Hands down the best Christmas story I've read so far.
We have romance, chemistry and sparks, we have ‘giggles’ with the laugh-out-loud moments, and the characters are all bubbly and fun, and there are also a few teary moments thrown in there too.

I really did enjoy this story... Fingers crossed for a sequel!

5/5.

This was not the story I was expecting, but I was pleasantly surprised by the characters and the storyline.
I loved the way the characters were easy to connect with and the fresh way of telling the story.
A holiday romance to set the scene for Christmas.

As a lover of all things Christmas romance, I am so chuffed to see this holiday season we’re seeing more queer romance enter the fray. And this cosy sapphic read has some of my favourite tropes - fake dating (bonus points for bringing a fake partner home for Christmas - always chef’s kiss), small town festive shenanigans, and, of course, some unexpectedly *real* feelings. Only this time, there’s a twist - our MC is not falling for the guy she’s fake dating, but for his sister!

This is a wholesome romance with lovable characters, lots of charm, and surprisingly not massive amounts of big drama (which is always a plus in my books). The cast of side characters is also delightful, and the setting makes you *feel* the Christmas spirit.

It’s also such a joy to see some diversity and representation alongside our beloved holiday hijinks, and I hope we see get more queer Christmas stories hitting the mainstream!

If you love Hallmark Christmas films, and you’ve always wished they had a queer twist, check out this book.

I need you to know before I begin this review that two of my four favourite films on my Letterboxd profile are Carol and Paddington 2, that both my sister and I are plus size queer people who are So Very Online, and that I sent her a ten minute voice note when I was barely a third of the way into this to yell about how she needs to read it immediately. Because it felt like the author was in our minds. I truly cannot describe how special and rare it is to be able to tell my sister that not only is the protagonist bi like her, but is also proudly fat, wears big stompy Docs, and is in her 20s without knowing she’s neurodivergent (this last aspect of her identity gets discussed in the author’s note!). This book centres queer, disabled and fat people with such honesty and care and humour, and getting to see them be these wonderful and desirable romantic leads just makes my heart so very happy.

If I wasn’t already enjoying this book, Carol and Paddington Bear being brought into the narrative within about ten pages of each other completely sent me into orbit. I won’t spoil how they are referenced throughout, but this was all an absolute delight to me. It was also just genuinely funny. From the Bridget Jones level mishaps and calamity to internet memes that my too-much-time-on-Twitter self absolutely ate up, with social media being involved in a way I really loved too. Here, it was a space for queer communities to connect and a place for people to share their passions. And it was a lovely reminder of all the good it can do after a week of me finding some discourse overwhelming.

I also adored the characters here and the take on the fake dating and only one bed tropes. Haf is such an endearing and charming protagonist with a heart of gold, and her friend-turned-fake-boyfriend Christopher is utterly precious too. I’d very much like to hug them both. Ambrose, the no-nonsense (but secretly lives for the nonsense) non-binary best friend and roommate would absolutely think I was a disaster, but hopefully a loveable one at least. There’s also a whole host of side characters here that I grew to love and loathe, and that’s not to mention the love interest that makes resisting her for the sake of the fake dating scheme almost as unbearable for a reader as it is for Haf.

I know I read this in the middle of spooky season, but this cosy sapphic Christmas romance is warm and funny and truly the perfect queer holiday read. I know this story and its heart and its characters will stick with me, and it’s a book I can’t wait to return to.

Such a cut Christmasy book - the perfect way to get into the mood. Haf gets herself in a funny (for us) situation, which is made worse when in walks Kit. Stuck in a dilemma, full of festive cheer, this one is for everyone who loves that Christmas feeling.

Make You Mine This Christmas is utterly delightful. I picked it up as a better bedtime option, fully planning to just enjoy a chapter or two without the bizarre Lovecraftian nightmares the other novel I had on the go was giving me, but I couldn't put it down. A lovely weekend morning was spent curled up with a cup of coffee and the last half of this book.
It takes a while for the romance-proper to begin, but the book is so lovely and enjoyable all of the way through. The characterisation is brilliant - all of the characters feel fully realised, and I found myself really rooting for them. Even the dogs feel real.
If there is one drawback, it's that this book has made me feel excessively Christmas-y, and it's not even Halloween yet! I'm placing the blame for my cravings for mulled cider firmly at Huxley-Jones' feet!
Make You Mine This Christmas made me cackle aloud multiple times, and shed a few joyful tears as well. A brilliant read to perk up your spirits and get you ready for the festive period.

