Oh. What. Fun.

by Chandler Baker

Everyone is home for the holidays, clamoring for all the Christmas cheer only their mother can whip up. They can already smell the chestnuts roasting—or is that Mom’s hair on fire? From a New York Times bestselling author comes a laugh-out-loud short story for any mom who’d rather wreck the halls.

Tyler, Channing, and Sammy Clauster have descended on their childhood home, with significant others and four-year-old twins in tow, for another good old-fashioned Christmas. Overwhelming holiday magic, as always, comes courtesy of their mom, Claire. They know she’s thrilled to cook, wrap gifts, decorate, accommodate, play games, overprepare every Christmas Eve Eve Eve tradition, and still let Dad be known as the Fun One. It’s her thing, right? Maybe the family should have paid closer attention. Because this year, something is a little off-key—and it’s not just the carols.

Genres: Christmas, Short Stories, Holiday, Fiction, Audiobook, Novella, Contemporary

47 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 30, 2021

Reviews

[Melissa (Vacation Mode) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5, rounded up

"I guess I just got so tired of asking for help. You guys always say: 'Don't stress! It'll all get done! It always gets done!' You make me crazy with that. It gets done because I do it."

This is a cute, short Christmas story that will really speak to the person in the family who is always the one who gets everything done, even if they have to sacrifice their own contentment to do it.

In this case, it's Claire Clauster, matriarch of the family who really enjoys making her family happy--until she doesn't.

Definitely recommend this tale to remind us to be thankful for the friends and family we have in our lives and to not take things for granted.

Now a cute Christmas tale on Prime Video
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

[Michael David (on hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Need a reason to ho-ho-ho before Thanksgiving whilst avoiding street corners? Chandler Baker’s short story might be perfect for you.

Claire is the patriarch of the family, and is always THRILLED when her family comes home for Christmas. There’s her children, children’s spouses, and even a couple grandchildren. It’s hard to keep track.

Anyhoo, Claire always makes the week of Christmas perfect...but her family doesn’t seem to treat her like the gift that she is.

Then, on Christmas Eve Eve Eve, the family is allowed to open one present. Tickets to Disney on Ice?! #HowFetch

Claire’s family fails to realize she’s not with them at the concert for the longest time. So where is she?

This is a cute short story from Baker, who usually writes darker tales. It’s pretty standard for the most part, but the denouement and events leading up to it caused me to smile...and gave me some early Xmas vibes. Overall, a fun seasonal read that’s probably best served after Thanksgiving.

Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pull it out of your stocking on 11/30/21.

Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute Christmas short story!

Claire Clauster always makes Christmas fantastic for her husband and grown-kids. One day she goes missing in the run-up to Christmas. What happened to Claire? The hubby and kids go on a search that brought a smile to my face.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for granting me access to this Advance Reader Copy.

[Paromjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun and entertaining short story from Chandler Baker that will resonate for many women at Christmas. Adults Tyler, with his boyfriend, Angel, Channing, with her husband, Doug, and their 4 year old twins, Lark and Sable, and Sammy, who has just broken up with his girlfriend, arrive home looking forward to their traditional family Christmas. Their mother, Claire, can be relied on to whip up a magical festive spirit effortlessly, and what's more they know she wants to do it. If they were to help, they would just get in the way, so they let her just get on with it, barely acknowledging the hard work it all involves, leaving Claire exhausted and so desperately tired. Dad is the fun and goofy one, who entertains and makes everyone laugh. So amidst the chaos and craziness of the festive season, Claire is expected to care for the twins as well as be responsible for a mountain of other tasks such as wrapping up presents, so its perhaps no surprise she shows signs of ditziness. Everything comes to a head when everyone is at Disney on Ice, tickets organised by Claire, when it comes to their attention that Claire is not there and they hadn't even noticed. What could have possibly happened to her? Many thanks to Amazon Original Stories for an ARC.

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of us can’t wait for the holidays!

And some of us can’t wait for the holidays to be over! 🙄

Although the magic of Christmas may be bestowed upon children around the World by Santa Claus-in the CLAUSter household it is supplied by Mrs. CLAUSter-mom Claire!

Her family takes it for granted that she will make sure all of their annual traditions go off without a hitch, so what happens when Claire disappears in “Where’d You Go, Bernadette” style?

