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Fake It ‘Til Christmas
From USA Today best-selling author Claudia Burgoa comes a fake-dating holiday romance filled with slow-burn tension, awkward family dinners, and one grumpy man who might just ruin Christmas for anyone else.
Audible Audio
Published November 14, 2025
417 people are currently reading
747 people want to read
About the author
Claudia Y. Burgoa
151 books6,394 followersClaudia is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author.
She writes alluring, thrilling stories about complicated women and the men who take their breath away.
She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband and her youngest two children. She has a sweet Bichon, Macey, who thinks she's the ruler of the house. She's only partially right.
When Claudia is not writing, you can find her reading, knitting, or just hanging out with her family.
At night, she likes to binge watch shows with her equally geeky husband.
Instagram: http://bit.ly/ClaudiasIG
TikTok: https://bit.ly/CBstiktok
Bloggers/Influencers: https://geni.us/CBBloggers
Newsletter: https://geni.us/CBNewsletter
She writes alluring, thrilling stories about complicated women and the men who take their breath away.
She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband and her youngest two children. She has a sweet Bichon, Macey, who thinks she's the ruler of the house. She's only partially right.
When Claudia is not writing, you can find her reading, knitting, or just hanging out with her family.
At night, she likes to binge watch shows with her equally geeky husband.
Instagram: http://bit.ly/ClaudiasIG
TikTok: https://bit.ly/CBstiktok
Bloggers/Influencers: https://geni.us/CBBloggers
Newsletter: https://geni.us/CBNewsletter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 300 reviews
December 7, 2025
I see how some people might love this but it wasn't for me. I couldn't for the life of me vibe with Winnifred, the FMC. She gave me a headache she was so hyper. Maybe if we spent more time building a plot and less in her head I might even like her.
I liked Soren but he was presented in the beginning as some sort of a grouch and, honestly, we've never seen him be that. Mainly because we never see how he interacted with other people before Win. So his transition from grouch to softie kind of happened off-page.
It's still a cute Christmasy read if you don't take it overly serious.
Thank you Hambright PR and Claudia Y. Burgoa for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Over and out
I liked Soren but he was presented in the beginning as some sort of a grouch and, honestly, we've never seen him be that. Mainly because we never see how he interacted with other people before Win. So his transition from grouch to softie kind of happened off-page.
It's still a cute Christmasy read if you don't take it overly serious.
Thank you Hambright PR and Claudia Y. Burgoa for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Over and out
December 18, 2025
REVIEW
Rating: 3/5
POV: 1st, dual
Tropes: Neighbors to Lovers; Frenemies to Lovers; Fake Dating; Forced Proximity; Grumpy/Sunshine
Heat Level:1/5
Kinks:n/a
Likes:
* hitting the jackpot with these Christmas romcoms! The banter has just been perfect!
* I absolutely love neighbors to lovers and grumpy/sunshine so this one just checked off those boxes
Dislikes:
* wow can you say repetitive… it was so bad that the author repeated the same sentence with only a sentence or two between them… 🥴
* not sure how the author pulled this off but with as little heat as this book was she some how pulled off instalove lol.
* reading 50 pages about 1 kiss… I kid you not.
Conclusion:
With that list of dislikes you’d think I would rate this lower BUT the comedy of the romance was so good! I cracked up, out loud, so many times.
The book also had two tropes together that I love so I of course just naturally enjoyed the book because of that.
Everything else really would’ve made it a DNF book if I didn’t have those few likes.
I do own another book by this author so I’ll give that one a try one day.
Lori, another lovely Christmas buddy read! Sorry I’m posting this review long before you’ve finished 😅 if I didn’t do this now I would’ve completely forgotten the book and I can’t trust Goodreads to just not delete this whole thing if I don’t post it 😂
3/5
Rating: 3/5
POV: 1st, dual
Tropes: Neighbors to Lovers; Frenemies to Lovers; Fake Dating; Forced Proximity; Grumpy/Sunshine
Heat Level:1/5
Kinks:n/a
Likes:
* hitting the jackpot with these Christmas romcoms! The banter has just been perfect!
* I absolutely love neighbors to lovers and grumpy/sunshine so this one just checked off those boxes
Dislikes:
* wow can you say repetitive… it was so bad that the author repeated the same sentence with only a sentence or two between them… 🥴
* not sure how the author pulled this off but with as little heat as this book was she some how pulled off instalove lol.
* reading 50 pages about 1 kiss… I kid you not.
Conclusion:
With that list of dislikes you’d think I would rate this lower BUT the comedy of the romance was so good! I cracked up, out loud, so many times.
The book also had two tropes together that I love so I of course just naturally enjoyed the book because of that.
Everything else really would’ve made it a DNF book if I didn’t have those few likes.
I do own another book by this author so I’ll give that one a try one day.
Lori, another lovely Christmas buddy read! Sorry I’m posting this review long before you’ve finished 😅 if I didn’t do this now I would’ve completely forgotten the book and I can’t trust Goodreads to just not delete this whole thing if I don’t post it 😂
3/5
November 19, 2025
This was a cute Christmas read I 10/10 recommend reading this book.
Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️
Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️
November 28, 2025
This book is a cute, quick read with witty banter.
The beginning of this book set up an entertaining premise of family drama and competition for each character. The fake dating trope had promise. But then the story fell flat for me. The characters spent large quantities of the book mentally spiraling/monologuing. Very little actually occurred in the story.
Win and Soren made a cute grumpy/sunshine couple, but had little substance as individual characters. We never find out why Soren is grumpy or what makes Win driven.
The tension and spice between the main characters were well done.
I personally don’t feel this book is a Christmas book. The main events were essentially wrapped up right after Thanksgiving, with Christmas and the family howler being discussed during Win’s epilogue.
This book was dual narration, and the audio narrators did a great job with the character voices.
Overall, this book had potential and was a quick, entertaining 6 hr audiobook. I would try this author again.
Thank you Hambright PR and the author for the opportunity to read this book as an advanced listener’s copy (ALC).
The beginning of this book set up an entertaining premise of family drama and competition for each character. The fake dating trope had promise. But then the story fell flat for me. The characters spent large quantities of the book mentally spiraling/monologuing. Very little actually occurred in the story.
Win and Soren made a cute grumpy/sunshine couple, but had little substance as individual characters. We never find out why Soren is grumpy or what makes Win driven.
The tension and spice between the main characters were well done.
I personally don’t feel this book is a Christmas book. The main events were essentially wrapped up right after Thanksgiving, with Christmas and the family howler being discussed during Win’s epilogue.
This book was dual narration, and the audio narrators did a great job with the character voices.
Overall, this book had potential and was a quick, entertaining 6 hr audiobook. I would try this author again.
Thank you Hambright PR and the author for the opportunity to read this book as an advanced listener’s copy (ALC).