I love a good festive romance. It doesn't matter if it's a book or a movie, there's nothing I love more than curling up and losing myself in the warm fuzz as the days turn colder. But one thing I have noticed is that there is a definite lack of queer festive romances. And so as soon as I heard about Make You Mine This Christmas, I knew I had to read it!

The classic fake dating story, with a twist.

There's a reason that fake dating is a popular trope within romance - it makes for a fun story as the characters realise they have feelings for each other but are too afraid to make a move. But Make You Mine This Christmas has taken this trope and added an extra twist.

The main character, Haf, agrees to pretend to be Christopher's girlfriend for the festive season, after his ex catches them kissing under some pitiful looking mistletoe at a party she and her friend Ambrose crashed. An accidental sharing of this news in the family group chat means Haf is invited to the Calloway's for Christmas, and Haf thinks this is a better idea than the alternative loneliness she was preparing for as a solo Christmas loomed before her.

Although Haf and Christopher hit it off immediately, it becomes clear very early on that neither of them have any romantic attraction to the other. This cannot be said for the woman Haf bumps into at a bookshop in the train station on her way to the Calloway's. The attraction is immediate - it's a typical meet cute. But she doesn't catch the woman's name or get her number, and believes she's missed her moment.
Until she arrives at the Calloway's and sees the woman again. Because she is Christopher's sister, Kit. And thus begins the complicated and utterly adorable development of a romance, that neither Haf nor Kit can admit to at first, because who steals her brother's (fake) girlfriend?

The quirky, clumsy main character

One of the things I absolutely loved about this book is that Haf is brilliantly representative of all of us who feel like we put our foot in our mouths far too often and get into all kinds of situations we don't quite know how to get out of.

She ploughs through life with such a passion for those she cares about and very little thought for her own wellbeing. Like agreeing to fake date the man she has only just met, or wading into a duck pond in the depths of Winter to rescue a baby reindeer from an angry goose! The latter scene was my absolute favourite and had me laughing so hard.

The author notes at the end of the book that Haf was written as someone who is autistic but doesn't yet know it, and most likely has undiagnosed dyspraxia too. And honestly, this makes so much sense to me. As someone who is almost certain she is autistic, and is always bumping into things or falling over her own feet, I loved seeing a main character like this. Who didn't always understand her emotions or what she was supposed to do, but tried her absolute best anyway.

Representation in Make You Mine This Christmas

Haf isn't the only character who is relatable though - many of the other characters are too. Kit, the love interest, has the hypermobile form of Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and walks with a stick. She also talks openly about how fatigue impacts her life, and the challenge of being a disabled person in the workplace.

Then there's Ambrose, Haf's non binary housemate. They adore starting Twitter polls about the situation Haf has found herself in, whilst simultaneously being the reliable best friend, who drops everything to come to Haf's rescue when needed. Ambrose is a big deal in the fashion world, and they work with Christopher's ex, Laurel, to create Haf a gorgeous dress for the Christmas ball.

Which is another thing - it was wonderful to see the ex-girlfriend being developed as a full character in her own right, who isn't simply painted as an awful character. Laurel and Haf actually like each other and get on well, just as Laurel and Christopher have managed to do post break-up.

Finally, I couldn't finish this section on representation in Make You Mine This Christmas without mentioning that Haf is a size 20 and proud of her body. The only comments made about her size come from her, when explaining to Christopher that she can't just go to a shop last minute to buy a ball gown, because no High Street shops cater for people her size. The rest of the time Haf's experience is one of knowing exactly what she has - like when she knows how good she looks in the right clothes, and joking about "the lads" (her boobs).

It's a story of believing in yourself

The overall plot of Make You Mine This Christmas, beyond the "fake dating, falling in love with my fake boyfriend's sister, oops" storyline, is one of believing in yourself. The only reason Haf and Christopher enter into this whole fake dating thing in the first place is because neither one of them want to admit how miserable they are in where their life is heading and they cannot tell their families to butt out and let them figure it out for themselves.

The book ends with both Christopher and Haf making changes to their lives, with Haf still not sure about the exact details but believing in herself enough to know she deserves more from her life. It has the classic feel good ending you want from a festive romance, whilst still leaving enough loose ends to make it feel truly believable. Everything isn't all neatly packaged up with a bow, just like in real life, but there is a real sense of promise.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a queer, festive romance that is both relatable and funny.

I received Make You Mine This Christmas by Lizzie Huxley Jones for free in exchange for an honest review as part of a bookstagram tour. Thank you so much Pride Book Tours and Hodder Books for having me on the tour!

