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It can sometimes be frustrating when romantic comedy characters struggle to see what’s so obvious to everyone else. But as the neurodivergent main character in Some Like It Cold by Elle McNicholl struggles to keep up appearances in her small town, it’s no surprise that she might miss a few hints.
The story travels back to the picturesque town of Lake Pristine with Jasper Montgomery, who hasn’t returned since leaving to study at the university in the city 18 months ago. Her plan is to return one last time—to say a final goodbye before she informs her controlling parents that she’s dropping out and applying to design school. But as soon as she arrives, Jasper gets caught up in planning her spoiled sister’s wedding, running the annual performance of The Nutcracker, and trying to avoid Arthur Lancaster, who seems determined to get in her way.
Neurodivergent love stories are definitely few and far between—but author Elle McNicholl is working to change that. In Jasper, she creates a character who’s more relatable to readers who just aren’t like the typical rom-com characters—while building awareness and understanding, too.
This chaotic small-town holiday season could be a challenge for anyone to handle—with holiday festivities and an upcoming wedding and Arthur and his cousin, Marcus, interviewing residents for a short documentary about the town. For Jasper, though, social situations can be challenging at best—or, at worst, completely debilitating. So being back in her beloved Lake Pristine—where she’s always surrounded by well-meaning people—is exhausting. Ever since she received her autism diagnosis, she’s learned to mask her true self—to try her best to fit in—but this visit challenges the mask she’s worked so hard to keep in place.
Explaining the experiences of a neurodivergent character can be difficult—especially since everyone is on a different position on the spectrum—and, at times, it can feel a little awkward. But the author writes her character with care and sincerity. The character may challenge readers—but the more they follow her story, the more they’ll fall in love with her passion and determination while hoping she’ll be able to find her happily-ever-after in the middle of this hectic holiday season.
If you’ve ever wished that rom-com characters weren’t all the same, you’ll want to meet Jasper Montgomery. Some Like It Cold is a charming love story with a lovably different kind of character—one you might find more relatable than the same old rom-com heroine.
Listen to the review on Shelf Discovery:
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