AUTHOR: Talia Samuels GENRE: Queer Romance PAGES: 352 pages RELEASED: 10 October 2023 SYNOPSIS: It's the perfect Christmas love story. Margot Murray is a newly single, high-flying businesswoman with no interest in a cutesy seasonal romance. Ben Gibson is an unlucky-in-love sweetheart in need of a woman to bring home for the holidays. Together, they make a pact: Margot gets two blissful weeks away from London in a picture-perfect manor, in exchange for posing as Ben's girlfriend. The story can only go one way. Margot is sure to fall in love for real. And she does. With Ben's sister, Ellie. All I want for Christmas is to fall for my fake boyfriend’s sister…
After breaking up with her long-time girlfriend and having her beach-side Christmas plans crumble around her, Margot Murray faces a pretty lonely Christmas. Enter her client Ben Gibson, who can’t face another Gibson Family Christmas being the only single family member. So, he proposes that Margot pose as his fake girlfriend for the holiday season at his family’s manor-turned-hotel. It’s a win-win for the two of them - Ben can enjoy a Christmas without his mother trying in interfere in his love-life, and Margot can enjoy a magical Christmas to finally move on from her ex. The problem with fake relationships is that they usually result in something real. Only this won’t be happening for Ben and Margot - you can’t fall in love with your fake boyfriend if you’re a lesbian. But you can fall in love with your fake boyfriend’s sister, and that’s exactly what Margot ends up doing… Talia has crafted a super festive read with a lot of heart and soul! The Gibson’s manor is beautifully festive and cozy, and is one of those locations I would desperately LOVE to visit at Christmas. And to get to spend the holiday season with the Gibson family? Well that would be a nice bonus as they are such a fun family! Ben and Margot are both really interesting characters and seeing their friendship develop over the course of their fake relationship was really sweet. As much as this book is about romance, there is a big focus on the importance of friendship and having a circle of people around you who support you. Even though the characters are essentially strangers at the beginning, they quickly form a strong and supportive friendship and are able to open up to one another and offer a shoulder to lean on. But of course, we’re really here for the romance! I love when there’s a little twist with the fake relationship trope, and falling for your fake partner’s sibling always brings the drama and swoon! Margot and Ellie’s relationship starts off with a classic bit of miscommunication which made for some fun inner monologues from Ellie. Once they overcame the miscommunication, their relationship was super sweet and filled with lots of lingering glances, secret kisses and midnight dates. Talia is able to cram so much into just eight days of story, but it doesn't feel over-the-top or too much. Ellie and Margot’s perspectives easily push the story along while Margot’s perspective also features a lot of flashbacks that flesh out her character and how she ended up spending Christmas with a bunch of strangers. A trigger warning for past emotional abuse as Margot comes to realise that her relationship with her ex was far from healthy. Talia handled Margot’s journey of realisation really well, especially when it came to Margot taking charge and attempting to remove her ex from her life, and her slight moment of relapse. Ben and Ellie also deal with the pressures of living up to the expectations of parents who forever strive for perfection. If you’re looking for a holiday read in the lead-up to Christmas, this is one you definitely need to check out! |
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