The Christmas Dress (by Courtney Cole)
This holiday season, I yearned for a beautiful and heartwarming Christmas-themed book to immerse myself in. After exploring various library apps, I found nothing that truly resonated with me. However, my attention was drawn to a fellow reader’s recommendation on Goodreads. The cover of The Christmas Dress by Courtney Cole caught my eye, and the book’s description seemed like a perfect fit.
The Christmas Dress is a heartwarming holiday novel that follows the journey of fashion-focused Meg Julliard. When she returns to her hometown of Chicago to manage her late father’s old apartment building, she discovers it filled with challenges and eccentric tenants, including the older Ellie Wade. An unexpected friendship blossoms between them, centered around a beautiful, magical green dress from Ellie’s past. This dress symbolizes both the best and worst moments of Ellie’s life, inspiring Meg to pursue her fashion dreams and save the building. As a result, both women find themselves on a path to unexpected happy endings.
The Christmas Dress exceeded my expectations and is undoubtedly one of the best Christmas-themed books I’ve ever read. I am incredibly grateful to fellow readers who share their book recommendations. The book’s setting in a historic Chicago tenant building with a hidden speakeasy and a connection to the Underground Railroad adds a fascinating layer of depth.
The book is filled with wonderful characters. The elderly residents, for instance, share their wisdom and contribute to a caring and thoughtful community. The descriptions of the magical Christmas dress are dreamy and nostalgic. Meg, the protagonist, is a relatable character who grapples with her losses. While it was sad to witness Meg’s journey through the pain of her losses, which were intensified by her return home, it was a pleasure to see her character grow and heal. The unexpected conflict that arises between Meg and Logan, a potential love interest, adds an intriguing twist to the story. I appreciate the author’s ability to introduce an unexpected source of conflict, keeping me on the edge of my seat. The suspense builds as I eagerly anticipated the resolution of this conflict.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am eagerly looking forward to reading the other Christmas-themed books by Courtney Cole. Fingers crossed I will be able to read them all before Santa arrives!
I borrowed the audiobook of The Christmas Dress from my local library using Hoopla. Bailey Carr’s narration beautifully brings the story to life, adding a touch of magic to the narrative.
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