Faking Christmas

By: Kerry Winfrey

Narrated by: Jennifer Jill Araya

Length: 7 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

Laurel Grant is playing house for the holidays—complete with a fake husband and kids—in this delightful, charming rom-com by Kerry Winfrey.

Laurel Grant works as the social media manager for Buckeye State of Mind, an Ohio tourism magazine and website. She most definitely does not run a farm . . . but one tiny misunderstanding leads her boss, Gilbert, to think she owns her twin sister Holly’s farm just outside of Columbus. Laurel only handles the social media for the farm, but she’s happy to keep her little white lie going if it means not getting fired—she cannot be jobless again.

And keep it going she must when Gilbert, recently dumped by his wife, invites himself over for the farm’s big Christmas Eve Eve dinner (as advertised on Meadow Rise Farm’s Instagram, thanks to Laurel herself). Laurel immediately goes into panic mode to figure out how she can trick Gilbert into thinking she’s basically the Martha Stewart of rural Ohio and keep her job in the process.

Laurel and Holly come up with the perfect plan—all Laurel has to do is pretend to own the farm for one dinner. But Laurel shows up at the farm to find an unwelcome guest is waiting: Max Beckett, her nemesis since Holly’s wedding. The annoyingly attractive man she hates will be posing as Laurel’s husband just for the evening, but when a snowstorm traps them all for the entire weekend, Laurel is going to have to figure out how to survive with her job and dignity intact. Whatever the case, this promises to be the most eventful Christmas in ages. . . .

©2023 Kerry Winfrey (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"With a keen eye for both the wacky and the wonderful, Winfrey (Just Another Love Song) rings in the holidays with a clever comedy of errors...The sweet romance blooms organically amid the chaos and Winfrey uses it as a vehicle to touch on deeper themes of loneliness and self-esteem. The results are utterly adorable."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“In Winfrey’s latest rom-com, opposites attract amid festive holiday fun. Winfrey mixes up a tale of tenderness, mischief, and friendship as inviting as your favorite Hallmark movie. Holiday hijinks and fake dating make Winfrey’s romantic comedy a cozy classic.”—Kirkus Reviews

"Anyone who’s ever enjoyed a quirky heroine, a Hallmark Channel movie, or the classic Christmas in Connecticut should rush to pick this one up."—Library Journal

Holiday+Romance

3.5 stars for Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey, a cozy little holiday Hallmark-esque romance that took my mind off of some heavier things for a few days. Look, I read about one of these books a year so I don't even feel like I have a right to rate this genre. I will say I needed a light story that was holiday themed to cleanse my heaving reading palate of late. This book fit the bill. It is a sweet story brimming over with holiday tropes that will put you in the spirit - if you are so inclined. I loved the narrator's voice for Laurel, the main character, but her male voices could really use some work.

Fun, festive, and not too sappy

First, watch the old movie ‘Christmas in Connecticut.’ Then listen to this novel loosely based on the movie. This is a cute, feel-good, but not too sweet and sappy holiday story.

Cute Xmas Story

Has all the necessary ingredients to a good rom com Christmas book! Including lots of Xmas movies and traditions. Big fan! Definitely can see myself listening to this book annually.

Another win!

Adorable Christmas novel by Kerry Winfrey! I loved every part of it and appreciate the setting in Ohio!

good Christmas tale

I enjoyed this story. Well written and kept your attention. recommend reading in December .

Ridiculous story and horrible narration!

This story is absolutely ridiculous. Nobody expects romance/romantic comedy not to follow tropes, but this one is utterly inane. It requires suspension of disbelief through the entire book. Also, this book includes some of the most annoying characters. And all of this was before even considering the horrific and overwrought narration.

I have read this author in print and enjoyed previous books, but this one is a total miss for me.

Buyer beware, if you like the author and think you want to try this, use a credit. You can only return purchases made with credit. I saw this one on sale and purchased outright, so no refund for me. I think in my years and years of Audible membership, I’ve only requested a refund two other times, but would love to have gotten one for this book.

More Annoying than Funny

First, the narrator was great. But the storyline? Not so much. There’s suspend disbelief and then there’s just stupid. I disliked or just didn’t buy almost every single character. I know it was supposed to be funny, but it was more cringey than funny.

Faking Christmas - 🙄🫠

Insufferable.

This was a recommendation from a reader that I trust. 😳

I cannot get through it. It’s making me dumber by the minute.

Okay but not great

I usually like this author’s writing and romcoms in general, but I just couldn’t get into this Christmas romcom, the writing just wasn’t intriguing enough and the main characters seemed a little off to me. Plus the AV doesn’t match the character, the AV does a good job I just think that they needed to pick someone else. On to the next read!