Two exes find themselves stuck at the same house for Christmas in this holiday romance by Ashley Herring Blake, USA Today bestselling author of Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date.

It’s been five years since Charlotte Donovan was ditched at the altar by her ex-fiancée, and she’s doing more than okay. Sure, her single mother never checks in, but she has her strings ensemble, the Rosalind Quartet, and her life in New York is a dream come true. As the holidays draw near, her ensemble mate Sloane persuades Charlotte and the rest of the quartet to spend Christmas with her family in Colorado—it is much cozier and quieter than Manhattan, and it would guarantee more practice time for the quartet’s upcoming tour. But when Charlotte arrives, she discovers that Sloane’s sister Adele also brought a friend home—and that friend is none other than her ex, Brighton.

All Brighton Fairbrook wanted was to have the holliest, jolliest Christmas—and try to forget that her band kicked her out. But instead, she’s stuck pretending like she and her ex are strangers—which proves to be difficult when Sloane and Adele’s mom signs them all up for a series of Christmas dating events. Charlotte and Brighton are soon entrenched in horseback riding and cookie decorating, but Charlotte still won’t talk to her. Brighton can hardly blame her after what she did. After a few days, however, things start to slip through. Memories. Music. The way they used to play together—Brighton on guitar, Charlotte on her violin—and it all feels painfully familiar. But it’s all in the past and nothing can melt the ice in their hearts…right?

The Holiday reading season is officially underway on my end, and so far, I’m two for two on really cute books. Warning, though – if you don’t like your books spicy, then this one might not be for you.

The book is told from the alternating points of view of Charlotte Donovan and Brighton Fairbrook, an ex-couple who haven’t seen each other since Brighton left Charlotte at the alter five years ago.

Over the past few years, Charlotte has built a life for herself in New York City with her beloved Rosalind Quartet. She decides she doesn’t need anyone else – her music and her friends are all she needs. When the opportunity arises for the quartet to spend Christmas in Colorado with Sloane’s family (Sloane is one of Charlotte’s friends and a member of the string quartet), Charlotte is hesitant but ultimately decides to go along for the sake of the group.

Little does she know, the trip will bring her face to face with her ex-fiancée, Brighton. Brighton just so happens to be friends with Sloane’s sister, and since Brighton’s family decided to travel Europe over the holidays, Brighton is alone – which she hates because she absolutely loves Christmas. So it’s off to Colorado for a week of fun – or so she thought. As Charlotte and Brighton are forced to spend time together during the various Christmas activities, tensions rise and emotions run high. Will they be able to put the past behind them and find a way to move forward, or will this be nothing more than an opportunity to ensure the coffin holding their old relationship is officially sealed shut?

One of the things that works really well in this book is the chemistry between Charlotte and Brighton. It’s palpable, and you can’t help but get caught up in their emotional journey. You understand the history between them, and I honestly rooted for them to get back together. The holiday setting adds an extra layer of magic to the story, with snowy landscapes, cozy fires, and festive activities all serving as the backdrop for Charlotte and Brighton’s rekindling romance.

The supporting characters are all great, as well. Everyone in Charlotte’s string quartet was relatable, and I especially loved Sloane’s mom, Nina. She was a holiday-loving hoot.

All of the familiar tropes are here – second-chance romance with a bit of enemies to lovers, a rekindling of an old flame only to break up again in the third act – no surprises, but in this case, the cliches work, and I wasn’t mad that I expected every plot point along the way.

As far as the audiobook goes, the narrator was perfect. Kristen Di Mercurio perfectly captured both Charlotte and Brighton’s voices, making them feel like someone you knew.

Overall, this is a wonderful, sapphic holiday story that is perfect for the season. I rooted for Charlotte and Brighton the entire time and loved watching them reconnect over the holidays. This is a spicy read, so if you like your Christmas rom-coms to be more on the tame side, you might want to skip this one. That said, if you want your books to help turn up the heat on a cold winter’s night – this is the book for you.