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Unhappy Holidays: Blessings for a Blue Christmas
How can we hope when not all is merry and bright?
We often think of the Christmas season as a time of good cheer, festive parties, and thoughtful gifts. But what happens when the reality of life stands in stark contrast to these expectations? Cancer diagnoses, divorce proceedings, and natural disasters do not care about calendar time. Smaller hardships create their own stress—travel woes, custody arrangements, money struggles, and political differences can strain our closest relationships. How do we live into the spirit of Christmas when things feel bleak?
From the coauthor of Comfort and Joy comes a gentle companion for a season that may not always feel like the most wonderful time of the year. Spiritual director Sherah-Leigh Gerber offers readers ways of noticing how God shows up in daily life amid our heartache, grief, and loss. With thoughtful reflections and compassionate blessings drawn from the familiar biblical texts of Advent, Unhappy Holidays invites readers to recover a sense of hope as we prepare to celebrate the incarnation. Includes resources for small groups and use in worship settings as well as at home.
We often think of the Christmas season as a time of good cheer, festive parties, and thoughtful gifts. But what happens when the reality of life stands in stark contrast to these expectations? Cancer diagnoses, divorce proceedings, and natural disasters do not care about calendar time. Smaller hardships create their own stress—travel woes, custody arrangements, money struggles, and political differences can strain our closest relationships. How do we live into the spirit of Christmas when things feel bleak?
From the coauthor of Comfort and Joy comes a gentle companion for a season that may not always feel like the most wonderful time of the year. Spiritual director Sherah-Leigh Gerber offers readers ways of noticing how God shows up in daily life amid our heartache, grief, and loss. With thoughtful reflections and compassionate blessings drawn from the familiar biblical texts of Advent, Unhappy Holidays invites readers to recover a sense of hope as we prepare to celebrate the incarnation. Includes resources for small groups and use in worship settings as well as at home.
140 pages, Paperback
Published October 7, 2025
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 13, 2025
I received a free copy of, Unhappy Holidays, by Sherah-Leigh Gerber, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The holidays are not a happy time for everyone, death, loss of job, illness, weather, so much more can play apart in having a blue holiday. I lost a beloved family member this year, and I am not looking forward to the holidays at all. This book helped a little. The reflections and blessings helped, to ease my grief a little.
November 18, 2025
I was immediately drawn to Unhappy Holidays because of my own story—losing my mom last year, just days before Christmas. Navigating the holidays without someone you love can feel overwhelming, and I was grateful to find a devotional that acknowledges that pain while gently offering hope.
The daily readings are short but meaningful, the kind that meet you right where you are in your grief. Some days they comfort, some days they challenge, and some days they simply sit with you in the hard moments. I especially loved the blessings included each day; they felt like small, steady reminders that God sees you, even in the ache.
Another thoughtful addition is the group guide, making it easy to walk through the month with others who may also be grieving. Whether you’re doing this alone or with a community, Unhappy Holidays offers compassionate encouragement for anyone carrying grief into the Christmas season.
Thank you NetGalley and Herald Press for a copy of this book in exchange for my review.
My rating system:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Absolutely loved it! I’d read it again… if my TBR pile weren’t already taller than me. Highly recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Really great read! Thoroughly enjoyed it and would happily recommend it to others.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Glad I read it! A solid read, and I might check out more from this author.
⭐️⭐️ – Just okay. Not terrible, but I kind of wish I’d picked something else.
⭐️ – Nope. Didn’t connect with it and wouldn’t recommend.
The daily readings are short but meaningful, the kind that meet you right where you are in your grief. Some days they comfort, some days they challenge, and some days they simply sit with you in the hard moments. I especially loved the blessings included each day; they felt like small, steady reminders that God sees you, even in the ache.
Another thoughtful addition is the group guide, making it easy to walk through the month with others who may also be grieving. Whether you’re doing this alone or with a community, Unhappy Holidays offers compassionate encouragement for anyone carrying grief into the Christmas season.
Thank you NetGalley and Herald Press for a copy of this book in exchange for my review.
My rating system:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Absolutely loved it! I’d read it again… if my TBR pile weren’t already taller than me. Highly recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Really great read! Thoroughly enjoyed it and would happily recommend it to others.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Glad I read it! A solid read, and I might check out more from this author.
⭐️⭐️ – Just okay. Not terrible, but I kind of wish I’d picked something else.
⭐️ – Nope. Didn’t connect with it and wouldn’t recommend.
December 1, 2025
Author Sherah-Leigh Gerber clearly loves Advent, not only as a lead-in to the main event of Christmas, but as a season of honest reflection and deep longing, a season for waiting on God and being surprised by unexpected blessings. This is a book to savor: with readings from Scripture, daily reflections and words of blessing, and bonus materials to use this book with a small group or in a worship setting. I read through an advanced copy, and am now spending time with the book again this Advent season.
October 25, 2025
Christmas isn't always happy, but it can be holy.
This sensitive and affirming book shows you how.
With attention to the liturgical traditions, the author ushers you through familiar scriptures with compassion for your hurts.
The book is great for personal use, and it also contains a guide for using it in a group setting.
It's a perfect gift for someone going through a hard time before the holiday season begins.
This sensitive and affirming book shows you how.
With attention to the liturgical traditions, the author ushers you through familiar scriptures with compassion for your hurts.
The book is great for personal use, and it also contains a guide for using it in a group setting.
It's a perfect gift for someone going through a hard time before the holiday season begins.
January 10, 2026
As a person who has dealt with much loss and pain, I found this book to be a balm for my soul. Sherah-Leigh tackles difficult subjects with a great deal of compassion and understanding. I also love how she incorporated a poem after each chapter. It is a book I a book I wtill cherish.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews