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Merry & Faking It: A Fake Dating Christmas Novella
No dating. No drama. Just one tiny fake relationship to survive Christmas. What could go wrong?
Mollie Harper has one goal this survive her family’s weeklong holiday cabin trip without being labeled the hot mess of the year. Again.
She just needs to fake being stable for seven days. Easy, right?
Except her car dies. Her family won’t stop asking about her love life. And in a moment of pure, peppermint-fueled panic, Mollie blurts out a lie about having a boyfriend—one she definitely doesn’t have.
Enter Adam.
A quiet, cinnamon-roll consultant with no Christmas plans and a willingness to play pretend.
All he has to do is be charming, helpful, and fake-date her until New Year’s.
No real feelings. No actual sex.
Absolutely no falling in love.
But one snowball fight, a porch kiss, and a whole lot of flannel later… those rules are getting harder to remember.
Especially when Mollie realizes this fake boyfriend might be the realest thing she’s ever had.
Merry & Faking It is a spicy, feel-good Christmas novella full of fake dating, festive family chaos, and one cinnamon-roll hero who falls first and hardest.
Mollie Harper has one goal this survive her family’s weeklong holiday cabin trip without being labeled the hot mess of the year. Again.
She just needs to fake being stable for seven days. Easy, right?
Except her car dies. Her family won’t stop asking about her love life. And in a moment of pure, peppermint-fueled panic, Mollie blurts out a lie about having a boyfriend—one she definitely doesn’t have.
Enter Adam.
A quiet, cinnamon-roll consultant with no Christmas plans and a willingness to play pretend.
All he has to do is be charming, helpful, and fake-date her until New Year’s.
No real feelings. No actual sex.
Absolutely no falling in love.
But one snowball fight, a porch kiss, and a whole lot of flannel later… those rules are getting harder to remember.
Especially when Mollie realizes this fake boyfriend might be the realest thing she’s ever had.
Merry & Faking It is a spicy, feel-good Christmas novella full of fake dating, festive family chaos, and one cinnamon-roll hero who falls first and hardest.
165 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 10, 2025
14 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
December 24, 2025
I was in desperate need of a cutesy Christmas read to get me into the holiday spirit. Did this do the trick? Kinda. But with a sprinkle of emotionally difficulty.
This is very hallmark coded, as I seem to find most Christmas romances tend to be.
We have the woman whose life is falling apart right before Christmas, the slightly dysfunctional family, and the guy who doesn’t usually get very festive- all coming together to make a pretty classic, slightly sad but also feel good story.
I really liked both of the main characters, Mollie and Adam.
Adam had a story that I thought was particularly sad. As someone who has also experienced a lot of grief around this time of year and knows first hand the way that it impacts what should be joyful, fun-filled times (especially at a young age) I was able to sympathize and relate to him a lot.
If you have read a ton of these kinds of book in the past- I wouldn’t say you NEED to read it (unless you just really love Christmas romances), but if you’re a casual reader looking for something seasonal, I would say go for it.
This is pretty short, at under 200 pages I think it can be easily read in one sitting, and doesn’t take too much energy (which I think is good for the busy holiday season)
Overall, I liked it. It does have a few heavier elements and backstories, so it’s not all fun and fluff, but I think it adds some good depth to it.
Thank you to Booksirens and author Rory Quinn, for providing me with the eARC of “Merry and Faking It”. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Publication date: December 10, 2025
This is very hallmark coded, as I seem to find most Christmas romances tend to be.
We have the woman whose life is falling apart right before Christmas, the slightly dysfunctional family, and the guy who doesn’t usually get very festive- all coming together to make a pretty classic, slightly sad but also feel good story.
I really liked both of the main characters, Mollie and Adam.
Adam had a story that I thought was particularly sad. As someone who has also experienced a lot of grief around this time of year and knows first hand the way that it impacts what should be joyful, fun-filled times (especially at a young age) I was able to sympathize and relate to him a lot.
If you have read a ton of these kinds of book in the past- I wouldn’t say you NEED to read it (unless you just really love Christmas romances), but if you’re a casual reader looking for something seasonal, I would say go for it.
This is pretty short, at under 200 pages I think it can be easily read in one sitting, and doesn’t take too much energy (which I think is good for the busy holiday season)
Overall, I liked it. It does have a few heavier elements and backstories, so it’s not all fun and fluff, but I think it adds some good depth to it.
Thank you to Booksirens and author Rory Quinn, for providing me with the eARC of “Merry and Faking It”. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Publication date: December 10, 2025
December 22, 2025
⭐️4/5
Merry & Faking It is a cozy and festive romance that is perfect for the holiday season. The fake-dating storyline is fun and easy to enjoy, with lots of charm, sweet moments, and Christmas vibes. The story is short but very engaging, making it a great quick read when looking for something light and feel-good.
The main characters work really well together, and the chemistry feels natural and believable. The banter is cute, the emotions feel real, and the romance develops nicely even in a short story. There is one spicy scene near the end that fits the story well and is not overdone. The ending is happy and satisfying, leaving a warm and positive feeling after finishing the book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Merry & Faking It is a cozy and festive romance that is perfect for the holiday season. The fake-dating storyline is fun and easy to enjoy, with lots of charm, sweet moments, and Christmas vibes. The story is short but very engaging, making it a great quick read when looking for something light and feel-good.
The main characters work really well together, and the chemistry feels natural and believable. The banter is cute, the emotions feel real, and the romance develops nicely even in a short story. There is one spicy scene near the end that fits the story well and is not overdone. The ending is happy and satisfying, leaving a warm and positive feeling after finishing the book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 29, 2025
what the heck happened and where was the editor?
This book started out pretty good for what it was and then all of a sudden the entire story changed. Different back story, family name changed from Bowen to Harper, family members disappeared. I dealt with some pretty blatant typos in the early part of the book but truly - how the heck do such drastic changes leading to a complete lack of continuity get by an editor or publisher? Terrible.
This book started out pretty good for what it was and then all of a sudden the entire story changed. Different back story, family name changed from Bowen to Harper, family members disappeared. I dealt with some pretty blatant typos in the early part of the book but truly - how the heck do such drastic changes leading to a complete lack of continuity get by an editor or publisher? Terrible.
Read
January 16, 2026Merry & Faking It is a sweet holiday romance novel by Rory Quinn. Mollie is a neurodivergent-coded protagonist who is about to spend the week at her family's cabin. Her family thinks she is a flake who can never hold on to a job or a partner, so when she is dumped by her boyfriend, she cannot face the prospect of having failed again. She enlists the help of her brother's straight-laced friend, Adam, to play the role of her fake boyfriend, Steve.
I enjoyed the author's take on the fake boyfriend trope as well as the overall plot of the story. Mollie, Adam, and the rest of the family were characters the reader can truly care about. The story is very cute, the characters are relatable, and the premise offers a fresh perspective on the neurodivergent/straight-laced dynamic. I started out liking the book so much that I was unable to put it down.
Unfortunately, the experience was characterized by jarring inconsistencies. Due to this lack of continuity, I found myself distracted and unable to fully enjoy the narrative. For example, in the beginning of the book, Mollie states that she dated Steve for two years, but she later tells Adam they were together for ten months. In another scene, a character is described as stretched out in nothing but cotton shorts, yet a few lines down, their jeans are being taken off button by button. I went back and read those lines two or three times to see if I was mistaken- I wasn’t. There were a few more inconsistencies that were equally distracting, though I will not share them here as they contain spoilers. Finally, the pacing felt uneven; the ending felt a bit rushed, while other scenes, such as a snowball fight, dragged on.
While the story itself is charming and the characters are likable, the poor editing made it difficult to stay immersed in the book. In addition, Adam was a dreamy MMC & how quickly he fell for Mollie was very believable. Mollie was adorable and her attraction to Adam was quite justified. Their chemistry in and of itself is the top reason I would recommend Merry & Faking it. However, I would not recommend this book to anyone simply because of the poor editing and confusing timelines.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed the author's take on the fake boyfriend trope as well as the overall plot of the story. Mollie, Adam, and the rest of the family were characters the reader can truly care about. The story is very cute, the characters are relatable, and the premise offers a fresh perspective on the neurodivergent/straight-laced dynamic. I started out liking the book so much that I was unable to put it down.
