What Light by Jay Asher

|Synopsis|

Sierra’s family runs a Christmas tree farm in Oregon—it’s a bucolic setting for a girl to grow up in, except that every year, they pack up and move to California to set up their Christmas tree lot for the season. So Sierra lives two lives: her life in Oregon and her life at Christmas. And leaving one always means missing the other. 

Until this particular Christmas, when Sierra meets Caleb, and one life eclipses the other.

By reputation, Caleb is not your perfect guy: years ago, he made an enormous mistake and has been paying for it ever since. But Sierra sees beyond Caleb’s past and becomes determined to help him find forgiveness and, maybe, redemption. As disapproval, misconceptions, and suspicions swirl around them, Caleb and Sierra discover the one thing that transcends all else: true love.

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|Review|

What Light is the perfect blend of contemporary romance and Christmas time cheer. It’s an oldie but a goodie, a book I enjoy revisiting around the holiday season each year.

Sierra’s family owns a Christmas tree farm in Oregon but actually own a lot in California. Every year for the month of December their life revolves around the lot. It’s such a fun setting and I’ve never even really considered the people behind my favorite holiday tradition so it’s fun seeing things from a different perspective.

Sierra was a great character to follow. She has her quirky traditions and of course loves Christmas! Not in an overtly cheesy way, but because she loves being apart of family tree traditions. It’s obvious she loves her family and what they do. She also has the most amazing friends, both back home and in California. They’re always there for her but she supports them as well. 

There is of course romance happening and I adore Caleb. He’s the “bad boy” with a reputation for something he did in the past that the small town church moms just cannot see past. He was so incredibly kind-hearted and sweet, totally perfect for Sierra. We actually get to know him quite a bit but I also feel like I’d like to know more about him. I do think what’s important is we know the best and worst parts of him and why Sierra would want to be with him.

While it can be a tad superficial at times and is an incredibly fast read, What Light is still one of my favorite holiday reads that hits me in the feels every year.