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A review by brooke_review
A December to Remember by Jenny Bayliss
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Every time I pick up a new Jenny Bayliss book, I hope that it will capture the holiday fun, magic, and charm that was so prevalent in her debut, The Twelve Dates of Christmas. Every year, I find myself sorely disappointed with this year's read, A December to Remember, being the most monumental let-down of all.
I could unfortunately tell from the very first page that A December to Remember was not going to be it for me. We are immediately thrown into the disorder and melee following a small-town's strange, and now dead, Lothario. He leaves three semi-estranged daughters in his wake, all birthed by different mothers, who grew up only spending their summers together. Thus, their relationship isn't the best, but in order to receive their inheritance, they must work together to follow a trail of clues that their father has left them to revive the town's Winter Solstice Festival.
While this novel did not work for me due to its detached writing style and superfluous amount of supporting characters, it will be right up the alley of those who enjoy quirky reads that feature eccentric people and places. Readers who love books with small town vibes and all manner of personalities among the townfolk will appreciate what Bayliss was going for in this holiday-lite read.
I could unfortunately tell from the very first page that A December to Remember was not going to be it for me. We are immediately thrown into the disorder and melee following a small-town's strange, and now dead, Lothario. He leaves three semi-estranged daughters in his wake, all birthed by different mothers, who grew up only spending their summers together. Thus, their relationship isn't the best, but in order to receive their inheritance, they must work together to follow a trail of clues that their father has left them to revive the town's Winter Solstice Festival.
While this novel did not work for me due to its detached writing style and superfluous amount of supporting characters, it will be right up the alley of those who enjoy quirky reads that feature eccentric people and places. Readers who love books with small town vibes and all manner of personalities among the townfolk will appreciate what Bayliss was going for in this holiday-lite read.