What do you think?
Rate this book
Set the Record Straight: A Holiday Novella
The day Clara started her new (dream) job as an assistant to her photography idol, she was met with an assumption that caught her off guard and stunned her silent. Suddenly, she has to bring a girlfriend to the gallery's opening in a few weeks—all because she choked up and failed to correct her boss that she is, in fact, straight.
Evan was recently dumped by her fellow teacher fiancee for a mutual coworker and is still trying to figure out where it all went wrong. So when she gets the news the happy new couple will be hosting the staff's holiday party—she feels utterly horrified by her single status and looks for a quick solution.
Together, these two lifelong friends make a plan to get through the gallery opening and holiday party by pretending to date one another. Easy . . . right?
That is until Clara starts developing real feelings for Evan, shocking herself. All the while Evan realizes that perhaps pretending to date your straight best friend, who you've had a crush on for half your life—isn't the best idea.
Evan was recently dumped by her fellow teacher fiancee for a mutual coworker and is still trying to figure out where it all went wrong. So when she gets the news the happy new couple will be hosting the staff's holiday party—she feels utterly horrified by her single status and looks for a quick solution.
Together, these two lifelong friends make a plan to get through the gallery opening and holiday party by pretending to date one another. Easy . . . right?
That is until Clara starts developing real feelings for Evan, shocking herself. All the while Evan realizes that perhaps pretending to date your straight best friend, who you've had a crush on for half your life—isn't the best idea.
Audible Audio
First published December 20, 2022
427 people are currently reading
16501 people want to read
About the author
Hannah Bonam-Young
18 books10.1k followersHannah is an Amazon bestselling romance author from Ontario, Canada. She lives with her childhood-friend-turned-husband Ben, two kids, and bulldog near Niagara Falls on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples.
Hannah writes romances featuring a cast of diverse, disabled, marginalized, and LGBTQIA+ folks wherein swoon-worthy storylines blend with the beautiful, messy, and challenging realities of life.
When not reading or writing romance you can find her having living-room dance parties with her kids or planning any occasion that warrants a cheese board.
Hannah writes romances featuring a cast of diverse, disabled, marginalized, and LGBTQIA+ folks wherein swoon-worthy storylines blend with the beautiful, messy, and challenging realities of life.
When not reading or writing romance you can find her having living-room dance parties with her kids or planning any occasion that warrants a cheese board.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,400 reviews
December 29, 2023
Just a fluffy and cute read :-) no third act break up and really no major conflict either
December 13, 2022
Authors Note:
Dear Reader,
I wrote Set The Record Straight to celebrate queer joy around the Holiday season. It is a happy, hopeful, fluffy, sweet read about two women finding love. However, there are some plot points that I felt it best to share before you proceed.
Trigger Warnings: Homophobia, familial estrangement, mentions of religious oppression, and anxiety.
Evan's family kicked her out and have not been in contact since she came out to them at eighteen. They are religious, and use their religion as an excuse for their cruelty. They do not make a reappearance in this book in any capacity. They do not get a redemption arc. However, it is discussed in relation to Evan's feelings, emotions, and memories a few times throughout. Clara's parents are also religious, but are incredibly welcoming of the couple and entirely supportive. There is no homophobia in the story in present happenings.
The reality is that for many of us in the 2SLGTBQIA+ community, the holiday season is difficult. Not all of us can go home. Not all of us can be our full, authentic selves around family. I wanted to write a story that reflected this alongside the hope and fulfillment of finding your own person to build a life and future with.
Lastly, Clara has diagnosed ADHD and Evan is Autistic. As it is in any stories I write, if I do not have direct experience with sensitive subject matter- sensitivity readers are employed to ensure accuracy and positive representation.
Clara and Evan are so special to me. I hope you love them.
Happy Holidays,
Hannah
Dear Reader,
I wrote Set The Record Straight to celebrate queer joy around the Holiday season. It is a happy, hopeful, fluffy, sweet read about two women finding love. However, there are some plot points that I felt it best to share before you proceed.
Trigger Warnings: Homophobia, familial estrangement, mentions of religious oppression, and anxiety.
Evan's family kicked her out and have not been in contact since she came out to them at eighteen. They are religious, and use their religion as an excuse for their cruelty. They do not make a reappearance in this book in any capacity. They do not get a redemption arc. However, it is discussed in relation to Evan's feelings, emotions, and memories a few times throughout. Clara's parents are also religious, but are incredibly welcoming of the couple and entirely supportive. There is no homophobia in the story in present happenings.
The reality is that for many of us in the 2SLGTBQIA+ community, the holiday season is difficult. Not all of us can go home. Not all of us can be our full, authentic selves around family. I wanted to write a story that reflected this alongside the hope and fulfillment of finding your own person to build a life and future with.
Lastly, Clara has diagnosed ADHD and Evan is Autistic. As it is in any stories I write, if I do not have direct experience with sensitive subject matter- sensitivity readers are employed to ensure accuracy and positive representation.
Clara and Evan are so special to me. I hope you love them.
Happy Holidays,
Hannah
December 2, 2024
Nope. This is just too cringe for me. DNF @58%
Just setting up my holiday reads... don't mind me. 🎄🤭
╰⪼ 🎅Fake Dating
╰⪼ 🦌Holiday Spirit
╰⪼ ❄️Found Family
╰⪼ 🎅Open Door Spice
╰⪼ 🦌Childhood Friends
╰⪼ ❄️No Third-Act Break-Up
╰⪼ 🎅Neuro-Diverse MC's
╰⪼ 🦌Bisexual Awakening
╰⪼ ❄️LGBTQ
╰⪼ 🎅Fake Dating
╰⪼ 🦌Holiday Spirit
╰⪼ ❄️Found Family
╰⪼ 🎅Open Door Spice
╰⪼ 🦌Childhood Friends
╰⪼ ❄️No Third-Act Break-Up
╰⪼ 🎅Neuro-Diverse MC's
╰⪼ 🦌Bisexual Awakening
╰⪼ ❄️LGBTQ
December 27, 2023
Not really in the mood to review and I also think I’m burnt out on holiday romances but a few things to mention:
* This could’ve benefitted from being a full length novel
* It went from entering a fake relationship to a real one within the span of a chapter or two? No.
* Fake dating should have tension, right? Because none existed between the two
* I didn’t feel the weight of their friendship
* I wanted parts of their past to have been included. So, a flashback scene or two would’ve been nice
* Though it’s dual POV, the voices didn’t feel distinct enough
* I would’ve liked Evan’s trauma to have been explored more. Not only did she leave a long-term relationship after being cheated on, her parents disowned her, which had a major impact
Don’t get me wrong, this was adorable and sweet (almost two sweet?), with a good dose of spice and I loved the rep in here.
And usually with novellas, I understand things move quicker. But there was a lot in here that didn’t need to be. Or it should’ve been longer.
* This could’ve benefitted from being a full length novel
* It went from entering a fake relationship to a real one within the span of a chapter or two? No.
* Fake dating should have tension, right? Because none existed between the two
* I didn’t feel the weight of their friendship
* I wanted parts of their past to have been included. So, a flashback scene or two would’ve been nice
* Though it’s dual POV, the voices didn’t feel distinct enough
* I would’ve liked Evan’s trauma to have been explored more. Not only did she leave a long-term relationship after being cheated on, her parents disowned her, which had a major impact
Don’t get me wrong, this was adorable and sweet (almost two sweet?), with a good dose of spice and I loved the rep in here.
And usually with novellas, I understand things move quicker. But there was a lot in here that didn’t need to be. Or it should’ve been longer.
March 15, 2023
Giggling to myself, twirling my hair, kicking my feet.
Evan and Clara have been best friends since childhood. After a comment from her boss, Clara finds herself in need of a girlfriend. Evan’s former fiancée (and current coworker) is hosting a party with her new girlfriend. Feeling (rightfully) burnt, Evan concocts a plan with her best friend to pretend to date for their mutual benefit.
Clara had identified herself as “tragically straight,” so when her boss mistook her sexuality, I felt very icky about the direction the book SEEMED to be going. And then I was pleasantly (and gratefully) surprised by the respectful and genuine way the relationship developed. The plot was not what I thought it was; it was so much more.
The relationship between Clara and Evan was so tooth-achingly sweet. Both of them were respectful and communicative to each other, and despite the fast pace of the novella, we really got to see how much they cared for each other.
I cannot get over how hilarious this book was. I found myself laughing out loud (I’m not exaggerating) multiple different times. Hannah Bonam-Young is such a talented and skilled writer. I am so grateful to have discovered her, and I am patiently awaiting any and every future book she writes.
POV: dual, first
Spice Level: 4/5
Rating: 5/5
Evan and Clara have been best friends since childhood. After a comment from her boss, Clara finds herself in need of a girlfriend. Evan’s former fiancée (and current coworker) is hosting a party with her new girlfriend. Feeling (rightfully) burnt, Evan concocts a plan with her best friend to pretend to date for their mutual benefit.
Clara had identified herself as “tragically straight,” so when her boss mistook her sexuality, I felt very icky about the direction the book SEEMED to be going. And then I was pleasantly (and gratefully) surprised by the respectful and genuine way the relationship developed. The plot was not what I thought it was; it was so much more.
The relationship between Clara and Evan was so tooth-achingly sweet. Both of them were respectful and communicative to each other, and despite the fast pace of the novella, we really got to see how much they cared for each other.
I cannot get over how hilarious this book was. I found myself laughing out loud (I’m not exaggerating) multiple different times. Hannah Bonam-Young is such a talented and skilled writer. I am so grateful to have discovered her, and I am patiently awaiting any and every future book she writes.
POV: dual, first
Spice Level: 4/5
Rating: 5/5
August 11, 2024
4 ⭐️ This was super fucking cute!
"I'm not sure what's going on with me. But I think I like it."
"Kissing girls?"
"Kissing you."
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ sapphic holiday romance
✨ childhood friends to lovers
✨ fake dating
✨ 3 🌶️ (open door/explicit)
✨ fluff and spice
✨ found family
✨ no third act breakup
✨ HEA
✨ neurodivergent rep - ADHD and autism
✨ demisexual rep
✨ Trigger warnings: homophobia, familial estrangement, mentions of religious oppression, dealing with cheating ex, and anxiety
My Thoughts:
After reading and loving Out On A Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young, I knew I had to read more of her work, starting with Set The Record Straight. I'm happy to report that it was such a wonderful, heartwarming story that's easily become one of my favorite holiday romances.
I love the FMCs, Clara and Evan. They were characterized so well with such developed backgrounds and personalities that I can hardly believe I read a 200 page novella. I enjoyed seeing how Evan navigated her struggles - dealing with an ex and familial estrangement, and how Clara realizes her attraction/feelings for Evan go way beyond friendship. And what I love most is how they handled everything together. 🫶
Also, the ADHD (Clara) and Autistic (Evan) representation was wonderfully done!
The fake-dating plot was a lot of fun. While I usually don't 'believe' friends to lovers, this was 100% believable because Clara is a late bloomer and didn't realize she was gay until she started to pretend. I also was a fan that the fake-dating transitioned to real dating pretty quick, so there wasn't a lot of angst in this story. Clara and Evan openly communicated and supported one another, making their relationship incredibly healthy and peaceful to watch unfold.
Clara's parents also have my whole heart. They're just adorable, sweet, and fun, and I love that they truly love and support their daughter AND Evan. 🫶
Favorite Quotes:
Clara was special. Is special. She's a mosaic of a person. So many differing, unique elements that create one perfect thing. A little chaotic and a whole lot of mess involved - but beautiful all the same.
_______
"I think I might be gay."
"Based on recent events," she teases, "I have to agree."
_______
If I had to pinpoint it - if I was asked at this exact moment - I'd say my sexuality is the corner of Evan's lips. It's the gasps she makes that act as a windstorm in my chest. It's the space between her fingers where I fit better than anywhere else. It's all instinct here. Intuition. And I've been waiting my whole life for this rush. So I'm not questioning it anymore.
_______
I actually have a really good feeling that this could have been the first day of waking up next to the love of my life.
