What do you think?
Rate this book
Break the Ice
Warm, funny, and completely irresistible, Break the Ice is the ultimate festive rom-com, perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Sophie Kinsella, and The Holiday.
Phoebe has twenty-four hours to deliver a rescue puppy to her sister’s family in Devon. Armed with a pink woolly hat and a heart full of good intentions, she’s determined to make it happen.
The only problem? She doesn’t have a car. Joshua, her sister’s American house sitter, does.
Joshua came to England to focus on his work and heal a broken heart. Spending Christmas Eve driving a relentlessly cheerful stranger and a howling dog through a blizzard was not part of his plan.
But Phoebe is very persuasive. And somewhere between an impromptu snowball fight and a night sheltering in a firelit shepherd’s hut, the frost between them begins to melt.
Soon what started as a chaotic road trip turns into an even bigger adventure: falling in love.
From a snowy Christmas in the UK to the magic of New York at NYE, Break the Ice is a warm, funny, properly swoony festive rom-com packed with chaos and steamy romantic tension.
Perfect for readers who love:
• Forced proximity
• Grumpy/sunshine romance
• Slow burn with emotional depth
• Sizzling chemistry and spice
• Festive found-family warmth
• And a rescue dog who absolutely steals the show
This heartwarming, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy will captivate readers of Mhairi McFarlane, Beth O’Leary, and Emily Henry.
Phoebe has twenty-four hours to deliver a rescue puppy to her sister’s family in Devon. Armed with a pink woolly hat and a heart full of good intentions, she’s determined to make it happen.
The only problem? She doesn’t have a car. Joshua, her sister’s American house sitter, does.
Joshua came to England to focus on his work and heal a broken heart. Spending Christmas Eve driving a relentlessly cheerful stranger and a howling dog through a blizzard was not part of his plan.
But Phoebe is very persuasive. And somewhere between an impromptu snowball fight and a night sheltering in a firelit shepherd’s hut, the frost between them begins to melt.
Soon what started as a chaotic road trip turns into an even bigger adventure: falling in love.
From a snowy Christmas in the UK to the magic of New York at NYE, Break the Ice is a warm, funny, properly swoony festive rom-com packed with chaos and steamy romantic tension.
Perfect for readers who love:
• Forced proximity
• Grumpy/sunshine romance
• Slow burn with emotional depth
• Sizzling chemistry and spice
• Festive found-family warmth
• And a rescue dog who absolutely steals the show
This heartwarming, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy will captivate readers of Mhairi McFarlane, Beth O’Leary, and Emily Henry.
Audible Audio
First published October 7, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 282 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Break The Ice written by Kristen Bailey was beautiful, festive, emotional, inspiring, heart warming, powerful, relatable, and even heart breaking at times. There's fun festive Christmas books that make you smile until your cheeks hurt, and then there's Christmas books that completely capture your heart, well Break The Ice captured my heart and made me smile like an idiot while I had tears streaming down my face because I related so much to a character. Kristen, I have no clue what you put in your books, but girl, this was my favorite Christmas book you have written so far. Break The Ice is full of winter wonderlands, holiday magic, tender moments, tears of joy, and plenty of puppy love. ❤👑🎄As many of you know by now or don't know already, one of my best friends SK gave me the best title in the world, The Queen of Christmas❤👑🎄 because when this time of the year rolls around I constantly read Christmas books, well I'm back for another year in 2026 and I couldn't be more honored to be called The Queen of Christmas. This book started off with a lost dog named Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, well fast forward Steve the cutest puppy will steal your heart the moment he is introduced, I just wanted to reach into my kindle with a soft snuggly blanket and hold this precious puppy close to my heart. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book, but when I found out it's about a rescue dog who absolutely steals the show, I was even more excited, I just couldn't contain my joy. If you are looking for the most magical Christmas book that will capture your heart, grab yourself a hot beverage, your favorite pair of pajamas, and a warm fuzzy blanket because you won't want to move once you start reading, oh and be sure to mark your calendars for October 7th, 2026 because you won't want to miss out on Kristen Bailey's new book.
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND STORM PUBLISHING FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!!
𝄞⨾💿ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ : For Once In My Life- Stevie Wonder𝄞⨾💿
0:24 ───|──────3:05
"💗🇬🇧It's one of the nice things about being British- we always make the best out of a bad situation💗🇬🇧".
"💝♾️I guess you were also abandoned by people you thought would love you forever💝♾️ ".
"💕😂I'm learning you aren't the best person in a crisis, but you do ease the tension with humor💕😂".
Phoebe Allbright is twenty-five years old and the youngest Allbright sister with her sister Norah being the oldest and Flo being the middle sister. I absolutely adored these sisters and their heart warming moments of decorating Christmas cookies together. Phoebe works at a fancy events planning company where she helps organize functions, party with her clients, and flirt on occasion. Phoebe is taking advantage of her early twenties- being young and single in London. Phoebe just does casual hookups because she's not ready for a committed relationship. Phoebe was one of the most relatable characters I have met in such a long time, she loves those in her life the hardest and she's afraid to disappoint those around her. This Christmas, Phoebe is in charge of delivering the dog Norah picked out for her daughters Christmas present at Norah and Phoebe's dad's house in Devon, England. To make this Christmas special, Phoebe wants to surprise her nieces, Freya and Skye with this precious puppy for Christmas, Phoebe wants everything to go to according to plan because she doesn't want to let down her two sweet little nieces. I absolutely love and adore Phoebe, she's a spontaneous hugger, she calls lotion squirty cream, and she's a girl after my own heart because she has chocolate for breakfast. Phoebe lost her mama before she was set to graduate college, now her tribute to her mom is to keep living freely, wildly, and authentically. After their mom died, Norah tried to be a mother figure for Phoebe and showed her some tough love, things weren't always easy for the Allbright sisters, but I'm so happy they had one another during this difficult time as they navigated life without their mama. In college, Phoebe got her masters in psychology, but her life and plans took a different turn. I absolutely loved that Kristen Bailey gave Phoebe a space to be unapologetically herself.
Joshua Abelman is twenty-six years old and a projective geometry expert and he's a research fellow at the London School of Economics. Joshua left New York for London because London was an escape at a time in his life when he really needed it. Joshua's mom thinks he looks like Clark Kent with his glasses, but his students call him Doctor Who. Joshua plans to go back to New York for New Year's, but he has no one to spend Christmas with in England, so he somehow came upon house sitting for Norah- Phoebe's sister while the Allbright's are at their father's house for Christmas, Joshua is in charge for taking care of looking after Norah's house and feeding her daughters fishes. Despite Joshua being a little rude and cold hearted, don't let him fool you, he's a total softie with the biggest heart, Joshua Abelman will have you swooning in no time ladies, just buckle your seatbelts and be patient. Joshua knows how to have fun, but he just needs a little convincing that it's okay to live your life, it's okay to have fun, and it's okay to make memories during the holiday season. I absolutely love Joshua because he's a Home Alone lover, which is my favorite Christmas movie to watch every single year. Joshua has an orange VW Beetle named Tangerine Dream which he just uses specifically for Costco trips. Despite having old fashioned manners, Joshua was such a sweet soul, he's a sweetheart, he's super funny, and he's very respectful. Shall we get to the part about why Joshua left New York for England? Well, he has a broken heart, he needed an escape, and a new change of scenery to heal his broken heart. Joshua and his high school sweetheart were supposed to get married, but instead she called it off. I appreciate London for welcoming Joshua with open arms even though he has absolutely no family there during the most magical time of the year.
Phoebe and Joshua are completely different from one another. Phoebe thinks Christmas and cranberry don't go well together, whereas Joshua loves having cranberry during Christmas, I can't relate because I think anything food wise with cranberry is gross. Phoebe is wearing a big padded coat, a bright pink beanie, and bright yellow converse shoes when she bursts into her sister's house to get the puppy bag and she finds Joshua in his elf slippers which were a welcome gift from Norah and an I love New York hoodie. Despite looking like silly goofballs the first time they meet, Joshua and Phoebe make a deal- they don't want to ruin Skye and Freya's Christmas, so Joshua offers to drive Phoebe to Devon, England in a snow storm after her car breaks down. Phoebe calls Joshua's orange VW Beetle the Fanta Express. Now, let the fun begin, well it's not fun for Joshua in the beginning because he claims it's a four hour road trip with an uncontrollable parrot meaning Phoebe because she talks too much and she's a very loud person. Despite this trip being four hours, it turns into a twenty-four hour Christmas Eve quest because England is getting a snow storm like they have never seen before. This Christmas Eve quest is filled with Christmas antlers with jingle bells that you wear on your head, plenty of doughnuts and chocolates, emotional stories, snowball fights in prohibited areas, tears, laughs, banter, and s'mores in a sheperd's hut, that's just the basics of their trip, but you will definitely need to read this book to find out how their journey went because I had the absolute best time, it felt like I was just a backseat passenger along for the ride on their snowy quest. I absolutely adored Phoebe, Joshua, and cutie patootie little Steve, I definitely won't forget this Christmas duo anytime soon, they completely captured my heart the entire time. Just thinking about their journey is making my heart all giddy again, the magic of Christmas was truly so beautiful to witness. I will miss these Christmas goobers. Their banter had me laughing so much that I had tears streaming down my face because they were that funny. The best way to describe this Christmas Eve quest is a little Christmas flirtation mixed with Christmas chaos.
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND STORM PUBLISHING FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!!
𝄞⨾💿ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ : For Once In My Life- Stevie Wonder𝄞⨾💿
0:24 ───|──────3:05
"💗🇬🇧It's one of the nice things about being British- we always make the best out of a bad situation💗🇬🇧".
"💝♾️I guess you were also abandoned by people you thought would love you forever💝♾️ ".
"💕😂I'm learning you aren't the best person in a crisis, but you do ease the tension with humor💕😂".
Phoebe Allbright is twenty-five years old and the youngest Allbright sister with her sister Norah being the oldest and Flo being the middle sister. I absolutely adored these sisters and their heart warming moments of decorating Christmas cookies together. Phoebe works at a fancy events planning company where she helps organize functions, party with her clients, and flirt on occasion. Phoebe is taking advantage of her early twenties- being young and single in London. Phoebe just does casual hookups because she's not ready for a committed relationship. Phoebe was one of the most relatable characters I have met in such a long time, she loves those in her life the hardest and she's afraid to disappoint those around her. This Christmas, Phoebe is in charge of delivering the dog Norah picked out for her daughters Christmas present at Norah and Phoebe's dad's house in Devon, England. To make this Christmas special, Phoebe wants to surprise her nieces, Freya and Skye with this precious puppy for Christmas, Phoebe wants everything to go to according to plan because she doesn't want to let down her two sweet little nieces. I absolutely love and adore Phoebe, she's a spontaneous hugger, she calls lotion squirty cream, and she's a girl after my own heart because she has chocolate for breakfast. Phoebe lost her mama before she was set to graduate college, now her tribute to her mom is to keep living freely, wildly, and authentically. After their mom died, Norah tried to be a mother figure for Phoebe and showed her some tough love, things weren't always easy for the Allbright sisters, but I'm so happy they had one another during this difficult time as they navigated life without their mama. In college, Phoebe got her masters in psychology, but her life and plans took a different turn. I absolutely loved that Kristen Bailey gave Phoebe a space to be unapologetically herself.
Joshua Abelman is twenty-six years old and a projective geometry expert and he's a research fellow at the London School of Economics. Joshua left New York for London because London was an escape at a time in his life when he really needed it. Joshua's mom thinks he looks like Clark Kent with his glasses, but his students call him Doctor Who. Joshua plans to go back to New York for New Year's, but he has no one to spend Christmas with in England, so he somehow came upon house sitting for Norah- Phoebe's sister while the Allbright's are at their father's house for Christmas, Joshua is in charge for taking care of looking after Norah's house and feeding her daughters fishes. Despite Joshua being a little rude and cold hearted, don't let him fool you, he's a total softie with the biggest heart, Joshua Abelman will have you swooning in no time ladies, just buckle your seatbelts and be patient. Joshua knows how to have fun, but he just needs a little convincing that it's okay to live your life, it's okay to have fun, and it's okay to make memories during the holiday season. I absolutely love Joshua because he's a Home Alone lover, which is my favorite Christmas movie to watch every single year. Joshua has an orange VW Beetle named Tangerine Dream which he just uses specifically for Costco trips. Despite having old fashioned manners, Joshua was such a sweet soul, he's a sweetheart, he's super funny, and he's very respectful. Shall we get to the part about why Joshua left New York for England? Well, he has a broken heart, he needed an escape, and a new change of scenery to heal his broken heart. Joshua and his high school sweetheart were supposed to get married, but instead she called it off. I appreciate London for welcoming Joshua with open arms even though he has absolutely no family there during the most magical time of the year.
Phoebe and Joshua are completely different from one another. Phoebe thinks Christmas and cranberry don't go well together, whereas Joshua loves having cranberry during Christmas, I can't relate because I think anything food wise with cranberry is gross. Phoebe is wearing a big padded coat, a bright pink beanie, and bright yellow converse shoes when she bursts into her sister's house to get the puppy bag and she finds Joshua in his elf slippers which were a welcome gift from Norah and an I love New York hoodie. Despite looking like silly goofballs the first time they meet, Joshua and Phoebe make a deal- they don't want to ruin Skye and Freya's Christmas, so Joshua offers to drive Phoebe to Devon, England in a snow storm after her car breaks down. Phoebe calls Joshua's orange VW Beetle the Fanta Express. Now, let the fun begin, well it's not fun for Joshua in the beginning because he claims it's a four hour road trip with an uncontrollable parrot meaning Phoebe because she talks too much and she's a very loud person. Despite this trip being four hours, it turns into a twenty-four hour Christmas Eve quest because England is getting a snow storm like they have never seen before. This Christmas Eve quest is filled with Christmas antlers with jingle bells that you wear on your head, plenty of doughnuts and chocolates, emotional stories, snowball fights in prohibited areas, tears, laughs, banter, and s'mores in a sheperd's hut, that's just the basics of their trip, but you will definitely need to read this book to find out how their journey went because I had the absolute best time, it felt like I was just a backseat passenger along for the ride on their snowy quest. I absolutely adored Phoebe, Joshua, and cutie patootie little Steve, I definitely won't forget this Christmas duo anytime soon, they completely captured my heart the entire time. Just thinking about their journey is making my heart all giddy again, the magic of Christmas was truly so beautiful to witness. I will miss these Christmas goobers. Their banter had me laughing so much that I had tears streaming down my face because they were that funny. The best way to describe this Christmas Eve quest is a little Christmas flirtation mixed with Christmas chaos.
October 11, 2026
Though not one of my favorites of hers, this will be a winner for anyone who enjoys a festive Christmas story with a forced proximity, opposites attract pairing. Brit Phoebe and American Josh are on a quest to deliver a VERY adorable puppy named Steve to Phoebe's nieces in time for Christmas, but heavy snow turns the four hour trip into an entirely different adventure altogether!
Expect witty banter, a slow-building relationship as they find their footing with one another and genuine moments of heartbreak and healing as they help one another through the things that are weighing on them. If you enjoy a cute puppy in your stories, Steve will surely win your heart! It's a slow burn, mild spice Christmas adventure that's sure to put a smile on your face.
A couple things didn't work as well for me, though. In the first part of the story Phoebe was a little bit much for me personality-wise, and it took me a moment to grow to enjoy her. Thankfully her character arc changed that and I grew to like her. My second issue is that if you're going to write an American character, then their POV should use American English in how it's written, since that’s what they would use. There were many instances of Josh's character using British English terms or spelling, and I'm not talking about the times when it was being done intentionally to mimic Phoebe. It's a minor thing that most will probably see past, but it pulled me out of the story enough to mention.
All-in-all a sweet festive read for the season!
★★★ ½
Thanks to Storm Publishing, NetGalley and author Kristen Bailey for this DRC to honestly review. It’s out now!
Expect witty banter, a slow-building relationship as they find their footing with one another and genuine moments of heartbreak and healing as they help one another through the things that are weighing on them. If you enjoy a cute puppy in your stories, Steve will surely win your heart! It's a slow burn, mild spice Christmas adventure that's sure to put a smile on your face.
A couple things didn't work as well for me, though. In the first part of the story Phoebe was a little bit much for me personality-wise, and it took me a moment to grow to enjoy her. Thankfully her character arc changed that and I grew to like her. My second issue is that if you're going to write an American character, then their POV should use American English in how it's written, since that’s what they would use. There were many instances of Josh's character using British English terms or spelling, and I'm not talking about the times when it was being done intentionally to mimic Phoebe. It's a minor thing that most will probably see past, but it pulled me out of the story enough to mention.
All-in-all a sweet festive read for the season!
★★★ ½
Thanks to Storm Publishing, NetGalley and author Kristen Bailey for this DRC to honestly review. It’s out now!
October 4, 2026
⌗ ──🍋🟩🐈⬛ᝰ .ᐟ read.
at this point, kristen bailey does not disappoint
RTC
⌗ ──🍋🟩🐈⬛ᝰ .ᐟ pre-read.
my second kristen bailey book, and since reading glow job, this was an immediate yes.
i'm SO SO SO excited for this one!
thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange of an honest review.
at this point, kristen bailey does not disappoint
RTC
⌗ ──🍋🟩🐈⬛ᝰ .ᐟ pre-read.
my second kristen bailey book, and since reading glow job, this was an immediate yes.
i'm SO SO SO excited for this one!
thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange of an honest review.
September 21, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
There are some books that feel like a story, and then there are books that feel like a season. Break the Ice felt like Christmas in the best possible way, with twinkling lights, snow covered roads, crackling fires, unexpected detours, laughter, and just enough magic to make you believe that maybe some things really are meant to happen.
This book completely stole my heart. It made me laugh out loud, swoon more than once, and fall so easily for two people who could not have been more different. 🩷😂🫠🥰
Phoebe is sunshine in human form.☀️She is loud, spontaneous, energetic, fiercely loyal and wonderfully chaotic. She throws herself into life with both hands, even while trying to prove to herself and her sisters that she really has everything under control. Beneath all that brightness is a woman still finding her footing, and I adored that there was so much more to Phoebe than her big personality.
Joshua could not be more different. He is quiet where she is loud, measured where she is impulsive, and happiest when life follows a carefully constructed plan. A mathematician doing a research fellowship in London, he is also carrying the weight of a broken heart and trying to put some distance between himself and the life he left behind in New York.
And then, of course, Phoebe happens to him.🤣
What begins with an unforgettable meet cute and two people who are not exactly sure what to make of each other slowly turns into friendship, trust, and something neither of them planned for. Watching those walls come down one little moment at a time was such a joy. Phoebe brought color and spontaneity into Joshua’s carefully ordered world, while Joshua gave Phoebe something she did not even realize she needed, a sense of steadiness and safety.
Their journey together was my favorite part of the story.❤️
🚗A road trip through a snowstorm
❄️Closed roads, unexpected detours, and getting snowed in together
🐶A howling rescue dog named Steve
☃️An impromptu snowball fight
🔥A cozy shepherd’s hut with a fire burning against the cold
Honestly, what could possibly go wrong?😂
The mishaps had me chuckling so much, but beneath all that fun was something much more tender. Both of them were carrying their own hurts and uncertainties, and I loved watching them slowly become people the other could lean on. That gave the romance an emotional depth I was not expecting from a holiday rom-com.
And the romance was everything.❤️
The tension was deliciously slow burning, the chemistry undeniable, and the friendship between them made every stolen glance and almost moment that much sweeter. Their relationship was never simply about attraction. It was about really seeing each other, understanding each other, and becoming a safe place for one another.
And Steve.🐶
This rescue dog absolutely understood the assignment and stole every scene he could.
I also loved the dual POV and the way the story carried us from the Christmas magic of England into New York for New Year’s Eve.
After everything they experience together, Phoebe agrees to be Joshua’s fake date for a New Year’s Eve party, knowing that the woman who broke his heart, his former fiancée, will be there. What begins as something they can pretend is only for one evening becomes much harder to dismiss when their feelings are becoming very real.
Their was something especially poignant about Joshua returning to the people and place connected to his heartbreak, only this time he was not facing it alone. And Phoebe, in her wonderfully Phoebe way, brought her own light into a situation that could have easily felt heavy.
