You Spin Me 'Round

by Felice Stevens

Forget the jelly doughnuts. Hanukkah's about to get spicy....
Benji Roth couldn't be happier. His bakery in the small town of Serenity, Pennsylvania is thriving, and he doesn’t even mind being the only Jewish person in town. Except when his cousin, Issac, comes to visit, of course. Everyone is friendly—well, almost everyone. Gorgeous Gil Navarro, the owner of the spice shop across the street, comes in every morning for a muffin but barely looks at him and never says a word.
Benji’s parents worry about him being alone, so Benji reassures them—he’s serious with his boyfriend, and they’re in love. One little problem; the boyfriend doesn’t exist. But it’s no big deal; a little white lie never hurt anyone. Besides, it makes them happy and takes the pressure off him. They’ll never know.
Then a Thanksgiving storm finds him and Gil stranded together and having dinner with strangers. Even stranger is the kiss they share later that night. And the next morning.
Gil is funny and charming and in the weeks following, Benji is falling head over heels with a real, potential love. Now his parents are pressuring him to come home for Hanukkah, but he’s hoping to spend the holidays with Gil.
Cue the parents showing up unexpectedly at his front door. And wanting very much to meet the boyfriend he’s been with for almost a year. Whose name is not Gil.
Uh-oh.
This is a 25,000 word novella

Genres: M M Romance, Holiday, Contemporary, Romance, Novella, Audiobook, Fiction

136 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 2, 2025

About the author

Felice Stevens writes romance because what is better than people falling in love? Her favorite part of a romance novel is that first kiss…sigh. She loves creating stories of hopes and dreams and happily ever afters. Her stories are character-driven, rich with the sights, sounds and flavors of New York City and filled with men who are sometimes deeply flawed but always real.

Felice writes M/M romance because she believes that everyone deserves a happily ever after. Having traveled all over the world, she can safely say that the universal language that unites people is love. Felice has written in a variety of sub-genres, including contemporary, paranormal and has a mystery series as well.

Felice is a two-time Lambda Literary Award nominee and the Lambda award-winner for Best Gay Romance for her book, The Ghost and Charlie Muir, as well as the e-Lit gold medal winner in romance for Broken Silence.

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 4 out of 5]

You Spin Me Round by Felice Stevens, is a sweet, stand alone, Hanukkah romance.

Benji Roth loves his life in Serenity, Pennsylvania. He owns his own bakery and it’s doing well. Before Benji came to Serenity, he was in a two year relationship that he ended up being very hurt by. He moved and started his dream bakery shortly afterwards. He hasn’t had a relationship since. Although he still has some resulting trust issues, he does miss having someone to share his life with.



Gil Navarro moved to Serenity several months ago and opened his own spice shop across the street from the bakery. Gil is a widower. Six years ago, he lost his husband and he hasn’t been able to get past his grief. He hoped that the new town would be good for him.



Every morning, Gil comes in to the bakery for a muffin and Benji tries his best to engage him in conversation. But Gil never makes eye contact and never speaks to him. Just gets his breakfast and leaves. But Benji is determined to find a way to break through to him.



Both Benji and Gil had plans for Thanksgiving but a terrible storm strands them in Serenity. They end up sharing dinner with a couple in town and Benji begins to see who Gil really is. A shared kiss changes everything. But, is Gil ready to open his heart again?



This was a super sweet, festive novella filled with all the descriptions of tasty Hanukkah treats. They made my mouth water. I loved the connection these two shared and was so happy to see them both let their pasts go and embrace their futures during such a wonderful time of year.

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

[Debra ~~ seriously slacking on her reviews ~~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This standalone holiday novella takes readers back to Serenity where Benji, the local bakery owner, has taken a liking to the quiet Gil, the owner of the spice shop across the street. Benji is determined to get to know Gil better even if Gil barely says a word. Gil is still mourning his husband and Benji is smarting from a bad breakup. Both are fairly new to town and Benji makes an effort to bring Gil out of his shell by introducing him to others in town, and finding ways to collaborate with him businesswise when a Thanksgiving storm cancels their plans and puts them in a position to finally get close.

