Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey | Audiobook Review

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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. . . .

Kerry Winfrey’s books usually land for me — Faking Christmas was the book that pretty much kicked off my seasonal reading. I am so glad I listened to this book, because just like the others by Winfrey, it was so good. Faking Christmas is about Laurel who usually flits from job to job, but this time she has a job she loves. Oh, and she flits from man to man and had a breakup with her lawyer boyfriend whom she was working for. Now, she’s writing for a small Ohio based lifestyle magazine. She loves the job, but the reason she’s there is based on a lie. She told her boss that she lives on a farm and has a column chronicling some of her farming life. However, it is her sister who owns the farm. So, anyways, when Laurel goes home to celebrate the holidays with her twin sister Holly, Gilbert, her boss, tags along. So, Laurel and her family have to pretend Holly’s home is hers. Oh, and her husband is going to be played by Max Beckett and she really does not care for Max. It seems they pull it off — until a storm snows them in and Gilbert is there longer than anticipated. Will Laurel keep her job or will she be caught in a lie?

I found Faking Christmas to be so enjoyable. It has lots of tropes that I love. Max is a grumpy and Laurel is a sunshine. They also really don’t like each other — well, Laurel doesn’t like Max because of something that happened at Holly’s wedding. However, Max is unaware. Max really shows up for Laurel though and helps her come through with the whole faking Christmas thing. The setting is idyllic. There’s also a big focus on adults who build LEGO which I thought was fun. Oh and Laurel learns to find her way and I loved that character growth for her. The audiobook is 7 hours and 31 minutes long and honestly was one I listened to in a day. It is narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya who is charming and easy to listen to.

On A Scale Of One To Buddy The Elf, How Much Christmas Spirit Does Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey Have?

Apparently Faking Christmas is sort of inspired by Christmas In Connecticut which inspires me to want to watch that movie — I’ve never seen it. There’s a cookie decorating contest, delicious food and Christmas Carol karaoke. I also found the described decor fun too – Holly is the type of person who gets holiday phrases like Don’t Get Your Tinsel In A Tangle on pillows to decorate. I love that. There’s a lot of joy and warmth in this book. It was such a sweet read and a great kick off to this year’s holiday themed reading.

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April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

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