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A review by debz57a52
Four Christmases and a Secret by Zara Stoneley
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I started this book because I thought it would be one of those sweet Christmas romances, with lots of little kisses, missed opportunities, etc. It starts off that way in the first chapter/prologue, and then there's a LOT of nothing. Well, not nothing: a lot of distractions, a lot of inner monologue, a lot of self-doubt. For like, 300 pages. It was hard to be in Daisy's head for all that. It was good reading, and I think if it's what I was looking for, I would like this book better. But as it stands, I thought it would be a lot of fluff and a quick read, and it was not.
Also, and it's not just this book, but one of the things that bothered me is that Ollie is Daisy's friend. She says this in her narration over and over again, and even tells friends this. In real life, there's a lot of misunderstanding about whether men can be friends with women without being in bed with them. I come down on the "yes" side, but every time a straight man in one of these romances seems a little kind - believing in a woman, supporting a woman, helping out a woman, which Ollie does in spades - the straight woman so often finds the man far more attractive than before and goes for the kiss when it feels right. I can't think of a single romance I've read recently where a woman has a male friend and retains that man as just a friend. Is it any wonder that heterosexual men in real life are confused about being put in the friend zone, a term I find personally insulting?
Also, and it's not just this book, but one of the things that bothered me is that Ollie is Daisy's friend. She says this in her narration over and over again, and even tells friends this. In real life, there's a lot of misunderstanding about whether men can be friends with women without being in bed with them. I come down on the "yes" side, but every time a straight man in one of these romances seems a little kind - believing in a woman, supporting a woman, helping out a woman, which Ollie does in spades - the straight woman so often finds the man far more attractive than before and goes for the kiss when it feels right. I can't think of a single romance I've read recently where a woman has a male friend and retains that man as just a friend. Is it any wonder that heterosexual men in real life are confused about being put in the friend zone, a term I find personally insulting?