Holigay

by K.M. Neuhold

I’ve been in love with my best friend for almost as long as I can remember. The only problem is he’s straight. At least I thought he was.

But when he gets me to Fiji for Christmas, he’s suddenly looking at me in a way I’ve never seen before. Could this all be real, or is he just HoliGay?

Genres: Friends To Lovers, M M Romance, Holiday, Christmas, Romance, Novella, Contemporary

81 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 9, 2021

About the author

K.M.Neuhold has long since been a romance junkie. When she’s not writing she’s reading or spending time snuggling with her husky or her husband. She fell in love with M/M romance last year and hasn’t been able to turn back. There’s nothing she loves more than love in all its forms.

Reviews

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semicolons~✡~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a hot and sweet novella with a low-key Christmas vibe. Christmas in Fiji, that is.

Matt and Caspian have been best friends since elementary school, with Caspian harboring a crush on Matty for ages. Matt, who dates women, is pretty much oblivious ... until Fiji, until he sees Caspian naked, until the hot frotting session that sends his mind (and body) into overdrive.

Caspian assumes the whole thing is an experiment of sorts for Matt, fun for the holiday but not beyond that. But Caspian is oh-so-wrong!

Tropes: friends-to-lovers, bisexual awakening, two dues-one bed, lack of communication (although that doesn't last long), cuddles in a hammock, HEA.

One more thing: The feeling of déjà vu was strong with this one. I swear I've read this book before, but I don't see a previous edition. Maybe it was published as part of an anthology? Regardless, it's driving me crazy.

[Elisa Glendenning (mostly off-line) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 “Short, Sweet & Steamy Stars”

🍍 Friends-to-lovers
🍍 Bisexual awakening
🍍 Low angst


💔 ⏩ 🏝 ⏩ 🚿 ⏩ 🤔 ⏩ ❤️‍🔥 ⏩ 🐻🍑 = 💝

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caspian and Matt are a cute couple.

Their path to romance is surprisingly easy, as they are 'almost' a couple already at the start of the story.
Caspian is a gay man who loves his straight best friend Matt. Matt just got dumped by the girl he intended to propose to on the Fiji islands over Christmas.

Not wanting to lose his non-refundable vacation deal, he invites Caspian to share the booked holiday with him.

There is not really a big obstacle between them ending up in bed and spending their vacation time with sweaty sex.

But is this just a rebound fling to Matt or is this as real as the feelings Caspian has had for his best friend all these years?

Very cute, low angst, with just a very soft Christmas theme. Fiji isn't exactly a snowy mountain cabin.

4 stars!

[Mariam, · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a big, burly man with tattoos covering his entire body just melts under you, kisses you every chance he gets, and purrs when you're not being affectionate enough...

You don't just kidnap that man, you marry him to steal him away from EVERYONE.

[Vanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Holiday-GFY-Romantic Stars!! ❤️ This is a really fun, low-angst, hot, GFY, best-friends-to-lovers novella which is technically happening during the Christmas holidays, but is very loosely connected to Christmas🎄. In fact the whole romance happens in tropical Fiji.. 🏖 But both MCs are unique and likable and the over book is quite enjoyable. Highly recommended!! 👍👍

[Ariana (mostly offline) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars

I liked Caspian and Matty a lot.

In many ways this is your ‘usual’ friends-to-lovers romance,with a touch of GFY, but very well done.
Although it is a bit surprising how easily Matt (who is in his 30s) accepts that he isn’t as straight as he always thought, it is heart-warming to see him neither flinch nor regret anything that happens with Caspian.

I was happy to go with the flow and enjoyed the unravelling of their relationship, and, of course, the quite considerable steam they produce in the process of that.

[Larry H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Bookstagram friend of mine recently featured a few queer holiday novellas and short stories, and I had to snap a few of them up ASAP. I’m so glad I did!

In The Holigay , Caspian’s best friend since childhood, Matt, is devastated after he caught his girlfriend cheating on him. He was planning to propose and everything, and even had a romantic getaway to Fiji planned. Matt asks Caspian to go with him on the trip since it was nonrefundable, and the last thing he wants is to go alone.

Caspian has had a crush on Matt since they were young, but knows Matt is straight. But when Matt suddenly seems interested in him, Caspian can’t help but wonder if hooking up will destroy their relationship. Is Matt actually having feelings for him or is he just gay for the holidays?

This was HOT and romantic and emotional. A quick and enjoyable read!

See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.

Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.

[Marci · Rating 3 out of 5]

short, super easy to read, cute and hot! i didn’t love it and feel a bit meh about it but i did have fun so 3 stars! 🌴 🎅💚

[Len Evans Jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Sweet Bear Thank Love Story!

Loved these two together! Plenty of love and humor. Thoroughly enjoyed it and is good enough to read again. Plenty of naked fun too!

[Starr (AKA Starrfish) Rivers · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was OK

[BWT · Rating 4 out of 5]

🔥🔥🔥🔥❤️

Sweet, funny, and oh so sexy with flaming hot sex scenes this holiday short featuring two lifelong best friends finally realizing they're in love with each other and immediately doing something about it was a fun read. I'm so glad I picked this up for my holiday reading list.

[sil ♡ the book voyagers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saw Courtenay recommending this book on her IG so of course I bought and read it right away. It's a 80-something pages long romance novella with a guy who has been in love with his best friends for YEARS and the oblivious best friend who just broke up with his girlfriend and needs someone to accompany him to Fiji because it's a non-refundable trip. He obviously invites with best friend and after a surprise shower moment, he cannot stop thinking about him now.

°🥂⋆.ೃ🍾࿔*:･

This novella was sooo cute. If you want a fun moment between books, definitely pick up this one. Plus it's perfect for this time of year because it IS a Christmas romance. So if you're looking for a holiday romance for your lists and content you're doing right now, you should think of this one right here.

[Cindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

This is the ultimate friends to lovers story. It's also true GFY, something I normally avoid like the plague. Even so, I enjoyed the book, and I adored Caspian and Matt.

Very sweet. Very sexy. A nice Christmas short.

Full review can be found at -

[Jennifer☠Pher☠ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know. This did nothing for me. From the odd beginning to the resort without Christmas decorations it just didn't work. I don't know, maybe they don't celebrate Christmas in Fiji, it just seemed odd that there was no decor.

But really, I just didn't feel a romantic connection between these two. Maybe had it been longer, maybe had they been in their natural habitat. I just don't know.

It's Christmas though so I'll round up.

[Courtenay (ceelovesbooks)]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

The PERFECT holiday read ! I’m so glad I stumbled across this one on KU because it was JUST what I was looking for and I’m so so happy.

Matt was supposed to go on holidays for Christmas with his ex girlfriend, but she’s a cheater. So instead, he convinces his best friend of 20 years, Caspian to come with him. Caspian KNOWS this is a bad idea, he’s been harbouring feelings for Matty since.. forever.. but he’ll do anything to make him happy.

These two were SO hot, so sweet, and so much fun! They flirted, and really just were ALL in. Matt wants to explore his new feelings for his bestfriend? Well fine. They’re on vacation after all.. he’s probably just HoliGay.. right?

PLEASE read this one. PLEASE. It was so so good. Short and sweet and everything in between. I would LOVE to see more of these two. I ate up every word.

[Zita · Rating 4 out of 5]

กดมาอ่านขำๆ เพราะชื่อเรื่องโดนเส้นจัด but wow this book was so cute and silly and I really enjoyed every minute of it

[Mx. T *Chaotic Reader*]

Bi awakening and friends to lovers are probably my favourite tropes. Caspian and Matt go on Christmas holidays together after Matt's girlfriend cheated on him. Matt is straight until he realises he might not be that straight. We get one of the hottest fingering scenes I've read im a while, with a fist time bottom being a bit slutty and super into it. Also, love the small top-big bottom.

[~BookNeeds~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super sweet. Loved the MC’s dynamic.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would have been five stars if not for the repeated phrases that no gay men actually use… “peg my prostate” and “ropes of cum” for example. Seriously. Lol.

[Alex (HEABookNerd) · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLIGAY was such a cute read and I enjoyed it so much! Matt and Caspian's friendship was so easy and it's clear how much they care about each other. While Caspian has crushed on Matt for years, Matt's feelings are new and he's always assumed he was straight. Matt doesn't really struggle with his newfound bisexuality but that fits his easy going nature and the overall low angst tone of the book.

I especially liked how playful and fun these two were together. They have a strong foundation as friends and that helps them transition easily into lovers. The intimacy and sweetness combined with the sexy moments made this the perfect read for the end of my holiday vacation.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Favorite Quotes:

“You’re straight.”

A choked laugh forces its way out of my throat. “The jury is currently out on that one.”

- - - - -

My fifteen- year- old gay self with a massive crush on my straight best friend squeals internally because Oh- my- god- Matt- is- touching- my- dick!

- - - - -

He’s my home, he always has been, it just took me this long to figure out what that really meant.

[Mariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5? this was disgustingly adorable and hot. adorably hot if you will.
the only way to improve upon it would've been to give us more pages smh.

best friends to lovers excellence with the sweetest cinnamon roll

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know I read this last January, and I remember not being super impressed, but I don't remember much else because Goodreads continued to delete my reviews and I am still not over it.

