Mint To Be

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Author(s)

Katie Cicatelli-Kuc

Publisher

Scholastic Inc

Genre(s)

Age Range

14+

Release Date

October 07, 2025

ISBN

978-8225003241

Pour yourself a cup of hot chocolate and settle into this sweet and cozy winter romance by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc, author of the hit Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice! This edition includes a special scratch and sniff cover to keep you in the holiday spirit all year long.

It’s been eight months since seventeen-year-old Emma left the quaint town of Briar Glen to attend boarding school in New York City. Now, she’s back―and she’s not alone: Her new boyfriend, Sam, has come to visit the most picturesque village in New England during the most magical time of the year.

But there’s a chill in the air, and not just because it’s winter. Emma's best friend, Aiden, isn’t all too happy to see her after she left without so much as a goodbye. He and Emma have known each other since elementary school, and they used to do everything together. They even share a favorite drink: a peppermint hot chocolate from their favorite coffee shop, Cup o' Jo. This was where Emma first told Aiden she was thinking of leaving Briar Glen. It was also where Aiden had planned to confess his growing feelings for Emma -- before she showed him her acceptance letter and everything changed.

With Emma back in the picture -- and with a new boyfriend in tow -- will she and Aiden be able to break the ice?

Editor review

1 review

From the Past to the Present

September 30, 2025 (Updated: July 18, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

Characters

4.0

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

“Mint to Be” by Katie-Cicatelli-Kuc is a sweet story about two best friends who lose their way with each other, only to try to discover how to be in each other’s lives again.

When Emma moves away for boarding school, Aiden is shocked. Emma didn’t even say goodbye, and it is too much for him to fathom that she would leave without even a backward glance in his direction. The book moves between the present and the past, flashing back to how things were over the years between them, including how they became friends, what they mean to each other, and how Emma told Aiden she was accepted to boarding school when she received the letter saying so. In the present, they are having a hard time adjusting to Emma being back in town after quite a while away at school. The fact that she also brought back her boyfriend, whom Aiden nor anyone else in her family or their small town has met, and it’s a recipe for trouble. Her new boyfriend, Sam, doesn’t quite understand the intimate nature of their small town, and Emma and Aiden need to find time away from him in order to settle their own issues.

The story has themes of friendship, betrayal, and loss, but also shows how one can learn to get over the past in order to move forward into the future. An added bonus is that there is a “scratch and sniff” sticker on the front cover of the book that smells like peppermint! Any lover of the holidays will get a kick out of this special touch.

Good Points

The story has themes of friendship, betrayal, and loss, but also shows how one can learn to get over the past in order to move forward into the future. An added bonus is that there is a “scratch and sniff” sticker on the front cover of the book that smells like peppermint! Any lover of the holidays will get a kick out of this special touch.