[Review] FAKING CHRISTMAS by Kerry Winfrey

Source: Received an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: September 26, 2023
Number of Pages: 288 (Paperback)

DESCRIPTION

Laurel Grant is playing house for the holidays—complete with a fake husband and kids—in this delightful, charming rom-com by Kerry Winfrey.

Laurel Grant works as the social media manager for Buckeye State of Mind, an Ohio tourism magazine and website. She most definitely does not run a farm . . . but one tiny misunderstanding leads her boss, Gilbert, to think she owns her twin sister Holly’s farm just outside of Columbus. Laurel only handles the social media for the farm, but she’s happy to keep her little white lie going if it means not getting fired—she cannot be jobless again.

And keep it going she must when Gilbert, recently dumped by his wife, invites himself over for the farm’s big Christmas Eve Eve dinner (as advertised on Meadow Rise Farm’s Instagram, thanks to Laurel herself). Laurel immediately goes into panic mode to figure out how she can trick Gilbert into thinking she’s basically the Martha Stewart of rural Ohio and keep her job in the process.

Laurel and Holly come up with the perfect plan—all Laurel has to do is pretend to own the farm for one dinner. But Laurel shows up at the farm to find an unwelcome guest is waiting: Max Beckett, her nemesis since Holly’s wedding. The annoyingly attractive man she hates will be posing as Laurel’s husband just for the evening, but when a snowstorm traps them all for the entire weekend, Laurel is going to have to figure out how to survive with her job and dignity intact. Whatever the case, this promises to be the most eventful Christmas in ages. . .

G E T   Y O U R   C O P Y   N O W !
Amazon US | Amazon Canada | Indigo | B&N

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REVIEW

Well, this was absolutely delightful! I'm a sucker for enemies-to-lovers and this fake-dating, holiday romance was wonderful! Plus...it even has the only one bed trope! ;)

I've read one Kerry Winfrey book before this one and I remember loving her banter and how sweet the romance was, and FAKING CHRISTMAS was just as lovely! The characters were fully fleshed out and it reminded me of my fave holiday rom-coms! The premise was hilarious with Laurel having to set up a pretend scenario for the holidays, and the way everything unfolded was fabulous. I loved getting to know Laurel, and I realllllllly loved seeing her relationship with her "nemesis" Max transition throughout the story! I won't give away too many details because I think they're best experienced as you read, but I loved how everything came together, all of the characters...and how realistic the pacing of the story felt.

Overall, I thought that FAKING CHRISTMAS was a wonderful holiday rom-com and an absolute pleasure to read! I picked it up and couldn't put it down! It's sweet, fast-paced, and definitely gives you all of the delightful Christmas feels of your favourite holiday tunes, movies, and everything else that makes Christmas time so fun. If you love lighthearted rom-coms that make you laugh and swoon, then this holiday romp is the perfect fit for you!

Star Rating: ★★★★★

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What do you think? 

 

Are you a fan of holiday romances, and does FAKING CHRISTMAS sound like one that you'd enjoy?

 

[Review] WAITING FOR TOM HANKS by Kerry Winfrey

Source: Received an egalley through Edelweiss.
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: June 11, 2019
Number of Pages: 320 (Paperback)

DESCRIPTION

Can a romcom-obssessed romantic finally experience the meet-cute she always dreamed of or will reality never compare to fiction, in this charming debut adult novel from Kerry Winfrey.

Annie is twenty-seven years old, single, and obsessed with romantic comedies (she and her mother watched them religiously, before her mom died). Her dating life is limited by the expectations she’s formed from these movies. She is not as open to new experiences as she might be, because she’s waiting for her Tom Hanks–i.e., a guy she’ll find in the perfect, meet-cute romantic comedy way. When Annie does finally meet her perfect match, it’s not quite in the way she expected, and she’s forced to reckon with the walls she’s built around herself over the years.

G E T   Y O U R   C O P Y   N O W !
Amazon US | Amazon Canada | Indigo | B&N

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REVIEW

First impressions...

Gah!!!! This was absolutely adorable! I’m pretty much rom-com obsessed so I definitely related to Annie’s love of them and to her quest in finding her own “Tom Hanks.” I loved all of the homages to classic rom-comes and I absolutely adored Drew and Annie!!! So cute!!! Highly recommend this to anyone who also loves rom-coms!

This Book In 5 Words:

Adorable. Funny. Relatable. Heartwarming. Sweet.

What Did I Like: 

- All of the references to Tom Hanks and rom-coms. I'm a rom-com diehard myself, and I don't think I've ever related to a character more fully than I did to Annie in regards to her love of all things rom-com.
- The characters. While Annie was a bit dramatic and naive at times, I loved her passion and how much she loved rom-coms, and Drew was a major dreamboat. He was extremely sexy...but the more we saw of him, the easier it was to see how down-to-earth he actually was and I grew to love him more and more. Annie's friends, Chloe and Nick, were also amazing and I can't wait to get their story next! ;)
- The romance and the story. I loved how Drew and Annie's romance built! It followed some typical rom-com tropes but I thought it was in a really wonderful way--I really loved the little nods to the genre and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it! I could not put this book down and I really didn't want to!

What Didn't I Like:

- Honestly, there wasn't really anything big. I gave this one 5 stars because I loved it! :P I wouldn't have minded some more steam, but the level that was in the story fit the characters and the sweeter tones of the story. The only thing that I can think of is that I maybe would've liked at least one chapter from Drew's POV--I loved Annie, but I would've loved to see what was going on in Drew's head, too. Maybe we'll get lucky and Kerry will share an extra scene at one point where we get to see inside of his POV. :)

Star Rating:

★★★★★

Read If You Like:

- Rom-coms (especially of the Nora Ephron variety and/or starring Tom Hanks)---this book is definitely meant to be an homage to rom-coms, so if you don't enjoy that kind of story, this one might not be for you.
- Heartwarming stories with hunky, but semi-dorky heroes, and heroines that are romance fiends just like we are. ;)

To Read Next:

- Passion on Park Avenue by Lauren Layne
- Meet Cute by Helena Hunting

Overall, I absolutely loved WAITING FOR TOM HANKS! I was hoping for a feel-good rom-com just like my all-time fave movies, You've Got Mail and Sweet Home Alabama, and that's exactly what I got! I already can't wait to read this one again, and I'm looking forward to what Kerry Winfrey writes next!

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What do you think?
Does WAITING FOR TOM HANKS sound like a book you'd like?
Who else absolutely loves rom-coms?