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Finding My Elf
Single All the Way meets Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda in this festive romcom about Cam, who’s trying to find the “the one” and also trying to find himself—while spending winter break working at a hectic Santa’s Village.
Escaping to NYU for college didn’t turn out the way Cameron planned—he’s flunking his theater classes, about to lose his scholarship, and he still hasn’t found anyone he can call his “people.” When he gets home for winter break, he’s so desperate to avoid a Conversation with his dad that he takes the first acting job he can get—as a mall elf. Despite how Scroogey he feels, the plus side is that there’s a cash prize for the most festive of Santa’s helpers.
But the competition is fierce—especially from fellow elf Marco. Christmas spirit oozes out of his veins. At first Cam is determined to see him as nothing but a rival, but as they spend more time together, Cam starts to second-guess himself. What if he’s finally found his people here—in the fakest consumerist nightmare place on Earth, where he least expected it?
Escaping to NYU for college didn’t turn out the way Cameron planned—he’s flunking his theater classes, about to lose his scholarship, and he still hasn’t found anyone he can call his “people.” When he gets home for winter break, he’s so desperate to avoid a Conversation with his dad that he takes the first acting job he can get—as a mall elf. Despite how Scroogey he feels, the plus side is that there’s a cash prize for the most festive of Santa’s helpers.
But the competition is fierce—especially from fellow elf Marco. Christmas spirit oozes out of his veins. At first Cam is determined to see him as nothing but a rival, but as they spend more time together, Cam starts to second-guess himself. What if he’s finally found his people here—in the fakest consumerist nightmare place on Earth, where he least expected it?
256 pages, Hardcover
First published November 7, 2023
30 people are currently reading
4447 people want to read
About the author
David Valdes
4 books53 followersWrites books for adults under the name David Valdes Greenwood.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
David Valdes is the author of two memoirs, Homo Domesticus and A Little Fruitcake, and the new narrative nonfiction book The Rhinestone Sisterhood. As a playwright, his work has been staged coast to coast and in the UK. He has written the YA novels Spin Me Right Round, Finding My Elf, and Brighter Than the Moon. A former freelance journalist, Valdes Greenwood is best known for his Boston Globe columns.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
David Valdes is the author of two memoirs, Homo Domesticus and A Little Fruitcake, and the new narrative nonfiction book The Rhinestone Sisterhood. As a playwright, his work has been staged coast to coast and in the UK. He has written the YA novels Spin Me Right Round, Finding My Elf, and Brighter Than the Moon. A former freelance journalist, Valdes Greenwood is best known for his Boston Globe columns.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 351 reviews
December 16, 2023
3.5 Stars
A cute and Christmassy YA/NA read.
The queer and BIPOC rep were much appreciated in this heartwarming and joyful coming-of-age story, about a struggling college freshman finding his people and his true path, when he finds himself working as a shopping mall elf and contending in a whacky Christmastime competition, while home from school over winter’s break.
I’ll be honest and say I didn’t love MC Cameron as much as I’d have liked to. I’m not entirely certain why, but his attitude and reactions to other people around him, gave him an air of selfishness and snootiness (a lot of the time) that didn’t always sit well with me. Blame it on his youth or perhaps a generational disconnect (I’m old now, it can’t be denied), but I just didn’t warm to the kid as much as I feel like maybe I was meant to.
What I did appreciate and relate to where Cam’s feelings of listlessness and detachment in regards to his college experience and what he thought/wanted his life to look like post-high school. Particularly, the pressure to know the right professional path to commit to and the fears of letting people you love down. I went through a lot of these feelings of failure and dissociation during my college years, too—hell, I still don’t have a solid career path or any sort of feeling like my life is on track, nearly 20 years on—so I absolutely got what Cam was experiencing in this way.
But beyond that bit of angst and Cam’s stress over what to do next with his life, this was mostly a very light-hearted, festive kind of read, with lots of wonderful and supportive characters and a sweet, sunshiney love interest, Marco, to brighten Cam’s mood and help put things into much needed perspective.
The competition side of the story was fun and engaging, and I liked the way Cam and Marco got to know each other, through forced (work) proximity and as elf “rivals” competing for a very tempting and significant (for college-aged kids) cash price.