I loved how naturally their relationship evolved. What stayed with me most was the emotional heart beneath all the laughter. This was not simply a cute holiday romance. It was about finding your footing, figuring out what you truly want, proving to yourself that you are capable of standing on your own, and discovering that sometimes the person who completely disrupts your plans can bring something unexpectedly beautiful into your life.
I highly recommend this delightful, heartwarming, hilarious, and swoon Christmas romance that completely melted my heart.🎄❤️🌟🌟🌟🌟☃️❄️🩵
There are some books that feel like a story, and then there are books that feel like a season. Break the Ice felt like Christmas in the best possible way, with twinkling lights, snow covered roads, crackling fires, unexpected detours, laughter, and just enough magic to make you believe that maybe some things really are meant to happen.
This book completely stole my heart. It made me laugh out loud, swoon more than once, and fall so easily for two people who could not have been more different. 🩷😂🫠🥰
Phoebe is sunshine in human form.☀️She is loud, spontaneous, energetic, fiercely loyal and wonderfully chaotic. She throws herself into life with both hands, even while trying to prove to herself and her sisters that she really has everything under control. Beneath all that brightness is a woman still finding her footing, and I adored that there was so much more to Phoebe than her big personality.
Joshua could not be more different. He is quiet where she is loud, measured where she is impulsive, and happiest when life follows a carefully constructed plan. A mathematician doing a research fellowship in London, he is also carrying the weight of a broken heart and trying to put some distance between himself and the life he left behind in New York.
And then, of course, Phoebe happens to him.🤣
What begins with an unforgettable meet cute and two people who are not exactly sure what to make of each other slowly turns into friendship, trust, and something neither of them planned for. Watching those walls come down one little moment at a time was such a joy. Phoebe brought color and spontaneity into Joshua’s carefully ordered world, while Joshua gave Phoebe something she did not even realize she needed, a sense of steadiness and safety.
Their journey together was my favorite part of the story.❤️
🚗A road trip through a snowstorm
❄️Closed roads, unexpected detours, and getting snowed in together
🐶A howling rescue dog named Steve
☃️An impromptu snowball fight
🔥A cozy shepherd’s hut with a fire burning against the cold
Honestly, what could possibly go wrong?😂
The mishaps had me chuckling so much, but beneath all that fun was something much more tender. Both of them were carrying their own hurts and uncertainties, and I loved watching them slowly become people the other could lean on. That gave the romance an emotional depth I was not expecting from a holiday rom-com.
And the romance was everything.❤️
The tension was deliciously slow burning, the chemistry undeniable, and the friendship between them made every stolen glance and almost moment that much sweeter. Their relationship was never simply about attraction. It was about really seeing each other, understanding each other, and becoming a safe place for one another.
And Steve.🐶
This rescue dog absolutely understood the assignment and stole every scene he could.
I also loved the dual POV and the way the story carried us from the Christmas magic of England into New York for New Year’s Eve.
After everything they experience together, Phoebe agrees to be Joshua’s fake date for a New Year’s Eve party, knowing that the woman who broke his heart, his former fiancée, will be there. What begins as something they can pretend is only for one evening becomes much harder to dismiss when their feelings are becoming very real.
Their was something especially poignant about Joshua returning to the people and place connected to his heartbreak, only this time he was not facing it alone. And Phoebe, in her wonderfully Phoebe way, brought her own light into a situation that could have easily felt heavy.
I loved how naturally their relationship evolved. What stayed with me most was the emotional heart beneath all the laughter. This was not simply a cute holiday romance. It was about finding your footing, figuring out what you truly want, proving to yourself that you are capable of standing on your own, and discovering that sometimes the person who completely disrupts your plans can bring something unexpectedly beautiful into your life.
I highly recommend this delightful, heartwarming, hilarious, and swoon Christmas romance that completely melted my heart.🎄❤️🌟🌟🌟🌟☃️❄️🩵
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am not really a rom-com girl anymore, but... this book may be the one to change that a bit!!
I laughed out loud, cried a little, and just immersed myself into the story.
Phoebe is a bit spacey and all over the place. She is the youngest sibling of 4, and they see her as spontaneous and irresponsible. On this Christmas, her older sister Norah and her husband have decided to give their girls a dog. They found the perfect rescue dog, but need Phoebe to drive the dog up to their father's cottage where they will all be for Christmas. Phoebe loves her family, especially her nieces, and is determined to do this for them.
However, as she is leaving the city, she has to stop to pick up the doggy supplies that the pup needs.
As she arrives at Norah's house to get the supplies, she stumbles into Josh. Unbeknownst to Phoebe, Norah has hired Josh to be her house sitter and feed the fish and water the plants. Josh is looking forward to this as he is on break from his internship at the college. There is a lot of confusion, but finally Phoebe has the supplies and is ready to take off. But... her old car will not start! Emotional panic sets in, and she is not that kind to Josh, but she asks if she can pay him to drive her the 4 hours to get to her father's cottage with the dog. And what ensues is is a sweet developing love story between Phoebe and Steve (the dog). Josh and Steve, and eventually Phoebe and Josh!
I will admit that at first I was not sure if this story was going to work. Phoebe a bit all over the place, and talks a lot. She loves her family fiercely, but has dealt with the grief of her mother's passing of cancer by living in the moment with not many attachments except her family. Josh is a bit stiff at first, but we discover the reason and his story slowly throughout the conversations that he and Phoebe have on the trip. As they face mishaps, a huge snowstorm that stops travel, tour through Stonehenge illegally at night, and work together to help Steve the dog, I found myself being wrapped in a lovely, charming, slow burn story.
Phoebe just wants someone to see her. She has a heart that is so big, and is always willing to help anyone. She especially wants her family to realize that she can be counted on. Josh is thoughtful and kind, and as he relaxes around Phoebe, we get to see his lighter side. I loved how charmed he was by everything that was new to him!
And can I just say that the star of the whole book was Steve the Dog! Love how he got his name!!
This is my first book by this author, but I see that she has quite a few others! I am so excited to delve into her books!
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
I laughed out loud, cried a little, and just immersed myself into the story.
Phoebe is a bit spacey and all over the place. She is the youngest sibling of 4, and they see her as spontaneous and irresponsible. On this Christmas, her older sister Norah and her husband have decided to give their girls a dog. They found the perfect rescue dog, but need Phoebe to drive the dog up to their father's cottage where they will all be for Christmas. Phoebe loves her family, especially her nieces, and is determined to do this for them.
However, as she is leaving the city, she has to stop to pick up the doggy supplies that the pup needs.
As she arrives at Norah's house to get the supplies, she stumbles into Josh. Unbeknownst to Phoebe, Norah has hired Josh to be her house sitter and feed the fish and water the plants. Josh is looking forward to this as he is on break from his internship at the college. There is a lot of confusion, but finally Phoebe has the supplies and is ready to take off. But... her old car will not start! Emotional panic sets in, and she is not that kind to Josh, but she asks if she can pay him to drive her the 4 hours to get to her father's cottage with the dog. And what ensues is is a sweet developing love story between Phoebe and Steve (the dog). Josh and Steve, and eventually Phoebe and Josh!
I will admit that at first I was not sure if this story was going to work. Phoebe a bit all over the place, and talks a lot. She loves her family fiercely, but has dealt with the grief of her mother's passing of cancer by living in the moment with not many attachments except her family. Josh is a bit stiff at first, but we discover the reason and his story slowly throughout the conversations that he and Phoebe have on the trip. As they face mishaps, a huge snowstorm that stops travel, tour through Stonehenge illegally at night, and work together to help Steve the dog, I found myself being wrapped in a lovely, charming, slow burn story.
Phoebe just wants someone to see her. She has a heart that is so big, and is always willing to help anyone. She especially wants her family to realize that she can be counted on. Josh is thoughtful and kind, and as he relaxes around Phoebe, we get to see his lighter side. I loved how charmed he was by everything that was new to him!
And can I just say that the star of the whole book was Steve the Dog! Love how he got his name!!
This is my first book by this author, but I see that she has quite a few others! I am so excited to delve into her books!
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
October 8, 2026
4.25🌟 | 2🌶️
Christmas chaos has never looked quite this entertaining.
Phoebe is chaotic, loud, spontaneous, and fiercely devoted to her family, while Joshua is quiet, organised, and guarded after a broken engagement. They could not be more different, but watching their awkward first meeting turn into friendship and then something more was such a good time.
The road trip was easily my favourite part. What should have taken a few hours became Christmas Eve chaos with snow, ridiculous detours, banter, cosy moments, and Steve the rescue dog stealing every scene. I loved how Phoebe brought some much-needed spontaneity into Joshua’s carefully ordered life, while he gave her the steadiness she needed. Their connection grew so naturally through all those little moments together.
The family dynamics and their individual journeys added some lovely depth beneath all the festive fun, and I especially liked seeing Joshua slowly move past his heartbreak. Between the humour, Christmas atmosphere, slow-burn chemistry, and one very memorable puppy, this was such a cozy, feel-good romance that left me smiling.
A sweet, chaotic Christmas romance.
~~~~
A sincere thank you to Kristen Bailey, Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC! 🥰📚
I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨
Christmas chaos has never looked quite this entertaining.
Phoebe is chaotic, loud, spontaneous, and fiercely devoted to her family, while Joshua is quiet, organised, and guarded after a broken engagement. They could not be more different, but watching their awkward first meeting turn into friendship and then something more was such a good time.
The road trip was easily my favourite part. What should have taken a few hours became Christmas Eve chaos with snow, ridiculous detours, banter, cosy moments, and Steve the rescue dog stealing every scene. I loved how Phoebe brought some much-needed spontaneity into Joshua’s carefully ordered life, while he gave her the steadiness she needed. Their connection grew so naturally through all those little moments together.
The family dynamics and their individual journeys added some lovely depth beneath all the festive fun, and I especially liked seeing Joshua slowly move past his heartbreak. Between the humour, Christmas atmosphere, slow-burn chemistry, and one very memorable puppy, this was such a cozy, feel-good romance that left me smiling.
A sweet, chaotic Christmas romance.
