Niro Feliciano, All is Calmish: how to feel less frantic and more festive during the holidays. Minneapolis, MN: Broadleaf Books, 2025. ISBN: 9781506498348.
The book starts with a note to the reader. Author then offers 31 chapters, and ends the book with a list of "Ten Ideas to Keep the Holidays Simple and Memorable." The book overall follows a simple formula in the chapters: a story from the author, lessons to draw from the story, and some small exercise or practice to help or encourage mindfulness.
The stories vary in quality. Some are interesting and relatable. Others to be honest feel like a privileged person complaining about champagne problems. There is a lack of consistency. On the positive, you don't have to read all the stories. This book is one you can skim and read a bit here or there.
I will note there is quite a bit of Christian religion in the text. Part of it I am sure is a reflection of the publisher, a self-described Christian publishing house. I mention this in part because I have seen other reviewers mention it and because the author does lay the Christianity on the thick side. This may be fine for the devout, less so for other readers.
Overall, the book just feels OK. Some of the stories are good, others are so-so, and a few honestly I could not care less. Some of it feels too sweet, treacly even. I'd consider this as highly optional for public libraries and a skip for academic libraries. It could've had potential, but the substance was not there.
2 out of 5 stars.
This book qualifies for the 2026 Netgalley/Edelweiss Reading Challenge.
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