Mostly, I adored Cam’s dad and his childhood best friend, and Marco was a super cutie, in that golden retriever in human form kind of way. All three characters took no shit from Cam, which I loved, and constantly challenged him to do better and be better, when, perhaps, he was getting a bit too self involved or dramatic about the wrong things. A great support cast really does go a long way, like it did here.
This was my first time reading a book by Valdes and I found it a pretty easy and effortless experience, where it matters most. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for his other stories from here on out.
*************************
Audio Edition:
A smooth and engaging performance by new-to-me-narrator André Santana. He did a great job with these characters and their story.
A cute and Christmassy YA/NA read.
The queer and BIPOC rep were much appreciated in this heartwarming and joyful coming-of-age story, about a struggling college freshman finding his people and his true path, when he finds himself working as a shopping mall elf and contending in a whacky Christmastime competition, while home from school over winter’s break.
I’ll be honest and say I didn’t love MC Cameron as much as I’d have liked to. I’m not entirely certain why, but his attitude and reactions to other people around him, gave him an air of selfishness and snootiness (a lot of the time) that didn’t always sit well with me. Blame it on his youth or perhaps a generational disconnect (I’m old now, it can’t be denied), but I just didn’t warm to the kid as much as I feel like maybe I was meant to.
What I did appreciate and relate to where Cam’s feelings of listlessness and detachment in regards to his college experience and what he thought/wanted his life to look like post-high school. Particularly, the pressure to know the right professional path to commit to and the fears of letting people you love down. I went through a lot of these feelings of failure and dissociation during my college years, too—hell, I still don’t have a solid career path or any sort of feeling like my life is on track, nearly 20 years on—so I absolutely got what Cam was experiencing in this way.
But beyond that bit of angst and Cam’s stress over what to do next with his life, this was mostly a very light-hearted, festive kind of read, with lots of wonderful and supportive characters and a sweet, sunshiney love interest, Marco, to brighten Cam’s mood and help put things into much needed perspective.
The competition side of the story was fun and engaging, and I liked the way Cam and Marco got to know each other, through forced (work) proximity and as elf “rivals” competing for a very tempting and significant (for college-aged kids) cash price.
Mostly, I adored Cam’s dad and his childhood best friend, and Marco was a super cutie, in that golden retriever in human form kind of way. All three characters took no shit from Cam, which I loved, and constantly challenged him to do better and be better, when, perhaps, he was getting a bit too self involved or dramatic about the wrong things. A great support cast really does go a long way, like it did here.
This was my first time reading a book by Valdes and I found it a pretty easy and effortless experience, where it matters most. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for his other stories from here on out.
*************************
Audio Edition:
A smooth and engaging performance by new-to-me-narrator André Santana. He did a great job with these characters and their story.
October 1, 2023
Actual rating 3.5 stars.
Finding My Elf is cute and funny and very Christmassy. At times, it’s overly cheesy, but who cares while reading a Christmas story?
I expected full-on YA, to be honest, but I just hadn’t read the blurb well. So, it’s a cross-over YA/NA (without spice!), and I think we need more of them. Stories about teens on the cusp of adulthood, just starting college, their lives full of new opportunities. At least, that’s what Cam expected, but his life turned out differently. His grades suck, and he hasn’t made any friends, let alone a boyfriend. But when he’s home for his winter break, he starts working as an Elf and meets overly cheerful Marco.
This book is for all of you who love uplifting and funny stories by authors like Simon James Green. I have to admit that the cheesiness was sometimes a bit too much for me, and the story is nothing special, but on the other hand, I really had fun while reading this book, and I rooted for Cam and Marco to get together so much. Therefore, I rounded my 3.5-star rating up to four.
I received an ARC from HarperCollins Children’s Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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Finding My Elf is cute and funny and very Christmassy. At times, it’s overly cheesy, but who cares while reading a Christmas story?
I expected full-on YA, to be honest, but I just hadn’t read the blurb well. So, it’s a cross-over YA/NA (without spice!), and I think we need more of them. Stories about teens on the cusp of adulthood, just starting college, their lives full of new opportunities. At least, that’s what Cam expected, but his life turned out differently. His grades suck, and he hasn’t made any friends, let alone a boyfriend. But when he’s home for his winter break, he starts working as an Elf and meets overly cheerful Marco.
This book is for all of you who love uplifting and funny stories by authors like Simon James Green. I have to admit that the cheesiness was sometimes a bit too much for me, and the story is nothing special, but on the other hand, I really had fun while reading this book, and I rooted for Cam and Marco to get together so much. Therefore, I rounded my 3.5-star rating up to four.
