A Christmas pick to get us in the mood as the festive seasons approaches.
The Post Box at the North Pole reunites Sasha Hansley with her estranged father and her love for the magic and whimsy of Christmas.
A phone call from her eccentric father results in an unexpected trip to Norway where he’s running a Christmas Village, working as Santa, while he’s meant to be recovering from a heart attack.
Shocked by the cold, the beauty of the northern lights and a desire to reunite with her father – Sash believes the only thing to do is prepare the village to sell. Even if the handsome Taavi Salvesen, owner of the reindeer sanctuary, is single handedly keeping the village afloat and wants to keep it up-and-running.
Then Sash finds the letters to Santa. Thousands of letters from children asking for toys, asking for help for their families or loved ones and generally updating Santa on their lives.
Suddenly, Christmas feels fresh again and the magic seems possible.
What I liked: The story was very sweet and the setting was magnificent. Admans did a wonderful job of giving me all the fun and excitement of a white Christmas – like the first time Sash sees it snowing or when she sees the reindeer escaping the Sanctuary. Everything has the sheen of a magical Christmas experience.
The description of the village 😍. I want to visit and meet Rudolph Number Three, stay in the Candy Cane Cabin and visit Santa’s Grotto. It was described as the perfect mix of festive cheer and good taste – without crossing the line into tacky or annoying.
What I didn’t like: The one problem I had with the Post Box at the North Pole was the characterisation speed. Tav is described as a bit taciturn, untrusting of people and devoid of expression and the very next morning he’s singing carols and slipping pancakes. The character development felt a little rushed, it also meant that the usual relationship tropes (misunderstanding, unintended betrayal) feel forced into the narrative – but it’s an easy thing to get over when you focus on the story itself.
Conclusion: A lovely snowy Christmas tale to enjoy with a glass of wine by a twinkling Christmas tree.
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