My new favourite holiday read. 

This is Alexis Hall at their best warm & fuzzy: funny, irreverent, deftly subverted tropes, some astute observations of emotional intelligence & a side of social commentary. I definitely did not think I needed to know more about Jonathan Forest when he’s made appearances elsewhere in London Calling but I am so glad I shrugged to myself and got curious about what Alexis Hall had to share about him and Samwise. Though fake amnesia is not a trope I usually go for, don’t think too hard about it or the plausibility of the plot with this one; just get swept up in the people and use of language. It’s a delight to read.

10 Things That Never Happened is a cute, funny romcom with the wit and banter I’ve come to expect from Alexis Hall! He has somehow written a book with both poop jokes and emotional depth, and I really enjoyed it!

Read if you like
- forced proximity
- slightly dysfunctional families
- grumpy/sunshine
- Christmas setting
- fake amnesia
- antagonists to friends to lovers (closed door, euphemisms only)

I will say, I’m not sure why the book is called 10 Things That Never Happened. There’s fake amnesia, but there aren’t fake events… honestly I don’t care I’m just a little confused.

My only complaint is that the climax and resolution of the book felt a tad bit rushed, and there wasn’t quite as much tension in the will-they-won’t-they as I tend to prefer. Still a great book, and I’d definitely recommend! 4 stars.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the review copy. All thoughts are my own.