What do you think?
Rate this book
Now That We Don't Talk
Not yet published
Expected 20 Oct 26A commitment-phobe finds herself stuck spending Hanukkah with her childhood best friend turned nemesis, only for holiday chaos to ensue and complicated feelings to resurface, in this emotionally resonant debut romance.
Norah Gold is a bolter. She avoids emotional situations at all costs, doesn’t do meaningful relationships, and when things get a little too real, she runs. She hasn’t let herself fall in love in nearly a decade, not since her whole world fell apart when her dad suddenly passed away. Desperate to escape a friends-with-benefits situation gone clingy, she returns home to Chicago for the holidays. Her one goal? Avoid Henry Cole, the boy who blew up her life and broke her heart back in high school. Easier said than done when she discovers that their mothers are dating and insist on celebrating the holidays together.
A decade later, Henry Cole is all custom suits and condescension. He is order to her chaos and absolutely insufferable about it. When Norah and Henry get snowed in together and learn just how serious their moms’ relationship is, they call a truce to make it through all eight nights of Hanukkah without setting each other on fire. As they begin to rediscover the foundation that made them so close growing up, Norah is desperate to keep her distance—the last thing she can handle is reopening decade-old emotional wounds. But even though they’ve tried to escape the past, Norah and Henry have unfinished business too pressing to ignore. Can Norah shake off her deep-seated impulse to bolt, or are they destined to flame out just like they did as teenagers?
Norah Gold is a bolter. She avoids emotional situations at all costs, doesn’t do meaningful relationships, and when things get a little too real, she runs. She hasn’t let herself fall in love in nearly a decade, not since her whole world fell apart when her dad suddenly passed away. Desperate to escape a friends-with-benefits situation gone clingy, she returns home to Chicago for the holidays. Her one goal? Avoid Henry Cole, the boy who blew up her life and broke her heart back in high school. Easier said than done when she discovers that their mothers are dating and insist on celebrating the holidays together.
A decade later, Henry Cole is all custom suits and condescension. He is order to her chaos and absolutely insufferable about it. When Norah and Henry get snowed in together and learn just how serious their moms’ relationship is, they call a truce to make it through all eight nights of Hanukkah without setting each other on fire. As they begin to rediscover the foundation that made them so close growing up, Norah is desperate to keep her distance—the last thing she can handle is reopening decade-old emotional wounds. But even though they’ve tried to escape the past, Norah and Henry have unfinished business too pressing to ignore. Can Norah shake off her deep-seated impulse to bolt, or are they destined to flame out just like they did as teenagers?
Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 20, 2026
About the author
Rachel Pologe
1 book35 followersRachel Pologe writes swoony, character-driven contemporary romance novels about messy but relatable people you can’t help but root for. Rachel has spent her career working in television writers’ rooms, but books were her first passion. In sixth grade, a popular boy said something nice and unprompted about her creative writing assignment, and she’s been riding that high ever since. Originally from Baltimore, Rachel now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter. Now That We Don't Talk is Rachel’s debut novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
Want to Read
June 26, 2026I guess since I have the arc...🤷♀️
May 10, 2026
Thank you to netgalley and the author for this arc in exchange for an honest review! 💕
Such a nice romcom, I loved Norah and Henry’s story! <3 It felt like i was growing up with them too. ❤️🔥
────۶ৎ────
˖⁺. ༶ Now That We Don’t Talk
- Taylor Swift ˖⁺. ༶
0:00 ─✮───── 0:00
↻ ⊲ Ⅱ ⊳ ↺
Volume: ▁▂▃▄▅▆▇ 100%
❤️🔥𝒮𝓊𝓂𝓂𝒶𝓇𝓎: Norah Gold has commitment issues, she returns home for Hanukkah hoping to avoid her ex-best friend Henry Cole, who broke her heart years ago. But when their mothers start dating and the two get snowed in together for the holidays, old feelings and unresolved tension begin to resurface.
────۶ৎ────
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
💌 What I liked:
💝 The title is giving taylor swift?!🥰
💝 Childhood friends to enemies to lovers
💝 How the Mmc treated the fmc
💝 I really relate w the fmc norah because of how she panics when things get real and serious, leaving before they leave and hurt u first.
💝 11:11 wishes
💝 their dreams and future together
────۶ৎ────
💌 What I didn’t like:
💝 How the fmc treated the mmc throughout the story.
💝 miscommunication
💝 How the mmc gave in too easily.
Overall, it was really emotional and I enjoyed the cozy second chance romance, family dynamics, and holiday chaos, and I liked seeing Norah and Henry reconnect and heal from their past especially Norah’s character development!! Thank you netgalley and the author💌.
With Love, Avrielle 💕
Such a nice romcom, I loved Norah and Henry’s story! <3 It felt like i was growing up with them too. ❤️🔥
────۶ৎ────
˖⁺. ༶ Now That We Don’t Talk
- Taylor Swift ˖⁺. ༶
0:00 ─✮───── 0:00
↻ ⊲ Ⅱ ⊳ ↺
Volume: ▁▂▃▄▅▆▇ 100%
❤️🔥𝒮𝓊𝓂𝓂𝒶𝓇𝓎: Norah Gold has commitment issues, she returns home for Hanukkah hoping to avoid her ex-best friend Henry Cole, who broke her heart years ago. But when their mothers start dating and the two get snowed in together for the holidays, old feelings and unresolved tension begin to resurface.
────۶ৎ────
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
💌 What I liked:
💝 The title is giving taylor swift?!🥰
💝 Childhood friends to enemies to lovers
💝 How the Mmc treated the fmc
💝 I really relate w the fmc norah because of how she panics when things get real and serious, leaving before they leave and hurt u first.
💝 11:11 wishes
💝 their dreams and future together
────۶ৎ────
💌 What I didn’t like:
💝 How the fmc treated the mmc throughout the story.
💝 miscommunication
💝 How the mmc gave in too easily.
Overall, it was really emotional and I enjoyed the cozy second chance romance, family dynamics, and holiday chaos, and I liked seeing Norah and Henry reconnect and heal from their past especially Norah’s character development!! Thank you netgalley and the author💌.
With Love, Avrielle 💕
January 22, 2026
Words cannot express just how much I LOVE this book! It gets better with every read, and I will never tire of Norah and Henry <3
I’ve cried every single time I read this book!! Which is saying something, considering I edited it and I knew exactly what would happen (yes, I’m a biased party!)! The tension and angst is delicious and literally made my heart ACHE as Norah and Henry work through their history and learn to fight for themselves and each other!
Sincerely lovely, funny, heartfelt, sexy: everything you want in a romance.
I’ve cried every single time I read this book!! Which is saying something, considering I edited it and I knew exactly what would happen (yes, I’m a biased party!)! The tension and angst is delicious and literally made my heart ACHE as Norah and Henry work through their history and learn to fight for themselves and each other!
Sincerely lovely, funny, heartfelt, sexy: everything you want in a romance.
