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my_a's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism and Death of parent
booksnest's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.0
The Christmas Escape was essentially just a romance with a snowy setting. It didn’t really embody as much of the Christmas spirit as I was hoping and expecting. This follows two different main characters, Christy and Alix, two best friends who seem to be drifting a little. We also see the relationship between Christy and her husband and Alix and Zac, a man she seemingly hates.
I think maybe I’d have enjoyed this more if the relationships didn’t all seem so toxic and the tension all so pointless. On one hand we have a ‘troubled’ marriage in which the couple can’t seem to actually just talk openly to each other. On the other two people, one of whom hates they other because they actually fancy them and couldn’t admit it for five years for fear of getting hurt… why? It just seems petty and stupid to me.
Also one of the main characters is a strong independent woman who is initially introduced as happy on her own and leading that life. And I was like ah this is nice, I like this, she’ll be repping it being okay to be single. But no. As soon as she’s thrown together with said love interest she turns into an idiot, messes up any simple task and can’t seem to function as a human. Because obviously us women turn to flakes around all men.
I should add to the end of this, I’m not a big romance reader, but I like a festive contemporary sometimes. But I don’t think this one was the one for me. The issues all felt so jovial and silly and they were all as bad as each other for being rubbish friends with toxicity all around them.
I think maybe I’d have enjoyed this more if the relationships didn’t all seem so toxic and the tension all so pointless. On one hand we have a ‘troubled’ marriage in which the couple can’t seem to actually just talk openly to each other. On the other two people, one of whom hates they other because they actually fancy them and couldn’t admit it for five years for fear of getting hurt… why? It just seems petty and stupid to me.
Also one of the main characters is a strong independent woman who is initially introduced as happy on her own and leading that life. And I was like ah this is nice, I like this, she’ll be repping it being okay to be single. But no. As soon as she’s thrown together with said love interest she turns into an idiot, messes up any simple task and can’t seem to function as a human. Because obviously us women turn to flakes around all men.
I should add to the end of this, I’m not a big romance reader, but I like a festive contemporary sometimes. But I don’t think this one was the one for me. The issues all felt so jovial and silly and they were all as bad as each other for being rubbish friends with toxicity all around them.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism and Death of parent
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
3.75
Christy, her husband Seb and young daughter Holly are headed to Lapland to spend Christmas with Christy’s long-lost aunt. Marriage problems and a job interview mean the adults delay their departure, sending Holly with Christy’s friend Alix. And Zac whom Alix prefers to avoid. Lots of relationship issues which all get suitably resolved. Hint - communication is key. I did like that a range of relationships were involved - friendships, family relationships, marriage, not just romantic relationships. A nice feel-good story with some positive character growth. Not to mention a top notch Christmassy setting. I can’t be the only reader wanting to immediately fly to Robyn’s for Christmas.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism
collyofthewobbles's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
1.5
Read for review from NetGalley
The story of Christy and Alix. Friends since childhood, they tell each other everything. That is until an emotional outbreak at Christy’s wedding. Still friends but not as close as they were, Christy asks a massive favour. Will Alix take her daughter on a magical trip to Lapland to visit her Aunt, while Christy works on her marriage and joins them in a week.
Willing to get close again, Alix says yes, but is tricked into also taking Zac, best man at Christy’s wedding and a man in which Alix has a lot of baggage.
What follows is emotionally complicated story of broken friendship, a marriage in turmoil and a little girl running a muck in Lapland.
This book focuses on the relationships and mistakes of its charecters.
How they all got into the mess they are in and if they can talk there way back to friendships and relationships again.
I’ll admit i found this a little hard to read. It seemed to be told backwards a lot. Over the half the book is referring to a great emotional outbreak at a wedding. That the reader doesn’t learn about till past half. I spent a lot of the time wishing this book at had been written in order and not in so many flash backs.
Although the relationships are believable and the daughter is a delight. The lack of communication between characters was slightly infuriating.
A good book if you like complicated characters and a twisty plot.
The story of Christy and Alix. Friends since childhood, they tell each other everything. That is until an emotional outbreak at Christy’s wedding. Still friends but not as close as they were, Christy asks a massive favour. Will Alix take her daughter on a magical trip to Lapland to visit her Aunt, while Christy works on her marriage and joins them in a week.
Willing to get close again, Alix says yes, but is tricked into also taking Zac, best man at Christy’s wedding and a man in which Alix has a lot of baggage.
What follows is emotionally complicated story of broken friendship, a marriage in turmoil and a little girl running a muck in Lapland.
This book focuses on the relationships and mistakes of its charecters.
How they all got into the mess they are in and if they can talk there way back to friendships and relationships again.
I’ll admit i found this a little hard to read. It seemed to be told backwards a lot. Over the half the book is referring to a great emotional outbreak at a wedding. That the reader doesn’t learn about till past half. I spent a lot of the time wishing this book at had been written in order and not in so many flash backs.
Although the relationships are believable and the daughter is a delight. The lack of communication between characters was slightly infuriating.
A good book if you like complicated characters and a twisty plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Drug use
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