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25 Days
The countdown to Christmas has never been scarier than in this internationally bestselling holiday horror novel from Per Jacobsen.
Hoping to bring his family closer together, Adam Gray arranges a vacation in a remote cabin on a snowy mountain. Things take a dark turn, however, when someone starts leaving gifts in the Christmas stocking mounted on the barn door.
Each morning brings something new, and with every passing day, the contents become more terrifying. Soon, the family makes a spine-chilling they’ve been dragged into a deranged game of Secret Santa, and if they want to survive, they will have to fight.
Hoping to bring his family closer together, Adam Gray arranges a vacation in a remote cabin on a snowy mountain. Things take a dark turn, however, when someone starts leaving gifts in the Christmas stocking mounted on the barn door.
Each morning brings something new, and with every passing day, the contents become more terrifying. Soon, the family makes a spine-chilling they’ve been dragged into a deranged game of Secret Santa, and if they want to survive, they will have to fight.
Audible Audio
First published November 1, 2024
6003 people are currently reading
21885 people want to read
About the author
Per Jacobsen
17 books557 followersPer Jacobsen is a Danish author best known for writing thrillers with supernatural elements. He got his literary debut in 2018 when he won a writing competition issued by Byens publishing house in Denmark. Shortly afterwards, he signed a contract with the publishing house Valeta, also in Denmark, who published his debut novel, The mirror cabinet. Per Jacobsen's next three books (books 1-3 in the Strung trilogy) were translated and gave him his international breakthrough as they quickly went to the top of the bestseller list in several countries, including the US and England. Today, Per Jacobsen is a full-time writer and lives permanently in southern Spain with his wife and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,917 reviews
January 2, 2025
* review includes very mild spoilers *
this book was so great during the first half but unfortunately it dragged out and disappointed me toward the end. it felt awfully rushed after the first half. it's so disappointing that we never learn about the villain; no identity, no motive, no explanation whatsoever. there was also various plot holes i noticed during action packed scenes.
i'd also like to note that this is not the christmas read i expected. other than the dates and the christmas stocking that was present in the first few chapters, there's no other recurring christmas themes.
this book was so great during the first half but unfortunately it dragged out and disappointed me toward the end. it felt awfully rushed after the first half. it's so disappointing that we never learn about the villain; no identity, no motive, no explanation whatsoever. there was also various plot holes i noticed during action packed scenes.
i'd also like to note that this is not the christmas read i expected. other than the dates and the christmas stocking that was present in the first few chapters, there's no other recurring christmas themes.
December 7, 2024
2⭐️ ooooof man I haven’t rated a book this low in awhile! It started out so so good and I couldn’t just stick to the one chapter a day like it’s intended.
The family was honestly so stupid 😅 and the whole thing made zero sense. Literally no explanation at all at the end. No identity, no motive, no anything for why things happened. Also really juvenile writing tbh.
I’m so sad because this had such potential at first! I’m so curious how others will find this when they finish
The family was honestly so stupid 😅 and the whole thing made zero sense. Literally no explanation at all at the end. No identity, no motive, no anything for why things happened. Also really juvenile writing tbh.
I’m so sad because this had such potential at first! I’m so curious how others will find this when they finish
December 17, 2024
There was just no way I could have read only one chapter a day over the course of 25 Days. It would be the equivalent of asking me to eat just one "Lays" potato chip. Not gonna happen.
It goes without saying that a big thank you is owed to the Jacobsen's wife, (a huge horror book reader herself) for providing her husband with the encouragement and enthusiastic certainty that "there was a demand in the horror community for a Christmas story with a dark edge." Their collaborative teamwork brought it. Bravo.
It goes without saying that a big thank you is owed to the Jacobsen's wife, (a huge horror book reader herself) for providing her husband with the encouragement and enthusiastic certainty that "there was a demand in the horror community for a Christmas story with a dark edge." Their collaborative teamwork brought it. Bravo.
December 26, 2024
I liked the idea of the book a lot more than the actual book.
October 24, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this book!
Im really glad I've made the habit of reading my books cover to cover because it led me to reading the Author's Note of this book.
It personally changed everything about my review and thoughts on this book. Most thriller lovers (such as myself) might find themselves frustrated, swearing this book is rage bait. Then you discover that it was just the Author staying true to themselves. Which personally trumps some "loose ends" for me. Especially when we live in a society where genuine authenticity & talent get masked for popularity & conformity on too frequent a basis.
