Book Review: Terms and Traditions by Morgan Taylor Giesbrecht

“Family is what you make it, not what you’re born with.”

Morgan Taylor Giesbrecht, Terms and Traditions

Review:

I’ve been on the hunt for more sweet romance books. I saw this one recommended on Instagram and/or YouTube and thought it sounded like a nice, cozy Christmas read. 

Stephanie has a tumultuous relationship with her family, particularly her father. Nevertheless, she agrees to spend Christmas with him and her half-siblings as per tradition. To avoid her father’s matchmaking, she asks her boss, Nash, if he will agree to be her fake boyfriend for the holiday. Nash is more than happy to oblige as he’s been harboring feelings for Stephanie. The only catch: Nash is Stephanie’s father’s top rival. Already disliked by most of her family, Christmas celebrations grow even more complicated. But at least she’s got Nash at her side helping her through it. 

I enjoyed my time with this book, although I do wish the conflict between Stephanie and her father had played out differently. He read somewhat like a cartoon villain with his speech. But it was worth it for the refreshing lack of spice scenes to dodge. I liked Stephanie and Nash’s dynamic and the clear and healthy boundaries they set for their situation. I also like that they had a shared faith to lean on as they dealt with the complicated realities of their families. 

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• Fake dating.
• Complicated family dynamics.
• No spice.

What I didn’t like:

• The characters (particularly Stephanie) had a cutesy way of speaking that wasn’t for me (for example, when she would say things like, “Oh sugarplums.”).
• How overt Stephanie’s father was with his emotional abuse. Perhaps that’s not the best way to describe it, but it felt more canned than authentic.

Afterthoughts:

I will likely pick up the next book in the series when it’s published.

Where to buy the book: