What do you think?
Rate this book
Christmas Magic
A festive collection of short stories by the natural heir to Maeve Binchy Cathy Kelly, the number 1 best-selling Irish author, has created her first collection of heart-warming short stories. Christmas Magic is full of charming tales of life, love and the everyday dilemmas that we all face, all told in Cathy's warm voice. From Dolores and Genevieve, two spinster sisters who must finally break free from their mother's powerful personality, to Alice, who is facing having to open her home and her heart to the one visitor that she doesn't want this Christmas, from a captivating family story triggered by a letter to Lily's disastrous arrival at her best friend's wedding, these are stories to make you laugh, cry and nod in recognition. Relax and unwind in front of a roaring fire and indulge yourself in these, and many other humorous and uplifting tales. Remember that Christmas comes but once a year, so let the magic reel you in!
342 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
160 people are currently reading
711 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Kelly
115 books1,088 followersBorn in Belfast but raised in Dublin, Cathy initially worked for thirteen years as a newspaper journalist with a national Irish Sunday newspaper, where she worked in news, features, along with spending time as an agony aunt and the paper’s film critic. However, her overwhelming love was always fiction and she published her first international bestseller, Woman To Woman, in 1997. She did not become a full-time writer until she had written another two books (She’s The One and Never Too Late) and finally decided to leave the world of journalism in 2001, moving to HarperCollins Publishers at the same time.
Someone Like You and What She Wants followed in successive years. Her sixth novel, Just Between Us, was her first Sunday Times number one bestseller, while her eighth novel, Always and Forever, topped the UK bestseller lists in October 2005, displacing Dan Brown and J. K. Rowling. In 2007, Past Secrets in was also a number one paperback bestseller.
Lessons in Heartbreak was shortlisted for the Eason Irish Popular Fiction Book of the Year at the Irish Book Awards in April 2009. In September 2009, Once in a Lifetime topped the UK bestseller lists for three weeks. In March 2011, Homecoming achieved the same feat. Her latest novel is It Started With Paris, published by Orion in 2014.
In Autumn 2011, Cathy headlined a search for a new writer on ITV’s The Alan Titchmarsh Show.
Cathy’s trademark is warm story-telling and she consistently tops the bestseller lists around the world with books which deal with themes ranging from relationships and marriage to depression and loss, but always with an uplifting message and strong female characters at the heart.
Cathy also has a passionate interest in children’s rights and is an ambassador for UNICEF Ireland. Her role for UNICEF is a Global Parent, which means raising funds and awareness for children orphaned by or living with HIV/AIDs.
She lives with her husband, John, their twin sons, Dylan and Murray, and their three dogs in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow.
To contact Cathy email info@cathykelly.com
Someone Like You and What She Wants followed in successive years. Her sixth novel, Just Between Us, was her first Sunday Times number one bestseller, while her eighth novel, Always and Forever, topped the UK bestseller lists in October 2005, displacing Dan Brown and J. K. Rowling. In 2007, Past Secrets in was also a number one paperback bestseller.
Lessons in Heartbreak was shortlisted for the Eason Irish Popular Fiction Book of the Year at the Irish Book Awards in April 2009. In September 2009, Once in a Lifetime topped the UK bestseller lists for three weeks. In March 2011, Homecoming achieved the same feat. Her latest novel is It Started With Paris, published by Orion in 2014.
In Autumn 2011, Cathy headlined a search for a new writer on ITV’s The Alan Titchmarsh Show.
Cathy’s trademark is warm story-telling and she consistently tops the bestseller lists around the world with books which deal with themes ranging from relationships and marriage to depression and loss, but always with an uplifting message and strong female characters at the heart.
Cathy also has a passionate interest in children’s rights and is an ambassador for UNICEF Ireland. Her role for UNICEF is a Global Parent, which means raising funds and awareness for children orphaned by or living with HIV/AIDs.
She lives with her husband, John, their twin sons, Dylan and Murray, and their three dogs in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow.