_______
"I'd spent my life as a half, and now I'm whole. Like I've been sleeping so long under a haze - an illusion of comfort - then you came in. Sunshine and golden rays of light. And you made everything brighter."
_______
"I actually thought there were only two kinds of love before. That it was just love like your family or romantic love. But I think there may be hundreds of kinds. Love like a new lease on life. Love like a place to exist freely. Love like being understood. Love like the contented quiet. Love like freshly baked cookies. Love like a thin veil between wishing it'd started earlier and loving the way it began."
_______
"I'm not sure what's going on with me. But I think I like it."
"Kissing girls?"
"Kissing you."
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ sapphic holiday romance
✨ childhood friends to lovers
✨ fake dating
✨ 3 🌶️ (open door/explicit)
✨ fluff and spice
✨ found family
✨ no third act breakup
✨ HEA
✨ neurodivergent rep - ADHD and autism
✨ demisexual rep
✨ Trigger warnings: homophobia, familial estrangement, mentions of religious oppression, dealing with cheating ex, and anxiety
My Thoughts:
After reading and loving Out On A Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young, I knew I had to read more of her work, starting with Set The Record Straight. I'm happy to report that it was such a wonderful, heartwarming story that's easily become one of my favorite holiday romances.
I love the FMCs, Clara and Evan. They were characterized so well with such developed backgrounds and personalities that I can hardly believe I read a 200 page novella. I enjoyed seeing how Evan navigated her struggles - dealing with an ex and familial estrangement, and how Clara realizes her attraction/feelings for Evan go way beyond friendship. And what I love most is how they handled everything together. 🫶
Also, the ADHD (Clara) and Autistic (Evan) representation was wonderfully done!
The fake-dating plot was a lot of fun. While I usually don't 'believe' friends to lovers, this was 100% believable because Clara is a late bloomer and didn't realize she was gay until she started to pretend. I also was a fan that the fake-dating transitioned to real dating pretty quick, so there wasn't a lot of angst in this story. Clara and Evan openly communicated and supported one another, making their relationship incredibly healthy and peaceful to watch unfold.
Clara's parents also have my whole heart. They're just adorable, sweet, and fun, and I love that they truly love and support their daughter AND Evan. 🫶
Favorite Quotes:
Clara was special. Is special. She's a mosaic of a person. So many differing, unique elements that create one perfect thing. A little chaotic and a whole lot of mess involved - but beautiful all the same.
_______
"I think I might be gay."
"Based on recent events," she teases, "I have to agree."
_______
If I had to pinpoint it - if I was asked at this exact moment - I'd say my sexuality is the corner of Evan's lips. It's the gasps she makes that act as a windstorm in my chest. It's the space between her fingers where I fit better than anywhere else. It's all instinct here. Intuition. And I've been waiting my whole life for this rush. So I'm not questioning it anymore.
_______
I actually have a really good feeling that this could have been the first day of waking up next to the love of my life.
_______
"I'd spent my life as a half, and now I'm whole. Like I've been sleeping so long under a haze - an illusion of comfort - then you came in. Sunshine and golden rays of light. And you made everything brighter."
_______
"I actually thought there were only two kinds of love before. That it was just love like your family or romantic love. But I think there may be hundreds of kinds. Love like a new lease on life. Love like a place to exist freely. Love like being understood. Love like the contented quiet. Love like freshly baked cookies. Love like a thin veil between wishing it'd started earlier and loving the way it began."
_______
November 26, 2023
This was way too insta for my tastes, even with this being a novella. It was pretty much over after 75 pages and was all fluff from there.
It was cute enough but I found the “friends to lovers” aspect a little hard to swallow. They hadn’t been much of friends in 9 years but all of a sudden they were in love.
But if you’re looking for an easy fluffy Christmas read and don’t mind instalove, you’ll probably like this.
It was cute enough but I found the “friends to lovers” aspect a little hard to swallow. They hadn’t been much of friends in 9 years but all of a sudden they were in love.
But if you’re looking for an easy fluffy Christmas read and don’t mind instalove, you’ll probably like this.
January 22, 2025
➥ 3 Stars *:･ﾟ✧
This was...nice! Like I'm sure many others do, I appreciate this didn't shy from being a steamy festive novella, but I don't think childhood friends to lovers is the best premise for a lil ol' novella.
Evan and Clara's voices weren't very distinctive, and although the fake-dating concept was fun and decently executed, the narrative relied too heavily on their friendship/relationship from their youth.
They're meant to know each other so well but I wasn't quite seeing the chemistry. The characters were a bit bland, and it felt like the author overpromised.
We as the readers are meant to nod along to the supposed fact that these two women are just meant to be, but there's little effort put into really making us believe it, ultimately making it feel insta-lovey. More corny than intimate.
There's a tonne of emphasis also placed on Evan being estranged from her parents but it feels like trying to fit such a delicate topic into a novella is doing it a disservice. It's true that the holidays aren't a jolly lighthearted time for everyone, but it felt like once they were in their hometown Evan was in turmoil the whole time.
This was overall a solid, quick read. Some of the fake dating was fun, just wasn't enamored by the book as a whole. Probably didn't help that I'd heard such raving things about this author and expected some serious quality. Onward!
"I've just been waiting for you to initiate and I can't anymore."
Clara bites her lip while shuffling up the bed to lay next to me. "I'd been waiting for you to start us off."
"We're so polite," I whisper against her lips.
"Very conscientious." She brushes her tongue over my mouth as I find her hair with my hands tugging her closer.
━━━━━━━━━━━ ✧ ━━━━━━━━━━━
This was...nice! Like I'm sure many others do, I appreciate this didn't shy from being a steamy festive novella, but I don't think childhood friends to lovers is the best premise for a lil ol' novella.
Evan and Clara's voices weren't very distinctive, and although the fake-dating concept was fun and decently executed, the narrative relied too heavily on their friendship/relationship from their youth.
They're meant to know each other so well but I wasn't quite seeing the chemistry. The characters were a bit bland, and it felt like the author overpromised.
We as the readers are meant to nod along to the supposed fact that these two women are just meant to be, but there's little effort put into really making us believe it, ultimately making it feel insta-lovey. More corny than intimate.
There's a tonne of emphasis also placed on Evan being estranged from her parents but it feels like trying to fit such a delicate topic into a novella is doing it a disservice. It's true that the holidays aren't a jolly lighthearted time for everyone, but it felt like once they were in their hometown Evan was in turmoil the whole time.
This was overall a solid, quick read. Some of the fake dating was fun, just wasn't enamored by the book as a whole. Probably didn't help that I'd heard such raving things about this author and expected some serious quality. Onward!
━━━━━━━━━━━ ✧ ━━━━━━━━━━━
January 4, 2023
Fauxmancing a friend.
This novella isn't a debut but I think this is the author's first sapphic romance, which probably explains why I haven't heard of her before. But I enjoyed it. It's a multi-trope holiday romance that is short, light and with a slight tinge of humour and with ADHD and autistic main characters.
The storyline isn't extraordinary but the delivery was not bad. Evan and Clara are longtime friends who enter into a mutually beneficial fauxmance and so they both agree to do it and they end up falling in love while pretending. Evan and Clara fall into easy banter and I really enjoyed their interactions. But the romance turned out to be a lot easier than I thought it would be in two ways, which took away a bit of the depth that the story could have had. The first was that Clara came to terms with her sexuality and feelings for Evan too easily, considering that until then, she identified as straight. The second was the absence of any friend awkwardness when Clara and Evan eventually get together.
But this is still a good and easy novella to read if you're still in the holiday mood.
This novella isn't a debut but I think this is the author's first sapphic romance, which probably explains why I haven't heard of her before. But I enjoyed it. It's a multi-trope holiday romance that is short, light and with a slight tinge of humour and with ADHD and autistic main characters.
The storyline isn't extraordinary but the delivery was not bad. Evan and Clara are longtime friends who enter into a mutually beneficial fauxmance and so they both agree to do it and they end up falling in love while pretending. Evan and Clara fall into easy banter and I really enjoyed their interactions. But the romance turned out to be a lot easier than I thought it would be in two ways, which took away a bit of the depth that the story could have had. The first was that Clara came to terms with her sexuality and feelings for Evan too easily, considering that until then, she identified as straight. The second was the absence of any friend awkwardness when Clara and Evan eventually get together.
But this is still a good and easy novella to read if you're still in the holiday mood.
December 6, 2023
this is such a cute holiday sapphic holiday romance! and it was a novella so the length was perfect
April 1, 2025
Evan has had a tiny crush on her best friend Clara since they were little. Only that Clara is very straight and Evan has decided long ago she didn’t have a chance. When they realize that Clara’s new boss seems to think they are dating, and Clara is afraid they hired her because they thought she was queer. They decide to make a pact and act as if they were together to save Clara’s job and make Evan’s ex jealous. It’s a win-win, right? If only Clara wasn’t as good at faking it.
Set the Record Straight was a delightful Christmas novella with sapphic romance. I enjoyed the main characters, and I had a lot of fun during the first half of the story. The pacing was great, it felt realistic how Clara realized that she was into women, and I loved their communication. They were so comfortable around each other because they kept making sure the other was there with them.
I liked that the author showed how Evan was sometimes in her head and needed to slow down because she was too nervous to enjoy what they were doing. How Clara treated her, how she would stop kissing her and would snuggle with her on the sofa to watch tv together 🥰
My main problem is that I wasn’t as interested in the second part of the novella. There aren’t a lot of obstacles left in their relationship, so it’s about them having Christmas together and enjoying family time. It was cute but I didn’t think it was very necessary here-but maybe it’s on me for picking this up in March. I also thought Evan’s ex girlfriend and her new girlfriend were a bit too evil to feel realistic. They kept making fun of her as if they were teenagers instead of actual adults. But they don’t appear much so it didn’t bother me a lot.
Overall, while the second part was a bit slow for me, I enjoyed reading this. The characters felt real and were beautiful together. I hope this author writes more sapphic romances in the future. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet sapphic Christmas novella with some spicy scenes and beautiful characters.
Set the Record Straight was a delightful Christmas novella with sapphic romance. I enjoyed the main characters, and I had a lot of fun during the first half of the story. The pacing was great, it felt realistic how Clara realized that she was into women, and I loved their communication. They were so comfortable around each other because they kept making sure the other was there with them.
I liked that the author showed how Evan was sometimes in her head and needed to slow down because she was too nervous to enjoy what they were doing. How Clara treated her, how she would stop kissing her and would snuggle with her on the sofa to watch tv together 🥰
My main problem is that I wasn’t as interested in the second part of the novella. There aren’t a lot of obstacles left in their relationship, so it’s about them having Christmas together and enjoying family time. It was cute but I didn’t think it was very necessary here-but maybe it’s on me for picking this up in March. I also thought Evan’s ex girlfriend and her new girlfriend were a bit too evil to feel realistic. They kept making fun of her as if they were teenagers instead of actual adults. But they don’t appear much so it didn’t bother me a lot.
Overall, while the second part was a bit slow for me, I enjoyed reading this. The characters felt real and were beautiful together. I hope this author writes more sapphic romances in the future. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet sapphic Christmas novella with some spicy scenes and beautiful characters.
December 7, 2023
ahhh amo a las mujeres
December 23, 2022
This was so cute! But don't let the cute romance fool you- there was also plenty of steam! As someone who is an angsty reader who enjoys some conflict in their romance, this was super low angst and a bit insta love, which is why I'm not giving this a full five stars. But that's definitely a personal preference of mine as a reader. This is fake dating between Clara and Evan, who have been friend since they were kids. Evan has been out since she was 18 and she was disowned by her family. Clara hasn't ever thought she could be interested in women, but she hasn't really been interested in anyone on a super deep, emotional, and sexual level. Until Clara and Evan start to fake date and need to practice being a couple. Both start falling fast and Clara realizes she actually has feelings for Evan. There was a lot of Christmas in here and I loved how Clara helped Evan feel comfortable around family for Christmas and showed her that not everyone is as awful as her own family. This was just a super sweet friends to lovers and fake dating holiday romance!
December 23, 2023
stop. this was adorable. i love the intimacy that childhood friends turning into lovers brings, and this was the perfect example of why i do. just super sweet and hot and a little bit emotional.
“Oh, no! I forgot!” I look on the counter for a clue at what she’s forgotten but then she’s got her mouth pressed to mine, smiling into our kiss. “Hi, beautiful. Missed you.”
December 18, 2023
set the record straight is cute, fluffy, steamy fake dating friends to lovers perfection. one of my fav things about hannah’s books is her authors notes, and this one was also heartwarming and sweet as out on a limb.
evan & clara have been best friends since they were kids. when clara accidentally hints at having a girlfriend at her new job and evan needs a date to her ex’s christmas party, they decide to fake date. but feelings quickly come to her surface for both of them. their friends to lovers arc with the fake dating was so cute and I was giddy and kicking my feet.
even though it’s a novella, there’s still so much emotion and character development and I loved every second.
read if you like
✨ sapphic friends to lovers
✨ fake dating
✨ christmas novellas
evan & clara have been best friends since they were kids. when clara accidentally hints at having a girlfriend at her new job and evan needs a date to her ex’s christmas party, they decide to fake date. but feelings quickly come to her surface for both of them. their friends to lovers arc with the fake dating was so cute and I was giddy and kicking my feet.
even though it’s a novella, there’s still so much emotion and character development and I loved every second.
read if you like
✨ sapphic friends to lovers
✨ fake dating
✨ christmas novellas
December 29, 2023
2.5/5 ⭐️
- The plot of this was so fun and the ending was literally swoon worthy!! Wish there had been a little more dialogue and less backstory, especially since it’s such a short book but I did love how both characters had such a solid & longstanding history!
- There was a little too much spice for me in this one. I don’t think I was expecting as much because it’s a novella, but there seemed to be so much spice that it was hard for me to really see their love for one another outside of the physical aspects of the story.
- This book definitely gives holiday vibes and was fun to read during the holiday season!
- The plot of this was so fun and the ending was literally swoon worthy!! Wish there had been a little more dialogue and less backstory, especially since it’s such a short book but I did love how both characters had such a solid & longstanding history!
- There was a little too much spice for me in this one. I don’t think I was expecting as much because it’s a novella, but there seemed to be so much spice that it was hard for me to really see their love for one another outside of the physical aspects of the story.
- This book definitely gives holiday vibes and was fun to read during the holiday season!
December 12, 2023
Set the Record Straight is a Christmas-themed romance novella that follows Clara and Evan, lifelong friends who enter into a fake dating relationship to help one another out, but ultimately end up falling in love.
I really loved Out On A Limb by Hannah Bonam Young, which was my introduction to her books back in August, but I was actually kind of disappointed by this book. It felt a lot like insta love, despite the main characters being friends for 20 years, and the fake dating trope did not hit. It used to be one of my favourite tropes but nowadays it feels so overused if there is nothing unique added to the situation or arrangement. The story progressed too fast, so each event felt very rushed. I think this could have done really well as a full length novel, so that each character and plot point had more time to develop, rather than just being one short chapter. I did love that this takes place in Toronto, but their hometown was never specified, and if it was I really think that would have helped deepen and detail the story. Overall it was short, steamy, and sweet, so if you’re looking for a novella that will take you under 2 hours to read, pick this up!
Read my reviews for Hannah Bonam Young's books here:
Out On A Limb - 5 stars
Set the Record Straight - 3 stars
I really loved Out On A Limb by Hannah Bonam Young, which was my introduction to her books back in August, but I was actually kind of disappointed by this book. It felt a lot like insta love, despite the main characters being friends for 20 years, and the fake dating trope did not hit. It used to be one of my favourite tropes but nowadays it feels so overused if there is nothing unique added to the situation or arrangement. The story progressed too fast, so each event felt very rushed. I think this could have done really well as a full length novel, so that each character and plot point had more time to develop, rather than just being one short chapter. I did love that this takes place in Toronto, but their hometown was never specified, and if it was I really think that would have helped deepen and detail the story. Overall it was short, steamy, and sweet, so if you’re looking for a novella that will take you under 2 hours to read, pick this up!
Read my reviews for Hannah Bonam Young's books here:
Out On A Limb - 5 stars
Set the Record Straight - 3 stars
December 17, 2022
First off: The dedication at the beginning of the book. So incredibly beautiful!!
Another phenomenal LGBTQ Romance!
Don't you just love that feeling when you start a new book and instantly feel a connection? That's what Hannah's writing does to me. There's an immediate pull into the story, a love for her characters and storylines.
Oh Clara and Evan. Two absolutely beautiful souls. I could not get enough of these two. The chemistry was just gorgeous! Their friendship, their love, their history... oh my goodness.
Clara's parents. Let's just say I cried. I don't often find myself relating to the parents in a story but they were so me. I am an extremely proud mom to a gay son and bisexual daughter and will ALWAYS cheer them on!! LOVE IS LOVE!! LOVE OUT LOUD!! BE PROUD!!
Plus! Cat Lovers! There's a cat named Bagel!!!! Like how cute is this name!?
Hannah! Thank you so much for this ARC. You continue to blow me away with your writing.
Another phenomenal LGBTQ Romance!
Don't you just love that feeling when you start a new book and instantly feel a connection? That's what Hannah's writing does to me. There's an immediate pull into the story, a love for her characters and storylines.
Oh Clara and Evan. Two absolutely beautiful souls. I could not get enough of these two. The chemistry was just gorgeous! Their friendship, their love, their history... oh my goodness.
Clara's parents. Let's just say I cried. I don't often find myself relating to the parents in a story but they were so me. I am an extremely proud mom to a gay son and bisexual daughter and will ALWAYS cheer them on!! LOVE IS LOVE!! LOVE OUT LOUD!! BE PROUD!!
Plus! Cat Lovers! There's a cat named Bagel!!!! Like how cute is this name!?
Hannah! Thank you so much for this ARC. You continue to blow me away with your writing.
July 1, 2024
•Dual POV
•Fake dating
•Childhood friends to lovers
•Quick read
3.5 stars
•Fake dating
•Childhood friends to lovers
•Quick read
3.5 stars
December 7, 2023
This is a short, easy holiday romance that delivered on its premise. Evan is over her crush on her best friend and just happy that she's coming back to Toronto so they can reconnect. Clara is looking forward to her new job now that she has graduated and isn't looking for love and is bowled out to find it.
I love how well the author handled Clara's discovery that she's not so much straight as demisexual. She hasn't ever prioritized romance because nobody has taken the time with her before. So while she is surprised with discovering an attraction for her best friend, she's quick to put it together and we don't get any of the denial you get in romances sometimes to heighten tension. Indeed, their romance flows with just enough tension to buy their devotion and eventual intimacy.
I like the team they become and was fully engaged with them both separate and together. Their patience with each others' quirks (Clara has ADHD and Even is on the spectrum) and working together to figure out how to communicate and support one another was a fun ride to be along for. And I don't have much else to say. I don't generally go in for romance novellas because they tend to short-shrift the relationship. A best friends to lovers alleviates that, somewhat, because much of the compatibility and familiarity has happened pre-story. Bonam-Young is good enough to bring that forward and make it present enough that I wasn't chafing for more.
Things are a little too easy to call this an outright five stars, but I'm having trouble finding things to complain about. So five stars it is, but with the note that it's a simple story, without a lot of drama or angst. Sometimes, as in this case for me, that's a good thing.
A note about Steamy: There are three or four explicit sex scenes edging into the high side of my middle steam tolerance because it's such a short work already. I think the author did a good job making those scenes integral to the story and I didn't feel they were as gratuitous as romance sex often is. Or maybe I just liked the characters and their joy in discovery of each other?
I love how well the author handled Clara's discovery that she's not so much straight as demisexual. She hasn't ever prioritized romance because nobody has taken the time with her before. So while she is surprised with discovering an attraction for her best friend, she's quick to put it together and we don't get any of the denial you get in romances sometimes to heighten tension. Indeed, their romance flows with just enough tension to buy their devotion and eventual intimacy.
I like the team they become and was fully engaged with them both separate and together. Their patience with each others' quirks (Clara has ADHD and Even is on the spectrum) and working together to figure out how to communicate and support one another was a fun ride to be along for. And I don't have much else to say. I don't generally go in for romance novellas because they tend to short-shrift the relationship. A best friends to lovers alleviates that, somewhat, because much of the compatibility and familiarity has happened pre-story. Bonam-Young is good enough to bring that forward and make it present enough that I wasn't chafing for more.
Things are a little too easy to call this an outright five stars, but I'm having trouble finding things to complain about. So five stars it is, but with the note that it's a simple story, without a lot of drama or angst. Sometimes, as in this case for me, that's a good thing.
A note about Steamy: There are three or four explicit sex scenes edging into the high side of my middle steam tolerance because it's such a short work already. I think the author did a good job making those scenes integral to the story and I didn't feel they were as gratuitous as romance sex often is. Or maybe I just liked the characters and their joy in discovery of each other?
December 20, 2022
ETA: December 19th
Novellas are tricky business, but I am not at all surprised that Hannah was able to write one with fantastic character growth and a whole lot of heart. This book will make you laugh, make you swoon, make you cry… you will feel ALL the feelings before you’re done.
Set The Record Straight is sexy, had great representation, and a beautiful thread of found family woven throughout. I highly recommend it to get you in the cozy holiday spirit!
—————————————————
I had the opportunity to read an early draft of Set the Record Straight and when I say that people are going to be unhinged after reading this book, I mean it.
Full review to come after it releases on December 20th. 🎄✨♥️
Novellas are tricky business, but I am not at all surprised that Hannah was able to write one with fantastic character growth and a whole lot of heart. This book will make you laugh, make you swoon, make you cry… you will feel ALL the feelings before you’re done.
Set The Record Straight is sexy, had great representation, and a beautiful thread of found family woven throughout. I highly recommend it to get you in the cozy holiday spirit!
—————————————————
I had the opportunity to read an early draft of Set the Record Straight and when I say that people are going to be unhinged after reading this book, I mean it.
Full review to come after it releases on December 20th. 🎄✨♥️
November 18, 2023
CUUUUUTEST holiday novella! don’t mind me finding all the sweet and short (and steamy 🥵) reads i can get my hands on because i’m determined to crush my reading goal and also to find escapism this season!!!
this sapphic love story has the best fake dating set up, the most adorable friends to lovers and queer awakening storyline, some tender family moments, some reaaaally spicy scenes, and all the best christmas time magic too! i loved it 😍
this sapphic love story has the best fake dating set up, the most adorable friends to lovers and queer awakening storyline, some tender family moments, some reaaaally spicy scenes, and all the best christmas time magic too! i loved it 😍
April 27, 2025
3 1/2 Stars
Sometimes, you simply need to read a nice story. Set the Record Straight was precisely that.
Clara always wanted to be a photographer, and after college she lands a job with her idol working in her studio. Clara is exuberant and at times, a little clueless because she inadvertently gives the impression to her gay boss and all of her colleagues that she is gay…all without realizing it.
Her childhood best friend, Evan (Evangeline), is a teacher for students with special needs—students who are always brutally honest with her. Evan has just had her girlfriend leave her for another teacher—at the same school! Her ex’s parting shot: “Evan is just not romantic enough”.
Clara and Evan hit upon the idea that they will fake date each other so Clara can take Evan to the company party, and Evan will have a date to the faculty Christmas party, which is being held at her ex’s house.
What could possibly go wrong with that arrangement… except that Clara is starting to realize that she may be demisexual and is only able to form a sexual attraction to someone she has previously formed a close emotional bond with…like maybe her childhood best friend.
I’m either a narcissist—and can only get off using my own imagination by myself—or I’m not as straight as I thought I was this morning. Hell, an hour ago. I might have a crush on my fake girlfriend.
This is a feel good story about friendship, love and sexual awakening, and what it might be like to be in love with your best friend. I enjoyed this book and it’s ability to distract me from the chaos of the modern world.
Sometimes, you simply need to read a nice story. Set the Record Straight was precisely that.