I received an ARC from HarperCollins Children’s Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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December 16, 2023
Finding My Elf is a fun YA Christmas contemporary featuring an Elf competition and some romance. It is a bit silly at times but that just adds to the fun.
Cam's back home for the winter holidays. His first semester at NYU didn't go to plan and he's plagued with feeling like he doesn't belong there. Back home, his Dad is so proud of him and he doesn't know how to tell him the truth. So in order to avoid that, and also to get some money since he might lose his scholarship, he takes a job as an Elf in Santaland.
It's not just a regular job, it's a competition for a grand prize of 5k. Cam is one of 5 Elves in the running, and there will be challenges they have to complete along the way; the public voting for their favourite.
Marco is another Elf in the competition. Perpetually cheery, he's a clear front runner and Cam's main competition. It's a bit of rivals-to-lovers, except one sided in the rival department as Marco is genuinely friendly and nice to Cam from the start.
Cam's back home for the winter holidays. His first semester at NYU didn't go to plan and he's plagued with feeling like he doesn't belong there. Back home, his Dad is so proud of him and he doesn't know how to tell him the truth. So in order to avoid that, and also to get some money since he might lose his scholarship, he takes a job as an Elf in Santaland.
It's not just a regular job, it's a competition for a grand prize of 5k. Cam is one of 5 Elves in the running, and there will be challenges they have to complete along the way; the public voting for their favourite.
Marco is another Elf in the competition. Perpetually cheery, he's a clear front runner and Cam's main competition. It's a bit of rivals-to-lovers, except one sided in the rival department as Marco is genuinely friendly and nice to Cam from the start.
December 13, 2024
Well this was delightful, festive, and very gay. A teenager home for Christmas during the first semester of college -- where he is flunking his theatre classes, even though it's his dream to be an actor -- and applies for a job as a mall elf. The job entails a big competition with a cash prize to promote the mall, and one of Cam's fellow elves is a cute, very chipper guy named Marco. These two! Fun subplots too, called Cam's dad's secret romance.
November 16, 2023
This was a silly holiday romance, great for the younger YA set, that required a LOT of suspended disbelief.
I was set up for failure by the fact that I live where this book is set, which is hard to forget when they say "Pioneer Valley" on practically every page. To make matters worse, it's really, REALLY inaccurate about completely basic aspects of this area, never mind the fact that a fancy mall would never open in the hilltowns off Route 2. "We'd go to art house movies in Northampton and drive to Boston to see the bands that are too cool to play in Springfield." The quickest of Google searches would tell you that Northampton does not have a movie theater and Springfield is not where anyone goes for concerts. It seems like a dumb nitpick, but I have to wonder why the author would bother setting the book in such a specific (and distinct) place if he's going to get literally every detail wrong.
My other main issue is that Cam is wildly unlikable, selfish, and annoying to spend time with. I didn't want to be in his head at all. This book had some cute aspects, but the main thing dragging my review down is Cam as a narrator. Marco, you can do better!
I was set up for failure by the fact that I live where this book is set, which is hard to forget when they say "Pioneer Valley" on practically every page. To make matters worse, it's really, REALLY inaccurate about completely basic aspects of this area, never mind the fact that a fancy mall would never open in the hilltowns off Route 2. "We'd go to art house movies in Northampton and drive to Boston to see the bands that are too cool to play in Springfield." The quickest of Google searches would tell you that Northampton does not have a movie theater and Springfield is not where anyone goes for concerts. It seems like a dumb nitpick, but I have to wonder why the author would bother setting the book in such a specific (and distinct) place if he's going to get literally every detail wrong.
My other main issue is that Cam is wildly unlikable, selfish, and annoying to spend time with. I didn't want to be in his head at all. This book had some cute aspects, but the main thing dragging my review down is Cam as a narrator. Marco, you can do better!
December 5, 2023
Tired of all the straight Christmas stories where the successful woman from the big city visits her small home town for the holidays and immediately falls in love with the flannel shirt wearing simpleton who works at the local tree farm? Want some queer Christmas story instead? Look no further, Finding My Elf is just the book for you.
