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amberinpieces's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Biphobia, Death, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Antisemitism, Death of parent, and Classism
apollo0325's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It was an easy read, and while I liked a lot of the elements such as the exploration of trauma and how trauma affects our relationships, I also felt like it didn’t do enough. We get told who Cass is, but we never get to SEE who Cass is. Despite her deceased status, I think we could have done some small flashbacks especially with the letter from Cass at the end. It contextualizes the relationships between Cass, Miriam, Hannah, Levi, and Noelle and it makes the reader understand the emotional toil Cass’s loss has put on the main characters as well as the community. It feels like the book forces you to rely on how it might feel to lose a loved one, and if the reader like me has not experienced that, the emotional punches of this novel become weak.
I also hated the epilogue lmao it’s so obvious that they planned sequels to this because of the epilogue.
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, and Alcohol
moonyreadsbystarlight's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I liked so much about this, but there were parts of the writing that just weren't for me. I can't describe it much without spoilers or just talking for longer than a book review should be. Even still, it was a good read!
And for those who care, the spicy scenes are fade to black. So, while there's plenty of lusting, this may be good for folks who aren't super into heavy sex scenes.
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Drug use, Fatphobia, and Antisemitism
stacy837's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Alcoholism and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content and Terminal illness
internationalreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Abandonment, and Alcohol
decklededgess's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book....oof I did not expect it to cut so deep. I was expecting a silly little novel about Jewish characters running a Christmas farm. I get drop kicked in the chest by character grief, roundhoused by all of them having ptsd, clocked in the head by conversations about alcoholism and addition, and then absolutely knocked out by this found family working to heal each other and build their legacy from what a loved one left them.
Emotional devastation doesn't cover it.
Noelle, Miriam, and even Hannah are all onions, as chapter by chapter their characters are slowly deconstructed and you see what their ridiculous behaviour actually stems from. This book is so tender with all three of them. These girls act like absolute buffoons sometimes but there is intention and backstory behind their decision making or lack thereof, and there is clear and pointed effort to show that they choose to grow and heal themselves and they build and rebuild their relationships with each other.
Noelle and Miriam have such an honest relationship. They're screaming at each other in the beginning but their growth lies in the fact that they're so ready to acknowledge fault and try. I wasn't sold on them in the beginning but the book made me eat my words.
Not to mention, even the greater cast of secondary characters were incredibly compelling. Like I want all of them to have their individual books. That's how real all of these people felt.
The small town setting is also so cute. The community that is built around Cass and the way that everyone comes together to celebrate and grieve is painful and healing all at once. I also loved the seamless marriage of Christmas(specifically that) and Jewish traditions. The situational irony is used to the max of it abilities to show off that there is no disharmony when the intention is to make connections and celebrate togetherness.
Such a lovely story! Can't wait for the next book about two very specific characters hehehehhe
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Grief, Gaslighting, and Alcohol