I loved this book & that it is set in Edinburgh since I am from Scotland. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Fern and Rowan are returning to the family home for Christmas where both parents and younger sister Willow live. Fern is bringing her (newish) boyfriend, Rowan a platonic friend who didn't want to see their own family.
Fern and Rowan, although twins, are complete opposites. Fern, the organised, straight, steady one, Rowan leading a chaotic, theatrical life, gay and happily progressing through a succession of one night stands.
Neither enjoyed the previous Christmas while Willow, fighting an eating disorder, also dreaded the food fest.
Every single character is putting on a façade, which only when events trigger unexpected reactions can they even begin to resolve.
The characters, even if at first glance are unlikeable, do have depth and it is easy to keep track of what is happening.

CW: Eating disorders, biphobia, References to self-harm, sexual content, alcohol.



The McAllister house on Arboretum Road has seen 120 Christmases since it's completion.

There's four sleeps till Christmas, and the McAllister siblings are all heading home for the holidays.

Fern is bringing her new boyfriend, Thom, and escaping her exhausting life in London for a few days.

Her twin, Rowan, with their friend Syd in tow, are more excited about partying and sex with new strangers than eating turkey ... and they're sure they've seen Ferns hot new boyfriend before.

Willow is still living at home and fighting a dangerous eating disorder ... and she's dreading Christmas.

With everyone back at home, this could be the perfect family Christmas - but every single person in the house has a secret that could explode their peace on earth once and for all.

"It's why we've got to be kind to each other, even when it's really fuckin' hard. You just don't know. You can't tell by looking."

Juno Dawson has a magical way of crafting such important stories about relevant issues and still creating a beautiful work of fiction with that feel-good glow throughout. If this was another time, I might be calling witchcraft right now.

Each character, from the main family to the cousins and friends we see over the holidays, is expertly written to be a fully rounded person - messed up, flawed, and so loveably human. Each person has their own flaws issues or identities without that being their sole characteristic. Brimming with inclusivity and acceptance, I found a little peice of myself in most people we meet along the way.

There were some deeply uncomfortable moments, mostly due to the way outside forces reacted to things they don't understand, like Willows ED, or Rowans' sexuality, and shows the ways that uninformed people can assume and get angry at things they don't understand. On the other hand, this was packed with utterly ridiculous self-aware humour that had me laughing out loud too often.

This beautifully packaged tale has everything - romance, suspense, drama, exceptionally drunken antics and one very beautiful Christmas. For anyone who is dying for Christmas to come but dreading the chaos that it often brings, grab a hot chocolate, get cosy and settle down with this future Christmas classic.

Stay Another Day is a Christmas-set romcom in which three siblings find themselves back together in their family home, but things can't just go as expected. Twins Fern and Rowan are home from their respective unis for Christmas, with Fern bringing her boyfriend to meet the family and Rowan's best friend Syd along so they're not alone for the holiday. Younger sister Willow's eating disorder means she dreads Christmas, and the siblings' parents seem to be hiding something. When Rowan recognises Fern's boyfriend, it becomes even more clear that Christmas will not be a quiet affair for the McAllisters.

A cosy Christmas story that still tackles big issues like eating disorders, mental health, and the impacts of bullying, this book was exactly what I expected from Juno Dawson. It's lighter than books like Clean and Wonderland, but it still has the zinger lines, messed up characters, and frank discussion of stuff that actually affects people alongside the Christmas drama and cute moments. The chapters move between the three siblings' perspectives as secrets are told, feelings are dealt with, and the holiday season keeps happening regardless. There's a nice narrative style for doing Christmas Day as well, which cleverly averts it from being the sort of Christmas story where the actual day is ruined by the drama.

In terms of the characters, there's a lot to enjoy, with Rowan, the overdramatic gay brother who has put up too much of a shield to protect himself, and his best friend Syd, non-binary and dealing with a lot personally yet still full of sympathy for Rowan and for Willow, immediately standing out. I also really liked Willow and I feel there could definitely be a sequel that focuses on her and what she does next. Another key part of the book is the exploration of Fern's boyfriend Thom's bisexuality, which feels especially important as the book isn't about him coming to terms with it, which has already happened, but about his life now and also partly about how other people react to it.

Stay Another Day gripped me from the start, with Dawson combining her trademark wit in the light of serious subjects with family drama and Christmas tropes like being stuck in a broken down car in the snow. It's a fun read that becomes hard to put down and I could definitely imagine accidentally staying up too late reading this around Christmas. It's ideal for fans of Juno Dawson's books or anyone who wants a slightly more real and varied festive romcom.

Modern, warm and funny, this story is a relatable one for anyone who dreads the family christmas, avoiding all topics that might be a bit incendiary or controversial, and trying to please everyone.

I liked and related to all of the characters, and found their relationships incredibly believable. I could really see Edinburgh at this time of year too, it's so beautifully described. Loved this! Perfect for fans of Juno's other books.

Stay Another Day by Juno Dawson tells of three siblings - Willow, Fern and Rowan - twins studying at different universities who are returning home to Edinburgh with their boyfriend Thom - (Fern) and friend (Syd) - Rowan.
Their relationship is strained but is about to get worse due to the secret Rowan is hiding.
Willow - the youngest sister is battling and trying to recover from an eating disorder - every morsel of food or the thought of food sends the demon inside her body into a rage - trying to break free.

Each of Juno's characters is harbouring a truth that may upend the fairytale Christmas that Fern dreams about.

I loved Juno's writing - it's acerbic, quick-witted, very up to date and relevant. Her characters are believable and richly described. I really enjoyed this book and will search out more of Juno's work.