HOLIDAY REVIEW: “Holiday Outing” by Astrid Amara
ABOUT:
Jonah hasn’t seen his family in twelve years. They don’t know he’s gay. Now he’s trapped with them in the storm of a century. A family heirloom has been stolen. And now, his childhood rival, Ethan, has arrived to steal his heart.
REVIEW:
ooooohhhh…I liked this one very much.
It’s my first Astrid Amara book! I’ve been meaning to read others, but just hadn’t gotten to any yet. And I have to say I really enjoy this author’s style. There’s genuinely solid storytelling even in a basic contemporary holiday novella. The characters were layered and I liked both the subtle and not-so-subtle emotions portrayed here.
Jonah is in the closet to his family, he secretly writes best-selling gay romance, and he heads home to face the scrutiny and the beating that comes from the best of Jewish family gatherings. I so related to Jonah in the sense that when I head home to my beloved Korean family gatherings, I too get the lambasting about my life. (Why aren’t you married? You should’ve been a doctor! Why is your hair so long? …my personal favorite from the book: Why don’t you play golf? ha!) So, I felt a kinship with Jonah. Because despite all this criticism…and don’t get me wrong, it does hurt!…it’s family…and we love them.
Added to Jonah’s home visit is a surprise guest, Ethan. Ethan who is the perfect, handsome, successful doctor. Ethan who outed and bullied Jonah in high school. Ethan, who we come to find, was once a confused teenager and now a very self-assured, knows-exactly-what-he-wants man. And what he wants is Jonah.
Throw in a mad-capped, zany who-stole-the-family-heirloom storyline…which I found to be kinda hysterical!…and this book fully entertained. There were moments that caused physical pain in my heart. There were times I held my breath hoping for something romantic to happen. There were laugh-out-loud parts. There were heat-rising sexy scenes. And it all worked for me.
Very enjoyable and totally recommended Hanukkah read! Now off to find more Astrid Amara books…!
RATING: 4 STARS
BOOK INFO:
Title: Holiday Outing
Author: Astrid Amara
Publisher: Loose Id
Pages: 147
Release Date: December 23, 2008
Purchase Links: Loose Id, Amazon, ARe
I did the same thing…I read this several years ago and immediately looked for the back list because I wanted more. I just got The Devil Lancer & although it’s not humorous or contemporary I’m still pretty sure I’ll like it. :-)
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I’ve got that one ready to read too! KJ Charles mentioned it as one of her favorite reads of the year! I’m looking forward to that one…
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Astrid Amara was one of the authors I found in my early years of reading MM and definitely still is one of my favorites :). I love her Hanukkah/holiday stories
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