A Charmed Christmas

The Charm Offensive #1.5

by Alison Cochrun

A Charmed Christmas, a Charlie and Dev holiday short story.

Genres: Romance, LGBT, Queer, Christmas, Short Stories, Contemporary, Holiday

33 pages, ebook

First published October 26, 2022

About the author

Alison Cochrun is a high school English teacher living outside Portland, Oregon. When she's not reading and writing queer love stories, you can find her torturing teenagers with Shakespeare, crafting perfect travel itineraries, hate-watching reality dating shows, and searching for the best happy hour nachos. You can find her on Instagram or at her website www.alisoncochrun.com.

Reviews

[Marieke (mariekes_mesmerizing_books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you just read a Christmas story of one of your favorite 2021 books and swooned and smiled and swooned and smiled, and ended this cute little story with a huge smile on your face. I have this warm and fuzzy feeling in my chest right now. Happy holidays, everyone 🎄!

[Celine Ong · Rating 5 out of 5]

for 33 pages, everything in the world was good and that felt like the best christmas gift

[kosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

the tooth rotting fluff definition

[Anniek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a little afraid to read this, because what if I didn't love it as much as The Charm Offensive? I can't have one of my favourite books tainted!! But of course, this was perfect. "What are you? A child bride?" is truly something I too would say, so it's no wonder I love this book so much. And the writing was just so... genuinely romantic. The way they thought about each other was just beautiful. Then the thing that happened at the end (can you tell I'm trying not to spoil this?) was so funny and perfect.

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

This was ridiculously cute and perfect!
I love them your honour!!!

Alison’s style of writing >
Charlie in jeans >>>

Can we have a book about Daphne now?

[Shawna Finnigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Charmed Christmas is a short story that was included as a preorder incentive for Kiss Her Once For Me. It isn't the most interesting story that you'll ever read. It is mostly a conversation with friends about proposals and when you should propose. There was one quote from the conversation that really stood out to me:

"The way I experience sexual attraction is different than the way you do. I don't lust after people I see at Whole Foods, and I don't fantasize about having sex with Jonathan Bailey or whoever. I just need someone who knows me and sees me and makes me feel safe. And that's Dev. That's enough."

As someone who recently discovered they're grey ace as opposed to just asexual, this quote really resonated with me and made me feel seen. Alison Cochrun has such a beautiful way of writing about the ace spectrum, and I hope she never stops writing about it.

Toward the end of this story, the plot shifts away from the conversation and turns into a really cute, romantic scene. That scene really carries this story. It could've been an epilogue to The Charm Offensive as opposed to a separate short story. However, I'm not mad that it was included as a separate short story because I'm glad we finally got that scene.

[Kalob Dàniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I AM SO SOFT FOR THESE TWO OMG SOMEONE SADATE I AM NOT OKAY IT'S SO PERFECT FOR THEM AND THEIR JOUNREY AND GROWTH AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP I LOVE IT SM OMG

Literally obsessed with Charlie and Dev and the themes of people being allowed to have whatever type of relationship that best suits them and their needs, wants, desires, et cetera. The "rules" of any relationship are allowed to be rewritten, and don't let anyone say otherwise. There is no "right way" to be in a relationship. There is no "right" timeline of a relationship. If the vibes are right and good, then do whatever fits!

I said what I said.

[Lennie ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a ridiculously cute Christmas novella set after The Charm Offensive (my fav book of 2022)
Thanks to Alison for sending this as a pre-order gift for Kiss Her Once For Me.
I'll never get enough of Dev & Charlie 💕💕💕

[thelittlereaderthatcould · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love them. That’s it 💙💙

[angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

i will read anything involving dev & charlie

[Simone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the tears came when I read the words „Charlie“ and „vegan frosting“. It felt like coming home, it felt like christmas dinner with my best friends, it felt like i‘d grown a second heart just so I could contain the love I have for Charlie & Dev. And the tears stayed until I read the very last sentence.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so cute and magical and cheesy and Christmassy and I just loved everything about it. God, I’d missed Dev and Charlie!

