Sunday, November 3, 2024

Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake

Second Chances Shine Bright in This Festive Queer Love Story

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"Make the Season Bright" is like the perfect cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter's night - sweet, comforting, with just enough complexity to keep things interesting. Blake has crafted a romance that feels both timeless and thoroughly modern, with characters you'll be rooting for long after the last page.

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Unwrapping the Gift of Second Chances

Picture this: You’re curled up by a crackling fire, hot cocoa in hand, snow falling gently outside your window. What could possibly make this cozy winter scene better? How about a heartwarming queer romance that’ll make you believe in second chances and the magic of the season? Enter “Make the Season Bright” by Ashley Herring Blake, a delightful holiday confection that’ll warm you from the inside out.

Deck the Halls with Boughs of… Awkward Exes?

Charlotte Donovan thought she had it all figured out. A rising star in the classical music world, she’s built a life for herself in New York City that’s almost perfect. Sure, her mom’s about as warm and fuzzy as an icicle, but Charlotte’s got her violin, her quartet, and a carefully constructed wall around her heart. Who needs love when you’ve got Vivaldi, am I right?

Enter Brighton Fairbrook, stage left. Five years ago, she left Charlotte at the altar, and now she’s back in Charlotte’s life like an ugly Christmas sweater you can’t quite bring yourself to throw away. When they both end up at the same Colorado home for the holidays, it’s a recipe for disaster… or is it?

Silent Night? Not With These Two Around!

Blake’s writing crackles with tension and wit from the moment Charlotte and Brighton lay eyes on each other again. The author has a knack for dialogue that’ll make you snort-laugh into your eggnog.

But it’s not all laughs and misunderstandings. Blake deftly navigates the complicated emotions of a broken engagement, exploring themes of trust, forgiveness, and the courage it takes to be vulnerable again.

All I Want for Christmas Is… Character Development?

One of the strengths of “Make the Season Bright” is how well Blake crafts her characters. Charlotte and Brighton aren’t just cookie-cutter romance leads – they’re complex, flawed individuals with rich inner lives.

Charlotte: More Than Just a Frosty Exterior

At first glance, Charlotte might seem like your typical ice queen in need of thawing. But as the story unfolds, we see the layers of hurt and self-protection that have led her to this point. Her journey towards opening up again is beautifully rendered, with moments that’ll tug at your heartstrings:

“I’m not good at love,” she said. “At any of it. Believing in it. Accepting it. Giving it.”

Brighton: Learning to Face the Music

Brighton, on the other hand, is all charm and easy smiles on the surface. But underneath, she’s grappling with the consequences of her past actions and trying to figure out who she really is. Her struggle to reclaim her passion for music parallels her journey back to Charlotte, making for a satisfying character arc.

Supporting Cast: No Mere Sugar Plum Fairies

Blake populates her winter wonderland with a cast of supporting characters that are far from two-dimensional. From Sloane and Adele (the meddling sisters who bring our leads together) to Wes (harboring a secret torch for Sloane), each character feels fully realized and adds depth to the story.

Jingle All the Gay

It’s worth noting that “Make the Season Bright” doesn’t just feature queer main characters – it’s set in a world where queer love is celebrated and normalized. This isn’t a coming-out story or a tale of overcoming prejudice. Instead, it’s a romance that just happens to feature two women, and that representation is refreshing to see.

Prose as Pretty as a Snow-Covered Pine

Blake’s writing style is a joy to read. She has a knack for vivid descriptions that bring the winter setting to life:

The sky was clear blue, perfect, Lake Michigan all icy waves curling frozen onto the frosty sand beyond the backyard. She loved the lake in winter, loved everything about December and Christmas and the cold.

But it’s not just about pretty scenery. Blake excels at capturing the small, intimate moments between characters that make a romance truly sing:

Brighton curled her hands around the backs of Charlotte’s thighs, her heart suddenly wild and free and young.

“You love me,” she said.

Charlotte smiled, her eyes shiny. “I love you.”

Tropes: Comfort Food for the Romance Soul

Like any good holiday romance, “Make the Season Bright” serves up a heaping helping of beloved tropes:

  • Second Chance Romance ✅
  • Forced Proximity ✅
  • There’s Only One Bed! ✅
  • Small Town Charm ✅
  • Holiday Shenanigans ✅

But Blake puts her own spin on these familiar elements, keeping the story fresh and engaging throughout.

Striking a Chord: Music as a Central Theme

As you might expect from a story featuring a violinist and a singer-songwriter, music plays a huge role in “Make the Season Bright.” Blake uses it not just as window dressing, but as a way to deepen character relationships and explore themes of passion, creativity, and finding your voice.

The scenes where Charlotte and Brighton play together are some of the most emotionally charged in the book:

Brighton felt herself moving with them, her fingertips full-on buzzing now with energy. She hugged the guitar closer to her, hearing where she could fit this particular stringed sound into what the quartet was playing. Her heart rate was wild, pulsing in her throat, her temples, her toes.

Pacing: A Well-Orchestrated Symphony

Blake keeps the story moving at a brisk clip, alternating between Charlotte and Brighton’s perspectives to ratchet up the tension. The structure of the “Two Turtledoves” dating events provides a natural framework for the romance to unfold, leading to plenty of deliciously awkward moments and opportunities for our leads to confront their feelings.

The Final Crescendo: A Satisfying Resolution

Without spoiling too much, I’ll say that the ending of “Make the Season Bright” strikes just the right balance between heartwarming and realistic. It’s not all tied up with a neat bow—there are still challenges for Charlotte and Brighton to face—but it leaves you with a sense of hope and possibility that’s perfect for the holiday season.

Stocking Stuffers: Extra Goodies

  • Epilogue: The glimpse into Charlotte and Brighton’s future is a sweet touch that’ll leave you smiling.
  • LGBTQ+ Representation: Not just the main couple, but a diverse cast of queer characters throughout.
  • Food Descriptions: From Christmas dinner to late-night snacks, the culinary details will have your mouth watering.

Comparisons: If You Liked This, Try That

If you enjoy “Make the Season Bright,” you might also like:

  • “Written in the Stars” by Alexandria Bellefleur (another queer holiday romance)
  • “One Last Stop” by Casey McQuiston (for more sapphic romance with a dash of music)
  • Blake’s own “Bright Falls” series, starting with “Delilah Green Doesn’t Care”

Wrapping It Up: Final Thoughts

“Make the Season Bright” is like the perfect cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter’s night – sweet, comforting, with just enough complexity to keep things interesting. Blake has crafted a romance that feels both timeless and thoroughly modern, with characters you’ll be rooting for long after the last page.

Is it predictable at times? Sure. But like your favorite holiday movie, sometimes you want the comfort of knowing things will work out in the end. What sets this book apart is the genuine emotion, the vivid writing, and the way it tackles deeper themes of forgiveness and self-discovery.

So if you’re looking for a queer romance to curl up with this holiday season (or any time you need a dose of winter magic), “Make the Season Bright” should be at the top of your list. It’s a gift you’ll want to unwrap again and again.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a sudden urge to dust off my old guitar and see if I can’t recreate some of that Charlotte and Brighton magic…

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"Make the Season Bright" is like the perfect cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter's night - sweet, comforting, with just enough complexity to keep things interesting. Blake has crafted a romance that feels both timeless and thoroughly modern, with characters you'll be rooting for long after the last page.Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake