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Dreamers #4.5
American Christmas
Listening Length: 2 hours and 8 minutes
Denpo Myint “Yin” Thuta is living the dream. His dream. A good job, higher education, supportive community and, best of all, his live-in boyfriend, Ari. Yin has his happily-ever-after…if only he and Ari could take the time to actually enjoy it. With the holidays fast approaching, Yin’s determined to change all that and surprise Ari with an over-the-top gift that will leave him in no doubt how much he’s loved—even though they agreed to keep things simple this year.
Like Yin, Aristide “Ari” Douniama worked so hard to secure his future that he may have forgotten how to enjoy his present. Despite there being plenty to be thankful for in the moment. With big plans of his own in the works to surprise Yin, Ari may or may not have gone overboard. Or forgotten to check their respective schedules.
’Tis the season of giving, and in their quest to celebrate the “perfect” American Christmas—and failing—Ari and Yin get a much-needed reminder that they already have the greatest gift of all: each other.
Denpo Myint “Yin” Thuta is living the dream. His dream. A good job, higher education, supportive community and, best of all, his live-in boyfriend, Ari. Yin has his happily-ever-after…if only he and Ari could take the time to actually enjoy it. With the holidays fast approaching, Yin’s determined to change all that and surprise Ari with an over-the-top gift that will leave him in no doubt how much he’s loved—even though they agreed to keep things simple this year.
Like Yin, Aristide “Ari” Douniama worked so hard to secure his future that he may have forgotten how to enjoy his present. Despite there being plenty to be thankful for in the moment. With big plans of his own in the works to surprise Yin, Ari may or may not have gone overboard. Or forgotten to check their respective schedules.
’Tis the season of giving, and in their quest to celebrate the “perfect” American Christmas—and failing—Ari and Yin get a much-needed reminder that they already have the greatest gift of all: each other.
3 pages, Audible Audio
First published November 2, 2020
24 people are currently reading
316 people want to read
About the author
Adriana Herrera
46 books1,661 followersUSA Today bestselling author ADRIANA HERRERA was born and raised in the Caribbean, but for the last 15 years has let her job (and her spouse) take her all over the world. She loves writing stories about people who look and sound like her people, getting unapologetic happy endings.
Her debut Dreamers, has been featured on Entertainment Weekly, NPR, the TODAY Show on NBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post and Oprah Magazine.
When she's not dreaming up love stories, planning logistically complex vacations with her family or hunting for discount Broadway tickets, she’s a social worker in New York City, working with survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
Her debut Dreamers, has been featured on Entertainment Weekly, NPR, the TODAY Show on NBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post and Oprah Magazine.
When she's not dreaming up love stories, planning logistically complex vacations with her family or hunting for discount Broadway tickets, she’s a social worker in New York City, working with survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
January 12, 2021
This is a lovely story, a glimpse into the first Christmas Yin and Ari celebrate in their own apartment in Ithaca. As the story opens, both men are looking forward to giving each other the perfect gift: one they’ve had to sacrifice to provide.
Yin and Ari were minor characters in the early books and it’s a pleasure to see them now, surrounded by the friends readers first met in the previous installments of the series. They need those friends because both young men moved forward with their gift without consulting each other about schedules or possible roadblocks and, of course, though both gifts are outstanding, neither can accept their gift.
So expect a patch of heartbreak in the story. But the catch here is that these two young men, both immigrants, have worked hard to get where they are and they’ve built strong friendships with the characters in the other stories. They’ve built a family of the heart, and that family comes through for them, providing Yin and Ari, and the readers, with some much-needed lessons about communication and about embracing those who love you and accepting help.
Though I don’t recommend this as a standalone, if you care to know the background on the many characters in this book, this at least serves as a little slice of the life of this group of friends who have become family. The warmth and spirit of the holiday season shines through and I definitely recommend it to those who have loved the Dreamer series.
Yin and Ari were minor characters in the early books and it’s a pleasure to see them now, surrounded by the friends readers first met in the previous installments of the series. They need those friends because both young men moved forward with their gift without consulting each other about schedules or possible roadblocks and, of course, though both gifts are outstanding, neither can accept their gift.
