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Off Course
Not yet published
Expected 4 Aug 26For fans of Tessa Bailey comes a steamy debut sports romance following an Olympic downhill skier and the sexy risk-taking ski mountaineer she hires to train her for a new event. But when their chemistry threatens to disrupt her carefully planned life, will she stick with her schedule or let her life veer off course in the name of love?
Kit Schuster has been bombing downhill on skis since she was two-and-a-half, and becoming the most decorated woman on the slopes has made the decade of competing across multiple continents and grueling race schedules worth it. She doesn’t look anywhere but straight ahead of her—on the racecourse and in life. But a younger rival now has her looking over her shoulder. To solidify her place in history, Kit decides to enter in the newest Olympic event of ski mountaineering, giving her eighteen months to prepare for the 2026 Winter Games in Cortina, Italy.
Asher McClendon grew up dangling from rock faces in Yosemite, and he stuns his followers with daring climbs up the world's most remote peaks before skiing down their steep ridges. He lives for the high-stakes thrills that come with ski mountaineering. When he agrees to coach a legendary alpine skier at his home outside Lake Tahoe, he's more intrigued by the paycheck than the woman. That is, until she arrives to stay in his guest cabin.
Far away from the perfectly groomed ski slopes of European resorts, Kit’s routine and laser focus get a major detour—by Asher's training regimen and their growing attraction to each other. Before she realizes it, everything in Kit’s life is veering off course. Faced with an insurmountable hurdle and no ski lift in sight, they must both determine what they’re willing to risk for love—even if it’s their careers.
Kit Schuster has been bombing downhill on skis since she was two-and-a-half, and becoming the most decorated woman on the slopes has made the decade of competing across multiple continents and grueling race schedules worth it. She doesn’t look anywhere but straight ahead of her—on the racecourse and in life. But a younger rival now has her looking over her shoulder. To solidify her place in history, Kit decides to enter in the newest Olympic event of ski mountaineering, giving her eighteen months to prepare for the 2026 Winter Games in Cortina, Italy.
Asher McClendon grew up dangling from rock faces in Yosemite, and he stuns his followers with daring climbs up the world's most remote peaks before skiing down their steep ridges. He lives for the high-stakes thrills that come with ski mountaineering. When he agrees to coach a legendary alpine skier at his home outside Lake Tahoe, he's more intrigued by the paycheck than the woman. That is, until she arrives to stay in his guest cabin.
Far away from the perfectly groomed ski slopes of European resorts, Kit’s routine and laser focus get a major detour—by Asher's training regimen and their growing attraction to each other. Before she realizes it, everything in Kit’s life is veering off course. Faced with an insurmountable hurdle and no ski lift in sight, they must both determine what they’re willing to risk for love—even if it’s their careers.
- GenresSports Romance
284 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication August 4, 2026
105 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the eARC.
This was a fun romance, perfect for someone looking for a theme read for the wintry months or the winter Olympics! The FMC is a renowned downhill skier who teams up with a professional outdoorsman/adventurer to train for the newly added Olympic sport of ski mountaineering. The dialogue between the two MCs felt natural, it was interesting to delve into this new sport, and the author wrote a perfect portrait of the (somewhat obnoxious) dirtbag friend.
It was refreshing to read a story where most of the challenges and rising tension were due to the challenges of training and adventuring in the back country, rather than a frustrating miscommunication trope between the couple. I did feel like the ending felt a bit rushed, with several personal conflicts being introduced and then quickly resolved (and, indeed, the miscommunication trope does rear its ugly head among family members).
Light trigger warnings that I think should be included: Disordered eating–The FMC is a professional athlete with a regimented diet, but goes overboard with her approach to and discussion of food.
I received this through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This was a fun romance, perfect for someone looking for a theme read for the wintry months or the winter Olympics! The FMC is a renowned downhill skier who teams up with a professional outdoorsman/adventurer to train for the newly added Olympic sport of ski mountaineering. The dialogue between the two MCs felt natural, it was interesting to delve into this new sport, and the author wrote a perfect portrait of the (somewhat obnoxious) dirtbag friend.
It was refreshing to read a story where most of the challenges and rising tension were due to the challenges of training and adventuring in the back country, rather than a frustrating miscommunication trope between the couple. I did feel like the ending felt a bit rushed, with several personal conflicts being introduced and then quickly resolved (and, indeed, the miscommunication trope does rear its ugly head among family members).
