Hers for the Holidates

by Irene Bahrd

The holidays are stressful enough for Andrea, but discovering her boyfriend cheated makes them unbearable. Showing up to Thanksgiving solo is not an option.

With the family gatherings mere days away, Savannah—the gorgeous local coffee shop owner who’s starred in one too many of Andrea’s daydreams—offers to pose as her girlfriend. It’s the perfect solution to dodge both of their family’s dreaded questions about when they’ll be settling down.

What begins as a simple plan to get through the holidays together soon turns into an entire season of shared traditions, laughter, and stolen glances. But pretending to be in love is a lot harder when their feelings are quickly becoming anything but fake. Now Andrea has to figure out if she was only Savannah’s for the holidays… or if she’s found a love that lasts beyond fake dates and matcha lattes.

Genres: Audiobook

About the author

Irene Bahrd is a feisty Capricorn and one of the most avid readers you will ever meet. Her favorite genres to read or write include romantic comedies, political romance, romantasy, and the occasional contemporary dark romance.

She started her writing journey as a dare from a friend, after recounting dating stories from her early twenties. They inspired her to write spicy romantic comedies and parodies that feature a variety of book boyfriends—though most are cinnamon roll golden retrievers. Many of her stories contain LGBTQIA+, disabled, and neurodivergent characters.

Irene can be found on Instagram and TikTok under @irenebahrdauthor

Reviews

[Hayley Gallant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to High Gravity Audiobooks for my copy.

Rating: 4 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Synopsis: Andrea enlists coffee shop owner Savannah as her fake girlfriend for holiday gatherings, but their pretend romance develops real feelings over shared traditions and matcha lattes.

Tropes:
🤍Contemporary Romance
🎄Open Door Spice
🤍FF
🎄Fake Dating
🤍Holiday Novella
🎄Family Drama
🤍Repressed Feelings

Thoughts: This was such a shot, sweet, and spicy read that was just what I needed. I actually really enjoyed the family situation, I found it cute that they all saw what the main characters couldn’t see all along. Lots of laugh out loud moments, I was hooked from the start until the end.

Narration: I enjoyed the narrator choices for this one, I think they did a great job.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute

This is a cute holiday romance novella. Fake dating with a female couple. Cute, likeable characters and meddling families.

There is quite a bit of spice and for some reason it detracted from the story for me. I would have liked this better if it had stayed in the cute feel good lane without the spice.

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gem was about Andrea “Andi”, the daughter of the couple in A Voice Without Reason and a new character Savannah.

Their story was quick but when you know you know lol


They are each beautiful souls, feisty and flirty and fun.

I enjoyed their journey to love and getting to revisit some other characters from past books!

Andi’s brother,Spencer, is getting set up for a story of his own and I hope that’s true as he’s fun lol

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

- Sapphic
- Cozy Holiday Read
- Meddling Family
- Fake Dating
- Laughs
- Spice
Alright if you see something you like from the list above, then you will love Hers For The Holidates by Irene Bahrd. I loved Savy and Andi’s story. This was such a fun and easy read with good spice and great characters! The angst and mutual pining was perfection and you could really feel the holiday spirit in this one.

Hers For The Holidates is dual narrated by M.K. Blackwood and Paige Reisenfeld. These ladies were perfectly cast to bring this story to life. They captured the tone of this story so well and it was such a treat listening to them bring the banter to life. Banter just hits different in audio and M.K. & Paige were fantastic! If you are looking for a fun holiday read with great narration, I highly recommend checking this one out.
Sapphic
Cozy Holiday Read
Meddling Family
Fake Dating
Laughs
Spice
Alright if you see something you like from the list above, then you will love Hers For The Holidates by Irene Bahrd. I loved Savy and Andi’s story. This was such a fun and easy read with good spice and great characters! The angst and mutual pining was perfection and you could really feel the holiday spirit in this one.
Hers For The Holidates is dual narrated by M.K. Blackwood and Paige Reisenfeld. These ladies were perfectly cast to bring this story to life. They captured the tone of this story so well and it was such a treat listening to them bring the banter to life. Banter just hits different in audio and M.K. & Paige were fantastic! If you are looking for a fun holiday read with great narration, I highly recommend checking this one out.

