As Norah battles alone, yet again, through the bustling December crowds outside Fortnum & Mason, she hears the first notes of a busker's song that transports her back to the most romantic week of her life. Laughing under an Italian sky, knowing they had to part, Andrew made her a promise: If they are both single on Christmas Eve in ten years' time, they will meet under the clock on Grafton Street, Dublin. Norah has no idea if Andrew will remember, but she has nothing to lose. So that's where she decides to go. To Dublin. To that clock. Hoping for a Christmas miracle with Andrew.

I really enjoyed this story, although it is set at Christmas time, Christmas isn't its main theme, it had a lovely balance to it. It flowed really well and kept my interest throughout, with great description and characters too. I enjoyed the banter and humour of the story, as well as the theme of finding yourself.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

Battling through the cold and the last-minute Christmas shoppers, Norah hears a busker playing a familiar tune. A tune that transports her to sunnier days and a week spent in Italy that was the most romantic of her life. Two people, a promise made - to meet under the clock on Grafton Street, Dublin on Christmas Eve in 10 years’ time.

Norah has no idea whether Andrew will remember their vow, but single and with no plans for the festive season she has nothing to lose. Hoping for a Christmas miracle she heads to Ireland, but is she prepared for the surprises along the way?


Looking at other reviews I find I’m possibly alone in my opinion of this book, but I thought it was dull. It got off to an ok start, but I found it hard to get on board with Norah’s mission after reading the flashback scenes to ten years previously and the beginning of the romance between Andrew and herself.

The main protagonists spent 1 week together in Italy during separate backpacking trips in their early twenties, and whilst it seemed like they had a lovely time I couldn’t quite see this week inspiring a decade long desire to reunite with ‘the one that got away’. I’m not even sure that is a fitting moniker for this scenario, more likely it should be ‘the one I couldn’t be bothered to keep in touch with’.

The rest of the story didn’t do enough to make up for this flimsy romance and I really only continued because it was an ARC. I think this will be an enjoyable Christmas read for many but it just didn’t tick the boxes for me.

This book is a lovely easy read set at Christmas, Norah Jones finds herself left alone at Christmas as her mum decides to go away without her so Norah decides she is going to Dublin. The reason behind this is that an old flame that she met in Italy, who she tried to keep in contact with but they eventually lost contact, stated that should they loose touch, they should meet 10 years later on Christmas Eve in Dublin.
Norah goes to Dublin with her friend Joe, who she has know for years and they go together to see the sights. I enjoyed hearing what had happened years before, when she met Joe, about her friend Kiran and Caroline and it takes you back to the romance in Italy with Andrew. All the way through, you wonder will Andrew meet her and what lies in store for Norah in the future
You can imagine the sights of Dublin as they walk around, there is lovely description throughout. It is all about second chances and will Norah get the happy ending that she deserves?
Norah is a great character, I thought she was fab from the start, a singer at heart who decided to become a teacher. She has great people around her and as I said before, you just love hearing about them.
This really is a great read, lovely and Christmassy and if that is what you are after, this book is a must!

I loved this book so much, I read it in an afternoon and just had the best time. There was so many great things to love in this book:
-friends to lovers
-past summer romance and a christmas romance
-dual timelines of Norah’s past and present
-Christmas trip with the perfect recipe for a romance (hello there was only one bed)
-great characters (Norah is a great protagonist who has a real love for her friends, music and her job and Joe is such a good love interest)

Was the romance kind of predictable? Yes it was but honestly I had a great time with this book so I really didn’t mind. I would definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a cute christmassy read and it’s 100% a book I can see myself rereading in the future!

Wow I stayed up until 2am to finish this!
I loved the fact some of the settings were my old stomping grounds and I’ve always wanted to go to Ireland and from the descriptions I was there following in Norah’s footsteps.
Introducing Norah Jones, not the famous singer, but a singer in her own right,
She met Andrew in Verona and had an amazing holiday ending with a pact, if they were both single in 10 years time to meet in Dublin at 6pm Christmas Eve!
I love how you’re given snippets throughout the novel of their contact via email over the years.
Norah goes to Dublin and immerses herself in the Lively city festooned with Christmas lights and hospitality.
Will he turn up and will there still be a spark?
I adored the ending and felt like I’d been wrapped up in a warm blanket, feeling cosy and satisfied.
A beautifully written, compassionate, Christmas read.

This book was a wonderful, Christmassy book full of hope and perfect for the festive season. I loved that the book went back and forth in time meaning the storyline developed at the perfect pace leaving you wanting to know more about the characters history’s and where it would lead them in the preset day. The plot was heartwarming, the characters lovable and I read this in one day. Thank you netgalley

This was a heartwarming read with some comedy thrown in. I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it. Snuggle up on the sofa with a hot chocolate and enjoy, a perfect accompaniment to a cold winters evening

This was a sweet romance with a nice Christmas-y feel to it. It was fairly predictable but still made me smile.

An enjoyable Christmas themed story set in London and Dublin. I initially picked this up because of the Dublin reference, but there were also lots of Ealing references with places I knew, which I really enjoyed, as I have family in Dublin and Ealing and lived there myself for the majority of my life.

Norah is a music teacher, and also a talented singer herself, but has never really followed her dreams of being a singer. She has a close group of friends, but when her mother changes her plans over Christmas to go to a retreat and leaves Norah on her own she acts on impulse and ends up in Dublin, dragging along long-time friend Joe, to see if the promise she made 10 years ago to a holiday romance is there. They both said they'd meet under the clock in Grafton Street, Dublin, in 10 years time if they are both still single. So this Christmas is 10 years since they met in Italy.

During the course of the break away Norah's priorities change a bit, and her and Joe have a really good time, albeit with a few rocky times too, but she's still there to meet her holiday romance - isn't she? But what are the odds he will remember her or even turn up?

A lovely light read that sent me back to Dublin and Ealing, with Christmas, snow and romance thrown in, very enjoyable.

3.5 stars
This was a quick and easy read for me. And definitely a nice one to read in the run up to Christmas.
I did enjoy the way in which the author crafted the environments in this - I really did feel like I was exactly where the characters were, which always adds to a story for me.
Although, I have to admit, I didn't feel as invested in the story or the characters as I could have been.
It was also pretty predictable, which is why I couldn't give it any more than 3.5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A blend of a summer romance at the start of the book that turns into a Christmas romance by the end of it - what's not to love about that?!
I really enjoyed this debut novel from Emily Bell and I'd most definitely read more of her work in the future. It was a really enjoyable fast read, perfect for a wintry weekend with a cup of tea (or three!)..

This was a heartwarming read with some comedy thrown in. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it. Kick off your shoes and snuggle up on the sofa with a nice cuppa and enjoy this captivating and heartwarming read by an exciting author.

A festive friend to lover’s story.

There is something to be said for the memory of your first love, it’s something to. Be look back fondly on (or not) with the rose-tinted shade of youth.

Whist as a rule I am not fond of jumping back in time, I think it was needed as a tool to show how Norah, our protagonist, became besotted with a boy she met in Italy ten years earlier and prompted a last-minute trip to Dublin to keep a promise made when they parted.

I did prefer the flashbacks of Norah and her friendship group going out on Christmas Eve, Norah’s late father hearing her sing and budding friendship with Joe.

It is Joe, who accompanies Norah to Dublin, after her mother cancels their Christmas plans at the last minute, to focus on herself. Joe was the most fascinating character in the story to me, how he behaved when they were younger, how his passion for design is allowed to show through, Their visit to Bewley’s Café in Dublin, brough back good memories for me!

I have rated Baby it’s Cold Outside 4 stars It is a cosy festive read that does come to a predictable end, but that is almost the point of the friends to lover’s trope, and there is nothing wrong with that. My thanks as always to @PenguinBooks #Netgalley and the author for allowing me to read and review #BabyItsColdOutside.

This is a story about love. You may think the description tells you about this book and to a point it does, but this book is about so much more.
This is the story of Nora. A holiday romance in Italy ten years earlier has always left her wandering about what may have been and she has the chance to find out if she keeps her promise to meet up under the clock on Christmas Eve.
The loves of Nora isn’t just about a holiday romance though. Nora has the love of her female and male friends, her job, her love of music and the love of her father who had died a few years ago.
Her journey to that time and place in Dublin leads her on a journey of discovery of much more than she expected..
An easy read with that Christmas spirit.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the preview read in return for a review. #BabyIt’sColdOutside

I loved the story as it was easy to read although a bit predictable. Norah is a 30 something who promised she would meet her holiday romance 10 years later on Christmas Eve.

Norah takes along Joe with her and starts to realise where her heart lies.

Loved the festive feel and being taken to Ireland.

Facing Christmas alone, 30-year-old Norah Jones decides to fulfill a 10-year promise and travel to meet Andrew, an old flame, on Grafton Street in in Dublin at 6pm on Christmas Eve. Her friend Joe accompanies her. As their adventures unfold, we learn of Norah's relationship with Andrew, her unresolved grief at her father's death, and her longing for love and a settled family life. Could Andrew still hold the key to her future happiness? Will he even turn up? One thing's for sure, it will be a Christmas Norah and Joe will never forget. This story has all the ingredients you could want from a Christmas read - it starts at Fortnum and Mason's foodhall, piled high with Christmas goodies, and travels through carol services, tree trimming and present buying both now and in Christmases past. Seasonal, warm and engaging, the story offers the reader an emotional insight into a young woman's hopes and dreams. The characters sparkle, the narrative is pacy, and who wouldn't want to be in Dublin on the eve of the most magical day of the year!

A whirlwind holiday romance sends ripples into life years later.
Do you meet up 10 years later or not? Single and at a loose end adventure follows to Ireland BUT your long term friend suddenly becomes more attractive.
Is close proximity and just the two of them alone together without the usual group of friends?
Do you go and see if lost possibilities could change your life or take the chance on your best friend?
Follow the will them or won't they scenario. Fsll in love with the couple over the time frame of growing up together

A great winter read by Emily Bell. The story of Norah and different relationships. A winters story that having remembered that if she was still single 10 years after meeting Andrew she would go to Dublin for a reunion. However as we follow this singer and teacher she takes someone with her for the reunion and with lots of twists and turns she travels in December 2019 to Ireland. Easy to follow and read Thanks Emily her publisher and NetGalley.

This was an easy read and was written in a lovely style, it was just for me a little bit predictable and I found the main lead a bit annoying after a while.
Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to read this lovely book in exchange for a honest review.

This is chick-lit at its best and an ideal beach read. I enjoyed reading this story although I did find it a tad predictable and guessed fairly early on what the outcome of the story was going to be. A great book to enjoy in the sunshine or to while away a rainy day with a nice cup of coffee to brighten up your day and while away a few hours.