joanneisreading's review against another edition
3.0
Not my general genre, I do find Christmas fiction enjoyable this time of year. It didn’t keep me super riveted even with talk of antiques but wanted to see it to the end.
cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition
3.0
Recommended by Andrea. Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search?formids=target&lang=eng&suite=def&reservedids=lang%2Csuite&submitmode=&submitname=&target=christmas+bliss+andrews
theliteratureladies's review against another edition
3.0
I have read several books by Mary Kay Andrews and enjoyed them all. While probably not my favorite of hers, Christmas Bliss was no exception. It’s a bit of a whirlwind tale that follows BFFs Weezie and Bebe (yes, those are their names) as they prepare to celebrate a wedding and welcome a new baby.
Set in Savannah, Georgia, my southern girl heart loved all the nods to “classic” southern culture, from the characters’ names and the way they celebrate big events to the descriptions of small-town life (especially contrasted to New York City throughout the book). I felt connected to both our main characters as Weezie attempted to navigate NYC with about the same level of awe, confusion, delight, and disgust I found in myself when I visited The Big Apple several years ago. Bebe is preparing to have her first child, and while I am not as far along as she is in the story, my currently pregnant self could connect with her in the expectation of a new life to come.
While the title is certainly Christmassy, and the book is set during the holidays, I personally didn’t get too strong of a Christmas vibe. I felt like it was a light, easy read, but I didn’t find myself caring deeply for any of the characters or the plot. I was just a spectator watching events unfold, enjoying it but not very invested.
If you’re looking for a cute, quick Christmas read, Christmas Bliss is a good one!
www.theliteratureladies.com
Set in Savannah, Georgia, my southern girl heart loved all the nods to “classic” southern culture, from the characters’ names and the way they celebrate big events to the descriptions of small-town life (especially contrasted to New York City throughout the book). I felt connected to both our main characters as Weezie attempted to navigate NYC with about the same level of awe, confusion, delight, and disgust I found in myself when I visited The Big Apple several years ago. Bebe is preparing to have her first child, and while I am not as far along as she is in the story, my currently pregnant self could connect with her in the expectation of a new life to come.
While the title is certainly Christmassy, and the book is set during the holidays, I personally didn’t get too strong of a Christmas vibe. I felt like it was a light, easy read, but I didn’t find myself caring deeply for any of the characters or the plot. I was just a spectator watching events unfold, enjoying it but not very invested.
If you’re looking for a cute, quick Christmas read, Christmas Bliss is a good one!
www.theliteratureladies.com
msethna's review against another edition
4.0
Cute story. Not my favorite by Andrews, but still enjoyable enough to keep reading :).
hyperashley's review
3.0
My Christmas spirits are still high so I needed another Christmas book. I grabbed this book at my local grocery store because it was festive and the cover was cute. I thought the synopsis sounded okay not the best book ever but not the worst. That's how the book felt to me too. It was okay but nothing to write home about.
owlyreadsalot's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
charity1313's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Wow, just wow. Soap opera in a book. How naive and ridiculous are these main characters?! I had no idea what I was getting into but on 2x speed it was fine for a Christmas audiobook.
gwendolyn_kensinger's review against another edition
3.0
I’ve read a few Mary Kay Andrews stories over the years and they’re always a good time, even if they don’t end up being favorites. They’re very southern, usually take place in and around Savannah, GA and are predictable which can be comforting as a reader looking for a fun read.
What I didn’t know about this book is that it’s the 4th book in the Weezie and Bebe mystery series. I think each story has its own plot, but of course if I would have read the other books, I would have known the main characters a bit more. Since I was mainly only interested in the Christmas story, I think it’s ok that I skipped the other books though.
Christmas Bliss follows both Weezie and Bebe during the holiday season. Weezie is planning a Christmas Eve wedding and Bebe is expecting her first child. Weezie’s holiday season is turning out to be full of distractions. Her wedding is fast approaching and her fiancé Daniel is in New York City working as a guest chef at an upscale restaurant. Meanwhile she’s home in Savannah trying to temper the extravagant tastes of her friends turned wedding planners Cookie and Manny, and of course her best friend and maid of honor Bebe is due to give birth any day. When Daniel calls one evening he tells Weezie’s he’s not feeling well, so Bebe convinces her that she must leave the rest of the wedding planning to them and fly to New York to surprise Daniel. Her first trip to New York turns out to be more than she bargained for.
It's a quick read and doesn’t necessarily feel overtly Christmas-y, so I feel like if you’re looking for a southern friendship book and or you have read the other books in the series, you’d enjoy this one as well. And while I can’t say I’d recommend this book over other books I enjoyed it for what it was.