What do you think?
Pining for You
The classic Hallmark holiday movie gets turned upside down when a teen leaves her small-town Christmas tree farm in pursuit of the city girl who swept her off her feet in this cheeky and cozy rom-com by Food Network competitor Stef Ferrari.
Bennie Bosley has Christmas spirit on lock. Her borderline magical ability to give the perfect gift, encyclopedic knowledge of holiday movies, and skill as a baker working at a literal Christmas tree farm mean she’s the authority on all things merry. So, when Bennie sees sparkles after bumping into the most stunning girl she’s ever seen in her small Connecticut town, her friends are all shocked that Bennie doesn’t seem to realize what this real holiday magic at work…and the perfect opportunity for her much-needed first kiss.
There’s just one her mystery girl, Eve, lives in Brooklyn and Bennie never got her number or her last name. But showing up unexpectedly to make a big romantic gesture is a classic holiday trope for a reason, right? And her friends aren’t about to miss the fireworks.
But what was supposed to be a quick Christmas adventure turns into a scramble across Brooklyn when the biggest snowstorm of the decade hits. Will Bennie and crew be able to track Eve down for a merrily ever after and still make it back for their last Cooper Farm Christmas Eve party, or is their holiday movie moment destined for the cutting room floor?
Bennie Bosley has Christmas spirit on lock. Her borderline magical ability to give the perfect gift, encyclopedic knowledge of holiday movies, and skill as a baker working at a literal Christmas tree farm mean she’s the authority on all things merry. So, when Bennie sees sparkles after bumping into the most stunning girl she’s ever seen in her small Connecticut town, her friends are all shocked that Bennie doesn’t seem to realize what this real holiday magic at work…and the perfect opportunity for her much-needed first kiss.
There’s just one her mystery girl, Eve, lives in Brooklyn and Bennie never got her number or her last name. But showing up unexpectedly to make a big romantic gesture is a classic holiday trope for a reason, right? And her friends aren’t about to miss the fireworks.
But what was supposed to be a quick Christmas adventure turns into a scramble across Brooklyn when the biggest snowstorm of the decade hits. Will Bennie and crew be able to track Eve down for a merrily ever after and still make it back for their last Cooper Farm Christmas Eve party, or is their holiday movie moment destined for the cutting room floor?
384 pages, Hardcover
Published September 8, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
August 10, 2026
Bennie just wants two things: To get into film school so she can make queer holiday movies, and to get her first kiss. A chance encounter with a cute girl at the Christmas tree farm where Bennie works increases the chance of the latter...if she can just find the girl again. And what's Christmas if not a chance to take a road trip to NYC, attempt her first-ever documentary while she's at it, and get the girl?
I like a cute Christmas book, I like queer romance, and (if we're being honest here) I really like punny titles. And this was good fun—Bennie has a solid friend group, all with well-developed senses of adventure, and they get up to some good-natured minor chaos in NYC. (I also appreciated that this wasn't their first time in the city; they're still functionally tourists, but slightly less wide-eyed than they might be.)
Bennie's "documentary" plot felt a bit thin; she puts down her camera every time someone does or says something that doesn't fit with her view of Christmas magic, even if it's an objectively interesting moment (or if there's something more interesting to say than "look! magic!"). I did like the way her film school arc plays out—not unrealistic—but I was waiting and waiting for a moment when it would get through to her that she was going to have a hard time making her documentary if all she was filming was a montage of context-free happy moments, and that moment really never comes. (And...I know I'm old, but 27 uses of "ya know" is at least 25 uses too many.)
The romance is fine; I see what Bennie likes in Eve, though their romance is really based on vibes and fumes (could turn out great! Just, the entire book is kind of an extended meet-cute, so who knows how things would go once they actually got to spend real time with each other). In the end it's a cute, fast, fun holiday read, albeit probably one that won't stick with me.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
I like a cute Christmas book, I like queer romance, and (if we're being honest here) I really like punny titles. And this was good fun—Bennie has a solid friend group, all with well-developed senses of adventure, and they get up to some good-natured minor chaos in NYC. (I also appreciated that this wasn't their first time in the city; they're still functionally tourists, but slightly less wide-eyed than they might be.)
Bennie's "documentary" plot felt a bit thin; she puts down her camera every time someone does or says something that doesn't fit with her view of Christmas magic, even if it's an objectively interesting moment (or if there's something more interesting to say than "look! magic!"). I did like the way her film school arc plays out—not unrealistic—but I was waiting and waiting for a moment when it would get through to her that she was going to have a hard time making her documentary if all she was filming was a montage of context-free happy moments, and that moment really never comes. (And...I know I'm old, but 27 uses of "ya know" is at least 25 uses too many.)
The romance is fine; I see what Bennie likes in Eve, though their romance is really based on vibes and fumes (could turn out great! Just, the entire book is kind of an extended meet-cute, so who knows how things would go once they actually got to spend real time with each other). In the end it's a cute, fast, fun holiday read, albeit probably one that won't stick with me.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
September 10, 2026
What happens when you combine Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist with Happiest Season?
Bennie loves Christmas and wants to make Hallmark movies after graduation, but first she needs to have a first kiss. Then she meets Eve briefly and what follows in a hilarious adventure into Brooklyn in search both a Christmas kiss, but also Christmas magic.
This book was so fun. I liked that buried within the comedy and shenanigan's of this group of friends were true trials each person was dealing with. It tackled that last holiday season before the friends and traditions you have had your whole life change. Everyone has a new plan for after high school and everyone has a different thing they are dealing with in pursuit of that new life.
Bennie's desire to stay present while the world churns around her is a compelling conflict that slowly gets more relevant as you learn about all the things she is dealing with.
**potential spoilers**
While the love story in this is cute and I enjoyed it, it is not the heart of this book. Its refreshing to read a YA rom com where you get the feeling that the two people could or could not work out in the long run. There is a earnestness about it. Its new and fresh. It gets to be vulnerable in the end, which feels more authentic then a declaration of love that seems to imply they will work forever.
Bennie loves Christmas and wants to make Hallmark movies after graduation, but first she needs to have a first kiss. Then she meets Eve briefly and what follows in a hilarious adventure into Brooklyn in search both a Christmas kiss, but also Christmas magic.
This book was so fun. I liked that buried within the comedy and shenanigan's of this group of friends were true trials each person was dealing with. It tackled that last holiday season before the friends and traditions you have had your whole life change. Everyone has a new plan for after high school and everyone has a different thing they are dealing with in pursuit of that new life.
Bennie's desire to stay present while the world churns around her is a compelling conflict that slowly gets more relevant as you learn about all the things she is dealing with.
**potential spoilers**
While the love story in this is cute and I enjoyed it, it is not the heart of this book. Its refreshing to read a YA rom com where you get the feeling that the two people could or could not work out in the long run. There is a earnestness about it. Its new and fresh. It gets to be vulnerable in the end, which feels more authentic then a declaration of love that seems to imply they will work forever.
