It's always kind of fun to read at least one Christmas-y book at Christmastime, isn't it? When I first read "The Christmas Orphans Club" by Becca Freeman last year (I think I started it on the plane ride back to Toronto, after spending last Christmas with my family in Manitoba), I remember thinking it would make a good holiday-themed pick for the book club I co-host in the Childless Collective community. I recommended it to my co-host, who read it herself and agreed! and we added it to our schedule for this December.
(This book first landed on my radar at the recommendation of Nora McInerny of "Terrible, Thanks for Asking," whose chose it for her December 2023 "Terrible Reading Club" podcast/Substack.)
"The Christmas Orphans Club" is a lighthearted rom-com with distinct "Friends"/Hallmark Christmas movie vibes (especially at the end) -- but also some serious underlying themes/messages/life lessons that have relevance for those of us living without children.
The book has two narrators: best friends Hannah, whose parents both died when she was a teenager, and Finn, whose family cut him off when he came out to them as gay. They've spent every Christmas together since they met in college. It's now 10 years later, they're both living and working in New York City, and they've been joined for subsequent Christmas celebrations by Hannah's now-former roommate Priya, and the rich, handsome, charming, bisexual Theo, the secret object of Finn's desire. (Theo is the neglected son of a Richard Branson-like British airline billionaire, who -- fortunately for his friends -- can produce limos, famous Taylor Swift/Britney Spears-style pop stars and luxury vacations in Mexico like a magician pulls rabbits out of a hat. In this respect, the book is not very realistic, albeit it's great fantasy/wish fulfillment...! -- like I said, Hallmark movie, lol.)
But then Finn announces he's moving across the country to start a new job in L.A. This coming Christmas will be the last one they all spend together -- and Hannah is determined that it will be the best one ever. But Hannah's boyfriend David expects her to spend it with him and his family -- and he's planning to give her a special present. The pressure is on...!
This book will resonate with childless people -- well, anyone, really -- who feel at loose ends during the holiday season, as friends and relatives occupy themselves with their children and grandchildren. It's about "chosen family" and the importance it assumes in our lives when our traditional family structures and relationships are lacking, and holidays make us feel like we're on the outside looking in. And it's also about what happens when we age out of young adulthood, situations change and our friends' life paths start diverging from ours.
My original review of this book -- the first book I finished in 2024 -- rated it 3.5 stars on StoryGraph, rounded up to 4 stars on Goodreads (after some internal debate!). (It was Christmastime, and I was feeling generous, lol.) I had a similar debate this time around, and wound up leaving my rating the same.
3.5 stars on StoryGraph, rounded up to 4 stars on Goodreads. (Ho ho ho!)
This was Book #32 read to date in 2024 (and Book #1 finished in November), bringing me to 71% of my 2024 Goodreads Reading Challenge goal of 45 books. I am (for the moment, anyway...!) 8 (!) books behind schedule to meet my goal. :( You can find reviews of all my books read to date in 2024 tagged as "2024 books."
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Postscript: The first time I reviewed this book, I observed that "Hannah can be somewhat clueless/annoying at times." I thought the same thing this time around too -- but with a shock of recognition. I realized that I saw a LOT of myself in Hannah -- in the way that she hates change and clings to tradition -- even when it's obvious that some of those traditions no longer serve her and the changes might eventually turn out to be okay, or maybe even for the better. (Oops.) I like to think I've improved somewhat over the years, though...??
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