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A review by chautona
A Cliché Christmas by Nicole Deese
5.0
A Cliché Christmas is a heartwarming story that touches on several themes--forgiveness, false appearances, accepting that others' faults are not your own, and putting the past behind you to name a few. I loved Georgia's story. Her grandma stole the show at times, which all good grandmas should. Little Savannah made you cheer and push with Georgia to ensure the best turn out. As the grandmother of a little guy who needed extensive medical care and for whom our town pulled together and gave the most amazing benefit concert ever, I can tell you it's real. I resonated with how even teenagers that people so often write off as self-absorbed and hopeless will fight for and do almost anything for a little kid if given half a chance.
But the thing that amazed me most is that this is a novella. It didn't FEEL like a novella. I didn't feel like I was pushed through a story so fast that I didn't get to know the characters. It felt like a novel should--complete and you didn't notice that there were half the words of some books. Nicole Deese kept the pacing so perfectly situated that it just flowed beautifully. Usually, novellas annoy me. They're either rushed at the end to keep them short, are short stories that have been dragged out for word count, or worse, just aren't good enough to BE a full length novel. This book is none of those.
Look, I've read good novellas by people like Karen Kingsbury and T. Davis Bunn. I liked them! But this book was better simply because it told the story without adherence to the limitations of length. Add to that a great story, well told, and with engaging and delightful characters (even the ones you delight to hate)... and it's a winner. I loved it.
I received this book free with no expectations upon me whatsoever, but I chose to review it of my own accord.
But the thing that amazed me most is that this is a novella. It didn't FEEL like a novella. I didn't feel like I was pushed through a story so fast that I didn't get to know the characters. It felt like a novel should--complete and you didn't notice that there were half the words of some books. Nicole Deese kept the pacing so perfectly situated that it just flowed beautifully. Usually, novellas annoy me. They're either rushed at the end to keep them short, are short stories that have been dragged out for word count, or worse, just aren't good enough to BE a full length novel. This book is none of those.
Look, I've read good novellas by people like Karen Kingsbury and T. Davis Bunn. I liked them! But this book was better simply because it told the story without adherence to the limitations of length. Add to that a great story, well told, and with engaging and delightful characters (even the ones you delight to hate)... and it's a winner. I loved it.
I received this book free with no expectations upon me whatsoever, but I chose to review it of my own accord.