# Skipping Christmas

By John Grisham

Profile: https://hahafiction.com/books/skipping-christmas-fc81efe7/

Luther and Nora Krank have their first Christmas without their daughter at home, and Luther has a plan for the money they usually spend on it: a Caribbean cruise. They cancel the party and leave the decorations packed away. The neighbors take a much closer interest in that decision than the Kranks would like.

## What makes it funny?

An empty roof becomes a neighborhood grievance when the Kranks refuse to put up the giant Frosty everyone else displays. Charities still want donations, too. Readers in book groups enjoy the couple’s attempt to escape Christmas obligations and describe laughing aloud at the story.

### The comedy at work

Grisham gives the holiday holdouts a practical financial argument, then surrounds them with people who expect Christmas participation. The satire targets the spending and conformity behind a supposedly joyful season.

### Try this if…

Holiday spending, compulsory festivities and nosy neighbors supply the appeal here. Readers describe it as lighthearted Grisham and return to it for Christmas rereads.

### Good to know

The grumbling comes with sentiment. Publishers Weekly liked the holiday satire but found the story’s development less satisfying than its setup.

## What to expect

- Genre: Contemporary & literary
- On the shelf: Family comedy
- Kind of humor: Satire · Situational comedy
- Format: Novel
- Length: 208 pages
- Audiobook: 3 hr 42 min

## Questions readers ask

### Is the movie Christmas with the Kranks based on this?

Yes. Readers identify it as the book behind Christmas with the Kranks, and some prefer the novel to the film.

## Sources & further reading

- Publisher: [Publisher paperback product page](https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/353554/skipping-christmas-by-grisham-john/9780099559993)
- Book information: [Apple Books audiobook listing](https://books.apple.com/ca/audiobook/skipping-christmas-a-novel-unabridged/id1434030496)
- Author commentary: [Author afterword](https://jgrisham.com/skipping-christmas-special-edition)
- Author commentary: [Author and opening excerpt](https://jgrisham.com/skipping-christmas)
- Review: [Publishers Weekly review](https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780385505833)
- Publisher: [Publisher](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/72148/skipping-christmas-special-edition-by-john-grisham)
- Reader discussion: [Reader discussion](https://facebook.com/groups/TwoGirlsMustReads/permalink/2120793762053104)