~~~~
A sincere thank you to Kristen Bailey, Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC! 🥰📚
I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨
October 1, 2026
Publishing date: Oct 7 2026 💕
❁ Thank you to Netgalley and Kristen Bailey for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion — ARC provided by Storm Publishing ❁
Cheers to my first holiday book of the season!! 🎄☃️
This book was overwhelmingly cute. From the characters, to the families, the banter, the dog.
Every time I've put down my Kindle through the day I've found myself smiling and literally telling my walls "awh that's so cute" or "he's so cute" 🥰
It really had all you would ever want from a Hallmark movie, the good ones that leave you with a warm heart.
There were moments that might have been a bit sappy and if one is not in the right state of mind all the cuteness and clichés might appear too much, too sweet, but it was just the perfect amount for me today.
It was a beautiful journey from an English Christmas to a New York ball drop into New year's, with a lot of food, fun and care.
Loved it! 💗
Ⓟⓡⓔ—Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ
Want to Read
August 17, 2026𝙥𝙧𝙚-𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 ໒꒰ྀི ᴗ͈ . ᴗ͈ ꒱ྀིა
Thank you to Netgalley, Storm Publishing and Kristen Bailey for entrusting me with another ARC!
Really enjoyed Glow Job previously - a perfect summer read, and now that Kristen has a Christmas-themed novel, obviously we HAVE to read it!!! Christmas is my favourite time of the year so I'm really excited to be back in the festive mood real soonnnnn <3
adding this to my September Fall TBR!
publication date: 7 October 2026
Thank you to Netgalley, Storm Publishing and Kristen Bailey for entrusting me with another ARC!
Really enjoyed Glow Job previously - a perfect summer read, and now that Kristen has a Christmas-themed novel, obviously we HAVE to read it!!! Christmas is my favourite time of the year so I'm really excited to be back in the festive mood real soonnnnn <3
adding this to my September Fall TBR!
publication date: 7 October 2026
October 6, 2026
This was such a fun, festive rom-com! Break the Ice had everything I look for in a holiday romance—forced proximity, plenty of chaos, a cute rescue dog, and lots of chemistry. I absolutely loved Phoebe and Josh’s chemistry and watching their relationship develop as they went from strangers to something more.
Phoebe was such a lovable, determined character, and the road trip through a snowy Christmas Eve made for some hilarious and heartwarming moments. The rescue puppy definitely stole the show too! 🐶❤️
A cozy, funny, feel-good Christmas romance with plenty of swoon-worthy moments. Perfect for a holiday reading list! 🎄❄️💕
Phoebe was such a lovable, determined character, and the road trip through a snowy Christmas Eve made for some hilarious and heartwarming moments. The rescue puppy definitely stole the show too! 🐶❤️
A cozy, funny, feel-good Christmas romance with plenty of swoon-worthy moments. Perfect for a holiday reading list! 🎄❄️💕
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC review - Thankyou to Kristen and Netgalley for allowing me to read this one early!
-Forced proximity
-Grumpy × sunshine
-Opposites attract
-Road trip romance
-Slow burn
-Christmas romance
-Found-family
I LOVED Pheobe!! I loved her overall vibe and energy. However, I can't deny that Steve (the rescue dog) was my overall favourite (of course)
I am a sucker for a road trip vibe and the "forced proximity"
This is my first Kristen Bailey Book, but it won't be my last I LOVED the humour she's embedded in the book
Such a heartwarming and funny Christmas book! I can't wait for people to get their hands on this one!!!
4.25 stars
-Forced proximity
-Grumpy × sunshine
-Opposites attract
-Road trip romance
-Slow burn
-Christmas romance
-Found-family
I LOVED Pheobe!! I loved her overall vibe and energy. However, I can't deny that Steve (the rescue dog) was my overall favourite (of course)
I am a sucker for a road trip vibe and the "forced proximity"
This is my first Kristen Bailey Book, but it won't be my last I LOVED the humour she's embedded in the book
Such a heartwarming and funny Christmas book! I can't wait for people to get their hands on this one!!!
4.25 stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.9 Stars
This was my first Kristen Bailey book and I loved it!
It was so adorable and sweet and funny and so full of Christmas and England and road-tripping and New York and FOOD and the dog! Ugh, the dog. I loved him! I loved both families....everything!
It was the perfect holiday romance.
Could've been a bit sexier here and there. And I had to get used to Kristen's writing style - she jumps into inner monologue kind of lines in the middle of a situation/scene/conversation - but I didn't mind that too much.
BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS ROMANCE!
click ► HERE! to buy the book!
October 7, 2026
Steve the rescue dog can apparently only be soothed by Stevie Wonder, which should tell you everything you need to know about the people responsible for transporting him across England on Christmas Eve. This dog has boundaries. He has musical preferences. He knows what he needs. Meanwhile, Phoebe has a broken car, twenty-four hours to get him to Devon, and the unshakable confidence of a woman who sees an unfolding disaster and thinks, no, this still feels manageable.
Phoebe is the youngest sibling and has spent enough time being treated like the family flake that delivering Steve to her nieces for Christmas has become weirdly personal. This is her chance to prove she can be trusted with one important task, except her car immediately betrays her because apparently even the vehicle has heard the family group chat. Enter Joshua, her sister's American house sitter, who has a functioning car and absolutely did not wake up expecting to become chauffeur to a relentlessly chatty British woman and a German Shepherd with a Motown rider. Phoebe, naturally, treats his reluctance as a minor administrative issue.
And Joshua is not really the grump this setup keeps trying to sell us. That man is just QUIET. Phoebe comes at him with approximately seventeen conversations already in progress, outrageous stories about herself, questionable planning, and the general energy of someone who would make friends during an evacuation. Joshua is organized, thoughtful, awkwardly lovely, and clearly wondering at several points how he became part of this traveling Christmas circus. Then the snowstorm hits, the trip goes completely feral, and suddenly we're doing Stonehenge, drunk Zumba ladies, a shepherd's hut, snowball fights, and strangers helping strangers because apparently Britain has decided these two will fall in love whether the roads remain open or not.
What got me about Phoebe, though, is that underneath all that noise is someone who is painfully aware that everybody already has a version of her in their head. She's the baby. She's chaotic. She's the one you probably shouldn't trust with the important job. And yes, the woman absolutely brings some of that reputation upon herself. I have eyes. But she also has this enormous heart, and when she decides somebody is hers, she goes into battle with whatever happens to be available. Sometimes that is emotional support. Sometimes, apparently, it is a sausage roll. I respect the range.
Joshua, meanwhile, came to England carrying the remains of a long relationship and a broken engagement, and I became increasingly irritated on his behalf the more we learned about what happened with Avery. He isn't some brooding Christmas gargoyle who needs Phoebe to teach him joy. He's already kind. He's already warm. He's just been hurt badly enough that keeping his life small and orderly feels safer for a while. That's why these two worked best for me when they were simply talking, teasing, helping each other, and becoming friends while Steve supervised this developing situation like an extremely hairy chaperone.
Then Christmas ends and Joshua basically goes, you know what this relationship needs? INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL. Sir. You met this woman during a canine delivery emergency. But off Phoebe goes to New York for New Year's because these people have never encountered a reasonable escalation in their lives. And now Joshua has a New Year's Eve party connected to the ex situation that he is dreading, Phoebe is entering his home turf, fake-dating energy joins the festivities, and I am watching two people who met in a snowstorm behave as though a transatlantic second act is the obvious next step. The sheer confidence of holiday romance protagonists should be studied.
There is also something genuinely lovely hiding underneath all the Christmas nonsense about being seen as the person you are now instead of the role everybody assigned you years ago. Phoebe wants someone to look past the family label. Joshua needs someone who doesn't treat what happened to him like evidence that he wasn't enough. Neither one needs the other to become a different person. They just give each other a little more room to be themselves. That landed. I do not need to discuss it further because Steve is waiting and he has standards.
Did every romantic beat knock me sideways? No. Sometimes I could see the holiday-rom-com machinery moving behind the Christmas lights, and there were moments when Phoebe's full-volume Phoebe-ness had me mentally asking her to use her indoor voice even though we were outdoors. But I kept having fun with these idiots. The family Christmas, the strangers collected along the way, Joshua quietly getting absorbed into Phoebe's orbit, Steve repeatedly behaving like he knows this is actually his book... it all had that specific holiday chaos where everyone is cold, plans are ruined, somebody has made a terrible logistical decision, and somehow you're still having a nice time.
Break the Ice landed at 3.5 stars for me, and that feels exactly right. I had fun, I liked Phoebe, I wanted substantially better things for Joshua, and I would trust Steve with my emotional wellbeing before I trusted either human being with a Christmas Eve transportation plan. Also, giving the dog his own point of view in the prologue and epilogue? Fine. He earned it. Frankly, he had been carrying this operation since London.
Merry Mayhem Prize: For Best Use of Stevie Wonder in the Emotional Management of a German Shepherd While Two Adults Accidentally Fall in Love Across Two Countries
Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC, and for introducing me to Steve, who requested absolutely none of this, survived all of it, and still somehow ended up doing more for British-American relations than the actual humans.
Phoebe is the youngest sibling and has spent enough time being treated like the family flake that delivering Steve to her nieces for Christmas has become weirdly personal. This is her chance to prove she can be trusted with one important task, except her car immediately betrays her because apparently even the vehicle has heard the family group chat. Enter Joshua, her sister's American house sitter, who has a functioning car and absolutely did not wake up expecting to become chauffeur to a relentlessly chatty British woman and a German Shepherd with a Motown rider. Phoebe, naturally, treats his reluctance as a minor administrative issue.
And Joshua is not really the grump this setup keeps trying to sell us. That man is just QUIET. Phoebe comes at him with approximately seventeen conversations already in progress, outrageous stories about herself, questionable planning, and the general energy of someone who would make friends during an evacuation. Joshua is organized, thoughtful, awkwardly lovely, and clearly wondering at several points how he became part of this traveling Christmas circus. Then the snowstorm hits, the trip goes completely feral, and suddenly we're doing Stonehenge, drunk Zumba ladies, a shepherd's hut, snowball fights, and strangers helping strangers because apparently Britain has decided these two will fall in love whether the roads remain open or not.
