THE 12TH DATE

An unlucky-in-love arts educator goes on 12 dates before Christmas in Miller’s romance novel.

Jane Norwell believes she’s nothing special. Despite living in Snow Bridge, New York, where fairytale figures and other legendary characters roam the streets and prowl on dating apps, Jane is a non-magical, often-overlooked musical theater teacher. After giving up her own dreams of performing, she has settled for years of cohabitation with her immature high school sweetheart, Peter (Pan). Despite her beloved job and close relationship to her magically perfect sister Celeste’s family, Jane laments the passion missing from her life. Desperately dreaming of finding someone special to share Christmas with, Jane finally breaks it off with Peter. With Celeste’s pushy encouragement, she agrees to re-enter the dating pool, encountering a plethora of less-than-charming storybook suitors, each with their own entertaining fairytale foibles. Jane’s hopes begin to lift when her students are chosen to perform as the opening act for the Northpole Palace’s annual Holiday Benefit Production. Jane feels an instant spark with the gorgeous and powerful Nikolas, a suave and tender reimagining of Santa Claus (“The name isn’t just tradition: it’s legacy, a line of men, each chosen not just by blood but by something deeper, something magical”). This holiday romance effectively leverages the author’s expertise (Miller herself is an educator) to capture the importance of arts education and encouraging adolescents to find their voices. However, the deluge of storybook references often overpowers these themes and the quieter moments in Jane’s journey. The compressed, pre-Christmas timeline foreshortens Jane’s emotional maturation, speeding through and past moments for reflection. Still, the genuine and vibrant Christmas cheer that suffuses this book goes down as smoothly as hot cocoa and will satisfy fans of holiday romance.

Christmas cheer and storybook romance combine in this uneven but charming holiday tale.