Jonetta's Reviews > The Christmas Star
The Christmas Star
by
by
Jonetta's review
bookshelves: audiobook, contemporary-romance, christmas, audible-original, audible-plus, 2023-audiobook-challenge, 3500-2022
Dec 12, 2023
bookshelves: audiobook, contemporary-romance, christmas, audible-original, audible-plus, 2023-audiobook-challenge, 3500-2022
the setup…
Julia Devine is the manager of Sunny Street Cinema in London and the job perfectly suits her. She’s unconventional with her love of vintage clothes and classic films. She’s busy preparing the holiday movie line up and sitting through a showing when she sees her favorite star Hugo Turner leaving her aisle. But when he’s approached by a fan, he admits he’s his doppelgänger and is really Sam Hunter. When she later rescues him from another fan at a restaurant, they strike up a conversation that leads to a wonderful friendship. Julia is also dreading her upcoming trip home to Cumbria for the family Christmas lunch, even considering skipping it because of her awful stepsister Becca who is bragging about bringing her new pilot boyfriend. But Sam encourages her to use him…as her date, Hugo Turner!
the heart of the story…
Julia is a wonderful character who is quirky, talented, bright and resourceful. But she’s grown up with the awful Becca who is enabled by her stepfather and even Julia’s own mother Sylvia. The Christmas ruse has all of the expected fun and drama but her relationship with Sam is complicating matters as her feelings for him are beginning to grow and how is she to later explain her “breakup” with the famous Hugo?
the narration…
This is all about the storytelling and Tidd delivered a fine performance. I particularly loved her voice for the evil stepsister Becca.
the bottom line…
While this story isn’t the most original, the crafting of it and the characterizations were pretty special. I couldn’t help liking Julia and Sam who appreciated all her qualities and talents and had a wicked sense of humor. Their romance was a slow, lovely burn and the holiday setting gave it a lift. The Christmas charade brought lots of fun moments along with some serious themes related to family relationships. It’s a gem in this season of holiday stories. 4.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
Julia Devine is the manager of Sunny Street Cinema in London and the job perfectly suits her. She’s unconventional with her love of vintage clothes and classic films. She’s busy preparing the holiday movie line up and sitting through a showing when she sees her favorite star Hugo Turner leaving her aisle. But when he’s approached by a fan, he admits he’s his doppelgänger and is really Sam Hunter. When she later rescues him from another fan at a restaurant, they strike up a conversation that leads to a wonderful friendship. Julia is also dreading her upcoming trip home to Cumbria for the family Christmas lunch, even considering skipping it because of her awful stepsister Becca who is bragging about bringing her new pilot boyfriend. But Sam encourages her to use him…as her date, Hugo Turner!
the heart of the story…
Julia is a wonderful character who is quirky, talented, bright and resourceful. But she’s grown up with the awful Becca who is enabled by her stepfather and even Julia’s own mother Sylvia. The Christmas ruse has all of the expected fun and drama but her relationship with Sam is complicating matters as her feelings for him are beginning to grow and how is she to later explain her “breakup” with the famous Hugo?
the narration…
This is all about the storytelling and Tidd delivered a fine performance. I particularly loved her voice for the evil stepsister Becca.
the bottom line…
While this story isn’t the most original, the crafting of it and the characterizations were pretty special. I couldn’t help liking Julia and Sam who appreciated all her qualities and talents and had a wicked sense of humor. Their romance was a slow, lovely burn and the holiday setting gave it a lift. The Christmas charade brought lots of fun moments along with some serious themes related to family relationships. It’s a gem in this season of holiday stories. 4.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
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Reading Progress
December 11, 2023
–
Started Reading
December 11, 2023
– Shelved
December 11, 2023
– Shelved as:
to-read
December 11, 2023
– Shelved as:
audiobook
December 11, 2023
– Shelved as:
contemporary-romance
December 11, 2023
– Shelved as:
christmas
December 11, 2023
– Shelved as:
audible-original
December 11, 2023
– Shelved as:
audible-plus
December 12, 2023
– Shelved as:
2023-audiobook-challenge
December 12, 2023
– Shelved as:
3500-2022
December 12, 2023
–
Finished Reading
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by
Robin
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rated it 5 stars
Dec 17, 2023 06:00PM
Great review, Jonetta! So glad you liked it.
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