Jeevani Charika and Rhoda Baxter

At Christmas time, the last thing you need is more commitments.

Lara is so busy trying to get her fledgling software company off the ground that she’s up in Yorkshire, pitching for business, just before Christmas. When bad weather sees the trains cancelled, the only place she can find shelter is a small pub called the Trewton Arms.

Thilini (‘Tilly’) loves that her art helps feed her travel addiction. She’s back in England for Christmas after two years away and can’t wait to be on the move again. 

When they meet their attraction is hard to deny. But what happens when the trains are running again and they have to go their separate ways?

Christmas for Commitmentphobes is a standalone novella in the Trewton Royd small town romance series. If you like closed door romances, with feisty heroines and realistic dialogue, you’ll love Christmas for Commitmentphobes. Ideal for fans of Lucy Parker or Jackie Lau.

Core Themes

• Work-Life Balance vs. Ambition: Explores the tension between professional drive (the “hustle”) and the need for personal connection, featuring a heroine (Lara) focused on her tech startup.
• Transient Lifestyles: Tackles the fear of settling down through a protagonist who uses travel and art as a shield against permanent roots.
• LGBTQ+ Romance (F/F): The central narrative is about a blossoming relationship between two women who are both initially resistant to the idea of “forever.”
• The “One Night Only” Tension: Focuses on the internal conflict of meeting the right person at a time when you’ve already decided to leave.

Atmosphere & Tone

• Cozy British Pub Setting: Set in the “Trewton Arms” in Yorkshire, providing a classic, warm, and sheltered “sanctuary” vibe against a harsh winter storm.
• Modern & Realistic: This has a grounded, contemporary feel with sharp, smart dialogue and realistic obstacles.
• Playful yet Wary: The tone captures the spark of a new attraction mixed with the defensive humour typical of people who avoid emotional vulnerability.
• Closed-Door (Sweet) Romance: Maintains a focus on emotional chemistry and romantic tension rather than explicit content. Think Hallmark Christmas movies, but make it queer (in this case, sapphic).
• South Asian heroines: It’s still relatively rare (but not as rare as it used to be) to see South Asian main characters in romance novels. It’s rarer still to find characters who are both South Asian and queer. I also wanted to write a multi-national romance where both characters were brown. Lara is of Indian descent, Tilly is of Sri Lankan descent. They are both South Asian, but have heritage from different cultures.

Reader Emotional Experience

• The “Happy Sigh”: Reviewers frequently mention the book’s ability to deliver a satisfying, warm feeling without being overly sentimental.
• Relatable Vulnerability: Readers seem to connect with the characters’ fears of losing their independence or being “tied down,” making the eventual commitment feel earned.
• Brisk and Refreshing: As a novella, it provides a quick “emotional reset,” perfect for readers who want a high-impact story in a short amount of time.

What Readers Love Most

• The Forced Proximity Trope: Readers love the “snowed in” setup where the characters are physically unable to run away from their growing feelings.
• Feisty & Independent Heroines: Both Lara and Tilly are praised for being competent, interesting women with lives outside of the romance.
• The Dialogue: Reviewers often mention the “geeky,” witty, and naturalistic writing style. (I like geeks. I am one!)
• Standalone Accessibility: Readers appreciate that it can be enjoyed as a quick festive treat without having read other books in the Trewton Royd series. But, if you have read Snowed In, you’ll know that Tilly is Vinnie’s little sister. You might recognise some of the background characters as well. 

Perfect For:

• Readers searching for “Sapphic holiday romance” or “F/F Christmas stories.”
• Fans of “forced proximity” and “snowed in at a pub” tropes.
• Users looking for “low-angst, high-comfort” novellas that can be finished in one sitting.

Readers who enjoy modern British rom-coms with a realistic, slightly cynical edge . Ideal if you like the works of Sophie Kinsella, Milly Johnson, Lucy Parker, Farah Heron, Nisha Sharma or Jackie Lau.