Light trigger warnings that I think should be included: Disordered eating–The FMC is a professional athlete with a regimented diet, but goes overboard with her approach to and discussion of food.
I received this through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I picked up Off Course for one reason: romance with the promise of competitive ski mountaineering, newly minted as an Olympic discipline. Now, that sounded like a refreshing premise—high stakes, extreme environments, the psychological grit of elite athletes. Unfortunately, that promise is never fulfilled.
The opening didn’t inspire much confidence. It leaned heavily on insta-attraction, sprinkled in tired clichés (yes, the veiny arms make an appearance almost on page one), and lingered far too long on lengthy explanations about gear that drain all momentum from the opening chapters. Still, I went on.
Before long, the snow-covered world and the thrill of mountaineering fade into the background as the story channels most of its energy into a romance bordering on erotica. The pacing doesn’t benefit from the frequent detours into meticulously detailed food restrictions and routines either, the repetition becoming hard to ignore (yes, the diet is strict, message received). After a while, these passages read more like filler than meaningful character or plot development. Not to mention that the imbalance in detail is increasingly frustrating. Pages are devoted to meal menus and discipline while Asher’s supposedly extraordinary mountaineering experiences are brushed past in a couple of lines like an afterthought. Adventures in Chamonix, Denali, even Antarctica, that should immerse the reader are reduced to mere mentions, creating a persistent sense of distance and missed opportunity.
And the love story? Let’s just say the phrase “I love you” works overtime (twenty-one times, but who’s counting), a reliance on telling rather than showing. Declarations of love arrive long before the characters know anything meaningful about each other. It’s not the speed of the romance that strains credibility—readers can accept whirlwind love—but the lack of emotional groundwork. We’re told the characters share a profound connection, yet rarely shown the specific moments that would make it believable. I mean, come one, Kit herself admits, “He can’t love me — he doesn’t know me,” which is always an interesting moment: when the protagonist starts voicing the reader’s concerns, something has probably gone structurally astray. Because no, you can’t reduce a relationship to attraction and lust. Readers don’t want the autopsy. We want the heartbeat. And when Kit says that it’s “one step away from Stockholm syndrome.” Ha, OMG! This is intellectually clever, granted, but isn’t it, like, emotionally distancing?
Even the big dramatic beats feel preloaded. Avalanche? Of course there’s an avalanche. Rescue taking “hours”? Convenient, if not entirely convincing for such a well-serviced Alpine area. By then, surprise is no longer part of the experience.
I kept reading — truly, I did — because I was waiting for the skiing and Olympic storyline to finally take center stage. After all, how cool is it to read about a brand-new Olympic event before it even happens? But that long-awaited thread is relegated to a brief, oddly muted epilogue, as if the novel suddenly remembered its own premise at the finish line.
In the end, this is a story we’ve all read a thousand times — only many versions have done it with more depth, more tension, and far greater emotional credibility. What could have been an adrenaline-charged, immersive novel settles instead for a very conventional romance with a scenic backdrop. Not terrible — just profoundly forgettable.
The opening didn’t inspire much confidence. It leaned heavily on insta-attraction, sprinkled in tired clichés (yes, the veiny arms make an appearance almost on page one), and lingered far too long on lengthy explanations about gear that drain all momentum from the opening chapters. Still, I went on.
Before long, the snow-covered world and the thrill of mountaineering fade into the background as the story channels most of its energy into a romance bordering on erotica. The pacing doesn’t benefit from the frequent detours into meticulously detailed food restrictions and routines either, the repetition becoming hard to ignore (yes, the diet is strict, message received). After a while, these passages read more like filler than meaningful character or plot development. Not to mention that the imbalance in detail is increasingly frustrating. Pages are devoted to meal menus and discipline while Asher’s supposedly extraordinary mountaineering experiences are brushed past in a couple of lines like an afterthought. Adventures in Chamonix, Denali, even Antarctica, that should immerse the reader are reduced to mere mentions, creating a persistent sense of distance and missed opportunity.
