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Fool Me Twice at Christmas
There are two types of relationships: fake and real.
Chuck and Kate’s used to be real, oh-so-real. But after she broke his heart four months ago, leaving him, it became all just pretense for the sake of their entwined families.
With parents who are best friends and business partners, it’s not easy for Chuck and Kate to announce they’ve split up. But with the holidays looming over them, they can no longer keep pretending.
They head home for Christmas, determined to tell the truth—and end up accidentally engaged instead. The more they try to pull apart, the more the Universe seems to push them back together, shortening the road to the altar. And when just-for-show kisses stir up forgotten feelings, things get even more complicated.
Now, with the midnight hour approaching, will Chuck and Kate’s relationship turn out to be fake or real?
Chuck and Kate’s used to be real, oh-so-real. But after she broke his heart four months ago, leaving him, it became all just pretense for the sake of their entwined families.
With parents who are best friends and business partners, it’s not easy for Chuck and Kate to announce they’ve split up. But with the holidays looming over them, they can no longer keep pretending.
They head home for Christmas, determined to tell the truth—and end up accidentally engaged instead. The more they try to pull apart, the more the Universe seems to push them back together, shortening the road to the altar. And when just-for-show kisses stir up forgotten feelings, things get even more complicated.
Now, with the midnight hour approaching, will Chuck and Kate’s relationship turn out to be fake or real?
206 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 28, 2021
347 people are currently reading
10661 people want to read
About the author
Camilla Isley
58 books2,974 followers
Camilla is an engineer who left science behind to enter the whimsical realm of romantic fiction.
She writes contemporary rom-coms. Her characters have big hearts, might be a little stubborn at times, and love to banter with each other. Every story she pens has a guaranteed HEA that will make your heart beat faster. Unless you're a vampire, of course.
Camilla is a cat lover, coffee addict, and shoe hoarder. Besides writing, she loves reading—duh!—cooking, watching bad TV, and going to the movies—popcorn, please. She's a bit of a foodie, nothing too serious. A keen traveler, Camilla knows mosquitoes play a role in the ecosystem, and she doesn't want to starve all those frog princes out there, but she could really live without them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 553 reviews
October 3, 2021
I always look forward to reading Camilla Isley's latest book as I'm a big fan of her writing style and her sense of humour and this one was just adorable. Fool Me Twice at Christmas is a perfect romcom with relatable, lovable protagonists and lots of hilarious misunderstandings in the storyline.
Kate and Chuck are heading home for Christmas holidays. They used to be childhood friends, then they became a couple for the joy of their home town, where everybody knows and roots for them,and then...I guess they just fell into a routine...until the break up. When your parents and your ex's parents happen to be not just best friends, but also business partners (they co-own a chocolate factory), it isn't easy to comeclean and tell them you aren't together anymore. Kate and Chuck aren't exactly stalling, they are trying to find the right moment to announce the news...But what can you do when things just keep happening and the whole situation is rapidly getting out of control?
The pace was flawless. The story is told from aternating points of view, so we get an insight into the feelings of our star-crossed duo and see how perfect they are for each other. It isn't just fun and jokes, there's a great message behind it: love and relationships need attention, work, willingness to communicate and compromise. I love this friends-to-lovers trope, mixed with the second chance one, all in a delicious comic package from a very talented author.
If you are looking for a sweet, clean romcom with the festive spirit, but mostly focusing on the relationship, Fool me Twice is perfect. Can't wait to read Camilla's next book!
Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
March 2, 2022
Oh how ridiculous the plot is! Somehow Miss Isley made it work. The story is super funny and cute. Just a perfect cure for my anxiety.
Fool Me Twice at Christmas is a heart warming story about a couple who too afraid to tell they breaking up to their family. Then the comedy ensued about their piling lies. Miss Isley done a great job bringing the comedy alive.
So much enjoyment reading this book.
4 stars
Fool Me Twice at Christmas is a heart warming story about a couple who too afraid to tell they breaking up to their family. Then the comedy ensued about their piling lies. Miss Isley done a great job bringing the comedy alive.
So much enjoyment reading this book.
4 stars
December 17, 2024
If I could give this ZERO stars I would.
I hated this book with every single fiery passion possible.
Where do I even begin
1. The main characters are the most stupid people I have ever read about in my entire life. God awfully stupid. Every decision they make is stupid. I want to kick them both off a cliff. They are the most one dimensional boring stupid characters EVER.
2. The main characters manipulated people - and cause their familiar to spend what is probably millions of dollars on them by their lies - between their parents buying them a house, the wedding, the gifts, the business endeavor. That is unbelievably irresponsible and selfish.
