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A review by the_joyful_book_club
The Christmas Inn by Pamela Kelley
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.0
This story was delightful to read. It's sweet, has big-time Hallmark vibes (even when it's not mentioned directly), and has something for readers of all ages.
One of my favorite aspects of this story is there is love for all ages. It can be romantic love, familial love, or platonic love. But also, you see love for hometown businesses and traditions. This was truly a story about finding joy in your life and I enjoyed that a lot.
Our story starts with Riley being unexpectedly laid off at work, due to AI taking over her team's roles on the Content Marketing team. She then finds out her mom has broken her leg and offers to come up for a few weeks to help out. When she tells her boyfriend, Jack(ass), he's nonchalant and Riley packs up her cat, Lily, and off they go.
Once Riley's back on the Cape, she finds herself spending time with her family, and guests at the family's bed & breakfast, including Aiden, her high-school sweetheart, and his son, Luke. Riley also meets Franny, who is visiting due to her older sister's passing and is fulfilling her last request, which was having Franny visit different places based on memories from their past.
One of my favorite parts of this story was that while it has the cheesy factor that we all love, there are some definite improvements over an actual Hallmark movie. For one, I liked that was some more realism for the characters and their careers. Riley has her job, and she's in a position where AI has eliminated her role: AI is discussed so much in the media, but I appreciated the author including such a relevant issue. I also really liked that Aiden has stayed in Chatham, but he has a successful career, and it didn't involve running some very obscure, niche, small business.
Another aspect I enjoyed was that, from a romance aspect, we see couples of all ages having a chance to connect. Riley's story dominates, but we see her Mom, and Sean, Franny, and her high-school-sweetheart, Joe. I appreciated this because as you age, your views on love and relationships change. The things you think are so important in your 20s may be less important in your 50s, or 70s. It was nice to see the phases of life and love be highlighted.
I would definitely recommend this book. It's a wonderful palette cleanser, especially if you usually read heavier books. From a purely holiday story perspective, this story has small-town charm, precious memories and second chances, and the love that makes the Christmas season so magical.
One of my favorite aspects of this story is there is love for all ages. It can be romantic love, familial love, or platonic love. But also, you see love for hometown businesses and traditions. This was truly a story about finding joy in your life and I enjoyed that a lot.
Our story starts with Riley being unexpectedly laid off at work, due to AI taking over her team's roles on the Content Marketing team. She then finds out her mom has broken her leg and offers to come up for a few weeks to help out. When she tells her boyfriend, Jack(ass), he's nonchalant and Riley packs up her cat, Lily, and off they go.
Once Riley's back on the Cape, she finds herself spending time with her family, and guests at the family's bed & breakfast, including Aiden, her high-school sweetheart, and his son, Luke. Riley also meets Franny, who is visiting due to her older sister's passing and is fulfilling her last request, which was having Franny visit different places based on memories from their past.
One of my favorite parts of this story was that while it has the cheesy factor that we all love, there are some definite improvements over an actual Hallmark movie. For one, I liked that was some more realism for the characters and their careers. Riley has her job, and she's in a position where AI has eliminated her role: AI is discussed so much in the media, but I appreciated the author including such a relevant issue. I also really liked that Aiden has stayed in Chatham, but he has a successful career, and it didn't involve running some very obscure, niche, small business.
Another aspect I enjoyed was that, from a romance aspect, we see couples of all ages having a chance to connect. Riley's story dominates, but we see her Mom, and Sean, Franny, and her high-school-sweetheart, Joe. I appreciated this because as you age, your views on love and relationships change. The things you think are so important in your 20s may be less important in your 50s, or 70s. It was nice to see the phases of life and love be highlighted.
I would definitely recommend this book. It's a wonderful palette cleanser, especially if you usually read heavier books. From a purely holiday story perspective, this story has small-town charm, precious memories and second chances, and the love that makes the Christmas season so magical.