Yours for the Season

I really enjoyed the Christmas cheer and joy in this book; the setting (Scotland!), and Finn's family. Mel is burned out and drained - she's thriving as a business owner; but her heart lies in design - not the running of a business, however she feels stuck and honestly a bit lost. That is the only reason that I can ever see for her honestly agreeing to fake-date her ex & to go away with him and his family for Christmas. It's reluctant, and there is no reason to ever agree, but alas.Like I said though; I loved Finn's family. The antics that only siblings can do was fun; and his mom... oh, his mom. Such a sweet strong yet tender woman. Finn's sister is also a really great character!However... this book is absolutely filled to the brim with miscommunication. If they seriously just openly talked they wouldn't have any issues. Finn is too busy acting like an immature man with daddy issues; and Mel was just burned out and anxious. This one for sure felt more like a happy for now instead of a happy ever after - which is fine, if you like that sort of read. I skimmed a fair bit of the middle of the book as I could only handle so much, but honestly I wasn't willing to DNF because of the sister and mom - those dynamics were everything.This would be a great book to start your holiday romance reads with - mostly because of all the festive touches!

This lovely second chance romance is what I’ve come to expect from Emily Stone. My only complaint is that the entire plot is based around a huge case of miscommunication and false assumptions. Being that’s one of my romance pet peeves, I had to focus on other aspects of this emotionally-charged story, which was easy given how well Stone writes about family dynamics, creates characters who are full of complexities and goodness, and describes locations so well that you can easily be transported there. If I take any lessons from this story, it’s that we should focus on the love we share, have honesty and transparency in relationships, and be willing to grant forgiveness. If you are looking for a Christmas romance that tugs at your heartstrings but leaves you hopeful, I highly recommend Yours for the Season.

3.25/5 starsWhile engaging in some spots and well-written, I had a couple of issues with this book.I realize that the entire plot hinges on a second chance romance, but I had trouble believing that a successful, independent woman like Melanie could give in so easily to her ex-boyfriend's request (basically blackmail in a way) after a public and out-of-the-blue dumping with basically no explanation. It just didn't add up for me personally. That whole situation kind of put me off their happily ever after and colored their dynamic as far as an equal footing with each other moving forward. I felt that Finn's explanation for ending the relationship was too obscure and far-fetched and that he wasn't quite as mature as he should have been at his age.Otherwise, it was an overall decent read, and I'm sure my caveats will not hinder most readers...give it a try.

This is not my first Emily Stone read and I was not disappointed, This was a great second chance, fake dating holiday romance that takes place in Scotland.Finn broke up with Mel in a humiliatingly public way 6 months ago. But shows up on her doorstep with a crazy idea, practically begging for her help. To pretend they are still together and spend Christmas with his family. But, she can break up with him at the end of the week this time and go their separate ways.Of course things do not go as planned and they both end up working through a lot of issues and finally communicate with each other. Which was great to read.This was a cozy, holiday romance that had a lot of depth to it and I enjoyed getting to know each of them and the family aspect was a bonus. Definitely add this one to your holiday TBR.

Melanie Stone returns with another wonderful holiday story centering around family and the conflicts faced by young people trying to follow dreams and fall in love.Melanie and Finn meet in Edinburgh on New Years Eve. She’s a talented jewelry designer on the verge of a big break, and he’s a house flipper/carpenter. His family adores Melanie, and she them, but when Finn ends their relationship at his sister engagement party, Melanie is stunned and heartbroken.Then Finn asks her to join his whole family the next Christmas, at a cozy home in Scotland, and pretend that they are still together.As with all fake romances, someone finds out, but by the end of the book, the real question is just who is fooled! Lovely writing and satisfying romance, with characters you will remember. Yours for the Season was released by Ballantine/Dell on October 7, 2025. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the delightful review copy.