braytonaubree's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- 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? No
4.0
• I don’t think I’ve ever read something so faced paced where I didn’t once have the thought “oh this is quick” it was just enjoyable from start to finish
• having three interconnected stories by three different authors in one book is my new favorite thing, it’s so creative
• the cutesy, fluffy moments had me giggling & blushing & going through ALL my tabs
• the relationships are each so unique and so darling
• the writing of each story was so well done & similar enough that it was easy to jump between narrators
• there were some moments that made it clear that this book was written in the early 2000s and I’m interested to see how that was adapted for the more recent Netflix film
• I thought that reading this book in January would make me feel late to the Christmas/Holiday Spirit game, but honestly it was a perfect, wintery, snowy read for this time of year, I didn’t feel like it was too Christmassy or anything, it felt like the themes were applicable to new beginnings for the New Year as well
For folks who like/are interested in:
• YA romance
• holiday books/Hallmark movies
• short stories
• Dash & Lily
• fast-paced
yvo_about_books's review against another edition
3.0
Finished reading: December 24th 2015
“Once you think a thought, it is extremely difficult to unthink it.”
Spoiler
You know you're terribly behind with your reviews if you have to review a Christmas themed read in January... Sigh. That said, it took me a long time to actually finish the three stories in Let It Snow by Maureen Johnson, John Green and Lauren Myracle. The main problem with the first story was that I wasn't exactly in the mood for this kind of read when I first picked up Let It Snow. The result: me being annoyed with Jubilee and a story so sweet it was giving me a tootache. The second time around I actually ended up enjoying The Jubilee Express, and it is my favorite of the three stories. (3.5 stars) The second story, A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle, is a typical John Green story and unfortunately not one of my favorites. It almost felt like he was trying too hard to be funny and the whole cheerleader thing was really getting on my nerves... (3 stars) Things got worse though with the last story: The Patron Saint Of Pigs. That one is without doubt my least favorite of the stories and I REALLY disliked the main characters. (low 2.5 stars). I did appreciate the fact that all the stories are kind of connected with each other and I guess it is a pretty good Holiday themed read. But if I have to be honest, I would only recommend reading Maureen Johnson's (the first) story.
In three different short stories written by Maureen Johnson, John Green and Lauren Myracle we read about the adventures of three different groups of teenagers after a storm on Christmas Eve buries the residents of Gracetown under multiple feet of snow. In the first, Jubilee has to travel to her grandparents after her parents were arrested in a very embarrassing incident. A storm takes her train by surprise and she ends up stranded in Gracetown with the rest of the train passengers... She braves the storm to a still open Waffle House and the rest soon follow. Soon various lives will be changed forever... Three friends also try to reach the Waffle House that night in a race. Whoever gets there first can stay and hang out with a group of cheerleaders that is also on the train. And more importantly, eat hash browns. Also the fate of a teacup pig will depend on a girl that can only seem to think about herself... And that is even more troublesome since she is currently very much lovesick after her (ex)boyfriend stood her up.
Like I said above, I liked the fact that all stories were connected. Unlike with other short story bundles, this one almost felt like one big story. And I say almost, because you could see obvious quality difference between them. The first one is almost too sweet, but very well written and I actually liked the cliche ending. The John Green story was quite a disappointment and the constant repetition of the cheerleaders' presence became seriously annoying. The last story was the worst; the main problem being the horrible main character. In short: what started off as a promising collection ended up getting worse as I continued reading... And I stick with my opinion that I only would recommend the first story.
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
pilates_mama's review against another edition
5.0
Sweet Holliday fun. This book was a quick and easy read. All three of the stories give you that warm fuzzy feeling with some pithy humor sprinkled in for good measure.
nightshade_novels's review against another edition
4.0
This was an interesting book; split into three stories each written by a different author but interlinked and all coming to a conclusion at the end of the third story.
The Flobie village part of the first story was so ridiculous but somehow just funny. Jubilee’s parents are sent to prison after getting into a fight over a model hotel. So she gets on a train to her grandparents but never makes it and ends up in the nice little settlement of Gracetown where all three of the stories are set.
The second story was amusing but I couldn’t help feeling that the characters were very foolish to try and drive through a snowstorm just to reach a Waffle House filled with cheerleaders. Especially when
In the third story Addie was rather annoying, but I found it fairly easy to ignore because I was more interested in the other bits of the story anyway, especially the fate of the teacup pig and the conclusion.
After reading the first story I was a little annoyed that it was so short, as I wanted to find out what happened to Jubilee and Stuart next. Similarly at the end of the second story I wanted it to continue to find out what happened to Tobin and the Duke. But then at the end of the third story there was a bit where all the characters ended up at the Starbucks and it nicely rounded off the whole book.
Overall this book was very enjoyable and therefore receives four stars.
The Flobie village part of the first story was so ridiculous but somehow just funny. Jubilee’s parents are sent to prison after getting into a fight over a model hotel. So she gets on a train to her grandparents but never makes it and ends up in the nice little settlement of Gracetown where all three of the stories are set.
The second story was amusing but I couldn’t help feeling that the characters were very foolish to try and drive through a snowstorm just to reach a Waffle House filled with cheerleaders. Especially when
Spoiler
the car slid all the way down the hill and nearly into someone’s house, they just reversed and tried again. It was obvious that the Duke liked Tobin by how irritated she got when he mentioned the cheerleaders. I liked it that Tobin and the Duke got together in the end though.In the third story Addie was rather annoying, but I found it fairly easy to ignore because I was more interested in the other bits of the story anyway, especially the fate of the teacup pig and the conclusion.
After reading the first story I was a little annoyed that it was so short, as I wanted to find out what happened to Jubilee and Stuart next. Similarly at the end of the second story I wanted it to continue to find out what happened to Tobin and the Duke. But then at the end of the third story there was a bit where all the characters ended up at the Starbucks and it nicely rounded off the whole book.
Overall this book was very enjoyable and therefore receives four stars.
cabeswaeter's review against another edition
4.0
This has become somewhat of a Christmas tradition to me. It's very cute and fluffy and never fails to set me into that christmas mood, which is why I come back.
Maureen Johnson's story is good and sooo adorable, John Green's is still my favorite, but Lauren Myracle's isn't as good, but still cute.
Maureen Johnson's story is good and sooo adorable, John Green's is still my favorite, but Lauren Myracle's isn't as good, but still cute.
atnceu's review against another edition
4.0
I love this book!
This book contains three stories from some of the most amazing writers whose stories I have read. But the thing I loved the most about it I guess was how the characters turn out to be linked to each other.
I enjoyed reading the first two, but the last story is kind of confusing. The mentions of characters from previous stories seems rushed. And maybe a little out of character. Or something. Just didn't really feel right. And it really doesn't make sense. People don't just change like that, duh. Would have been 5 stars had the last story been better.
This book contains three stories from some of the most amazing writers whose stories I have read. But the thing I loved the most about it I guess was how the characters turn out to be linked to each other.
I enjoyed reading the first two, but the last story is kind of confusing. The mentions of characters from previous stories seems rushed. And maybe a little out of character. Or something. Just didn't really feel right. And it really doesn't make sense. People don't just change like that, duh. Would have been 5 stars had the last story been better.
taracos's review against another edition
3.0
I saved this book all year so I could read it to get me in the festive spirit and it sure did just that. I most enjoyed Maureen Johnson's The Jubilee Express. The book is cheerful and funny and an overall easy and light read. Although I love John Green I found his characters very similar to characters of his from his other novels. I loved how Lauren Myracle combined the stories together at the end also!
ashleyv8417's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
danaack's review against another edition
5.0
a pure winter fun, with a cat on your laps it is even better.