Norah and Andrew arranged to meet in 10 years time following a holiday romance. Will Andrew turn up, will he still be the same, will he still love her - will she still love him? Well written with a surprising twist at the end.

I don't really read many romance novels. I've never read any Christmas novels (except teaching 'A Christmas Carol' but I don't think that really counts). I think it's fair to say this was a bit of a left field choice for me...

But I LOVED it!

The story is about Norah Jones (no, not THAT one) who made a pact to meet her holiday romance, Andrew, outside Bewley's Cafe in Dublin on Christmas Eve ten years after they met. They had a fabulously romantic time in Italy together but life took them on separate paths - with this promise for the future, Ten years have passed and Norah's life hasn't worked out as planned - her beloved father has died and her musical career hasn't happened. When her mum cancels their Christmas plans, Norah wonders if Andrew has remembered the pact and sets off to Dublin to find out.

Now, you can count me among the most cynical of cynics, but this book is just charming and gorgeous. I wasn't sure how the plot would work at all. I did wonder how someone could be 'lost' for 10 years - this is the age of social media, after all - but it's all explained credibly and it does just seem a case of lovers whom fate has kept apart.

So far, so simple, except there is an obvious complication - and it is obvious from the start - in the shape of Nora's friend, Joe. The one who is a brilliant friend through thick and thin, yet happens to also be handsome and all-round-lovely. The one who just happens also to be free at Christmas to go to Dublin with Norah - as a friend, of course...

So Norah seems set on a path towards two men - one who she sees as a friend and the other who is the focus of all her romantic dreams. This sustains the novel really well as we see flashbacks to Norah's time in Italy with Andrew, her younger years with long-time friend Joe and the back-story relating to her family.

The Dublin-at-Christmas setting is the perfect backdrop for this book. I loved visiting the city vicariously through Norah and the festive details were well done. I wanted to be walking on Grafton Street in the snow and visiting snug Bewley's Cafe. This is all happening (mercifully) pre-pandemic so the crush of the last-minute Christmas shoppers isn't giving anyone anxiety!

I was intrigued by the fact that someone in the synopsis mentioned that they could imagine it being made into a Richard Curtis film. I'd agree wholeheartedly with that - except it isn't the horrifically schmaltzy 'Love Actually' (I hate that film for so many reasons). Instead, it's a Christmassy take on 'Notting Hill' or 'Four Weddings' - there's local colour and humour and great friends and depth of feeling. This is a novel with real heart. Even beyond the central romance, there's lovely observations on friendship and familial love and loss.

I don't cry at novels (or films, TV programmes or Christmas adverts). I cried at this one. That probably says it all about how immersive and beautifully written this is - in particular, the shared musical tastes of Norah and her father woven through the novel are a bittersweet reminder of how evocative and nostalgic music can be and it is sensitively done.

I'd recommend this to anyone looking for an enjoyable and heart-warming festive read. I can verify that it can melt even the most cynical of hearts - and make you yearn to spend Christmas in a too-good-to-be-true Dublin!

Thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph and NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Well this was a festive delight and the perfect first festive read of the year. Norah is looking at spending her Christmas alone after yet more heartbreak, her mother is away and she just doesn't know what to do until she remembers Andrew who she met 10 years ago, and they made a pact. If Norah goes to Dublin in ten years time, he will be there waiting for her.

When Andrew and Norah met they were travelling and once they went separate ways they stayed in touch occasionally via email and had a few missed chances but could this be the chance? So Norah drags her friend Joe along to keep her company. So if it all goes wrong the pair can at least have time together.

I loved learning about Norah and her past, her time with Andrew, her times with her friends and her ventures leading up the date. I felt this was a lovely read, full of romance but not as we expect it. It was warming and cosy and the characters were full of life.

A great read to curl up with.

Ten years ago, Norah Jones sent a summer in Italy with friends and she met Andrew, an Irish boy and they had a short romance. As they leave each other to return to their lives they make a pact to meet in Dublin on Christmas eve ten years later.
This was an easy read with a slightly different twist on the usual romance. It is an ideal read for the festive season.
Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for this read.

Thanks to #netgalley and penguin for advanced copy of this book
Lovely easy read read book follow Norah Jones a singer not the famous one! a young girl who loves her dads record collection and so sings a lot of the songs herself.
But after suddenly losing her dad she gives up her singing and decides teaching music is a much better career path for her.
Years later she is due to go to her mums fo Christmas but her mum goes on a retreat leaving Norah alone apart from her best friend Joe she tells him that 10 years ago she made a pact with an old boyfriend Andrew that they would meet up in Dublin on Christmas Eve at 6pm and did he fancy going to Dublin a few days before make a trip of it
So that’s what they do and they learn all sorts of interesting facts about Dublin and Norah and Joe realise there maybe more to their friendship

I’d like to thank Kallie from Penguin Michael Joseph for contacting me to take part in this tour. I originally saw this book on NetGalley and thought it was the perfect read to put me in the mood for Christmas.

As a pianist and a primary school teacher I really felt I could relate to Norah. I loved her personality and how she handled herself and her student’s. I felt her love of music and how it shaped her was beautifully described and very realistic. I have to hand it to Norah because performing is the one area where I am at my weakest, I’m more of a sit and play in my studio kind of person!

Andrew on the other hand was a character that I struggled to warm to. There was something about him that I couldn’t click with and I didn’t think he was right for Norah. Personally their romance should of been something that was left in the beautiful Verona in 2009. Joe on the other hand was a brilliant friend. He was funny, honest and ultimately cared for Norah a lot. As the story progressed and we learnt more about Joe I couldn’t help but love him even more.

Christmas in Dublin sounds like the kind of holiday that everyone should do at some point. I’ve always wanted to visit Ireland and this story has only fed my need even more. The setting was beautiful and had all the Christmas vibes I had hoped for. I also loved the historical side of Verona, especially the Romeo and Juliet element.

The story flicks back and forth and as a reader we learn not just about Andrew and Norah’s holiday romance but about her friends and family too. Her story with her dad was heartbreakingly beautiful. Their relationship was so strong and their bond over music was something to be envious of. My heart broke for Norah at points and I could understand why performing became so hard for her.

This is the perfect Christmas romance to snuggle up with on a cold winters night. Norah’s story has a few surprises along the way and the ultimate will they won’t they romance. Get in your pj’s, grab your snacks and get ready to snuggle down because once you start you won’t want to stop!

A wonderful story mainly set in Dublin and so beautifully written so much so I really need to visit after reading it. I'm a ducker for a Christmas story but this is one that can be read any time of the year. It's very difficult to review this book without giving anything away so I'll stick with saying how warm and cosy it is and a must read

In 2009, Norah spends a summer in Italy with her girlfriends. Whilst there she meets Andrew from Dublin and after spending a whirlwind week with him seeing the sights of Verona they return to their real lives but make a pact to meet outside Bewley’s in Dublin on Christmas Eve 2019.

Fast forward to December 2019 and life has moved on for Norah, after losing her father, and her mother cancelling their Christmas plans, she remembers the pact she made with Andrew and persuades her friend Joe to go with her on the trip to see if what she felt during a holiday romance can be rekindled ten years on.

This is a gorgeous romance novel, and I loved the fact that it was mainly set in Dublin during Christmas and the mention of Verona made my heart melt as it is always somewhere that I have wanted to visit.

Although you can pretty much guess where the story is going, it is a wonderful book and you won’t be disappointed.

Norah and Andrew met by chance on holiday when they were younger but their lives moved in different directions after the holiday and eventually they lost touch but not before they vowed that if they were both single in 10 years time they should meet again on Christmas Eve at 6pm
Fast forward 10 years and Norah is still single so decides to go to Dublin to see if he shows up. Joe her best friend goes with her to keep her company.
Will Andrew be there ? and will Norah's true love be who she thinks it will be ?

4.5 stars

Baby It’s Cold Outside is a lovely Christmassy romance to get you in the festive spirit. We definitely need it with all the rubbish autumn weather we’re having!

The story is all about main character Norah. 10 years ago she met Andrew on holiday in Italy. Going their separate ways after spending a week together they are determined to stay in touch and arrange to meet up in 10 years time on a street in Dublin at Christmas. After her mum dumps her for Christmas she decided to take a chance and spend Christmas in Dublin in the hopes that Andrew I’ll remember their promise. Her best friend Joe goes along with her to keep her company.

Throughout the story Emily has wove in some flashbacks featuring the holiday in Italy and some other poignant and turning point times in Norah’s life. This is a touching story as Norah is still dealing with grief of losing a parent and her journey to Dublin at Christmas. The setting was lovely, very festive, and described in a way that brought the story to life.

I don’t really want to go into the story itself much more as I don’t want to spoil the outcome but we get to explore two romances - past and present and the cozy, Christmas feel throughout is great. If you’re looking for more Christmassy recommendations then I’d definitely recommend All About Us by Tom Ellen.

Baby it’s Cold Outside by Emily Bell is just a lovely, enjoyable read. How could you not be transported to Verona and to Dublin as Emily takes us along with Norah on her journey of hope. The characters and the locations are just great. Christmas has come early with this one. A healthy three and a half stars

Thanks to Emily Bell, Penguin and NetGalley for the ARC of Baby It's Cold Outside.

I am normally a thriller reader, but every so often I like to break them up with a bit of light hearted escapism - and this book was just the ticket.

In 2009, Norah met Andrew whilst traveling around Italy with her friends. They hit it off, and Norah stayed on with him on a holiday romance. When he went to America to pursue a career in music, they vowed to stay in touch and meet up, but for one reason or another that meeting never quite happened. Norah never forget the promise they had made though - in 10 years time, they should meet in Dublin on Christmas Eve.

When her mum cancels their plans for Christmas, Norah decides she has nothing to lose and plans a visit over the festive season. If he doesn't turn up, then nothing lost. But what if he actually does? Maybe fate will prove they are destined to be together.

Not wanting her to be disappointed and travel alone, her friend Joe decides to tag along for the ride, so no matter what happens they can enjoy a bit of sightseeing whilst they are there.

Is it a bit predictable? Of course. Do we know how its going to end - most likely. Does that take away from the enjoyment - not at all. A cosy page turner that has you routing for the characters all the way through.

Really enjoyed it! :)

This took me a while to get Into, but once I did I had to know the ending . I was rooting for Norah and Andrew but nothing is every as it seems!.
I really felt we got to know the characters as the storey went on and felt their emotional turmoil.
I was thrilled with the outcome .



I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

What a totally lovely read, very easy going with lovely charecters and a great story line, a fluffy easy read, loved it

In 2009, Norah met Andrew whilst travelling in Italy. They made a vow to meet up in Dublin on Christmas Eve 2019 .The years roll by and Norah decides to keep her promise, her friend Joe coming along to keep her company . The descriptions of Dublin made the reader think they were there and I loved the tale of Norah and Joes adventures.
A cosy romantic tale which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Great believable characters and a good plot
Highly recommended.
Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Michael Joseph Uk and Emily Bell for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

This book was super cosy. I really enjoyed reading this book!
This book felt very real, and I really could see a lot of myself in the protagonist, Norah. It also didn't seem as far-fetched as a lot of other romantic books I have read previously.

I was really wondering where this book was going, and where our characters were going to end up - of course i could see what potentially could be (thanks to the usual format of these types of books) but it did keep me on my toes at times. I liked how the book went back and forth in time too.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, it was easy to read, and it was easy to connect to the characters.

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Ten Christmas’s ago in 2009 Norah met Andrew whilst travelling in Italy. They vowed to meet ten years later in Dublin on Christmas Eve 2009 if they were both still single. It’s December ten years later and Norah is still single and is convinced she needs to travel to Dublin to see if Andrew turns up to meet her. She travels to Dublin with her other single friend Joe to find out and has the best week of her life. Things don’t turn out as she expected or wanted as Dublin as other surprises.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, so here it is. My own words and opinions and not that of anyone else.

I did enjoy this book, it took me slightly longer to read than most as I got distracted by another at the same time (which actually never happens to me). This book didn't draw me in as quick to start with, which is why I got side-tracked but I have actually finished it in 3 days once it did hook me.

Norah is a singer and music teacher who is feeling very single this Christmas, having been dumped by her mother a week prior. In her desperation not to be alone at Christmas she decides to travel to Ireland to make good on a promise made 10 years prior with her holiday romance Andrew. However she convinces best friend Joe to go with her in case it all goes wrong.

But what could go wrong, Ireland is gorgeous, I have been many times and it was lovely to read about landmarks I know. In fact I want to make a return visit.

This was such a lovely read. Norah is such a wonderful character and I loved following along with the story of her week romance with Andrew and also current life. I did like how the chapters alternated with flashbacks to give an outline of how she came to meet Andrew and what was to follow. I loved the chapter headings too!

I would definitely love to go to Dublin at Christmas time. How the story was written made a festive Dublin feel like happiness, community and friendliness. So beautifully described with a huge festive feel to it.

In my head I felt like I knew how the story would go but I was wrong. I can say I am happy with the outcome though! Definitely a nice Christmas romance.

Just the perfect cosy romantic winter read. I particularly enjoyed that much of the book was set in Dublin..it added to the Christmas Magic. Norah and Joe were both believable and relatable. A must read!