Although I didn’t find this “laugh out loud” funny, it was a charming Christmas novella, perfect to read to start the holiday season, now that Thanksgiving is over!

And, what a cute cover! 🤶🏻

Available November 30, 2021!

[Holly B · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's the holiday season! whoop-de-do

Claire Clauster is busy, busy, busy.

Mom of three adult children and Grandmother of twins.

The Clauster clan once again is ready for their Christmas Eve Eve Eve tradition and Claire wants to make everyone's holiday magical. The family is coming over to partake. Her singing, and her casserole may be a bit "off" this year, but she won't let her family down no matter how exhausted she feels.

A short story (couldn't find the page count). It reminded me of how "all the fun" can be so overwhelming at times.

It's a "snack" to go with your holiday cheer and a reminder to notice those who go out of their way to make your day.

Thanks to NG and the publisher for my early copy. OUT November 30, 2021

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Christmas is our mother’s Super Bowl, the Masters, the Summer Olympics, and the Monaco Grand Prix rolled into one."

Fact.

Get ready to celebrate Christmas with the Clausters! Oh. What. Fun. is a short story, and lives up to its title, a humorous and charming family Christmas story.

What a joy to see a funny chaotic family reunion. We all know what it's like when everyone comes home for the holiday. Sleeping arrangements, bathrooms, cooking, eating, presents and family photos. Mom's been super busy making the holiday special...Wait... where's mom?

Oh. What. Fun. brought a big smile to my face. I would want to read this one again! 3.5⭐

Thank you Amazon Original Stories and Netgalley for an ARC.

[Terrie Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Oh.What.Fun" by Chandler Baker is a story with a moral!

"Christmas is the most magical time of the year. But you know what? It's not magical at all. It's hard work!" ~ Claire Clauster

Meet The Clauster's:
'The Responsible One', daughter, Channing is first to arrive with hubby, Doug and their twin four-year-old girl's, Lark and Sable. She's counting on Mimi Claire to entertain her girls so she can check email.

'The Boring One', youngest son, Sammy arrives minus his now ex-girlfriend, Mae-Bell. But he's on the phone with her constantly. And later plans to go out for wings and some 'friend time'!

'The Kinda Flaky One', oldest son, Tyler arrives last and late with his new boyfriend, Angel. He's absolutely positive Angel is 'The One'! All his boyfriends have been 'The One'!

'The Oblivious One', dad, grandfather, and Claire's husband is fun to be around and not afraid to be goofy. He's the one who always plays with the kids while his wife is doing what she likes to do, those things that wives and mothers prefer to do without any help at all! Right!

And lastly -
'The Unappreciated One', wife, mother, and grandmother, Claire is the one who ensures all the bells and whistles are prepped and ready for everyone every Christmas. Gosh, she's tired!

"Christmas is our mother's Super Bowl, the Masters, the Summer Olympics, and Monaco Grand Prix rolled into one." ~ Tyler, Channing & Sammy Clauster

On Christmas Eve Eve Eve Claire gifts everyone with tickets to 'Disney's Christmas Fantasy On Ice'. Thirty minutes later off they roll in two vehicles to see the show! Afterwards, Claire is missing and they realize she didn't ride in either vehicle. They head home. No Claire! And her car is gone...

This is a short, sweet Christmas story told from a bit of a different perspective. So much rings true though. A story that gives cause to pause and reflect about that special person in your family who 'does-it-all' every year. Being helpful and grateful is an easy fix!

After reading the arc it was fun to listen to it via audiobook narrated by Donna Postel and Brian Holden, who do a great job bringing this short story to life! I'm happy to report both the e-book and audiobook are equally satisfying!

Moral: Don't be either a Scrooge OR a Clauster! 3.5 stars rounded up for Claire!

Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Original Stories and Chandler Baker for a free ARC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review. This book is available now.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to the Clauster family Christmas.

Claire Clauster knows how to make Christmas the most magical time of year. Cooking lavish dinners, wrapping endless presents, mailing the perfect Christmas cards all while smiling and humming Christmas carols. She loves the holidays.

At least that's what her family thinks.

What she has become is burnt out and exhausted. Wanting for just one person to recognize all she does and to show her the littlest bit of appreciation.

It doesn't happen.

