A Princess for Christmas by Jenny Holiday
Contemporary Holiday Romance
October 13, 2020, by Avon
ARC

Review by Melinda

This book was the definition of aggressively fine for me and part of it has to do with my own issues I bring with me but part of it was definitely the book. My issue is around that once again breast cancer is in the background for these characters. Admittedly, it plays a small part but it looms large over the entire book as it’s what killed one of the protagonist’s mothers. And really me reading a book about breast cancer during breast cancer awareness month is just asking for trouble!

I enjoyed Leo and his little sister, Gabby, and their relationship throughout the book. They have to maneuver life without their parents and I appreciated the realistic approach to that. Leo and Marie bond over their dead parents, which is…something, I guess?

But the part that bothered me the most is Leo’s discomfort with his little sister’s period. I get that he’s a man and the subject is uncomfortable and I could see one instance of discomfort but it’s repeated a few times. To the point that he says something along the lines of can people stop mentioning tampons and my sister to me? I just really dislike this trope.

Beyond that, everything was fine. Aggressively fine. I disliked her father so much I couldn’t get past it. The romance was fine. The HEA was fine. The audio was great, with excellent narration.

CW: Parental death in the past, breast cancer in the past

Grade: C

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