Unfortunately, the experience was characterized by jarring inconsistencies. Due to this lack of continuity, I found myself distracted and unable to fully enjoy the narrative. For example, in the beginning of the book, Mollie states that she dated Steve for two years, but she later tells Adam they were together for ten months. In another scene, a character is described as stretched out in nothing but cotton shorts, yet a few lines down, their jeans are being taken off button by button. I went back and read those lines two or three times to see if I was mistaken- I wasn’t. There were a few more inconsistencies that were equally distracting, though I will not share them here as they contain spoilers. Finally, the pacing felt uneven; the ending felt a bit rushed, while other scenes, such as a snowball fight, dragged on.
While the story itself is charming and the characters are likable, the poor editing made it difficult to stay immersed in the book. In addition, Adam was a dreamy MMC & how quickly he fell for Mollie was very believable. Mollie was adorable and her attraction to Adam was quite justified. Their chemistry in and of itself is the top reason I would recommend Merry & Faking it. However, I would not recommend this book to anyone simply because of the poor editing and confusing timelines.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 31, 2025
Ah yes - the Hallmark movie-esque story that is so very self aware of the very UN-Hallmark-ness traits😂🙌🙌🙌 Loved it😅
This novella has such depth and emotion, that I could easily see it expanded into a full-length book ::🤞 a girl can dream🤞…:: Don’t for a second think that my description means it isn’t a “fun” read - because, HOOO-LORDY I enjoyed it😅😅
Perhaps it’s my odd (Dark? Snarky? Sarcastic?) sense of humor, but I felt a kinship to the fmc, Mollie. Unfortunately, we discover that the entire scheme for Mollie’s fake bf, is due to her unfortunate (family) reputation of not taking anything -especially herself- seriously. Now, whether this lack-of-seriousness is deserved or not, it’s “ick” behavior for grown adults (her own family) to actively participate in perpetuating.
That being said, the coping that Mollie has been forced into shows us how very much alone she is, and the parts of her I related to the most come out of her “survival mode”/coping mechanism instincts. I’m curious if any other self-deprecating, dark humor peeps notice similarities, too?
I really enjoyed the style of Rory Quinn’s prose - it’s lyrical and colorful, without ever coming across as snobby or pretentious. And the heat is surprisingly effective in being a “slow burn” - especially considering the fact that the “novella”label cuts the 🌶️ timeline (meaning - the timeframe for everything between the main 2 characters mainly 🌶️-related) down a TON. However, my LORD is that buildup of tension so incredibly effective (and somehow still painfully slow 😅)
This read packs a punch. If you’re normally one to bypass novellas, because you typically prefer a painfully long, drawn out, slow burn - perhaps try throwing caution to the wind and give this small-but- VERY-mighty novella a shot?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This novella has such depth and emotion, that I could easily see it expanded into a full-length book ::🤞 a girl can dream🤞…:: Don’t for a second think that my description means it isn’t a “fun” read - because, HOOO-LORDY I enjoyed it😅😅
Perhaps it’s my odd (Dark? Snarky? Sarcastic?) sense of humor, but I felt a kinship to the fmc, Mollie. Unfortunately, we discover that the entire scheme for Mollie’s fake bf, is due to her unfortunate (family) reputation of not taking anything -especially herself- seriously. Now, whether this lack-of-seriousness is deserved or not, it’s “ick” behavior for grown adults (her own family) to actively participate in perpetuating.
That being said, the coping that Mollie has been forced into shows us how very much alone she is, and the parts of her I related to the most come out of her “survival mode”/coping mechanism instincts. I’m curious if any other self-deprecating, dark humor peeps notice similarities, too?
I really enjoyed the style of Rory Quinn’s prose - it’s lyrical and colorful, without ever coming across as snobby or pretentious. And the heat is surprisingly effective in being a “slow burn” - especially considering the fact that the “novella”label cuts the 🌶️ timeline (meaning - the timeframe for everything between the main 2 characters mainly 🌶️-related) down a TON. However, my LORD is that buildup of tension so incredibly effective (and somehow still painfully slow 😅)
This read packs a punch. If you’re normally one to bypass novellas, because you typically prefer a painfully long, drawn out, slow burn - perhaps try throwing caution to the wind and give this small-but- VERY-mighty novella a shot?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 19, 2025
MERRY AND FAKING IT by RORY QUINN ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mollie has been dreading her family Christmas get together, just as she’s been dreading it every year. Tired of the derisive and sarcastic comments that inevitably come her way, Mollie accidentally tells her parents that not only is she still with her ex but that he’s coming to the festivities with her. Whoops!
