Reviews

You Make It Feel like Christmas by Toni Shiloh

bodacioustchr's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

jkreis's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced

2.0

mchyczij's review against another edition

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1.0

Wow! Only terrible things to say!
First would be, THIS IS CHRISTIAN ROMANCE. I wasn’t aware of that, and maybe that’s on me (although god isn’t mentioned in the book descriptions, the only hint I saw was that it was tagged under Christian fiction

scoodle42's review

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hopeful lighthearted medium-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

3.75

Starr is on her way home for Christmas, jobless and embarrassed to tell anyone. Plus the family's gearing up for her sister Angel's wedding--to Starr's ex-boyfriend. And she has to put a clamp on her feelings about that too. But maybe her brother's friend Waylon, and the new way he's looking at her, can make the holidays bearable.

This was a very sweet story. I love the way Waylon stepped right in to give Starr a soft place to land. I also liked that things occurred between them in a natural way, and it didn't have any of those weird layers of feeling like it wasn't right because of Waylon's friendship with the brother. That was refreshing. Waylon and Starr were so easy together, so gentle and right. They cheered each other on, and stayed in each other's corner the whole way. And even the talk about extending the relationship past the holiday was mature and kind of wonderful. They both considered what was best for each other AND the relationship. It was very unselfish and loving. What a soft, hopeful, love story.

I will say that the second half of the book felt bogged down with too much messaging. Prayer is fine, and I think it helped in dealing with the situations they both had, but it felt like a lot of the internal monologue turned into prayers and it felt... awkward, for lack of a better word. It's okay if characters talk to themselves. Every conversation doesn't have to be one with God.

Also, the second half push to have Starr forgive her sister felt forced and unnecessary. I wish she'd been able to move past her own emotions and let that be the end of it. The insistent need to redeem her sister didn't feel organic to the story. 

It was very sweet though. I enjoyed it.

kelcij's review against another edition

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lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

breena's review against another edition

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4.0

4.5⭐️
the writing & the story was actually incredible. the growth in relationships with Starr and her family was so heartwarming, plus the romance between Waylon & Starr was so cute

whatebonyreads's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

readwithmoniqua's review against another edition

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5.0

This was so cute. I love a good friends to lovers, especially when it’s the brother’s best friend. My favorite part was when Waylon kissed Starr and he said, “A Penny for your thoughts.” Starr responded, “You kissed them all away.” Omg! 

Now Angel and Ashton??!? The nerve, the audacity, the gumption, the unmitigated gall of the both of them. And to be honest, I will never understand how a family can go along with one sibling’s ex dating or marrying another sibling, like it’s nothing, because, what???

reading_kim_'s review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

bowdell07's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5*