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jess_mango's review
4.0
The Afterlife of Holly Chase is a fun holiday read. This YA novel is a retelling/spin on Dicken's Christmas Carol.
Holly Chase is a spoiled California 17 year old with a dad who makes movies and a recently dead snob of a step mother. One Christmas Holly is visited by 3 spirits (Xmas past, present and future) who tell her she needs to turn her life around and that if she doesn't she will die. Well, she doesn't listen and she dies. The vast majority of the story happens after she dies... She "wakes up" in NYC and is told she will be working for the super secret Project Scrooge where she will now play the role of the Ghost of Christmas Past.
This was a fun twist on the Dicken's tale and a great read for the holiday season. I recommend this to people looking for a holiday read.
Holly Chase is a spoiled California 17 year old with a dad who makes movies and a recently dead snob of a step mother. One Christmas Holly is visited by 3 spirits (Xmas past, present and future) who tell her she needs to turn her life around and that if she doesn't she will die. Well, she doesn't listen and she dies. The vast majority of the story happens after she dies... She "wakes up" in NYC and is told she will be working for the super secret Project Scrooge where she will now play the role of the Ghost of Christmas Past.
This was a fun twist on the Dicken's tale and a great read for the holiday season. I recommend this to people looking for a holiday read.
afmartinez2's review
5.0
This was great. It had way more substance than I expected for a Christmas read. I found the ending perfect, it was the right amount of bitter and sweet.
janagaton's review
3.0
It was mediocre at best. I'm kind of biased, however, because I'm personally not a huge fan of Christmas books, but it was an interesting take on A Christmas Carol retelling. The writing was meh, but the ending was pretty solid.
bookid's review
4.0
I didn't really like the introduction of Holly to Project Scrooge, felt like I missed out alot. I almost put down the book but the rest of the story really compelled me to continue reading.
almacd's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, was the perfect read for December. It was a light, fun and easy read. Also it was very refreshing the ending, different to what im used to.
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a mood reader. I'm an emotional person. I have a good head on my shoulders, but it's my heart dictating most of my actions. At least, the ones no one else is touched by. Because as soon as other people are involved I start to overthink everything I do, say and want. However, the moment I saw this book here on Goodreads, I assume because someone read or added it, I went to Amazon and got myself a copy. And I didn't lose my excitement to read it before it arrived.
And I think I just fell a little bit in love with Hand's writing style. It reads so easily and it all feels and sounds so naturally. This entire book breathed Holly. I never doubted that this were her thoughts and doubts and feelings and wishes and longings on paper. And once I started reading I had a very hard time putting the book down. The story was in a way addictive, mostly because I was quite curious how it all would end.
The concept of this story is amazing and even quite believable. After all, even though Dickens wrote his famous Christmas Carol quite some time ago already, the world is still ruled by greedy people caring about nothing but their own bank accounts. It's a good thing that this project has branches all over the world, because the world needs it. However, it mostly works because Hand clearly cares about the details and the heart and soul of the original story.
Because the heart and soul of the original story is that every Scrooge used to be a child. And all those children used to be good people. And therefore they can all be redeemed. And that brings me to Holly. Yes, at times, even in this story when she is already dead, Holly can be an entitled brat and yet we do see that deep down she does care. She cares about other people, about what they think and feel. And she is slowly learning to see and treat others the way she wants to be seen and treated herself.
The ending was quite a surprise, but perfect in its own way.
And I think I just fell a little bit in love with Hand's writing style. It reads so easily and it all feels and sounds so naturally. This entire book breathed Holly. I never doubted that this were her thoughts and doubts and feelings and wishes and longings on paper. And once I started reading I had a very hard time putting the book down. The story was in a way addictive, mostly because I was quite curious how it all would end.
The concept of this story is amazing and even quite believable. After all, even though Dickens wrote his famous Christmas Carol quite some time ago already, the world is still ruled by greedy people caring about nothing but their own bank accounts. It's a good thing that this project has branches all over the world, because the world needs it. However, it mostly works because Hand clearly cares about the details and the heart and soul of the original story.
Because the heart and soul of the original story is that every Scrooge used to be a child. And all those children used to be good people. And therefore they can all be redeemed. And that brings me to Holly. Yes, at times, even in this story when she is already dead, Holly can be an entitled brat and yet we do see that deep down she does care. She cares about other people, about what they think and feel. And she is slowly learning to see and treat others the way she wants to be seen and treated herself.
The ending was quite a surprise, but perfect in its own way.