How one holiday can be so different in time…

Synopsis

As the anticipation of Christmas builds in the Nielsen family’s cosy farmhouse, Jo, Magnus and their grown-up children begin to congregate for a hybrid Danish-Jersey festive season, each with a surprise of their own – though the surprise that arrives over Christmas is the most life-changing of all.

Fifty years earlier, in 1969, Susan Jones finds herself being pursued by Mr Jenners, her former English teacher, and at the age of seventeen is packed off to a Home for Unmarried Mothers in London by her uncompromising father. As Christmas approaches, all she can do is desperately hope to be rescued, but will anyone be able to reach her in time?

The two timelines of this festive story gradually weave together in a tale that examines whether love and hope can eventually triumph over even the deepest sadness.

Rebecca Boxall is the award-nominated author of five bestselling novels – Christmas at the Vicarage, Home for Winter, Christmas on the Coast, The Christmas Forest and Christmas by the Lighthouse.

My review

In 1969, Susan is working in a bakery after school. When she receives too much attention from Mr. Jenners, her former English teacher, she does not know what to do.
At seventeen, she is forced by her father to go to a Home For Unmarried Mothers in London. With Christmas and her due date are approaching, she hopes someone will rescue her.

Fifty years later, Jo is ready for an amazing Danish – Jersey Christmas together with her husband Magnus and her grown – up children.
Each member of the family has a surprise of their own, although there is one surprise that will be the most life – changing!

This is a rather short story, but don’t get fooled by it.
I found myself on a rollercoaster of emotions, reading about beautiful moments, but also about heart – breaking moments.

When I started reading about this book, I knew what would happen to Susan. Or at least, I thought I knew what would happen to her.
The truth was on one hand so beautiful, but on the other hand so terrible.
I am not familiar with the “reputation” of such places where young women were forced to give up their child for adoption. Maybe because all of it happened before I was born, but I only knew a little bit of it.
So reading about how Susan had to endure everything, was not an easy task. I needed some time to digest it all.

But there are so many beautiful moments in it too. Reading how Jo, Magnus and their family are celebrating Christmas, made me feel all warm and cosy. It was also nice to read what some of the Danish traditions are!
And also Susan had beautiful memories to read about!

I have to say, rather early on in the story, I thought I figured out why there were two different timelines. But without giving anything away, I can just tell you, I was wrong!

This book was a real eye-opener concerning a not so far away past. It shows us how we have progressed for the better.
But is also a book about forgiveness and closure. I can only imagine how a child must feel when being adopted. Of course, there are amazing adopting parents out there (luckily!) but I can understand a child (no matter what age) can feel rejected. And this story is about learning the real reasons and understanding that not always the decision is in your hands.

I loved this story as it handles about things that happened for real, yet the subject is threated with so much care.
And I fell in love with Jo her family and their own traditions, even if they were different than mine!