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amandae129's review against another edition
5.0
I love reading people's holiday letters each year. They tend to be insane, but always interesting. This novel has holiday letters interspersed throughout the book that are equally insane but help you understand the characters more. At first, you think this is a book about a dysfunctional family, but it's also about letting go of control, LGBTQ issues, how to live in community, dealing with family and friends, change, retirement, and more. Highly recommended. Out October 16, 2018.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for this ARC.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for this ARC.
mschrock8's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a hoot! Violet and her high-flalootin' ideas. Glad she came around.
Borrowed on Hoopla through JCPL.
Listening length 10 hr 21 min
Borrowed on Hoopla through JCPL.
Listening length 10 hr 21 min
rmarcin's review against another edition
4.0
I laughed several times while reading this book. Violet Baumgartner writes a Christmas letter every year detailing the life of the Baumgartners. Violet's life isn't what she expects it to be, and so many things pop up in her life that she hasn't planned. They all make for a funny, yet heartfelt, tale of a family trying to cope with growing older, relationships with friends and family, and a growing and unique family. Very enjoyable!
#EvergreenTidingsfromtheBaumgartners #GretchenAnthony
#EvergreenTidingsfromtheBaumgartners #GretchenAnthony
kdurham2's review against another edition
5.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
What a perfect family drama! Violet and Edward Baumgartner are about to enter the next phase of life with his retirement they will have new opportunities to do life the way they want to when they want to. Violet is ready for this phase and is excited about the party to start Edward's retirement on the right foot. But of course nothing can go perfectly . . .
Told through multiple perspectives including Violet and Edward's only child, their daughter Cerise. Even their friends get a moment to move the story along from their point of view and I liked getting all of these different perspectives of the story. All of the chapters were perfectly marked and it was easy to keep all the characters straight.
What a perfect family drama! Violet and Edward Baumgartner are about to enter the next phase of life with his retirement they will have new opportunities to do life the way they want to when they want to. Violet is ready for this phase and is excited about the party to start Edward's retirement on the right foot. But of course nothing can go perfectly . . .
Told through multiple perspectives including Violet and Edward's only child, their daughter Cerise. Even their friends get a moment to move the story along from their point of view and I liked getting all of these different perspectives of the story. All of the chapters were perfectly marked and it was easy to keep all the characters straight.
lfinkenkeller's review against another edition
5.0
The funniest book I've read since I read Where Did You Go, Bernadette? I laughed out loud throughout the book.
karenleagermain's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to Harlequin- Hanover Square Press for providing me with a copy of Gretchen Anthony’s novel, Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners, in exchange for an honest review.
PLOT- Cerise Baumgartner is pregnant with her first child and her parents are thrilled. Thrilled and very involved, especially Cerise’s over-bearing mother, Violet. Violet likes Cerise’s girlfriend, Barb, but is left feeling concerned and nosy over how the child was conceived, a personal issue that neither Barb nor Cerise is willing to disclose.
As Violet tries to interfere with her daughter’s life, she has other concerns to contend with, such as her recently retired husband, Ed, who doesn’t quite know what to do with himself. Her best friend, Eldris is also going through a crisis. Eldris’ husband, Richard, has lost his job and is acting very secretive. Their son, Kyle, who is also Cerise’s best-friend and the would be godfather to her baby, is being investigated for domestic terrorism. To top it all off, Violet is desperate to please Barb’s parents, who, at least on paper, seem to be the perfect family.
LIKE - Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners is a delightful novel. It’s funny and has a lot of heart. I appreciated the complexity of Violet and how the truth of her character unfolds. She is quite a lot to handle early in the story, but Anthony does a fine job of teasing out the details of her inner-life and I finished the story with a very different impression of Violet. One of the overriding themes of the story is love and despite the many flaws that the characters have, there is a lot of love to be found.
I think most people have a Violet Baumgartner in their life. She is a force of nature, but also someone who is very sensitive and hides it behind her controlling behavior. She loves fiercely, but also drives people away with her take-charge attitude. I have relatives that are so similar to Violet, that it was very relatable. I could easily understand Cerise’s reaction to her mother and I’ve been in her position.
I’m a big fan of the Christmas card letter. I even save my favorites that are sent to me, certain families have a way with words. I enjoyed the way that Anthony used Violet’s Christmas card letters to give us backstory about the Baumgartner’s life. It really works well with the story. Although I finished reading Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners, in February ( on a snowy afternoon), it is definitely an ideal book to read during the Christmas season. It will put you in a holiday mood.
