Let it Snow

 Tell me a story about... a Christmas snowstorm 

Let it Snow: Three Holiday Romances by Maureen Johnson, John Green and Lauren Myracle

Publication date: October 2, 2008

Date read: December 29, 2021

A massive storm on Christmas Eve covers Gracetown under multiple feet of snow, making driving nearly impossible and stranding a passing train on the tracks. Three stories tell of love, lost and found, and adventures with friends. 

In The Jubilee Express, by Maureen Johnson, a girl trapped on the snowbound train attempts to walk back to civilization. All she wants is to get back to her boyfriend for the holiday, but things don’t exactly go as planned. 

This was my favorite story out of the three. I liked all of the main characters - Jubilee and Stuart were both really cute, and I loved Stuart’s mom. I thought the awkward family dynamics were wonderful and I actually laughed out loud a few times. 

In A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle, a group of three friends decides to brave the snow and unplowed roads in order to meet a fourth friend at the Waffle House, where a team of stranded cheerleaders have congregated. 

I wasn’t a huge fan of this story. I think I might have liked it a little more as an actual teenager, but I’m not sure. It also hasn’t aged great - a lot of sexist jokes and implications regarding the cheerleaders. Nothing over the top or sexual, but it just doesn’t sit well in today’s times. I also got really annoyed by the main female character in this one and felt she was kind of over-the-top in her portrayal as “one of the guys”. Not a horrible story, and the adventure is pretty fun, but it was definitely my least favorite. 

In The Patron Saint of Pigs (best title ever), a lovesick barista makes a promise to her friend to pick up a teacup piglet at the pet store, since the friend can’t make it in the storm, but when the pig gets bought by someone else, it’s up to our barista to help her friend and prove that she isn’t as self-centered as everyone thinks she is. 

I’ve seen a few mixed reviews on this one, but I kind of loved it. Sure, the main character - Addie - starts out as incredibly self-absorbed and depressed over her break-up, but she identifies this in herself and is determined to change. And that’s why I like it. She’s making mistakes, but she’s really trying. And not for the purpose of winning her boyfriend back, but to become a better friend and person. I really liked her as a character. This story also ties the first two stories into the ending, which was really well-done. 

Overall, this book is far from perfect, but it’s a fun holiday read. Teenagers will like this book more than adults - I wish I had read it when I was younger. There are a lot of YA cliches - some of which are cringe-worthy - which does hurt the book, but doesn’t kill it. This isn’t meant to be a prestigious novel, so what it tries to do it mostly does well. If you’re looking for a light and fun YA holiday story, this collection is worth your time. 

Rating: 3.5/5 stars