A Mannequin for Christmas

This sweet and unapologetically silly Christmas contemporary from Janovsky (The Merriest Misters) finds newly single 28-year-old artist Henry Aster making a go of running his great-aunt Isla’s vintage shop in Ocean Glen, N.J. Dreading the thought of spending the holidays with his judgmental family solo, he makes a wish for “the perfect man”—and the next morning finds that his favorite mannequin at the shop has come to life. The mechanics of this are hand-waved away; the mannequin, who names himself Aidan, discovers a note in his pocket that reads, “Congratulations! Because of a wish, you are now human. You have until the midnight chime on New Year’s Eve to experience true human love or else you will turn back into a mannequin for good.” What follows is part madcap romp as Aidan learns to be human (with guidance from films on the “Christmas Movie Channel”) and looks for love with Henry’s occasionally inept help, and part introspective tale of personal growth as, over some painful holiday encounters with family, Henry reflects on love, loss, and difficult decisions. The two halves don’t totally mesh, and the chapters from Aidan’s perspective are much more fun than those narrated by Henry. Still, readers seeking lighthearted, magic-infused fare will find this hits the spot. (Sept.)