The Holiday Stand-In

About This Audiobook

Kortney Keisel’s *The Holiday Stand-In* isn’t your usual Christmas fluff—it’s a razor-sharp listen with a plot that twists like tinsel caught in a ceiling fan. When Leah, our perpetually overlooked protagonist, gets ditched by her workaholic boyfriend for the holidays, she doesn’t spiral; she stages an elaborate bluff. By hiring a handsome stranger to pose as her new love interest for a family gathering, she buys herself some breathing room—and sets off a chain reaction of chaos, charm, and questionable life choices. Keisel’s writing is equal parts laugh-out-loud and quietly poignant, balancing snarky dialogue with moments of genuine vulnerability. The holiday setting isn’t just backdrop; it’s a catalyst, amplifying the story’s themes of authenticity and self-worth with a festive, if fraught, pressure cooker of family expectations.

Narrators Helen Laser and Walker Williams deliver performances that feel like eavesdropping on a private family drama with front-row seats. Laser, voicing Leah, nails the mix of exasperation and wit, her delivery sharp enough to cut through holiday stress. Williams, as the reluctant stand-in Jake, brings a roguish charm that sells the premise without veering into caricature. Their chemistry crackles, making even the most far-fetched moments feel grounded. The production’s audio clarity ensures no holiday-party chatter drowns out the story’s emotional beats, though the pacing occasionally stumbles mid-monologue—like a reindeer caught in headlights.