Comfort & Joy: A Novel

I've read many of Hannah's books and this one was rotten. Not even worth your time. So unbelievably fake and I kept hoping something would come together in the end. It was like a terrible hallmark movie for teens. Not worth your time.

A little different than her other books, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope she writes another fable for next Christmas.

The book was fairly well written until I got to the ending. I am not into fantasy and will not be reading any more of her books.

Joy Candellaro is a high school librarian in Bakersfield, California. As the story opens it's the last day before school break for the holidays and her heart isn't into celebrating. Yes, she has gone through the motions but her heart isn't in it. She has just gone through a nasty divorce after catching her husband in bed with her sister. On a whim after receiving yet some more devastating news, she boards a plane bound for the Canadian town of Hope - feeling that Hope is what she needs. Things don't go as she would have wanted when what she thinks at first is turbulence is the plane crashing into the woods. I thought this was some of Kristin Hannah's best writing EVER. I was immediately drawn into the story with her easy-going style of writing and even flow. The story of a woman celebrating Christmas alone after going through a heartbreaking divorce yet really just wanting to get away from it all was something I had thought of more than once in my life. I bought into the entire scenario of the book hook, line, and sinker. I know there are readers who thought the story was well, far-fetched. But I figured if I could buy time-travel or read about faeries and leprechauns I could certainly suspend disbelief long enough to buy into this scenario. I thought it was a beautiful story and reading it at the end of the Holiday season made it perfect timing.

Kristin Hannah has presented us with a delightful gift that is sure to give your emotions a thorough workout. COMFORT & JOY is a magical tale that has been released just in time for the Christmas season, where very often the impossible becomes possible. This unusual story begins in an all-too usual way. Joy Candellaro comes home unexpectedly to find her husband Thom in bed with her sister Stacey; they were not taking a nap. Needless to say, the orderly world of Joy Candellaro, school librarian, is quickly turned upside down. The pain of betrayal, the grief over losing her husband, and the devastating loss of her sister and best friend are too much to endure. Joy is able to bear it for a while as she continues going to work, but she cannot move beyond her pain enough to take part in any of the pre-holiday parties and fun. Then, in what may be the most insensitive moment in literary history, Stacey brings her a wedding invitation. Torn between pain and anger, Joy decides to get away for the Christmas holidays and impulsively takes a charter flight to a place called Hope in British Columbia. As Joy is beginning to relax and imagine vacationing in a quaint little fishing lodge at the edge of the sea, something goes terribly wrong with the plane. Miraculously, she manages to walk away from the crash landing and... That's all I can tell you about the plot without spoiling this wonderful story. However, as possibly the newest member of the Kristin Hannah fan club, I can enthusiastically recommend this book, and I intend to begin reading the rest of her bestsellers, which include ANGEL FALLS, MAGIC HOUR, and many more. The author has a talent for understanding the feelings of her characters and being able to express them with poignancy and love. Whether it is the fears of a little boy who has just lost his mother or the heartfelt love of his now single father, Kristin Hannah chooses the right words with which to touch the reader's heart. And, most difficult of all, she manages to demonstrate the power of love and forgiveness in even the most impossible situations. If you're looking for the perfect story to get you in the mood for the holiday season, or anytime, then COMFORT & JOY is definitely up to the task. [...]

Christmas isn't a time for cynicism or skepticism. It's a time when miracles can happen, which is almost what occurs in the life of Joy Candellaro. As our story opens it seems that Joy isn't aptly named because there's not much in her life but betrayal and misery. Her divorce from Thom is still new enough to pain and her sister is the one who caused it. Not a time for family happiness! In spite of all this, Joy determines to celebrate her first Christmas on her own with a tree, the trimmings, and an eye-popping gift that she certainly feels she deserves. However, the holly and tinsel go by the board when her sister, Stacey, drops by to announce that she's going to have Thom's baby. Joy sees red, and buys an airline ticket for Canada. Does she know anyone there? No. Does she know what she'll do when she gets there? Has no idea. She simply wants to escape from a life that has become untenable. Kristin Hannah fans know that there's good news in the offing, and they'll not be disappointed or surprised when Joy meets a father and son who are enduring more than their share of sorrow. You know what they say about comfort and joy. Sandra Burr gives a splendid reading of this story of second chances - if you have the courage to accept them. - Gail Cooke