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jackiehorne's review
3.0
A far more conventional romance than we're used to receiving from Nix. Told over the course of six Christmases, we watch as high school best friends Alex and Lucas decide to shift from friendship to heterosexual couple-dom; break up; date other people; then gradually realize that they really still want the other. Not really a second-chance romance in the traditional sense, since the two see each other each year for the holidays. The bisexuality storyline (Alex dates a woman for a year) seems a bit thrown-in for bonus points, rather than a central issue for the characters or the story.
Makes me want to go back and re-read Nix's earlier novels, to remember what made her stories so much more interesting than the usual "small town second-chance holiday romance."
Makes me want to go back and re-read Nix's earlier novels, to remember what made her stories so much more interesting than the usual "small town second-chance holiday romance."
amyreadsandsails's review
4.0
mf - contemporary romance - holiday romance - spans 10 years - second chance - best friends to lovers - small town - no steam - novella - 4 stars. This was super cute, every chapter jumping to the next Christmas. Short read, my only quibble being that there were a lot of side characters to try to keep track of. The bisexual representation was done so well!
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
4.0
A feel good, small town Texas love story between two best friends that takes place over ten years of Christmases. I loved seeing how the friendship and love between Alex and Lucas developed and evolved. This is a quick, heartwarming holiday read. Highly recommended!
thenextgenlibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
Two best friends. Ten Christmases. One happy ever after.
linsliterarylove's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the concept of this book and rounded up in my rating because of that. That being said, I didn’t realize this book was a short story when I started it and usually I love short chapters and a quick pace but I felt like Lucas and Alex’s love story deserved a little more. These two discover their affection for each other on the last Christmas they share as high schoolers, they start dating and a year later because of distance they break up. Fast forward, each chapter is in the POV of either Lucas or Alex but in the following year on Christmas Day. And each year they see each other their love story goes through a roller coaster of emotions. This one could’ve been great but even through all of the missing pieces I still enjoyed it.
cindymarie23's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
2.0
winterfairy100's review
5.0
This story is an adorable take on what happens to best friends after high school.
Lucas and Alex have been friends for years. Every year on Christmas Day, they meet with their friends on the beach for a bonfire. The book starts on Christmas Day during their senior year of high school. Alex spends much of the first chapter thinking about what will happen to her and her friends once they graduate and all go off to college. She's always felt closer to Lucas over all their other friends and she worries the most about what will happen if they pick separate schools.
Lucas, on the other hand, doesn't spend nearly as much time thinking about the future and is very focused on the here and now. He asks Alex to prom which sets the entire story in motion.
This is a charming story that is told through Lucas and Alex's POV each year on Christmas. Each year brings a new challenge to each of their lives and they grapple with how to move forward with their relationship now that they're no longer near each other all the time and college is bringing different experiences to each of them. This isn't just about their relationship and also brings in family ties and reviews any troubles they've encountered over the year from the other's perspective.
It's a very quick read and anyone who is looking for a quirky story will love this.
Lucas and Alex have been friends for years. Every year on Christmas Day, they meet with their friends on the beach for a bonfire. The book starts on Christmas Day during their senior year of high school. Alex spends much of the first chapter thinking about what will happen to her and her friends once they graduate and all go off to college. She's always felt closer to Lucas over all their other friends and she worries the most about what will happen if they pick separate schools.
Lucas, on the other hand, doesn't spend nearly as much time thinking about the future and is very focused on the here and now. He asks Alex to prom which sets the entire story in motion.
This is a charming story that is told through Lucas and Alex's POV each year on Christmas. Each year brings a new challenge to each of their lives and they grapple with how to move forward with their relationship now that they're no longer near each other all the time and college is bringing different experiences to each of them. This isn't just about their relationship and also brings in family ties and reviews any troubles they've encountered over the year from the other's perspective.
It's a very quick read and anyone who is looking for a quirky story will love this.
mindfullibrarian's review
3.0
It’s hard to fall in love with a book when both main characters are kind of miserable for all but the last 3 pages?