April 18, 2026
I haven’t loved a romcom book like this in so long, maybe ever. The fact that this book almost didn’t exist and this is the author’s first novel actually blows my mind.
The characters are all so real. I already miss them and I just finished the book. I told my wife that I wish it was a movie because it would be her favorite (she is a holiday romcom addict).
I honestly rarely give a book 5 stars. I have gotten a little looser with that in recent years. But this book truly deserves every single bit of the five stars I have rated it.
I feel so lucky to have stumbled across this perfect gem. Thank you, NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this.
And a seriously big special thank you to Rachel Pologe. I can’t even imagine how difficult it is to write a novel, let alone one that is so beautiful and heartfelt and deep. Romcoms are usually fun little fluff things that people read by the pool. This CAN be that book for some readers. But for me, it was empirical evidence that romance novels can have so much depth, you can start to read it one night, sleep, then not stop reading it because you absolutely have to see how it ends.
The characters are all so real. I already miss them and I just finished the book. I told my wife that I wish it was a movie because it would be her favorite (she is a holiday romcom addict).
I honestly rarely give a book 5 stars. I have gotten a little looser with that in recent years. But this book truly deserves every single bit of the five stars I have rated it.
I feel so lucky to have stumbled across this perfect gem. Thank you, NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this.
And a seriously big special thank you to Rachel Pologe. I can’t even imagine how difficult it is to write a novel, let alone one that is so beautiful and heartfelt and deep. Romcoms are usually fun little fluff things that people read by the pool. This CAN be that book for some readers. But for me, it was empirical evidence that romance novels can have so much depth, you can start to read it one night, sleep, then not stop reading it because you absolutely have to see how it ends.
May 9, 2026
I typically strictly limit my Hanukkah romances to the window between November and early January. However, when I spotted Rachel Pologe’s “Now That We Don’t Talk” on Facebook and saw it was available on NetGalley, I decided it was time to break tradition. It was absolutely worth it.
I am a total sucker for a shared history, and the childhood connection between Henry and Norah was handled beautifully. This book gave me the same wonderful vibes as “A Little Magic” by Lindsey Lanza and “Light It Up” by Evie Blum. The slow unraveling of their past was captivating, and the pacing was spot-on throughout the entire book. Henry is the ultimate swoon-worthy book boyfriend, and I loved how Norah’s late father was woven into the heart of the story. Between the flawless dialogue and the perfect ending, I couldn’t have asked for a better read.
I am a total sucker for a shared history, and the childhood connection between Henry and Norah was handled beautifully. This book gave me the same wonderful vibes as “A Little Magic” by Lindsey Lanza and “Light It Up” by Evie Blum. The slow unraveling of their past was captivating, and the pacing was spot-on throughout the entire book. Henry is the ultimate swoon-worthy book boyfriend, and I loved how Norah’s late father was woven into the heart of the story. Between the flawless dialogue and the perfect ending, I couldn’t have asked for a better read.
May 4, 2026
Are you looking for longing so palpable that it has become a physical entity that sits on your chest while you read? Well do I have the book for you!!!!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This yanked me out of my reading rut like pulling the cord on an old lawnmower. At one point I looked up and realized the sun had gone down and I was just sitting in a dark room. Henry and Norah are both stubborn and feel things so deeply that it scares them - but where Norah runs from it, Henry holds the emotion right behind his ribs until it overflows at inopportune (for him - definitely not for us) moments.
There is such a knife-sharp vividness to the way they handle their grief and how many kinds of it are wrapped up in the very same moment. Of course Norah hid from the pain that could drown her. Of course Henry wore it like a coat.
But for all their (let’s be real, mostly Norah’s) commitment to keeping each other at arms length, it really does not take much for the whole facade to come crashing down. Because what are these two if not home to each other? It’s messy, and sometimes ugly, and even after all these years they still know exactly how to hurt and be hurt by the other. But it’s also so bone-deep that they could never be anything other than safe together - even when they’re scared or mad or broken.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This yanked me out of my reading rut like pulling the cord on an old lawnmower. At one point I looked up and realized the sun had gone down and I was just sitting in a dark room. Henry and Norah are both stubborn and feel things so deeply that it scares them - but where Norah runs from it, Henry holds the emotion right behind his ribs until it overflows at inopportune (for him - definitely not for us) moments.
There is such a knife-sharp vividness to the way they handle their grief and how many kinds of it are wrapped up in the very same moment. Of course Norah hid from the pain that could drown her. Of course Henry wore it like a coat.
But for all their (let’s be real, mostly Norah’s) commitment to keeping each other at arms length, it really does not take much for the whole facade to come crashing down. Because what are these two if not home to each other? It’s messy, and sometimes ugly, and even after all these years they still know exactly how to hurt and be hurt by the other. But it’s also so bone-deep that they could never be anything other than safe together - even when they’re scared or mad or broken.
May 9, 2026
I thank my lucky stars that I was able
To read this on NetGalley. These two—Henry and Norah—were such a beautiful, messy couple. Norah in particular, but I loved that about her. She knew she was a mess. Henry’s yearning was unmatched by anything I’ve read recently. His devotion was so deep, so complete it made me forgive their years of miscommunication, which is a trope I generally do not enjoy. Yes, I was screaming “just talk to another!” but I also kept turning pages. Can’t wait for this to come out in October so that I can get a physical copy!
To read this on NetGalley. These two—Henry and Norah—were such a beautiful, messy couple. Norah in particular, but I loved that about her. She knew she was a mess. Henry’s yearning was unmatched by anything I’ve read recently. His devotion was so deep, so complete it made me forgive their years of miscommunication, which is a trope I generally do not enjoy. Yes, I was screaming “just talk to another!” but I also kept turning pages. Can’t wait for this to come out in October so that I can get a physical copy!
June 23, 2026
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an earc in exchange for a review.
Unfortunately this was one that I had to dnf. I feel like this is a great story and romance, however it’s not one for me.
What I liked is that this for one constantly reminds me of Taylor Swift’s song, I think the fact the FMC and MMC were childhood friends turned enemies to lovers was a really nice trope for this book.
What I didn’t like was the treatment of the MMC by the FMC. I think that because she’s a commitmentphobe it just didn’t quite work for me personally.
I think it’s a great romance, just not my cup of tea!
Unfortunately this was one that I had to dnf. I feel like this is a great story and romance, however it’s not one for me.
What I liked is that this for one constantly reminds me of Taylor Swift’s song, I think the fact the FMC and MMC were childhood friends turned enemies to lovers was a really nice trope for this book.
What I didn’t like was the treatment of the MMC by the FMC. I think that because she’s a commitmentphobe it just didn’t quite work for me personally.
I think it’s a great romance, just not my cup of tea!
May 4, 2026
Thank you to Berkley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I LOVED this debut! It takes place during Hanukkah but it’s so much more than a holiday romance. Our FMC is bratty and messy at the beginning but you know it’s good writing when you can’t help but root for her the entire time. The MMC is your perfect next book boyfriend. The story was interwoven with so many Jewish references, it made me feel incredibly seen and never felt forced.
I LOVED this debut! It takes place during Hanukkah but it’s so much more than a holiday romance. Our FMC is bratty and messy at the beginning but you know it’s good writing when you can’t help but root for her the entire time. The MMC is your perfect next book boyfriend. The story was interwoven with so many Jewish references, it made me feel incredibly seen and never felt forced.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a delightful book! I'm so sad it's over!!! And I'm just holding out hope that Rachel Pologe decides to write within this little world she crafted again... because there are absolutely possibilities for future stories within this one!
I will never get over Rachel calling Norah and Henry her disaster babies because truly... yes. I see it. And I love it. Norah Gold is someone you will love and loathe. Any moment that I found Norah unlikable it was because her messiness was so incredibly (and unfortunately) relatable. I really and truly love characters that feel like people who mess up their lives just as often and as colorfully as we do. Especially when those messes aren't magically and expeditiously cleaned up... when it takes a while to wade through feelings and to fix what we broke. I appreciated that so much here. And then there is Henry Cole who seems at first glance completely irritating and unfeeling. But the more you read, the more you discover he has so much hidden depth to uncover and things he's been holding onto silently for nearly a decade - and in some cases even longer. (I could say so much. But I don't want to spoil it for anyone else!) Just know: I love Henry SO MUCH. And I love the ways we sloooowly get a clearer picture of this man.
ABSOLUTELY recommending this one far and wide but especially for those who love:
*second chance romance
*will-they-won't-they tension
*ONE BED AT THE INN
*in love with the boy/girl next door
*childhood friends to nemesis to lovers
*home for the holidays
*pining & men who yearn in a big way
*messy romance
*their PARENTS are dating!
The tension, chemistry, banter, and spice in this book were all 10/10 delicious. I loved the timelines jumps and marinating in Norah and Henry's memories. I loved the secondary cast of characters we got to know. I looooved getting to see all these Jewish traditions up close and personally and feel like I was a part of them. I especially loved the tenderness Norah felt towards her religion but also her aloofness towards it as well -- as a cradle Catholic who feels like the religion I was born into feels like a lifestyle/culture rather than feeling intensely devout really made me laugh and spoke to me.
On being a member of the #deaddadclub: As someone who lost her dad suddenly as a kid, there was a whole lot I could relate to here. On so many levels. Feeling like you lost time to grief and shock. The ongoing beast that is grief in general. Feeling abandoned and having no one to be truly mad at over that. The realities of closing your heart off to others in order to protect yourself. Dealing with BIG issues after years of avoiding them. Finding the balance between holding on too tightly to the past while attempting to pave way for the future you'd like - even though that means a future without your dad. Saying goodbye to your childhood home & the last place you had with your complete family. Rachel navigated these authentically and in a way that didn't slow the book down or make things feel too heavy!
I just want to cry a little knowing that Norah and Henry's story is over. I really love them and loved reading this book. Rachel Pologe... I am stuck to you like a barnacle. Sorry not sorry. Gonna be an auto-buy author for me from now on. Thank you for writing this beautiful, messy, wonderful story and sharing it with us!!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the chance to read this early. All opinions are my own.
I will never get over Rachel calling Norah and Henry her disaster babies because truly... yes. I see it. And I love it. Norah Gold is someone you will love and loathe. Any moment that I found Norah unlikable it was because her messiness was so incredibly (and unfortunately) relatable. I really and truly love characters that feel like people who mess up their lives just as often and as colorfully as we do. Especially when those messes aren't magically and expeditiously cleaned up... when it takes a while to wade through feelings and to fix what we broke. I appreciated that so much here. And then there is Henry Cole who seems at first glance completely irritating and unfeeling. But the more you read, the more you discover he has so much hidden depth to uncover and things he's been holding onto silently for nearly a decade - and in some cases even longer. (I could say so much. But I don't want to spoil it for anyone else!) Just know: I love Henry SO MUCH. And I love the ways we sloooowly get a clearer picture of this man.
ABSOLUTELY recommending this one far and wide but especially for those who love:
*second chance romance
*will-they-won't-they tension
*ONE BED AT THE INN
*in love with the boy/girl next door
*childhood friends to nemesis to lovers
*home for the holidays
*pining & men who yearn in a big way
*messy romance
*their PARENTS are dating!
The tension, chemistry, banter, and spice in this book were all 10/10 delicious. I loved the timelines jumps and marinating in Norah and Henry's memories. I loved the secondary cast of characters we got to know. I looooved getting to see all these Jewish traditions up close and personally and feel like I was a part of them. I especially loved the tenderness Norah felt towards her religion but also her aloofness towards it as well -- as a cradle Catholic who feels like the religion I was born into feels like a lifestyle/culture rather than feeling intensely devout really made me laugh and spoke to me.
On being a member of the #deaddadclub: As someone who lost her dad suddenly as a kid, there was a whole lot I could relate to here. On so many levels. Feeling like you lost time to grief and shock. The ongoing beast that is grief in general. Feeling abandoned and having no one to be truly mad at over that. The realities of closing your heart off to others in order to protect yourself. Dealing with BIG issues after years of avoiding them. Finding the balance between holding on too tightly to the past while attempting to pave way for the future you'd like - even though that means a future without your dad. Saying goodbye to your childhood home & the last place you had with your complete family. Rachel navigated these authentically and in a way that didn't slow the book down or make things feel too heavy!
I just want to cry a little knowing that Norah and Henry's story is over. I really love them and loved reading this book. Rachel Pologe... I am stuck to you like a barnacle. Sorry not sorry. Gonna be an auto-buy author for me from now on. Thank you for writing this beautiful, messy, wonderful story and sharing it with us!!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the chance to read this early. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Please…please…please..give me a man that latkes me enough to buy me a turtle letting me know it’s because of my hard exterior and inner soft side. I NEED a man that will wait years for me to finally come to my senses and confess that I’m actually in love with him. If you eagerly said yes to anything of this then your man is (and my man) Henry Cole 👏👏
Norah Gold thought she had it figured out she’s got a stable enough job, friends, but one thing is missing her childhood next door neighbor who’s she secretly loved but couldn’t find it in her to confess her true feelings for him without bringing up their flawed past. But our pasts never stay down, and Henry Cole came reclining back into her life not realizing accidentally spilling a drink on her would lead to their relationship blossoming from friendship to lovers.
Henry Cole had one mission in life and that was to get Norah to see him as more than friends, but one desperate and stupid night led to an explosion of missed opportunities and grudges being held for years. Their relationship of being friends quickly led to them being enemies and who doesn’t love a good enemies to lovers 😈 BUT the best part of enemies to lovers is they do end up being lovers at one point and my god this man knows a way around words and making a woman feel so special, scouts honor 🤞He could easily beg me for something and I would happily oblige.
