Recommended for You

I feel like I should start this off by telling everyone that I love Christmas more than any grown adult should. It’s my favorite day of the year, and people often call me Buddy the Elf. It’s a whole thing…

That being said, I also love all other holidays and truly enjoy reading about other cultures and celebrations I don’t personally partake in.

This book was a beautiful blend of the winter holiday season.

Shoshanna is struggling with her moms fighting, needing to repair her car, and the annoying new coworker. She’s an enthusiastic, bubbly person, which isn’t typical of a lot of books I read. It was refreshing, to say the least.

Jake is this kind of mysterious, new guy that she can’t figure out. Primarily because he doesn’t read outside of school, so she can’t fathom why he wants to work in a bookstore. Even more so, she hates that he thinks he can come in and win the contest of most sales with his limited book knowledge.

It’s a fun rivalry that starts, but this book is so much more than that. Though it is a YA romance, that isn’t the main focus. The romance is a super slow burn, but the flirting and witty banter is great. The book is really about the growth of Shoshanna and her connection with all the people in her life.

One of my favorite things about this story is the variety of characters, the diversity, and the inclusion. Not only do we get both Hanukkah and Christmas, but Shoshanna has two moms and her boss is in a wheelchair. I cannot express how much the latter meant to me. As someone with a physical disability who relies on a power wheelchair, I absolutely loved how the author wrote Myra. It wasn’t some big thing or part of the plot at all; she just happened to be in a wheelchair. For example, the author subtly added descriptions like the lowered shelves in her office, but the story kept moving. It was so well done! I think this is the first time I’ve ever read a book that handled disability so perfectly.

All of this book was well done. I enjoyed it immensely and would absolutely recommend it to those looking for a fun holiday read or a YA rom-com (though, like I said, the romance is extremely slow).

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU is a cute YA romantic comedy set in a bookstore. Shoshanna loves working at Once Upon, an independent bookstore at the mall. When the new guy, Jake, starts, Shoshanna is shocked to learn that he doesn't read many books and they get off to a terrible start as a result. When the bookstore owner starts a contest for who sells to the most customers with a cash bonus at the holidays, Shoshanna is determined to win. She needs the money to fix Barbra, her car.

At the same time, Shoshanna is dealing with a difficult home environment as her mothers are fighting more and more frequently. Shoshanna is desperate to save their marriage and the family life that had always been so great. She is also dealing with some drama with her BFFs over a bad decision she made.

What I loved: I love Shoshanna's growth during the story, as she begins to think twice before making what could be a bad decision. She learns a lot throughout, and I loved watching it happen. The inclusion of marital strife in parents was also a great inclusion that adds some depth to the story and is a situation that some teens may really connect with. And, of course, the bookstore setting will delight booklovers everywhere. The holiday setting and Jewish main characters also added a nice touch to the story.

The romance is a bit background, but I love a good enemies-to-relationship story, and this one did deliver amongst the other, heavier themes. I liked both Shoshanna and Jake and was happy with the way their friendship developed.

Final verdict: A cute YA rom-com with a holiday setting, RECOMMENDED FOR YOU will delight booklovers with its charm and bookish fun. Recommend for fans of THE BOOKWORM CRUSH and TWEET CUTE.