Christmas is coming and Harper and her brother Will are preparing for their usual Christmas when their mum announces that her now boyfriend, Nick, will be joining them for the festive period. Things get off to a positive start and Nick seems nice; however, it isn't long before Harper starts wondering whether he is, in fact, Santa! She tries to talk to Will about it but he just shrugs it off so it's up to Harper to find proof to prove her theory.
I have a weakness for Christmas books so being privileged enough to read an early copy of Stepfather Christmas filled me with joy. Yesterday morning, I curled up with a hot chocolate (it would have been rude not to!) and dove in.
Harper and her family are clearly close and their family of three works well (although, Will seems to be a rather typical teenager!). Bringing Nick into the equation undoubtedly comes with some trepidation and is something I imagine many readers will be able to associate with.
I loved Harper who is an astute and incredibly observant, not only when it comes to Nick, but also with her brother. She's also determined and not put off by others. Not only does she continue her theories about Nick when Will dismisses her, but she also notices that Will is struggling with his best friend. The big question is: is Harper right? You'll just have to read the book to find out!
The book is the perfect mix of modern story-telling with a traditional Christmas feel. With themes of family, love and trusting yourself, Stepfather Christmas is split into 25 chapters and is a delightful read that would be perfect as a nightly family book in the run-up to Christmas. I genuinely wish my son was young enough for us to have enjoyed this together like that. We always used to enjoy family reading time after dinner and I could imagine us curling up every night in December and sharing the next chapter - it's the perfect way to build to the big day.
Full of magic, hope and love, Stepfather Christmas will leave you with a warm glow in your heart and a desire for gingerbread biscuits and hot chocolate! Publishing 12th October, this is a book that will make the perfect alternative to an advent calendar!
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