The Christmas Clash

Gr 8 Up–Chloe Kwon and Peter Li’s families own competing restaurants in their local mall’s food court, and the two classmates have been sworn enemies for as long as they can remember. They even have competing holiday jobs: Chloe works as a photographer at the mall’s Santa’s Village display, while Peter operates the nearby North Pole-themed virtual reality experience. Their disparate lives become connected when the mall doles out eviction notices and announces its impending demolition. Chloe and Peter must put their differences aside and work to save their parents’ businesses, since neither set of stubborn parents is willing to work with the other. The Christmas Clash has all the components of a feel-good holiday rom-com, including a small town setting and an enemies-to-lovers trajectory, but the novel fails to achieve the warmth and fuzziness that readers may be seeking. Those looking for a slow burn will be disappointed that the “will they, won’t they” tension of the story only lasts until about halfway through. From then on, Chloe and Peter’s romance is cemented, and the focus shifts to their efforts to save the mall. These chapters are tedious, with a focus on lease clauses, legal jargon, and council meetings. Outside of the holiday jobs and the impending mall demolition deadline, not much mention is made of the holidays.