Jay Northcote is one of my favorites. Quick, sweet read.

I really enjoyed this, great first Christmas book of the season for me. Rudy and Zac complemented each other nicely. Zac's never had a family, and doesn't know anything about love, but he has a fair amount of life experience. Rudy has an awesome family, so he knows all about love, but he's never had a boyfriend, and doesn't have much experience.

This book was actually the perfect length for a good Christmas story. Not so short that there's not enough time to really get a feel for the characters, or to feel rushed, but not so long that it got mired down in the details. Just great!

Zac had never imagined having a long-term relationship. A partner, a family. But now the idea of a future like that was sliding into focus, tangible and full of possibilities. It seemed like a risk worth taking.

  
3.5 stars. It takes a bit of suspension of belief to buy into the main thrust of this novella (that a prickly, closed off individual agrees to spend Christmas with his co-worker's family, a man he barely even knows) but if you're able to do that, there's a really sweet story and romance behind it.  

And I mean, suspending my belief did take me a bit. The author did an excellent job of establishing our main characters, so much so that I really couldn't see how a private person like Zac would agree to something like this. It was niggling at the back of my mind throughout almost the entire book. But thankfully, even though this is a holiday romance and most of it takes place a little before, during, and after Christmas, the character development and interaction were enough for me to really get into the chemistry of the characters and their romance.  

Even though most of this takes place in a short period of time, the author still manages to create a sense of time and distance. It doesn't feel rushed or insta-lovey. We have Rudy with his intense crush, tempered by Zac and his reluctance to let people in. I loved the reveal of his backstory, and the reasons behind his attitudes. The family dynamics in this were really cute, and the way the whole situation just sort of melted Zac's defences. Meet the family situations, fake dating and opposites-attract dynamics are always really enjoyable for me, and this was no exception.  

Also, there were some adorable cat moments.  

Entertaining, wholesome, sweet.  A solid Christmas novella.

4 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

2.5 rounded up

Generally enjoyable bit of holiday fluff, but fairly generic and bland, and the writing was clunky and stiff throughout.

I loved Zach and Rudy. I adored Rudy's family and how they enveloped Zach as one of their own.

Loved this!

Rudy & Zac
Adorable Christmas story in the english countryside with cats and a labrador!
The story is entertaining and the season feeling so nice: this is the kind of story that warms you inside and put a smile on your face for the day!
😁✨💓🐱💓✨😁

I could not really enjoy the book because of the narrator who pauses after every four words. His voices were fine. I'd like to try more Northcote books but Steadman goes on my avoid list.