The Friendsgiving Pact: A Thanksgiving Romance – A Cozy College Friends-to-Lovers Story of Fake Dating and Real Love

By Elizabeth Davis

Not yet published: Expected Oct 20, 2026

The last place college freshmen Avery and Theo want to be is home for the holiday. Both freshly single and dreading being in the same town as their exes for a week, they devise a plan to fake date to make it through Thanksgiving Break. Fans of cozy romances and friends-to-lovers will adore this fall love story.

Best friends Avery and Theo are home for the holiday during their freshmen year of college, and they have one goal this Thanksgiving: survive the week without romantic disasters. Avery’s determined to stay out of her ex-boyfriend’s orbit, while Theo’s dodging his ex-girlfriend who is thinking of switching schools to be with him. Their solution? Fake date through turkey dinners and awkward family moments, then “break up” the second they’re back on campus.

But pretending to be in love has a way of blurring lines. Between surprisingly hot kisses and the softer moments in between, Avery and Theo find themselves grappling with feelings that are anything but fake. Memories of high school spark, old wounds resurface, and the chemistry they’ve ignored for years becomes impossible to deny.

Caught between the holiday break chaos and their own tangled emotions, Avery and Theo must decide if this charade is really just a convenient escape… or the beginning of something far more real.

Tropes:

• Fake dating

• Friends to lovers

• Bad boy x golden girl

• Family drama

• Small town

Pre-order the book

288 pages

Average rating: 8

1 RATING

|

Community Reviews

jasmin
Jul 03, 2026
8/10 stars
The Friendsgiving Pact is a cute and cozy holiday romance with all the fall vibes.

Theo and Avery’s dynamic felt real, natural, and easy to root for. I enjoyed watching their fake dating arrangement slowly turn into something more. I also liked seeing the shift from longtime friends to something deeper, especially as they navigated old feelings. Their chemistry worked well, and the holiday setting added a warm, festive backdrop to the story.

Overall, this was an enjoyable, light holiday romance perfect for a quick seasonal read.

Thank you to Elizabeth Davis, NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.