College freshman Cam is returning from the big city to his small home town for the holidays. But he's the opposite than successful. He's failing his classes and and he's losing his scholarship over it. To not dampen the mood he decides to not tell his Christmas obsessed single-parent dad. (Not the best idea.) To avoid having to talk to his dad, he takes a job in a new shopping mall. Not only has he dress as an elf all day but also there's an elf competition and the winner gets five thousand dollars. This would solve Cam's problems. Or so he thinks.
The story is told entirely from Cam's perspective and this is a bit challenging. Cam is very self-absorbed and judgmental. And also dumb. I'm all in for a good "humble the haughty" story, but Cam's learning curve is very flat for most of the book. The story is plot-driven, so there's only little character development. Cam's character growth is entirely triggered by external events. It's always someone who has to talk sense into him. It's a bit frustrating. On the other hand this more of is a Christmas story and less of a character study. So I'm okay with it.
The story is plot-driven and there's a lot going on. It's fast paced and easy to read. Lots of queer characters. Of course there's romance and a happy ending. I really loved this book. Technically it's a four star book but because of all the fun and joy I had reading it (especially the second half of the book and the ending) it deserves an extra star.
College freshman Cam is returning from the big city to his small home town for the holidays. But he's the opposite than successful. He's failing his classes and and he's losing his scholarship over it. To not dampen the mood he decides to not tell his Christmas obsessed single-parent dad. (Not the best idea.) To avoid having to talk to his dad, he takes a job in a new shopping mall. Not only has he dress as an elf all day but also there's an elf competition and the winner gets five thousand dollars. This would solve Cam's problems. Or so he thinks.
The story is told entirely from Cam's perspective and this is a bit challenging. Cam is very self-absorbed and judgmental. And also dumb. I'm all in for a good "humble the haughty" story, but Cam's learning curve is very flat for most of the book. The story is plot-driven, so there's only little character development. Cam's character growth is entirely triggered by external events. It's always someone who has to talk sense into him. It's a bit frustrating. On the other hand this more of is a Christmas story and less of a character study. So I'm okay with it.
The story is plot-driven and there's a lot going on. It's fast paced and easy to read. Lots of queer characters. Of course there's romance and a happy ending. I really loved this book. Technically it's a four star book but because of all the fun and joy I had reading it (especially the second half of the book and the ending) it deserves an extra star.
January 2, 2024
This was sort of cute but mostly annoying. The main character Cam was super annoying and selfish and I just did not understand why he had to get some elf job at the mall or how $5,000 is enough money to continue his extremely expensive collegiate career out of state in New York City. Other baffling aspects included Cam's ex suddenly being weirdly evil, the romance between Cam and Marco, the elf competition, the conclusion of the elf competition, the musical theater references, and Cam's dad crying a lot. Nothing in this absurd book made any sense.
I received an ARC copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
I received an ARC copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
December 26, 2023
I feel kind of bad for giving this just two stars, but it really didn’t do it for me. The premise felt a bit weak, I didn’t like the main character at all, and every interaction between the characters felt superficial. I’m glad others are enjoying it, though. It definitely scratches that Christmas itch.
July 18, 2023
This was an incredibly cute read. Sometimes Christmas reads don't have enough Christmas vibes, but this one was absolutely filled with them. I could very easily picture this as a movie, and now that's all I want. The book is descriptive in a way that I could easily visualize everything, which really added to me wanting it to be a movie, on top of it being a super cute romcom.
December 11, 2023
This was a really cute ya christmas read! The christmas vibes were amazing I need to get invited to the cookie party now lol. I loved all the characters, especially Cam’s dad he was amazing. Cam’s struggle with what he wants to do with his life was a bit too relatable for me lol. Cam and Marco’s romance was very sweet too <3
December 18, 2023
As someone always on the lookout for fun, festive holiday reads, I saw this and instantly had to read it. Just from the cover and synopsis, I anticipated this to be “Love Simon but make it a Hallmark movie” and I was here for it! Sadly, this did not meet my expectations. It wasn’t a bad book by any means. It was…fine? But I wanted so much more than what this delivered.
I think the biggest problem for me was that the competition in the novel overshadowed… pretty much everything else. Like, it felt like it was more about Cam climbing his way up in the competition and the author forgot that this was supposed to be a rom com…and then remembered more than halfway through the book and immediately jumped to the good part without any leadup whatsoever. To me, Marco and Cam didn’t interact nearly enough to warrant love interest potential. So by the time we got there, it didn’t feel earned because they didn’t have enough interactions or evidence of real chemistry to make me root for them. By the time Marco asks if they’re boyfriends, all I could think was, “WHERE? Where is this coming from?! What interactions spurred this?! Have they even kissed yet?? I just…WHERE?!
Then there was the ending, which was wrapped up in a neat little bow…a little too conveniently, and I have a bone to pick with it. Like, why did they just spontaneously decide to give Cam an extra $5,000 too? How did they squeeze that into their budget? What motive? Just ‘cause he’s the main character? If it had been a tiebreaker with Raven, would the outcome have been the same? If it was a tie, why not do one final tiebreaker? “Well, the rules say…” What rules?! Wasn’t this whole thing fabricated by Victor?? It’s not like this was some official corporate-wide thing. I know I shouldn’t overthink it, but god damn…I just have so many questions. I would rather the ending at least makes sense than forcing a happy ending just so the main character wins in the end.
Other things
—The random girl who was obsessed with Cam was pretty strange. That was..an odd choice
—How does he just instantly know that @XmasLvr is Leroy in an instant. What led this to suddenly dawn on him? Where is the evidence? WHERE?!?
Final thoughts: This wasn’t a fav. For being a holiday romance that takes place in a mall, I wanted so many more flirty moments, stolen glances, so much more chemistry between the main characters than I was given. Honestly? All this reminded me of…was a mall during Christmastime—screaming children, tyrannical retail managers, Karen moms and all. If I wanted that, I would just go to my own mall and witness it myself. I needed more of a swoony romance!
I think the biggest problem for me was that the competition in the novel overshadowed… pretty much everything else. Like, it felt like it was more about Cam climbing his way up in the competition and the author forgot that this was supposed to be a rom com…and then remembered more than halfway through the book and immediately jumped to the good part without any leadup whatsoever. To me, Marco and Cam didn’t interact nearly enough to warrant love interest potential. So by the time we got there, it didn’t feel earned because they didn’t have enough interactions or evidence of real chemistry to make me root for them. By the time Marco asks if they’re boyfriends, all I could think was, “WHERE? Where is this coming from?! What interactions spurred this?! Have they even kissed yet?? I just…WHERE?!
Then there was the ending, which was wrapped up in a neat little bow…a little too conveniently, and I have a bone to pick with it. Like, why did they just spontaneously decide to give Cam an extra $5,000 too? How did they squeeze that into their budget? What motive? Just ‘cause he’s the main character? If it had been a tiebreaker with Raven, would the outcome have been the same? If it was a tie, why not do one final tiebreaker? “Well, the rules say…” What rules?! Wasn’t this whole thing fabricated by Victor?? It’s not like this was some official corporate-wide thing. I know I shouldn’t overthink it, but god damn…I just have so many questions. I would rather the ending at least makes sense than forcing a happy ending just so the main character wins in the end.
Other things
—The random girl who was obsessed with Cam was pretty strange. That was..an odd choice
—How does he just instantly know that @XmasLvr is Leroy in an instant. What led this to suddenly dawn on him? Where is the evidence? WHERE?!?
Final thoughts: This wasn’t a fav. For being a holiday romance that takes place in a mall, I wanted so many more flirty moments, stolen glances, so much more chemistry between the main characters than I was given. Honestly? All this reminded me of…was a mall during Christmastime—screaming children, tyrannical retail managers, Karen moms and all. If I wanted that, I would just go to my own mall and witness it myself. I needed more of a swoony romance!
November 12, 2023
This was a super fun, new adult, grumpy/grinchy sunshine queer holiday romance!! I loved the reality show vibes and the mall elf antics and the swoony M/M romance. Perfect for fans of authors like Timothy Janovski and anyone who wants a feel good holiday read with some depth. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!!
December 3, 2023
I really wish I liked this one more. I love gay stories (grateful for visibility) and I LOVE all things Christmas. But even under the guise of “He’s 18 and doesn’t know better” I had trouble liking the main character, Cam, at all. He’s terribly selfish and self involved for a good 90% of the book and even by the end I didn’t feel like he had earned his happy ending (not that that is a requirement). I think this book may possibly appeal to younger readers, but this one just did not do it for me.
December 25, 2023
Ugh this was bad. I need to truly stop reading YA romance/romance with college age kids. The whole premise was incredibly silly and too unbelievable to be entertaining, what mall would spend the money to do this? Especially in rural Massachusetts? I think perhaps where it really got me is where the villain was described as old, being a 36 year old Millennial. No, thank you.
December 26, 2023
I started reading Finding My Elf to get me in the mood for Christmas and that’s exactly what it did. This year, my holiday cheer has been a little lackluster… to say the least. Working in retail seems to do that to you, I think.
What I was hoping for was a lighthearted ya RomCom with adorable characters and a fun vibe. What I got was an elf competition with boys love in a mall Christmas town… and I loved it!
Cam is returning home after his first semester at NYU and he’s being very closed lip about the fact that he’s failing school. What he thought it would be and what it actually was are two VERY different things. His single dad (cue Reba theme song) is excited to have him home, but while he’s there, he’s going to get a job for winter break. Lucky for him, there is a brand new mall that was just built in town.
Christmas Land is being pushed as the main attraction/biggest draw and when he asks about a job as an elf, he doesn’t know what he’s getting himself into. He quickly finds out that there are two roles there: the helpers, who work there, and the elves, who are always on stage… so much so that they’ll be competing for a cash prize of $5000!
The competition will be aired online and after becoming more popular, the news will begin to get involved as well. This is also where he meets Marco, who is the epitome of happy elf!
There are a lot of high jinx and fun that is involved, as it usually is in a YA novel. Including Cam’s ex working there as a helper, which just makes it that much harder for his eventual love interest to pursue him.
If you’re looking for a quick and happy read for the season, pick this up. I smiled (almost) the entire time I was reading it.
What I was hoping for was a lighthearted ya RomCom with adorable characters and a fun vibe. What I got was an elf competition with boys love in a mall Christmas town… and I loved it!
Cam is returning home after his first semester at NYU and he’s being very closed lip about the fact that he’s failing school. What he thought it would be and what it actually was are two VERY different things. His single dad (cue Reba theme song) is excited to have him home, but while he’s there, he’s going to get a job for winter break. Lucky for him, there is a brand new mall that was just built in town.
Christmas Land is being pushed as the main attraction/biggest draw and when he asks about a job as an elf, he doesn’t know what he’s getting himself into. He quickly finds out that there are two roles there: the helpers, who work there, and the elves, who are always on stage… so much so that they’ll be competing for a cash prize of $5000!
The competition will be aired online and after becoming more popular, the news will begin to get involved as well. This is also where he meets Marco, who is the epitome of happy elf!
There are a lot of high jinx and fun that is involved, as it usually is in a YA novel. Including Cam’s ex working there as a helper, which just makes it that much harder for his eventual love interest to pursue him.
If you’re looking for a quick and happy read for the season, pick this up. I smiled (almost) the entire time I was reading it.
December 1, 2023
This was a cheesy, sweet Christmas story 🎅🏻🎄
There wasn’t a whole lot of jeopardy in the story and the relationship between Cam and Marco was incredibly fast moving. But ultimately this was an uncomplicated, cute little story - like a Hallmark Christmas movie!
There wasn’t a whole lot of jeopardy in the story and the relationship between Cam and Marco was incredibly fast moving. But ultimately this was an uncomplicated, cute little story - like a Hallmark Christmas movie!
November 17, 2023
Trigger Warnings: cursing, single parent, past death of a parent, illness, money struggles, sabotage
Representation: Gay, Cuban-American, Black, Jewish, Queer
Finding My Elf is a holiday romance about college freshman, Cam, who’s plan to escape to NYU for college didn’t turn out the way he planned—he’s flunking his theater classes, about to lose his scholarship, and he still hasn’t found anyone he can call his “people.” When he gets home for winter break, he’s so desperate to avoid a conversation with his dad that he takes the first acting job he can get—as a mall elf. Despite how Scroogey he feels, the plus side is that there’s a cash prize for the most festive of Santa’s helpers.
The problem is the competition is fierce—especially from fellow elf Marco. Christmas spirit oozes out of his veins. At first Cam is determined to see him as nothing but a rival, but as they spend more time together, Cam starts to second-guess himself. What if he’s finally found his people here—in the fakest consumerist nightmare place on Earth, where he least expected it?
