kaitykat's review against another edition
5.0
My first book of 2022 and it was such a good way to start of the year. ✨ Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ has always been a story near and dear to my heart; the book, the film adaptions (The Muppets version reigns supreme), I love it all, so I was obviously very excited for this book. It did not disappoint!
This book follows Holly Chase, a spoiled rich brat who is the epitome of a modern day Scrooge. She is selfish, cruel, and sabotages many of her relationships because she is harboring feelings from traumas of her past that she hasn’t allowed herself to feel. She, just as Ebenezer Scrooge was, is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve who try to save her.. but Holly is too set in her ways. In her afterlife, Holly becomes the new Ghost of Christmas Past, and we accompany her on her journey to help others, while also helping herself.
This book made me quite emotional, especially at the end. We’ve all been Scrooges’ and Holly Chase in our lives, all of us, as that is what it is to be human.. but, we have the power to choose to stay that way, or seek hope and betterment of ourselves. This book made me reflect on how I can be better going into this new year. It was all truly a beautiful, entertaining, and inspiring tale. Happy New Year and “God bless us, everyone..”
This book follows Holly Chase, a spoiled rich brat who is the epitome of a modern day Scrooge. She is selfish, cruel, and sabotages many of her relationships because she is harboring feelings from traumas of her past that she hasn’t allowed herself to feel. She, just as Ebenezer Scrooge was, is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve who try to save her.. but Holly is too set in her ways. In her afterlife, Holly becomes the new Ghost of Christmas Past, and we accompany her on her journey to help others, while also helping herself.
This book made me quite emotional, especially at the end. We’ve all been Scrooges’ and Holly Chase in our lives, all of us, as that is what it is to be human.. but, we have the power to choose to stay that way, or seek hope and betterment of ourselves. This book made me reflect on how I can be better going into this new year. It was all truly a beautiful, entertaining, and inspiring tale. Happy New Year and “God bless us, everyone..”
anndudzinski's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- 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
4.25
varishaasim's review against another edition
4.0
I’m feeling a whirlwind of emotions right now. I had a feeling Holly would get a second chance, but I forgot about it as I continued reading. I fell in love with the characters and how quirky each and every one of them was. The way the story was deceptive and made you think that you knew everything, only for it to unfold and the have truth be revealed. I especially loved the way Stephanie and Holly’s relationship grew. The sarcasm, hatred, but overall understanding of one another was cute and heart warning. I thought that I should feel disappointed that Holly didn’t end up with Ethan, but it feels right that they went their separate ways and that Holly saved Ethans’s dad, drastically altering Ethan’s life path. Happiness isn’t always ending up with the hot guy, it’s having a new beginning, a new life, another chance. Overall, I loved it.
tashalou's review against another edition
3.0
Ok, so A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is probably one of my favourite books, and there are so many versions and retellings, and very few good ones. I picked this one up because the premise actually looked kind of funny and interesting, and a pretty cool take on Dickens with the whole "Project Scrooge" thing. But with the rich socialite main character, I was kind of expecting something really shallow.
I actually loved this!! And that ending? Stop it! I was in a reading slump before Christmas so I didn't finish it until the new year, but I'm so glad I did! I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, modern Dickensian, heartwarming Christmas read.
I actually loved this!! And that ending? Stop it! I was in a reading slump before Christmas so I didn't finish it until the new year, but I'm so glad I did! I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, modern Dickensian, heartwarming Christmas read.
rilbooks's review
3.0
Un libro ligero, entretenido y perfecto para esta época del año.
Holly, la protagonista, es una adolescente de 17 años que tuvo una vida complicada, no siempre toma las mejores decisiones y a veces me sacaba canas verdes con sus elecciones; incluso me daban entrar al libro para gritarle. Aún así, logré verla crecer un poco.
Los demás personajes también me parecieron interesantes, pero quisiera saber más sobre ellos y sus historias.
La trama es original e intrigante. Todo gira alrededor de "Una canción de navidad" (de Dickens) y, si bien dudaba sobre cómo iba a poder funcionar esto, todo resultó tener sentido. Sin embargo, alguna que otra cosa no termina de explicarse.
Sobre el tan ansiado final: hizo que me quiera morder las uñas de la desesperación de saber qué iba a pasar. Con esto y todo, me gustó.
3.5/5⭐️
Holly, la protagonista, es una adolescente de 17 años que tuvo una vida complicada, no siempre toma las mejores decisiones y a veces me sacaba canas verdes con sus elecciones; incluso me daban entrar al libro para gritarle. Aún así, logré verla crecer un poco.
Los demás personajes también me parecieron interesantes, pero quisiera saber más sobre ellos y sus historias.
La trama es original e intrigante. Todo gira alrededor de "Una canción de navidad" (de Dickens) y, si bien dudaba sobre cómo iba a poder funcionar esto, todo resultó tener sentido. Sin embargo, alguna que otra cosa no termina de explicarse.
Sobre el tan ansiado final: hizo que me quiera morder las uñas de la desesperación de saber qué iba a pasar. Con esto y todo, me gustó.
3.5/5⭐️
dalialovesbooks13's review against another edition
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
lizslibrary0915's review against another edition
5.0
Book Review: The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand
Rating:
Rating:
kenz_rose's review against another edition
1.0
DNF at around 30%
I honestly could not handle this.
The writing was super immature (not at all teenager nowadays) and the characters were shallow.
I usually don't like retellings but I wanted to try with this one. HAH! Won't do that again.
In the first few pages, the word "like" showed up so much I stopped counting after 10. I think I lost 1/3 of my two brain cells.
The main character (Holly) also said "Whatevs" a few times .... um no thank you. I was eye-rolling so much I thought my eyeballs were going to get stuck.
One thing I liked (and the only reason it's getting a star) is the fact that Marty was trying so hard to get Steph's attention by quote on quote using his "sexy voice". I died when I read that so props to him.
I honestly could not handle this.
The writing was super immature (not at all teenager nowadays) and the characters were shallow.
I usually don't like retellings but I wanted to try with this one. HAH! Won't do that again.
In the first few pages, the word "like" showed up so much I stopped counting after 10. I think I lost 1/3 of my two brain cells.
The main character (Holly) also said "Whatevs" a few times .... um no thank you. I was eye-rolling so much I thought my eyeballs were going to get stuck.
One thing I liked (and the only reason it's getting a star) is the fact that Marty was trying so hard to get Steph's attention by quote on quote using his "sexy voice". I died when I read that so props to him.