Review: Eight Dates and Nights
Eight Dates and Nights
by Betsy Aldredge
Underlined (imprint of Random House Children's Books), 2023
Category: Young Adult
Reviewer: Kathryn Hall
Buy at Bookshop.org
High school senior Hannah Levin doesn't want to spend Hanukkah with her grandmother in Texas instead of with her family and friends in New York, but consoles herself that it is a mitzvah to honor the elderly. The story is told from Hannah's point of view, and she tells us perhaps too much about her feelings, which change over the eight dates and nights. In this rom-com, she falls for Noah, the cute boy working in his grandfather's struggling Jewish deli in Rosenblum, Texas. He promises to make her Hanukkah magical, and each date is unique and memorable. Both Hannah and Noah show personal growth, and socioeconomic and family issues are discussed and dealt with realistically. This is a fun feel-good read, which requires only a little suspension of disbelief, suitable for a winter holiday read. It meets the criteria for a Sydney Taylor Book Award and could be a contender for a Notable or Honor book.
Representation is mainly white, except for a couple of minor characters who are Hispanic. All ages are represented. The cover art by Farjana Yasmin gives a good overview of the content. The author's acknowledgements at the end explain her familiarity with Texas.
Eight Dates and Nights is full of Jewish characters, history, culture, holidays, values, and especially food. It is easily understandable to Jews and non-Jews alike, and includes variations in observance. This entertaining story makes a nice addition to the growing genre of Hanukkah themed romances.
High school senior Hannah Levin doesn't want to spend Hanukkah with her grandmother in Texas instead of with her family and friends in New York, but consoles herself that it is a mitzvah to honor the elderly. The story is told from Hannah's point of view, and she tells us perhaps too much about her feelings, which change over the eight dates and nights. In this rom-com, she falls for Noah, the cute boy working in his grandfather's struggling Jewish deli in Rosenblum, Texas. He promises to make her Hanukkah magical, and each date is unique and memorable. Both Hannah and Noah show personal growth, and socioeconomic and family issues are discussed and dealt with realistically. This is a fun feel-good read, which requires only a little suspension of disbelief, suitable for a winter holiday read. It meets the criteria for a Sydney Taylor Book Award and could be a contender for a Notable or Honor book.
Representation is mainly white, except for a couple of minor characters who are Hispanic. All ages are represented. The cover art by Farjana Yasmin gives a good overview of the content. The author's acknowledgements at the end explain her familiarity with Texas.
Eight Dates and Nights is full of Jewish characters, history, culture, holidays, values, and especially food. It is easily understandable to Jews and non-Jews alike, and includes variations in observance. This entertaining story makes a nice addition to the growing genre of Hanukkah themed romances.
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