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Jingled
Matt Daughtry has always felt like he and his parents live in separate worlds—his shaped by the urbane, Northeastern liberal elite, theirs by Southern conservatism, homespun “common sense,” and talk show-fueled conspiracies. His homosexuality remains an open secret, something they sidestep rather than confront, much less accept. When he and his sister return for Christmas, the wrong sibling brings home a boyfriend for the first time.
What starts as a tense but routine holiday gathering takes a surreal turn the next morning. Flights are canceled, pilots and flight attendants mysteriously take time off, and by the following day, an estimated seventy-eight million Americans fail to return to work. Their explanation? They just want to spend more time with their families. Christmas can be every day when you’re with family.
His parents—and millions of Americans—are suffering from a bizarre condition, trapped in an endless holiday loop, determined to celebrate Christmas every day. They make choices that go against their self-interests. Blissfully unbothered by their accumulating debts, economic collapse, or even basic responsibilities, they live in a festive delusion seemingly fueled by an addictive algorithm used by an evangelical shopping app called MerryNet.
At first, Matt sees no reason to get involved. He’s never been able to reach his parents before—why would this be any different? But as the syndrome spreads, paralyzing the country, he stumbles upon evidence linking the outbreak to corporate actors intent on silencing their perceived right-wing enemies. Faced with a choice between complicity and action, Matt realizes that exposing the truth may come at the cost of his career, safety, and sanity. But the country may slide further into a dystopian nightmare if he doesn't act.
With the help of his boyfriend and sister, Matt must not only uncover the syndrome’s cause and cure but also confront the deeper divisions tearing his family—and the nation—apart.
What starts as a tense but routine holiday gathering takes a surreal turn the next morning. Flights are canceled, pilots and flight attendants mysteriously take time off, and by the following day, an estimated seventy-eight million Americans fail to return to work. Their explanation? They just want to spend more time with their families. Christmas can be every day when you’re with family.
His parents—and millions of Americans—are suffering from a bizarre condition, trapped in an endless holiday loop, determined to celebrate Christmas every day. They make choices that go against their self-interests. Blissfully unbothered by their accumulating debts, economic collapse, or even basic responsibilities, they live in a festive delusion seemingly fueled by an addictive algorithm used by an evangelical shopping app called MerryNet.
At first, Matt sees no reason to get involved. He’s never been able to reach his parents before—why would this be any different? But as the syndrome spreads, paralyzing the country, he stumbles upon evidence linking the outbreak to corporate actors intent on silencing their perceived right-wing enemies. Faced with a choice between complicity and action, Matt realizes that exposing the truth may come at the cost of his career, safety, and sanity. But the country may slide further into a dystopian nightmare if he doesn't act.
With the help of his boyfriend and sister, Matt must not only uncover the syndrome’s cause and cure but also confront the deeper divisions tearing his family—and the nation—apart.
275 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 7, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 17, 2025
ARC Review!
So basically little Matt here is a good boy who goes home every single year during Christmas, during the same thing every single time, but this year is just slightly different. He’s got a boyfriend with him!
*Instert shocked Pikachu face*
Of course not every family is perfect and for some people, you can only deal with them for a certain time period, but being trapped with them in a time loop? Yeahhhhh. No thank you! I’ll stick to reading about it.
All in all, this was a good little read, there was some humor and I chuckled a little, but it was a good 3.5/5 read for me.
So basically little Matt here is a good boy who goes home every single year during Christmas, during the same thing every single time, but this year is just slightly different. He’s got a boyfriend with him!
*Instert shocked Pikachu face*
Of course not every family is perfect and for some people, you can only deal with them for a certain time period, but being trapped with them in a time loop? Yeahhhhh. No thank you! I’ll stick to reading about it.
All in all, this was a good little read, there was some humor and I chuckled a little, but it was a good 3.5/5 read for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2025
Jingled opens with Matt Daughtry, a frazzled Chicago-based lawyer, chain-vaping in a rental car outside his parents’ house in North Carolina, mentally prepping for another round of yuletide trauma. He’s been doing this for five years, five round-trip flights, five “never again” promises, five servings of emotional stuffing he never asked for. But this year, he’s brought backup: Grant, his very put-together, very hot psychiatrist boyfriend who is probably way too stable for this level of family nonsense.
Matt’s parents are exactly the kind of people who say “war on Christmas” unironically and conceal-carry handguns for a quick pop into Publix. His mom's default setting is weaponized concern. His dad probably quotes Tucker Carlson like scripture. The gay thing? Not discussed. Ever. Matt describes his family dynamic like a Broadway play that should’ve closed five seasons ago, and honestly? That tells you everything you need to know.
