In Haley Cass's latest release, The Snowball Effect, she brings readers back to the world of Sutton Spencer's and Charlotte Thompson's New York City (from Those Who Wait). This time, though, the story focuses on Regan, Sutton's upbeat best friend, and Emma, Sutton's more reserved graduate school classmate, as they navigate life as unlikely roommates. While their story doesn't hit the absolute highs and lows as Sutton and Charlotte's, it is still a beautiful story that captivated my heart.
So far, Regan's choice to invite Emma to live with her while Sutton is away in Rome has not gone according to plan. No matter how hard she has tried, she can't seem to break through Emma's cold exterior. It doesn't help that every time she has tried to win Emma over, disaster has occurred. To Emma, Regan is the most frustrating person ever and she has no interest in being her friend. However, when Emma's mother makes an unexpected return to her life and thinks she and Regan are a couple, she decides to give Regan a chance. What she doesn't expect is for Regan to break down every wall she's built up over the years as these two become more than just roommates.
One of Haley Cass's strengths as a writer is her incredible ability to create compelling characters that you can't help but care about. That skill is again on display in The Snowball Effect. In just the first few chapters, you get a clear sense of Regan and Emma, what makes them tick, and the issues they are struggling with. Regan has spent her whole life being told that she is too much, not enough, and a complete failure. Emma has been so hurt by her mom and her ex-girlfriend that she has effectively worked to shut everyone out. Haley immediately makes all of this feel real and visceral, drawing you in and making you care about these characters while also laying the groundwork for their journey together.
And what a journey it is. Over the course of the novel, Regan and Emma go from barely being able to stand one another (more so Emma) to being okay roommates to then friends and finally to lovers. The fact that this occurs as part of a fake romance makes the story even more complicated. With this much ground to cover, there are so many parts of the story that could have felt rushed or poorly developed. That wasn't the case here. Haley Cass, as she so often does, takes her time with this story, making sure that each step along the path is well-developed and given the space and time it needs. She does this while also making sure that the story doesn't seem too narrow by including supporting characters that feel real and essential to the plot. In the end, we're given a romance that feels more like a limited series that takes over your entire life rather than a romcom you see in the theaters and maybe watch again on streaming.
While The Snowball Effect is the possibly the slowest slow burn Haley Cass has produced, once it starts burning, it is scorching. The third act treats the reader to some of the steamiest sex scenes I have ever read in published sapphic romance. Part of this certainly comes down to the build up throughout the preceding chapters, but even without that build up these scenes are incredibly hot.
The Snowball Effect is another masterpiece of sapphic contemporary romance by one of the best authors in the game. It has two fantastic and lovable leads and a captivating and heartfelt story that feels fully-fleshed out. Even though this does make for quite a long read at over 600 pages, fans of sapphic romance will be hooked for every single one.
There is one more thing I want to say. I happened to be finishing this book in the early hours of the morning Wednesday, November 6. By that point, it was clear what was coming and my anxiety would not let me sleep. This sweet book about two people falling in love helped me get through those dark hours. That's the power of queer fiction. So, please, continue to support queer fiction and queer authors as we battle the storm of the next four years.