I’m slowly getting into holiday mode and I’m enjoying Christmas reads. My most recent one was Kiss Her Once for Me. I was really lucky to get an e-arc on Netgalley and I’m glad I read this. Keep on reading to find out more about this book and what I thought.

The author of The Charm Offensive returns with a festive romantic comedy about a woman who fakes an engagement with her landlord…only to fall for his sister.

One year ago, recent Portland transplant Ellie Oliver had her dream job in animation and a Christmas Eve meet-cute with a woman at a bookstore that led her to fall in love over the course of a single night. But after a betrayal the next morning and the loss of her job soon after, she finds herself adrift, alone, and desperate for money.

Finding work at a local coffee shop, she’s just getting through the days—until Andrew, the shop’s landlord, proposes a shocking, drunken plan: a marriage of convenience that will give him his recent inheritance and alleviate Ellie’s financial woes and isolation. They make a plan to spend the holidays together at his family cabin to keep up the ruse. But when Andrew introduces his new fiancée to his sister, Ellie is shocked to discover it’s Jack—the mysterious woman she fell for over the course of one magical Christmas Eve the year before. Now, Ellie must choose between the safety of a fake relationship and the risk of something real.

Perfect for fans of Written in the Stars and One Day in December, Kiss Her Once for Me is the queer holiday rom-com that you’ll want to cozy up with next to the fire.

Review

A holiday rom-com is something I’ll never say no to, so I was really excited about Kiss Her Once for me. Add fake dating and it sounded like the book for me and it didn’t disappoint. This book had everything I was hoping for.

Ellie isn’t having the best time. There is no love life, her dream animator job didn’t stick, she has financial issues and op top of that her mother only reaches out when she wants money. When things can’t seem to get worse the landlord of the cafe she works at gives her a proposal. If she marries him he’ll give her part of her inheritance. First they need to spend the holidays with his family.

Ellie gets the surprise of her life though when she finds out Andrew’s sister is the woman who broke her heart last Christmas. Okay, this book is filled with all of my favorite tropes: fake dating, forced proximity, and there’s only one bed. I loved the moments we had with Andrew’s family. All of the family activities were really sweet. The developing romance was so much fun to read and Kiss Her Once for Me was even a little steamier than expected. There were some laugh out loud moments and moments that warm your heart. I don’t want to go into too much detail, because I think this one will be more fun if you just enjoy it yourself.

As with all fake dating stories things don’t all go to plan, but it wouldn’t be a holiday read without a happily ever after. Ellie was a character I really enjoyed reading about. Yeah, she gets herself into some awkward situations and things don’t always go her way, but she’s kind. I love how much she develops in this story and finally stands up for herself and what she wants. Kiss Her Once for Me was a heartwarming read and a great one to start off with this holiday season.

Kiss Her Once for me is a book I’d definitely recommend for this holiday season. I haven’t read The Charm Offensive, but I’ll have to change that soon! Do you have any favorite holiday reads? Let me know in the comments! I’m always looking for more.