A review by bookshelvesandtealeaves
Handmade Holidays by 'Nathan Burgoine

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Look, I wasn’t even going to write a review for this short story. It’s under 100 pages and despite knowing I love Nathan Burgoine’s writing, I didn’t expect it to be review-worthy being so short.

I was wrong. Y’all need to read Nathan Burgoine’s Little Village works. It’s a lot of short stories and novella’s and I’ve only read three of them so far and I’ve fallen in love with all of them.

Somehow in under 100 pages, Burgoine made me laugh, cry, and feel that warm, happy feeling spread throughout my chest. His characters are so full of life and the more I piece together of this shared universe, the more I want to say “fuck it” and buy the rest.

I first met Nick and Ru when I read an e-ARC of Felix Navidad earlier this month. The book centred on different characters, but it was partially set at Nick and Ru’s wedding. This short story is their romance told over 15 years via Christmas snapshots and it’s absolutely beautiful and wholesome and heartwarming.

I seriously can not recommend these stories enough.