Review: Christmas in Peachtree Bluff by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Publisher: Gallery Books

Published: October 26, 2021

Source: UplitReads via Galley Books

 

Summary:

In the newest installment of New York Times bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey’​s Peachtree Bluff series, three generations of the Murphy women must come together when a hurricane threatens to destroy their hometown—and the holiday season in the process.

When the Murphy women are in trouble, they always know they can turn to their mother, Ansley. So when eldest daughter Caroline and her husband, James, announce they are divorcing—and fifteen-year-old daughter Vivi acts out in response—Caroline, at her wits end, can’t think of anything to do besides leave her with Ansley in Peachtree Bluff for the holidays. After all, how much trouble can one teenager get into on a tiny island?

Quite a lot, as it turns out.

As the “storm of the century” heads toward Peachtree Bluff, Ansley and her husband, Jack, with Vivi in tow, are grateful they’re planning to leave for the trip of a lifetime. But Vivi’s recklessness forces the trio to shelter in place during the worst hurricane Peachtree has ever seen. With no power, no provisions, and the water rising, the circumstances become dire very quickly…and the Murphy sisters, who evacuated to New York, soon realize it’s up to them to conduct a rescue mission. With the bridges closed and no way to access Peachtree Bluff by land or air, they set sail on Caroline’s boat, The Starlite Sisters, determined to rebuild their beloved town—as well as their family.

In “pitch-perfect tones” (Publishers Weekly) and written with her signature Southern charm, New York Times bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey explores the magic of Christmas, the power of forgiveness, and the importance of family in a tale that reminds us that, no matter the circumstances, home is always where we belong—especially during the holidays.

 

My thoughts:

It’s no secret that I love Kristy Woodson Harvey and her books. To say I was thrilled when I heard she was revisiting the Peachtree Bluff series would be an understatement – I loved those characters and was ecstatic to have a chance to spend more time with them…and what better time to be with them than at Christmas?

Even though this book is the fourth book in the Peachtree Bluff series, it definitely can be read as a stand-alone. Kristy gives just enough back-ground on each of the main characters so that you understand the relationships between everyone without giving everything away that happened in the previous three books. However, I highly suggest picking up the earlier books because they are just sooo good and really make this book pop if you know what I mean. And if you decide to read this one first, I think after falling in love with these characters, you will definitely want to go back and read the earlier ones!

One of my favorite aspects of Kristy’s writing is her ability to create characters that you are immediately drawn to. She allows us to see the perfectly imperfect world of her characters that any of us can relate to and I think that’s what makes it so readable. You will fall in love with them right from the start, cheering at their successes, cringing at their missteps, and feeling humbled by their hardships.

This book really had a personal connection for me because I have lived through a few hurricanes and big storms living on Long Island, NY. I could feel the anxiety and stress that the Murphy women were dealing with first in trying to decide whether this storm really was going to be as bad as predicted and then once it did hit, navigating the aftermath. I’ve been there and there is nothing like that community spirit that comes through like we see in Peachtree Bluff. I loved that seeing that, but I also loved that we also see the individual storms that the characters are facing and seeing how they weather them.

These characters have definitely found a place in my heart. They are so well-developed and real, they are flawed and complex and I feel as if I see shades of myself in all of them. I think that is why I love them so much. Relationships continues to be the heart of this series – mother-daughter relationships, sister relationships, relationships between spouses and significant others – and with all these with see the natural ups and downs that take place. Nothing is perfect one hundred percent of the time and I loved the way Kristy makes these true to life. They take work but there is always love behind everything.

I cannot recommend this book, and this series, enough. These books are the perfect mix of emotional and comfort reads. And I loved that this one had a holiday spin – it’s perfect to add to your upcoming seasonal reading list!

 

Books in this series:

1. Slightly South of Simple
2. The Secret to Southern Charm
3. The Southern Side of Paradise
4. Christmas in Peachtree Bluff