It is technically the spooky season but it can never be too early for Christmas right?? And Make You Mine This Christmas is the PERFECT book to get you into that Christmassy mood!

I want to start off this review by saying that this book was everything to me! I LOVED it so much! It had everything that I adore in a book - fake dating gone completely wrong, disaster bisexuals and fantastic representation - and so much more! This was such a genuine delight to read. It had that magical quality about it that I get from my favourite Christmas movies and I can confidently say that this is going to be a Christmas reread for me for years to come!

I fell in love with all of the characters and related so much to Haf! I really enjoyed the sweet and charming atmosphere that the author created throughout the book! It felt so safe and I loved how the characters were all welcoming and nice. I especially appreciated that the author was able to create tension for the plot without any of the characters being fatphobic, homophobic or ableist. I loved that our main characters weren’t defined by or shamed for being queer, disabled or fat, it was just a part of them!

Plus, it is so important to have stories like this that show that you don’t have to change yourself to be considered worthy of love and happiness, being yourself is enough. I feel like I can’t put into words just how joyful and beautiful this story is!

Make You Mine This Christmas is the queer Christmas rom com of my dreams that I will be recommending forever! It is the feel good book of the Christmas season that I think everybody should read!

Haf has had a bad time, and after a night of blowing off steam, things escalate until Haf is embroiled in the fake dating conundrum of the century - stuck at her new friend's house, pretending to be his girlfriend, in order to save him from intense shame. But when Haf meets the glorious Kit, Christopher's sister, things get a little sticky...

What a joyous little book - sparky, warm and very funny, as well as making the best use of some of the best Christmas rom-com tropes. In a sea of festive releases, Huxley-Jones' stands out with excellent disabled rep - we have a girl using a cane on the cover, autistic rep - something I always enjoy reading - and frank and touching dicussion of chronic illness. The story is abundantly queer, too, which is always heart-warming after seemingly endless Gay Sad Ending reads! I especially loved Ambrose and Laurel, supporting characters who fully deserve their own sequel (hint hint).

Did I miss the spice? For sure. But nevertheless MYMTC is s heart-warming and cosy read that I'll be back to once my tree is up.

I really enjoyed this book. I especially loved Haf and Kit although Christopher was lovely too. In fact all the characters are great.

The story flowed brilliantly without any parts dragging. I found myself laughing out loud at several points!

A truly wonderful Christmas book too which I love.

I'm pleased I read the acknowledgements at the back about the author being autistic. Very impressive to write such books. Well done. I loved it.

THIS IS THE MUST-READ CHRISTMAS ROM-COM OF THE YEAR - IT'S OFFICIAL!

Queer, cute, funny, filled with festive fun and fake dating.

SYNOPSIS:

"It's the golden rule of pretending to be someone's girlfriend: don't fall for their sister.

After a year from hell, Haf is ready to blow off steam at a Christmas party: a kind stranger, a few too many drinks, and suddenly she's kissing Christopher under the mistletoe - in front of his ex-girlfriend.

The next day the news is out that they're a couple, madly in love and coming to Oxlea to spend the festive season with Christopher's family. But Haf doesn't have better holiday plans and to save her new friend from embarrassment, she agrees to pretend to be Christopher's girlfriend for Christmas.

It has the makings of a hilarious anecdote they'll be telling for years. Until Haf meets Christopher's sister: the mysterious, magnetic, and utterly irresistible Kit. Maybe love was waiting for Haf in this quiet little town all along . . ."

WHAT I LOVED:

🎄 FINALLY, a Christmas rom-com that it's diverse, fun, and not vanilla. And made me LOL!

🎄 Haf (pronounced Hav - she's Welsh) is a brilliant main character, she hasn't got her life together and doesn't want to spend Christmas alone. Her attempts at adulting are so relatable.

🎄 Haf and her best friend and flatmate, Ambrose, have the best and funniest relationship it's a delight to read. Everyone needs friends like this.

🎄 It was wonderful to read a Hallmark Christmas book with bisexual, lesbian, non-binary, and disability representation - more, please!

🎄 The fake-dating trope - always here for that - Haf and Christopher's fake romance (friendship). Christopher is a sweet guy and fake dating Haf because of the pressure from his parents. H + C's banter between each other is just brilliantly written too.

🎄 Not forgetting Christopher's sister, Kit, with who Haf has a 'moment' within a bookshop before the fake-dating escapade begins. Haf learns the bookshop woman she flirted with is her fake boyfriend's sister! A real romance begins to bloom ad is just too cute to read.

