Book Review: A Little Magic by Lindsey Lanza

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 334 pages
Author: Lindsey Lanza
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 3rd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Nine years to fall in love. Eight nights to learn the truth. One chance to rewrite the past.

Ellie Klein fled Vermont after graduating high school, and she hasn’t been back since. Not to see her overbearing parents nor her distant brother, not even to visit her temperamental cat and beloved dog. And most importantly, she hasn’t been back to see Theo Fox. Her first love and brother’s best friend has been but a distant and painful memory for the last seven years.
When Ellie’s travel site lands her back where it all began, her goal is to get in and out without seeing anyone from before. But life has other plans when she’s caught in a blizzard that leaves her seeking refuge in a cabin owned by none other than the infamous Theo.
Theo Fox has been winning collegiate hockey and NHL championships since Ellie disappeared, but all he really wants is a second chance with the woman he can’t stop loving. When she shows up unannounced in Vermont, he’s determined to find out why she left and never returned. And if he has a little magic on his side, how to get her back.
Told over the course of nine Christmas Eves and eight nights of Hanukkah, A Little Magic is a cozy, nostalgic story of young love, finding your voice, and the complexities of what it means to be a family.

THE WAY I LOVED THIS.

I won this book in a giveaway from the author before release which of course meant I wanted to pick it up before then. AND GOSH DANG. This might be the holiday book of the year y’all.

This had People We Meet on Vacation vibes but make it winter with a snowed in cabin and two people who never stopped loving each other seven years prior. I loved the chronic illness rep and I FELT all of the emotions Ellie was feeling deeply. The complicated family relationships, wanting to be free and so many themes inbetween.

The dual timelines brought out the emotions. It was PRECIOUS watching a young Theo and Ellie became friends and how that brewed into this deep and passionate, soul mate kind of love. The snow globes?? The ice skating?? The sneaking trips to see each other?? OH MY GOSH YOUNG LOVE.

I liked the current timeline plot too and that you could tell how GONE Theo was for Ellie. And when that third act came up and all of the details were revealed I was ANGRY. Which is a compliment because I am deeply attached to these characters. It was a sympathetic battle of understanding and I like how that was handled too.

Everything was incredible about this book. If you’re looking for a spicy holiday romance. Look no further. THIS IS THE ONE.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Holiday Romance
Language: some strong
Romance: 3-4+ open and fade to black
Violence: low
Trigger/Content Warnings: Chronic illness (lupus), loss of parents, strained family relations