So instead she gets the family tickets for Disney on Ice. For the next few hours they are entertained by the likes of Mickey and Elsa but it is only soon after the performance ends that anyone realizes Claire is not there.

She is not at home, she is not out shopping, she is not out with her girlfriends. She has simply disappeared. The family, now panicking, realize they have to work together to figure out where she went.

"What a Clausterfuck!"

This was a short, snappy, and cute little holiday story that I am so happy to have read. Not sure of the actual page count but it takes about an hour to read. For anyone that has ever felt overwhelmed by the holidays (Me!) then this is a story for you. 4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for my complimentary copy.

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose this book to honour our late dear friend Pat, because she was oh, what fun. She made us laugh on many an occasion with her down to earth expressions.

I also know what her reaction to this book would be because I can hear her in my head as it’s so not her kind of book! Pat was such a special friend to many of us, she told it how it was, she was larger than life, she was honest, warm hearted, funny and kind and we will miss her beyond words. My heart goes out to her family as their loss is huge.

At the start of the book, we meet Claire Clauster which sounds a bit like meeting me, especially the accidents (I can fall over a completely flat surface) and like Claire I can never find my glasses. Claire is the mother of three children, Tyler, Channing and Sammy and a grandmother to Lark and Sable ( jeepers those names would make Pat’s eyes roll!). This was a fun, entertaining novel and full of the spirit of the season. Some things made me laugh so maybe Pat would’ve enjoyed those bits but she definitely would not have enjoyed the cutie bits!

Overall, it made me smile and it made me think about our much missed friend, so result achieved.

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me, cozied up with a Christmas story in May. Maybe I’m just craving some holiday magic! This book was a delightful trip down memory lane, making me all nostalgic and warm inside.

The story beautifully captures how a mom goes above and beyond to create the best experiences for her family, often without the recognition she deserves. It’s a heartwarming reminder of those unsung holiday heroes.

Even in May, this fun little tale brought all the festive feels. If you need a dose of the warm and fuzzies, no matter the season, this book is a perfect pick!

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another year, another magical Christmas is expected for the Clauster family, courtesy of Claire. Everyone knows a fabulous time will be had full of fun activities, impeccable decorations, perfectly selected gifts, and favorite foods on the menu. Why can the Clausters count on that? Because Claire has never failed to plan a wonderful Christmas time for her family ... all by herself . Claire's three children are now grown-ups, and neither they nor their dad, have ever helped or wondered how she gets it all done. Well, this Christmas they'll finally realize how much Claire does for them ... when she goes missing .

This is a funny, relatable, and entertaing story that will put a smile on your face. Feeling overwhelmed from all the work that goes into preparing the perfect Christmas for your loved ones? Drop what you're doing for a bit and read to this story! Can't spare a minute to read this book? Listen to the audiobook while you continue with your Christmas planning! This book is available through Kindle Unlimited and includes audio narration through Audible. Either way, I think you'll be glad you made time for this story 😁.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

If you are looking for an amusing, whimsical book to get you in the mood for Christmas, this is an entertaining one.

Claire is the kind of mom who wants everyone in her family to gather round for Christmas, and she spends a great amount of time and care setting everything up to perfection in order to create memories that will last. Her children who are all grown and have kids of their own now, are accustomed to feeling they’ll just be in her way if they offer to help decorate, wrap the gifts, or bake or help with the decorations. But after many years of this, and feeling that all her efforts are not only unappreciated but expected, Claire’s tired of feeling overlooked and undervalued, and, well, tired and worn out from doing it all on her own.

Their plan for this year includes tickets to go see Disney on Ice, and Claire, of course, is the one who was supposed to arrange for the tickets. The family gathers, and heads to the venue only to realize they’ve forgotten one thing. Claire.

The most wonderful time of the year turns into a frantic search for Claire, some realizations that, perhaps, it isn’t as wonderful for her as they’d come to convince themselves over the years, and that maybe, just maybe, it was time for them to show her the same love and care that she’s given them.

A short, quirky, fun, holiday read about families as the season approaches.