If you're like me and you love horror all year round with a yern for more holiday horror, this unconventional thriller is an absolute must. It's extremely fast pace, the storyline is solid, the psychological thrill is there, and it's going to be a book that leaves you thinking long after you're finished. And honestly I think that's solely due to the Author's bravery to go off the beaten path. Room is allowed for imagination take root, leaving you pondering for quite a while.
🩵
Im really glad I've made the habit of reading my books cover to cover because it led me to reading the Author's Note of this book.
It personally changed everything about my review and thoughts on this book. Most thriller lovers (such as myself) might find themselves frustrated, swearing this book is rage bait. Then you discover that it was just the Author staying true to themselves. Which personally trumps some "loose ends" for me. Especially when we live in a society where genuine authenticity & talent get masked for popularity & conformity on too frequent a basis.
If you're like me and you love horror all year round with a yern for more holiday horror, this unconventional thriller is an absolute must. It's extremely fast pace, the storyline is solid, the psychological thrill is there, and it's going to be a book that leaves you thinking long after you're finished. And honestly I think that's solely due to the Author's bravery to go off the beaten path. Room is allowed for imagination take root, leaving you pondering for quite a while.
🩵
December 3, 2024
I devoured this book in record time. I couldn’t wait to read a chapter a day, sorry not sorry!!
However this story left a lot to be desired. Nothing really made sense in the grand scheme of things and while sometimes people are just rotten to the core, I really would have loved to have gotten the motivation behind the man’s madness.
This book didn’t know where it wanted to go. I actually would have loved a supernatural element to the story…or maybe he really was the boogeyman due to him finding the family a year later? I mean, surely you can’t be serious??
I also question if this family are x-men? They seemed to be able to pull off impressive feats of survival. Shootings, falls from great heights, beatings, fires, explosions, loss of appendages…not to mention the freezing conditions. I literally was shaken my head by the end, these people were harder to kill than cockroaches.
I’m irritated that I fell into the hype on my FB page. This story was an awful mess.
However this story left a lot to be desired. Nothing really made sense in the grand scheme of things and while sometimes people are just rotten to the core, I really would have loved to have gotten the motivation behind the man’s madness.
This book didn’t know where it wanted to go. I actually would have loved a supernatural element to the story…or maybe he really was the boogeyman due to him finding the family a year later? I mean, surely you can’t be serious??
I also question if this family are x-men? They seemed to be able to pull off impressive feats of survival. Shootings, falls from great heights, beatings, fires, explosions, loss of appendages…not to mention the freezing conditions. I literally was shaken my head by the end, these people were harder to kill than cockroaches.
I’m irritated that I fell into the hype on my FB page. This story was an awful mess.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2025
ARC for review. To be published September 30, 2025.
3.5 stars
Adam Gray wants his family to reconnect so he rents an isolated cabin (you know it won’t end well. I’m not in a horror book or movie….I don’t think. I hope not. And I would no sooner rent an “isolated cabin” than I would put out my own eye.) for the first week in December as a pre-Christmas treat. However, almost as soon as they arrive someone starts leaving “gifts” in a Christmas stocking on the barn door. Then things get worse.
The author says the book is intended to be read like an advent calendar, one chapter for each day, counting down until Christmas, which is a great idea, especially if you can share it with another horror lover. Some nice build-up and dread here. I’m not sure….well, that’s a spoiler. Anyway, some good horror fun for the holidays.
3.5 stars
Adam Gray wants his family to reconnect so he rents an isolated cabin (you know it won’t end well. I’m not in a horror book or movie….I don’t think. I hope not. And I would no sooner rent an “isolated cabin” than I would put out my own eye.) for the first week in December as a pre-Christmas treat. However, almost as soon as they arrive someone starts leaving “gifts” in a Christmas stocking on the barn door. Then things get worse.
The author says the book is intended to be read like an advent calendar, one chapter for each day, counting down until Christmas, which is a great idea, especially if you can share it with another horror lover. Some nice build-up and dread here. I’m not sure….well, that’s a spoiler. Anyway, some good horror fun for the holidays.
November 19, 2024
This was absolutely the worst book I have ever read! There was absolutely no beginning or ending. Nothing made sense! Just a bunch if garble. The person that wrote this hopefully has a real job somewhere because they definitely don’t know how to be an author! I don’t recommend this book to anyone!!