November 19, 2025
Fake It 'Til Christmas by Claudia Y. Burgoa
⭐⭐⭐🌶️🌶️
Dual POV * Holiday Romance * Christmas * Fake Dating * Grumpy x Sunshine * Small Town * Family Rivalry * Romeo x Juliet Vibes * Slow Burn * One Bed * Found Family * 350 pages * 🎧6h54
Another cozy Christmas holiday romance, following the classic fake-dating trope so many festive books lean into. It was cute, warm, and sprinkled with a bit of 'Romeo & Juliet' flair thanks to the family feud. I just wish we had more in-person feuding. The text message threads were fun, but they didn’t land as strongly for me (maybe it’s something that just doesn’t translate well in audio?).
While I still enjoyed the story overall, I struggled to fully connect with the characters. Their pasts felt a little too glossed over, and instead of being a true slow burn, it veered into insta-love territory. We went from zero to 1000 in the blink of an eye, which left me a bit ambivalent about the emotional beats. I needed more depth to really 'feel' why they fit together.
I also found myself zoning out at times, even though the audiobook performances by Grace Grant and Jason Clarke were genuinely fantastic. The story just didn’t hold my attention the way I hoped it would.
That said, if you love cozy holiday romances, this may still be a win for you. Plenty of other readers adored it, so it could absolutely hit differently for you too.
⭐⭐⭐🌶️🌶️
Dual POV * Holiday Romance * Christmas * Fake Dating * Grumpy x Sunshine * Small Town * Family Rivalry * Romeo x Juliet Vibes * Slow Burn * One Bed * Found Family * 350 pages * 🎧6h54
Another cozy Christmas holiday romance, following the classic fake-dating trope so many festive books lean into. It was cute, warm, and sprinkled with a bit of 'Romeo & Juliet' flair thanks to the family feud. I just wish we had more in-person feuding. The text message threads were fun, but they didn’t land as strongly for me (maybe it’s something that just doesn’t translate well in audio?).
While I still enjoyed the story overall, I struggled to fully connect with the characters. Their pasts felt a little too glossed over, and instead of being a true slow burn, it veered into insta-love territory. We went from zero to 1000 in the blink of an eye, which left me a bit ambivalent about the emotional beats. I needed more depth to really 'feel' why they fit together.
I also found myself zoning out at times, even though the audiobook performances by Grace Grant and Jason Clarke were genuinely fantastic. The story just didn’t hold my attention the way I hoped it would.
That said, if you love cozy holiday romances, this may still be a win for you. Plenty of other readers adored it, so it could absolutely hit differently for you too.
November 20, 2025
3.5 stars.
Claudia Burgoa's "Fake it 'Til Christmas" is a fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, forced-proximity-as-neighbors Christmas romance between two characters whose small-town families have a complicated history with one another. First of all, let me say that I LOVED the audiobook of this! Jason Clarke and Grace Grant do a spectacular job of bringing the characters of Soren and Win to life. They play off one another so well, and their narration brings Burgoa's banter and chemistry to life in a radiant, funny, cozy, and often intimate way. I loved the dynamic between Soren and Win. They are slight enemies, more like frenemies, but there is a sizzle, a spark there that is undeniable, even when they claim to be "fighting" or "angry" with one another. Soren is broody and moody on the outside, but he is a secret cinnamon roll softie on the inside. I LOVE characters like this!! When the two of them agree to fake date for Christmas to save face where their meddlesome, nosy families are concerned, real, hidden feelings come bubbling to the surface the more time they spend together in such close proximity. Add in two families with a seemingly deep-seated dislike of one another, and you've got the recipe for a silly, funny, often spicy disaster (complimentary). I will admit, it feels like their feelings for one another went from zero to one hundred very quickly, but it never took me out of the story or made it feel like it was lacking something. Lots of awkward holiday moments that kept me engaged and snickering!
Thank you to Claudia Burgoa and Hambright PR for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
Claudia Burgoa's "Fake it 'Til Christmas" is a fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, forced-proximity-as-neighbors Christmas romance between two characters whose small-town families have a complicated history with one another. First of all, let me say that I LOVED the audiobook of this! Jason Clarke and Grace Grant do a spectacular job of bringing the characters of Soren and Win to life. They play off one another so well, and their narration brings Burgoa's banter and chemistry to life in a radiant, funny, cozy, and often intimate way. I loved the dynamic between Soren and Win. They are slight enemies, more like frenemies, but there is a sizzle, a spark there that is undeniable, even when they claim to be "fighting" or "angry" with one another. Soren is broody and moody on the outside, but he is a secret cinnamon roll softie on the inside. I LOVE characters like this!! When the two of them agree to fake date for Christmas to save face where their meddlesome, nosy families are concerned, real, hidden feelings come bubbling to the surface the more time they spend together in such close proximity. Add in two families with a seemingly deep-seated dislike of one another, and you've got the recipe for a silly, funny, often spicy disaster (complimentary). I will admit, it feels like their feelings for one another went from zero to one hundred very quickly, but it never took me out of the story or made it feel like it was lacking something. Lots of awkward holiday moments that kept me engaged and snickering!
Thank you to Claudia Burgoa and Hambright PR for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
November 20, 2025
"𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫, 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐭. 𝐈’𝐦 𝐚 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫-𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝. 𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐨. 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐭."
Since Romeo and Juliet’s my most favorite Shakespeare play, 𝐅𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 ’𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 totally got me with its reference. Winnifred and Soren were a one-of-a-kind couple and I simply couldn’t get enough of them.
What I loved most about this book was how lovable Winnifred’s and Soren’s distinctive personality was; their chemistry was so natural that it made my heart super full to see them develop from friends to lovers.
In Claudia’s true fashion, Win and Soren’s banter was hilarious and light-hearted but in the meanwhile, they also tackled some fundamental family drama together that we could all relate to at some point.
Besides, this book featured the following tropes that I absolutely adored so I hoped you would as well! If you’re into…
🌦️ Grumpy/Sunshine
🏡 Neighbors
🔒 Forced Proximity (during the most chaotic holidays)
💍 Fake Dating (gone delightfully wrong)
🎄 Holiday Romance
🔥 Frenemies to Lovers
😈 Small town feud (that’ll make R&J proud)
🕯️ Slow burn (that’ll melt your peppermint mocha…)
Then please go pick this one up! It’s now LIVE wherever books are sold and trust me, this book is THE ultimate holiday romcom of the season. Highly, highly recommend it!!
***Thanks to the author and Hambright PR for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.***
November 14, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Such a fun holiday audiobook! This book had me cracking up, the FMC was so lively and hilarious, and the banter between her and the MMC was soooo good. I absolutely adored the MMC going from broody and mysterious to a secret total softie. I love a fake dating plot and this one was just a festive good time!
Such a fun holiday audiobook! This book had me cracking up, the FMC was so lively and hilarious, and the banter between her and the MMC was soooo good. I absolutely adored the MMC going from broody and mysterious to a secret total softie. I love a fake dating plot and this one was just a festive good time!
November 17, 2025
ARC Review: Fake it till Christmas
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Fake It Till Christmas was such a fun and feel-good listen! It’s the perfect mix of fake dating, grumpy/sunshine vibes, and just the right amount of holiday chaos. The banter between the main characters is sharp and funny, and the chemistry builds in that slow, satisfying way that keeps you hooked. Watching Soren—Mr. Emotionally Constipated—start to soften and open up was honestly my favorite part.