Pub Date: 30 Nov 2021


Many thanks for the ARC provided by Amazon Original Stories
#OhWhatFun #NetGalley

[PattyMacDotComma · Rating 2 out of 5]

2★
“During normal times, Mom loves to spend most of her day on the phone with one of us or the other. As soon as she hangs up with Channing, she’ll call Sammy; as soon as she’s done with Sammy, Tyler will call; and then she starts the whole process again. Not that we’d ever say this out loud, but we’re in the thick of our lives, so we’re busy with dating and kids and friends getting married and pregnant and such, and, well, Mom’s stories are kind of dull. Though obviously, in retrospect, this is an instance when we should have paid better attention.”

So . . . those are “Mom’s” three kids, Channing, Sammy, and Tyler. I got that. I understand who they are, how they relate to each other and to their parents. What I don’t get, is who on earth the narrator is? Who is the “we” who should have paid better attention?

As you can see above, the narrator talks about the kids (now adults) in the third person, yet “Mom” is Mom except when the mother narrates a bit herself. I kept thinking it would be explained somehow, but if so, I sure missed it.

This is a familiar story of an unappreciated mother/grandmother who is mocked for caring about holiday traditions, who does all the work and is expected to babysit the visiting grandchildren as well. When something changes, her offspring are startled to realise they may have to be the grownups.

“We had thought we had more time before we had to assume the role, but our father was lost, dumbfounded . . . The thing no one said, of course, was that at the end of the day, our mother had to love us because we were her kids—but he was less of a sure thing.”

I’m sure some readers will chuckle here and there, thinking “yep, this is us, my family, for sure”. I don't think many mothers would appreciate being portrayed the way this one is, though.

Thanks anyway to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the copy for review. The Amazon stories are usually worth a read and a good way to try an author, but this was wasted on me.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

. . . it would be nice, I suppose, if my family acknowledged, even a little, that special moments are made special because of special effort. By me.

Oh, to be a child again, when the hardest thing about Christmas was the interminable wait for Santa. Then suddenly you're a grownup, and you realize that all that magic - the decorating, the baking, the shopping, the wrapping - is not whisked down your chimney by a right jolly old elf, but "created" by a hard worker who is usually Mom.


(And, sometimes she did it all while wearing pearls and heels!)

But . . . what if one Christmas, Mom just got tired of the whole holly jolly ordeal, and sort of . . . snapped.

Baker explores this possibility in a fun, festive tale of a family whose expectations of yet another perfect Christmas are jolted when Mom goes AWOL. This one should be of particular interest to anyone who's ever spent hours pouring over catalogs, and websites for those just-right, and much-longed-for gifts, only to silently seethe as Santa gets all the credit on Christmas morning. Believe me, it ain't easy pulling all this merriness together.

Now, go call your mother, for God's sake!

[CarolG · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this short Christmassy story about a mom who's really into Christmas and who does it all until she doesn't! I could see signs of myself in Claire, always feeling like it was up to me to make sure everything went smoothly and that there were lots of presents and treats everywhere you look. Then along came Covid and there was pretty much no Christmas at all and guess what, the sky didn't fall! So I've promised myself I won't stress over everything this year, just relax and enjoy spending time with my small immediate family! This book was free with Kindle Unlimited and I heartily recommend it. It'll make you smile, especially the Home Alone vibes.

[Bee With a Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh what fun indeed. An incredibly funny, laugh out loud, completely relatable feel good Christmas story.

Not only did I absolutely see my mom in the story I also saw my family. Mom's don't get nearly as much credit as they deserve in all aspect of life. We often forget all the effort they go through to make things special for our families.

“It’s not that I’m looking for some big accolades or round of applause.But it would be nice, I suppose, if my family acknowledged, even a little, that special moments are made special because of special effort”

The story follows a family ‘s Christmas get together from just a few days before Christmas. As one would expect the family is happy to be together excited for Christmas day and all that it brings. But mom Claire Clauster seems a bit off, wait a minute, what happened to mom?

The way Baker wrote the story that you could feel the chaos growing was inspired, I could not put it down. At first I was confused by all the jumping around between timelines and characters but I soon realise Baker wrote it that way, to give the reader a sense of the chaos felt by Claire in the lead up to Christmas day.

“ we are what we are, and what we were was a tornado of uncontrolled chaos.”

The characters were relatable and fun to interact with. While most of the story is in complete chaos Baker got it just write so the reader feels they know the characters and can see how their behaviour is exactly what you would expect from a bunch of relatives getting ready for Christmas.

I cringed at the oh so familiar family drama and the over the top display that is Christmas Day and I loved it. The final twist in the story was unexpected and hilarious, poor mom.

