What a treat this book is! - Designed to be read over the course of December (one chapter per night) this delightful book tells the story of Harper, Will, Mum and possibly Santa??!! All the festive fun to be had including disastrous gingerbread house making, Christmas Fayre, School Nativity play and reindeers on the roof! Extremely enjoyed the ending and can’t wait for book two next year!

Can’t believe I am devouring a Christmas story in August but Stepfather Christmas was too good to stop reading and with the arrival of Christmas chocolate and gifts in stores, then why not!

Harper and her brother Will are meeting their mum’s new boyfriend Nick and Harper immediately feels a sense of familiarity. He reminds her of someone- but her mum and brother brush off her thoughts and think her imagination is working overtime.

However, as they get to know Nick more, Harper becomes even more certain!

A story told in 25 chapters and with instructions to read and enjoy throughout December, this heartwarming story will prepare you for a wonderfully festive feeling!

I love Harper’s hopes and wishes for her entire family. Their family dynamic is full of love and heart and this, in itself, is completely joyous!

Get this pre-ordered for a advent treat!

For many children, Christmas is probably the most exciting time of the year. Not only is there the prospect of presents and special food but there is all of the build-up that goes alongside it, which – let’s be honest – usually starts not long after Hallowe’en in most primary schools.

When December 1st comes round, pre-Christmas proper arrives, with the onset of playing Whamageddon and the annual start of Advent Calendars, which some of the children I have taught seem to have had in abundance. While the opening of a daily window – and subsequent eating of a usually pitifully small piece of shaped chocolate – is lovely, how much lovelier is an Advent read – a title designed for sharing in short installments through to the big day itself and this new title from author L. D. Lapinski is one which will delight its young readers.

Christmas preparations are soon to be in full swing at the home of Harper and Will Hall, as their mother Helen has fetched all of the family’s decorations down from the loft when we meet them. As they look through the pile of things she has retrieved, Mum springs some news onto the children and tells them that they are to be joined this year for Christmas by Nick – the boyfriend she has been seeing for some time but has not as yet told them both about. Unsure how to take the news, Harper and Will ask what he’s like and are told they will have the chance to meet him later that afternoon when he pops over for a cup of tea.

When he arrives as planned, Harper opens the door to him and is surprised to see a figure with grey-white hair, a white beard, red trousers and big black boots, who cheerfully wishes him a Merry Christmas. Struck by the uncanny similarity between Nick and Father Christmas, Harper is unsure as to how to react and when they catch a moment alone with Will, comment on it – much to Will’s great amusement.

As Will and Harper get to know Nick better, Harper becomes more and more convinced that Nick is actually Santa but older brother Will remains sceptical. Can Harper uncover the evidence they need to convince Will as to who Mum’s boyfriend really is? And if he really is Father Christmas, what will happen when the big day arrives?

Harper is at the age where most children know that Santa is not real and yet are desperately clinging to the hopes that they are. Full of the doubts and the other feelings that come along when a parent you are used to being single suddenly has a romantic interest, they slowly start to accept Nick because he makes their mother happy and also because they really want to believe and are swept away with not just the preparations for Christmas at home but also in school and elsewhere else.

Normally, I would say this is a perfect read for confident children in KS2 – and it is – but I doubt that many young readers will have the willpower required not to read ahead but to savour each day’s chapter in the way it is intended. Instead, I would say this is best enjoyed as a shared read – as a family or in school, where canny staff will be able to best plan how to ensure a finish in time for the festive break. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a special way to count down to the big day itself.

As always, my huge thanks go to Orion Books and to Net Galley for my virtual, advance read. Stepfather Christmas publishes 12th October and is definitely one to preorder.

Incredibly Christmasy and absolutely delightful, Stepfather Christmas explores what happens when you really do see Mummy kissing Santa Claus!

With snow only falling in their garden (but not any of the neighbours’), a reindeer on the roof and perfect gingerbread in the kitchen, Harper’s mum’s new boyfriend, Nick, looks a little too much like Santa to be a coincidence and she’s getting suspicious. Harper needs proof but her big brother, Will, has morphed into a teenager and is too busy being moody to help. She needs to put a plan into action fast and try to make sense of this weird situation.

Stepfather Christmas is such a lovely story about family changes, celebrating Christmas with those you care about and opening yourself up to something new. Written over 25 chapters, it is perfect for spreading out across the month of December with one chapter each day (if you can be disciplined enough to put it down and leave it until tomorrow – I’m not sure I could!)

Thank you to Orion Books and Netgalley for an early read of this fun book!

Publishing 12th October 2023.

What's not to love about this book, lots of festive fun in 25 chapters so it can be shared as an advent treat in the run up to Christmas.
Harper, Will and their Mum love Christmas and this year Mum introduces her boyfriend Nick. With Nick around, special things start to happen and Harper wonders whether Nick is really Santa
A fab festive book, although I raced through and think I'd find it hard to restrict myself to a chapter a day!