Unwrapping Archie — EmKay Connor

Archie Caddel and Anabelle Cypress have been best friends since the first day of elementary school when they had to line up in alphabetical order. Over the years, there were a few snafus thanks to shared initials, joint birthday parties since they were born one day apart in June, and co-mingled holiday celebrations as their two families became closer. So, it's no wonder everyone assumes Archie and Anabelle are a couple who will one day reveal their engagement. When years go by with no announcement, the close-knit townsfolk of tiny Joy Ridge, Pennsylvania, decide to give them a nudge in the right direction when they come home for their annual Christmas visit. Archie and Anabelle never intended to keep up the pretense of a fake relationship after escaping their small mountain town for the glitz and glamour of L.A. They dreamed of making it big and coming home with tales of riches and success…but year after year, their lie spirals out of control until the truth catches up with them. Will the magic of a small-town Christmas turn their pretend romance into something real, or will Archie and Anabelle lose everything that matters most, including each other? Unwrapping Archie is an over-the-top, holiday, instalove escape read. Curl up with a mug of hot chocolate—don't forget the marshmallows and candy cane—for small town shenanigans as friends and family in Joy Ridge launch a yuletide campaign to convince these best friends their fake romance is very, very real. ***** This story was previously published as part of the Holiday Fake-Out box set (2021).