Then things start to get... weird. Not just tense dinner-table-vibes weird. I mean “why is there a full adult choir singing Silver Bells on our lawn at 11 p.m.?” weird. Flights get canceled. Gas stations run dry. Hospitals and fire stations are suddenly short-staffed. And seventy-eight million Americans wake up and decide, collectively, that they’re just... not going back to work. Because “it’s Christmas. And Christmas is for family.”
The official term is Christmas Syndrome, but the internet starts calling them Jingleheads, which sounds cute until you realize it’s a nationwide mass delusion that's maybe being fueled by a shady little app called MerryNet. Think: targeted holiday brainwashing via AI algorithms, propaganda wrapped in “peace on Earth” branding, and evangelical capitalism served with a candy cane. It’s both absurd and deeply plausible. The most chilling part? These people aren't rioting. They're just so happy. Singing. Decorating. Buying. Baking. Smiling like Stepford zombies while the country crumbles under tinsel and ever-mounting credit card debt.
Matt doesn’t want to get involved. He’s spent his entire adult life emotionally dodging his parents like it’s a sport. But when the Syndrome starts creeping closer and closer... when the map of infected regions starts looking suspiciously like an electoral map... when his own legal work starts tying back to the companies behind it all... he realizes the line between “not my problem” and “I helped build this” is a lot thinner than he thought.
What really makes this book work isn’t just the eerie, slow-burn dystopia. It’s the characters. Matt and Grant have that rare thing, a queer relationship that feels lived-in and real, not overly performative or thrown in for flavor. Elise, Matt’s sister, is the glue in the chaos. She drinks, she jabs, she plays emotional referee, and she’s the one who can call Matt on his self-isolation without turning it into a lecture. The three of them together? Found-family gold. It’s like if the Scooby gang solved capitalist mind control with sarcasm and seasonal depression.
The writing is razor-sharp and sneakily emotional. One second you’re laughing at Matt misplacing his vape (it’s in his lap), the next you’re getting punched in the soul with a line like “Maybe they just can’t stand living in the same world with us anymore.” There’s humor, but there’s grief in it. There’s fear. There’s that sick realization that the people you love might choose fantasy over facing what they don’t understand. And there’s no easy Hallmark ending to fix it.
This isn’t just satire. It’s a horror story about disinformation, emotional detachment, and what happens when nostalgia becomes a weapon. It's painfully smart, bitingly funny, and terrifyingly relevant. The pacing gets a little loopy in the middle. But honestly? So does the country. It tracks.
Solid 4 stars. I will absolutely read whatever holiday entry Evan J. Corbin writes next, probably while hiding under a weighted blanket and muttering about fruitcake.
Merry Mayhem Prize: For turning “Christmas is for family!” into an actual threat
Huge thanks to Atonement Books and NetGalley for the ARC. And for fueling my new fear of holiday apps.
Matt’s parents are exactly the kind of people who say “war on Christmas” unironically and conceal-carry handguns for a quick pop into Publix. His mom's default setting is weaponized concern. His dad probably quotes Tucker Carlson like scripture. The gay thing? Not discussed. Ever. Matt describes his family dynamic like a Broadway play that should’ve closed five seasons ago, and honestly? That tells you everything you need to know.
Then things start to get... weird. Not just tense dinner-table-vibes weird. I mean “why is there a full adult choir singing Silver Bells on our lawn at 11 p.m.?” weird. Flights get canceled. Gas stations run dry. Hospitals and fire stations are suddenly short-staffed. And seventy-eight million Americans wake up and decide, collectively, that they’re just... not going back to work. Because “it’s Christmas. And Christmas is for family.”
The official term is Christmas Syndrome, but the internet starts calling them Jingleheads, which sounds cute until you realize it’s a nationwide mass delusion that's maybe being fueled by a shady little app called MerryNet. Think: targeted holiday brainwashing via AI algorithms, propaganda wrapped in “peace on Earth” branding, and evangelical capitalism served with a candy cane. It’s both absurd and deeply plausible. The most chilling part? These people aren't rioting. They're just so happy. Singing. Decorating. Buying. Baking. Smiling like Stepford zombies while the country crumbles under tinsel and ever-mounting credit card debt.
Matt doesn’t want to get involved. He’s spent his entire adult life emotionally dodging his parents like it’s a sport. But when the Syndrome starts creeping closer and closer... when the map of infected regions starts looking suspiciously like an electoral map... when his own legal work starts tying back to the companies behind it all... he realizes the line between “not my problem” and “I helped build this” is a lot thinner than he thought.
What really makes this book work isn’t just the eerie, slow-burn dystopia. It’s the characters. Matt and Grant have that rare thing, a queer relationship that feels lived-in and real, not overly performative or thrown in for flavor. Elise, Matt’s sister, is the glue in the chaos. She drinks, she jabs, she plays emotional referee, and she’s the one who can call Matt on his self-isolation without turning it into a lecture. The three of them together? Found-family gold. It’s like if the Scooby gang solved capitalist mind control with sarcasm and seasonal depression.
The writing is razor-sharp and sneakily emotional. One second you’re laughing at Matt misplacing his vape (it’s in his lap), the next you’re getting punched in the soul with a line like “Maybe they just can’t stand living in the same world with us anymore.” There’s humor, but there’s grief in it. There’s fear. There’s that sick realization that the people you love might choose fantasy over facing what they don’t understand. And there’s no easy Hallmark ending to fix it.
This isn’t just satire. It’s a horror story about disinformation, emotional detachment, and what happens when nostalgia becomes a weapon. It's painfully smart, bitingly funny, and terrifyingly relevant. The pacing gets a little loopy in the middle. But honestly? So does the country. It tracks.
Solid 4 stars. I will absolutely read whatever holiday entry Evan J. Corbin writes next, probably while hiding under a weighted blanket and muttering about fruitcake.
Merry Mayhem Prize: For turning “Christmas is for family!” into an actual threat
Huge thanks to Atonement Books and NetGalley for the ARC. And for fueling my new fear of holiday apps.
November 25, 2025
Wow! Even after reading the blurb, this one snuck up on me with the power it possessed. If you've ever been the odd one out at Christmas, the one who doesn't quite fit in but who turns up and gets through it year after year, you'll understand how Matt feels. He thinks having his boyfriend and sister around will act as a cushion and he'll head home after the holiday like always. Then, thanks to a corporate/religious/AI conspiracy Christmas hangs around. If you've ever been a bit unnerved by the insistence on "Christmas" not "holidays", the searching for ways to be offended during the season of goodwill and the 24/7 "joy to the world" and "the reason for the season" mixed up with massive consumerism you'll appreciate how cleverly the author has turned typical Christmas traditions and phrases into a horror scenario. I laughted in places (sometimes uncomfortably), I loved and rooted for the characters of Matt, Grant and Elise and I thought long and hard in places about how things have changed between people from the holidays of my youth. I've read one previous book by Evan J. Corbin but now I'm off to grab everything else he's written to experience more of his sharply pointed observations about life these days.
November 26, 2025
A Joyfully Jay review.
3 stars
This book is not a romance, or even really a holiday story. It’s the setup to a joke that never landed for me, and a book with a simple message: algorithms are bad. Written seemingly to be divisive, you will either be mildly offended by or find mild amusement in the fact that it’s primarily evangelical Christians and Fox News watchers who have been trapped in this holiday fixation — to the delight of the rest of the country — and are cured through a deliberate act of violence.
Look, the book wants to be a satire, and almost is, but at the end it feels toothless and safe. The satire just doesn’t go far enough; the story isn’t strong enough to stand on its own feet and Matty is such a blank page of a character that nothing sticks to him. The writing is fine, but I would very much have liked a book that went for the jugular and missed, rather than a book points out the absurdity of the “both sides” argument.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
3 stars
This book is not a romance, or even really a holiday story. It’s the setup to a joke that never landed for me, and a book with a simple message: algorithms are bad. Written seemingly to be divisive, you will either be mildly offended by or find mild amusement in the fact that it’s primarily evangelical Christians and Fox News watchers who have been trapped in this holiday fixation — to the delight of the rest of the country — and are cured through a deliberate act of violence.
Look, the book wants to be a satire, and almost is, but at the end it feels toothless and safe. The satire just doesn’t go far enough; the story isn’t strong enough to stand on its own feet and Matty is such a blank page of a character that nothing sticks to him. The writing is fine, but I would very much have liked a book that went for the jugular and missed, rather than a book points out the absurdity of the “both sides” argument.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
Read
January 2, 2026Call me Christmas romance-curious. I’d never read a single holiday romance novel, fearing saccharine storylines and tired tropes, but I’m not the Grinch. I do like the holidays, and I do like stories about falling in love. I really do. Thus, I was curious, and the ubiquity of holiday-themed titles wore me down this year.
