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kimveach's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Sexual violence, Vomit, Gaslighting, Blood, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Infidelity, Murder, Abandonment, Child abuse, Alcohol, Drug use, Gore, Stalking, Child death, Confinement, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Medical content, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Drug abuse, and Toxic relationship
alisonfaith426's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Confinement, Drug abuse, Death, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Car accident, Infidelity, Abandonment, and Alcohol
yvo_about_books's review against another edition
3.5
“I know how you can miss something that's right in front of you.”
I mainly picked up this story because I needed an author starting with 'U' to complete the ABC Author challenge, but I tend to enjoy Lisa Unger's writing so it was by no means a chore to do so. I thought Christmas Presents was also quite fitting since we are currently in the holiday season... This turned out to be quite a quick and not that long read, and I would have probably finished it in an afternoon if I hadn't started a new crochet project and got distracted. I have a weak spot for stories with a podcast angle, so that was definitely a bonus here. I was also very much intrigued by the mystery around that night and the two girls still missing all those years later... The flashbacks to the teenage years weren't my favorite: I much preferred spending time in the present, although I do understand why these flashbacks were incorporated. What really put a damper on things though was that I guessed the truth about the disappearance of the two sisters and who was behind it very early on. The supposedly red herring was just too easy to guess, which was truly a shame. I could have done without the cheating, love triangle vibe and teen angst as well... But as a whole Christmas Presents was still entertaining enough and especially the second half is quite eventful. Just don't expect a complicated or nailbiting mystery, because the answers are mostly quite easy to guess. It's a good pick if you want to get in the holiday spirit and don't like reading Christmas romances though.
Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Murder, Rape, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Blood, Child death, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Death, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Stalking, and Violence
soobooksalot's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Bookstore owner Maddie Martin has seen her share of trauma. She's the sole survivor of an attack as a teenager that left one friend dead and two others missing and presumed murdered. Maddie has a vicious scar across her face as a reminder.
When true crime novelist/podcaster Harley Granger comes to Maddie's bookstore just before Christmas, he's wanting to delve into the case.
The murderer is in prison, but women have recently gone missing in the town - was the man convicted not acting alone?
Christmas Presents is my first Lisa Unger book, and high on my anticipated read list for the season. It did not disappoint! As can happen with a novella, I might have liked a little more time with the story/characters.
But overall - recommended!
Moderate: Alcohol, Infidelity, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Toxic friendship