June 26, 2026
This was a cute little YA Christmas story. It follows Bennie, who works at a bakery located on a Christmas tree farm. She loves all things Christmas. After meeting the girl of her dreams, Bennie and her friend group try to track down the girl so Bennie can have her perfect first kiss.
First off, I loved Bennie’s Christmas cheer. She loved everything about Christmas and it was so relatable to me. She especially loved Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and there were a few fun references to that in the book as well. I also loved all the fun Christmas activities she came up with for her friends to do in the days and weeks leading up to Christmas.
This is set in small town Connecticut, and I loved the small town (and state!) rep. The little town was charming and the tree farm especially. It would be so fun to work there!
The friend group was fun and I liked that they always supported each other. This book is a little nostalgic at times as well, with Bennie realizing that this is their last Christmas together before college and whatnot.
The romance was fine. I actually really liked Eve as a character. However, Bennie came off as a little stalkerish to do everything that she did to find Eve, especially considering how little information she had to go on. I didn’t blame Eve at all for being mad when she found out the real reason that Bennie “just happened” to find her.
Still, this was a cute read with plenty of festive feels. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
Thank you to the publisher, Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
First off, I loved Bennie’s Christmas cheer. She loved everything about Christmas and it was so relatable to me. She especially loved Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and there were a few fun references to that in the book as well. I also loved all the fun Christmas activities she came up with for her friends to do in the days and weeks leading up to Christmas.
This is set in small town Connecticut, and I loved the small town (and state!) rep. The little town was charming and the tree farm especially. It would be so fun to work there!
The friend group was fun and I liked that they always supported each other. This book is a little nostalgic at times as well, with Bennie realizing that this is their last Christmas together before college and whatnot.
The romance was fine. I actually really liked Eve as a character. However, Bennie came off as a little stalkerish to do everything that she did to find Eve, especially considering how little information she had to go on. I didn’t blame Eve at all for being mad when she found out the real reason that Bennie “just happened” to find her.
Still, this was a cute read with plenty of festive feels. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
Thank you to the publisher, Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2026
Well, this one wasn’t for me and I am going to keep this short. I think some will like this holiday romance but for me it had way too much going on in the way of storylines and characters.
While I finished it I had such a hard time staying engaged.
But I thank Simon and Schuster for the complementary eARC to read ahead of publication via NetGalley,
While I finished it I had such a hard time staying engaged.
But I thank Simon and Schuster for the complementary eARC to read ahead of publication via NetGalley,
August 11, 2026
Thank you Simon & Schuster for Young Readers and NetGalley for the advanced copy. I really wanted to enjoy this holiday story, but it didn’t hit a high note for me. The only moment where I was elated was during trivia (no spoilers!), but otherwise it fell flat. I think it’s the writing style overall for me.. there were a lot of characters with a lot of storylines & it felt like the author was trying to make it a holiday read by throwing in a classic holiday song, catchphrase, or movie etc. every other paragraph. 2.75 ⭐️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Bennie has watched enough holiday movies that somewhere along the way she became convinced grand romantic gestures are a perfectly reasonable substitute for basic communication. She bumps into one gorgeous girl, sees literal sparkles, doesn't get a phone number, doesn't get a last name, and somehow lands on, "Guess we're going to Brooklyn." I was sitting there thinking... this is either going to end in true love or a restraining order, and honestly I wasn't sure which.
The funniest part is that nobody in her life pumps the brakes. These friends are the definition of "I support women's rights, but more importantly I support women's deeply questionable decisions." Instead of saying, "Maybe wait until fate gives you another chance," they basically grab their coats and go, "Road trip!" Everybody deserves friends this loyal. Everybody also deserves at least one friend who occasionally says, "Girl... let's think this through."
Bennie is aggressively Christmas. Not regular Christmas. She works at a bakery on a Christmas tree farm. She knows every holiday movie trope. She can apparently solve emotional problems with baked goods and the perfect gift. If Santa needed someone to cover his shift, she'd already have her apron on before he finished asking. Her entire personality runs on peppermint and optimism, and honestly, it was kind of impossible not to root for her even while she was making choices that made me quietly cover my face.
Then poor Eve enters this situation having absolutely no idea she's become the center of someone's Hallmark-inspired scavenger hunt. I actually liked her because she reacted like an actual human being instead of instantly accepting, "Oh yes, of course you tracked me across state lines because destiny." The romance works best when they're simply talking to each other instead of destiny trying to throw glitter at every conversation.
The trip through Brooklyn during a massive snowstorm felt exactly like watching people who have committed too hard to a plan to admit maybe the plan was a little ridiculous. Every time I thought, "Surely this is where they'll give up," someone found a fresh burst of holiday spirit and kept marching through the snow like Christmas itself had issued marching orders. I had to respect the commitment even while laughing at it.
Underneath all the peppermint chaos, there's this quiet sadness hanging over everything because Bennie and her friends know this is probably their last Christmas before life scatters them in different directions. That landed harder than I expected. One minute they're chasing a girl through New York because romance has completely overridden common sense, and the next you're remembering what it felt like when growing up suddenly stopped being something that happened someday and started happening right now.
By the end I realized I'd stopped worrying about whether Bennie would get her movie-worthy kiss and started hoping this friend group could somehow bottle this exact version of themselves before adulthood got its hands on them. They're messy, supportive, dramatic, occasionally fueled by spectacularly bad ideas, and somehow that's exactly why they work.
This ended up being a cozy little holiday read that had me smiling more than swooning, and that's perfectly fine. I had fun hanging out with these lovable weirdos, even if I spent a good chunk of the book wanting to hand Bennie a piece of paper that simply said, "Get. Her. Phone. Number." Solid 3 stars from me.
Merry Mayhem Prize: For Treating "I Met a Cute Girl Once" Like a Full-Time Christmas Mission
And thank you to Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. I arrived expecting hot chocolate and mistletoe, and somehow ended up following a holiday search party powered entirely by baked goods, friendship, and Hallmark-level confidence.
The funniest part is that nobody in her life pumps the brakes. These friends are the definition of "I support women's rights, but more importantly I support women's deeply questionable decisions." Instead of saying, "Maybe wait until fate gives you another chance," they basically grab their coats and go, "Road trip!" Everybody deserves friends this loyal. Everybody also deserves at least one friend who occasionally says, "Girl... let's think this through."
Bennie is aggressively Christmas. Not regular Christmas. She works at a bakery on a Christmas tree farm. She knows every holiday movie trope. She can apparently solve emotional problems with baked goods and the perfect gift. If Santa needed someone to cover his shift, she'd already have her apron on before he finished asking. Her entire personality runs on peppermint and optimism, and honestly, it was kind of impossible not to root for her even while she was making choices that made me quietly cover my face.