3. The main character (girl) was a cheater and manipulated her boyfriend and lied to him. The author kept making digs at the boyfriend for making the protagonist run and shaming her but that does not excuse the main character for cheating on him. Being a shit partner is one thing but lying to them and cheating on them is another.
4. The protagonists have absolutely ZERO chemistry. The book fails to show them getting closer at all. They don't have light banter. They don't get flirty.
5. It is made apparent that they only broke up because of a single event -in which the woman drops a towel in front of the guy and he doesn't respond and keeps playing video games and she assumed he doesn't want her anymore. AND YET. IT TURNS OUT HE DIDNT EVEN SEE HER. HOW COULD YOU MISINTERPRET THAT BADLY. WHAT!!!!!! HOW! Maybe they should have TALKED THAT ONE OUT before BREAKING UP! This book makes no effort to explain why the couple weren't happy together and broke up in the first place. In my opinion this book should have ended with them going their separate ways still.
6. The woman keeps shitting on her boyfriends hobbies and interests and friends. She makes fun of him for playing games and being into dungeons and dragons. She makes ZERO effort to actually get to know his interests or understand his hobbies. She just shits on him.
7. They pretend to have a baby for a painfully long time. Whilst fake dating is acceptable in books - I think faking a baby in a lighthearted way like this is a bit insensitive.
And at this point in my review I have still only covered the reasons why I don' like the main characters. Now for the authors racism and for the problematic family.
8. At one point in the book the family walk into the kitchen and one of the mums is cooking a full table spread 'traditional' Japanese breakfast. The main characters poke their noses up at the food, insinuating it looks disgusting - saying they wouldn't eat that for breakfast. They all are visibly disgusted. THAT IS NOT COOL. WHY WAS THAT ADDED TO THE BOOK. You could tell that was the authors opinion and not just the characters being bad people - and it wasn't questioned. Not cool. One of the characters even said something along the lines of "holding out hope for at least one normal thing".
9. Some Japanese business-people come to visit the family. And the author just keeps saying things along the lines of "the Japanese" do this "the Japanese" do that. Why not just say their names? Or say "the business people?" or even "THE JAPANESE BUSINES PEOPLE". This kind of casual Asian targeted racism is so prevalent in media and highly unquestioned. To paint how ugly this picture is: imagine if the business people were African American and the characters kept saying "The African Americans did this" or "the black people did this". THAT WOULD BE SO FUCKING CRITIQUED AND YET BECUASE ITS AN ASAIN TARGET THEIR IS NO CRITIQUE. YOU CAN'T JUST CALL PEOPLE WHO ARENT WHITE BY THEIR NATIONALITY AS A GROUP CATEGORY WHEN NARRATING THEM IN A BOOK. WHAT THE FUCK! HOW WAS THIS ALLOWED TO STAY IN THIS PUBLISHED BOOK????? It others people. It makes it clear that the author thinks "white and western is the normal and everyone else is abnormal".
10. The audiobook narrator - clearly a white person - decided to do a really stereotypical Japanese accent while narrating their portion. They could have done a subtle accent - or just used a polite businesslike tone but no they went in full dramatic. I don't think that's okay. It almost seemed like it was poking fun.
NOW ON TO THE FAMILY
11. The main characters families are the most insufferable people I have ever read in books ever. Now - writing about bad characters is totally fine and doesn't make you a bad author. But some of the things the family say and do which are seen to be loving but annoying are actually obsessive and intrusive and problematic. There is no consent involved throughout this whole book with regards for the decisions the parents make about the 'couple', They buy them a house without their consent (a but assumptionistic that your kids want that - and forced them into a really uncomfy position where they are guilt tripped to accept you gift). Clearly more of the gift for the parents and a self-serving way for them to make sure their kids live close so they can live out their grandchildren fantasy and have their kids their for future business ventures.
12. The mum forces the daughter to disclose personal information about whether or not she is pregnant. This is not okay. This is something that happens in real life and can be extremely triggering - for women who may have experienced miscarriage - forcing them to say and shoving their diagnoses on them - in regards to being pregnant - is extremely harmful and mentally taxing. The author does not disclose that this is harmful or have the main characters acknowledge this. It feels like something that needed to be addressed.
13. Forcing their kids to be the next big face of their business - forcing them to take a ring - forcing them to have an engagement party and forcing them to get married in a matter of a week or two is fucking horrendous. I get that the main characters needed to grow a backbone and tell the truth and its their fault but at the same time having family that dictate your life and give you no autonomy over decisions when you clearly are apprehensive is so uncomfy to read. And that's what 95% of this book was. Two stupid people being forced by their parents to live their grandchildren and family joining business dreams. If I was one of these characters and these were my parents it would take years to repair and accept a relationship with those parents again. It was not enjoyable to read a downfall of a family for that long and be expected to find it light hearted and comedic and 'all happy in the end'. The couple take blame for it at the end but even if we pretend this was actually their wedding and pregnancy - and they were wanting both - their parents acting this way would still have happened and their would be no "hey we aren't actually together" icebreaker anyway.
I HATED THIS BOOK.
I hated this book with every single fiery passion possible.
Where do I even begin
1. The main characters are the most stupid people I have ever read about in my entire life. God awfully stupid. Every decision they make is stupid. I want to kick them both off a cliff. They are the most one dimensional boring stupid characters EVER.
2. The main characters manipulated people - and cause their familiar to spend what is probably millions of dollars on them by their lies - between their parents buying them a house, the wedding, the gifts, the business endeavor. That is unbelievably irresponsible and selfish.
3. The main character (girl) was a cheater and manipulated her boyfriend and lied to him. The author kept making digs at the boyfriend for making the protagonist run and shaming her but that does not excuse the main character for cheating on him. Being a shit partner is one thing but lying to them and cheating on them is another.
4. The protagonists have absolutely ZERO chemistry. The book fails to show them getting closer at all. They don't have light banter. They don't get flirty.
5. It is made apparent that they only broke up because of a single event -in which the woman drops a towel in front of the guy and he doesn't respond and keeps playing video games and she assumed he doesn't want her anymore. AND YET. IT TURNS OUT HE DIDNT EVEN SEE HER. HOW COULD YOU MISINTERPRET THAT BADLY. WHAT!!!!!! HOW! Maybe they should have TALKED THAT ONE OUT before BREAKING UP! This book makes no effort to explain why the couple weren't happy together and broke up in the first place. In my opinion this book should have ended with them going their separate ways still.
6. The woman keeps shitting on her boyfriends hobbies and interests and friends. She makes fun of him for playing games and being into dungeons and dragons. She makes ZERO effort to actually get to know his interests or understand his hobbies. She just shits on him.
7. They pretend to have a baby for a painfully long time. Whilst fake dating is acceptable in books - I think faking a baby in a lighthearted way like this is a bit insensitive.
And at this point in my review I have still only covered the reasons why I don' like the main characters. Now for the authors racism and for the problematic family.
8. At one point in the book the family walk into the kitchen and one of the mums is cooking a full table spread 'traditional' Japanese breakfast. The main characters poke their noses up at the food, insinuating it looks disgusting - saying they wouldn't eat that for breakfast. They all are visibly disgusted. THAT IS NOT COOL. WHY WAS THAT ADDED TO THE BOOK. You could tell that was the authors opinion and not just the characters being bad people - and it wasn't questioned. Not cool. One of the characters even said something along the lines of "holding out hope for at least one normal thing".
9. Some Japanese business-people come to visit the family. And the author just keeps saying things along the lines of "the Japanese" do this "the Japanese" do that. Why not just say their names? Or say "the business people?" or even "THE JAPANESE BUSINES PEOPLE". This kind of casual Asian targeted racism is so prevalent in media and highly unquestioned. To paint how ugly this picture is: imagine if the business people were African American and the characters kept saying "The African Americans did this" or "the black people did this". THAT WOULD BE SO FUCKING CRITIQUED AND YET BECUASE ITS AN ASAIN TARGET THEIR IS NO CRITIQUE. YOU CAN'T JUST CALL PEOPLE WHO ARENT WHITE BY THEIR NATIONALITY AS A GROUP CATEGORY WHEN NARRATING THEM IN A BOOK. WHAT THE FUCK! HOW WAS THIS ALLOWED TO STAY IN THIS PUBLISHED BOOK????? It others people. It makes it clear that the author thinks "white and western is the normal and everyone else is abnormal".
10. The audiobook narrator - clearly a white person - decided to do a really stereotypical Japanese accent while narrating their portion. They could have done a subtle accent - or just used a polite businesslike tone but no they went in full dramatic. I don't think that's okay. It almost seemed like it was poking fun.
NOW ON TO THE FAMILY
11. The main characters families are the most insufferable people I have ever read in books ever. Now - writing about bad characters is totally fine and doesn't make you a bad author. But some of the things the family say and do which are seen to be loving but annoying are actually obsessive and intrusive and problematic. There is no consent involved throughout this whole book with regards for the decisions the parents make about the 'couple', They buy them a house without their consent (a but assumptionistic that your kids want that - and forced them into a really uncomfy position where they are guilt tripped to accept you gift). Clearly more of the gift for the parents and a self-serving way for them to make sure their kids live close so they can live out their grandchildren fantasy and have their kids their for future business ventures.
