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A Picture Perfect Holiday
LGBT contemporaryPhotography club president Caleb loves football standout Christian Munez. He knows it's an old high school chestnut, but if being a cliche is wrong, he doesn't want to be right. They've been in school together since the fifth grade but having brothers on the same soccer team provides Caleb with a great opportunity to get to know Christian better. What he finds out - about Christian's home life and his future plans - could end his hopes forever. Or they might be the beginning of something wonderful.Caleb throws caution to the wind in A Picture Perfect Holiday.
46 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 21, 2011
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177 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
December 9, 2011
2.5 stars
Even if I'm the only one, I have to say: Sorry, no winner. It was better than the disappointing books I read previous to this one, but there were still some things not working for me. I never had the feeling of any chemistry between Caleb and Christian. There was more understanding between Erin and Caleb:) On the one hand Christian wasn't able to acknowledge even to himself his attraction to Caleb and then, suddenly out of the blue he took action in the end of the book? Even if it was totally cute, for me it wasn't consistent. So, I couldn't relate to anyone in this story. I'm a fan of ZAM, I even think her "Crossing Borders" is the M/M book of all time, but this book didn't do it for me.
Even if I'm the only one, I have to say: Sorry, no winner. It was better than the disappointing books I read previous to this one, but there were still some things not working for me. I never had the feeling of any chemistry between Caleb and Christian. There was more understanding between Erin and Caleb:) On the one hand Christian wasn't able to acknowledge even to himself his attraction to Caleb and then, suddenly out of the blue he took action in the end of the book? Even if it was totally cute, for me it wasn't consistent. So, I couldn't relate to anyone in this story. I'm a fan of ZAM, I even think her "Crossing Borders" is the M/M book of all time, but this book didn't do it for me.
November 26, 2011
Absolutely adorable and cute and fun and made me feel snuggly and happy. Must read.
November 27, 2014
This story started strong for me - I enjoyed the rapport between Erin and Caleb, the history behind his crush on Christian, and thought that Maxfield did a fairly decent job of capturing all of the awkwardness that comes with being a teenager. I also appreciated that Maxfield wrote a story where you could clearly see how Caleb's crush coloured his perception of Christian, and how the reality of Christian fell short (in my eyes, if not in Caleb's). It was clever.
However, cleverness aside, as soon as Christian opened his mouth for the first time as a teenager, I didn't love him. In fact, he was kinda a dick (not aggressively, but passively). It was clear to me that he hadn't grown up to be the type of teenager that his younger self would have been proud of and - irrational or not - I resented this fact. I understand that teenage boys are complicated creatures, but I wanted back the sweet kid that didn't care what people thought of him. So, I was disappointed.
And then, just as Christian was making the Grand Gesture aimed at redeeming his character and melting my heart, the writing let me down. Christian did and said all the right things, but there was just something about that scene that left me wanting. Perhaps it was the inclusion of Erin's parents, which felt like an unnecessary intrusion; why bother including her parents in the book at all? I'd much rather have met Caleb's parents if I had to meet anyone. Or, perhaps Christian's father? It was a strange creative choice and I found it distracting.
But, in the end the two cute boys walk off hand in hand fearlessly, so I guess it's all good...?
However, cleverness aside, as soon as Christian opened his mouth for the first time as a teenager, I didn't love him. In fact, he was kinda a dick (not aggressively, but passively). It was clear to me that he hadn't grown up to be the type of teenager that his younger self would have been proud of and - irrational or not - I resented this fact. I understand that teenage boys are complicated creatures, but I wanted back the sweet kid that didn't care what people thought of him. So, I was disappointed.
And then, just as Christian was making the Grand Gesture aimed at redeeming his character and melting my heart, the writing let me down. Christian did and said all the right things, but there was just something about that scene that left me wanting. Perhaps it was the inclusion of Erin's parents, which felt like an unnecessary intrusion; why bother including her parents in the book at all? I'd much rather have met Caleb's parents if I had to meet anyone. Or, perhaps Christian's father? It was a strange creative choice and I found it distracting.
But, in the end the two cute boys walk off hand in hand fearlessly, so I guess it's all good...?