Grace Grant and Jason Clarke absolutely nailed the narration. Grace captures every ounce of wit and warmth from the FMC, while Jason brings that deep, broody tone that makes Soren’s character come to life. Together, they make the story flow effortlessly and add extra spark to every interaction.
If you’re into fake relationship tropes, sarcastic banter, and a touch of Christmas magic, this one’s definitely worth a listen. Funny, swoony, and full of heart.
Thank you to @hambright_pr and @claudia_b30 for sending me an ARC to review!
✨Releases 11/19!
#booksta
#bookstagrammer
#HPRBFakeitTilChristmas
#ClaudiaBurgoa
#HambrightPR
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Fake It Till Christmas was such a fun and feel-good listen! It’s the perfect mix of fake dating, grumpy/sunshine vibes, and just the right amount of holiday chaos. The banter between the main characters is sharp and funny, and the chemistry builds in that slow, satisfying way that keeps you hooked. Watching Soren—Mr. Emotionally Constipated—start to soften and open up was honestly my favorite part.
Grace Grant and Jason Clarke absolutely nailed the narration. Grace captures every ounce of wit and warmth from the FMC, while Jason brings that deep, broody tone that makes Soren’s character come to life. Together, they make the story flow effortlessly and add extra spark to every interaction.
If you’re into fake relationship tropes, sarcastic banter, and a touch of Christmas magic, this one’s definitely worth a listen. Funny, swoony, and full of heart.
Thank you to @hambright_pr and @claudia_b30 for sending me an ARC to review!
✨Releases 11/19!
#booksta
#bookstagrammer
#HPRBFakeitTilChristmas
#ClaudiaBurgoa
#HambrightPR
November 19, 2025
This was a fun and chaotic read that had me giggling at the banter between the main characters.
Soren and Winnifred agree to fake date to get themselves through the holiday season. She is the black sheep of the family and he is the grumpy/broody neighbor next door. These two are total opposites, but are determined to make it through the chaotic festive time of year.
It may have started as fake, but it starts to shift for them. He knows her better than her family, all of her quirky traits, but he starts to love them all secretly. They have a chemistry that builds and it’s hot. They soon realize, this relationship is not just for the holiday season.
It was a fun holiday read full of drama, banter, a grumpy MMC we all love, and crazy holiday shenanigans.
ⓐⓤⓓⓘⓞ ⓣⓗⓞⓤⓖⓗⓣⓢ
Jason Clarke nails the grumpy MMC every single time and this time was no different! Grace did an amazing job with bringing out the fun and chaotic charm of our FMC.
Soren and Winnifred agree to fake date to get themselves through the holiday season. She is the black sheep of the family and he is the grumpy/broody neighbor next door. These two are total opposites, but are determined to make it through the chaotic festive time of year.
It may have started as fake, but it starts to shift for them. He knows her better than her family, all of her quirky traits, but he starts to love them all secretly. They have a chemistry that builds and it’s hot. They soon realize, this relationship is not just for the holiday season.
It was a fun holiday read full of drama, banter, a grumpy MMC we all love, and crazy holiday shenanigans.
ⓐⓤⓓⓘⓞ ⓣⓗⓞⓤⓖⓗⓣⓢ
Jason Clarke nails the grumpy MMC every single time and this time was no different! Grace did an amazing job with bringing out the fun and chaotic charm of our FMC.
November 25, 2025
*audiobook
"You’re not really LARP girlfriend material."
“I stopped waiting for someone to pick me and picked myself.”
Thanks to Hambright PR for my #gifted copy of this one in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: A fake-dating holiday romance filled with slow-burn tension, awkward family dinners and fun banter.
✨Fake Dating
🎄Grumpy-Sunshine
✨Meddling Family
🎄Secret Billionaire
✨Forced Proximity
🎄HEA
This one was cute and I was just as annoyed as the MCs were about the Howler Newsletter…good lord her family was obnoxious at times. This book def set some healthy boundaries and it was refreshing to see.
I think my fav part was the beginning of the book. I liked the funny banter and the failed dating attempts. The ending was sweet and satisfying. As with most romance novels…you’ll get a HEA.
"You’re not really LARP girlfriend material."
“I stopped waiting for someone to pick me and picked myself.”
Thanks to Hambright PR for my #gifted copy of this one in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: A fake-dating holiday romance filled with slow-burn tension, awkward family dinners and fun banter.
✨Fake Dating
🎄Grumpy-Sunshine
✨Meddling Family
🎄Secret Billionaire
✨Forced Proximity
🎄HEA
This one was cute and I was just as annoyed as the MCs were about the Howler Newsletter…good lord her family was obnoxious at times. This book def set some healthy boundaries and it was refreshing to see.
I think my fav part was the beginning of the book. I liked the funny banter and the failed dating attempts. The ending was sweet and satisfying. As with most romance novels…you’ll get a HEA.
November 19, 2025
Rating: 3.5⭐️
Tropes:
- Holiday Romance
- Fake Dating
- Grumpy X Sunshine
- Neighbors
- Forced Proximity
Happy release day to Claudia Burgoa with Fake it Til Christmas! Thank you so much to Hambright PR for gifting me the ALC copy.
This was a fun, holiday romance read! I am a sucker for the Fake Dating trope every 👏🏼 single 👏🏼 time 👏🏼, and this one did not disappoint with that! Like I mentioned, I received the ALC copy of this and I really enjoyed our voice narrators for it.
Our main characters have known each for years , as their families have a little rivalry going on because of something that happened in the past… but also… THEY ARE NEIGHBORS! The banter, tension and overall chemistry between them was so fun!
I recommend adding this holiday romance to your HOLIDAY TBR!
Tropes:
- Holiday Romance
- Fake Dating
- Grumpy X Sunshine
- Neighbors
- Forced Proximity
Happy release day to Claudia Burgoa with Fake it Til Christmas! Thank you so much to Hambright PR for gifting me the ALC copy.
This was a fun, holiday romance read! I am a sucker for the Fake Dating trope every 👏🏼 single 👏🏼 time 👏🏼, and this one did not disappoint with that! Like I mentioned, I received the ALC copy of this and I really enjoyed our voice narrators for it.
Our main characters have known each for years , as their families have a little rivalry going on because of something that happened in the past… but also… THEY ARE NEIGHBORS! The banter, tension and overall chemistry between them was so fun!
I recommend adding this holiday romance to your HOLIDAY TBR!
December 20, 2025
If you're in the mood for a simple and sweet fake dating holiday romance, then this is the book you need to read or listen to! I personally listened to the audiobook and Jason Clarke's voice was almost TOO sexy for how sweet this book is 😂. Grace Grant is the other voice actor, and they both do such a great job at illustrating the chemistry!
Thank you @hambright_pr for the #gifted ALC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
TROPES:
🌦️ Grumpy /Sunshine
🏡 Neighbors
🔒 Forced Proximity
💍 Fake Dating
🎄 Holiday Romance
🔥 Frenemies to Lovers
Thank you @hambright_pr for the #gifted ALC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
TROPES:
🌦️ Grumpy /Sunshine
🏡 Neighbors
🔒 Forced Proximity
💍 Fake Dating
🎄 Holiday Romance
🔥 Frenemies to Lovers
December 19, 2025
4 "You snuck up on me. One sarcastic, very snarky comment at a time." stars 🌟
November 13, 2025
Win and Soren story is a slow burn fake relationship but as we all know there no such thing as a fake relationship in our world.