Desperate to keep her secret, Mollie accosts a stranger in the pub and offers to pay him to be her ‘fake’ boyfriend for the week.
Charming, handsome, cinnamon roll consultant Adam jumps at the chance to spend the week with Mollie and her family. It’s been years since he celebrated and there’s something about Mollie that appeals to him, so it’s a win/win in his eyes. As the pair get to know one another, they grow closer and lines begin to blur …..
———————————
This was my first read by Rory Quinn and I enjoyed it. ‘Merry And Faking It’ is a spicy feel good seasonal book. At around 156 pages with a delightful cover, I read An ebook copy.
Both main characters are engaging and interesting and match well together. There were a couple of points that I would have liked expanding on, but it’s a novella so I understand there is only so much you can include. There is one spicy scene towards the end of the story but it is tastefully done.
If you like light, easy read seasonal stories then this is the book for you !
With thanks to Rory Quinn and BookSirens for a copy of this book. All comments are my own, unbiased opinion.
⛄️ Festive Romance
⛄️ Cinnamon roll hero
⛄️ Strangers to Friends to Lovers
Mollie has been dreading her family Christmas get together, just as she’s been dreading it every year. Tired of the derisive and sarcastic comments that inevitably come her way, Mollie accidentally tells her parents that not only is she still with her ex but that he’s coming to the festivities with her. Whoops!
Desperate to keep her secret, Mollie accosts a stranger in the pub and offers to pay him to be her ‘fake’ boyfriend for the week.
Charming, handsome, cinnamon roll consultant Adam jumps at the chance to spend the week with Mollie and her family. It’s been years since he celebrated and there’s something about Mollie that appeals to him, so it’s a win/win in his eyes. As the pair get to know one another, they grow closer and lines begin to blur …..
———————————
This was my first read by Rory Quinn and I enjoyed it. ‘Merry And Faking It’ is a spicy feel good seasonal book. At around 156 pages with a delightful cover, I read An ebook copy.
Both main characters are engaging and interesting and match well together. There were a couple of points that I would have liked expanding on, but it’s a novella so I understand there is only so much you can include. There is one spicy scene towards the end of the story but it is tastefully done.
If you like light, easy read seasonal stories then this is the book for you !
With thanks to Rory Quinn and BookSirens for a copy of this book. All comments are my own, unbiased opinion.
⛄️ Festive Romance
⛄️ Cinnamon roll hero
⛄️ Strangers to Friends to Lovers
January 4, 2026
This novella started as a cute fake-dating Christmas rom-com: Mollie just wants to survive her family’s holiday cabin trip without everyone pointing out her “single life,” and Adam is that cinnamon-roll consultant who agrees to be her pretend boyfriend for a week. The festive setup and early chemistry were genuinely fun—Adam sees Mollie in ways her family never does, and their banter and snowball-fight energy had me smiling.
But somewhere around the middle, the book shape-shifts into a completely different story. The timeline jumps, the setting changes, and new characters appear out of nowhere. Characters who already seemed familiar start acting like strangers—Elliot goes from clue-in to clueless, Steve switches careers mid-book, and even the holiday week becomes confusing. It felt like reading two different drafts stitched together, which made the plot hard to follow and, frankly, frustrating. Your suspension of disbelief only goes so far when the novella forgets its own rules.
Strengths: the initial fake-dating setup was warm and cute, and the holiday cabin vibe was promising.
Weaknesses: inconsistent timeline, abrupt changes in character background, and narrative confusion that pulled me out of the story.
Overall, this could have been a cozy pick-up for the holidays, but the chaotic middle and structural issues dropped it well below expectations. I personally couldn’t finish it past 75 % because of those inconsistencies, so I’m sticking with the first half in my head instead of the whole. Received as an ARC for an honest review—hoping later versions fix the problems.
But somewhere around the middle, the book shape-shifts into a completely different story. The timeline jumps, the setting changes, and new characters appear out of nowhere. Characters who already seemed familiar start acting like strangers—Elliot goes from clue-in to clueless, Steve switches careers mid-book, and even the holiday week becomes confusing. It felt like reading two different drafts stitched together, which made the plot hard to follow and, frankly, frustrating. Your suspension of disbelief only goes so far when the novella forgets its own rules.
Strengths: the initial fake-dating setup was warm and cute, and the holiday cabin vibe was promising.
Weaknesses: inconsistent timeline, abrupt changes in character background, and narrative confusion that pulled me out of the story.
Overall, this could have been a cozy pick-up for the holidays, but the chaotic middle and structural issues dropped it well below expectations. I personally couldn’t finish it past 75 % because of those inconsistencies, so I’m sticking with the first half in my head instead of the whole. Received as an ARC for an honest review—hoping later versions fix the problems.
January 16, 2026
"You're allowed to take up space Mollie."
Mollie & Adam. This was a cute Christmas novella but because it was a novella, everything moved really fast and some things just moved too fast. Hiring Adam to be her fake boyfriend when she had just glanced at him across the table one time, how the family found out about the fake relationship, that he was playing her ex named Steve...it was all very rushed and I think would've been better as a full length book. There was also a point in the book where I thought maybe I had skipped some pages because Elliot, the brother who was there when the whole plan was hatched, seemed so confused or just didn't know about the plan? I had to go back and try to figure it out. I never did. Then some names changed and I didn't understand that.
This had everything it needed for a five star read except time.
I liked the characters - Mollie, Adam, and the rest of the family. The premise was great - pretend to her be ex boyfriend for a week and then they'd go their separate ways. I loved the way they just kind of drifted together and started realizing that this could be something real. Her family seemed so kind, but their treatment of her was rough (totally part of the storyline and told so well). I love that the parents could look into themselves and see what they had been doing and what led to her crazy ideas.
Again, I wish his was a full length book because the author could have done so much more and taken her time with unfolding the plan, the reveal, and what happened next.
Mollie & Adam. This was a cute Christmas novella but because it was a novella, everything moved really fast and some things just moved too fast. Hiring Adam to be her fake boyfriend when she had just glanced at him across the table one time, how the family found out about the fake relationship, that he was playing her ex named Steve...it was all very rushed and I think would've been better as a full length book. There was also a point in the book where I thought maybe I had skipped some pages because Elliot, the brother who was there when the whole plan was hatched, seemed so confused or just didn't know about the plan? I had to go back and try to figure it out. I never did. Then some names changed and I didn't understand that.
This had everything it needed for a five star read except time.
I liked the characters - Mollie, Adam, and the rest of the family. The premise was great - pretend to her be ex boyfriend for a week and then they'd go their separate ways. I loved the way they just kind of drifted together and started realizing that this could be something real. Her family seemed so kind, but their treatment of her was rough (totally part of the storyline and told so well). I love that the parents could look into themselves and see what they had been doing and what led to her crazy ideas.
Again, I wish his was a full length book because the author could have done so much more and taken her time with unfolding the plan, the reveal, and what happened next.
January 14, 2026
This book was such a fun, cozy read with just the right amount of heart. Mollie is a 27-year-old struggling writer who fully believes she’s the family disappointment. When she heads to her family’s cabin for Christmas, she’s determined to look like she has her life together — even if that means pretending a fancy rental car is hers and roping her brother’s coworker, Adam, into playing the role of her boyfriend to replace her ex, Steve.
What starts out as a very fake, very chaotic setup slowly turns into something that feels surprisingly real. The more time Mollie and Adam spend together, the more their chemistry grows, and Adam ends up being the one person who truly believes in her — not just her writing, but who she is as a person. I loved how he helps shift her family’s perspective too, showing them that what they see as “flaky” is actually passion and creativity.
This was a sweet holiday romance with fake dating, family drama, and a main character you can’t help but root for. Perfect if you’re in the mood for something light, festive, and feel-good.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What starts out as a very fake, very chaotic setup slowly turns into something that feels surprisingly real. The more time Mollie and Adam spend together, the more their chemistry grows, and Adam ends up being the one person who truly believes in her — not just her writing, but who she is as a person. I loved how he helps shift her family’s perspective too, showing them that what they see as “flaky” is actually passion and creativity.
This was a sweet holiday romance with fake dating, family drama, and a main character you can’t help but root for. Perfect if you’re in the mood for something light, festive, and feel-good.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 15, 2026
This book started off so strong. I was beyond invested in Mollie being seen by her family. And the way her brother Elliott and his friend Adam immediately were on board to help her was endearing. There was instant chemistry and connection between Adam and Mollie. And it was simmering hard core. I was cheering for them so much. And I was so immersed in the story. But I was massively jarred out of that by an abrupt shift in the story. About 70% through the book the story changes in really dramatic and abrupt ways. There’s characters that weren’t there before while others are missing. “Steve”/Adam’s information changes. A lot. Elliott goes from in on the scheme to clueless and feeding into the judgment. There’s reference to past activities, conversations, and moments that weren’t written about. The setting changes. Backgrounds changed. Names changed. It’s like a completely different story. Still good but not a continuation of the original 70% of the book. The ending fits well with the bit of the story in the last part of the book. But I felt kinda hollow from the switch up and like I didn’t get an ending to the story I spent the first part of the book reading.
January 2, 2026
I received a free copy via booksirens.com and I thought it would be an enjoyable Christmas romance. Sadly it wasn‘t and I DNFd at 75 %
The book started out promising but then the story changed completely. The vacation was supposed to be an after-Christmas getaway and suddenly it seems to be the week before Christmas. The fake boyfriend „Steve“ was clearly a professor for literature in the first half. In chapter 15 he is suddenly supposed to be either a hedge-fund manager or a t-shirt designer - WTF? Also there is suddenly an additional aunt staying at the house and it seems like Elliot who was in the know from the start now knows nothing. By this point I was fed up with the book and stopped reading.
I wonder if nobody read the book before and pointed out the very major inconsistencies? Or did somebody upload an old unedited version to booksirens? I checked the amazon website and seeing a lot of 5 star ratings I wonder if these people read a totally different book than I did.
The book started out promising but then the story changed completely. The vacation was supposed to be an after-Christmas getaway and suddenly it seems to be the week before Christmas. The fake boyfriend „Steve“ was clearly a professor for literature in the first half. In chapter 15 he is suddenly supposed to be either a hedge-fund manager or a t-shirt designer - WTF? Also there is suddenly an additional aunt staying at the house and it seems like Elliot who was in the know from the start now knows nothing. By this point I was fed up with the book and stopped reading.
I wonder if nobody read the book before and pointed out the very major inconsistencies? Or did somebody upload an old unedited version to booksirens? I checked the amazon website and seeing a lot of 5 star ratings I wonder if these people read a totally different book than I did.
December 21, 2025
I have no idea how to rate this. About 70% in it turned into a completely different book. I had been enjoying it a lot. I liked how Adam saw Mollie so different and completely. And I liked how fun they were together. Her parent's seem kind of not great to me but her siblings were cool.
And then the setting and timeline completely changed. There were brand new characters out of no where and existing characters were completely different. I read it over and over because it was so confusing. One of them knew the deal but was completely shocked by inconsistencies. And once Adam started getting mail at the house I just gave up.
But I received my copy as an arc in exchange for an honest review. So I am hoping that it's better in other versions. The original story was cute and I will stick to that one in my head and ignore the mess.
And then the setting and timeline completely changed. There were brand new characters out of no where and existing characters were completely different. I read it over and over because it was so confusing. One of them knew the deal but was completely shocked by inconsistencies. And once Adam started getting mail at the house I just gave up.
But I received my copy as an arc in exchange for an honest review. So I am hoping that it's better in other versions. The original story was cute and I will stick to that one in my head and ignore the mess.
