James Patterson is well-known for his thrilling novels, engaging storytelling and quick reads. Selling over 400 million books worldwide he is an author that most people will recognise. This Christmas, he and co-author Tad Safran bring a delightful twist to the holiday season with The Twelve Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days of Christmas. This book has no murder or no crime solving, it is just a heart-warming and humorous tale that captures the chaos and magic of Christmas.
The Twelve Days of Christmas is a festive tradition that starts on 25th December and ends on 5 January, or the Twelfth Night. Celebrated for centuries, it even has it’s own Christmas carol, listing a series of increasingly grand gifts given on each day, from a partridge in a pear tree to twelve drummers drumming. Patterson and Safran’s version takes place over the twelve days before Christmas, running up to Christmas Day. It is a story of loss, grief, finding the Christmas spirit again and repairing family bonds.
The Twelve Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days of Christmas follows the adventures of the Sullivan family in South London as they navigate twelve days leading up to Christmas. 5 years previously, Henry Sullivan lost his wife, his children Will (14) and Ella (12) lost their mother, and they all lost the joy of Christmas. Their family is becoming more and more detached from Christmas and each other. Trying to help out their father find a new love, with the aim of bringing everybody back together, the kids hatch a plan. This brings Ms Trulove into their lives which sees each day bring a new and unexpected gift, turning their unfestive run up to Christmas into a series of hilarious and heart-warming events. From mischievous pets to unexpected guests, the family’s journey is filled with stress, laughter, love, and a touch of holiday magic.
Overall, this is a very different kind of James Patterson book, and I loved it! It is a story about grief and a fractured family combined with a wonderful message of the Christmas spirit, family and living life.
The characters in this book are wonderfully relatable and endearing. The family at the centre of the story is a delightful mix of personalities, each defined by their own experience of grief and bringing their own quirks and charm to the narrative. The skilful character development ensures that readers will quickly become invested in their holiday escapades.
This story is fun to read but contains some rich themes that will resonate with readers of all ages. While it is a Christmas story, capturing the magic and wonder of Christmas, reminding readers of the true spirit of the season, it also takes a look at grief and the devastating effects on a family while exploring family and togetherness – the story emphasises the importance of family bonds and spending time with loved ones during the holiday season. It also explores the family’s ability to find joy and laughter in the midst of unbelievable chaos and is a reminder to embrace the unexpected and enjoy the journey.
This charming story, while maybe a bit over the top, is an excellent enjoyable and very engaging read. Humour combined with heart-warming moments ensures that readers will be both entertained and moved. The short chapters (as Patterson readers will be accustomed to) and fast-paced narrative keeps the story lively and ensures that there’s never a dull moment.
The Twelve Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days of Christmas is a delightful read, perfect for the Christmas season. It does a fantastic job of capturing the magic and chaos of the Christmas season. It’s engaging writing style, humour-packed pages and heart-warming narrative with relatable characters is sure to become a holiday favourite for readers of all ages.
Tad Safran and James Patterson together have created a fun, fast-paced and light-hearted read to get into the holiday spirit.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £16.99 (Hardback) / £9.99 (Paperback) / £0.99 (Kindle)
Available to buy from Amazon here.