And the love story? Let’s just say the phrase “I love you” works overtime (twenty-one times, but who’s counting), a reliance on telling rather than showing. Declarations of love arrive long before the characters know anything meaningful about each other. It’s not the speed of the romance that strains credibility—readers can accept whirlwind love—but the lack of emotional groundwork. We’re told the characters share a profound connection, yet rarely shown the specific moments that would make it believable. I mean, come one, Kit herself admits, “He can’t love me — he doesn’t know me,” which is always an interesting moment: when the protagonist starts voicing the reader’s concerns, something has probably gone structurally astray. Because no, you can’t reduce a relationship to attraction and lust. Readers don’t want the autopsy. We want the heartbeat. And when Kit says that it’s “one step away from Stockholm syndrome.” Ha, OMG! This is intellectually clever, granted, but isn’t it, like, emotionally distancing?
Even the big dramatic beats feel preloaded. Avalanche? Of course there’s an avalanche. Rescue taking “hours”? Convenient, if not entirely convincing for such a well-serviced Alpine area. By then, surprise is no longer part of the experience.
I kept reading — truly, I did — because I was waiting for the skiing and Olympic storyline to finally take center stage. After all, how cool is it to read about a brand-new Olympic event before it even happens? But that long-awaited thread is relegated to a brief, oddly muted epilogue, as if the novel suddenly remembered its own premise at the finish line.
In the end, this is a story we’ve all read a thousand times — only many versions have done it with more depth, more tension, and far greater emotional credibility. What could have been an adrenaline-charged, immersive novel settles instead for a very conventional romance with a scenic backdrop. Not terrible — just profoundly forgettable.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love sports romances where the woman is the athlete because the relationship dynamic feels like a true partnership, a more even footing, if you will. In Off Course, Kit, an Olympic gold medallist, hires Asher to train her in competitive ski mountaineering, determined to secure a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. Kit is highly skilled and easily beats Asher during their workouts, but she defers to him when it comes to unfamiliar terrain. They respect each other’s lanes, which was frankly refreshing. Here, the lack of unnecessary drama was a good thing. The characters’ growth was well-rounded, and I am glad that the book closes with a continued partnership rather than compromises or sacrifices.
The romance is surprisingly cosy for a sports trope, and the isolation works beautifully. Kit stays with Asher at the edge of a small town, living in his guest cabin for the duration of her training. They fall in love over workout routines in the barn, recovery meals in the kitchen, ice baths, and saunas. The mountaineering segment in the Italian Dolomites is particularly thrilling. All of this is complemented by warm scenes like holidays and snowball fights with family, playful ribbing, and rock climbing with friends, just to name a few.
Most of the sports equipment talk went over my head, but I liked how the author portrayed the emotions involved in the sport. The trivia around it was interesting too. I felt sad reading about how social media has taken over it, where winning is no longer enough. The sport wasn’t dealt with at an MC-centric level, but cast wider over secondary characters to give a more complete picture. This is rare in a sports romance and worked great for me.
I wish the romance had a little more drama. It felt like they got together too soon and too easily. Waiting until their mountaineering trip, where they share a tent in total isolation, would have made it more electric. The open-door content could have been reduced, as the sport, setting, and thrill of danger were already carrying the book for me.
I also felt that each scene blended into the next without enough highs or lows in the transitions. This reduced the impact of some very strong scenes, which were also resolved too quickly. For instance, a family dinner and an avalanche were given the same treatment. In some scenes, the characters' emotions felt muted, given the intensity of what was happening.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read this book. It was a very enjoyable romance, and I would recommend it even to readers who are not fans of sports romance. I will surely be reading other works by Julie Cook.
The romance is surprisingly cosy for a sports trope, and the isolation works beautifully. Kit stays with Asher at the edge of a small town, living in his guest cabin for the duration of her training. They fall in love over workout routines in the barn, recovery meals in the kitchen, ice baths, and saunas. The mountaineering segment in the Italian Dolomites is particularly thrilling. All of this is complemented by warm scenes like holidays and snowball fights with family, playful ribbing, and rock climbing with friends, just to name a few.
Most of the sports equipment talk went over my head, but I liked how the author portrayed the emotions involved in the sport. The trivia around it was interesting too. I felt sad reading about how social media has taken over it, where winning is no longer enough. The sport wasn’t dealt with at an MC-centric level, but cast wider over secondary characters to give a more complete picture. This is rare in a sports romance and worked great for me.
I wish the romance had a little more drama. It felt like they got together too soon and too easily. Waiting until their mountaineering trip, where they share a tent in total isolation, would have made it more electric. The open-door content could have been reduced, as the sport, setting, and thrill of danger were already carrying the book for me.
I also felt that each scene blended into the next without enough highs or lows in the transitions. This reduced the impact of some very strong scenes, which were also resolved too quickly. For instance, a family dinner and an avalanche were given the same treatment. In some scenes, the characters' emotions felt muted, given the intensity of what was happening.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read this book. It was a very enjoyable romance, and I would recommend it even to readers who are not fans of sports romance. I will surely be reading other works by Julie Cook.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A stunning debut with great writing and so much detail on skiing that I feel educated.
It's really well-written, both in terms of the language itself, and the general structure of everything. These characters live and breathe different types of skiing and it shows in their way of thinking or speaking, which is a level of detail I'm jealous of being able to write. And everything is so well-described it feels like a textbook sometimes, in a good way. The whole premise is also very fresh and executed flawlessly.
I had no trouble sympathizing with the characters and enjoying how different they were. Kit's craving for normalcy was heart-breaking at times, and Asher's openness and communication skills were disarmingly adorable. I need more people who just say the things they're feeling right as they feel them.
I liked the whole cast of side-characters, but especially the fact that the parents weren't some villains, as they so often are in books, instead being shown as people who can make mistakes as well and ultimately just want what's best for their children.
The 'smaller' things I enjoyed were Kit's thoughts when they finally got to the hardest part of her training (nothing made her more human in my eyes than those), the conflict near the end (both sides are perfectly valid and understandable to me), and the second epilogue (especially the Quinn-related stuff).
Overall, if you're looking for something fresh in the sports romance world - Julie Cook's got you.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for letting me read the ARC!
It's really well-written, both in terms of the language itself, and the general structure of everything. These characters live and breathe different types of skiing and it shows in their way of thinking or speaking, which is a level of detail I'm jealous of being able to write. And everything is so well-described it feels like a textbook sometimes, in a good way. The whole premise is also very fresh and executed flawlessly.
I had no trouble sympathizing with the characters and enjoying how different they were. Kit's craving for normalcy was heart-breaking at times, and Asher's openness and communication skills were disarmingly adorable. I need more people who just say the things they're feeling right as they feel them.
I liked the whole cast of side-characters, but especially the fact that the parents weren't some villains, as they so often are in books, instead being shown as people who can make mistakes as well and ultimately just want what's best for their children.
The 'smaller' things I enjoyed were Kit's thoughts when they finally got to the hardest part of her training (nothing made her more human in my eyes than those), the conflict near the end (both sides are perfectly valid and understandable to me), and the second epilogue (especially the Quinn-related stuff).
Overall, if you're looking for something fresh in the sports romance world - Julie Cook's got you.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for letting me read the ARC!
February 11, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book couldn't have come at a better time with the Winter Olympics having started already. As a skier I was immediately drawn to the synopsis and the start of the book had me hooked. I didn't appreciate Kit at the beginning, but she grew on me. I liked how she was willing to throw herself in a completely new sport to challenge herself, although her motivations were not the best. Archer is a nice character, a great friend and I really loved his relationship with his family, they were all great. Absolutely love the cover.
What didn't work for me was the insta-lust and basically insta-love the two main character had and in general the lack of depth given to things that I thought could be very interesting, like Archer's travels around the world. I also would have dialed back on the technical terms for each sport and maybe given more attention to Kit's experiencing the sports. I also would have liked to read more about Kit's struggles with her family and how she overcame that.
Regarding Kit and Archer's relationship, I usually enjoy spicy scenes in books, but this time something didn't work for me, I found myself skipping ahead. Maybe it was just the speed at which everything happened.
Overall it was an easy read, perfect for this month and I'm glad I got the chance to know Kit and Archer. I think it would be a perfect book for people that don't mind characters falling in love very quickly.
This book couldn't have come at a better time with the Winter Olympics having started already. As a skier I was immediately drawn to the synopsis and the start of the book had me hooked. I didn't appreciate Kit at the beginning, but she grew on me. I liked how she was willing to throw herself in a completely new sport to challenge herself, although her motivations were not the best. Archer is a nice character, a great friend and I really loved his relationship with his family, they were all great. Absolutely love the cover.
What didn't work for me was the insta-lust and basically insta-love the two main character had and in general the lack of depth given to things that I thought could be very interesting, like Archer's travels around the world. I also would have dialed back on the technical terms for each sport and maybe given more attention to Kit's experiencing the sports. I also would have liked to read more about Kit's struggles with her family and how she overcame that.
