Blog Tour and Review: Only For The Holidays by Abiola Bello

 

Title:  Only For The Holidays

Author:  Abiola Bello

Genre:  YA Romance

Publisher:  SoHo Teen

Publication Date:  October 8, 2024

About the Book

The Love Hypothesis meets The Holiday in this fake dating YA romance about a city girl and country boy’s lives colliding at Christmas

City girl Tia Solanké is dreading the festive season. She and her boyfriend are on a break and the last thing she wants is to spend Christmas away from London. Dragged to Saiyan Hedge Farm by her mother, Tia takes an instant dislike to the countryside estate. She falls in horse manure, is chased by sheep and the Wi-Fi sucks. How can she stalk her ex and concoct a foolproof plan to win him back from here?

Country boy Quincy Parker and his family run the farm, and this year they’ve been selected to host the biggest event in town—the Winter Ball. Preparations are underway, and Quincy is working around the clock to make it a success while recovering from his own devastating breakup. The only problem is, he’s told everyone he has a date to the ball, which couldn’t be further from the truth.

At first, Tia and Quincy don’t see eye to eye—until they realize they both have something to gain by pretending to be a couple. But when a snowstorm threatens to cancel the Winter Ball, their fake relationship is put to the test. Will Tia and Quincy be able to keep up appearances and save the day, or will real feelings get in the way?

My thoughts

I am one of those individuals that does not wait for Christmas season to begin to read themed stories.   So when I got the notice for this tour, I jumped at the chance to read this book (plus I absolutely loved the last book I read from them).  I enjoyed this book as much as the first one.  It had me laughing many times (and thankfully I wasn't eating when it did), and was such a heartwarming and beautiful story.   I think my favorite part was how Tia learned a lesson at a Young age that took many if us older women many years to learn ( and TBH, some of us still haven't taken it to heart at our big ages.) This author is two for two for me and I can't wait for their next book.  

About the Author

Abiola Bello was born and raised in Stoke Newington, North London. She is a Nigerian-British author and first began writing the Emily Knight saga at 12 years old.

Abiola received rave reviews for her debut middle-grade book series. Emily Knight I am, published by Hashtag Press which she has written under A. Bello. Emily Knight I am...Awakened was released in September 2017, published by Hashtag Press. It was nominated for the Carnegie Medal 2019, winner of London's Big Read 2019 and a finalist for 'Best Children's Book' for the People's Book Prize 2019.Emily Knight I am..Becoming, published by Hashtag Press is the third book in the award-winning series was released in September 2020 to strong reviews. Book 4 and the last in the series is due 2025.

The Very Merry Murder Club published by Farshore on October 28th 2021 is a number 1 bestseller, The Bookseller 'One to Watch' and was featured in The Guardian's Children's and Teens Novel Roundup. It was Waterstones November Children's Book of the Month. The Super Sunny Murder Club was Blackwell's Book of the Month.

Her YA debut Love In Winter Wonderland is a number 1 bestseller, The Bookseller 'One to Watch,' an Amazon's Editor's Choice and was featured as one of the Guardian's Best New Novels and a Junior Library Guild Gold.

Only for the Holidays was a Waterstones Best Paperback of 2023 and featured as one of the Guardian's Best New Novels

Her latest YA book is The Love Dare.