miranda_is_fully_booked's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
ob_ledbetter's review against another edition
5.0
I love re-reading this one over the holidays! Love the mix of voices and moods. And love that it isn’t sickly sweet. So good.
milkshakevoid's review against another edition
5.0
This was delightful. I had put this off for fear of the stories being too corny or obnoxiously festive, and they were anything but. Out of twelve stories only two didn't grab me by my heart strings, and that's a pretty great ratio. Highly recommend this Holiday/winter read. Also I'm pleased to report that not all of the stories focus on Christmas, rather, holidays, new year, Hanukkah, and the winter season.
lunabob's review against another edition
3.0
I don't usually do short stories, sometimes I just can't get into some of them, but I still give each story a chance. Some of these were okay, some of them were great, and then some of them just dragged.
the average rating (rounded up) is three stars.
I was hoping I'd enjoy it more.
Ratings by story:
Midnights: 4
The Lady and the Fox: 1
Angels in the Snow: 4
Polaris is Where You'll Find Me: 4
It's a Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown: 4
Your Temporary Santa: 2
Krampusluf: 4
What the Hell Have You Done, Sophie Roth?: 1
Beer Buckets and Baby Jesus: 3
Welcome to Christmas, CA: 2
Star of Bethlehem: 1
The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer: 1
the average rating (rounded up) is three stars.
I was hoping I'd enjoy it more.
Ratings by story:
Midnights: 4
The Lady and the Fox: 1
Angels in the Snow: 4
Polaris is Where You'll Find Me: 4
It's a Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown: 4
Your Temporary Santa: 2
Krampusluf: 4
What the Hell Have You Done, Sophie Roth?: 1
Beer Buckets and Baby Jesus: 3
Welcome to Christmas, CA: 2
Star of Bethlehem: 1
The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer: 1
agrutle's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastic bunch of holiday stories. I enjoyed it very much!
Thanks to NetGalley for the book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley for the book in exchange for an honest review.
thereadingcat15's review against another edition
3.0
Actual rating is 3.25 based on my computations of stars per story. I will write my review now,and publish it no later than tonight.
jessicatamm92's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book overall! I don't read lots of books like this though... I don't know if I ever have before actually... but it WAS really strange to be reading a story that you LOVE then go on to read a mediocre story.
Below I've listed my individual star ratings:
*****Midnights by Rainbow Rowell: 5/5 LOVED this!
*The Lady and the Fox by Kelly Link: 1/5 This was so weird and random. Especially after reading Midnights.
**** Angels in the Snow by Matt de la Pena: 4/5 KITTY! This was good. I really enjoyed the writing. I felt so bad for Shy...
*****Polaris is Where You'll Find Me by Jenny Han: 5/5 Wish this one would have been longer!
***** It's a Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown by Stephanie Perkins: 5/5 MY FAVORITE OF THE BOOK! Loved the characters, the setting, EVERYTHING. Can I have this full book now Stephanie Perkins???
***Your Temporary Santa by David Levithan: 3/5 It was okay. Not too memorable.
**Krampuslauf by Holly Black: 2/5 Didn't care for this story. I was honestly just skimming by the end of it...
****What the Hell Have You Done, Sophie Roth? by Gayle Forman: 4/5 Enjoyed this one! But really... apple pie and cheese? yuck.
***Beer Buckets and Baby Jesus by Myra McEntire: 3.5/5 This was an okay story. A little cheesy. Enjoyed some of the pranks!
*****Welcome to Christmas, CA by Kiersten White: 5/5 LOVED this. Ben was such a fun character! I loved the plot and was so pleasantly surprised I started to tear up!
*****Star of Bethlehem by Ally Carter: 5/5 Definitely wish this was longer! I would read a whole book about Lydia!
**The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer by Laini Taylor 2/5 What did I just read? Did this story really belong in this book?
Below I've listed my individual star ratings:
*****Midnights by Rainbow Rowell: 5/5 LOVED this!
*The Lady and the Fox by Kelly Link: 1/5 This was so weird and random. Especially after reading Midnights.
**** Angels in the Snow by Matt de la Pena: 4/5 KITTY! This was good. I really enjoyed the writing. I felt so bad for Shy...
*****Polaris is Where You'll Find Me by Jenny Han: 5/5 Wish this one would have been longer!
***** It's a Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown by Stephanie Perkins: 5/5 MY FAVORITE OF THE BOOK! Loved the characters, the setting, EVERYTHING. Can I have this full book now Stephanie Perkins???
***Your Temporary Santa by David Levithan: 3/5 It was okay. Not too memorable.
**Krampuslauf by Holly Black: 2/5 Didn't care for this story. I was honestly just skimming by the end of it...
****What the Hell Have You Done, Sophie Roth? by Gayle Forman: 4/5 Enjoyed this one! But really... apple pie and cheese? yuck.
***Beer Buckets and Baby Jesus by Myra McEntire: 3.5/5 This was an okay story. A little cheesy. Enjoyed some of the pranks!
*****Welcome to Christmas, CA by Kiersten White: 5/5 LOVED this. Ben was such a fun character! I loved the plot and was so pleasantly surprised I started to tear up!
*****Star of Bethlehem by Ally Carter: 5/5 Definitely wish this was longer! I would read a whole book about Lydia!
**The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer by Laini Taylor 2/5 What did I just read? Did this story really belong in this book?
kate_brauning's review against another edition
5.0
What a gorgeous collection. Diverse, charming, challenging, thought-provoking, and utterly hopeful, this collection of 12 stories by 12 different authors has everything.
Also, I've discovered a few new authors from this I will now go read!
Also, I've discovered a few new authors from this I will now go read!
hquin's review against another edition
3.0
overall *3.5*
Midnights - Rainbow Rowell 5/5
The Lady and The Fox - Kelly Link 2/5
Angels In The Snow - Matthew De La Pena 5/5
Polaris Is Where You'll Find Me - Jenny Han 3/5
It's A Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown - Stephanie Perkins 4/5
Your Temporary Santa - David Levithan 3/5
Krampuslauf - Holly Black 2/5
What the hell have you done, Sophie Roth? - Gayle Forman 5/5
Beer Buckets and Baby Jesus - Myra McEntire 3/5
Welcome to Christmas, CA - Kiersten White 5/5
Star of Bethlehem - Ally Carter 4/5
The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer - Laini Taylor 1/5 DNF
Midnights - Rainbow Rowell 5/5
The Lady and The Fox - Kelly Link 2/5
Angels In The Snow - Matthew De La Pena 5/5
Polaris Is Where You'll Find Me - Jenny Han 3/5
It's A Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown - Stephanie Perkins 4/5
Your Temporary Santa - David Levithan 3/5
Krampuslauf - Holly Black 2/5
What the hell have you done, Sophie Roth? - Gayle Forman 5/5
Beer Buckets and Baby Jesus - Myra McEntire 3/5
Welcome to Christmas, CA - Kiersten White 5/5
Star of Bethlehem - Ally Carter 4/5
The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer - Laini Taylor 1/5 DNF
nannasa16's review against another edition
3.0
Total rating: 3,3/5
Midnights
by Rainbow Rowell
5/5
Oh my my, Rainbow do you know that I worship you, right?
Noel and Mags' story was incredibly cute and sweet, moreover Rainbow can use words like nobody else can. She's magical. I love her and I loved this little fluffy story.
The Lady and The Fox
by Kelly Link
1.75/5
WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL?
This story doesn't make sense. Not a little bit. Why was her mother in prison? And is Daniel seriously normal? and how can she fall for a creeper that she met when she was 11? And what the hell does the Lady wants? And why Fenny decided to give up his mortality for this fricking lady? Kelly Link are you alright? Do you need something? Hot tea? A hug? An editor?
Angels In The Snow
by Matt De La Pena
4.25/5
Uuuh what a discovery! This story was so cute! And I could totally relate to Shy because right now I'm STARVING and vegetarian lasagna sounds so good, guys. By the way I think I'll do a little research about the author and maybe read something else that he wrote because I actually enjoyed the style very much.
Polaris Is Where You'll Find Me
by Jenny Han
3.5/5
but...what...why?...
first of all this one is way too short, I would have loved a little bit more of development and background, but this is also SAD. I don't want sad for Christmas, I want happy, I want unicorns and I fricking want RAINBOWSS, not tragic love not reciprocated. Not at all. And I want to read a book about a relationship between an elf and a human. Me sad. Very sad.
It's A Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown
by Stephanie Perkins
4.75/5
STEPHANIE, OH STEPHANIE. People say a lot of things about you, but I don't care, I will always love you, I still love you after Isla (*dramatic soundtrack*) and I love you more after this super cute little story.
I frickin' loved Marigold Moon, and I actually wish a whoooole book about her, that would rock! North was pretty cool too (you did not take the inspiration from good ol' Kanye, right?) and she created a fluffy setting that made me want to go to buy a Christmas tree, even if I am one of those freaks that love their fake tree wholeheartedly.
Your Temporary Santa
by David Levithan
2.5/5
I think that Levithan has always wonderful ideas, but when it comes to short stories he can't make them work perfectly. The concept was pretty cool, and I would have loved to read a bit more about these two guys, but what he actually gave us wasn't very organized and well-framed if you get what I mean. Nice try but he could have done something certainly better.
Krampuslauf
by Holly Black
2.75/5
Honestly I think almost the same things about this story and Levithan's one. The concept was very very cool, and I know that Holly Black can sure as hell develop an amazing plot, but in her 20 pages she messed things up. I'm not even sure that I understood the ending at 100%. What a pity!
What The Hell Have You Done, Sophie Roth?
by Gayle Forman
4.25/5
I loved this one!
Short, funny, but deep at the same time.
Gayle Forman is a fantastic author and knows perfectly what she's doing. This story covers so many aspects of Holidays, nevertheless it didn't seem forced or too cramped, it was nice and fast-paced in the good way. Good work Gayle!
Beer Buckets And Baby Jesus
by Myra Mcentire
3.75/5
When you choose a male POV for YA romance you take a risk, a big one. But, honestly, if the writing is good, well...I tend to like better male POVs, don't ask me why. And this one, was done exceptionally well. It's very very funny and I read it in less than 10 minutes, but I still don't think that the title is very appropriate for the story. But hell, who cares?.
Welcome to Christmas, CA
by Kiersten White
4.25/5
Surprise, surprise. The only book that I read by this author didn't enthusiasm me but this short story is pretty good, the plot is cute, the characters are very well written and the details are so christmassy that my little heart melt, and then there's food, lot of it. And spanish, i love spanish.
Star Of Bethlehem
by Ally Carter
2/5
I'm pretty sure there's a Disney movie with this exact plot, so me not happy, not at all.
The Girl Who Woke The Dreamer
by Laini Taylor
1/5
let's just not speak about this, okay? let's pretend it didn't exist.
Midnights
by Rainbow Rowell
5/5
Oh my my, Rainbow do you know that I worship you, right?
Noel and Mags' story was incredibly cute and sweet, moreover Rainbow can use words like nobody else can. She's magical. I love her and I loved this little fluffy story.
The Lady and The Fox
by Kelly Link
1.75/5
WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL?
This story doesn't make sense. Not a little bit. Why was her mother in prison? And is Daniel seriously normal? and how can she fall for a creeper that she met when she was 11? And what the hell does the Lady wants? And why Fenny decided to give up his mortality for this fricking lady? Kelly Link are you alright? Do you need something? Hot tea? A hug? An editor?
Angels In The Snow
by Matt De La Pena
4.25/5
Uuuh what a discovery! This story was so cute! And I could totally relate to Shy because right now I'm STARVING and vegetarian lasagna sounds so good, guys. By the way I think I'll do a little research about the author and maybe read something else that he wrote because I actually enjoyed the style very much.
Polaris Is Where You'll Find Me
by Jenny Han
3.5/5
but...what...why?...
first of all this one is way too short, I would have loved a little bit more of development and background, but this is also SAD. I don't want sad for Christmas, I want happy, I want unicorns and I fricking want RAINBOWSS, not tragic love not reciprocated. Not at all. And I want to read a book about a relationship between an elf and a human. Me sad. Very sad.
It's A Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown
by Stephanie Perkins
4.75/5
STEPHANIE, OH STEPHANIE. People say a lot of things about you, but I don't care, I will always love you, I still love you after Isla (*dramatic soundtrack*) and I love you more after this super cute little story.
I frickin' loved Marigold Moon, and I actually wish a whoooole book about her, that would rock! North was pretty cool too (you did not take the inspiration from good ol' Kanye, right?) and she created a fluffy setting that made me want to go to buy a Christmas tree, even if I am one of those freaks that love their fake tree wholeheartedly.
Your Temporary Santa
by David Levithan
2.5/5
I think that Levithan has always wonderful ideas, but when it comes to short stories he can't make them work perfectly. The concept was pretty cool, and I would have loved to read a bit more about these two guys, but what he actually gave us wasn't very organized and well-framed if you get what I mean. Nice try but he could have done something certainly better.
Krampuslauf
by Holly Black
2.75/5
Honestly I think almost the same things about this story and Levithan's one. The concept was very very cool, and I know that Holly Black can sure as hell develop an amazing plot, but in her 20 pages she messed things up. I'm not even sure that I understood the ending at 100%. What a pity!
What The Hell Have You Done, Sophie Roth?
by Gayle Forman
4.25/5
I loved this one!
Short, funny, but deep at the same time.
Gayle Forman is a fantastic author and knows perfectly what she's doing. This story covers so many aspects of Holidays, nevertheless it didn't seem forced or too cramped, it was nice and fast-paced in the good way. Good work Gayle!
Beer Buckets And Baby Jesus
by Myra Mcentire
3.75/5
When you choose a male POV for YA romance you take a risk, a big one. But, honestly, if the writing is good, well...I tend to like better male POVs, don't ask me why. And this one, was done exceptionally well. It's very very funny and I read it in less than 10 minutes, but I still don't think that the title is very appropriate for the story. But hell, who cares?.
Welcome to Christmas, CA
by Kiersten White
4.25/5
Surprise, surprise. The only book that I read by this author didn't enthusiasm me but this short story is pretty good, the plot is cute, the characters are very well written and the details are so christmassy that my little heart melt, and then there's food, lot of it. And spanish, i love spanish.
Star Of Bethlehem
by Ally Carter
2/5
I'm pretty sure there's a Disney movie with this exact plot, so me not happy, not at all.
The Girl Who Woke The Dreamer
by Laini Taylor
1/5
let's just not speak about this, okay? let's pretend it didn't exist.