Creatively written with just the right amount of humour, I wish this was a full on book.

Absolute must read.

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short fun listen with an approps title. Who among us doesn't think Christmas is alot of work, stressful? Maybe feel they don't get the amount of appreciation they feel they deserve for the amount of work it takes to bring it together? This woman does something about it. Listened to it yesterday and I could definitely relate.

A freebie on Kindle unlimited.

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4⭐️ Christmas comes but once a year - and surely all mom’s are thankful for that. With the “magic” of Christmas comes the stress, long hours, planning, shopping, cooking, baking, wrapping, all to please our families. And this theme of holiday stress and family expectations is at the heart of Chandler Baker’s short story Oh. What. Fun.

Claire Clauster is the matriarch of a rather large and boisterous family. As usually happens this time of year, all of her adult children, their spouses, and kids gather together looking to experience the Christmas they’ve known since childhood. One that comes with all the recipes they love, the perfectly wrapped gifts, and all the same traditions they’ve grown to rely on. Which is all well and good until they fail to realize Claire has gone missing three days before Christmas.

Chaos quickly ensues as they begin to understand what their mom endures for them every year and what it is that really makes Christmas special. A laugh out loud holiday romp that’s sure to get you into the holiday spirit, this book will also resonate with anyone who feels the pressure to make each and every Christmas perfect. Grab a cup of eggnog (with some rum of course) and enjoy this very timely story!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

In her seasonal novella Oh. What. Fun., Chandler Baker cleverly balances domestic satire with a deeper message about the inequitable expectations placed on women, in particular at the festive season. It's a subject that will ring true for many female readers.

"Christmas is our mother's Super Bowl, the Masters, the Summer Olympics, and the Monaco Grand Prix rolled into one." (Loc. 251)

Christmas is only days away, and the Clauster family is gathering at the family home in Austin, Texas. Mom and Dad are joined by their three adult children, Channing, Sammy and Tyler, two partners, Doug and Angel, and Channing and Doug's four-year-old twin daughters, Lark and Sable.

Matriarch Claire is in the thick of the rather manic logistical exercise that maintaining the Clauster family Christmas traditions requires. Her adult children on one hand insist that all the fuss is unnecessary, but on the other expect that the eggnog will be homemade (they don't like the store-bought one), that Canelo the house-elf will be discretely installed in an elaborate new tableau on a daily basis and that their personal favourite dishes will be present on the Christmas-Eve-Eve-Eve buffet (what on earth is a King Ranch Casserole?).

The family confidently expect Clare to find and dispatch an appropriately thoughtful gift to her sister-in-law, wrap the Santa gifts for her grand-daughters in specially sourced wrapping paper, not to mention clean up after everyone, show unmitigated delight at the prospect of "hanging out" with the four-year-old twins whenever asked, and do all the festive grocery shopping as required. Dad, meanwhile, gets to be "the fun one", while the adult children catch up on sleep, take an opportunity for some couple time and roll their eyes at Mom's carefully arranged Christmas activities ("We let Mom have her fun.").

Claire, meanwhile, is feeling the pressure.

"... it's not that I'm looking for some big accolades or round of applause. But it would be nice, I suppose, if my family acknowledged, even a little, that special moments are made special because of special effort. By me." (Loc. 128)

All she really wants to do is watch her favourite daytime TV chat show, "The Zazzy Tims Morning Show". She's been sending links from the show to her children for weeks, but they've ignored them as irrelevant.

When the family all head off to Disney's Christmas Fantasy on Ice - the tickets are a surprise for the whole family, as Mom's traditional Christmas-Eve-Eve "pre-present" - it takes them two hours and an impromptu marriage proposal to realise that they've left her behind at home. But Claire's not there, either, and by the next morning it's become clear that she's actually disappeared.

"What would happen should our mother not return home before the twenty-fifth of December, for instance? Nothing. Nothing would happen at all. And what kind of Christmas, pray tell, is that?"

Increasingly frantically, the family retrace Claire's steps around suburban Austin, uncovering a strange altercation at the German butchers two days previously. But the crucial clue to her whereabouts arrives from an unexpected quarter. Will the Clausters be able to redeem themselves and discover the true meaning of Christmas, or will their festive season remain (to quote Dad) a complete Clausterf*ck?

