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"Eight Dates and Nights" by Betsy Aldredge [Review]


I like winter holiday stories, so I asked and got picked to participate in TBR and Beyond Tours via NetGalley. Thank you to both.


Book Info:

Eight Dates and Nights by Betsy Aldredge

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Publishing Date: October 3, 2023


Synopsis:


Two teens with two very different ideas of how to spend Hanukkah learn to work together to save the last Jewish remnant in small town Texas in this cozy holiday romance!

New Yorker Hannah Levin is allergic to exactly two things, horses and tinsel. Unfortunately, she’s surrounded by both this Hanukkah when, thanks to a freak snow storm, she’s stranded in the small town of Rosenberg, Texas, visiting her grandmother, who she hasn’t seen in years due to family drama.

Super lonely, missing latkes and reliable wi-fi, she follows the scent of fried potatoes and wanders into an old deli where she meets the only other Jewish teen in town, Noah, who happens to be equal parts adorable and full of annoying, over the top Hanukkah spirit that he’s determined to share with Hannah, one ugly, itchy Hanukkah sweater at a time.

She makes him a deal, she’ll help him save his family’s deli, which is practically the only Jewish remnant in a town that once had a thriving community of European immigrants, if he’ll leave her to sulk in peace. However, after a spectacularly memorable kiss Hannah wonders if there’s more to Hanukkah, this community, and even her grandmother than she thought.


My Summary:

Strangely, in the beginning, I liked how Hannah was having trouble just getting to Texas. I like when a character has troubles because, in some ways, it makes them more human and not perfect. I did like Noah. He was energetic, hard-working, and loyal. I get how it took Hannah some time to fall for him, and I like how Noah helped Hannah be a little more spontaneous, and she helped him learn that having a plan isn’t always a bad thing. They were the perfect half for the other one. I also liked the side characters, like Abe and Hannah’s parents/brother, and Hannah’s grandmother. I loved the animals, like the horses named after the Beatles band, and the dog named Elvis. I wanted to reach through the pages and give him a pet. This is a good, light-hearted Hannuakah book, and a good teen romance book. Glad I read this.


Book Links:


Tour Schedule: https://tbrandbeyondtours.com/2023/08/28/tour-schedule-eight-dates-and-nights-by-betsy-aldredge-2/




About the Author:

Betsy Aldredge is a former magazine editor turned communications professional who has worked in the non-profit sector, the arts, and the Jewish community, including several years at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City. She is the co-author of Sasquatch, Love, and Other Imaginary Things. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, daughter, and rescued cats and dog, who all hog the couch.


Author Links:




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