12. The mum forces the daughter to disclose personal information about whether or not she is pregnant. This is not okay. This is something that happens in real life and can be extremely triggering - for women who may have experienced miscarriage - forcing them to say and shoving their diagnoses on them - in regards to being pregnant - is extremely harmful and mentally taxing. The author does not disclose that this is harmful or have the main characters acknowledge this. It feels like something that needed to be addressed.
13. Forcing their kids to be the next big face of their business - forcing them to take a ring - forcing them to have an engagement party and forcing them to get married in a matter of a week or two is fucking horrendous. I get that the main characters needed to grow a backbone and tell the truth and its their fault but at the same time having family that dictate your life and give you no autonomy over decisions when you clearly are apprehensive is so uncomfy to read. And that's what 95% of this book was. Two stupid people being forced by their parents to live their grandchildren and family joining business dreams. If I was one of these characters and these were my parents it would take years to repair and accept a relationship with those parents again. It was not enjoyable to read a downfall of a family for that long and be expected to find it light hearted and comedic and 'all happy in the end'. The couple take blame for it at the end but even if we pretend this was actually their wedding and pregnancy - and they were wanting both - their parents acting this way would still have happened and their would be no "hey we aren't actually together" icebreaker anyway.
I HATED THIS BOOK.
December 27, 2021
Yesterday was errand running and painting and time just got away from me so this little 200-pager was exactly what I needed to say I read a book on my first day of vacation. Fool Me Twice At Christmas was a Hallmark movie in book format featuring two families who own a chocolate factory and the endless escalation of what they think is going on with their kids who used to be a couple, but are now just faking it for the parents. Obviously it won’t change your life, but it was a sweet escape for a couple of hours while the Bears embarrassed themselves on Monday Night Football.
September 19, 2025
honestly, i didn't really care for this story. it wasn't bad, so to say, just i wasn't very fond of the writing style and the characters were hard to also like. also, maybe i'm just not in the second chance tropes? i mean they broke up and you could tell throughout the whole time, both characters still loved each other and faked that they were still dating and then finally got together? idk. i gave it a 3 but might change my rating to a 2.
December 23, 2021
I really wanted to like the heroine but alas i did not I thought she was the worst. The guy deserved so much better.
October 21, 2021
Fool Me Twice At Christmas was a nice, entarteining and easy read.
Chuck and Kate's families run jointly a chocolate factory, they grew up together, they were destined to be a couple, to get married and to have kids...until Kate broke up with Chuck. Theyhey don't have the courage to tell their parents they have broken up until the Christmas holidays, but nothing goes as planned.
I liked Chuck, he is still in love with Kate but I think he realized it when he lost her for someone else. Kate at the beginning was insufferable for me but then I understood her, it isn't easy to live with someone who takes you for granted. It was so much fun to follow them on their journey, at times I wanted to slap them when they were too stubborn to see that their feelings for each other are still there, but I kept reading and cheering for them till the end.
I recommend to read it if you enjoy a story with a lot of misunderstanding, small town gossip and the sweet smell of chocolate.
Copy kindly provided by the Publisher/Author.
October 21, 2023
Even though this book was a nice enough, I still don’t think I would recommend it.
It’s cute and funny at times, but Kate is kind of insufferable. Chuck definitely deserved better.
Also their families are insane.
It’s cute and funny at times, but Kate is kind of insufferable. Chuck definitely deserved better.
Also their families are insane.
May 14, 2022
There were so many things going on in this book that at times it was a little bit hard to follow. I'm also so annoyed by the parents in this one. If you are a parent that acts like this, get help. The fact that the children were basically forced to carry on the family business and basically forced into a campaign that they had no say in red flag number one. But forcing your kids to get engaged and then married all in a week and just assuming that they are pregnant is just another level of what the f. I'm still also pissed that they didn't even get hot and heavy. The main character sure talked about it quite a lot even though she had a boyfriend. She had no valid reason why she dumped him in the first place. The towel test? really? Ugh
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2023
Reunion romance
I really struggled with this novel because I did not like the FMC at all. I wanted the cinnamon roll MMC to end up with somebody else. The FMC has no respect for him and considers herself far superior to him, which is reflected in her constantly nagging and insulting him and incessantly having negative thoughts about him. They broke up four months prior to the start of this story because she did not honor their 10-year relationship enough to get joint counseling before dumping him like last week's garbage and starting in affair with another man. Ugh!
I really struggled with this novel because I did not like the FMC at all. I wanted the cinnamon roll MMC to end up with somebody else. The FMC has no respect for him and considers herself far superior to him, which is reflected in her constantly nagging and insulting him and incessantly having negative thoughts about him. They broke up four months prior to the start of this story because she did not honor their 10-year relationship enough to get joint counseling before dumping him like last week's garbage and starting in affair with another man. Ugh!
