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When Snow Falls #2
When London Snow Falls
Charlie Renfrew’s life is a mess. Why else would he assume his hot little hook-up with dead-gorgeous Scottish musician Ben Campbell is some sex-deprived, latte-fueled hallucination? Now Charlie’s in serious danger of falling for a guy whose life—his world, really—is completely different from his. But during London’s icy winter, Charlie might just trade his caffeine addiction for something hotter, blonder, and completely up for anything…
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2022
176 people are currently reading
1971 people want to read
About the author
Hayden Stone
6 books263 followersMore animal than mineral, Hayden Stone is a writer of queer fiction, especially with kissing. He currently lives in Victoria, Canada, and has previously lived in Vancouver, Canada and London, UK. Hayden likes strong coffee and is owned by two cats.
Pronouns: he/him
Pronouns: he/him
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 275 reviews
July 13, 2022
This is me being generous.
To be bluntly honest, I had to grit my teeth to get through a book with such an unlikeable and frustrating main character.
The good parts of the book were all Ben-related: Ben is a dream boyfriend. He is handsome, witty, makes the first move, knows what he wants and the intimate scenes between him and Charlie were very hot. His presence was this story's saving grace.
That's because I really, really didn't like Charlie. Where to begin? The guy's personality can be summarized in a spiral of self-pity and self-hatred: "I don't deserve anything", "What I want doesn't matter", "Having a kid means I have no right to a life", "Why don't my shitty homophobic parents like me? Surely I'm the one at fault", "Why would Ben want me despite having told me around 20 times that he does want me?"
I can go on and on. And not only that, but we have to read endless version of the same dialogue. Charlie pitying/hating himself, Ben telling him that he deserves nice things and no, having a job and a kid doesn't mean he can't date him, Charlie believing him until they have sex, and then going back to the same thoughts. And repeat. Again and again.
It's annoying, tiring and make me wonder what Ben saw in Charlie, because this type of personality is beyond frustrating.
And let's conclude with my biggest issue with the book. I had left a similar comment to Boyfriend Material , which suffers from the same, inexcusable for me issue: Charlie's parents. His parents are shitty. They're pretentious, homophobic, judgmental, expect their kid to live the life they themselves imagine and don't accept him.
And yet we don't see ANYONE standing up to them. Not even the "supporting" brother or the "cool" aunt. Everybody accepts that this type of pretentious high-class behaviour is something to be disregarded. Charlie doesn't even THINK to blame them and goes back to them again and again, despite having no financial ties to them.
Even at the end, with the resolution of the story, nobody called their shit in front of them. Charlie did not cut them off. Michael (the supportive we're supposed to believe brother) never stood up for him (consoling him when he leaves crying is not the same). Ben gave them a mild speech which was more about pointing out the good thinkgs about Charlie rather than bashing them down though.
I will call out this sort of plot evey time I encounter it because it is TOXIC to see this underlying way of thinking normalized. You should not keep people who behave like that in your life, no matter if they are your parents. You should cut them off your life. End of story.
Thank you NetGalley and Entangled for the ARC.
To be bluntly honest, I had to grit my teeth to get through a book with such an unlikeable and frustrating main character.
The good parts of the book were all Ben-related: Ben is a dream boyfriend. He is handsome, witty, makes the first move, knows what he wants and the intimate scenes between him and Charlie were very hot. His presence was this story's saving grace.
That's because I really, really didn't like Charlie. Where to begin? The guy's personality can be summarized in a spiral of self-pity and self-hatred: "I don't deserve anything", "What I want doesn't matter", "Having a kid means I have no right to a life", "Why don't my shitty homophobic parents like me? Surely I'm the one at fault", "Why would Ben want me despite having told me around 20 times that he does want me?"
I can go on and on. And not only that, but we have to read endless version of the same dialogue. Charlie pitying/hating himself, Ben telling him that he deserves nice things and no, having a job and a kid doesn't mean he can't date him, Charlie believing him until they have sex, and then going back to the same thoughts. And repeat. Again and again.
It's annoying, tiring and make me wonder what Ben saw in Charlie, because this type of personality is beyond frustrating.
And let's conclude with my biggest issue with the book. I had left a similar comment to Boyfriend Material , which suffers from the same, inexcusable for me issue: Charlie's parents. His parents are shitty. They're pretentious, homophobic, judgmental, expect their kid to live the life they themselves imagine and don't accept him.
And yet we don't see ANYONE standing up to them. Not even the "supporting" brother or the "cool" aunt. Everybody accepts that this type of pretentious high-class behaviour is something to be disregarded. Charlie doesn't even THINK to blame them and goes back to them again and again, despite having no financial ties to them.
Even at the end, with the resolution of the story, nobody called their shit in front of them. Charlie did not cut them off. Michael (the supportive we're supposed to believe brother) never stood up for him (consoling him when he leaves crying is not the same). Ben gave them a mild speech which was more about pointing out the good thinkgs about Charlie rather than bashing them down though.
I will call out this sort of plot evey time I encounter it because it is TOXIC to see this underlying way of thinking normalized. You should not keep people who behave like that in your life, no matter if they are your parents. You should cut them off your life. End of story.
Thank you NetGalley and Entangled for the ARC.
June 29, 2022
Okayyy. So, I could just plagiarize my review of An Unexpected Kind of Love, Hayden Stone’s debut, and put it on here. His sophomore story has the same witty banter and glorious cute moments while covering heavier themes. And there’s also lots of kissing…
I could and I’m trying not to, even though the feeling of those books is so alike. I liked both stories, but When London Snow Falls just wins in being my favorite. Despite frowning upon a few minor things, I raced through the story while smiles danced on my face and my heart opened up for Charlie and Ben. Charlie was such a cute mess, and Ben, aw, sweet knitting Ben (last week I read Bad at Love where the love interest crocheted, and now a guy who knits! Love this!!). Ben is the best boyfriend Charlie could have, anyone actually could have.
