Review: Let it Snow by Maureen Johnson, John Green & Lauren Myracle

Let it Snow by Maureen Johnson, John Green & Lauren Myracle
Release Date: October 2nd, 2008 by Speak
Details: 352 pages, paperback
Genre: Young Adult > Contemporary
Source: Bought for Kindle
Summary (Goodreads):

Sparkling white snowdrifts, beautiful presents wrapped in ribbons, and multicolored lights glittering in the night through the falling snow. A Christmas Eve snowstorm transforms one small town into a romantic haven, the kind you see only in movies. Well, kinda. After all, a cold and wet hike from a stranded train through the middle of nowhere would not normally end with a delicious kiss from a charming stranger. And no one would think that a trip to the Waffle House through four feet of snow would lead to love with an old friend. Or that the way back to true love begins with a painfully early morning shift at Starbucks. Thanks to three of today’s bestselling teen authors—John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle—the magic of the holidays shines on these hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and breathtaking kisses.

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Let it Snow is one of those books that are complied by three authors into one single story. Though they all get their own sections. Meaning, three mini stories within the same situation that's suppose to all tie in together. Whew, that sounds tough! But these three authors did a wonderful job of weaving it all together! That's for sure. It all starts when a train breaks down in a small town a little ways away from a place called Waffle House. From there, all sorts of crazy things and feelings and adventures ensue! 

The first story up is The Jubilee Express by Maureen Johnson (yes they get titles too, awesome right?) and it's about a girl named Jubilee whos parents are thrown in jail for some really really silly. Because of this she's sent to spend Christmas with her grandma in Florida. Away from home and away from her long term boyfriend. On the train, she lends her phone to a boy named Jeb who's trying to contact his is/was girlfriend and though this may be a little insignificant at the time, I assure you, it isn't. She meets Stuart who has a really sincere heart and invites her to stay with him while the train is being fixed and who has a really really creepy mom. I mean, I thought this was going to be some Hansel and Gretel shit and his mom was going to fatten Jubilee up and eat her for dinner. Then I thought Maureen wouldn't do that in a Christmas novel.... would she?! So yes, the whole time I was expecting it. Because you never know what Maureen has up her sleeve! Anyway, Stuart opens her eyes to her current romance situation and I was right there with him! Jubilee deserved a bit more than what she got!

The second story A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle by John Green was cute. But that situation that these three friends (Tobin, JP and Angie aka Duke) was a little frustrating. One of their friends work at the Waffle House and demanded they come by (while it's snow storming out) to hang with him and make out with cheerleaders (where do guys get these ideas from?) so they go and Duke really isn't into the idea of it all (and I agree) but goes anyway since they promised her hash browns (I'd go too for some hash browns...). But on the way there, and trust me, it's a long way... things between Tobin and Duke start to revel itself. I don't see how Tobin could be so blind, but then again when you're friends with someone for that long... I guess it's not that hard. 

The last story The Patron Saint of Pigs by Lauren Myracle is going back to Jeb but based on his is/was girlfriend Addie. They were together for awhile and Jeb wasn't who Addie wanted him to be (very PDA and gift giving and all that other you-have-to-show-the-world-you-love-me stuff) so they had some sort of miscommunication and Jeb needed some time to think or something... I don't really remember it all lol but Addie was getting really worried about how people kept saying, "it's not all about you" basically telling her she's self absorbed and selfish without actually saying it. But in the little snippet that we saw her in... well she was pretty self absorbed and only cared about her own problems and had a big thing for letting people down. Also, the way she treated Jeb because he wasn't how he wanted her to be was crap! Total crap! And this is where the story wraps up.

If I had to pick a favorite I would say it would be the first one. Maureen's quirky sense of humor really shows in Jubilee and I read through it giggling really fast. Overall, this is a really entertaining book to get you in the holiday spirit!

Also, I remember Maureen talking about this when I met her and Stephanie Perkins for a signing in Oakland late last year and how they were writing it and they kept throwing weird things in it like the cheerleaders and blizzards and pigs to make it harder on the next writer lol.