A fast paced book designed to showcase that our past mistakes can help our future in case of relationships. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I fell in love with these characters AND getting to know about Jewish culture. Rachel did an extraordinary job simplifying some of the words enough for readers to understand what’s happening during Hanakuh and at times explained the rituals so readers could fully immerse themselves in this beautifully told debut. As I was finishing reading the epilogue I wanted another chapter, which doesn’t happen often when I read my books. One of my favorite parts was when NORAH was the one desperately getting him back, usually it’s the MMC in stories.
Thank you sooo much to NetGalley and Rachel Pologe for letting me read this heartwarming book. And in the words of Henry Cole PLEASE never stop writing. 🫶
Norah Gold thought she had it figured out she’s got a stable enough job, friends, but one thing is missing her childhood next door neighbor who’s she secretly loved but couldn’t find it in her to confess her true feelings for him without bringing up their flawed past. But our pasts never stay down, and Henry Cole came reclining back into her life not realizing accidentally spilling a drink on her would lead to their relationship blossoming from friendship to lovers.
Henry Cole had one mission in life and that was to get Norah to see him as more than friends, but one desperate and stupid night led to an explosion of missed opportunities and grudges being held for years. Their relationship of being friends quickly led to them being enemies and who doesn’t love a good enemies to lovers 😈 BUT the best part of enemies to lovers is they do end up being lovers at one point and my god this man knows a way around words and making a woman feel so special, scouts honor 🤞He could easily beg me for something and I would happily oblige.
A fast paced book designed to showcase that our past mistakes can help our future in case of relationships. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I fell in love with these characters AND getting to know about Jewish culture. Rachel did an extraordinary job simplifying some of the words enough for readers to understand what’s happening during Hanakuh and at times explained the rituals so readers could fully immerse themselves in this beautifully told debut. As I was finishing reading the epilogue I wanted another chapter, which doesn’t happen often when I read my books. One of my favorite parts was when NORAH was the one desperately getting him back, usually it’s the MMC in stories.
Thank you sooo much to NetGalley and Rachel Pologe for letting me read this heartwarming book. And in the words of Henry Cole PLEASE never stop writing. 🫶
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Now That We Don’t Talk by Rachel Pologe completely surprised me in the best way 🥹❄️
This book has all the emotional chaos I love in a second chance romance — childhood friends, unresolved feelings, years of tension, too much history, and two people who are clearly still obsessed with each other even while pretending they’re not.
Norah and Henry were messy in the most believable way. Their dynamic balances perfectly between tension, banter, frustration, and longing, and I loved how the story slowly unpacks what happened between them over the years instead of revealing everything immediately. Every little flash of their past made the emotional payoff hit harder.
And honestly? These two felt so real. They fight, they avoid saying what they actually feel, they dance around each other constantly, but underneath all of it there’s this undeniable connection that never fully went away.
One of my favourite parts was definitely the family dynamics. The fact that Norah and Henry’s moms falling for each other becomes part of the storyline added such a fun layer to the tension 😭 It created so many awkward, emotional, and genuinely funny moments while still making the families feel important to the story instead of just background characters.
The winter atmosphere was also SO cozy. It has that perfect cold-weather romance vibe without being overly holiday-focused, and I really appreciated the Hanukkah representation woven naturally into the story and family traditions.
There’s also this really nice balance between sweetness and angst throughout. The chemistry is there immediately, but the emotional tension carries the story just as much as the romance itself.
✨ Tropes & vibes:
❄️ Childhood friends to lovers
🤍 Second chance romance
❄️ Forced proximity/family chaos
🤍 Messy emotional history
❄️ Banter & unresolved tension
🤍 Cozy winter atmosphere
❄️ “They’re obviously still in love” energy
Rachel Pologe absolutely delivered with this debut. Emotional, funny, romantic, and full of heart 🩵
This book has all the emotional chaos I love in a second chance romance — childhood friends, unresolved feelings, years of tension, too much history, and two people who are clearly still obsessed with each other even while pretending they’re not.
Norah and Henry were messy in the most believable way. Their dynamic balances perfectly between tension, banter, frustration, and longing, and I loved how the story slowly unpacks what happened between them over the years instead of revealing everything immediately. Every little flash of their past made the emotional payoff hit harder.
And honestly? These two felt so real. They fight, they avoid saying what they actually feel, they dance around each other constantly, but underneath all of it there’s this undeniable connection that never fully went away.
One of my favourite parts was definitely the family dynamics. The fact that Norah and Henry’s moms falling for each other becomes part of the storyline added such a fun layer to the tension 😭 It created so many awkward, emotional, and genuinely funny moments while still making the families feel important to the story instead of just background characters.
The winter atmosphere was also SO cozy. It has that perfect cold-weather romance vibe without being overly holiday-focused, and I really appreciated the Hanukkah representation woven naturally into the story and family traditions.
There’s also this really nice balance between sweetness and angst throughout. The chemistry is there immediately, but the emotional tension carries the story just as much as the romance itself.
✨ Tropes & vibes:
❄️ Childhood friends to lovers
🤍 Second chance romance
❄️ Forced proximity/family chaos
🤍 Messy emotional history
❄️ Banter & unresolved tension
🤍 Cozy winter atmosphere
❄️ “They’re obviously still in love” energy
Rachel Pologe absolutely delivered with this debut. Emotional, funny, romantic, and full of heart 🩵
May 6, 2026
1.75 ⭐️
I really wanted to like this one but it just didn’t work for me. This read like it was meant to be a screenplay but was padded out just enough to be a book and I have no idea why romance authors are doing that these days because if I wanted to watch tv I’d turn it on 🤷♀️
If you’re going to market your book a childhood friends to enemies to lovers i’m not sure having them hook up by 30% and within 24 hours of meeting for the first time in 9 years is the move. These two change so abruptly from there onwards that it’s extremely hard to connect with them. Henry goes from 0-100 and I felt like I was missing chapters of growth because he literally changed overnight. Norah was holding onto a grudge that imo, felt very childish.
Speaking of childish. The writing is very juvenile. I think this could have been a great YA/new adult romance but it just didn’t work as adult. There was so many times the words “I latke you” came up and had me rolling my eyes. They were both so immature and when the spice hit it just felt awkward.
The sex. This was pretty mild but I just don’t think it fit the vibe of the book. I didn’t feel like these two had chemistry anyway so I didn’t feel the emotional build up or pay off when it came to the sex. It was just there. (The vague but also .. tmi chapter 1 hook up with her fwb was also so strange to me? Kinda felt unnecessary)
The writing. I’m a little over matter of fact writing. Where has beautiful prose gone in contemporary romance? Again this felt like a screenplay where there was no establishing setting or lingering on details. Everything is just there and nothing has depth.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for sending me the arc. All opinions are my own.
