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A review by portybelle
It's a Wonderful Life by Julia Williams
4.0
I was never going to be able to resist a book called It's A Wonderful Life. The film of the same name is not just my favourite Christmas film but my favourite film ever! In the film, George Bailey, played by James Stewart, gets the chance to see what the world would have been like had he never existed. In this book, it's not exactly like that but the theme of being discontent with life and wondering 'what if' is explored, particularly through one of the main characters Beth King.
Beth is an author and illustrator of children's picture books and is currently working on a Christmas book, The Littlest Angel. She got married to Daniel when she was quite young and they have a happy marriage. He is just about to start a new, stressful job as a head teacher at a local school and they don't seem to have much time to spend together. They have two teenage children, Sam and Megan, who are testing their parents patience as only teenagers can. The story begins at Christmas when the family are going, as always, to Beth's parents. Daniel does not have a good relationship with his own father and loves the whole big noisy family thing. Beth's sister Lou is trying to work out how to explain to everyone that her partner Jo is not in fact a man as she has let them believe. So there is already a lot of stress in that situation when Beth's parents drop a bombshell. It is no wonder that a few weeks later, when she bumps into her old flame, Jack, and discovers they will be working together, that she muses about what would have happened had they stayed together. And begins to wonder if getting together is a possibility now....
I really enjoyed this book, which is the first of Julia Williams' novels I have read. She fills her story with warmth and with characters and situations which I think everyone will be able to identify with to some extent. It has a beautiful Christmassy cover but don't let that fool you. The story begins at Christmas and ends the following Christmas but there is a whole year of family life in-between. Telling the story from three different points of view - Beth's, Lou's and Daniel's - gave a rounded picture of what was happening in the family throughout the year and the opportunity to really get inside the heads of the characters.
This a book about taking chances, giving second chances, appreciating what you have, and doing what is right for you to make you happy. Just like George Bailey in the film, Beth comes to realise what she has really is a wonderful life and all that she wanted. A gorgeous heart-warming read which is perfect for Christmas but not just for Christmas. A lovely book to read at any time of the year.
Thanks to the publishers Avon Books for my review copy.
Beth is an author and illustrator of children's picture books and is currently working on a Christmas book, The Littlest Angel. She got married to Daniel when she was quite young and they have a happy marriage. He is just about to start a new, stressful job as a head teacher at a local school and they don't seem to have much time to spend together. They have two teenage children, Sam and Megan, who are testing their parents patience as only teenagers can. The story begins at Christmas when the family are going, as always, to Beth's parents. Daniel does not have a good relationship with his own father and loves the whole big noisy family thing. Beth's sister Lou is trying to work out how to explain to everyone that her partner Jo is not in fact a man as she has let them believe. So there is already a lot of stress in that situation when Beth's parents drop a bombshell. It is no wonder that a few weeks later, when she bumps into her old flame, Jack, and discovers they will be working together, that she muses about what would have happened had they stayed together. And begins to wonder if getting together is a possibility now....
I really enjoyed this book, which is the first of Julia Williams' novels I have read. She fills her story with warmth and with characters and situations which I think everyone will be able to identify with to some extent. It has a beautiful Christmassy cover but don't let that fool you. The story begins at Christmas and ends the following Christmas but there is a whole year of family life in-between. Telling the story from three different points of view - Beth's, Lou's and Daniel's - gave a rounded picture of what was happening in the family throughout the year and the opportunity to really get inside the heads of the characters.
This a book about taking chances, giving second chances, appreciating what you have, and doing what is right for you to make you happy. Just like George Bailey in the film, Beth comes to realise what she has really is a wonderful life and all that she wanted. A gorgeous heart-warming read which is perfect for Christmas but not just for Christmas. A lovely book to read at any time of the year.
Thanks to the publishers Avon Books for my review copy.