The Wish Book Christmas

Starred review from July 26, 2021
Characters from Austin’s 2020 novel If I Were You return in this lovely standalone Christmas tale. It’s December 1951 in Connecticut, and two five-year-old boys, Bobby Barrett and Harry Dawson, are obsessed with the Sears Wish Book, convinced Santa will bring everything they underline in the pages. Both raised by single mothers, they also think Santa might be able to bring them fathers. Frustrated by their sons’ selfishness, Audrey Barrett and Eve Dawson set out to teach their children the true meaning of Christmas. To do so, they start the “Wise Men” project intended for neighbors in need of emotional support or daily errands, which they hope will encourage the boys to give gifts to others. While the boys are less than enthusiastic about the idea, they soon begin to embrace the spirit of giving. The mothers also learn some important lessons along the way, including the necessity of accepting forgiveness and help. As the boys begin to learn and change, Audrey and Eve also open their hearts to the possibility of new love. While fans of If I Were You will be eager to read the next chapter of Audrey and Eve’s lives, this charming book will also be a delight for inspirational readers looking for a feel-good Christmas story.

October 8, 2021

Austin's follow-up to If I Were You picks up where the historical romance left off with Audrey and Eve, British expats in the United States. The two women met at the age of 12 in their native England, when Eve's mother was hired as a lady's maid for Audrey's mother; it was the beginning of a lifelong friendship. During the Second World War, the friends had worked as ambulance drivers in London and ended up with sons. Now we find them in the States in winter 1951; Audrey's American husband is dead, and she and Eve are sharing a home in Connecticut and raising their five-year-olds together. Their sons are selected to play Wise Men in the school's nativity production, and suddenly the boys (who had been desperate for Santa to bring them every toy in the Sears Wish Book) are working hard to make dreams come true for others. Austin's latest novel has endearing characters with flaws that allow growth. The story's Christian aspects are important but don't overshadow the relationship dynamics. VERDICT There's no putting down this nostalgic, appealing read that conveys the feeling of a child's wonder and the building of a caring community.--Stacey Hayman, Rocky River P.L., OH

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