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A Young Adult Romantic ComedyHolly and Caleb had been best friends as children, growing up on the same street, but as teenagers they couldn't be further apart. When Caleb unexpectedly asked Holly to help him pick out a Christmas gift for his girlfriend, neither of them anticipated where it would lead...A Christmas Gift is a sweet romance, suitable for ALL ages."Oh what it is to be young and in love! A funny, light and frothy read." Janie Oakes, Teen Reader Today.

31 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 12, 2014

723 people are currently reading
1086 people want to read

About the author

Stella Wilkinson

61 books148 followers

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5 stars
1,028 (32%)
4 stars
766 (24%)
3 stars
825 (26%)
2 stars
356 (11%)
1 star
174 (5%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 263 reviews
Profile Image for Irena BookDustMagic.
713 reviews919 followers
December 22, 2020
I honestly don't know how to feel about this story.

At some parts it was cute, at others, characters were getting on my nerves.
Lots of ya cliches put together on barely 30 pages.

Plus, it made me feel uncomfortable to read some dialogues, especially the one between the brothers on that Christmas party.
Profile Image for Mackey.
1,255 reviews357 followers
Read
December 12, 2018
3.5 stars, rounded up

The premise is simple: two best friends who grow apart as they go through their awkward teen years find themselves falling back together once again.

A Christmas Gift is a short read but well written and very sweet. There was something about the storyline and message that reminded me of a modern Gift of the Magi. It's edgy but clean, sweet but not saccharine and, best of all, it sparkles with Christmas joy.
Profile Image for Ankit Saxena.
848 reviews235 followers
August 8, 2019
Festive

Quite like what one expect for a festive weekend. Soft and simple romance. Friend-turned-soulmate thing always cherish the read. There need not to be any vulgarity and intimacy count very well on real emotions.
For me this short read deserves 4.0/5.0
Profile Image for Jules.
1,077 reviews233 followers
December 12, 2015
A Christmas Gift is a short but sweet romance set around Christmas time.

Being a short story this is an ideal quick read between books.

Great for fans of romance and Young Adult fiction.

Also, it's FREE on Amazon Kindle (at time of posting this review).
Profile Image for catherine ♡.
1,707 reviews172 followers
December 25, 2018
I was leaning towards two stars, because I could already tell this was full of cliches, one after another.

Then Caleb and Holly were quite cute, so I was ready to bump it up to three.

Then the holiday party happened, and there were even more overused tropes and LOTS OF dumb drama, and so I facepalmed and settled on one star.
Profile Image for Rossy Montaño.
442 reviews29 followers
May 17, 2022
No me terminó de convencer y coincido con muchos demasiado cliché... dos mejores amigos que se alejaron al llegar a la adolescencia y luego se reencuentran. El plus el ambiente navideño.
Profile Image for Blodeuedd Finland.
3,669 reviews310 followers
November 26, 2019
It was very cliche.

2 former friends. One is now a heartthrob with a bitchy gf
The other one is "normal"

He needs a present. She helps. He then realises that he loves her.
Her mum takes her out on a makover

They get together

The end

Eh
Profile Image for Goddess Of Blah.
514 reviews76 followers
April 5, 2015
DNF 37%. Assuming this is for little kids.
description

Heroine Holly: 16 yo, Ginger kid who lives opposite the hero Caleb, whom she's been secretly in love with for years even though he bullied her and acts like she didn't exist for years. They were once best friends till he moved on. She stagnated.
She has no self-esteem, swoons over him, simpers and obsesses over him.

Typical inane heroine who needs to get a personality while she judges the richer "plastic" superficial girls (like Caleb's girlfriend), because she's-oh-so-real.
description


Hero Caleb: 16 yo, Tall, Dark, Handsome cliché, from the rich side of the street (yeah ridiculous doesn't come close to describing this).
He's oh-so-cool because he's part of the Wolf Pack
description
He of course dates popular "plastic" girls (because if you're a popular female than you gotta be plastic right). And meanwhile acts extremely entitled and clicks his fingers to have Holly chasing him. Meh
description

It's a pathetic tale of an inane, push-over silly heroine swooning over her once bully. BORING.
description
Profile Image for Katherine.
952 reviews179 followers
December 3, 2018
A Christmas Gift is a short take of finding love, the special one who is right in front of you but always ends up going unnoticed. Holly and Caleb have been childhood friends but they grew apart when Caleb joined the famous 'Wolf Gang' while Holly became invisible to him for not being popular. But something changed ,this Christmas as they tried to find the perfect gift for Caleb's girlfriend Amber,they realise that their feelings haven't been lost and all this time they were looking in the wrong direction for love while all they really had to do was to talk to each other.

