The Sun Is Also a Star meets You’ve Got Mail in this YA Christmas love story set in a London Black-owned bookshop.

Charming, handsome Trey Anderson balances the pressures of school popularity with a job at his family’s beloved local bookshop, Wonderland.

Quirky, creative Ariel Spencer needs tuition for the prestigious art program of her dreams, and an opening at Wonderland is the answer. When Trey and Ariel learn that Wonderland is on the brink of being shut down by a neighborhood gentrifier, they team up to stop the doors from closing before the Christmas Eve deadline—and embark on a hate-to-love journey that will change them forever.

Heartwarming and romantic, this read is the gift that keeps on giving, no matter the season.

BIO

Abiola Bello is a Nigerian-British, prize-winning, bestselling children’s and YA author who was born and raised in London. She is an advocate for diversity in books for young people. She’s the author of the award-winning fantasy series Emily Knight and was nominated for the CILIP’s Carnegie Award, won London’s BIG Read 2019, and was a finalist for the People’s Book Prize Best Children’s Book. Abiola contributed to The Very Merry Murder Club, a collection of mysteries from thirteen exciting and diverse children’s writers which published in October 2021 and was selected as Waterstones Children’s Book of the Month. Her debut YA, Love in Winter Wonderland, published in November 2022 and was an Amazon’s Editor’s Choice and was featured in The Guardian’s Children’s and Teens Best New Novels. Only for the Holidays published in October 2023 and was The Bookseller One To Watch, one of Waterstones Best Paperbacks of 2023 and was featured in The Guardian’s Children’s and Teens Best New Novels.

Abiola won The Black British Business Awards 2023 for Arts and Media and The London Book Fair Trailblazer Awards 2018. She is the co-founder of Hashtag Press, Hashtag BLAK, The Diverse Book Awards and ink! She has appeared in Cosmopolitan, Female First Magazine, The Mirror, BBC1XTRA to name a few. As well as being a writer, Abiola is a professional dancer. She performed for more than a decade in prestigious venues including The Royal Opera House, The Barbican, Sadler's Wells, Hammersmith Apollo and Unicorn Theatre. Abiola has also appeared on BBC's The Apprentice, Got To Dance and Street Dance AllStars The Movie.

REVIEWS

A Target YA Book Club Pick
A Children’s Book Council Teacher Favorites Selection
Women.com’s Best Christmas Rom-Com Books Of The 2020s (So Far)
Best Books to Gift from Book Riot’s Hey YA Podcast
ABA’s Best Books for Young Readers
A PNBA Bestseller

“Brimming with heart-swelling chemistry and witty bookworm banter . . . A charming young adult book that will give you all the warm fuzzies.” -- Reader’s Digest

“Love in Winter Wonderland addresses plenty of critical topics such as the importance of indie bookstores, the effects of gentrification, body diversity, grief over losing a parent, and more.” -- TEACH Magazine

“A sweetly seasonal YA romance, interwoven with thoughtful commentary on the Black Lives Matter movement and the importance of community.” -- The Guardian

“Set in London, this cozy holiday romance delivers major ‘you got me into the festive spirit against my will’ energy.” -- ESSENCE GU

“A scrumptious Christmas rom-com. The book is perfect for anyone who loves romance and literature . . . Full of chemistry and Christmas cheer. What’s not to love?” -- Women.com

[P]  Soho Teen  /  October 01, 2024

 1.0" H x 8.2" L x 5.5" W (0.65 lbs) 336 pages

For ages 14 and up