Review: Winter Untold - Amy Sparling

Review: Winter Untold - Book #3 Summer Unplugged - Amy Sparling - December 2013

You know those mornings where nothing quite clicks? I started my reading day with a thriller that turned out to be a firm DNF, so I did what any self-respecting bookworm does, I scrolled my Kindle looking for a rescue read. That's when I landed on Winter Untold by Amy Sparling, a book that had been sitting in my library for a while. I knew going in it would be one of those cutesy YA romances ,light, a little fluffy, probably not a lot of substance and honestly? Sometimes that's exactly what you need.

The story follows Bayleigh, a teenager navigating the trials of a long-distance relationship with her boyfriend Jace, who's making waves in the world of Motocross. Enter Chase, the adorable new neighbour who's just moved in next door and, naturally, has taken a bit of a shine to her. It's classic YA setup territory, and Sparling leans into it fully.

Here's where I'll be honest though Bayleigh drove me a little nuts. She comes across as quite petulant at times, consumed by jealousy over Jace partying with others and seemingly unable to see beyond her relationship. Her whole world revolves around him, which made her hard to root for. And then there's the situation with Chase - she's warm and friendly with him, yet never once mentions she has a boyfriend, almost as if she expects him to just know. Love, he just moved in next door, not a mind reader! I found myself sighing at her more than once.

That said, I think that frustration is actually the point. Winter Untold captures that very specific kind of teenage emotional chaos authentically , the intensity of first love, the irrational jealousy, the self-centredness that comes with being young and still figuring yourself out. It's a portrayal of adolescence that rings true, even when it's uncomfortable.

If you're after a breezy, high-school drama-filled romance that delivers on the YA feels without demanding too much of you, this one fits the bill perfectly. Not every read needs to be life-changing sometimes you just need a book that gets you through a slow morning.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3QOkPkX