December 29, 2014
“Why’d you go and have to have a straight boy crush?”
“We all do. That’s how fairies get their wings.”
“I thought that was bells.”
“That’s angels. The first time a gay man falls for a straight guy and ignores the impulse to make an ass out of himself over it, a fairy earns her wings. That’s in The Bible.”
“And you go to church where again?”
“Cheesecake Factory.”
“That explains a lot.”
Beautifully written tear jerker...
“We all do. That’s how fairies get their wings.”
“I thought that was bells.”
“That’s angels. The first time a gay man falls for a straight guy and ignores the impulse to make an ass out of himself over it, a fairy earns her wings. That’s in The Bible.”
“And you go to church where again?”
“Cheesecake Factory.”
“That explains a lot.”
Beautifully written tear jerker...
July 12, 2012
This was a beautifully written, sweet story of first love. The dialogue was funny and sassy and the characters were vibrantly depicted. I would have rated it higher if it were longer or cheaper. $3 for a 30 minute read is too much to pay.
Originally posted on Amazon.com
Originally posted on Amazon.com
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December 15, 2013A nice Christmas novella, cute and good for a Young Adult target as well as for older readers. This is basically the story of Caleb’s first love, since he was 11 years old he was in love with Christian, but as in all unrequited love story, most of the teen love stories are, Christian is unattainable: he is their high school football team hero, the golden boy, the one who will have a bright future… or maybe not? When they are at their last year of high school, Caleb, an openly gay student, activist in many LGBT organization, with his plans for the future clear in mind, realizes that Christian is just another boy, who will attend community college to stay near his family and help manage his father’s restaurant; after high school their paths will divide, but not since Christian will shoot for the stars, but cause Caleb will be the one going for great things. But even if everyone around him is trying to convince Caleb he can have way better guys than Christian, Caleb is able to see things in Christian that no one understand, Christian is a good guy, maybe not so bookish clever, but with a big heart and with genuine feelings.
Good, nice and comfy story, like most Christmas novellas, it warms your heart and gives hope for the future.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006C776SE/?...
Good, nice and comfy story, like most Christmas novellas, it warms your heart and gives hope for the future.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006C776SE/?...
December 10, 2012
Ohhh, this is a good one. I don't know exactly why, but this one hit me just right.
Maxfield is another writer who knows how to string words together, so I am predisposed to enjoy her work. In this one, she tells us about an out and proud high school senior, Caleb, who has been in love with the school's straight football star, Christian, ever since they were in 5th grade together. Caleb has been doing all his crushing from afar, but just before the Christmas break he gets to know Christian a whoooole lot better.
I liked the gradual discovery of Christian's character, family pressures, and emotions here. There's a bit of a slam-bang reveal at the end, but mostly we learn about him piece by piece throughout the story. I don't quite believe that Christian could still have been *that* much of a blank slate to Caleb after so many years of pining for him, but I was willing to forget about that niggling detail while I was reading. Maxfield slowly builds our empathy for and understanding of Christian throughout the story, so by the time the big reveal comes around it's a very sweet scene and we are proud of him for what he's doing. A nice story.
Maxfield is another writer who knows how to string words together, so I am predisposed to enjoy her work. In this one, she tells us about an out and proud high school senior, Caleb, who has been in love with the school's straight football star, Christian, ever since they were in 5th grade together. Caleb has been doing all his crushing from afar, but just before the Christmas break he gets to know Christian a whoooole lot better.
I liked the gradual discovery of Christian's character, family pressures, and emotions here. There's a bit of a slam-bang reveal at the end, but mostly we learn about him piece by piece throughout the story. I don't quite believe that Christian could still have been *that* much of a blank slate to Caleb after so many years of pining for him, but I was willing to forget about that niggling detail while I was reading. Maxfield slowly builds our empathy for and understanding of Christian throughout the story, so by the time the big reveal comes around it's a very sweet scene and we are proud of him for what he's doing. A nice story.
