Under the Mistletoe with You by Lizzie Huxley-Jones
I wouldn’t say this is the most festive book in the world, but it was one of the better reads from last year. It was also refreshing to read a queer festive romance – they’re harder to come by than you’d think, especially ARCs. The LGBTQIA+ representation was incredible in Under the Mistletoe with You. Pretty much every character was queer and there wasn’t any homophobia. An absolute win if you ask me!
Synopsis: Ready to spend a quiet Christmas with his nearest and dearest, Christopher has closed up shop in his bakery, he’s wrapped up and packed up his presents, and he’s found someone to stay in his flat over the festive period. Everything is under control. That is until the mysterious person he’s rented his flat to turns out to be none other than…
Nash Nadeau, an actor – and the star of all Christopher’s favourite Christmas movies. In fact, he’s the guy Christpher’s been crushing on for the whole past year. Since last Christmas.
For Nash, this Christmas was a chance to escape Hollywood, to go to a small town and hide away, alone, in a place where no one knows who he is. But when a huge snowstorm hits, the whole country grinds to a halt. There’s no way Christopher is leaving, and there’s nowhere else for Nash to stay. The two of them are just going to have to weather this together, snowed in for Christmas…
Snowed In by Catherine Walsh
This book wasn’t part of my ‘12 Books of Christmas’ series last year, but it was one of my favourite festive reads. I’ve only read two books by Catherine Walsh but they’ve both been very good reads. I actually think I may have included Holiday Romance in one of these posts a few years ago and I know it’s coming up in a post in a few days, so keep an eye out for that.
This one has my favourite trope: fake dating. I don’t know what it is about fake dating that I love so much, but this one is particularly great. It’s a classic tale of he falls first and harder. Who doesn’t love a male romantic interest that yearns?
Synopsis: Megan is dreading going home for the holidays. She’s the village pariah, the she-devil who left local golden boy Isaac at the altar four years ago and ran away to the big city. She could really do without the drama. Particularly as he’s engaged again, and she’s just been dumped for the fourth time this year.
Christian’s fed up of being on his own every Christmas. He doesn’t mind being alone, but he hates his family’s sad eyes and soft tones as they sit around coupled up. Because he’s actually, totally, fine.
So when Megan literally bumps into Christian in a Dublin pub, they come up with a pact to see them through the holiday season. They’re going to be the very best fake dates for each other, ever.
Rules are drawn up, a contract is signed on a wine-stained napkin. They will sit through each other’s family gatherings and be outrageously in love until freed from their annual obligations. After all, it’s only for a few weeks.
But with everyone home for the holidays, two big families to deal with alongside old friends, old flames and old feelings, things are bound to get messy. And when a snowed-in cabin and a little Christmas magic are added to the mix, anything could happen…
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Like this post? Why not read this one too: The 12 Books of Christmas: A Winter Wedding Adventure by Leonie Mack