Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 09/15/2024 *Starred Review* Falling in love wasn’t on Arden James or Caroline Beckett’s holiday to-do lists, especially since Arden left their holiday-centric hometown and former best friend, Caroline, behind four years ago to pursue her acting career without so much as a phone call. When Arden fails to land her dream role, she and her agent quickly devise a lie to sell her authenticity—she’s dating her high-school sweetheart, Caroline. At a moment’s notice, Arden’s back on Caroline’s doorstep and they’re both thinking about the (seemingly) unrequited crush they each had all those years ago. They promise themselves that twelve holiday-themed fake dates are all they have to get through. Caroline will write about it for Cosmopolitan, Arden will get her acting role, and they can both move forward. In alternating chapters, each tells their side of the swirling story amid the snow, with distinct voices breathing life into these complex characters. Caroline struggles with the Christmas-centric holiday cheer as a queer Jewish woman, and Arden uncovers difficult feelings about her parents’ abandonment as well as her own abandonment of Grams, who essentially raised her. As the pair let down their walls fully for the first time, they have to learn to trust themselves as well as each other. Forgiveness, friendship, and vulnerability all shine as brightly as holiday lights in this snow-sprinkled romance. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.