This is a holiday novella featuring a plus sized girl (thank you). She finds herself in a fake engagement with a struggling sports agent. The narrator did a good job and the story was cute.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Dreamscape Media for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a cute little romcom, definitely different than the usual, with some unique characters. I enjoyed the focus on success and overcoming one's own self doubt. But the goose definitely topped off the story.

4 Stars – Because nothing says Christmas romance like a fake fiancé, one bed, and a delinquent goose

If you’ve ever wished for a holiday rom-com that involves a fake engagement, a house-sitting fiasco, and a rogue goose with main-character energy, Honkers Under the Holly is your Christmas miracle. This festive, laugh-out-loud romance delivers forced proximity, sizzling chemistry, and an animal sidekick who just might steal the show (and your socks).


Sports agent Dane and plus-size model Tilly never expected to be fake fiancés. But when Sir Honksalot, the bad-tempered rescue goose, destroys her apartment, and Dane’s parents sell their shop right before Christmas, they find themselves in need of a new place to stay.

Their solution? A fake engagement to secure a luxurious house-sitting gig.

The only problem?
* There’s only one room.
* And one bed.
* And their “boring” couple act is starting to feel way too real.

Meanwhile, Sir Honksalot terrorises the household, steals socks, and becomes a social media sensation. (Move over, Santa, this goose has the internet obsessed.)

What I loved.
✅ Fake engagement + forced proximity = rom-com gold
✅ A cinnamon-roll hero who secretly loves romance
✅ A badass, body-positive heroine who knows her worth
✅ A goose with an attitude & Instagram fame
✅ Christmas hijinks, flirty tension, and ALL the feel-good moments


The Characters: The Cutest Fake Fiancés Ever

* Tilly – A confident plus-size model who isn’t afraid to take charge (except when it comes to her feelings for Dane).
* Dane – A sports agent who seems all business… until you realise he’s a hopeless romantic underneath.
* Sir Honksalot – The real star of the book. He’s grumpy, dramatic, and a menace to holiday decorations everywhere.

The Audio Experience: 10/10 Chemistry
Narrators Allie Shae and Kyle Mason absolutely nail the playful banter and slow-burn tension. Their performances bring the characters to life, making the romance feel extra swoon-worthy and the comedic moments even funnier.


Honkers Under the Holly is the perfect festive rom-com, equal parts hilarious, heartwarming, and hopelessly romantic. If you love fake dating, grumpy-but-lovable animals, and holiday hijinks, this book will have you laughing, swooning, and wishing for a goose of your own.

I always know what to expect for Amy Award books, just a cozy and funny story. Feel good overall. I had such a fun time reading this one and I want more.

I absolutely loved not only this book but the entire series. I cannot wait to read more from Amy Award. Her love for animals and her celebration of plus sized women is everything!

Perfect Honkerday treat.

I absolutely loved Honkers Under the Holly by Amy Award! It's the ideal quick holiday romance – super cute and filled with warm fuzzies. The happily ever after was just what I needed! Allie Dhae and Kyle Mason nailed the dual narration, making it so easy to follow and bringing the characters' love story to vibrant life. The story just flowed, and I was hooked from beginning to end. Highly recommend!

Sir Honksalot MVP.

Thank you Netgalley, Amy Award and Dreamscrap Media for the ALC.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC of this book! The audio was fun and well done and the narrators were excellent.

I love that with the Kingmans series you get exactly what Amy Award tells you is coming. Spicy, Instalove Fluff meant to take you out of your life and give you some delicious cringe to enjoy.

This book had a cute goose as a side character, sweet and spicy MC's and a love for bodies at any size.

I'm a fan and I'll continue to read these.

Love the subtle infertility nod at the end, it was well done and really sweet.

this was such a fun listen! The kingsman series has become one of my favorites and I absolutely loved this prequel! sir honksalot was hilarious and this was a new spin on fake dating! I loved the flow of this novella and recommend giving this one a shot! Highly recommend the audio, such an easy and entertaining listen!

3.5 stars (rounded down).

I love Amy Award's books because of the fat representation, so I will read anything she writes. That said, I think "Honkers Under the Holly" would have been better as a full-length story as opposed to a novella. I loved the dual audiobook narration provided by Allie Shae and Kyle Mason (they bring these characters to life in an effervescent, fun way!). There is a lot of goofy stuff going on in this story between the main characters, Mac and Sarah Jane. I love a story with lots of shenanigans, but it feels like there is a "manic pixie dream girl" amount of shenanigans here, like, waaaay too many. It's closer to cringe than it is to earnestly funny. Their meet-cute is fun, and they do have good banter with one another, but it's a little too try-hard for me, and the insta-love is a bit much. Luckily, this holiday novella is fast-paced and a mostly inoffensive listen. The spice was good enough to keep me going from start to finish.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amy Award, and Dreamscape Media for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

Sadly, I didn’t enjoy this as much as the other books in the series. It was an ok read but didn't excite me like the others. I think because it wasn't about one of the Kingsmen it fell flat for me. The goose made the story more entertaining.

This was a cute story, but I liked the side characters a lot more than the main characters mainly just because I felt the story was a little choppy and rushed and not much was fleshed out. I liked the goose shenanigans most of all! Seeing the Kingman family when they were kids and April (their mom) was still alive was so awesome! I was confused at first how this story fit into what I have fallen for in The Cocky Kingman series, but then I couldn’t get enough!

This was so cringe... And if you want a definition of instalove look no further, just check out this novella (they say 'I love you' at the 50% marked after maybe three dates).
But in short, I loved the goose but I didn't care much for either of the MCs. I felt like we really never got to know Sara Jayne and Mac. That is the problem with novellas. I feel there was enough to make it a longer story, so this left me unsatisfied and wanting more. It was too short and it dragged at the same time. And also it’s honestly hectic for no reason at all. It's just meh.
Allie Shae and Kyle Mason narrate the audiobook. They did a good job. I had to get used to it though because they read at a different pace.

This was a fun novella in the Amy Award's Kingsman universe. While there were some silly aspects to the story and plot, it was an enjoyable romcom. I thought the narrators did a good job setting the flow and pace of the story.

I was so excited for this festive prequel in the Kingsman series, and let me tell you—it did NOT disappoint! Mac & Sara Jayne’s love story had everything I adore: a hilarious meet-cute (Oktoberfest + a goose = perfection), swoon-worthy romance, and just the right amount of spice. But let’s be real—the true MVP? Sir Honksalot, the absolute menace of a goose who somehow helps fate do its thing. 😂

Even though I’ve only read the first two books, this novella totally works as a standalone! It was such a treat to see familiar characters in their younger years, plus get a glimpse of someone we’ve only heard about before. Amy Award is quickly becoming one of my go-to romance authors, and this book just solidified that!

This is a cute holiday novella by Amy Award. I’ve had Amy’s The Cocky Kingman’s series in my TBR for months - long enough that I’ve gave my son my book wishlist and his reaction to Amy’s amazing choice in titles and covers was even more motivation to start reading.

Audiobooks are my absolute favorite way of reading so when I saw an opportunity to ALC this novella, I jumped. This is a definitely a fluffy, fast paced rom-com and what a great way to be introduced to her writing. Her author’s note was an adorable introduction to the book followed by her dedication:

Note: Sir Honksalot is the star of the story all the way through the end 💜

I recommend adding this book and Amy Award to anyone’s TBR.

Thanks to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for this ALC!

Honkers Under the Holly
Author: Amy Award
Prequel to The Cocky Kingmans
Narrated by: Allie Shae, Kyle Mason
Publisher: Dreamscape Media

This was such a fun listen! Even though there’s a holiday vibe, it totally works any time of year. I loved how Amy Award made it a prequel to the series but still kept all the Kingsman charm we know and love. Her FMCs are confident and don’t feel the need to justify their bodies—they just are, which I really appreciate. Every body deserves love and admiration, and the MMCs in this story definitely deliver on that.

The dual narration by Allie Shae and Kyle Mason was super easy to listen to and made the story flow really well.

Big thanks to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Amy Award for the early review copy—these are my honest thoughts.

Oh, Amy Ward! Your books never disappoint - audiobooks especially! I found myself rooting for this couple and chuckling all along the way. I love the thicc girl representation and quick witted humor that is delivered mercilessly throughout each of her books. The banter, the chemistry, and the love for animals all fill up my cup and provide a much needed respite from my typical emotionally charged historical fictions. Authors like Amy Ward are what make me love the rom-com genre and keep me coming back for more. I am so thankful for the opportunity to receive an advanced copy of this audiobook from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media. I will absolutely recommend this book/audiobook to fellow readers who are looking for something light and funny with just a touch of spice. This review is based on my experiences with this book and author, I have not received compensation in exchange for this positive review.

Honkers Under the Holly was the chaotic, hilarious, and heartwarming holiday romance I didn’t know I needed. From the moment Sir Honksalot flapped into the picture, I knew this book would be something special, and it delivered.
A struggling sports agent and a plus-size model pretending to be engaged to save a bad-tempered goose? It’s the perfect setup for Christmas mayhem, and the story leans into it beautifully. The fake relationship trope is already one of my favourites, but throw in forced proximity, a one-bed situation, and a social media-famous goose with a sock-stealing habit. Perfection.
What made this book shine was the chemistry. The tension between the main characters felt so real, and every little touch, every stolen glance, had me completely hooked. I loved that she knew her worth and never dimmed her light, and I adored that he was secretly a romantic under all his exasperation. Their banter was sharp, their slow-burn feelings delicious, and when things finally came to a head? Absolutely swoon-worthy.
And, of course, Sir Honksalot stole every scene he was in. Chaos and comedy followed that goose like a personal storm cloud, and I laughed out loud more times than I could count. But this wasn’t just a lighthearted romp—there were some genuinely tender moments that made the romance all the sweeter.
If you love a holiday romance that’s equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, with a heroine who owns her confidence, a hero who falls hard, and a goose with leading character energy, this book is a must-read. I’m obsessed.

This is a romance novel that can be read either before or after the first book in the Cocky Kingmans series. This is the romance story of Mac (the sport agent) and Sarah Jane and the Sir Honksalot, the romance-meddling goose. It was insta-love due to it being a novella, and I think I would have liked it more if it were longer, given us more scenes between the two characters - Tommy practically stole the show in the few scenes he was in. This book is not necessary in the lore of the Kingmans but would recommend for fans of the series. Although short, there are two open-door scenes, the first was a little awkward but the second was better but both felt rushed, I feel due to the length of the book. Both narrators did a good job.

I received this ALC of Honkers Under the Holly. I really enjoyed the narrators. They both were easy to understand and played the male and female characters well. Even adding in the German language and accents in the begging. Over this was a cute novella that gave good insight into the before of the kinsman family. Amy Award is the queen of spice, puns, and absolutely killed this one. My fave was the one bed!!! Also loved that a goose was the punny animal for this book. I would highly recommend!