Author Kayla Olson’s adult debut, The Reunion, introduced her as a name to look out for in the romance scene. Now, she’s back with a new love story set in a snow globe–esque ski resort. The Lodge follows a ghostwriter tasked with penning a celebrity memoir as she tries — and fails — not to get distracted by her hunky ski instructor. Here’s everything you need to know before the book drops on January 7!
Synopsis
Entertainment writer Alix Morgan has spent much of her career covering world-famous boy band True North. So when she’s offered a gig as the ghostwriter for former member Sebastian Green’s memoir, it seems her wildest dreams are coming true. There’s just one problem: living in a noisy New York apartment with her needy younger sister is really cramping Alix’s creativity. She desperately needs somewhere she can get away and focus solely on the task at hand. Thus, when Sebastian offers to put her up in a luxury ski resort in Vermont for a month, she jumps at the opportunity.
As she settles into life at the resort and begins sifting through Sebastian’s many voice memos, Alix can’t help but be swept back up in all the rumors surrounding the band’s final days — particularly the mystery of frontman Jett Beckett’s disappearance. Eight years later, Jett has yet to resurface, and with the announcement of Sebastian’s book, fans are more eager than ever for answers.
But Jett isn’t the only man on Alix’s mind. To get a much-needed break from writing, she starts taking lessons with dashing ski instructor Tyler Fox, and the two quickly fall head over heels for each other. The bliss is shattered, however, when Alix uncovers some shocking revelations about True North’s downfall. Soon, her newfound romance, family life, and literary investigation all start to snowball into the perfect storm. It seems it’s up to Alix to resolve a critical question: what happened to Jett Beckett?
A Cozy Wintertime Romance
Your love is like a river
Peaceful and deep
Your soul is like a secret
That I never could keep
When I look into your eyes
I know that it’s true
God must have spent
A little more time on you
*NSYNC, God Must Have Spent a Little More Time on You
Full of idyllic snowy scenery and saccharine romance that warms that heart, Kayla Olson’s The Lodge is the perfect rom-com to curl up with on a cold, wintry day.
Alix and Tyler’s love story is nothing short of wholesome. From the very beginning, they’re both enamored with each other, so it isn’t long before Tyler asks Alix out on a date. And as Alix soon finds out, Tyler doesn’t play around when it comes to romance. Their first date features a filet mignon dinner from a Michelin-star restaurant, followed by ice skating under the starry sky. The next night, they take a gondola ride to a mountaintop outlook to watch a meteor shower, keeping warm with lush hot chocolate and each other’s embrace. Even their more casual dates — such as cooking breakfast together in Tyler’s penthouse apartment, which overlooks a scenic frosty landscape — are straight out of a dream.
Beyond their magical dates and grade-A banter, Alix and Tyler have a deep bond that carries them through the conflict of the story. Their mutual support and respect for each other quickly build an unshakeable foundation of trust, allowing them to lean on one another during difficult times, despite only knowing each other for a handful of days. Though their romance does fall into the insta-love category, by the end, their connection truly feels earned.
All in all, these two are a match made in heaven, and their love story is one all readers can aspire to.
A Love Letter to Boy Bands
You were the one
Always on my side (always on my side)
Always standing by (always standing by)
Seeing me through
You were the song that always made me sing
I’m singing this for you (singing this for you baby)
Gloria Estefan and *NSYNC, Music of My Heart
Kayla Olson is a boy band superfan, and she isn’t afraid to show it. Before the story even begins, Olson makes her passion known, dedicating the novel to fans of groups like *NSYNC, the Backstreet Boys, One Direction, and BTS. And when we dive into the book’s content, her love for boy band culture is even more apparent. Everything from True North’s rocky fallout and subsequent drama to the fictional blogs and Reddit posts that follow each chapter draws clear inspiration from the author’s time in boy band fandoms.
Eagle-eyed readers who are well-versed in boy band history may even be able to spot some direct parallels between real-life groups and True North. Whether all of these comparisons are intentional, I can’t say for sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they were, considering the author’s obvious breadth of knowledge about boy bands of the past and present.
This book may feel nostalgic for some readers, bringing them back to a more innocent time in their lives. Many young girls grow up with boy band posters plastered across their walls, daydreaming about their favorite members as they memorize every line to every song from every album of the group’s discography. But at a certain point, girls are expected to outgrow such “childish” and “obsessive” interests. If they don’t, they’re shamed for their “immaturity,” stamping out any remaining flame of passion for a group they once loved.
