A Friend for Christmas by J.P. Walker

A Friend for Christmas Reviews

• 
  Al

  A really beautiful story. Thank you to the author.
• 
  carol

  Started my New Year with a book on my kindle this past year, Boughs of Evergreen an anthology of stories relating to LGBT people, with proceeds going to the charity The Trevor Foundation that supports young LGBT people with emotional and mental health support.
  Yet, these stories can be read as standalones too...and deserve to be recognised and reviewed in their own right.
  
  This is a story of Eve, and her start, her bedtime story from her loving father about her mother, reduced me to tears in no time, be warned it is very emotional in places. Eve, rather an individual, but some might see as a misfit when school starts, oh, how I've seen youngsters in her situation, slightly different...so the bitch pack turn on them. As a former teacher I loved telling my class stories in PSE lessons that showed spiteful, hurtful behaviour about different situations...making explicit what they were doing and if they thought it acceptable. Amazing how this changes their perceptions of different, whether gender, race, disability...if caught at a young age, hopefully some become kinder more compassionate souls.
  I transgress.
  The story of Eve and her friendship with Anna, real, or imaginary, and her journey through childhood, becoming aware of her natural sexuality, and others responses...and maybe a relationship...
  
  Lovely heart warming story, just right for Christmas/Holiday reads, but grab a tissue, if you have a heart!
  
  Good four story read. Thanks, JP. Walker.
• 
  Lexxi Kitty

  I liked this story but it was kind of bittersweet. Could have been a lovely little story. But for the complications introduced. If one plot line or another had been cut. Either Jamie's or Anna's.
  
  The "existence" of Anna turns the relationship with Jamie to be less than it might be/have been. Maybe it never would have been more than a "first girlfriend" type level relationship. But maybe it might have been more, but for the existence of Anna. And the uncertainty surrounding her existence.
  
  And the existence of Jamie, the fact she exists and is quite happy to explore the idea of being friends with, and lesbians with Eve, keeps Eve from actually doing more to figure out if she is insane or not. Or, to put another way, to actually try to figure out if Ann is real or not.
  
  The existence of both plot lines digs a hole in Eve, and puts Anna into pain. I don't like that.
  
  I don't really know how to rate this one because of that. I mean, it's kind of unfair. heh. Here we have someone who had two different women enter her life at important points. Sure, it's at the same time and therefore creates problems, but still. Bah. I'll probably rate it 3.5 stars if I could.
  
• 
  A.M. Leibowitz

  What a lovely, sweet, poignant story about friendship turning into more. I'm a big fan of slow-burn and friends-to-lovers, and I like sweet romance every bit as much as I like the steamy ones.
  
  I really enjoyed the set-up for this one, with Eve meeting Anna in their secret places over time. Their friendship is quiet and gentle, in contrast with Eve's somewhat rowdier life with her other friends. I love that they didn't simply dive into being in love, not as youths and not as adults. Eve had time to learn about herself and grow as a person, and Anna did too.
  
  I think the only thing which held me back a bit was that I had a hard time suspending my disbelief about Anna's circumstances. The mystery was drawn out, which I didn't mind, but the reveal wasn't quite what I was expecting. I'm not sure whether it worked for me or not. I didn't dislike it, I think I was more just left going, "Oh, huh. Okay." I'm sure that's personal preference; it's not anything I think the author did wrong at all.
  
  This is the kind of story that is best enjoyed by a cozy fire or under a quilt with a hot cup of tea. It's short enough to be read in a single sitting, but plenty long enough to escape into the story. All in all, it's very well done.
• 
  Shelley Chastagner

  4.5 stars.
• 
  Tailtiu

  Part of the
  Boughs of Evergreen: A Holiday Anthology
  Discarded because FF
• 
  Amy Spector

  Review to come.
• 
  Jenn (not Lily)

  sweet story, nice development