I have a hot take: you don’t have to ski to enjoy après ski. Now I know this is controversial! I am a lifelong skier, it’s basically my entire personality, and I think there is nothing better than coming in after a long day outside and curling up by the warm fire with a hot beverage. Perfection! But I’m also someone that tries to convince as many people as possible to join me on trips to the mountains, with the argument that you don’t have to spend the day out on the slopes in order to appreciate the absolute bliss of sitting by the fire at the end of the day. It’s really more of a state of mind. So whether you tore down the mountain skiing and riding, or not, when you’re ready for après, these reads are perfect to curl up with.
An action-packed thriller set in the Swiss Alps? Schemes, scandals, murder? Yes, please! Whether you spent the day flying down the slopes or watching snow fall from a cozy spot inside, this steamy story is one you won’t want to miss. Reilly is spending the winter looking after ultra-rich guests at a luxury ski resort. But she’s not there to ski, rather she’s there for revenge on a socialite she believes is responsible for the death of her friend. Only problem? One very charming distraction: Jacob.
Heiress Among Thieves is the sequel to Reese’s Book Club Pick Heiress Takes All and it takes the scheming and thieving to new altitudes. Between the high mountain peaks and the high stakes, this is one you’ll read in a single sitting. Teen heiress and heist leader Olivia Owens is back, and the only reason she is attending her cold-hearted grandmother’s seventieth birthday is that it’s at the family’s Swiss castle. And at said castle, there just so happens to be a vault full of gold. When the birthday party turns out to be more of a wake, because her grandmother announces she’s dying and planning to be buried with her fortune, the entire greedy Owens clan turns their eyes towards the prize.
Dive into a world of old money, ruthless rivalry, sizzling scandal, and a love triangle that might tear the crew team apart… You might be familiar with the #1 Netflix show of the same name starring Miku Martineau! And it’s perfect for après ski because while it doesn’t have mountains, it fits with the whole outdoors, sports vibe. Plus of course so much drama. It’s perfect for fans of Darling Devils by Alexandra Moody and Fake Skating by Lynn Painter.
Whether you spent the day ripping it up in the trees or prefer to watch the woods from the cozy comfort of your couch, The Forest King’s Daughter is the first book in an enchanting fantasy adventure series about the daughters of a powerful forest king. There’s something mysterious about the woods, especially in the winter, and this story is the perfect tale for when you’re pondering what could be happening in the trees. It’s an enemies-to-forbidden lovers romance that all began once upon a time when a young forest princess became friends with a lonely boy from the underground. He gifted her an amber ring, a worthless trinket—or so he thought—because no sooner did he slide it onto her finger than the queen of the underground and the forest king declared war.
I couldn’t leave the Frostblood Saga off this list! Yes because it has frost in the title, obviously, but it’s also the perfect fire and ice matchup. It’s a fast-paced fantasy adventure about a Fireblood girl and her quest to bring down a bloodthirsty Frostblood king. Ruby is a Fireblood who has concealed her powers of heat and flame from the cruel Frostblood ruling class her entire life. But when her mother is killed trying to protect her, and rebel Frostbloods demand her help trying to overthrow the king, she agrees to come out of hiding for one purpose: revenge.
The entire Belladonna series fits on this list because I think there would be nothing better than curling up in a big armchair, in front of a fire, and reading the gothic fantasy series. Holly is a magical, and of course mysterious, holiday treat, and with so many ski trips happening during the holidays, it’s especially fitting. Something strange is happening at Wisteria Gardens, the manor that Blythe and Aris call home. They just want a peaceful holiday season, but a group of restless spirits is determined to threaten their festivities. Stir up a batch of peppermint hot cocoa and settle in with this spirited tale!
