This was a cute idea, though the execution requires a LOT of suspension of disbelief. If you can get on board with that, though, it’s a fun read.
The story bounces between former spouses Katherine’s and Tom’s point of view, at Christmastime–so it’s a little Hallmark-y in that way. Katherine is a self-described “Grinch,” who has no friends, no family, and hates Christmas. Pretty early on, we discover this is because her father, whom she adored, died on Christmas Day. Tom divorced her years earlier, because she was too career-focused. He wanted a woman less addicted to her phone, who wanted a family someday. But years later, because Katherine has no one else, she never removed Tom as her emergency contact at work–so when she’s in a car accident days before Christmas, the hospital calls Tom.
Tom, meanwhile, is about to propose to his girlfriend at Christmas (Lolo–why in the world would you pick that name?). But he still responds to the call. He still cares for Katherine, even though she’s openly antagonistic to him at every turn for almost 3/4 of the book. The caricatures of a rom-com are about half of what requires the suspension of disbelief: she’s the stereotypical horribly flawed main character that every female reader identifies with, but of course the male protagonist will put up with ANYTHING from her at all, no matter how little encouragement she gives him or how little she deserves it, because that’s every woman’s fantasy. A real guy would never have gone to the hospital in the first place, and certainly would have left at the first opportunity, let alone put up with all Katherine’s antics that conspire to keep him from his own family at Christmas and his soon-to-be fiancee.
The other main part that requires suspension of disbelief are all the contrived scenarios: they miss the first plane. They miss the second plane. They miss the train. They can’t take the bus. They end up in a horrible little dive motel (where they have to share a room, of course). It’s all so absurd. And yet, I kept reading… because I guess I’m a sucker, as much as the next girl. I still enjoyed the story, predictable and eye-rolling though it was.
My rating: ***
Language: some. Not so much I actually recall it
Violence: none
Sexual content: actually none that I recall
Political content: I think a bit? but nothing major
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