So expect a patch of heartbreak in the story. But the catch here is that these two young men, both immigrants, have worked hard to get where they are and they’ve built strong friendships with the characters in the other stories. They’ve built a family of the heart, and that family comes through for them, providing Yin and Ari, and the readers, with some much-needed lessons about communication and about embracing those who love you and accepting help.
Though I don’t recommend this as a standalone, if you care to know the background on the many characters in this book, this at least serves as a little slice of the life of this group of friends who have become family. The warmth and spirit of the holiday season shines through and I definitely recommend it to those who have loved the Dreamer series.
June 8, 2021
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
American Christmas is a sweet and steamy m/m holiday romance novella featuring side characters from the American Dreamers series, with appearances from the main characters in the series. It plays with the tropes of Gifts of the Magi, but with a really great twist that emphasizes working through issues in a relationship, recognizing your own value as a person of color, and the importance of a vibrant community.
Yin and Ari are both American immigrants, in love and spending their first Christmas together. They both want it to be perfect, so they secretly plan over the top gifts for each other, not realizing things are about to go very wrong. Early on we get a lot of backstory on Yin and Ari, which is interesting but feels a bit rushed an info-dumpy. Because it's a novella of course, but I would have liked to see that woven into the narrative a bit more smoothly. The back half of the novella was just lovely though.
As always, Adriana Herrera brings in great diversity. Yin spent his early childhood in a refugee camp in Myanmar and still feels the need to prove himself worthy of the second chance he got in America. Ari is Afro-Latinx and also struggles with not feeling good enough. They feel like real people dealing with real relationship issues, but who care deeply for each other. This is a great holiday story filled with love and friendship. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
American Christmas is a sweet and steamy m/m holiday romance novella featuring side characters from the American Dreamers series, with appearances from the main characters in the series. It plays with the tropes of Gifts of the Magi, but with a really great twist that emphasizes working through issues in a relationship, recognizing your own value as a person of color, and the importance of a vibrant community.
Yin and Ari are both American immigrants, in love and spending their first Christmas together. They both want it to be perfect, so they secretly plan over the top gifts for each other, not realizing things are about to go very wrong. Early on we get a lot of backstory on Yin and Ari, which is interesting but feels a bit rushed an info-dumpy. Because it's a novella of course, but I would have liked to see that woven into the narrative a bit more smoothly. The back half of the novella was just lovely though.
As always, Adriana Herrera brings in great diversity. Yin spent his early childhood in a refugee camp in Myanmar and still feels the need to prove himself worthy of the second chance he got in America. Ari is Afro-Latinx and also struggles with not feeling good enough. They feel like real people dealing with real relationship issues, but who care deeply for each other. This is a great holiday story filled with love and friendship. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
December 7, 2020
This is a book I should have listened to AFTER I read the preceding books. I didn’t know it was a 4.5 in the series. I didn’t know any of these characters.
November 6, 2020
Ahh this was the perfect read to get me in an early Christmas mood. I might actually reread it closer to Christmas, that's how much I enjoyed it.
It was such a fluffy, heartwarming read, and I loved seeing so many recurring characters from one of my favourite romance series.
It was such a fluffy, heartwarming read, and I loved seeing so many recurring characters from one of my favourite romance series.
December 22, 2025
(A bit generous) rounding up from 3.5 stars
This was cute, sweet and very low angst. Very fan service-y for those who enjoyed the series.
This was cute, sweet and very low angst. Very fan service-y for those who enjoyed the series.
October 21, 2020
"We can't let them strip from us our joy and our dreams."
When I saw that Ari and Yin from Herrera's Dreamers were were getting their own novella, I was genuinely delighted. I loved following their story through the previous books of the series (though I still need to read book 4) and that fact that they were getting a holiday novella made it even better. I love Christmas romances so much, and I'm not even sorry that I read this during spooky season.
This was just as cute as promised, with easy writing, (I always love that Herrera's characters sound like real, relatable people) a fair amount of steam, and just a really genuine-feeling romance as we follow these two sweethearts through their first Christmas together. We got a little more insight into their personalities and lives. We already knew a fair amount about Yin and Ari from previous books, and I do think that helped me enjoy this a lot, just knowing what they'd been through to get here. And then there were the appearances from the other couples, which warmed my heart. That said, I don't think this novella would be majorly confusing to anyone who's new to the series. It could easily be read as a standalone, touching on their lives as refugees, family, and just the complications of a relationship when you're young and new to it. I honestly really liked the (relatively simple) conflict, and the way it was resolved.
