My True Love Gave to Me edited by Stephanie Perkins (UK edition)

Title: My True Love Gave To Me: Twelve Winter Romances
Editor: Stephanie Perkins
Authors: Holly Black, Ally Carter, Matt de la Peña, Gayle Forman, Jenny Han, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Myra McEntire, Stephanie Perkins, Rainbow Rowell, Laini Taylor, Kiersten White
Genre: Contemporary, Fantasy, Romance, Short Story, Young Adult
Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books (9th October 2014)
Blurb:

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me . . .

This beautiful collection features twelve gorgeously romantic stories set during the festive period, by some of the most talented and exciting YA authors writing today. The stories are filled with the magic of first love and the magic of the holidays.

Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:

MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME is a collection of Young Adult short stories edited by Stephanie Perkins. All twelve of the short stories are set during the Christmas period. Each story varies in length, some of the stories read like a contemporary story, whilst others are more fantastic.

I got this book during December, but unfortunately didn’t have the time to read it. Although I never read any reviews for the anthology, I did hear that a lot of people thought it was a good Christmas read. Whilst all the stories are set during this period and I read the book several months later, I am not convinced that the collection has a particularly Christmas mood. It definitely has a Christmas theme, but a Christmas-y feeling didn’t really happen to me – but to be fair, that could be due to the fact that as I write this review it is coming up to Easter.

On the whole I really enjoyed the collection, and I thought all twelve authors did a brilliant job with the Christmas-y theme of the book. I really liked the different ways they approached their topic, and although I did not enjoy all twelve stories they were certainly interesting reads.

One of my favourite stories in the collection was by Kelly Link, an author I had never read before. Her short story had both a fairytale feel to it, and it reminded me of Diana Wynne Jones’ Fire and Hemlock. I also really enjoyed Ally Carter’s addition to the anthology, and Rainbow Rowell’s was short and sweet. Gayle Forman’s story was also a good one, and has made me curious to check out her work.

I’d also like to add that my edition (the UK hardback) is a really gorgeous, tactile book. It just feels really nice in my hands, and the gold foil letters and wire really sparkle and make the book truly eye-catching. As does the bright pink tint that has been given to the edge of the pages.

MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME would be a good stocking filler, and I think it would be quite enjoyable to get it out and re-read it around the Christmas period. Although the anthology focuses on winter romances, I think there will probably be at least one story in the collection that everyone enjoys. I also think it is a brilliant way to try the twelve authors writing without having to pay/borrow a whole book by them and risk disappointment.