This just might be the creepy Christmas story you are looking for (and short enough that you can finish it before the New Year)!

In Everything is Temporary, Sarah Barnes knows that her husband, Tom, hates Christmas but has never really understood why. When Tom seems to go off the rails and attacks an old man in the community (with a Christmas-themed house) he is faced with jail time and with losing his family. Tom gives Sarah a book that he had written when he was younger called Everything is Temporary that tells about his bizarre and unbelievable face-off with a host of Christmas characters during his childhood. Now his wife is tasked with figuring out if Tom is telling the truth or should be locked up.

A few things that I loved about this book: It was fast-paced and fun while also being creepy. There were a LOT of pop culture references that were right up my alley - Christmas themed (A Christmas Story, Home Alone) and non-Christmas themed (10 Things I Hate About You, She's All That) and even a reference to My Chemical Romance (be still my beating heart!) I liked how in a traditional coming-of-age horror story you are able to see the characters battle a monster when they are younger and grow up to keep fighting that monster (IT, anyone?) I always love the idea of a story within a story and the constant battle of "is this real or is this character delusional?"

Of course when you are battling Christmas monsters there tends to be a bit of cheese, but I didn't mind. When you have a cover with a creepy, grinning Christmas tree on the cover I would expect nothing less (and this was actually much more fun than I anticipated). Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an advance e-copy of this book!

This was such a fun and unique seasonal read! Jon wrote an intricate and intriguing story that became a top read of the year for me!
We followed a man who, due to his childhood trauma, hated Christmas. But the thing that haunted him as a kid and tried to ruin his life, held a grudge, and it's back...

I cried 4% into the book, I truly don’t know what I was expecting by the title…

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐬 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 is a magical Christmas themed horror novel with a lot of twists, adventure and living Christmas ornaments. It was a suspenseful and entertaining read. A journey where we can learn why Tom Barnes hates Christmas so much. With dual timeline we can see all the traumatic events that happened in his childhood. The character development is incredible and not just with his character.
The book discusses death and grief through the magic of Christmas. I highly recommend reading it if you’re looking for your next holiday read!

This was not a book for me. The characters were not particularly interesting. I didn't care enough about them to be invested in their outcome.

I did not get to read this due to my tbr getting too large, but I have recently read some of Jon Cohn’s work due to the books of horror brackets and really enjoyed them. I will be purchasing this and seeing if I enjoy it just as much as others.

*Everything Is Temporary* by Jon Cohn is a poignant collection that captures the fleeting nature of life through introspective and relatable poetry. Cohn’s words resonate deeply, offering a comforting reminder that both pain and joy are transient, making the book a reflective and emotional read.

absolutely loved it! The story is a magical and horrifying tale set during
I finished this in one sitting and I couldn't put it down. I was immediately captivated from the beginning. I had this ebook version before I read Slashtag; I was actually stalling reading it. But once I read Slashtag, I knew I was going to love this story because how well the author can tell a tale. I enjoyed the story alternating between the past and the present, which isn't always the case, but it was very well done here and I'm not sure how else the story could've been told as smoothly.
It's very interesting the way the story makes you question reality along side the characters, at least as the wife is experiencing it.
I wish I could tell you more, just to convince you how much fun this story is to read and how well written, so you will go out and read it. But that would spoil the fun, so just trust me. Pick up a copy. You won't regret it. Also, read Slashtag if you haven't. Or any of Jon's other books.

la magia del natale diventa terrore, una storia perfetta se non vi bastano i brividi dell'inverno e cercate qualcosa di strano! quanto vorrei un'edizione italiana!

This is a Christmas horror story about a father who goes to extreme lengths to protect his daughter from the same evil Ms. Claus from his childhood. I felt like the story kind of dragged on but it was atmospheric and I liked how it addressed grief. I listened to the last half of it on audible because I got bored reading it. It’s not one of my favorite Christmas horrors, but it’s worth a read for those who have read all the Christmas horror.

Everything is temporary was a wild ride! The story had me questioning the sanity of every character and I couldn’t wait to find out who would be victorious in the end. I definitely recommend!

"Everything is Temporary" by Jon Cohn is a riveting journey into the depths of perception and reality, where every twist and turn leaves readers questioning what is true and what is merely illusion. Cohn's narrative skillfully weaves a tapestry of uncertainty, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they navigate through a maze of shifting truths.

One of the most captivating aspects of the book is its ability to keep readers guessing. With each turn of the page, Cohn masterfully blurs the lines between reality and imagination, leaving readers uncertain of what is real and what isn't. This constant sense of ambiguity adds a layer of intrigue to the story, making it impossible to predict what will happen next.

The Christmas theme and the inclusion of a book within a book made this an even more appealing read. Not only does it add depth to the narrative, but it also serves to heighten the suspense, as readers are left wondering how the two stories intertwine. This clever narrative device keeps readers engaged and eager to uncover the truth, making the book difficult to put down.

This is definitely a book that grips you from the very first page and refuses to let go. I found myself racing through the pages, desperate to uncover the secrets hidden within the story.

