#QueerLitLoft

Frosted by the Girl Next Door is one of those books that draws you in with the synopsis, but doesn’t quite cross the finish line. That’s not to say the story isn’t good, more that I didn’t find it to be anything over and above any other holiday romance. Thus it wouldn’t be something I’d jump to re-read.

Casey Stevens is fresh out of a notorious marriage and looking to keep a low profile in the middle of nowhere. With no imminent plans to return home, maybe now would be the ideal time to pursue her dream of owning a sex shop. Tara McCoy is all for the stunningly handsome customer (who’s just walked into her cupcake shop) staying around town, especially when Tara learns she wants to open a shop next door. But Tara’s day dreaming looks set to implode, when she discovers the shop will be one focused on the most intimate of acts. What follows is a medium burn , insta love romance between Casey and Tara.

I liked the small town holiday vibe, the spicy scenes, and that the narrative is explicit in being sex positive and trans inclusive. The choice of mature women and trans folk as some of the sex shop’s customers does not go unnoticed. I would love the chance to know more about Aspen, as the character was a great addition to the storyline.

However, where the plot fell short is firstly, Tara is too quick to move from objecting against the idea of a sex shop next door, to agreeing with the proposal. Particularly when the discontent between her and Casey is essentially the initial crux of their journey together. A similar point can be made for one of the town’s inhabitants, who starts out at the obvious antagonist for Casey’s character, yet randomly fades off the page for most of the plot, before suddenly re-appearing.

Secondly, the introduction of Casey’s ex-wife and the subsequent miscommunication with Tara (where Tara doesn’t afford Casey any opportunity to explain herself), is the type of saga I’m just not a fan of. It reads as Casey still being under the thumb and pandering to her ex because of how it may “look” if she doesn’t. Added to that is Casey clearly not being enough to warrant the chance to explain her actions to Tara; which is what you’d expect to happen between two adults. Whilst the resolution of their angst is sweetly touching, and a unique take on the “12 Days of Christmas”, it still felt overshadowed by the communication breakdown.

I do think the authors went down the wrong path in search of the angst/third act break-up inspiration. I will say that I’m not a fan of the whole miscommunication trope and, where it is used as a point of conflict in plots, it has to be perfectly executed with a super relevant and realistic need for it.