Soren grumpy Win is sunshine putting these together, it was an entertaining with win mood boards and her overly exaggeration in the truth it was a fun read.
Loved watching Soren finally realise that Win was the girl for him.
If you love a fake relationship with a lot of banter then this for you.
For me it’s 4🌟
Soren grumpy Win is sunshine putting these together, it was an entertaining with win mood boards and her overly exaggeration in the truth it was a fun read.
Loved watching Soren finally realise that Win was the girl for him.
If you love a fake relationship with a lot of banter then this for you.
For me it’s 4🌟
November 13, 2025
Read this when you want a small town romance, with a twist. Family rivalry and neighbors with enemies to lovers but a total golden retriever! I laughed out loud with this one and loved the audio!
November 8, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ Rounding UP for goodreads 😇
i did an immersive read and LOVED the audiobook!! the male narrator is one of my favorites here and UGH just LOVEEDDDD it!!
the story it’s self was what i expected out of a short christmas book!! i loved the fake dating aspect and also loved all the text chains throughout this book! i did feel like it was a little bit insta-loveyyyy BUT given their situation, i understand why.. i just think their background could have been explained a little bit better!!
overall this was such a fun festive read! super fun if you need a quick festive holiday read 😇
i did an immersive read and LOVED the audiobook!! the male narrator is one of my favorites here and UGH just LOVEEDDDD it!!
the story it’s self was what i expected out of a short christmas book!! i loved the fake dating aspect and also loved all the text chains throughout this book! i did feel like it was a little bit insta-loveyyyy BUT given their situation, i understand why.. i just think their background could have been explained a little bit better!!
overall this was such a fun festive read! super fun if you need a quick festive holiday read 😇
November 29, 2025
ARC & ALC kindly provided for the author in exchange for an honest review
Fake It 'Till Christmas was a very different book from the other Christmas romances I've read, and I loved it: it was unexpectedly funny, with that little touch of angst and family drama that I always love to read in Claudia Burgoa's books, and I think Soren & Win are some of the most charming characters this author has given me, and I loved them so much that I would love to read more about them.
Winnifred is a very chaotic girl who loves making vision boards, glitter, and is VERY resourceful when it comes to inventing the most believable stories. She's one of the funniest fmcs, and I think she'll always have a special place in my heart, which is why it broke my heart so much to read about her struggling to get her mom's approval and how much it hurts her. I also loved reading about her fighting to achieve her dreams, even though she doesn't have the support she deserves.
Soren has a completely different personality: serious, grumpy, hates glitter, chaos, and disorder, and has his life more than on track, but he doesn't have the best relationship with his family either. Soren stole my heart with the way he detests Win's personality, but especially with those internal monologues where the author shows us that he truly sees and appreciates Win just as she is.
Win & Soren have an even more interesting story than I expected: they're both from Winterberry Cove, a small town where everyone knows each other and their families have a fierce rivalry, which Winnifred is fully aware of, and when they decide to leave their small town, they end up as neighbors, and seemingly detest each other. Furthermore, to appease his family during his sister's engagement party, Soren enlists Win to be "his girlfriend," and the chaos extends into Christmas. This makes it impossible for the two to ignore their attraction to each other, the peculiar connection they share, and the way Winnifred drives her grumpy neighbor crazy.
🎧Audiobook Review🎧
🎄Narrators: Grace Grant & Jason Clarke
❤️Dual Narration
🎄Narration: 5/5
It's no secret that I love duet narration, and although this audiobook is narrated in the traditional way, I had an amazing time listening to it, and it's going straight to my favorites list!
This year I've listened to several books narrated by Jason Clarke, and this is undoubtedly one of my favorites! He's the perfect Soren, especially in his grumpiest moments, or when Win's chaotic personality completely drives him crazy, BUT also when he's the sweetest, most tender, and most romantic of all the heroes Claudia Burgoa has written!
Grace Grant captivated me; she gave me EVERYTHING I wanted from the craziness that is Win, his desire for his mother's approval, the chaos of the vision boards, the glitter, and all the stories that pop into his head throughout his relationship with Soren.
🎄Soren: 5/5
🎄Winnifred: 5/5
🎄Plot: 5/5
🎄Romance: 5/5
🎄Supporting Characters: 5/5
🎄Universe: 5/5
🎄Cover: 5/5
🥵: 1/5
ARC & ALC amablemente proporcionada por la autora a cambio de una reseña honesta
Fake it 'Till Christmas fue un libro completamente diferente a los otros romances navideños que he leído y me encantó: fue inesperadamente divertido, con ese pequeño toque de angustia y drama familiar que siempre amo leer en los libros de Claudia Burgoa, y demás creo que Soren & Win son de los personajes más encantadores que esta autora me ha dado y los amé demasiado, tanto que me encantaría leer más sobre ellos.
Winnifred es una chica totalmente caótica, que ama hacer vision boards, el glitter y es MUY ingeniosa cuando de inventar las historias más creíbles se trata, es una de las protagonistas más divertidas y creo que siempre va a tener un lugar especial en mi corazón, por eso me rompió tanto el corazón leerla luchando por obtener la aprobación de su mamá y lo mucho que esto la lastima. También amé leerla luchando por cumplir sus sueños, aún cuando no tiene el apoyo que merece de su parte.
Soren tiene una personalidad completamente diferente: serio, gruñón, odia el glitter, el caos, el desorden y tiene su vida más que encaminada, pero tampoco tiene la mejor relación con las personas en su familia. Soren se robó mi corazón con la manera en la que detesta la forma de ser de Win, pero especialmente con esos monólogos internos en los que la autora nos muestra que él realmente ve a Win y la aprecia tal cual es.
Win & Soren tienen una historia aún más interesante de lo que esperaba: ambos son de Winterberry Cove, un pequeño pueblo donde todos se conocen y sus familias tienen una gran rivalidad de la cual Winnifred está completamente al tanto, y cuando ambos deciden dejar su pequeño pueblo, terminan siendo vecinos, y aparentemente se detestan. Además, para apaciguar a su familia durante la fiesta de compromiso de su hermana, Soren recurre a Win para que sea "su novia" y el caos se extiende hasta la navidad, lo que hace que estos dos no puedan ignorar lo atraídos que se sienten por el otro, la conexión tan peculiar que comparten y la manera en la que Winnifred vuelve loco a su vecino gruñón.
🎧Reseña del audiolibro🎧
🎄Narradores: Grace Grant & Jason Clarke
❤️Narración dual
🎄Narración: 5/5
No es un secreto que amo la narración en dueto, y aunque este audiolibro está narrado de la manera tradicional, me la pasé increíble escuchándolo y va directo a mi lista de favoritos!
Este año me he escuchado varios libros narrados por Jason Clarke y éste es uno de los que más he disfrutado, sin lugar a dudas! Él es el Soren perfecto, especialmente en sus momentos más gruñones, o cuando la personalidad caótica de Win lo saca completamente de sus casillas, PERO también cuando es el más dulce, tierno y romántico de los héroes que Claudia Burgoa ha escrito!
Grace Grant me enamoró, me dio TODO lo que quería de la locura que es Win, de sus deseos por lograr la aprobación de su mamá, el caos de los vision borads, el glitter y todas las historias que salen de su cabeza a lo largo de su historia con Soren.
🎄Soren: 5/5
🎄Winnifred: 5/5
🎄Trama: 5/5
🎄Historia de amor: 5/5
🎄Personajes secundarios: 5/5
🎄Universo: 5/5
🎄Portada: 5/5
🥵: 1/5
Fake It 'Till Christmas was a very different book from the other Christmas romances I've read, and I loved it: it was unexpectedly funny, with that little touch of angst and family drama that I always love to read in Claudia Burgoa's books, and I think Soren & Win are some of the most charming characters this author has given me, and I loved them so much that I would love to read more about them.
Winnifred is a very chaotic girl who loves making vision boards, glitter, and is VERY resourceful when it comes to inventing the most believable stories. She's one of the funniest fmcs, and I think she'll always have a special place in my heart, which is why it broke my heart so much to read about her struggling to get her mom's approval and how much it hurts her. I also loved reading about her fighting to achieve her dreams, even though she doesn't have the support she deserves.
Soren has a completely different personality: serious, grumpy, hates glitter, chaos, and disorder, and has his life more than on track, but he doesn't have the best relationship with his family either. Soren stole my heart with the way he detests Win's personality, but especially with those internal monologues where the author shows us that he truly sees and appreciates Win just as she is.
Win & Soren have an even more interesting story than I expected: they're both from Winterberry Cove, a small town where everyone knows each other and their families have a fierce rivalry, which Winnifred is fully aware of, and when they decide to leave their small town, they end up as neighbors, and seemingly detest each other. Furthermore, to appease his family during his sister's engagement party, Soren enlists Win to be "his girlfriend," and the chaos extends into Christmas. This makes it impossible for the two to ignore their attraction to each other, the peculiar connection they share, and the way Winnifred drives her grumpy neighbor crazy.
🎧Audiobook Review🎧
🎄Narrators: Grace Grant & Jason Clarke
❤️Dual Narration
🎄Narration: 5/5
It's no secret that I love duet narration, and although this audiobook is narrated in the traditional way, I had an amazing time listening to it, and it's going straight to my favorites list!
This year I've listened to several books narrated by Jason Clarke, and this is undoubtedly one of my favorites! He's the perfect Soren, especially in his grumpiest moments, or when Win's chaotic personality completely drives him crazy, BUT also when he's the sweetest, most tender, and most romantic of all the heroes Claudia Burgoa has written!
Grace Grant captivated me; she gave me EVERYTHING I wanted from the craziness that is Win, his desire for his mother's approval, the chaos of the vision boards, the glitter, and all the stories that pop into his head throughout his relationship with Soren.
🎄Soren: 5/5
🎄Winnifred: 5/5
🎄Plot: 5/5
🎄Romance: 5/5
🎄Supporting Characters: 5/5
🎄Universe: 5/5
🎄Cover: 5/5
🥵: 1/5
ARC & ALC amablemente proporcionada por la autora a cambio de una reseña honesta
Fake it 'Till Christmas fue un libro completamente diferente a los otros romances navideños que he leído y me encantó: fue inesperadamente divertido, con ese pequeño toque de angustia y drama familiar que siempre amo leer en los libros de Claudia Burgoa, y demás creo que Soren & Win son de los personajes más encantadores que esta autora me ha dado y los amé demasiado, tanto que me encantaría leer más sobre ellos.
Winnifred es una chica totalmente caótica, que ama hacer vision boards, el glitter y es MUY ingeniosa cuando de inventar las historias más creíbles se trata, es una de las protagonistas más divertidas y creo que siempre va a tener un lugar especial en mi corazón, por eso me rompió tanto el corazón leerla luchando por obtener la aprobación de su mamá y lo mucho que esto la lastima. También amé leerla luchando por cumplir sus sueños, aún cuando no tiene el apoyo que merece de su parte.
Soren tiene una personalidad completamente diferente: serio, gruñón, odia el glitter, el caos, el desorden y tiene su vida más que encaminada, pero tampoco tiene la mejor relación con las personas en su familia. Soren se robó mi corazón con la manera en la que detesta la forma de ser de Win, pero especialmente con esos monólogos internos en los que la autora nos muestra que él realmente ve a Win y la aprecia tal cual es.
Win & Soren tienen una historia aún más interesante de lo que esperaba: ambos son de Winterberry Cove, un pequeño pueblo donde todos se conocen y sus familias tienen una gran rivalidad de la cual Winnifred está completamente al tanto, y cuando ambos deciden dejar su pequeño pueblo, terminan siendo vecinos, y aparentemente se detestan. Además, para apaciguar a su familia durante la fiesta de compromiso de su hermana, Soren recurre a Win para que sea "su novia" y el caos se extiende hasta la navidad, lo que hace que estos dos no puedan ignorar lo atraídos que se sienten por el otro, la conexión tan peculiar que comparten y la manera en la que Winnifred vuelve loco a su vecino gruñón.
🎧Reseña del audiolibro🎧
🎄Narradores: Grace Grant & Jason Clarke
❤️Narración dual
🎄Narración: 5/5
No es un secreto que amo la narración en dueto, y aunque este audiolibro está narrado de la manera tradicional, me la pasé increíble escuchándolo y va directo a mi lista de favoritos!
Este año me he escuchado varios libros narrados por Jason Clarke y éste es uno de los que más he disfrutado, sin lugar a dudas! Él es el Soren perfecto, especialmente en sus momentos más gruñones, o cuando la personalidad caótica de Win lo saca completamente de sus casillas, PERO también cuando es el más dulce, tierno y romántico de los héroes que Claudia Burgoa ha escrito!
Grace Grant me enamoró, me dio TODO lo que quería de la locura que es Win, de sus deseos por lograr la aprobación de su mamá, el caos de los vision borads, el glitter y todas las historias que salen de su cabeza a lo largo de su historia con Soren.
🎄Soren: 5/5
🎄Winnifred: 5/5
🎄Trama: 5/5
🎄Historia de amor: 5/5
🎄Personajes secundarios: 5/5
🎄Universo: 5/5
🎄Portada: 5/5
🥵: 1/5
Read
December 24, 2025Christmas, fake dating, neighbors, grumpy x sunshine Soren
MMC: Soren Thorn; 38
FMC: Winnifred ‘Win’ Wolfcraft; 31
4.2⭐️it was soo cute! They are from the same small town and are now neighbors in a different state, have been for 7 years. They are ‘frenemies’ but more friends and are always bantering and getting in arguments because she’s so chaotic. She’s trying to win Christmas as she’s considered the failure in her family and everything is a competition for them so she’s getting her life together and plans to show off her new boyfriend and relationship. He doesn’t get along with his family but is now roped into going to his sisters engagement party and lies about having a girlfriend so now he’s in need of a fake girlfriend. So he tags her in and she’s committed to the bit except when it starts feeling more real than fake for both of them.
