Faux Ho Ho

By: 'Nathan Burgoine

Narrated by: Giancarlo Herrera

Silas Waite doesn’t want his big-C Conservative Alberta family to know he’s barely making rent. They’d see it as yet another sign that he’s not living up to the Waite family potential and muscle in on his life. When Silas unexpectedly needs a new roommate, he ends up with the gregarious—and gorgeous—personal trainer Constantino “Dino” Papadimitriou.

Silas’ parents try to browbeat him into visiting for Thanksgiving, where they’ll put him on display as an example of how they’re so tolerant for Silas’ brother’s political campaign, but Dino pretends to be his boyfriend to get him out of it, citing a prior commitment. The ruse works—until they receive an invitation to Silas’ sister’s last-minute wedding.

Silas loves his sister, Dino wouldn’t mind a chalet Christmas, and together, they could turn a family obligation into something fun. But after nine months of being roommates, then friends, and now “boyfriends”, Silas finds being with Dino way too easy, and being the son that his parents barely tolerate too hard. Something has to give, but luckily, it’s the season for giving. And maybe what Silas has to give is worth the biggest risk of all.

©2019 Nathan Burgoine (P)2023 Bold Strokes Books Inc

like a queer hallmark movie

a great holiday romance. chapters alternate between the present -- Silas's sister's wedding where Dino is his fake date -- and the months leading up to it. The flashback chapters show the men's relationship grow from strangers to roommates to friends and set up the final happy ending.

Very sweet holiday romance

Really sweet light holiday romance. Nothing too serious. No major conflicts or drama. Like a queer hallmark movie in a book. The narrator was sooo fun to listen to!

Sweet cute LGBTQ romance

The narration was good and it's a fun Christmas romp with the best they were roommates trope. I did get lost once or twice with the jumping around in scenes but still overall good