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laurenjodi's review against another edition
3.0
Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor
3 Stars
Fairly bland and superficial romance with a saccharine sweet plot and ending.
The story is rushed and there is no real emotional depth to the characters, which makes it difficult to become attached to any of them (this is most probably due to the short basically novella length format).
Holly is a sweet child and the selective mutism has potential but fizzles out almost immediately as her return to normality is rapid and has no basis in reality.
Maggie gets over her reservations against becoming involved with Mark in no time at all and Mark goes from a commitment phobic, non-believer to an ardent pursuer and imagination convert in the blink of an eye.
The relationship between the brothers is unoriginal and lacks detail. On the surface, Sam seems like a nice guy while Alex is dark, broody and tortured (which means that I will continue on to his book because this is my favorite type of hero).
All in all, a disappointing book as both the story and the characters are underdeveloped. This is definitely not up to Kleypas's standards.
3 Stars
Fairly bland and superficial romance with a saccharine sweet plot and ending.
The story is rushed and there is no real emotional depth to the characters, which makes it difficult to become attached to any of them (this is most probably due to the short basically novella length format).
Holly is a sweet child and the selective mutism has potential but fizzles out almost immediately as her return to normality is rapid and has no basis in reality.
Maggie gets over her reservations against becoming involved with Mark in no time at all and Mark goes from a commitment phobic, non-believer to an ardent pursuer and imagination convert in the blink of an eye.
The relationship between the brothers is unoriginal and lacks detail. On the surface, Sam seems like a nice guy while Alex is dark, broody and tortured (which means that I will continue on to his book because this is my favorite type of hero).
All in all, a disappointing book as both the story and the characters are underdeveloped. This is definitely not up to Kleypas's standards.
wanderbykate's review against another edition
4.0
The book in my opinion was better than the Hallmark movie adaptation, Christmas with Holly. I read the entire book in one setting and fell in love not just with the characters but with the setting. I just wish it was longer
rebeccatc's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this sweet little story. It had an adorable orphaned girl in need of a family, two wisecracking uncles, some funny dialogue, and even a cute dog.
shan198025's review against another edition
4.0
A good short story introducing some good characters.
diaryofthebookdragon's review against another edition
3.0
For some other writer this might be a 4 star book, but I expected more from Lisa Kleypas. Don't get me wrong, Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor is a cute introduction to the San Juan Island and I loved the characters, descriptions and all-together-feel-to-the-place. But I expected more emotional development. It all ended much too quick. This book is too short.
thegeekyblogger's review against another edition
3.0
Listened for Fun (Audible)
Overall Rating: 3.50
Story Rating: 3.25
Character Rating: 3.75
Part of my 25 Books for the Holidays for 2012
How Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor put me in the Holiday Spirit: Don’t stories that involve kids and rescue dogs always pull at your heartstrings? This one even started with a letter to Santa–how could you not be in the Holiday spirit after that?
What I thought of the characters/story: Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor was a pretty short listen for an audio book (5 or so hours) and in places I thought the story was a little rushed. I felt the break-up with the current girlfriend to the “I Love You” was to quick. That being said, I loved the characters. I thought each of them were unique, fun, and in their own ways lovable. I am pretty sure that I will be continuing the series to find out what happens with the other two brothers. I loved Maggie and her relationship with Holly and Mark. I felt that the story from her side was very organic and wonderful. I loved that Holly and Reinfield (the ugly rescue dog) were important parts of the story too. Overall, for a short story it was very heartstrings pulling even though it was a little rushed.
What I thought of the audio: Tanya Eby did the audio and she did a pretty decent job. I still have problems with her male voices but she is certainly growing on me.
Overall Rating: 3.50
Story Rating: 3.25
Character Rating: 3.75
Part of my 25 Books for the Holidays for 2012
How Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor put me in the Holiday Spirit: Don’t stories that involve kids and rescue dogs always pull at your heartstrings? This one even started with a letter to Santa–how could you not be in the Holiday spirit after that?
What I thought of the characters/story: Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor was a pretty short listen for an audio book (5 or so hours) and in places I thought the story was a little rushed. I felt the break-up with the current girlfriend to the “I Love You” was to quick. That being said, I loved the characters. I thought each of them were unique, fun, and in their own ways lovable. I am pretty sure that I will be continuing the series to find out what happens with the other two brothers. I loved Maggie and her relationship with Holly and Mark. I felt that the story from her side was very organic and wonderful. I loved that Holly and Reinfield (the ugly rescue dog) were important parts of the story too. Overall, for a short story it was very heartstrings pulling even though it was a little rushed.
What I thought of the audio: Tanya Eby did the audio and she did a pretty decent job. I still have problems with her male voices but she is certainly growing on me.
jennfgarcia's review against another edition
5.0
This was a very short (4 hours listening time) and cute story. I think it could have been longer to spend more time on the romance between Mark and Maggie. I felt Mark's desire for Maggie and felt Maggie's fear of loving again, but I needed to feel more of them together. The connection wasn't as strong as it could have been.