[Janelle Sequin · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A warm, cozy, slow-burn sapphic romance with the perfect blend of humor, heart, and holiday heat.

This story delivers everything I want in a holiday rom-com—fake dating, forced proximity, chaotic family gatherings, and two women who have no idea how obvious their chemistry is. Andrea’s heartbreak sets the stage, but Savannah’s charm steals the show from the moment she offers to be her “holiday girlfriend.”

Their dynamic is sweet, flirty, and packed with those delicious little moments that make you grin: shared traditions, late-night confessions, and all the slow-building tension of two people trying (and failing) not to fall for each other. The stolen glances? The accidental touches? Pure gold.

I loved watching their “for now” arrangement blur into something tender, hopeful, and real. It’s a feel-good romance with just enough spice and all the emotional payoff you want heading into the holidays.

If you love fake dating, FF romance, cozy vibes, and two lovable heroines who stumble into the real thing, this one will warm you right through winter.

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

~Alc Review~
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶

~Hers For The Holidates~Irene Bahrd~

~Dual Narration~MK Blackwood & Paige Reisenfeld~

~Production~High Gravity Production~

"What's important isn't falling in love. It's staying in love."

♡This was such a cute fake-dating F/F holiday romance novella with lots of laughs & a little bit of spice to top it off! Andi & Savy were the perfect friend to lovers!

The dual narration for this audiobook was great! MK & Paige both did an great job bringing Andi & Savy's story to our ears!♡

~As Always Happy Reading~

[Neia Quaintance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andi, as in Andrea she is the daughter of the amazing couple Becca and Julian from the book A Voice Without Reason. Andi and her boyfriend just broke up, and Savy has always had the hots for her, so she pretends to be her girlfriend for the holidays, but lil does Savy know Andi likes her too, so it this really just a fake date for the holidays or could it be more. This is an FF novella and a good holiday read very fast-paced.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This audiobook was super cute! A sapphic holiday fake dating story that hooked me right in. The characters and side characters were likeable, there were funny moments and very relatable self doubting throughout. The audio was also well done! I just kept forgetting which character was Andi and which was Sav... but that's my own fault haha.

Thank you to High Gravity Productions and Irene Bahrd for the ALC. All thoughts are my own.

[Lisa Kimbrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

So cute 💜

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those who know me, know I love strong side characters and this novella fit in strong FMCs AND side characters.
This was a sweet FF read for the holidays!
The audio was fantastic!

[Alyssa J · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute! Fake dating trope with two women & I actually loved the vibe. It’s short & sweet & something you’ll want to fit in between your holiday reads!

[jenniferlea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrea & Savannah were fun….ok maybe they were as much fun as Frank & their families….everyone seemed to know something they didn’t….neither wanted to “fake” date the other….
Andreas brother Spencer was definitely a trouble maker….he’s fun though & he was definitely set up for a book in the future

[Tangled Titles · Rating 3 out of 5]

if your looking for a cute short holiday read this ones definitely for you. fake dating wlw with a meddling family is always worth the read

[Heather Angeli · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re in the mood for a cozy, slow-burn sapphic romance with meddling families, fake dating gone VERY real, and all the warm holiday chaos of Thanksgiving and Christmas, Hers for the Holidates by Irene Bahrd is the one to pick up.
The story follows Andi, a romance writer who’s just been dumped by her cheating boyfriend, and Savannah, a coffee shop owner, smitten with Andi.
When Savy offers herself up as an option to date and get thru the holidays, Andi accepts.
What starts as a harmless fake relationship—complete with hand-holding and figuring things out on a whim, quickly turns into something deeper. Bahrd crafts the progression from awkward charade to genuine connection beautifully.

