This year it will be different

Fifteen stories showcase Maeve Binchy's wit, charm, and storytelling prowess, capturing contemporary life rather than nostalgia. Instead of Christmas homilies, she presents truth, offering the nourishment of holidays that inspire change and new beginnings. In "A Typical Irish Christmas," a grieving New York widower travels to Ireland, discovering unexpected connections with a father and daughter in conflict. The title story explores mid-life emotions through a woman with a complacent husband and grown children, facing a season that could transform their lives. "Pulling Together" follows a young teacher whose affair with a married man reaches a turning point as Christmas Eve nears, leading her toward new friendships. In "The Hard Core," four difficult nursing home residents are left alone at Christmas with the owner's daughter, resulting in either disaster or a life-affirming renewal sparked by the season's spirit. The stories powerfully depict various lives—step-families dealing with exes, long-married couples confronting in-law issues, a husband torn between two women, and a child caught in adult conflicts—during a holiday when emotions run high. The magical time of year is filled with meaning, and Binchy ensures we care deeply about each character's journey.