Finding My Elf – David Valdes

This book review is spoiler free!

Author: David Valdes

Series: standalone

Audience: YA

Rating: 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis

Single All the Way meets Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda in this festive romcom about Cam, who’s trying to find the “the one” and also trying to find himself—while spending winter break working at a hectic Santa’s Village.

Escaping to NYU for college didn’t turn out the way Cameron planned—he’s flunking his theater classes, about to lose his scholarship, and he still hasn’t found anyone he can call his “people.” When he gets home for winter break, he’s so desperate to avoid a Conversation with his dad that he takes the first acting job he can get—as a mall elf. Despite how Scroogey he feels, the plus side is that there’s a cash prize for the most festive of Santa’s helpers.

But the competition is fierce—especially from fellow elf Marco. Christmas spirit oozes out of his veins. At first Cam is determined to see him as nothing but a rival, but as they spend more time together, Cam starts to second-guess himself. What if he’s finally found his people here—in the fakest consumerist nightmare place on Earth, where he least expected it?

– Goodreads

Writing Style

Finding My Elf is written in first person and told from Cam’s POV.

Characters

Cam

Cam is eighteen and studies theatre at NYU. He’s clumsy and insecure. He has the habit to second guess himself.

Conclusion

Thank you for the e-ARC Harper360YA!

Cam studies theatre at NYU and returns home for the Christmas break. NYU was supposed to be Cam’s escape. He would meet his people there and have a new start, but now he’s convinced that he will lose his scholarship. He’s not good at the plays he has to perform at college. He doesn’t want to tell his father how bad things are going and decides to apply as the role of elf at Santaland in order to avoid his dad. Turns out that there’s a competition for the elves. The most popular elf will win a cash prize. Elf Marco is very good at charming people. Cam sees him as competition until he gets to know him better. What if Marco is one of his people?

Finding My Elf is a sweet, funny, queer Christmas book. Cam second guesses himself but he’s also very clumsy, creating funny moments. At first he hates how clumsy he is and feels often embarrassed, but throughout the book he embraces it and his shortcomings. Life doesn’t go as planned and that’s okay. The most important thing is that you’re happy and that’s what this book is about.