margaretann84's review
2.0
It was only okay and more than a little predictable. I didn't really care for any of the characters, nor did I like the "preachy" ending or the slapstick efforts of the protagonist to ruin Christmas for everyone. I could see this appealing to kids, but it seems like it would work better as a cheap made-for-TV Christmas special than a novel. Medocre at best.
2/5 on here, 4/10 for myself
2/5 on here, 4/10 for myself
nataliesboooks's review
3.0
Some of the hijinks were too over the top for my liking and Paul was kind of a jerk for most of the book. I just couldn’t get behind his plan for vengeance. The first couple of ideas he had were fine and somewhat entertaining, but then they became more objectionable and even illegal. Also that Anti Christmas squad was really bizarre and unrealistic. Gotta love teenagers plotting arson!
I liked that Paul regained his Christmas spirit, but I wanted more from the romance. They didn’t have many interactions and she is absent from a good part of the book.
I liked that Paul regained his Christmas spirit, but I wanted more from the romance. They didn’t have many interactions and she is absent from a good part of the book.
kadyjak's review
1.0
This one is not for me. I didn't like Paul. His obsession with Christmas was weird. I mean, I like Christmas and all, but Paul's fixation bordered on a psychological disorder. His obsession with his hat was equally weird and kind of stupid. I can see an eight year old being convinced that bad things were happening because they lost a special item, but it was kind of ridiculous for Paul to just know that all the bad things happening were because he didn't have his beloved hat.
He was also selfish. Something that really conflicts with his Christmas obsession. At least, in any way that might might it sweet or endearing. If he focused on actually helping people or giving or God-forbid the true meaning of Christmas, it could have been a lovable quirk. But Paul is all about himself and what he wants. He recognizes that his mother works way too hard. So what does he do? Asks for a ridiculously expensive (not to mention unreasonable) gift. He makes sure not to even mention anything else so he'd be sure to get it. Granted, it's his idiot parents' fault for spoiling him so thoroughly that he gets whatever he wants, but that was not an endearing quality. Then on top of that, he begs his mother (who already can't afford his demanded gift) to put an outrageously expensive piece of jewelry on her credit card, so he can give it to the girl he's known for five minutes. The girl he's "in love" with, even though the only quality he even thinks to list when describing how perfect she is, is that she's pretty.
And considering he was gushing about how perfect she was about an hour after she got caught cheating on him with someone else, he's pretty pathetic too.
I might try to push through and finish the story (even though I knew what was going to happen from about page 2) if I liked Paul even a little, but I don't. He's whiny, self centered, and irritating.
He was also selfish. Something that really conflicts with his Christmas obsession. At least, in any way that might might it sweet or endearing. If he focused on actually helping people or giving or God-forbid the true meaning of Christmas, it could have been a lovable quirk. But Paul is all about himself and what he wants. He recognizes that his mother works way too hard. So what does he do? Asks for a ridiculously expensive (not to mention unreasonable) gift. He makes sure not to even mention anything else so he'd be sure to get it. Granted, it's his idiot parents' fault for spoiling him so thoroughly that he gets whatever he wants, but that was not an endearing quality. Then on top of that, he begs his mother (who already can't afford his demanded gift) to put an outrageously expensive piece of jewelry on her credit card, so he can give it to the girl he's known for five minutes. The girl he's "in love" with, even though the only quality he even thinks to list when describing how perfect she is, is that she's pretty.
And considering he was gushing about how perfect she was about an hour after she got caught cheating on him with someone else, he's pretty pathetic too.
I might try to push through and finish the story (even though I knew what was going to happen from about page 2) if I liked Paul even a little, but I don't. He's whiny, self centered, and irritating.
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