The Christmas Fake

by Rachel Kaye

Falling for my fake boyfriend’s cousin wasn’t on my to-do list.

Love, lust, and chaos collide in the picturesque Christmas village of Greyport. As I struggle to make friends as an adult, a simple solution presents itself in the form of a fake relationship with the town’s hot mechanic, Harrison. But when I’m forced to spend time with his grumpy—and sexy—cousin, James, I realize that my plan may not be as simple as I thought.

James will do anything for his family, and I’m a threat to his orderly life. But as I push his buttons and get to know him, I discover there’s more to him than meets the eye. Despite his gruff exterior, he’s caring and protective, a true knight-in-shining-armor. Before I know it, I’m falling for him. But I’m forbidden fruit, and he’s all about the rules. Not to mention he’s too good for a hot mess like me.

When Harrison wants to make our fake relationship a reality, I know any chance of something real with James is doomed. He would never go for his cousin’s girl…or would he?

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday

359 pages, Paperback

Published October 23, 2024

About the author

Rachel writes small-town romantic comedies with plenty of steam and twice the heart. She is a reader first, writer second, and holds the principle of happily ever after as sacred. Rachel lives in Western New York with her bearded husband, two rambunctious children, a snuggly cat, and a one-eyed Chihuahua.

Rachel is also co-founder of Book & Brew Creative LLC, alongside fellow author Jennifer Aline.

Reviews

[Amber - Mood Readers Anonymous · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️💫 ARC Review

Emma has just moved to the small town of Greyport to try and make it on her own and take a step away from her overbearing parents. A few months in and she’s still struggling to make connections and friends, that is until she meets Harry. After a one night stand with Harry and a run in with his grumpy cousin, James, he convinces Emma to be his fake girlfriend through Christmas to show his cousin he doesn’t need to be a babied all the time. All of this in exchange he’ll help her make friends.

This book unfortunately wasn’t for me. I struggled connecting really with any of the main characters. The dialogue didn’t feel super natural. And the chemistry between the MMC and FMC just wasn’t there. My biggest struggle was the immaturity of the FMC who was described as brave, but was constantly insecure as soon as the MMC wasn’t physically with her. Emma’s big secret that she thought would change things between her and the love interest didn’t make sense as why it would be a reason someone would decide to not be with someone.

Thank you Pen Pal PR for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are completely my own.

[Jenni Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE CHRISTMAS FAKE was filled with fun banter, relatable characters, and SPICY scenes all in a small town that I would do anything to visit in real life! The first sentence is EPIC and Greyport Grinds is a coffee shop that must become a reality someday because my coffee-obsessed heart NEEDS it. Congrats to Rachel Kaye on her amazing debut! I can’t wait to read more from this author!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Romance

Spice:🌶️🌶️

Tropes:
Fake dating
He takes care of her while she's sick
Grumpy x Sunshine

Read if you like:
The movie While You Were Sleeping
Small town romance
A really good Hallmark movie

Review:
Emma's new to the small town of Greyport and is trying to make it on her own. After a few months, she's still struggling to make friends. As she works through her small town bucket list and sees a chance to check off her "say yes to everything" box, she finds she's become the fake girlfriend to Harry. Pretending to date Harry wouldn't be a problem if it wasn't for his cousin James.

This was a super cute romance, perfect for the winter season! I thought it was such a fun spin on the fake dating trope! I was absolutely hooked! I loved James and Emma's dynamic and the fun banter they had. I loved that Emma was also able to make real friends that liked her for her. Overall, this is a super fun wintry read!

Congratulations to Rachel Kaye on her debut! I can't wait to see what you do next! This is such a fun read for anyone looking for a sweet but spicy book to read this winter/Christmas!

