Cover Image: One Family Christmas

One Family Christmas

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Member Reviews

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars
Lottie was such a likable character, you as the reader felt her emotion with her. What really drew me in was her uncertainty and her determination (volunteering to cooking a Christmas meal without knowing how to cook). Her family dynamics were very intriguing to read. Bella Osborne did a fantastic job of writing the ambiance of having a large and eclectic family. The writing style really was amazing allowed me to immerse myself in rooting for Lottie and her finding all the happiness, in love and family, the setting, and the events taking place in the book. I love how she brought the family together in the beginning and seeing how the dynamics shifted toward the end of the book. Everything I love about the holidays was encapsulated in One Family Christmas and it has become a new favorite comfort read for the holidays.

I personally don't celebrate Christmas but I love all the Christmas books and Hallmark Christmas movies. This book read like a Hallmark Christmas movie and I loved it. It was so comedy of errors and it was everything you don't want going wrong, going wrong, and all the secrets and drama that comes with a big family. Just the general ambiance was of warmth and spending time with family, one of my favorite things to do during the holidays. There is just so much going on that there wasn't a dull moment, and the book takes place from Christmas Eve until the 27th of December, so plenty of feel-good times and joy through the entire novel.

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this, all of my thoughts and feelings were my own.

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A wonderful festive read with some real laugh out loud moments with the different characters from Lottie's family involved in the Christmas to remember. As Lottie tries to have a family Christmas to remember now her Grandmother has gone, it's down to her to gather her uncle and aunt, her mum and new beau, her brother and girlfriend no-one has met yet, whilst trying to juggle a frozen turkey and an ex-boyfriend from 9 years ago. What could possibly go wrong?
A fun read with great Christmas traditions included - I especially loved the star present for the whole family.

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I love Christmas themed books, they make me feel warm. And this book was a beautiful emotional rollercoaster, equally funny and lovely. I loved all characters, every single one of them. They felt so real, so heartwarming, and some felt so crazy. Just like human beings actually are. Everything in the book was well written and beautifully put together. As the story goes on, eventually new friendships and relationships starts, which were beautiful too. Sometimes I laughed madly, sometimes cried. Sometimes just felt cozy. Overall, it is a beautiful piece of work one can curl up with in a blanket ,this winter.

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An honest review for an advanced copy from netgalley.
I didn't discover Bella Osbourne until I read Meet Me At Pebble Beach which I absolutely loved.
This is another fab book. Right from the 1st chapter I was hooked. I think its a book you could read snuggled up in front of a cosy log fire at Christmas.
I love the relationship Lottie had with her nana and I think we can all relate to at least one of the characters at Christmas. Loved Dave and the chaos he caused. Again another fabulous book by Bella Osbourne.

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Firstly, I have to say after reading other books by Bella Osborne, I was definitely looking forward to getting my hands on this book!
It certainly didn't disappoint.
From chaos and mayhem, to confusion and rivalry, this book had it all. Families come in all different shapes and sizes, and this one is no exception. From rowing aunties and uncles to sibling rialvalry and mother daughter sarcasm.. This book has everything you want in a Christmas read... Including a frozen Turkey! Thank you to netgalley and the publishers and author for allowing me to read this book for my honest opinion

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A wonderful top class book full of delights. Christmas can be a time of mixed emotions when family relationships can either make or break the festive time, but here we discover romance and lovely new family traditions filled with love and fun.

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Ah this was one of those books that you can totally see playing out in front of you like a movie-this would make such a fabulous film. Terribly British and hilariously funny-everything that could go wrong with this Christmas, every soap opera cliches that could happen happened in this book and I loved every moment of it. I picked this novel up on Monday morning and didn't put it down again until I had finished it on Monday night!

Lottie was such a great character to spend this novel with because she is so easy to relate to and you will find yourself on her side 100% right from the word go. I love that she is trying so hard to make Christmas perfect for everyone but as the synopsis says, everybody in this family has secrets and so poor Lottie has a really hard time of it. I also really related to Emily. have been the new person at a table at a bigger family Christmas than I am used so and so I could really sympathise with her and the position that she found herself in. I loved getting to know these women and I loved the bond that they formed.

There are some absolutely hilarious moments in this novel. If you can think of something that could go awry whilst cooking or decorating for Christmas you will probably find it here. You want some ghostly presences? You got it! A cute relationship between a dog and a cat? Check! A blast from the past suddenly appearing again? Bella Osborne has got you sorted.

There is some serious family drama in this book, some romantic moments and some good old fashioned family bonding. Overall though this book has a lot of heart in the relationships it explores and the humour found in every situation. I love that these characters take everything this authors throws at them and more and I am sure you will too!

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Thank you to Netgalley, Bella Osborne, and Avon for sending me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I fell for this book hard and fast. I was drawn in by the family dynamics, and couldn’t get enough of the shenanigans! Lottie is a very likeable character and fun to follow. I value her uncertainty in life, and her insecurities about some things, and her strength and determination, even in times where things are not going the way she had hoped. Her character development even within the short span of this book is fun to watch!

This story had a Family Stone kind of feel to it, which is one of my favourite Christmas movies. Dealing with extended family instead of just immediate, it certainly has an eclectic cast, and the adults sometimes act more like the children!

The authors writing style is great and allowed me to immerse myself in the characters, the setting, and the events taking place in the book. I love how she brought the family together in the beginning and seeing how the dynamics were at the end. I could easily picture what the words reflected and would love to find myself in a small English village such as this one!!!

A fantastic Christmas story, I can see myself reading this one year after year. A 2020 Christmas must-read!!

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This is a story about Lottie and her family. Lottie is determined to have one last family Christmas in he house where she grew up before it is sold. Drama unfolds as the mismatched family gather for one last time. Secrets are revealed and hearts are broken and repaired with the magic of Christmas.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I have read and loved all of Bella Osborne’s books and this is one of my favourites. The whole story is believable and relatable and draws you on from the very beginning. There are twists and turns throughout and you can never second guess what will happen next. Even though the story only covers about 3 days there is just the right amount of detail in each day so that you feel as if you are there in real life as part of the family.

I loved the fact that characters from previous books make an appearance. This is one of the best Christmas books I have read.

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Lottie is has moved back to her granmothers house to lick her wounds after she caught her boyfriend cheating on her. Its the run up to christmas and the extended family always come for christmas. This year may be the last christmas in the house and so lets make it a good one. Lottie pull out all the stops and tries so hard! mishaps, mis-steps and miscommunication its a very busy christmas for Lottie.

So much going on and alot to hold the interest there were plot points i didnt see coming and others i did.

Totally wonderful a farcical family christmas.

This book was provided to me by Netgalley and Avon Publishers. I thank them both but the stars i award are my own to give

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A heart-warming, lovely Christmas story of loss, love, forgiveness and fun. Lottie is determined to bring her family together one last time, before her beloved home is sold.
She is shocked when old flame Joe returns to the village after years abroad, both holding secrets from each other.
Tears of laughter and sadness in equal measures, as Lottie tries to recreate her Nana's traditional family Christmas. An abundance of different characters, both quirky and fun, including abandoned dog Dave and snooty cat Duchess.
A wonderful story of family fueds, misunderstandings and forgiveness, I struggled to put it down.

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I needed a good mental covid destresser read and got this holiday festive book from NetGalley. So, Im a few months ahead of getting in the Christmas mood.Well,this is the book to get a good feeling and one can relate to preparing for the holidays with nothing going perfect.
Nana Rose's house is the annual gathering at her 5 bedroom Manor House.. Her granddaughter Lottie , lives with Nana and has learned the importance of family gatherings especially during the holidays and altho family members die, their traditions live on forever...if one continues them painstakingly.
Lottie is the perfect host , No matter what life is throwing at her as she prepares for a week's worth of family tradition with food and games and everything that makes the holidays memorable, she has Nana's strong geer to get it done.
I started to love Nana too and the way she keeps her adult granddaughter's life stable throughout her growing yrs. Yes Lottie has a mom....ANgie, who is too busy trying to live her life like she was still single and Nana, who is ANgie's mother, takes Lottie in as a child. Sad we didn't keep Nana too long in the book but she is alive and well throughout Lottie's memories and bringing what Nana hoped would continue another Christmas memory and thereafter. Nana leaves Christmas cards with a letter to each family member too.
I enjoyed this book and couldnt put it down. Especially the details that have some turmoil and laughs, of preparing for each day before the big Christmas Day event, the neighbors and a lost love who shows up 9 years later.
The secrets this family unfolds,and a dog and a cat who are also main characters,beleive it or not!
You will not be disappointed and I look forward to reading more books by this author.
Thank you NetGalley for presenting me another good read for me to review.