What got me about Phoebe, though, is that underneath all that noise is someone who is painfully aware that everybody already has a version of her in their head. She's the baby. She's chaotic. She's the one you probably shouldn't trust with the important job. And yes, the woman absolutely brings some of that reputation upon herself. I have eyes. But she also has this enormous heart, and when she decides somebody is hers, she goes into battle with whatever happens to be available. Sometimes that is emotional support. Sometimes, apparently, it is a sausage roll. I respect the range.
Joshua, meanwhile, came to England carrying the remains of a long relationship and a broken engagement, and I became increasingly irritated on his behalf the more we learned about what happened with Avery. He isn't some brooding Christmas gargoyle who needs Phoebe to teach him joy. He's already kind. He's already warm. He's just been hurt badly enough that keeping his life small and orderly feels safer for a while. That's why these two worked best for me when they were simply talking, teasing, helping each other, and becoming friends while Steve supervised this developing situation like an extremely hairy chaperone.
Then Christmas ends and Joshua basically goes, you know what this relationship needs? INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL. Sir. You met this woman during a canine delivery emergency. But off Phoebe goes to New York for New Year's because these people have never encountered a reasonable escalation in their lives. And now Joshua has a New Year's Eve party connected to the ex situation that he is dreading, Phoebe is entering his home turf, fake-dating energy joins the festivities, and I am watching two people who met in a snowstorm behave as though a transatlantic second act is the obvious next step. The sheer confidence of holiday romance protagonists should be studied.
There is also something genuinely lovely hiding underneath all the Christmas nonsense about being seen as the person you are now instead of the role everybody assigned you years ago. Phoebe wants someone to look past the family label. Joshua needs someone who doesn't treat what happened to him like evidence that he wasn't enough. Neither one needs the other to become a different person. They just give each other a little more room to be themselves. That landed. I do not need to discuss it further because Steve is waiting and he has standards.
Did every romantic beat knock me sideways? No. Sometimes I could see the holiday-rom-com machinery moving behind the Christmas lights, and there were moments when Phoebe's full-volume Phoebe-ness had me mentally asking her to use her indoor voice even though we were outdoors. But I kept having fun with these idiots. The family Christmas, the strangers collected along the way, Joshua quietly getting absorbed into Phoebe's orbit, Steve repeatedly behaving like he knows this is actually his book... it all had that specific holiday chaos where everyone is cold, plans are ruined, somebody has made a terrible logistical decision, and somehow you're still having a nice time.
Break the Ice landed at 3.5 stars for me, and that feels exactly right. I had fun, I liked Phoebe, I wanted substantially better things for Joshua, and I would trust Steve with my emotional wellbeing before I trusted either human being with a Christmas Eve transportation plan. Also, giving the dog his own point of view in the prologue and epilogue? Fine. He earned it. Frankly, he had been carrying this operation since London.
Merry Mayhem Prize: For Best Use of Stevie Wonder in the Emotional Management of a German Shepherd While Two Adults Accidentally Fall in Love Across Two Countries
Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC, and for introducing me to Steve, who requested absolutely none of this, survived all of it, and still somehow ended up doing more for British-American relations than the actual humans.
October 7, 2026
This is something I so needed right now. There comes a time when you feel like life is just happening around you, you know? It's not even that you're losing hope: it's more that you're resigning yourself to certain things, to a certain fate. But then something (like this book) comes along like a breath of fresh air to snap you out of it. A bit like Phoebe did for Joshua, I guess!
What do we have here? Phoebe, the youngest sibling, needs to save her niece's Christmas by delivering a dog on time. Then there's Joshua, who is housesitting her sister's house when she basically ambushes him during a pitstop on her way to Devon to meet the rest of her family. Naturally, chaos ensues, and because Joshua is a proper gentleman from America, he offers to help drive her there.
The story spans only a few days, but it feels like a lifetime. We get deep insights into both Phoebe's and Joshua's lives—what makes them tick, what they're afraid of, and what they're truly looking for. Observing how they open up to each other, gradually seeing and understanding one another better than anyone else does, is an absolute joy.
The chemistry between the two of them is undeniable from the start. But their interactions with both of their families were the real highlight for me. That is not an easy thing to pull off, and Kristen made it look so effortless. When it's done right, I always enjoy a good family dynamic—siblings especially. It just feels right.
This book made me laugh and made me tear up a little bit, too. Mostly, though, it has been pure sunshine on an October evening that I really needed. It's chaotic, cosy, romantic, hilarious, and utterly charming. Highly recommended!
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
What do we have here? Phoebe, the youngest sibling, needs to save her niece's Christmas by delivering a dog on time. Then there's Joshua, who is housesitting her sister's house when she basically ambushes him during a pitstop on her way to Devon to meet the rest of her family. Naturally, chaos ensues, and because Joshua is a proper gentleman from America, he offers to help drive her there.
The story spans only a few days, but it feels like a lifetime. We get deep insights into both Phoebe's and Joshua's lives—what makes them tick, what they're afraid of, and what they're truly looking for. Observing how they open up to each other, gradually seeing and understanding one another better than anyone else does, is an absolute joy.
The chemistry between the two of them is undeniable from the start. But their interactions with both of their families were the real highlight for me. That is not an easy thing to pull off, and Kristen made it look so effortless. When it's done right, I always enjoy a good family dynamic—siblings especially. It just feels right.
This book made me laugh and made me tear up a little bit, too. Mostly, though, it has been pure sunshine on an October evening that I really needed. It's chaotic, cosy, romantic, hilarious, and utterly charming. Highly recommended!
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
October 11, 2026
This was such a cute read! Phoebe & Joshua had really different personalities which made their dynamic more fun! Their banter was entertaining, the romance was sweet and the story was well written with a strong Christmas vibe, which made the book feel more cosy. I especially liked how the book explored family and relationships without losing its lighthearted feel. And ofcourse Steve the puppy was an adorable addition too! Overall, this was really enjoyable.
I received an ARC in exchange of an honest review
I received an ARC in exchange of an honest review
September 23, 2026
Thank you Storm Publishing, NetGalley and the author for the ARC. Thoughts and opinions are all my own.
This book is the perfect cozy, warm, light hearted, Christmas rom-com.
It has everything you need for a cozy read, loveable characters, a chaotic road trip, a snowstorm, small cottage and one extremely loveable rescue puppy.
Phoebe is living her best life in London, she finished her studies, works in events and is just trying to live her life to the fullest while having the most amount of fun possible. She is a bit of a whirlwind, talks a bit too much at times and is viewed by her family as irresponsible and a bit of a train crash. She is the best person, fearless, kind, extremely loyal and would do anything to protect the people she loves. I absolutely adored her!
Joshua is a math nerd who ran away to London to escape his life in New York City. During the holidays he finds himself housesitting for Phoebe's sister Norah. He is serious, reserved and introverted, so basically the complete opposite of Phoebe. He finds Phoebe a bit terrifying at first but at the same time is drawn to her aswel.
Phoebe promised her sister Norah to bring their newly rescued puppy, Steve, to their dad's house in Devon for Christmas. But when her car breaks down she turns to Josh for help. The three of them set off for the, what should have been, five hour road trip but the snow had other plans. Que all the shenanigans, giant tesco, Stonehenge, lots of Stevie Wonder, a tiny cottage, and much much more.
In the second half of the book Josh asks Phoebe to come with him to New York to go to a New Years Eve party. The moment Phoebe lands she is mesmerized by the city. Seeing her excitement about everything in the city was a joy to read. Phoebe's enthusiasm just dripped off the pages and it made me smile more than once.
As they travel together, they slowly get past their first impressions of each other, and we see the softer sides of both of them. Joshua isn't quite as cold and serious as he initially appears, while Phoebe's bubbly exterior hides some insecurities of her own. It was so nice and heart-warming to see their relationship develop and see them peel back each other's layers one by one. They went from reluctant road trip buddies to something much more meaningful.
The story is lightweight and there is lots of humour and laughs in the story. But at the same time the characters are deeper than you first think, they have their own insecurities and emotional baggage. They definitely stayed with me.
This might be the book for you if you like:
❄️ Forced proximity
❄️ Grumpy/sunshine
❄️ Road trip
❄️ Opposites attract
❄️ Christmas romance
❄️ Slow burn
❄️ Holiday vibes
This book is the perfect cozy, warm, light hearted, Christmas rom-com.
It has everything you need for a cozy read, loveable characters, a chaotic road trip, a snowstorm, small cottage and one extremely loveable rescue puppy.
Phoebe is living her best life in London, she finished her studies, works in events and is just trying to live her life to the fullest while having the most amount of fun possible. She is a bit of a whirlwind, talks a bit too much at times and is viewed by her family as irresponsible and a bit of a train crash. She is the best person, fearless, kind, extremely loyal and would do anything to protect the people she loves. I absolutely adored her!
Joshua is a math nerd who ran away to London to escape his life in New York City. During the holidays he finds himself housesitting for Phoebe's sister Norah. He is serious, reserved and introverted, so basically the complete opposite of Phoebe. He finds Phoebe a bit terrifying at first but at the same time is drawn to her aswel.
Phoebe promised her sister Norah to bring their newly rescued puppy, Steve, to their dad's house in Devon for Christmas. But when her car breaks down she turns to Josh for help. The three of them set off for the, what should have been, five hour road trip but the snow had other plans. Que all the shenanigans, giant tesco, Stonehenge, lots of Stevie Wonder, a tiny cottage, and much much more.
In the second half of the book Josh asks Phoebe to come with him to New York to go to a New Years Eve party. The moment Phoebe lands she is mesmerized by the city. Seeing her excitement about everything in the city was a joy to read. Phoebe's enthusiasm just dripped off the pages and it made me smile more than once.
As they travel together, they slowly get past their first impressions of each other, and we see the softer sides of both of them. Joshua isn't quite as cold and serious as he initially appears, while Phoebe's bubbly exterior hides some insecurities of her own. It was so nice and heart-warming to see their relationship develop and see them peel back each other's layers one by one. They went from reluctant road trip buddies to something much more meaningful.
The story is lightweight and there is lots of humour and laughs in the story. But at the same time the characters are deeper than you first think, they have their own insecurities and emotional baggage. They definitely stayed with me.
This might be the book for you if you like:
❄️ Forced proximity
❄️ Grumpy/sunshine
❄️ Road trip
❄️ Opposites attract
❄️ Christmas romance
❄️ Slow burn
❄️ Holiday vibes
August 24, 2026
This is the perfect holiday rom-com that is lighthearted and fun.