December 14, 2024
*2.5 stars
Wow!! I went from absolutely loving and devouring this book—a definite 4 to 5 star read— to giving it 2.5 stars after finishing. How did I get from point A to point B? I don’t think I can answer that without giving major spoilers. So I’m going to think on how to write my review —spoilers or not—and get back to you!!
Wow!! I went from absolutely loving and devouring this book—a definite 4 to 5 star read— to giving it 2.5 stars after finishing. How did I get from point A to point B? I don’t think I can answer that without giving major spoilers. So I’m going to think on how to write my review —spoilers or not—and get back to you!!
October 21, 2024
"It means that the photo was taken within the last few days," she says. "While we've been up here."
Ok, this was a such a cool idea: a Christmas horror story with 25 chapters; essentially Jacobsen’s created a fictional advent calendar that allows you to read one section a day over December.
I am soooo bad at waiting though, seriously, I cannot handle it. Plus this tale was SO thrilling and chilling, I just couldn’t put it down. Some parts had me stressed to the max, actually yelling out loud and flapping my hands freaking out (much to the shock and worry of my fiancé who only reads nonfiction and can’t comprehend characters’ fates affecting me so much).
"The game is over."
This holiday season, follow a family as they go on the vacation of their nightmares. The isolated, snowy, and gorgeous setting is mixed with the dread and fear of someone being out there in the wild and watching the family. Each day brings a new horrific surprise, and soon it becomes evident this isn’t a sick prank, this is deadly serious.
“But that was kind of the point, wasn't it? he thinks. To get away from it all and spend some quality time together as a family.”
This plot will keep readers hungering for the next chapter, so you can choose to savour the story over a month, or ravenously devour it in a day like me!
Ok, this was a such a cool idea: a Christmas horror story with 25 chapters; essentially Jacobsen’s created a fictional advent calendar that allows you to read one section a day over December.
I am soooo bad at waiting though, seriously, I cannot handle it. Plus this tale was SO thrilling and chilling, I just couldn’t put it down. Some parts had me stressed to the max, actually yelling out loud and flapping my hands freaking out (much to the shock and worry of my fiancé who only reads nonfiction and can’t comprehend characters’ fates affecting me so much).
"The game is over."
This holiday season, follow a family as they go on the vacation of their nightmares. The isolated, snowy, and gorgeous setting is mixed with the dread and fear of someone being out there in the wild and watching the family. Each day brings a new horrific surprise, and soon it becomes evident this isn’t a sick prank, this is deadly serious.
“But that was kind of the point, wasn't it? he thinks. To get away from it all and spend some quality time together as a family.”
This plot will keep readers hungering for the next chapter, so you can choose to savour the story over a month, or ravenously devour it in a day like me!
December 30, 2024
This such a unique story idea!! I loved that you could read it like an advent calendar. I was hooked from the beginning of this book and was unable to stop.
This story follows a family going to a rental cabin for the holidays but things go sideways from the very beginning. There isn’t much I can share without spoiling the book for you. Trust me when I say hat this book will become a holiday favorite for those of us who love thrillers!!! Enjoy!!
This story follows a family going to a rental cabin for the holidays but things go sideways from the very beginning. There isn’t much I can share without spoiling the book for you. Trust me when I say hat this book will become a holiday favorite for those of us who love thrillers!!! Enjoy!!
December 25, 2024
This was an absolutely brilliant idea: a Christmas horror story where, like an advent calendar book, you read one chapter a day for the first twenty five days of December, the book unfolding in real time (although the final chapter is a bit of a cheat.
I really enjoyed this one; it was almost painful having the discipline to limit myself to one chapter per day, particularly as the chapters are short.
SPOILERS BELOW
My only complaint about the book is that you never find out the killer’s identity or motivations… but I suppose that leaves it open for a sequel.
I really enjoyed this one; it was almost painful having the discipline to limit myself to one chapter per day, particularly as the chapters are short.
SPOILERS BELOW
My only complaint about the book is that you never find out the killer’s identity or motivations… but I suppose that leaves it open for a sequel.
