One Christmas Eve by Shari Low - Book Review

Publication Date: 29th August 2023

Genre: Contemporary Family Saga 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Heartwarming in the Hallmark way 

Cathy, 1968: When her lost love comes for a visit, Cathy has to decide whom she will choose and what it means for her future. 

Helena, 1993: As an aspiring solicitor, Cathy’s daughter is her opposite in every way. Yet, she is delighted by the prospect of formalizing her relationship with her boyfriend. Until she finds something she’d rather not have.  

Eve, 2023: Her life turns upside down when the DNA test reveals a hidden truth. But how is it possible, and who will answer the questions? Can Eve find the truth after all these years?

The events take place on Christmas Eve, from morning to night. The alternative chapters show the storyline of the main characters and their lives, bringing everything together at the end. 

The story comes in the third-person POV of three main characters – Cathy, Helena, and Eve. 

My Thoughts: 

Having read the previous two books in this not-a-series, I knew what to expect from this one. The book takes us through the lives of three people in different years but on the same day – Christmas Eve. 

Cathy is a 75-year-old woman, Helena’s mom and Eve’s grandma. She is cheerful, fun-loving, and like a warm hug that would make anyone feel better. Easily my favorite character in the book. Eve is twenty-nine, successful in her career as an agent to actors. She is sweet, cute, and easygoing. Her arc is decent, too. 

Now, I’m not sure if Helena was deliberately written that way or if there’s a gap in idea and execution. I disliked her almost throughout the book. Except for that last chapter from her POV (which is redemption a little too late, IMO), it’s hard to empathize with her. Mind you, this comes from someone who prefers to be in control of emotions. However, Helena is more like a robot even before things ‘went wrong’. 

The side characters are okay, and none except Richie, Duncan, and Loretta get enough space to be anything other than props. 

The writing is easy enough to read and tries to minimize repetition, which I appreciate. Since the pacing is slow, repetition could have further weighed it down. There are still some, but it cannot be helped given the choice of presentation. 

Christmas, as such, doesn’t play a major role in the plot. It’s there in the background and gives the feel, but that’s it. If you want an exclusive Christmas story, this may not work. 

The revelation and the climax feel too easy. The lack of drama is good, but I wouldn’t have minded if things were a wee bit hard. I mean, it feels so simple when a character laments about something throughout the book and gets it with almost no effort at the end. However, Cathy’s track is adorable, and I do like it the best. 

A couple of twists are thrown in to keep the readers interested. I did guess one, but I did guess the other. In fact, I figured that right at the beginning when the character was introduced. No complaints, but exploring this a little instead of summing it up at the end would have made things feel a little real. 

The cover is beautiful! I love the color combination and the joyful vibes it gives. There’s an epilogue too (hurray). 

To summarize, One Christmas Eve is a Hallmarkish cozy family saga with some secrets, second chances, and reunions. It’s quite lighthearted and enjoyable. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #OneChristmasEve