The Santa Suit

The new novel by Andrews (Hello, Summer; The Newcomer) features Ivy Perkins, who, surprised by the dramatic end of her six-year marriage, decides to leave the past behind for a fresh start in the small town of Tarburton, NC. There she purchases Four Roses Farm without having seen the property—something about the home calls to her. After arriving in Tarburton with her rescue pup Punkin and little else, Ivy meets Ezra Wheeler, her real estate agent, soon-to-be friend, and all-around great handyman helper. Ivy and Ezra unearth a mysterious object in a cupboard at Four Roses Farm: a Santa suit with a note attached, asking Santa to bring daddy home from the war. As the duo investigate, old friends reconnect and new friends are discovered in the (Saint) Nick of time to make the Christmas season extra special. Andrews generously delivers all the necessary elements of a warmhearted, feel-good story with a satisfying ending. The characters are charming, but their relationships are complex enough to be realistic and engaging; the town’s holiday celebrations are appealingly quaint.