This is a sweet, second chance story spanning several holidays and celebrations. Gil and Benji are a wonderful pair and are just finding their footing together when Benji's parents show up unexpectedly, hoping to meet his long-term boyfriend Ari. Oops! Gil's part in this had me laughing out loud.

This is a good pick for you if you're looking to cap off the holiday season with a quick, fun read, and if you're a regular reader you'll recognize some past MC's in some cameo appearances.

[Abigail Beckwith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here's Felice Steven's latest holiday romcom "You Spin Me 'Round."

["Forget the jelly doughnuts. Hanukkah's about to get spicy....

Benji Roth couldn't be happier. His bakery in the small town of Serenity, Pennsylvania is thriving, and he doesn’t even mind being the only Jewish person in town. Except when his cousin, Issac, comes to visit, of course. Everyone is friendly—well, almost everyone. Gorgeous Gil Navarro, the owner of the spice shop across the street, comes in every morning for a muffin but barely looks at him and never says a word.

Benji’s parents worry about him being alone, so Benji reassures them—he’s serious with his boyfriend, and they’re in love. One little problem; the boyfriend doesn’t exist. But it’s no big deal; a little white lie never hurt anyone. Besides, it makes them happy and takes the pressure off him. They’ll never know.

Then a Thanksgiving storm finds him and Gil stranded together and having dinner with strangers. Even stranger is the kiss they share later that night. And the next morning.

Gil is funny and charming and in the weeks following, Benji is falling head over heels with a real, potential love. Now his parents are pressuring him to come home for Hanukkah, but he’s hoping to spend the holidays with Gil.

Cue the parents showing up unexpectedly at his front door. And wanting very much to meet the boyfriend he’s been with for almost a year. Whose name is not Gil.

Uh-oh."]

This story seemed a little fast paced and not as smooth at it could have been, BUT it was all about second chances, taking chances. It was about love and trust and following your heart. They were sweeeeeet as hell and totally fit together.

Felice always writes amazing holiday romances, and this one didn't disappoint.

#gayromancereviews #grr #arcs #arcteammember
#youspinmeround #felicestevens #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

[The Word Nerd Reviews Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Felice Stevens’ You Spin Me 'Round is a novella filled to the brim with romance and family vibes. The romance between Benji and Gil warms the heart with a few little twists to keep it interesting. Benji is the owner of a bakery who finds himself in a tricky situation when he invents a fictional boyfriend primarily to appease his mother who frets that he is alone. However, when he begins to develop feelings for Gil, the owner of a spice shop across the road, things become tricky – what is he going to do with his fake boyfriend?? Despite this small hiccup, Benji and Gil’s romance is beautiful to observe.

The heart of this story is romance, but it also has a strong family vibe with both Benji and Gil’s families playing a prominent role. The backgrounds and dynamics of both families are very different and part of the tension in this story is the search for a middle ground.

Felice Stevens is one of my favourite authors with an engaging and heart plucking writing style, which always manages to captivate and send me into the world of her characters. Felice excels at creating deeply relatable and multi-dimensional characters who are often flawed yet endearing, making their journeys toward love and self-discovery compelling, keeping you invested in them long after the story is told.

You Spin Me ‘Round beautifully captures the essence of a holiday romance, of blending family expectations and traditions, and the joy of finding love that was there the whole time, but needed a gentle push. It was a beautiful read and a fantastic example of why Felice Stevens is one of my favourite authors.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun and sweet holiday romance, Benji and Gil are just so loveable and easy to root for and their sweet story was a wonderful way to wrap up my holiday reading!

Benji left his life in finance for a new start and now runs a successful Jewish bakery, he’s living his dream, loving his small town and the life he building for himself and notices the attractive but quiet man who runs a spice store nearby. Gil moved to town also looking for a new start but also to try to heal from the unexpected death of his husband. He isn’t looking for romance but he can’t help noticing the sweet baker. Gil also can’t resist his yummy muffins or Benji’s endearing self as he tries to make friends with Gil.

This is a lighthearted and sweet read and a lot of fun but does deal with some real emotions without being overly dramatic or angsty. As Gil becomes friends with Benji he opens his heart and learns that letting new people in and caring about someone new doesn’t mean he has to let go of the memories or love he had for his husband. Benji is the perfect man to show him he can allow love back into his life, he’s so full of life and goodness. It’s sweet to see these two fall for each other – it may be quick but it definitely feels real and meant to be. There’s great family moments, some great cameos from previous Felice characters, a ton of great food and spices and genuine love and happy feels!

[Ashley Carrillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A feel good story

I adored this book! It's short and sweet with some spice thrown in for good measure. I loved getting to know Benji and Gil and the unfolding of their love story. Gil has been through a tragedy and leaves his home for a quieter life to hide away with his grief and opens up a spice store. He hasn't lived for six years until he sets his eyes on Benji. Benji got out of a nasty relationship with a jerk and wanted to move away and start his own life his way and opened up a nice bakery in a small town. He doesn't really think about romance until he develops a crush on the man who runs the store across from him. He thinks it's one-sided, but what he doesn't know is that Gil has noticed him too, but he doesn't know how to move forward with his life. Together, they start to mend and heal and see that there can be a second chance if they let themselves take it. I swear I could have read another hundred or two pages of Gil and Benji but with the length of the book I loved what Felice was able to do with it and created two lovely characters and took us back to some past couples from her other books! That was such a nice touch, and I squealed when Levi, Isaac, Bryce, and Matty popped up! It's a definite feel-good holiday story that's just as good to be read even when it's not the holidays

[Bill Bottomley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy. This review is submitted voluntarily.

Benji Roth loves owning Zis bakery, a place that specializes, though not exclusively, in Jewish treats. He has developed a crush on Gil Navarro, the owner of the spice store across the street from his bakery. However, it doesn’t seem like Gil returns the crush since he comes in every day to buy a muffin and rushing back to his store. Both men have sad backstories: Benji was humiliated by his last boyfriend and Gil’s husband died in a car crash. It doesn’t take long to find out that Gil actually also has a crush on Benji but he’s afraid that he would be betraying his late husband and that’s why he runs off every time he’s near Benji. Eventually, Gil overcomes his reticence and a romance develops. Benji has invented a boyfriend, Ari, to assuage his parents’ concern about him being lonely and their desire for him to return to New York City. The problem is that he has never told them that Gil is not a new boyfriend and that his name isn’t Ari. They go through a few rough times on their way to a happy ending.

I truly enjoyed this novella. Bearing in mind that this is a work of fiction, I found that I picked a certain amount of knowledge of Jewish traditions and customs, especially in terms of what foods they eat for Hannukah and Passover. I’m not quite so sure of how spices can be used but I’m looking forward to trying them. The main characters are quite delightful and devoted to each other (eventually). Benji has a habit of being sunshiny in almost all circumstances and Gil got over his grumpiness once he decided to court Benji. The secondary characters don’t make a lot of appearances but when they do, it’s to advance the plot. There are essentially no nasty characters. The storyline ticks along in a relatively straight line, with only a couple of diversions and a surprize late in the story.

This is a very easy story to recommend.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet short story about two lonely men who live in small town Serenity, Pennsylvania, and own stores on the opposite sides of the street.

Gill had been a happily married man but his husband died. For six years he has lived a lonely life keeping everyone at arms length. This hasn’t been difficult as he hasn’t met anyone that has made him feel anything. That is until Benji moves into the store opposite his spice store and opens a bakery specialising in Yiddish food.

Benji certainly makes Gill feel things but it unsettles him so much that he shuts down around Benji and comes over as rude. This doesn’t stop him coming in to Benji’s bakery every morning for a muffin and makes Benji determined to get him to talk to him.

Benji is nothing if not persistent but nothing seems to work and it’s not until a storm cancels all flights and Benji and Gill can’t make it home to their families for Thanksgiving, and end up spending the day with some kind neighbours that Gill finally lets down his defences and Benji reaps the benefits.

This was an enjoyable and heartwarming story based not just around Benji and Gill’s romance but around Hanukkah and all the different types of Yiddish foods Benji was making in his shop, with the help of Gill. There was also the problem of the fake boyfriend Ari that Benji had invented a year ago to get his mother off his back and his real life boyfriend Gill.

I love small town romances where everyone is accepting and looks out for everyone else and there are always interesting side characters, and there’s nothing I enjoy more than crossover stories and revisiting old and loved characters and in this book we get Matty and Bryce from Influenced and Isaac and Levi from Where You Are all making appearances.

[Bluemoonchild · Rating 4 out of 5]

[I received an advanced copy of this book. All reviews and ratings are my own.]

After being blindsided by an ex, Benji Roth relocated his entire life to the small Pennsylvania town of Serenity, reinventing himself from NYC finance bro (except, not really a bro) to small town baker. Being a little bit reluctant to trust anyone with his heart again hasn't stopped him from developing a massive, one-sided crush on his shop neighbor, Gil Navarro. Gil is hiding his own pain and his own reasons for refusing to risk his heart, but maybe Benji's crush isn't so one-sided after all.

A little forced proximity is all it takes for Gil to take a chance and Benji to jump with him. The leap from Gil's absolute inability to open his heart to he and Benji embarking on a relationship was a little abrupt - one minute he can barely speak to Benji and the next they're making out like teenagers. I beg you to suspend your disbelief a little bit and just let the magic of the romance happen. Because it is sweet and gentle and they are very good with and to each other.

Some shenanigans involving Benji's lie to his parents about a fake boyfriend is amusing, if a little unbelievable. But charming nonetheless. Overall, this is a cute, quick, feel-good read that's perfect for the holidays. So many books are about Christmas, and it is nice to read a book that is focused on Hannukah and the miraculous history of the holiday. The author did a wonderful job incorporating some history of the holiday, some Yiddish, and a plethora of baked goods.

[Shana W · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really sweet, low angst, feel-good romance between two very likable and relatable characters. Benji has opened a Jewish bakery in the small town of Serenity. He is warm and friendly, and he has been interested in his neighbour across the street for quite some time. He has some trust issues he must get over.  Gil owns the spice shop across the street. Although he is interested in Benji, he is having difficulty getting past his husband's death from 6 years before. Thanksgiving and a storm bring them together romantically. I love how they mesh; their interests in food and spices really link them together strongly. The foods they both make sound so delicious my mouth was watering! I was glad that the MCs didn't allow miscommunication to stretch out too long. I enjoyed the twist towards the end of the book and the resolution of the fake boyfriend plot. It was wonderful and refreshing to read a romance taking place during Hanukkah, and to have the traditions associated with the holiday so well explained. This is my first book by this author and I am looking forward to reading more books by her.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet men but not a long enough story

I have no problem with short stories or novellas, some of them being perfect in their brevity, telling a complete and satisfying story in less words than is usual for a book. Sometimes, the subject matter needs more words and this story falls in that category.
Benji and Gil were both lovely men and I wanted them to be happy together. They knew each other but there was no real interaction, no chemistry, then suddenly it all changed in the blink of an eye and they were in bed and in love. Gil is quiet and reserved for a heartbreaking reason so that just didn't ring true for me. Their story would have benefitted from a few more chapters to really get to know each other and for Gil to come to terms with his past and what could be his future.
There were also cameos from two couples who already have their own books. I haven't read those books but it was fairly obvious to me as soon as they were introduced that they were established characters. It didn't really spoil anything but I prefer to know if a book is interconnected with others before I make the choice to read it, and this book is presented as a standalone.

