Set in postwar America in 1951, The Wish Book Christmas brings back best friends Audrey Barrett and Eve Dawson, two widowed single mums rebuilding their lives after the trauma of World War II.
They share a home and are raising their five-year-old sons, Bobby and Harry. Life is far from easy, but there’s hope, friendship, and a sense of fresh beginnings as Christmas approaches.
Everything changes when the Sears Christmas Wish Book lands on their doormat. The boys become instantly obsessed with its glossy pages of toys – circling, listing, and daydreaming about everything they want.
Audrey and Eve quickly realise they have a problem: their sons are enchanted by stuff, but missing the heart of Christmas.
What follows is a warm, often funny, sometimes painful journey as the two mothers set out to teach their boys about:
- Giving instead of just getting
- Kindness to neighbours and strangers
- What really matters when the world has already taken so much
All of this is layered over the women’s own stories of grief, guilt, faith, forgiveness, and the possibility of new love.
Themes that make this more than just a “cosy Christmas story”
While the cover and setting feel like a classic Hallmark-style Christmas, Lynn Austin goes deeper than tinsel and twinkle lights.
1. The actual cost of a “perfect” Christmas
Through the boys’ obsession with the Wish Book catalogue, the story gently explores consumerism and expectations – how easy it is for Christmas to become about having the right toys, décor, or image rather than connection and meaning.
Audrey and Eve’s solution – encouraging the boys to give “wise man gifts” and serve people in their community – is a lovely, practical counterbalance to that pressure.
2. Grief, guilt & forgiveness in the shadow of war
Although the book is short, it doesn’t shy away from the emotional weight of war loss, regret, and starting over. Both women carry deep grief and complicated pasts, and both struggle with whether they are worthy of happiness, love, or a fresh start.
Those undercurrents make the romantic and hopeful moments feel earned, rather than sugary.
3. Faith woven gently through the story
This is very much inspirational historical fiction: faith is present, but as part of the characters’ lives rather than a lecture. Austin explores ideas like grace, second chances, and the real meaning of Christmas in a way that feels organic to the story and time period.
If you enjoy Christian historical fiction or faith-flavoured Christmas reads, this will sit comfortably on your shelf (or in your e-reader).
Do you need to read If I Were You first?
The Wish Book Christmas is technically a sequel to If I Were You, featuring the same main characters later in life.
Good news:
- You can absolutely read it as a standalone – plenty of reviewers have done this and still found it rich and satisfying.
- If you have read If I Were You, this novella gives you the emotional “what happened next?” you might have been quietly hoping for.
For Good E-Books readers who love discovering an author through a seasonal title, this is actually a great entry point into Lynn Austin’s work.
Who will love The Wish Book Christmas?
You’ll likely enjoy this book if you’re into:
- Historical Christmas novels with a strong sense of time and place
- Found family & friendship stories centred on women
- Gentle, hopeful romance without explicit content
- Heartwarming but not fluffy – a story that acknowledges pain but still chooses joy
- Shorter seasonal reads you can finish in a few cosy sittings (around 300 pages)
It’s also a lovely pick if you’re:
- A parent or grandparent looking for inspiration on keeping kids grounded at Christmas
- A fan of nostalgic details like catalogue wish lists, small-town life, and community traditions
- In the mood for a book that will gently nudge you to rethink Christmas around giving, not just getting
Our Good E-Books take
At goode-books.com, we’d shelve The Wish Book Christmas firmly under:
“Curl up and feel things” Christmas fiction.
It’s not slapstick festive fluff, and it’s not a heavy war drama either. Instead, it sits in a really satisfying middle ground:
- Cosy and comforting
- Thoughtful without being slow
- Emotional, but hopeful and uplifting by the final page
Lynn Austin’s writing balances character depth, seasonal charm, and a quietly powerful message about generosity, grace, and starting again when life hasn’t gone to plan.
Read The Wish Book Christmas on Good E-Books
If you’re building your December digital reading stack, The Wish Book Christmas is a brilliant addition:
- Perfect for reading in the run-up to Christmas
- Ideal if you want a feel-good story with real heart
- A lovely digital gift idea for someone who loves historical or faith-based fiction
You can find The Wish Book Christmas as an e-book at goode-books.com – add it to your festive TBR and let Audrey, Eve, Harry, and Bobby remind you what Christmas is really about.