When London Snow Falls is a swoony romcom to read lying on a beach or by the swimming pool, or sitting curled up by the fire on a lazy Sunday afternoon (I think I’m plagiarizing now 😂). It’s insta love, so if you hate that, this is not the book for you. But if you love to have this fuzzy feeling in your chest and want to root for two sweet cinnamon buns, I highly recommend this story!
I received an ARC from Entangled Publishing (the trigger warnings are fab, btw!). I voluntarily read and reviewed this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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I could and I’m trying not to, even though the feeling of those books is so alike. I liked both stories, but When London Snow Falls just wins in being my favorite. Despite frowning upon a few minor things, I raced through the story while smiles danced on my face and my heart opened up for Charlie and Ben. Charlie was such a cute mess, and Ben, aw, sweet knitting Ben (last week I read Bad at Love where the love interest crocheted, and now a guy who knits! Love this!!). Ben is the best boyfriend Charlie could have, anyone actually could have.
When London Snow Falls is a swoony romcom to read lying on a beach or by the swimming pool, or sitting curled up by the fire on a lazy Sunday afternoon (I think I’m plagiarizing now 😂). It’s insta love, so if you hate that, this is not the book for you. But if you love to have this fuzzy feeling in your chest and want to root for two sweet cinnamon buns, I highly recommend this story!
I received an ARC from Entangled Publishing (the trigger warnings are fab, btw!). I voluntarily read and reviewed this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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November 27, 2023
Blah blah. Life is hard.
Work, uni, daughter, band, doubt.
Repeat and repeat.
Work, uni, daughter, band, doubt.
Repeat and repeat.
July 7, 2022
Big thank you to the Netgalley for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review!
Such a heartwarming story!
I knew this would be a good book, because I already loved An Unexpected Kind of Love (also a courtesy of Netgalley - thank you) and I was not wrong. In fact, I think I like this story a bit better.
Charlie Renfrew is an absolute sweetheart and Ben Campbell is a babe. This is as much a story about the importance of communication and family than simply about two gay men. I think it is one of those stories that to those not already in the know, would illustrate that non-straight people fall in love exactly the same as the straight people. There aren't that many differences between us.
I love how amazing father Charlie has been and how friendly he's been with the mother. This is an endearing story of love, overcoming adversity and even complicated family relations. I could not find a single major fault in the whole story and it simply deserves five stars.
Merged review:
Such a heartwarming story!
I knew this would be a good book, because I already loved An Unexpected Kind of Love (also a courtesy of Netgalley - thank you) and I was not wrong. In fact, I think I like this story a bit better.
Charlie Renfrew is an absolute sweetheart and Ben Campbell is a babe. This is as much a story about the importance of communication and family than simply about two gay men. I think it is one of those stories that to those not already in the know, would illustrate that non-straight people fall in love exactly the same as the straight people. There aren't that many differences between us.
I love how amazing father Charlie has been and how friendly he's been with the mother. This is an endearing story of love, overcoming adversity and even complicated family relations. I could not find a single major fault in the whole story and it simply deserves five stars.
Such a heartwarming story!
I knew this would be a good book, because I already loved An Unexpected Kind of Love (also a courtesy of Netgalley - thank you) and I was not wrong. In fact, I think I like this story a bit better.
Charlie Renfrew is an absolute sweetheart and Ben Campbell is a babe. This is as much a story about the importance of communication and family than simply about two gay men. I think it is one of those stories that to those not already in the know, would illustrate that non-straight people fall in love exactly the same as the straight people. There aren't that many differences between us.
I love how amazing father Charlie has been and how friendly he's been with the mother. This is an endearing story of love, overcoming adversity and even complicated family relations. I could not find a single major fault in the whole story and it simply deserves five stars.
Merged review:
Such a heartwarming story!
I knew this would be a good book, because I already loved An Unexpected Kind of Love (also a courtesy of Netgalley - thank you) and I was not wrong. In fact, I think I like this story a bit better.
Charlie Renfrew is an absolute sweetheart and Ben Campbell is a babe. This is as much a story about the importance of communication and family than simply about two gay men. I think it is one of those stories that to those not already in the know, would illustrate that non-straight people fall in love exactly the same as the straight people. There aren't that many differences between us.
I love how amazing father Charlie has been and how friendly he's been with the mother. This is an endearing story of love, overcoming adversity and even complicated family relations. I could not find a single major fault in the whole story and it simply deserves five stars.
July 26, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.
I thought the romance was cute in parts, and I really did adore the character of Ben, but unfortunately this book just wasn't for me. I could not get along with Charlie and his constant desire to self-sabotage the relationship. I appreciate the mental health portrayal, but the spiraling was repeated over and over in a way where I got bored of it by the end. However, I did appreciate the open and honest conversation that Ben provided Charlie with. I also wish someone had stood up to Charlie's parents in a more explicit way.
I thought the romance was cute in parts, and I really did adore the character of Ben, but unfortunately this book just wasn't for me. I could not get along with Charlie and his constant desire to self-sabotage the relationship. I appreciate the mental health portrayal, but the spiraling was repeated over and over in a way where I got bored of it by the end. However, I did appreciate the open and honest conversation that Ben provided Charlie with. I also wish someone had stood up to Charlie's parents in a more explicit way.
June 9, 2022
Hayden Stone is a new author to me and I also didn't read the first book in this series, so I went into this rather blind. Good things first: As is usual with most romance series, this book can absolutely be read on its own, it doesn't require you to know what happened in the first one - I might have missed some little extras for the fans, and I think Charlie, our protagonist, does meet the first book's protagonist at one point (at least the name is the same based on the first one's blurb, so I guessed as much), but that's about it.
"When London Snow Falls" is your rather typical romcom, but there's nothing that makes it shine. There are cute moments, but because the characters are written a little inconsistently and Charlie is just a combination of way too many issues without focussing on any of them (former alcoholic and drug abuser, though now he can apparently both drink alcohol and take certain drugs in moderation without issues which I found a little weird; anxiety disorder that reads like someone not suffering from anxiety wrote a book about someone with anxiety; self-medication due to that anxiety disorder; a self-imposed dating ban that doesn't really mean anything; a two-year old child that was conceived in a drunken bender; comically loathsome parents that despise him for his problems in the past and his sexuality). It's way too much and thus feels shallow. Charlie's love interest, Ben, often feels like barely a character - he's basically perfect.
The dialogues are supposed to be witty, but often come off as cringey instead, and some plotlines are so forced into the story for added drama that I wanted to skip entire chapters (the jealousy plot during the last few chapters, why this? why?). The plot itself seems both rushed and drawn out at the same time, with instalove which I simply don't enjoy in 95% of books that have this trope.
All in all this is an okay romance with some cute scenes, but neither the writing nor the plot or characters really hit home.
Many thanks to Entangled Publishing and Netgalley for the arc!
"When London Snow Falls" is your rather typical romcom, but there's nothing that makes it shine. There are cute moments, but because the characters are written a little inconsistently and Charlie is just a combination of way too many issues without focussing on any of them (former alcoholic and drug abuser, though now he can apparently both drink alcohol and take certain drugs in moderation without issues which I found a little weird; anxiety disorder that reads like someone not suffering from anxiety wrote a book about someone with anxiety; self-medication due to that anxiety disorder; a self-imposed dating ban that doesn't really mean anything; a two-year old child that was conceived in a drunken bender; comically loathsome parents that despise him for his problems in the past and his sexuality). It's way too much and thus feels shallow. Charlie's love interest, Ben, often feels like barely a character - he's basically perfect.
The dialogues are supposed to be witty, but often come off as cringey instead, and some plotlines are so forced into the story for added drama that I wanted to skip entire chapters (the jealousy plot during the last few chapters, why this? why?). The plot itself seems both rushed and drawn out at the same time, with instalove which I simply don't enjoy in 95% of books that have this trope.
All in all this is an okay romance with some cute scenes, but neither the writing nor the plot or characters really hit home.
Many thanks to Entangled Publishing and Netgalley for the arc!
December 27, 2022
I wanted to like this but it just never quite happened.
There was a lot of potential but it just fell a bit flat somehow. The MCs initial banter and flirting was very cute but not enough to carry the story. The intimate scenes, whilst somewhat explicit felt very rushed . I’d have preferred less scenes with more substance.
And finally..I listened to this in audio and the Scottish accent is…well not even remotely Scottish 🤣
There was a lot of potential but it just fell a bit flat somehow. The MCs initial banter and flirting was very cute but not enough to carry the story. The intimate scenes, whilst somewhat explicit felt very rushed . I’d have preferred less scenes with more substance.
And finally..I listened to this in audio and the Scottish accent is…well not even remotely Scottish 🤣
March 29, 2024
From my last status update: "I gave up. Started this over and got a little further than the first time but then I just skipped to the end. I didn't connect with this: narrator, characters, story...not for me."
Book 1 (An Unexpected Kind of Love) worked better for me.
1 star
Book 1 (An Unexpected Kind of Love) worked better for me.
1 star
November 6, 2022
I really enjoyed this whirlwind M/M British New adult romance that takes place over the holidays between a struggling student/single dad/musician and the up and coming rock star he falls hard for after a one night stand.
The mental health (anxiety) and disability rep (dyslexia) was so great in this book - something I really appreciated! Ben and Charlie are also very three-dimensional and relatable. I enjoyed their journey to figure out a way to be together. They balanced each other out and helped boost the other up when each of them was dealing with their individual insecurities. Good on audio and perfect for fans of Alexis Hall, Casey McQuiston or Annabeth Albert.
Steam level: VERY open door
The mental health (anxiety) and disability rep (dyslexia) was so great in this book - something I really appreciated! Ben and Charlie are also very three-dimensional and relatable. I enjoyed their journey to figure out a way to be together. They balanced each other out and helped boost the other up when each of them was dealing with their individual insecurities. Good on audio and perfect for fans of Alexis Hall, Casey McQuiston or Annabeth Albert.
Steam level: VERY open door
May 31, 2022
*I received this book for free through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
3.5 stars
The relationship between Charlie and Ben was insta-lust. The whole "when the snow melts, it'll take Ben with it" thing got old after a while. Ben could have used some more character development. It seemed Charlie was swimming in never-ending and repetitious issues (examples: his dating ban, anxiety, past drug/alcohol issues, needs to get through uni/work, & he has to take care of Carys, etc.)
There was a random jealously/miscommunication thing thrown in that I didn't care for. But I liked the writing & immersive atmosphere. All-in-all, the book needed more balance but it had its moments.
3.5 stars
The relationship between Charlie and Ben was insta-lust. The whole "when the snow melts, it'll take Ben with it" thing got old after a while. Ben could have used some more character development. It seemed Charlie was swimming in never-ending and repetitious issues (examples: his dating ban, anxiety, past drug/alcohol issues, needs to get through uni/work, & he has to take care of Carys, etc.)
There was a random jealously/miscommunication thing thrown in that I didn't care for. But I liked the writing & immersive atmosphere. All-in-all, the book needed more balance but it had its moments.
August 25, 2025
I'm so sorry but no.
Apologizing for being kind of a dick to the nice Scottish boy who then kisses your hand and you put your finger in his mouth. In the middle of like. the street.
This book is cringe. I barely got through the first one because the main character was pretty adorable at least. But ugh. Too insta love, too immediately spicy to be a rom com.
Boring. I won't read another book by this author.