And see I understand why this is a novella rather than a full length book, but for every little bit of new information we got, I wanted more. We learnt more about Ari and Yin's relationship, but I felt like we were spreading out, rather than going deeper. Which isn't a bad thing per se, but I kept waiting for profundity that didn't come?
But this is still an objectively really sweet, really heart-warming romance that I'd read again in a heartbeat. It didn't tick all my boxes, but I had a lovely time with it, and these characters.
3.5 stars.
☆ Review copy provided via NetGalley.
When I saw that Ari and Yin from Herrera's Dreamers were were getting their own novella, I was genuinely delighted. I loved following their story through the previous books of the series (though I still need to read book 4) and that fact that they were getting a holiday novella made it even better. I love Christmas romances so much, and I'm not even sorry that I read this during spooky season.
This was just as cute as promised, with easy writing, (I always love that Herrera's characters sound like real, relatable people) a fair amount of steam, and just a really genuine-feeling romance as we follow these two sweethearts through their first Christmas together. We got a little more insight into their personalities and lives. We already knew a fair amount about Yin and Ari from previous books, and I do think that helped me enjoy this a lot, just knowing what they'd been through to get here. And then there were the appearances from the other couples, which warmed my heart. That said, I don't think this novella would be majorly confusing to anyone who's new to the series. It could easily be read as a standalone, touching on their lives as refugees, family, and just the complications of a relationship when you're young and new to it. I honestly really liked the (relatively simple) conflict, and the way it was resolved.
And see I understand why this is a novella rather than a full length book, but for every little bit of new information we got, I wanted more. We learnt more about Ari and Yin's relationship, but I felt like we were spreading out, rather than going deeper. Which isn't a bad thing per se, but I kept waiting for profundity that didn't come?
But this is still an objectively really sweet, really heart-warming romance that I'd read again in a heartbeat. It didn't tick all my boxes, but I had a lovely time with it, and these characters.
3.5 stars.
☆ Review copy provided via NetGalley.
December 5, 2020
(free review copy) ❗️NOVELLA ❗️so it was fun revisiting this world of characters I have loved but I had the same issue with this as I have with all novellas - way too short to write anything fully enough to satisfy my need to really understand the characters and grow with them. So for series readers/lovers, it’s worth the very quick read. For anyone else, probably don’t read this without appreciating the series first 🤷🏼♀️
November 11, 2020
When I tell you I SQUEALED when I saw that Herrera’s newest book was going to feature Ari and Yin!!! If you have read any of her Dreamers series (and YOU SHOULD!?!?), you’ll already be familiar with this adorably sweet young couple. This did not disappoint! I had read other reviews saying that it was too short, but I am here for a short and sweet holiday romance novella. The conflict was adorable at first glance, but it actually did have more emotional weight behind it than it would first appear. The amount of love in this novella - both romantic and found family - made my heart grow three sizes and my eyes tear up.
If you are in the market for a perfect contemporary queer holiday romance, look no further.
If you are in the market for a perfect contemporary queer holiday romance, look no further.
November 9, 2020
3.5 stars
I enjoyed American Christmas and was glad to see this happy couple get the HEA they so richly deserved.
That said, didn't they already have it at the start of the story? I'm not sure the conflict - going big on the holidays and messing up a gift exchange - necessarily qualifies for or merited a standalone story. Much of the novella was simply the principal characters revisiting why they loved their partner and inner monologuing the many reasons for the rest of us. Their deep love is the cause of their "angst," but fortunately wealthy, wise, generous friends (the cameos are an A+ addition) redeem the holiday. Honestly, it's a treat to read about a happy couple, but this one is so saccharine sweet and predictable from start to finish, that I missed an actual hurdle to the HEA.
It's definitely a feel good story - and at holiday time I know that's what a lot of readers are looking for, and I was happy to revisit characters from the earlier books. Most fans will be pleased, but for me, I'm not sure there is enough "story" to merit a standalone novella. This felt more like an epilogue.
