Over the Holidays

This was my first book by this author and I was pleasantly surprised. It was funny and the characters kept me laughing. I read it just as the the holidays were winding down and could relate to all of the turmoil we experience trying to create the perfect Christmas. Doesn't everyone have family members like these???

Sandra Harper's "Over the Holidays" succeeds not just as a family comedy with the minor holiday disasters and angst that everyone regardless of background can laugh and cringe along with, it is also an accurate depiction of the lives of people in Hollywood who are neither rich nor famous. Vanessa's husband JT works as a gaffer and is frustrated by a career that is subject to the whims of the economy and the few people who he gets his jobs through. Vanessa cobbles together a career in theater with a little of this and that. Despite their artsy careers, they have all the problems of couples with kids. At work and at their kid's school they rub up against the other Hollywood, the ones who have time and money at the same time. Harper's perspective on her characters isn't bitter or condescending. Even Patience, Vanessa's Martha Stewart perfect sister in law, has humanity and is shown in a sympathetic light. "Over the Holidays" is intentionally light, the froth on an eggnog latte, but there is something more substantial underneath.

The pressure from my extended family to provide the "perfect" gift and host the "perfect" celebration has me exhausted already - and it's only the beginning of December. This book made me laugh - and cry - because I know people just like these characters. I'm related to them! Fun read. Keep up the good work, Ms. Harper.

I am a Christmas fanatic and the thought of merging chick lit with a Christmas setting was an appealing one. I found Over the Holidays to be a fun read, as light and fluffy as cotton candy with a peppermint twist. I could relate to the main character, Vanessa, insofar as her desire to give her family a traditional, old-fashioned Christmas but running into the reality of job stress, energetic children, a husband unable to help and the very best of intentions going awry. If you read author Sandra Harper's guest post last week, you will recognize that all three holiday archetypes Ms. Harper discussed are present in Over the Holidays - - the Norman Rockwell-esque traditionalist and perfectionist Patience, the Hannah of Good Intentions Vanessa and the Rebel Without a Claus Thea. Patience cannot imagine a Christmas without cold temperatures, snow, a beautifully decorated house that would make Martha Stewart weep and homemade cooking from scratch. Vanessa wishes she could be like Patience, while at the same time resenting Patience's perfection at all things domestic. Thea believes Christmas has turned into more of a showcase of greed and time of depression than a true celebration and wishes to set an example. Add in Vanessa's husband JT, who gets an out of town job during the holidays, Patience's husband Richard, who doesn't want to rock the boat but finds playing golf in January appealing, Vanessa and JT's twin 9 year old sons who have more energy than they know what to do with, Patience and Richard's seventeen year old daughter, Libby, who is desperate to escape from the confines of their Wenham, Massachusetts home and Neil, a moody playwright who resents Vanessa's help with his play but comes to need her. As much as I could generally relate to Vanessa, I also had some issues with her. At times, she was downright abrasive and rude to Patience. While I could understand the frustration of having a "perfect" sister-in-law, I began to sympathize with Patience and get irritated with Vanessa. There was also a time or two during the story that I wished Vanessa wouldn't give in to her children as much and be a little more of a disciplinarian. I also had to remind myself during the book that Thea was her older sister and not younger sister because I continued feeling that Thea was represented more as a younger sister. However, these are relatively minor gripes when taking the book as a whole. I felt drawn into the story from the first page and the characters were well fleshed out. Whatever your thoughts on the holiday season - - love it, dread it, tolerate it or are indifferent to it - - you can find something to relate to here. Not each individual storyline resolved itself as I thought it might, which left me guessing to a degree and provided me with a pleasant surprise instead of a shrug and sigh. If you enjoy chick lit, if you have strong feelings about the holidays or just want some light, entertaining reading, you simply can't go wrong with Over

Christmas isn't a joyful time of year for Vanessa. Her sister-in-law is having Christmas in her home, but thankfully, Vanessa and her family cannot afford the trip. Vanessa is super busy after agreeing to help with the town's play. Everything seems to be going great. No stress, no worries. But then, BAM! Her sister-in-law decides that they will venture out for a California Christmas with Vanessa's family. Once they arrive and the holiday begins, these women find out that they are more alike than they ever expected. Family has a way of creeping up on you and snatching your heart. This is a hilarious book that reminds me of my family. A great book to curl up with, especially since the holidays are right around the corner.