My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories

My True Love Gave To Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by Multiple Authors  
Published by St.Martins Press on October 14, 2014
Genres: Contemporary, Winter Reads
Pages: 320
Source:  Buy the Book • Goodreads
*This book was sent to me in exchange for a honest review

  If you love holiday stories, holiday movies, made-for-TV-holiday specials, holiday episodes of your favorite sitcoms and, especially, if you love holiday anthologies, you’re going to fall in love with MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME: TWELVE HOLIDAY STORIES by twelve bestselling young adult writers, edited by international bestselling author Stephanie Perkins.

I could not wait to get my hands on this book! Let me count the things I loved about this book even before I read it! 

1.12 holiday stories- I LOVE anything holiday themed! I am a HUGE Christmas lover!

2.  The cover. So freaking adorable!

3. So many AMAZING authors! Rainbow Rowell, Stephanie Perkins, Jenny Han and so many more!

Overall I loved this book!

I am rating it as a whole & also rating each individual short stories.

Let's get onto each short story!

Midnights by Rainbow Rowell

5/5

The first short story & probably my favorite overall. This story was only 23 pages long and yet Rainbow Rowell has this way of just sucking you into her stories! I loved the two main characters and how each little story within this story was told minutes before the New Year began. Seriously Rainbow Rowell, will you ever write something I don't love? I take that back- keep writing AMAZING things!

The Lady & The Fox by Kelly Link

3/5

I've never heard of this author before and I'll be honest, this story kinda confused me. Even while typing this, I'm thinking back to the story and it confuses me just as much! Overall it was a good story, it had a little paranormal ( I think) aspects of it but it was interesting to read.

Angels In the Snow by Matt De La Pena

4/5

Another author I've never read anything by but this story was really good! I loved the characters and how they got together and it was just overall really sweet!

Polaris is where you'll find me by Jenny Han

4/5

Ah another one of my favorite authors! I loved how this short story took place in the North Pole! It was all about a human girl living in an elf's world- literally! I love the movie ELF so it's no surprise I loved this story!

 It's A Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown by Stephanie Perkins

5/5

Are you suprised I gave this 5/5? I'm not! Stephanie Perkins writes romance and cute stuff amazingly! Like I want to meet this flannel shirt, Christmas tree guy and take him home! I just loved this story and wanted more! Like I would read an entire book about these two characters!

Your Temporary Santa by David Levithan

3/5

Probably the only short story that doesn't have that much focus on the couple which was refreshing to read. I loved how it kinda dealt with the family aspect and it was overall cute to read.

Krampuslauf by Holly Black

1/5

I attempted to read this one, I really did. I have attempted to read several of Holly Black's books before but I just can't get into them. I don't know if it's her writing style or what but I just can't get into her stuff. Sorry!

What the hell have you done, Sophie Roth by Gayle Forman

3/5

I'm probably the only one who hasn't read Gayle Forman's books. I think it's because I know their sad and I just like to steer clear of that sometimes. I liked this story but I didn't love it. It was just ok for me.

Beer Buckets and Baby Jesus by Myra McEntire

4/5

I loved this one! I liked the premise behind it! It was all about a bad boy that likes the preacher's daughter and he has to help with the annual Christmas play. I loved watching both the characters develop believe it or not over the shortness of this story.

Welcome to Christmas, CA by Kiersten White

5/5

Probably my 3rd favorite story! I loved this story so so much! The development with the main character is just so amazing and the guy in this story is a chef who just knows what dishes to make for particular people to make them happy! Sign me up!

Star of Bethlehem by Ally Carter

4/5

Another solid story! Granted an stories with cowboy type guys I usually love so that's a given but I loved this one as well!

The Girl who woke the dreamer by Laini Taylor

3/5

This one was definable the paranormal one out of the bunch and was very interesting to read. I did confused alot while reading it though.

Overall amazing book! This is def. a must read for Christmas! I would have read it closer to Christmas but I just really wanted to read it ASAP!

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han 

Published by Simon & Schuster Books on April 15, 2014
Genres: Contemporary
Pages: 288

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.

 

 

 

 

It's no surprise I love Jenny Han's books. I loved her The Summer I Turned Pretty series. So when I heard this book was coming out, I was over the moon excited for it! 

 

I enjoyed this book. I wouldn't say I loved it but I highly enjoyed it, if that makes any sense. I liked Lara Jean's character. She was sweet & innocent and and you wanted the best choices for her. I enjoyed seeing her character develop over this book. I felt that she was living in a bubble and not experiencing life and I am so glad she got out of her bubble.

 

I loved the concept of this book. I mean all your love letters accidentally getting sent out? What could happen next? I wish that we saw more interaction with the letters. By that I mean I wanted closure and a confrontation with each of the letters Lara Jean sent out. I feel like with this book we only really saw a little fraction of it.

 

Other than that I enjoyed the book. I love the family in this book. A strong family with an amazing bond, it was amazing to read. Lara Jean had a great relationship with her sisters & her Dad that was very refreshing to read.

 

One thing I would love to see maybe in the future is a book solely focused on Lara Jean's older sister, Margot. Margot is the rock of the family. I feel so deeply for Margot but I feel like a lot of people will dislike her in this book. She can come off pushy and bossy but she feels like she has to after this horrible family loss. I would love to read her adventures in college and watch her blossom and realize it's ok to have fun for herself.

 

I wasn't super happy with the ending. The whole book I felt like I knew what the ending was gonna be and I was completely wrong! I enjoy that though, when books surprise me! I don't feel like the ending was complete but then I learned that there is a 2nd book coming out! So excited now! I can't wait to see how this all resolves!

 

I recommend this book if you are fan of contemporary's and light hearted fun!