I really wanted to like this one but it just didn’t work for me. This read like it was meant to be a screenplay but was padded out just enough to be a book and I have no idea why romance authors are doing that these days because if I wanted to watch tv I’d turn it on 🤷♀️
If you’re going to market your book a childhood friends to enemies to lovers i’m not sure having them hook up by 30% and within 24 hours of meeting for the first time in 9 years is the move. These two change so abruptly from there onwards that it’s extremely hard to connect with them. Henry goes from 0-100 and I felt like I was missing chapters of growth because he literally changed overnight. Norah was holding onto a grudge that imo, felt very childish.
Speaking of childish. The writing is very juvenile. I think this could have been a great YA/new adult romance but it just didn’t work as adult. There was so many times the words “I latke you” came up and had me rolling my eyes. They were both so immature and when the spice hit it just felt awkward.
The sex. This was pretty mild but I just don’t think it fit the vibe of the book. I didn’t feel like these two had chemistry anyway so I didn’t feel the emotional build up or pay off when it came to the sex. It was just there. (The vague but also .. tmi chapter 1 hook up with her fwb was also so strange to me? Kinda felt unnecessary)
The writing. I’m a little over matter of fact writing. Where has beautiful prose gone in contemporary romance? Again this felt like a screenplay where there was no establishing setting or lingering on details. Everything is just there and nothing has depth.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for sending me the arc. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had the luck of being able to read an early draft of Now That We Don’t Talk and I’m really excited for everyone else to be able to get their hands on this soon. Childhood friends and second chances are two of my favorite tropes, and Pologe really delivered! Norah and Henry are messy, hot, and so lovable. I like how the story slowly shows us what happened to them in the past and leaves you guessing with what exactly will happen in the present. There are so many funny lines, as well as a lot of swoon and banter. I also appreciated the loving and sometimes complicated family dynamics that were happening in the book. The premise of Henry and Norah’s mother’s falling in love felt unique and offered both tension and comedic relief. I liked that the family didn’t just disappear in the background but were part of the entirety of the plot. There’s also a delicious piece of angst from their past that keeps tension high and the characters fumbling to figure out their feelings in the best way. The romance is both sweet and spicy, with a hint of enemies to lovers vibe because these two dorks are too proud to admit they’re obsessed with each other so naturally they have to fight with each other to get their feelings out. One thing I also really enjoyed about this book is it kept me guessing. A lot of novels are pretty predictable and I have to admit that I could not guess what the twist and turns along the way were going to be, which I really like when reading a novel. And lastly, I really liked the cozy winter vibes of the story and look into a Jewish character celebrating Hanukkah and its traditions with her family. This one is great to cozy up with when it’s cold but since it’s not specifically a holiday romance it can be enjoyed at any time! A strong day view from a voice I’m sure we’re all going to see more of!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Now That We Don't Talk is a fantastic debut from Rachel Pologe. From page one I was invested in Norah and Henry's friendship and why it fell apart. It's a great holiday romance about childhood friends/neighbors who didn't know how to share their feelings with each other when they were in their teens. Older and wiser, both Norah and Henry reconnect over Hanukkah with their families. I felt that the romance between the two of them was genuine, but Norah definitely was afraid of commitment. Her heart wanted what Henry wanted, but her mind kept telling her "No". The way that she went about becoming a better person to her friends, family, and Henry took a lot of will-power to want to change. I absolutely LOVED the mention of therapy because sometimes working with a professional is necessary to really discuss the reasons why one self-sabotages the relationships in their lives. I really enjoyed how Hannah and their moms saw what was between the two of them and helped push them in the right direction. The romance between Henry and Norah is HOT, so be prepared for a few steamy scenes.
The ending was satisfying, but I do wish here was a bit more detail. I also wish that there was a bit more as to why Henry visited David's, Norah's father, grave so often despite him being gone.
Overall, this book was a 4.5/5 for me, 2.5/5 for spice. Highly recommend to readers who are looking for holiday romances centered around Hanukkah, childhood friends to lovers, second chance romance, he falls first, and "It's always been you" tropes.
Thank you Berkley Pub for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
The ending was satisfying, but I do wish here was a bit more detail. I also wish that there was a bit more as to why Henry visited David's, Norah's father, grave so often despite him being gone.
Overall, this book was a 4.5/5 for me, 2.5/5 for spice. Highly recommend to readers who are looking for holiday romances centered around Hanukkah, childhood friends to lovers, second chance romance, he falls first, and "It's always been you" tropes.
Thank you Berkley Pub for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Now That We Don't Talk is a cozy, emotional romance set during Hanukkah. It follows estranged childhood best friends Norah and Henry as they reunite years after a painful falling out. The story starts full of tension and unresolved hurt, then slowly shifts to a sweet second chance love story, layered with grief, longing and personal growth. The pacing does a great job revealing their shared history piece by piece and it makes their connection feel believable and hard-earned. Norah is messy and (sometimes frustratingly) human, but her struggles with avoidance and unprocessed loss makes her growth feel really earned. Henry (oh, Henry) delivers all the quiet, yearning MMC vibes. He's patient and steady in a way that had me rooting for him the entire time.
Being home for Hanukkah brings forced proximity (thanks to their moms dating) and the tension and chemistry are there from the start. The family dynamics, past hurts and emotional healing add emotional depth, but it still keeps all the cozy winter vibes overall. Parts of the drama and past conflict felt a bit much, but the character growth, especially for Norah, makes it worth the ride. This is a really strong debut that balances heartache with hope for the future and I really enjoyed it!
❄️ Childhood best friends to enemies to lovers
🕯 Hanukkah / winter vibes
❄️ "It's always been you"
🕯️ Forced proximity
❄️ Only one bed
🕯 Second chance
❄️ First person single POV (with epilogue from the MMC's POV)
Thank you Rachel Pologe, Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for a copy of "Now That We Don't Talk" in exchange for my honest review.
Being home for Hanukkah brings forced proximity (thanks to their moms dating) and the tension and chemistry are there from the start. The family dynamics, past hurts and emotional healing add emotional depth, but it still keeps all the cozy winter vibes overall. Parts of the drama and past conflict felt a bit much, but the character growth, especially for Norah, makes it worth the ride. This is a really strong debut that balances heartache with hope for the future and I really enjoyed it!
❄️ Childhood best friends to enemies to lovers
🕯 Hanukkah / winter vibes
❄️ "It's always been you"
🕯️ Forced proximity
❄️ Only one bed
🕯 Second chance
❄️ First person single POV (with epilogue from the MMC's POV)
Thank you Rachel Pologe, Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for a copy of "Now That We Don't Talk" in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Now That We Don't Talk is a Hannukah romance following an interfaith pair of best friends who through the hijinks of high school miscommunication drift apart, only to come back together to see their moms fall in love and rekindle their own relationship, followed by the hijinks of adult miscommunication, only to be solved with the power of therapy. I enjoyed the premise, I love a good Hannukah romance, but this one didn't really hit the spot for me. for one, the FMC lives in New York and comes home to Chicago for the holidays and seems to make the one hour time difference between the two cities a *huge deal.* it really isn't such a big deal that someone would be jetlagged, or thrown off by one hour. which is crazy, bc our FMC also goes to LA and doesn't complain once about the three hour difference, where it does start to cause jet lag (at least for me). I understand the need for conflict at the end of a romance novel, I do, but I think I can only take one trope at a time. the mix of third act breakup and miscommunication just made me want to yell at my tablet. in addition, it didn't feel as "Hannukah-y" as other Hannukah romances have and I wish there were more things that allowed me to connect with the Jewish FMC besides being apart of the "Dead Dad Club," as she so eloquently put it. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a holiday romance, but doesn't care about the holiday part of "holiday romance."