[Slick · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Felice Stevens takes us back to Serenity, Pennsylvania in this lovely holiday novella. I loved watching these two find their way to each other even though memories from the past kept creeping in to make them question what they were thinking and feeling.

Benji moves to Serenity to open up a bakery following a bad break-up and because he liked the town after visiting his cousin there. He’s fit in nicely in the small community and has a reputation for his tasty baked goods. He dreams of finding a partner who he can make a life with.

Gil owns a spice shop across the street from Benji’s bakery; still mourning his late husband after 6 years, he stays to himself and hasn’t made many friends in town. Both men have noticed one another and while Benji has tried to engage Gil in conversation it is usually mostly one sided. Both snowed in for Thanksgiving, they are invited to a friend’s home for the meal and begin to get to know one another better.

This was a sweet and heart-warming story of two people who deserved to find love and spanning several holidays made it all the sweeter.

[Siobhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

You Spin Me 'Round is a novella from Felice Stevens, and I was curious about the story due to how sweet it sounded. For the most part, I have enjoyed the author’s work, although I have not read a holiday story from them before. Unfortunately, for me, You Spin Me 'Round did not work quite as well as I had hoped.

While You Spin Me 'Round was a sweet story, I felt it was too quick for the aspects handled within the pages. Things happened quickly, too quickly, which meant the impact was lost in some places. This is fine with some stories, but the heavier topics handled within the pages needed to be explored in more depth to hit as hard as they could have. Thus, while this was sweet, it missed the mark to make it truly great. Therefore, this was a story I enjoyed, yet it never quite reached the level to have me loving it.

All in all, this was a decent read, yet it missed the mark to be great for me. I think a part of this reflects my feelings of heavy topics in novellas, so I am sure many will enjoy it more.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy, sweet, informative🔯

I really enjoyed this quick MM holiday romance between neighboring shopkeepers in small-town Pennsylvania. One's a widower who owns a spice shop , the other a baker who was badly burned by his last relationship and picked up his recipes and baking pans and relocated to start a new life with the Jewish bakery he's always wanted. They go from nodding acquaintances who can barely string a conversation together to a cozy companionship and complementary business partners in the run up to Hanukkah and New Year's. The angst level was way low, which I found quite nice for a holiday romance. One of the added features of the story that really set it apart was the explanation provided by the MCs of the origin of Hanukkah and the reason for and range of culinary treats related to the celebration: really nice, informative touch.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the story; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

[Manuela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book earlier today and it was an easy read for a day when you have nothing to do. I like that books by Felice Stevens have introduced me to the Jewish holidays and give a bit more insight to what is celebrated on those days. It is also very food oriented and I feel like I need to try and taste all those baked goods to taste for myself how yummy they are.
This is a novella so I didn't expect much into story development and so it jumps right into two stores opposite of each other and their store owners, who have noticed each other but haven't done anything yet. It's a book of second chances. Gil is a widower and Benji has been cheated on. Both retreated to a small town called Serenity ("Influenced", "Where you are") to lick their wounds. They are sweet together and I loved that the story wasn't stretched by lack of communication. There are characters from previous books and it all comes nicely together. I enjoyed reading it.



******I won this ARC ******

[Vols77 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read many Christmas holiday books this past month, but this one about Hanukkah was perfect holiday romance. Set is a sweet small town, Benji, the only Jewish man in town, runs his bakery and each morning, Gil, the spice shop owner, comes to get breakfast. Benji tries to engage him to no avail. And it is all Benji can do to keep his parents at bay who want his to find love, so much that he makes up a boyfriend. When Benji and Gil are thrown together during a storm for Thanksgiving dinner with friends, a small kiss awakens something. Both men had experienced heartache (Benji the break up with his boyfriend and Gil who's husband passed away) and neither thinks or believe that love is the cards of them. Fortunately, love knows otherwise and these two start spending time together and we see love has not given up on them. While understanding tentative initially, it was fun to watch this slow love develop. A feel good holiday read. I did receive an ARC and leave this honest review.

