#Just Like Christmas

[ivaninprint]

Some Christmas love to start the season.

This book takes a different twist to the trope of one of the couple not liking Christmas. Instead of the character just not liking Christmas for more asocial reasons this time there is a deep layer of trauma causing the distress. Niall as a main character doesn't start off as an easily lovable character because of it, but it left us with a lot of potential for growth at the start of the book. He is grumpy and rude but as he is the main character we quickly get insight to what is the cause of all of it. I enjoyed it that we had this deeper perspective than it being the love interest with all the turmoil. To see him grow and become healthier in his mental health was a lovely journey to follow and made me smile a whole lot towards the end of the book.

As a contrast Sam is such an happy lovely guy that is totally into Christmas as an polar opposite. Niall and Sam clash a lot, have clashed for even longer before the book starts. There is so much history between these two guys that makes you feel the pain from the start. Sam is clearly hurting from this situation but refuses to let go of Niall. This determination of his is such a joy to see and makes you root for him all through the book. Sam was a joy to have and I couldn't get enough of him.

When the book gets to the part that they're at the cabin the real magic starts. It was so much fun to see these two have some quality time. Niall slowly opening up was magical to see and made me feel so proud of him. When the time in the cabin came to an end I was sad to see them move out of their safe bubble, but the real growth started there for Niall. He now had to carry through his change with the people he usually clashes against. Him working through all that lead to an adorable ending of the book.

Concluding I really enjoyed this Christmas book that gave me fluff with big character growth.

I received an eARC and this was my honest review.

[superseal76]

Merry Christmas to all from me, Poppy and Branch 🩷🩵🎄

[macbethheadband]

The sufjan 5LP christmas box set is ON

[phoneybeatlemania]

Belated happy holidays to the single greatest Christmas song of all time

[xmasitw]

Adalyn Clarke

Just Like Christmas

<3!

[solstinky]

[neuro-psyche]

I think Dick and Jason would have multiple “what the actual fuck are you saying right now” with Tim and Damian when it comes to quality of life/monetary differences. Sure, Dick and Jason got used to Bruce’s “is $100 a good enough tip on a $30 bill?” shit, but hearing Tim talking about a new laptop he bought for $5000 literally is like a punch in the gut.

If they ever went on a cruise (which they totally wouldn’t because cruises are floating death traps), Jason and Dick would be in awe of the fancy amenities, where as Damian would be unsatisfied with the quality, since he grew up with every single amenity known to man. Tim would just feel like it’s all normal since the Drake’s were extravagant and travelled all over the planet.

Jason : My bedroom is bigger than my fucking apartment.

Dick : I could do a full gymnastics routine with the space in my room.

Tim :

Dick :

Tim : My room is normal sized…

Jason : You grew up in a mega mansion. I hardly think you’re the benchmark of a normal room-

Damian : I must agree with Drake. This room is frankly underwhelming.

Dick, staring wildly at him : What do you mean underwhelming- Dames there’s an aquarium wall in your room.

Damian : Yes. Underwhelming.

Jason :

Dick :

Jason : Do you want to-

Dick : Jump off the boat? Yes.

[egophiliac]

everyone out of the way, this is the only thing I'm going to be thinking about from now on.

(okay, there is one more thing)

[abetterworldnow]

just like christmas by low

the great Christmas songs are cinematic, but not nostalgic. that we bring ourselves.

just like Christmas is one such, great, Christmas song. those chugging drums and sleigh bells carrying rich images of train cars in Norwegian snow, and in the 90s no less! pre-digital as we know it. it's the single greatest advert for public transport maybe ever put to song.

low seem to me to be a really great band too. exactly the kind of band who might promote the benefits of public transport if asked. and I like juxtapositions in the life of artists, so you can imagine how i felt when the only song I'd really heard by low before this was Disarray off Double Negative (2018).

talk about range.

[noodles-and-tea]

This trope would be so funny for them

[philsmeatylegss]

If I were Dan and Phil I would never hard launch because it’s so embarrassing that we were right. Like what do you mean you were so in love a bunch of thirteen year old’s clocked it? I would never give that satisfaction.

[bixels]

Now that Ghibli's new movie is coming out soon, I've been thinking about anime films and wanna talk about my favorite animated movie ever, Tokyo Godfathers.

TG is a 2003 tragicomedy by Satoshi Kon, following three unhoused people––an alcoholic, a runaway girl, an a trans woman––who find a baby in a dumpster and set off across Tokyo to reunite her with her parents.

If you like the sound of that, go watch it because the rest of this post is spoilers and I have FEELINGS about this movie.

URGHH, the fact that only two moments of true kindness, generosity, and care given to the three protagonists without any expectation of reciprocity are given by a Latin-American immigrant couple and a drag club full of queens and trans women. The fact that, despite her loud and dramatic personality, Hana is the glue that holds the team together and the heart of the whole movie. The fact that this movie pulls no punches at showing the violence and inhumanity committed by "civilized Japanese society" against the unhoused. The fact that Miyuki craves to be loved by her parents and ends up seeing Hana as her true mother. The fact that Miyuki starts off accidentally using transphobic language against Hana, but slowly begins calling her "Miss Hana" out of respect. The fact that, according to Kon, Hana's role in the story is as a mythological trickster god and "disturb the morality and order of society, but also play a role in revitalizing culture." The fact that Hana so desperately wants to be part of a true family, yet is willing to sacrifice her found family so they can be with their own, and is rewarded for her good deeds in the end by becoming a godmother. The fact that, throughout the movie, wind and light have been used to signify the presence of god's hand/influence (this movie's about nondenominational faith––faith in yourself, faith in others, faith in a higher power. Lots of religious are referenced, such as Buddhism/Hinduism, Christianity, and Shintoism), and in the climax of the film, as Hana jumps off a building to save a baby that isn't hers, a gust of wind and a shower of light save her from death. The fact that god saves a trans woman's life because she proved herself a mother, and that shit makes me CRY.

[choccy-milky]

@foundthatoldzeppelinshirt what did u do to me...what in the wattpad is this... i only planned to do a few doodles but then i kept getting more brainrotted and things got out of hand LMAOO (and ofc i HAD to draw hockey player seb at SOME POINT bc its my duty as a canadian citizen🫡🍁🍁 O CANADA!!!)

[xmasitw]

Misha Chylkova

Just Like Christmas

[girlatrocity]

touya's dance