Book Review: All Is Bright - A Short Story, Sarah Pekkanen

Title: All Is Bright - A Short Story
Author: Sarah Pekkanen
Published: 2010
Pages: 47
Source: Freebie from Amazon
Format: Ebook
Rating: 4/5

Thirty-year-old Elise Andrews couldn't bring herself to marry Griffin, her childhood friend turned sweetheart, so she let him walk away. Eight months after their breakup, she arrives in her hometown of Chicago on Christmas Eve and hears a voice from her past calling her name in the grocery store. It's Griffin's mother, Janice, who invites Elise over for a neighborhood gathering of eggnog and carols. Walking into Janice's house sends Elise tumbling headlong into memories of her relationship with Griffin - and with Janice, who exudes the kind of warmth Elise ached for after her own mom passed away when she was six. But Griffin has moved on, and suddenly Elise doubts her decision to give him up and lose her chance at being folded into his wonderful family. Confused and reeling, she goes in search of an answer to a universal question: How do we say goodbye to people we've loved without losing everything they've meant to us? Heartwarming and witty, All Is Bright is a charming story about coming home for the holidays - and finding gifts in the most unexpected places.

I really enjoyed All Is Bright.  It was truly a lovely little story to read.  My only problem was that it was so short - it only took me around 20 minutes to read.  I wanted to know more about Elise and her past with Griffin.

The premise of the story is very real.  A woman returning to her home town to spend Christmas with her grandmother.  Something everyone will probably experience at some point in their lives.  Elise is just unfortunate enough to run into her ex boyfriends mum.

I absolutely loved Elise's grandmother and her grandmother's friends.  They just seemed really cheeky in a way and up for a laugh whilst also giving brilliant advice.  She just reminded me of my own granny who is always getting up to all sorts with her friends.

I also loved the ending, even if I did want more from the story.  It was so lovely, and sweet, and shows that Griffin’s mother will always be there for Elise no matter what has happened in the past.  Janice just wants to make Elise feel welcome and obviously remembers the little girl that Elise was.  She is like a second mother for Elise in a way.

I really enjoyed All Is Bright and would recommend it to any woman (or girl) looking for a nice quick read.  I look forward to eventually reading more of Sarah Pekkanen's work.

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