Review: The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand

About the Book

Before I Fall meets “bah, humbug” in this contemporary YA reimagining of A Christmas Carol from New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Hand.

On Christmas Eve five years ago, Holly was visited by three ghosts who showed her how selfish and spoiled she'd become. They tried to convince her to mend her ways.

She didn't.

And then she died.

Now she's stuck working for the top-secret company Project Scrooge--as the latest Ghost of Christmas Past.

Every year, they save another miserly grouch. Every year, Holly stays frozen at seventeen while her family and friends go on living without her. So far, Holly's afterlife has been miserable.

But this year, everything is about to change. . .

The Afterlife of Holly Chase is a witty, poignant, and insightful novel about life, love, and seizing second (or third) chances, perfect for readers who loved Before I Fall or Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares.

Amazon / Goodreads

My Thoughts

I thought this book would be a serious read, a bit gloomy and dreary, but NOPE! Not at all! It was hilarious, fun, and full of so much heart. I couldn't keep the smile off my face while I was reading it.

Holly was not a likable character in the beginning. She was all about status, being the most popular, the prettiest, the richest, etc. And she reveled in being mean; it was like a sport to her. She was just an all-around horrible person. The epitome of a Scrooge. For example, she described one of the perks of her step-mother's death as finally being able to raid her closet. So disrespectful!

I usually have a hard time reading books that feature unsympathetic characters like Holly, but her snarky narration was so great. She made me laugh constantly and she did eventually tone down her rudeness. It was definitely a fun adventure watching her growth.

I can't come up with the words to express how truly wonderful The Afterlife of Holly Chase was. It was such a delight to read and is a story that I know I'll want to read every Christmas season. I highly, highly recommend it!

Five Stars