To contact Cathy email info@cathykelly.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
December 7, 2014
Cathy Kelly has put together a collection of lovely short stories that span her writing career, she candidly mentions at the end that it was strange to look back on her old work, but did enjoy editing them and looking at mistakes from the past. These were all very enjoyable with the workable formula of short and sweet, that mostly included the struggling girl/wife/friend/neighbour winning out in the end. It was funny to notice the 'wronged' or 'not so pretty' friend ending up on top. This is a lighthearted easy read, which I thoroughly enjoyed! For those who know me even a smidgen, this easy to pick up and put down book was perfect for me. I easily say give it a go, especially at this Christmas time of year. Sweet!
September 3, 2024
Updated September 3, 2024: Re-read, was great. I really enjoyed Kelly's short stories, I think that is why I am always a bit shocked the longer works don't do it for me.
I am switching this one out for International Day of Tolerance. Sorry, there's not a lot of books I don't read so couldn't think of anything off the top of my head.
So as I always say, writing short stories is an art. I thought this ultimately this collection was very good, though there were some weak stories here and there. I ultimately think that sometimes there wasn't even development of characters, or the endings were a bit weak.
Christmas Magic (4 stars)-I loved the idea behind this one. An elderly woman (Genevieve) receives a book about magic and then goes a head to decide to use it in order to start taking some risks. There is a side plot with her next door neighbor dealing with the realization that his wife is not who he thought she was. It didn't really work I thought and think the story lost something when it shifted away from Genevieve.
Anniversary Waltz (3 stars)-Nope. Nope. Reading about a woman (Felicity) having to deal with her selfish 22 year old daughter who is angry that her mother is trying to move on with her life after separating from her cheating louse of a husband. Most of this story is Felicity trying to think of ways for her daughter and mother to stop piling on her about her terrible ex. The anniversary waltz comes into the play at the end. This story ultimately felt a little rushed with romance and the ending was just eh after all that build-up.
Madame Lucia (4 stars)-Women at a traveling agency end up seeing the psychic upstairs. It's left unsaid why the woman (the psychic) appeared and what she was after though which kind of left a hole in the story.
Love in the Aisles (3 stars)-A young woman, Sarah is pretty much fed up with ever meeting someone. Due to her being tall she feels like most men prefer her more tiny and perfect sister. This story didn't hit the mark with me at all. Sarah eventually comes to find out what fool she's being acting like she's not attractive, so there's that.
May You Live in Interesting Times (5 stars)-I liked this one. Thirty-nine year old Ruby Anderson knows she should be content. But after her neighbors drop bombs about moving to Australia and having affairs, she starts to wonder if she shake up her life. Ahem, why would you listen to anyone telling you having affairs is a good thing in a marriage? Still pretty funny though.
A Villa by the Sea (5 stars)-Marcella ends up being the shining star in her family and is there to encourage on her sisters. It kind of made me laugh that her parents were totally oblivious to how she kept her younger sisters up and motivated. I did like how Marcella had a great career and realized that she was going to need to step back and think about herself after making sure her sisters were steered to more greener pastures.
The Gap Year (3.5 stars)-Frankie feels lost after her only son leaves the nest. Though she usually doesn't get along with her mother, she's there to help her through it.
Cassandra (5 stars)-I could have seen this one being a novel. The title character is Cassandra, best friend to Molly. Molly is constantly there to get Cassandra out of jams, do her homework, and "let's" her steal her boyfriends. One wonders what is Molly thinking. Things come to a head after they both start working a magazine together. I still found the ending a bit too unsatisfying, cause Cassandra needed a kick in the ass for the stuff she got up to.
Letter from Chicago (5 stars)-A family has very little time to prepare for relatives coming from America. After finding out that her mother has told lies to her aunt about the state of her home, job, and children, Kim has to pull it together with her family and sister in tow to make the house presentable.
Bride and Doom (4 stars)-Lily rightfully has a thing about weddings after getting left at the altar. There a comedy of errors, she ends up meeting a guy who may change her mind about them.
You've Got Mail (4 stars)-Through email we found out that a woman (Millie) is dating a terrible person. At least things end up in a happily ever after.
Christmas Post (4 stars)-A woman (Alice) and her family who had to deal with the death of her husband through the years. Alice and her family sound great. Her sister in law is a pain, though we get to see a more human side to her in the end. There is a weird plot with the next door neighbor's child that made zero sense.
The Trouble with Mother (3 stars)-Not really trouble with the mother. Trouble with two stuck up daughters angry that their mother can ruin all of their plans by being boisterous and showing that they are from humble beginnings. I liked the other two siblings. The ending was weird though. It needed another paragraph to just say how things ended up.
