BOOK REVIEW: Christmas Every Day by Beth Moran
The best Christmas, cozy read that isn’t really a Christmas book!
I absolutely loved this book. I loved it for so many reasons that I don’t even know where to start. This is a book if you have ever:
Lost your way in life
Lost all self confidence
Felt alone in the world
Wanted to start over
Needed someone in your life to provide prospective
Loved baked goods and coffee
Made really bad choices in life
Come from a slightly dysfunctional family
Oh my, I loved this book and Jenny. She is flawed and vulnerable and has nowhere left to go, but the difference from other books is that she doesn’t portray the “woe-is-me”, immaturity that some characters in other stories might. Does she have her moments where she breaks down, of course. But that makes it real. That makes it relatable. That makes you want to root for her even more!
After leaving her job, losing her boyfriend of 18 months, and isolating herself from family and friends, she has nowhere to go but to a cottage in the middle of nowhere that has been “empty” since her grandmother passed away six years earlier. Throw in the fact that Jenny has never met her grandmother, and we have a story of self discovery, a story of family secrets, a story of new beginnings.
“Empty” is used very loosely. I love the fact that this little cottage (one side of a duplex) is a fixer upper of epic proportions, since it should really be an episode of hoarders. The inside and outside probably have the word “condemned” printed all over the environmental specialist’s report. Apparently, Grandma never got rid of anything! The comedy of errors is priceless, which are magnified by her desire to be independent and shun the help of her sexy neighbor, Mack.
There are many characters in this book that are all so amazing. Together they host a highly volatile book club which they eagerly welcome Jenny into. Like everything and everyone else, the small community takes her under their wing and it is through their friendship that she truly gets to experience life, family and friendship. But, Moran develops each character carefully, creating unique lives and personalities for not only the adults, but for the children. I feel that Moran may have had conversations with these characters as she wrote the book.
I laughed and cried along with them. I loved Jamie, he’s like this assassin with a soft squishy side. Frances is the little old lady that every book needs and the person everyone wants as their grandmother! Ellen, the sister Jenny should have had who teaches her what family really is. Ashley, the Thelma and Louise friend everyone needs. And of course, there is still Mack who could very well also be an assassin based on his evasive responses in regards to his work-from-home career.
This is the only tricky part of the book. It’s not about Christmas, not really. The book goes over about a year, maybe a little less. The idea is that the members of the book club set a goal to accomplish something in their life and each month at Book Club, they share updates. The shenanigans are great, and there is so much that happens. As a reader you become invested in their lives while you get updates on the life goals they set.
There were moments that were absolutely hilarious and moments of amazing sweetness. Even though the romance and Christmas aspects of the book are almost afterthoughts, they are still there and act to pull everything together. But this is truly a book that will shine light on a dark night. A book that you will want to curl up with in front of the fire. I really can’t say how much I absolutely loved it. It reminds you how difficult it is to be 10 years old one moment and then the next reminds you that life needs to be lived no matter how old you are.
Where does this book fit on my bookshelf?
If it was clear, this is obviously on my top shelf. This will be my new top recommended Christmas/holiday book. It’s cozy and sweet, lighthearted and deep, funny and moving with characters who are kind, real, flawed, crazy, and just trying to do the best by themselves, their families and their friends.
At the end of the day, it’s clear that one message here is that it’s okay to lose your way and even lose sight of who you are, but it’s family (found or blood) that will also help guide you back to who and what you are. You have to take risks in life, you have to be who you are. We are always growing and learning, and it’s never too late to fight for what you need and want in life.