I love how they didn’t jump around it and told each other their feelings about it and moments not feeling fake instead of dragging it. She’s also so funny, always so extra.
“That’s always been our dynamic since she moved next door. She hijacks the conversation, spins it into something weirdly poetic and mildly combative, and then leaves me sitting in the wreckage, wondering how I lost. God help me, if I’m not careful, I might end up married to this woman because she’s going to convince me that’s great for some aesthetic or another.”
“I cover my mouth, half-laughing, half-dying. “I told you she didn’t like us, but you wouldn’t believe me, Soren Capulet.” “Montague,” he corrects me.”
“I’m holding a damn sign. It’s not just a sleek, minimalist placard with Winnifred’s name in tasteful font like a normal person would’ve made. Nope. This one has glitter. It sparkles. It reads: “Welcome to Boston, Madame Wolfcraft & Emotional Support Ficus.” Because I am, apparently, trying to get some boyfriend points.”
“She asked me to fake it ‘til Christmas, but I can’t fake anything anymore, not with her. I have to lay it all out now.”
MMC: Soren Thorn; 38
FMC: Winnifred ‘Win’ Wolfcraft; 31
4.2⭐️it was soo cute! They are from the same small town and are now neighbors in a different state, have been for 7 years. They are ‘frenemies’ but more friends and are always bantering and getting in arguments because she’s so chaotic. She’s trying to win Christmas as she’s considered the failure in her family and everything is a competition for them so she’s getting her life together and plans to show off her new boyfriend and relationship. He doesn’t get along with his family but is now roped into going to his sisters engagement party and lies about having a girlfriend so now he’s in need of a fake girlfriend. So he tags her in and she’s committed to the bit except when it starts feeling more real than fake for both of them.
I love how they didn’t jump around it and told each other their feelings about it and moments not feeling fake instead of dragging it. She’s also so funny, always so extra.
“That’s always been our dynamic since she moved next door. She hijacks the conversation, spins it into something weirdly poetic and mildly combative, and then leaves me sitting in the wreckage, wondering how I lost. God help me, if I’m not careful, I might end up married to this woman because she’s going to convince me that’s great for some aesthetic or another.”
“I cover my mouth, half-laughing, half-dying. “I told you she didn’t like us, but you wouldn’t believe me, Soren Capulet.” “Montague,” he corrects me.”
“I’m holding a damn sign. It’s not just a sleek, minimalist placard with Winnifred’s name in tasteful font like a normal person would’ve made. Nope. This one has glitter. It sparkles. It reads: “Welcome to Boston, Madame Wolfcraft & Emotional Support Ficus.” Because I am, apparently, trying to get some boyfriend points.”
“She asked me to fake it ‘til Christmas, but I can’t fake anything anymore, not with her. I have to lay it all out now.”
December 5, 2025
5.00 ✨
1.50 🌶️
6h 54m 🎧
⁀➴ Overall: This book had me laughing out loud with all the amazing banter!! I loved their relationship, the slow burn, and how delicious it was to see them truly fall for each other.
⋆⟢ Tropes + Vibes:
🤍 grumpy x sunshine
🪴 incredible banter
🥨 forced proximity
🪴 holiday romance
🥨 frenemies to lovers
🤍 fake dating
⁀➴ Bookish Breakdown:
Fake dating is forever and always a TOP trope of mine. I love watching them work through the “rules” of the relationship, and then watching the rules all fall apart slowly. Winnifred and Soren were no exception and are absolutely perfect together.
I loved Winnifred!! I completely related to the fact that Winnifred refuses to do anything halfway. You know how it goes: never half-ass two things, always whole-ass one thing. 🤭 I loved watching her stand up for herself, plan everything perfectly, and do it all while bringing the sassy and sunshine vibes!
Soren was absolutely real boyfriend material. I appreciated his overall demeanor, his ability to always win Winnifred over, and his adoration of all of Winnifred's quirks! I loved watching him realize how much he truly loved Win, slowly working through all the time they spent together, how even though they were “frenemies”, they still were each other’s closest confidants and friends.
The second they got to the hotel and there was a romantic suite with only one bed, I knew I was fully obsessed with this one. I absolutely loved the moment that everything started to fall into place for Win and Soren. I was fully invested and couldn’t put the book down!
I also really loved the audio narration by Grace Grant and Jason Clarke. It really brought the story even more to life, and I’m so thankful to have listened!
Thank you to Claudia Burgoa and Hambright PR for this ARC/ALC.
1.50 🌶️
6h 54m 🎧
⁀➴ Overall: This book had me laughing out loud with all the amazing banter!! I loved their relationship, the slow burn, and how delicious it was to see them truly fall for each other.
⋆⟢ Tropes + Vibes:
🤍 grumpy x sunshine
🪴 incredible banter
🥨 forced proximity
🪴 holiday romance
🥨 frenemies to lovers
🤍 fake dating
⁀➴ Bookish Breakdown:
Fake dating is forever and always a TOP trope of mine. I love watching them work through the “rules” of the relationship, and then watching the rules all fall apart slowly. Winnifred and Soren were no exception and are absolutely perfect together.
I loved Winnifred!! I completely related to the fact that Winnifred refuses to do anything halfway. You know how it goes: never half-ass two things, always whole-ass one thing. 🤭 I loved watching her stand up for herself, plan everything perfectly, and do it all while bringing the sassy and sunshine vibes!
Soren was absolutely real boyfriend material. I appreciated his overall demeanor, his ability to always win Winnifred over, and his adoration of all of Winnifred's quirks! I loved watching him realize how much he truly loved Win, slowly working through all the time they spent together, how even though they were “frenemies”, they still were each other’s closest confidants and friends.
The second they got to the hotel and there was a romantic suite with only one bed, I knew I was fully obsessed with this one. I absolutely loved the moment that everything started to fall into place for Win and Soren. I was fully invested and couldn’t put the book down!
I also really loved the audio narration by Grace Grant and Jason Clarke. It really brought the story even more to life, and I’m so thankful to have listened!
Thank you to Claudia Burgoa and Hambright PR for this ARC/ALC.
December 6, 2025
SUMMARY:
Winnifred Wolfcraft lives a life of pure fantasy. She lives through mood boards and perfectly curated social media posts. So when Soren Thorn is looking for the help of a friend to curate the image of a fake relationship, he knows exactly who to ask.
hough Winnie’s demeanor is full of sunshine and rainbows, and Soren is minimalist and serious, the pair of neighbors find they have one perfectly annoying thing in common.. their mothers. To get the moms to back off, the duo plan a perfect plot to throw their moms out of their personal business.
MY THOUGHTS:
I’m a tried and true die hard Romantasy genre reader, but Claudia Burgoa convinced me I’m a contemporary romance reader too! I read this book in less than a day. It had all the elements of a holiday romance to keep a reader hooked. With a sunshine FMC and grumpy MMC bantering over family drama, I was invested.