November 24, 2011
ZAM and teens is always a winning combination ("Your family think you shit cream puffs"), and mooning Caleb is very sweet. Christian (interesting to see that what I think is a regular German name is clearly also a normal Mexican name) may be a bit rude at times, but I think has good and acceptable reasons for his reluctance to be out-and-proud. And I really admire him for putting his family so high up his list of what's important in his personal life. I like that Caleb doesn't actually try to change Christian's mind/plans, he just offers to be a "good, good friend", with real suggestions of help. And the end is just adorable and admirable, leaving me googling "tamale" while wondering just where along the line "caroling" had become such a very conservative pastime. At least on the face of it - despite the great marijuana scare Erin & Co turned out to be just great.
November 29, 2011
Caleb, oh my, just might be my newest favorite..out and proud in high school, unapologetically infatuated with the king of the football team, he is so funny and sweet. And a positive woman in aeronautic, his BFF, made it all even better. An adorable moment during church caroling with Christian made this book so lovely and perfectly Christmas.
December 27, 2014
It was short, fun and smartly written. And a great Holiday YA M/M Romance story.
December 25, 2011
Cute Christmas story.
December 31, 2020
This story was so cute. The characters are interesting and the storyline is good. Though it’s kinda cliche, gay nerd in love with the straight football jock, but I love Z. A. Maxfield’s style and flare of bringing characters together. I nearly cried at the end!
January 5, 2021
2.5 stars
January 29, 2021
Sweet, funny little holiday story.
TAGS
-- Holiday/Christmas -- secret crush -- sweet -- coming out -- likeable MCs... Caleb & Christian -- too short -- less than 50 pages
November 27, 2012
Read for the M/M Romance bingo challenge:
4.5 stars
This is a sweet coming of age story. We meet Caleb during his last winter break of high school, right before Christmas. He is a young gay man with his life in front of him, staring down adulthood, He is also a fine photographer and his forever peering at life through the lens makes him a keen observer. Caleb had come out some time ago and has faced all the ramifications of that decision. We meet him just as he comes to realize that he wants his due: respect, acceptance and the freedom to live a true life without fear. He’s almost done with high school but he’s more than over it’s social limitations.
Caleb also wants Christian Muñez, jock, star football player, and long-time acquaintance. He’s crushed on and yearned for Christian ever since an act of kindness some years earlier. Maybe Caleb’s learned how to reach out of adolescent awkwardness and ask for more. Only problem is Christian is straight. Or is he? Caleb learns that not everyone has it as well off as he. He learns how to reach out to a friend in need.
A Picture Perfect Holiday is charming and well written, never preachy or angst-y. Maxfield gives us a wonderful chapter in a young man’s growing awareness of self.
December 29, 2011
This story has a lot going for it. I enjoyed it for the most part.
That said, it did stretch credibility too often for me to rate it higher. I found it doubtful that the only place Christian could speak privately to Caleb was a boys' bathroom in a high school. I can't imagine anyone afraid of how he's perceived would pull an out-and-proud student in there in the middle of a school day so they could be alone, and that Christian wouldn't be aware of the ramifications.
And the Big Scene at the end:
I'll put this in a no big deal category, but it annoyed me: what's with all the twins? Okay, I can buy that Caleb and Christian both have twin brothers, but then Caleb sees another set of twins among the group of carolers? Just seems there are twins everywhere.
That said, it did stretch credibility too often for me to rate it higher. I found it doubtful that the only place Christian could speak privately to Caleb was a boys' bathroom in a high school. I can't imagine anyone afraid of how he's perceived would pull an out-and-proud student in there in the middle of a school day so they could be alone, and that Christian wouldn't be aware of the ramifications.
And the Big Scene at the end:
I'll put this in a no big deal category, but it annoyed me: what's with all the twins? Okay, I can buy that Caleb and Christian both have twin brothers, but then Caleb sees another set of twins among the group of carolers? Just seems there are twins everywhere.
December 11, 2011
There isn’t a sex scene in sight but the kissing scene at the end is one of the very best kissing scenes I’ve ever read. Christian rains tender kisses all over Caleb’s face eliciting an “ahhh” from any reader. This is a good short story, well worth picking up and spending the 45 minutes or so to read it and getting to know sweet Caleb and perhaps see the potential of the sulky Christian. The ending is almost an HFN and for angst-driven teenagers that’s sometimes as good as it gets. As Dan Savage’s project to give hope and understanding to gay teens says, “It Gets Better,” and I want that for Caleb and Christian.
See my full review at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index.... (Dec 18)
See my full review at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index.... (Dec 18)
January 1, 2015
An interesting investigation of the difficulties of coming out in High School.
Caleb has admired Christian since he defended him against school yard bullies in the 5th grade over his pink camera. Now seniors in High School Caleb is the out leader of the GSA and photographer for the school newspaper and year book. Both boys have younger twin siblings playing on the same soccer team and it is through these younger siblings that the older boys are drawn together. Christian now the star jock on the football team is afraid to admit his true feelings and the consequences that such an admission would have. What will it take to get Christian to admit his true feelings for Caleb?
Caleb has admired Christian since he defended him against school yard bullies in the 5th grade over his pink camera. Now seniors in High School Caleb is the out leader of the GSA and photographer for the school newspaper and year book. Both boys have younger twin siblings playing on the same soccer team and it is through these younger siblings that the older boys are drawn together. Christian now the star jock on the football team is afraid to admit his true feelings and the consequences that such an admission would have. What will it take to get Christian to admit his true feelings for Caleb?
March 4, 2013
I always feel like when I read a Z.A. Maxfield book, I'm never know what I am going to get, but it's going to be good. She's the Gary Oldman of writing. (Because Gary Oldman is in a lot of movies, he's always different, but always awesome).
This is a short, sweet, lovely story about two incredibly brave young men. What a sweetheart of a story.
I have officially reached maximum Maxfield (there is a pun there somewhere) saturation. I have nothing left of hers to read.
This is a short, sweet, lovely story about two incredibly brave young men. What a sweetheart of a story.
I have officially reached maximum Maxfield (there is a pun there somewhere) saturation. I have nothing left of hers to read.
November 24, 2011
While Caleb (and his crush over Christian) is endearing, I'm not feeling the same for his crush, Christian. He's a bit rude (me thinks) and well, I'm not supporting his avoidance towards Caleb either. HOWEVER, his excuse for their first kiss is cute, and it makes me smile. So I guess I have hope for the two young men :p
November 28, 2011
I really really liked this lovely short Christmas story about Caleb and Christian. I usually like ZA Maxfield's writing - St. Nachos is one of my MOST favorite series - and I was not disappointed here. It went in a totally different direction than I was expecting and the ending was very feel good!
November 28, 2011
I don't usually read young adult but this was a Z.A Maxfield story so I read it. Needless to say it was a cute short story, a story that puts a smile on your face when your done reading it and you say awww that was so such a sweet story.
December 19, 2011
ZAM does teenagers well - the sheer audacity of youth, heartbreaking uncertainties and smartass-ness. I adored Caleb and his friend Erin and Christian's reactions to Caleb were truthful, painful AND adorable. Another great story from Maxfield. Recommended.
December 5, 2011
I very nice christmas novella with a YA romance. Caleb has crushed on Christian for years and in this book he learns that maybe his fantasies aren't as unattainable as they might seem. I would love to if ZAM continues the story of Caleb and Christian.
December 19, 2011
cute and super sweet. No shmex. Its about young love :) It is well written but I was in the mood for a little bit more then a kiss beneath the mistletoe - I guess I was left wanting to know more or see more.
December 20, 2011
This was a really nice short story.... funny and heartwarming, just an overall nice read.
another reviewer mentioned the ending kiss and damn, it was one of the best kiss scenes i have read too.
another reviewer mentioned the ending kiss and damn, it was one of the best kiss scenes i have read too.
December 5, 2014
For a short story this was really good. With a little more development it could have been a really great book, as my only complaint is that things progressed too quickly and felt rushed. Still a great holiday short worth reading.
December 26, 2011
Good holiday m/m romance about a high school senior, president of the photography club, who has a crush on a straight football player.
November 23, 2011
Perfectly ZAM - cute, so so funny, and a great holiday story.
December 25, 2011
A perfect little ZAM Christmas sotry
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews