Christmas Around the Corner

“Christmas Around the Corner” was released in 2018.  It stars Alexandra Breckingridge, Jamie Spilchuk, and Jane Alexander.

To read my review click here.   I want to warn you this blog entry contains spoilers.

Claire is a venture capitalist in New York.  When a company she is making public on the stock market flops, she decides to take the month of vacation she’s accumulated to go to Fortunbury.  There’s a bookstore there where you can stay in their apartment and be a temporary manager of the bookstore.

Andrew owns the bookstore and runs it with his aunt, Mrs. T.  He’s trying to sell it because it is in disrepair.

The town her mother had described to her as a magical place at Christmas has no Christmas.  A flood caused a lot of damage, and the city can’t afford it.

Here’s Claire.  She’s going to what she expects to be a magical town and it’s blah.  It’s almost like The Wizard of Oz backwards.  She’s expecting Oz but gets a farm in Kansas.  If it were me, I’d probably just leave or be sad and deal with it.  Not Claire.  Her passion and work ethic are something to be seen.  She attacks that bookstore like she owns it.  She starts redecorating and sprucing it up.

Mrs. T loves it and loves her energy, but Andrew is resistant to change.  Claire doesn’t care.  She just keeps trying.  Of course, she slowly wins him and the whole town over and brings Christmas back to Fortunbury.

What I really love is how Claire exudes joy and happiness.  She’s had a major career setback, her vacation is not starting out well, but she just cares.  She has a huge heart.  When she sees a teen stealing a book, because the school library got destroyed in the flood, instead of turning her in Claire gives her the book.  The condition is she has to read it and come back to discuss it.  Before long Claire has her interning at the store and sharing her writing.

This movie always leaves me in a happy mood.  It’s a reminder that no matter how gray our world appears; we have the power to add the color.

If you haven’t seen it, I hope you give it a try.  If you have, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the movie.  Happy Viewing!