This is actually the first time I've ever read a Choose Your Own Ending book!

I'm not quite midlife myself, but the story of a 40-something year old woman experiencing her own version of A Christmas Carol was very alluring to me. The story was a bit more depressing than I expected, but that could possibly be because I could easily imagine myself experiencing what was going on with Eliza's life.

I found myself more partial to the first two endings. Without spoiling it, I felt that the third ending relied too heavily on a certain something that pushed Eliza into that direction when she might not have if she didn't magically have that certain something. I would have preferred it more if what she had seen with the future ghost was enough to reevaluate her life and marriage, not because she had such a tangible nudge in that direction.

Overall, the writing was very good and, this being the first book I've read by the author, I wouldn't mind looking into her other works.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!!

What a good book! I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I loved the main characters! They had great chemistry and worked so well together. I loved how the book just flowed. My first by this author but will not be my last!!!

A Modern Midlife Christmas Carol by Alana Oxford offers a contemporary twist on the classic holiday tale. The story follows a midlife protagonist who reflects on her past and present during the festive season, prompting themes of self-discovery and redemption. Oxford's writing is approachable and relatable, capturing the challenges and joys of midlife. While the plot may follow familiar themes, it provides a cozy and reflective reading experience for those looking to embrace the holiday spirit.

Ok- even though I’m not a fan of ‘choose your ending’ I will say I did enjoy this one! (The story itself)

I feel like I’ve never read a book like this so that I’m itself wind points for me. I like when authors try new characters and bring on things that make me by like ‘oh, had never seen that in a book’

I feel like these are things many people can relate to and it felt like a cute read that does not shy away from the weight that comes with certain topics and situations

I enjoyed this one a lot. Suburban exhausted mom meets pampered rich mama who seems to have it all together. Hijinks definitely ensue, but it has a lot of heart in this book too.

I picked this book up because I like choose-your-own-adventure/ending books. Here, there were 3 different endings you could choose from. I enjoyed reading it.

Thanks to NetGalley and 8N Publishing, LLC for an eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Being a wife and a mother, I clearly identified the unseen struggles of having to tend to her family, her job, her mother, and the coming of perimenopause. Wow, the author gives a very small glimpse into the emptiness of a woman who failed to become the perfect wife and mother that she was expected to be.

On one Christmas eve after suffering for years Eliza snap and has a melt down in her in-laws home. This digressive turning point results in what can be described more or less a supernatural apparition of the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. In this way, the spirits are able to provide Eliza – and the reader – with a new take on her life options by showing her different eras in her life, as well as her busy present, and an unseen future.

This is where it really gets exciting. At the end of each chapter the author makes the reader decide which way Eliza has to go – stay under the expectations, claim herself in the present, or build a new future. I also really appreciated how this more active structure made me feel like I was riding along with Eliza and forced me to think about my own life pretty intensely.

Though the story is relatively short, one discerning eye cannot ignore “A Modern Midlife Christmas Carol ” nor receive inspiration from the convincing characters and incapability to come up with believable story in its format. I believe any woman who gets a glimpse of the slow encroachment of loneliness due to gender norms would relate to this book. I will have this book and Eliza’s choices in my head for a while.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

First of all, hurray for a perimenopausal heroine!
After reading this book, I feel so seen. Eliza is drifting into the background her own life. Cleaning up everyone else's messes and keeping all the plates spinning at once. By the time Christmas comes around, she needs a long break, not the added holiday stress.
I thought Eliza's family situation was so relatable and realistic.
I thoroughly enjoyed the casting of a frazzled middle aged mother in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge.
It's a fast, easy read with lots of heart. Plus, the three different endings to choose from is a lot of fun too.

I received a free copy of, A Modern Midlife Christmas Carol, by Alana Oxford, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. It's Christmas time, but Eliza is to stressed to enjoy it. When 3 spirits visit her on Christmas eve, will they change her attitude? A good read, I wish it was longer.

I LOVED the choose your own ending, this book gives me serious nostalgia and more books should offer this type of style, I really hope some authors try this ut because Alana has proved that you can make a wonderful story and turn it UP

This was an interesting spin on A Christmas Carol. Eliza and her life were pretty relatable. My issue was the ending- I felt it just didn't work out with the whole 'choose your ending' thing. However, I recognize that as personal taste because I never liked those kind of books growing up and I think I was just hoping this was a better version. Solid writing though.

As a child, I loved choose your own ending books. I just finished an adult holiday version, A Modern Midlife Crisis. It was so fun!

An interesting take on A Christmas Carol, this book had my attention from word one. Unfortunately it goes a little of the rails after the ghosts visit and the ambiguous ending doesn’t work.