Then poor Eve enters this situation having absolutely no idea she's become the center of someone's Hallmark-inspired scavenger hunt. I actually liked her because she reacted like an actual human being instead of instantly accepting, "Oh yes, of course you tracked me across state lines because destiny." The romance works best when they're simply talking to each other instead of destiny trying to throw glitter at every conversation.
The trip through Brooklyn during a massive snowstorm felt exactly like watching people who have committed too hard to a plan to admit maybe the plan was a little ridiculous. Every time I thought, "Surely this is where they'll give up," someone found a fresh burst of holiday spirit and kept marching through the snow like Christmas itself had issued marching orders. I had to respect the commitment even while laughing at it.
Underneath all the peppermint chaos, there's this quiet sadness hanging over everything because Bennie and her friends know this is probably their last Christmas before life scatters them in different directions. That landed harder than I expected. One minute they're chasing a girl through New York because romance has completely overridden common sense, and the next you're remembering what it felt like when growing up suddenly stopped being something that happened someday and started happening right now.
By the end I realized I'd stopped worrying about whether Bennie would get her movie-worthy kiss and started hoping this friend group could somehow bottle this exact version of themselves before adulthood got its hands on them. They're messy, supportive, dramatic, occasionally fueled by spectacularly bad ideas, and somehow that's exactly why they work.
This ended up being a cozy little holiday read that had me smiling more than swooning, and that's perfectly fine. I had fun hanging out with these lovable weirdos, even if I spent a good chunk of the book wanting to hand Bennie a piece of paper that simply said, "Get. Her. Phone. Number." Solid 3 stars from me.
Merry Mayhem Prize: For Treating "I Met a Cute Girl Once" Like a Full-Time Christmas Mission
And thank you to Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. I arrived expecting hot chocolate and mistletoe, and somehow ended up following a holiday search party powered entirely by baked goods, friendship, and Hallmark-level confidence.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Book: Pining for You
Author: Stef Ferrari
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank the publisher, Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, for sending me an ARC. Yes, I am fully aware that it is August and I am reviewing a Christmas story. However, I am a firm believer in reading what makes you happy, and Christmas stories put me in a good mood. Is this one perfect? No. Did I have a great time with it? Yes, I did.
Bennie Bosley knows everything there is to know about Christmas. She works at her family's Christmas tree farm, has a talent for baking, can quote holiday movies, and seems to have a gift for finding the perfect present for everyone. What she does not have is much experience with romance. That changes when Bennie meets Eve, a beautiful girl who seems to appear straight out of one of Bennie's favourite holiday movies. There is just one problem. Eve lives in Brooklyn, and Bennie never gets her last name or even her phone number. Convinced that making a grand romantic gesture is exactly what a Christmas movie heroine would do, Bennie heads to the city with her friends to find the girl who has captured her heart. Their holiday adventure quickly becomes more complicated when a massive snowstorm hits Brooklyn. With Christmas Eve approaching and Bennie's family's final holiday celebration at the tree farm waiting for her back home, Bennie and her friends race across the city in search of Eve. If everything goes according to plan, Bennie might get her holiday movie ending. If not, her perfect Christmas adventure could end in disaster.
This is a YA Christmas romance about love at first sight and missed chances. Bennie has always wanted that first kiss to be magical and on Christmas. After all, she lives and breathes Christmas. In fact, it’s what she wants to do with her life. She wants to make holiday films. She quickly finds herself in her real life when she and friends decide to take off to New York to find Eve. It’s a wild ride full of adventure, family, and a bit of romance. It’s quirky, out there, and just plain fun. That’s how I would describe this book. It’s fun, and sometimes you just need a fun read in your life.
Now, this does not mean that it is all fun. Bennie is dealing with an absent mother and a sister who is battling addiction and mental illness. She is trying to figure out her university goals, while trying to hold onto Christmas traditions and magic. She’s trying to relive the past where everything was the same, but life doesn’t work like that. She’s struggling with it. She’s clinging to it because she is hurting and is afraid of what the future may hold. It also ends up taking away from the magic of the season. Because she keeps trying to hold onto the past, she doesn’t see what is right in front of her. She doesn’t see the new traditions and the new things that life has to offer. It actually ends up causing her to miss out on what is in front of her. She has to learn that, unlike a movie, life is not scripted and that it is those unscripted moments that make life amazing.
Now, the writing is okay. It does come across as a bit childish at times, but I felt like it added to Bennie’s voice. She is a teenager, and the writing is very much teenage. There were times that I felt like it could have been better, but most of the time, I thought it worked. There is a lot of slang and a lot of cultural references. I don’t mind this in books, but there were times that I thought it was a bit over the top. Yet, there were times that I found it to be rather enjoyable.
For the most part, I did enjoy this holiday romance. It was just a fun read, and sometimes you need that in your life.
This book comes out on September 8, 2026.
Author: Stef Ferrari
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank the publisher, Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, for sending me an ARC. Yes, I am fully aware that it is August and I am reviewing a Christmas story. However, I am a firm believer in reading what makes you happy, and Christmas stories put me in a good mood. Is this one perfect? No. Did I have a great time with it? Yes, I did.
Bennie Bosley knows everything there is to know about Christmas. She works at her family's Christmas tree farm, has a talent for baking, can quote holiday movies, and seems to have a gift for finding the perfect present for everyone. What she does not have is much experience with romance. That changes when Bennie meets Eve, a beautiful girl who seems to appear straight out of one of Bennie's favourite holiday movies. There is just one problem. Eve lives in Brooklyn, and Bennie never gets her last name or even her phone number. Convinced that making a grand romantic gesture is exactly what a Christmas movie heroine would do, Bennie heads to the city with her friends to find the girl who has captured her heart. Their holiday adventure quickly becomes more complicated when a massive snowstorm hits Brooklyn. With Christmas Eve approaching and Bennie's family's final holiday celebration at the tree farm waiting for her back home, Bennie and her friends race across the city in search of Eve. If everything goes according to plan, Bennie might get her holiday movie ending. If not, her perfect Christmas adventure could end in disaster.
This is a YA Christmas romance about love at first sight and missed chances. Bennie has always wanted that first kiss to be magical and on Christmas. After all, she lives and breathes Christmas. In fact, it’s what she wants to do with her life. She wants to make holiday films. She quickly finds herself in her real life when she and friends decide to take off to New York to find Eve. It’s a wild ride full of adventure, family, and a bit of romance. It’s quirky, out there, and just plain fun. That’s how I would describe this book. It’s fun, and sometimes you just need a fun read in your life.
Now, this does not mean that it is all fun. Bennie is dealing with an absent mother and a sister who is battling addiction and mental illness. She is trying to figure out her university goals, while trying to hold onto Christmas traditions and magic. She’s trying to relive the past where everything was the same, but life doesn’t work like that. She’s struggling with it. She’s clinging to it because she is hurting and is afraid of what the future may hold. It also ends up taking away from the magic of the season. Because she keeps trying to hold onto the past, she doesn’t see what is right in front of her. She doesn’t see the new traditions and the new things that life has to offer. It actually ends up causing her to miss out on what is in front of her. She has to learn that, unlike a movie, life is not scripted and that it is those unscripted moments that make life amazing.
