Merry Christmas! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and was able to spend time with family and friends.
Are you trying to hold on to the Christmas season any way possible? Well, you’re in luck, if you still want to read some Christmas stories (sorry the list is so short, apparently, I really am a seasonal reader).
My True Love Gave to Me (anthology) edited by Stephanie Perkins
Synopsis: “If you love holiday stories, holiday movies, made-for-TV-holiday specials, holiday episodes of your favorite sitcoms and, especially, if you love holiday anthologies, you're going to fall in love with My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by twelve bestselling young adult writers (Holly Black, Ally Carter, Matt de La Peña, Gayle Forman, Jenny Han, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Myra McEntire, Rainbow Rowell, Stephanie Perkins, Laini Tayler and Kiersten White), edited by the international bestselling Stephanie Perkins. Whether you celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah, Winter Solstice or Kwanzaa, there's something here for everyone. So curl up by the fireplace and get cozy. You have twelve reasons this season to stay indoors and fall in love.”
Thoughts: I love a good anthology, especially if all of the stories revolve around the Christmas holidays. Some of the stories are deeper than others, but they are all worth the read. The genres of the stories range from contemporary to fantasy.
What Light by Jay Asher
Synopsis: “Sierra's family runs a Christmas tree farm in Oregon—it's a bucolic setting for a girl to grow up in, except that every year, they pack up and move to California to set up their Christmas tree lot for the season. So Sierra lives two lives: her life in Oregon and her life at Christmas. And leaving one always means missing the other. Until this particular Christmas, when Sierra meets Caleb, and one life eclipses the other. By reputation, Caleb is not your perfect guy: years ago, he made an enormous mistake and has been paying for it ever since. But Sierra sees beyond Caleb's past and becomes determined to help him find forgiveness and, maybe, redemption. As disapproval, misconceptions, and suspicions swirl around them, Caleb and Sierra discover the one thing that transcends all else: true love. What Light is a love story that's moving and life-affirming and completely unforgettable.”
Thoughts: I was hesitant going into this story because it is written by Jay Asher (author of 13 Reasons Way). When I was in the 8th grade, I had read 13 Reason Why, and at the time I think it was a bit much for me and it made me turn away from Asher’s writing. What Light is completely different from his other book. This is one of my favorite holiday stories out there. In other words, don’t be like me and wait forever to read a different book from an author you think you don’t like.
Snow in Love (anthology) including Kasie West, Melisa de la Cruz, Nic Stone, and Aimee Friedman
Synopsis: “What's better than one deliciously cozy, swoon-worthy holiday story? Four of them, from some of today's bestselling authors. From KASIE WEST, a snowy road trip takes an unexpected detour when secrets and crushes are revealed. From AIMEE FRIEDMAN, a Hanukkah miracle may just happen when a Jewish girl working as a department store elf finds love. From MELISSA DE LA CRUZ, Christmas Eve gets a plot twist when a high school couple exchange surprising presents. From NIC STONE, a scavenger hunt amid the holiday crowds at an airport turns totally romantic. So, grab a mug of hot cocoa, snuggle up, and get ready to fall in love...”
Thoughts: Love all of these stories! These stories have just the right amount of drama to keep you interested. These stories are complete fluff (romancey, light, and sweet).
Let It Snow (companion anthology) with John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle
Synopsis: “A Christmas Eve snowstorm transforms one small town into a romantic haven, the kind you see only in movies. Well, kinda. After all, a cold and wet hike from a stranded train through the middle of nowhere would not normally end with a delicious kiss from a charming stranger. And no one would think that a trip to the Waffle House through four feet of snow would lead to love with an old friend. Or that the way back to true love begins with a painfully early morning shift at Starbucks. Thanks to three of today’s bestselling teen authors—John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle—the magic of the holidays shines on these hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and breathtaking kisses.”
Thoughts: Like What Light, I was hesitant going into this because of John Green (not even going there in this post), but these stories exceeded my expectations. When I first read this book, I wasn’t aware of companion stories, so I was pleasantly surprised to see characters and some details share between the three stories.
Happy reading until next time,
