but living with no help is harder as these two friends find out in this middle grade novel that Publishers Weekly calls, "A feel-good story with Hallmark Christmas movie vibes"

As Christmas and the new year inch closer, so do Ronny and Jo's anxieties. Because Ronny needs $878 by January 4th to keep his family's only car from getting taken by the bank. Ever since a workplace injury disabled his dad and forced the family to move from their home into the apartment complex across the street, Ronny's had a crash course in repossession.

His best friend Josefina Ramos is also counting down until the start of January when her life could change forever--that's when she has her big cello audition at the prestigious music academy Maple Hill. Except she can't play a solo performance without something disastrous happening and no one seems to hear her when she talks about how nervous she is.

As the countdown to the new year rolls ahead, Ronny and Jo learn what can happen to best-laid plans and how to depend on one another and their community when things get tough.