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This was a warm, early Christmas book to read, I loved it. As I was reading it I could imagine the house at Christmas with all the family neighbours coming together over the festive holidays. I love Christmas time with ll my family together, hoping for the same this year if we are able. I loved the panic over whether the turkey would defrost, I’ve been there!!! and he panic over whether there will be enough food.
What a wonderful cheerful story. I love Bella Osbourneks books, more please.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

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Not my usual choice of genre but I felt in need of a light, uplifting read with a bit of romance and a lot of Christmas and this met all my requirements! Lottie is planning one last family Christmas in the home of Nana Rose who has recently died, but family gatherings never run smoothly - relationships are already under strain at the start of the book and the emergence of old family secrets threatens the peace. What surprised me most about this book is the sharply timed comedy - there are some real laugh out loud moments and some slapstick which I found hugely entertaining! There is so much to enjoy about this book - the family members we will all recognise - the reclusive teenager, the selective vegan, the over- amorous couple. I particularly liked the re-igniting romance between Lottie and Joe and the relationship between Emily and Zack. All the little details of Lottie’s preparations for the visit, juggling their conflicting requirements, trying to feed the growing numbers for extra meals as they acquire additional visitors and snow extends their visit, feel wonderfully and warmly familiar. This is a delightful, heart warming and very funny Christmas romance. With thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books U.K. for a digital copy of this book.

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I don't care it's only September, I'm now getting into a Christmas mood. Why? I've just finished this book. Over the last few years, I've become something of a Christmas Romance lover and this one is up there with the best I've read in a long while.

We've mad dogs, cats being (well) cats, enough family arguments and conflicts to fill two or three other books, and an amount of food that would have sunk the Titanic! There are puns that wouldn't be amiss in a Carry On movie!

Buy and read this now - but first don't forget to put the sprouts on!

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One Family Christmas - Bella Osbourne

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review thanks to Avon Books and Netgalley.

Lottie Collins feels that Henbourne Manor is home, having spent most of her childhood there. After the breakdown of her relationship she moves back home to stay with Nana Rose. Every year Rose has thrown a large family Christmas, where all family members are expected to attend. Following the death of Rose, Lottie is determined to ensure that the family have one last family Christmas at Henbourne Manor.

Bella Osbourne has managed to capture all of the drama of a family Christmas in this book. With every member of the family seeming to have a secret that will be revealed during the week of festivities.

This not the typical Christmas book, but it captures what Christmas is really like with family drama and cooking disasters.

After reading about the Collins family and Joe, I would love to learn more about the characters and hope that Bella writes more about the family and the rest of the residents of Henbourne.

Rating: 4/5
A perfect read for when the weather outside is miserable.

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This was a lovely story of a family Christmas with all the ups and downs that this entails. Delightful characters and some great interactions. The animals were a big part of the story too. With a happy ending as all Christmases should, a very complete story.

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Lottie is the keeper of secrets and since the death of her Nana Rose, the one who tries too keep the family together; especially for one last Christmas before the family home is sold.

I found this story both sad and funny and sometimes just too full of secrets and mishaps. The family dynamic was a mixture of selfish indulgence, individual faults , quirks and secrets; just like real families then! But maybe too much for one just one family?

This was an enjoyable prelude to the Christmas season and in spite of wanting to push some family members heads together I was quite sorry when I finished it. Maybe a sequel?

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I have been reading Bella Osbourne books for a few years now and I always look forward to a new one coming out.
This story starts with Lottie baking in the kitchen with her Nana, who unfortunately dies just a few weeks before Christmas. It was a tradition, that every Christmas was spent at Nana's manor house and this year was suppose to be the same. Lottie's mum and uncle are keen to sell the manor house asap, so Lottie suggested one last family Christmas. She is expecting everyone to arrive on Christmas eve, so she is busy with cooking. During the holidays some family secrets come out, Lottie's old crush arrives back into the village. This book is a really good festive read.

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What a fabulous story! So amusing, and I think everyone will be able to recognise either some of the situations that occur, or the family members from their own Christmases.

At times this reads like a comedy of disasters, it feels like anything you don't want happening at Christmas, in fact happens for Lottie's family.

There are year old secrets to be uncovered, treasure to be discovered, a proposal... well if they ever work out where the ring is, there is a porn star dating a family member, two adorable animals Duchess the cat, and Dave the dog.

There is an old flame back in the village, a pregnancy test, and a large amount of food which Lottie isn't sure how to cook, there are unexpected vegans, and well that hasn't even touched the surface of the brilliance of this family and their ability to amuse me!

Now I'm not saying the specifics of how any of that fit in, but the cast of characters at this family Christmas include a whole host of vastly different and highly entertaining people.

I think you may be able to tell I really loved this book, it is so refreshing to see a Christmas that isn't picture perfect, and is in fact far more realistic., I loved the reasonings why two people both really needed some batteries amongst many other highlights of the book!

There is just so much going on, there isn't a dull moment, and the whole book takes place pretty much over Christmas Eve until 27th December. So plenty of action, laughs and just a whole feel good book that I adored reading.

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

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