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wren_rainbow's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Bullying and Fatphobia
Minor: Death of parent and Cancer
booknerderika's review against another edition
As for the romance, I'm not a fan of stories of people in relationships falling for someone else. There was borderline cheating going on just by the flirting
I'm glad Trey made the mature decision in the end even though it was hard. That alone is representation we need more of in books.
I still enjoyed the book, I just felt uncomfortable with how Trey was in a relationship with someone else
Graphic: Fatphobia and Body shaming
Moderate: Eating disorder and Grief
Minor: Cancer, Death of parent, and Sexual content
emimero's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Body shaming, Death of parent, Bullying, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Grief, Fatphobia, and Eating disorder
I couldn't stop reading it !!! if you enjoy Hallmark movies like I do go for it right away. I loved the diversity in this story so refreshing, the strong community supporting each other, the Christmas vibes and some sweet and loveable characters, and it's in a bookshop I could have I resist to that story ? But more than that, at the beginning I thought the writing wouldn't be the best but it turned out to be so nicely written, with some music references for each titles that makes you want to listen to that playlist while reading this book. The fast paced framed with short chapters was wonderful with an back and forth between the 2 main protagonists. Even if you know what will happen at the end, it's the journey that matters here and really I need more of these books with that style of writing. I loved that the story was lighthearted and positive overall with some challenges and events. It's the kind of stories that makes you full and empty when you finish it just because you want more of it. I usually don't read the acknowledgements but even those were interestingly well written and I loved having a better perspective of what were Abiola Bello's intentions, which she completely nailed and made me understand better how and why this story was so well written. Thank you for this wonderful relaxing story Ms. Bello.juliesleseecke's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Bullying, Eating disorder, Death of parent, and Fatphobia
chardai's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Eating disorder
addiesbookshelf_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I loved the way the romance between Ariel and Trey developed, though if I had one complaint it would be that Trey took a LONG time to break up with his girlfriend. I don’t generally love when that happens in books.
All in all, though, a super heartwarming story perfect for the holidays!
Thank you to Soho Teen and NetGalley for the audio ARC of this book!
Graphic: Eating disorder and Fatphobia
Moderate: Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use
aromanticreadsromance's review against another edition
- 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
2.75
Graphic: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, and Grief
Moderate: Eating disorder
Minor: Death of parent
mishale1's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
Trey’s family owns Wonderland books. It’s been in his family for generations. And it’s a big deal to Trey’s family but it wasn’t really a big deal to Trey until the day he thought his family might lose it.
Ariel knows Trey from school, she had a crush on him years ago but he’s been dating someone for two years.
Ariel dreams of being an artist. She’s very talented, she got her artistic side from her father who passed away suddenly last year.
Now she has the opportunity to go to art school but isn’t sure if she’ll get a scholarship and if she doesn’t she’ll need a lot of money to go.
Ariel decides to look for an after school job and winds up at Wonderland right in the midst of Trey’s father having a minor accident and being unable to work. She’s also there right at the beginning of the drama about potentially having to sell the bookstore.
Ariel is pretty amazing because she immediately jumps into “save the day” mode. She decides that her and Trey are going to find a way to save this bookstore before the Christmas Eve deadline.
I loved all of that.
Here’s what I was less of a fan of:
Ariel has an eating disorder that’s just minorly touched on. It felt kind of out of place in a Christmas book.
Also, the amount of money they had to raise before Christmas Eve seemed astronomical in my opinion.
I liked Ariel best. I liked Trey most of the time. Sometimes he was a bit short with Ariel and of course I wasn’t a fan of that. But otherwise I liked him.
I liked how each chapter was introduced with a Christmas song and I believe they were all by Black artists.
I’d also say that Ariel’s grief for her father was not overly sad in the story. I appreciate that. I wasn’t looking for a sad story and definitely not one where the father dies. But this book kind of goes the line between adding depth and adding heaviness. Overall, I’m a fan.
Moderate: Eating disorder and Bullying
Minor: Cancer and Grief
iamjenbrooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Moderate: Grief and Eating disorder
musureads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Eating disorder
Minor: Death of parent