All her life, JT has been treated as the black sheep of the family because her career path veered away from the family's arts background. And on top of that, they were never fully accepting of her queer identity. The only reason they want to see her is because she's now a famous athlete.
However, there ends up being one gem in the ruff at Hart's Landing - Ali Porter, the older sister of JT's best friend. Recently divorced and free to explore her identity, Ali confesses her attraction to JT. What begins as simple attraction, turns into a deep relationship that is beautiful to watch develop through their playful banter and growing support for one another.
The only problem is - JT's trauma means she never can permanently stay in Hart's Landing, but Ali's whole life and assets are based there. Will this be a love that only lasts for the season??
Thank you to @hqn_shamelessromantics and @netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Award winning athlete JT Cox returns to her hometown Hart's Landing to visit her family for the holidays. However, it's not a bittersweet or happy return, it's pure and utter bitterness. All her life, JT has been treated as the black sheep of the family because her career path veered away from the family's arts background. And on top of that, they were never fully accepting of her queer identity. The only reason they want to see her is because she's now a famous athlete.
However, there ends up being one gem in the ruff at Hart's Landing - Ali Porter, the older sister of JT's best friend. Recently divorced and free to explore her identity, Ali confesses her attraction to JT. What begins as simple attraction, turns into a deep relationship that is beautiful to watch develop through their playful banter and growing support for one another.
The only problem is - JT's trauma means she never can permanently stay in Hart's Landing, but Ali's whole life and assets are based there. Will this be a love that only lasts for the season??
Thank you to @hqn_shamelessromantics and @netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
December 29, 2025
3.5 stars. A cute Christmas romance, sorta sports romance adjacent, between an Olympian hockey player and her best friend's older sister, reconnecting during the holidays. Lots of tropes I like, especially the one where a character has a long-held crush that is now reciprocated. It was really sexy, with lots of fun moments and cute holiday activities. I especially liked all the little hockey bits, especially JT connecting with kids. But I have to admit to being a little frustrated/annoyed with the main characters sometimes. JT sometimes acted childish in a way that kinda put me off. And the plot with Ali's overbearing mother got taken to unbelievable extremes. Surely, no one can be that dense?
Still, this was fun and sweet with enough cute moments to mostly make up for the things I didn't love. Listened to the audiobook as read by Jeremy Carlisle Parker, which bumps up the rating by .5 stars. Review to come.
Still, this was fun and sweet with enough cute moments to mostly make up for the things I didn't love. Listened to the audiobook as read by Jeremy Carlisle Parker, which bumps up the rating by .5 stars. Review to come.
November 12, 2025
Note: Some of my goodreads shelves can be spoilers
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: third person from both heroines
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: not too far in - chapter 3, about 6%
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, 9 months later
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy through NetGalley in e-book form
Why I chose this book: The cover looked cute and I was in the mood for some holiday romance
Mains: JT (Jasmine) Cox and Ali Porter – This is a sapphic romance between a cisgendered gay heroine and cisgendered bisexual heroine
(Descriptions found at end of my review)
Should I read in order?
I didn’t read book 1 and found this very readable alone. I think the characters from book 1 are in the end of this book? Nothing extreme.
Basic plot:
JT is home for the holidays, and seeing her best friend’s older sister in a whole new light now that she’s divorced.
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- small town in New Hampshire – Hart’s Landing
- F/F love
- best friend’s sibling
- divorced heroine
- holiday romance
- hockey Olympian / teacher pairing
- teaming up for a holiday competition – including contests for making hot cocoa, decorating a gingerbread house, sled races
- JT has a sweet tooth
- medium steam – 3ish full scenes
Ages:
- Ali is 28, I think JT might be a touch younger?
First line:
JT Cox never thought that Hart’s Landing would surprise her.
My thoughts:
Overall this is a really cute, heartwarming sapphic holiday romance. It’s got a small town, friendly holiday competition, and 2 fun heroines both dealing with some family conflict.
JT and Ali came together really easy and were able to bond together against their hurt and issues with their parents, and Ali’s ex. Lots of sweet holiday scenes and vibes – I enjoyed the holiday competition a lot and think it provided some great scenes between the hot cocoa competition and the crazy sled racing…
The family issues and the issues with Ali’s ex did bother me throughout the book. They just didn’t feel...I don’t know….real enough? Heavy enough? For it to be happening the whole book. An ex that acts like he still wants you, though you were married for 10 years and now he’s dating some else? But what really bothered me was Ali’s mom just incessantly telling her to get back with him. I get at the end we see the projection and vulnerability from her but it was just not enough for me to respect it I guess. And as for JT’s parents – they were sweet but really disappointing. My heart kind of broke for JT and their excuses for not being as supportive. It was just...these issues just left me feeling rather annoyed.
So overall this was a bit too low angst between the mains for me, and sexually easy when I wanted more tension. But it has a lot of cuteness in it.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating from me: 3 stars
Favorite book: This one by default
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Extra stuff like what my review breakdown means, where to find me, and book clubs
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: third person from both heroines
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: not too far in - chapter 3, about 6%
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, 9 months later
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy through NetGalley in e-book form
Why I chose this book: The cover looked cute and I was in the mood for some holiday romance
Mains: JT (Jasmine) Cox and Ali Porter – This is a sapphic romance between a cisgendered gay heroine and cisgendered bisexual heroine
(Descriptions found at end of my review)
Should I read in order?
I didn’t read book 1 and found this very readable alone. I think the characters from book 1 are in the end of this book? Nothing extreme.
Basic plot:
JT is home for the holidays, and seeing her best friend’s older sister in a whole new light now that she’s divorced.
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- small town in New Hampshire – Hart’s Landing
- F/F love
- best friend’s sibling
- divorced heroine
- holiday romance
- hockey Olympian / teacher pairing
- teaming up for a holiday competition – including contests for making hot cocoa, decorating a gingerbread house, sled races
- JT has a sweet tooth
- medium steam – 3ish full scenes
Ages:
- Ali is 28, I think JT might be a touch younger?
