A Little Magic by Lindsey Lanza

Narrated by Shaina Summerville and Stephen Borne

Standalone (for now) Holiday (Christmas/Hanukkah) Romance.

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If you read one holiday romance this year, read A Little Magic by Lindsey Lanza. This was not only one of my favorite holiday books, but one of my favorite books of the year. Told in two timelines, most of the story is a flashback to first love.

Ellie Klein is a travel blogger in California. Her partner just showed her a new winter wonderland resort that’s about to reopen in Vermont after 10 years. It just happens to be the same place she spent every birthday/Christmas Eve (same date) growing up. It’s been 7 years since she left her family in Vermont, and she hasn’t been back since.

“So when I finally escaped, I don’t know. I kind of felt like I had done the impossible. Dared to dream. Become a penguin that could fly. Wings are just a state of mind, right?”

The book flashes back to young Ellie growing up. She has Lupus and her mother is so overprotective, that she basically can never leave her bubble. Until one year her brother’s friend from Hockey invited them all to go skating on Christmas Eve, which was also Ellie’s birthday. Theo’s family owned a tree farm and winter village, and Ellie loved spending Christmas there even though she was Jewish and celebrated Hanukkah.

Every year for 8 or 9 years, Theo gave Ellie a special snowglobe, something she treasured with everything she had. She was totally in love with her brother’s best friend, and after tragedy struck, he became an even bigger part of her family. Until Ellie went to college and moved to California while Theo became a professional Hockey player.

Now it’s been seven years, and she hasn’t seen her brother, parents, or Theo in all this time. She hopes to check out the new owner of Theo’s old winter village, write her story, and get away without bumping into any family or Theo. But the weather had a different plan when a blizzard had her stuck in a small cabin owned by none other than her first love, Theo.

Though I don’t think it was ever specifically pointed out, I loved how the magic was a little miracle of Hanukkah built into the story.

“All I ever wanted was that cozy kind of love. The gooey heart, curled toes, crinkled eyes kind of love. The kind that feels like hot cocoa warming my bones. Summer rain, fluffy socks, s’mores by the fire. That small kind of love you get lost in from too much happiness to ever wonder what else is out there.”

I loved every single thing about this book. I’m not going to list my likes and dislikes because there was nothing I disliked, but here is what you’ll find:

Both Christmas and Hanukkah.
First Love.
2nd Chance.
Dual POV
Found Family.
Brother’s Best Friend.
Jewish FMC.
Chronic Illness rep.
Dual Timeline
Wonderful little animal facts.
Cute nicknames.
Emotional moments.
Forced Proximity.
Snowed-In.
Holiday Magic.

The Narration:

This was my first time listening to either narrator and they were both fabulous. They added to my enjoyment and I highly recommend it in Audiobook format. I got my copy on Hoopla.

The Down & Dirty:

A Little Magic by Lindsey Lanza was such a perfect holiday romance! I loved how it celebrated both Christmas and Hanukkah equally and captured the magic of both holidays as well as first love and second chances. I think this is only my 5th 5-star read this year, and I don’t care what holiday you celebrate, this book will capture your heart this season.