Make The Yuletide Gay: The Novel

by Rob Williams

Olaf "Gunn" Gunnunderson is an out-and-proud college student with a secret – his parents (the bubbly Anya and the perpetually stoned Sven) still don’t know that he’s gay. So when his boyfriend, Nathan Stanford, shows up unannounced at the Gunnunderson house over Christmas break, Gunn finds himself juggling his reality with the lies he has told his family for years. Will the truth come out before Gunn does? People have enjoyed the film Make The Yuletide Gay for years. Now, with the publication of this novel, fans can learn more about the Gunnunderson, Stanford, and Mancuso families, gain more insight into Gunn’s journey over that fateful holiday week, and even find out what happens afterwards. Bonus! Included in this book is a new short story, When Olaf Met Nathan, which details the first meeting between the two college freshmen, randomly assigned as roommates but destined to become much more.

Genres: Holiday, Romance

236 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 27, 2017

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Reviews

[J · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really enjoy the movie this "novel" is adapted from, as badly acted and produced that it is. It's on regular seasonal rotation because it's a really cute story with two very attractive leads. This book is written by the screenwriter but it fails dramatically to make the transition from screenplay to novel.

For example, it reads like a screenplay, with many passages reading like stage cues. It's also present tense, which agains makes it seem like stage directions. I can only think of one scene that was in the movie but not the book, and the new matieral here doesn't add much to Gunn's and Nathan's story. We do learn how they first met in a short story attached at the end.

I would have liked a better reading experience but you get what you get.

[Ryanwithcupcake · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book follows very closely to the movie it was based on, so if you liked that you'd probably like this as well. It does use the new medium to flesh out various subplots that were presumably intended to be in the movie but were cut for pacing or budget. The restoration of these parts adds a lot of insight to things that were in the movie but never explained or paid off. In particular, the climax benefits from some of the clarifications.

There's also a nice short story about how Nathan and Gunn met and first got together.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty straightforward novelization with a little bit extra

There is not one scene from the film missing from the novelization. It's faithful to the point of being slavish. Honestly, it could have done without some of the innuendo sight gags that play well in a visual medium like film, but not quite so well in a novel.

The narration feels maybe bit too simple, but it's written by a screen writer, so...perspective. Also it flowed well enough.

The novel adds bits a pieces. A line here, a small scene there. In terms of what it really adds to the narrative, it's mostly a wash. The one scene in the nursing home is nice but so easily lifted right out. Most other added bits have varied level of payoff. The one addition that certainly reaches a satisfying conclusion is examining exactly why Anya and Heather are so antagonistic towards each other and resolving the conflict. Plus it works with the theme of presenting to the world the version of ourselves people expect versus the truth.

[Awais · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't remember the last time I enjoyed a book so much. This book make me laugh at many points, cry at others and regularly squirm in anticipation, even though I've seen the movie! Reading this, I felt more alive than I have in what feels like a long time and I'm truly thankful for that. This book and the movie it's based on has helped me to get my mental health back on track and also kept me company during a lonely Christmas/holiday period. This book has reminded me of what's important in life and has motivated me to get life back on track and work towards my goals. This book has brought me so much joy and I'm sad to see it end. I'm so glad there's a sequel for me to enjoy before I have to move on. These books and the movie are 100% going to be enjoyed by me every year during the holiday period. I hope to one day find the Nathan or Olaf out there for me and enjoy this story with him ❤

[Todd Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique twist: a film that was made into a novel!
This novel pretty much follows the storyline of the film (with some added insight into the characters and an epilogue of "When Olaf met Nathan"). Olaf "Gunn" Gunnunderson and Nathan Stanford are an out-and-proud couple at college. We learn that Gunn is fully in the closet at home when last minute holiday travel plans lead Nathan to unexpectedly show up at the house of Gunn's parents to spend the holiday with his "ummmmm roommate"! What follows is a cute (SO stinkin' cute) Rom-Com meets Christmas meets Coming Out story.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

So happy to have this book.Make THe yuletide Gay is one of my favorite films ever.
Some of the humor really lands differently reading it rather than watching. Many things kind of just aren't as funny but at the same time, some of the wit landed better reading it. I caught onto some things I didn't notice my many times watching the film. I really enjoyed it a lot. Watched the movie the day after too. Great Christmas experience I might need to start doing every year.

[Jenn (not Lily) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I'm gonna enjoy the movie more than I enjoyed this book. I'll be sure to update in December.

[Peter Gannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

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