A review by jencunn2024
The Twelve Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days of Christmas by James Patterson

2.0

This is a humorous love story about a broken hearted family that has lost Christmas. The plot itself is cute and endearing with two kids, Ella and Will, who try to help their dad, Henry, find his way back to them and the holiday after losing himself in grief. I have only given this book 2 out of 5 stars even though it’s a nice Christmas story. The plot is set to encompass the song and the gifts from The 12 days of Christmas, notorious for its tedium. And just as the song drags on, so does this story. The writing was simple and would have made a nice family read as well, if not so drawn out. Each verse of the song has anywhere from one to four chapters dedicated to as each of these three family members works out their individual problems on top of trying to solve the overarching mystery of whom would be sending them these ridiculous Christmas gifts. The story is family- friendly and deals with bullying, friendship, struggles at work, alcoholism, and grief. In my opinion, I think oils recommend print format over audio in this case, if you have the opportunity to choose.