Now, the writing is okay. It does come across as a bit childish at times, but I felt like it added to Bennie’s voice. She is a teenager, and the writing is very much teenage. There were times that I felt like it could have been better, but most of the time, I thought it worked. There is a lot of slang and a lot of cultural references. I don’t mind this in books, but there were times that I thought it was a bit over the top. Yet, there were times that I found it to be rather enjoyable.
For the most part, I did enjoy this holiday romance. It was just a fun read, and sometimes you need that in your life.
This book comes out on September 8, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Pining for You by Stef Ferrari is a charming, festive YA romance that captures Christmas spirit, friendship, family, and a dash of holiday chaos. It offers all the elements of a classic Hallmark Christmas film but with a delightful, queer twist.
Bennie Bosley adores Christmas. She works on a Christmas tree farm, enjoys baking and holiday movies, and dreams of creating her own queer Christmas rom-coms. When she unexpectedly meets Eve and feels an instant connection, Bennie believes she's finally experiencing her own Christmas-movie moment. However, Eve leaves for Brooklyn before Bennie can get her number. What ensues is a journey with Bennie and her friends as they try to find Eve, facing a major snowstorm and their resolve to reach home for their traditional Christmas Eve celebration.
I really enjoyed the friendship among Bennie, Diya, Cash, and Izaac in this book. Their bond adds depth and warmth to the story. While they support one another, they also face the inevitable change that graduation brings, signaling a new chapter in their lives. This makes the story more than just Bennie's quest for love; it explores themes of growing up, evolving friendships, family challenges, and understanding that real life rarely aligns with the idealized endings seen in movies.
I also liked that the book openly addresses more serious topics. Bennie navigates complex emotions related to her older sister's bipolar disorder and addiction recovery, while Eve manages her own family responsibilities. These heavier moments add depth to the characters and help balance the otherwise cheerful Christmas atmosphere.
The relationship between Bennie and Eve is charming and suitable for their age. I enjoyed seeing Bennie's view of the "perfect" romantic moment evolve as she realizes that real relationships are not like scripted holiday movies. The story is filled with Christmas references, traditions, baking, snow, and holiday-movie moments. However, at times, there seemed to be an excess of Christmas references. I also questioned some of Bennie's choices while she was searching for Eve, even though I understood they aligned with her desire to make a grand romantic gesture.
Still, Pining for You is charming, warm, and easy to read. I particularly appreciated that beneath the Christmas festivities, it tells a story about embracing change and understanding that loved ones can matter more than achieving a flawless moment.
I suggest this for readers who love YA romance, LGBTQ+ stories, found family, close-knit friend groups, Christmas movies, holiday adventures, and cozy romances with heartfelt moments.
Overall, Pining for You delivered the cozy Christmas atmosphere I was seeking while providing more depth than anticipated. It was amusing, emotional, inclusive, and filled with festive spirit. If you enjoy Hallmark Christmas movies but wish they showcased more diversity, this book is certainly a great addition to your holiday reading list.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for offering an advance copy of Pining for You; I appreciate the opportunity and share my honest opinion. All views are my own.
Bennie Bosley adores Christmas. She works on a Christmas tree farm, enjoys baking and holiday movies, and dreams of creating her own queer Christmas rom-coms. When she unexpectedly meets Eve and feels an instant connection, Bennie believes she's finally experiencing her own Christmas-movie moment. However, Eve leaves for Brooklyn before Bennie can get her number. What ensues is a journey with Bennie and her friends as they try to find Eve, facing a major snowstorm and their resolve to reach home for their traditional Christmas Eve celebration.
I really enjoyed the friendship among Bennie, Diya, Cash, and Izaac in this book. Their bond adds depth and warmth to the story. While they support one another, they also face the inevitable change that graduation brings, signaling a new chapter in their lives. This makes the story more than just Bennie's quest for love; it explores themes of growing up, evolving friendships, family challenges, and understanding that real life rarely aligns with the idealized endings seen in movies.
I also liked that the book openly addresses more serious topics. Bennie navigates complex emotions related to her older sister's bipolar disorder and addiction recovery, while Eve manages her own family responsibilities. These heavier moments add depth to the characters and help balance the otherwise cheerful Christmas atmosphere.
The relationship between Bennie and Eve is charming and suitable for their age. I enjoyed seeing Bennie's view of the "perfect" romantic moment evolve as she realizes that real relationships are not like scripted holiday movies. The story is filled with Christmas references, traditions, baking, snow, and holiday-movie moments. However, at times, there seemed to be an excess of Christmas references. I also questioned some of Bennie's choices while she was searching for Eve, even though I understood they aligned with her desire to make a grand romantic gesture.
Still, Pining for You is charming, warm, and easy to read. I particularly appreciated that beneath the Christmas festivities, it tells a story about embracing change and understanding that loved ones can matter more than achieving a flawless moment.
I suggest this for readers who love YA romance, LGBTQ+ stories, found family, close-knit friend groups, Christmas movies, holiday adventures, and cozy romances with heartfelt moments.
Overall, Pining for You delivered the cozy Christmas atmosphere I was seeking while providing more depth than anticipated. It was amusing, emotional, inclusive, and filled with festive spirit. If you enjoy Hallmark Christmas movies but wish they showcased more diversity, this book is certainly a great addition to your holiday reading list.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for offering an advance copy of Pining for You; I appreciate the opportunity and share my honest opinion. All views are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about this book. Bennie is a high school senior who works at...some sort of Christmas tree-type emporium in Connecticut. She encounters Eve, who lives in Brooklyn, and she and her friends decide to go into the city to try to find her so Bennie can capitalize on Christmas magic and have her first kiss.
That description makes it sound a lot lighter than it is. Bennie and her friends are pretty much all dealing with fairly weighty issues--as is Eve. It's pretty much all family issues, but Bennie and her friends are also facing down the end of high school and all of the change that comes with that. It's a hard, transitional time of life, to be sure. But that's all heavier than the Hallmark Christmas movie description makes it out to be.
The story itself is pretty cute, and I enjoyed Bennie's group of friends and how much they were there for each other. (I didn't need as much explicit "We're a found family, yay!" exposition as there was, but this is YA, so I should probably give it a pass.) Bennie herself could be a bit annoying at times, though in a way that was fairly realistic for a teenager from Connecticut. She wants to go to film school and so keeps recording on a Camcorder as the group traipses about New York, but doesn't realize that not everyone wants to be recorded and is hurt when she's told so. I could also very much relate to her frustration at not being able to participate in a number of her normal Christmas traditions--because this is a Hallmark-esque story (Bennie's goal is to make queer Christmas rom-coms), Bennie is all about the magic of Christmas, and throughout the book has to confront that not everything is magical, that Christmas can be hard for people. She also finds Christmas magic in unexpected places and moments, so it does even out.