First line:
JT Cox never thought that Hart’s Landing would surprise her.
My thoughts:
Overall this is a really cute, heartwarming sapphic holiday romance. It’s got a small town, friendly holiday competition, and 2 fun heroines both dealing with some family conflict.
JT and Ali came together really easy and were able to bond together against their hurt and issues with their parents, and Ali’s ex. Lots of sweet holiday scenes and vibes – I enjoyed the holiday competition a lot and think it provided some great scenes between the hot cocoa competition and the crazy sled racing…
The family issues and the issues with Ali’s ex did bother me throughout the book. They just didn’t feel...I don’t know….real enough? Heavy enough? For it to be happening the whole book. An ex that acts like he still wants you, though you were married for 10 years and now he’s dating some else? But what really bothered me was Ali’s mom just incessantly telling her to get back with him. I get at the end we see the projection and vulnerability from her but it was just not enough for me to respect it I guess. And as for JT’s parents – they were sweet but really disappointing. My heart kind of broke for JT and their excuses for not being as supportive. It was just...these issues just left me feeling rather annoyed.
So overall this was a bit too low angst between the mains for me, and sexually easy when I wanted more tension. But it has a lot of cuteness in it.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating from me: 3 stars
Favorite book: This one by default
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Extra stuff like what my review breakdown means, where to find me, and book clubs
December 24, 2025
ok so my main concerns with this book are mainly with the way some of the events in this book occurred - so this will have light spoilers!!
SPOILERS START HERE:
First of all, the issue with JT's parents not showing up to her games because they were upset to hear what other people said about her. Did her parents not think to say ANYTHING to the adults bullying their child? Why was JT not upset about this part? I found it horribly upsetting to know that not only did they just never communicate why they didn't come to JTs games... they literally just thought it was best to let the adults continue to bully her in the stands? I don't know why this was not addressed anywhere.
My other issue - which is just me being a little nit picky on the realistic aspect of a relationship. 10 years with the same man, never kissed a woman before, never did a number of things before .... best ever? yeah - this might not be the expectation I would want newly out queer people to have. I wish it was a little more "real" - which maybe some people prefer not to read about, but it really took me out of the story that everything just seemed to go without a hitch.
Anyway - not my fave, but not the worst! Just an easy lil sapphic Christmas story (although the concern about the parents and the fact that this wasn't ever even discussed is actually a concern for me tbh)
SPOILERS START HERE:
First of all, the issue with JT's parents not showing up to her games because they were upset to hear what other people said about her. Did her parents not think to say ANYTHING to the adults bullying their child? Why was JT not upset about this part? I found it horribly upsetting to know that not only did they just never communicate why they didn't come to JTs games... they literally just thought it was best to let the adults continue to bully her in the stands? I don't know why this was not addressed anywhere.
My other issue - which is just me being a little nit picky on the realistic aspect of a relationship. 10 years with the same man, never kissed a woman before, never did a number of things before .... best ever? yeah - this might not be the expectation I would want newly out queer people to have. I wish it was a little more "real" - which maybe some people prefer not to read about, but it really took me out of the story that everything just seemed to go without a hitch.
Anyway - not my fave, but not the worst! Just an easy lil sapphic Christmas story (although the concern about the parents and the fact that this wasn't ever even discussed is actually a concern for me tbh)
December 19, 2025
look i’m not a romance girl. but the premise is really cute. however sometimes it was too much for me, like why is jt obsessed with being huge and ali with being tiny this is not what women need. however for recovering from hip surgery and being on opioids i cannot complain
December 29, 2025
She didn’t even play hockey once
October 24, 2025
I love a cozy, second chance holiday romance and Yours for the Season was exactly that. I’ve always been interested in the best friend’s older sibling trope but I much prefer sisters over brothers so this book caught my attention. I wished there had been better, and quicker, communication with their families and with each other. It was very relatable but they spiraled a lot because they wouldn’t voice their honest thoughts to one another. The holiday competition was adorable, very on par for a small town.
I really enjoyed the instant chemistry between Ali and JT as adults. JT is definitely a smooth talker but also such a sweetheart. I loved Ali’s growth into herself, letting go of behavior that hadn’t served her in the past. I really liked that they both defended each other and were quiet support for one another when necessary, they read each other well.
I loved Jeremy Carlisle Parker as a narrator, the voice were distinct and paired really well with what I perceived to be the characters personalities.
Overall, it was a cute, quick story with an entertaining plot. I think anyone who wants a sporty, small town holiday story, should pick up Yours for the Season. Thank you to Kate Cochrane, Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an ALC.
I really enjoyed the instant chemistry between Ali and JT as adults. JT is definitely a smooth talker but also such a sweetheart. I loved Ali’s growth into herself, letting go of behavior that hadn’t served her in the past. I really liked that they both defended each other and were quiet support for one another when necessary, they read each other well.
I loved Jeremy Carlisle Parker as a narrator, the voice were distinct and paired really well with what I perceived to be the characters personalities.
Overall, it was a cute, quick story with an entertaining plot. I think anyone who wants a sporty, small town holiday story, should pick up Yours for the Season. Thank you to Kate Cochrane, Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an ALC.
October 28, 2025
4 stars
This was a really fun and silly queer holiday romance. I loved the female hockey player aspect since we get almost exclusively male players. The premise of the novel, a couples Christmas challenge for the whole, was a bit too unbelievable Hallmark Christmas movie and there were quite a few times where the timeline didn’t make complete sense. But overall, I enjoyed the characters and story. I liked the way JTs attitude to the town changed and how she stood up to her family. I also enjoyed how often Ali stood up for JT and herself. I do feel like the conflict was pretty minor and resolved really quickly, I think that could’ve been something more because by the end I was getting slightly bored at how easy it all was.
