First book from Feb 2026. We’re going to try to stick to the plan and read the series, in order. 

Hopefully!

My Introduction to Ali Hazelwood

I have loved the titles, but never got time to read her books.

Until 2026.

Amazon Original Stories series a new way of reading many authors I haven’t read before. The series has short stories and novellas suitable for reading in one sitting (or two, if you’re lazy/workaholic like me). It doesn’t take a lot of commitment, and was the perfect way to meet Christina Lauren.

I think that’s a very long intro.

Moving on.

Recap

The story follows Mark and Jamie as they reconnect during winter, with their shared history slowly unfolding through present-day interactions and flashbacks. Mark has been in love with Jamie since childhood, and the narrative moves between past and present to show how that long-standing affection shapes their relationship and its eventual resolution.

Review

I really liked the MMC — Mark was easy to root for, steady, and emotionally sincere. Unfortunately, the FMC didn’t work as well for me, and because Mark had loved Jamie since he was six, the relationship ended up feeling a bit lopsided. His devotion was clear and consistent, while her emotional journey felt comparatively thinner.

The structure also took some getting used to. The story moved back and forth through flashbacks, shifting between past and present tense, which made it feel like most of the relationship had already happened and what we were reading was primarily the resolution. Personally, I think this might have worked better if the story had been longer, with more space to develop Jamie’s side and balance the emotional weight.

That said, it was still a gentle, wintery read with a strong central character and a clear emotional throughline. As my first Ali Hazelwood, I wasn’t entirely impressed — but I can see the appeal, and I suspect her full-length novels might land better for me.

Notes

4%
“Um, yeah.” I’m such an accomplished conversationalist. Maybe they’ll give me an award for that.
Shabana Mukhtar: My sentiments most of the time, like after every presentation and every demo I do, haha.

22%
Or maybe this was just the nature of relationships: Transient. Fragile. Finite. Not worth pursuing.

The Final Verdict

It’s alright.

~