The Paradise Road Book Club (3.5 stars)-Okay I guess. Some of the local women who formed a book club are up in arms when they think that one of its members is dealing with her husband leaving her. That's not what is going on though.
The Angel Gabrielle (5 stars)-Two women become fed up by their family (Claire) and married lover (Shelley). They end up meeting each other and another woman Gabrielle (really named Peggy) who encourages them to come to her annual holiday party.
Lizzie's Fling (5 stars)-A woman gets her groove back when she starts a harmless flirtation with a coworker in another office location.
Thelma, Louise, and the Lurve Gods (3 stars)-My least favorite of the short story collection. It went on forever and I didn't like the main character, Suzanne. She and her girlfriend seemed to not really care about the love interests in this book besides how hot they were. I didn't get any chemistry from what I was reading between Suzanne and Liam.
The Office Christmas Party (5 stars)-Cracked up at a story taking a look at an office Christmas party. Though I liked this one, I was more interested in the side stories we heard about (a woman throwing up in someone's purse). When the office is able to have a bigger to do than what last year's was, Larissa, is a bit hesitant. However, she meets someone and then does her best to dress up in disguise so he doesn't recognize her later. There's a whole thing about why she does this, and it made no sense to me really, but was funny to read about.
A Family Christmas (5 stars)-I thought this was a realistic look of a woman dealing with depression and finally finding her way out of the other side. Things may take a possible turn though, when she finds out that she and her husband have to host his family for Christmas. I thought it was great though how she find out some things she didn't realize about her sister-in law though. Which goes to show you never know what another person is dealing with.
I am switching this one out for International Day of Tolerance. Sorry, there's not a lot of books I don't read so couldn't think of anything off the top of my head.
So as I always say, writing short stories is an art. I thought this ultimately this collection was very good, though there were some weak stories here and there. I ultimately think that sometimes there wasn't even development of characters, or the endings were a bit weak.
Christmas Magic (4 stars)-I loved the idea behind this one. An elderly woman (Genevieve) receives a book about magic and then goes a head to decide to use it in order to start taking some risks. There is a side plot with her next door neighbor dealing with the realization that his wife is not who he thought she was. It didn't really work I thought and think the story lost something when it shifted away from Genevieve.
Anniversary Waltz (3 stars)-Nope. Nope. Reading about a woman (Felicity) having to deal with her selfish 22 year old daughter who is angry that her mother is trying to move on with her life after separating from her cheating louse of a husband. Most of this story is Felicity trying to think of ways for her daughter and mother to stop piling on her about her terrible ex. The anniversary waltz comes into the play at the end. This story ultimately felt a little rushed with romance and the ending was just eh after all that build-up.
Madame Lucia (4 stars)-Women at a traveling agency end up seeing the psychic upstairs. It's left unsaid why the woman (the psychic) appeared and what she was after though which kind of left a hole in the story.
Love in the Aisles (3 stars)-A young woman, Sarah is pretty much fed up with ever meeting someone. Due to her being tall she feels like most men prefer her more tiny and perfect sister. This story didn't hit the mark with me at all. Sarah eventually comes to find out what fool she's being acting like she's not attractive, so there's that.
May You Live in Interesting Times (5 stars)-I liked this one. Thirty-nine year old Ruby Anderson knows she should be content. But after her neighbors drop bombs about moving to Australia and having affairs, she starts to wonder if she shake up her life. Ahem, why would you listen to anyone telling you having affairs is a good thing in a marriage? Still pretty funny though.
A Villa by the Sea (5 stars)-Marcella ends up being the shining star in her family and is there to encourage on her sisters. It kind of made me laugh that her parents were totally oblivious to how she kept her younger sisters up and motivated. I did like how Marcella had a great career and realized that she was going to need to step back and think about herself after making sure her sisters were steered to more greener pastures.
The Gap Year (3.5 stars)-Frankie feels lost after her only son leaves the nest. Though she usually doesn't get along with her mother, she's there to help her through it.
Cassandra (5 stars)-I could have seen this one being a novel. The title character is Cassandra, best friend to Molly. Molly is constantly there to get Cassandra out of jams, do her homework, and "let's" her steal her boyfriends. One wonders what is Molly thinking. Things come to a head after they both start working a magazine together. I still found the ending a bit too unsatisfying, cause Cassandra needed a kick in the ass for the stuff she got up to.
