FOR THE REST OF US
Holidays beyond Christmas — a year of stories that celebrate culture, identity, and joy.
Pre-Reading Thoughts
Most holiday collections lean hard into Christmas clichés — so a book promising Lunar New Year, Solstice, Eid, Juneteenth, Día de los Muertos and more? Yes please. A chance to learn, connect, and maybe cry a little? Sign me up.
Post-Reading
As I thought...
It’s full of heart. The premise alone was a win, but what makes it work is how personal each story feels. There's so much love for tradition, for community, and for the messiness of navigating that as a teen. Some stories are hilarious, some quietly devastating — but all are worth reading.
It surprised me by...
How few “misses” there were. Even the less standout stories still offered something: a new-to-me holiday, a great voice, a beautiful moment of connection. It’s rare for an anthology to feel this unified and well-curated.
Music Pairing
🎵 Featured Song: “Celebrate” – Anderson .Paak ft. Smokey Robinson
🎶 Vibe Album: Songs Around the World – Playing for Change
🎧 Artist Rec: Raye Zaragoza
Vibe Check
🎨 Colour Palette: Indigo, lantern orange, bright pink, warm gold
🎬 Soundtrack: Street festival drums + family karaoke + gentle candlelight
🌸 Season: All of them — it’s a full calendar
🧠 Mood: Joyous, grounded, introspective
👃 Scent: Incense, spicy food, citrus and fresh flowers
Tarot Pull
🔮 Six of Fire, Gaian Tarot
These friends have gathered to celebrate and enjoy themselves in their own way. Singing, dancing and enjoying the fire, they're celebrating life and youth. The characters in this collection are celebrating different things, but they're all celebrating.
For fans of:
📖 Blackout
📺 Never Have I Ever, Turning Red