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First Dates After Forty #4
The Holiday Party Pretense
Single dentist Juliet—no Romeo jokes, please—has tried every dating strategy in the book to no avail. So it’s no surprise when her latest blind date stands her up. No problem. She always has a backup plan for her evening.
Her plan did not include meeting a handsome guy on the sidewalk while his date for his company's holiday party is dumping him by phone... and the party’s already started.
Juliet does plans, not impulse decisions. And Adrian’s sudden lack of a date isn’t her problem to solve.
Then again, she got all dressed up?
THE HOLIDAY PARTY PRETENSE is a kisses-only Bi4Bi queer M/F first date short story with middle-aged main characters doing something they both know is probably ridiculous, and discovering a bit of holiday magic.
Her plan did not include meeting a handsome guy on the sidewalk while his date for his company's holiday party is dumping him by phone... and the party’s already started.
Juliet does plans, not impulse decisions. And Adrian’s sudden lack of a date isn’t her problem to solve.
Then again, she got all dressed up?
THE HOLIDAY PARTY PRETENSE is a kisses-only Bi4Bi queer M/F first date short story with middle-aged main characters doing something they both know is probably ridiculous, and discovering a bit of holiday magic.
ebook
Published December 4, 2024
3 people want to read
About the author
Skye Kilaen
19 books375 followersSkye Kilaen is a bi author who writes contemporary & science fiction romance that is sometimes polyamorous, focusing on sapphic stories, queer M+F, and bi and pan main characters.
She also sends out a monthly newsletter highlighting new & recent self-published and small press queer romances that look particularly promising but might fly under the radar. Sign up on her website, your TBR will thank you!
Skye currently lives in Austin, Texas because it has so many libraries and breakfast tacos.
She also sends out a monthly newsletter highlighting new & recent self-published and small press queer romances that look particularly promising but might fly under the radar. Sign up on her website, your TBR will thank you!
Skye currently lives in Austin, Texas because it has so many libraries and breakfast tacos.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 25, 2025
Another fun short story, this time with a first meeting that turns into a fake date - obviously loved the setup and our protagonist, Juliet. I always like that Kilaen takes a more realistic, conceivable approach to her romances and doesn't overload them with excessive tropes or banter to force into the popular mold. There is also a level care in the way her characters talk about issues like lying to his coworkers, potential outings or overstepping boundaries, that is encouraging.
Overall, it's a great situation that Juliet finds herself in and lets us see through her eyes as she realizes what a great guy Adrian is and that this fake date is turning out much better than most of her real dates.
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While I think of the four stories in this collections, this one was my least favourite, all of them were great fun and the perfect fit for its premise. I adored how all of our main characters were introduced and the diversity not just in queer identities but also jobs, living situations and marriage/family aspirations. It's simply delightful.
I received a reading copy from the author.
Overall, it's a great situation that Juliet finds herself in and lets us see through her eyes as she realizes what a great guy Adrian is and that this fake date is turning out much better than most of her real dates.
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While I think of the four stories in this collections, this one was my least favourite, all of them were great fun and the perfect fit for its premise. I adored how all of our main characters were introduced and the diversity not just in queer identities but also jobs, living situations and marriage/family aspirations. It's simply delightful.
I received a reading copy from the author.
December 24, 2025
Picking up another one of these novellas and it was so beautiful and fun!!! I had never thought fake dating as a trope I really love, but I really adored it here, because it was truly this short-cut about these people getting to know each other and becoming friends!!!
I also really loved the work party, especially about how everyone cared for Adrian so much, this worry and this push for him to be happy - I'll also say his grief was very relatable, it rang so close - and just inviting Juliet into this companionship and making her feel welcomed!!!
I really loved the hopefulness of the ending, and it also leaving so much of it opened!!! This was really good and so beautiful, and I really loved this, and it's a very high 4 stars!!!
Also read for Lightfall 2025, and the "wallace's wonderful winter animals" and "owlcat craft cafe" challenges :)
I also really loved the work party, especially about how everyone cared for Adrian so much, this worry and this push for him to be happy - I'll also say his grief was very relatable, it rang so close - and just inviting Juliet into this companionship and making her feel welcomed!!!
I really loved the hopefulness of the ending, and it also leaving so much of it opened!!! This was really good and so beautiful, and I really loved this, and it's a very high 4 stars!!!
Also read for Lightfall 2025, and the "wallace's wonderful winter animals" and "owlcat craft cafe" challenges :)
September 18, 2025
Another lovely romantic novella, this time with a festive twist!
I really loved the setup for this; sort of like fake dating, but on a much smaller scale, so without a lot of the shoe-horning that often comes with the trope. Juliet was a great main character, and what I’ve enjoyed about all of this series is that all of the leads come into their own main-character, seize-the-moment kind of energy.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
There were instant sparks between Juliet and Adrian, and it was great fun seeing them banter back and forth as they strung along Adrian’s co-workers. All in all it was a lovely read, very sweet and fun and perfect for the winter months!
I received a free copy for an honest review.
I really loved the setup for this; sort of like fake dating, but on a much smaller scale, so without a lot of the shoe-horning that often comes with the trope. Juliet was a great main character, and what I’ve enjoyed about all of this series is that all of the leads come into their own main-character, seize-the-moment kind of energy.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
There were instant sparks between Juliet and Adrian, and it was great fun seeing them banter back and forth as they strung along Adrian’s co-workers. All in all it was a lovely read, very sweet and fun and perfect for the winter months!
I received a free copy for an honest review.
January 12, 2026
Sweet, kind, cute slice of life romance novella 🖤
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews