A Home for the Holidays
A Novel
by Taylor Hahn
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Pub Date Sep 24 2024 | Archive Date Not set
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Description
For wedding singer Mel Hart, the holidays have always retained a certain magic. Her mother, Connie, always managed to pull off spectacular Santa hijinx that convinced Mel to keep believing in Santa way longer than other kids. Those moments meant everything to Mel because the rest of the year, life was unpredictable because of her mother’s alcohol use.
But two weeks before Christmas, Mel gets a call from the hospital: her mother has died.
Then a woman shows up on Mel's doorstep, claiming to be Connie's estranged best friend, promising to tell Mel a different narrative—one in which Connie was almost a famous country music star, if only a man hadn't gotten in the way. Instead of spending Christmas alone in her dead mother's house, Mel agrees to stay with Barb for the holidays, finding herself in the middle of Barb's complicated family and uncovering secrets while fighting an attraction to Barb’s in-the-middle-of-a-divorce son. As Christmas approaches, Mel reckons with how little she knew about her mother's past while reexamining her own future.
A Home for the Holidays is a moving exploration of complicated grief, mother-daughter relationships, loving someone with addiction, and the redemptive power of opening one's heart to love in all its forms.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9780593470701 |
| PRICE | $28.00 (USD) |
| PAGES | 256 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Meagan H, Reviewer
Thank you @aaknopf and @netgalley for the eARC of A Home for the Holidays by @taylorsheahahn in exchange for an honest review!
📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 Mel Hart had a difficult childhood and spent most of the year being the parent to her own mother, except for Christmas. Christmas was the magical time her mother kept special for her, even through her drinking daze. Now an adult, Mel receives the call that her mother has died on December 14th, a true shot in the heart to the Christmas spirit. As someone who lost their mother on December 13th, the roller coaster of emotions with a loss like this so close to Christmas is wild and Taylor Hahn writes Mel’s grief perfectly. When an old friend of her mother, Barbara, reaches out to Mel, she has the gift to see her mother in another light. It is like a true Christmas miracle for Mel to be able to work through her grief in this unique way. A Home for the Holidays is an absolutely beautiful and cathartic read so grab the tissues and settle down to enjoy this one.
5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review is posted on Goodreads and will be on Instagram ahead of the publication date!
Stroop W, Reviewer
A sweet and heartwarming read about grief, found family, and finding joy when you least expect it. I loved it!
Mel is pretty content with her job as a wedding singer despite her boyfriend and best friend encouraging her to think bigger. When her mother unexpectedly passes, Mel reflects on the complicated relationship she had with her mother and when she meets her mother’s former best friend, she learns so much more about the woman who raised her. With this new knowledge, Mel tries to figure out what she wants from her life.
The story unfolds over a couple of weeks in December and has a warm and cozy holiday feel. The dialogue sparkles (Henry is wonderful!) and Mel is easy to love and empathize with. I was cheering her on as she grapples with feeling sad yet hopeful about her future.
Thank you very much to Knopf and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.
Kelly J, Reviewer
A Home for the Holidays was a beautifully woven story about the relationship between Mel and her mom. This was one of the most touching, heartfelt stories I’ve ever read.
This was extremely well written & while sad, the exploration and excitement of new beginnings played a huge role in the book and in healing . I loved the characters so much, the storyline was a perfect combination of love, relationships, healing, moving forward and so much more. It truly was a feel good story!
Thank you to Netgalley and aaknopf for an ARC of A Home For the Holidays in exchange for an honest review.
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