In her latest romance, Jean Meltzer crafts a witty and comforting Jewish retelling of A Christmas Carol. When Evelyn Schwartz takes on the biggest role of her career, a live television musical production of the holiday classic, her migraines start going out of control. After an accident on set, Evelyn winds up in the TV station’s medical bay expecting the normal studio director. To her surprise, she ends up face to face with her ex-husband David, who she hasn’t seen in the two years since he walked out on their marriage. This sets off Evelyn experiencing vivid memories from her past — one for each night of Hanukkah.
The Eight Heartbreaks of Hanukkah provides elements that readers of Meltzer’s previous books have come to know and love, including strong Jewish themes and representation of chronic illness. However, this book carries a more serious weight than Meltzer’s previous books. It’s a second-chance romance between two characters that were torn apart by grief. As they find themselves back in each other’s lives, and as Evelyn takes her trips down memory lane, they’re reminded of the depths of their connection. Evelyn and David are forced to face the reality of their loss, which rekindles old feelings that never died between them. While this book is heavier than Meltzer’s other novels, she manages to weave in a lot of humor; the star of Evelyn’s production and the characters that represent her eight heartbreaks all provide a sense of levity throughout the book. The plot of this book hits close to home for Meltzer; make sure to read the author’s note at the end for additional context.
Jean Meltzer manages to strike a delicate balance between the slightly outlandish and the emotionally resonant in The Eight Heartbreaks of Hanukkah. It’s the perfect tender winter romance.
Elizabeth Slotnick works in the technology space but has a growing presence on bookstagram, where she reviews books spanning across all genres. She graduated from the University of Virginia and lives in Seattle, WA.