But what truly makes Hers for the Holidates shine is how the author uses family meddling not as a source of mere comic relief, but as a bridge—the families see the truth before the women do. Their gentle interference (and occasional not-so-subtle matchmaking) nudges Andi and Savy to drop their defenses and confront the feelings that have crept up between stuffing recipes and clearance aisles.
The result is a heartfelt, funny, and emotionally tender love story! It’s got just the right amount of spice in this holiday novella.

[Audio book lover · Rating 4 out of 5]

🔥 Sapphic Slow Burn With Holiday Heat

This novella captures everything there is to love about holiday romances: warmth, vulnerability, chaotic family gatherings, and that unmistakable spark between two women who never expected to fall so fast. The story combines soft winter coziness with a rising tension that builds from playful flirting to something undeniably intimate. Beneath all the holiday lights and family pressure sits a romance that feels tender, hopeful, and surprisingly intense, making it the kind of festive read that sneaks into your heart page by page.

The Story

Andrea is already stretched thin during the holiday season, but discovering her boyfriend cheated sends her straight into emotional freefall. Facing Thanksgiving alone is not an option she’s willing to consider. Savannah, the local coffee shop owner who has starred in more than a few of Andrea’s private fantasies, steps in with a solution that seems almost too convenient. She offers to pose as Andrea’s girlfriend, giving them both the perfect shield against the intrusive questions they dread.

What starts as a simple agreement turns into a growing connection built around shared traditions, teasing banter, lingering looks, and moments that feel far too genuine to be considered fake. As Andrea leans into the comfort and safety she feels with Savannah, it becomes harder to pretend that this arrangement is temporary. Soon she’s wondering whether Savannah is meant to be hers only for the holidays or something she is finally ready to claim for good.

What I Loved

✔️ A sweet, flirty dynamic that feels natural and full of charm
✔️ The instant connection that builds into a beautifully done slow burn
✔️ Cozy holiday vibes mixed with genuine emotional depth
✔️ All the best sapphic and bookish clichés rolled into one
✔️ The spice is worth the wait, especially the restaurant scene
✔️ A novella that balances warmth, humor, and desire effortlessly

🎧 Narration

The dual narration by Paige Reisenfeld and MK Blackwood is an absolute standout. They match the emotional tone perfectly and bring Andrea and Savannah to life with a warmth that strengthens every scene. Their delivery makes the banter cuter, the longing stronger, and the intimate moments deeper. This pairing elevates the entire story and makes the slow-burn tension even more addictive.

Tropes & Vibes

✔️ Fake dating
✔️ FF romance
✔️ Slow burn
✔️ Holiday chaos and coziness
✔️ Meddling families
✔️ Soft flirting that escalates beautifully
✔️ Sapphic clichés used in the best possible way
✔️ Short, spicy, festive novella
✔️ Warm, queer, bookish energy

Final Thoughts

This novella offers everything you want in a sapphic holiday romance: warmth, chemistry, comfort, and a perfectly executed slow burn that delivers when it counts. Andrea and Savannah feel authentic and charming, and the shift from fake partners to something undeniably real is handled beautifully. And yes! The restaurant scene alone is worth the read. Cozy, romantic, and quietly intense, this is a holiday novella that leaves you wanting more from Irene Bahrd immediately.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hers for the Holidates by Irene Bahrd is a warm, cozy, slow-burn sapphic romance with the perfect blend of humor, heart, and holiday heat. This feel-good story delivers everything I want in a holiday rom-com—fake dating, forced proximity, chaotic family gatherings, and two women who have no idea how obvious their chemistry is. The wonderful narration by MK Blackwood and Paige Reisenfeld truly enhances this charming holiday read.

The holidays are stressful enough for Andrea (Andi), whose heartbreak from a cheating boyfriend makes showing up to Thanksgiving solo simply unbearable. Enter Savannah (Savy), the gorgeous local coffee shop owner who has starred in one too many of Andrea's daydreams. Savy offers to pose as Andi’s girlfriend, the perfect solution to dodge both of their families' dreaded questions about settling down. Little does Savy know that Andi likes her too.

