Eight Dates and Nights

By: Betsy Aldredge

Narrated by: Tara Sands

Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

Two teens with two very different ideas of how to spend Hanukkah learn to work together to save the last Jewish remnant in small town Texas in this cozy holiday romance!

New Yorker Hannah Levin is allergic to exactly two things, horses and tinsel. Unfortunately, she’s surrounded by both when she’s snowed in at her grandmother’s home in a small Texas town.

Super lonely, missing latkes and reliable Wi-Fi, Hannah wanders into an old deli where she meets the only other Jewish teen around, Noah, who happens to be equal parts adorable and full of annoying, over the top festival of lights spirit that he’s determined to share with Hannah one itchy Hanukkah sweater at a time.

As the days pass—and a spectacularly memorable kiss following Noah’s made up game of truth or dare dreidel takes place—Hannah begins to wonder if maybe there’s more to Hanukkah than she thought. . .

©2023 Betsy Aldredge (P)2023 Listening Library

Critic reviews

"Fans of Hannah Reynolds and readers who like a little canoodling with their knishes will melt like grilled cheese on challah over this seasonal romance."—Booklist

"Infectious holiday zest."—PW

"YA readers who are looking for a quick, light romance will enjoy this holiday read, with its refreshing Hanukkah theme."—SLJ

YA contemporary centered around Hanukkah!

Eight Dates and Nights is a YA contemporary centered around Hanukkah and this was so cute!

The story starts off with Hannah at the airport, she’s from New York but headed to Texas for the winter break to spend time with her grandmother. She isn’t super excited to be spending the winter break there working on the ranch, but she jumps in. She ends up meeting Noah while there, he’s working at his family’s deli in town and she finds out her own dad used to work there when he was younger. Noah tells her the deli is struggling and she wants to help him try and save it, so she takes to social media.

When a freak snowstorm hits Texas, she finds out she’ll be stuck there for Hanukkah and Noah says he’ll show her a fun, Texan Hanukkah since she’s sad about missing out on her NY traditions with her friends and family. He says he’ll prove to her in the 8 nights that Hanukkah can be charming in Texas too.

This was just super cute and I loved the audio. Hannah finds out about her father’s complicated relationship with his late father and why he left town years ago. If you’re in the mood for a YA contemporary, definitely give this one a go!