[Caroline Griffith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Benji and Gil are a fun pair of business owners who have more in common than they ever could imagine. Gil is still living a stagnant life after the loss of his husband. Benji is looking to escape the grasp his mother wants to have on his love life. But unexpected chemistry, a white lie and spirals and an unexpected connection that blows Benji's mind sets up a perfect holiday romance. Felice builds an awesome world in Serenity with great characters, backgrounds and dynamics. Benji and Gil go from strangers to apprehensive friends to terrified lovers. They begin to heat up the sheets and real dating begins it will infringe on a fake boyfriend, however some times you have found the one who can care for your heart when they are a perfect substitute the man your created in your brain. This was a great and quick read full of lots of love and some hurt that is healed and a beautiful HEA just in time for the last candle to be lit.

[Jack Harkness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spicy wasabi mix, Middle Eastern empanada, bimuelos, bourekas, roo-ga-latch

"Spin Me 'Round" by Felice Stevens is a Christmas/Hanukkah themed MM rom-com that's sure to delight. Ms. Stevens has crafted a true feel-good tale that's satisfying and enjoyable. Although you might become hungry with all the delicious food and bakery goods mentioned and described.

Benji owns a popular Jewish bakery and who's wanted a fresh start in a new place. Happy and sunshiney, Benji loves his small town, business, and customers. He can't figure out nearby spice shop owner, Gil. Gil is cordial but also is reticent, aloof bordering on unfriendly and not quite rude. Gil comes into the bakery everyday to buy a muffin, barely acknowledging Benji, brushing off Benji's attempts at conversation. Benji finds Gil handsome and would very much get to know Gil better.

I recommend this book very much.

[Megan McGrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Benji & Gil
A beautiful slow build to their connection and relationship. And then all of the sudden at Thanksgiving, they are just together. It felt a bit like being robbed of their awkward steps toward being together. I get that they were both crushing on the other, and felt something was between them, but it just seemed to have been a jump into things.
I was surprised in the About Me section for the author that Felice's favorite part of romance is the first kiss, since this book didn't really have one, at least not a significant one that felt like a shift in the MC's relationship. Benji & Gil just suddenly found themselves alone together and jumped on board. It was a tad disappointing, especially with the emotional buildup and backstory we were given about Gil. They deserved their HEA, no question, and they were a sweet and entertaining couple, I just was left a little off-kilter with the sudden direction of the story.
Overall, as with any Felice Stevens story I've read, I greatly enjoyed the characters and their story. I would happily read the story again for the holiday season and beyond.

I received an advance copy of this book and am volunteering my honest review.

[E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

“You Spin Me Round” by Felice Stevens centers around baker Benji, who would love to make a connection with his taciturn neighbor, Gil, who sells spices. Although things start progressing the way Benji would like, there is one tiny detail that will need to be resolved before the two of them can explore how truly complementary they are, and Hanukkah seems like it will be the perfect time…barring complications.

This adult gay contemporary romance novella is a perfect celebration of both the holidays and the fake boyfriend trope. This is one of those stories that makes you hungry even as you cheer for the progression of the romance, and I immediately liked Benji and cheered him on as he found the courage to go after what he wants. A sweet uplifting quick read.

A copy of this title was provided for review

[Angel_2822 · Rating 4 out of 5]

You Spin Me ‘Round by Felice Stevens is a sweet, warm, and cosy holiday romance. It’s set in the small, charming town of Serenity. Bemji is a cheerful baker starting fresh after heartbreak, and Gil is a spice shop owner still mourning the loss of his husband after six years. Theirs is a slow built relationship, with both of them hesitant to let someone new in their lives.

I loved how the story lovingly incorporates Jewish traditions and mouthwatering descriptions of Hannukkah treats. I spent every now and then looking for pictures and information about them in my laptop. I learnt a couple of things about Jewish traditions and I’m happy I did.

This is not a long book. I’ve read it in only one day. The story is sweet and heartfelt and I enjoyed it.

I received an ARC from GRR for free, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation. 

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a wonderful holiday romance. Both MC are Jewish and celebrating Hanukkah becomes a bonus part of the story.

Benji, owner of the bakery Zis, becomes fascinated with a customer who comes into the bakery each morning to buy a muffin. Shy Gil, to scared to ever talk to Benji, has some interesting feelings for him. Benji decides to get the mysterious Gil to talk to him no how much effort it takes.

Benji, it seems has invented a fake boyfriend to keep his mom off his back. As the story develops the fake boyfriend becomes an integral part of the story.

As always, the author quickly draws you in making it hard to put the story down. I would give this story 5 stars, as I enjoyed the interaction between the MC. A delightful story with a HEA.

Available on Amazon and other book sites. My review is based on an ARC copy I received from the author.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Stevens showed the vulnerabilities of both Beji and Gil beautifully. Gil the widower for six years and Benji the sufferer of a public rejection of his 2-year boyfriend. Benji left his lucrative job in NYC for the accepting atmosphere of Serenity PA to start his ideal career of a totally Jewish bakery (even though he's the only Jew in Serenity). He has a crush on a daily customer by the name of Gil, who's a very somber guy who only responds to Benji in monosyllables to Benji. An eventful snowstorm leads to these two getting together when Gil drives Benji home. Thus, the author creates good characters, heartwarming moments leading to searing chemistry, and letting any reader know that a person or persons need to get lost from previous hurts to find their future way forward to happiness in the present. I voluntarily accepted a copy of this book and this is a honest review.

[Alias11 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story, but it seemed too short and the relationship a bit abrupt to me. Benji is starting over after a bad break-up. He has a bakery in a new town, and he's fine alone...mostly, although he does have to fend off the concerns of his well-meaning family. He also might have a bit of a crush on his (business) neighbor who owns the spice shop, but Gil hardly speaks to him, even though he visits the bakery regularly. A little forced proximity, and suddenly the ice is broken, and the duo have a brewing relationship. It's sweet, and I enjoyed reading a holiday story that wasn't about Christmas, but it happened too fast for me. It felt like going from A to Z, but skipping all the relationship steps in between. It's a good story, but it could have delved deeper into forming the relationship.

I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

[Ro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the blurb regarding the the made-up boyfriend (Ari) that Benji developed to get his mom off his back about dating, the book really doesn’t focus on that so much as it does Gil and his hot/cold reactions to Benji.
Benji is a baker who moved away from his Jewish mama who just wanted him to “…come home, buy a condo near them in Delray Beach, find a nice Jewish guy, and get married.” Benji is all about finding the nice Jewish guy and getting married but moving back to Florida is not happening. He’s happy where he is, and happy operating his bakery, Zis, in Serenity. He has family there in the form of his cousin, Isaac, and friends. He’s still working on meeting the nice Jewish guy, but all in all, happy. Everyone is so friendly in Serenity, all except the owner of the spice store across the street. Gil comes into the bakery for muffins but never speaks and rarely even looks up.
Gil had been very happily married to Rob until six year before, when some drunken teens lost control of their car and killed his husband. He made it to the hospital with enough time to say I love you, and then Rob was gone. Gil left his home and relocated to Serenity because of memories and his families well-intentioned encouragement to start living again.
While Gil has major baggage due to tragedy, Benji has some in his own right due to humiliation. He has a career in finance, and a long-term boyfriend who “…publicly dumped him at the office holiday party by bringing another man he’d introduced as his fiancé.” You know, without letting Benji know they were actually no longer a couple.
Gil feels guilty that he is even looking at another man, and Benji is a little insecure. But Benji continues trying to be friendly and kind to Gil and honestly, sometimes I wondered how long you can keep that up with someone who can be rude and nearly always runs away. “If Gil wanted to be left along, that was what he was going to get.” Except really Benji isn’t made that way and so continues to be nice.
Slowly the two make progress on getting to know each other. There is a scene when Benji really surprised me and I thought he was absolutely in the wrong, especially since the two had only been even talking to each other for a few weeks. It was the one time I thought he was on the wrong track. The issue of the fake boyfriend with his parents has a coincidence that made me roll my eyes, but his parents are lovely.
This is a sweet, fairly angst-free holiday story. There are some great descriptions of Jewish holiday foods that will make your mouth water.
Reviewed for Love Bytes Reviews