December 6, 2024
Just… no. I’ll admit I was intrigued with the idea but quickly lost interest with the absolutely poor writing. There are SO many loose ends, so many unrealistic scenes (seriously, you mean to tell me this guy gets shot, falls off a cliff, and then magically finds his family and saves the day… amongst many other things!). Lacked VERY necessary trigger warnings… come on, severe animal cruelty and death, graphic depictions of torture, graphic depictions of violence on minors, these are things readers want to be aware of BEFORE getting the book! I’m honestly shocked that so many people are loving this book.
We learn nothing of the stalker, we never got any background or motive or even found out what his connection to any of the locals were. Literally nothing. A family goes on what they hope will be a relaxing Christmas holiday only to be stalked and relentlessly, brutally tortured by some mystery man and they only make it out by finally calling 911 from the gas station. What a waste of time. Luckily I skimmed the last 30% of it. Would NOT recommend.
We learn nothing of the stalker, we never got any background or motive or even found out what his connection to any of the locals were. Literally nothing. A family goes on what they hope will be a relaxing Christmas holiday only to be stalked and relentlessly, brutally tortured by some mystery man and they only make it out by finally calling 911 from the gas station. What a waste of time. Luckily I skimmed the last 30% of it. Would NOT recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2025
I picked this up in the 'to download' section because I was in the mood for something light. It's a light horror story with some nice creepy scenes and in times it was full of shocking things. It would make a nice little horror movie. I gave it two stars because it was an easy read but my main problem with it was that there is so much background missing.
A family of four is attacked by a stranger while enjoying (at the start at least) a short holiday somewhere at a remote lodge. You can easily feel the tension creeping up and when things get really scary, it's clear the reader hopes this family will come out of this situation alive.
If we would have found out earlier what was happening and especially why, it would have earned more stars.
Something strange though: I cannot seem to find this title anymore on Edelweiss so I cannot publish my review there.
Thanks to Edelweiss and Atria for this review copy.
A family of four is attacked by a stranger while enjoying (at the start at least) a short holiday somewhere at a remote lodge. You can easily feel the tension creeping up and when things get really scary, it's clear the reader hopes this family will come out of this situation alive.
If we would have found out earlier what was happening and especially why, it would have earned more stars.
Something strange though: I cannot seem to find this title anymore on Edelweiss so I cannot publish my review there.
Thanks to Edelweiss and Atria for this review copy.
December 19, 2025
***SPOILERS***
If you are looking for a cosy, snug, and comfortable Christmas story, this is NOT it.
Presented like an advent calendar, this book can be read one chapter at a time, starting from December 1st until Christmas Day. But not a lot of people would do just that—including me. I had to finish this in a day because I was completely riveted by the intense and disturbing elements. Adam, his wife Beth, and their two daughters, Chloe and Abby, wanted a Christmas in an isolated cabin far away from city life. What should have been a snowy white Christmas turned into a bloody game of cat and mouse when a stranger began stalking them and leaving bloody stockings on their doorstep.
This had me seething the entire time, and I was cheering for the family. I cheered when they escaped. I cheered when they hurt the man hunting them. And I cried when they survived. It was super intense, and I genuinely enjoyed it.
I just wish the author had given more backstory and motive behind the crimes. The book felt incomplete, and the ending was rushed. I wanted more explanation. Don’t leave me hanging like this—why?
Overall, this is a fun read.
If you are looking for a cosy, snug, and comfortable Christmas story, this is NOT it.
Presented like an advent calendar, this book can be read one chapter at a time, starting from December 1st until Christmas Day. But not a lot of people would do just that—including me. I had to finish this in a day because I was completely riveted by the intense and disturbing elements. Adam, his wife Beth, and their two daughters, Chloe and Abby, wanted a Christmas in an isolated cabin far away from city life. What should have been a snowy white Christmas turned into a bloody game of cat and mouse when a stranger began stalking them and leaving bloody stockings on their doorstep.
This had me seething the entire time, and I was cheering for the family. I cheered when they escaped. I cheered when they hurt the man hunting them. And I cried when they survived. It was super intense, and I genuinely enjoyed it.
I just wish the author had given more backstory and motive behind the crimes. The book felt incomplete, and the ending was rushed. I wanted more explanation. Don’t leave me hanging like this—why?
Overall, this is a fun read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2024
A colleague recommended this book to me so I had high hopes. It is supposed to be read like an advent calendar so one chapter per day.
It started out quite ok but the story went downhill from there. The story was boring and predictable and offered no tension whatsoever. The ending was very unsatisfactory and the writing read like it was written by a junior high schooler. The advent calendar thingy is probably a gimmicky decoy to detract from the crappy writing and story.
This is quite possibly the worst book I’ve read this year.
It started out quite ok but the story went downhill from there. The story was boring and predictable and offered no tension whatsoever. The ending was very unsatisfactory and the writing read like it was written by a junior high schooler. The advent calendar thingy is probably a gimmicky decoy to detract from the crappy writing and story.
This is quite possibly the worst book I’ve read this year.
November 15, 2024
I read 68% of the book and could not make myself finish it. Worst book ever.
December 26, 2024
25 Days was absolutely fantastic! I loved the idea of breaking this story up into 25 chapters to read a chapter per day, like a twisted little bookish advent calendar. I'll admit that I didn't follow the schedule strictly; there were days I skipped and other days I read extra to catch up, but I never read "ahead" of schedule and saved the ending for Christmas Day. It was so suspenseful that it was hard not to tear through the entire book in one go.
The book requires a lot of suspension of disbelief, and there were some plot threads I wasn't sure were tied up the way I hoped they would be, but none of that detracted from the fun I was having. Each day's section flew by aside from the first one, which was just longer to set the stage and let us get to know the characters. I enjoyed this so much and would definitely read more from this author in the future!
Buddy read with Malli! 💜
The book requires a lot of suspension of disbelief, and there were some plot threads I wasn't sure were tied up the way I hoped they would be, but none of that detracted from the fun I was having. Each day's section flew by aside from the first one, which was just longer to set the stage and let us get to know the characters. I enjoyed this so much and would definitely read more from this author in the future!
Buddy read with Malli! 💜
December 25, 2024
Will there be a 2nd one?? 🤷🏻♀️
I decided just to finish it since I probably won’t have 10 mins to spare tomorrow.
It was alright but there were a lot of plot holes.
Maybe if he does a 2nd one, some of my questions will be answered. Who knows?
It was an alright book and it was fun to do one chapter a day.
I decided just to finish it since I probably won’t have 10 mins to spare tomorrow.
It was alright but there were a lot of plot holes.
Maybe if he does a 2nd one, some of my questions will be answered. Who knows?
It was an alright book and it was fun to do one chapter a day.
June 25, 2025
25 Days - Per Jacobsen
Genera: Christmas/Horror
5★
DON'T pick this book up and think, "Oh, Boy...Just a Spooky Holiday Thriller". Read this ONLY if you REALLY, REALLY like stories that contains enough psychological terror to fill the Grand Canyon
Hoping to bring his family closer together, Adam Gray arranges a vacation in a remote cabin on a snowy mountain. Things take a dark turn, however, when someone starts leaving "gifts" in the big red Christmas stocking on the barn door. Each morning brings something new, and with every passing day, the stocking's contents become more and more terrifying. Soon, the family makes a spine-chilling realization: they’ve been dragged into a deranged game of "Secret Santa", and if they want to survive, they will have to fight.
I guess there may be something seriously wrong with me, because I actually DO like books with stories of psychological terror! Inside this one I got 25 chapters...each one colder, meaner, and more paranoid than the last. Think of it as an Advent calendar for emotional collapse, with each daily “gift” bringing a new mental landmine, beautifully gift-wrapped in trauma and sprinkled with deadly holiday dread.
The reader is in no way, eased into this. You are tossed into a remote cabin that is filled with already broken people, and the door is slammed shut and bolted from the outside, leaving you without any safety nets. Forget about any cozy "Christmasy" type vibes. What you're going to get is cold snow, dark suspicion, and the "STAR OF THE SHOW"... ONE SINGLE RED STOCKING, that may or may not, want to feast on your soul for breakfast... and if anything is left over, have the rest for lunch and dinner.
We have Adam Gray. He's not at all a "bad guy". He's a husband, a father, and a motivational speaker, who believes that a snowy Christmas vacation with his "Very Not Okay" in any sense of the word... family, is just what is needed to heal their boatload of family trauma. He rents a cabin in the woods that has no signals, no backups, and apparently, no survival instincts either.
Then THE red stocking just shows up... hangs itself on the barn....and starts delivering its “gifts” to the trapped family. Not the "jolly Santa" kind of gifts.... not even the “slightly weird uncle” type of gifts. These are "psychological bombshells"...and they arrive like clockwork...one each day, just long enough for the tension to build, simmer and boil over between this family who already are wanting to scream and throw themselves into the nearest snowbank. By the time the family starts connecting the dots, it’s way, way, way too late. They're stuck... trapped in the woods, and you think that the next chapter just might kill them.
