‘The Sun Is Also a Star’ meets ‘You’ve Got Mail’ in this YA Christmas love story set in a London Black-owned bookshop.
Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Abiola Bello’s Love in Winter Wonderland, which is out October 3rd.
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.
I go into the office and then start to organize the shelves on the shop floor where loads of books have been knocked over. It’s really quiet and I’m used to working with music playing. I want to put some on, but Trey is focusing so hard that I don’t want to disturb him.
Noah was asking me this morning when we were going to watch Home Alone and I couldn’t bring myself to tell him that, without Dad, it feels weird to watch our family Christmas film. Now all I can think about is the Home Alone soundtrack and I start singing “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” softly as Trey starts hammering the shelf. I get to the bridge and Trey joins in singing over me.
I burst out laughing. “You like that song?”
“Oh, yeah.” Trey pauses in his work, swinging the hammer in his hand. “It’s a classic. It’s on my second go-to Christmas playlist.”
My eyes widen. “I have a Christmas playlist too! I actually create playlists for everything.”
Trey laughs. “Me too. I can spend hours making them.”
Finally someone who speaks my language!
“Let’s see what songs we have in common,” I suggest, interested to know what Trey’s taste in music is.
He grins. “Go for it.”
“What about ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’?”
Trey waves his hand dismissively. “Give me a challenge, woman.”
I giggle. “Okay . . . ‘I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus’?” “Of course! I said a challenge. Let me give you one. ‘O Holy Night’?”
I scoff—call that a challenge?—but Trey is looking at me with a smile on his face.
“But you have to name the version.”
“Ooh, you’re sneaky, Trey Anderson!”
“O Holy Night” has been covered by so many artists. I have a few versions on my playlist because I think the song is gorgeous, but which one would Trey have? I think back to Trey singing the Usher album last night. This is definitely a guy who loves a good riff.
I hesitate for a moment longer. “I think it’s Whitney or Mariah.”
Trey crosses his arms. “Interesting, but the question still remains: which one?”
He watches me intently, and for some reason it feels really important that I get this right. I love Whitney Houston, but in my opinion Mariah Carey is the queen of riffs and impossible high notes. Plus, her version is my favourite one.
“Mariah?” I say uncertainly.
Trey’s blank expression doesn’t give anything away, but then he suddenly opens his mouth and sings Mariah’s version of the song. It’s so pure and beautiful and pitch perfect that my mouth literally drops open. He stops.
“You’re meant to join me.”
“Oh, no.” I shake my head. “I can’t sing like that.”
“It doesn’t matter. There’s no one here but me.” His mouth turns up in an encouraging smile.
Like that’s comforting.
“You wanna know a secret?” Trey says. “I’m way more comfortable singing to one person than a crowd.”
I frown. “Isn’t that more intimate?”
Trey places the hammer on the floor and walks towards me, and I suddenly have another flashback to last night, which makes me feel hot all over.
He stops in front of me and shrugs. “Maybe that’s why I like it. There’s a connection between me and that other person. It’s way less intimidating than having to impress a bunch of people all at once.” He starts singing again, adding in all the diva riffs. “Come on, join in, Ariel!”
I look up to the ceiling, then give in and start to sing. And even though I don’t sound great and Trey legit sounds like a recording artist, it’s fun and freeing, and he doesn’t take his eyes off me once, which is so sexy. Although I guess that’s kind of weird when we’re singing about Jesus being born!
“Trey, turn off that damn music and come help me!” Mrs. Anderson yells from the basement. I jump and Trey bursts out laughing.
“Coming!” Trey shouts back. He rolls his eyes at me. “I’ve been summoned.”
“I’ll keep tidying up here.”
Trey nods, but he doesn’t move. He’s standing so close to me that if I took a step forward I’d be standing on his feet. Damn, he’s so fine. He looks at me with his eyes half closed, and suddenly there’s this weird energy between us. Are we having a moment? For a split second I think we’re going to kiss, and it makes me nervous—but the good, excited kind.
“You have a pretty voice,” Trey says, breaking my thoughts.
I feel so dumb. Of course he’s thinking about singing.
“Oh,” I say in a flat voice, and Trey cocks his head to the side, clearly trying to understand why my tone’s changed.
“Trey!” Mrs. Anderson yells, and this time Trey moves. “Don’t touch that bookshelf,” he shouts over his shoulder before he runs downs the stairs.
Excerpt from Love in Winter Wonderland © Abiola Bello, courtesy of Soho Teen