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The blurb for this book sounded like a lot of fun, but the book itself felt half-baked. Part of that, no doubt, was that I didn't realize it was a short novella. So when I was thinking the story was about to get going, it was over. On the other hand, I nearly noped out partway through, because the relationship seemed so unbelievable and rushed.

Part of my reaction may simply indicate that this isn't the author for me. But I also tend to think that a story about a widower reaching the point where he's able to love a second time isn't novella fodder. I think this story needed a lot more space to grow for it to have worked.

My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for an advance copy of this book.

[Suzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

You Spin Me ‘Round is a Christmas/Hanukka, small town Novella. Benji Roth loves his bakery in the small town of Serenity, Pennsylvania. Everyone in his town is friendly with the exception of his neighbor Gil Navarro who is the owner of the spice store across the street, He came to the bakery every morning but Benji is never able to get him to talk with him, maybe next time!! Gil Navarro wants to be alone, he owned a spice store that is part of his family business. He is flustered by his feelings for his neighbor across the street, there’s something about Benji that makes him go to his bakery every morning, he don’t want to move on but his heart beats a little too fast every time he sees Benji. I like this novella so much a second chance to find love again and so many gummy sweet! I love how the story develops, Benji and Gil deserve a HEA!

[C.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rooting for Gil and his first step! Benji, is happy with his bakery He is content with his life, he just needs to find his way out of the lie he told his family about his fake boyfriend Ari. Gil, has his spice shop and is living day by day. Then he starts going to Benji's bakery to pick up his 1 muffin, each day. After 6 years he's still struggling with the death of his beloved husband and afraid to put his foot out and take the first step. Both men are struggling to move beyond their pasts. Interesting story of how Gil and Benji get beyond their romantic trauma. I loved the inclusion of the Jewish customs, but I didn't understand the context. When talking about food, recipes would be good. Nicely done. I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[L H · Rating 4 out of 5]

​Although Benji relocated to a small town in Pennsylvania and he may be the only one in one way but he is not alone in other ways. Gil, the attractive shop owner next door, also moved to the town in search of a new start. They are both grieving relationships that came to an end, although in different ways. Both are building something as they move and neither is looking for a new romance but isn't there something neat about finding it right next door? I also liked that they saw each other around for a while before the opportunity to get together presented itself to them. Gil was a frequent customer - I really wanted to visit a bakery after reading this!
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cherdene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my read on the way back from vacation. I must admit I fell asleep during the long flight, on waking I continued to read and realized somewhere i missed the whole story about Benj and Gil. 😁.
This prompt me to go way back to the beginning, and if I hadn't I would have missed so much of the plot.

I was do inadmered with these two characters and their dynamic, they were so uplifting that I felt I knew them personally.
The way the author writes, it keeps you in the mindset that you are watching their life played out right before your eyes. I like that feeling.
Another thing, the author really knows how to wet a person's appetite while reading...🤣🤣🤣🤣

I enjoy reading this novella and look forward to the continuing saga in a little town call Serenity.