Clara always wanted to be a photographer, and after college she lands a job with her idol working in her studio. Clara is exuberant and at times, a little clueless because she inadvertently gives the impression to her gay boss and all of her colleagues that she is gay…all without realizing it.
Her childhood best friend, Evan (Evangeline), is a teacher for students with special needs—students who are always brutally honest with her. Evan has just had her girlfriend leave her for another teacher—at the same school! Her ex’s parting shot: “Evan is just not romantic enough”.
Clara and Evan hit upon the idea that they will fake date each other so Clara can take Evan to the company party, and Evan will have a date to the faculty Christmas party, which is being held at her ex’s house.
What could possibly go wrong with that arrangement… except that Clara is starting to realize that she may be demisexual and is only able to form a sexual attraction to someone she has previously formed a close emotional bond with…like maybe her childhood best friend.
I’m either a narcissist—and can only get off using my own imagination by myself—or I’m not as straight as I thought I was this morning. Hell, an hour ago. I might have a crush on my fake girlfriend.
This is a feel good story about friendship, love and sexual awakening, and what it might be like to be in love with your best friend. I enjoyed this book and it’s ability to distract me from the chaos of the modern world.
January 7, 2026
this canadian sapphic christmas novella is a serious uhaul romance!!
i was ELATED to find that this fake dating, childhood friends to lovers story is about a woman with ADHD and a woman with autism. i LOVE seeing this rep in romance. i believe the only other romcom i've read between two neurodivergent characters is late bloomer. here, i love that these neurodivergent women are mature and established, they both know themselves and know how to cope, they both know their needs and boundaries. they are both so ready to get serious with someone.
and in a similar vein, i love the maturity of the romance overall. there's no tension due to misunderstanding or miscommunication or confusion of any kind. as soon as feelings develop, they are expressed and explored and enjoyed openly, without doubts. the open communication and continual consent are SO REFRESHING. i love a good messy romance, but this book reminded me how important it is to sometimes see a strong, healthy relationship on the page.
there's also a good measure of familial trauma here, as one of our protagonists revisits her hometown for the first time in years after being kicked out by homophobic parents. i wasn't expecting this book to get so heavy, as the majority of it is super fluffy. but this emotional part of the book is really well done, and overall the story is sweet as pie.
on the last day of the year i was ready to start a new audiobook, and i was waffling between starting a nonfiction item on my list, or reading this as one last holiday read of the season. i'm so glad i chose this one, because i ended up devouring it in one afternoon!
i was ELATED to find that this fake dating, childhood friends to lovers story is about a woman with ADHD and a woman with autism. i LOVE seeing this rep in romance. i believe the only other romcom i've read between two neurodivergent characters is late bloomer. here, i love that these neurodivergent women are mature and established, they both know themselves and know how to cope, they both know their needs and boundaries. they are both so ready to get serious with someone.
and in a similar vein, i love the maturity of the romance overall. there's no tension due to misunderstanding or miscommunication or confusion of any kind. as soon as feelings develop, they are expressed and explored and enjoyed openly, without doubts. the open communication and continual consent are SO REFRESHING. i love a good messy romance, but this book reminded me how important it is to sometimes see a strong, healthy relationship on the page.
there's also a good measure of familial trauma here, as one of our protagonists revisits her hometown for the first time in years after being kicked out by homophobic parents. i wasn't expecting this book to get so heavy, as the majority of it is super fluffy. but this emotional part of the book is really well done, and overall the story is sweet as pie.
on the last day of the year i was ready to start a new audiobook, and i was waffling between starting a nonfiction item on my list, or reading this as one last holiday read of the season. i'm so glad i chose this one, because i ended up devouring it in one afternoon!
November 26, 2024
Help I’m literally obsessed with Hannah Bonam-Young!!!🤌 this was PERFECT! Exactly what I want from a holiday novellla!! And I binged it in just 2 hours!👏🥹
✨childhood friends to lovers
✨fake dating
✨a queer awakening!
✨yes it’s queer joy and holiday joyful! but! also does not shy away from the hard parts!! ”Everyone deserves to go home again.”🥹🥹🥹
✨some spicy spice🌶️
✨Christmas traditions, funny puns, cutie parents, hilarious banter, ADHD + Autism rep!🫶
I just loved Clara and Evan🫂 they are “insta-love” in the U-Haul lesbian way (there’s literally a joke about it) but I just loved their growth together anyway!!🫶
HBY - you managed to tell a beautiful love story in under 200 pages and I just don’t know how you do it!!🧎♀️we are not worthy!
✨childhood friends to lovers
✨fake dating
✨a queer awakening!
✨yes it’s queer joy and holiday joyful! but! also does not shy away from the hard parts!! ”Everyone deserves to go home again.”🥹🥹🥹
✨some spicy spice🌶️
✨Christmas traditions, funny puns, cutie parents, hilarious banter, ADHD + Autism rep!🫶
I just loved Clara and Evan🫂 they are “insta-love” in the U-Haul lesbian way (there’s literally a joke about it) but I just loved their growth together anyway!!🫶
HBY - you managed to tell a beautiful love story in under 200 pages and I just don’t know how you do it!!🧎♀️we are not worthy!
December 21, 2022
I’ve been waiting for a good FF romance, and was ecstatic when one of my favorite authors announced her surprise FF holiday novella!! Set the Record Straight follows childhood friends, Clara and Evan (short for Evangeline). Evan has been out since she was a teen. Clara, who is presumably straight, has a job at an art gallery owned by one of her photographer idols. Due to a communication mix-up, Clara is led to believe the owner thinks she is a lesbian and Clara thinks she must bring a girlfriend to an exhibit opening (the truth is of course revealed later on in a hilarious, low key manner).
Meanwhile Evan is still reeling from being dumped and cheated on by her coworker. Said coworker is hosting the job’s holiday party, and Evan doesn’t want to show up alone. These two form a plan to fake date for their own personal reasons, and to end it when it’s all said and done. But of course, we all know what started off as a convenient arrangement reveals feelings and questions of Clara’s sexuality that these two navigate through together.