[theresa]

cuteeeee!!

[Marthea · Rating 4 out of 5]

No wiem, miałam czytać teraz tylko to, co wyszło po polsku.
Ale jak się oprzeć temu, że na stronie autorki, totalnie za darmo, jest do ściągnięcia i przeczytania połówka do Deva i Charliego? No nie da się 😜

Urocza, ciepła, krótka, świąteczna historia - fajne uzupełnienie losów chłopaków 🙂

[Marta · Rating 5 out of 5]

in my heart is a christmas tree farm and this novella

[Soula Kosti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie and Dev deserve the world and this was so undeniably cute!

P.S. Dear Alisom, can we have a book about Daphne now? Thank you for the consideration.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

These two ❤️❤️❤️ This was such a fantastic little gift after a terrible week! I am such a fan of Alison Cochruns’ writing!! She writes such fabulous characters and you just root for all of them. Reading about Charlie and Devs first Christmas just brought happy tears to my eyes. It was perfect!! It was also such a treat to read about the rest of their found family!! I am really curious as to what Jules is up to lol. Once again Charlie just amazes! Devs mom melted my heart and Daphne gives the best advice! Thank you so much Alison! Merry Christmas!! 🎄❤️

I would absolutely love more Charlie and Dev! Just throwing that out there 😉

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just everything I could ever have asked for, it was the perfect Christmas novella and it gave me all the warm feelings I was looking for. I have a soft spot for Dev and Charlie and this was just adorable, I definitely recommend it if you loved the book!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super sweet Christmas epilogue for fans of the Charm Offensive. This is free and easily accessed on the authors website, no need to sign up to anything. I LOVE the Charm Offensive and re-read the last third of it before reading this and it was just lovely.

[João · Rating 3 out of 5]

“you’re so worthy of love, love.” [screaming; shouting]

[cyra · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a cute festive follow-up for the fans of The Charm Offensive. It was very romantic, too. I'm very much against the engagement after dating for six weeks things, I believe if this story had taken place a year after it would've been better but they are just so adorable that I'll let it slide.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

They are sooooo cute!!! Thanks to the autor for writing this and for making it available again ;)


Highlights:

-“I guess what I’m trying to say is: fuck everyone else’s timelines.”
Charlie snorts. This is definitely the first time he’s heard her say fuck.
“The only people inside your relationship are you and Dev, and if you want to propose to him, do it. You know your own mind, Charlie. Listen to you". This was such an important and empowering moment for Charlie.


-I know that you tend to hyperfixate on things and get tunnel vision sometimes. When you develop an obsession, it sometimes overrides your logical side. AHHHHHH so relatable omg destroyed...

[Jaq · Rating 3 out of 5]

All I'm saying is if someone took off my glasses "to look into my eyes" I'd deck them

[Katie • forevermorepages · Rating 4 out of 5]

hit the spot <3

[LGBT Representation in Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trigger Warnings: Mention of past injury, anxiety, medication, alcohol, depression

Representation: Mental health, Indian, Gay, Demisexual, Vegan, Black, Lesbian, Jewish

A Charmed Christmas is a Charlie and Dev holiday short story. It’s Christmas time and Charlie and Dev are happy as always. When Charlie hosts a holiday dinner, his friends convince him that it is far too soon to propose. Will Charlie listen to their advice?

What a great check-in with these guys! I loved this short story and am such a sucker for another happy ending! Alison should always write holiday stories because she is so amazing at it!! The perfect continuation of an already great read!

[anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

rep: Indian American gay mc with depression, gay demi mc with generalised anxiety disorder, OCD & a panic disorder, LGBT side characters

2.5 ☆

maybe if i read it right after the book, i would've enjoyed it more

[Jen Appell · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS WAS SO CUTE!!!!!

[Masha (onceandfuturebooknerd) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never ever ever getting over the perfection that is this short story!!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

That had no right to be that cute.

[Billy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is going to be so fucking specific, so I don’t expect anyone to understand it.
But the look on Ashley Johnson’s face when Beauregard tells Yasha she loves her too, that’s what reading this felt like.