Thank you so much to PenPal Pr and Rachel Kaye for ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Tracy Woodworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma is new in town, working at the library and working through her small town bucket list. After checking off “one night fling” from her list, Emma agrees to be Harrison’s fake girlfriend. His cousin James is not impressed. Pretending to date Harry would be great, if James weren’t so tempting! 🥵

While this is a “Christmas Story,” I love that it’s not holiday overload. I also loved the dual POV, knowing their tension was mutual, simmering just below the surface. 🔥🔥🔥

I enjoyed Harrison’s redemption story, and I hope the door is open for a real story of his own, he’s got lots of room for growth! 🤭

Jill and Kristi came through as beautiful friends, I adored how they supported Emma.✨✨

And finally, grand gesture! Swoon. 😍

Overall, I really enjoyed this cozy romance with the town, the characters, and the sprinkle of spice.

A huge thank you to Rachel Kaye and Pen Pal PR for the chance to read and review this ARC 💜!

[Sammi · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was so cute! the fake dating trope was definitely done differently since that isn’t the person she ends up with but i’m not mad about it because the story was so good! Emma and James were so much fun to read and the town is a place i wish was real because ya girl wants to be apart of it! and the don’t get me started on the found family aspect with her best friends!

[ilana · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. Unfortunately I didn’t love this. The writing felt young and out of place, the characters didn’t feel fully fleshed out, and the storyline made me mildly uncomfortable- fake dating the love interest’s cousin but they all kinda suck. I don’t think I’ll continue with this book at any point but I wouldn’t say it was BAD, just not for me.

[Reba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading a Christmas book in October and I am not mad about it! This book was super cute! Funny, adorable and all the things. Rachel Kaye is definitely gonna be a must be one click author for me. I’m gonna read this one again over the holidays just for the vibes 💕 Definitely 5 star read for me! Hard to put down. So glad I got an ARC copy of this one. And there’s gonna be more! I love Jill And cant wait for her story next! Bravo Rachel!

[Kelsi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

If you’re looking for a fake dating romance where the girl falls for the wrong guy… or just maybe the right guy for her then look no further than The Christmas Fake by Rachel Kaye. Emma is a young woman who is trying to make it on her own after a nearly fatal accident has set her life back in more ways than one. When she moved to a new town for a fresh start though she realizes that setting up roots in a small town may not be all it’s cracked up to be especially when she’s struggling to make friends but when a one night stand leads to an opportunity to connect with the town, and all she has to do is fake date her one night stand until Christmas so that he can prove to his family he’s more than some slouch. Unfortunately for Emma though that while her one night stand offered a fun experience… his cousin, James is the full package and Emma can’t seem to stay away from the reliable man with a gruff demeanor and a gooey center. James on the other hand had no plans for falling for his cousins “girlfriend” but when she blows into his life like an hurricane of warmth on a cold day how is a man suppose to stay away! I will say for me personally I struggled to connect with these characters. They all came off a bit immature and even childish in some instances. And sometimes it just felt like if they actually sat down and had real adult conversations then things wouldn’t have always been going side ways! On the other hand I really enjoyed the romance aspect of this book, the cute dates, the spice, the characters willingness to fight for what they wanted. So if you’re looking for a fake dating romance, with drama, spice and Christmas time fun then this is the book for you.

HAPPY READING 📖

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: The Christmas Fake
4/5 🌟
3/5 🌶

This is a Fake dating trope done with a twist! Emma and James end up together. However, she actually starts off making a deal with James' cousin Harry to "Fake date" in order for Harry to be taken seriously by his family. The entire time, James and Emma are fighting actual feelings for each other.

This book has all the micro tropes you can think of. Grumpy sexy carpenter, bubbly people pleaser new girl in town, Grey sweat pants, "he takes care of her while she's sick", and "good girl" micro tropes that I do love. James has a hero complex because he feels he has to take care of the people in his life. Emma is trying to navigate adulthood post-traumatic injuries. She has self-doubt of feeling behind in life as an adult not being good enough.

This book had great side characters, too! They played a huge part of why I liked the story, because they are the people that talk the FMC and MMC through all of their self doubt and issues that they couldn't work through on their own.

The spice takes off right from chapter 2. However, it's not with the MMC, and the first line of the book had me giggling from the get go! When James and Emma do finally get together, it's explosive!

Please check out this book for a cozy, funny, silly, and sexy christmas story.

[marts ⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you PenPal PR for the ARC!

You guys, I looooved this book, it’s the perfect read for the Christmastime! I must admit at the beginning I was a bit scared: the whole I fell in love with my fake boyfriend’s cousin called for a lot of drama and I wasn’t sure I could handle it. In the end, it was actually super fun and not bad at all!

James and Emma were a really nice couple and they communicated like adults. Even though James was the grumpiest of men and fucked up a bit, that’s fine. He was so pathetic that all is forgiven. I love when a man is so down bad for the woman he likes. And I loved that Emma stood her ground too. She was very clear with James about how he made her feel when he said something he shouldn’t have, and I love it for her after what she’s gone through!

I was sold on the setting and atmosphere as well, but that’s because I love small town romances. I also liked the side characters! Poor Harry, hopefully he will get his life together. Even though he lives with his head in the clouds, he was a sweet guy. Also! Jill’s book is next, so I guess is a safe bet to say her love interest will be Ben? 👀

Can’t wait!

[SamTheDesiBookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about Emma, a new girl in town struggling to make friends as she is an introvert as well as an adult and James, a caregiver cousin brother of Harry, Emma's fake boyfriend to whom she is very much attracted to, so much more than she could handle.

This book was so sweet.... at least till the first half of the book. The second half took an instant twist with way too many steamy moments poured out all at once, which I had a hard time coping with my mind, doesn't mean it was bad....just way too much info for my brain's hardwires to go haywire. Tho the author has me back to how I felt before in the ending.... honestly, a little teary too.

I enjoyed this book through and through, felt so happy as it kind of felt relatable, how an adult struggle to make new friends in a completely new surrounding...especially if it's an introvert. Even though I'm not totally introverted as I can interact with people but I don't get so close unless they let me, I feel hesitant or embarrassed to connect with people as friends initially, unless they adopt me themselves. This felt like reality .

The one character I loved and hated at the same time would be Harry....I mean gosh can he be anymore Harry!! That man was as annoying as hell, but as sweet as a Cotton candy as well....I hate him for making me feel this way, confused, as whether to love him or hate him. Overall an amazing read, though whoever wishes to read this...please be 18+ yrs old.

[julianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I think this was a pretty solid debut. I really liked that it was a twist on fake dating and was unlike anything I have read before. I started out feeling pretty unsure about it because while I get the author was trying to make James, the MMC grumpy, he honestly just came across as mean in the first interaction he had with Emma. He did get better as the book went on, but I just didn't vibe with this story as much as I wish I had. I don't necessarily think there is anything wrong with this book and I can definitely see how people could really like it, but it just was not for me. Some of the conflicts in the book felt a little too forced and at times the dialogue was a bit clunky (the sex scenes especially didn't flow right imo), but I do think Rachel has a solid career ahead of her and I would be interested in reading the rest of this series.

**Thank you to Rachel Kaye and Pen Pal PR for an ARC in exchange for an honest review**

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to PenPalPR and the author for the ARC!

(3.5 stars rounded up) This was a fun read! Greyport seems like such a cute little town and all the descriptions were so dreamy. When you think of a picturesque, small town Christmas, you’d probably picture a place like Greyport.

I enjoyed Emma & James’ connection and they seemed to complement each other very well. It was getting close to the miscommunication trope a few times (he thought he was too boring for her and she thought she wasn’t settled enough for him) but they were able to work it out. :) I liked the other characters as well and am hoping some of the introductions were sneak peeks at upcoming books in the series.

There were times James’ obsession with Emma as well as his dirty talk were a bit much for me. It just seemed to be too much too soon? That could have totally been a ‘me thing’ though.

Overall this was a cute read and I’m looking forward to more from this author!

