Lovely festive read, enjoyed it from the first page. Light hearted and well written with lovely characters
Thanks NetGalley for the early read.

This book has everything you could want from a festive read except perhaps a turkey!

Christmas wasn’t actually the main theme to this book even though it was set at Christmas time. It’s about finding yourself.

My standout points from this book were the descriptions of Dublin; I felt I could have been there, enjoying a drink in bars, and secondly Norahs relationship with her Dad. A different kind of love story but a beautiful relationship nonetheless.

A book of dual timelines, it follows Norah who is travelling with friends in 2009, and teaching music in 2019. In 2009 she meets Andrew in Verona, and they make a pact to meet outside Bewley's in Dublin at 6pm on Christmas Eve in 2019. Circumstances are such that Norah finds herself at a loose end at Christmas 2019 - if she goes to Dublin, will Andrew be there?

I loved this book, it made me laugh and cry, and I knew from the start how I wanted it to end. No spoilers, but the ending was perfectly matched with my wishes! A lovely Christmassy read.

Falling in love on holiday when you are young, agreeing to meet in Dublin in ten years time, and living the next ten years wondering where he is and if he is going to turn up, all the time blinded to the real life going on around you and the possibility of falling for anyone else. It sounds mad but it comes across as very believable. The effects of a parental breakup and grief are well explored. Some of the Dublin scenes read a bit too much like a travel guide, and the story is a little drawn out in places, but if you like a feel good romance with the right ending, this is probably it.

Norah's Christmas plans have fallen through at the last minute, so herself and Joe, her only single friend, decide to take a risk. Norah and her former love interest  Andrew, made a pact that they would meet up in ten years time on under the clock at 6pm in Bewley Cafe on Grafton Street,  Dublin on Christmas eve.

Ten years are now up so 32 year old music teacher Norah decides to travel to Dublin in the hope that Andrew will also be single and remember their packed to meet up!

Norah meet Andrew during a short summer romance ten years previously while travelling in Italy,  each with two friends, they both decided to extend their holiday to travel a bit longer busking together. They then went their separate ways each to the other side of the world, Norah back to Ealing and Andrew to finish his studies in New York.
Will Norah meet up with Andrew and rekindle their previous relationship?

The book is partly written in flashback sequences making it very easy to follow the couples story over the years. The characters are strong and funny  and overall the tale is a heartwarming one.
The only low was the epilogue, it was just a bit pointless and I felt it added nothing much to the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Norah Jones, a singer, is backpacking in 1999 in Europe, when she meets Andrew. They get on so well together but life has othe roads for them both. Andrew is off to Juillard. They promise to meet up in ten years time, 2019, under the clock (where else?)
I didnt get too involved in this book, mainly due to constant music references, none of which meant much to me. But it was a pleasant read, and the ending was a good one.
Thanks to NerGalley for a review copy.

'If you come to Dublin, in ten years' time, I'll be there to meet you...I'll see you at six o'clock outside Bewley's Café on Grafton Street, on Christmas Eve'

Norah Jones (no, not that one), a wannabe jazz singer from London has a holiday romance with handsome Irish man, Andrew Power whilst travelling Italy after university.

With life set to get busy for Norah, and Andrew off to Julliard, the pair must part, but they make a pact to meet again, no matter what life throws at them, on Christmas Eve ten years in the future.

When Norah finds her Christmas plans cancelled, she remembers what year it is, and that it's time for the pair to meet. But she lost touch with Andrew years ago. It would be crazy to run off to Dublin to see someone after ten years, right?! And will Andrew even remember?

Baby It's Cold Outside, will, ironically, leave you feeling warm and filled with happiness. A quick, easy read, I was drawn into the book and the characters immediately and devoured it in a day, but I imagine it's a book I'll definitely return to for a re-read.

I was immediately hooked on what was going to happen, and as soon as I met one character I knew which way I wanted the book to go, and I couldn't wait to find out where Norah's story would take her. I loved the scenes from past and present, and really felt like I got to know Norah, her friends and Andrew throughout each scene. I laughed, felt filled with joy, and I also cried (a lot) at one point over a tragic event in Norah's life.

I highly recommend reading Baby It's Cold Outside. It's perfect for fans of romance or chick-lit's, and you'll want to immerse yourself in Christmas in Dublin, particularly as Christmas approaches. Curl up with a good book, a nice drink and some treats and you couldn't want anything more. This is honestly one of the best books I've read this year. I adored it! Five stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Be prepared to want to travel whilst reading Emily Bell's work, as her vibrant descriptions bring everywhere to life, and as someone who has been to Dublin around Christmas time, I can just picture the joy of the season in the city, but likewise she makes me want to pack up and visit Verona, or London. Emily Bell is a new author to me, but I'll certainly be keen to check out more of her work in the future.

Baby It's Cold Outside releases on 2nd September and is available to pre-order now.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for an eARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in return for a honest review, which I freely give.

This story begins in the famous shop of Fortnam & Masons just before Christmas 2019. I loved the description of the shop and decorations etc. It took me back to when I visited this shop just before Christmas 1994. Also great descriptions of Verona, the opera and Juliet's balcony, only difference in the story it rained, I was lucky it was dry. Dublin another place I have visited and this too brought back happy memories.

It was lovely to read a book set mainly 2019 that DOES NOT contain the 'F' word like so many modern authors do. This proves it - although their is an argument no swearing ! This is a dual time 2009 / 2019 but is easy to follow

The main character is Norma, and she reflects on the happenings between these years. Sad in parts, happy times. We meet all her friends and I came to like them all. Without giving too much away the story does drift into 2020, and how Nora is affected by it.



A brilliant reads and I can fully recommend it

Norah Jones, 32 and single has just been left with no plans for Christmas 2019 but as it happens she had made a plan many years back with her first love Andrew Power to meet in ten years time at 6 o'clock outside Bewley's on Grafton Street Dublin on Christmas Eve. She ropes in her single friend Joe to come along with her who she has been best friends with since their school days.

It's a case of will she rekindle her romance with from 10 years ago or is what she's looking for right under her nose and she never realised?

It's a back and forth story between present day Norah and when she met Andrew 10 years before in Verona but also her childhood and how she became friends with Joe and their wider friendship group.

It's a fun and light Christmas romance book little bit cheesy at times and I loved it.. Great settings of Verona, London and of course Christmas time in Dublin, staying in The Selbourne, trips around Grafton Street and Stephen's Green, Grogans pub, the Dart out to Killiney Hill. I did wonder for a minute at the start why Bell set it in 2019 but the reason became obvious when she describes their trip to Dublin visiting all those hangouts which obviously wouldn't have worked in 2020.

I'd highly recommend this to anyhow looking for a heart-warming Christmas read! Many thanks to the publisher @penguinbooks and @netgalley for providing me an ARC of this book.

I read this in a day and loved every single page.
Such a wonderful heartwarming festive tale of love, loss and finding what really matters.
I cannot recommend this enough!

Norah meets Andrew whilst backpacking around Italy, she extends her stay to spend more time with him and they vow to keep in touch. Life moves on and they never see each other again but Norah remembers Andrew's promise to meet her under the clock at Bewley's Cafe in Dublin at 6pm on Christmas Eve 2019. Currently single and last minute Christmas plans cancelled she decides to wing it and brings her friend Joe along for the ride.

Great festive feel good read, very atmospheric - felt as if I was spending the festive season in Dublin even though in reality its August. I enjoyed the story, although I didn't enjoy the music references throughout as I'm not a big fan of Jazz etc so for me it was extra info that I didn't really care about. I enjoyed the ending, it wasn't too much of a shock for me but was a good way to round off the story.

I do feel like the hint of the covid pandemic in the epilogue was really unnecessary as I would prefer any books I read to just happily not mention it! Lovely feel good, easy read.

A good light hearted romantic read, set at Christmas time. Norah & Andrew met in Italy and had a brief romance before parting. They agreed to meet on Christmas Eve in 10 years if they were still single in Dublin. This story tells what happened. I felt that it was a very predictable storyline, which was enjoyable to read. A nice feel good story.

Nice and light hearted read about falling in love and relationships that sometimes don't work out and exploring the dynamics amongst friends. Lived it.

Heartwarming story of Norah a singer who decides to follow her dream and meet up with Andrew who she arranged to meet 10 years ago after a romance in Italy. Well written story that grabs you in.

I read an advance copy of this on NetGalley, thanks for the opportunity.

This was an enjoyable enough read and if half stars were available I would give it 3.5. The central story follows Norah who decides to follow through on a 10-year-old promise to meet Andrew, who she met on holiday in Italy, in Dublin on Christmas Eve. She leaves London on the train with her friend Joe, desperately hoping that Andrew will turn up, that he'll be single, and that he'll want to rekindle their relationship. She feels lost and adrift in her life and is looking to this meeting as something that could give her purpose and help her find her smile.
It's a really easy story to read as the writing style is very natural and it flows beautifully.
For me, there were 2 standout things about this book that made me swing back and forth between 3 and 4 stars. The first is the writing about Dublin - it totally evokes the ambience and atmosphere of this magical pace at a magical time. I could easily visualise all the places and people that Emily Bell shared with us.
The second thing was the relationship between Norah and her Dad. It's so gently and generously drawn for us and I felt that this was the real love story in this book.
Overall, I would say read it if you get the chance, it's a fun quick book.

Pure escapism!
Norah is the subject of this book. She is a great character and very identifiable. Big dreams and ambitions to sing, and looking for the perfect romance.
When Norah backpacks in Italy with her best friends, she meets Andrew, a fellow musician. Following a whirlwind romance they busk together to the end of their holiday, but circumstances and real life separate them.
They decide that if they are unable to get together sooner, they will meet in Dublin on Christmas Eve in 10 years time.
Will Norah go.....and will Andrew turn up?
Sit back, relax and enjoy this book. I loved it!

Baby its cold outside by Emily Bell a flipping fantastic five-star read. This was easily the best read this year, I adored the story, Norah Jones you are my hero, you followed your dream and you followed fate right up till the end. This was an odd one for me, as I really wasn’t sure I liked how it was going for a huge chunk of the story, but my goodness it suckered me in and created a masterpiece. I adored what happened and everyone in the story. I adore the words and will be keeping an eye on this author to see what they come up with next, as if its half as good as this I am excited to read it already.

This was a really sweet read about Norah, whose Christmas plans were sent into disarray when her mum decided to go on a retreat instead. When she recollects an agreement to meet a long lost boyfriend at Christmas Eve in Dublin she decides to take a chance and goes over there along with her longtime friend Joe.

This was a really easy read, Norah was a lovely character and the theme of grief was well written. The flashbacks to her younger years were well placed and flowed well, there were just enough to give you a feel of her past without being overwhelming. There was a good chemistry amongst Norah and her friends and Dublin at Christmas sounded wonderful. Although there’s no great shocks in the story it has a lovely warmth and it’s a really nice romantic read.

Good read- very slow- the trip to Dublin seemed to go on for ages with a predictable out come. In saying that I enjoyed this book and characters were likable

A gorgeous story to cosy up in front of the fire to read.
A meander back down memory lane, reminiscing of past loves.
This was a very enjoyable read with plenty of Christmas magic thrown in.