This story doesn’t scream at you...it whispers...it sneaks up and breathes on the back of your neck while you're reading. It waits until your guard down and then makes you question whether that creak you heard in the hallway was actually just the house settling, or something coming for you with a "gift", just for you, clutched in its hand.
The pacing of this story is brilliant and simply brutal. Imagine a migraine headache made of ice, and you are getting close. Or as my neighbor, who also read this book, described it... it was like "driving on black ice with no brakes, with a screaming 2-year-old in the back seat". Good one. I believe that my neighbor should write my next horror read:), but I have to totally agree that indeed, this was horror done right. You don’t know who to trust. You don’t know what the rules are, or if there ever was rules, or if those rules have changed while you weren't listening...and you never know what’s coming out of that red stocking next. The story doesn't have monsters...only ordinary people. Scared, flawed, breaking people.... but simply... ordinary people...which made it SO much worse.
This quote from the book, pretty much ties up the family's fate with a "Big Red Christmas Bow": “Each day brought a new gift. Each gift brought us closer to the end.” That pretty much says it all.... short, sharp, descriptive, and drenched in doom.
If you like horror of this kind...you should read this...but maybe not in December unless you like screaming into snowbanks and thinking that your Christmas tree is planning "psychological manipulation":) The story won't scare you just in a "fun way". You'll check often to see if something is watching you. It’s cold, hard dread and terror enclosed in a paperback cover with 25 perfectly wrapped, blood-soaked chapters. Oh...and you might want to check your door for a big red Christmas stocking.
Genera: Christmas/Horror
5★
DON'T pick this book up and think, "Oh, Boy...Just a Spooky Holiday Thriller". Read this ONLY if you REALLY, REALLY like stories that contains enough psychological terror to fill the Grand Canyon
Hoping to bring his family closer together, Adam Gray arranges a vacation in a remote cabin on a snowy mountain. Things take a dark turn, however, when someone starts leaving "gifts" in the big red Christmas stocking on the barn door. Each morning brings something new, and with every passing day, the stocking's contents become more and more terrifying. Soon, the family makes a spine-chilling realization: they’ve been dragged into a deranged game of "Secret Santa", and if they want to survive, they will have to fight.
I guess there may be something seriously wrong with me, because I actually DO like books with stories of psychological terror! Inside this one I got 25 chapters...each one colder, meaner, and more paranoid than the last. Think of it as an Advent calendar for emotional collapse, with each daily “gift” bringing a new mental landmine, beautifully gift-wrapped in trauma and sprinkled with deadly holiday dread.
The reader is in no way, eased into this. You are tossed into a remote cabin that is filled with already broken people, and the door is slammed shut and bolted from the outside, leaving you without any safety nets. Forget about any cozy "Christmasy" type vibes. What you're going to get is cold snow, dark suspicion, and the "STAR OF THE SHOW"... ONE SINGLE RED STOCKING, that may or may not, want to feast on your soul for breakfast... and if anything is left over, have the rest for lunch and dinner.
We have Adam Gray. He's not at all a "bad guy". He's a husband, a father, and a motivational speaker, who believes that a snowy Christmas vacation with his "Very Not Okay" in any sense of the word... family, is just what is needed to heal their boatload of family trauma. He rents a cabin in the woods that has no signals, no backups, and apparently, no survival instincts either.
Then THE red stocking just shows up... hangs itself on the barn....and starts delivering its “gifts” to the trapped family. Not the "jolly Santa" kind of gifts.... not even the “slightly weird uncle” type of gifts. These are "psychological bombshells"...and they arrive like clockwork...one each day, just long enough for the tension to build, simmer and boil over between this family who already are wanting to scream and throw themselves into the nearest snowbank. By the time the family starts connecting the dots, it’s way, way, way too late. They're stuck... trapped in the woods, and you think that the next chapter just might kill them.
This story doesn’t scream at you...it whispers...it sneaks up and breathes on the back of your neck while you're reading. It waits until your guard down and then makes you question whether that creak you heard in the hallway was actually just the house settling, or something coming for you with a "gift", just for you, clutched in its hand.
