“Talk Santa to Me” by Linda Urban is like that cozy Hallmark movie you watch when you’re wrapped up in blankets, hot cocoa in hand and the Christmas tree lights twinkling in the background: nothing too exciting but a feel-good time for sure.
Francie, the 15-year-old protagonist, has grown up in the heart of her family’s Christmas business. Born in the stable of their beloved Hollydale Holiday Shop, she has practically lived and breathed the holiday spirit her entire life. But as the holidays roll around, things are not as merry as they seem. Francie is at odds with her Aunt Carole, who’s trying to modernize the family’s business in ways Francie doesn’t approve of.
This conflict over the future of their Christmas empire takes up so much of the plot that it overshadows everything else. It was disappointing because it pulled the focus away from what I really wanted—a cute holiday love story. I was looking forward to the YA romance between Francie and Hector (the hockey player who works at the tree lot next door) that the book cover promised. They still have the “will-they-won’t-they” charm you’d expect from a holiday story (I mean, who doesn’t love a good kiss under the mistletoe?), but it’s delayed until the second half of the story and worse, it was underdeveloped.
Francie herself really made up for the book’s shortcomings, however. She was spunky and very passionate about Christmas (obviously). My favorite part about her was when she accidentally became semi-famous as Santa’s intern. Suddenly she got a ton of letters from kids around town and she was determined to respond the way her late grandpa (who used to play Santa) would have. It’s her way of honoring her late grandpa, who taught her that a child’s belief in Santa is sacred. It was like a better version of those scenes in any Lifetime holiday movie because it kept all of the Christmas magic without having too many cheesy moments.
My only other criticism is that a few storylines started strong but fizzled out, leaving me wanting more closure. Francie’s school project group had the potential to play a bigger role but ended up fading into the background throughout the story. And then there’s Aunt Carole, who felt less like a complex character and more like a one-dimensional Grinch. Her clashes with Francie drove the plot, but she never really evolved beyond being the holiday villain, which made the conflict fall a bit flat. A little more depth or even a hint of a redemption arc could’ve made her a lot more compelling.
All in all, “Talk Santa to Me” is a quick read that is for those who love Christmas and aren’t afraid of a little family drama with a side of romance. It’s not going to make you rethink life’s big questions, but if you’re looking for a nice, low-stakes holiday story, this one’s a good pick. Grab a blanket, pour some cocoa, and settle in for a read that’s full of Christmas cheer.