Andrea’s heartbreak sets the stage, but Savannah’s charm steals the show from the moment she offers to be her "holiday girlfriend." What begins as a simple plan to get through the holidays together soon turns into an entire season of shared traditions, laughter, and stolen glances. Their dynamic is sweet, flirty, and packed with those delicious little moments that make you grin: late-night confessions, accidental touches, and all the slow-building tension of two people trying (and failing) not to fall for each other.

I loved watching their “for now” arrangement blur into something tender, hopeful, and real. This FF novella is very fast-paced and a must-read, delivering a great holiday escapism with just enough spice and all the emotional payoff you want. The captivating performances of MK Blackwood and Paige Reisenfeld really bring the intimacy and humor to life. Now Andrea has to figure out if she was only Savannah’s for the holidays, or if she’s found a love that lasts beyond fake dates and matcha lattes. If you love fake dating, cozy vibes, and two lovable heroines who stumble into the real thing, this one will warm you right through winter.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tropes_and_Taboo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hers For The Holidates by Irene Bahrd
⭐⭐⭐⭐🌶️🌶️
Dual POV * Holidays * Sapphic Romance * Fake Dating * FF * Bi/Pan * Meddling Families * Sunshine vs Sunshine * 152 pages * 🎧3h37

I do very much love short and quick holiday stories and this one did not disappoint. It spanned a few holidays such as Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Hannukah and more, as our two FMCs battle their growing desires during their fake dating.

I was a little worried at first when I saw it was a fake dating FF novel, and that this would feel tokenistic with one of them not being into the same sex and then discovering they are bi, thinking they weren't initially. Not that there's anything wrong with discovering who you are later in life, it's just often how it goes in books (at least the ones I've read). I was very pleasantly surprised that both FMCs were Bi/Pan prior to the fake dating arrangement and the fake dating felt as natural as any fake dating does.

I loved both FMCs and kept sighing cutely as the situationship blooms into romance, and how they keep ending up having to fake one more holiday until even they don't know if they are faking it anymore. And the side characters are a hoot! I hope there's more novellas coming with some of them. (Eyeing you Spencer and Frank!)

The audio is produced by High Gravity Productions and narrated by MK Blackwood and Paige Reisenfeld. Two new-to-me narrators! Can't wait to hear more of their works!

[Susan (Purplegalaxyreads94) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, I’d like to thank Irene Bahrd and Twisted Chaos PR for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Hers for the holidates is a sapphic holiday novella that follows the story of Andrea and Savannah. Andrea, an author that just discovered her boyfriend cheated on her, finds herself at her favorite coffee shop to have her normal go to order and sit down to work on her latest work in progress. After expressing what her ex boyfriend did to her and how she is dreading the holidays and having to tell her family, Savannah, The coffee shop owner, asks Andrea if she would like her to be her fake girlfriend for the holidays so they both don’t have to face their families alone. However what started out as fake, quickly turns into real feelings that both girls have kept hidden away from one another for a long time.

Since this is just a novella, it went by very quickly but it was honestly so sweet! Definitely got me into the mood for the upcoming holiday season. The romance in this book was beautiful and a little spicy but enjoyable. Andrea and Savannah’s love was pure and beautiful and seeing them find happiness and true love in each other just once again reinforced my love for cute little romance novellas.

[Michelle Exploringwithchapters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stepped in a bit of a new genre for this ARC. I saw some fun key words- Novella and Holiday! HAHA! If you love sapphic romance, steamy scenes, meddling families, with Hallmark charm, Hers for the Holidates may be your next read.

Andi and Savy (love the nick names) thought they were fooling everyone with their fake relationship— but as we all know, they were only kidding themselves! 😊 After Andi’s boyfriend cheated on her, Savannah accompanies her to some holiday festivities to avoid showing up to Thanksgiving solo. Now, between you and me, a 13 mile run is NOT my idea of a Thanksgiving tradition but that is Savanah’s first meeting of Andrea’s mom. This is just wild to me.

