This book sounded like a great mixture of everything I wanted in a book, and while it took me an age to get around to it, it was a satisfying read. I am so glad I picked this book up.
I must say I chuckled to myself when I found the people that Angela included on her Christmas letter list, like the town’s mayor or her son’s boarding school headmaster… I get close friends and family, but I doubt the headmaster would know who she was, at least enough to really care.
That said, Angela’s letter is obviously special to her, and the opening chapter was brutally honest but funny at times, yet a little sad. It was a great opening to a book, even if Angela seemed to dislike her children at times!
The book continued with multiple viewpoints, which I liked, and while they weren’t different headed chapters, it didn’t take long to spot whose eyes we were viewing the world through, even with quite a lot of characters to keep track of.
We mainly hear from Angela, and while she drove me crazy at times, I did like her, it’s obvious that she has a lot of heart.
I also really enjoyed the children’s viewpoints, as most of them were grown up to around my age, it was nice to have some people that perhaps I could relate to a bit more. 10 year old Ig was also great to read about, I loved his personality.
I even sort of liked Celia. Sure she was grumpy and at times just plain rude, especially to Angela, but she did soften over time.
Nick was the character I connected with the least, perhaps because I didn’t paticularly like something he did/said at the end of the book, while throughout the book he seemed nice, relaxed, even if he was going through some issues, this thing seemed to me so at odds with his character that he showed throughout the book, it really stuck out for me, and made me wonder if he was like that all along, and how he would have reacted if he had found out any other secrets the girls may have. Though because this was right at the end of the book, I don’t know and never will.
That aside, I really enjoyed this book, its a very indulgent length, but never faltered in holding my attention. Funny, warm and oh so true to family life, faults and all.
Published by: Penguin
Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
View Book on:Â Goodreads
Order on:Â Amazon UKÂ |Â Amazon USÂ |Â Book Depository