I enjoyed American Christmas and was glad to see this happy couple get the HEA they so richly deserved.
That said, didn't they already have it at the start of the story? I'm not sure the conflict - going big on the holidays and messing up a gift exchange - necessarily qualifies for or merited a standalone story. Much of the novella was simply the principal characters revisiting why they loved their partner and inner monologuing the many reasons for the rest of us. Their deep love is the cause of their "angst," but fortunately wealthy, wise, generous friends (the cameos are an A+ addition) redeem the holiday. Honestly, it's a treat to read about a happy couple, but this one is so saccharine sweet and predictable from start to finish, that I missed an actual hurdle to the HEA.
It's definitely a feel good story - and at holiday time I know that's what a lot of readers are looking for, and I was happy to revisit characters from the earlier books. Most fans will be pleased, but for me, I'm not sure there is enough "story" to merit a standalone novella. This felt more like an epilogue.
October 18, 2020
I have to say I loved the story between Ari and Yin. Though I have to admit I had no idea this was part of a series. I definitely want to read the first three books after reading this book. Due to the fact that I missed the first three stories I only focused on the two men in this one. It helped a lot. The love story between Ari and Yin was very sweet and heartfelt. I’m glad I was able to read it. I wished it was longer. And the ending was adorable!
I received this ARC from the publisher and Netgalley for my honest review. Thank you for my copy.
I received this ARC from the publisher and Netgalley for my honest review. Thank you for my copy.
January 2, 2025
We get to see Ari and Yin— a wonderful twenty something couple who’ve been featured in the other books—have their first Christmas together. They both want to surprise each other with major dream gifts, but things go slightly awry. Luckily, their staunch group of friends and family helps them work it out.
A sweet, steamy Christmas novella.
A sweet, steamy Christmas novella.
November 29, 2022
I wish I read the first book. I didn’t realize it was from another book in the series. But it was cute.
December 18, 2025
Probably a weird place to start the series, but this was really cute!
December 23, 2020
The best kind of Christmas disaster. This was so cute and wholesome, and it somehow managed to make me cry, which is impressive for a 2 hour romance audiobook. Clearly I need to get to the earlier books in this series (or anything else by Adriana Herrera) because this ticked so many boxes for me.
December 19, 2022
This is a sweet Christmas story about an established couple, Ari and Yin. Both men immigrated to the United States and have worked hard to make new lives for themselves. Their hard work is paying off and they are headed to Syracuse University after the holidays. Although they promised no extravagant gifts, each of them goes all out on expensive gifts for the other. The result is definitely not what either hoped for. This is book #4.5 in the Dreamers series and features characters from the previous books. I read this book immediately after book one. While I knew all of the characters, it would have been nice to know how the other couples ended up where they are. I recommend this book for anyone looking for a quick holiday romance with just a bit of angst.
April 12, 2021
A sweet holiday story for two side characters from the series. Both Yin and Ari are immigrants, striving for the dream they've had so long. They've managed to move in together and they have long term plans for college, and for this Christmas they're determined to make things wonderful for each other. Money's tight, and they agreed on a $100 limit for gifts, but each of them figures they can cheat just a bit, to give their beloved the thing they want most.
This is a little gifts-of-the-Magi story, with a flavor of the immigrant experience and cultures. It's probably more meaningful if you have read other books in the series, but I appreciated how they made mistakes and things didn't get perfectly fixed, and love was the final message. Always happy to see a story with POC main characters and one that incorporates their experiences as a relevant part of the narrative.
This is a little gifts-of-the-Magi story, with a flavor of the immigrant experience and cultures. It's probably more meaningful if you have read other books in the series, but I appreciated how they made mistakes and things didn't get perfectly fixed, and love was the final message. Always happy to see a story with POC main characters and one that incorporates their experiences as a relevant part of the narrative.
February 11, 2023
Gift of the Magi, except it’s a BIPOC gay couple and there’s a queer found family to support them.
I accidentally read this as a stand-alone when it’s several books into a series, and while I don’t recommend doing that, I can honestly say I was still able to enjoy the sweet romantic novella.
Fluffy, low-angst, healthy queer relationship where they communicate to solve their problems. Overall an enjoyable read!
Alternating first person POV.
I accidentally read this as a stand-alone when it’s several books into a series, and while I don’t recommend doing that, I can honestly say I was still able to enjoy the sweet romantic novella.
Fluffy, low-angst, healthy queer relationship where they communicate to solve their problems. Overall an enjoyable read!
Alternating first person POV.
Read
October 7, 2020Reviewed for Library Journal. Will link to review when live.
November 2, 2020
This is a lovely story, a glimpse into the first Christmas Yin and Ari celebrate in their own apartment in Ithaca. As the story opens, both men are looking forward to giving each other the perfect gift: one they’ve had to sacrifice to provide.
Yin and Ari were minor characters in the early books and it’s a pleasure to see them now, surrounded by the friends readers first met in the previous installments of the series. They need those friends because both young men moved forward with their gift without consulting each other about schedules or possible roadblocks and, of course, though both gifts are outstanding, neither can accept their gift.
So expect a patch of heartbreak in the story. But the catch here is that these two young men, both immigrants, have worked hard to get where they are and they’ve built strong friendships with the characters in the other stories. They’ve built a family of the heart, and that family comes through for them, providing Yin and Ari, and the readers, with some much-needed lessons about communication and about embracing those who love you and accepting help.
Though I don’t recommend this as a standalone, if you care to know the background on the many characters in this book, this at least serves as a little slice of the life of this group of friends who have become family. The warmth and spirit of the holiday season shines through and I definitely recommend it to those who have loved the Dreamer series.
A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Yin and Ari were minor characters in the early books and it’s a pleasure to see them now, surrounded by the friends readers first met in the previous installments of the series. They need those friends because both young men moved forward with their gift without consulting each other about schedules or possible roadblocks and, of course, though both gifts are outstanding, neither can accept their gift.
So expect a patch of heartbreak in the story. But the catch here is that these two young men, both immigrants, have worked hard to get where they are and they’ve built strong friendships with the characters in the other stories. They’ve built a family of the heart, and that family comes through for them, providing Yin and Ari, and the readers, with some much-needed lessons about communication and about embracing those who love you and accepting help.
Though I don’t recommend this as a standalone, if you care to know the background on the many characters in this book, this at least serves as a little slice of the life of this group of friends who have become family. The warmth and spirit of the holiday season shines through and I definitely recommend it to those who have loved the Dreamer series.
A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 11, 2020
I'm so glad Yin and Air got their own story. I enjoyed the glimpses into their relati0nship throughout the Dreams series, and American Christmas satisfied my desire for a closer look.
These two are super sweet together and, while I did enjoy most of their interactions, the main plot of the story didn't seem to fit with the Ari and Yin I had gotten to know.
The next part is slightly spoilery, so continue reading at your own risk.
Their Christmas gifts for each other threw me off. I didn't expect them to get as upset with each other as they did and, especially for Ari to need a talk with Patrice. I would have expected, with the connection and deep love they have for each other, that they would have taken it all in stride, figured out a solution to the obstacles, and moved on. Given the hardships both had gone through as immigrants, I would have expected more value to be placed on the memory making rather than the extravagant cost of the gifts.
So, while I enjoyed the sweet moments, the main conflict, for me, didn't ring true to the characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
These two are super sweet together and, while I did enjoy most of their interactions, the main plot of the story didn't seem to fit with the Ari and Yin I had gotten to know.
The next part is slightly spoilery, so continue reading at your own risk.
Their Christmas gifts for each other threw me off. I didn't expect them to get as upset with each other as they did and, especially for Ari to need a talk with Patrice. I would have expected, with the connection and deep love they have for each other, that they would have taken it all in stride, figured out a solution to the obstacles, and moved on. Given the hardships both had gone through as immigrants, I would have expected more value to be placed on the memory making rather than the extravagant cost of the gifts.
So, while I enjoyed the sweet moments, the main conflict, for me, didn't ring true to the characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 4, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
American Christmas is a sweet and sexy Christmas novella featuring side character readers met in American Love Story, the third book in the Dreamers series. It is fully enjoyable being read as a standalone.