On the flip side, I love when Andi meets Savannah’s mom, and the mom strait up says “I am just so excited to meet the woman my girl has been talking about for months!” 😃 Dead give away no one is buying the fake dating gig- throw in some meddling brothers, and wha-la.

This was a slow burn, short& spicy novella- be prepared to wait for the spice. Once it kicks in though, it is done well. Wink**

Some favorite quotes:
“Nothing about how I want you is fake.”
“You’re the perfect book girlfriend, you know that.”

[XenyMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“We’re about to buy matching station wagons and adopt a cat together!”

This story is full of every lesbian and bookish cliche imaginable, and I loved every minute of it. Irene Bahrd never fails to bring all the funny and swoony vibes, and this book was not the exception.

I loved all the cozy holiday, Hallmark-esque vibes, and it made me wish we were closer to Christmas than we currently are. Savy and Andi are super adorable, and I loved the way they thought they were fooling everyone, when in fact they were only fooling themselves.

I also loved all the cameos from characters that made me fall in love with Irene's writing in the first place, and I have a feeling I'll need to start a character map to be able to keep track and remember everyone with all the Easter eggs dropped in this book.

Quote: “The only reason I ever hesitated in the first place when you offered to be my pretend girlfriend was because if you had asked me on a date for real, I would’ve said yes. I never wanted to pretend.”

[BookishLatinaJenn (Jennifer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎧 ALC REVIEW

Hers for the Holidates delivers exactly what you want from a cozy sapphic holiday romance: fake dating that gets real fast, meddling families, and festive chaos. But what really makes this ALC shine is the dual narration. MK Blackwood and Paige Reisenfeld are perfectly paired and their performances give this story its heartbeat. Their chemistry is warm and intimate, the banter lands effortlessly, and they navigate the shift from playful to tender with finesse. The audio turns a sweet novella into a full sensory holiday treat.

The story itself is charming, fun, and lightly spiced, with Savannah and Andrea’s “totally fake” dates sliding into mutual pining territory the way all good fake dating should. It’s quick, cute, and quietly emotional in the best way.

🎧 Tropes You’ll Get:
💖 Sapphic romance
☕ Fake dating
🎄 Cozy holiday vibes
👨‍👩‍👧 Meddling families
🔥 Light spice
😆 Laugh-filled moments

If you're looking for a festive, low-stress, high-chemistry holiday listen, this ALC is absolutely worth adding to your queue.

[Kiersten · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

An adorable sapphic rom com. If you love fake dating, set in a cozy atmosphere with all the holiday shenanigans. This book is for you!

This story follows Savy (Savannah) our cute coffee shop owner with a crush on our adorable Andi (Andrea) our romance author ❤️

Andi and Savy agree to “fake date” in order to ward off their meddling families questions during their holiday functions. If only they knew their families were only going to meddle more…

“There isn’t anything friendly about how much I want you”

“Oh I know, but there’s nothing fictional about us”

The banter was adorable! The instant connection was perfectly done! This is a slow burn but once the spice is there it’s there!!!

I would love to pick up the rest of Irene’s books. Her writing flowed and I throughly enjoyed this book!

Thank you Twisted Chaos PR and Irene Bahrd for the opportunity to ARC read this. As always my reviews are honest and 100% my own! 🖤

[Lora Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just what I needed to get into the holiday spirit. It has everything I’ve come to expect from Irene Bahrd - funny, sassy, and a little filthy. Toss in some fake dating (love it - both of them crushing on the other, everyone seeing it except them), meddling friends & family, and little cameos of some of my favorite characters from previous series, and I’m a goner! I love the little connections to other books in the Ireneiverse sooooo much.
Hers for the Holidates is the sapphic love story of Andi & Savy and while a bit more of a slow burn than we usually see from Ms Bahrd, it was absolutely perfect for these two.

