On Christmas Eve, five years ago, Holly was visited by three ghosts who showed her how selfish and spoiled she’d become. They tried to convince her to mend her ways.
She didn’t.
And then she died.
Now she’s stuck working for the top-secret company Project Scrooge – as the latest Ghost of Christmas Past.
Every year, they save another miserly grouch. Every year, Holly stays frozen at seventeen while her family and friends go on living without her. So far, Holly’s afterlife has been miserable.
But this year, everything is about to change …
The Afterlife of Holly Chase Review
I absolutely love Christmas – the movies, the decorations, the music. The overall atmosphere is the best. Because of this, I was looking for a great holiday read. And let me tell you, this young adult book, is perfect!
One of my favourite Christmas movies is Scrooged with Bill Murray. It’s a modern retelling of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and it’s just always been a favourite. When I heard that The Afterlife of Holly Chase was another retlling, I knew it would be the perfect holiday read.
The Afterlife of Holly Chase follows Holly, a scrooge-like teenager who dies. Now, she works for a secret program, Project Scrooge, to help others change before suffering the same fate she did.
I absolutely adored this book. Holly is such an intriguing character. She possesses all the qualities of a Scrooge, but also shows a desire to be a good person. It’s an interesting quirk to her character that I loved.
Holly’s storyline progresses really naturally throughout the book. Also, I loved seeing her relationships with the other characters working for Project Scrooge. Ethan really is a great secondary character.
But honestly, all the characters are great! They all have characteristics that just draw you in.
Another thing I loved is the plot and writing. Cynthia Hand’s writing It makes for a super enjoyable read that’s perfect to read around Christmas. Although, you could totally read this book any time of year – it’s that good!
My only reservation with the book is the insta-love because I’m just not a fan. I really would have preferred to see a natural progression of a relationship in this book. Because of that, I had to knock down my rating a bit.
Overall, The Afterlife of Holly Chase is the perfect holiday read. It has some twists and turns, making it unpredictable at times. It’s thoroughly entertaining and is certainly going to be a holiday staple for me in the future!
Rating: ★★★★☆
Favourite Quote
Without stories, we’re all just lonely islands.
About the Author
Cynthia Hand is a New York Times bestselling author of several books for teens. Before turning to writing for young adults, she studied literary fiction and earned both an M.F.A and a Ph.D in fiction writing. She currently resides in Boise, Idaho, with two cats, one crazy puppy, two kids, and an entourage of imaginary friend.
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