Also, Bennie and Eve's relationship is great (though the third act crisis seemed...off). As someone who also had my first kiss later than many others (though my friends were never this invested in making sure I got it), I could relate to Bennie's feelings about it.
Unfortunately, I wasn't particularly enamored of Ferrari's writing; I'm not sure whether it was trying to sound Zoomer or what, but it was a bit cringe-inducing to me, a Xennial. At times, it was a bit of a slog, oddly enough, and there were chunks I wound up skipping--particularly at the end, where there was a multi-page speech spelling out the lessons of the book. Good for Bennie for learning them, and I guess theoretically young people reading the book might need them spelled out, but it felt a bit like it was underestimating the audience.
Still, would 100% watch the tv movie adaptation.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
That description makes it sound a lot lighter than it is. Bennie and her friends are pretty much all dealing with fairly weighty issues--as is Eve. It's pretty much all family issues, but Bennie and her friends are also facing down the end of high school and all of the change that comes with that. It's a hard, transitional time of life, to be sure. But that's all heavier than the Hallmark Christmas movie description makes it out to be.
The story itself is pretty cute, and I enjoyed Bennie's group of friends and how much they were there for each other. (I didn't need as much explicit "We're a found family, yay!" exposition as there was, but this is YA, so I should probably give it a pass.) Bennie herself could be a bit annoying at times, though in a way that was fairly realistic for a teenager from Connecticut. She wants to go to film school and so keeps recording on a Camcorder as the group traipses about New York, but doesn't realize that not everyone wants to be recorded and is hurt when she's told so. I could also very much relate to her frustration at not being able to participate in a number of her normal Christmas traditions--because this is a Hallmark-esque story (Bennie's goal is to make queer Christmas rom-coms), Bennie is all about the magic of Christmas, and throughout the book has to confront that not everything is magical, that Christmas can be hard for people. She also finds Christmas magic in unexpected places and moments, so it does even out.
Also, Bennie and Eve's relationship is great (though the third act crisis seemed...off). As someone who also had my first kiss later than many others (though my friends were never this invested in making sure I got it), I could relate to Bennie's feelings about it.
Unfortunately, I wasn't particularly enamored of Ferrari's writing; I'm not sure whether it was trying to sound Zoomer or what, but it was a bit cringe-inducing to me, a Xennial. At times, it was a bit of a slog, oddly enough, and there were chunks I wound up skipping--particularly at the end, where there was a multi-page speech spelling out the lessons of the book. Good for Bennie for learning them, and I guess theoretically young people reading the book might need them spelled out, but it felt a bit like it was underestimating the audience.
Still, would 100% watch the tv movie adaptation.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It was obvious from the author's dedication and acknowledgements that this book was a labor of love, but unfortunately, that made it even more clear that this book was more gratifying to write than it was to read. The MC, Bennie, is a high school senior who thinks and acts more like a middle schooler, while her friends all come across as true young adults, even a little older than their stated ages. The obsession with Christmas "magic" (a word that gets used constantly in the book) comes off as childish and more than a little unhealthy, rather than quirky. I appreciated all the queer representation and how the author touched on some serious topics like mental illness, addiction, parental death, and divorce, but the fact that all of these things were in the book meant that it lacked focus and ended up being utterly too long.
The writing was also a big reason I ended up skimming a lot of chapters, as Bennie's internal monologue was tedious, and the language (presumably meant to be Gen Alpha slang) came off as very "Hello, fellow kids!" and not very authentic. That said, I'm an adult reading this YA, so perhaps things felt more cringe for that reason, but I have to wonder if teen audiences will appreciate the language. There were other turns of phrase that were overused, such as references to chestnuts roasting over an open fire, and the constant references to people as "humans." The pacing was also really off, with an out-of-left-field 3rd act breakup, and the rushed resolution of a bunch of the conflicts that were building up throughout the book. Overall, this book should have been a joy to read, but instead it was a slog. Again, it truly came through that the author loved writing this book, but that enthusiasm might have tainted an otherwise promising premise.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest feedback!
The writing was also a big reason I ended up skimming a lot of chapters, as Bennie's internal monologue was tedious, and the language (presumably meant to be Gen Alpha slang) came off as very "Hello, fellow kids!" and not very authentic. That said, I'm an adult reading this YA, so perhaps things felt more cringe for that reason, but I have to wonder if teen audiences will appreciate the language. There were other turns of phrase that were overused, such as references to chestnuts roasting over an open fire, and the constant references to people as "humans." The pacing was also really off, with an out-of-left-field 3rd act breakup, and the rushed resolution of a bunch of the conflicts that were building up throughout the book. Overall, this book should have been a joy to read, but instead it was a slog. Again, it truly came through that the author loved writing this book, but that enthusiasm might have tainted an otherwise promising premise.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest feedback!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I wasn't sure how I felt about this book for the first 5-15% and I am so glad I stuck along for the ride. While the book takes a second to get into its pacing, it ultimately a book I very much enjoyed. This story tackles so many topics and at the end I did feel like I was experiencing what life would like through the eyes of someone who went through the things that Bennie has gone through.
I very much loved the found family aspect of this story, and how sometimes even when we think we are showing up for our friends it might not be in the way they actually need or want. Sometimes it's hard for us to communicate with one another and sometimes we are doing our best just to get by. Bennie is full of Chistmas magic and cheer on the outside, yet inside she is struggling to hold onto her belief of magic. When her friends encourage her to go on a mission to find the girl she connected with to get her first kiss at Christmas we are taken on a whirlwind trip filled with some amazing moments.
I did not expect to cry as much as I did reading this story, at the end of the day they were good tears and good emotions to feel and I think it speaks to how well the author ultimately pull you into the story that I had such a strong reaction. No lie I think I cried through the last 15% of the book, sometimes sad tears and other times good tears.
If you want a Christmas story with heart, love, and lessons I recommend this one. It was a very pleasant surprise! Thank you to the publisher for providing an advanced readers copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I very much loved the found family aspect of this story, and how sometimes even when we think we are showing up for our friends it might not be in the way they actually need or want. Sometimes it's hard for us to communicate with one another and sometimes we are doing our best just to get by. Bennie is full of Chistmas magic and cheer on the outside, yet inside she is struggling to hold onto her belief of magic. When her friends encourage her to go on a mission to find the girl she connected with to get her first kiss at Christmas we are taken on a whirlwind trip filled with some amazing moments.
I did not expect to cry as much as I did reading this story, at the end of the day they were good tears and good emotions to feel and I think it speaks to how well the author ultimately pull you into the story that I had such a strong reaction. No lie I think I cried through the last 15% of the book, sometimes sad tears and other times good tears.
If you want a Christmas story with heart, love, and lessons I recommend this one. It was a very pleasant surprise! Thank you to the publisher for providing an advanced readers copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Pining for You is exactly the kind of feel-good holiday romance I want when I'm looking for something sweet, charming, and full of Christmas magic.
Bennie Bosley is absolutely adorable. She knows everything there is to know about Christmas movies, has a talent for baking, works on a Christmas tree farm, and apparently has a little holiday magic working in her favor. When she meets the mysterious Eve and immediately feels that spark, Bennie decides to follow her heart and embark on a very Hallmark-worthy adventure to find her.
What I loved most was the cozy atmosphere. The Christmas tree farm, holiday traditions, baking, snow, and small-town setting create such a warm backdrop. Then the story takes Bennie and her friends into Brooklyn, turning the whole thing into a fun holiday chase filled with snowstorm chaos and romantic possibilities.
Bennie's enthusiasm and optimism made her easy to root for, and the story has that wonderfully cheesy holiday-movie quality without taking itself too seriously. I also enjoyed the friendship between Bennie and her crew. Having friends willing to jump into a potentially ridiculous romantic adventure makes the whole journey even more fun.
This is a sweet YA romance with plenty of holiday spirit, LGBTQ+ representation, friendship, and a little bit of Christmas magic. It definitely gave me the warm-and-fuzzy feelings I was looking for.
A charming holiday read that's perfect for curling up with a blanket, a cup of something warm, and maybe a Christmas movie playing in the background.
Bennie Bosley is absolutely adorable. She knows everything there is to know about Christmas movies, has a talent for baking, works on a Christmas tree farm, and apparently has a little holiday magic working in her favor. When she meets the mysterious Eve and immediately feels that spark, Bennie decides to follow her heart and embark on a very Hallmark-worthy adventure to find her.
What I loved most was the cozy atmosphere. The Christmas tree farm, holiday traditions, baking, snow, and small-town setting create such a warm backdrop. Then the story takes Bennie and her friends into Brooklyn, turning the whole thing into a fun holiday chase filled with snowstorm chaos and romantic possibilities.
Bennie's enthusiasm and optimism made her easy to root for, and the story has that wonderfully cheesy holiday-movie quality without taking itself too seriously. I also enjoyed the friendship between Bennie and her crew. Having friends willing to jump into a potentially ridiculous romantic adventure makes the whole journey even more fun.
This is a sweet YA romance with plenty of holiday spirit, LGBTQ+ representation, friendship, and a little bit of Christmas magic. It definitely gave me the warm-and-fuzzy feelings I was looking for.
A charming holiday read that's perfect for curling up with a blanket, a cup of something warm, and maybe a Christmas movie playing in the background.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“Pining for You” was an amusing, heartwarming and romantic story. I enjoyed the friendship between Bennie, Izaac, Cash, and Diya. I also enjoyed the interactions between Bennie and Eve. Bennie loves Christmas and the magic of the season. And her professional goal is to make Christmas rom-coms with queer characters/themes. But various stressors in her life and the lives of her friends, as well as pending changes as three of them approach the end of high school, have dimmed the magic somewhat and disrupted the Christmas traditions. However, a meet cute with Eve at the Christmas tree farm where she works, and her hopes of getting her first kiss at Christmas will result in her and her friends taking an impromptu trip to Brooklyn to find Eve. The trip will not be without its mishaps, and Bennie will see more negativity than she would prefer. However, she will also learn what issues have been bothering her friends and see some positive developments regarding some of those issues. And she will get helpful advice for coping with her own family situation. More significantly, she will also see plenty of evidence of the true Christmas spirit.
There are many great moments in the book — the meet cute; tamales; drag queens and polka, etc. However, Hugo answering the winning trivia question is the most beautiful moment of the story; once you read the story and understand Hugo’s background and situation, I think you will agree. Though Bennie’s first kiss was pretty special too.
There are many great moments in the book — the meet cute; tamales; drag queens and polka, etc. However, Hugo answering the winning trivia question is the most beautiful moment of the story; once you read the story and understand Hugo’s background and situation, I think you will agree. Though Bennie’s first kiss was pretty special too.
September 6, 2026
“Pining for You” by Stef Ferrari is a book about a group of high school friends just before Christmas. Bennie Bosley and her friends Diya, Cash and Izzac are facing changes as their senior year of high school continues to prompt them to make choices for their lives. Bennie just wants to be able to savor the last of favorite traditions even though many of these traditions aren’t happening the way they always have. And then there are the things that need to be accomplished for the next steps in their lives to happen. Follow Bernie and her friends as they try to navigate the choices they need to make.
This book’s storyline follows a very verbose stream of consciousness viewpoint narrative style. Just about all of the main characters thoughts are shared. I found this narrative style to be a bit much for my taste. I didn’t need to know everything that Bennie was thinking. I did like how Bennie learned that she didn’t need to control most things and to let life just happen. She also learns that she needs to listen and be more aware of her friend’s situations. Not all is always what it seems. Since this book centers around a Christmas tree farm, the books title is a fun play on words. Teen and young adult readers will find the themes in this book relatable.
I wish to thank Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for the complimentary eARC of this book and for selecting me to review it on NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#PiningForYouBook
#SimonAndSchusterChildrensPublishing
#NetGalley
#Teen&YA
#Romance
#LGBTQIAP+
This book’s storyline follows a very verbose stream of consciousness viewpoint narrative style. Just about all of the main characters thoughts are shared. I found this narrative style to be a bit much for my taste. I didn’t need to know everything that Bennie was thinking. I did like how Bennie learned that she didn’t need to control most things and to let life just happen. She also learns that she needs to listen and be more aware of her friend’s situations. Not all is always what it seems. Since this book centers around a Christmas tree farm, the books title is a fun play on words. Teen and young adult readers will find the themes in this book relatable.
I wish to thank Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for the complimentary eARC of this book and for selecting me to review it on NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#PiningForYouBook
#SimonAndSchusterChildrensPublishing
#NetGalley
#Teen&YA
#Romance
#LGBTQIAP+
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Pining for you was a really cute YA holiday story but I could not figure out some of the dynamics with these being high school kids. Several of them just don’t come home and it’s not a big deal and their parents don’t notice. We follow Bennie, who works in a bakery at a Christmas tree farm and literally crashes into who she declares “the girl of her dreams” and is then obsessed with tracking her down and having her perfect first kiss moment. This would have been cute if they did not have this one fifteen minute interaction and it wasn’t built up to be a made in the stars idea. They’re 17 and it all just felt a little off.
The entire issue with Bennies sister could have had significantly more depth but it was very glossed over and yet we got a dozen pages on tamales. While the friend could was great and well fleshed out, I think we missed a lot of opportunities to learn more about why Bennie loves the holiday season so much and why the traditions she’s trying to keep with her friend group are so important to her.
Overall, this one was a miss for me but was cute enough. 2.5 rounded up.
Pining for you will be published September 8, 2026 and I received an advanced copy from Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for this review.
The entire issue with Bennies sister could have had significantly more depth but it was very glossed over and yet we got a dozen pages on tamales. While the friend could was great and well fleshed out, I think we missed a lot of opportunities to learn more about why Bennie loves the holiday season so much and why the traditions she’s trying to keep with her friend group are so important to her.
Overall, this one was a miss for me but was cute enough. 2.5 rounded up.
Pining for you will be published September 8, 2026 and I received an advanced copy from Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for this review.
September 10, 2026
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing for the gifted ebook. All opinions are my own. (I paired it with the audio from my library. 🫶)
Such a great YA Holiday Novel with a cute little sapphic romance guiding it along the way.
I personally wouldn’t classify this one as a “Romance” book, as the romance itself felt more like a side plot? Whereas I felt the MC, Bennie, spent most of her time on adventures with her friends, while trying to *find* her potential love interest (and thinking about the future). BUT, I still thought it was a very enjoyable, holiday-vibe read.
The NYC adventures with her friends were definitely a big highlight for me. Great side characters, and so many *things* going on with all of them as they grow closer and closer to adulthood/graduation.
The holiday vibes were strong, with a Christmas Tree Farm, snow, present shopping, and a super fun trivia game.
There were also some really emotional bits, especially having to do with Bennie’s feelings regarding her older sister. (TW for mental illness/drug abuse). I thought these tougher bits were handled with care, and thought it was done well for the YA subset of readers.
Overall, a great little YA read, perfect for the Holiday season.
Audiobook notes: Sarah Beth Goer was so good! With the voices and perfectly encapsulating everything Bennie was feeling and going through. Will definitely be on the lookout for more from her!
What this book is giving:
✅ YA Queer Holiday Novel
✅ Single POV
✅ High School Senior
✅ Planning for the future
✅ Childhood Friend Group
✅ Christmas Magic
✅ Sapphic Romantic Subplot
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ / 5
Such a great YA Holiday Novel with a cute little sapphic romance guiding it along the way.
I personally wouldn’t classify this one as a “Romance” book, as the romance itself felt more like a side plot? Whereas I felt the MC, Bennie, spent most of her time on adventures with her friends, while trying to *find* her potential love interest (and thinking about the future). BUT, I still thought it was a very enjoyable, holiday-vibe read.
The NYC adventures with her friends were definitely a big highlight for me. Great side characters, and so many *things* going on with all of them as they grow closer and closer to adulthood/graduation.
The holiday vibes were strong, with a Christmas Tree Farm, snow, present shopping, and a super fun trivia game.
There were also some really emotional bits, especially having to do with Bennie’s feelings regarding her older sister. (TW for mental illness/drug abuse). I thought these tougher bits were handled with care, and thought it was done well for the YA subset of readers.
Overall, a great little YA read, perfect for the Holiday season.
Audiobook notes: Sarah Beth Goer was so good! With the voices and perfectly encapsulating everything Bennie was feeling and going through. Will definitely be on the lookout for more from her!
What this book is giving:
✅ YA Queer Holiday Novel
✅ Single POV
✅ High School Senior
✅ Planning for the future
✅ Childhood Friend Group
✅ Christmas Magic
✅ Sapphic Romantic Subplot
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ / 5
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC!
I'll be honest, this one didn't grab me right away, but it grew on me.
Fair warning: this has a very specific YA voice: the writing style is basically Gen Z talking out loud on the page. If that's not your thing, this probably won't convert you.
The plot is inspired by Christmas rom coms, and it tells you so, both in the summary and throughout the book, so you already know the shape of where it's headed. Bennie is basically Buddy the Elf. This did annoy me at first tbh. But it grew on me.
Bennie's friend group all felt like real, distinct people rather than accessories orbiting the main character, which is such a relief in this genre. The diversity also felt baked in rather than a checklist.
A Christmas book publish date in September is a choice, but honestly? Nice little preview of what's coming down the pike in a few months. The Brooklyn-in-Christmas atmosphere delivered exactly what I wanted from it.
TLDR: slow starter, but the friend group and the holiday chaos won me over. Recommend if you don't mind a heavy dose of Gen Z voice.
I'll be honest, this one didn't grab me right away, but it grew on me.
Fair warning: this has a very specific YA voice: the writing style is basically Gen Z talking out loud on the page. If that's not your thing, this probably won't convert you.
The plot is inspired by Christmas rom coms, and it tells you so, both in the summary and throughout the book, so you already know the shape of where it's headed. Bennie is basically Buddy the Elf. This did annoy me at first tbh. But it grew on me.
Bennie's friend group all felt like real, distinct people rather than accessories orbiting the main character, which is such a relief in this genre. The diversity also felt baked in rather than a checklist.
A Christmas book publish date in September is a choice, but honestly? Nice little preview of what's coming down the pike in a few months. The Brooklyn-in-Christmas atmosphere delivered exactly what I wanted from it.
TLDR: slow starter, but the friend group and the holiday chaos won me over. Recommend if you don't mind a heavy dose of Gen Z voice.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Simon Teen for the advance reader copy. These are my opinions.
Pining for You is an interesting coming-of-age story. I can't really classify it as a romance, despite its marketing. It's primarily focused on just one main character, Bennie Bosley. As Christmas approaches, she is hoping for a perfect first kiss during the holiday and wants to become a filmmaker of Hallmark-style Christmas movies featuring queer main characters.
The book highlights her struggles with the upcoming end of high school and separation from friends. There is a strong Christmas element, but I found it more than a little sad. It seemed to regularly zoom in on the ways in which Christmas is not really magical. The overall tone was quite heavy, especially as we learn that Bennie's sister is in rehab for a second time.
We barely see Bennie interact with her love interest, Eve. Instead, Bennie and her friends go on a trip to try to find Eve when Bennie fails to get her contact information.
So this was definitely not the queer holiday rom-com I was expecting. But there were some lovely queer found family moments.
3.5 stars
Pining for You is an interesting coming-of-age story. I can't really classify it as a romance, despite its marketing. It's primarily focused on just one main character, Bennie Bosley. As Christmas approaches, she is hoping for a perfect first kiss during the holiday and wants to become a filmmaker of Hallmark-style Christmas movies featuring queer main characters.
The book highlights her struggles with the upcoming end of high school and separation from friends. There is a strong Christmas element, but I found it more than a little sad. It seemed to regularly zoom in on the ways in which Christmas is not really magical. The overall tone was quite heavy, especially as we learn that Bennie's sister is in rehab for a second time.
We barely see Bennie interact with her love interest, Eve. Instead, Bennie and her friends go on a trip to try to find Eve when Bennie fails to get her contact information.
So this was definitely not the queer holiday rom-com I was expecting. But there were some lovely queer found family moments.
3.5 stars
September 8, 2026
Bennie believes in Christmas magic. So much so that she wants to go to Hollywood and create the perfect holiday movie. But then she meets Eve. Their meeting is quick and fleeting but the lasting impression left on Bennie leaves her wanting to find Eve again and to create a holiday documentary proving that the magic of Christmas is real. This is such a beautiful story one that shows that life is fluid. Sometimes things have to change in order for things to get better. Change can be hard, but it doesn’t always mean that it is the end. In fact, sometimes taking a risk can lead you to changing someone’s life. The only thing that I will say is that finding Eve does seem to stretch out and I wanted maybe a bit more interaction between her and Bennie. However, I loved all the characters you meet along the way and their stories.
Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.
Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.
September 13, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this title which released September 4. I normally reserve one star ratings for books I do not finish. I DID finish this book - solely because it was provided as an advance copy and I felt obligated. Otherwise I would not have finished. This book was cheesy and overly simplistic. There was potential for character growth and for the main character to deal with big issues, but she didn’t. Instead mountains were made out of molehills with a ridiculous plot and random characters who could have been interesting, but were sidelined. I would like to say I would be interested I. further titles exploring all the other characters but I cannot even say that. I suppose if you like a cheesy romance à la hallmark channel (and I realize it is somewhat marketed that way) this MAY be worth your time. Maybe I read this at the wrong time in my life but I cannot recommend this one at all
August 22, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
This was a quick and lighthearted read that definitely felt like a (sapphic) Hallmark holiday movie. It captured small town vibes, a cozy holiday atmosphere, and good friendships.
Was the romance plot line a bit dramatic and unrealistic, yes, but again it lived up to the expectations of a Hallmark meet-cute fall fast enough to travel after the girl who changed your life in the best way.
It was a cute read with lovable characters. There was a diverse cast of characters and I really liked seeing the adventure of the friend group in New York searching for Eve.
(Note: I received this copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Simon Teen for the opportunity!)
POV: First Person
Spice Level: n/a
Sad Level: 💧💧
Would I Recommend? Yes
Favorite Character(s): Izaac
Emojis Based on Vibes: 🗽🎄📸
⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGS
Minor: Addiction, Abandonment
This was a quick and lighthearted read that definitely felt like a (sapphic) Hallmark holiday movie. It captured small town vibes, a cozy holiday atmosphere, and good friendships.
Was the romance plot line a bit dramatic and unrealistic, yes, but again it lived up to the expectations of a Hallmark meet-cute fall fast enough to travel after the girl who changed your life in the best way.
It was a cute read with lovable characters. There was a diverse cast of characters and I really liked seeing the adventure of the friend group in New York searching for Eve.
(Note: I received this copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Simon Teen for the opportunity!)
POV: First Person
Spice Level: n/a
Sad Level: 💧💧
Would I Recommend? Yes
Favorite Character(s): Izaac
Emojis Based on Vibes: 🗽🎄📸
⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGS
Minor: Addiction, Abandonment
September 8, 2026
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Stef Ferrari, and Simon & Schuster for the eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
I wanna start off with some things I truly loved about this book. First was Bennie’s love for Christmas and that she worked in a bakery. So cosy!! I loved how supportive the whole friend group was as well and omg the Trivia scene!!! It was cute, funny, and warmed my heart.
Though I didn’t love this story as much as I thought I would, it was still very cute and nostalgic. At first I thought I wasn’t as into it because I was reading a winter book when I’m in the fall mood but overall I think the writing style just wasn’t for me. I never connect well when a story has too many characters and storylines to follow. I blame my ADD. I normally don’t mind YA at my age and I understand it can be a bit cringe but this story was just a tad too YA for me in the end.
I wanna start off with some things I truly loved about this book. First was Bennie’s love for Christmas and that she worked in a bakery. So cosy!! I loved how supportive the whole friend group was as well and omg the Trivia scene!!! It was cute, funny, and warmed my heart.
Though I didn’t love this story as much as I thought I would, it was still very cute and nostalgic. At first I thought I wasn’t as into it because I was reading a winter book when I’m in the fall mood but overall I think the writing style just wasn’t for me. I never connect well when a story has too many characters and storylines to follow. I blame my ADD. I normally don’t mind YA at my age and I understand it can be a bit cringe but this story was just a tad too YA for me in the end.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love a good holiday romance and this YA sapphic rom-com is a super fun mix of reverse Hallmark and coming-of-age growth tropes. The characters all have fun and complex stories and there is some excellent touch points of mental health and breaking from family pressures. This would be great for older teens to get some light and age appropriate romance with lots of character growth.
Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review
Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review
September 5, 2026
Pining for You was a cute coming-of-age story with a fun adventure and some genuinely funny moments. I especially enjoyed seeing the characters grow and find their voices by the end. Cash was definitely a highlight—he had me laughing!
There was a lot happening at times, which made the story a little hard to follow. I also wanted more Christmas throughout the story rather than mostly Christmas movie references. 🎄
Overall, a sweet and entertaining read that just needed a little more holiday magic for me.
There was a lot happening at times, which made the story a little hard to follow. I also wanted more Christmas throughout the story rather than mostly Christmas movie references. 🎄
Overall, a sweet and entertaining read that just needed a little more holiday magic for me.
September 8, 2026
Pining for You is a really cute holiday story. While technically romance that doesn't necessarily feel like the primary focus of much of the story - which I appreciate. The characters are all fun to read and their relationships add to the overall story. There are a lot of fun, nostalgic Christmas movie references that I loved. I enjoyed reading this.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 18, 2026
A New York adventure, sweet friend group, and queer love story...who could ask for more? This book may be blanketed in Christmas wrapping, but it is truly a story about friendship, family, and accepting change into your world.
My favorite part of this story is that each character was working through their own issues and learning what that would mean for the future of their friend group. The struggles and consequences are written in a relatable, human way that I loved.
My favorite part of this story is that each character was working through their own issues and learning what that would mean for the future of their friend group. The struggles and consequences are written in a relatable, human way that I loved.
Did Not Finish
August 10, 2026dnf@17%
The writing style of this did not vibe with me and I dnf'd because the author mentioned the girl looking up how much rehab costs using a chatbot?! Now I understand that the author might not even be referring to ai however it makes me feel icky and she could have easily just found rehab websites to find the cost.
I received an arc through netgalley.
The writing style of this did not vibe with me and I dnf'd because the author mentioned the girl looking up how much rehab costs using a chatbot?! Now I understand that the author might not even be referring to ai however it makes me feel icky and she could have easily just found rehab websites to find the cost.
I received an arc through netgalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a free copy of, Pining for You, by Stef Ferrari, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This was a sweet holiday romance. Everybody needs friends like Bennie's.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ferrari delivers a swoony Christmas romance (Bennie & Eve = heart-eyes), but also so much more — including a gorgeous gaggle of friends, each with a distinct personality and a camaraderie that makes them the chosen family they are. This book was the warm blanket I needed, wrapping me in love!!
September 16, 2026
I really enjoyed this story. It was funny and had wonderful characters who were getting into a lot of shenanigans. I can’t wait to read more of what this author has to offer.
I received an ARC from NetGallery and I’m leaving an honest and voluntary review.
I received an ARC from NetGallery and I’m leaving an honest and voluntary review.
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