January 4, 2024
A cute, small-town romance of two friends who turned into lovers, then 10 years after broke up. The story and plot was cute and funny at times, and the writing and language were beautiful. But, Kate, the female protagonist was at times, especially from the beginning to the middle of the book insufferable and annoying. I really wanted to like her, but I couldn't. She didn't treat Chuck right, especially since they've known each other for years and he was special to her. She just left him. And yes, she is passive aggressive. She could have been honest with Chuck, yet she broke up with him for the most stupid reason. And, they were together for 10 years, yet it was easy for her to find someone new and throw away her feelings and everything she's been through with Chuck. Chuck, deserved so much better.
Marco is a douche, and it annoys me how Kate doesn't see things, and the way Marco he is with her. but she was quick to judge Chuck. Although Marco was annoying when it came to health and fitness and criticized Kate's habits, he didn't deserve to be treated like this when Kate was fake engaged to Chuck, and when Marco visited her.
And their families made me really angry. They put so much pressure on them to talk and share things without giving them the time they need to speak on their own and with their own terms. But most importantly they put pressure on them to be the perfect couple and be happy and in love because their parents wanted to. And of course, Kate and Chuck didn't want to disappoint or fail their parents expectations. Though, it was a bit too much when the story was progressing and the lies kept adding up. Kate and Chuck were afraid to confront their parents and tell the truth, Kate specifically, when she is confident and isn't afraid to do what she wants in life. It was a bit childish. And the parents didn't even ask the kids when they did things or talk with them about it. They just did it. How did Chuck and Kate not explode and get angry at this?
The last part of the book was sweet, as we finally saw Kate and Chuck in action, working together. Their thoughts and feelings added to their connection and romance. There were unresolved feelings that this trip and fake engagement brought to light. Chuck is the cutest, one of the sweetest and most adorable characters. He truly loved Kate and would do anything to see her happy, even if it was to see her with Marco. His feelings, emotions and words towards her were genuine and sweet. Even if they broke up, he cherished the connection and friendship they had before getting together.
“Before we were… err… together, you were my best friend. I’ll always care about you. Whatever upsets you upsets me.”
He doesn't get revenge and he isn't selfish. But eventually, the prince gets the princess. And then, there is another problem, and the same question rises once again: how to tell their parents.
Marco is a douche, and it annoys me how Kate doesn't see things, and the way Marco he is with her. but she was quick to judge Chuck. Although Marco was annoying when it came to health and fitness and criticized Kate's habits, he didn't deserve to be treated like this when Kate was fake engaged to Chuck, and when Marco visited her.
And their families made me really angry. They put so much pressure on them to talk and share things without giving them the time they need to speak on their own and with their own terms. But most importantly they put pressure on them to be the perfect couple and be happy and in love because their parents wanted to. And of course, Kate and Chuck didn't want to disappoint or fail their parents expectations. Though, it was a bit too much when the story was progressing and the lies kept adding up. Kate and Chuck were afraid to confront their parents and tell the truth, Kate specifically, when she is confident and isn't afraid to do what she wants in life. It was a bit childish. And the parents didn't even ask the kids when they did things or talk with them about it. They just did it. How did Chuck and Kate not explode and get angry at this?
The last part of the book was sweet, as we finally saw Kate and Chuck in action, working together. Their thoughts and feelings added to their connection and romance. There were unresolved feelings that this trip and fake engagement brought to light. Chuck is the cutest, one of the sweetest and most adorable characters. He truly loved Kate and would do anything to see her happy, even if it was to see her with Marco. His feelings, emotions and words towards her were genuine and sweet. Even if they broke up, he cherished the connection and friendship they had before getting together.
“Before we were… err… together, you were my best friend. I’ll always care about you. Whatever upsets you upsets me.”
He doesn't get revenge and he isn't selfish. But eventually, the prince gets the princess. And then, there is another problem, and the same question rises once again: how to tell their parents.
December 24, 2023
Cute Christmassy romance! Loved the dual pov!
December 16, 2021
Definitely a surprise. This one was really entertaining. It was a used to be friends to lovers, but currently exes, but pretending they are still together. Throw in a families who are besties and envision their kids together forever and it was a good rom com. Even my 14yr old daughter laughed at the non-proposal proposal part.
Also the bus full of the Girl Scout troop was our favorite
Also the bus full of the Girl Scout troop was our favorite
July 27, 2021
I love, Love, LOVED this book!
It takes the fake relationship trope and does it so so well, especially as Chuck and Kate were up couple until 4 months ago, but due to the way their parents and lives are entwined and in business together, they decided to wait until Christmas to tell them all the truth.
Only well things happen, misunderstandings, fate, amusing situations, business decisions and well it just never is the right time to come clean!
Told in alternating view points of Chuck and Katie, we see just how they feel about the mess they have ended up in, as they and their families spend the Christmas period together.