While once a genre for wholesome stories proclaiming that the holidays are the perfect time for heterosexuals to fall in love (especially if they happen to find themselves back in their idyllic rustic hometown), holiday romances are not just for straight people anymore. Gay titles now abound, and I scoured book blurbs, searching for a story that just might hold some surprises. I can report that I struck it rich with Evan Corbin’s Jingled. How’d you like a Christmas story with themes of bioterrorism, political polarization, and artificial intelligence run afoul this year? It’s definitely not warm and cozy, but the author has made some bold choices that engage the brain a lot more than your standard holiday fare.
Read the rest of my review at Out in Print.
While once a genre for wholesome stories proclaiming that the holidays are the perfect time for heterosexuals to fall in love (especially if they happen to find themselves back in their idyllic rustic hometown), holiday romances are not just for straight people anymore. Gay titles now abound, and I scoured book blurbs, searching for a story that just might hold some surprises. I can report that I struck it rich with Evan Corbin’s Jingled. How’d you like a Christmas story with themes of bioterrorism, political polarization, and artificial intelligence run afoul this year? It’s definitely not warm and cozy, but the author has made some bold choices that engage the brain a lot more than your standard holiday fare.
Read the rest of my review at Out in Print.
January 19, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!
This book was kind of a meh experience. It is not bad per se, but there was not really anything biting about it. The theme of misinformation and understanding others was beaten into you over and over from the beginning, explicitly so. No real personal conflict happened as one of the characters, a psychiatrist, was armed with therapy speak to prevent anything interesting from happening.
The mystery itself was interesting but but nothing really happened with it? They get into contact with some of the big antagonists, maybe threatened, then left alone. It was also convenient that as everyone was showing some corruption, the main's big boss was ready to go full hero-mode. Also convenient that one of the characters is a super genius who, with only one class taken in coding, can decipher a whole program and reverse-engineer its source code.
Despite all that, it was still a decent read. I was curious as to how they had to deal with the consequences of the Christmas syndrome. The ending was bittersweet in a good way. I just feel like there could be some tweaks here and there.
This book was kind of a meh experience. It is not bad per se, but there was not really anything biting about it. The theme of misinformation and understanding others was beaten into you over and over from the beginning, explicitly so. No real personal conflict happened as one of the characters, a psychiatrist, was armed with therapy speak to prevent anything interesting from happening.
The mystery itself was interesting but but nothing really happened with it? They get into contact with some of the big antagonists, maybe threatened, then left alone. It was also convenient that as everyone was showing some corruption, the main's big boss was ready to go full hero-mode. Also convenient that one of the characters is a super genius who, with only one class taken in coding, can decipher a whole program and reverse-engineer its source code.
Despite all that, it was still a decent read. I was curious as to how they had to deal with the consequences of the Christmas syndrome. The ending was bittersweet in a good way. I just feel like there could be some tweaks here and there.
November 3, 2025
Jingled is a sharp, inventive, and timely dystopian tale that blends satire, suspense, and social commentary. Evan J. Corbin constructs a world where a bizarre holiday-induced syndrome paralyzes a nation, exposing deep cultural, political, and familial divides.
The protagonist, Matt Daughtry, is a compelling lens through which the story examines identity, loyalty, and morality. Corbin balances tension and humor effectively, turning a surreal premise a nation trapped in a perpetual Christmas loop into a vehicle for exploring serious themes like societal polarization, corporate manipulation, and personal responsibility.
At 275 pages, the novel is a fast-moving, thought provoking read that will appeal to fans of dystopian satire, speculative fiction, and social commentary. Jingled challenges readers to consider how systems of influence shape behavior, all while delivering an engaging, suspenseful narrative.
The protagonist, Matt Daughtry, is a compelling lens through which the story examines identity, loyalty, and morality. Corbin balances tension and humor effectively, turning a surreal premise a nation trapped in a perpetual Christmas loop into a vehicle for exploring serious themes like societal polarization, corporate manipulation, and personal responsibility.
At 275 pages, the novel is a fast-moving, thought provoking read that will appeal to fans of dystopian satire, speculative fiction, and social commentary. Jingled challenges readers to consider how systems of influence shape behavior, all while delivering an engaging, suspenseful narrative.
November 8, 2025
From the title and cover design, I knew that this book would have some festive vibes, but it was a little different from what I expected. I wondered whether to expect a romcom, or a feel good Christmas romance, which is the kind of book that everyone generally likes to read at this time of year. This was a festive read with a little difference.