[Britt Greenwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review!!!!!!! Get on this book TODAY! We all know the moment Halloween is over It’s time to start reading Christmas books! Emma has moved to a Hallmark esque small town for a fresh start! After a one night stand with the towns hot mechanic, she somehow finds herself fake dating him! Which is a big enough pickle to find yourself in, without the complication of the undeniable chemistry between her and the hot mechanics grumpy cousin, James.

I thought this book was fun because of the sweet friendships she makes, the swoony grand gestures, and I love anything involving a bucket list! It also has some cute Christmas themes to get you in the mood! This one is worth a read!

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Heartthrob: ❤️❤️❤️❤️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

[Payton Box · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel Kaye is a new author for me, and I loved this book and can’t wait to continue the series! It was so fun, to read a fake romance, and then end up in a storyline that was new to me for one of my favorite tropes. I loved the love triangle between James, Harry, and Emma, but like most love triangles, it was never really a love triangle.

Emma and Harry fall into bed and then into a fake relationship pretty rapidly, but in the end, Emma falls for James, and James falls for Emma, but they do try to stay away from each other for the length of the fake relationship, until they don’t. In some ways, Emma is so messy and I love her for it, because she isn’t hurting any one, and is mostly honest with everyone involved, just keeps making weird decisions.

James falls hard for Emma and I love how his feelings for her to change him into a better person who doesn’t sacrifice everything for his cousin and sister, and it’s a great change. James really grows into a man who learns to set boundaries and speak up for himself and it’s perfect to see! James and Emma have chemistry and it’s so strong, you can’t help but root for them! The spice hits just the right spot for this book, and while it isn’t necessary, I loved how the chemistry, spice, drama, and friendship really build into a wonderful book!

[Laura Twaroski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, new twist on the fake dating trope. While some of the characters started off juvenile, most showed substantial growth as their relationships/friendships were tested and evolved throughout the story.
The spice was spicy and the sass was strong. It was an eventful read and a good introduction to the holiday season!

Thanks to Pen Pal PR for the ARC!

[Karen Bauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cute story with 5/5 spice. I went into it knowing that it was a fake dating scenario, but it did bother me that at one point, everyone knew it was fake dating but they still all kept up the farce?

[Haley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from PenPal PR to review. This was a highly anticipated read for me from what I had previously been told about this book (cozy Christmas romance), but unfortunately it was relatively unremarkable to me. While I LOVED the idea of a twist on the fake dating aspect, there were parts of it that made the characters seem forced together and ingenuine. Granted, no plot would exist if there were no problems, but the ones for these specific characters were more miscommunication because they decided not to act like adults.

In summary, the book wasn't for me. There's plenty of spice if that's what you're here for, but the connection behind it did not ring true for me. I would definitely be interested in Rachel Kaye's future works, as I believe that she wrote well, especially for a debut!

Thank you Pen Pal PR for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are completely my own.

[Hallie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had an absolute blast reading The Christmas Fake. The dynamic between James and Emma was everything—I was grinning and giggling nearly every time they shared a scene. Emma, new to Greyport and fresh off an unsatisfying one-night stand, agrees to fake date the local mechanic, Harry. It’s a win-win for both of them: Harry gets to prove to his family that he’s responsible, and Emma gets a chance to meet new people and find her footing in town.

But then James enters the picture. He’s Harry’s grumpy (and very intriguing) cousin, and he’s Emma’s potential dream man—if only he didn’t believe she was dating Harry! Watching James and Emma dance around their off-the-charts chemistry was such a thrill. I loved how James would let his guard down and show a whole new side of himself when they were alone, and some of those moments? Let’s just say they were spicy in the best way!

This book was everything I want in a holiday romance—sweet, funny, and packed with great chemistry. Overall, I really enjoyed it and can’t think of a better way to kick off the holiday season!

