featuring authors Holly Black, Ally Carter, Gayle Forman, Jenny Han, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Myra McEntire, Matt de la Pena, Rainbow Rowell, Laini Taylor, Kiersten White
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: October 14, 2014
Source/Format: Netgalley (Thanks!) || e-galley
[I received this book for review from the publisher. This in no way affects the thoughts expressed in my review.]
As the holiday season draws closer, it is the perfect time to indulge in a little holiday spirit – and My True Love Gave To Me is a great way to do so. This book is a collection of short stories, inspired by the end of the year holidays and all the trappings that come with them. With tales written by twelve different authors, there’s a bunch to choose from! Whether you choose to read them all in one sitting or to parcel them out by story, My True Love Gave To Me will be a delight.
Each story in the collection is charming, and overall, everything is likable. But it will be no surprise that there are a few that stood out to me in particular:
Polaris is Where You’ll Find Me – Jenny Han whipped up a delightful little tale – set up in the North Pole. She combined the whimsy of being among Santa Claus and his elves, with emotions that are all too true, and it definitely worked. Her main character was an absolute delight!
It’s A Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown – Stephanie Perkins and her signature ability to woo readers with an adorable romance definitely shines in her story. The premise might be simple, but these characters are cute and their interaction worthy of smiles and swoon.
Welcome to Christmas, CA – Kiersten White’s story made me cry. There’s a sincerity to the emotions felt by these characters, and the reader feels it all too. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that there’s a cute cook with a knack for whipping up exactly what you want to eat!
Star of Bethlehem – Ally Carter wrote a story that had me all smiles. She captures the vibe of a small town perfectly, including how involved and aware the people living there are in one another’s lives. The family aspect is strong, but there’s the additional bonus of romantic notions tossed in too!
The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer – I’ve said previously that there’s an artistry in the way Laini Taylor writers. It’s evident that she’s skilled at her craft, as she completely swept me up in this magical tale. Of all the stories, I enjoyed this one the best. It’s imaginative, dreamy and so, so beautiful.
But really, you can’t go wrong with any of the stories included in My True Love Gave To Me. They’re delightful little tributes to the holiday season, filled with love (of all kinds, mind you, not just romance) and holiday traditions. If you’re looking for something to get you in the mood for the upcoming holidays, definitely give My True Love Gave To Me a shot!
Your favorites from this collection are very similar to mine. I'm harboring a not-so-secret hope that Jenny will eventually write a full-length novel in the Polaris world--I'm still thinking about that story! And I cried after reading "Welcome to Christmas, CA" as well. I'm glad I'm not the only one who got choked up.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't a fan of Jenny Hann's story, and I think Ally Carter's needed to be longer, but the others you mentioned are among my favorites. I also really liked Rainbow Rowell's and Gayle Forman's. It's nice to have a group of short stories by favorite authors - I wish they'd write them more often. :)
ReplyDeleteI wanted this book to never ever end
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to get this one!! I preordered it a while back and hope it comes soon ... there are some great authors in it!
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