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laura_cs's review against another edition
5.0
This is so sweet and fluffy and I'd love to visit a real Hanukkah Festival! I hope this novel spurs on the creation of one (or, better yet, several!) to celebrate light in times of darkness!
rachelmariereads's review against another edition
4.0
Miracles & Menorahs really meant the world to me. You can tell that Stacey Agdern put her heart and soul into it, and all of the dreams she’s ever had for Hanukkah and the Jewish people. She talks about the Festival of Lights being a beacon in the darkness, a way to bring love and light to all people (Jewish or otherwise). She discusses the importance of family, traditions, community, and joy. I wish Hollowville and their Hanukkah festival existed because I would go every year!
This story follows Sarah Goldman and Isaac Lieberman. Sarah is a resident of Hollowville, the smallest of small towns, just outside of New York City. She is known as the “Hanukkah Fairy” because she helps run the town’s Hanukkah Festival every year. Isaac on the other hand, is a metal sculptor from the city. While Sarah loves celebrating Hanukkah with the whole town, Isaac thinks it should be celebrated at home with your family. But when the Hanukkah festival is threatened to become a “holiday” festival, Isaac’s help may be the only thing that can save Hollowville’s favorite tradition.
The representation in Miracles & Menorahs was everything! Hollowville is the kind of Jewish small-town that only exists in my dreams. The local cafe is known for its soofganiyot inspired lattes, and has latkes on the menu year-round. Nearly all of the main characters are Jewish, yet they’re still so diverse and multi-faceted. But honestly, the idea of a Hanukkah festival is just absolutely inspired. The whole town gets behind the idea of a Hanukkah-specific festival, purely for the reason that there isn’t one anywhere else. And because of that, Jews from all around the world have begun to flock to Hollowville each year. Even though it’s not real, Agdern made it feel like it could be. The love and joy and the way Hollowville embraced everyone warmed my heart so much. I felt like I was there celebrating with them! I think everyone would enjoy Miracles & Menorahs, even if you’re not Jewish (but especially if you are)!
This story follows Sarah Goldman and Isaac Lieberman. Sarah is a resident of Hollowville, the smallest of small towns, just outside of New York City. She is known as the “Hanukkah Fairy” because she helps run the town’s Hanukkah Festival every year. Isaac on the other hand, is a metal sculptor from the city. While Sarah loves celebrating Hanukkah with the whole town, Isaac thinks it should be celebrated at home with your family. But when the Hanukkah festival is threatened to become a “holiday” festival, Isaac’s help may be the only thing that can save Hollowville’s favorite tradition.
The representation in Miracles & Menorahs was everything! Hollowville is the kind of Jewish small-town that only exists in my dreams. The local cafe is known for its soofganiyot inspired lattes, and has latkes on the menu year-round. Nearly all of the main characters are Jewish, yet they’re still so diverse and multi-faceted. But honestly, the idea of a Hanukkah festival is just absolutely inspired. The whole town gets behind the idea of a Hanukkah-specific festival, purely for the reason that there isn’t one anywhere else. And because of that, Jews from all around the world have begun to flock to Hollowville each year. Even though it’s not real, Agdern made it feel like it could be. The love and joy and the way Hollowville embraced everyone warmed my heart so much. I felt like I was there celebrating with them! I think everyone would enjoy Miracles & Menorahs, even if you’re not Jewish (but especially if you are)!
mindfullibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars ⭐️ The premise and unique storyline were wonderful - my first Hanukkah romance!
nicole_reads_romance's review
I was super excited for this book when I saw it on a holiday romance list. A whole festival about Hanukkah set in a cozy small town outside NYC? Yes please! It certainly delivered on the Hanukkah spirit, and wow am I craving latkes and soofi lattes - but it was severely lacking in the romance department.
It felt very 0 to 60, where the characters danced around each other but without even an internal dialogue of romantic feelings. The first "date" didn't happen until the last third of the book, and declarations were made at the very end without much build-up or discussion between the two mains. Overall the romance portion of the story felt entirely lacking and took a significant back seat to the conflict around the festival.
It felt very 0 to 60, where the characters danced around each other but without even an internal dialogue of romantic feelings. The first "date" didn't happen until the last third of the book, and declarations were made at the very end without much build-up or discussion between the two mains. Overall the romance portion of the story felt entirely lacking and took a significant back seat to the conflict around the festival.
creolelitbelle's review
3.0
Cute story. Sarah and Isaac’s back and forth about Hanukkah and the festival is fun and a nice, wholesome way to watch their relationship develop. This book would make a good Hallmark movie.
sandlynn's review against another edition
3.0
I read Miracles and Menorahs, a 2020 published novel by Stacey Agdern in e-book form.
This book is a cute little alternative to the gazillion Christmas novels published each year. It’s focus, as one might expect with Menorahs in the title, is Hanukkah, specifically a Hanukkah festival. Hollowville — a small town not too far north of New York City — has incidentally started a festival that no one else can claim. Due to a winter storm one year that brought many of the town’s folk within a synagogue in which they shared food and comfort, a yearly festival grew. Now, years later, Sarah Goldman — known as the Hanukkah Fairy — is in charge of the event. The only problem is, the town is questioning the festival’s ability to bring in tourist to justify its investment. Plus, there’s a city official who is pushing to have a holiday festival featuring a Christmas tree. Sarah’s desperate to bring in new vendors, food, and entertainment to make this year’s festival a huge success to ward off any challenges, but most importantly, she’s interested in finding an artist to create a huge, central masterpiece — a Menorah — that will be a highlight of the event. By chance, one of the town’s older citizens has a nephew who is a notable sculptor in New York City. She also Sarah’s friend and is happy to introduce him to her. The problem is Isaac Lieberman has mixed emotions about his great aunt’s small town and, more importantly, is not interested in using his art in such a commercial way. After all, whatever he would create for the festival would ultimately be replicated on trinkets, totes and other paraphernalia to support the festival, which is not how he would want such a significant symbol of his religion to be used.
As I mentioned, this is a rather cute little story, but I have to admit, it left me a little bored. The two leads were inoffensive, but Sarah’s uber Hanukkah enthusiasm got a bit on my nerves and Issac’s inexplicable feelings about using his art to promote Hanukkah was left virtually unexplained. The story could’ve used a great deal more background on Issac and his parents, who may have influenced his feelings, but we get very little. The impetus for Sarah’s actions are much better explained but I just thought she was overly obsessed and was too cloyingly cute about it. Furthermore, as Issac and Sarah got closer, they seemed to communicate less. If Issac had let Sarah know that he was changing his mind, a lot of grief would’ve been spared. What saved the story for me were the side characters — Issac’s friends from New York City and Sarah’s from Hollowville. They seemed more real and less the cardboard cutouts or stand-ins for the opinions and arguments they stood for. This just didn’t work for me as well as I hoped. I’d give it a B-/C.
This book is a cute little alternative to the gazillion Christmas novels published each year. It’s focus, as one might expect with Menorahs in the title, is Hanukkah, specifically a Hanukkah festival. Hollowville — a small town not too far north of New York City — has incidentally started a festival that no one else can claim. Due to a winter storm one year that brought many of the town’s folk within a synagogue in which they shared food and comfort, a yearly festival grew. Now, years later, Sarah Goldman — known as the Hanukkah Fairy — is in charge of the event. The only problem is, the town is questioning the festival’s ability to bring in tourist to justify its investment. Plus, there’s a city official who is pushing to have a holiday festival featuring a Christmas tree. Sarah’s desperate to bring in new vendors, food, and entertainment to make this year’s festival a huge success to ward off any challenges, but most importantly, she’s interested in finding an artist to create a huge, central masterpiece — a Menorah — that will be a highlight of the event. By chance, one of the town’s older citizens has a nephew who is a notable sculptor in New York City. She also Sarah’s friend and is happy to introduce him to her. The problem is Isaac Lieberman has mixed emotions about his great aunt’s small town and, more importantly, is not interested in using his art in such a commercial way. After all, whatever he would create for the festival would ultimately be replicated on trinkets, totes and other paraphernalia to support the festival, which is not how he would want such a significant symbol of his religion to be used.
As I mentioned, this is a rather cute little story, but I have to admit, it left me a little bored. The two leads were inoffensive, but Sarah’s uber Hanukkah enthusiasm got a bit on my nerves and Issac’s inexplicable feelings about using his art to promote Hanukkah was left virtually unexplained. The story could’ve used a great deal more background on Issac and his parents, who may have influenced his feelings, but we get very little. The impetus for Sarah’s actions are much better explained but I just thought she was overly obsessed and was too cloyingly cute about it. Furthermore, as Issac and Sarah got closer, they seemed to communicate less. If Issac had let Sarah know that he was changing his mind, a lot of grief would’ve been spared. What saved the story for me were the side characters — Issac’s friends from New York City and Sarah’s from Hollowville. They seemed more real and less the cardboard cutouts or stand-ins for the opinions and arguments they stood for. This just didn’t work for me as well as I hoped. I’d give it a B-/C.
katkinney's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this adorable Hanukkah romance. Sarah Goldman is vice chairperson of her small town’s Hanukkah festival, which is about to happen for the 9th year. Unfortunately, some on the board of trustees are concerned the festival isn’t making enough money and want to turn it into a more inclusive festival that celebrates other holidays (not just Hanukah) and Sarah wants it to remain just a Hanukkah festival. She tries to enlist the help of sculptor Isaac Liebermann to create a giant menorah as the centerpiece for the festival, but he refuses, even though there are definite sparks between the two. I loved the friend circle, the great scenes with family, all the wonderful Hanukkah traditions and this sweet small-town romance.