Holidays are for...

Christmas can be a hectic time of year, even without the pandemic blues; new couples try to sort out which side of the family to visit, parents search for the perfect Christmas present, and people reflect on the previous year, wondering what could have been, and what will be next year.

On top of all of this, many movies, tv shows and books stress the importance of having someone special to say "I love you" to on Christmas Eve/Day. For some odd reason or another, romance has suddenly become an intrinsic part of Christmas. However, it is the decentralization of romance that made me love Home for the Holidays by Sara Richardson.

Home for the Holidays

Dahlia, Magnolia and Rose are sisters who returned to their Aunt's inn, thinking this is their last chance to spend Christmas with her. Upon their arrival, they discover that what they really needed was time away from their busy lives to reassess what it is they really want, and whether or not they should reach for those goals. While there were love interests for all three protagonists, the love interests were very small side stories. Instead, Richardson focused on the importance of reflecting on one's life, discovering what you want and finding the courage to embrace it rather than run from it.

Easy to read and full of sisterly love, Home for the Holidays made me feel slightly more inclined to like Christmas, despite my Grinchy ways. There were no cringey romantic moments, and although the ending was slightly predictable, I definitely needed a book with a happy ending. 4/5 stars from this Grinch!

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