From New York Times bestselling author Mary Kay Andrews comes a charming holiday romance about a newly single thirtysomething whose unauthorized vacation rental turns into a hilarious game of hide-and-seek when the new owner unexpectedly shows up.
ASIN: B0D3J6GLD9
Publisher: Amazon Original Stories
Publication date: October 29, 2024
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About the Book:
Tilly Farriday isn’t feeling very jolly this season. Recently divorced and broke, she’s squatting in one of her rental agency’s properties until her new home is ready. The sprinkles on top of the burnt Christmas cookie that is her life? The new owner shows up early, forcing Tilly to hide in the attic to save her job…and what remains of her dignity.
George Holloway is here to sell his granduncle’s house—and to reconsider whether he and his fiancée are right for each other. Amid home repairs, George notices strange noises and missing food, but as much as he gets his rental agent on the phone, Tilly dodges every invitation to meet. He’s sure that someone’s here with him, and it’s certainly not the Ghost of Christmas Past, Present, or Future.
As Tilly and George circle each other, they both wonder where their lives are headed and if, maybe, meeting each other is just the Christmas miracle they need.
My Review:
Holiday Hideaway is a cute novella with a winter/Christmas setting. The premise is interesting but almost not believable. A woman loses everything to her ex-husband in court and in order to survive until her new apartment is ready, she jeopardizes her job by staying in one of the rental properties her company manages. The home has been empty for at least a year so Tilly "moves" in temporarily until said homeowner shows up unannounced. Tilly scampers to the attic in hopes that whomever it is will leave so she can go about her squatting life. Except, he doesn't and Tilly finds herself in quite the predicament.
Fortunately, while story seems a bit farfetched, I understand that this is a work of fiction. I was able to quickly suspend my disbelief and enjoy the story for what it's for and about. Tilly is a great character. She's spontaneous, impulsive, and doesn't think about consequences, otherwise she wouldn't be living in an empty home she doesn't own that just happens to be managed by her place of employment. George is a great character too. He's there to get the property ready for sale but deep down, his escape from Boston is for a different reason. He just needs a old high school friend who is caring and considerate to pop back into his life in order for him to see a path to a better future than the road he's on currently.
I enjoyed this short holiday read with a light mix of romance. It was a very quick read. The book has some humor and snark, conflict and unhappiness, but is also lighthearted, with a childhood friends/acquaintances to lovers romance woven in between the pages. I like the author's writing style, the quick world-building for both Tilly and George, and the character development.
While I'm familiar with this author, Holiday Hideaway is the first book of hers that I've read. I'll be grabbing some of her other work in-between other commitments.
I obtained an ecopy of this book through my Amazon Prime membership.
My Rating:
