You Better Not Pout

by Rosie Danan

Review

Okay, so this one brings together two of my favorite romance setups—fake dating and second-chance vibes—and it does it in such a charming, low-drama way. These two have real history, real feelings, and definitely some real avoidance issues, especially when it comes to her family. Instead of dealing with the awkwardness head-on, they decide to keep things quiet until after the holidays, which of course only leads to classic holiday shenanigans, a few emotional slip-ups, and all the cozy tension you expect from this type of story. Honestly, the setup felt believable, and it gave the whole book that sweet, slightly chaotic holiday energy that I love.

Even though I could absolutely see where the story was heading—because let’s be honest, we want these couples to get back together—the journey was still fun to follow. Watching them face what went wrong, remember what brought them together in the first place, and slowly realize they were never really over each other made the whole thing feel warm and satisfying. It’s quick, it’s cute, and it scratches that festive romance itch without dragging out the angst. A perfect little holiday palate cleanser.