I received a gifted copy of this book and am reviewing voluntarily. All opinions are my own

[Linda Knauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute, quick holiday novella. Andrea has just broken up with her boyfriend. Savannah owns the coffee shop that Andrea frequents. Both of them have a holiday events coming up with family that would be so much easier with a plus one. Neither one wants to admit to the crush they have harbored for each other. Instead they agree to fake date for the holiday obligations. With some family and friend interference, they extend the fake dating to more than just Thanksgiving and finally admit to each other that they want to be more than just friends.

What to expect:
Aquaintences to Friends to Lovers
Holiday Romance
Super quick read / listen
Sapphic

Thank you High Gravity for this ALC.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Savannah aka Savy and Andrea aka Andi make the cutest couple. Everyone agrees. In fact, both Savy and Andi's families are their biggest cheerleaders. Savy and Andi may have started out "fake" dating but things heated up quickly.

"Nothing about how I want you is fake."

Savy and Andi can't keep their hands off each other. There is plenty of steamy moments to be had in this book. I liked seeing Andi and Savy together. They matched well together.

"You're the perfect book girlfriend, you know that."

If you like reading sapphic romance books, you will want to pick up a copy of this book. Fans of Irene already know to expect the heat and Irene delivers!

[Nikki Miskey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Savanna has had a crush on her long time customer Andi in her coffee shop, when opportunity presentd itself. And needs a date for upcoming holiday events, and Savannah jumps at the chance to ask out Andi and be her fake girlfriend. The only problem? They catch feelings.
Savy and Andi were great in this short holiday novella. I loved the humor, the family matchmaking hijinks, and the chemistry between both MCs. This was a book I devoured in just a couple of hours, but I enjoyed every minute!

I recommend this if you enjoy short, sweet, slow-burns with just the right amount of spice and two FMCs that can't get enough of each other.

[Kass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hers for the Holidates is a quick, fake dating romance with all of the pining and feelings. With meddling families sticking their noses in Savannah and Andi's business, there is no way this fake dating relationship couldn't become real. The cast of characters was wonderful with meddling parents, friends and grandparents that are hilarious and intent on bring the romance author and coffee shop owner together. If you are looking for a cozy holiday story with hilarious meddling, sweet moments of true connection and big declarations of feelings, this is the perfect book for you.

I received this book from the author and voluntarily am leaving an honest review as a thank you.

[Michelle Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Story 5 stars Narration 5 stars
Hers for the Holidates is an adorable, cute, sweet FF slow burn romance. This delicious holiday story has it all-fake dating, forced proximity, insane chemistry, meddling family members and wonderful family gatherings. Now, it’s time to sit back, relax and listen to this amazing audiobook. The dual narration by Paige Reisenfeld and MK Blackwood was absolutely phenomenal. They were delightful as Andrea(Andi) and Savannah(Savy, Sav). I could feel all of their emotions through their voices. These two wonderfully talented voice actors brought this story to life beautifully. I highly recommend listening.
Thanks to the author and High Gravity Productions for this ALC.

[Emily Johnston (Booked.Up.With.Emily) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This audiobook was adorable and brought upon lots of holiday cheer! This sapphic romance brings the story of Savannah and Andrea and their fake dating antics.

🩷Fake dating
🩷Holiday novella
🩷Friends to lovers
🩷Never really fake!

Savannah and Andrea find each other in a fake dating situation to appease others. But the two of them quickly realize that it’s not so fake. Their chemistry was adorable and HOT! I loved the meddling family members and you could just how much these two were loved.

MK Blackwood and Paige Reisenfeld did a great job narrating this book! Their voices were soothing but spicy at the same time!

[Nichole Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

How stinking cute! This little sapphic holiday novella was just the best. You have a coffee shop owner and a romance author, who have both had secret crushes on each other. It's the holidays and they both need dates to fend off their families. So why not pretend to be dating?! The banter and meddling of family and friends was amazing. I loved all the characters and was so happy to see some guest appearances, especially my main man Jack. If you are looking for a fun little holiday romance read with a little bit of spice, then this is the book for you!