Regarding Kit and Archer's relationship, I usually enjoy spicy scenes in books, but this time something didn't work for me, I found myself skipping ahead. Maybe it was just the speed at which everything happened.
Overall it was an easy read, perfect for this month and I'm glad I got the chance to know Kit and Archer. I think it would be a perfect book for people that don't mind characters falling in love very quickly.
February 13, 2026
I’m gonna start this by saying that Julie’s writing is very smooth and clean. That’s the first thing I’ve noticed, especially because english is not my first language. Sometimes the wording and the sentences feel heavy in my brain as I read them. But Julie made it feel effortless, it was light and easy, even though I don’t really understand anything about skiing and athletic workouts.
The characters are captivating from the start. You can see how Kit has a strong personality from page one, and there’s nothing more satisfying than a strong FMC! I can also relate a lot with her races against the clock, this girl won’t stop for a second and breathe, so it was nice seeing her relax a little throughout the story.
Asher is more laid back and calm, even when Kit acted a little bit like a diva, he didn’t lose his respect. He was attentive and friendly the whole time, I liked him a lot.
She’s all chaps where he’s calm.
Forced proximity with reverse grumpy sunshine, one of my favorite tropes in books and Julie did a good job with it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The characters are captivating from the start. You can see how Kit has a strong personality from page one, and there’s nothing more satisfying than a strong FMC! I can also relate a lot with her races against the clock, this girl won’t stop for a second and breathe, so it was nice seeing her relax a little throughout the story.
Asher is more laid back and calm, even when Kit acted a little bit like a diva, he didn’t lose his respect. He was attentive and friendly the whole time, I liked him a lot.
She’s all chaps where he’s calm.
Forced proximity with reverse grumpy sunshine, one of my favorite tropes in books and Julie did a good job with it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 8, 2026
Forced proximity
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Golden retriever MMC
HEA
This does not hit as a debut. This hits like a seasoned author writing her 10th novel. The story flowed well and was so engaging. While the time line of the romance is very quick, it still felt very authentic (it takes place over 1 month excluding epilogues) but it didn’t strike as insta-lust which I appreciate. There is obvious attraction but I still felt it was tactfully done.
I liked the dynamic between the hippie minded outdoorsy MMC and the regimented Olympian FMC. The growth of their mindsets is a great element too while they deal with external struggles, independently and together, between family, friends, grief, and failure. Nothing felt misplaced, un-needed or over extended.
With the Winter Olympics coming up (in the real world!) the timing couldn’t have been better for this read. I found I actually learned a bit of technical terms via this story and feel properly hyped to watch the Winter Olympics now!
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Golden retriever MMC
HEA
This does not hit as a debut. This hits like a seasoned author writing her 10th novel. The story flowed well and was so engaging. While the time line of the romance is very quick, it still felt very authentic (it takes place over 1 month excluding epilogues) but it didn’t strike as insta-lust which I appreciate. There is obvious attraction but I still felt it was tactfully done.
I liked the dynamic between the hippie minded outdoorsy MMC and the regimented Olympian FMC. The growth of their mindsets is a great element too while they deal with external struggles, independently and together, between family, friends, grief, and failure. Nothing felt misplaced, un-needed or over extended.
With the Winter Olympics coming up (in the real world!) the timing couldn’t have been better for this read. I found I actually learned a bit of technical terms via this story and feel properly hyped to watch the Winter Olympics now!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Kit Schuster es la esquiadora más exitosa de su generación y está acostumbrada a ganar sin levantar la voz ni mirar a nadie a los lados. Cuando la presión mediática y la aparición de una rival más joven empiezan a cuestionar su lugar en la cima, Kit acepta un entrenamiento poco convencional que la saca de su rutina y de su zona segura. En Lake Tahoe conoce a Asher McClendon, un montañista experimentado que vive lejos del ruido, de los rankings y de la necesidad de demostrar algo. Lo que empieza como un acuerdo estrictamente profesional se convierte en una convivencia intensa donde Kit debe enfrentarse no solo a nuevos retos físicos, sino a todo lo que ha dejado de lado por vivir enfocada en ganar. En la montaña, bajar no siempre es lo más difícil y a veces perder el control es la única forma de encontrarse.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.
3.5 STARS: I flew through this! Off Course was a refreshing departure from most sports romances circulating in the romance genre. Reading this during the Winter Olympics was lucky, though I think I would have enjoyed it regardless.
