Reviews with content warning for Terminal illness - Christmas on the Island

Trigger warnings.
Hard read for someone who has both lost a loved one to cancer and lost a partner. Also a lot for anyone who has experienced infertility or pregnancy loss.
It was a good story. Just a lot

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cassie7e's review against another edition

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emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Emotional topics & lots of interpersonal drama. Not a light and fluffy christmas book, but a fine story. TW for the homophobic f-word.

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cranewife's review against another edition

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1.75

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asourceoffiction's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I've read two other Jenny Colgans and they were ok, but didn't blow me away, so I wasn't sure what to expect from this. And I was so pleasantly surprised. So often with light romances it can get a little unbelievable (especially with Christmas in the mix), but this was messy, complicated and real, and I loved it. I felt so much more emotional connection with characters who were really working hard for a happy ending that just doesn't always appear the way you'd like.

I also love how it dealt with many different family dynamics; including how a sweet but inexperienced community can make a Muslim family feel welcome and included who do not celebrate Christmas. And this allows room to address some lasting hurtful stereotypes that go along with traditional nativity performances. It didn't shy away from difficult subjects and trod the line without preaching or going too light-hearted.

My one issue, that I've experienced in all of Colgan's books, is how badly some of her sentences need editing. Several thoughts will merge into one, and eventually the numerous comma separations are insufficient to keep the intended meaning. Some of her writing is really beautiful (particularly on the bleak and stunning island of Mure), but every now and then I'd come across a section I'd have to read three times to even begin to understand.

Thankfully this didn't happen too often and didn't detract from the story, which was sad and uplifting at the same time, and oh so Christmassy.

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