Not your typical festive romance (it is Juno Dawson after all, what would you expect!) this story about the lies and tensions that are under the surface at Christmas is a cracking good read. I loved the Edinburgh setting as the city is one of my favourite places and the sibling dynamics were very familiar to me. The story is ultimately about love in all its many forms - familial, romantic, self and love for friends. Very much not a vanilla read and not for those who are easily shocked, I enjoyed the multi POV and the realistic portrayal of what underlies those perfect family Christmases we are so used to seeing on social media.

'Stay Another Day' is the first novel I have read by Juno Dawson and I now desperately need to explore her back catalogue. The narrative is set over one family Christmas seen from three perspectives, siblings Fern, Rowan and Willow. Each is battling their own demons, Fern her obsessive pursuit of control and perfection, Rowan his detachment issues and Willow struggling in the grip of an eating disorder. Each character is flawed, making selfish mistakes and barging through the family attempt at having a perfect Christmas with no drama. Despite these flaws, the reader ultimately roots for their happiness.

I raced through this novel, gripped by the interwoven perspectives and the growth experienced by each of the characters. Dawson paints a realistic picture of a family who appear to have everything but are in denial about the chaos bubbling just beneath the surface. Of course, secrets, lies and revelations exploding to the fore at Christmas time seems inevitable and we follow the characters navigating these circumstances. A small critique is that the ending felt overlong - it is a pacy narrative until the last 50 pages or so. It is at this moment it gets more predictable and I was ready to leave the characters to their ending.

Overall, well written, interesting and nuanced. A apt read for Christmastime. 4.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is everything, festive, funny and heartfelt. Dawson’s eye for dialogue is pin sharp, and super relevant but the plots and emotions are timeless.

A tragic comic farce to start with it finishes so differently it will warrant a reread every festive season…

I've not read anything by Juno Dawson before so was intrigued, given the hype their last book received, and I was surprised! It wasn't what I was expecting - although I'm not 100% sure I knew what to expect.

This book is set at Christmas time in Edinburgh, which is one of my favourite settings and times of year of all time. It is the story of 3 siblings and the family dynamics, including secrets and arguments, of when they get together for Christmas.

It was a lovely, curl-up-in-front-of-a-fire type of book that will be perfect for the holiday season. I couldn't put it down as I wanted to know more and see the consequences of the different secrets and how the characters responded. They were so well written and so relatable that it felt like I was really in that house in Edinburgh.

Loved it. Thank you netgally for my eArc.

Stay Another Day is a heart-warming read that delves into tough issues in a nuanced way. In short, it’s another smash-hit from a queen of UKYA.

This is such a magical, Christmassy read that just filled my heart with joy. Dawson explores the magic that seems to spark in the air in the holidays. That time of year is so markedly charged with a different kind of energy with the day itself being this bubble of family, be that blood or found. I really appreciated how Dawson explores the snarky bite and less happy side of Christmas that some families experience though and how people can be as happy in their own created communities.

The family presented here is a messy one, humanely flawed and bound up in their own journeys and issues. However, their love for one another sparks through the pages. Similarly, the relationship dynamics are complex and entangled by secrets, trauma and misplaced emotions. All this makes for an engaging, dramatic and decisively heartfelt story. I just flew through the pages. Despite reading this during the spooky period, I was transported to those cosy Christmas nights. The juxtaposition of the setting and my current environment just melted away.

Once again, Dawson proved why she reigns supreme in UKYA. She just has that spirited, passionate and charming writing style that draws you in and keeps you hooked to the pages. That magic of Christmas and the joy it sparks in people seems to be harnessed completely by Dawson. It of course helps that the characters she draws are so three-dimensional and easy to engage with. Fern, Rowan and Willow just stole my heart with their captivating voices and how they’re all struggling with their own path in life. They’re complex, fractured people, but they’re all trying for love and happiness.

Stay Another Day is ultimately a heartfelt, hopeful story about family, recovery and love.

I absolutely adore Juno Dawson! As a human, as an activist, as a writer! She is just phenomenal and she always makes so much sense, so writing this review really pains me!
I really didn't enjoy this book. This is the first time I have felt this way about a Juno Dawson book.
I just couldn't connect to the characters, I found them all really dislikable and spoilt. I didn't empathise with them at any point.
I also found this very slow paced at times, and feel this book is a good 50-100 pages too long for me.

I will definitely read more of Juno Dawson, but this book won't be staying on my shelf.

A big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this review copy!

