Miracles and Menorahs (Friendships and Festivals, #1)

by Stacey Agdern

There were a few scattered others on the train; some were eating fragrant bagels, others drinking hot beverages that smelled like coffee. Others stared at the window, used their phones, or typed on laptops.

This is just explaining what a train is????

“All of my grandparents were so proud they couldn’t gainsay it.”

Typo?

“First of all, Webster needs to learn where he’s not wanted. He’s already complained about the presence of some of the young adult titles, as being too sensitive to young eyes, because they give the wrong impressions about cities.”

No matter how many people say otherwise, the five boroughs of New York City are basically like a huge small town. Blocks and neighborhoods, where people know all of your business, and way too many of the people who live there have connections to the surrounding counties and towns. We all know that. So running into someone, especially on a local—” “Express.” “Okay. Running into someone you might know on an express train to Hollowville isn’t quite the random, unexpected thing people make it out to be.

I enjoyed this

Sarah could see herself in the golden warmth of her father’s beige skin, in the freckles that dotted her mother’s whiter skin.

“Her father’s beige skin” “her mother’s whiter skin”

The bright blue glasses she wore matched the inkstain on her cheek, and brought out the olive undertones of her pale skin.

Olive undertones

Dark circles under his green eyes, even his freckles looked pale against his normally pinkish pale skin, “So,” Sean said without preamble, “what’s up?”

Pinkish pale skin

the sun through the window emphasizing the pink undertones in his skin.

Pink undertones

Isaac could see inspiration in his friend’s blue eyes, excitement making his pale skin pink.

Pale skin

And again, before they could talk further, his dark-eyed, olive-skinned friend headed off into the crowd to do or see whatever he was looking for.

Olive-skinned

“This is so wonderfully provincial,” one woman said, her surprise on her face.

She was talking about Westchester

Liam asked, his brown eyes focusing, the sun highlighting the golden undertones of his brown skin.

Golden undertones

Pencil skirt, brown eyes, close-cut brown hair and brown skin with cool undertones.

Cool undertones

His eyebrows were bushy, and his bald head gleamed, the olive undertones clear under the fluorescent bulbs.

Olive undertones

I just…I don’t want to participate in the commercialization of the holiday.”

This is about Hanukkah

Words had been running through Isaac’s mind since he got back from Hollowville, Words like community and light.

lol what

“You’re staring,” his father said, the smile on his face drawing attention to the olive undertones in his skin.

Olive undertones

Webster’s face went read, and it looked like he was ready to explode.

“Read”