This was such a cute, Christmas story! I loved reading a story that didn’t contain that many potential trigger warnings! It’s very refreshing to read a story that contains romance and challenges without traumatizing the characters. The story is light hearted and funny, and it reads as more mature than your typical 18-year-old story. I think Cam’s struggle with his first semester at college is very relatable and encouraging to see that representation on the page. This book is a quick read and perfect for the upcoming holiday season!
Representation: Gay, Cuban-American, Black, Jewish, Queer
Finding My Elf is a holiday romance about college freshman, Cam, who’s plan to escape to NYU for college didn’t turn out the way he planned—he’s flunking his theater classes, about to lose his scholarship, and he still hasn’t found anyone he can call his “people.” When he gets home for winter break, he’s so desperate to avoid a conversation with his dad that he takes the first acting job he can get—as a mall elf. Despite how Scroogey he feels, the plus side is that there’s a cash prize for the most festive of Santa’s helpers.
The problem is the competition is fierce—especially from fellow elf Marco. Christmas spirit oozes out of his veins. At first Cam is determined to see him as nothing but a rival, but as they spend more time together, Cam starts to second-guess himself. What if he’s finally found his people here—in the fakest consumerist nightmare place on Earth, where he least expected it?
This was such a cute, Christmas story! I loved reading a story that didn’t contain that many potential trigger warnings! It’s very refreshing to read a story that contains romance and challenges without traumatizing the characters. The story is light hearted and funny, and it reads as more mature than your typical 18-year-old story. I think Cam’s struggle with his first semester at college is very relatable and encouraging to see that representation on the page. This book is a quick read and perfect for the upcoming holiday season!
December 10, 2023
Cute. Basically a hallmark movie in a book following 18 year old boys working at Santa’s village in a mall.
If you want a cute gay holiday romance I recommend this one.
Cozy.
If you want a cute gay holiday romance I recommend this one.
Cozy.
February 17, 2024
cam’s a dick
December 20, 2023
3.5 stars. This story is cute and fun, but has a lot of current pop culture references that may not age well. It's also a quick read to help get you into the holiday spirit!
December 22, 2023
Such a cute christmas book with lots of LGBTQ rep (gay, sapphic, nonbinary and more).
I also loved that there's a loving single dad😊 because he was great and most books are always about single mothers.
I also loved that there's a loving single dad😊 because he was great and most books are always about single mothers.
December 30, 2024
cute with a lot of lgbt rep but not very memorable to me
October 27, 2023
Thank you, NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books and David Valdes for providing me with an eARC of Finding My Elf for review.
⭐⭐⭐💫 - rounded up - Available 7 November 2023
This is a cute read. If you love Netflix or Hallmark Holiday movies then this will be a satisfying read for the festive RomCom itch.
There is some depth to the story and the characters, which for a YA reader would probably be insightful. For an adult YA reader it isn't groundbreaking self-discovery but it is there.
I think for me I sort of missed the 'why' is this 'falling in love' happening to our main character. I didn't quite grasp why it was occurring beyond someone treating them with respect and kindness.
But once again, a Holiday rom-com doesn't have to make complete sense - sometimes we just need our happy ending.
⭐⭐⭐💫 - rounded up - Available 7 November 2023
This is a cute read. If you love Netflix or Hallmark Holiday movies then this will be a satisfying read for the festive RomCom itch.
There is some depth to the story and the characters, which for a YA reader would probably be insightful. For an adult YA reader it isn't groundbreaking self-discovery but it is there.
I think for me I sort of missed the 'why' is this 'falling in love' happening to our main character. I didn't quite grasp why it was occurring beyond someone treating them with respect and kindness.
But once again, a Holiday rom-com doesn't have to make complete sense - sometimes we just need our happy ending.
November 7, 2023
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
Cam is really a fun character to explore. He’s a terrible snob and his internal monologue is utterly scathing–about others and himself. However, the reality check at NYU has Cam truly floundering with his sense of self-worth. His winter break journey is one of owning up to his mistakes and making choices to be a nicer person, to both himself and others. I found Cam very relatable as an 18-year old who had big plans and bigger dreams and is now barely able to imagine moving forward. The other elves are completely different; they are not trained in theater, dance, or music, but they have a lot of heart and are in it to win it. They really challenge Cam to be his best self, and muster his creativity in ways he couldn’t at NYU.
I loved the pacing, with chapters counting down the days to Elf-mas, the end of the competition.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
Cam is really a fun character to explore. He’s a terrible snob and his internal monologue is utterly scathing–about others and himself. However, the reality check at NYU has Cam truly floundering with his sense of self-worth. His winter break journey is one of owning up to his mistakes and making choices to be a nicer person, to both himself and others. I found Cam very relatable as an 18-year old who had big plans and bigger dreams and is now barely able to imagine moving forward. The other elves are completely different; they are not trained in theater, dance, or music, but they have a lot of heart and are in it to win it. They really challenge Cam to be his best self, and muster his creativity in ways he couldn’t at NYU.
I loved the pacing, with chapters counting down the days to Elf-mas, the end of the competition.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
January 26, 2024
5 Mall Elves compete in a Viral Social Media Contest to promote a Mall. Only one can win the Grand Prize. What happens when one of these elves develops a crush on a competitor? Is he worth it? Where is his heart in all of this?
Humorous, diversely represented cast, and fast-paced competitive story of friendship-to-romance, holiday tropes and commercialism, and some heartfelt moments for readers to feel sympathetic towards the characters; This is definitely not David Valdes' first foray into Christmas stories and this is another fun one to add to his collection.
Humorous, diversely represented cast, and fast-paced competitive story of friendship-to-romance, holiday tropes and commercialism, and some heartfelt moments for readers to feel sympathetic towards the characters; This is definitely not David Valdes' first foray into Christmas stories and this is another fun one to add to his collection.
January 29, 2026
This was a cute Christmas time romance book; I think I would have liked it a little more if I read it close to Christmas. The book wasn’t bad, it was a slow burn, and it ended in a touching way. I will say Cam was a hard character to like, there were moments when I was with him, and others where he was an annoying stereotype. I would forget that Cam was Cuban, the author could have incorporated his culture a bit more rather than the random tia word here and there. I loved Marco, he was my favorite character, as I was reading *spoiler* I got worried that Marco was playing Cam to win the contest. Cam was jerk and broke Leroy’s heart which led him to hold a grudge so I can understand him being a jerk and trying to sabotage things, but he basically cheated on his boyfriend, not cool! Cam was unbearable at times, but he was young and he needed a good guy to be there for him and be a support system so I can forgive his character flaws at the end.
Overall, it’s a solid 4, at face value it’s a sweet story, although it was not totally my speed and vibe. I did appreciate the buildup and made me want to keep reading to see when Cam and Marco would become a thing. I chuckled at the random pop culture references, I’d say if you want a sweet story to read over the holidays this is your book.
Overall, it’s a solid 4, at face value it’s a sweet story, although it was not totally my speed and vibe. I did appreciate the buildup and made me want to keep reading to see when Cam and Marco would become a thing. I chuckled at the random pop culture references, I’d say if you want a sweet story to read over the holidays this is your book.
December 26, 2024
A sweet G-rated story about a down on his luck and broke boy who desperately takes a job working as an Elf in his hometown mall’s Santaland. The job quickly turns into a reality show type of elimination game with daily “Elf Challenges.” Along the way our protagonist rekindles a relationship with his ex, but then learns one of his fellow elfs, a very cute Latin boy, may want a romance with him too. All the while, he’s trying to keep a secret from his father about his disastrous first trimester at college.
I found this one to be charming and full of Christmas imagery and traditions.
I found this one to be charming and full of Christmas imagery and traditions.
December 20, 2025
This is such a sugary sweet Christmas romcom. I read it in one evening, it had me grinning and giggling. This is perfect if you enjoy snappy banter, seasonal sparkle, fizzy flirtation, all wrapped in queer joy.
The relationship between the mc and his dad is the sweetest thing ever, I'd really like to be adopted by him.
The relationship between the mc and his dad is the sweetest thing ever, I'd really like to be adopted by him.
December 19, 2024
The Christmas vibes in this book are absolute top tier!
I feel like the romance kind of appeared out of nowhere, like they didn't really interact until like 60ish% and then bam, they admit their feelings and get together? Would've liked more scenes of them interacting and seeing their connection deepen throughout the competition.
Although I have to say that by the end, they are very very cute🤭🥰🎄☃️🎁
I feel like the romance kind of appeared out of nowhere, like they didn't really interact until like 60ish% and then bam, they admit their feelings and get together? Would've liked more scenes of them interacting and seeing their connection deepen throughout the competition.
Although I have to say that by the end, they are very very cute🤭🥰🎄☃️🎁
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