Reviewed by Emma Crowley
Behind every door is a festive wish...
When Jess Green arrives at her new home on Christmas Street, she quickly realises that this will be a December to remember! After the disaster of last year, she was hoping to curl up and avoid the festivities - but her new neighbours have other ideas...
Together, they're creating something extraordinary: a real-life advent calendar. As each house opens its door for wreath-making, gingerbread icing or carol singing, Jess finds herself swept up in the holiday cheer. Every house, that is, except for No. 24, home to the cantakerous Mr Winters.
But when disaster strikes, can Jess pull off a festive miracle - and make her own Christmas wish come true?
Many thanks to Orion via NetGalley for my copy of Miracle on Christmas Street to review and to Sharon for having my review on the blog.
Festive cheer is needed more than ever this year and thankfully all the Christmas books that I have read in the run up to the season that everybody loves have delivered that much desired happiness in spades. There are always plenty of Christmas books published each year and fortunately all the reads I chose this year have been absolutely brilliant and packed full with all things Christmas and none more so than Miracle on Christmas Street by Annie O’Neill. It’s a fabulous read with such a lovely meaning and message behind it.
The entire concept of the residents of Christmas Street joining together to create a living Advent calendar was just pure genius even if one of the residents wasn’t that keen too join in. He is rather known for his lack of interaction and participating in social activities with his neighbours but still that didn’t deter the residents and newcomer Jess Green from putting on a fantastic display in the 24 days leading up to the most special day of the year.
Black Friday 367 days ago and Jess is trying to put on a brave front after her life has majorly imploded. The reasons for this don’t become specifically clear until much later in the book but you get the sense whatever it was has had the most devastating impact on her. Jess works as a primary school teacher and now an enforced absence from work, which then lead to her being sacked, has led to her needing to revaluate her life. She wants to cocoon away from everything. Teaching was her vocation and her life has been ruined. I could identify immediately with Jess as I am a primary school teacher myself and I knew whatever had gone down wasn’t good and it would take an awful lot for her to be able to move forward especially as she knows she certainly wasn’t the person in the wrong. A year later and Jess has decided to move away from London to get away from the memories of the life she expected she would live for quite some time.
The town of Boughton is to be her new home and a new job in a school has been secured but this doesn’t start until after Christmas. Jess finds herself moving to Christmas Street but she is so upset and torn apart by her recent experiences that she refuses to take down the sale agreed sign as she just has no faith that this move will prove successful. God love her she was so down on herself and full of woe, solitude and despair. In a way I couldn’t blame her for what she had been through, no-one would wish it on any teacher. It’s the ultimate nightmare and her confidence has been ripped from her and it would be very challenging to get any of it back in order to move forward. Christmas for Jess this year is just something to get through, rather than get excited for. She wants the chance to allow her wounds to begin to heal and for her to reset her life aspirations. But little does she bargain on meeting the whirlwind that is Drea who has created the Advent calendar.
The calendar was such a fun, embracing and unique concept. Who wouldn’t want a little Christmas surprise every day? Each resident opened their doors to a fun activity every day and my excitement to see what they would deliver just grew and grew. Yes it may have been pressure for some and Mr Winters just wasn’t getting into the mood but still I had a feeling there were reasons behind this. With Jess trying to knock down his barriers I knew she was helping herself at the same time even if she herself didn’t realise it. No doubt about it Mr Winters was the Scrooge of the story and aspects of A Christmas Carol with a modern day spin did spring to mind. I loved the way an old tale with an important message was giving an up to date twist. A real community feeling of coming together to create some joy and happiness was certainly growing on Christmas street with a carolling kazoo choir, a Christmas pinata, Christmas jenga, best dressed holiday pet show and Jess’ evening of painting a Christmas tree on her wall with all the numbers of the houses and a stencil representing each of them were just a few of the brilliant and creative ideas mentioned. Annie O’Neill had such fantastic ideas throughout this book that only added to the wonderful atmosphere and festive feelings created throughout the entire story. It really did make me feel better about things and certainly took my mind off outside troubles for the time I spent reading it.
I know we weren’t meant to like Mr Winters initially but everyone has a reason for acting the way they do and I loved the storyline of Jess when she just kept pushing and pushing wanting to get through to him and to make him happy again. But for me it was the character of Drea, I just couldn’t warm to. Yes, I loved her idea for the calendar but overall she just seemed to be too pushy. She was an organiser clearly and her intentions were more than good but at times she came across as being rather intimidating and in your face. I thought on occasions Jess was treading wearily around her for fear of doing or saying the wrong thing. Jess’ idea to bring happiness into Drea’s life was a good one and I hated that Drea took it up the wrong way. I didn’t detest her as a character but she certainly wasn’t my favourite.
As more and more doors are opened on Christmas Street, and events and projects for the calendar come to fruition, we see Jess start to go through a change and it’s a positive one. She has been ripped apart and her life shattered but coming to Christmas Street could just be the makings of her. Her little side project regarding Mr Winters began by mistakenly opening a card for him and what she reads inside inspired her to go that little bit further to try and change the man who seems so better and cut off from the world and everyone it. Through trying to heal Mr Winters Jess was doing the same for herself and I really loved this storyline. The rest of the residents may have given up on him but Jess was determined to do the right thing and by doing this she unwittingly was finding the happiness and contentment she needed in order to move forward in her own personal life. Happiness, kindness and confidence makes life better. Jess began to realise that moping around was not going to change her past. What was done was done and now she had the power to change her future. Her destiny was in her hands and I was rooting for her all the way.
Miracle on Christmas Street was a wonderful read and if that stunning cover doesn’t entice you to pick up this captivating and sparkling story that the concept of the calendar and the message of peace, hope joy and love certainly will. The only little issue I had came towards the end as I felt the ending was very rushed given all the brilliant storylines they had been set up throughout the book. But maybe that leaves room for a sequel. Set in the summer perhaps? I can only wish but I did love this story and the characters so I hope that wish comes true. Do make sure to read this fantastic Christmas book if you get an opportunity to do so.
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