Carrie Aarons' newest release incorporates everything to make it an honest and heartwarming Christmassy read. Winter Break Up is a second-chance, brother's best-friend romance between two former High School sweethearts. TW for depression, anxiety/panic attacks, and parent neglect. Mercer and Emily are back in town for winter break, helping at her family's Christmas tree farm. Mercer has done so for many years, allowing him to spend time with his best friend Charlie and Emily. These two even dated during High School until she ended things out of fear that a long-distance relationship wouldn't last anyway. It's their last winter break from College, and Emily and Mercer haven't seen each other in over three years. Charlie begs his friend to spend one last season at the tree farm for a final hurrah. One thing I enjoyed most about this book is that they all grew up together, and as readers we hear about (and feel) their connection and history as the story unfolds. As the two protagonists find themselves in each other's proximity, they are bound to interact with one another. While he has been living with the heartbreak, Emily has been living with the regret. She also struggles to find her balance after an unexpected event. The way she opens up to Mercer and how both of them deal with the topics is so lovely. They are both sincere and open with each other, which helps the reader connect with them and understand their actions a little better. Aarons always has a very mindful and welcoming writing style when it comes to delicate topics, something I like most about her books. It's surely not your typical cute and cosy Christmassy read, but I think it still captures the essence of these books – the warmth, the feels and the atmosphere. Mercer and Emily are two great main characters, and I also absolutely loved Charlie. The setting was quite nice and definitely brought some winter vibes into my home. I hoped it would be a bit longer, but it's still a great read. I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.