[ML · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wrote a review for this when it was a prolific giveaway. I thought it was cute from what I remember 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5⭐ˢᵗᵃʳˢ ┇ 2/5🌶ˢᵖᶦᶜᵉ ┇ 5/10💦ʷᵉᵗᵒᵐᵉᵗᵉʳ

ahhh this was such an adorable besties to lovers novella with a little Christmas vibe!!✨ even if they spent the holiday at a tropical island🏝🍍🎄 which tbf made me sad for a sec bc i was looking for snowy winter vibes & i didn't read the blurb or look at the cover too closely lol but(t)! it turned out to be the perfect read for me, exactly what i needed🥰 honestly i smiled sm while reading, they were soo cute!! this story made my heart light & warm💝

❝ 𝑨𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒚-𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕. 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒈𝒖𝒚𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒏𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒖𝒅𝒆𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒐𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒖𝒕. ❞

˗ˏˋ ꒰ ᴛʀᴏᴘᴇs ꒱ ˎˊ˗
🏳‍🌈 MM
🎄 besties to lovers
🏝 gfy/bi-awakening
🎄 size difference
🏝 only one bed
🎄 holiday novella
💬 first-person, dual POV
⚠️ CW: mention of a cheating (SC on MC)

[Denise H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best friends to lovers, GFY. Matt's been cheated on by his girlfriend, so he invites his best friend on the prepaid vacation to Fiji.

Matt is big, tattooed, bearded and tough looking,

with a soft heart, and does a lot of thinking while they travel.

Caspian, smaller and toned, is a Florist,

who has loved Matt forever, and these guys are always counting on each other.

They have fun and enjoy the island's delights. After the first kiss, they sleep on it and Matt wakes up sure of himself and his feelings. They talk, ask questions, and see how it goes. Their hot sexiness is stunning.
The epilogue is marvelous !
Brutus...


What a sweet, short story of best friends to lovers to more, that will make you smile.... many times.
ENJOY ! :)

========

[Jane (whatjanereads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very steamy Christmas holiday on the beach story.
I absolutely love best friends to lovers. But this story is only like 80 pages long and it happened wayyy to quickly for me.
I’m personally not a fan of any of the people in the romance having partners in the beginning of a story, much less if they wanted to get married (that’s a really big fucking deal my friends!!!) and the next day they suddenly are in love with someone else. And even less if they never felt any attraction to the other sex before in the first place.
I love stories about people figuring out their sexuality in their adulthood, but I just didn’t buy this.
It’s just not something happening in 2 hours in my opinion?
It just felt super rushed and I didn’t buy it. There weren’t really any conversations, just sex scenes.
After a few days they talked about moving in together.
It just wasn’t it for me.
This would have worked amazingly as a slowburn.

If you’re looking for a steamy vacation shortstory go for this one. It sadly didn’t have any real Christmas feeling either.

[Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matt and Caspian have been best friends since they were kids when Caspian stood up to Matt's bullies. Now, they are just as close, even after Caspian came out to Matt in college. After catching his fiance, Jessica, cheating on him two weeks before Christmas, Matt drags Caspian along to Fiji, the trip where he was planning on proposing. Caspian is down for the trip, but Matt starts acting weird not long after they arrive. Caspian has had a crush on Matt for years, but he isn't sure if Matt's newfound interest in something real or just his way of experimenting for the holidays.

A friend of mine on bookstagram recommended Holigay on her story, and I was immediately intrigued by it. Novellas can be hit or miss for me, but I absolutely loved this one! I really enjoyed reading both points of view, and Matt and Caspian were great narrators. I expected myself to finish it and want more of them (which I'd be down for), but I felt like this wrapped up their story in a way that felt complete and full. This will definitely be a staple holiday read.

[Resch Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read K.M. Neuhold in the past, some I like and some leave me feeling meh. This novella was brief, quick little Christmas glimpse. There were things I liked about the story and things I didn't. Caspian and Matt being life long best friends definitely makes their rapid romance believable. Their transition from friends to something more wasn't that surprising, even though Matt was initially 'straight'. 

I think what took away from their budding romance was that Matt was coming of a long term relationship where he was considering proposing. The transition from Matt mourning his relationship to him jumping into bed and professing his love for Caspian gave me whiplash it was so fast. This took away from their budding relationship and honestly made Matt's feeling seem disingenuous. Past that, the romance and story flowed and was sweet and sexy. If you couldn't tell I am binging holiday romances, as I do at this time of year.  

[Kk · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Xmas Stars !! KU Read

ooooo.. Me Likey! Friends to lovers.. Straight to gay..woooooohoooo!

Matt and Caspian are a sweet pair. An excellent story that is action packed with feels, sexytimes and leads into a heartwarming HEA ! What more can you ask for???

[Meep · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kindle-Sort-ReRead

A light read, with likeable characters, wasn't expecting any depth so wasn't disappointed.
Plot is ridiculous and while I didn't really feel a romantic connection, there's still something almost sweet about it.