“It was the night before Christmas.”

From Maureen Johnson, John Green, and Lauren Myracle’s Let It Snow.

The first story “The Jubilee’s Express” follows Jubilee as she travels to Florida for Christmas because her parents have been arrested at home.  Just in case things weren’t bad enough already, a giant snow storm strands the train in Gracetown (read “middle of nowhere”), so Jubilee and the other passengers are stuck.  After trudging through snow to get to a nearby 24-hour waffle place (which is somehow worse than the train), Jubilee is invited by a guy (Stuart) invites her to spend the night with him and his family… if they can just get there in the storm. Next, “A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle” follows Tobin, Duke, and JP; the three friends are enjoying a movie marathon while waiting out the storm when they receive a phone call that there is a restaurant full of cheerleaders across town.  Being teenage guys, they pause from the movie marathoning to jump in the car, and that’s when the real adventure begins.  In the third story, “The Patron Saint of Pigs” follows newly single (but not at all over it) Addie in her desire to get through her shift (she’s a barista), show her friends that she’s not as self-centered as they think, and somehow pull off giving her friend the gift of the century.  So all these different people are trying to get ready for Christmas, but the snow is ruining everything. Or is it?

The three stories are a sweet blend of holiday festive-ness, humor, and romance.  Reading through the three separate stories allows the reader to connect with the characters so that seeing the connections between the different stories just makes for a satisfying read all around.  The authors’ writing styles are unique, but also similar enough that it does not feel like three separate works; the character crossovers work because it feels as it should, a different perspective of the same overarching story.  Let It Snow is the perfect read for several relaxed winter nights, or any other season, for that matter… just don’t forget the hot cocoa!