Grace & Henry's Holiday Movie Marathon

Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman4/5⭐️🚪*just kisses1/3🦋•My Thoughts•I’m struggling to pin point how I feel about this one. I loved so many pieces of the story, the grief journey was raw and heartfelt, the friendship and the well meaning families, the kids. I loved the way the holiday movies were woven into the story and thought the Christmas nostalgia was so well done. The main characters banter was irreverently funny as both of them are dealing with the recent loss of their spouses and coping in different ways. At one point I was both laughing and crying (but not like a happy crying) and it was a mess. You know those thoughts you have that should never see the light of day? Well, this book talks about them. In some ways, I enjoyed the way this book made me think deeply and raised questions that made me sit uncomfortably but ultimately taught me something. In other ways, it WAS uncomfortable and I don’t like that feeling. Some of the moments involved topics (not just death) I don’t like to read about and while I can appreciate the way this was real and raw, it made me sad. This is a book that involves the holidays but through the lens of grief and incomplete healing. I appreciate the writing talent and the story. Im glad I read this, but I’m not fully happy about it…ugh complicated emotions make me tired. I need people to read this an weigh in!

I "discovered" Matthew Norman's novels when someone recommended Charm City Rocks to me a few months ago. I loved that book--read it if you haven't--and then, I found and enjoyed his Domestic Violets. The characters Norman creates on the page are fun and fascinating because they are struggling, tripping over their own feet, perhaps even breaking down--like all of us; yet there's a persistence in them that's inspirational, maybe aspirational. You find yourself rooting for them, and that's very true in Grace & Henry's Holiday Movie Marathon. Watching the leads deal with their grief over having lost spouses is at turns heartbreaking and laugh-out-loud funny, and there's a comfort to it, a lesson in it. This is a true Christmas treat, not a trifle.

Turning to the Christmas season, Matthew Norman’s new novel, Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon deals with heartbreak. Henry lost his young wife suddenly nearly a year ago and he is still staying with his parents.He can’t bring himself to move back into their apartment, still decorated for Christmas. His wife loved the holidays, and one of their favorite traditions was watching holiday movies together.Grace lost her young husband after a battle with cancer. Her mourning is different from Henry’s as she has two young children to raise- Ian and Bella.Grace and Henry’s mothers decide to play matchmaker. Neither Grace nor Henry are ready for a romantic relationship yet, but to make their mothers happy, they decide to be friends.When Henry tells Grace about he and his wife’s holiday movie marathon tradition, Grace agrees to watch the movies with him. (Even if some of them are not her cup of tea- Die Hard is not a Christmas movie).Each chapter is titled after a holiday movie- Home Alone, Elf, Rudolph- which I find delightful. Grace and Henry help each other through their grief and Henry grows fond of Ian and Bella.What I like about Matthew Norman’s novels is his sense of humor he imbues in each book. Grace in particular has such witty comments, even with a storyline that is sad, the humor shines though. I loved Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon.

Crazy mad props to Matthew Norman. From the first scene of the first chapter, set in the immediate aftermath of a young father/husband’s funeral, Grace’s blunt and wry delivery had me surprised and intrigued. By the time I got to the moms-engineered meet-cute over wi-fi drama and an unplugged modem, I absolutely busted up laughing—out loud, in public, while I was donating platelets for cancer patients FFS!!—and knew I was going to fall completely in love with this book.My go-to when experiencing loss, heartbreak, failure, disappointment, whatever, consists of sarcasm, black humor, maybe some tears, and alcohol. To discover Grace in this stellar book is like finding my sharper, wittier and wiser soulmate. And sweet, lost Sad Henry makes me want to be someone’s hero. Friend, child, mouse, I’m not picky. The Grace & Henry Energy is chef’s kiss from the go and the supporting cast is next-level fabulous. I know Cal and Ruth are spoken for, but hear me out: Zoe would make a great leading lady, no? Perhaps with arch nemesis Scorsese? Anyone in any combination really, just don’t make me leave this delightful, fictional world.I’ve been swept off my feet by this book, its characters, the wit and sarcasm, inside jokes, sibling relationships, family shenanigans, everything. Smart and funny, tender and poignant, heartbreaking and hopeful, it’s all perfection. I myself have never experienced this kind of loss, grief or regret, but I could feel it, mentally and emotionally. Yes, the holiday movie premise is cute and clever, but it all comes down to one simple thing: LOVE. In all its joy, hope, messiness, healing, hurt, sadness, optimism, pain, support, cruelty, tenderness, redemption... The whole crazy, imperfect, beautiful human experience of it all.Random joyful shout-outs:❄ Sweet, sensitive Ian and feisty lil’ firecracker Bella!❄ Henry vs. the mice, squealing start to oh-my-heart finish!❄ Kelsey BabyBjörn-ed to Cal at all times!❄ The scene at Edgar Allan’s when everyone’s watching Elf!❄ Whip-smart, LMFAO banter and snappy come-backs!❄ Harry Styles! (Either one!)❄ Henry, Cam, Kelsey and Mick at the hardware store!❄ Really, every scene with the brothers and their whole dynamic!❄ Ditto for Grace and sister Ruth, faux-sister Zoe, the whole clan, and the Christmas Eve expedition!❄ "You sit on a throne of lies!" “Bend over and I’ll show you.” "I hate Uncle Jamie." And so many more perfect, hilarious quotes!❄ The spot-on holiday movie debates, discussions and critiques!❄ The whole Baltimore, mid-Atlantic holiday vibe of it all!The framework here is so original and refreshing, yet cozy and familiar at the same time. I cheerfully, enthusiastically recommend this absolute treasure to everyone. It’s not only become my favorite holiday book, it’s a Top Ten of the Year for me. J’adore! I’ll be re-reading this gem every autumn.Heartfelt thanks to Ballantine | Dell and NetGalley for the chance to read an ARC. This is my honest, unbiased and obviously love-struck review.

What a really great book. It’s classified as a rom/com and it’s romantic and it’s comedic but it is so much more. It is deep with a fresh and amazing story, steeped in Baltimore. It was hard to put down, it was even harder to finish. These characters, and this book, will stay with me.