For Lily, falling in love with her childhood friend, Walker, was the easiest thing to do back in high school. His sudden rejection was unforgettably crushing. Seven years later, their families have conspired to bring them back together at a cabin in the Rockies when a sudden snowstorm traps them overnight with no power. Thanks to a cozy fire, a prowling bear, and a little forced time in an open-air gondola, they confront their unresolved feelings—and a past more complicated than Lily knows.

I listened to the audiobook of this short story and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. As is often the case with short stories, it left me wishing there was more. However, for such a brief read, it managed to pack in a surprising amount of character development, emotion, and romance.

Lily and Walker are childhood best friends who find themselves snowed in together for a night at a cabin in the Colorado Rockies. They’ve been carrying around a misunderstanding for years, and this unexpected situation finally forces them to have the conversation they’ve both been avoiding.

When Walker eventually reveals why he has kept Lily at a distance for so long, I found his reasoning both honorable and understandable. It added more emotional depth to the story than I expected and helped make their relationship feel more meaningful.

Given the short length, there isn’t a lot of time to fully explore the characters, but I still enjoyed getting to know them. Both Lily and Walker have experienced significant loss after losing their fathers, which creates a bond between them through their shared grief. I also liked the detail that both of their mothers brought their husbands’ ashes on the trip to scatter in the mountains before the snowstorm stranded everyone. It added a bittersweet layer to the story and gave it more heart.

The romance leaned a little more into physical attraction than I typically prefer, but it worked well within the context of a short story. It kept the story light and engaging without becoming overly heavy. That said, I honestly think this concept would have been even stronger as a full-length novel. The characters, emotional backstory, and setting all had enough potential to support a much longer story, and I would have happily spent more time with them.

If you enjoy second-chance romance, childhood crushes, friends-to-more relationships, opposites attract, and forced proximity, this is a charming read worth picking up. It’s the perfect winter romance to curl up with alongside a cozy blanket and a hot drink, especially when you’re looking for something heartwarming that can be finished in under an hour. Definitely recommend!