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
❄️Hanukkah / winter holiday vibes
🕯️Forced proximity
❄️Childhood best friends to lovers
🕯️One bed
❄️LGBTQ rep between side characters
🕯️HEA
❄️ 🌶️🌶️
This was very engaging and well done for a debut and I anticipate great things from this author going forward! Here, we meet two childhood best friends who reunite 9 years after an emotional separation and betrayal that occurred senior year of highschool. We start with enemies to lovers vibes that evolve while they are forced to spend time together over the holidays with their moms who are dating.
For most of the book I felt truly and deeply annoyed with the FMC and her penchant for drama. Like.. too much drama! The level of grace she was provided by her family and friends felt silly for the disrespect and selfishness she displayed. But I was relieved to find out this becomes a story of self growth for her and we as readers experience some real heart ache during this journey. Honestly Hanna (her sister) was my favorite character always calling her out and putting my thoughts to words on the page.
The plot around the past betrayal and the new relationship was a little disjointed but overall, I read this in a day and enjoyed it! I personally love having my heart tugged around during a romance and the exploration of some darker themes (loss of a parent, betrayal, etc) really added depth.
Thank you for ARC provided by NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group
🕯️Forced proximity
❄️Childhood best friends to lovers
🕯️One bed
❄️LGBTQ rep between side characters
🕯️HEA
❄️ 🌶️🌶️
This was very engaging and well done for a debut and I anticipate great things from this author going forward! Here, we meet two childhood best friends who reunite 9 years after an emotional separation and betrayal that occurred senior year of highschool. We start with enemies to lovers vibes that evolve while they are forced to spend time together over the holidays with their moms who are dating.
For most of the book I felt truly and deeply annoyed with the FMC and her penchant for drama. Like.. too much drama! The level of grace she was provided by her family and friends felt silly for the disrespect and selfishness she displayed. But I was relieved to find out this becomes a story of self growth for her and we as readers experience some real heart ache during this journey. Honestly Hanna (her sister) was my favorite character always calling her out and putting my thoughts to words on the page.
The plot around the past betrayal and the new relationship was a little disjointed but overall, I read this in a day and enjoyed it! I personally love having my heart tugged around during a romance and the exploration of some darker themes (loss of a parent, betrayal, etc) really added depth.
Thank you for ARC provided by NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is childhood best friends to… honestly enemies for a while… to something so much deeper and more complicated than just lovers. Norah and Henry don’t just fall back into each other’s lives, they collide…with years of hurt, grief, and everything they never said sitting right there between them.
And Norah? Oh boy, she’s messy. She runs. She makes choices that had me staring at the page like ummm girl please but at the same time… I got it. The grief, the fear, the way she keeps herself from getting too close to anything real…it all made sense. And watching her slowly work through that instead of just magically fixing everything felt really honest.
But Henry??
Yeah… I loved him.
He’s that quiet, steady, I’m still here even when you’re hard to love kind of person. Just constant. The man is so painfully down bad and I ate it up every single time.
Being thrown back together over Hanukkah while their moms are dating?? Yeah… there’s no escaping each other. The tension is there immediately, but it’s not over the top. It’s quieter. More like all the things they’re not saying.
And I really liked how the book handled grief and healing. It wasn’t rushed or tied up neatly. It felt messy and slow and very real, which made the relationship feel like it actually meant something by the end.
Thank you so much Berkley Romance, NetGalley, and Rachel Pologe for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
And Norah? Oh boy, she’s messy. She runs. She makes choices that had me staring at the page like ummm girl please but at the same time… I got it. The grief, the fear, the way she keeps herself from getting too close to anything real…it all made sense. And watching her slowly work through that instead of just magically fixing everything felt really honest.
But Henry??
Yeah… I loved him.
He’s that quiet, steady, I’m still here even when you’re hard to love kind of person. Just constant. The man is so painfully down bad and I ate it up every single time.
Being thrown back together over Hanukkah while their moms are dating?? Yeah… there’s no escaping each other. The tension is there immediately, but it’s not over the top. It’s quieter. More like all the things they’re not saying.
And I really liked how the book handled grief and healing. It wasn’t rushed or tied up neatly. It felt messy and slow and very real, which made the relationship feel like it actually meant something by the end.
Thank you so much Berkley Romance, NetGalley, and Rachel Pologe for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Now That We Don’t Talk was such a cute holiday romance but also??? why was I lowkey emotional the whole time.
this is childhood best friends to estranged to… something very complicated. Norah and Henry grew up inseparable, and now they’re being shoved back into each other’s lives because their moms are getting married. like the setup alone?? messy. I was seated.
and then you layer in the fact that Norah lost her dad suddenly in high school, and everything between them just feels heavier. there’s so much unsaid, so much hurt, and the yearning??? actually dialed up to 1000. for a “cute holiday romance” this one had some bite to it.
I’m not Jewish, but I really loved getting to experience Hanukkah and the traditions woven throughout the story. it added so much warmth and depth.
Norah is navigating grief, abandonment, imposter syndrome, all while being pulled back toward someone who once meant everything to her… and Henry is right there in the middle of all of it. their dynamic is tender but complicated, and watching them work through all that history was equal parts soft and painful.
there’s a lot packed into this one - grief, loss, love, second chances - and it balances it really well. it still has that cozy holiday feel, but with way more emotional weight than I expected.
such a strong debut and definitely one to pick up for the holidays. Thank you Berkley for the ARC.
this is childhood best friends to estranged to… something very complicated. Norah and Henry grew up inseparable, and now they’re being shoved back into each other’s lives because their moms are getting married. like the setup alone?? messy. I was seated.
and then you layer in the fact that Norah lost her dad suddenly in high school, and everything between them just feels heavier. there’s so much unsaid, so much hurt, and the yearning??? actually dialed up to 1000. for a “cute holiday romance” this one had some bite to it.
I’m not Jewish, but I really loved getting to experience Hanukkah and the traditions woven throughout the story. it added so much warmth and depth.
Norah is navigating grief, abandonment, imposter syndrome, all while being pulled back toward someone who once meant everything to her… and Henry is right there in the middle of all of it. their dynamic is tender but complicated, and watching them work through all that history was equal parts soft and painful.
there’s a lot packed into this one - grief, loss, love, second chances - and it balances it really well. it still has that cozy holiday feel, but with way more emotional weight than I expected.
such a strong debut and definitely one to pick up for the holidays. Thank you Berkley for the ARC.