The spice was just right, the lead characters are perfection, and the banter had me literally laughing out loud. I haven’t had a book bring me such joy in a very long time. Though the Wolfcraft and Thorn mothers are side characters, they give main character energy. I resonated all too well with the guilt trips of the Thorn, Catholic mom a little too well.
FAV QUOTES:
“There’s always a black sheep in the family… The human equivalent of a group text typo… Yeah, I’m that person…”
“I like pretending it’s not just a ficus and a lie… I like pretending that maybe, one day, there’ll be a dog. And matching pajamas. And us.”
Winnifred Wolfcraft lives a life of pure fantasy. She lives through mood boards and perfectly curated social media posts. So when Soren Thorn is looking for the help of a friend to curate the image of a fake relationship, he knows exactly who to ask.
hough Winnie’s demeanor is full of sunshine and rainbows, and Soren is minimalist and serious, the pair of neighbors find they have one perfectly annoying thing in common.. their mothers. To get the moms to back off, the duo plan a perfect plot to throw their moms out of their personal business.
MY THOUGHTS:
I’m a tried and true die hard Romantasy genre reader, but Claudia Burgoa convinced me I’m a contemporary romance reader too! I read this book in less than a day. It had all the elements of a holiday romance to keep a reader hooked. With a sunshine FMC and grumpy MMC bantering over family drama, I was invested.
The spice was just right, the lead characters are perfection, and the banter had me literally laughing out loud. I haven’t had a book bring me such joy in a very long time. Though the Wolfcraft and Thorn mothers are side characters, they give main character energy. I resonated all too well with the guilt trips of the Thorn, Catholic mom a little too well.
FAV QUOTES:
“There’s always a black sheep in the family… The human equivalent of a group text typo… Yeah, I’m that person…”
“I like pretending it’s not just a ficus and a lie… I like pretending that maybe, one day, there’ll be a dog. And matching pajamas. And us.”
November 19, 2025
Okay listen… I signed up for a cute little fake dating moment and somehow ended up emotionally invested in a man who drinks black coffee like it’s a cry for help and treats feelings like they’re biohazards.
Soren Thorn:
Grumpy ...broody ...emotionally allergic ... suddenly dropping tiny pieces of his soul in my lap like “here, hold this but don’t make it weird.”
Me:
Absolutely making it weird.
This book had me kicking my feet one minute and wanting to bonk their heads together the next because the chemistry? CHAOTIC. SLOW-BURNING. UNNECESSARILY HOT.
The whole “it’s just for the weekend” thing had the structural integrity of wet tissue.
One shared secret?
One “I’m fine” when he’s clearly NOT fine?
One private jet moment??
Yeah, goodbye pretending.
I loved the tension, the banter, and the way the fake dating slowly morphed into “oh no I actually care about this emotionally constipated man and now I’m doomed.”
It’s messy in the best way ....soft moments, awkward family chaos, and two people catching feelings so loudly I could HEAR it.
If you love grumpy boys, fake dating disasters, and watching two idiots fall in love against their will, this one will hit all your serotonin buttons.
Thank you Hambright PR & ClaudiaBurgoa for the #gifted earc
All opinions are my own
Soren Thorn:
Grumpy ...broody ...emotionally allergic ... suddenly dropping tiny pieces of his soul in my lap like “here, hold this but don’t make it weird.”
Me:
Absolutely making it weird.
This book had me kicking my feet one minute and wanting to bonk their heads together the next because the chemistry? CHAOTIC. SLOW-BURNING. UNNECESSARILY HOT.
The whole “it’s just for the weekend” thing had the structural integrity of wet tissue.
One shared secret?
One “I’m fine” when he’s clearly NOT fine?
One private jet moment??
Yeah, goodbye pretending.
I loved the tension, the banter, and the way the fake dating slowly morphed into “oh no I actually care about this emotionally constipated man and now I’m doomed.”
It’s messy in the best way ....soft moments, awkward family chaos, and two people catching feelings so loudly I could HEAR it.
If you love grumpy boys, fake dating disasters, and watching two idiots fall in love against their will, this one will hit all your serotonin buttons.
Thank you Hambright PR & ClaudiaBurgoa for the #gifted earc
All opinions are my own
December 24, 2025
Fake It Til Christmas was honestly such a fun read and audio. I went in expecting a cute holiday romance, and it ended up being way funnier than I thought it would be. The characters themselves were easy to love, Win is quirky and a ray of sunshine while Soren is grumpy and has a closed-off personality. The fake-dating pact between the Win and Soren was comical within itself with the way the two bickered constantly, and the banter between them made me laugh throughout the whole book. Their personalities clash in the best way, which makes their scenes together really entertaining.
I also liked that it wasn’t just sweet, it had a little spice mixed in, which made the romance feel more exciting without taking over the whole story. The holiday vibes and family chaos added to the warmth and humor of the story which made it even more of a delight to read and listen to.
I will say the narrators knocked this one out of the park! They were both amazing and did a fantastic job pulling you into the story. Overall I felt it’s a funny, festive, and slightly spicy romance that’s easy to read/listen to and hard not to enjoy. Perfect if you want something lighthearted with a bit of edge during the holidays.
4.5/5
I also liked that it wasn’t just sweet, it had a little spice mixed in, which made the romance feel more exciting without taking over the whole story. The holiday vibes and family chaos added to the warmth and humor of the story which made it even more of a delight to read and listen to.
I will say the narrators knocked this one out of the park! They were both amazing and did a fantastic job pulling you into the story. Overall I felt it’s a funny, festive, and slightly spicy romance that’s easy to read/listen to and hard not to enjoy. Perfect if you want something lighthearted with a bit of edge during the holidays.
4.5/5
November 9, 2025
✦ 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 4✨
✦ 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 - Nov 19, 2025
✦ 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 -
• fake dating
• grumpy x sunshine
• small town christmas
• family rivalry
• slow burn
• one bed
• found family
• holiday romance
✦ 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 -
Fake it ‘Til Christmas is a warm and cozy small-town holiday romance that wraps chaos, humor, and heart in one sugary-sweet package. It follows Winnifred, the chaotic black sheep of her perfect family, and Soren, her grumpy next-door neighbor. Both end up fake dating to survive the most festive (and dramatic) season of their lives. What starts as an act turns into something full of real emotion, late-night confessions, and slow-burn sparks that feel like home.
I loved how imperfect yet real these two were. Winnie’s messy energy and Soren’s quiet care balance each other beautifully. Their banter had that playful bite, and the family chaos made it feel so relatable. The writing was light, funny, and full of that festive comfort you need in a December read.
It’s grumpy x sunshine done right with just the perfect dose of fluff, cinnamon kisses, and Christmas magic.
Thank you so much hambrightpr for the free ARC!
✦ 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 - Nov 19, 2025
✦ 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 -
• fake dating
• grumpy x sunshine
• small town christmas
• family rivalry
• slow burn
• one bed
• found family
• holiday romance
✦ 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 -
Fake it ‘Til Christmas is a warm and cozy small-town holiday romance that wraps chaos, humor, and heart in one sugary-sweet package. It follows Winnifred, the chaotic black sheep of her perfect family, and Soren, her grumpy next-door neighbor. Both end up fake dating to survive the most festive (and dramatic) season of their lives. What starts as an act turns into something full of real emotion, late-night confessions, and slow-burn sparks that feel like home.
