The definition of “perfect” is the central focus of this story, and while you might think it’s a pretty clear concept, the way both main characters have a very different way of looking at what it means shows that it is far from clear-cut. Australian Ethan thinks he has fond the perfect man in Tristan, a British artist with unusual friends and the picture-perfect family. But, as it turns out when Tristan is about to meet Ethan’s less than perfect Australian family, Tristan has some very different ideas.

Ethan is desperately trying to avoid Tristan meeting his awful family. His attempts at distraction are almost comical, but Tristan has his number and refuses to be put off any longer. He has moved to Sydney, he wants the whole Christmas on the beach experience, and he will not rest until he has met Ethan’s relatives. Ethan, on the other hand, is scared that Tristan will run screaming for the hills, and he loves the man too much to risk losing him. For Ethan, Tristan and his family are so “perfect”, he cannot imagine Tristan liking the Harvey clan. When the meeting finally happens—including an attempted intervention by Ethan’s sister who tries to mitigate the effects of an uncensored family holiday but fails miserably—the effect on Tristan is remarkable, and not at all what Ethan expects. The discussion the two men have afterward is fascinating and I loved how it deepened their connection and understanding of each other.

If you like stories about lovers “meeting the family with unexpected results”, if a chaotic and highly humorous “celebration” is your thing, and if you’re looking for a read that is as funny as it is thought-provoking, then you will probably like this short story as much as I did. I think it is a very different and much-welcome take on what can happen when expectations clash and worlds collide—so to speak. The result was surprisingly romantic and heartwarming, and I loved every minute of the experience.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
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