A heartwarming Christmas romance set in a dreamy Utah ski town, Court Behr's A Very Merry Detour follows Alaina's unplanned journey that's filled with joyful laughter and love. Unceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend days before Christmas, Alaina has the perfect plan to win him back in time to celebrate the holidays together: demonstrate she can be the spontaneous person he wants her to be and surprise him in New York, where he's taken a "last-minute gig" to pursue work as an influencer.
But on her drive from San Francisco, Alaina's car ends up in a snowbank in Brooks, Utah. She's rescued by a helpful yet aloof stranger, but Alaina's luck doesn't get much better. Her car repairs will take days and the local inn is fully booked. Her rescuer, Priscilla, the small town's sullen bookstore owner, begrudgingly agrees to take Alaina in. Still committed to changing her ex-boyfriend's mind, Alaina decides to complete an adventurous holiday bucket list while stuck in Brooks to prove herself to him.
Priscilla assists Alaina in chopping down a Christmas tree, learning to ice skate, and camping underneath the breathtaking Utah night sky. But as Pricilla's icy exterior melts, Alaina wonders if their growing connection could be more than friendship and explores the possibility that the love she should be chasing might be right in front of her. Delightful holiday spirit and a charismatic cast of small-town characters decorate the pages of A Very Merry Detour. Behr creates a luminous portrayal of true love driven by acceptance, self-discovery, and chemistry hot enough to keep Alaina and Priscilla warm on a cold winter night. --Clara Newton, freelance reviewer