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marcccb's review against another edition
4.0
If you're looking for a cheery Christmas rom-com, this isn't the book for you.
Kate used to love Christmas until her husband passed away. She has so much on her plate: a job selling Christmas trees with a sleazy boss, a son who has a learning disorder, and loneliness the size of the North Pole. She is living day to day on her small income but she is determined to make this Christmas a good one for her son with an advent calendar filled with Christmas activities each day. On the other hand, we have Daniel, who lost his little sister, Zoe, who was his other half and in his free time, he volunteers at a suicide hotline to avoid thinking about his sister. One day, their lonely paths cross and changes both their lives forever.
This book was sad with a capital SAD in almost every way. It deals with a lot of heavy topics such as depression, suicide, grief, and sexual harassment. That being said, I loved it. I wasn't expecting it to be so different, but I think it's a really important read. Most books talk about the happy side of Christmas, but this book is raw in every form. Christmas is not always the happiest time of year for many people and this book explores the unhappy side of it.
The characters are so real and relatable. It's so easy to get hooked into each of their storylines and you cannot help but sympathize for them. Kate broke my heart in so many pieces. The poor soul could not catch a single break in this book! Alexander does a wonderful job at writing both point of views and their relationship. It's so sweet and wholesome, I loved it so much!
Overall, this is a very heavy book about Christmas. If you're looking to take a break from the cheery rom-coms and dive into a sad Christmas book that might make you cry, then this is the book for you.
Kate used to love Christmas until her husband passed away. She has so much on her plate: a job selling Christmas trees with a sleazy boss, a son who has a learning disorder, and loneliness the size of the North Pole. She is living day to day on her small income but she is determined to make this Christmas a good one for her son with an advent calendar filled with Christmas activities each day. On the other hand, we have Daniel, who lost his little sister, Zoe, who was his other half and in his free time, he volunteers at a suicide hotline to avoid thinking about his sister. One day, their lonely paths cross and changes both their lives forever.
This book was sad with a capital SAD in almost every way. It deals with a lot of heavy topics such as depression, suicide, grief, and sexual harassment. That being said, I loved it. I wasn't expecting it to be so different, but I think it's a really important read. Most books talk about the happy side of Christmas, but this book is raw in every form. Christmas is not always the happiest time of year for many people and this book explores the unhappy side of it.
The characters are so real and relatable. It's so easy to get hooked into each of their storylines and you cannot help but sympathize for them. Kate broke my heart in so many pieces. The poor soul could not catch a single break in this book! Alexander does a wonderful job at writing both point of views and their relationship. It's so sweet and wholesome, I loved it so much!
Overall, this is a very heavy book about Christmas. If you're looking to take a break from the cheery rom-coms and dive into a sad Christmas book that might make you cry, then this is the book for you.
bookishnan's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- 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
4.25
gimpyjules's review against another edition
5.0
Not your "typical", "fluffy" Christmas read. This book deals with some very difficult issues. Loss, depression, illness, work place harassment, and the list goes on. That being said, I loved this book and highly recommend it. Life is not easy. Sometimes it even feels hopeless. But, you are not alone. Everyone struggles in some way or another, at some time in their lives. We can support each other through the tough times. There are good people out there who care, who are willing to listen, who want to help.
megansgonnaread's review against another edition
1.0
This book was the worst. I think it was very repetitive and relied on stereotypes to get points across. It was depressing and the ending fell flat.
alisarae's review against another edition
5.0
5 stars because it is really great for what it set out to be: a sappy heartwarming Christmas romance.
I really enjoyed the Bristol setting and I'm glad the language wasn't Americanized like so many books are. I had to google a few of the British Christmas traditions :)
Food Pairing: cozy hot chocolate and figgy pudding (note that you have to start early with this one, traditionally prepared on "stir up Sunday," the last Sunday before Advent starts. This is a plot point in the bookâMC forgets to prep her pudding early enough).
I really enjoyed the Bristol setting and I'm glad the language wasn't Americanized like so many books are. I had to google a few of the British Christmas traditions :)
Food Pairing: cozy hot chocolate and figgy pudding (note that you have to start early with this one, traditionally prepared on "stir up Sunday," the last Sunday before Advent starts. This is a plot point in the bookâMC forgets to prep her pudding early enough).
agirlsnightbookbash's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
25 Days til Christmas
Kate is struggling to get by. She lost her husband 4 years ago and is struggling to get by as a single mom. Things keep piling up and nothing seems to be going right. Daniel lost his sister last Christmas and he has been burying himself in volunteering and checking out the girl who always sold him and his sister Christmas trees. Can these two grief stricken strangers find happiness together?
This book is a case of Newton's law. Kate cannot catch a break. Most of the times you are rooting for her to win but once or twice you want to slap her and just say keep moving forward!
The book is sweet but it definitely wrapped up super neatly for such a disastrous beginning.
TW - talk of suicide, sexual assault
25 Days til Christmas
Kate is struggling to get by. She lost her husband 4 years ago and is struggling to get by as a single mom. Things keep piling up and nothing seems to be going right. Daniel lost his sister last Christmas and he has been burying himself in volunteering and checking out the girl who always sold him and his sister Christmas trees. Can these two grief stricken strangers find happiness together?
This book is a case of Newton's law. Kate cannot catch a break. Most of the times you are rooting for her to win but once or twice you want to slap her and just say keep moving forward!
The book is sweet but it definitely wrapped up super neatly for such a disastrous beginning.
TW - talk of suicide, sexual assault
abeth_parker's review
4.0
Such a good novel! I am a Christmas book junkie, but I would have loved this story even without the element of Christmas.
It's not a typical cozy read. It deals with grief, depression, suicide, learning disabilities, financial crises, etc. But, it does this all without being melodramatic. It is a story that is relatable on so many levels. A new favorite for me.
It's not a typical cozy read. It deals with grief, depression, suicide, learning disabilities, financial crises, etc. But, it does this all without being melodramatic. It is a story that is relatable on so many levels. A new favorite for me.
fromtheshelf's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
cook_memorial_public_library's review
4.0
Recommended by Erica. Read her review on the Cook Memorial Public Library blog, Shelf Life: https://shelflife.cooklib.org/2019/11...
Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__S25%20days%20til%20christmas%20alexander__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold
Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__S25%20days%20til%20christmas%20alexander__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold