Sun-Kissed Christmas by Katherine Applegate may seem short, but the multiple storylines make it very complex. The book takes place in Florida, where I would definitely like to be right now, and the main character is selfless and determined. This book goes by quickly and is perfect for the holidays.

Series: Summer #8
Author: Katherine Applegate
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: October 5, 2010 (originally published November 8, 1996)
Rating:

Series Rating:


All she wants for Christmas…
Summer is headed to the Keys for winter break, but what should be a fun-in-the-sun holiday is becoming unbearable. Summer hasn’t been able to stop thinking about her ex-boyfriend, Austin, since their summer romance fizzled, and she can’t stand seeing him at the beach with his new girlfriend….
Now Austin is everywhere she goes. She’s reminded of how much fun they had, how gorgeous he is, and what she really wants is what she can’t have. Will it take a Christmas miracle for Summer to survive this holiday season? Or will the mistletoe work its magic?


Sun-Kissed Christmas by Katherine Applegate
There is so much going on in this short 208-page book, but I feel like everything is developed so nicely. One of the concepts in the book is Summer’s friends taking care of a young girl when her mom abandons her at the mall. This seemed a little bit like a retelling of Miracle on 34th Street, which I don’t think I’ve read before. Another plot line in Sun-Kissed Christmas consists of Summer trying to reunite two people who met in the war. Her goal is to recreate their meeting in her backyard. I found this so sweet and really enjoyed reading it.
❀ Beach Setting
I loved the Florida setting in this book so much! I am such a sucker for any book set on a beach, so naturally, I was drawn to this one. Just reading about the tropical climate and the beaches made me feel like I was somewhere warm, not stuck in Canada in the winter. This is the dream winter break location for me, and I was glad to experience it as I was reading.
❀ Enjoyable Main Character
Summer’s character is enjoyable. What I liked about her is her ability to prevent the opinions of others from changing her mind. She is so determined and headstrong. Summer is also selfless and compassionate, which is something I always like to see. If she were a real person, I would definitely want to be her friend.
❀ Short and Complex
Sun-Kissed Christmas by Katherine Applegate is a short yet complex story set in Florida. I enjoyed the main character and her sweet personality. This is such a quick read that will only take a couple of hours, so I would definitely recommend this for someone looking for a short and sweet holiday book.
Maybe not the one for me, but it sounds really cute and sweet! WARM and BEACH sound REALLY good right now!
I’m definitely going to have to try to get this into my Christmas week TBR! Something to make me forget I’m in Toronto with the snow :p
Well, you may be able to head to the beach today. Although the rain might make it a bit uncomfortable. I hope that you enjoy this one! <3
I am drawn to the Florida setting! Cute cover!
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