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This blog post might end up being longer than the book itself, but oh well. The Christmas Scrapbook is Philip Gulley’s sixth installment in the Harmony series. And while it’s technically a novella (a.k.a tiny book), it still packs all the charm and small-town shenanigans we’ve come to expect — just in a more compact, gift-sized package.
The plot? A holiday misunderstanding of epic (and by epic, I mean adorably low-stakes) proportions. Pastor Sam finally decides to break his streak of uninspired Christmas gifts (potholders, socks, etc.) and get his wife something meaningful – a homemade (Sam-made) scrapbook. Naturally, chaos follows. Because in Harmony, even the best intentions come with confusion, public embarrassment, and Dale Hinshaw being… well, Dale Hinshaw.
My The Christmas Scrapbook Book Review
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The Christmas Scrapbook by Philip Gulley Book Summary
In The Christmas Scrapbook, Pastor Sam Gardner decides it’s finally time to step up his Christmas gift game. No more potholders. This year, he’s going big (at least emotionally speaking) with a heartfelt, handmade scrapbook for his wife, Barbara.
The problem? He wants it to be a surprise. So he joins a weekly scrapbooking class under the cover of… a “men’s group.” Unfortunately for Sam, he’s about as skilled at deception as he is at crafting. Which is to say, not very skilled.
Soon, Barbara and the ever-watchful citizens of Harmony grow suspicious. Is Sam having an affair? Is he dying? Why is he sneaking around and acting weird(er than usual)? Sam just has to keep the truth under wraps until Christmas. You know, if the guilt doesn’t unravel everything first.
Now onto the rating! The Christmas Scrapbook Book Review:
My innovative system for rating humor books is explained here
Wholesomeness Score: 5/5
Of course it’s a 5 out of 5. “Harmony” books come standard with zero swearing, zero scandal (unless you count secret scrapbooking as scandalous), and not even a hint of violence.
But it’s not just squeaky clean for the sake of it. The Christmas Scrapbook is heartwarming in the best way. Sam’s whole “deception” is rooted in love for his wife. He just wants to give his Barbara a meaningful Christmas gift for once in his life. And while it all spirals hilariously out of control, the story lands squarely in that cozy, feel-good wholesome space.
Hilarity Score: 4/5
Like the rest of the Harmony series, it’s not laugh-out-loud in a slapstick, punchline-every-page kind of way. It’s quieter than that.
The comedy comes from the situations. One notable example…
In his scrapbooking class, Sam’s attempts at crafting get a little too ambitious. He ends up supergluing his hand to his hair. The resulting (and necessary) haircut becomes a full-on “buzzcut emergency.” Naturally, this sparks a wave of concerned whispers around Harmony. Folks (including his wife Barbara) quietly assuming Sam is secretly battling cancer, and his haircut was a result of chemotherapy.
No, I’m not saying cancer is funny. But Sam’s well-meaning attempt at a worthy Christmas gift spiraling into a completely out-of-hand misunderstanding was pretty darn funny.
Overall Book Awesomeness Score: 5/5
Yep, 5 out of 5 for overall awesomeness. By now, you can expect a rubber-stamped 5 star review for all of Gulley’s Harmony series. Sorry, I can’t help myself.
The Christmas Scrapbook may be a tiny book, but it packs a full dose of that classic Harmony charm. The characters, the gentle humor, the low-stakes drama that somehow feels big because you care about these weird little people.
Plus, it’s Christmas. Bonus points.
Things I liked:
- Short and oh-so sweet
- Like the best sit-coms, one small misunderstanding grows wildly and hilariously out of control for the entire episode.
- Christmas
- Clean and wholesome almost-drama
Things I didn’t like:
- Hey, where are my “Harmony Scrapbook Stickers”??? (Note, I bought this book used online. Previous owner apparently didn’t include the stickers.)
Other Books in the Home to Harmony Series:
- Home to Harmony – My Review
- Just Shy of Harmony – My Review
- Christmas in Harmony – My Review
- Signs and Wonders – My Review
- Life Goes On – My Review
- The Christmas Scrapbook – (You are here!)
- A Change of Heart – My Review
- Almost Friends – My Review
Conclusion: The Christmas Scrapbook Book Review
The Christmas Scrapbook might be short, but it delivers everything I love about the Harmony series: good clean humor with just enough chaos to keep things interesting. It’s got heart. It’s got humor. It’s got a pastor lying about a scrapbooking class. What more do you want from a holiday novella?
Have you read any of the Harmony series yet? If no, WHY NOT? If so…tell me your thoughts!
Scott Johnson is a Midwestern humorist, author of Essays Out of Left Field, and the mind behind scottjohnsonauthor.com. He’s also a husband, dad of three, and Data Systems Administrator (whatever that is). Scott is on a mission to find and read all the funny books. He shares his thoughts on those books, author life, and other delightful randomness with his readers on his website.
