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Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
Boxing Day by Catina Noble revolves around Becca, who leaves her husband, whose drinking and detachment have created an unbearable environment. Becca prioritizes protecting her son, Jeremy, from a repeat of her own childhood trauma. After the divorce, Becca starts a relationship with Chad, whom she met through work. However, Becca learns that Chad isn't quite the catch she thought. Despite Chad's attempts to reconcile, including giving Becca's son a kitten, Becca ends the relationship. As Becca processes the breakup, Chad’s behavior becomes increasingly unstable. While dealing with the maelstrom of messiness, Becca grows closer to Rogan, a delivery man who offers support. Her focus, though, remains on her son, Jeremy, and creating as stable an environment for him as she can. This is complicated when two police officers arrive to question Becca about a suspicious death.
Boxing Day by Catina Noble is full of surprises, and Noble’s writing is exceptional in creating a realistic portrayal of the fears and hopes of single mothers, betrayal, and healing. Becca as a character is really well-developed and it is easy to root for her. For someone who is in a continual cycle of defense in relationships, she is deeply invested in breaking the cycle for her son. It's impressive that Noble steadily builds on the story, given the compact length of the book, but the drama goes from one shock to the next in a fashion that only a skilled writer can properly execute. The plot intensifies as secrets unfold, keeping readers engaged with unexpected twists. I went into Boxing Day expecting a soft and sweet romance, but Noble swiftly flipped that notion on its head in a delicious recipe for suspense. Very highly recommended.