January 4, 2026
Horrifying Editing - Nearly Unreadable
It was one thing to say dad was getting “stakes” ready to grill, and in 3 concurrent scenes that happened on the same day, her outfit changed twice, but 3/4 of the way through the book the entire story changed. Chapter 15 went off the rails hardcore. Who the heck is Aunt Dana? Adam was originally invited to join the family vacation by Elliot, Mollie’s brother, but then Elliot is now Uncle Elliot and Mollie had invited Adam to the family gathering with a plane ticket and a target gift card? Sister Alison and her husband have disappeared and Ryder is maybe Mollie’s kid by choice now? What a freaking mess!! I scanned the last 1/4 of the book with a WTH look on my face because it was so badly written. Clearly it was not edited for spelling or continuity before publishing. Awful.
It was one thing to say dad was getting “stakes” ready to grill, and in 3 concurrent scenes that happened on the same day, her outfit changed twice, but 3/4 of the way through the book the entire story changed. Chapter 15 went off the rails hardcore. Who the heck is Aunt Dana? Adam was originally invited to join the family vacation by Elliot, Mollie’s brother, but then Elliot is now Uncle Elliot and Mollie had invited Adam to the family gathering with a plane ticket and a target gift card? Sister Alison and her husband have disappeared and Ryder is maybe Mollie’s kid by choice now? What a freaking mess!! I scanned the last 1/4 of the book with a WTH look on my face because it was so badly written. Clearly it was not edited for spelling or continuity before publishing. Awful.
December 14, 2025
This book was such a delightful holiday escape! Mollie’s whirlwind fake‑dating setup had me grinning, but what really made the story shine was Adam. I loved how he showed up for her every step of the way—even when he didn’t know her yet and thought it was just a fun adventure. That mix of spontaneity and steady support gave their romance so much heart.
Quinn balances festive fun with genuine emotional beats, and the chemistry between Mollie and Adam builds in such a natural, satisfying way. It’s playful, heartfelt, and exactly the kind of romance that leaves you smiling long after the last page.
I loved this book! It’s a charming holiday romance about showing up, taking chances, and finding love in unexpected places.
Quinn balances festive fun with genuine emotional beats, and the chemistry between Mollie and Adam builds in such a natural, satisfying way. It’s playful, heartfelt, and exactly the kind of romance that leaves you smiling long after the last page.
I loved this book! It’s a charming holiday romance about showing up, taking chances, and finding love in unexpected places.
January 18, 2026
This is a sweet love story of two strangers choosing each other under the magic of Christmas.
Molly needs a boyfriend to accompany her to visit her family for Christmas, she is tired of their snide comments and wants to avoid conflict. Adam has had a lot of tragedy happen in his life and Christmas has been a lonely affair for a while. When they meet at a pub, she proposes to hire him to be his fake "boyfriend" for her visit. What comes next is a Hallmark movie like read that will bring these two together and show them that proximity and communication are the beginning of relationship.
A sweet love story!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Molly needs a boyfriend to accompany her to visit her family for Christmas, she is tired of their snide comments and wants to avoid conflict. Adam has had a lot of tragedy happen in his life and Christmas has been a lonely affair for a while. When they meet at a pub, she proposes to hire him to be his fake "boyfriend" for her visit. What comes next is a Hallmark movie like read that will bring these two together and show them that proximity and communication are the beginning of relationship.
A sweet love story!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 20, 2025
This one was super cute. Mollie is known as a "hot mess" and when she isn't going to bring home her boyfriend, she panics and asks a guy she meets to be her "fake boyfriend". Lucky for her, the guy is also her brother's friend and he agrees! He falls first, total cinnamon roll MMC and just a sweet, enjoyable romcom. It's for the girls who feel like they're a disappointment in their family or that they just can't seem to be "good enough".
December 22, 2025
The plot is very well-written and compelling, centered on the engaging premise of Mollie hiring Adam to pose as her partner to avoid family sarcasm during Christmas.The characters are excellent, featuring strong individual voices and highly believable chemistry. I particularly appreciated the emotional depth of the narrative and the very satisfying happy ending. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 30, 2025
This is a steamy off limits holiday romance between Mollie and her brother's best friend, Adam. These two likeable souls and the unique plot make for an enjoyable read. What starts out as a fake relationship turns into something more. It is a sweet love story with drama and steam, sexual tension and chemistry, family dynamic, and twists and turns, plus appealing secondary characters. Entertaining.
