Rebekah Reads: 12 Dates of Christmas by Chautona Havig Review

Can you like a book but dislike the main character?

12 Dates of Christmas by Chautona Havig Review

Upon her return home for a holiday visit, Reagan is pushed into making a presentation at her old high school. Reluctantly, she stops at the school to make arrangements for her presentation. While there, she runs into HIM, her high school nemesis. She literally runs into him. If it were a movie, someone would bring up how overused the scene is -- Reagan, in a huff because she's back in the high school where arrogant Alex Landsgaard and the popular set treated her like pond scum, runs right into Mr. Alex-Popular-Kid-Landsgaard causing him to drop his papers. She really, really, really dislikes smug Alex because he made her life miserable over a decade ago. The ensuing conversation is sprinkled with Reagan accusing Alex of evil-ness, from tormenting people to using her for a punching bag. She admits she's unforgiving, but Alex sets out to apologize for the ways he tormented her. 

I've got to hand it to this guy. Alex was kind, forgiving, patient, responsive to the preaching of Scripture, and mature. Reagan on the other hand treated this man like he really was a jerk. "But," her friends said, "she'd forgive him if he asked because the Bible commands us to forgive." Never mind the Bible says to love one another, live peaceably with others, be patient, be kind, not be self-seeking, not be easily provoked. This girl is downright horrible to Alex because of her perceptions, bitterness, and hypocrisy. Reagan's filter erases any possible positive interpretation of Alex's past allowing her to focus on her twisted, biased, bitter perception. Everything Alex ever did can only be evil and hurtful because she has declared it so. She has consistently jumped to conclusions and blamed him for what she knew were his motives while insisting she was always right. 

 

Numerous apologies later,  Alex continues to try to appease Reagan and she finally realizes she built things up in her mind to such a fever-pitch she could never see him for who he is. Reagan apologizes, all is forgiven, she's suddenly sweet and kind, and details about an impending long-distance relationship are ironed out in ways only God could arrange. I found the resolution too easy, without the usual character development I see in a Chautona Havig book.

If I could say anything to Alex it would be he is worth more to God than to be the person who must apologize & change in order to appease someone else's bitterness. That person will never be appeased. They are an abuser who will "repent," apologize, and be kind for a time; but, this cycle of abuse will continue. 

Bottom line, I liked the book and the story, I just cannot come to like Reagan.

* Disclaimer: I purchased this ebook and this is my personal review.