What Light

by Jay Asher

[whisperingchapters]

This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.


I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I was expecting this cutesy and adorable romance, which I got, but it also deals with forgiveness, friendships, and Christmas spirit!

Sierra lives on a tree farm in Oregon with her family. And then her family travels to California to set up a Christmas tree farm from the day before Thanksgiving until Christmas. Sierra actually likes this because she has friends in both states. But at the same time, she wishes she could finish school in Oregon instead of finishing all her school work at the trailer she lives in while staying in California. At the same time, she can't imagine spending the Holidays in California. Unfortunately, this year may be Sierra's last time at California since her parents may not go down to set up the tree lot.

I did mention this had an adorable romance so let's introduce the guy! Caleb has had a rough past that he's still dealing with. When he meets Sierra, she's skeptical of him when she hears rumors about him, but she decides to give him a chance and see for herself if he's dangerous or not. And this is where all the forgiveness comes to play. You see, Caleb still tortures himself over what he did all those years ago. When he shares with Sierra what he did, she sees past what he did and starts showing him that it's okay to move on. Besides, it's obvious Caleb isn't dangerous. The guy works at a diner and the money he earns, he uses it to buy Christmas trees to families who can't afford to buy a nice tree. I found that to be so nice from him and my heart was melting with all his good deeds.

I loved Sierra's parents and how they were protective, but at the same time giving her space to make the right decision. I wish we would see more of that in YA stories since I think this shows to be a healthy relationship between a parent and their child. Now, the ending of the story could have been better. I would say it was left open to the imagination, in a way, and I like when there's full closure. At the same time, I liked it since it seemed fitting.

Overall, What Light is great for a Christmas read. It's full of Holiday spirit, sharing, caring, forgiveness, opportunities, and love.

I received a finished copy from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.