A Very Snowed In New Year by Kayley Loring

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What’s the actual last thing you’d ever want your celebrity crush to see you doing when you finally come face-to-excruciatingly-handsome-face with him? Singing and dancing around by yourself to “Dreams” by The Cranberries while drinking straight from a bottle of champagne? While you’re wearing some wedding gown you just found in a closet? Yeah. Me too.

And yet, here we are.

At a mountain cabin I was sent to by the awfully pretty actress/pretty awful human I work for to get things ready for her romantic New Year’s Eve getaway with him. That’s not even the worst thing about the way I meet Holden Archer. The actress has been paying me to have textual relations with him, pretending to be her—and she doesn’t even like him!

Is it terrible that a snowstorm prevents us from leaving and the actress from getting here? Neither Holden nor I think so. Because it turns out our connection goes back a lot further than those texts. And just like in all my favorite romantic comedies, it’s what got us here that is the most amazing part of the story.

Will my lack of experience cause me to freeze up when we go from inbox to in person? Or will a dreamy movie star melt my inhibitions and make all my secret New Year wishes come true?

A Very Snowed In New Year

The Diary That Changed Everything

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚💜💙❤️🩷
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😋🙂🤨🤣🥰
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Duet Narration

🛡️ Audiobook Review: A Very Snowed in New Year (Very Holiday, #5)

Author: Kayley Loring
Genre: Holiday Romance
Narrators: Erin Mallon, Jason Clarke and Connor Crais

🦸🏼‍♀️ The Heroine: Piper

Piper has grown up in the background of this series, first appearing as Maddie’s precocious niece in A Very Bossy Christmas. Now, she finally steps into the spotlight. From the age of thirteen, Piper has been scribbling in journals and spinning fan fiction — often cheeky, sometimes scandalous, and always heartfelt. Her writing is more than a hobby; it’s her way of processing the world and the relationships around her. That creative spark makes her both relatable and endearing, even when her rapid-fire thoughts occasionally overwhelm the page.

🦸🏻‍♂️ The Hero: Holden

Holden Archer is the kind of hero who feels both larger-than-life and surprisingly grounded. As the rising star of the Riders of Storm and Fire film adaptation, he’s living the dream many romantasy fans would kill for. Yet beneath the Hollywood gloss, Holden is a New Yorker at heart, tethered by his close bond with his younger sister — a sharp, insightful presence who sees through his romantic entanglements. His relationship with Sienna, a fellow actress, is already fraying, leaving him open to something deeper and more authentic.

🧨 Plot

The story kicks off with a meet-cute that feels ripped from a fangirl’s daydream. At nineteen, Piper abandons her cab in New York to chase a glimpse of Holden, only to leave behind her most treasured possession: her diary. Holden, unexpectedly tender, takes the time to track down its owner, sparking months of intimate email exchanges. Fast-forward three years, and Piper is now a senior in college, chasing her dream of becoming a screenwriter. Their paths cross again, and what begins as a professional arrangement — Piper hired to “text” Holden on behalf of a narcissistic actress — evolves into a tangled, heartfelt romance.

🌟 What Worked

• Snowed-in trope magic: Few setups are more delicious than being trapped with your celebrity crush, and this book leans into that fantasy beautifully.
• Twists on familiar tropes: The assistant-to-romance arc takes a clever turn when Piper is tasked with wooing Holden on behalf of someone else, only for him to fall for her instead.
• Holden’s vulnerability: Despite his fame, Holden is the one who first recognizes Piper’s worth, flipping the expected dynamic and giving the romance a refreshing edge.
• Complication with heart: The layered setup — diaries, emails, fake texting, snowed-in romance — makes the story feel original and unpredictable.

💔 What Fell Short

• Chaotic opening: The beginning blurs the line between Piper’s fan fiction and her inner monologue, which can feel disorganized and hard to follow.
• Over-chatter: Piper’s voice, once charming in earlier books, sometimes tips into overdrive here. Her fast-paced dialogue risks overwhelming the emotional beats.

🎙 Audiobook Narration

The duet narration by Jason Clarke and Erin Mallon brings texture and contrast to the story. Erin’s soft, expressive delivery captures Piper’s vulnerability, while Jason’s gravelly, grounded tone embodies Holden’s quiet strength. Connor Crais’s cameo is a delightful bonus, as his performances always elevate the material. The only drawback is tonal age — both main narrators sound slightly older than the characters, which occasionally distances the listener from the youthful energy of Piper and Holden. Still, the performances are polished, emotive, and engaging.

💭 Final Thoughts

This installment feels like Piper’s long-awaited coming-of-age, blending fangirl fantasy with genuine emotional stakes. The romance is layered with humor, complication, and sincerity, while Holden’s grounded charm balances Piper’s whirlwind energy. Though the pacing stumbles at the start and Piper’s chatter may test patience, the originality of the setup and the chemistry between leads make this a standout entry in the series. The audiobook narration adds depth, even if the voices skew older, ensuring fans of both the series and romantasy adaptations will find plenty to love.

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