#BooReview : All I Want for Christmas by Wendy Loggia #AllIWantforChristmas @PRHGlobal #partner @GetUnderlined / / holiday read for YA readers

All I Want for Christmas by Wendy Loggia

Publication Date : November 3rd 2020

Publisher : Underlined, Random House Children’s

Genre : Teen, YA / contemporary / Holiday read

Pages : 240

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

This sweet and magical romance about a girl who has just one wish–someone to kiss under the mistletoe–is the perfect holiday escape!

Bailey Briggs is counting down the days to Christmas: she lives for holiday music, baking cookies, going on snowy sleigh rides, and wearing her light-up reindeer ears to work at Winslow’s bookstore. But all she really wants this year is the one thing she doesn’t have: someone special to kiss under the mistletoe. And she’s 100 percent certain that that someone isn’t Jacob Marley–athlete, player, and of questionable taste in girlfriends–and that Charlie, the mysterious stranger with the British accent, is the romantic lead of her dreams. Is she right? This will be a December to remember, filled with real-life Christmas magic . . . and, if she stays on Santa’s nice list, a wish that just might come true.

*** Note: I received e-copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to PRHGlobal for free copy. ***

All I Want for Christmas was cute, festive teen holiday contemporary romance for young readers that revolved around Bailey’s one Christmas wish of the year. It was about friendship, family, holiday spirit, and believing in Christmas magic.

Writing was fast pace, gripping, cozy and so Christmassy. It was first person narrative from Bailey POV. Her voice was refreshing and cheerful. Plot was lovely and uplifting.

It started with character introductions, Bailey working in Winslow’s bookstore, her love for everything Christmas and her Christmas wish to be kissed under mistletoe but when she met Jacob from her grade at bookstore, she was certain he didn’t fit the image of the boy she would love to be kissed by. When Charlie, the mysterious boy with British accent saved her from humiliation at skate rink, she found her dream boy and could imagine her Christmas wish coming true. As she spent more time with Jacob, what she thought about him turned out wrong and she found herself liking him but she also loved spending time with Charlie. There was mysterious air around Charlie and she didn’t know him much or was sure if he likes her or it’s just her imagination. It was interesting read if her Christmas wish would come true, how she would manage complicating looking two relationship and who would she be with and would kiss under mistletoe at the end.

Bailey was lovely character. She was cheerful, lively and lovely person. Her love for Christmas was contagious. She was obsessed with everything Christmas and didn’t feel positive towards anyone who didn’t like or enjoy Christmas as much as she did. I liked how her positive and negative traits were portrayed, how she knew liking two boys was going to complicate things, talked about it with her mom and friends and wanted to ease the complication soon with both boys.

Both Jacob and Charlie were interesting character. I liked how every time Bailey met Jacob, she discovered more about him and how it changed her perspective towards him while Charlie was evasive and mysterious until climax that kept me reading the book and know what was going on with him and what was his story.

Family dynamic was great. It was best thing in book. I loved Bailey’s family, their cookie swap tradition with neighbours and how her family worked together for it by baking, shopping, decorating house and spent more time watching hallmark movies.

Book was filled with all Christmas references, songs, movies, food, and books. Setting of bookstores gave life to the story. It was amazing to read about it. I so wish to get Bailey’s job. There was everything one want in Christmas book – Ice skating, sledding, Christmas tree farm, Holiday Carnival, winter wonderland at mall, meeting Santa, brightening someone’s holiday, and last-minute Christmas shopping.

It was perfect for young audience, specifically middle grade and YA readers. It was cute to read Bailey’s first time at relationship, Christmas spirit, and believing in Christmas magic. Young reader would love the message of relationship that it’s okay to like more than one boy as there are many good people we are going to like in life but not to complicate things and defining the relationship once you are sure about your feeling.

The way Baily’s dilemma or complication of two relationship was solved in climax was a bit surprising. I couldn’t guess Charlie’s real story. I was expecting some tragedy or life issue but what was revealed was totally different. It was unbelievable but I enjoyed that twist. End was lovely and sweet.

Why 3.5 stars-

Love triangle trope was okay. I honestly don’t like it much and I rarely enjoy this trope in books or movies. I knew who Bailey was going to end up with. I wish there was more depth to characters and development. I still don’t understand why Bailey felt to keep Charlie secret before she knew the real him.

Overall, All I Want for Christmas was Christmassy, cozy, and very cute contemporary holiday read for young readers. I recommend this to anyone who love Christmas like Bailey would enjoy.

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What do you think about the book and review? Do you like Love triangle trope or have you read a book in which you enjoyed it even though you hate this trope?

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