The disastrous dinner party scene at the end really made me laugh. I also found that Anthony had some great plot twists that I did not anticipate.
DISLIKE- Nothing to dislike. Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners is not a life-changing read, but it is a very cozy, charming story.
RECOMMEND - Yes! If you are looking for a family drama with a strong dose of comedy, Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners is a great pick. I throughly enjoyed it. It’s a feel good story that will give you the warm fuzzies!
Like my review? Check out my blog1
PLOT- Cerise Baumgartner is pregnant with her first child and her parents are thrilled. Thrilled and very involved, especially Cerise’s over-bearing mother, Violet. Violet likes Cerise’s girlfriend, Barb, but is left feeling concerned and nosy over how the child was conceived, a personal issue that neither Barb nor Cerise is willing to disclose.
As Violet tries to interfere with her daughter’s life, she has other concerns to contend with, such as her recently retired husband, Ed, who doesn’t quite know what to do with himself. Her best friend, Eldris is also going through a crisis. Eldris’ husband, Richard, has lost his job and is acting very secretive. Their son, Kyle, who is also Cerise’s best-friend and the would be godfather to her baby, is being investigated for domestic terrorism. To top it all off, Violet is desperate to please Barb’s parents, who, at least on paper, seem to be the perfect family.
LIKE - Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners is a delightful novel. It’s funny and has a lot of heart. I appreciated the complexity of Violet and how the truth of her character unfolds. She is quite a lot to handle early in the story, but Anthony does a fine job of teasing out the details of her inner-life and I finished the story with a very different impression of Violet. One of the overriding themes of the story is love and despite the many flaws that the characters have, there is a lot of love to be found.
I think most people have a Violet Baumgartner in their life. She is a force of nature, but also someone who is very sensitive and hides it behind her controlling behavior. She loves fiercely, but also drives people away with her take-charge attitude. I have relatives that are so similar to Violet, that it was very relatable. I could easily understand Cerise’s reaction to her mother and I’ve been in her position.
I’m a big fan of the Christmas card letter. I even save my favorites that are sent to me, certain families have a way with words. I enjoyed the way that Anthony used Violet’s Christmas card letters to give us backstory about the Baumgartner’s life. It really works well with the story. Although I finished reading Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners, in February ( on a snowy afternoon), it is definitely an ideal book to read during the Christmas season. It will put you in a holiday mood.
The disastrous dinner party scene at the end really made me laugh. I also found that Anthony had some great plot twists that I did not anticipate.
DISLIKE- Nothing to dislike. Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners is not a life-changing read, but it is a very cozy, charming story.
RECOMMEND - Yes! If you are looking for a family drama with a strong dose of comedy, Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners is a great pick. I throughly enjoyed it. It’s a feel good story that will give you the warm fuzzies!
Like my review? Check out my blog1
marbooks88's review against another edition
4.0
This story of controlling mother Violet as she deals with unexpected news about her daughter Cerise will have you laughing, shaking your head, and thanking your lucky stars that your mother is not like Violet. Just reading the annual Christmas greeting from Violet Baumgartner, the type of Christmas letter that gives Christmas letter's their bad reputation - filled with over the top sharing of the wonderfulness of the family Baumgartner's year, provides . background on Violet and her family. and the letters are interspersed with the story. But what makes it a wonderful holiday read is that at its heart it is a story of love and family.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for my honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for my honest review.
giralffe's review against another edition
2.0
No matter what your mother is like, she is Violet Baumgartner. The protagonist (or is she the antagonist?) perfectly demonstrates that overbearing, narcissistic need for control that every mother foists on her children, thinking it shows her love. But the fact that she very clearly does love her child makes it all understandable that her kid still puts up with Violet's need for control. Don't we all shrug when people ask why we put up with our mom?
The family dynamics are so realistic and all the characters are so messy that it feels almost like a fictionalized version of an actual event. There are some plot lines that don't fully integrate with the main story, and the conflicts are wrapped up a little too quickly and easily, but a fun read nonetheless.
The family dynamics are so realistic and all the characters are so messy that it feels almost like a fictionalized version of an actual event. There are some plot lines that don't fully integrate with the main story, and the conflicts are wrapped up a little too quickly and easily, but a fun read nonetheless.