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booklover1974's review
3.0
I enjoy Christmas reads and every year I read at least 15 of them.
25 days 'Til Christmas is a Christmas read but I think it was on the verge of being a depressing book. I didn't feel a lot of hope, instead misery was the main focus.
If the story had been a little more cheerful, I would have liked it better. The writing was good and the characters were well developed.
25 days 'Til Christmas is a Christmas read but I think it was on the verge of being a depressing book. I didn't feel a lot of hope, instead misery was the main focus.
If the story had been a little more cheerful, I would have liked it better. The writing was good and the characters were well developed.
the_spines's review against another edition
2.0
If it's Christmas, then why am I so sad reading this book? Truly hitting me over the head with misfortune at literally every turn. This was really not for me and the heartwarming bits were def overshadowed by the very sad bits. Not a Christmas book I would recommend.
meganfuhr's review against another edition
2.0
I just finished this. My thoughts are a little scattered, so bare with me.
At first I enjoyed the book, but the more I read on, the more I disliked it.
To start, it felt like the only personally we got from out MC was that, "Oh. She's a poor single mother, with no husband, oh, what will she do with her life?" And after fourteen chapters of this. I was about ready to just close the book. We got a single chapter about a guy who seen her, because she works at a Christmas tree farm, and he remembered her from all the years past that he went there with his, now dead, wife.
The thing that was also annoying was the guy only wanted to talk to her mainly based on looks and physical attraction, there was no meet cute, or personal getting to know each other, and it just came off as weird to me.
Besides that, our MC constantly complains that child care is too expensive, her house is too small. It gets too cold, life sucks, yadda yadda, which to me is terribly depressing for the Christmas season.
Also there is this really weird sub plot where her kid has sever anxiety, and some problems with learning, and they keep referring to him as a "special needs kid." Like sure, he needs a little more help than maybe some other kids, but the teachers were acting like it was the worst thing they'd ever saw, and how dare he be a little slow reading!
I started skipping whole segments about midway through because it would just be her basically just saying, "Oh. I'm so poor, my son has problems, and I don't have a mate." And it got really repetitive.
This book really wasn't for me, it was far too sad, and really, just full to the brim.with misfortune, and we barely got their "happy ending" it was more like she just threw it together and said, "Yeah, that's good enough."
I would not recommend this to anyone who wants happy cozy Christmas books, because it is terribly depressing.
At first I enjoyed the book, but the more I read on, the more I disliked it.
To start, it felt like the only personally we got from out MC was that, "Oh. She's a poor single mother, with no husband, oh, what will she do with her life?" And after fourteen chapters of this. I was about ready to just close the book. We got a single chapter about a guy who seen her, because she works at a Christmas tree farm, and he remembered her from all the years past that he went there with his, now dead, wife.
The thing that was also annoying was the guy only wanted to talk to her mainly based on looks and physical attraction, there was no meet cute, or personal getting to know each other, and it just came off as weird to me.
Besides that, our MC constantly complains that child care is too expensive, her house is too small. It gets too cold, life sucks, yadda yadda, which to me is terribly depressing for the Christmas season.
Also there is this really weird sub plot where her kid has sever anxiety, and some problems with learning, and they keep referring to him as a "special needs kid." Like sure, he needs a little more help than maybe some other kids, but the teachers were acting like it was the worst thing they'd ever saw, and how dare he be a little slow reading!
I started skipping whole segments about midway through because it would just be her basically just saying, "Oh. I'm so poor, my son has problems, and I don't have a mate." And it got really repetitive.
This book really wasn't for me, it was far too sad, and really, just full to the brim.with misfortune, and we barely got their "happy ending" it was more like she just threw it together and said, "Yeah, that's good enough."
I would not recommend this to anyone who wants happy cozy Christmas books, because it is terribly depressing.
courtneylleon's review against another edition
1.0
Where to start? Maybe with the fact that this book really isn’t marketed correctly. It’s description says it’s a heart warming, feel-good holiday novel and that’s pretty far from the truth. There’s very little romance in the book and the entire thing is just…depressing. If you’re looking for a book that’s a holiday pick me up, this isn’t it.
The book also really should have come with trigger warnings for suicide and suicidal ideation. It’s a pretty heavy topic that’s covered throughout the book.
I also really didn’t appreciate how the author handled medical issues and disabilities. There was a lot of insensitive writing when it came to health care, but also students with special needs and their teachers. This book was just a big miss for me and I find myself wondering if I’m being over critical, or if I just happened to read a different book than other reviewers.