Letter from Chicago (5 stars)-A family has very little time to prepare for relatives coming from America. After finding out that her mother has told lies to her aunt about the state of her home, job, and children, Kim has to pull it together with her family and sister in tow to make the house presentable.
Bride and Doom (4 stars)-Lily rightfully has a thing about weddings after getting left at the altar. There a comedy of errors, she ends up meeting a guy who may change her mind about them.
You've Got Mail (4 stars)-Through email we found out that a woman (Millie) is dating a terrible person. At least things end up in a happily ever after.
Christmas Post (4 stars)-A woman (Alice) and her family who had to deal with the death of her husband through the years. Alice and her family sound great. Her sister in law is a pain, though we get to see a more human side to her in the end. There is a weird plot with the next door neighbor's child that made zero sense.
The Trouble with Mother (3 stars)-Not really trouble with the mother. Trouble with two stuck up daughters angry that their mother can ruin all of their plans by being boisterous and showing that they are from humble beginnings. I liked the other two siblings. The ending was weird though. It needed another paragraph to just say how things ended up.
The Paradise Road Book Club (3.5 stars)-Okay I guess. Some of the local women who formed a book club are up in arms when they think that one of its members is dealing with her husband leaving her. That's not what is going on though.
The Angel Gabrielle (5 stars)-Two women become fed up by their family (Claire) and married lover (Shelley). They end up meeting each other and another woman Gabrielle (really named Peggy) who encourages them to come to her annual holiday party.
Lizzie's Fling (5 stars)-A woman gets her groove back when she starts a harmless flirtation with a coworker in another office location.
Thelma, Louise, and the Lurve Gods (3 stars)-My least favorite of the short story collection. It went on forever and I didn't like the main character, Suzanne. She and her girlfriend seemed to not really care about the love interests in this book besides how hot they were. I didn't get any chemistry from what I was reading between Suzanne and Liam.
The Office Christmas Party (5 stars)-Cracked up at a story taking a look at an office Christmas party. Though I liked this one, I was more interested in the side stories we heard about (a woman throwing up in someone's purse). When the office is able to have a bigger to do than what last year's was, Larissa, is a bit hesitant. However, she meets someone and then does her best to dress up in disguise so he doesn't recognize her later. There's a whole thing about why she does this, and it made no sense to me really, but was funny to read about.
A Family Christmas (5 stars)-I thought this was a realistic look of a woman dealing with depression and finally finding her way out of the other side. Things may take a possible turn though, when she finds out that she and her husband have to host his family for Christmas. I thought it was great though how she find out some things she didn't realize about her sister-in law though. Which goes to show you never know what another person is dealing with.
August 29, 2012
What a disappointment! I wanted to read something heartwarming and Christmasy, something to evoke memories of crackling log fires, twinkly fairy lights and mince pies baking in the oven. This book just didn't deliver at all.
A collection of short stories, this book hardly refered to Christmas, despite the title. The characters were largely 2 dimensional and the only feelings that they inspired were those of irritation.
Cathy Kelly's books had been recommended to me, but if this one is typical then I shan't be reading any more
A collection of short stories, this book hardly refered to Christmas, despite the title. The characters were largely 2 dimensional and the only feelings that they inspired were those of irritation.
Cathy Kelly's books had been recommended to me, but if this one is typical then I shan't be reading any more
December 14, 2025
A collection of warm, feel-good stories revolving around the lives of various women, their romantic and/or family relationships. Only a few of these stories involve Christmas in any fashion. This sort of light, fluffy, "chick-lit" content is not really my jam and I found reading these similarly themed and similarly-toned stories one after another got monotonous after about 100 pages. Ok, but not for me.
December 15, 2011
Sometimes, I don't know why I bother with 'chick-lit', as 97% of the time it's rubbish. This book is full of short "inspiring", "heart-warming" stories, supposedly perfect for the christmas period. Every story was about following your dreams, or life working out perfectly despite all odds, or discovering yourself/your purpose in life. But they were all sooo predictable and painful. They were all fluff, with practically the same characters and many similarities in each story. In short, they were boring. The characters were boring too, and there just wasn't enough "Christmas Magic" or anything at all really, to make this book something special.
November 30, 2020
A solid 5 stars as always
I feel I've grown up with Cathy Kelly. From the time she was writing about young twenty-somethings on the cusp of life, to middle aged couples realising the last 20 years of a marriage were a mistake or not. Her writing has a special place In my heart. She makes me connect with Ireland in a way that makes me sure I was Irish in a past life. Her writing makes me believe in God, in the Universe and in the fact that nice people always win (eventually).
I feel I've grown up with Cathy Kelly. From the time she was writing about young twenty-somethings on the cusp of life, to middle aged couples realising the last 20 years of a marriage were a mistake or not. Her writing has a special place In my heart. She makes me connect with Ireland in a way that makes me sure I was Irish in a past life. Her writing makes me believe in God, in the Universe and in the fact that nice people always win (eventually).
December 18, 2012
I wanted to read some heartwarming, sweet little Christmas stories but was so dissappointed right with the first one. I read three, began some others but will drop it now. The stories were boring, just a narration of happenings, description of characters without any real plot or development - in fact NO "short story" but rather quick reads.
December 10, 2017
Some stories were well written and other fell flat. There one only one story that even mentioned Christmas.
July 25, 2018
I'm not really a fan of short stories but in this case at least I understood them all! These are likeable, easy reads but the title is a little misleading as Christmas seems to have little to do with most of the stories. The quality of the writing was pretty standard throughout, with nothing in particular standing out - though to be fair I have been reading this over a couple of months so the earlier tales have long left my memory bank (so not very memorable either!) As ever, I liked some more than others but unusually there was nothing I really disliked. The one thing that did annoy me, however, was the number of times someone would lose 6 or 7lb & it would be life changing ...but that's just a touch of the green-eyed monster. Oh, if only my target was so very little!
A pleasant enough read but 2 or 3 stories at a time were enough.
A pleasant enough read but 2 or 3 stories at a time were enough.
December 27, 2020
Last year's Christmas present...
Not usually a fan of fiction and my bad didn't realise until chapter 3 they were short stories and was trying to figure out the connection 🤣😂
In the books defence there are a lot of good characters but just as I started to like them, the story ended!
Not usually a fan of fiction and my bad didn't realise until chapter 3 they were short stories and was trying to figure out the connection 🤣😂
In the books defence there are a lot of good characters but just as I started to like them, the story ended!
January 22, 2022
Great book of Christmas themed short stories.
December 17, 2020
I listen to this I really enjoyed every story. Most of them had a Christmas theme of ladies of certain age. It made me laugh and almost cry, and no it wasn't me peeling onions. It almost finished too soon. Most of the stories had a good feel and interesting ending.📖😍🎧👏
January 27, 2019
I like this spread of short stories, over a period of time, all set around Christmas. Some of the tales have social comment and some are not much more than gossip. The author doesn't strive for literary excellence so she may catch the same readership as the late Maeve Binchy who wrote chatty, wryly observant tales. We will each make our own favourites from the contents. Most are set in Ireland and they feature women more than men.
This is an unbiased review.
This is an unbiased review.
December 27, 2012
This book of short stories was perfect December bedtime reading, with nineteen stories there was almost one for each night up until Christmas.
As with all collections there were a couple that I didn’t enjoy as much, but as a whole the stories were all very good. I was expecting them all to be fluffy and light hearted, but was pleasantly surprised to find that there are some tough issues dealt with – financial ruin, depression, infertility and relationship break-ups. The topics are handled very sensitively and new hope given at the end of each story – but not always the happy ever after I expected.
A point of contention for me was the title - because very few of the stories were actually set around Christmas, some mentioned Christmas in passing but the rest were just short stories. So is really a push to title the book as ‘Christmas’ magic, other than that the book is well worth getting your hands on if you are a Cathy Kelly fan – and if you’re not then will be a very good introduction of what she is about.
As with all collections there were a couple that I didn’t enjoy as much, but as a whole the stories were all very good. I was expecting them all to be fluffy and light hearted, but was pleasantly surprised to find that there are some tough issues dealt with – financial ruin, depression, infertility and relationship break-ups. The topics are handled very sensitively and new hope given at the end of each story – but not always the happy ever after I expected.
