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amberinpieces's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Cursing, and Alcohol
Minor: Antisemitism, Death, Death of parent, Biphobia, Terminal illness, Classism, and Sexual content
overthinkereading's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“…real things were always harder but that a real life was always better lived.”
This is fundamentally a book about grief, trauma, resilience and healing, wrapped in a sapphic holiday romance-Jewish-“Will they save the farm?!” bow. The trimmings made the book interesting and heartwarming, but truly what will make or break a person’s feelings about this book will be whether they find the characters relatable and can invest in their story of recovery and hope.
CW: family of origin trauma, financial abuse, parental death (off page), grief, alcoholism.
This is fundamentally a book about grief, trauma, resilience and healing, wrapped in a sapphic holiday romance-Jewish-“Will they save the farm?!” bow. The trimmings made the book interesting and heartwarming, but truly what will make or break a person’s feelings about this book will be whether they find the characters relatable and can invest in their story of recovery and hope.
CW: family of origin trauma, financial abuse, parental death (off page), grief, alcoholism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, and Death of parent
Minor: Biphobia
megj23's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Death of parent and Biphobia
shelvesofivy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Biphobia
Minor: Antisemitism, Child abuse, and Death
ahallen's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Biphobia
readingqueerly's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
My first and probably my only holiday book that I'll read for this year. But I'm so incredibly happy that I read this one as my only one. This book was really a great read. While being a light-hearted holiday romcom, it somehow als managed to being up quite some big and scary topics involving trauma and grief. But also healing from that and learning to trust again and feeling your feelings. So much was packed into these 360 pages and yet it was all so well balanced. The heavy topics were given enough weight and words to feel important, but the lighter scenes provided great respite and fuzzy feelings.
On top of all this, there was so much representation: a bi and Jewish MC (who actively practices on page with her family), her butch and (implied) plus size love interest, a healthy and close yet completely platonic relationship between a man and woman, multiple queer and POC background characters, and probably a bunch more I forgot.
If you're looking for a nice holiday read this last December week, I do recommend.
On top of all this, there was so much representation: a bi and Jewish MC (who actively practices on page with her family), her butch and (implied) plus size love interest, a healthy and close yet completely platonic relationship between a man and woman, multiple queer and POC background characters, and probably a bunch more I forgot.
If you're looking for a nice holiday read this last December week, I do recommend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Alcoholism, and Grief
Minor: Biphobia and Antisemitism
emily_mh's review
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is first and foremost a Christmassy romance, so I first want to focus my review on how well this book carries that out. In terms of Christmassy-ness, it does so IMMACULATELY. This story is a never-ending mug of Christmas warmth. It completely transported me away from where I read it in a spring heatwave. There are reindeer, iceskating, sleigh rides, Christmas markets, tree decorating, a cosy inn, a cute wintry village, a Christmas tree farm, mouth-watering food, a giant (magical) cat, fireplaces, library nooks... it had it ALL. But Miriam's (one of the two MCs) Jewish identity is never lost amongst this which I also loved - most of the side characters are also Jewish! In terms of romance, this book is divine. Miriam and Noelle had such palpable chemistry, but the way they grew to love each other on a deeper level was perfection. They had so many deep, vulnerable, and confronting conversations and faced so many complex challenges together. You could just SEE how well they worked as a couple, and how much they cared for one another. As a side note, the love GENERALLY depicted in this book is top tier. It positively drips with love and found family. There's parental love, familial love, romantic love (of course), and SO MUCH INCREDIBLE platonic love. Seriously, there's a platonic love quote in this book that brought me to tears because it's the most beautiful thing someone has ever said to another person, ever.
So, this book has already utterly nailed what it set out to do. Yet on top of all that, it had so much unexpected depth. Miriam and Noelle are both working through some really difficult and traumatic experiences. The fact that they grew as individuals, not only together, brought so much to this book and made it more than a Christmassy romance, but without in any way reducing the lighthearted, relaxing, Chrissmasy and romantic atmosphere. I also loved the show of womanhood! Women and their bonds with one another are front and centre. It reminded me of all the good stuff women point out about being a woman under that TikTok sound "How I love being a woman!" There was just so much softness and devotion, but in no way did it ignore the difficult parts of relationships.
So it's safe to say that I loved this book to its core! I am absolutely stoked this is going to be a series and I will be able to see other characters' love stories!
So, this book has already utterly nailed what it set out to do. Yet on top of all that, it had so much unexpected depth. Miriam and Noelle are both working through some really difficult and traumatic experiences. The fact that they grew as individuals, not only together, brought so much to this book and made it more than a Christmassy romance, but without in any way reducing the lighthearted, relaxing, Chrissmasy and romantic atmosphere. I also loved the show of womanhood! Women and their bonds with one another are front and centre. It reminded me of all the good stuff women point out about being a woman under that TikTok sound "How I love being a woman!" There was just so much softness and devotion, but in no way did it ignore the difficult parts of relationships.
So it's safe to say that I loved this book to its core! I am absolutely stoked this is going to be a series and I will be able to see other characters' love stories!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Gaslighting, Death, Addiction, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Grief, and Child abuse
Minor: Mental illness, Biphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Antisemitism, Medical content, Racism, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Chronic illness, Slavery, Death of parent, Vomit, Alcohol, Drug use, Sexual harassment, Ableism, and Sexual content
Moderate: loss of a loved one, family estrangement, financial abuse Minor: self-injury, divorce, climate change
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