Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: Merry Cherry Christmas
AUTHOR: Keira Andrews
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 222 pages
RELEASE DATE: November 19, 2020
BLURB:
A nice boy gets naughty…
Redheaded freshman Jeremy “Cherry” Rourke is certainly living up to his childhood nickname, although still being inexperienced is the least of his concerns. After coming out, his parents barely talk to him. He hasn’t made any friends at university. Worst of all, he’s about to spend Christmas completely alone in an empty dorm.
Jeremy clearly needs a fairy godfather, so football captain Max Pimenta takes him under his wing to help him find his dating groove. But Jeremy’s wound way too tight. He’s too vulnerable. Max can’t trust some random guy with him. He needs to take care of Jeremy himself and introduce him to no-pressure exploration. It’s not about romance or feelings—he’s just doing the kid a favor.
Max is definitely not falling for this lonely, beautiful boy. No way.
And it’s not like he can leave Jeremy all alone for the holidays. He’ll bring him home to his family’s maple syrup farm—strictly as friends since his parents have rules. No more fooling around. No more eager, breathless fun. No more making Jeremy shiver and blush with suggestive whispers in his ear. No more sweeter-than-sugar kisses. All nice. No more naughty.
But Jeremy’s sleeping right across the hall, and Max wants him for himself. The twelve days of Christmas will last an eternity if they don’t break the rules.
Shhh. No one has to know…
REVIEW:
“You can relax here,” Max said. “Be yourself.”
I gave him a sad little smile. “If only I knew who I was.”
Merry Cherry Christmas is a Hallmark movie in written form – it’s everything a holiday story should be, complete with falling snow, I Love You’s, and a disco mix of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” (wait, what?) Oh, and condoms for Cherry (Jeremy) to pop his cherry in what is one of the most romantic sex scenes ever. Keira Andrews has given us a fun and fluffy novel, but with more depth than many holiday books, and I really appreciated the fully realized story and well rounded characters.
Jeremy, nicknamed Cherry, is a university freshman in Toronto. He’s a shy, nerdy science major who has difficulty talking to people. Although he’s a wonderful guy once he comes out of his shell, he had no real friends or social life. Since coming out to his parents, they have been cold and uncommunicative – cruel, even – and won’t allow Jeremy to speak to his younger brother. Perhaps worst of all, his parents haven’t invited Jeremy to go on vacation with them over Christmas Break, stranding him alone on campus for weeks. Poor guy “has more issues than a TV Guide.”
One day Jeremy wipes out on a patch of ice – in front of a number of laughing students – and his glasses are broken. Max, the senior captain of the football team, helps him up and back to his dorm since Jeremy is as blind as a bat. Max has a warm, caring, and generous personality. In fact, caretaking seems to be hard-wired into his DNA. Max, who appears to have it all together is, in reality, conflicted about life after graduation and his eventual career.
He decides to become Jeremy’s Fairy Godfather, as he calls it, taking Jeremy under his wing to help him overcome his lack of confidence and nervousness (which is actually kind of cute), and meet people, including potential dates. Also, Jeremy is a virgin, so Max offers to be his, um, sex tutor. So they become friends, then friends with benefits, and eventually boyfriends. Along the way, Max takes Jeremy home with him over break for his family’s Christmas.
Some of my favorite aspects of Merry Cherry Christmas are the greatly detailed settings. I love when books are set in real life locations. I’ve never visited Toronto, but Ms. Andrews brought it to life in a way I felt I had been. I went on the journey with Jeremy and Max to the queer parts of the city, to shops, bookstores, restaurants, and theaters, with all the big city festivities, decorations, and twinkling lights. There’s even an ice skating rink …
Just like in a Hallmark Christmas movie, this book has the requisite Ice Skating Scene. One person falls, pulls the other down on top of them, and they gaze longingly into each other’s eyes while oblivious to the fact they’re lying in a heap on the ice in everyone’s way.
At Max’s home we experience his family’s maple syrup farm, a snowy landscape, and again, the lights and decorations. This level of detail doesn’t propel the plot forward but it perfectly serves it’s purpose of creating a lovely world that envelops the reader. I welcomed the experience for the spirit of Christmas it evokes. One hilarious part of the novel is when Jeremy’s date is diabolical in his quest to make Max jealous. You’ll get a good chuckle from this. Jeremy’s self-deprecating humor and awkwardness is amusing, as is Max’s denial of his feelings because it’s painfully obvious to the reader that he’s a smitten kitten.
These two sweet college boys are truly adorable together and I loved watching their relationship blossom. They help each other grow and learn important lessons about themselves. There’s a wonderful happily ever after that occurs a year in the future. Merry Cherry Christmas is the ideal book to begin your season of holiday reading. I highly recommend.
RATING: 
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