Something New

by Jacqueline Ramsden

The “something new” at your sister’s wedding is supposed to be your sexuality, right?

Thea Cooper is heading to her sister’s wedding in Montana for Christmas. The problem is that her ex is going to be there, and her mother is hoping they’ll rekindle their romance. All Thea wants is to enjoy the lodge, the holiday, and celebrate her sister.

Erin Foxglove, wedding planner extraordinaire, is giving up her Christmas to work the Cooper-Perez wedding. Despite her best friend’s hopes that she’ll at least reward herself with a fun little fling while she’s away, Erin isn’t interested. She’s there to do a job and she has her rules about not sleeping with clients.

That is, until she meets Thea.

As sparks fly between them, Thea realizes she might not be as straight as everyone thinks, and Erin finds some people are worth breaking her rules for. But, faced with an expiration date on their time at the mountain retreat together, will their romance fizzle out or will they get everything they’re wishing for?

Something New is a low-angst, toaster-oven holiday romance featuring forced proximity, and a vacation romance with a wedding planner. Content warnings for open-door sex scenes.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Lesbian, Holiday, Lesbian Romance, Lesbian Fiction, LGBT

309 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 22, 2024

Reviews

[Jude Silberfeld-Grimaud · Rating 4 out of 5]

This will probably be my last holiday book of the year and it gave me everything I love about these stories: the perfect setting, sweet and sexy characters, flirty banter…

For their Christmas wedding, Thea’s younger sister Lenore and her fiancé have invited their loved ones and extended family to spend the week at a beautiful lodge in Montana. While she would have preferred her ex-boyfriend to not be there, Thea is happy for the couple and determined to enjoy herself. Falling for the wedding planner wasn’t on her bingo card, especially since said wedding planner is a woman.

Both exhilarated and intimidated by her feelings, Thea is my favourite kind of character: she knows what she wants without being overconfident, she’s relatable, but she also represents a person the reader can look up to, can project themselves into in that way fairytale characters have of offering an escape from reality.

On the other side of the crush is Erin, ultra competent, kindly teasing, obviously delighted with Thea’s personality. The professional in her wants to try and resist the attraction to her client’s sibling, yet she quickly realises that there’s nothing she can do to stop what’s meant to be.

There are no spoilers in what I just wrote, Something New is a pretty straightforward romance, in the best way possible. It’s very low-angst, full of warmth and good feelings. The interactions between the main characters are enchanting, the best friends on both sides are wonderfully pushy and loving, and Thea’s family provides the requisite embarrassing, eye roll-worthy encounters.

I’ve enjoyed Jacqueline Ramsden’s writing style since the first book I read, I always like their characters, but I feel her books could be even better with some editing/proofreading, if only to minimise the repetition of words in the same sentence. Despite this minor grumble, I would definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a quick, entertaining, satisfying read.

I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars

[Tierney Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas romantic bliss 🥰

[Menestrella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read, perfect for the holidays. No-angst feel good romance, love at first sight. It was very cute to read and Thea is adorable.

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute, quick holiday romance

[Chelles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something New

Just the holiday romance I needed to start the season off. Thea and Erin were fun from the beginning! Instant attraction, fun playful banter, some serious flirting... it was really cute. Let's not forget that they were at a destination wedding in Montana during the winter ... the aesthetic screamed romantic!

A toaster oven, slow-burn, low angst, feel good, holiday romance 🥰

[Siddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erin owns and runs a small but successful wedding planning business, catering for higher class weddings, based out of New York. Thea is worrying about the upcoming wedding of her younger sister in Montana, and seeing her ex boyfriend Drew there. Thea soon realises that her mother is passive-aggressively trying to push them back together, but she wants nothing to do with that, especially after meeting Erin.
This is a warm and sweet story, with a Christmas theme. Well written with a good cast of characters, based in an upscale lodge hotel in snowy Montana. A story with minimal angst, witty come-backs and a realisation that Thea isn’t as straight as she seems.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book! This was a beautifully written feel good story! As the book begins, we get both MCs pov and I couldn’t wait for them to meet! When they did? I felt fireworks for them. The smoldering looks. The chemistry. The ease of just being around one another and wanting to be around one another. I think I swooned at least five times throughout the book! Erin and Thea were a joy and the setting was perfect. The best friends were each a hoot and the crazy family were mostly good natured. This was a sweet and sexy sapphic holiday romance done right.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[cloverxheart · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fine.