The story opens right before Christmas, with both Ari and Yin revealing to the reader that they have broken their $100 budget for gift giving. They both want to splurge this one time, to make the gifts they give the very best possible. Yin knows that Ari had a dream to attend a huge semipro soccer camp in Arizona over spring break, so he made purchases to support Ari attending the camp. Meanwhile, Ari wants to be the bestest boyfriend ever and give Yin the ultimate musical and NYC experience…over spring break.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
American Christmas is a sweet and sexy Christmas novella featuring side character readers met in American Love Story, the third book in the Dreamers series. It is fully enjoyable being read as a standalone.
The story opens right before Christmas, with both Ari and Yin revealing to the reader that they have broken their $100 budget for gift giving. They both want to splurge this one time, to make the gifts they give the very best possible. Yin knows that Ari had a dream to attend a huge semipro soccer camp in Arizona over spring break, so he made purchases to support Ari attending the camp. Meanwhile, Ari wants to be the bestest boyfriend ever and give Yin the ultimate musical and NYC experience…over spring break.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
November 28, 2022
3.5 stars
I read about Ari and Yin as side characters in American Love Story - and when I realized that there's a whole novella about them, I need to read it too! Plus it sets around Christmas, perfect! Because they seem so sweet together, and after what they experienced in that book, I need to know that they're all right.
Well, they ARE! They're perfectly all right. Lovey-dovey with a sprinkle of young love drama (which may be a bit over the top and myself with my sinister old heart can't help to roll my eyes). But yes, they're still cute together. I can understand everyone wanting to rally and help them because Ari and Yin deserve it. I hope they have the best of life (as a lawyer and a nurse) and grow old together 💓
I read about Ari and Yin as side characters in American Love Story - and when I realized that there's a whole novella about them, I need to read it too! Plus it sets around Christmas, perfect! Because they seem so sweet together, and after what they experienced in that book, I need to know that they're all right.
Well, they ARE! They're perfectly all right. Lovey-dovey with a sprinkle of young love drama (which may be a bit over the top and myself with my sinister old heart can't help to roll my eyes). But yes, they're still cute together. I can understand everyone wanting to rally and help them because Ari and Yin deserve it. I hope they have the best of life (as a lawyer and a nurse) and grow old together 💓
November 6, 2020
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
This is a really fun addition to the series - it features Yin and Ari, but also gives us some time with the gang from Ithaca - and I loved seeing them all settled and happy.
Yin and Ari have finally saved up and gained places at college in the next academic year. Now they get to celebrate their first Christmas in their apartment. Sensibly they agree on a maximum spend for presents .. because they are saving for college. Except they both can't help but go overboard - and learn a hard lesson about being honest with each other.
I loved that they both knew they had made a mistake, but that it wasn't irredeemable, it was just a learning process. And it gave all their (and our) friends the chance to step up and help them turn it all around.
It may only be November but reading about Christmas was a nice escape from reality!
This is a really fun addition to the series - it features Yin and Ari, but also gives us some time with the gang from Ithaca - and I loved seeing them all settled and happy.
Yin and Ari have finally saved up and gained places at college in the next academic year. Now they get to celebrate their first Christmas in their apartment. Sensibly they agree on a maximum spend for presents .. because they are saving for college. Except they both can't help but go overboard - and learn a hard lesson about being honest with each other.
I loved that they both knew they had made a mistake, but that it wasn't irredeemable, it was just a learning process. And it gave all their (and our) friends the chance to step up and help them turn it all around.
It may only be November but reading about Christmas was a nice escape from reality!
November 18, 2020
Enjoy holiday festivities with the adorably tenacious couple from Adriana Herrera's Dreamers series. Hardworking and selfless to a fault, can Yin and Ari allow themselves the space to receive as well as give? As the couple gets ready to celebrate their first Christmas living together, both want to make sure it's extra special. Their thoughtful gifts create unintended consequences. I love the warmth and love that Yin and Ari's extended Ithaca family exudes, especially in their hour of need. Patrice, Easton, Nesto, and the rest of the characters from the series join the couple for the holiday season. Readers are also treated to intimate moments between Yin and Ari that a perfect blend of sweet and oh-so-sexy. Put this novella under your tree and unwrap it right away (like now!).