April 20, 2026
NOW THAT WE DON’T TALK by Rachel Pologe
The things I would do for Henry and Norah. Childhood best friends whose falling out fractured them both. Nine years later they’re brought back together when their mothers couple up. She is still so hurt and so angry. And he — well, he’s Henry. [insert heart eyes emoji here]
Rachel masterfully threads the friends to enemies to lovers needle — which is a feat in and of itself. Henry and Norah are so thoughtfully crafted that you don’t question their feelings or the mess they’ve made. You see how grief and fear and hope have imprinted on them both. And you feel in your bones that they belong together.
Rachel is kind and deliberate with how she portrays grief — how it’s different for everyone, how it manifests at odd times, often in unexpected ways. She also beautifully weaves Jewish life and tradition into the story — in a way that is accessible for those who are unfamiliar and a comfort for those of us who share these experiences.
Norah and Henry’s love story is uniquely theirs. It is funny and heartbreaking and sexy and realistic. It was a joy to read and an incredible debut. I absolutely loved it.
Now That We Don’t Talk by @rachelpologewrites comes out October 20th!
A big thank you to @berkleypub and @netgalley for the ARC!
The things I would do for Henry and Norah. Childhood best friends whose falling out fractured them both. Nine years later they’re brought back together when their mothers couple up. She is still so hurt and so angry. And he — well, he’s Henry. [insert heart eyes emoji here]
Rachel masterfully threads the friends to enemies to lovers needle — which is a feat in and of itself. Henry and Norah are so thoughtfully crafted that you don’t question their feelings or the mess they’ve made. You see how grief and fear and hope have imprinted on them both. And you feel in your bones that they belong together.
Rachel is kind and deliberate with how she portrays grief — how it’s different for everyone, how it manifests at odd times, often in unexpected ways. She also beautifully weaves Jewish life and tradition into the story — in a way that is accessible for those who are unfamiliar and a comfort for those of us who share these experiences.
Norah and Henry’s love story is uniquely theirs. It is funny and heartbreaking and sexy and realistic. It was a joy to read and an incredible debut. I absolutely loved it.
Now That We Don’t Talk by @rachelpologewrites comes out October 20th!
A big thank you to @berkleypub and @netgalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
thank you Netgalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own
Let me start by saying this title is one of my favorite Taylor Swift songs, so I was already invested before I even opened the book.
This was my first Hanukkah romance, and I genuinely loved how the holiday was woven into the story. It felt meaningful, grounding the characters in tradition, family, and all the messy, complicated emotions that come with both.
In the beginning, I wasn't too sure about Norah. She runs, she deflects, and she keeps people at a distance. But as the story progressed, I realized the things that annoyed me actually made her feel real. Watching her forced proximity with Henry (swoon! We love a man who yearns) created this steady emotional tension that carried the whole book.
You can feel the weight of what they lost and what they never fully resolved, and that's what makes the romance work. It’s not just about rekindling something, it’s about confronting it.
I loved how Rachel balanced humor, family dynamics, and deeper emotions. Her story is messy in a way that feels honest as it explores grief, timing, and the fear of letting someone in again.
If you like second chance romance with tension, history, and holiday charm, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
Let me start by saying this title is one of my favorite Taylor Swift songs, so I was already invested before I even opened the book.
This was my first Hanukkah romance, and I genuinely loved how the holiday was woven into the story. It felt meaningful, grounding the characters in tradition, family, and all the messy, complicated emotions that come with both.
In the beginning, I wasn't too sure about Norah. She runs, she deflects, and she keeps people at a distance. But as the story progressed, I realized the things that annoyed me actually made her feel real. Watching her forced proximity with Henry (swoon! We love a man who yearns) created this steady emotional tension that carried the whole book.
You can feel the weight of what they lost and what they never fully resolved, and that's what makes the romance work. It’s not just about rekindling something, it’s about confronting it.
I loved how Rachel balanced humor, family dynamics, and deeper emotions. Her story is messy in a way that feels honest as it explores grief, timing, and the fear of letting someone in again.
If you like second chance romance with tension, history, and holiday charm, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Now That We Don’t Talk is Rachel Pologe’s debut novel, and it made me FEEL THINGS. At the outset, we know that Henry was Norah’s boy next door, but we don’t know what happened to make them enemies. When Norah goes home for Hanukkah and encounters Henry again after years of not talking, all of the wounds they’re carrying because of one another resurface during the time they’re forced to spend together with their families. Norah is a runner, shying away from anything that looks like commitment. Henry yearns for what might have been with Norah.
As they make their way back to one another, there is plenty of residual hurt, maturing into what looks a lot like a love that’s been there all along. Norah’s grand gesture had me kicking my feet, and Henry’s response was perfect. I finished it yesterday and still have a book hangover (in the best way)!
Rachel Pologe explores grief and how it affects families differently, moving on after loss, and finding love in unlikely places. Returning to the one you’ve always loved is sometimes the hardest thing of all.
Now That We Don’t Talk is Rachel Pologe’s debut novel, and it made me FEEL THINGS. At the outset, we know that Henry was Norah’s boy next door, but we don’t know what happened to make them enemies. When Norah goes home for Hanukkah and encounters Henry again after years of not talking, all of the wounds they’re carrying because of one another resurface during the time they’re forced to spend together with their families. Norah is a runner, shying away from anything that looks like commitment. Henry yearns for what might have been with Norah.
As they make their way back to one another, there is plenty of residual hurt, maturing into what looks a lot like a love that’s been there all along. Norah’s grand gesture had me kicking my feet, and Henry’s response was perfect. I finished it yesterday and still have a book hangover (in the best way)!
Rachel Pologe explores grief and how it affects families differently, moving on after loss, and finding love in unlikely places. Returning to the one you’ve always loved is sometimes the hardest thing of all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Norah and Henry are childhood besties, with undeclared feelings for each other, who have a major falling out which leads to no contact for nine years. They are thrown back together now that their moms are dating each other. While celebrating Hanukkah Norah and Henry get snowed in, declare a truce for their moms' sake and start to have old feelings resurface. They are reminded why they were so good together as friends, but will it be enough to heal the hurt from all those years ago and will it be enough to change Norah's tendency to run when things get serious?
This was cute and a totally bingeable read. For the most part, I enjoyed Norah and Henry's story, however, I am not a fan of the step sibling trope. I know they liked each other far longer than the moms were together but it sorta gives me the ick. I just kept putting the mom part out of my head to root for them to work out. This has great Jewish rep and will be a perfect read for Hanukkah time- though I read it in June!
3.75 stars and I will definitely read what Rachel Pologe writes next.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC!
Now That We Don't Talk publishes 10/20/26, check it out!
