The Christmas Wish by Lindsey Kelk (2022)Facing a recent breakup and some serious issues at work, Gwen is hoping that a Christmas spent in her childhood home will be just what she needs to get back on track. But when she keeps waking up on Christmas Day, Groundhog Day-style, she will need to figure out what's holding her back. Guys, I LOVED this book! I'm a sucker for time travel/time loop stories, and this was a great one. Each iteration of Christmas Day felt fresh and new, as Gwen tried to "fix" something with a different member of her family, hoping to get out of the loop. The family dynamics (a strained relationship with her sister, feeling pressure to make her dad proud) were so real and relatable. I could maybe have used a bit more romance, because there are shades of it and I loved Dev, the boy next door/lifelong crush, but the focus on family, and Gwen's realizations about her own life, were top-notch. Funny, heartwarming, full of holiday cheer and shenanigans - please read this one! 4.5 stars
Max, a future duke, is feeling pressure from his parents to marry a suitable bride, and soon, so that the future of the family is settled. Dani is a college professor who has sworn off men after her divorce. The two are just friends, but sometimes the best relationships blossom from strong friendships. I have to say, this book was not marketed well as a holiday romance. There's not really much holiday stuff in it at all, which was kind of disappointing. It's the second book in a series, although I don't think you necessarily need to read the first book to enjoy this one. I enjoyed that a portion of the story is devoted to Max and Dani as friends, and they then realize their attraction to each other and start to figure out how all that could work. I think the story was overly long and a bit repetitive, though. Cute premise, just didn't really work for me. 3 stars
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I agree with you about Kelk's take on the time loop. I liked that the focus changed each day with her trying to mend things for a different family member. It was a fun one
ReplyDeleteI really loved it!
DeleteI just read The Christmas Wish last week and adored it. I really loved the way the author used the time loop.
ReplyDeleteMe, too!
DeleteGroundhog Day-style stories can be so tricky because it's for them to feel repetitive and boring. Glad to see Kelk put a great spin on it!
ReplyDeleteIt was such a great take on the trope!
DeleteThe Christmas Wish is on my TBR, so glad to hear you loved it!
ReplyDeleteI hope you love it as much as I did!
DeleteYES! The Christmas Wish is my favorite holiday book of the year. So good and I haven't laughed that hard from a book in years! I am glad to hear you enjoyed it as well!
ReplyDeleteYay! So glad to see more love for it!
DeleteI'm not always a fan of the time loop story but if each day feels and seems fresh, I'd go for that. :)
ReplyDelete