The Christmas Curse by Alix Kelinda Review: A Magical Holiday Romance with a Halloween Twist

The Christmas Curse is a holiday romance filled with festive chaos, a mysterious family curse, Halloween magic and love!

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and Libro.fm for the ALC of this audiobook. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

Summary:

🇨🇦 Devra is convinced her family is cursed, with a string of Christmas disasters plaguing them every December for more than thirty years, so she avoids the holidays and retreats into her quiet, un-festive life. But when Bradley, a cheerful Christmas enthusiast celebrating one year of sobriety and a fresh start, moves in next door and transforms his home into a dazzling holiday spectacle, Devra declares war on her overly festive neighbour. As their hilarious feud escalates into increasingly ridiculous antics, including the threat of snowman murder, Bradley becomes determined to unravel the mystery behind Devra’s prickly personality. Soon, their neighbourly rivalry sparks unexpected feelings, leaving them both to wonder whether Bradley is another victim of Devra’s supposed family curse or the person who can finally help her break it for good.

My Thoughts:

This is a wonderful debut novel by Canadian author Alix Kelinda. It’s the perfect combination of a Christmas setting with a little Halloween magic, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Devra’s family is cursed—or at least, that’s what she believes. Every December, without fail, something goes wrong, from house fires caused by exploding Christmas lights to burns from spilled hot drinks and far too many breakups. Understandably, Devra has decided the best way to avoid disaster is to stay away from Christmas altogether. So, when Bradley, her new next-door neighbour and a huge Christmas enthusiast, starts decorating his home with every festive decoration imaginable, she’s convinced he’s been sent by the curse to disrupt her quiet life. Bradley, who is approaching his first year of sobriety, is excited about his fresh start in a new home and wants to celebrate by embracing his family’s tradition of extravagant holiday decorating. What he doesn’t understand is why his cheerful Christmas spirit is upsetting his neighbour, especially after catching her preparing to stab his inflatable Frosty!

What begins as a decidedly unfriendly relationship gradually develops into something much more. When Devra shares the story of her family’s curse, Bradley agrees to help her find a way to break it once and for all. I really enjoyed watching their relationship grow as they worked together to solve the mystery. The mystery element added another layer to the story, and I was curious to see whether the curse was real or if there was another explanation for the unfortunate events that plagued Devra’s family.

I also appreciated the care and attention Kelinda gave to Bradley’s addiction and the impact that entering a new relationship can have on both him and Devra. These elements added depth to the romance and made their relationship more meaningful. There are some steamier moments throughout the story, but they’re easy to skip if that’s not your preference.

The Narration:

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Alex Paxton-Beesley and Jack Copland, and they truly brought Devra and Bradley to life. Their expressive, enthusiastic performances made the story a pleasure to listen to. I especially enjoyed the dual point of view, and I always appreciate when the main characters each have their own narrator.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, The Christmas Curse is an entertaining holiday romance with plenty of humour, a touch of mystery, a little magic, and characters I enjoyed getting to know. I loved the unusual combination of Christmas cheer and Halloween-like mischief, and I’m looking forward to seeing what Alix Kelinda writes next!