This was cute and a totally bingeable read. For the most part, I enjoyed Norah and Henry's story, however, I am not a fan of the step sibling trope. I know they liked each other far longer than the moms were together but it sorta gives me the ick. I just kept putting the mom part out of my head to root for them to work out. This has great Jewish rep and will be a perfect read for Hanukkah time- though I read it in June!
3.75 stars and I will definitely read what Rachel Pologe writes next.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC!
Now That We Don't Talk publishes 10/20/26, check it out!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love winter holiday romances, and I really hoped I would enjoy this book, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
The FMC has black cat energy, which is one of my least favorite tropes, so from the very first pages I didn’t like Norah. She is 26, but in my opinion, she behaves selfishly and immaturely throughout the book. On top of that, her resentment toward Henry felt exaggerated. It was just a coincidence, and at her age she should already understand that. Yet she held onto that grudge and hated the hero for almost 10 years. At the same time, the reconciliation between the characters happened way too quickly. Henry was better than Norah, but he didn’t really stand out to me either.
Although this book wasn’t for me, I wish the author all the best and will continue following her work.
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓friends to enemies to lovers
✓holiday romance
✓forced proximity
✓home for Hanukkah
✓snowed in
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group (Berkley) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The FMC has black cat energy, which is one of my least favorite tropes, so from the very first pages I didn’t like Norah. She is 26, but in my opinion, she behaves selfishly and immaturely throughout the book. On top of that, her resentment toward Henry felt exaggerated. It was just a coincidence, and at her age she should already understand that. Yet she held onto that grudge and hated the hero for almost 10 years. At the same time, the reconciliation between the characters happened way too quickly. Henry was better than Norah, but he didn’t really stand out to me either.
Although this book wasn’t for me, I wish the author all the best and will continue following her work.
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓friends to enemies to lovers
✓holiday romance
✓forced proximity
✓home for Hanukkah
✓snowed in
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group (Berkley) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I enjoyed this read, especially the Jewish representation and the characters. I absolutely loved Henry, the MMC, and My only complaints are that at times, the conflict felt disproportionate
Overall, an enjoyable read with enjoyable characters and, as always, I am always looking for and loving Jewish rep in contemporary romance!
I enjoyed this read, especially the Jewish representation and the characters. I absolutely loved Henry, the MMC, and My only complaints are that at times, the conflict felt disproportionate
Overall, an enjoyable read with enjoyable characters and, as always, I am always looking for and loving Jewish rep in contemporary romance!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It is the year of men who yearn, and Rachel SO understood the assignment! Henry Cole is down BAD for Norah Gold, and Norah, being the hot mess (affectionate) that she is, is completely clueless. I'm always and forever a sucker for idiots to lovers, especially when it comes packaged in such deeply relatable characters. Norah is a disaster (affectionate, again) but she's also a member of the Dead Dad Club and carting around buckets of unprocessed trauma and grief. These two have to work for their HEA, which is deeply satisfying to me as a reader. Their emotional arcs are real, layered, and heartfelt, as are their interactions with their families and friends (we love a protective bestie!).
With a snappy pace and laugh out loud one liners, NTWDT is one of my favorite 2026 reads that took me on a journey of snarky banter, cozy snowed in just one bed swoons, and hurt myfeelings deliciousness (those d*mn scrambled eggs - IYKYK!), I can't wait to see what Rachel does next!
With a snappy pace and laugh out loud one liners, NTWDT is one of my favorite 2026 reads that took me on a journey of snarky banter, cozy snowed in just one bed swoons, and hurt myfeelings deliciousness (those d*mn scrambled eggs - IYKYK!), I can't wait to see what Rachel does next!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rachel Pologe’s debut is an utter delight. It has all the ingredients for a fab romcom: a stellar voice, thoughtful themes, fiery spice and sweeping romance. I loved Norah so much. She’s cool and funny and, yeah, she’s messy and a lot and needs to get her head together if she’s going to be able to accept and give love but whomst among us doesn’t have our issues, I ask you??? Our little bolter Norah has good reason for guarding her heart, and watching her learn about herself and overcome her past traumas made her happy ending with Henry all the more satisfying. While we’re at it, can we talk about Henry? Or rather, drool about Henry? Because he was a HOT love interest and those of us who stan him get a lil reward in the epilogue. I also loved getting to know the wider cast of characters, a couple of whom—if we’re lucky—may feature in future books. Rachel Pologe’s voice shines bright on the page and I am counting the days till her next release.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I first want to thank Netgalley for granting me the opportunity to read this ARC.
This was my first book by this author but I’m always a sucker for a good Romance book. This book was like reading your comfort movie wrapped up in a cozy blanket. The holiday setting of Hanukkah as the background was just chefs kiss. This is my first Hanukkah story too so the bar is high.
Getting into the story, Norah and Henry were the perfect characters and seeing their story evolve throughout the book was great. Norah with her struggles and seeing that in the story made it feel sooo relatable and real. Henry and his yearning, who doesn’t want an MMC who does that. The way they had to work through everything to get through there issues and in the end it was worth it.
This is definitely a good comfort holiday read and hope other people are able to enjoy the warm holiday feeling that comes from it.
This was my first book by this author but I’m always a sucker for a good Romance book. This book was like reading your comfort movie wrapped up in a cozy blanket. The holiday setting of Hanukkah as the background was just chefs kiss. This is my first Hanukkah story too so the bar is high.
Getting into the story, Norah and Henry were the perfect characters and seeing their story evolve throughout the book was great. Norah with her struggles and seeing that in the story made it feel sooo relatable and real. Henry and his yearning, who doesn’t want an MMC who does that. The way they had to work through everything to get through there issues and in the end it was worth it.
This is definitely a good comfort holiday read and hope other people are able to enjoy the warm holiday feeling that comes from it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars
I am the biggest sucker for a childhood friends to lovers story. There were moments between Henry and Norah that were so delicious and full of tension, I could barely breathe. Unfortunately, my biggest issue was with Norah. I love a flawed character and character growth but Norah took it a little far for me to find enjoyable. I didn't like how she treated not only Henry, but her friends and family too. Norah is 26 but sometimes it felt like she was 18. Ruining her mom's proposal was crazy AND dumping Henry because her hookup called her mean, girl please. I really loved Henry and they had some real rom com moments that had me smiling at my kindle. Overall, I really liked the writing and would recommend.
Thanks so much to Rachel Pologe, the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
I am the biggest sucker for a childhood friends to lovers story. There were moments between Henry and Norah that were so delicious and full of tension, I could barely breathe. Unfortunately, my biggest issue was with Norah. I love a flawed character and character growth but Norah took it a little far for me to find enjoyable. I didn't like how she treated not only Henry, but her friends and family too. Norah is 26 but sometimes it felt like she was 18. Ruining her mom's proposal was crazy AND dumping Henry because her hookup called her mean, girl please. I really loved Henry and they had some real rom com moments that had me smiling at my kindle. Overall, I really liked the writing and would recommend.
Thanks so much to Rachel Pologe, the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews