*I was given a copy of Summer Hates Christmas in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Boldwood Books and Rachel Dove for my copy of the book*
Synopsis:
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…isn’t it?
Summer Hastings HATES Christmas. She loves sunshine, the beach and running her travel agency, sending people off to their dream destinations – even if she doesn’t get to see the world for herself. For Summer, Christmas sucks!
So, when handsome and charming Noel Pritchett moves his pop-up Christmas shop in to the store next to hers, Summer sees red. Noel loves Christmas…and he quite likes Summer too, if only he could break through the anti-Christmas armour she has surrounded herself with.
Just why does Summer hate Christmas so much? And can Noel be the one to prove to her that it really is the most wonderful time of the year?
Review:
I was so excited to read a book where the woman is the one that hates Christmas, I thought this would be a breath of fresh air. Oh boy was I wrong. I’m still not entirely sure what I’ve just read.
There was no need for this book to be set around the festive season other than giving Summer a reason for being a horrible person. The reason why she despises Christmas so much is never really explained other than her dad leaving and her mom throwing away the Christmas tree. I get that her dad leaving was probably traumatic but the Christmas element was definitely an afterthought as it wasn’t mentioned any of the previous times her dad leaving was brought up.
Anyway, let’s go back to the beginning of Summer Hates Christmas. My first impression of Summer really wasn’t great. There’s not liking Christmas and then there’s just being a horrible person. She shouts at Noel and calls his business “bullsh*t tat” and then kicks his Christmas tree so hard it falls over and the baubles smash.
After this incident, they meet again at a bar that evening and he buys her a drink to apologise. For what?! She literally damaged his property.
She’s very short with him at the bar, I’d go as far to say rude. He asks if she needs a taxi, she says no and then for some reason does a complete 180 and invites him for food and ‘giggles’ at something he says. What is going on? These characters are all over the place.
There was absolutely no build to their relationship. They both decide to hate each other, the next day Noel tell her he likes her and the next thing you know they’re kissing. I’m aware this is an ‘enemies to lovers’ book but firstly, they’re not your enemy if lasts like two days and secondly develop their relationship first. You can’t have them go from childish I hate you’s to agreeing to date within 10 pages. It just doesn’t work.
The most intricate character was Summer’s mom. She had real trauma and felt like a well-rounded character. Her chapters/scenes were quite sad, but it was great to see the perspective of an actual adult with reasonable emotions. Which is saying something because she literally has PTSD/trauma (I don’t remember it being clarified).
I was also more interested in the relationship between Summer’s cleaner (I can’t remember her name, oops) and her new next-door neighbour. They were very cute and she was by far the best character. Also, this is a multiple-POV book, but that isn’t said in the synopsis.
Bringing back the point of this not needing to be set around Christmas. There are about 10 pages of festivities (if that) and it’s quite underwhelming. Christmas is in the title and you barely get a glimpse at it.
I think I could go on for days about the underwhelming and quite frankly confusing elements of this book, but I don’t have the energy. I did manage to finish it, but mostly because it was quite short. This wasn’t for me, sorry!
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Like this post? Why not read this one too: The 12 Books of Christmas: The Christmas Letter by Emily Stone
[…] Like this post? Why not read this one too: The 12 Books of Christmas: Summer Hates Christmas by Rachel Dove […]