So, This Is Christmas — Tracy Andreen

Seventeen-year-old Abby can’t stand Christmas. For her, it’s not a holiday but a season of hard work at her family’s hotel, “Winter Wonderland,” where everything—from the name to the scent—is steeped in festive pomp. Abby has only one dream: to finish school and get as far away from this “caramel hell” as possible.

But everything changes when Christmas (yes, that’s his real name) arrives at the hotel for an internship. He is the complete opposite of Abby: cheerful, loves the holidays, and sees magic where she sees only dust and expenses.

Key themes and highlights:

Opposites attract: The classic “optimist versus cynic” dynamic, which creates funny and touching dialogues.

Family values: The book raises questions about duty to one’s family and finding one’s own path, which doesn’t always align with parents’ expectations.

Small-town atmosphere: Snow-covered streets, twinkling lights, hot cocoa, and the spirit of the holidays that penetrates even the armor of the biggest skeptic.