This was a sweet short story that is themed around the holly jolly Christmas time. Quite enjoyable.
Profile Image for The Book Junkie Reads . . ..
5,011 reviews154 followers
December 12, 2016
Cute YA Holiday Romance

Holly was just adorable and very real with a sense of self-worth. She knew who she was and valued that above all other things. She knew what she wanted and did not want to change herself to achieve it. It would only make things worse. She got her man in the end.
Profile Image for Jillian.
1,227 reviews94 followers
March 23, 2019
Cute, quick read, young adult, short story. The characters are 16 year old neighbors who grew up as best friends but then grew apart when they were around 11 or 12.
Profile Image for Denise Spicer.
Author 16 books70 followers
December 26, 2018
In this cute teen romance Holly Briars and her childhood friend and neighbor, Caleb Jackson, have drifted apart. At the Pinetree Avenue Christmas street party Caleb asks Holly for help picking out a Christmas gift for his girlfriend. They spend some time together gettung reacquainted and when Holly shows up at the Jackson family's Christmas party with a new dress and a whole "new look" things start to change. This is a quick, fun read for girls concerned with their looks and relationships.
Profile Image for Kelle.
243 reviews
December 16, 2020
A very cute little Christmas romance story! The characters are likeable and there is one mean girl of course. If you want a cute High School Christmas short story, it one is for you. ENJOY!
Profile Image for Christina (Christina's Book Corner).
910 reviews180 followers
December 31, 2015
November 28-December 1

Holly and Caleb had been best friends as children, growing up on the same street, but as teenagers they couldn't be further apart. When Caleb unexpectedly asked Holly to help him pick out a Christmas gift for his girlfriend, neither of them anticipated where it would lead.

Review - This was such a cute Christmas story it's short but I wished it was longer because I loved the whole boy next door girl next door thing this is about Holly and Caleb they use to be friends as kids but then Caleb joined this wolf pack thing but Caleb needed help getting a Christmas gift for his girlfriend amber so he asked Holly for help but then the next day Amber bothers Holly about the whole him and holly being together but she's just a bitch who only likes Caleb because he has money . Holly gets a makeover and goes to Caleb's family christmas party and Caleb's brother flirts with Holly and then Caleb and Josh get in a fight yikes the next day Caleb comes to Holly and tells her he likes and and gives her the bracelet and he broke up with amber then holly kisses him it was really cute I loved it .

Book quotes- And I suddenly realized that was you . The difference between you and Amber . You are the garnet : Darker and softer , with more depth , more beautiful somehow .

There's only one thing I want for christmas . Just you will you be my gift , Holly?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Anne OK.
4,103 reviews552 followers
December 18, 2015
I ended this year on a high note with a short Christmas PG-rated romance from an author I’ve never read. Holly and Caleb were young childhood playmates and neighbors. As they grew into the teenage years, the relationship proved to be a bit more provoking when one joined the popular crowd as the other stood in the shadows. They lose touch with one another. There’s a fun-to-read twist when the Christmas season brings rediscovery for both of them.

Overall, a tidy little package of holiday cheer.
Profile Image for J. Kahele.
Author 15 books439 followers
November 16, 2015
Aw so cute

I adore stories about young friends finding each other again. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I really liked this cute short story.
Profile Image for em🐢.
20 reviews
November 17, 2025
Wow this was the worst book I’ve read this year, and calling it a “book” is generous. I wanted a fast Christmas read so when I saw this book for free on kindle I was like yes please I would like to read, my oh my was I very wrong. This book was literally the description of a random dream a teenager might have. Ah yes let’s make the girl who’s not “seen” at school fall in love with the popular boy who not only has a girlfriend who is ALSO popular, but he is also part of a school group of bad boys called THE WOLFS. I beg you finest pardon?? And suddenly it’s Christmas time! Let’s bring back the popular dudes OLDER BROTHER WHOS IN COLLAGE and make him start flirting with Holly (girl who’s not “seen” at school) ALL BECAUSE SHE CHANGED HER HAIR STYLE AND WORE A RED DRESS AND MAKEUP?! AND THEN THE BROTHERS FIGHT OVER, PHYSICALLY FIGHT MIND U, and then she just runs away from the family dinner….? I genuinely cannot. Boom it’s Christmas morning the popular dude shows up at her front door with a present and they end up together. This is literally the perfect description of a delusional dream. Do I regret reading this no because I wanted a fast Christmas read. But will I recommend this to anyone even if it’s December 31st at 11:59 pm and they need one more book to finish their reading goal and this is the only book option? No I would not that’s how not good this book is, but hey that’s just my opinion, and yes I did forget popular dudes name that’s why it’s never mentioned ❤️
Profile Image for Sanna G. Ståhl.
Author 1 book46 followers
November 30, 2018
This was a sweet short story about childhood friends Holly & Caleb. Sadly it wasn’t as Christmas:y as I’d hoped nor did it surprise me in any way. Would I recommend it? Sure! If you want to read a quick Christmas story about two teenagers, that’s sweet and fast paced!🎄
Profile Image for Sarah Stein.
Author 55 books518 followers
November 22, 2018
A good short story. It satisfied my craving for Christmas stories. Caleb and Holly grew apart after years of being together all the time. Caleb basically outgrew Holly. Then he realized while having Holly help him pick out a gift for Amber that he missed being with Holly.
Profile Image for Linda Klager.
1,019 reviews48 followers
February 2, 2019
This was a very sweet short story suitable for young adults.
Profile Image for Surabhi Sharma.
Author 5 books106 followers
February 2, 2018
I know it is little late for a Christmas story but I cannot help but love Christmas stories.

This one is a short story. A love story set around Christmas time. A well written YA romance read.
Profile Image for Mandy Sickle.
1,463 reviews152 followers
February 6, 2017
Holly and Caleb grew up across the street from each other best friends. Until the day Caleb decided he wanted to be a "wolf" one of the popular bad boys. Holly misses her friend but they haven't spoken in over 90 days when he asks for help finding the perfect gift for his girlfriend. Holly has a crush on him, but she wants to do right maybe even rekindle the friendship by helping him out. Will he see the girl next door that has been right in front of him all the time?

I like Holly she's sweet even helping the guy she's in love with find the perfect gift for her girlfriend who is a girl she doesn't like. I knew right from the start that Caleb would see how wonderful Holly was after following her though her work and to a little store to find the perfect gift. They work well together, plus they were friends long before the "wolf" group was even a option.

I'm a sucker for a sweet clean romance they are one of my favorite kind of reads so I had to read A Christmas Gift. While it's a short story it's a perfect mix of story and romance giving us a heart warming ending. I felt I was able to connect with Holly as I'm sure we've all been in her shoes at one point or another. This is my first book by the author but I enjoyed it, a beautifully written story that captures the heart. Since it's a short story perfect for a quick sweet happy ever after read, and I highly recommend checking it out.
Profile Image for Ryan Ringbloom.
Author 20 books400 followers
November 11, 2015
This fun, sweet, young adult book was the perfect way to start off my holiday reading list! It was a quick read, one I was easily able to read it one sitting!
Caleb, the boy next door has taken a turn into douche bag territory.(uh-oh)
But as Christmas approaches he needs the help of his former best friend and quintessential girl next door, Holly, to help him find a gift for his greedy, rotten girlfriend, Amber.
(boo-hiss)
Caleb does find a gift but who it's for may surprise you....
(okay maybe not, LOL!)
This adorable, heart-warming book is def one worth adding to your Holiday TBR list!
Profile Image for Shelley Chastagner.
2,726 reviews38 followers
November 19, 2015
Lovely short story with about 28ish pages makes for a nice Christmas book. I read it over lunch and enjoyed the characters and simple plot line. I liked that Holly is self possessed enough that she doesn't make a fool of herself but still recognizes that her heart wants Caleb. As unreachable as he is. Caleb felt like every bit of the popular highschool boy. He's self involved, arrogant and blind to anyone else. A few moments spent back in Holly's presence has him rethinking things. I liked where things went once he saw Holly through new eyes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 263 reviews

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