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iddedidde's review against another edition
3.0
25 Days in December (25 Days 'til Christmas) är en djup och många gånger ledsam berättelse som verkligen chockade mig med dess allvarliga och tunga ton. Jag förväntade mig en julig romance med lite svärta, men istället möttes jag av en sorgsen berättelse om livets alla motgångar.
Kate och Daniel är två karaktärer som vet vad förlust är, vilket är varför de kompletterar varandra så bra. Men jag fick ingen ordentlig romantisk känsla mellan dem; jag saknade det pirret, den värmen och den kemin som för mig utgör en bra romance. Dock var djupet i alla karaktärer genomtänkt och välskrivet, läsaren får en trovärdig inblick i karaktärernas liv vilket framhäver bokens budskap om livets nergångar.
Handlingen är i sig välskriven och intressant. Men den innehåller en stor mängd dialoger vilket jag kände blev lite väl mycket ibland. Jag blev uttråkad av att läsa allt prat om karaktärernas vardagsliv, och det blev något enformigt tillslut. Bortsett från detta så innehåller 25 Days in December (25 Days 'til Christmas) julkänsla på en bra nivå, men det är inte den mysiga, familjära julkänslan som många av oss känner igen utan en allvarlig julstämning om förlust och att bygga upp glädjen igen efter hemska motgångar.
Generellt är 25 Days in December (25 Days 'til Christmas) en okej romance med juliga inslag, men det är inte en bok jag kan rekommendera till julhelgen förutom om man vill läsa en bok med mycket svärta och sorg. Jag kunde många gånger njuta av bokens karaktärer och handling, men tyvärr blev det lite väl allvarligt och sorgset ibland. En genomtänkt julroman som tar upp förluster, sorg och fattigdom.
Kate och Daniel är två karaktärer som vet vad förlust är, vilket är varför de kompletterar varandra så bra. Men jag fick ingen ordentlig romantisk känsla mellan dem; jag saknade det pirret, den värmen och den kemin som för mig utgör en bra romance. Dock var djupet i alla karaktärer genomtänkt och välskrivet, läsaren får en trovärdig inblick i karaktärernas liv vilket framhäver bokens budskap om livets nergångar.
Handlingen är i sig välskriven och intressant. Men den innehåller en stor mängd dialoger vilket jag kände blev lite väl mycket ibland. Jag blev uttråkad av att läsa allt prat om karaktärernas vardagsliv, och det blev något enformigt tillslut. Bortsett från detta så innehåller 25 Days in December (25 Days 'til Christmas) julkänsla på en bra nivå, men det är inte den mysiga, familjära julkänslan som många av oss känner igen utan en allvarlig julstämning om förlust och att bygga upp glädjen igen efter hemska motgångar.
Generellt är 25 Days in December (25 Days 'til Christmas) en okej romance med juliga inslag, men det är inte en bok jag kan rekommendera till julhelgen förutom om man vill läsa en bok med mycket svärta och sorg. Jag kunde många gånger njuta av bokens karaktärer och handling, men tyvärr blev det lite väl allvarligt och sorgset ibland. En genomtänkt julroman som tar upp förluster, sorg och fattigdom.
flippingthepages's review against another edition
5.0
The whole time I was reading this I thought how much of a good movie this would be. It was so touching, and hit me deeply being a mom myself. I'm very glad I picked this up and gave it a try!
lamom77's review against another edition
3.0
This was not the light, fun Christmasy book I was hoping for, but a cute story, although depressing and dark at times. Even though the happy ending was welcome for this story, it made everything a little too neat and tidy.
mcinkdrinker's review against another edition
4.0
Christmas Pudding, in a book. This is a wonderfully festive little read. It has the requisite quaint, intimate feel of a holiday story, but without the level of insufferable fluff that frequently bathes the genre. This story, about sweet, tragic Kate and lonely, willing Daniel, deals with motifs that face us all, with varying degrees of difficulty, and render us all sad, alone, and needing help but afraid to ask for it. It was a refreshing darkness, to the holiday themes, if such a thing exists. I would recommend this book, particularly if you get the Audible version (which is what I listened to but was unavailable as an edition option on this site.), for anyone who wants a story with just the right amount of sugar and spice to make the holiday nice(er).
1neverendingtbr's review
1.0
I rarely give one star reviews. It is so rare i can’t even remember the last. This book was awful. It was so depressing. I picked this one up to try and help me get in the Christmas spirit and it all it did was drag me down. I gave up somewhere around 150 pages. DNF for me.
cassiesnextchapter's review against another edition
3.0
Poppy Alexander has created a Christmas tale reminiscent of It's A Wonderful Life in this heart-rending story of grief, struggle, hope, and grit.
Full Book Review
Quick Synopsis:
Kate Thompson is a war widow that is struggling with some heavy issues (grief, poverty, elder care, workplace concerns, and her son's school issues). Can she find some purpose and hope in the 25 days leading up to Christmas in order to turn her life around?
My Thoughts... 2.5 stars
Unpopular opinion and full-out honesty alert: I feel hoodwinked by this novel. Or at least by the publisher's synopsis. The back of the book says "In this heartwarming, feel-good holiday novel, one woman needs to find a little inspiration in the 25 days leading up to Christmas to help her remember the magic of the season and the magic of falling in love." I was expecting a corny, fluffy Hallmark-worthy Christmas movie in book form...
I'll admit that, by the end, my heart was warmed. But there is no way that this is a "feel-good holiday novel" in the slightest! Poor Kate needs a whole new outlook on life after the death of her husband, her son is facing school troubles, they're struggling with poverty, she's paying out elder care for a dying woman, and her working conditions are horrendous. These are huge issues (that I feel were addressed with great compassion and realism) that really weigh down the mood of the book. She definitely - and understandably - needs more than "a little inspiration" to muddle through all of that to find the spirit of Christmas.
Perhaps with a more realistic set of expectations, I would have liked this book more. It really is full of heart and perseverance and hope. But the love story was such a slow burn, that halfway through, I'm not sure they'd even had a conversation yet. There was 90% struggle, and only the ending was uplifting.
Overall, an okay read. It plodded along, but had some really beautiful elements of grit and hope. I did chuckle and tear up at some parts, so points added for that. I think the meat of the story is solid, but it could have done with a bit more pep to live up to promises of the back cover blurb.
Full Book Review
Quick Synopsis:
Kate Thompson is a war widow that is struggling with some heavy issues (grief, poverty, elder care, workplace concerns, and her son's school issues). Can she find some purpose and hope in the 25 days leading up to Christmas in order to turn her life around?
My Thoughts... 2.5 stars
Unpopular opinion and full-out honesty alert: I feel hoodwinked by this novel. Or at least by the publisher's synopsis. The back of the book says "In this heartwarming, feel-good holiday novel, one woman needs to find a little inspiration in the 25 days leading up to Christmas to help her remember the magic of the season and the magic of falling in love." I was expecting a corny, fluffy Hallmark-worthy Christmas movie in book form...
I'll admit that, by the end, my heart was warmed. But there is no way that this is a "feel-good holiday novel" in the slightest! Poor Kate needs a whole new outlook on life after the death of her husband, her son is facing school troubles, they're struggling with poverty, she's paying out elder care for a dying woman, and her working conditions are horrendous. These are huge issues (that I feel were addressed with great compassion and realism) that really weigh down the mood of the book. She definitely - and understandably - needs more than "a little inspiration" to muddle through all of that to find the spirit of Christmas.
Perhaps with a more realistic set of expectations, I would have liked this book more. It really is full of heart and perseverance and hope. But the love story was such a slow burn, that halfway through, I'm not sure they'd even had a conversation yet. There was 90% struggle, and only the ending was uplifting.
Overall, an okay read. It plodded along, but had some really beautiful elements of grit and hope. I did chuckle and tear up at some parts, so points added for that. I think the meat of the story is solid, but it could have done with a bit more pep to live up to promises of the back cover blurb.