And this is certainly a book that may make you crave chocolate, as their parents jointly run the towns chocolate company - with its factory, shop, cafe, museum etc and big plans for international expansion. I just loved all the feels of this small town story.
And feel it would make a perfect Hallmark Christmas film, it has all the elements that would be fabulous on the small screen!
It's not the most festive feeling of books, and is far more focused on the relationship or fake relationship between Chuck and Kate which means its great book to start your festive reading with even as far out of season as I read it!
With plenty of laughs, fabulous situations and with it potentially ending a few ways in my mind, I was rather pleased and surprised with the exact nature of the end sequence!
It's another fantastic book from Camilla Isley and I'm already looking forward to her next Christmas rom-com!
Thank you to the author for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily
It takes the fake relationship trope and does it so so well, especially as Chuck and Kate were up couple until 4 months ago, but due to the way their parents and lives are entwined and in business together, they decided to wait until Christmas to tell them all the truth.
Only well things happen, misunderstandings, fate, amusing situations, business decisions and well it just never is the right time to come clean!
Told in alternating view points of Chuck and Katie, we see just how they feel about the mess they have ended up in, as they and their families spend the Christmas period together.
And this is certainly a book that may make you crave chocolate, as their parents jointly run the towns chocolate company - with its factory, shop, cafe, museum etc and big plans for international expansion. I just loved all the feels of this small town story.
And feel it would make a perfect Hallmark Christmas film, it has all the elements that would be fabulous on the small screen!
It's not the most festive feeling of books, and is far more focused on the relationship or fake relationship between Chuck and Kate which means its great book to start your festive reading with even as far out of season as I read it!
With plenty of laughs, fabulous situations and with it potentially ending a few ways in my mind, I was rather pleased and surprised with the exact nature of the end sequence!
It's another fantastic book from Camilla Isley and I'm already looking forward to her next Christmas rom-com!
Thank you to the author for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily
December 16, 2024
It's really fortunate that this is a short book. It would have been unbearable otherwise. Although it makes me wonder why it was even published in the first place.
This was bad. As in the plot is completely unbelievable and the characters are painfully stupid. I lost count of the many times I screamed silently as I read this crass aggregate of nothing.
Skip this one. Or rather, avoid it like the plague.
This was bad. As in the plot is completely unbelievable and the characters are painfully stupid. I lost count of the many times I screamed silently as I read this crass aggregate of nothing.
Skip this one. Or rather, avoid it like the plague.
September 30, 2021
Fun read, not much conflict or deep feelings but a good laugh.
November 21, 2021
This read like this year's most perfect Christmas movie- romantic, cute, Christmasy, full of the holiday spirit.
I rooted hard for Kate and Chuck. Of course, it was only expected they were meant to end together, but the book placed just enough obstacles to make it believable. Mostly, I loved how romantic they were together and it made me furious how a stupid misunderstanding kept them apart.
In true romcom fashion, there are plenty of coincidences and trials the two have to get over together but I loved how well built they were to make them believable.
Overall, I'd say, if you only have time for one Christmas book this year, let it be this one- it is perfect to put you in just the right mood, make you feel cosy and pampered and warm your heart- just in time for the holiday season!
I rooted hard for Kate and Chuck. Of course, it was only expected they were meant to end together, but the book placed just enough obstacles to make it believable. Mostly, I loved how romantic they were together and it made me furious how a stupid misunderstanding kept them apart.
In true romcom fashion, there are plenty of coincidences and trials the two have to get over together but I loved how well built they were to make them believable.
Overall, I'd say, if you only have time for one Christmas book this year, let it be this one- it is perfect to put you in just the right mood, make you feel cosy and pampered and warm your heart- just in time for the holiday season!
December 8, 2022
The perfect seasonal distraction!! It touches on all of those adorable quirks that I absolutely love about rom-coms. A false relationship that just spirals out of control as the lies start to build up and offers quite a bit of comedic moments. I could easily picture this being made into a movie.
The story is told from alternating perspectives. Chuck and Kate have been destined to be soulmates since birth. Their parents are besties who own and operate a very successful chocolate franchise. They do absolutely everything together, which was perfect up until the golden couple split up four months ago and neglected to tell anyone. Now home for the holidays, they intend to break the news to their loved ones, but never get the chance as one lie, multiple misconstrued moments and guilt over ruining everyone expectations get blown way out of hand.
The situations these two found themselves in was outrageously entertaining and hilarious! Their overbearing families truly added to the chaos as well. I read this in one sitting and just couldn't stop smiling throughout the entire book. Along with plenty of humor, there is a great lesson about relationships. How you continuously need to work at them and how open communication is the key to true happiness.
