Zimpapers Logo

Unlike the majority of festive fiction, Poppy Alexander’s novel is not escapist fantasy or humorous fare, it is dark and gritty, an authentic picture of Britain with people feeling the cold winds of austerity, with the repercussions of the harsh economic and political climate.

Set in Bristol, Kate Potter is a single mother, with a son, Jack, trying to do her best for him, living in a cold and small flat, facing desperate poverty even though she works hard. She lost her beloved soldier husband, Tom, in Afghanistan four years ago and she just isn’t over his loss.

She is working her minimum wage job, selling Christmas trees outside, but her employers are threatening her with the loss of her job and pushing more and more responsibilities on her over- burdened shoulders.

Daniel is a chartered surveyor who has lost his Down’s Syndrome sister, Zoe, earlier this year and is overwhelmed by grief.

He and Zoe used to buy their tree from Kate, and a lonely Daniel feels an emotional connection, referring to her as The Christmas Tree Girl, understanding intuitively that Kate too has experienced loss.

In Kate’s efforts to get more into the Christmas spirit, she plans a series of festive events in the countdown to Christmas for Jack, putting notes in an Advent calendar for him.

Kate’s dream is to begin a business selling the jewellery that she makes herself, but this seems unattainable in her current circumstances.

To assuage his grief, Daniel fills his hours working as a volunteer manning the phones at Crisisline, and finds himself drawn to help the independent retail businesses based at the Christmas Steps area of the city, under threat of losing their livelihoods with the rising rent and rates.

Kate’s employers have tasked Kate to head a charity effort to raise £1 000 for the Apple cafe that supports young people with disabilities.

Daniel and Zoe were regulars at the cafe, and he too supports the cafe.

Daniel and Kate find their paths crossing but obstacles litter their path to a festive romance. As Kate finds herself being crushed by the unrelenting mind boggling problems that assail her, will a Christmas miracle rescue her and Jack?

This is a festive read that more accurately reflects the reality of so many people trying to survive and endure Christmas in the harsh climate of food bank Britain of today.

Poppy Alexander writes of a much needed Christmas miracle for Kate, slowly finding herself moving on from her grief and loss, to once again engage in life, opening her heart to others and letting them into her life, renewing her capacity to once again love again.

This is heart breaking fare, lifted by the strong sense of community, and seeing Kate’s travails eventually begin to lift.

This is lovely Christmas fare, grounded by the daily struggles of so many ordinary people, sacrificing so much to try and provide a wonderful festive season for their friends and family.

Whilst this is not escapist or humorous fare, it is hugely engaging and it makes a change to have characters like Kate and Daniel, doing the best they can when the last thing they feel like doing is celebrating Christmas. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC. —Goodreads.