It was kinda slow, nothing happened and it was quite boring.
They spent way too little time together.
It felt like they had 3 interactions and suddenly they were in love...I just didn't believe that.
I liked Thea but Erin was just boring.
I honestly liked the two best friends of the main characters more, they were also quite funny.

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Thea" Theodora Cooper's younger sister is marrying the love of her life at a picturesque lodge nestled in the snowy mountains of Montana on Christmas Day. Thea hasn't seriously pursued a romantic relationship since she broke up with her last boyfriend, Drew and moved to New York. Her mother holds the belief that true happiness lies in reuniting Thea and Drew, as well as Thea returning to California. However, Thea’s primary focus is on cherishing her time off and witnessing her beloved sister’s union with her soulmate.

Erin Foxglove, the wedding planner responsible for pulling off this winter nuptial, is dedicated to ensuring a seamless execution of the event. She is committed to maintaining a professional demeanor and has rules against engaging in any romantic encounters with clients, their guests OR their family members.

But all bets are off when Thea and Erin meet. Thea has always identified as straight and initially doesn’t quite comprehend her unexpected attraction to Erin. However, their chemistry is undeniable and soon their flirtation becomes something much, much more. Thea’s acceptance of her sapphic tendencies is well written and given a proper amount of attention and emotion. Even with very little angst, it is realistic and inspiring.

Something New is a cozy toaster oven, sapphic romance about finding love where you least expect it. The supporting cast of characters includes Thea’s family, her best friend Mya and Erin’s best friend Destiny. The family is nosy and opinionated while Mya and Destiny are quirky and queer and quite frankly, BFF goals. It feels like a soft, warm blanket on a cold, winter’s day and is a perfect read during the holiday season, or any day that ends in ‘y’ to be honest.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book by Jacqueline Ramsden I've read and it will not be the last. I loved this story of Thea and Erin finding one another during a December wedding when neither is looking. Mya is the ideal best friend for Thea who knew exactly when to be serious instead of teasing. And Destiny is the perfect counterpart for Erin. This book has well drawn characters, wonderful dialog, humor throughout, and low angst. If you're looking for a great holiday romance to add to your TBR list, I recommend this one.

I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Issy Waldrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it! The story is so sweet, adorable and wholesome. It's low angst, warming, the dialogue is brilliant, and it really is a perfect holiday (or anytime) read.

[Aunt Missa]

DNF. Only 200 pages, MCs had only just met at 30%. One MC didn’t even know the other MC’s first name yet. Too slow and not really Christmas. More Christmas adjacent.

[Kexx · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story that was short and to the point. Highly enjoyable, thank you.

[Laura Espinoza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this one, gresar story ..............................................................,,.,,,,,,,.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Britte Potts · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was light and winsome, and overall I enjoyed it.

I had two significant problems with it:
1. The sex scene was didactic. After leaving a public place for a private place, the characters moved to that room for the express purpose of making love. At that private place which they choose for sex, we read that they are safe, each is safe, and both fully give consent. Sure. Sounds prudent. But this is re-iterated over and again. That's rather more moralism than I expected in a love scene.
2. I liked the characters, even if they were perfect. The whole thing is so sweet. But the author wanted to write for other purposes as well. Different kinds of gender and sexual orientations are mentioned, given characters, and affirmed. It read more like a manifesto than a love story at times.

Other than those, I found it a charming and light, if preachy, HEA lesbian romance.

[Leane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely, fun, laughter-filled, and adorable life-changing meetcute story to make anyone's heart grow another size!

