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My Review:Title: Jayda's Christmas Wish
Author: Amy Sparling
Published by: Indie
Release Date: November 19th 2018
Format: Kindle Book
Pages: 150
Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Holiday
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2019 Beat the Backlist Challenge, Lenoreo's 2019 HoHoHo Readathon
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon
My rating:
Blurb:Jayda's junior year started off bad when her boyfriend dumped her, and then it became worse when her mom got laid off. With every week that her mom doesn't find a new job, things get tighter. Now the holidays are approaching and there is no money for presents. When she intercepts her little brother's letter to Santa, her heart breaks knowing they can't get the dog he desperately wants. On a wing and a prayer, she writes her own letter to Santa, penning all of her holiday wishes that she knows can never come true because holiday magic just isn't real.
Connor's first Christmas without his mother is harder than he imagined. When a giant sack of letters to Santa shows up at his doorstep, he can't believe he forgot that she used to reply to all the Santa letters in their small town. He's about to throw them away, but then a letter from a girl he has a crush on catches his eye. Jayda has sent a Christmas wish into the universe, and although Connor isn't technically Santa, he does the only thing he can do to honor his mother's memory.
He writes back.
5 stars — Now THIS was what I was looking for in a cute YA Christmas novella! It had everything I wanted: characters struggling with tough topics over the holidays, a sense of Christmas spirit, and a hero and heroine that I could fall in love with!
Jayda felt very authentic for her age. She had the usual teen issues of dealing with an ex-boyfriend, and wanting to keep her family’s financial struggles a secret. But she was also trying her hardest to support her Mom and help take care of her brother. I loved the balance in her of truly loving her family and wanting what’s best for them, with a smidge of resentment for having to do these things. It made her real and relatable.
Connor was super easy for me to relate to as well, as I lost my Dad in early high school…I know what that’s like, and how it affects your outlook. I felt for him, struggling with so much grief on his own. But OMG, he was the cutest book boy ever!! He was shy and awkward, and genuinely nice and kind, and I just adored him!!
And the two of them together? I mean, squee!! From genuine sweet crushes to more, OMG it was adorable! I loved the sweet little romance.
This one just made me feel good. It was uplifting, and while the characters weren’t perfect, I could connect with them, and I rooted for them. It was just happy smiles for me.
OMG I need to read this!