From the bestselling author of If I Were You comes a nostalgic and endearing holiday story that reminds us that sometimes the most meaningful gifts are the ones we least expect and don’t deserve.
Best friends Audrey Barrett and Eve Dawson are looking forward to celebrating Christmas in postwar America, thrilled at the prospect of starting new traditions with their five-year-old sons. But when the 1951 Sears Christmas Wish Book arrives and the boys start obsessing over every toy in it, Audrey and Eve realize they must first teach them the true significance of the holiday. They begin by helping Bobby and Harry plan gifts of encouragement and service for those in their community, starting by walking an elderly neighbor’s yellow Lab—since a dog topped the boys’ wish list for Santa. In the charming tale that follows, Audrey and Eve are surprised to find their own hearts healing from the tragedies of war and opening to the possibility of forgiveness and new love.
My Thoughts:
The Wish Book Christmas by Lynn Austin follows Audrey Barrett and Eve Dawson from If I Were You. The author recapped just the right amount of information from If I Were You to refresh my memory. I recommend reading the books in order as The Wish Book Christmas felt like a beautiful continuation of If I Were You.
In many ways, The Wish Book Christmas deals with
personal growth. Eve, Audrey, and their sons work through expectations, ideals,
and thought patterns. As the characters developed, the story gained a depth
that is rare for Christmas novellas. When the plot introduced certain ideologies,
I questioned where each character would land in the end, but continued reading.
Turns out, I liked the outcomes even though I would not embrace some of Eve and
Audrey’s parenting methods.
The Wish Book Christmas is perfect for fans of Lynn Austin’s
books, including If I Were You. I read this as part of a ladies book
club and we had plenty to discuss.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
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