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? A heartwarming Christmas read Perfect for curling up with during the holidays

デヴィッド・ヴァルデスの筆致は、煌びやかなホリデーの裏側に潜む「理想と現実の乖離」を、痛快かつ鮮烈に描き出します。挫折を抱え、消費社会の象徴であるサンタ村に身を投じるカムの心理描写は、単なるコメディの枠を越え、自尊心を取り戻すための切実な旅へと読者を誘います。偽物に囲まれた狂騒の場だからこそ際立つ、彼自身の剥き出しの本音と熱量こそが、本作の持つ文学的な真髄と言えるでしょう。 ライバルであるマルコとの関係が、単なるロマンスに留まらず、カムが閉ざしていた心を開放し「居場所」を再定義する鍵となる点も秀逸です。皮肉屋の若者が、最も期待していなかった場所で真実の絆を見出していく姿は、冷え切った心を温める救いの火のようです。読者は物語を通じて、ありのままの自分を愛する勇気という、何よりも純粋な贈り物を受け取ることになるはずです。