[hannah rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

it lacked a lot of charm unfortunately :(

[Kari Byron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. It has the perfect Hallmark Christmas vibes with spice and tension! Emma is new in town and wants to make friends, so she starts a fake relationship with her one night stand Harry. Through their act she gets closer to his grumpy cousin James. Emma was a character I both liked and was annoyed with at first. But that’s her whole growth. She has some major trauma and has lost all confidence. Watching her grow into who she’s meant to be, and honestly was probably before her accident, was beautiful. I loved her so much. I feel like many woman will see parts of themselves in her. But James… Big, sexy, craftsman James…. He’s top-tier book husband. This man is a caretaker through and through. Every little thing he did made me melt. I won’t spoil the things, but if you like acts of service as a love language he’s your man. Even if you don’t you will question yourself if you do now after him. Highly recommend this book.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was like drinking a warm cup of hot chocolate on a snowy winter day! I thought James and Emma had such wonderful chemistry! Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes. I loved how it utilized it in the book! The fake dating trope reminded me a lot of the movie "While You Were Sleeping" (one of my favorite Christmas romcoms, starring Sandra Bullock) and was so much fun to read! I loved watching Emma and James fall for each other and I adored them learning to trust and open up to one another about their pasts and insecurities! I thought the sneaking around and shenanigans that followed made for such a fun story! The book was a perfect blend of the coziest vibes and steamiest moments that makes for a perfect read going into the holiday season!

[Lou Li Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello Greyport! And hello James, the grumpy but super hot cinnamon roll MMC. He is the ultimate caregiver and always putting others first. Emma is the Gorgeous FMC, starting afresh in Greyport. She finds herself in a fake relationship with Harry (James’s cousin) to help her make some new friends in town, but her budding attraction to James can’t be ignored. When lust turns to friendship and love for James and Emma, they have some difficult choices to make.
The banter in this book is beyond! Hilarious and pretty epic. Looking forward to reading this new series from Rachel, it’s a fabulous start!

I voluntarily reviewed a free advance copy of this book provided by the author. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review: This was such a fun story. I can definitely understand that feeling of moving to a brand new place and just trying to find a way to make friends and fit in. I don’t totally love the fake bf/gf trope, but the overall love story and HEA were so nice to follow. I love that James gave Emma that safety that she needed while also still allowing her to live and grow on her own without suffocating. Really enjoyed this book!

[Jessica Webber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a great book that was upbeat and positive and definitely has a Hallmark movie feel to it. It taught us about how to make friends and make connections with others as an adult. I really enjoyed James's character and the relationship that developed with Emma. I found him to be very masculine and protective of Emma and showed great care for her and all the people and his family in life after the loss of his mother. This was a book club book that I would not have normally chosen, however I really enjoyed it! Great read for the holiday season. I had the privilege of meeting the author Rachel Kaye in person in North Tonawanda, NY at a book Panel and I look forward to reading her next book on the Spring.

[Felicity · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ || The Christmas Fake by Rachel Kaye

Thank you, PenPal PR and Rachel Kaye, for allowing me to read this ARC! I loved the cover, and it was fun to get to read a Christmas/wintery romance early.

This book has many tropes and situations we see in some of the best romance novels: grumpy MMC, he falls first, he takes care of her when she's sick, she's a librarian, she's awkward but adorable, he's super protective and helpful, and she is an introvert.

Emma has just moved to a new town and is struggling to make friends because she is quite introverted (girl, same!). She ends up meeting Harry while getting her car fixed (their "meet cute" moment had me cackling). They have a one-night stand, and on her way out the next morning, Emma runs into Harry's cousin James (and they immediately get off on the wrong foot). James is tired of Harry's constant revolving door of girls and his general immaturity. To save face, Harry claims Emma as his girlfriend, saying he wants to show his family he is being more mature (no one understands the logic there). Emma agrees because she needs a social butterfly like Harry to help show her around town and help her make friends (all introverts need an extrovert to adopt them). In the meantime, James finds himself falling for his cousin's new girlfriend, and of course, that's where the story gets complicated.

I'll be honest, I really wanted to like this book, but it just didn't hit for me. 😭😭😭 I'm so sorry!! I ended up giving it 2.5 stars.

⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️Spoilers ahead ⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️


TThis is not the typical "fake dating" trope I am used to reading. Normally, the main characters don't get together until after the fake dating has been resolved or they are the ones faking it and then eventually it becomes real. That is not the case here. I really struggled with Emma and James getting together before Emma dealt with Harry and ended their fake dating. It just felt kind of sketchy to me. Almost that borderline of cheating and the added layer of lies turned me off hard. Harry was so clearly immature, to an irritating degree. And while yes, he may have a good heart, I can't imagine anyone thinking he was getting any better by simply dating Emma and genuinely not treating her very well. You could probably make a drinking game out of how many times Emma refers to Harry as a golden retriever. Show me, don't tell me. Or tell me once and let it drop.

There is also a major lack of depth to most of the characters. Jill hates Ben for no reason, with no explanation. I get that the author is likely setting up for another book in the series, but it made zero sense. Even just a hint of why would be nice! And we had the chance because other characters asked and yet Jill just pushed it aside and acted like a jerk about it. And what is with Kristi being clairvoyant or whatever? That just felt so odd and out of left field and again doesn't do anything for the story.


Overall, it was not a bad debut novel. I think personally I just didn't connect with Emma or James or any of the characters very well, so it felt very lackluster for me. But that is personal preference only!!!! I highly recommend you still give it a try yourself to see if you like it!!! ❤️

Also: it was also extremely steamy, which isn't a good or bad thing, just something to be aware of. As a personal preference, I tend to skip steamy parts in books, so I always like to know that going in.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

📕Book Review📕
This was my first book by @rachel.kaye.writes (thanks for the eARC @penpalpr !) and it’s always so fun to read the work of someone you’ve been chatting with for a long time (and who sends forearm photos- ahem). This book has all the things-mutual pining, banter, forearms, gray sweats, backwards hats, flannel, and my favorite microtrope that also involves pants.

Enemies to lovers can sometimes be a challenge for me and initially I struggled to connect to the FMC, but behold the power of dual POV and the reference of therapy—and spice. My goodness the spice. This was cute and fun and a nice little holiday romance, think hallmark movie but with ji$z in the pants.

👋 Therapist Take: you can tell the author understands the complexity of human relationships here and that’s obvious in the character development. I started off having a really strong opinion about both main characters and supporting characters and ended up feeling differently as the story unfolded. The FMC was pretty immature and at times her insecurities led to more passive aggressive behavior…here’s the thing though a lot of people don’t act their best when they are struggling. A lot of maturing for both FMC and MMC would be a plus, but the emotional intimacy and communication they had at the end improved so much so I felt they were well on their way. Grief sucks, caretaker burden and codependent enmeshment also can seem soul sucking. Wanting to stay safe and be included and accepted can look like other people validating your worst fears-that maybe you aren’t good enough…and then someone can find you and remind you that feelings aren’t always facts. This story had a lot of opportunities to think critically about better understanding yourself, choosing yourself and then letting that self be loved.

I remained entertained and wanted the characters to succeed. I saw someone comment about this being cheating-to that I will say: the FMC repeated herself several times to the man she was fake dating that this was more or less a symbiotic business transaction and that she was not and would not be dating him. I see no reason as to why she couldn’t begin dating the MMC. It was awkward and the timing not great, but almost all the Hallmark movies I enjoy have this type of feel.

[Kenzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC READER REVIEW -- This is my personal and honest opinion.

It was a fun and frothy Christmas RomCom, and as a Christmas lover I'll read a Christmas book any time. But I was really sad with my review, I was excited by the plot...but I just felt like it fell a little flat.

I want to start by saying that this book had a lot of potential, but there was just way too much going on. Too many tropes, and plot devices. It felt like there were a lot stories going on all at once. It was a little bit of grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers, sick/hurt/comfort, he was randomly a former collegiate hockey player, forbidden love, and obviously fake dating - just not the traditional kind.

