"This feel-good festive romance glitters with a high-stakes Christmas countdown, community spirit, and a whole lot of “will-they-won’t-they?” wonder"
Suffused in the burgeoning love between two Black teenagers, London love, book love, and Black-owned business love, Abiola Bello’s race-against-time romance sparkles with seasonal magic and relatable real-life experiences.
Alongside the tension of time running out, Love in Winter Wonderland is also body positive, with warm portrayals of community, friendship, family, self-care, and making lost loved ones proud. But, being true to life, it doesn’t shirk from representing rough realities, either — misunderstandings and jealousy also play their part in this sweet-as-a-chocolate-covered-Christmas-nut nugget of YA goodness.
Playing out on the stage of Stoke Newington in Hackney, the Wonderland of the title is a Black-owned bookshop that’s been in Trey’s family for generations. But times are tough and it looks like the shop might have to close at Christmas. At the same time, talented young Stoke Newington artist Ariel is in need of a temp job to support her ambition of attending a prestigious art college. When a flash of fate sees Ariel hired to work at Wonderland, she’s full of ideas for how to save the shop. If only she and popular, handsome Trey can work through their misunderstandings to make magic happen and find a happy-ever-after for Wonderland, and themselves…
This is the ideal Christmas read for anyone who adores a classic hate-to-love romance, with the added magic of community spirit.
