Always on the search for books for my book club, I needed a book for December. Should I choose a holiday-themed story? Or should I simply choose one unrelated to holidays? In order to decide, I read several holiday stories. As I looked through the bookshelves in my home, I discovered Skipping Christmas by John Grisham, a book I had forgotten I owned. At under 200 pages, it would be a good choice for December when folks are busy.
The New York Times calls Skipping Christmas “a classic tale for modern times from a beloved storyteller. John Grisham offers a hilarious look at the chaos and frenzy that have become part of our holiday tradition.”
Luther Krank, an appropriate name, decides to skip Christmas because his only daughter has left for Peru to spend two years working with the Peace Corps in Peru. Once his daughter is on the plane, Luther tells Nora, his wife, they are going to skip Christmas because they spent $6100 on Christmas last year and have nothing to show for that money. Once he has persuaded Nora to go along with his scheme, he springs the next part: a Caribbean Cruise during Christmas.
Nora is reluctant to go along with Luther’s plan, but he insists with their daughter unable to be home for Christmas, it is the perfect time to skip the holiday. He buys the cruise tickets. The next part is refusing to participate in any of the holiday festivities: no tree, no lights on the house, no Frosty the Snowman on the roof like the rest of the neighborhood.
Of course, Luther’s decision is questioned by all and sundry as they cannot believe he will let the neighborhood down by not decorating. One of his coworkers wants to go on the cruise with Luther and Nora, leaving his own family behind. That won’t work, but Luther feels his coworker sympathizes with him in his desire to skip the madness of the holiday.
Readers can feel the mounting tension as Luther continues to hold steady to his decision to stay away from all holiday traditions. Then Luther and Nora receive an unexpected phone call from their daughter. Suddenly, all of Luther’s plans are turned upside down. Read Skipping Christmas to discover the rest.
Recently, I stopped at my library’s curbside pickup in order to leave small Christmas treats for the librarian and one of her assistants who lead the monthly book club. I noticed a sign about a winter contest. By requesting a book with winter or Christmas in the title, one would be entered into a drawing to win a book.
I asked the librarian who answered the phone for a book with winter or Christmas in the title so I could enter the contest. She asked, “Do you have an author in mind?” I responded, “No, you choose.” And I am glad I made that request. She brought me Christmas at Rosie Hopkins’ Sweetshop by Jenny Colgan.
We’re in the midst of Christmas and a pandemic and a still contentious election, so a Christmas book to provide a distraction from that noise and with a happy ending sounded like the proper ticket for me. And I am happy to report that Christmas at Rosie Hopkins’ Sweetshop fits the bill. I am not spoiling anything by saying the story DOES have a happy ending because I desperately needed a story with a happy ending. Readers will have to discover how that ending develops, though, by reading!
“A Word from Jenny” prefaces the story of Rosie Hopkins and her sweet shop. Reading that note made me feel as if I were reading a letter especially for me even though, obviously, all other readers could read it too before delving into the story. Colgan recounts how the story of Rosie and the sweet shop came into her head. She mentions being a fan of James Herriot’s books and that she wanted to pay homage to her love of those books and their setting. Readers will also discover Colgan’s love of dogs as found in the story, another nod to Herriot.
As one who loves stories set in English villages, I couldn’t help but like Lipton, the village where Rosie’s Sweet shop is located in Derbyshire. It reminds me of Miss Marple’s village of St. Mary Mead, only without a murder involved.
Christmas at Rosie Hopkins’ Sweetshop does provide readers with a story of family, love, trust, and a bit of a mystery as well. Rosie goes to Lipton to take care of Evelyn, her great-aunt, who has owned the sweet shop for years. Unfortunately, Lillian has broken her hip and needs help now. Rosie, a nurse, has been living in London; she quickly adapts to village life and becomes friends with the long-time villagers.
Rosie even finds romance in Lipton, falling in love with Stephen, local heir. Rosie and Stephen live in Lillian’s cottage that is just a stone’s throw from the sweet shop. Lillian is recovering from her broken hip in the local nursing home. Rosie visits Lillian often and takes Lillian to the shop as well.
A good story must have some conflict. Christmas at Rosie Hopkins’ Sweetshop gives us plenty of conflict. While Rosie and Stephen are in love with one another, their relationship does have some rocky moments. Then Rosie’s brother Pip, his wife, three children, and Rosie’s mother all unexpectedly tell Rosie they are coming from Australia for Christmas. Lillian’s cottage is not large enough for all these people, but Stephen owns a home on his family’s estate, so Rosie cleans the home and sets it up for her family’s two-week visit.
Naturally, Stephen has a crotchety mother—at least on the exterior. Then a truck careens into the local primary school, damaging the building and injuring several children and Stephen, their teacher. This accident throws the village into turmoil because the cost of repairing the school may be more than the village can afford. However, if the school is not repaired, the children will have to be bused more than hour to the next larger village.
After everyone has been assessed for damage and those most badly injured taken to the hospital in the next village, Rosie realizes she must act to save the school. In truth, saving the school will save the village and her sweet shop as well as the other small businesses there.
The mystery in the story revolves around an elderly man, James Boyd, a WWII veteran. Boyd’s son Edward decides to put his father, who is suffering from dementia, into the local nursing home. There, James sees Lillian and old memories resurface for both of them. What do they share in the past?
Jenny Colgan has quite an extensive list of published novels. A few years ago, I read Bookshop on the Corner, set in a Scottish village. As readers of this blog already know, stories set in bookshops and libraries are a favorite of The Book Whisperer. The list is too long to provide here, but see her Website for much more: https://www.jennycolgan.com/. The site includes recipes as does Christmas at Rosie Hopkins’ Sweetshop. Readers can also sign up to receive Colgan’s newsletter in order to stay up-to-date with her newest books.
For those in need of a good story with a happy ending, look no further than Christmas at Rosie Hopkins’ Sweetshop. Enjoy!
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