A witty, warmhearted novel about coming to terms with grief, taking a chance on unexpected connections, and finding family in time for the holidays.
For wedding singer Mel Hart, the holidays have always retained a certain magic. Her mother, Connie, always managed to pull off spectacular Santa hijinx that convinced Mel to keep believing in Santa way longer than other kids. Those moments meant everything to Mel because the rest of the year, life was unpredictable because of her mother’s alcohol use.
But two weeks before Christmas, Mel gets a call from the hospital: her mother has died.
Then a woman shows up on Mel's doorstep, claiming to be Connie's estranged best friend, promising to tell Mel a different narrative—one in which Connie was almost a famous country music star, if only a man hadn't gotten in the way. Instead of spending Christmas alone in her dead mother's house, Mel agrees to stay with Barb for the holidays, finding herself in the middle of Barb's complicated family and uncovering secrets while fighting an attraction to Barb’s in-the-middle-of-a-divorce son. As Christmas approaches, Mel reckons with how little she knew about her mother's past while reexamining her own future.
A Home for the Holidays is a moving exploration of complicated grief, mother-daughter relationships, loving someone with addiction, and the redemptive power of opening one's heart to love in all its forms.
(view spoiler)[This one is bittersweet both for Mel and me. My mom died in 2008 and so a lot of this resonates with me as far as reminiscing and having memories. I feel for Mel because in her case, her mom was an alcoholic so there were some good and not-so-good memories she's having of her mom and herself. With Mel's dad leaving when she was 3 years old, I figure her mom was her world...the good and the bad. Now that her mother is gone though, she's feeling some guilt for not being there for her and in ways that she really couldn't have been anyway.
I think Dan is not very empathetic. Mel's mom died less than a week ago and he wants her to jump on the band wagon and go on a tour with a new band...not so thoughtful. Once she said no that should've been the end of it.
I wonder who this Barbara is going to turn out to be. I'm guessing someone important to helping Mel in her new life without her mother. (hide spoiler)]
(view spoiler)[ for an xmas story, this one is bittersweet and sad so far. I'm sad she didn't have more time with her mom, in the end, but like her friend said - I don't blame her for setting boundaries, boundaries are healthy!
Dan was a jerk. That dinner, leaving the group - he didn't even seem to see her as a person. Like he was just waiting for her to become the person he actually wanted to be with. I'm glad she decided to stay
I'm hoping Barbara helps her see her mom in a more positive light and let her know how her mom lived in the last few years
and I loved the stories of how her mom made Christmas special. The santa crashing and seeing him running or stashing presents - all really crazy wonderful ideas! I love how unique they were! (hide spoiler)]
this book is incredibly sad (view spoiler)[ and it's taking me forever to get through it because it's making me so sad. . . but I hop this family (and Henry) get her working through her grief and guilt. how interesting, to learn her mom's life after she's gone her mom was so much more than she knew - she was so broken by the time she was a mom I wonder if they'll get Ernest to pay? (hide spoiler)]
(view spoiler)[ awe, I love that Barbara is helping her so much. Their talking about lyrics and the silly chicken song were so cute! Barbara is so easy to love- I'm so sad her mom missing all that great time of knowing Barbara and having her friendship!
and the comment about the being the girl that drinks - and everybody loves a party girl until they don't. . .it was such a true comment and broke my heart for her mom.
and Lizzy and Summer are super cute, too! (hide spoiler)]
(view spoiler)[ okay, so the ending was a little silly - no way she'd get to say that on stage but I was glad she forgave her mom forgave Barb and forgave Henry I was glad it all worked out
For wedding singer Mel Hart, the holidays have always retained a certain magic. Her mother, Connie, always managed to pull off spectacular Santa hijinx that convinced Mel to keep believing in Santa way longer than other kids. Those moments meant everything to Mel because the rest of the year, life was unpredictable because of her mother’s alcohol use.
But two weeks before Christmas, Mel gets a call from the hospital: her mother has died.
Then a woman shows up on Mel's doorstep, claiming to be Connie's estranged best friend, promising to tell Mel a different narrative—one in which Connie was almost a famous country music star, if only a man hadn't gotten in the way. Instead of spending Christmas alone in her dead mother's house, Mel agrees to stay with Barb for the holidays, finding herself in the middle of Barb's complicated family and uncovering secrets while fighting an attraction to Barb’s in-the-middle-of-a-divorce son. As Christmas approaches, Mel reckons with how little she knew about her mother's past while reexamining her own future.
A Home for the Holidays is a moving exploration of complicated grief, mother-daughter relationships, loving someone with addiction, and the redemptive power of opening one's heart to love in all its forms.