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A review by abbeyroad1410
All I Want for Christmas by Maggie Knox
emotional
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
My dad has started a tradition of buying my sister, my cousin, and I a Christmas romance novel every year, so this was his choice for me. It was cute, fun, and enjoyable -the exact type of Christmas novel Ashley and I were seeking out before break.
For being such a cute Christmas enemies to lovers romance, it tackled extremely deep themes such as workplace sexual harassment and grief. This made the story more compelling as the characters were forced to deal with more complex emotions than you would expect, in say, a Hallmark movie. Additionally, these themes are not merely glossed over.
However, Max and Sadie can get on your last nerve. I actually started the novel while on vacation with my boyfriend and had to take breaks from reading time because they were so frustrating (which is shocking because I'm the reader in the relationship). Max and Sadie refuse to communicate for like half the book, instead choosing to run away or to ghost each other.
There are also a couple of shifts in tone because Maggie Knox is actually a writing duo. It is not as noticeable as when reading a Christina Lauren book, but it is there. This, coupled with the quick pacing in the first third of the novel, makes the writing style ever so slightly off.
Despite all of this, I would still recommend the book. The plot itself is enjoyable and fun; it has a cute the Voice esque twist to a Christmas novel; and there are not many strange Christmas themed names (looking at Josh Tannenbaum in particular from a prior read). Not to mention there is a very cute dog throughout the novel, and the male main character knits (a green flag as he is not ashamed). Overall, it is a great novel to add to your holiday reads list.
For being such a cute Christmas enemies to lovers romance, it tackled extremely deep themes such as workplace sexual harassment and grief. This made the story more compelling as the characters were forced to deal with more complex emotions than you would expect, in say, a Hallmark movie. Additionally, these themes are not merely glossed over.
However, Max and Sadie can get on your last nerve. I actually started the novel while on vacation with my boyfriend and had to take breaks from reading time because they were so frustrating (which is shocking because I'm the reader in the relationship). Max and Sadie refuse to communicate for like half the book, instead choosing to run away or to ghost each other.
There are also a couple of shifts in tone because Maggie Knox is actually a writing duo. It is not as noticeable as when reading a Christina Lauren book, but it is there. This, coupled with the quick pacing in the first third of the novel, makes the writing style ever so slightly off.
Despite all of this, I would still recommend the book. The plot itself is enjoyable and fun; it has a cute the Voice esque twist to a Christmas novel; and there are not many strange Christmas themed names (looking at Josh Tannenbaum in particular from a prior read). Not to mention there is a very cute dog throughout the novel, and the male main character knits (a green flag as he is not ashamed). Overall, it is a great novel to add to your holiday reads list.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Sexual harassment