2 stars because I DO think this book has an audience that would enjoy it. Just deeply not my vibe.
Apologizing for being kind of a dick to the nice Scottish boy who then kisses your hand and you put your finger in his mouth. In the middle of like. the street.
This book is cringe. I barely got through the first one because the main character was pretty adorable at least. But ugh. Too insta love, too immediately spicy to be a rom com.
Boring. I won't read another book by this author.
2 stars because I DO think this book has an audience that would enjoy it. Just deeply not my vibe.
June 15, 2022
I am so happy I read this book, I adore it.
Charlie is a depressed and anxious student/barista/musician/dad. Ben is a lighthearted and kind successful musician.
It's a little bit grumpy sunshine trope executed in a beautiful way.
Charlies depression and anxiety gives it an angsty vibe while Ben's personality keeps the story light and fluffy at the same time. Perfect!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
Charlie is a depressed and anxious student/barista/musician/dad. Ben is a lighthearted and kind successful musician.
It's a little bit grumpy sunshine trope executed in a beautiful way.
Charlies depression and anxiety gives it an angsty vibe while Ben's personality keeps the story light and fluffy at the same time. Perfect!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
July 4, 2022
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Charlie's a single dad, a college student, and a man who suffers from anxiety and panic attacks. Then he meets a gorgeous guy at the café where he works, and his life gets a little brighter. Ben is in a popular rock band and about to become very famous. He's sweet and not about to let the gorgeous Charlie get away without at least getting him to take a chance on being with him. But he'll have to have a lot of patience, be a freaking rock, and have the understanding of a saint because Charlie's life is...complicated. Will Charlie let Ben in, to his life, to his heart?
What I like most about this story, and there's a lot to like, is that both Charlie and Ben are very relatable. Not only are they likable, but their lives, their issues, their behavior, aren't out of the realm of realism. All of us have issues, all of us are imperfect, and Charlie and Ben are the same, and so easy to relate to because of it. I felt for Charlie because of not just his anxiety, but his horrible family, but Charlie made it work. Yes, he was a ball of scattered thoughts, but he had a heart. He was a great dad, a great friend, and when he finally let himself be, he was a great boyfriend. And Ben? Just so adorable with his lovely smile and his determination and patience, yet his willingness to give Charlie space when he needed it. Their story is altogether so wonderful, with a lot of heart, a stellar secondary cast, and a couple of likable, relatable leads.
ARC provided by Entangled Publising for an honest review.
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June 15, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up because I did enjoy it more than An Unexpected Kind of Love
Open and honest communication for the win! Problems solved by being honest and communicating! Thise things are always the way to my heart. There was a brief moment towards the end where I thought, "no, no big misunderstand now..." but it was resolved rather quickly by (shocking, that) open communication.
I really loved both leads, especially the way Charlie addresses his anxiety and past addiction. I wish Ben's dyslexia had been explored the same way, but that always stayed a little too on the surface for me. But still, positive representation is positive representation. And their bickering was adorable, and oh the insta-connection. For once, I actually believed it, because the pull between them was very well done. I also really loved that Charlie's toxic family didn't get more page time than necessary, and that the focus lay on chosen family instead. They more than made up for the horrible parents and provided such a lovey set of supporting characters.
*I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Open and honest communication for the win! Problems solved by being honest and communicating! Thise things are always the way to my heart. There was a brief moment towards the end where I thought, "no, no big misunderstand now..." but it was resolved rather quickly by (shocking, that) open communication.
I really loved both leads, especially the way Charlie addresses his anxiety and past addiction. I wish Ben's dyslexia had been explored the same way, but that always stayed a little too on the surface for me. But still, positive representation is positive representation. And their bickering was adorable, and oh the insta-connection. For once, I actually believed it, because the pull between them was very well done. I also really loved that Charlie's toxic family didn't get more page time than necessary, and that the focus lay on chosen family instead. They more than made up for the horrible parents and provided such a lovey set of supporting characters.
*I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
June 27, 2022
Thank you to Entangled Publishing and Netgalley for sending me an e-ARC of this book to read and review. This was a delightful book and I adore Ben and Charlie. I also loved seeing Aubrey and Blake's cameos from the first book in the series. These can definitely be read as standalones. I loved the London setting and the theme of snow for a good chunk of the story. Charlie was so delicate, but also not at the same time (IYKYK), and I loved when he opened up more and shared his vulnerabilities. Also, this book was spicy which I loved so much. The book is indeed gay and it slaps. It was truly such a heartwarming and fun story; I loved how invested both characters were to each other as well as their individual hobbies and interests. I love these characters and this was a great book!
March 3, 2024
I really had to work at finishing this one. I have to say, I really didn't like the MC Charlie. He was whiny and annoying. Ben was fine. Also, this book was unnecessarily long. It was a lot of the same being repeated.
December 22, 2024
I hated everything about this book except Ben. Skip this book.
October 8, 2025
I think this novel is a great example that sometimes, how we start is not how we end as people, but throughout, it is important to know your worth. Loved these two.
January 4, 2023
This one was a fairly enjoyable winter romance that was very cozy, cute, romantic and sexy as fuck.
I had requested it a long time ago from Entangled on NetGalley, and I'm so glad I ended up reading it during the Christmas season because it really made a difference.
The things I really enjoyed about this book:
. Both main characters felt very different yet also similar, which really worked for me.
They're both in bands, good at music, on the younger side and I feel like their similarities made them a perfect match and it was refreshing not to read yet another opposites attract romance.
. The setting, London in snow, was wonderful and utterly Christmassy.
. Honestly, I liked how fast paced this was.
They fucked the first time they really met, aka the third time he came to the coffee shop, and I feel like that's accurate for a lot of gay relationships and how they begin.
Do I also get why some people wouldn't like that? Sure, but not every romance is going to be a slow burn one.