The pacing of this story is brilliant and simply brutal. Imagine a migraine headache made of ice, and you are getting close. Or as my neighbor, who also read this book, described it... it was like "driving on black ice with no brakes, with a screaming 2-year-old in the back seat". Good one. I believe that my neighbor should write my next horror read:), but I have to totally agree that indeed, this was horror done right. You don’t know who to trust. You don’t know what the rules are, or if there ever was rules, or if those rules have changed while you weren't listening...and you never know what’s coming out of that red stocking next. The story doesn't have monsters...only ordinary people. Scared, flawed, breaking people.... but simply... ordinary people...which made it SO much worse.
This quote from the book, pretty much ties up the family's fate with a "Big Red Christmas Bow": “Each day brought a new gift. Each gift brought us closer to the end.” That pretty much says it all.... short, sharp, descriptive, and drenched in doom.
If you like horror of this kind...you should read this...but maybe not in December unless you like screaming into snowbanks and thinking that your Christmas tree is planning "psychological manipulation":) The story won't scare you just in a "fun way". You'll check often to see if something is watching you. It’s cold, hard dread and terror enclosed in a paperback cover with 25 perfectly wrapped, blood-soaked chapters. Oh...and you might want to check your door for a big red Christmas stocking.
December 23, 2024
2.5 stars rounded up
A book advent calendar? Say no more, I signed up right away for this one. It was a fun read. I finished a couple of days early due to the holidays.
This book had more potential. Yes, this story needed to be drawn out due to the advent style, but each days reading could've been made longer, so the ending didn't feel so rushed. There were so many unanswered questions.
A book advent calendar? Say no more, I signed up right away for this one. It was a fun read. I finished a couple of days early due to the holidays.
This book had more potential. Yes, this story needed to be drawn out due to the advent style, but each days reading could've been made longer, so the ending didn't feel so rushed. There were so many unanswered questions.
December 2, 2024
The author recommends reading one chapter a day. I call BS: I read it in six hours. And loved it. Holiday horror at its finest!
The Gray family take a holiday vacation to a remote mountain cabin (you already know what’s going to happen), and are greeted with a mysterious, anonymous gift. A gift arrives daily, which becomes more macabre each time. The family feels threatened enough to return home, and that’s when the action escalates.
The following chapters change POV with each being dedicated to one of the Gray family. Each of the 25 days has adventure, terror, suspense, and some gore.
The ending is a bit predictable, but getting there is quite a ride!
Can recommend.
The Gray family take a holiday vacation to a remote mountain cabin (you already know what’s going to happen), and are greeted with a mysterious, anonymous gift. A gift arrives daily, which becomes more macabre each time. The family feels threatened enough to return home, and that’s when the action escalates.
The following chapters change POV with each being dedicated to one of the Gray family. Each of the 25 days has adventure, terror, suspense, and some gore.
The ending is a bit predictable, but getting there is quite a ride!
Can recommend.
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April 27, 2025Kindle Book -DNF’d @58%
I read a few reviews with spoilers when I decided I wasn’t going to finish this and I’m glad I decided to stop because the not knowing the who would have ticked me off.
I read a few reviews with spoilers when I decided I wasn’t going to finish this and I’m glad I decided to stop because the not knowing the who would have ticked me off.
December 28, 2025
In theory, I wanted to read a chapter a day leading up to Christmas but…. I have a never ending tbr so that didn’t happen. I didn’t even get to read it before Christmas… but here I am, three days later, getting to finally listen to this.
Overall, it was pretty mid. Even with the one chapter a day theory, I think I would haven’t been able to wait to finish it but also it was a pretty common storyline you’ve read a hundred times. (Well maybe not) but it wasn’t bad. Fun if you read the actual chapters a day…
Overall, it was pretty mid. Even with the one chapter a day theory, I think I would haven’t been able to wait to finish it but also it was a pretty common storyline you’ve read a hundred times. (Well maybe not) but it wasn’t bad. Fun if you read the actual chapters a day…
December 27, 2025
The concept is fun: read one chapter per day like it's an advent calendar.
The execution wasn't so bad. It kept my attention for most of the book.
The ending completely sucked because we never learn who the psycho is nor what his motivation is. What was the point of this whole story? When the family got back to the gas station I thought maybe the gas station owner was the psycho. I think I could have written a better ending.
The execution wasn't so bad. It kept my attention for most of the book.
