for the rest of us ed by Dahlia Adler

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✦ BLURB ✦

This YA anthology from a host of talented, award-winning authors features a year of festive stories from a variety of perspectives, shining a light on the celebrations of many cultural and religious groups.

For too long, “holiday story” has been synonymous with “Christmas story.” But from Lunar New Year to Solstice, Día de los Muertos to Juneteenth, and all the incredible days in between, it’s clear that Americans don’t just have one holiday. In this delightful and meaningful anthology for teens, fourteen acclaimed authors reclaim the phrase “holiday” to showcase the beautiful and diverse ways that people celebrate.

Edited by the esteemed Dahlia Adler and authored by creators who have lived these festive experiences firsthand, this joyful collection of stories shows that there isn’t one way to experience a holiday.

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A celebration of celebrations — beyond the snowglobes and candy canes.

PRE-READING THOUGHTS
Holiday anthologies are usually extremely red-and-green coded, so this caught my eye immediately. I loved the idea of spotlighting lesser-seen celebrations, especially in YA — this felt like something fresh, thoughtful, and overdue. And with Dahlia Adler at the helm? Expectations were high.

POST-READING
🌀 As I thought...
A vibrant, warm, and thoughtful collection. I expected to learn something new with each story, and I absolutely did - not just about the holidays themselves, but the emotions and memories tied to them. There’s pride, there’s grief, there’s joy and teenage awkwardness - all wrapped up in cultural traditions that rarely get centre stage in fiction.

✨ It surprised me by...
How consistently strong the voices were. Sure, as with any anthology, some stories hit harder than others - but even the ones I’d rank lower still had something to offer. A twist of humour, a new tradition, or just a strong dose of personality. There’s something very heartening about seeing so many underrepresented stories refuse to be sidelined.

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✦ RECOMMENDATIONS ✦

📚 Blackout (for the collaborative storytelling)
📺 Never Have I Ever and Turning Red (for the cultural richness and emotional honesty)

✦ MUSIC PAIRING ✦

Because sometimes, the heart of a story plays out like a song.

🎵 Featured Song: “Celebrate” – Anderson .Paak ft. Smokey Robinson
🎶 Vibe Album: Songs Around the World – Playing for Change (a gorgeous mix of musical traditions, much like the book)
🎧 Artist Recommendation: Raye Zaragoza - powerful, culturally grounded storytelling in musical form

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✧ VIBE CHECK ✧

🎨 Colour palette: Fireworks pink, warm lantern orange, rich indigo, and gold foil
🎬 Soundtrack: A mixtape of community festivals, family karaoke, and quiet candlelight vigils
🌸 Season: All of them - one for every part of the year
🧠 Mood: Honouring where you come from, and who you’re still becoming
👃 Scent: Incense, fresh flowers, spice-laden home cooking, and warm citrus

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★ TAROT CARD PULLED ★

Six of Fire, Gaian Tarot

These friends have gathered to celebrate and enjoy themselves in their own way. Singing, dancing and enjoying the fire, they're celebrating life and youth. The characters in this collection are celebrating different things, but they're all celebrating.

for the rest of us publishes on the 2nd September, 2025. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.