A point of contention for me was the title - because very few of the stories were actually set around Christmas, some mentioned Christmas in passing but the rest were just short stories. So is really a push to title the book as ‘Christmas’ magic, other than that the book is well worth getting your hands on if you are a Cathy Kelly fan – and if you’re not then will be a very good introduction of what she is about.
December 22, 2017
This collection of 19 short stories has very little to do with Christmas, with only a couple of them even referencing it. This wasn’t a problem, but the reason I had picked it up was to attempt to get into the Christmas spirit. I don’t normally like short stories much, but these were ok, mostly cute little tales about either an under-appreciated Singleton finding love (standard chick-lit) or an under-appreciated mother finding recognition from her ungrateful family (standard chook-lit.)
The heroine’s personality was EXACTLY the same in every single story. No male perspectives, no other races or social groups, just middle-class luvvies angsting about perceived slights. The antagonists are all bitches, who turn out to have their own problems, so the heroine forgives them, and nothing of any great interest or excitement happens. I guess this really isn’t my genre.
2.5 rounded up because I did finish it, and it is Christmas.
The heroine’s personality was EXACTLY the same in every single story. No male perspectives, no other races or social groups, just middle-class luvvies angsting about perceived slights. The antagonists are all bitches, who turn out to have their own problems, so the heroine forgives them, and nothing of any great interest or excitement happens. I guess this really isn’t my genre.
2.5 rounded up because I did finish it, and it is Christmas.
December 30, 2013
This is an anthology of short stories by Cathy Kelly, some Christmas related and some not so. I could easily have given some of the stories 5 stars but a couple of them were 4 stars so the rating should really be 4 1/2 stars.
It is a great book to dip in and out of, especially if you do not have a lot of time to read in one sitting.
It is the first Cathy Kelly book I have read and I will definitely looking up her back list in the future.
It is a great book to dip in and out of, especially if you do not have a lot of time to read in one sitting.
It is the first Cathy Kelly book I have read and I will definitely looking up her back list in the future.
January 1, 2021
This book is alright if you're into your chic-lit. It's not normally something I would read but I did enjoy it. The themes of these short stories were mainly family and romance and it's a cute book to read around this time of year. Although, there were only about three stories that were related to Christmas so I'm not sure if not gonna be festive enough for most people. I don't know if I'll read it again, or read any more from this author, but it was fun while it lasted.
March 19, 2015
I immensely enjoyed this collection of short stories! Sure, no really ground breaking matters are discussed and no particularly controversial issues dealt with, but I think I specifically enjoyed the book so much because of it's innocence and romantic qualities. The stories will wrap you up in a cosy blanket and fill your heart with warmth and happiness!
January 1, 2017
When I picked this book to read at Christmas I was hoping for a collection of Christmas stories to get me in the festive mood. I was sadly dissapointed as not many of the stories were actually christmas stories. I read the whole book as the stories themselves were entertaining I just feel the title was misleading. This is not a book I will be keeping to reread each christmas.
December 19, 2012
I really enjoyed Cathy Kelly's book of short stories. She has written several fine novels and is able to craft short stories with the same detail and dynamics she uses in her novels! Highly recommend!
December 13, 2015
Collection of short stories but they are not all concerning Christmas and to be honest I felt a bit cheated as I had saved it until now in the hope it would help me feel festive . However an enjoyable read and easy to pick up and put down when the season brings it's usual chaos !
December 20, 2019
Very uplifting stories. Extremely inspiring stories of women in tough spots ... like every woman is at some point in time or the other ... who find the strength or the tact to hold on/survive/overcome the problems.
January 9, 2016
A bunch of wonderful stories that make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. :)
January 5, 2013
Disappointing collection of short stories that have little or nothing to do with Christmas. Fairly average character portrayal and predictable story telling.
January 7, 2013
A Christmas gift from a lovely friend, made this book all the more wonderful to read. Short stories just the thing for a busy reader who has trouble putting a book down.
April 14, 2013
Great short story book!
October 30, 2013
It's a collection of well-written short stories perfect for getting you poised for the holiday. It's simple, romantic, warm and hilarious, just what the doctor ordered for the holiday seasons.
March 1, 2019
A collection of truly heartwarming short stories.
December 29, 2018
3.5 Stars
I don't think that short stories are really this author's forte to be honest, a lot of them felt more like a synopsis for a longer read which meant that just as you were settling in to the tale it would end. The other problem I found with a lot of them was that there is little characterisation that you can suck from the page so I ended up just going off how much I enjoyed the plot of the tale rather than the whole of the story.
This is a mixture of tales set at all times of the year, so if the title made you think that was a collection of festive tales then prepare to be disappointed. I did enjoy the mix but the author has a very obvious voice which shone through in each story, this does mean that they all began to feel a little like they were about the same set of people.
In order to get an honest score for the book I marked each story as I went along:
Christmas Magic - 3.5 Stars
Anniversary Waltz - 3.5 Stars
Madame Lucia - 4 Stars
Off Your Trolley - 3 Stars
May You Live In Interesting Times - 3 Stars
A Villa By The Sea - 2.5 Stars
The Gap Year - 3.5 Stars
Cassandra - 3 Stars
Letter From Chicago - 4 Stars
Bride And Doom - 3 Stars
You've Got Mail - 5 Stars
Christmas Post - 3.5 Stars
The Trouble With Mother - 4 Stars
The Paradise Road Book Club - 3 Stars
The Angel Gabrielle - 2.5 Stars
Lizzie's Fling - 3 Stars
Thelma, Louise And The Lurve Gods - 3.5 Stars
The Office Christmas Party - 2.5 Stars
A Family Christmas - 3 Stars
I was going to do a brief review of each tale but as they all began to merge in to one after a while I decided it was probably best not to.
This collection has not really made me want to read any further of the author's works which is probably unfair as the short story is a form all on it's own which many longform authors struggle with. Nothing here is really bad, it just didn't engage this particular reader. They are easy to pick up and set down so it does make it the perfect book for the coffee break.
I don't think that short stories are really this author's forte to be honest, a lot of them felt more like a synopsis for a longer read which meant that just as you were settling in to the tale it would end. The other problem I found with a lot of them was that there is little characterisation that you can suck from the page so I ended up just going off how much I enjoyed the plot of the tale rather than the whole of the story.
This is a mixture of tales set at all times of the year, so if the title made you think that was a collection of festive tales then prepare to be disappointed. I did enjoy the mix but the author has a very obvious voice which shone through in each story, this does mean that they all began to feel a little like they were about the same set of people.
In order to get an honest score for the book I marked each story as I went along:
Christmas Magic - 3.5 Stars
Anniversary Waltz - 3.5 Stars
Madame Lucia - 4 Stars
Off Your Trolley - 3 Stars
May You Live In Interesting Times - 3 Stars
A Villa By The Sea - 2.5 Stars
The Gap Year - 3.5 Stars
Cassandra - 3 Stars
Letter From Chicago - 4 Stars
Bride And Doom - 3 Stars
You've Got Mail - 5 Stars
Christmas Post - 3.5 Stars
The Trouble With Mother - 4 Stars
The Paradise Road Book Club - 3 Stars
The Angel Gabrielle - 2.5 Stars
Lizzie's Fling - 3 Stars
Thelma, Louise And The Lurve Gods - 3.5 Stars
The Office Christmas Party - 2.5 Stars
A Family Christmas - 3 Stars
I was going to do a brief review of each tale but as they all began to merge in to one after a while I decided it was probably best not to.
This collection has not really made me want to read any further of the author's works which is probably unfair as the short story is a form all on it's own which many longform authors struggle with. Nothing here is really bad, it just didn't engage this particular reader. They are easy to pick up and set down so it does make it the perfect book for the coffee break.
December 18, 2017
Tuto knihu jsem si pořídila v LK po minulých Vánocích. Plánovala jsem si je přečíst letos, abych si navodila tu správnou vánoční náladu. Z 19 povídek byly jen 3 vánoční. To mě na knize zklamalo nejvíce. Ve většině povídkách je hlavní postavou žena v důchodu, která neví co se svým životem. Buď odchází od manžela, protože zjišťuje, že s ním není šťastná a začíná žít nový život, nebo si naopak uvědomuje, že láska k manželovi a rodině je tou nejdůležitější.
Tato kniha povídek byla oddechovým čtením. Nesmíte však čekat vánoční tématiku, žádné napětí. Jen relax.
Tato kniha povídek byla oddechovým čtením. Nesmíte však čekat vánoční tématiku, žádné napětí. Jen relax.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews