"Sweet, sexy and laugh-out-loud funny, I couldn’t put this joyous winter romance down."
I picked up House Party and was immediately drawn into the story. Reading about Hattie’s tween and teen hood felt like I was reminiscing about my own: the clothes, Black Parade, Tracy Beaker references, live action Peter Pan (!). Her character brings this story joyously to life as we see her meet her best friend Sam and his gorgeous and completely off limits older brother Freddie.
In the present timeline Hattie is 28 and trying to move on from a breakup, determined to reclaim the rest of her twenties for herself, which includes being single for a whole year. First on the agenda? Gathering all her friends together for her and Sam’s annual birthday celebrations. This year they plan a last minute trip to a remote cabin in the Forest of Dean but Freddie is unexpectedly included and there's a massive snowstorm on the way. What better setting, for Chloe and her friends to reconnect and for fifteen years of pining to finally boil over, than a snowbound cabin in the woods? Perfectly paced, we have a dual timeline that shows that there is more to Hattie and Freddie’s history than meets the eye as their teasing and flirty banter intensifies.
It was sweet, it was sexy, it made me laugh out loud and there were three failed attempts to put it down in order to go to sleep. This is a perfect winter romance to curl up with in front of a log fire - or in a hot tub.
| Primary Genre | Romance / Relationship Stories |
| Recommendations: |
A slow-burn romance fifteen years in the making...
Hattie has spent half her life secretly crushing on Freddie - her best friend Sam's irresistibly gorgeous older brother. But Freddie? He's barely spared a glance for Hattie, the girl Sam befriended one fateful New Years' Eve when they discovered they were birthday twins.
Fast-forward to now: Hattie finds herself single for the first time in years - just before the holidays. Enter Sam, who, in classic best-friend fashion, whisks her away to a remote cabin in the Forest of Dean to cheer her up. Snowy woodland views? Check. A crackling fire and a steamy hot tub? Check. Zero cell service, ravenous wild boars, and an incoming snowstorm of apocalyptic proportions? Also check.
And to make matters even more intense, Freddie joins them, unexpectedly. Still infuriatingly gorgeous, and still ridiculously off-limits. Except this time, he's actually noticing Hattie. But then again, maybe he's been noticing her all along.
Fifteen years of longing. One night to change everything. This New Year's Eve, they're playing with fire.
***
Perfect for fans of:
Slow burn
Best friend's brother
Forbidden romance
Spice
Forced proximity
House Party features in the following genres: Star Books, Romance / Relationship Stories, Romance / Relationship Stories, Fiction
House Party is available in Paperback
House Party was written by Chloe Ford and published by Aria an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing (UK)
House Party has 336 pages
£8.99
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