. The romance, having fucked, was quite well developed and I really enjoyed the chemistry they had and the cute lil dates they went on.
. The sex scenes, albeit repetitive and not super original, outside of the yarn bondage (yes, you heard me right, and it was incredible) and the initial coffee shop sex, were good as well.
. I really loved how emotional this book was while also maintaining a lighter tone.
Charlie's anxiety, his young dad situation, coupled with Ben's vulnerability just did it for me.
. I absolutely adored how Ben was there for Charlie, especially with Charlie's parents and the situation with the car.
. The conflict, albeit predictable, was well done and I loved how they made up and got back together.
The aspects I didn't really enjoy:
. This book was repetitive.
Both in Charlie's inner monologue, always going on and on about needing to deprive himself of everything to support Carys and Emily, and the sex scenes.
I get that he's a young dad who wants to support his lil family, but he didn't have to go on and on about it every couple of chapters. We get it.
That's basically it lol.
I really enjoyed this one and it just did it for me, but I strongly recommend you read this during the Christmas season or at least when it's snowing.
I had requested it a long time ago from Entangled on NetGalley, and I'm so glad I ended up reading it during the Christmas season because it really made a difference.
The things I really enjoyed about this book:
. Both main characters felt very different yet also similar, which really worked for me.
They're both in bands, good at music, on the younger side and I feel like their similarities made them a perfect match and it was refreshing not to read yet another opposites attract romance.
. The setting, London in snow, was wonderful and utterly Christmassy.
. Honestly, I liked how fast paced this was.
They fucked the first time they really met, aka the third time he came to the coffee shop, and I feel like that's accurate for a lot of gay relationships and how they begin.
Do I also get why some people wouldn't like that? Sure, but not every romance is going to be a slow burn one.
. The romance, having fucked, was quite well developed and I really enjoyed the chemistry they had and the cute lil dates they went on.
. The sex scenes, albeit repetitive and not super original, outside of the yarn bondage (yes, you heard me right, and it was incredible) and the initial coffee shop sex, were good as well.
. I really loved how emotional this book was while also maintaining a lighter tone.
Charlie's anxiety, his young dad situation, coupled with Ben's vulnerability just did it for me.
. I absolutely adored how Ben was there for Charlie, especially with Charlie's parents and the situation with the car.
. The conflict, albeit predictable, was well done and I loved how they made up and got back together.
The aspects I didn't really enjoy:
. This book was repetitive.
Both in Charlie's inner monologue, always going on and on about needing to deprive himself of everything to support Carys and Emily, and the sex scenes.
I get that he's a young dad who wants to support his lil family, but he didn't have to go on and on about it every couple of chapters. We get it.
That's basically it lol.
I really enjoyed this one and it just did it for me, but I strongly recommend you read this during the Christmas season or at least when it's snowing.
May 24, 2022
This book has the feel of a grumpy and sunshine trope, but it so much deeper than that. It has a mental health rep that really solidifies Charlie, and how he interacts with the world. How he approaches relationship especially.
Charlie is absolutely a work in progress, and I really enjoyed seeing him work through his processes to get to a place where he could happily be with Ben.
Ben is a shock of color, and I love his love for knitting! This book really cements the feeling of found family.
There are quite a few CW that the author has noted in the beginning of the book.
Charlie is absolutely a work in progress, and I really enjoyed seeing him work through his processes to get to a place where he could happily be with Ben.
Ben is a shock of color, and I love his love for knitting! This book really cements the feeling of found family.
There are quite a few CW that the author has noted in the beginning of the book.
June 28, 2022
Well…When London Snow Falls is definitely a book…that I read.
When London Snow Falls had a lot of potential - I’m normally a sucker for coffee shop AU, normal-person-meets-a-famous-person type story, and this had all of the elements that I normally look for. Unfortunately, I don’t think that it successfully accomplishes its goals.
First off, I’d like to say that it’s clear that this book wasn’t designed for me and there will be many readers who connect with these characters and this story more than I did. While I had some issues with the overall structure of the book, I had a decent time reading it. I couldn’t seem to put it down (even finishing it on my lunch break at work because I was so invested). It’s a very quick read that I found mostly enjoyable.
The writing felt a little subpar to me, as if it were a draft instead of a fully finished novel. If more time had been taken during editing - and removing some of the EXTREMELY annoying repetition from Charlie - this would have been much more enjoyable. Charlie’s whole schtick got old fast. His inner monologue about not being enough would have been more impactful if he had actually learned and grew, but he was the same person the entire story. I just found myself wanting more - more story, more depth, more emotion, etc. Most of the side characters were pretty interesting, but I feel like I didn’t know anything about them - even Ben, the love interest. Ben was such a fun, unique character, and he felt one-dimensional a lot of the time. If more time was spent fleshing out his character, giving him more of a backstory, etc., I think I would have enjoyed it more. We did find out that Ben knits - which was a really cute detail to add in and I loved!
I found the love scenes to be…a lot. Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with them and found the writing to be a little cringey at times. There’s one scene in particular that took me completely out of the moment (and honestly, made me say “ew”) and it made it difficult to take some of the sex scenes seriously. I found Ben and Charlie’s dynamic to be fun and witty, and proper intimacy would have added that extra bit of legitimacy that I needed. There were also some elements of jealousy and miscommunication on Charlie’s part that irked me and made me, frankly, annoyed with his character.
While there is some anxiety and panic disorder representation in this story, the way that Charlie’s panic attacks were described felt surface level and uninformed. It felt more like when someone nonchalantly says “oh, you’re going to give me a panic attack,” when describing something that’s startling vs. from someone who’s actually experienced one. I felt similarly to Ben’s dyslexia. I’m not sure how representational this is of someone’s true experiences. It, again, felt surface level and a bit stereotypical by just saying that he *can’t* read versus exploring it further.
While the first half of When London Snow Falls fell flat for me, the latter half was significantly better and more successful. I really enjoyed reading the scenes between Charlie and his daughter, Carys; As did I enjoy the partially-Welsh setting, just on a personal level. Due to the speed in which I finished and the overall can’t-look-away factor, I’d recommend this for a quick, winter-break styled romp.
When London Snow Falls didn’t completely work for me narratively, but I still had a decent time reading it and would consider picking up more of Stone’s books in the future.
Thank you so much to Entangled Publishing and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
When London Snow Falls had a lot of potential - I’m normally a sucker for coffee shop AU, normal-person-meets-a-famous-person type story, and this had all of the elements that I normally look for. Unfortunately, I don’t think that it successfully accomplishes its goals.
First off, I’d like to say that it’s clear that this book wasn’t designed for me and there will be many readers who connect with these characters and this story more than I did. While I had some issues with the overall structure of the book, I had a decent time reading it. I couldn’t seem to put it down (even finishing it on my lunch break at work because I was so invested). It’s a very quick read that I found mostly enjoyable.
The writing felt a little subpar to me, as if it were a draft instead of a fully finished novel. If more time had been taken during editing - and removing some of the EXTREMELY annoying repetition from Charlie - this would have been much more enjoyable. Charlie’s whole schtick got old fast. His inner monologue about not being enough would have been more impactful if he had actually learned and grew, but he was the same person the entire story. I just found myself wanting more - more story, more depth, more emotion, etc. Most of the side characters were pretty interesting, but I feel like I didn’t know anything about them - even Ben, the love interest. Ben was such a fun, unique character, and he felt one-dimensional a lot of the time. If more time was spent fleshing out his character, giving him more of a backstory, etc., I think I would have enjoyed it more. We did find out that Ben knits - which was a really cute detail to add in and I loved!
I found the love scenes to be…a lot. Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with them and found the writing to be a little cringey at times. There’s one scene in particular that took me completely out of the moment (and honestly, made me say “ew”) and it made it difficult to take some of the sex scenes seriously. I found Ben and Charlie’s dynamic to be fun and witty, and proper intimacy would have added that extra bit of legitimacy that I needed. There were also some elements of jealousy and miscommunication on Charlie’s part that irked me and made me, frankly, annoyed with his character.
While there is some anxiety and panic disorder representation in this story, the way that Charlie’s panic attacks were described felt surface level and uninformed. It felt more like when someone nonchalantly says “oh, you’re going to give me a panic attack,” when describing something that’s startling vs. from someone who’s actually experienced one. I felt similarly to Ben’s dyslexia. I’m not sure how representational this is of someone’s true experiences. It, again, felt surface level and a bit stereotypical by just saying that he *can’t* read versus exploring it further.
While the first half of When London Snow Falls fell flat for me, the latter half was significantly better and more successful. I really enjoyed reading the scenes between Charlie and his daughter, Carys; As did I enjoy the partially-Welsh setting, just on a personal level. Due to the speed in which I finished and the overall can’t-look-away factor, I’d recommend this for a quick, winter-break styled romp.
When London Snow Falls didn’t completely work for me narratively, but I still had a decent time reading it and would consider picking up more of Stone’s books in the future.
Thank you so much to Entangled Publishing and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
June 28, 2022
Charlie spends his days studying for university exams, working at a café and doing his best to keep his life together when he meets a cute customer named Ben (who Charlie quickly realizes is the front man of a popular indie rock band) who just keeps coming back. The two have hilarious and charming witty banter and instant chemistry.
However, Charlie is a ball of anxiety just trying to keep it together. His routine helps him combat his anxiety and inner demons and regulate his anxiety. He’s continually in his head (which any and all people plagued with an anxiety disorder can relate and attest to). He is imperfect and scattered and also clearly traumatized from the past and his homophobic family. Ben is continuously compassionate and understanding and an ideal partner for someone like Charlie.
These are two fictional characters (Charlie and Ben) that feel very, very real in that they’re imperfections make them completely three dimensional whole people.
This book is sensual, sexy and filled with deliciously witty banter, the feelings of hope, love and understanding and a very spot on portrayal of mental health and addiction issues and how they can illogically effect and wreak havoc on your life (I, like Charlie, have generalized anxiety disorder).
Finally, this book at the very beginning excellently lists out all the trigger warnings will encounter before reading so it’s laid all out there before you dive in.
This book was absolutely a five star read. I definitely recommend picking this one up.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Embrace for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
Charlie spends his days studying for university exams, working at a café and doing his best to keep his life together when he meets a cute customer named Ben (who Charlie quickly realizes is the front man of a popular indie rock band) who just keeps coming back. The two have hilarious and charming witty banter and instant chemistry.
However, Charlie is a ball of anxiety just trying to keep it together. His routine helps him combat his anxiety and inner demons and regulate his anxiety. He’s continually in his head (which any and all people plagued with an anxiety disorder can relate and attest to). He is imperfect and scattered and also clearly traumatized from the past and his homophobic family. Ben is continuously compassionate and understanding and an ideal partner for someone like Charlie.
These are two fictional characters (Charlie and Ben) that feel very, very real in that they’re imperfections make them completely three dimensional whole people.
This book is sensual, sexy and filled with deliciously witty banter, the feelings of hope, love and understanding and a very spot on portrayal of mental health and addiction issues and how they can illogically effect and wreak havoc on your life (I, like Charlie, have generalized anxiety disorder).
Finally, this book at the very beginning excellently lists out all the trigger warnings will encounter before reading so it’s laid all out there before you dive in.
This book was absolutely a five star read. I definitely recommend picking this one up.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Embrace for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
However, Charlie is a ball of anxiety just trying to keep it together. His routine helps him combat his anxiety and inner demons and regulate his anxiety. He’s continually in his head (which any and all people plagued with an anxiety disorder can relate and attest to). He is imperfect and scattered and also clearly traumatized from the past and his homophobic family. Ben is continuously compassionate and understanding and an ideal partner for someone like Charlie.
These are two fictional characters (Charlie and Ben) that feel very, very real in that they’re imperfections make them completely three dimensional whole people.
This book is sensual, sexy and filled with deliciously witty banter, the feelings of hope, love and understanding and a very spot on portrayal of mental health and addiction issues and how they can illogically effect and wreak havoc on your life (I, like Charlie, have generalized anxiety disorder).
Finally, this book at the very beginning excellently lists out all the trigger warnings will encounter before reading so it’s laid all out there before you dive in.
This book was absolutely a five star read. I definitely recommend picking this one up.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Embrace for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
Charlie spends his days studying for university exams, working at a café and doing his best to keep his life together when he meets a cute customer named Ben (who Charlie quickly realizes is the front man of a popular indie rock band) who just keeps coming back. The two have hilarious and charming witty banter and instant chemistry.
However, Charlie is a ball of anxiety just trying to keep it together. His routine helps him combat his anxiety and inner demons and regulate his anxiety. He’s continually in his head (which any and all people plagued with an anxiety disorder can relate and attest to). He is imperfect and scattered and also clearly traumatized from the past and his homophobic family. Ben is continuously compassionate and understanding and an ideal partner for someone like Charlie.
These are two fictional characters (Charlie and Ben) that feel very, very real in that they’re imperfections make them completely three dimensional whole people.
This book is sensual, sexy and filled with deliciously witty banter, the feelings of hope, love and understanding and a very spot on portrayal of mental health and addiction issues and how they can illogically effect and wreak havoc on your life (I, like Charlie, have generalized anxiety disorder).
Finally, this book at the very beginning excellently lists out all the trigger warnings will encounter before reading so it’s laid all out there before you dive in.
This book was absolutely a five star read. I definitely recommend picking this one up.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Embrace for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2022
I read an early draft of this book, and it is adorable. I loved it so much and cannot wait to read the final version!
June 1, 2022
*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
When London Snow Falls is a charming romance where Charlie, a barista/uni student/father/guitarist falls hard for fellow musician and apparent regular at his coffee shop, Ben. The problem is, Charlie has a strict dating ban. He's too busy providing for his friend and their daughter while also studying full time. It would be hard not to fall in love with Ben. He is the epitome of authentically, irreverently being oneself. For that reason Charlie is constantly plagued by anxieties: he doesn't actually have time for a relationship, does he? And even if he did, no one like Ben would fall for him... right?
WLSF is the perfect book to read for a cozy afternoon in when the weather is gloomy. I finished it in one (stormy and grey) afternoon. Ben and Charlie's love story was such a great escape. My only complaint is that, I don't know that the internal feeling of living with anxiety always translates well in novels. It was sometimes hard to read Charlie's inner monologue because his anxieties seemed so ... repetitive? Which, as an anxious person, totally makes sense to me, but the writing made it feel like the repetition of the cycle of anxiety wasn't necessarily on purpose, just incidental. The cyclical nature of anxious thoughts (say... I can't date because I have to work because I have to pass uni because provide for my family and therefore I cannot date because I have to...) just wasn't communicated quite how I wished it would have been. I do think, however, that Emily's character was such a great addition and finally drove home for Charlie that his anxious thoughts are not his reality, or they don't have to be. Their conversation was one of my favorites in terms of showcasing how disconnected from reality anxiety can make you and just the way it finally clicked for Charlie.
4 stars, a cute read mixed with some heavy topics, doing a wonderful job balancing the fluffy romance we all like to read with real and complex problems that make dating almost impossible for those of us who have dealt with any of the above. WLSF made me feel all the cute romance feelings but also feel very seen, navigating dating when you're not this perfect romcom love interest.
When London Snow Falls is a charming romance where Charlie, a barista/uni student/father/guitarist falls hard for fellow musician and apparent regular at his coffee shop, Ben. The problem is, Charlie has a strict dating ban. He's too busy providing for his friend and their daughter while also studying full time. It would be hard not to fall in love with Ben. He is the epitome of authentically, irreverently being oneself. For that reason Charlie is constantly plagued by anxieties: he doesn't actually have time for a relationship, does he? And even if he did, no one like Ben would fall for him... right?
WLSF is the perfect book to read for a cozy afternoon in when the weather is gloomy. I finished it in one (stormy and grey) afternoon. Ben and Charlie's love story was such a great escape. My only complaint is that, I don't know that the internal feeling of living with anxiety always translates well in novels. It was sometimes hard to read Charlie's inner monologue because his anxieties seemed so ... repetitive? Which, as an anxious person, totally makes sense to me, but the writing made it feel like the repetition of the cycle of anxiety wasn't necessarily on purpose, just incidental. The cyclical nature of anxious thoughts (say... I can't date because I have to work because I have to pass uni because provide for my family and therefore I cannot date because I have to...) just wasn't communicated quite how I wished it would have been. I do think, however, that Emily's character was such a great addition and finally drove home for Charlie that his anxious thoughts are not his reality, or they don't have to be. Their conversation was one of my favorites in terms of showcasing how disconnected from reality anxiety can make you and just the way it finally clicked for Charlie.
4 stars, a cute read mixed with some heavy topics, doing a wonderful job balancing the fluffy romance we all like to read with real and complex problems that make dating almost impossible for those of us who have dealt with any of the above. WLSF made me feel all the cute romance feelings but also feel very seen, navigating dating when you're not this perfect romcom love interest.
June 16, 2022
Charlie is a full time student, full time dad, almost-full time barista und part time musician in a band. Convinced he has his priorities and plan for the next years set, there is really no time left for a love life.
Ben - with his own band - is quickly rising in the music scene and leaves for his next tour soon.
When they meet, they immediately settle into banter and then one thing leads to another... but Ben doesn't remain Charlie's one-night stand, they seem to be attracted to each other on more than just a physical level.
I finished this book over a week ago and I'm still struggling to come up with a review for it.
All in all I liked the writing style, it was very easy to read and follow along. In my opinion the characters were actually well constructed. Some decisions or beliefs I didn't quite understand, but in such a way I wouldn't understand if they were real people. That's a compliment in my eyes, but it also means that, at times, I was very frustrated with the book.
Charlie's backstory is not easy to digest and you really feel for him. Up to a certain point the anxiety issues und recurring thoughts - of what he does and doesn't deserve and what he should and shouldn't do - felt very realistic and made sense. It's just that it often doesn't translate well into writing. Everything became too repetitive and got on my nerves, even though I really really didn't want it to!
Ben's and Emily's character acted as a good counterbalance to Charlie's. I just would have liked Emily to have been a bit more involved in the story.
And the misunderstanding at the end felt a bit off - kind of rushed and a tad overdone.
In my opinion!
But you should definitely read the book for yourself, the idea for the story is great and it's an easy and fast read!
Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ben - with his own band - is quickly rising in the music scene and leaves for his next tour soon.
When they meet, they immediately settle into banter and then one thing leads to another... but Ben doesn't remain Charlie's one-night stand, they seem to be attracted to each other on more than just a physical level.
I finished this book over a week ago and I'm still struggling to come up with a review for it.
All in all I liked the writing style, it was very easy to read and follow along. In my opinion the characters were actually well constructed. Some decisions or beliefs I didn't quite understand, but in such a way I wouldn't understand if they were real people. That's a compliment in my eyes, but it also means that, at times, I was very frustrated with the book.
Charlie's backstory is not easy to digest and you really feel for him. Up to a certain point the anxiety issues und recurring thoughts - of what he does and doesn't deserve and what he should and shouldn't do - felt very realistic and made sense. It's just that it often doesn't translate well into writing. Everything became too repetitive and got on my nerves, even though I really really didn't want it to!
Ben's and Emily's character acted as a good counterbalance to Charlie's. I just would have liked Emily to have been a bit more involved in the story.
And the misunderstanding at the end felt a bit off - kind of rushed and a tad overdone.
In my opinion!
But you should definitely read the book for yourself, the idea for the story is great and it's an easy and fast read!
Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2022
An incredibly sweet romance. I absolutely love Hayden Stone's writing and I loved their first book, so I was especially eager to get my hands on this one. I wasn't disappointed. Ben and Charlie give us a lot to love, including their flaws. Ben deals with dyslexia and childhood trauma, and Charlie deals with anxiety and a family that pretends his life simultaneously does not exist and that it only exists in the period of time where he was a mess. There's a bit of back and forth here where Charlie is absolutely sure he can't possibly have something good and keep it, but I didn't mind. I understood where he was coming from. The moments of them together are sweet and hopeful.
Definitely recommend for a sweet, quick romance.
Definitely recommend for a sweet, quick romance.
November 10, 2022
here are my few important observations :
1. after the yarn shibari i was half expecting this dude to stick knitting needles up his butt
2. 80% of the book is just mc changing his mind on whether he wants to date the dude or not, it just goes like that: they fuck, mc is mean and leaves, mc realizes he wants to date him after all, he goes back to apologize and they fuck again
3. i hate the love interest’s fashion sense like literally he dresses like he’s on fucking 2013 disney channel and i wouldn’t care if ONLY we didn’t get a full description of all of this outfits
4. how on earth do you manage to date a celebrity without knowing that they are married? pretty sure u can just google that
5. im never reading another random romance i found on scribd. it’s not worth it
1. after the yarn shibari i was half expecting this dude to stick knitting needles up his butt
2. 80% of the book is just mc changing his mind on whether he wants to date the dude or not, it just goes like that: they fuck, mc is mean and leaves, mc realizes he wants to date him after all, he goes back to apologize and they fuck again
3. i hate the love interest’s fashion sense like literally he dresses like he’s on fucking 2013 disney channel and i wouldn’t care if ONLY we didn’t get a full description of all of this outfits
4. how on earth do you manage to date a celebrity without knowing that they are married? pretty sure u can just google that
5. im never reading another random romance i found on scribd. it’s not worth it
July 7, 2023
3.75 stars
I don’t like comparisons between books. I try to always avoid it but this time around I couldn’t.
I felt this installment was stronger than its predecessor.
I got into the lead protagonist easier.
I felt overall the plotting was better, still not great but much better.
We had the same scenario, a sad sack and somebody with a upward trajectory.
That’s fine. Overall it was an interesting read.
I’m glad I read it and hopefully we’ll see if this writer can get stronger and stronger every outing.
I did enjoy the ending. The fact that family dramas were not all solved.
Yes, there was something satisfying about the ending.
I don’t like comparisons between books. I try to always avoid it but this time around I couldn’t.
I felt this installment was stronger than its predecessor.
I got into the lead protagonist easier.
I felt overall the plotting was better, still not great but much better.
We had the same scenario, a sad sack and somebody with a upward trajectory.
That’s fine. Overall it was an interesting read.
I’m glad I read it and hopefully we’ll see if this writer can get stronger and stronger every outing.
I did enjoy the ending. The fact that family dramas were not all solved.
Yes, there was something satisfying about the ending.
April 11, 2025
The book was okay. But then we got to this scene.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2022
This book was very enjoyable. A smart blend of witty banter and simmering chemistry zings between Charlie and Ben. These two are super cute together and they gave me a mega case of the feels. The story kept me engaged with an enticing combination of romcom with a hefty dose of reality for an added punch. One thing is for sure, this romance gave very good swoon! This is my frank, freely posted review.
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