Finding My Elf

Ages 13 And Up, Grades 8 And Up

Single All the Way meets Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda in this festive rom-com 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. 

A must-read for lovers of holiday rom-coms, David Valdes makes the yuletide gay in this holly-jolly-hilarious enemies-to-lovers story.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 Christmas elf.This is no normal holiday mall gig, though. It's got a popularity content built in. But Cam is willing to deal with a supercharged game of “the customer is always right” if that’s what it takes to nab the cash prize.But the competition is fierce—especially from fellow elf Marco, who’s got Christmas spirit oozing 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 Cam doesn’t actually want to go back to NYU? What if he’s finally found his people here—in the fakest consumerist nightmare place on Earth, where he least expected it?

About the Author

David Valdes is the author of the young adult novels Spin Me Right Round (a New York Public Library Best Book for Teens) and Brighter than the Moon, as well as three nonfiction books, including TODAY Show “Top 10 Holiday Books” pick A Little Fruitcake. His plays have been produced coast to coast and abroad. As a columnist, he has written for the New York Times, Boston Globe, and HuffPost. He lives outside Boston with his teenage daughter.