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3.25 AVERAGE
3.25 AVERAGE
A cute little magical romance story about a woman who was betrayed by her husband and down on her luck, yet still managed to find some Christmas magic. It was a bit fantastical and cliché but it was cute and leaves you feeling warm and snugly.
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
COMFORT & JOY by Kristin Hannah exceeded my expectations, proving to be a heartwarming yet poignant journey. Published in 2005, I regret waiting so long to delve into this emotional masterpiece by one of my favorite authors. Hannah skillfully weaves a tale of resilience as Joy Candellaro, recently divorced and grappling with loss, embarks on a spontaneous adventure in the Pacific Northwest. The story unfolds with unexpected twists, keeping me eagerly turning pages. Joy's encounters with young Bobby, grieving the loss of his mother, add depth and warmth to the narrative. Hannah's ability to evoke genuine emotions, coupled with a compelling mystery, made it nearly impossible to put the book down. COMFORT & JOY is a testament to Hannah's storytelling prowess, delivering a rich tapestry of feelings and unexpected turns.
✏ Favourite quote: “You can run away from your life and your past, but there's no way to distance yourself from your own heart."
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4 stars for the Bobby storyline. 1 star for the sister storyline - no way she should've forgiven her that easily!!!
Not a huge fan of this Kristin Hannah book. I generally love her writing and how she develops the characters. This one was pretty short and the way it ends was unrealistic for me (I realize it's fiction but it was a little too much).
I generally love Kristin Hannah but this was just ok. I plowed on and finished it as it was for book club and I’m no quitter ;)
On the plus side, it only took me an afternoon and evening to finish and I didn’t figure out the twist (even though I really thought I had- Daisy Darker anyone?) Pretty improbable that she forgave her husband and sister that quickly but, hey, maybe a near death experience will do that to you, and a new love on the horizon probably doesn’t hurt.
On the plus side, it only took me an afternoon and evening to finish and I didn’t figure out the twist (even though I really thought I had- Daisy Darker anyone?) Pretty improbable that she forgave her husband and sister that quickly but, hey, maybe a near death experience will do that to you, and a new love on the horizon probably doesn’t hurt.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It wasn’t the best book ever, but it was a cute, quick read. It kept my attention but it is a little “out there”. Just trying to find some new authors I like during this pandemic, so two hours or less of reading wasn’t exactly a huge waste.
3.5/5 ⭐️ Ok not my most favorite KH book, but the ending shocked me. Part 1 was very slow to start and far fetched… But once I got to part 2 everything came together. I wasn’t expecting a Christmas novellette to have such a plot twist and leave me shook, but this one sure did! Also loved the Christmas “magic” in this one. Super heart warming and sweet. ✨
This is not Kristen Hannah's best work. I picked this up from a Friends of the Library sale because it's by Kristen Hannah and I've liked other things she's written, and it's the season for comfortable Christmas reads. Thankfully it was only $1, because I would have been pretty upset if I had paid more than that.
Hallmark Christmas-type books have their place (just like movies do); they're comfortable, consistent, and you're guaranteed a HEA. This is kind of like one of those. However, I think this goes well beyond believable. I should probably note that some of the suspension of disbelief you'll need to lend to the book in the first half is a lot, but in the end (slight spoiler), you find out it's not entirely what it seemed... but it's still much too much for me (both in the first and the second halves).
Comfort & Joy touches on all the themes you'd expect from a Hallmark Christmas: insta-love in a small town with a recent single dad and a child reeling over the unexpected loss of his mother; family conflict that comes to a nice, neat resolution at the end (which turned me off honestly, because how can a sister sleeping with your husband and then inviting you to their wedding while she's pregnant be forgiven just because you miss her?); and a run-down bed and breakfast that needs to be saved.
If you're looking for an evening holiday read (seriously, I read it in a sitting) that is cute, beyond belief, full of clichés, and doesn't have much substance, this is your book.
Hallmark Christmas-type books have their place (just like movies do); they're comfortable, consistent, and you're guaranteed a HEA. This is kind of like one of those. However, I think this goes well beyond believable. I should probably note that some of the suspension of disbelief you'll need to lend to the book in the first half is a lot, but in the end (slight spoiler), you find out it's not entirely what it seemed... but it's still much too much for me (both in the first and the second halves).
Comfort & Joy touches on all the themes you'd expect from a Hallmark Christmas: insta-love in a small town with a recent single dad and a child reeling over the unexpected loss of his mother; family conflict that comes to a nice, neat resolution at the end (which turned me off honestly, because how can a sister sleeping with your husband and then inviting you to their wedding while she's pregnant be forgiven just because you miss her?); and a run-down bed and breakfast that needs to be saved.
If you're looking for an evening holiday read (seriously, I read it in a sitting) that is cute, beyond belief, full of clichés, and doesn't have much substance, this is your book.