Book Review for Winter’s Warmth by Ginny Clyde

Winter’s Warmth, by Ginny Clyde, gently reminds us when it’s time to say goodbye, and that no matter how hard it may be, all fairytales must end.

Olivia is grounded. But with Thanksgiving around the corner, she decides to celebrate this time with her family, all the while understanding just how to be grateful, despite the situation she was forced into. She’s also in a relationship with Ryan, the young man who’d saved her time and time again, and was there for her despite everything that’s happened. With the year dwindling down into just a few months, Olivia learns a secret that could shatter her relationship with Ryan. Unlike the first two books, Clyde paints an almost nostalgic picture of what it means to let go of someone you care about.

I’m proud of Olivia. While she did seem mature at the beginning of the series, it’s clear that she still had to grow. From her fall from grace, to the fact that she had to go to a public school, Olivia had to deal with aspects of a life she didn’t ask for. Even so, it was because of her resilience and her faith in her family that she managed to pull through. Not once did she come across as a spoiled rich brat; she was poised, confident, and even in the face of hardship, she still stood strong. The same could be said of her brother, as well as her friends. Her relationships were all relevant to her character, which made the trilogy all the more satisfying.

The one thing I couldn’t coincide myself with was, once again, her relationship with Ryan. I still found myself berating Olivia for her naiveté towards Ryan, more so than anyone else. The ending didn’t really make sense to me either; Ryan tells her he’s the illegitimate son of a king, and she just believes him? I can’t help but laugh at that part. However, I admit that there was some charming moments between the two. From saving each other from others, to providing each other with emotional support, I was happy to support this relationship, even if there were some shaky moments at times.

The title itself was incredibly interesting. Winter, after all, is supposed to represent the end of something, whether it be the end of a relationship, the end of an old life, as to make way for the new beginnings that spring will bring. Even so, Olivia still chose to spend time with her family and friends. To her, life continues on, as if she’d never been a stranger to Knightswood. It was poetic in a sense, because while the year was ending, she continued to cling to her reality, undeterred by the obstacles she may face. I absolutely adored this concept, and was ecstatic to see this over and over again throughout the stories.

I enjoyed this book, more so than the other two. It wasn’t as cliched as the others, and there was an element of maturity within the words. What’s more, Clyde had woven a sort of bittersweet nostalgia into the pages.. As such, I would give this book a rating of a 3.9 out of 5.0 stars, and would recommend it to fans of The Royal Teashop series, as well as young adult novels in general.