The Eighth Night

by Jenna Kendrick

Fresh off months of round-the-clock work launching his company's first successful video game, Kai gives up a celebratory vacation with friends in order to spend Chanukah with his parents. Instead, he finds himself home alone pet sitting their ankle-biting dog. Upset and lost in his thoughts about being misled, he doesn't notice his old friend Ari standing next to him in the elevator until they're trapped during a power outage. Hours of conversation to stave off panic lead to an invitation to spend the holiday together.

Disowned by his religious family, Ari has never second-guessed his decision to become an escort. That is, until Kai treats him like a boyfriend instead of a boy toy. Now he has eight nights with his former crush before he needs to come clean. And then he'll need to say goodbye, because it's going to take a miracle for Kai to accept what Ari was doing in his building that first night.

Genres: M M Romance, Holiday, Short Stories, Christmas

46 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 11, 2016

About the author

Jenna Kendrick writes contemporary, new adult, and paranormal romance about smart guys with a propensity for snark. Jenna went to a small college in the woods of Western Massachusetts, where she alternated between bare feet and hiking boots and used dining hall trays as a mode of transportation in the winter. She fell in love with creative writing after writing a satirical essay to get out of yet another literary analysis assignment. Unable to choose a coast or climate zone, she bounced around the country before settling in Upstate New York. She lives with her husband and several furry creatives, some of whom think of her desk as their own.

Reviews

[Meags · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

Ari and Kai were boyfriends when they were kids but college and distance sent them in different directions. Now, eight years later, they reconnect one night while stuck in a broken down elevator. Their feelings for one another resurface quickly and multiply tenfold, but Ari has a huge secret he’s keeping from Kai - he’s been working as an escort since his parents kicked him out all those years ago.

Even though their feelings for one another are strong, can Ari share his truth with Kai and will Kai love him regardless of Ari’s past?

This holiday shorty packed quite an emotional punch for a story so small. My heart really went out to Ari and the circumstances he found himself in. Although, I honestly could have done with more resolution at the end, as this did finish super abruptly for my liking, but I enjoyed what I got regardless of my need for more.

[⚣Michaelle⚣ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0 Stars

What the hell? Everything was progressing so well; I loved the story, the setting, the characters...even the pretty quick rekindling of an old love. And then WHAM!!!! That last chapter felt like getting hit in the face with a truth-brick and then it was over. Seriously? It honestly seemed like the author just...gave up!

Such a shame too because this could have been a 4+ Star story.

[Ottilee B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warm, fuzzy, funny-at-times. A true xmas read! Very glad I read it. If longer, no. Liked how they were always friends and became more. And he knew but give a try, regardless.

[Jenn (not Lily) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It felt like there was a little time skip from Chanukah day 2 to day 7 -- it was a little like the Far Side comic where the mathematician has "a miracle occurs" in the middle of his proof.

[Vfields Don't touch my happy! · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Eighth Night by Jenna Kendrick was a buy-right-away for me because I'm into the holiday spirit and I really was excited to read something centered around Hanukkah. I'd say the first two-thirds was quite captivating but unfortunately this author chose to just get to the end. Ari & Kai deserved better and so did this reader. Did Ari have to quit his job? If he kept his job how do Kai handle that? Does Ari settle with his family? How does he survive financially? Does he go back to school? How do they live? Where do they live? Do they even move in together? Does it bother him Ari has money? None of this was addressed!!!!! I would've rather this author spend another year working out a way to give us a conclusion that matched the foundation.
I've learned short reads can pack a huge punch when done right.

[Rayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but I feel like there was still some issues not quite fully resolved. It ended a bit to early.

[Joelle Mendes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh Ari - you broke my heart. Thankfully Kai put both mine and yours back together.

For a short story, this packed quite a punch. It was a really good premise. What can I say? I'm a sucker for friends to lovers.

[Aster* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow, not at all what I was expecting. Very dark and emotional stuff with lots of trigger warnings...such heavy topics I wish the story was longer and definitely wish there was an epilogue to give me hope.

[Sadie Forsythe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was really sweet and well written. That things moved as quickly as they did stretched credulity a little bit. But it is a short story.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short sweet story. The page count didn't allow for more background story, but I was invested in the characters and their reunion. Although I felt there were still a number of issues not fully explained/resolved, it ended on a fade to black and felt a little rushed. I would've liked a stronger HFN, maybe a little peek further down the road.

[Cathy Coley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A love story

I really love Kendrick's ability to tell a story and develop relationship and tension between her characters. Without giving anything away, this is a sweet love story with some tough issues for the characters. And it's snack sized!

[Tailtiu]

Part of the Home for the Holidays Anthology.

[cmbookdiva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a surprise for me. Beautifully written With so much goodness and love in a small package. Thank you for it.would love to hear from Kai and Ari again.

[Xan]

Content Warnings References to being disowned by family for being gay. Internalized shame around doing sex work. Anti-sex work antagonism from multiple characters, most notably the sex worker characters lover. References to rough sex, bondage and not being allowed to set boundaries around sex and BDSM activities in the context of sex work. Sex on the page.

I do not recommend this book. It is very anti-sex work, and spends much more time on that than on the actual romance, then ends very abruptly.