I loved how imperfect yet real these two were. Winnie’s messy energy and Soren’s quiet care balance each other beautifully. Their banter had that playful bite, and the family chaos made it feel so relatable. The writing was light, funny, and full of that festive comfort you need in a December read.
It’s grumpy x sunshine done right with just the perfect dose of fluff, cinnamon kisses, and Christmas magic.
Thank you so much hambrightpr for the free ARC!
December 13, 2025
“When she’s in nothing but those tiny black panties, I swear I forget every language except the one her body speaks.” 🫠
This was a cute, fun, and fast holiday listen. I loved that the focus stayed on the main characters the whole time. No unnecessary side drama or filler. It was exactly what I was in the mood for. The banter and texting had me chuckling too.
Fake dating is my weakness… add grumpy/sunshine to that and you’ve already won me over. The audiobook really elevated the story for me as well. Grace Grant and Jason Clarke were excellent narrators. I have a thing for voices (it’s why I love audiobooks) and Jason’s voice is pure gravelly, grown-man perfection. Chapter 32 brought the heat, but listening to Jason bring it to life was chef’s kiss. It was bite-your-lip GOOD.
Thank you to Claudia Burgoa and Hambright PR for gifting me the audiobook copy. I’m sharing this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.
This was a cute, fun, and fast holiday listen. I loved that the focus stayed on the main characters the whole time. No unnecessary side drama or filler. It was exactly what I was in the mood for. The banter and texting had me chuckling too.
Fake dating is my weakness… add grumpy/sunshine to that and you’ve already won me over. The audiobook really elevated the story for me as well. Grace Grant and Jason Clarke were excellent narrators. I have a thing for voices (it’s why I love audiobooks) and Jason’s voice is pure gravelly, grown-man perfection. Chapter 32 brought the heat, but listening to Jason bring it to life was chef’s kiss. It was bite-your-lip GOOD.
Thank you to Claudia Burgoa and Hambright PR for gifting me the audiobook copy. I’m sharing this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.
December 27, 2025
3.75 ⭐️ This was a cute, quick holiday read with many of my fave tropes - grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, slow burn, some forced proximity (including a snowed in weekend 👀), neighbors to lovers - and was a fun listen for Christmas time although would probably be great for any cozy season reading, as it covers both Thanksgiving and Christmas time periods. I enjoyed the tension between the two MCs and how Winnifred’s goal went from besting her family in the annual newsletter to just prioritizing her own happiness + needs with the man she can’t help falling for in the end. I do wish we’d gotten more context on the family rivalry situation and gotten a bit more backstory on their neighbor relationship beforehand. However, it was a quick read which is perfect for this time of year when I’m just trying to devour all the Christmas-related media that I can!
Thank you to Hambright PR for the gifted ALC! All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Hambright PR for the gifted ALC! All opinions are my own.
December 5, 2025
Thank you, Hambright PR, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This was such a cute and sweet holiday read — or in my case, listen!
Win and Soren were a fun couple to watch “fall in love” (because it’s very clear they’ve been into each other for ages).
He noticed things about her that no one else did and always appreciated her for exactly who she was, which is a big contrast to her family. Both characters had depth and distinct personalities, which is always refreshing.
I also really liked that the story touches on other holidays and not only Christmas, even though at its core it’s definitely a Christmas story.
Sometimes the writing could be a bit corny, but in my opinion holiday reads have room to be cheesy and not that serious.
Overall, it was a great listen and such good company these past couple of days 🎄🩷
This was such a cute and sweet holiday read — or in my case, listen!
Win and Soren were a fun couple to watch “fall in love” (because it’s very clear they’ve been into each other for ages).
He noticed things about her that no one else did and always appreciated her for exactly who she was, which is a big contrast to her family. Both characters had depth and distinct personalities, which is always refreshing.
I also really liked that the story touches on other holidays and not only Christmas, even though at its core it’s definitely a Christmas story.
Sometimes the writing could be a bit corny, but in my opinion holiday reads have room to be cheesy and not that serious.
Overall, it was a great listen and such good company these past couple of days 🎄🩷
December 12, 2025
Fake dating has always been my favourite trope, and pairing it with a holiday romance made this book the perfect combo for me. I had such a good time reading it. It was funny, heartfelt, and full of festive charm.
Winnie is the black sheep of her family, always feeling like she doesn’t measure up, while Soren is her grumpy neighbour who seems to live in constant annoyance. When circumstances push them into a fake relationship for the holiday season, what starts as a convenient plan quickly turns into something much deeper.
I loved the contrast between them, her chaotic, free-spirited energy against his broody, structured personality. Their banter was sharp and entertaining.
The holiday backdrop was well done. Family gatherings, Christmas traditions, and all the seasonal chaos made their fake dating scheme even more fun to follow.
Winnie is the black sheep of her family, always feeling like she doesn’t measure up, while Soren is her grumpy neighbour who seems to live in constant annoyance. When circumstances push them into a fake relationship for the holiday season, what starts as a convenient plan quickly turns into something much deeper.
I loved the contrast between them, her chaotic, free-spirited energy against his broody, structured personality. Their banter was sharp and entertaining.
The holiday backdrop was well done. Family gatherings, Christmas traditions, and all the seasonal chaos made their fake dating scheme even more fun to follow.
November 9, 2025
" I didn't expect you, Win. I didn't see you coming. But now I can't see anything without you in it."
This was super cute and kind of refreshing. It felt like a real slow burn (as slow as it can be in a 200-page book). I loved how their internal thoughts weren't lusty but focused on the small things they liked about each other. How Soren knew when Win was spiraling, her favorite coffee, how her laugh would make him feel. This can also be very relatable because let's be honest, sometimes the holidays can be difficult and some people don't have the best relationships with their families. Would recommend!
"You keep looking at me like that," he murmurs, "and I'm going to stop pretending this is a game."
This was super cute and kind of refreshing. It felt like a real slow burn (as slow as it can be in a 200-page book). I loved how their internal thoughts weren't lusty but focused on the small things they liked about each other. How Soren knew when Win was spiraling, her favorite coffee, how her laugh would make him feel. This can also be very relatable because let's be honest, sometimes the holidays can be difficult and some people don't have the best relationships with their families. Would recommend!
"You keep looking at me like that," he murmurs, "and I'm going to stop pretending this is a game."
November 12, 2025
another great christmas book!! the cover and plot of this book is what drew me too it, and I must say it did not disapoint! The connection Winnifred and Soren built, amazing!😍 their chemistry was on fire!🔥 this was such an easy read for me as I was hooked instantly! although their relationship progressed fast, it was still believable, and you could tell they had a soft spot for eachother and a strong connection from the beginning🥰 oh and they make such adorable Ficus parents! I absolutely loved the ending and loved how Winnifred got to open her bakery with Soren by her side! I totally recommend this book for the christmas season comming up! its so cosy and warms you up inside! loved Claudia's writing🩷
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