Overall, the progression of the story is very well done. Cohn effortlessly navigates between past and present, reality and fiction, weaving together a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is suspenseful.

Sarah and Tom have a hard time in front of them, they just don't know it yet.
Tom's traumatic childhood lets him behave erratically and makes it hard for the people he loves to trust him.

Will Sarah be able to keep her family together and safe?
What's happening to Tom, and why right now?

¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦

The story is told in two timelines, one written down as a semi-biographic book of the past by Tom and one is set in the present of what the Barnes family experiences through Sarah's eyes.

The books made me second guess myself and wonder if either one of the narrators might be unreliable or just clueless about what's really happening at the moment.

The Author gave us only tiny bites in each exhibit of the book written by Tom, after raising questions in the present by what Sarah's pov previously.
This gives a nice back and forth, and makes it harder to foresee the outcome… while even casting doubt on Tom's sanity at some point.

One more thing, I love how the excerpts from Tom's Book gave off these slight 'IT', 'Summer of 84' and 'Stranger Things' vibes.
They, the excerpts, were maybe not set in the 70s or 80s but definitely had elements that evoke this special nostalgia and retro feeling I so crave in the past few years.

A very merry 4.2 🍒 Rating!

𝑰 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍-𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆, 𝒔𝒖𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆.

I honestly wanted to like this book more than I did. I think the premise was definitely there, but the beginning of the book felt like it dragged while the end felt like it was rushed; I wanted a bit more balance in the story. I want to make it clear I don’t think the book was bad, I’m enjoyed it for the most part, I just expected a bit more from it. I was really excited to give it a read but, overall, it just kind of fell flat.

I got this amazing book from Netgalley for ARC review in exchange of my honest views!



What a book... Just mind blowing... Right from Chapter 1 when Maya died, the pace was set... Tom and Sarah became my ultimate favorite.

Tom's phrase, 'Everything is Temporary', will now be on my lips forever. Tom's sudden change in behavior was a shocker.

As tragedy strikes and Tom, begins to act strangely, the story takes a dark and unexpected turn. From wild mood swings to bizarre accusations, Tom's behavior escalates to the point of attempted murder, leaving Sarah questioning everything she thought she knew about her husband. And not only Sarah, if you liked Tom then you'll be shocked too.

What really captivated me was the twist involving Tom's defense, which hinges on a long-forgotten book detailing a traumatic event from his childhood. The idea of talking Christmas trees, living toys, and a malevolent Mrs. Claus adds a chilling and fantastical element to the story that kept me guessing until the very end. Now I'll be terrified of Christmas... 😆

As Sarah delves deeper into her husband's past, the suspense builds, and the true extent of Tom's trauma is revealed. I found myself drawn into the heart-wrenching journey of a family torn apart by secrets and lies.

The ending was satisfying. And the family ended up together... All 3 if them were fine.

"Come on Rudolph let's go down in history."

What a mesmerizing Christmas time tale of grief, determination, friendship and love. You'll be crying at the traumatizing moments of grief, laughing at the small comedic moments that lighten the moment and gasping when Christmas is brought to life in the most devastatingly way possible

Merging together a book within a book while also keeping you connected to the main story line was done so uniquely well. While also adding a hauntingly fantastical twist that will sure get your tinsel in a tangle

With many remnants and mentions of Christmas classics such as A Christmas Story and Home Alone sending you immediately down nostalgia lane

The immediate connection to the characters will have you rooting for the good guys until the very end

With short fast moving chapters this is a perfect read to finish up in one day sitting beside the Christmas tree, surrounded by Christmas decorations while eating candy canes. You'll be smelling Christmas cookies in the air in no time at all

Thank you to @netgalley
And @joncohnauthor for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honost thoughts and opinions. Keep the change Ya Filthy Animal 🖤

A great read for spooky Christmas. It was an okay read but was more magical fantasy horror, which I'm not sure if I'm a fan of. The style of writing made up for that though. The beginning of the book kept me interested but as time went on it lost it's luster. The chapters with Tom were the most exciting.

Would recommend only during the holiday season.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Deadbolt Books and John Cohn for a copy of the book. All opinions are of my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this review copy in exchange for an honest opinion. Review has been posted on Amazon.

At first I was very excited over this read. The cover caught my attention. It was perfect for a spooky Christmas read. Starting out reading this book I was intrigued and wanted to keep going. As I went on, the intrigue died out. I felt like it was something I have read before but couldn't put my finger on.

Everything is Temporary by Jon Cohn. I read this last night on a long car ride. Read the whole thing. Couldn't put it down. I went in blind, had literally no idea what it was about. It was absolutely not anything I expected and it was absolutely excellent. Highly recommend. Go in blind. That is all.

☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️

I absolutely loved this one. My only complaint is that I missed it earlier, and am reading it in February. I would love to be reading this at Christmas. The writing is so fun. There is terror, there is humour. You actually care about the characters. I really had fun with this one.

It gives a bit of It and a little RL Stine if I’m honest. I loved the blend of adulthood and childhood.

I look forward to anything else Mr. Cohn has in store for us.