The relationship between the two main characters, Matt and Grant, went to my heart. I felt the connection between them, and it was a sort of tearjerker moment when I realised that Matt's family didn't seem willing to accept their relationship.
The book also had a sci-fi kind of element thrown in their that surprised me, and maybe that will interest other readers too. Either way, this is a fun read for the festive season. It's a little bit different, it's fun, quirky and heartwarming, and it still speaks to the traditional values that are important to so many of us during the festive season.
The relationship between the two main characters, Matt and Grant, went to my heart. I felt the connection between them, and it was a sort of tearjerker moment when I realised that Matt's family didn't seem willing to accept their relationship.
The book also had a sci-fi kind of element thrown in their that surprised me, and maybe that will interest other readers too. Either way, this is a fun read for the festive season. It's a little bit different, it's fun, quirky and heartwarming, and it still speaks to the traditional values that are important to so many of us during the festive season.
December 1, 2025
I really loved this book from being so realistic with today's world with holidays, but especially Christmas and also being gay and just how depending on where your family is from will depend on if you are an outcast in your family or not. It's also slightly dystopian but honestly really funny, great satire on the world and the country right now and it is fun that it takes place around the holidays. I recommend this book if you want satire and a real life take on things happening today that takes place during the holidays this book is for you!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 3, 2025
Reviewer warning...be sure to set aside enough time to read in one sitting, turn off phone so no interruptions!!!!!. Its that good!
Wow oh wow this was not what I expected... so much better!!! I was expecting a romantic, run, fluffy, holiday romance. Instead I get this plus mystery, suspense, and so so many twists and turns!
I loved both main characters and also So many funny supporting characters... not to mention the evil villains!
If you are looking for the perfect holiday story...look no more! You found it.
Wow oh wow this was not what I expected... so much better!!! I was expecting a romantic, run, fluffy, holiday romance. Instead I get this plus mystery, suspense, and so so many twists and turns!
I loved both main characters and also So many funny supporting characters... not to mention the evil villains!
If you are looking for the perfect holiday story...look no more! You found it.
December 7, 2025
Funny, insightful, and provocative, Jingled by Evan J. Corbin has unexpected twists and poignant turns that keep readers turning the pages. Corbin presents the issues of our times in a humorous yet intriguing scenario that challenges readers to contemplate the social and political turmoil we currently face. Readers connect with the characters and experience the ups and downs of family, relationships, and doing the right thing. readers will certainly look for more from this writer.
December 8, 2025
For the first time, Matt brings his boyfriend home to meet his family. Except the day after Christmas, millions of Americans continue to believe it’s Christmas.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this one. I thought it might be a cosy bit of fluff. And yet the reality was darker and more nuanced than I expected.
If you’re looking for a hard ‘left-wing good, right-wing bad’ dichotomy, this may not be the one for you. But if you enjoy complex characters with shades of grey, check it out.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this one. I thought it might be a cosy bit of fluff. And yet the reality was darker and more nuanced than I expected.
If you’re looking for a hard ‘left-wing good, right-wing bad’ dichotomy, this may not be the one for you. But if you enjoy complex characters with shades of grey, check it out.
November 11, 2025
Tepid satire with adequate pacing, but lacking in character, stakes, or personality. It's bland, flavorless, and boring. The humor doesn't land, the conclusion of "algorithm bad" is ... fine, but if there'd been any sense that anyone in this book cared about anything at all, it might have worked better.
November 16, 2025
He feels so different to his parents and life is about to change when he goes home for Christmas. Life is about to change when people want to repeat Christmas everyday. He will need to try to stop it all with the help of his sister and boyfriend. See if they solve it
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a great tale
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a great tale
December 18, 2025
Incredibly good!
This book was an adventurous holiday twist. So much of the content was sincerely relatable. I had to force myself to break away and come back to finish. You just want to keep going and see what happens next.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book was an adventurous holiday twist. So much of the content was sincerely relatable. I had to force myself to break away and come back to finish. You just want to keep going and see what happens next.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 11, 2025
Definitely a satire - a really... weird one. Not in the greatest way. It reads like a very lightly holiday flavoured political commentary with a splash of satire. I honestly don't know what to say about it, I'm surprised I finished it, and I honestly can't recommend reading it.
January 7, 2026
This is a don’t judge a book by its cover book. That cover isn’t great. But the story is good. I like the idea. It’s ludicrous but that’s what makes it work. I like how basically no one is the good guy and the sort of respectful peace achieved at the end of the story.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews