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All I Want for Christmas by Wendy Loggia is a book I had been eagerly anticipating since I can’t resist books with Hallmark movie vibes. I loved all the festive activities throughout the book and the main character’s love for all things Christmas. However, I found that the characters are underdeveloped, and the ending feels rushed. But because this is meant to be a short and sweet read, I was willing to overlook this and ultimately enjoyed the story.
Title: All I Want for ChristmasAuthor: Wendy Loggia
Publisher: Underlined
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: November 3, 2020
Rating:
This sweet and magical romance about a girl who has just one wish--someone to kiss under the mistletoe--is the perfect holiday escape!
Bailey Briggs is counting down the days to Christmas: she lives for holiday music, baking cookies, going on snowy sleigh rides, and wearing her light-up reindeer ears to work at Winslow's bookstore. But all she really wants this year is the one thing she doesn't have: someone special to kiss under the mistletoe. And she's 100 percent certain that that someone isn't Jacob Marley--athlete, player, and of questionable taste in girlfriends--and that Charlie, the mysterious stranger with the British accent, is the romantic lead of her dreams. Is she right? This will be a December to remember, filled with real-life Christmas magic . . . and, if she stays on Santa's nice list, a wish that just might come true.
Review: All I Want for Christmas by Wendy Loggia
This book tells the story of Bailey, who has one wish for Christmas: a kiss under the mistletoe. But as it turns out, she has two contenders this year, an athlete and a stranger with a British accent, and she must decide which one she wants to end up with. This book is so cute and contains many Christmas activities including skating and a cookie swap, which I thought was such a cool idea. It is the perfect read to get you in the holiday spirit, especially younger YA readers.
❀ Interesting Main Character
Bailey is an interesting character, and she is a Christmas enthusiast. It is easy to feel her love for the holidays and Christmas magic and believe in it too, as a reader. She also works in a bookstore, and I loved this setting. However, because the book is so short, Bailey feels a little underdeveloped, and I would have liked to see more depth to her character.
❀ Ending is Rushed
While this book is cute and upbeat, I had a couple issues with some of its elements. Much of this is my fault because I’m not the biggest fan of love triangles. Sometimes I am willing to overlook them, but in this case I didn’t feel like the love triangle was effective. I didn’t feel much chemistry with either of the boys, and like Bailey, they are both lacking development. I also found the ending of this book a little odd. It feels rushed, and it seems like a quick and convenient way to tie up the love triangle. This didn’t completely ruin the story for me, but I definitely feel like the resolution could have been better executed.
❀ Fun and Festive
All I Want for Christmas by Wendy Loggia is a fun and festive read that is sure to get you excited for the holidays. I enjoyed all the Christmas activities throughout the book and the main character’s passion for the holiday season. However, I was disappointed in the lack of development in each of the characters and the resolution of the book. That being said, this is still such an entertaining read that fans of Hallmark movies are sure to love.
About Wendy Loggia
Wendy Loggia is a book editor and prolific author of books for tweens and teens, and her books have been published in multiple languages. She loves the glow of holiday lights in the snow, and all the traditions of the holiday season, including hiding a teeny-tiny Christmas pickle ornament on her tree. All I Want for Christmas is her latest novel. She lives with her family in New Jersey.
About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ Canadian YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, & professional bibliophile.
That’s too bad the ending was rushed. It takes away the fun.
Yeah. It was still a fun read, though. 😉
Thanks for your honest review!
I am not a fan of love triangles either! Great review!
I kick myself for reading them all the time! 😉
There’s a dog on the cover so maybe I wouldn’t mind the love triangle and rushed ending so much if I were to read it. Hehe 😅
Stephanie @ Bookfever recently posted…Review: Naughty Neighbor by Jeannine Colette & Lauren Runow
Ha! That cover is so cute!! 🙂
I can usually overlook a lack of character development in holiday reads, because I’m just so much more focused on the fun seasonal stuff!
Absolutely! I love a little holiday distraction. 🙂
I am trying to reach my Goodreads challenge, so a short book is exactly what I need.
Sounds like a great book to get folks in the mood for the holidays!
I love reading Christmas stories. They do help to get you in the festive mood. Thanks for the review.
THis sounds like a perfect book for me. I love how it is described as “sweet”. I need more sweet in my life. I will check this out thanks.
I wanted something fun and fluffy and I thought this delivered. I get feeling like the ending was a bit rushed, especially with that little twist there, but it left me in a good mood.
It is a fun story, for sure! 🙂
This sounds like a sweet and light book to read.
not a fan of triangles either
I liked reading this book because it was full of fun.
Always a bummer to read an average review, but appreciate your honesty. Hallmark fans might still like the book.
Ha! Yes! It will be really enjoyable for many! 🙂
I really appreciate your honesty! I hate reading reviews that are all positive without acknowledging any of the set backs so it’s nice to see a review that lists both positives and negatives. I’ll definitely be adding this to my TBR pile!
Thanks so much! I hope that you enjoy it! 🙂
Ooo! I am a big fan of books with Hallmark movie vibes! Must read!
Sounds like a good read, thanks for the review!