From the publisher:
While You Were Sleeping meets The Wedding Date with a fun Puerto Rican holiday twist in NYT and USA Today bestselling author Ginny Baird’s latest romance, in which a diner waitress agrees to be her patron’s fake date…only for him to land in a coma and her to be stuck playing his sweetheart with his family all week long.
Lonely-hearted waitress Katie Smith has nowhere to go for Christmas, and a huge crush on her gorgeous diner patron Juan Martinez. So when Juan asks Katie to pose as his girlfriend for holiday festivities at his family’s winery, Katie leaps at the chance…that is, until an accident lands Juan in a coma right after giving his folks the “news.” Katie knows she should tell the Martinezes the truth, but when they immediately embrace her, Katie is reluctant to let her fantasy of a family holiday go. And then there’s Juan’s brother, Mateo, whose smile tugs at her heartstrings just right―and who tells her perfect Juan might not be everything he seems.
Second son Mateo Martinez loves his brother, but Juan’s plan to “rebrand and expand” Los Cielos Cellars has cost their family too much and put its entire tradition in jeopardy. Katie seems to understand, but she’s still committed to Juan…even when Mateo starts to wish her gentle heart and beautiful smile were committed to him instead. With the winery at stake, secrets on all sides, and Juan due to wake up any day, can Katie and Mateo follow their hearts to a Christmas miracle, or will this mix-up ruin their chances?
“Baird excels at capturing the Martinez family’s warmhearted and somewhat kooky dynamic, adding to the cozy, homey atmosphere. This is a delight.” ― Publishers Weekly
https://amzn.to/3tHiNI5
“Fans of Hallmark movies and authors Sophie Cousens and Lia Louis will appreciate this wholesome holiday offering from Baird.” ― Library Journal
While You Were Sleeping is one of my favorite romcoms, and I rewatch it every year. So that description grabbed me right away. I loved the premise of the book, and it really lived up to my expectations.
Katie has no family left, other than her boss at the diner where she is a waitress. Her boss isn’t really her family, but she is like a surrogate mom. Katie has a huge crush on one of her customers, Juan. He is extremely good looking and kind to Katie, but she knows she is completely out of his league. Much to her surprise, he asks her if she would consider coming to his family home for Christmas. He is very tired of his family setting him up on blind dates, and if she would do it, he could finally have an enjoyable holiday. Of course she agrees, thinking once her spends a little time with her, he’ll probably ask her out for real.
The next day, as he leaves the diner, there is an accident, and only Katie’s quick thinking saves his life. But he has a head injury, and the doctor puts him into a coma until the swelling in his brain goes down. While she is at the hospital, his family arrives. It turns out he must have spent the day texting his family about her, because they immediately embrace her as his girlfriend – then fiancé.
Katie knows she needs to come clean, but she did make him a promise so she is torn about what to do. She hasn’t had a family Christmas in too long, and she just can’t bring herself to tell them. Meanwhile, she meets Juan’s brother, Mateo, who is a bit suspicious of her. But as he gets to know her, he starts wishing she was his girlfriend instead of Juan’s. And Katie can’t help thinking that maybe she had a crush on the wrong brother.
Everything works out the way it is supposed to in the end, but it was so much fun getting there. There are some serious issues as well, and I was completely engrossed in this story until I turned that last page. If you want a sweet, funny, heartwarming holiday romance, this is a good one!
10/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE HOLIDAY MIX-UP by Ginny Baird. Sourcebooks Casablanca (October 10, 2023). ISBN: 978-1728256528. 352p.
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