The narrator and production was great. I was able to tell when the character focus shifted fairly easily by the narrators change in pitch.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this eARC and ALC!
This was a really fun and silly queer holiday romance. I loved the female hockey player aspect since we get almost exclusively male players. The premise of the novel, a couples Christmas challenge for the whole, was a bit too unbelievable Hallmark Christmas movie and there were quite a few times where the timeline didn’t make complete sense. But overall, I enjoyed the characters and story. I liked the way JTs attitude to the town changed and how she stood up to her family. I also enjoyed how often Ali stood up for JT and herself. I do feel like the conflict was pretty minor and resolved really quickly, I think that could’ve been something more because by the end I was getting slightly bored at how easy it all was.
The narrator and production was great. I was able to tell when the character focus shifted fairly easily by the narrators change in pitch.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this eARC and ALC!
November 25, 2025
⅘ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Yours for the Season
Author: Kate Cochran
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for my copy of this read! I’m clearly keeping the festive Christmas mood alive over here, and this was another perfect cozy holiday read. We meet two very different women, both at pivotal crossroads in their lives. JT is a famous hockey player who’s recently come out and is returning to her small hometown for the first time since. Ali, recently divorced and ready to rediscover herself, also happens to be JT’s best friend’s older sister. When the two team up to compete in a local holiday contest, sparks fly, and not just from the Christmas lights. So cute! Even though this book had plenty of cozy, heartwarming moments, it also tackled some deeper emotional topics. I really felt the characters’ pain and growth, especially as they navigated family pressures and identity. Ali’s mom, for example, was infuriating, and such a well-written source of conflict. Overall, I really enjoyed this one! It’s the second in a series, so be sure to check out the first book, Wake Up, Nat and Darcy.
Yours for the Season
Author: Kate Cochran
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for my copy of this read! I’m clearly keeping the festive Christmas mood alive over here, and this was another perfect cozy holiday read. We meet two very different women, both at pivotal crossroads in their lives. JT is a famous hockey player who’s recently come out and is returning to her small hometown for the first time since. Ali, recently divorced and ready to rediscover herself, also happens to be JT’s best friend’s older sister. When the two team up to compete in a local holiday contest, sparks fly, and not just from the Christmas lights. So cute! Even though this book had plenty of cozy, heartwarming moments, it also tackled some deeper emotional topics. I really felt the characters’ pain and growth, especially as they navigated family pressures and identity. Ali’s mom, for example, was infuriating, and such a well-written source of conflict. Overall, I really enjoyed this one! It’s the second in a series, so be sure to check out the first book, Wake Up, Nat and Darcy.
December 24, 2025
Something about this dynamic 🤤🤤🤤 Between JT giving COMPLETE golden retriever energy with a ability to flirt with a stick if she so chose, and Ali being a pocket rocket, firecracker, a natural born TOP whatever you wanna call it that just plain does it for me!
The book isn’t overly Christmassy but it’s a lovely setting that ensures these two had a bunch of fun together over the holidays. The contest was a fab sub-plot for romance to blossom. All the parents were emotionally draining but also very good for the story.
Finished in about 7 hours flat and have 0 regrets.
Kinda wish these two had a fight/make up over a few chapters because I feel like the make up for these two would’ve been H-O-T-T hot. But maybe that’s not quite in keeping with the “good vibes only for Christmas” needed for the book.
The book isn’t overly Christmassy but it’s a lovely setting that ensures these two had a bunch of fun together over the holidays. The contest was a fab sub-plot for romance to blossom. All the parents were emotionally draining but also very good for the story.
Finished in about 7 hours flat and have 0 regrets.
Kinda wish these two had a fight/make up over a few chapters because I feel like the make up for these two would’ve been H-O-T-T hot. But maybe that’s not quite in keeping with the “good vibes only for Christmas” needed for the book.
January 4, 2026
megan and jeff (once again, those who are not megan or jeff... pls scroll away),
in which i continue my descent into gay (this one sapphic) hockey-adjacent romances. listen this was fine not stellar not the worst, overall cute. sometimes the sentences were not well constructed, and whenever the narrator tried to think of a place far away from the northeast of the u.s. they could only ever come up with "minnesota." which kinda grinded my gears after a while. but it was gay and had a happily ever after!!! idk. not a huge recommendation for this one but will I read the author's other books? yeah I will.
in which i continue my descent into gay (this one sapphic) hockey-adjacent romances. listen this was fine not stellar not the worst, overall cute. sometimes the sentences were not well constructed, and whenever the narrator tried to think of a place far away from the northeast of the u.s. they could only ever come up with "minnesota." which kinda grinded my gears after a while. but it was gay and had a happily ever after!!! idk. not a huge recommendation for this one but will I read the author's other books? yeah I will.
November 29, 2025
3.5⭐️
ARC Review!!
Thank you NetGalley and Kate Cochrane for giving me the opportunity to receive this eARC!
This was so cute!! I just love a good small town romance! There was also the perfect amount of christmas cheer in it to make it the perfect first holiday book for me.
However, I just felt that the family issues were just written very weirdly. And just made the story feel awkward. Also Ali handling the divorce and her hidden feelings for JT in public just made me lose the spark for this book. It was also too insta lovey which made it lack the emotional tie to their relationship.
ARC Review!!
Thank you NetGalley and Kate Cochrane for giving me the opportunity to receive this eARC!
This was so cute!! I just love a good small town romance! There was also the perfect amount of christmas cheer in it to make it the perfect first holiday book for me.
However, I just felt that the family issues were just written very weirdly. And just made the story feel awkward. Also Ali handling the divorce and her hidden feelings for JT in public just made me lose the spark for this book. It was also too insta lovey which made it lack the emotional tie to their relationship.