Thea loves her sister Lenore, but the remote Montana lodge wedding during the festive season, with the added bonus of Thea's ex-boyfriend being part of the wedding party... might just be a step too far.

Thea and Drew broke up amicably, but Thea's mother is doing her best to persuade Thea to take him back.

This is not going to happen.

Not only because there's no spark between them, but because Thea's attention is captured the moment her eyes meet those of her sister's wedding planner, Erin.

Questioning her sexuality had not been in Thea's holiday plans!

Erin has a rule to never be romantically involved with a client or the wedding party she's organising. Whilst technically Thea is neither, Erin seems unable to stop her heart from racing whilstin her presence.

Is there a chance of a future for Thea and Erin?
Can they keep their blossoming romance hidden from the wedding party?
Can Thea let go of the assumptions she's had about her sexuality and open her heart to what's right in front of her?


*I received an advance reader copy for free, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review*

[zagzig · Rating 4 out of 5]

in which Thea's sister arranged a Christmas destination wedding, because it was very important to her to create the perfect setting for someone else's romance novel

very seasonal, very cute. the watchword is joy, with the writing capturing the excitement of Thea discovering a new aspect of herself and exploring it with Erin, the sexy wedding planner. there's some mild toaster oven angst and an ill-advised scheme from Thea's mother to reunite her with an ex-boyfriend, but it all works out with a minimum of fuss. honestly the novel was probably stretching it out a bit to reach 300 pages, it's a short, charming read

I really enjoy how the author writes sex scenes. whether it's the couple of Tryhard negotiating one of the leads having issues connecting in that way, or the couple of The Right Date being rather more adventurous, the books are always very invested in communication and negotiation. sex isn't just the thing characters do to culminate the romance arc, it's a part of the characterisation and something the characters work together to... overcome probably isn't the right word, but they come into the bedroom with insecurities and hangups and work together to resolve them

it's nice. it's all very nice

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect holiday story! Thea and Erin were great characters, the slow burn was excellent, the setting was great and thankfully NOT the tired old big city girl comes back and meets small town girl formula, it was a low angst kind of relationship but there was still enough tension in the story to pull me through, and even the meddling mom had an arc!

Plus, did I mention the excellent friends and banter? I loved how open Thea could be about her thinking and questioning and how the friends pulled the truth right out of both Thea and Erin without a fuss. There were just way fewer secrets than normal, and that was refreshing as well. It served Thea and Erin well when they could just be honest with each other!

Even the length was right; perfect for a feel-good holiday story. All in all, I thought everything about this was great.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun winter-set romance revolving around a wedding, and a lot more. I really enjoyed Thea’s growth and self-discovery as she came to a realization about her possible queerness upon meeting Erin. This is amped up on Erin’s side by her attempt to maintain professional boundaries as the wedding planner, leading to simmering tension. And the meddling family who wanted Thea to find love were also delightful and contributed to the holiday vibes, even if this isn’t necessarily a specifically “Christmas” book.
I enjoyed this one, and would recommend it to readers in search of a cozy sapphic holiday romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Susan E Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

simple, warm, HEA holiday read

This book felt very Romance movie-ish to me—Fast paced romantic attraction/lust at first sight, heavy interaction with best friends/side characters about the attraction, happily ever after. But low on angst. For myself personally, I would’ve appreciated more dialogue and interaction between the main characters. There was a lot of dialogue between the main characters and their best friends talking about the romantic attraction even when the main characters had only exchanged a few sentences. I would’ve rather seen more interaction between the main characters than conversation and speculation about the relationship with side characters. But that’s just me. It was well written. The characters were likable.

[B, · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great holiday gift

Jacqueline Ramsden’s Something New is a wonderful holiday gift for yourself and anyone who enjoys light, lively stories with personable, authentic, engaging characters.

Something New offers images of warm fires, colorful Christmas lights, well-chosen wines, chats with curious family members, the excitement of meeting someone new, and…um…filling up at 1 a.m. on ramen noodles with American cheese.

Ramsden sets the story at an upscale lodge in the snowy mountains of Montana, which is the venue for Thea Cooper’s sister Lenore and Javier Perez’s weeklong wedding extravaganza.

To Thea’s dismay, however, the festivities include her ex, Drew, Javier’s best man, who wants to revive their relationship.

But Thea’s discomfort with Drew’s fawning is quickly eclipsed by her fascination with Lenore’s gorgeous and marvelously competent wedding planner, Erin Foxglove.

Erin returns Thea’s attraction in equal measure, and the result is a satisfying romance you’ll want to experience vicariously again and again. Lucky for you, Something New is a story that’ll never get old.

[Robin Clairvaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

When she travels to snowy Montana for her sister’s December wedding, a sudden, surprising attraction kindles between Thea and the wedding planner, Erin. Thea has only ever been in a relationship with men, and Erin is a paragon of professionalism, but is their chemistry hot enough to melt through the challenges?

Something New is a wonderfully low angst sapphic romance about discovering the perfect person in the most unexpected circumstances. It is entertaining to watch Thea and Erin’s instant attraction evolve from flirtation to a deeper connection all while Thea processes her sapphic awakening with the help of Erin and her incorrigible friend Mya. The awakening unfolds with refreshingly little drama but is still portrayed with care and authenticity. In addition to Mya, secondary personalities such as Thea’s nosey family and Erin’s friend and colleague Destiny make for a colorful if occasionally chaotic cast of characters. The wintry holiday backdrop enhances the heat between Thea and Erin and the overall warmth of the story.

Readers looking for a cozy romance to round out their holiday book list will adore Something New.

[Maria Aponte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Ramsden did not disappoint. I am a big fan of her work; I feel crushed every time when I finish a book. This book was no different. I feel like I didn't get enough time with the characters. Thea and Erin’s story is charming and has such a cute and positive vibe that it makes you feel the Christmas magic. I love when characters get all the love and support all of us deserve. I hope to see more of them, whether with them as the main characters or helping their friends.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sweet, relatively low angst wintertime romance story. I felt it started a bit slow, but once I got about the 25%mark, I got completely drawn into the story and characters and finished the rest of the book in one day. Both main characters are super sweet and there is no unnecessary drama or 3rd act breakup/tension. Coupled with supportive friends and family, this is a great read for anyone looking for a light, cozy, low-stress book.

I received an ARC of this book from the author via BookSprout.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming read!
"Something New" is an easy and quick book to get through. With no unnecessary drama or complications, it’s an enjoyable story featuring thoughtful, well-balanced characters. Some of them can be mildly irritating—like that one overly intrusive aunt at a family dinner—but they never slip into caricature. It’s the story of an ordinary encounter during an ordinary Christmas, and that’s exactly what makes it so relatable. There’s a quiet pleasure in the normalcy and familiarity of it all.

[Rachel Sydow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just what I needed on a rainy weekend! It was refreshing to read a love story without a sucker punch of angst in the middle. Sometimes love is bumpy and as difficult as scaling Zugspitze, but sometimes it's not. Sometimes it's the little things that bring you together. Sometimes it's the joy in the journey...

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this book. Thea is attending her sisters Christmas wedding; there she meets the wedding planner Erin and is instantly attracted, even though she thought she was straight. The book is well paced, not too fast that Thea didn’t understand the romantic process, but fast enough that the reader was satisfied. Good main and secondary characters and a lovely plot. A really good read at any time, but especially Christmas.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A feel-good holiday story about a wedding planner, Erin, and the sister of the bride, Thea. It was both sweet and sexy as Thea discovered her attraction and sexual identity to a woman for the first time.

The beautiful wintry setting is described perfectly and makes for a gorgeous backdrop as their romance unfolds.

I very much enjoyed the main characters, their friends and family, and the low angst of the story. Something New is just right for this holiday season!

[Christina Carberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend this book to everyone! I couldn’t put this book down. The dialogue between all the characters was amazing! My favorite characters were Erin and Thea due to their interaction and how they drew me in further. There was nothing that I didn’t like! The spice level was great! Definitely going to recommend this to all my friends!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.