The book also really should have come with trigger warnings for suicide and suicidal ideation. It’s a pretty heavy topic that’s covered throughout the book.
I also really didn’t appreciate how the author handled medical issues and disabilities. There was a lot of insensitive writing when it came to health care, but also students with special needs and their teachers. This book was just a big miss for me and I find myself wondering if I’m being over critical, or if I just happened to read a different book than other reviewers.
sirilpotter's review
Didn’t manage to finish before Christmas was over, might pick it up next year
kazza27's review
4.0
25 days til Christmas Poppy Alexander
Kate Thompson used to love Christmas. But that was before her husband went away with the army and didn't come home. Now she can hardly stand the festive season.
But Kate knows there is more to life than this, and her son Jack needs a Christmas to remember. What she needs is a Christmas miracle, and if there isn't one on its way, she'll just have to make her own.
So begins Kate's advent countdown to the best Christmas ever. She has it all planned out, but you can't plan for the unexpected, and when her life starts to unravel can her friends and the community around her help her save Christmas for all of them...?
A Christmas roller coaster of a book ! 4 stars
I was lucky to receive this to review from Net Galley and then invited to take part in the blog tour with
Kate is a widow and lives in a small cold flat with her young son Jack. Kate has worked for several years for Portman brothers and at Christmas time she is made to stand outside the shop dressed as an elf and sell Christmas trees .
Over the years she has seen Daniel who has come along with his sister to buy a tree. This year however Daniel is alone having lost his sister.
The story deals with some really difficult topics in a really sensitive way loss,disability, grief, and family issues are all dealt with. It has a real Christmas feel to the book and in some ways reminded me of the theme of It's a Wonderful Life. I loved the countdown to Christmas and also seeing how Kate and Daniel overcome their fears and sadness to be able to enjoy Christmas once more.
I really liked Kate as a character she was feisty, tenacious and a great Mum to Jack.
I loved that book gives a real sense of hope to anyone who may not enjoy Christmas for a whole host of reasons and even when all the odds are against you there is still kindness and hope out there.
Not your usual Christmas read but I think this will be enjoyed by many.
Kate Thompson used to love Christmas. But that was before her husband went away with the army and didn't come home. Now she can hardly stand the festive season.
But Kate knows there is more to life than this, and her son Jack needs a Christmas to remember. What she needs is a Christmas miracle, and if there isn't one on its way, she'll just have to make her own.
So begins Kate's advent countdown to the best Christmas ever. She has it all planned out, but you can't plan for the unexpected, and when her life starts to unravel can her friends and the community around her help her save Christmas for all of them...?
A Christmas roller coaster of a book ! 4 stars
I was lucky to receive this to review from Net Galley and then invited to take part in the blog tour with
Kate is a widow and lives in a small cold flat with her young son Jack. Kate has worked for several years for Portman brothers and at Christmas time she is made to stand outside the shop dressed as an elf and sell Christmas trees .
Over the years she has seen Daniel who has come along with his sister to buy a tree. This year however Daniel is alone having lost his sister.
The story deals with some really difficult topics in a really sensitive way loss,disability, grief, and family issues are all dealt with. It has a real Christmas feel to the book and in some ways reminded me of the theme of It's a Wonderful Life. I loved the countdown to Christmas and also seeing how Kate and Daniel overcome their fears and sadness to be able to enjoy Christmas once more.
I really liked Kate as a character she was feisty, tenacious and a great Mum to Jack.
I loved that book gives a real sense of hope to anyone who may not enjoy Christmas for a whole host of reasons and even when all the odds are against you there is still kindness and hope out there.
Not your usual Christmas read but I think this will be enjoyed by many.
jennabuythebook's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. I love a good Christmas story but parts of this seemed dismal. I suppose that is unfortunately the reality for some so I’m thankful for the happy ending.
tobyyy's review against another edition
4.0
Okay so I love holiday romances (as long as I’m in the right mood to read them, that is… #MoodReaderProblems). This was a fun, fluffy holiday romance with some pretty dark bits (Daniel works at a Suicide prevention hotline, and there’s a slightly sensitive bit that happens in one scene… there is also a sexual assault — not a lot of details about the actual assault but the emotional aftermath was very well-described and hit me in the feels). I was invested in all of the characters, though, and this one was a very good nightmare antidote book to read before bed (minus those few parts but I happened to read those bits at other times so it was all good).