October 23, 2020
Oh, I have wanted an Ari/Yin story since reading American Love Story! Despite my own Jewishness, I'm a sucker for Christmastime romance (I'm blaming this on Hallmark and Lifetime) and this sweet little novella manages to nicely package a holiday romance that captures the importance of found family and deep male friendships. You get a touch more of the backgrounds of both boys, and a very fast introduction to both of their neuroses, as trauma response. The sex comes fast and hard (hah!), but the emotional connection is what is highlighted here. If you want something short, spicy, and Christmas themed, it's a no-brainer to pick this one up!
November 1, 2020
When the story starts Ari and Yin are already together. They've overcome those initial roadblocks and now they are spending their first Christmas living together.
One thing I really appreciated was that we start with a couple that is already in love and together. However, they are still learning to communicate and negotiate with each other.
At first I was a bit thrown off because usually you don't start with the couple already together but then I appreciated what Herrera is doing here. Showing us a couple working on a relationship. This won't be for everyone but I definitely enjoyed it.
One thing I really appreciated was that we start with a couple that is already in love and together. However, they are still learning to communicate and negotiate with each other.
At first I was a bit thrown off because usually you don't start with the couple already together but then I appreciated what Herrera is doing here. Showing us a couple working on a relationship. This won't be for everyone but I definitely enjoyed it.
November 12, 2020
*3,5 stars*
This was short, sweet, and heart-warming. I enjoyed getting to know Ari and Yin a bit better and seeing the characters from previous books was fun, even if I kept waiting for Juanpa to show up (he was the only one who didn't make an appearance). I think the plot was interesting but the ending was SO unrealistic and I wish we got to see the characters actually being ok and dealing with things going badly. I do understand that they deserved a happy ending, but at the same time, I can't say I loved the ending.
This was short, sweet, and heart-warming. I enjoyed getting to know Ari and Yin a bit better and seeing the characters from previous books was fun, even if I kept waiting for Juanpa to show up (he was the only one who didn't make an appearance). I think the plot was interesting but the ending was SO unrealistic and I wish we got to see the characters actually being ok and dealing with things going badly. I do understand that they deserved a happy ending, but at the same time, I can't say I loved the ending.
November 12, 2023
This was cute! I adored the found family and diversity in this one. Sadly I really thought this was a stand-alone but now I wish I had read all the other books in this series first, a lot of the couples make appearances and I also think that I would have been more invested in Yin and Ari‘s love story (they already are an established couple at the beginning of this novella).
But I loved the writing style and the setting and all the other couples so I will pick up this series from the beginning. Maybe that will also change my rating of this to a four star in the end, I‘ll have to see.
But I loved the writing style and the setting and all the other couples so I will pick up this series from the beginning. Maybe that will also change my rating of this to a four star in the end, I‘ll have to see.
October 30, 2020
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review
This novella was so sweet! It was amazing how much Adriana Herrera can do with her characters in such a short story. I loved Yin and Ari's relationship. Yin's enthusiasm, especially, jumped off the page. Their chemistry and connection was so beautiful. I loved how readers are given just enough insight to each of their backstories to understand their motivations. And the casual references to therapy were fantastic! The found family in this story makes me want to read the rest of the series for sure. I would definitely recommend this delightful, cozy, yet still sexy, little novella for this upcoming Christmas season!
This novella was so sweet! It was amazing how much Adriana Herrera can do with her characters in such a short story. I loved Yin and Ari's relationship. Yin's enthusiasm, especially, jumped off the page. Their chemistry and connection was so beautiful. I loved how readers are given just enough insight to each of their backstories to understand their motivations. And the casual references to therapy were fantastic! The found family in this story makes me want to read the rest of the series for sure. I would definitely recommend this delightful, cozy, yet still sexy, little novella for this upcoming Christmas season!
November 5, 2020
Not my favorite by this author. I've read the whole series but a long time ago so I had forgotten the backstory of Yin and Ari. Maybe that's why I had a hard time distinguishing the two (who had what job, what was the gift they got the other/wanted...), I was confused by that at times. I wish it had been longer so that we could have gone into more depth. I still liked it a lot.
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