Phoebe is known as the irresponsible sibling in the family. But Phoebe's sister and brother in law are desperate to have a new dog delivered to their family Christmas on Christmas day so they ask Phoebe to transport the dog to Devon. Of course in any typical rom-com, nothing goes right in the beginning for our FMC so she has to recruit help from her sister's house sitter, Joshua. As we would expect our MMC to do in a rom-com, he agrees to help our distressed Phoebe. This starts a several day adventure with Phoebe, Joshua, and the dog, Steve, making their way to Devon in a snow storm.
The banter between Phoebe and Joshua is great. Phoebe is a lovely main character that I found myself rooting for immediately. Joshua is a tough nut to crack but Phoebe, of course, does in the end. There is some meat to this story and I found myself thoroughly enjoying this rom-com. It was a great distraction from the real world.
There is one scene that has the bedroom door wide open. I was disappointed in this. I do not think it added to the story and if anything was a distraction. If not for this scene, I would have given this a 4 stars. 3.5 stars rounded down to 3
You know you. Research your triggers before digging in.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Phoebe is known as the irresponsible sibling in the family. But Phoebe's sister and brother in law are desperate to have a new dog delivered to their family Christmas on Christmas day so they ask Phoebe to transport the dog to Devon. Of course in any typical rom-com, nothing goes right in the beginning for our FMC so she has to recruit help from her sister's house sitter, Joshua. As we would expect our MMC to do in a rom-com, he agrees to help our distressed Phoebe. This starts a several day adventure with Phoebe, Joshua, and the dog, Steve, making their way to Devon in a snow storm.
The banter between Phoebe and Joshua is great. Phoebe is a lovely main character that I found myself rooting for immediately. Joshua is a tough nut to crack but Phoebe, of course, does in the end. There is some meat to this story and I found myself thoroughly enjoying this rom-com. It was a great distraction from the real world.
There is one scene that has the bedroom door wide open. I was disappointed in this. I do not think it added to the story and if anything was a distraction. If not for this scene, I would have given this a 4 stars. 3.5 stars rounded down to 3
You know you. Research your triggers before digging in.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved this book! It was so good! I could not stop laughing. From the banter to the Tesco & Lidl shopping, it was very much up my alley and I will be re-reading this closer to Christmas.
I also loved the part with s'mores made with hobnobs.
The NYC trip was so wonderful and filled with all the quintessential NYC things, from Bloomingdale's to Duane Reade, pizza to hot dogs, Magnolia Bakery and everything else in between.
The best part was Steve of course, WHAT A GOOD BOY!!!!
Overall, the perfect holiday read, with full-fledged storylines and well-developed characters.
This will be a Christmas read staple for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Kristen Bailey for allowing me to access the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I also loved the part with s'mores made with hobnobs.
The NYC trip was so wonderful and filled with all the quintessential NYC things, from Bloomingdale's to Duane Reade, pizza to hot dogs, Magnolia Bakery and everything else in between.
The best part was Steve of course, WHAT A GOOD BOY!!!!
Overall, the perfect holiday read, with full-fledged storylines and well-developed characters.
This will be a Christmas read staple for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Kristen Bailey for allowing me to access the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Christmas in the snowy English countryside AND New Year’s in New York City?! Yes, please! 🎄✨
It felt like two Christmas stories wrapped up into one, and this book had all the cozy holiday feels!
Joshua and Phoebe couldn’t be more different, but from the start, I could tell they were the perfect recipe for love. I loved watching their relationship unfold, and the holiday setting made it even more enjoyable.
And then there is Steve 🐶, he truly stole my heart.
This was my first Kristen Bailey book, and I can’t wait to read more from her!
If you’re looking for a cozy holiday rom-com with plenty of holiday vibes, add this one to your TBR! 🎄📚❤️
Thank you Net Galley, Storm Publishing and Kristen Bailey.
It felt like two Christmas stories wrapped up into one, and this book had all the cozy holiday feels!
Joshua and Phoebe couldn’t be more different, but from the start, I could tell they were the perfect recipe for love. I loved watching their relationship unfold, and the holiday setting made it even more enjoyable.
And then there is Steve 🐶, he truly stole my heart.
This was my first Kristen Bailey book, and I can’t wait to read more from her!
If you’re looking for a cozy holiday rom-com with plenty of holiday vibes, add this one to your TBR! 🎄📚❤️
Thank you Net Galley, Storm Publishing and Kristen Bailey.
October 14, 2026
I adored this little Christmas love story. My heart grew 3 sizes over the course of 49 chapters.
The adorable characters and their families. And Steve, my gaaaawd. Love love love.
Gah. I've turned to mush. This is the perfect Holiday read!
The adorable characters and their families. And Steve, my gaaaawd. Love love love.
Gah. I've turned to mush. This is the perfect Holiday read!
October 11, 2026
Break the Ice is a lovely British Christmas romcom with plenty of festive charm, heartwarming moments and characters who grew on me more than I initially expected.
Both of the main characters feel refreshingly different from the usual characters you might find in this genre. Joshua is an American student studying in London who is trying to escape the heartbreak of being dumped by his fiancée completely out of the blue. He’s not your typical romcom male lead. Instead, he builds blanket forts and makes his own pom-pom Christmas tree decorations! He’s a genuinely lovely guy who initially seems to find Phoebe, with her wild and free spirited nature, more than a little irritating. The two characters couldn’t be more different.
When the two embark on a road trip with Steve the dog, tasked with delivering him as a surprise Christmas present to Phoebe’s nieces, things begin to take an unexpected turn.
One of the things I particularly loved about this book was its celebration of Britishness, alongside the parts of the story set in New York City. I really enjoyed the contrast between the two locations, their different traditions and the way these were woven into the story. It gave the book an extra layer of festive charm.
I’ll be honest: at first, I wasn’t entirely sure whether this book would be for me. However, I ended up really loving the characters, seeing how they developed throughout the story and discovering how everything came together in the end. And the epilogue told from Steve the dog’s point of view? Absolutely heartwarming!
Overall, this is a really lovely, feel good Christmas read that won me over and would be perfect for curling up with during the festive season. 🎄❤️
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the advance reader copy. As this was an ARC, I noticed a few punctuation errors that I hope will be corrected before publication.
Both of the main characters feel refreshingly different from the usual characters you might find in this genre. Joshua is an American student studying in London who is trying to escape the heartbreak of being dumped by his fiancée completely out of the blue. He’s not your typical romcom male lead. Instead, he builds blanket forts and makes his own pom-pom Christmas tree decorations! He’s a genuinely lovely guy who initially seems to find Phoebe, with her wild and free spirited nature, more than a little irritating. The two characters couldn’t be more different.
When the two embark on a road trip with Steve the dog, tasked with delivering him as a surprise Christmas present to Phoebe’s nieces, things begin to take an unexpected turn.
One of the things I particularly loved about this book was its celebration of Britishness, alongside the parts of the story set in New York City. I really enjoyed the contrast between the two locations, their different traditions and the way these were woven into the story. It gave the book an extra layer of festive charm.
I’ll be honest: at first, I wasn’t entirely sure whether this book would be for me. However, I ended up really loving the characters, seeing how they developed throughout the story and discovering how everything came together in the end. And the epilogue told from Steve the dog’s point of view? Absolutely heartwarming!
Overall, this is a really lovely, feel good Christmas read that won me over and would be perfect for curling up with during the festive season. 🎄❤️
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the advance reader copy. As this was an ARC, I noticed a few punctuation errors that I hope will be corrected before publication.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Break the Ice was a fun fast read that’s meant to put you in a festive mood. The issue with this is that I’m currently ejoying the last bits of summer with almost 20 degrees and sun outside… Christmas feels far away.
The premise of the book felt fun and I love a little forced proximity roadtrip from hell. And while I enjoyed the story I didn’t fall for the characters and their connection. I lacked yearning and tension between our MC’s. The sex felt kind of out of place and spontaneous, them falling for each other afterwards also didn’t feel believable. Everything felt rushed or pulled from nowhere. I also wanted some kind of conflict between the characters to mention the differences between the MC’s but everything was sunshine and rainbows whichh didn’t feel believable.
All in all it’s a fast read but it sadly didn’t impress me.
Thank you to Netgalley and storm publishing for providing me with this E-ARC.
The premise of the book felt fun and I love a little forced proximity roadtrip from hell. And while I enjoyed the story I didn’t fall for the characters and their connection. I lacked yearning and tension between our MC’s. The sex felt kind of out of place and spontaneous, them falling for each other afterwards also didn’t feel believable. Everything felt rushed or pulled from nowhere. I also wanted some kind of conflict between the characters to mention the differences between the MC’s but everything was sunshine and rainbows whichh didn’t feel believable.
All in all it’s a fast read but it sadly didn’t impress me.
Thank you to Netgalley and storm publishing for providing me with this E-ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book. This is why I love romcoms so much. Another warm and funny hug of a book from Kristen Bailey with no third act breakup, no monstrous villain or miscommunication, just a heartwarming and hilarious story about being yourself and being enough for that one person who really sees you.
The main characters are wonderful and flawed and good, but they have their demons. Break the Ice is genuinely, sniggeringly funny, in between moments of heartache, especially for Josh.
Phoebe has completed her university studies and currently works in events. She seems like a train crash to her family, and she plays up to this, even though she is the best person. She’s a party girl, outrageous and fearless, but so kind, and she leans into her extroverted nature while deciding what to do with her life. She’s just having fun and I LOVE her!
Josh Is a mathematician visiting from New York City and housesitting for Phoebe’s sister. He is not only serious, but also very proper. For him, free-spirited Phoebe is terrifying and at the same time magnetically appealing – he is transfixed by her, basically.
Phoebe agrees to bring the new rescue puppy to her dad’s house in Devon for Christmas to surprise her nieces. Josh agrees to come along (it’s a whole thing) and the three of them set off in a snow storm for what should be a five-hour drive to Devon on the coast. Shenanigans ensue as their road trip includes crashes and breakdowns, Stonehenge, Steve getting lost, and found, and more.