I am not always partial to dual-POV romances, but Asher and Kit had distinct, readable voices. Asher's POV was not just lusting after the FMC, and though their relationship progressed quickly, it seemed more realistic because they both were intense personalities and might naturally fall into it headfirst.
I appreciated that Kit was the competitor in this scenario and that Asher's sole purpose as a character was not to ~get her to let loose~, though it happened naturally.
Bottom line: I foresee people really enjoying this. It was well-rounded and a smooth read.
3.5 STARS: I flew through this! Off Course was a refreshing departure from most sports romances circulating in the romance genre. Reading this during the Winter Olympics was lucky, though I think I would have enjoyed it regardless.
I am not always partial to dual-POV romances, but Asher and Kit had distinct, readable voices. Asher's POV was not just lusting after the FMC, and though their relationship progressed quickly, it seemed more realistic because they both were intense personalities and might naturally fall into it headfirst.
I appreciated that Kit was the competitor in this scenario and that Asher's sole purpose as a character was not to ~get her to let loose~, though it happened naturally.
Bottom line: I foresee people really enjoying this. It was well-rounded and a smooth read.
dnf
February 11, 2026DNF at 36%
I really wanted to give this one a fair shot because the ski mountaineering setting felt unique and immersive. The book opens with strong world-building, and I actually learned what a “powder day” is — which is timely since I’m planning to learn skiing in Hokkaido next year.
That said, the romance leaned heavily into instant attraction and physical chemistry from the start. I personally prefer a slower emotional build-up and deeper relational development, and that connection never quite formed for me.
If you enjoy forced proximity and strong physical tension early on, this might work better for you. For me, it just wasn’t the right fit at this time.
I really wanted to give this one a fair shot because the ski mountaineering setting felt unique and immersive. The book opens with strong world-building, and I actually learned what a “powder day” is — which is timely since I’m planning to learn skiing in Hokkaido next year.
That said, the romance leaned heavily into instant attraction and physical chemistry from the start. I personally prefer a slower emotional build-up and deeper relational development, and that connection never quite formed for me.
If you enjoy forced proximity and strong physical tension early on, this might work better for you. For me, it just wasn’t the right fit at this time.
February 9, 2026
The perfect read while watching Winter Olympics! The two types of skiing paralleled with the characters’ personalities are so well done, and developed to show the dangers of both speed and the wilderness unknowns. The spice is definitely there in this one, and some of it felt forced or unnecessary. I learned so much about athletes, risk-taking, and really what it takes to be at the mastery level they both are at. An overall, good winter read to see that sometimes, not taking a risk at all is the worst mistake we can make.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I can’t say I really liked this book. I found Kit to be very childish throughout but also sometimes quite needlessly vulgar. She was also very selfish at the end of the book, not really a very likeable character.
The characters first meeting and early interactions were cringey to the point of feeling secondhand embarrassment. I also found the sex scenes to be quite awkward.
Finally, early in the book I found Kit and Asher to be too confusing of names as they’re both androgynous names and Kit in particular I’ve actually only heard as a guy’s name so in the early chapters I was getting a bit mistaken on who was who.
All in all I struggled to get through the book.
The characters first meeting and early interactions were cringey to the point of feeling secondhand embarrassment. I also found the sex scenes to be quite awkward.
Finally, early in the book I found Kit and Asher to be too confusing of names as they’re both androgynous names and Kit in particular I’ve actually only heard as a guy’s name so in the early chapters I was getting a bit mistaken on who was who.
All in all I struggled to get through the book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky enough to get an advance read of this novel and can’t recommend it enough to others when it comes out. Julie Cook’s writing is phenomenal - full stop. Wildly entertaining, definitely has the full pay off while also being intellectually stimulating. I felt like I learned the ins and outs of competitive skiing and mountaineering while also falling in love with the characters. Well done! Can’t wait to read more of Julie’s work!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really enjoyed the book. The characters are well written; Asher is a great MMC, and you can clearly see how Kit opens up to the world step by step. Moreover, I quite liked the skiing and Olympic theme.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
An incredible debut novel! Highly recommend to anyone looking for a spicy, sweet, fun story with a lot of heart.
January 29, 2026
Fun fun FUN way to get in the mood for the Winter Olympics. Congrats on the debut, Julie!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews