A Book A Week

We've only got a few days until Christmas, and I'm struggling to get all of my preparations in order. The past week has seen me unexpectedly purchasing a new car and spending the last several days sick in bed. Needless to say, I'm a bit behind on all things holidays. But things are beginning to get back on track. I'm basically done with my shopping (thanks Amazon!), I only have a few more days of work, and I've gotten in some really great Christmas reads. The one advantage to being home sick is you have plenty of time to catch up on reading! I quickly read through Jenny Colgan's latest book, Christmas on the Island.

The holidays can be challenging for anyone, but this year promises to be even more stressful for Flora. She lives on the island of Mure where she runs the Seaside Kitchen. Even though the tourist season has long passed, business is still booming. Ever the savvy businesswoman, Flora keeps a fresh stock of fruitcake that the locals are devouring. Business aside, she has an even larger dilemma. Flora is pregnant and isn't sure how to tell her boyfriend Joel. How will he react to this Christmas surprise?

Besides the more family driven drama of Flora, Colgan touches upon the more topical subject of political refugees. Dr. Saif has fled war-torn Syria with his two sons. The small family is slowly learning to assimilate into their new home, but the matriarch of the family is still missing. Colgan doesn't stray from the harsh realities of this subject. There is one scene that was particularly difficult to read and a bit out of place in the book. That being said, her portrayal of the realities of refugees is a stark reminder that not every family gets a picture perfect Christmas.

Overall, Christmas on the Island is a delightful read that manages to provide a character-driven drama that blends holiday fun with the realities of life. This is the third book in the series, so I'd definitely recommend reading the other two first. I didn't realize this was a series when I started, and the sheer amount of characters and implied backstory was pretty tough to juggle at first. Once I got everyone squared away, it was easy to slip into the drama that was unfolding. Christmas on the Island ended up being the perfect book to get me through a few sick days at home and to propel me into the holiday season.

For more information, visit the author's website, publisher's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
This review is part of a TLC Book Tour. Check out the full tour schedule here!

(2018, 43)