---⚠️SPOILERS AHEAD READ AT YOUR OWN RISK⚠️---

I just didn't love the main cast of characters, nor was I enthralled by our side cast. Honestly I hated Harry. He irritated me the entire story, the cause of which is repeatedly stated by other characters in the book. Emma and James were frustrating. They would get better at communicating their needs and then immediately shut down again, at the slightest inconvenience. There was very little character depth for the majority of the cast. Especially for Kristi and Jill -- Jill who hates James's best friend Ben with no explanation, was a lead in for the next book in the series but a little more background would've been nice. Kristi being randomly clairvoyant also didn't really add anything to the story; arguably she's just observant.

Additionally, Emma and James went from normal interactions to spice so fast. It was at the turn of dime to the point where I felt like I had whiplash throughout this entire book. I also personally felt like the fake dating between Emma and Harry went on for too long, and that the chemistry was insanely obvious, and that Harry is about as observant as a brick wall.

Overall, I just didn't really resonate with either the MMC or FMC. I had high hopes, and it just fell a little short for me. To reiterate, solid plot, a LOT of potential just a little busy for my taste.

[Elle · Rating 2 out of 5]

💭 First Impressions: I was first drawn to this book because of the adorable holiday cover. The holiday season from October - December is my favorite time of year.

🌟 What I Loved: I really loved the personal growth each of the main characters had by the end of the book. They were both people pleasers to their friends and family, and had to learn how to put their own dreams and aspirations first.

📚 The Plot: This book follows the main characters James and Emma in the smalltown village of Greyport. Emma is new to town and is desparate to make friends, so she agrees to a fake dating ploy with an effort to get to know the townspeople. James is basically like the unofficial mayor of the town - everyone knows him and thinks he’s a great guy who has always taken care of the villagers. Although Emma and James have chemistry (hate chemistry?), she’s dug herself a hole with this fake dating ploy, with none other than James’s cousin. Yikes.

🤔 What Could Be Better: Although I really enjoyed the slow burn between James and Emma, there were a few holes in the plot that made the story fall a little short. For example, one of Emma’s main goals for the fake dating ploy was to make friends, but I felt like it wasn’t prioritized later in the book. Also, there was one point where Emma goes into her apartment at the end of a chapter, and then at the beginning of the next chapter there’s a whole storyline about how she lost her house keys. That didn’t make much sense to me, but this could have easily been an editing error.

Final Thoughts: Overall, I would recommend this book if you’re looking for a light-hearted holiday read to ease into the upcoming season. I think fans of Hallmark Holiday movies would enjoy this book! If you enjoy reading author’s debut books, give this one a chance!


💌 Big thanks to PenPal PR for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Simply Chique Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Rachel Kaye and Pen Pal PR for sending me the eARC of The Christmas Fake! 🎄❤️ The book releases on 10/29/24 and you should definitely add it to your TBR! ❄️

Tropes:
✨Not a meet cute
✨Grumpy MMC
✨Introverted FMC
✨Fake Boyfriend’s cousin
✨Christmastime
✨Cozy small town
✨Romantic Comedy

Emma just moved to Greyport and started a job at the library running the community outreach program 📚. Emma brings her car into Canalside auto for some repairs (spicy Santa audiobook scene 🌶️🎅🏼😂) and ends up having a one night stand with the hot mechanic Harrison to check off an item on her bucket list. Emma thought it was only going to be a one night stand until Harrison informed her of a fake dating plan he had that would benefit both of them since Emma was looking to make new friends in town. As you will see Harrison doesn’t make a good fake boyfriend and Emma starts to notice his grumpy sexy lumberjack cousin James instead 😏. James is truly Emma’s knight-in-shinning-armor coming to her rescue time and time again in the book! During ice skating, creepy guy at the bar, when she’s sick, sending her thoughtful gifts and so much more!! 🥹🫶

“Everyone needs someone who would drop anything to take care of them.” 😭

Love the friendship the evolves with Emma, Jill and Kristi!

Cute a fun holiday read with hints of Christmas here and there with the Festival of Lights parade with all the local businesses having booths, picking out a Christmas tree, decorating and more!! ☃️

I also enjoyed the extended epilogue getting to see a glimpse in the future!