Christmas Kitsch by Amy Lane

Christmas Kitsch by Amy Lane
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (192 pgs)
Other: M/M, Anal Play
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Sometimes the best Christmas gift is knowing what you really want.

Rusty Baker is a rich, entitled, oblivious jock, and he might have stayed that way if he hadn’t become friends with out-and-proud Oliver Campbell from the wrong side of the tracks. When Oliver kisses him goodbye before Rusty leaves for college, Rusty is forced to rethink everything he knows about himself.

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Rusty’s parents disagree, and Rusty finds himself homeless for the holidays. But with Oliver’s love and the help of Oliver’s amazing family, Rusty realizes that failing college doesn’t mean he can’t pass real life with flying rainbow colors.

Rusty wasn’t stupid, but he often was a little slow on the uptake. A sweet, gentle young man he’s surprised when most of his jock friends – class-mates he’s been with for most of his school life – are mean and homophobic for no reason to the new guy, Oliver. Rusty is friends with Oliver, and over the course of the year they form a firm, solid friendship. The night before Rusty is going to move for college, Oliver finally screws up his courage and kisses Rusty – and it’s like a light bulb pops off in his head. Rusty takes a while to understand himself, but when he finally does – and comes out to his parents – his world is turned upside down.

I have to be honest, I loved Rusty’s character. Sweet, honest and utterly adorable, Rusty was a genuine guy who was just trying to sort himself out. I thoroughly enjoyed reading most of the story through his third-person perspective and I really liked how he viewed the world and everything in it. He struggled so hard to live up to the expectations of his parents, and even initially those of his friends as well. I also really appreciated how Oliver didn’t try to change Rusty, or force him to make discoveries or decisions before he could assess and understand them at Rusty’s own pace. I thought Oliver was patient, funny and kind – a true friend and, eventually, a wonderful lover and partner.

I enjoyed laughing aloud at a few of the antics Rusty’s new college room-mate got up to while Rusty was at college, but I really appreciated how even separated from Oliver, Rusty continued to value and need Oliver’s friendship and support. It made it clear to me that both Oliver and Rusty were genuinely attached to each other – whether as friends or more – that is wasn’t simply a matter of circumstances and them being geographically close to each other in school and town. Their friendship and emotions ran deeper than that and I loved watching them stand the test of time.

A slow-paced coming of age style of story, I really loved this full length novel. Rusty and Oliver are interesting, layered characters who really blossom as they come together. There’s a strong and large cast of important secondary characters – Rusty’s college room-mate, parents and sister as well as Oliver’s large and boisterous family. I loved how everyone interacted all together and really helped sell the realism and interesting plots throughout the story. But the whole time Rusty, his self-discovery and his long-standing friendship with Oliver was always front and center. The sex is steamy and hot – but I didn’t find it over the top. The sex really added an extra layer to the story, not detracting from the friendship or plot aspects of the story.

Well written and very heartwarming, I really enjoyed this story and will happily read more by this author.