Well, this was just what I needed. Reading a Christmas book is probably not on anybody’s to do list in October, but I found this one fantastic.

Honestly, it had everything: suspense, romance, drama. I even laughed out loud.

Fern, Rowan and Willow are all so typically human. They each have their own problems, but that’s what makes this book so relatable. I loved each of their little secrets, and I couldn’t wait to learn more.

A feel good holiday read which makes you want to cosy up on the sofa with a hot chocolate.

As a Christmasy story, this can't be beat. The whole atmosphere of it is amazing. As a romance story, I'm afraid it didn't suit me personally; I will discuss this more down a bit, but a couple of the decisions here did not sit well with me.

But the things I loved first, of which there are many. A small sample; Willow, Syd, the sections from the house's point of view, their opinion of the Muppet's Christmas Carol, the description of Christmas Day. This really is a fantastically seasonal read; you can taste Christmas in every bit of it, and I envy all the people who will find this in their stocking and be able to curl up at a fire, eating chocolate, with carols drifting through the air or a Christmas movie on TV. (But really, seventeen streaming services? Are there seventeen in the UK?)

Now for something that I personally did not like, see below:

I believe that sex is between the two (or more) people involved, not something to be shouted about at every juncture, so Rowan's habit of sharing his escapades just to discomfort people upset me. Also, I did not like the almost incestuous ending of a relationship - but if they're happy, that's the important thing, my discomfort doesn't matter.

But those things won't bother most readers, I would think, and the atmosphere and language make up for them overall. This is a lighter book than Clean, and I enjoyed it very much and will be watching out for Juno's next book in 2022!

I'm a huge fan of Juno's books, so I was incredibly excited to read this one. It has all the fun and festivity of a Christmas movie with some sibling rivalry included for good measure.

Like many of Juno's other books, the characters in this one face several struggles in life. Issues such as mental health struggles, eating disorders, and figuring out their sexuality are dealt with fantastically, as you would expect from Juno.

Juno Dawson is one of my favourite authors so you can imagine how ecstatic I was when I was approved to read her upcoming novel on NetGalley. Honestly, I could’ve cried I was so happy. Especially because I had already heard and read about the book – a book named after one of the greatest Christmas songs (don’t come for me)? What’s not to like?!

I held back a bit before reading it though. I’m very much a no-Christmas-until-December-1st kind of person but I am so glad I got the opportunity to read it early.

I wouldn’t say this is your usual holiday novel. It’s definitely not the stereotypical Hallmark kind of story but what I really enjoyed about it, was that i was so real. It didn’t try to airbrush out the drama of a real family and it dealt with topics such as eating disorders as well as sexuality and pronouns. Juno is amazing at dealing with hard hitting topics and these were no different. She did so in an authentic and respectful way.

I loved all of the characters and their development through the book. Being able to read the chapters from the differing perspectives really helped to create a whole image of their world and their family. As with many other families, they’re functionally dysfunctional and you can’t help but love them. Sure, they’re not the most wholesome of characters, but who in this world is truly wholesome? They were real.

I found the story to be utterly gripping. From when we were introduced to the siblings as they made their journies back home, to the flashforward to next Christmas, I found it almost impossible to put the book down. (Especially because it was an e-book which meant reading on my lunch break at work!)

If you’re looking for a wholesome, romantic Christmas story – this probably isn’t the book for you. But if you’re looking for a realistic family story with enough drama to put Eastenders to shame, this is definitely the book for you! I know I’ll be adding it to my Christmas list this year.

Absolutely lovely to read a contemporary book by such a popular author set in Scotland. Really enjoyed this book and loved the multiple character perspective. Wish I’d waited until Christmas to read it though, reading in summer wasn’t quite the same but will be really excited to promote this when published.

Stay Another Day is the story of a family reuniting for Christmas, but beneath this simple premise is a story of secrets and arguments, love and acceptance. The writing is witty and honest with a diverse cast of characters who you can't help but fall in love with, flaws and all.

The McAllisters feel like a very real family unit, each with their own quirks. Sardonic Rowan was a favourite of mine, but all three siblings and their houseguests had plenty of character development to get your teeth into. There are chapters from each of the siblings' perspectives, but they interweave to come together as one cohesive story.

Mental health and prejudice are big themes in this book, in a way that feels current and fresh. Despite 'big' topics, Stay Another Day still has that comforting, cosy feeling of Christmas novels with an emphasis on love and support, even through the drama.

Fans of the author will recognise her signature sharp, witty writing. If you like realistic fiction with rich character development, then I'm sure you will enjoy this.

I have to admit I am not one for ‘Christmassy’ books normally (well unless they are for young children), but being a massive Juno Dawson fan, I couldn’t pass the opportunity to read and review Stay Another Day. The title alone grabbed me, being of the generation (so old) when the East 17 song was released, it brings back warm fuzzy memories.

Although starting off dubious about having Christmas themes within the book, I loved it. There is just something about Junos’s style of writing that makes me feel every book of hers was written for me, a perfect fit. The characters feel so real, the family unit and their interactions, their speech and use of ‘slang’, current phrases, cultural references and even swearing, are spot on (whereas in other books it can feel cringey or purposefully inserted for the sake of it). With Juno’s writing it just flows and fits seemlessly.

The plot takes a ‘traditional’ love triangle and does something different, for the characters to go into this situation with them all unaware was just so amazing. You are immediately on edge, wondering what on earth will happen and how it will all play out. There is so much going on within the McAllister (a nod to Home Alone?) family anyway with secrets and betrayals, mental health issues, teen pregnancy (potential), there is no chance of being bored, you are drawn instantly into their lives and dramas.

There are some great discussions around mental health, love, respect, support for one another, and what it means to be a family.

I even enjoyed the Christmas elements, the family traditions and the narratives from the perspective of the home itself, it felt cozy and comforting.

If you love Juno’s previous writing, read this.
If you love YA books with lots of drama, read this.
If you love Christmas settings, read this.
If you don’t love Christmas settings, read this!
You won’t regret it!

Thank you so much to Juno Dawson, Hachette Children’s Group and Netgalley for the e-arc to review.

I loved this. Exactly the sort of read I have come to expect from Juno. Issues dealt with in a sensitive manner,. Full of secrets and scandals. A brilliant host of diverse characters and some brilliant dialogue. I really didn’t want to put it down.

For upper secondary pupils, set at Christmas in Edinburgh, this book looks at family relationships, friendship, love, LGBTQ+ characters and eating disorders.

Reading a Christmas romance in September feels odd, but I can honestly say the setting does not detract from what is a wonderfully heart-warming story.
Our story focuses on the McAllister family, and their annual Christmas celebration. The three children are grown up now, but heading home for Christmas is something they’re all looking forward to.
Over the course of their celebration, untold secrets are discovered and each of the family has to come to terms with something affecting their life. It’s not pretty, but it feels difficult to do anything other than love these characters and how they move through some MAJOR events.
Set against a rather magical snowy Christmas, this has a whimsical feel that you can’t help but enjoy. Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this before publication.

I forgot how much a love a Juno Dawson book! It is just something about how she writes that means I can literally just sit there and read it in one sitting. This book is definitely character led and I fell in love with each and every one them.

It is Christmas time and that means all the family under one roof for a magical day. However, what might look like a magical day on the surface is actually full of repressed feelings and the cracks are starting to show. Twins, Rowan and Fern, have come home from uni for Christmas and Fern has brought along her boyfriend to meet the family. However, it seems like Rowan and Thom may have already met.... Meanwhile, their ​younger sister Willow is finding that Christmas is definitely not the most wonderful time of the year when you have an eating disorder and something very strange is going on with their parents. All of this and more under one roof means that tensions are rapidly rising. But can they salvage the perfect family Christmas?

Ah I loved it! The chapters from the point of view from the house were my favourite and just genius! Juno is just up there on my list of auto-buy authors and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!

My students adore the work of Juno Dawson and they've hit another home run with a classic christmas tale, written in the only way Juno can.

I really don't know what to say about this one, other than IT WAS EVERYTHING MY LITTLE BISEXUAL HEART wanted in a Christmas book. It wasn't the cute fluffy romance I was after, and there is a content warning at the beginning for eating disorders but this book was so candid in the way it talked about mental health which we need to see more in books.

This had a fab level of smut for me, although more would not have been a problem and such a diverse cast of characters, come on make this into a film!! I have already pre-ordered myself a copy as I need this on my shelf!!

Juno has given readers the perfect Christmas Story. From the perspective of three siblings, the reader is thrown into a behind the scenes look into any Christmas that’s not your own.
With Juno’s laugh-out-out humour, a Shakespearean mix-up plot and an almost Douglas Adam’s nod to social ideologies, this is one of her best work’s to date.
Grab a cuppa, say good bye to your social life for a few hours; because you won’t want to put this down until you’ve untangled yourself from all the wrapping this gift has to give.