In the lead-up to Christmas there’s still plenty of gifts to find, and through the stories of twelve characters we see them search for that meaningful something to get someone special. Whether it be a school friend, a carer, or a husband who is adamant they don’t want anything, each wants to get it right, to find something that will show how much the recipient means to them. The chapters each focus on a different character, one that was mentioned in the previous chapter, often the recipient of the previous chapter’s gift. Although focussed around Christmas the stories are each insights into their lives, giving rich backstory, often quite dark or troubling, which make these characters three dimensional and believable. Many are struggling with new starts, having lost a loved one, recently come out of a relationship, or, for one, adjusting to life after prison. There’s also a collective sense of fresh beginnings as they leave the pandemic behind and are able to celebrate Christmas without restrictions once again. The pandemic is never discussed in depth, and the early mentions of it may be confusing for readers in the years ahead, where those reading now, memories fresh in our minds, will easily pick up the references and understand the world these characters are emerging from.
The first four characters’ tales are quite closely linked - Maddy, who runs a bookshop in their small town searches for a present for an old friend and possible love interest, who in turn searches for something for his daughter Chloe. She has chosen to come and live with him in his separation from her mother, the true reasoning for which neither or them are fully aware. She in turn looks for a gift for her grandmother, who knows her better than any other family member. The closeness of these four stories means that there is some continuation as we see Maddy and Peter’s relationship develop and find out what’s going on with Chloe. After their four stories it begins to stretch out more, and although all the characters are inter-connected, no other set goes into quite as much detail. It is an interesting technique for telling a story, and you care about all the characters, often wishing you could have more time with them. It does eventually loop back and bring them full circle, but once you move a couple of chapters away from a protagonist you won’t learn much more about them.
There are common themes within. Primarily, the complexity of relationships. There are happy marriages where secrets are still occasionally kept, decidedly unhappy marriages, and abusive sibling relationships. New relationships bud, while others are cut off before they have a chance to bloom. Parents and friends are lost, while others decline in a care home, a financial strain on their offspring who love them but who have mixed feelings about their decline. As in life, nothing is straight forward, lives do not progress in a linear fashion, and there are dark secrets hidden behind smiles. We see the judgment of certain relationships from the outside, but also the flip side of what it feels like for those in the marriage. Certainly not perfect, but well intentioned and loving. It will make you think about your family, by blood and by choice, and how complicated these relationships can be, as well as the gap between perceptions and intentions.
The festive theme hangs fairly lightly throughout as we delve into the inner lives of our twelve protagonists. If you are looking for a feel good Christmas read, this might not be the one for you as it deals with some dark topics, but for those wanting a book for the season without the Hallmark ending, well it might just be worth picking up. It reminds us of what really makes any celebration and tradition special, and that we are all connected.
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