Holly, Mark's niece and new ward was adorable. Now she was a strong character. The story, a romance, was also about Holly and her wish and dealing with losing her mother. It was such a touching subject and Mark, Sam, and Alex (in his own way) were wonderful with her.
Loved the two other Nolan brothers as well. This is a series that I will definitely continue. The next two are about the brothers finding love.
I recommend this for anyone that likes romance and wants a quick read.
For this and other reviews, please go to Italian Brat's Obsessions
Holly, Mark's niece and new ward was adorable. Now she was a strong character. The story, a romance, was also about Holly and her wish and dealing with losing her mother. It was such a touching subject and Mark, Sam, and Alex (in his own way) were wonderful with her.
Loved the two other Nolan brothers as well. This is a series that I will definitely continue. The next two are about the brothers finding love.
I recommend this for anyone that likes romance and wants a quick read.
For this and other reviews, please go to Italian Brat's Obsessions
renpuspita's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Kalau biasanya Lisa Kleypas dikenal sama judul - judul hisromnya, circa 2010-an beliau tampaknya pengen coba - coba nulis genre contemporer romance. Walau dibilang conrom, kalau gue baca-baca reviewnya seri Travis, mungkin lebih pas disebut women fiction with strong romance element. Sama juga dengan seri Friday Harbor yang diawali dengan Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor. Walau ada unsur Natalnya di judul dan dalam ceritanya pun diakhir dengan kisah pada malam Natal, gue mah bacanya malah bulan September. Tapi aura liburan dan hangatnya tetap kerasa kok.
Yang bikin gue hanya kasih 3, walau ini Lisa Kleypas yang judul2 hisromnya termasuk yang gue suka, lebih ke masalah personal aja. Di buku ini ada kalimat "Keluarga terbentuk karena anak", and somehow I take it personally. Pas baca buku ini gue jujur mendapatkan rasa hangat dan sebenarnya seneng kok baca kisah tentang Mark dan Maggie, serta Holly, keponakannya Mark. Cuma baca kalimat yang gue sebut tadi, gue malah overthinking, hahaha. Gue malah jadi inget kesendirian gue selama ini dan kenyataan walau udah nikah 10 tahun lebih, belum ada kehadiran anak buat gue dan suami. Gue sampe mikir "do I can count this family as FAMILY if I still don't have a child?". Jadi ya, emang masalah personal aja dan mood juga kali ya.
Personal preference aside, gue suka sama cara tante Kleypas ceritain romansa antara Mark dan Maggie. Penggemar slow burn sih bakal suka ya, karena walau emang jelas tertarik, baik Mark maupun Maggie sama - sama enggan buat lanjut ke hubungan romantis pada awalnya. Maggie masih berduka karena kehilangan suaminya walau sudah 2 tahun sang suami meninggal. Mark malah udah punya pacar pas awalnya ketemu Maggie. Menurut gue, emang ada unsur selingkuhnya walau ya tergantung sudut pandang lagi karena Mark toh belum serius sama pacarnya, Shelby. Pun, jadi ada plot yang bikin Mark akhirnya milih Maggie ketimbang Shelby dan menurut gue semang realitanya suka begitu. Ga selalu pacar itu bisa berakhir jadi pasangan suami/istri. Gue suka walau Mark itu kelihatannya alpha hero, tapi dia ga maksa Maggie buat menerima cinta dia. Mark kasih waktu dan personal space buat Maggie untuk memproses perasaan wanita itu sama Mark dan menurut gue ini bisa dieksekusi dengan baik oleh tante Kleypas.
Walau edisi terjemahannya 300 halaman lebih tapi tulisannya GEDE, jadi berasa cepet aja bacanya. Pas lihat edisi asli, oh ternyata ini novella yang cuma 200an halaman jadi pantesan hurufnya digedein hahaha. Selain Mark dan Maggie, gue suka baca karakterisasi Holly. Bener - bener bocil tapi tanpa faktor ngeselin. Gue terharu baca interaksi Mark dan Holly, dimana Mark yang awalnya ga percaya kalau dia bisa jadi ayah gegara dari keluarga broken home malah jadi sosok ayah yang sangat perhatian sama Holly. Gue juga seneng baca karakternya Sam yang lucu dan menyenangkan, khas anak kedua. Lalu ada Alex, si bungsu yang dingin dan ga percaya cinta sama kayak Mark dan Sam, gegara orang tua mereka yang manipulatif dan toxic abis. Jadi emang buku ini disiapkan buat pembuka untuk buku - buku selanjutnya, dimana buku kedua tentang Sam dan buku ketiga tentang Alex. Meski bagi gue buku ini biasa aja, tetap gue rekomen kalau nyari buku romansa yang rendah konflik, ga ada misunderstanding yang kadang bikin kesel bacanya, tentang dinamika keluarga dan bersetting di kota kecil (deskripsi tante Kleypas buat Friday Harbor tuh bagus banget!).
Tentu saja gue akan baca buku selanjutnya, Rainshadow Road yang akan menceritakan Sam dalam menemukan cintanya.
Yang bikin gue hanya kasih 3, walau ini Lisa Kleypas yang judul2 hisromnya termasuk yang gue suka, lebih ke masalah personal aja. Di buku ini ada kalimat "Keluarga terbentuk karena anak", and somehow I take it personally. Pas baca buku ini gue jujur mendapatkan rasa hangat dan sebenarnya seneng kok baca kisah tentang Mark dan Maggie, serta Holly, keponakannya Mark. Cuma baca kalimat yang gue sebut tadi, gue malah overthinking, hahaha. Gue malah jadi inget kesendirian gue selama ini dan kenyataan walau udah nikah 10 tahun lebih, belum ada kehadiran anak buat gue dan suami. Gue sampe mikir "do I can count this family as FAMILY if I still don't have a child?". Jadi ya, emang masalah personal aja dan mood juga kali ya.
Personal preference aside, gue suka sama cara tante Kleypas ceritain romansa antara Mark dan Maggie. Penggemar slow burn sih bakal suka ya, karena walau emang jelas tertarik, baik Mark maupun Maggie sama - sama enggan buat lanjut ke hubungan romantis pada awalnya. Maggie masih berduka karena kehilangan suaminya walau sudah 2 tahun sang suami meninggal. Mark malah udah punya pacar pas awalnya ketemu Maggie. Menurut gue, emang ada unsur selingkuhnya walau ya tergantung sudut pandang lagi karena Mark toh belum serius sama pacarnya, Shelby. Pun, jadi ada plot yang bikin Mark akhirnya milih Maggie ketimbang Shelby dan menurut gue semang realitanya suka begitu. Ga selalu pacar itu bisa berakhir jadi pasangan suami/istri. Gue suka walau Mark itu kelihatannya alpha hero, tapi dia ga maksa Maggie buat menerima cinta dia. Mark kasih waktu dan personal space buat Maggie untuk memproses perasaan wanita itu sama Mark dan menurut gue ini bisa dieksekusi dengan baik oleh tante Kleypas.
Walau edisi terjemahannya 300 halaman lebih tapi tulisannya GEDE, jadi berasa cepet aja bacanya. Pas lihat edisi asli, oh ternyata ini novella yang cuma 200an halaman jadi pantesan hurufnya digedein hahaha. Selain Mark dan Maggie, gue suka baca karakterisasi Holly. Bener - bener bocil tapi tanpa faktor ngeselin. Gue terharu baca interaksi Mark dan Holly, dimana Mark yang awalnya ga percaya kalau dia bisa jadi ayah gegara dari keluarga broken home malah jadi sosok ayah yang sangat perhatian sama Holly. Gue juga seneng baca karakternya Sam yang lucu dan menyenangkan, khas anak kedua. Lalu ada Alex, si bungsu yang dingin dan ga percaya cinta sama kayak Mark dan Sam, gegara orang tua mereka yang manipulatif dan toxic abis. Jadi emang buku ini disiapkan buat pembuka untuk buku - buku selanjutnya, dimana buku kedua tentang Sam dan buku ketiga tentang Alex. Meski bagi gue buku ini biasa aja, tetap gue rekomen kalau nyari buku romansa yang rendah konflik, ga ada misunderstanding yang kadang bikin kesel bacanya, tentang dinamika keluarga dan bersetting di kota kecil (deskripsi tante Kleypas buat Friday Harbor tuh bagus banget!).
Tentu saja gue akan baca buku selanjutnya, Rainshadow Road yang akan menceritakan Sam dalam menemukan cintanya.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer and Car accident
caslater83's review against another edition
2.0
When I found out that the Hallmark movie, "Christmas with Holly" was based on "Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor" by Lisa Kleypas, I just had to read it. The movie had all the right feels, so I hoped that the book would have more of the same "wow" factor. It didn't.
The book is light and fluffy--perfect for those of you who don't really want to read a book with strong dramatic content. It's nice. It does have some occasional foul language, but I've been able to push past that. I was really impressed that I wasn't seeing sex anywhere in the book until we got close to the end and Maggie ends up giving herself to Mark. It was sad because I had hoped for a cleaner ending.
But it is what it is. I don't think I would go out of my way to pick up another Kleypas novel. It doesn't really have the style or strong content that I'm looking for in a good book. But it's fine for those who just like light easy reads.
The book is light and fluffy--perfect for those of you who don't really want to read a book with strong dramatic content. It's nice. It does have some occasional foul language, but I've been able to push past that. I was really impressed that I wasn't seeing sex anywhere in the book until we got close to the end and Maggie ends up giving herself to Mark. It was sad because I had hoped for a cleaner ending.
But it is what it is. I don't think I would go out of my way to pick up another Kleypas novel. It doesn't really have the style or strong content that I'm looking for in a good book. But it's fine for those who just like light easy reads.
lululovesbooks77's review against another edition
4.0
Awww classic Lisa writing! I loved this sweet love storey. It was a great read after i read some not so great authors and very and dialogue. I soooo appreciate Lisa’s easy flow and story telling.