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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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:
Yes
Somewhat predictable. A fast, fun, festive read.
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a story about a family that goes through a lot together but they go through it and find their way back. Christmas romance, age gap, a lot of drama. It’s cute and the storyline interesting. The characters got me a little hooked, but I kinda needed it to be more focused on two characters and it would’ve been better if it was written in the first point of view. Overall a great book, I personally listened to it and it was a nice audiobook, the narrator did an awesome job. If you are in the need of a great Christmas book, go get it.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Grief
Moderate: Death of parent
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This book was god awful. It's cringey as hell, and I rolled my eyes, grimaced, and groaned out loud throughout. I wish I DNFed but here we are. There's a myriad of interpersonal conflict and none of the relationships (familial or romantic) are good.
*spoilers*
We have: a perfectionist matriarch who's ashamed to be dating a younger man, but invites his kids and ex along anyway; a woman with body issues and a man that keeps leaving her but he gets shot so hey! let's get married bc that will solve everything; DIL with IBS and an abusive mother, who also gets invited along to be a bitch and dote on someone else's kids; and a dog who didn't really do anything. *end*
I didn't like a single character, though it took me until about half way through the book to actually tell them apart - the audiobook narrator does a very poor job at distinguishing characters (and narration in general), and there is no signposting to clearly denote a change in POV. Everyone just sort of blurred into 'women' and 'men' (cis het and white, of course). We're essentially info dumped about 20 characters in the first few chapters, none of which I have cause to care about. Even those that are described positive were littered with flaws.
The book starts with Julie, the perfectionist matriarch, whose children ask to spend Christmas at their cabin as it's the first Christmas since their Dad died. She unilaterally invites every other person remotely tied to her family and boyfriend including: exes, children, employees, and abusers.
Let's start with the abuser, shall we? A woman who neglected her young daughter for the rest of her life when her infant son died, and everything she says is at best negative. She has no respect for boundaries or feelings, and dotes on a strangers children the entire trip. We're treated to many interactions, only one of which is really positive, and the lovely phrase: "She's your mum. You need to make peace with her". ABSOLUTELY NOT. Can we not force children to do the emotional work and forgive their abuser? She's throwing a paddy about wanting to be in her daughter's life PURELY because she was jealous she had a better familial relationship with her in laws. God, I hated her.
Unfortunately, the book is rife with other similar problematic points, such as apologising to partners for not being able to have sex due to injury, blaming others for things that are not their fault, and solving issues with grand gestures instead of conversations or therapy.
Additionally, it's acknowledged in book that they’re all at the cabin to grieve and remember their Dad, but he is barely mentioned outside of stating this fact a couple of times and maybe one conversation. I'm coming up to my second Christmas without my Dad, and I'm still devastated. I talk about him all the time because I miss him so much, things remind me of him, and I don't want to forget and ignore him. There was no emotion or weight behind the story or his brief mentions, and served only as a catalyst to change Christmas plans to be at the cabin. This plot point was done so poorly, it could've been entirely removed and nothing would change.
Another thing I relate to is chronic illness and IBS. I have literally shat my pants multiple times but I don't bring up my poo, diet, or anything related anywhere near as often. This felt like poor inclusion, and I wonder if the author has experience with IBS themselves or with someone they know? It definitely could've been handled better.
There's also a lot of cringey sex?? Why did I need to read that?? It added nothing and of course everyone is a sex god. Cringey sex scenes do not equate to romance.
I could go on, but overall whilst it's technically an easy read, it wasn't cosy or funny or really even that Christmassy. I feel that the author realised they need to wrap it up and the last 5-10% is a rushed convenient bow after a slow, draining, slog of martyrdom, interpersonal conflict, and little else. I need to force myself to DNF books more. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Medical content, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Grief, Death of parent