Review: My True Love Gave to Me Anthology

My True Love Gave to Me
Goodreads / Amazon
Published October 14, 2014
Review Copy Via NetGalley

Summary 

If you love holiday stories, holiday movies, made-for-TV-holiday specials, holiday episodes of your favorite sitcoms and, especially, if you love holiday anthologies, you’re going to fall in love with MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME: TWELVE HOLIDAY STORIES by twelve bestselling young adult writers, edited by international bestselling author Stephanie Perkins.

Let’s begin this review with a wish. Here, I’ll start. In the words on Anaïs Nin: “Let him be kind.” Leave your wish in the comments.

Okay, I love every single one of these (well like, there are one or two I’m not totally head over heels for. Also if someone, anyone, could explain to me why having twelve EPIC authors being in the same freaking book was a sound idea regarding my mental sanity, that’d be awesome. Thanks. *rolls eyes and grins like a complete and utter maniac* I have a confession: I don’t usually read Christmas or ‘tis the season or happy holiday sort of books. At all. Not even around this time of year. And I’ve already read two. This one is by far my favorite. It was a lovely combination of contemporary and mystic magical jazz and cute kisses and short stories that I’d loooove to be longer. Especially the very last one of this novel. Laini Taylor’s contribution. Which was freaking perfect. It was the perfect end to the anthology.  

Rowell’s New Year’s Eve story was lovely, not one of my favorites, but absolutely stunning. I love how her writing always manages to drag me into her world. Kelly Link’s fox story was some kind of strange and wonderful. I was confused then enchanted. Also, still a little confused. Matt De La Pena; this wasn’t one of the one’s I’d re-read. I felt no connections. Not much actually occurred. A bit of a disappointment to me. Han’s elf but not an elf story left me feeling dreary. This was another story that I didn’t really like all that much. But it was different.  When does Perkins not deliver? I loved it. Love, love, love it. Love it to pieces. I love David Levithan, but this one not as much as I usually do. I’m really happy that a LGBT story made it into the novel. Also, I adore this quote:

“I am here, and he is here, and everything I need to know is that I will hold him and he will hold me until I am warm again, until I know I belong (47%).”

Holly Black- how many ways are there to tell her I love her writing SO FREAKING MUCH?! This one is no exception. Forman delivered a good ol’ feel-good story for the holiday. I loved how it had the whole ‘I’m here in a new place I need to find my people vibe’ to it! McEntire did a cute job with an adorable story, even if it wasn’t for me.  White did a lovely job with this sweet, homey story. I really liked this one as well. I would reveal the name, but where’s the fun in that? *winks* Ally Carter’s story just didn’t appeal to me. It was too neatly wrapped. FINALLY we have me favorite (which I was not expecting to be my favorite) by Laini Taylor. I’ll just show you some quotes:

“I will free you, and I will lift you. I will learn a thousand ways to make you laugh. Your smiles will be the honey in my mead, your enchantment my delight.”
 “She was the goddess of. . .herself. And he could not look away from her.”

I could write an entire review on just that one story. Ohsweetbabyjesus I love it, love it, love it. I mean “I will free you?” I love him. Where can I get me one? Why aren’t real guys saying things like this? Okay *breathes* It was perfect. 

How was y'all's holiday? I've had a lovely Christmas filled with presents and hot choco and family. Also, homework. Oh, joy. I hope y'all got everything on that lovely list of yours!