I loved everything about Clara and Evan’s journey. I loved that both women were neurodivergent, because we got to see how patient and understanding they were for each other, something they hadn’t had in a relationship before. Because they were childhood friends, they had a special connection that made transitioning to a romantic love so easy. Their physical intimacy was so fun (and spicy) to watch them explore, given that Clara’s never been with a woman before….but Evan is a great teacher hehe.
I resonated with both women for varying reasons, and this author has a talent of making her characters so relatable for all readers. The last few chapters with Clara’s family were some of my favorites, and embodied the spirit of unconditional love and acceptance that we all long for. This novella was everything the author teased it to be and more!
TROPES: FF; bisexual awakening; childhood friends to lovers; no third-act breakup; neurodiverse leads (ADHD; autism); fake dating; found family; LGBTQ+ friendly; holiday novella
TRIGGER WARNINGS: homophobia; familial estrangement; mentions of religious oppression; anxiety (check out the author’s lovely note to readers in the beginning of the book)
Meanwhile Evan is still reeling from being dumped and cheated on by her coworker. Said coworker is hosting the job’s holiday party, and Evan doesn’t want to show up alone. These two form a plan to fake date for their own personal reasons, and to end it when it’s all said and done. But of course, we all know what started off as a convenient arrangement reveals feelings and questions of Clara’s sexuality that these two navigate through together.
I loved everything about Clara and Evan’s journey. I loved that both women were neurodivergent, because we got to see how patient and understanding they were for each other, something they hadn’t had in a relationship before. Because they were childhood friends, they had a special connection that made transitioning to a romantic love so easy. Their physical intimacy was so fun (and spicy) to watch them explore, given that Clara’s never been with a woman before….but Evan is a great teacher hehe.
I resonated with both women for varying reasons, and this author has a talent of making her characters so relatable for all readers. The last few chapters with Clara’s family were some of my favorites, and embodied the spirit of unconditional love and acceptance that we all long for. This novella was everything the author teased it to be and more!
TROPES: FF; bisexual awakening; childhood friends to lovers; no third-act breakup; neurodiverse leads (ADHD; autism); fake dating; found family; LGBTQ+ friendly; holiday novella
TRIGGER WARNINGS: homophobia; familial estrangement; mentions of religious oppression; anxiety (check out the author’s lovely note to readers in the beginning of the book)
December 20, 2022
I saw the traditional "book cover surrounded by tropes" graphic on Instagram and preordered it immediately, without knowing much about it. I was pleasantly surprised to see one MC is autistic and the other is ADHD, and as a whole, I appreciated how this rep was done.
It's a friends to lovers story where one of them has already known she's a lesbian for years, and the other still thinks she's straight at the start of the book. She doesn't just figure out she's bisexual, but also considers if she might be demisexual. I do wish the latter had been explored a little more, because there's no resolution there. Which is fair enough, because it can take a long time to question your sexuality and this was only a novella, but I would have still liked to see it mentioned towards the end.
I did really enjoy this novella - I liked how they were together for a good part of the story, and I liked how cosy and low-conflict is was (no third-act break-up!). That made this an excellent read for Christmastime, and one that I would recommend.
For me personally, as an autistic person, it just feels really nice that I've gotten to read not even just one but a couple of holiday reads with autistic main characters, so I'm happy I came across this one!
It's a friends to lovers story where one of them has already known she's a lesbian for years, and the other still thinks she's straight at the start of the book. She doesn't just figure out she's bisexual, but also considers if she might be demisexual. I do wish the latter had been explored a little more, because there's no resolution there. Which is fair enough, because it can take a long time to question your sexuality and this was only a novella, but I would have still liked to see it mentioned towards the end.
I did really enjoy this novella - I liked how they were together for a good part of the story, and I liked how cosy and low-conflict is was (no third-act break-up!). That made this an excellent read for Christmastime, and one that I would recommend.
For me personally, as an autistic person, it just feels really nice that I've gotten to read not even just one but a couple of holiday reads with autistic main characters, so I'm happy I came across this one!
December 25, 2023
3.5 rounded up bc it’s my last Christmas read of the year and it was super sweet. I liked both MCs, both narrators, and loved watching them fall in love. Very cute.
December 19, 2025
3.5 🌟
Padrísimo, dos chicas en navidad nada puede salir mal.
Clara y Evan son amigas desde hace años, Evan estuvo enamorada de ella en la adolescencia pero supo superar eso y seguir adelante, ahora que su ex la engaño y tiene que soportar estar viéndola con su nueva pareja necesita una novia falsa y que mejor que su amiga Clara que es hetero, o eso pensaban 👀
Hubiera leí una historia larga de estás dos, me gustó bastante todo, como es que inicia todo siendo fingido pero con el tiempo se dan cuenta que los sentimientos empiezan a cambiar, se dan su tiempo y siento que lo aceptan de buena forma.
No tiene mucho conflicto y eso me gustó, supieron hablar bien todo para que ninguna estuviera incómoda y las escenas spicy son 100/10
Padrísimo, dos chicas en navidad nada puede salir mal.
Clara y Evan son amigas desde hace años, Evan estuvo enamorada de ella en la adolescencia pero supo superar eso y seguir adelante, ahora que su ex la engaño y tiene que soportar estar viéndola con su nueva pareja necesita una novia falsa y que mejor que su amiga Clara que es hetero, o eso pensaban 👀
Hubiera leí una historia larga de estás dos, me gustó bastante todo, como es que inicia todo siendo fingido pero con el tiempo se dan cuenta que los sentimientos empiezan a cambiar, se dan su tiempo y siento que lo aceptan de buena forma.
No tiene mucho conflicto y eso me gustó, supieron hablar bien todo para que ninguna estuviera incómoda y las escenas spicy son 100/10
November 21, 2025
You know, I really love sapphic romance novels. And I really love author Hannah Bonam-Young. Wouldn’t it be great if she– WHAT?! She did write a sapphic romance?!
**insert weird happy dance meme**
This novella is the perfect mash up of a favorite writer and favorite writing trope, and I consider it a delightful holiday present just for me (though you should enjoy it too). Holiday Cheers.
**insert weird happy dance meme**
This novella is the perfect mash up of a favorite writer and favorite writing trope, and I consider it a delightful holiday present just for me (though you should enjoy it too). Holiday Cheers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,400 reviews