November 10, 2025
I really enjoyed this sapphic romance. I loved that both characters were working through their own personal journeys and found ways to stay supportive of each other as their connection grew. There ended up being a lot of depth to the story.
I will say I enjoyed the small amount of Christmas vibes there was in the story, but I did yearn for a little more. I would have loved more snowy setting details and a little more holiday cheer.
That being said, I loved the romance aspect. The characters grew on me and I really liked both of them and I was cheering for them from start to finish.
There was only one narrator, I think having two would have really enhanced the audio for the story.
I will say I enjoyed the small amount of Christmas vibes there was in the story, but I did yearn for a little more. I would have loved more snowy setting details and a little more holiday cheer.
That being said, I loved the romance aspect. The characters grew on me and I really liked both of them and I was cheering for them from start to finish.
There was only one narrator, I think having two would have really enhanced the audio for the story.
November 15, 2025
3.75 stars.
My first holiday read of the season, and it did not disappoint! A sapphic romance packed with small-town holiday charm is basically everything my heart could ever want. The longing between JT and Ali was absolutely everything. Friends to lovers, childhood crush, best friend’s sister—it’s the full dream-boat lineup of holiday romcom tropes. It was charming and funny and had me fully squealing along with the joy.
My first holiday read of the season, and it did not disappoint! A sapphic romance packed with small-town holiday charm is basically everything my heart could ever want. The longing between JT and Ali was absolutely everything. Friends to lovers, childhood crush, best friend’s sister—it’s the full dream-boat lineup of holiday romcom tropes. It was charming and funny and had me fully squealing along with the joy.
December 12, 2025
4.5 stars
The romance in this book is super adorable - one woman getting a chance to connect with the woman she crushed on as a teenage, one woman finally making her own choices and choosing love and kindness. But it’s also about family — the ways they can let you down and hurt you like no other, but also the ways they can listen and grow, changing their words and behavior once they know how hurt you’ve been.
I don’t blame JT for not wanting to go home when all it does is remind her of how bullied she was in high school and how unloved and lesser-than her parents have always made her feel. She’s been dealing with the aftermath her whole life, assuming no one is going to want to be with her long-term, and that her parents will never stop letting her down. As hard as it was, I’m so proud of JT for finally confronting her parents and telling them how they’ve made her feel over the years, and how much their lack of support harmed her. Sure, they had their (subpar) reasons, but appreciate that JT didn’t let them off the hook, and that they apologized and didn’t double down on their justification.
Of course, that breakthrough never would have come if JT hadn’t decided to stay longer than a couple days, to spend more time and participate in the town Christmas competition together (a hallmark of any good holiday story, of course). I love how much Ali supported JT and told her all the time how much she appreciated her kindness (and hotness, of course). JT seemed to assume that her helpful, cheerful nature was nothing special, and I love that Ali repeatedly tells her how rare that quality is, and how much she treasures it. The event honoring JT seemed like a potentially terrible idea because of how complicated her feelings are about her town, but in the end, Ali’s instincts were right. JT needed to know that she helped change her hometown into the place she needed but didn’t have as a kid, a place where girls were welcome to play and excel at any sport they loved.
As for Ali, I’m so sad when I think of all the ways her family let her down as well. Obviously the biggest culprit is her mom, whose constant second-guessing of Ali’s choices have caused her to ignore what she wants for over a decade, giving in to others to keep the peace. Ali took that first big step towards the life she truly wanted by getting divorced and buying her own house, and reconnecting with JT was an even bigger push towards setting up the life she wants, the house she wants, the relationship she wants. Ali and JT might seem like opposites, but they are actually very alike at heart: they care deeply about those they love and will do anything and everything to help them. They are both kind and thoughtful and flirty and completely lovable.
This book does have a few spicy scenes, probably an 2 on the spicy scale. If you haven’t read the first book in this series about N as t and Darcy, that’s ok - they are mentioned a few times but they don’t play a huge role in this book, and surely it’s not a spoiler to say of course their book had a HEA, lol. But I did really like their book, and with the Winter Olympics around the corner, now is the perfect time to read it!
The romance in this book is super adorable - one woman getting a chance to connect with the woman she crushed on as a teenage, one woman finally making her own choices and choosing love and kindness. But it’s also about family — the ways they can let you down and hurt you like no other, but also the ways they can listen and grow, changing their words and behavior once they know how hurt you’ve been.
I don’t blame JT for not wanting to go home when all it does is remind her of how bullied she was in high school and how unloved and lesser-than her parents have always made her feel. She’s been dealing with the aftermath her whole life, assuming no one is going to want to be with her long-term, and that her parents will never stop letting her down. As hard as it was, I’m so proud of JT for finally confronting her parents and telling them how they’ve made her feel over the years, and how much their lack of support harmed her. Sure, they had their (subpar) reasons, but appreciate that JT didn’t let them off the hook, and that they apologized and didn’t double down on their justification.
Of course, that breakthrough never would have come if JT hadn’t decided to stay longer than a couple days, to spend more time and participate in the town Christmas competition together (a hallmark of any good holiday story, of course). I love how much Ali supported JT and told her all the time how much she appreciated her kindness (and hotness, of course). JT seemed to assume that her helpful, cheerful nature was nothing special, and I love that Ali repeatedly tells her how rare that quality is, and how much she treasures it. The event honoring JT seemed like a potentially terrible idea because of how complicated her feelings are about her town, but in the end, Ali’s instincts were right. JT needed to know that she helped change her hometown into the place she needed but didn’t have as a kid, a place where girls were welcome to play and excel at any sport they loved.
As for Ali, I’m so sad when I think of all the ways her family let her down as well. Obviously the biggest culprit is her mom, whose constant second-guessing of Ali’s choices have caused her to ignore what she wants for over a decade, giving in to others to keep the peace. Ali took that first big step towards the life she truly wanted by getting divorced and buying her own house, and reconnecting with JT was an even bigger push towards setting up the life she wants, the house she wants, the relationship she wants. Ali and JT might seem like opposites, but they are actually very alike at heart: they care deeply about those they love and will do anything and everything to help them. They are both kind and thoughtful and flirty and completely lovable.
This book does have a few spicy scenes, probably an 2 on the spicy scale. If you haven’t read the first book in this series about N as t and Darcy, that’s ok - they are mentioned a few times but they don’t play a huge role in this book, and surely it’s not a spoiler to say of course their book had a HEA, lol. But I did really like their book, and with the Winter Olympics around the corner, now is the perfect time to read it!
November 30, 2025
Thank you to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of Yours for the Season! As always, all opinions are my own and this review is being left voluntarily.
✨ Sapphic Adult Contemporary Romance
✨ Third Person, Dual POV
✨ 3/5 Spice Level
✨ Series Book 2
✨ Rep: lesbian rep, bisexual rep
I recommend if you enjoy…
- Small Town romance (New Hampshire!)
- Sport-adjacent romance
- Hallmark Christmas vibes
- Best friend’s sister
- Former crush
Content warnings after review.
General thoughts…
I enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was even more excited to give book 2 a read. While JT was introduced in the first book, you can definitely get away with not reading them in order. But if you did read the first, we get to briefly see Nat & Darcy with a fun little nod to the first book.
Narration thoughts…
This audiobook features the same narrator, Jeremy Carlisle Parker, as the first book (Wake up, Nat & Darcy). One thing I really enjoyed about the narration was I felt like the personalities of the characters came across well. I also think the voices for the various men and women characters are distinguishable. Definitely a narrator I enjoy, and I think worked well for this book since the narration fit the “vibe” of the characters.
Some things I loved…
- JT. Like that’s all. I love JT. I think she’s a great character and feels very book-girlfriend material.
- The plot involves a pretty ridiculous small town “couples” contest. It’s kind of cheesy, but kind of in the best way. I really enjoyed the competitive aspects, and how it gave JT and Ali a chance to get closer.
- I’m not a big holiday/seasonal reader, but I loved the Hallmark Christmas vibes!
Some things to consider…
- While one of the main characters is a professional hockey player, this isn’t exactly a sport’s romance since the sport isn’t a main focus of the book. If you’re looking for a romance with more hockey as part of the plot, this isn’t the book for it. (Similar to the first book in the series.)
- All the parents in this series kind of suck. Like they’re all so bad. I hated all of them.
- Ali’s ex is present and I also hated him. Lots of characters to hate in this one… thankfully I thought both main characters were pleasant.
Final thoughts…
I think I liked this book better than the first! While there were a bunch of toxic side characters, I thought the main characters were lovable, and I loved the small town Christmas vibes!
(beware potential spoilers below)
Content Warnings
(may not be all inclusive)
toxic ex, toxic family dynamics, homophobia, sexism
✨ Sapphic Adult Contemporary Romance
✨ Third Person, Dual POV
✨ 3/5 Spice Level
✨ Series Book 2
✨ Rep: lesbian rep, bisexual rep
I recommend if you enjoy…
- Small Town romance (New Hampshire!)
- Sport-adjacent romance
- Hallmark Christmas vibes
- Best friend’s sister
- Former crush
Content warnings after review.
General thoughts…
I enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was even more excited to give book 2 a read. While JT was introduced in the first book, you can definitely get away with not reading them in order. But if you did read the first, we get to briefly see Nat & Darcy with a fun little nod to the first book.
Narration thoughts…
This audiobook features the same narrator, Jeremy Carlisle Parker, as the first book (Wake up, Nat & Darcy). One thing I really enjoyed about the narration was I felt like the personalities of the characters came across well. I also think the voices for the various men and women characters are distinguishable. Definitely a narrator I enjoy, and I think worked well for this book since the narration fit the “vibe” of the characters.
Some things I loved…
- JT. Like that’s all. I love JT. I think she’s a great character and feels very book-girlfriend material.
- The plot involves a pretty ridiculous small town “couples” contest. It’s kind of cheesy, but kind of in the best way. I really enjoyed the competitive aspects, and how it gave JT and Ali a chance to get closer.
- I’m not a big holiday/seasonal reader, but I loved the Hallmark Christmas vibes!
Some things to consider…
- While one of the main characters is a professional hockey player, this isn’t exactly a sport’s romance since the sport isn’t a main focus of the book. If you’re looking for a romance with more hockey as part of the plot, this isn’t the book for it. (Similar to the first book in the series.)
- All the parents in this series kind of suck. Like they’re all so bad. I hated all of them.
- Ali’s ex is present and I also hated him. Lots of characters to hate in this one… thankfully I thought both main characters were pleasant.
Final thoughts…
I think I liked this book better than the first! While there were a bunch of toxic side characters, I thought the main characters were lovable, and I loved the small town Christmas vibes!
(beware potential spoilers below)
Content Warnings
(may not be all inclusive)
toxic ex, toxic family dynamics, homophobia, sexism
November 26, 2025
My expectations for this novel were not high after Wake Up, Nat & Darcy, but it’s the time of year for cheesy, season-appropriate romances, so I took a chance on it. And I’m glad I did because I liked the romance in this book so much that I read it in a day. I liked it more than I liked Wake Up Nat & Darcy. But there were some missteps. Read on if you want to know more…
I liked this book, but I’m not here to tell you it was the greatest thing I’ve ever read. I had a great time with it, but it requires a lot of suspension of disbelief.
One of the things you’re going to have to get through is JT’s relationship with her parents. While I can see how that tension builds, how JT’s parents don’t value hockey (or sports in general), I found the whole conceit a little over the top. And especially the resolution of it—how quickly things turn around. And Ali’s issues with her mother also stopped being interesting after the 5th time.
I’m not even going to mention the whole Boston moment because was just ridiculous.
I’m also a little critical of the set up with the annual competition in this rural New Hampshire town. Couples come together for a weeklong competition around Christmas? This seems like something that only happens in books and movies and isn’t a realistic thing. Basically, it’s just a really bad plot device. Which wasn’t needed in this instance because Ali had that house work that needed to be done and that would have provided ample opportunity for the romance to build without the competitions. But if you can lose yourself to this, I think you’ll be okay.
The romance is very sweet. Ali as the older sister of JT’s best friend who is also JT’s childhood crush was really cute. It was second-chancy without actually be second chance. I just wish there was more time since Ali’s divorce so that she could have more time to figure out who she is. But I was rooting for this romance, so I didn’t care.
Finally, I’m not sure why this is a series. There are a few references to the characters in Wake Up, Nat & Darcy, but it’s not meaningful enough for these stories to be connected. These books operate more “in the same universe” than a series. And by making a series and having so few references to the previous book in the novel, Cochrane totally mishandles the epilogue, IMO. The epilogue didn’t feel so much of a nice closure but a different thing entirely. I would have preferred a different scene there—one more connected to tension explored in the novel. (Apologies for the vagueness; I’m trying to keep this spoiler free).
So this was just okay. I’m somewhere between a 3 and 3.5 on this one.
I liked this book, but I’m not here to tell you it was the greatest thing I’ve ever read. I had a great time with it, but it requires a lot of suspension of disbelief.
One of the things you’re going to have to get through is JT’s relationship with her parents. While I can see how that tension builds, how JT’s parents don’t value hockey (or sports in general), I found the whole conceit a little over the top. And especially the resolution of it—how quickly things turn around. And Ali’s issues with her mother also stopped being interesting after the 5th time.
I’m not even going to mention the whole Boston moment because was just ridiculous.
I’m also a little critical of the set up with the annual competition in this rural New Hampshire town. Couples come together for a weeklong competition around Christmas? This seems like something that only happens in books and movies and isn’t a realistic thing. Basically, it’s just a really bad plot device. Which wasn’t needed in this instance because Ali had that house work that needed to be done and that would have provided ample opportunity for the romance to build without the competitions. But if you can lose yourself to this, I think you’ll be okay.
The romance is very sweet. Ali as the older sister of JT’s best friend who is also JT’s childhood crush was really cute. It was second-chancy without actually be second chance. I just wish there was more time since Ali’s divorce so that she could have more time to figure out who she is. But I was rooting for this romance, so I didn’t care.
Finally, I’m not sure why this is a series. There are a few references to the characters in Wake Up, Nat & Darcy, but it’s not meaningful enough for these stories to be connected. These books operate more “in the same universe” than a series. And by making a series and having so few references to the previous book in the novel, Cochrane totally mishandles the epilogue, IMO. The epilogue didn’t feel so much of a nice closure but a different thing entirely. I would have preferred a different scene there—one more connected to tension explored in the novel. (Apologies for the vagueness; I’m trying to keep this spoiler free).
So this was just okay. I’m somewhere between a 3 and 3.5 on this one.
November 30, 2025
Thank you Harlequin Audio for the advanced copy of Yours for the Season by Kate Cochrane. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Pub Date: October 28th
Narrator: Jeremy Carlisle Parker
After JT wins the Olympic gold medal with US Women's Hockey, she returns home for the holidays. Returning home isn't exactly the easiest thing for JT since her parents really don't support her sports career as much as they support her siblings careers in art. JT is dreading this time and hoping to get out of town ASAP. That is until she reunites with Ali, the sister of her best friend, and they decide to enter the town's holiday competition. Though there's certainly an attraction between them, JT and Ali decide to compete as friends, not as a couple. But as they spend more and more time together, they find their attraction hard to deny. But how could this relationship go anywhere when JT is determined to go anywhere but Hart's Landing and Ali loves her little hometown.
What a lovely queer holiday romance! This had absolutely great holiday vibes - I loved the holiday themed competition that JT and Ali team up for. Their attraction was palpable and I thought they had great chemistry together! Absolutely recommend picking this one up during the holiday season - I actually listened to a majority of it while shoveling our first snowfall of the season which fit the vibes super well!
Both of their families were tough - I liked seeing that there was some growth there without it feeling unrealistic. Ali's mom in particularly really irked me as she just refused to listen to Ali even when she was very direct with her. JT's parents were also super frustrating though I saw more growth in them trying to support JT when she called them out for how they treated her.
Read this for:
- Holiday themed competition
- Hometown
- Hockey player x teacher
- Home decorating
- Ikea!
- No third act breakup
I've listened to Jeremy Carlisle Parker quite a bit before, as she narrates a lot of queer romances and I'm always pleased with her performance! I never had a hard time telling which character she was narrating for and absolutely would recommend this as an audio because of her narration.
Pub Date: October 28th
Narrator: Jeremy Carlisle Parker
After JT wins the Olympic gold medal with US Women's Hockey, she returns home for the holidays. Returning home isn't exactly the easiest thing for JT since her parents really don't support her sports career as much as they support her siblings careers in art. JT is dreading this time and hoping to get out of town ASAP. That is until she reunites with Ali, the sister of her best friend, and they decide to enter the town's holiday competition. Though there's certainly an attraction between them, JT and Ali decide to compete as friends, not as a couple. But as they spend more and more time together, they find their attraction hard to deny. But how could this relationship go anywhere when JT is determined to go anywhere but Hart's Landing and Ali loves her little hometown.
What a lovely queer holiday romance! This had absolutely great holiday vibes - I loved the holiday themed competition that JT and Ali team up for. Their attraction was palpable and I thought they had great chemistry together! Absolutely recommend picking this one up during the holiday season - I actually listened to a majority of it while shoveling our first snowfall of the season which fit the vibes super well!
Both of their families were tough - I liked seeing that there was some growth there without it feeling unrealistic. Ali's mom in particularly really irked me as she just refused to listen to Ali even when she was very direct with her. JT's parents were also super frustrating though I saw more growth in them trying to support JT when she called them out for how they treated her.
Read this for:
- Holiday themed competition
- Hometown
- Hockey player x teacher
- Home decorating
- Ikea!
- No third act breakup
I've listened to Jeremy Carlisle Parker quite a bit before, as she narrates a lot of queer romances and I'm always pleased with her performance! I never had a hard time telling which character she was narrating for and absolutely would recommend this as an audio because of her narration.
October 21, 2025
JT Cox is from Hart's Landing, NH, a small town where she never quite fit in. Now that she's an Olympic Gold Medalist, the town has a sign up and wants to call her a hero, even though no one ever knew her. Home for Christmas, JT already can't wait to leave....until she discovers that her best friend's older sister, Ali Porter, is recently divorced. JT had the biggest crush on Ali in high school, and now that she knows Ali is bi, and into her, she's ready to come up with an excuse to stay. A local town competition, a chance to prove herself to her family, and to aggravate Ali's ex-husband seems like the perfect way to rediscover her home town over the holidays.
JT is a hockey star with a little swagger and a huge chip on her shoulder despite her gold medal. Her parents skipped the gold medal match to fly to her brother's art opening, and she's always felt like an outsider. Ali may be the only one who truly sees JT for the sweet, generous, charming person she is. It's the perfect setup for a holiday romance! The town is maybe a little too small, since Ali still has to see her ex regularly, and her mother constantly pressures her to get back together with him, but Ali loves it and loves what she can do for her community. This sets up a really sweet holiday romance, where JT is stunned that a hottie like Ali might be into her and Ali is stunned that no one really sees JT for how wonderful she is.
I enjoyed Kate Cochrane's sophomore book a lot! The added holiday charm makes the story just believable enough for me for a small town best friend's sibling romance. The conflict is external, and for those who worry, there's no third act break-up (but there is a how-can-we-do-this third act conflict!). The parental pressure was a little tough, since both mothers seemed to lay the high expectations on their daughters extra thick, but I understood what Cochrane was trying to do for her character development.
Pick this up for an open-door sapphic hockey holiday romance! You do NOT need to read the first book before this, it functions as a true standalone. The audio was a delight to listen to, and if you enjoy audiobooks, I recommend it.
Thank you to Carina Adores for an eARc and Harlequin Audio for an ALC. Yours for the Season is out 10/28/2025.
JT is a hockey star with a little swagger and a huge chip on her shoulder despite her gold medal. Her parents skipped the gold medal match to fly to her brother's art opening, and she's always felt like an outsider. Ali may be the only one who truly sees JT for the sweet, generous, charming person she is. It's the perfect setup for a holiday romance! The town is maybe a little too small, since Ali still has to see her ex regularly, and her mother constantly pressures her to get back together with him, but Ali loves it and loves what she can do for her community. This sets up a really sweet holiday romance, where JT is stunned that a hottie like Ali might be into her and Ali is stunned that no one really sees JT for how wonderful she is.
I enjoyed Kate Cochrane's sophomore book a lot! The added holiday charm makes the story just believable enough for me for a small town best friend's sibling romance. The conflict is external, and for those who worry, there's no third act break-up (but there is a how-can-we-do-this third act conflict!). The parental pressure was a little tough, since both mothers seemed to lay the high expectations on their daughters extra thick, but I understood what Cochrane was trying to do for her character development.
Pick this up for an open-door sapphic hockey holiday romance! You do NOT need to read the first book before this, it functions as a true standalone. The audio was a delight to listen to, and if you enjoy audiobooks, I recommend it.
Thank you to Carina Adores for an eARc and Harlequin Audio for an ALC. Yours for the Season is out 10/28/2025.
June 29, 2025
Yours for the Season by Kate Cochrane grabbed me by that cover and didn’t let go…until I read it. This had such an adorable concept but fell flat for me. First of all lesbians, yes. One is fully out of the closet and being a baddie, JT. The other, Ali, is fresh from a divorce with her high school sweetheart and hasn’t fully realized she’s bisexual until meeting up with JT again, her younger brother’s best friend. Their relationship was quick, and I’m a girl for a falls hard and fast ship but this lacked that oomph I know readers kinda crave to read. Kudos to them for saying I love you within that first week of actually hooking up and hanging out cause no, just no. You two just don’t deserve that crap just yet, let’s give it a couple weeks.
The parental relationships were frustrating. On one hand you have JT’s parents who you just can’t vibe right with or get a complete read on but come to find out they do love her it’s just they don’t want to listen to the slurs she gets while in public? Like come on, she’s a baddie who played on an Olympic hockey team and medaled. Frig the slurs, like…great parents don’t give two shits, they clap back. Her parents decided to step up after talking about it with her at the end of the book, but this is not all on them. I blame JT for poor communication as well. It takes effort from both parties. Poor Ali’s mother is just scared as heck to she’s projecting. She herself was burned and didn’t want that for Ali. Did she go about it wrong? Yes. But we do get some resolution at the end that helped ease the poor relationship throughout the book.
It was just too rushed for me. I know we had a set time restraint but if so, maybe there needed to be more detail or just more of them together? I’m a sucker for a Christmas competition though and this was an adorable idea, it helped JT and Ali solidify their growing friendship and romance but it also helped other relationships. I didn’t get to read the first book in this series and I look forward to comparing both to see which I like most.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin-Romance.
2.5 stars!
The parental relationships were frustrating. On one hand you have JT’s parents who you just can’t vibe right with or get a complete read on but come to find out they do love her it’s just they don’t want to listen to the slurs she gets while in public? Like come on, she’s a baddie who played on an Olympic hockey team and medaled. Frig the slurs, like…great parents don’t give two shits, they clap back. Her parents decided to step up after talking about it with her at the end of the book, but this is not all on them. I blame JT for poor communication as well. It takes effort from both parties. Poor Ali’s mother is just scared as heck to she’s projecting. She herself was burned and didn’t want that for Ali. Did she go about it wrong? Yes. But we do get some resolution at the end that helped ease the poor relationship throughout the book.
It was just too rushed for me. I know we had a set time restraint but if so, maybe there needed to be more detail or just more of them together? I’m a sucker for a Christmas competition though and this was an adorable idea, it helped JT and Ali solidify their growing friendship and romance but it also helped other relationships. I didn’t get to read the first book in this series and I look forward to comparing both to see which I like most.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin-Romance.
2.5 stars!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2025
Reading Yours for the Season felt like a full-circle moment. As someone who spent their teenage years devouring heteronormative Harlequin romances, I never imagined I'd one day be joyfully reading queer holiday romances—let alone ones as affirming and emotionally satisfying as this one. I’m grateful to Harlequin and the publisher not only for the ARC and ALC, but for the simple, powerful act of publishing stories like this.
Cochrane’s second novel is a beautifully layered holiday romance. At its heart, it’s about two women standing at very different crossroads: JT, a freshly minted Olympic gold medalist trying to figure out what comes after childhood glory, and Ali, newly divorced and realizing the future she built her life around was never really hers. Their chemistry is undeniable, but it’s their mutual respect and intentional communication that really shine—there’s no third-act breakup here, no overused miscommunication trope. Just two adults learning to ask for what they want and to trust that they’re worthy of love.
The story brings everything I love about holiday romances: family drama, cozy small-town vibes, baking contests, and of course, plenty of snow. The drama never centers around queerness, which was refreshing, and while the stakes feel real, the tone stays warm and hopeful. It also deserves a small note: despite the cover and setup, this isn’t a hockey romance—JT’s athletic background informs her character, but you won’t see her on the ice.
As an added bonus, one of my favorite audiobook narrators, Jeremy Carlisle Parker, reads the story—and it was a real treat to follow along with the ALC while reading my ARC. Her performance added an extra layer of warmth and nuance to an already heartwarming story.
Tender, funny, and full of emotional honesty, Yours for the Season is another win for Kate Cochrane—and one I’ll be recommending to anyone craving sapphic joy with a seasonal twist.
Cochrane’s second novel is a beautifully layered holiday romance. At its heart, it’s about two women standing at very different crossroads: JT, a freshly minted Olympic gold medalist trying to figure out what comes after childhood glory, and Ali, newly divorced and realizing the future she built her life around was never really hers. Their chemistry is undeniable, but it’s their mutual respect and intentional communication that really shine—there’s no third-act breakup here, no overused miscommunication trope. Just two adults learning to ask for what they want and to trust that they’re worthy of love.
The story brings everything I love about holiday romances: family drama, cozy small-town vibes, baking contests, and of course, plenty of snow. The drama never centers around queerness, which was refreshing, and while the stakes feel real, the tone stays warm and hopeful. It also deserves a small note: despite the cover and setup, this isn’t a hockey romance—JT’s athletic background informs her character, but you won’t see her on the ice.
As an added bonus, one of my favorite audiobook narrators, Jeremy Carlisle Parker, reads the story—and it was a real treat to follow along with the ALC while reading my ARC. Her performance added an extra layer of warmth and nuance to an already heartwarming story.
Tender, funny, and full of emotional honesty, Yours for the Season is another win for Kate Cochrane—and one I’ll be recommending to anyone craving sapphic joy with a seasonal twist.
December 29, 2025
A festive and spicy sapphic holiday romance between an Olympic gold medalist hockey player and her best friend’s sister: a teacher, recent divorcee, and also her childhood crush. The MCs team up to crush the ex-husband in their hometown Christmas games.
This was a fun book overall, with lots of fun and festive challenges the MCs had to do, from gingerbread house decorating to hot cocoa concocting and sled racing! Their connection was really sweet and I loved that all of the conflict between them was due to future distance and past traumas with their hometown/ex.
I just had a lot of issues with both of their respective parents, and rightfully so. I’m sure that it was the author’s intent, but the parent’s reasonings for the mistreatment of their children and their immature behavior was not only silly but it barely made sense to me honestly. Why are fully grown adults not communicating with their children, or even worse, talking at them and not listening to them?? Maybe it’s because I just would never be as insufferable or unsupportive to my kids, but that’s just me. I was so annoyed whenever they were on the page, even when JT’s parents came around, I was so done with them.
But overall I had a fun time, the character arcs came together and the spice scenes were great, although a lil short and sporadic for my taste. A great option for sapphic readers who have a thing for best friend’s sister/childhood crush trope and want a festive story.
This was a fun book overall, with lots of fun and festive challenges the MCs had to do, from gingerbread house decorating to hot cocoa concocting and sled racing! Their connection was really sweet and I loved that all of the conflict between them was due to future distance and past traumas with their hometown/ex.
I just had a lot of issues with both of their respective parents, and rightfully so. I’m sure that it was the author’s intent, but the parent’s reasonings for the mistreatment of their children and their immature behavior was not only silly but it barely made sense to me honestly. Why are fully grown adults not communicating with their children, or even worse, talking at them and not listening to them?? Maybe it’s because I just would never be as insufferable or unsupportive to my kids, but that’s just me. I was so annoyed whenever they were on the page, even when JT’s parents came around, I was so done with them.
But overall I had a fun time, the character arcs came together and the spice scenes were great, although a lil short and sporadic for my taste. A great option for sapphic readers who have a thing for best friend’s sister/childhood crush trope and want a festive story.
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