Book Review: A World Without You by Caitlin Moss

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 317 pages
Author: Caitlin Moss
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Five years ago, Olivia Baker was snowed in and stranded in a small town, unable to make it back to the city for Christmas. Five days later, she broke up with her corporate boyfriend in Seattle and made the rash decision to stay in the small town, promising to save the local paper and fall in love with the rugged country boy who knew how to sling an ax and make her weak in the knees.

Now, five years later, she’s miserable signing divorce papers and wanting back the life she had before that Christmas. But when she goes to sleep at night, a new world wakes up, and she gets to learn what would happen if she lived in a world with the man whose heart she broke five years ago on Christmas Eve.

Armed with her beloved camera, her childhood friend, Bennett Holland, and glimpses of what could have been, Olivia has to wade through the Christmas season as she rediscovers herself and rectifies a love she’s been missing for years. But as it starts to fall apart in the parallel universe, Olivia has to realize if they were never meant to be or simply meant for a second chance in a different world.

A NEW HOLIDAY FAVORITE.

This book took me by surprise in all of the best ways (especially because I didn’t read the synopsis beforehand). I loved how complicated this was and the raw emotions in dealing with the “what ifs” in life and how that changes the trajectory we’re on.

Olivia had SO MUCH growth to find in herself and I love that this book showed all of the highs and lows. There were a lot of feelings that needed to be worked through and examined until Olivia could finally see the light on the other side. The alternate reality chapters worked beautifully in this story. I liked seeing another side and that Olivia got to as well.

When I found the romance angle I was SENT. I loved how this was brought into the plot and how subtle it’s woven in. All of the healing and the deep friendship that never broke had me smitten.

There’s plenty of holiday aspects too and while I wouldn’t call this a fluffy rom-com nor did I find it overly heavy either.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Holiday Romance
Language: some strong
Romance: 1-2 open; low innuendo
Violence: low
Trigger/Content Warnings: divorce, grief/depression depiction, loss of loved ones