I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 1, 2026
Mollie is bright bubbly and the disaster of the family. Adam was supposed to meet his friend Elliot but met his sister first by chance. They concoct a plan to get her a family holiday without being the family disaster. He’s her rock and sees her as the brilliant special woman she is. Things go from fake to forever with a dose of fear and a heap of love. Absolutely wonderful!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 5, 2026
This is a sweet and easy holiday romance. From the first page I knew it was going to be good. The characters are likable and relatable. The chemistry between Adam and Mollie is undeniable and the witty banter and dialogue is wonderful. It's a beautiful story and I couldn't put it down until I finished it. Highly recommend reading and look forward to reading more from Rory Quinn.
I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 15, 2026
This is a sweet and easy holiday romance. From the first page I knew it was going to be good. The characters were likable. The chemistry between Adam and Mollie is undeniable and the witty banter and dialogue is wonderful. It's a beautiful story and I couldn't put it down until I finished it. Highly recommend reading and look forward to reading more from Rory Quinn. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 20, 2025
Super lovely story of wounded Mollie and Adam healing each other with love!
I loved this story! Mollie is so wounded and "messy" and no one sees the real her. Not until her fake boyfriend Steve aka Adam sees her from the very first moment he sees her. Their relationship grows and Adam too heals his wounds. Simply beautiful!
I loved this story! Mollie is so wounded and "messy" and no one sees the real her. Not until her fake boyfriend Steve aka Adam sees her from the very first moment he sees her. Their relationship grows and Adam too heals his wounds. Simply beautiful!
December 20, 2025
The author has given us a Christmas Themed story that pulls us into the lives of Mollie and Adam. The fast-paced story keeps us turning the pages with a fake relationship, connection, realizations and steam.
I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 28, 2025
Emotionally Charged Christmas
Christmas plus emotions equal heart pulling literary adventure. This was an intriguing story that I found delightful and charming. Adam and Mollie made an excellent addition to the plot as their connection really popped off the pages. This was a good read.
I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Christmas plus emotions equal heart pulling literary adventure. This was an intriguing story that I found delightful and charming. Adam and Mollie made an excellent addition to the plot as their connection really popped off the pages. This was a good read.
I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 30, 2025
A lovely quick christmas read about Mollie and her thinking along with her family treating her like th family screw up. All she wants to do is prove she’s not so with ansexy hire car and a sexy fake boyfriend the festive family break away in the cute snowy town commences.
I really enjoyed this book i felt myself standing up for Mollie and willing her and Adam to realise what true feelings they had, how good they were together 💕
Lovely story, lovely main characters would definitely recommend reading.
I received an ARC copy and leave this review voluntarily.
I really enjoyed this book i felt myself standing up for Mollie and willing her and Adam to realise what true feelings they had, how good they were together 💕
Lovely story, lovely main characters would definitely recommend reading.
I received an ARC copy and leave this review voluntarily.
December 30, 2025
Okay let's start with two facts 1. I promised to give my honest opinion 2. I'm not sure if it's the book or me.
I really struggled with this one, tbh it could be just me having a sweetness overload or being in a wrong kinda mood. I'll leave it up to you to decide if this one is a match for you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really struggled with this one, tbh it could be just me having a sweetness overload or being in a wrong kinda mood. I'll leave it up to you to decide if this one is a match for you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 4, 2026
BOOKSIRENS ARC:
I really liked this book. It was very enjoyable and entertaining to read. This book had the best fake relationship during Christmas time. The chemistry between the two main characters were entertaining.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
I really liked this book. It was very enjoyable and entertaining to read. This book had the best fake relationship during Christmas time. The chemistry between the two main characters were entertaining.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
December 11, 2025
It was so charming. I love the fake dating trope and it it was started in this book was so cute. I'm so happy Molly found her person. Also the family and their traditions was very entertaining.
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 18, 2025
This was a fast and cute read. Sometimes what or who you need comes when you least expect it. I will definitely read more by this author.
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 19, 2025
This was the cutest story ever hired boyfriend turning into real boyfriend. Love the way he hated how her family treats her and will stand up for her. I liked how he caught feelings before he could stop them. The happy ending was so worth the read.
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