There is something so delightful about picking up a debut author, especially when it’s such a timely read. Given that It’s All in Your Head is publishing on February 10th, it comes right in the midst of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Of course, we’ll talk about why that’s relevant in a moment, but aside from being a debut author and featuring an adorable cover, It’s All in Your Head goes beyond the typical genre beats. This feels like a romance but mixed with so much more. 

With a title like It’s All in Your Head, there were so many different ways this book could have gone. Even so, this book lived up to both its title and feels like the perfect book to pick up between watching the events of the 2026 Winter Olympics. 

Before getting into my thoughts, I’d like to thank Grand Central Publishing for sending me an ARC, so I was able to read and review this one. 

It’s All in Your Head is a romance unlike any other. 

It’s All in Your Head follows our main character, Skylar, who is dealing with a chronic illness and chronic pain. For Skylar, her escape is an online support group for people also dealing with chronic pain. While she has online friends, she does harbor a small crush on Pike, but things go much deeper after Pike’s one post. 

Pike shares a very personal poem, which causes his mother to worry about him, and results in Skylar doing damage control. She says that Pike is her boyfriend, and things are fine with him to keep his mother off his back. Of course, Pike is understandably upset at Skylar and his mother, but agrees to fake-date Skylar as a way to get his mom off his back. 

Pretty soon into the book, we find out about why Pike was so hesitant, which is that he’s a former Olympian. He had a snowboarding accident, resulting in his injury and causing him to use both a cane and a wheelchair. Honestly, this book peels back the layers of how chronic illness and disabilities can change your life and your perspective. Seeing Pike deal with that was hard to read, but such a necessary addition.

Skylar is also dealing with a lot because of having IIH. She has good and bad days, which are both depicted on the page. I adored seeing how she connected with her online friends and seeing how she came out of her shell despite being in so much pain. She was diagnosed as an adult, resulting in her having to adjust similarly to Pike. 

It’s All in Your Head also doesn’t miss any beats as far as the romance goes. It has all the best fake-dating tropes, including only one bed, excellent caretaking, and forced promixity. The chemistry between Pike and Skylar was so palpable that I couldn’t wait for them to finally kiss for real. 

Ultimately, this book was sexy, fun, and also incredibly realistic. If you’re looking for something to devour during the Winter Olympics or just love a swoony romance, then It’s All in Your Head is it. Plus, Sabina Nordqvist does an excellent job of setting up future romances, so fingers crossed we get more from Skylar’s friends in the future.