🎄 I'm a closed-door romance reader and this book is 97% close-door, there is one scene near the end that is a little spicer than I like, but I survived it 😂

🎄 Every Christmas needs a festive rom-com like this - queer and relatable characters, lots of laughs, reindeer, snowball fights, rude Christmas jumpers, and more.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Haf and Christopher meet at a Christmas Party and before she knows it she has been invited to spend her Christmas with him and his family.
One condition that she has to pretend she is his girlfriend.
What could go wrong!!

This is a Hallmark, so making for a good read. A curl up book that you will enjoy as I have done. 4 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

When strangers Haf and Christopher are caught kissing under the mistletoe by his ex girlfriend. The rumour mill starts immediately.

The next day Haf has agreed to spend Christmas with Christopher and his family. Pretending to be his girlfriend. However, when she is at the train station on her way there she meets Kit, the woman of her dreams… who just so happens to be Christopher's sister.

What follows is a story full of emotion and warmth. With a lot of hilarious moments to balance out the crying.

This book is so. Stinking. Cute. Huxley-Jones basically wrote it book just for me. A fat Welsh woman falling for a disabled woman while fake-dating her brother? Absolute perfection. Iconic bisexual chaos. No notes. There was so much queer joy and shenanigans, and as a disabled reader, I loved the chronic illness representation.

Haf’s parents are going abroad for Christmas and she’s faced with a holiday season spent alone, in pyjamas on the sofa. Then a chance meeting and mistletoe-related misunderstanding at a party leads to a plan: fake dating her new friend Christopher so she has someone to spend Christmas with and he doesn’t lose face in front of his family. The only problem is Haf’s massive crush on Christopher’s sister Kit.

It’s pretty packed with tropes but in the best way, with lots of humour and subversion (platonic only-one-bed! Platonic fake dating! (the platonic relationships in this book are just a delight.)) It veers into insta-love, since they go from zero to declarations of love in under a week, but then again this is a sapphic romance, what else do you expect.

A wonderful cosy read, perfect for a dose of festive queer love. My only advice it to start it early in the day so you don’t end up like me, reading through bleary eyes at 2.30am because you don’t want to put it down. Oh heck I’m so tired.

Well when I say this book delivered I mean it over achieved! I was very keen to get an ARC of this book due to the EDS diagnosis of one of the characters and being a zebra warrior myself! The condition was portrayed very well and the terminology used such as “brain fog” and joints “popping out” was so spot on!!
Now let’s talk characters because Haf had me laughing out loud throughout this book, her character is such an honest to god loveable bundle of chaos!! Christopher is just the perfect guy and the platonic relationship between these two is the best I’ve read, it was so refreshing to not have the expectant fake relationship turns real and instead we meet Kit. This book was truly beautifully written and had me laughing out loud and truly falling in love with all the characters. It breaks away from the mould and stands out from the rest and I cannot recommend this book enough!! Thank you netgalley and Hodder books. And thank you Lizzie for introducing this book into my life!!

As I was reading this I had visions on sitting watching it in tv on a chilly Sunday afternoon, fire on and wrapped in a blanket - it would make a perfect Christmas romcom adaptation!

Funny, sad, romantic; this book has it all. Perfect for my older lgbtq+ students - I will definitely be recommending it.

Well, this was one of the most fun festive books I have read in a while. I adored Haf and Christopher, but the minute Kit was introduced I was smitten. Who doesn't like a good meet cute!?

Highly recommend if you're looking for a cosy festive story this Christmas.

This book is super festive and has the perfect Hallmark movie vibes. It's super lighthearted and heartwarming, but with a few really funny bits too.

Haf and Kit had great chemistry and I found their romance to be really believable. I was really rooting for them.

Unfortunately, I did struggle with the writing quite a bit. I didn't like the third person present tense, and wish it had either been first person, or past tense. Additionally, and this is purely personal preference, I don't like books that are super British and I felt like every third sentence was reminding me this book was set in Britain (mentions of things like M&S and saying 'ring' instead of call.) There's nothing wrong with at all, I just don't particularly like it and it took me out of the story a bit.

I would really recommend this book for anyone who wants something cozy and festive, especially if you love queer romance!

As a straight gentleman of a certain age this is the first F/F romance that I've read, however I found myself becoming totally absorbed in the book and just enjoying it for the romance that it is. There are plenty of laugh out loud moments (Haf chasing a baby reindeer into a duck pond was a highlight), but some more sobering moments as well (plus some spicy ones if they're not your thing). Haf comes over as a lovely person and I felt for Christopher and Kit trying to live up to their parents expectations. Overall a slightly different Christmas story, but one that I enjoyed.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.