I really enjoy Chandler Baker's writing, and in particular the way she captures very serious societal issues within a fictional context. The nuanced characterisations in Oh. What. Fun. are impressive in so short a work, perhaps aided by the domestic setting that will be familiar to many readers. While there are several laugh-out-loud moments, there's also the opportunity to reflect on our own behaviour in a similar context - am I a Christmas martyr? Do I let others take on an unfair load? How might we create a celebration that everyone can enjoy without exhaustion and resentment?

Oh. What. Fun. is a thought-provoking and entertaining seasonal read. I'd recommend it particularly to readers who enjoy contemporary fiction, especially those with an interest in gender issues such as the division of domestic labour.

My thanks to the author, Chandler Baker, publisher Amazon Original Stories, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this title.

[Selena ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Anyone who rated this more than 3 stars lied.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not ready to let go of Christmas 🎄 this was a quick, decent read but I unfortunately couldn’t wait for it to be over. It was missing the reader connection for me.

[Lesley Pitre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and Sweet

First time reading a short story. This was a quick, fun holiday book to read. Fun storyline that kept me reading to find out what happened to Mom!

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s not that I’m looking for some big accolades or round of applause. But it would be nice, I suppose, if my family acknowledged, even a little, that special moments are made special because of special effort. By me.

It's me, hi. I'm the person who makes Christmas special for my family, it's me.

And Oh. What. Fun. is a story that will appeal to special-holiday-makers everywhere, because every family has one, and we are all so tired. Claire Clauster is all of us.

I say it every time I review one of her books or stories, but Chandler Baker has such an uncanny ability to write about women's issues with satire, humor, and heart. This story is mostly narrated by the collective voice of the grown Clauster children, showing us how they interpret their mother Claire, even as we know (because we live it!!) how overwhelmed Claire is really feeling.

Oh. What. Fun. is a charming short story that perfectly captures the holiday season: the frenzy, the festivity, the family. If you're the special-holiday-maker of your family, give it a listen while you're buying the presents/wrapping the presents/moving the elf/baking cookies/decorating/doing all the things. And if you're not the special-holiday-maker...you should go ahead and thank the person who is for all of the magic they make.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmm, well that was disappointing. It wasn’t the worst thing I’ve ever read, but I found this short story to be a strange mix of both not enough information to carry the story forward in any compelling way, but also extremely boring. It jumped all over the place between perspectives and timeline but not in a tantalizing ‘dolling out more pieces of the puzzle’ way, but rather, in an incoherent and frenetic fashion.

All the grown Clauster kids are home for the holidays, but their Mom disappears mid-festivities. She’s snapped, after a lifetime of not being appreciated. Once the kids (and her husband) actually realize she’s gone they try to piece everything together. They’re all such unlikeable, narcissistic, yet fairly boring, characters that I just couldn’t get invested in the story. Thank goodness it was short.

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

This was a funny story, although as a mom I wanted to smack all the characters upside the head for taking their mom for granted! I hope they learned their lesson!

[Bam cooks the books · Rating 3 out of 5]

An hilarious short story by Chandler Baker just in time for Christmas! Cute, quick read.

Claire Clauster has always been the kind of wife and mother who tries to make Christmas perfect for her family. They've come to expect it! But this year, she's gone missing. Oh no! Who will make the pie crust cinnamon rolls?!

For every mom who has felt overworked and under appreciated during the holidays: take a break and read this!

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read and listened to for free with Kindle Unlimited and Audible audio.
---

It was okay 👍🏼 *shrugs* it didn't feel super Christmasy but I enjoyed to enough to finish.
I did like the chaotic family atmosphere even though I wanted to smack them upside the head sometimes.

Could relate to some of what the mom was feeling.

Appreciate your loved ones at Christmas 🎄 while you have them, and cherish every memory.

Not sure how they made this into a full length movie but gonna watch it with mom and see.

[Mackey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh What Fun is a delightfully fun short story that will resonate with many women who suffer from burn out during the holidays. Written with a wry, sharp humor, this quick tale should be read by all BEFORE the holidays begin so that hopefully many mothers will be spared some of the stress of the holidays. ;)

[Katy O. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short story available via Kindle Unlimited Read & Listen. I listened to the audio version and was mad at the son narrating the ENTIRE time. Skip it.