Review: I'm Dreaming of a Wyatt Christmas by Tiffany Schmidt
My first holiday book of 2021 and the first of the holiday reviews you can expect! This was a total cover impulse for me and I do love to read YA holiday books. I think they really capture the stakes of the season. I think this book was cute, fun, festive, and as always when it comes to YA, just a tiny bit unrealistic. However, I do think it will prove effective with its target audience.
If you love Christmas, ski lodges, babysitting tips, and a sweet romance, you’ll enjoy this book.
Synopsis:
“Ballet and babysitting bring two teens together in this very merry holiday rom-com from the author of the acclaimed Bookish Boyfriends series
Noelle Partridge is known for three things: being the best ballet dancer, babysitter, and person with the most Christmas spirit in her small town. But lately she's bored by the lessons at her dance school, and her friends and father are more bah humbug than deck the halls. So when her favorite babysitting clients ask her to accompany them on a ski trip over winter break, she packs her bags for the slopes. It helps that they're offering double her rate--she'll need the money for Beacon, an elite ballet academy that has granted her an audition.
Noelle is ready to have fa la la la fun, until Wyatt, the older half-brother of her babysitting charges, decides to surprise his family for the holiday. He's one of the best dancers at Beacon, and makes Noelle's head spin faster than pirouettes. Unfortunately, she also manages to step on his toes--spoiling his surprise and complicating his secret plans. After a few missteps, Noelle and Wyatt begin to thaw toward each other and bond over the big decisions looming in each of their lives. With enough Christmas magic, Noelle might just start the New Year with lots of babysitting cash in her pocket and a chance with the pas de deux partner of her dreams.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Setting—I LOVED the snowy cabin, ski mountain setting. I could totally picture everything so clearly and thought it was a fun place to spend some time.
Grief & The Holidays—Noelle is dealing with another Christmas without her mom and that theme is very strong. I think it’s refreshing and relatable to see someone who loves the holiday their loved one and instead of hating it, they try really hard to celebrate it in their honor. But being an only child, we see Noelle grapple with how things have changed in her relationship with her dad.
The Holiday Cheer—Look, I love the holiday season so I’m always happy to see someone else! I felt like this book captured the perfect amount of festiveness.
What Didn’t Work:
Parental Expectations—There were some moments that I truly didn’t think made sense when it came to Nick and Ginger Kahale, the parents Noelle is babysitting for. Without spoilers, I just don’t think adults would ask or expect somethings for the teens in their life.
Content Warnings:
Grief, loss of a parent, minor fatphobic comments/mention of dieting, strained parent/child relationships
Character Authenticity: 3.5/5 Steam Rating: N/A as it is YA Overall Rating: 3/5