It Won’t be Christmas Without You by Beth Reekles – Book Review

Title: It Won’t be Christmas Without You

Author: Beth Reekles

Genre/Themes: Contemporary Light Fiction, Christmas, Sisters

Blurb from Goodreads

Eloise, a self-confessed Christmas obsessive, can’t wait for the big day. Devoted to her Michael Bublé playlist, she’s organising the school nativity play and even her gorgeous Grinch of a neighbour, James, can’t get her down.

Her workaholic twin sister, Cara, on the other hand, plans to work over the holiday – and figure out what secrets her seemingly-perfect boyfriend George might be keeping from her.

The sisters used to be close but since Cara moved to London, everything’s been different. Only, Eloise isn’t giving up just yet, and with a white Christmas on the cards, Cara can’t fail to be moved by the magic of the season … can she?

From the author of the smash hit Netflix romcom The Kissing Booth!

My Review

I was in the mood for some light fiction; something a bit cute, a little bit sweet… So I plumped for this Christmassy book in my library’s eCatalogue…

Wow do I regret it!!!

This is such an amateur style of story. The writing is so bland. So perfunctory. And utterly without charm or emotion. One of the poorest offerings I’ve read in recent times.

The main characters… Identikit.

This book was written in alternating chapters that related the third person perspective of two sisters… But there was no difference between the sisters. Nothing (other than their names) that made their experiences and opinions feel unique to them.

And the plot.

Omg so boooooooring. It’s basically a dull weather report. And a laughable one at that. Plus so much melodrama that I can’t.

One second the sisters love each other, then they are pointlessly screaming cats and dogs, then it’s back to love… *eye roll*

I mean I get it. Family life is one great rollercoaster but this just felt illogical. There was discontent that appeared at seemingly random moments in an attempt to create tension but then it simpered out almost as quickly as it was built up… And also because the characters were so incredibly one dimensional it all seemed rather ludicrous.

And don’t get me started on the two male love interests.

Interchangeable basically. They had different names but may as well have been the same guy so underdeveloped they were.

At least the book was short I guess. That’s a major plus point. The torture didn’t last too long.

This book made me feel like a grinch rather than a joyous Christmas reveller.

I just lol to think that this is supposedly an improvement on this author’s writing because I can’t even imagine how prosaic her breakout book The Kissing Booth must be!

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