The ending completely sucked because we never learn who the psycho is nor what his motivation is. What was the point of this whole story? When the family got back to the gas station I thought maybe the gas station owner was the psycho. I think I could have written a better ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2024
I loved the Advent Calendars of my childhood because they looked good and opening a door each day was fun, even though some of the chocolates weren't ones I liked. I feel the same way about '25 Days'. The cover art was compelling. The idea was enticing. I loved the process of reading it, especially as a Buddy Read. It became a small part of my day that I looked forward to no matter what was behind the next door.
The story was frustrating at times. The BIg Bad had all the credibility of a Department Store Santa and the plot was as realistic as reindeer flying through the air, There was one really gory scene that I wanted to spit out (like biting into one of those nougat sweets in the Adbent Calendar when I was hoping for butter toffee), BUT, I enjoyed the relationship between the sisters, I cheered for Abby, Worried for Chloe, hoped that Beth would get to carry out her threat to kill the Big Bad and tried to see Adam's good side, so some ot the story worked well.
The story was frustrating at times. The BIg Bad had all the credibility of a Department Store Santa and the plot was as realistic as reindeer flying through the air, There was one really gory scene that I wanted to spit out (like biting into one of those nougat sweets in the Adbent Calendar when I was hoping for butter toffee), BUT, I enjoyed the relationship between the sisters, I cheered for Abby, Worried for Chloe, hoped that Beth would get to carry out her threat to kill the Big Bad and tried to see Adam's good side, so some ot the story worked well.
December 23, 2025
4.5! Wildly entertaining, and definitely delivered on the horror and creepiness. Slightly unrealistic at times, but still a fun ride.
December 8, 2024
2.5 maybe ? Idk the ending was so rushed and I did not like that at all. Along with no explanation of who the guy even was. And how the dad went from literary dying to showing up with a tree branch? And then the ending? Why is there a stocking if he was dead? When the cops showed up to rescue the family, did they not make sure he was dead???
I did like the beginning of the book though and even got chills a few times but I feel it definitely went downhill
I did like the beginning of the book though and even got chills a few times but I feel it definitely went downhill
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2024
I cheated - on the 23rd I read the 23rd-25th because I’m a menace and just couldn’t wait. This was so much fun! The book was scary and good, and “having to wait” made it even better.
December 15, 2025
A full-throttle holiday survival thriller that turns Christmas cheer into pure carnage.
What starts as a December family getaway in a remote, snow-covered cabin quickly becomes a brutal fight for survival. Bloody “gifts,” a masked man on a snowmobile, and a relentless cat-and-mouse chase through the snow ensure this is anything but festive.
The standout element is the structure: the story unfolds from December 1st to 25th, with rotating POVs from each family member — an advent calendar of dread meant to be read one chapter a day. Festive… but feral.
This book is dark, graphic, and completely unapologetic. Trauma is dealt freely to adults, children, animals, and the reader. Nothing is off-limits. The vibes lean hard into Friday the 13th / Texas Chainsaw Massacre territory, wrapped in white snow and soaked in red.
My main gripe was the lack of depth around the villain. While the author explains this choice in a note, I’ve read similar survival thrillers where that aspect worked better for me.
Still, this was tense, unsettling, and strangely entertaining.
It's a 3/5 🌟 read for me.
If you want a holiday read drenched in dread rather than cheer, this delivers. 🎄🩸
What starts as a December family getaway in a remote, snow-covered cabin quickly becomes a brutal fight for survival. Bloody “gifts,” a masked man on a snowmobile, and a relentless cat-and-mouse chase through the snow ensure this is anything but festive.
The standout element is the structure: the story unfolds from December 1st to 25th, with rotating POVs from each family member — an advent calendar of dread meant to be read one chapter a day. Festive… but feral.
This book is dark, graphic, and completely unapologetic. Trauma is dealt freely to adults, children, animals, and the reader. Nothing is off-limits. The vibes lean hard into Friday the 13th / Texas Chainsaw Massacre territory, wrapped in white snow and soaked in red.
My main gripe was the lack of depth around the villain. While the author explains this choice in a note, I’ve read similar survival thrillers where that aspect worked better for me.
Still, this was tense, unsettling, and strangely entertaining.
It's a 3/5 🌟 read for me.
If you want a holiday read drenched in dread rather than cheer, this delivers. 🎄🩸
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