The story is told from alternating perspectives. Chuck and Kate have been destined to be soulmates since birth. Their parents are besties who own and operate a very successful chocolate franchise. They do absolutely everything together, which was perfect up until the golden couple split up four months ago and neglected to tell anyone. Now home for the holidays, they intend to break the news to their loved ones, but never get the chance as one lie, multiple misconstrued moments and guilt over ruining everyone expectations get blown way out of hand.
The situations these two found themselves in was outrageously entertaining and hilarious! Their overbearing families truly added to the chaos as well. I read this in one sitting and just couldn't stop smiling throughout the entire book. Along with plenty of humor, there is a great lesson about relationships. How you continuously need to work at them and how open communication is the key to true happiness.
December 1, 2021
Fool Me Twice at Christmas este prima carte de Crăciun pe care am citit-o și mi-a plăcut nemaipomenit de mult. Este o lectură ușoară și drăguță care m-a captivat încă din momentul în care am citit descrierea și am parcurs-o fără oprire într-o singură zi!
December 19, 2023
fun and easy read😍 A kind of book I couldn't put down📚📚
October 1, 2021
Now you know I’ve been talking about how I don’t read holiday books till after Halloween. But this one came up by an author that I really have liked her books in the past, so I had to jump on the blog tour! And you know what? I am so glad I did give in and read a holiday book early for me. Because I loved this one!
It’s like every time that Chuck and Kate turned around something else messed up their plan to confess their break up to their parents. Literally. Chuck bending down to pick up the ring he had just been showing Kate right as their family stopped by their room, and suddenly he has to go through with the proposal that it looks like. And then they decide to wait to tell their family till after Christmas but it slips out that he proposed as he tries to tell his buddies something and suddenly the whole town knows and is congratulating them.
They come up with a way they think they can save face about their break-up and it gets accidentally mis-overheard by Kate’s mom and all of a sudden the stakes to get married as soon as possible are even higher!
Every single time and every single thing that happened made me laugh and made me feel so sorry for the two.
Hearing the things Kate had done that made her decide to leave Chuck in the first place, like the towel drop in front of your boyfriend playing video games? I remember watching those TikTok or whatever videos. The ending though, the bus full of girl scouts and Chuck weaving the story of their love from the very first kiss up until the not the right time wedding, I loved it. It was so perfect. I was left smiling so much at the cuteness and perfection of the end of the book.
I might now also be ready to read some more holiday books. Before Halloween. I know, crazy, right?
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
It’s like every time that Chuck and Kate turned around something else messed up their plan to confess their break up to their parents. Literally. Chuck bending down to pick up the ring he had just been showing Kate right as their family stopped by their room, and suddenly he has to go through with the proposal that it looks like. And then they decide to wait to tell their family till after Christmas but it slips out that he proposed as he tries to tell his buddies something and suddenly the whole town knows and is congratulating them.
They come up with a way they think they can save face about their break-up and it gets accidentally mis-overheard by Kate’s mom and all of a sudden the stakes to get married as soon as possible are even higher!
Every single time and every single thing that happened made me laugh and made me feel so sorry for the two.
Hearing the things Kate had done that made her decide to leave Chuck in the first place, like the towel drop in front of your boyfriend playing video games? I remember watching those TikTok or whatever videos. The ending though, the bus full of girl scouts and Chuck weaving the story of their love from the very first kiss up until the not the right time wedding, I loved it. It was so perfect. I was left smiling so much at the cuteness and perfection of the end of the book.
I might now also be ready to read some more holiday books. Before Halloween. I know, crazy, right?
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
December 23, 2022
Would rate this 0 if I could, so here’s my review (from someone who never writes reviews)
1) Kate is the most intolerable character ever.
2) Chuck deserved better.
3) The authors casual racism about Asian culture was an absolute no and brought this book straight down from a 2 to a 0. Numerous poor remarks about Japanese cuisine and the many many mentions of the “Japanese businessmen” who were never given any names was just unnecessary. The way the food was described and the accents that the audiobook narrator put on when speaking for these characters was all wrong. It’s pretty clear from this book that Camillas personal racist views shine through and that it’s not just some odd choice of characteristics of the protagonists.
4) The two main characters were so careless about everyone else that they wasted thousands of pounds of money from their parents - a house, a campaign, a wedding etc etc?? What on earth?
5) The parents were AWFUL, like truly awful.
There were so many more things wrong with this book but to summarise: I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone. It was irritating and frustrating, the main characters were spineless and it just went absolutely no where. The casual racism sprinkled through the last 20% of this book ruined the whole thing for me. This has completely put me off of reading anything by Camilla again.
1) Kate is the most intolerable character ever.
2) Chuck deserved better.