The Lodge is a firm rejection of that misogynistic belief. Moreover, it’s an unabashed celebration of boy band fans of all ages. This book makes one thing clear: Olson never “got over” her boy band phase — and she never intends to.
An Examination of Celebrity Culture
If you really loved me
You’d try and show me it ain’t even about my name
But you try to use me, you lie to fool me
So it can never be the same
*NSYNC, Celebrity
While The Lodge undoubtedly pays homage to the author’s favorite boy bands, it doesn’t shy away from discussing some of the less savory aspects of celebrity culture. In particular, it shines a light on the rampant exploitation at play in the music industry.
Sebastian and Jett, two of fictional boy band Truth North’s most popular members, were both tricked into joining the group under the false promise that they’d eventually be given solo careers. They were just teenagers when they debuted, but still, news outlets and fans alike ran with the narrative of their rivalry, casting Jett as a brooding bad boy without recognizing how much he was suffering under his angsty exterior. The media gave no regard for Jett’s privacy, eventually forcing him to go off the radar just to find a little peace.
Alix has to reckon with her role in this toxic cycle as an entertainment reporter. Although she never intended to do any harm with her coverage, she fed into a system that scrutinizes and criticizes every move a celebrity makes. Only through reflection does she realize how terrifying it must be to live under a microscope, always monitored by judgmental outsiders who know nothing about the person you are underneath the popstar persona. Although this thread doesn’t get much resolution in the novel, it’s an intriguing and important topic of conversation that needs more attention in our current celebrity-obsessed era.
A Candid Look at Challenging Family Dynamics
It’s tearin’ up my heart when I’m with you
But when we are apart, I feel it, too
And no matter what I do, I feel the pain
With or without you
*NSYNC, Tearin’ Up My Heart
One of Alix’s main interpersonal conflicts throughout the story is her strained relationship with her family. Though her little sister, Lauren, plays the biggest role of all of Alix’s family members, her bonds with her parents and older brother are no less tenuous. Despite being an accomplished journalist with a major book deal in the works, Alix still feels inadequate because of her family’s apparent disapproval. Her brother, Ian, outright refuses to take her job seriously. And in the eyes of their parents, Alix doesn’t stack up to Ian, who has a more stable career as an accountant. At least, that’s how Alix interprets their interactions.
Ultimately, Alix learns that many of these assumptions are just internal insecurities she projects onto her family members, and this knowledge helps heal some of the hurt she feels regarding these relationships. This arc is one of the more underexplored parts of the narrative, often pushed to the side in favor of the romantic plotline and mystery melodrama. However, what little we see of Alix and Lauren’s relationship in particular feels genuine and relatable, especially to all the older sisters out there.
Where this story succeeds more fully is in its depiction of found family. Both Alix and Tyler are fortunate enough to have unconditionally loyal and supportive friends by their side throughout all the ups and downs of the narrative. Tyler’s two closest friends are essentially his adopted siblings, and Alix’s bestie is a true ride-or-die, always there to offer advice or simply an ear to listen. These relationships are equally as sweet and heart-meltingly pure as the central romance, showing that love comes in many shapes and forms, each as valid and valuable as the next.
Final Thoughts
The Lodge is a binge-worthy cozy romance with a hint of mystery that sets the mood for the winter season with its snowy ski lodge setting. Ideal for anyone who enjoys a low-angst love story with minimal spice, this book brings out the boy band fan in us all. If that sounds like your cup of tea (or, more appropriately, hot chocolate), prepare to fall in love with this happily ever after.
You’ll love The Lodge if you enjoyed these titles:
- Beach Read by Emily Henry
- Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison
- Tangled Up In You by Christina Lauren
- The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
- The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella
Bookstr’s The Lodge Dream Cast
Olivia Holt as Alix Morgan
Olivia Holt totally has the humor, heart, and spunk to play The Lodge’s leading lady! Not to mention, she’s stunning in a blonde bob — Alix’s signature haircut. And that face card? Immaculate. If I were Tyler, I would have heart eyes too!
Logan Lerman as Tyler Fox
Anyone who remembers Logan Lerman’s long-hair era will understand why he’s a perfect fit for this role! He’s a spot-on match for Tyler, down to the five o’clock shadow and dreamy blue eyes. With a face like that, who could blame Alix for falling?
Final Score: 4/5
Spice Level: 0.5/5
If you want to add The Lodge to your TBR, you can preorder it on Bookshop and Amazon! Thank you to Atria Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For another Bookstr starred review, click here!
To browse more books like this, check out Bookstr’s Contemporary Romance shelf on Bookshop!
