The Christmas Orphans Club

✮✮✮✮

Jan 8

The Christmas Orphans Club - Becca Freeman

my review : ✮✮✮✮

Sometimes, when I’m knee-deep in a holiday romance, it’s nice to escape the genre for a beat and try something different; this story fits the bill. This is a heartwarming, found-family story set in NYC during Christmas. The true star of this story was New York City—this book’s fourth character. The descriptions of bars, restaurants, and landmarks left me feeling like I had just taken a trip to the Big Apple.

This story is about the Christmas Orphans: Hannah, Finn, Theo, and Priya. These are four friends turned family who spend every Christmas together because, at first, there’s nowhere else for them to be, and eventually, because there’s nowhere else they’d rather be. Told from multiple POVs over 5 years of Christmases, you will watch these four friends grow up together as they prepare for their final Christmas together before Finn leaves for LA.

I thought this story was totally unique and very well written. Sometimes, when pop culture references are sprinkled throughout a book, it can get a little tiresome (check + mate… still love you, though!). Still, this book did an exceptional job of using the references to transport you to a year and a memory. The shining stars in this were the best friends, specifically Theo. I had a massive crush on him. I have to admit, the leading lady drove me totally nuts! I am thinking she was supposed to? She is so self-involved!! Despite a less-than-stellar leading lady, the other friends and the setting made this story a delight. I enjoyed my time with this book and thought it was a refreshing break from all the holiday romance I’ve been reading.

Hannah and Finn spent one Christmas drinking Candy Cane martinis, and as soon as she described them as tasting like “melted peppermint ice cream,” I knew I had to try one. Swipe for the recipe!