At first Phoebe sees Josh as “very earnest and … super American, straight-down-the-line, always uses his blinkers … cleans his glasses …” while Josh looks at Phoebe and thinks “being in a relationship with someone like her would be like dating a very loud and uncontrollable parrot”. Slowly they reveal themselves and it’s lovely watching their opinions change and affection and attraction creep in.
After Christmas, Josh asks Phoebe to go with him to NYC for a New Years Eve party. For me, the second half just sang – Phoebe’s excitement and warmth sold me on everything New York-ish: the food (can she eat!), strangers in the Met, walking in the snow, shopping in Bergdorf Goodman, movie scenes, basketball at Madison Square Garden, basically everything is snow-covered and sparkly and bathed in the light of Phoebe’s enthusiasm.
For an instalove story that takes place over a week or so, this has the best epilogue I’ve read in ages – fabulous!
Even though it’s lightweight and lots of scenes are played for laughs, the characters stayed with me and I’m still thinking about them days later. Readers who love sparkly, clever romcoms from writers like Katherine Center, Annabel Monaghan or Mhairi McFarlane, try this! It’s steamy and funny and just adorable.
Thank you Kristen Bailey and Storm Publishing for the ARC. Opinions are my own.
The main characters are wonderful and flawed and good, but they have their demons. Break the Ice is genuinely, sniggeringly funny, in between moments of heartache, especially for Josh.
Phoebe has completed her university studies and currently works in events. She seems like a train crash to her family, and she plays up to this, even though she is the best person. She’s a party girl, outrageous and fearless, but so kind, and she leans into her extroverted nature while deciding what to do with her life. She’s just having fun and I LOVE her!
Josh Is a mathematician visiting from New York City and housesitting for Phoebe’s sister. He is not only serious, but also very proper. For him, free-spirited Phoebe is terrifying and at the same time magnetically appealing – he is transfixed by her, basically.
Phoebe agrees to bring the new rescue puppy to her dad’s house in Devon for Christmas to surprise her nieces. Josh agrees to come along (it’s a whole thing) and the three of them set off in a snow storm for what should be a five-hour drive to Devon on the coast. Shenanigans ensue as their road trip includes crashes and breakdowns, Stonehenge, Steve getting lost, and found, and more.
At first Phoebe sees Josh as “very earnest and … super American, straight-down-the-line, always uses his blinkers … cleans his glasses …” while Josh looks at Phoebe and thinks “being in a relationship with someone like her would be like dating a very loud and uncontrollable parrot”. Slowly they reveal themselves and it’s lovely watching their opinions change and affection and attraction creep in.
After Christmas, Josh asks Phoebe to go with him to NYC for a New Years Eve party. For me, the second half just sang – Phoebe’s excitement and warmth sold me on everything New York-ish: the food (can she eat!), strangers in the Met, walking in the snow, shopping in Bergdorf Goodman, movie scenes, basketball at Madison Square Garden, basically everything is snow-covered and sparkly and bathed in the light of Phoebe’s enthusiasm.
For an instalove story that takes place over a week or so, this has the best epilogue I’ve read in ages – fabulous!
Even though it’s lightweight and lots of scenes are played for laughs, the characters stayed with me and I’m still thinking about them days later. Readers who love sparkly, clever romcoms from writers like Katherine Center, Annabel Monaghan or Mhairi McFarlane, try this! It’s steamy and funny and just adorable.
Thank you Kristen Bailey and Storm Publishing for the ARC. Opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I settled in early with my coffee and Kristen Bailey’s Break the Ice, and before long my coffee was cold because Phoebe, Joshua, and one extremely opinionated rescue dog had completely taken over my morning. Thank you to Storm Publishing for the gifted copy. Have you ever met a fictional character who would probably exhaust you in real life but whom you absolutely adored on the page?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Phoebe has twenty-four hours to deliver Steve, a rescue dog and surprise Christmas present, to her sister’s family in Devon. Her car refuses to cooperate, so she persuades Joshua—her sister’s quiet American house sitter—to drive them through a snowstorm on Christmas Eve.
What could possibly go wrong? Basically everything.
Phoebe is sunshine, noise, outrageous stories, and good intentions wrapped in a pink woolly hat. At first, I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to hug her or ask her to use her indoor voice. But underneath all that glorious chaos is a woman who worries she is too much and desperately wants her family to see that she can be counted on.
Joshua is her complete opposite. He is a reserved mathematician who likes plans, order, and knowing exactly what comes next. He came to England to work and recover from a broken heart—not to drive a stranger and a howling dog across the country in a blizzard. Watching Phoebe gradually pull him out of his carefully organized shell was both hilarious and surprisingly tender.
Their snowy road trip brings breakdowns, detours, Stonehenge, a snowball fight, and a night in a firelit shepherd’s hut. Then the story moves to New York for New Year’s Eve, giving Phoebe another city to charge through at full speed while Joshua quietly falls harder.
I loved their British-and-American banter, the family moments, and the fact that the romance grew without an unnecessary misunderstanding tearing them apart. These two actually talk, listen, and learn what the other person needs. Revolutionary behavior in a romance novel.
And Steve? Let’s be honest—the humans were supporting characters in his Christmas story.
Break the Ice was funny, warm, a little spicy, and full of the kind of festive chaos that makes you want snow outside, coffee nearby, and absolutely nowhere else to be.
Which holiday-romance trope will you happily read every single year?
#BreakTheIce #KristenBailey #HolidayRomance #ChristmasRomance #OppositesAttract #GrumpySunshine #Bookstagram
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Phoebe has twenty-four hours to deliver Steve, a rescue dog and surprise Christmas present, to her sister’s family in Devon. Her car refuses to cooperate, so she persuades Joshua—her sister’s quiet American house sitter—to drive them through a snowstorm on Christmas Eve.
What could possibly go wrong? Basically everything.
Phoebe is sunshine, noise, outrageous stories, and good intentions wrapped in a pink woolly hat. At first, I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to hug her or ask her to use her indoor voice. But underneath all that glorious chaos is a woman who worries she is too much and desperately wants her family to see that she can be counted on.
Joshua is her complete opposite. He is a reserved mathematician who likes plans, order, and knowing exactly what comes next. He came to England to work and recover from a broken heart—not to drive a stranger and a howling dog across the country in a blizzard. Watching Phoebe gradually pull him out of his carefully organized shell was both hilarious and surprisingly tender.
Their snowy road trip brings breakdowns, detours, Stonehenge, a snowball fight, and a night in a firelit shepherd’s hut. Then the story moves to New York for New Year’s Eve, giving Phoebe another city to charge through at full speed while Joshua quietly falls harder.
I loved their British-and-American banter, the family moments, and the fact that the romance grew without an unnecessary misunderstanding tearing them apart. These two actually talk, listen, and learn what the other person needs. Revolutionary behavior in a romance novel.
And Steve? Let’s be honest—the humans were supporting characters in his Christmas story.
Break the Ice was funny, warm, a little spicy, and full of the kind of festive chaos that makes you want snow outside, coffee nearby, and absolutely nowhere else to be.
Which holiday-romance trope will you happily read every single year?
#BreakTheIce #KristenBailey #HolidayRomance #ChristmasRomance #OppositesAttract #GrumpySunshine #Bookstagram
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam Level: 🔥🔥 (1 explicit fade to black scene)
Quick Notes:
*Christmas and New Year's Eve
*Opposites Attract
*Forced Proximity
*Cute Dog
*England and America
My Thoughts:
Okay, it's been a minute since I've read anything by Kristen Bailey, so I was excited to dive into this. I'd say the first half was a solid 4 stars, but the second half was more like 4.5, especially the adorable ending. The characters and storyline just grew on me more and more.
Phoebe was a chaotic, carefree, full of joy FMC. I loved seeing her counteract Joshua's straight-laced, nerdy personality. At first I wasn't sure these two would actually work together, but I loved how they slowly brought out the best in each other. Phoebe needed someone to bring her down to earth just a bit while still appreciating her zest for life, and Joshua needed someone in his corner to defend him while also helping him let loose.
The road trip at the beginning gave me some Holiday Romance vibes, since Phoebe and Joshua ran into some roadblocks that caused them to spend more time together and face humorous situations. More than anything, it showed Phoebe's love of family and Joshua's determination to help someone in need. Then in the second half we got to see them really open up to each other and fall hard. It was interesting to learn more about Joshua in that part of the story. It was like each half of the book allowed us to see inside the two characters' lives.
Of course, I have to mention Steve, the cute but wild rescue dog. If it wasn't for him, Joshua and Phoebe would never have met. There's even a cute POV from him that was a cute addition to the story.
I'm so glad I snagged an ARC for this, and I can't wait for another fun Kristen Bailey story!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam Level: 🔥🔥 (1 explicit fade to black scene)
Quick Notes:
*Christmas and New Year's Eve
*Opposites Attract
*Forced Proximity
*Cute Dog
*England and America
My Thoughts:
Okay, it's been a minute since I've read anything by Kristen Bailey, so I was excited to dive into this. I'd say the first half was a solid 4 stars, but the second half was more like 4.5, especially the adorable ending. The characters and storyline just grew on me more and more.
Phoebe was a chaotic, carefree, full of joy FMC. I loved seeing her counteract Joshua's straight-laced, nerdy personality. At first I wasn't sure these two would actually work together, but I loved how they slowly brought out the best in each other. Phoebe needed someone to bring her down to earth just a bit while still appreciating her zest for life, and Joshua needed someone in his corner to defend him while also helping him let loose.
The road trip at the beginning gave me some Holiday Romance vibes, since Phoebe and Joshua ran into some roadblocks that caused them to spend more time together and face humorous situations. More than anything, it showed Phoebe's love of family and Joshua's determination to help someone in need. Then in the second half we got to see them really open up to each other and fall hard. It was interesting to learn more about Joshua in that part of the story. It was like each half of the book allowed us to see inside the two characters' lives.
Of course, I have to mention Steve, the cute but wild rescue dog. If it wasn't for him, Joshua and Phoebe would never have met. There's even a cute POV from him that was a cute addition to the story.
I'm so glad I snagged an ARC for this, and I can't wait for another fun Kristen Bailey story!
October 24, 2026
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and Libro Audio for the complementary reader and listener copies. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ahhhh I loved this book! I did a mix of reading and listening as I spent time getting in the spirit and baking sugar cookies while enjoying this one. The narrator, Harrie Dobby, did a really wonderful job of bringing all of the characters to life. Her accents were so well done, and it was incredibly easy to sink into the story as she laid it out. I also really loved the mix of getting to be both in the UK and the US for this one!
It was so cute having both characters lean into their own excitement and discovery of each other's cultures, and to see them blossom for each other while they dashed through the holidays, first in the UK for Phoebe's family Christmas, and then in the US for Joshua's family's New Years. I adored seeing Joshua discover that he could find someone that could break him out of his shell, have his back, and that he could delight in kindness, company and life itself again. While Phoebe found someone who didn't see her as too much, who loved her wildness and chaos and wanted to support her through her impulsiveness. Together they grew from awkward and argumentative around each other, into each other's safe spaces, and I loved every moment!
Typical to Kristen Bailey books, these are closed-door spice, although there's ample banter, insinuation and deep blushes that had me laughing along with these adorable characters! I also loved the holiday setting in both locations, and this was just the perfect seasonal read that I've been looking forward to all year.
Ahhhh I loved this book! I did a mix of reading and listening as I spent time getting in the spirit and baking sugar cookies while enjoying this one. The narrator, Harrie Dobby, did a really wonderful job of bringing all of the characters to life. Her accents were so well done, and it was incredibly easy to sink into the story as she laid it out. I also really loved the mix of getting to be both in the UK and the US for this one!
It was so cute having both characters lean into their own excitement and discovery of each other's cultures, and to see them blossom for each other while they dashed through the holidays, first in the UK for Phoebe's family Christmas, and then in the US for Joshua's family's New Years. I adored seeing Joshua discover that he could find someone that could break him out of his shell, have his back, and that he could delight in kindness, company and life itself again. While Phoebe found someone who didn't see her as too much, who loved her wildness and chaos and wanted to support her through her impulsiveness. Together they grew from awkward and argumentative around each other, into each other's safe spaces, and I loved every moment!
Typical to Kristen Bailey books, these are closed-door spice, although there's ample banter, insinuation and deep blushes that had me laughing along with these adorable characters! I also loved the holiday setting in both locations, and this was just the perfect seasonal read that I've been looking forward to all year.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
DNF at 17%.
Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me. I actually really enjoyed the beginning and thought the setup was fun, but once Phoebe and Joshua met, I quickly realized their dynamic wasn't working for me.
Phoebe is extremely chaotic while Joshua is much quieter and more careful, and normally I can really enjoy an opposites-attract romance. Here, though, I struggled with the constant sarcastic and below-the-belt comments Phoebe aimed at Joshua. Some of her behavior came across as inconsiderate rather than funny to me, particularly when Joshua remained so calm and patient with her. I understand that her chaotic personality and humor are a large part of her character, but unfortunately they just didn't land for me.
More importantly, I wasn't feeling any chemistry between them. With such a short timeline for the romance, I needed some early tension or attraction to make me believe these two could realistically develop feelings for each other. Joshua is also clearly still hurting from his previous relationship, which made the speed at which the romance would need to develop even harder for me to buy.
There was a lot about the premise that initially appealed to me—a Christmas road trip, forced proximity, a rescue dog, and two very different personalities—but I reached the point where I couldn't see myself becoming invested in the central romance, so I've decided not to force myself to continue.
2 stars based on what I read.
DNF at 17%.
Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me. I actually really enjoyed the beginning and thought the setup was fun, but once Phoebe and Joshua met, I quickly realized their dynamic wasn't working for me.
Phoebe is extremely chaotic while Joshua is much quieter and more careful, and normally I can really enjoy an opposites-attract romance. Here, though, I struggled with the constant sarcastic and below-the-belt comments Phoebe aimed at Joshua. Some of her behavior came across as inconsiderate rather than funny to me, particularly when Joshua remained so calm and patient with her. I understand that her chaotic personality and humor are a large part of her character, but unfortunately they just didn't land for me.
More importantly, I wasn't feeling any chemistry between them. With such a short timeline for the romance, I needed some early tension or attraction to make me believe these two could realistically develop feelings for each other. Joshua is also clearly still hurting from his previous relationship, which made the speed at which the romance would need to develop even harder for me to buy.
There was a lot about the premise that initially appealed to me—a Christmas road trip, forced proximity, a rescue dog, and two very different personalities—but I reached the point where I couldn't see myself becoming invested in the central romance, so I've decided not to force myself to continue.
2 stars based on what I read.
September 14, 2026
This is such a fun holiday romance that’s cute and corny in the best way.
Phoebe is living her best life in London. As the youngest of four siblings, all either married or in serious relationships, she is enjoying the freedom of being single in her twenties. Despite graduating with a degree in psychology, Phoebe works for an event planner and is constantly attending fabulous parties with her clients.
Joshua has recently moved to London to work on his research fellowship at one of the top universities in the world. He is also trying to escape from his life in New York, where he’s haunted by his failed engagement and the girl that broke his heart.
Phoebe and Joshua are pretty much polar opposites — she is outgoing, full of life, and hilarious while he is much more reserved and sensible. When a mission to deliver a puppy to her sister for Christmas forces them together, they begin to slowly grow on one another.
This story made me laugh out loud multiple times and I fell in love with all the characters, including Steve the dog. The holiday vibes are just perfect and I wish I had been snowed in with a hot drink while reading. This was my first Kristen Bailey book and I look forward to spending December reading the rest of her books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Phoebe is living her best life in London. As the youngest of four siblings, all either married or in serious relationships, she is enjoying the freedom of being single in her twenties. Despite graduating with a degree in psychology, Phoebe works for an event planner and is constantly attending fabulous parties with her clients.
Joshua has recently moved to London to work on his research fellowship at one of the top universities in the world. He is also trying to escape from his life in New York, where he’s haunted by his failed engagement and the girl that broke his heart.
Phoebe and Joshua are pretty much polar opposites — she is outgoing, full of life, and hilarious while he is much more reserved and sensible. When a mission to deliver a puppy to her sister for Christmas forces them together, they begin to slowly grow on one another.
This story made me laugh out loud multiple times and I fell in love with all the characters, including Steve the dog. The holiday vibes are just perfect and I wish I had been snowed in with a hot drink while reading. This was my first Kristen Bailey book and I look forward to spending December reading the rest of her books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2026
Break the Ice is such a cute holiday romance. Phoebe is the youngest of four siblings, a little flighty, but fun and kind and she's been tasked with delivering a shelter pup that her sister adopted by Christmas morning so that her nieces can have the perfect holiday gift. When her car breaks down and a major unexpected snowstorm hits London, she teams up with Joshua, the American grad student who is housesitting for her sister. These two couldn't be more opposite but they are both sweet and generous and after some time in a car together, they start to see the best in one another.
I've read all of Kristen Bailey's books (I usually listen to her audiobooks, this is the first one I've read actually!) and this one is just like her others--fun, cute, upbeat but with some serious undertones that are fleshed out slowly and delicately. I really like Phoebe and Josh, and their connection seemed natural. Their families play a large role and I loved that. Steve the dog is a star. The only thing that bothered me is that Josh is American and there are plenty of instances when he is speaking/narrating but does not seem American.
Thanks so much to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read!
I've read all of Kristen Bailey's books (I usually listen to her audiobooks, this is the first one I've read actually!) and this one is just like her others--fun, cute, upbeat but with some serious undertones that are fleshed out slowly and delicately. I really like Phoebe and Josh, and their connection seemed natural. Their families play a large role and I loved that. Steve the dog is a star. The only thing that bothered me is that Josh is American and there are plenty of instances when he is speaking/narrating but does not seem American.
Thanks so much to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Christmas road trip with a stranger and a rescue dog in a snowstorm. What could possibly go wrong? Quite a lot, apparently, which made this read a lovely mix of festive chaos and romance.
Phoebe is chatty, impulsive and a little exhausting at times, but her heart is absolutely in the right place. She wants so badly to prove her family can count on her, and I wanted them to give her a bit more credit. I also enjoyed watching Joshua relax around her. Beneath their very different personalities, the conversations about grief and heartbreak gave their connection some depth.
The snowy countryside made me want to curl up with a hot chocolate, and I liked the change of scenery when the story moved to New York. A few of the mishaps felt repetitive, and the middle was a little slow for me, but there was plenty of warmth and humour to keep me invested.
Steve was obviously the star. I came for the romance and became very concerned about a fictional dog’s happiness. The sweet epilogue was a lovely bonus.
Phoebe is chatty, impulsive and a little exhausting at times, but her heart is absolutely in the right place. She wants so badly to prove her family can count on her, and I wanted them to give her a bit more credit. I also enjoyed watching Joshua relax around her. Beneath their very different personalities, the conversations about grief and heartbreak gave their connection some depth.
The snowy countryside made me want to curl up with a hot chocolate, and I liked the change of scenery when the story moved to New York. A few of the mishaps felt repetitive, and the middle was a little slow for me, but there was plenty of warmth and humour to keep me invested.
Steve was obviously the star. I came for the romance and became very concerned about a fictional dog’s happiness. The sweet epilogue was a lovely bonus.
August 28, 2026
This was my first read by Kristen Bailey and I’m definitely going to have to give some of her other festive books a go!
I was drawn in by the blurb and the story didn’t disappoint. It was funny (laugh out loud in places!) mostly light hearted and cosy, with a few more poignant moments thrown in there too. A great Christmas rom-com read.
Joshua and Phoebe are opposites who end up being perfect for each other and I loved how their story evolved. From not really being keen on each other, to bonding and forming a friendship in a snow storm, to becoming part of each other’s families over the festive period. They really had each other’s backs too.
Big shout out to Steve the dog too- he’s basically the third main character in this book and what a fantastic character he is!
Thank you very much to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
I was drawn in by the blurb and the story didn’t disappoint. It was funny (laugh out loud in places!) mostly light hearted and cosy, with a few more poignant moments thrown in there too. A great Christmas rom-com read.
Joshua and Phoebe are opposites who end up being perfect for each other and I loved how their story evolved. From not really being keen on each other, to bonding and forming a friendship in a snow storm, to becoming part of each other’s families over the festive period. They really had each other’s backs too.
Big shout out to Steve the dog too- he’s basically the third main character in this book and what a fantastic character he is!
Thank you very much to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 282 reviews