3) The authors casual racism about Asian culture was an absolute no and brought this book straight down from a 2 to a 0. Numerous poor remarks about Japanese cuisine and the many many mentions of the “Japanese businessmen” who were never given any names was just unnecessary. The way the food was described and the accents that the audiobook narrator put on when speaking for these characters was all wrong. It’s pretty clear from this book that Camillas personal racist views shine through and that it’s not just some odd choice of characteristics of the protagonists.
4) The two main characters were so careless about everyone else that they wasted thousands of pounds of money from their parents - a house, a campaign, a wedding etc etc?? What on earth?
5) The parents were AWFUL, like truly awful.
There were so many more things wrong with this book but to summarise: I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone. It was irritating and frustrating, the main characters were spineless and it just went absolutely no where. The casual racism sprinkled through the last 20% of this book ruined the whole thing for me. This has completely put me off of reading anything by Camilla again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2022
I absolutely adored this friends to lovers fake daters romance. They way things kept getting more and more convoluted for Kate and Chuck was so funny.
I loved the big, meddling families. The Christmas setting and adorable small town vibe. And the chocolate factory.
Oh my gosh it's like this book took all my favorite things (friends to lovers, fake engagement, small town romance, chocolate, hilarious mishaps) and mixed it all into a spectacularly hilarious romcom!
I loved the big, meddling families. The Christmas setting and adorable small town vibe. And the chocolate factory.
Oh my gosh it's like this book took all my favorite things (friends to lovers, fake engagement, small town romance, chocolate, hilarious mishaps) and mixed it all into a spectacularly hilarious romcom!
January 20, 2022
I sure LOLed with this book. Chuck and Kate's misfortunes were hilarious and adorable as was the warm-fuzzy setting.
December 18, 2022
“𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒆𝒕.”
this was so heartwarming!! and honestly i could swear they wouldn’t have their happy ending and their second chance, but they did!!
exes to lovers trope is always a SERVE, but with fake dating trope combined is just pure perfection. it was very to win me over with these incredible tropes.
i’m in love with kate and chuck! i can totally imagine them in my head, and thinking how it must have felt to pretend you’re engaged with your ex, having those feelings coming back stronger than ever, thinking about all what ifs, what could’ve been... it’s a lot.
i was so in love with them, but them it was revealed that everything has changed by taylor swift is THEIR SONG. that moment felt different, and honestly... it matches them so well.
this was so heartwarming!! and honestly i could swear they wouldn’t have their happy ending and their second chance, but they did!!
exes to lovers trope is always a SERVE, but with fake dating trope combined is just pure perfection. it was very to win me over with these incredible tropes.
i’m in love with kate and chuck! i can totally imagine them in my head, and thinking how it must have felt to pretend you’re engaged with your ex, having those feelings coming back stronger than ever, thinking about all what ifs, what could’ve been... it’s a lot.
i was so in love with them, but them it was revealed that everything has changed by taylor swift is THEIR SONG. that moment felt different, and honestly... it matches them so well.
November 30, 2022
QUE DELÍCIA LER UM CLICHEZINHO DE NATAL!!!
Essa história é literalmente aquele ditado “tudo que pode dar errado VAI DAR ERRADO e em uma proporção surreal ao ponto de virar uma bola de neve gigantesca e explodir em um casamento”. Nada melhor definiria Chuck e Kate.
O que é uma historinha de Natal se não te faz chorar ou deixa você todo emocionado? Com climinha de família maluca, mentiras, surtos, amor, sofrência, amores mal resolvidos, que te faz rir e morrer de amores. Que delicinha essa jornada de Chuckokate! Valeuuuu Natalina 🎄
Essa história é literalmente aquele ditado “tudo que pode dar errado VAI DAR ERRADO e em uma proporção surreal ao ponto de virar uma bola de neve gigantesca e explodir em um casamento”. Nada melhor definiria Chuck e Kate.
O que é uma historinha de Natal se não te faz chorar ou deixa você todo emocionado? Com climinha de família maluca, mentiras, surtos, amor, sofrência, amores mal resolvidos, que te faz rir e morrer de amores. Que delicinha essa jornada de Chuckokate! Valeuuuu Natalina 🎄
October 1, 2021
2.5 stars
Short and fun Christmas book about exes fake-dating also there is one bed trope.
Short and fun Christmas book about exes fake-dating also there is one bed trope.
December 8, 2021
3.5
It was funny and cute.
It was funny and cute.
December 24, 2024
Another great Christmassy love story 🫶
Drama, misunderstandings, lies, heartbreak, family, and love 💗
Very fun and entertaining 👌
Around 4.5 ⭐️’s
Drama, misunderstandings, lies, heartbreak, family, and love 💗
Very fun and entertaining 👌
Around 4.5 ⭐️’s
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