A lovely Christmas story about love, hope and new beginnings. Two strangers who book a cottage to get away and spend Christmas alone, end up having to spend it together.

Two unrelated people burdened with sorrow and wounded from lifes traumas s tired of putting a brave face with family over Christmas and decide to escape to lick their wounds by disappearing into a solitary Christmas break in an isolated cottage with only a hamlet near by. When they both arrive at the cottage and find that they are victims of a double booking They decide to follow a schedule with one early start and one late to avoid contact and to only communicate by text or notes. How that all works out makes an intriguing story.

Since Rose’s partner died she hasn’t felt like celebrating Christmas and won’t go back to her parents. This year she’s decided to see if she can book a cottage where she used to spend many holidays with her grandmother when she was small. It’s not normally available in the winter but Rose persuades Rusty to let her book it. At the same time Charlie manages to persuade Marion, Rusty’s wife to rent it to him. Rose’s car breaks down and needs a part to repair it so when Charlie and Rose realise the cottage is double booked they agree to share it until the car can be fixed and Rose can leave. After a heavy snowfall Rose has to stay longer.
A book to read if you want a Christmas romance. Unbelievable and stretches the imagination but I wouldn’t mind staying in the town in Donegal with its friendly community and Christmas activities!

A wonderful Christmas story about hope and love. Two people going through the trauma of loving and it all disappearing, how do they cope, do they cope? Romance readers will love this as true love does find a way in the end.

This book sort of promised much but didn't deliver for me.
Rosie lives in Dublin and does what she can to survive Christmas, a time of year that she used to love. This year she decides to get out of Dublin and head to a place where she was happy - her Grnadmother's cottage in Donegal. When she arrives there she finds a stranger in the cottage along with her cousin and his wife.
Things happen that mean Rosie has to share the cottage with Charlie. Charlie is there to get away from heartache and he is very strick as to how they will interact.
I just felt that this could have been so much cosier and less emotionally intense. I also didn't really feel the romance between the characters.

This was really sweet and totally put me in the mood for all of the Christmas feels and reads! This reminded me of a great hallmark movie…nothing groundbreaking but gives you all the feels you’re looking for.

This is an incredibly moving Christmas novel. It has much more depth than many seasonal books. I absolutely loved Rose and Charlie, they are both very empathetic characters. The food descriptions are so good I’m now about to bake a chocolate cake! I can’t recommend it highly enough and will definitely be looking out for more books by Emma Heatherinton. I’d give it 6 stars if that was possible.

What a fabulous, heart warming read! Rather more substance than the usual light and fluffy Christmas romance, this book touches some heavy subjects such as loss and separation but does so beautifully. A gorgeous setting and a wonderful story of love and healing.

Such a lovely book! Different to what I expected, in a good way.

Very well developed characters, gorgeous descriptions, especially of Charlie’s lemon pasta - I was salivating at that one - and a heartwarming storyline.

Charlie and Rose’s emotions and grief were sensitively expressed and their raw honesty in the company of a stranger was moving at times.

Naturally, my favourite characters were George and Max - may they be besties forever ♥️

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Emma Heatherington and Random House, Cornerstone for an ARC in return for an honest review.

While I was adamant that it was too early to read a story based around Christmas when starting this book, I've finished it realising that Christmas plays just a small part in this lovely tale of new love, self forgiveness and new beginnings.

Rose is determined to spend another Christmas alone (well, except for her loyal dog George), feeling that she's to blame for the death of her boyfriend a few years ago. Lying to friends and family about her real plans, she opts to seclude herself in a cottage by the sea. A cottage which has a firm place in her heart (and seemingly an ever changing coloured door, though I think this is a small oversight). Unfortunately, her last minute plans seem to go awry when she arrives to find someone else in the cottage). Charlie, who is hoping to escape from Christmas this year himself (though he too is accompanied by his doggy pal, Max), though his reasons aren't all abundantly clear initially.

Following how Rose and Charlie look to coexist in the small cottage while undergoing their own forms of therapy in the Donegal coastal town. This moving, feel good story has everything you expect from a Christmas story and rom-com, namely carols, feasting, reconciliations, tears, decorations, laughter, love and snow. It also has lots of doggy drama, whiteboard and text message communication and a character who's obsessed with Beige!

A perfect read to escape daily reality for Christmas lovers and even Christmas grinches!

A lovely read, especially for fans of The Holiday.

Whilst this books was quite similar to the premise of the movie "The Holiday", it does have a little more depth, and is not so sugar coated. We don't know why Rose and Charlie chose to go away by themselves for Christmas, only that it doesn't hold happy memories for them this year.

However, as the cottage is double booked, they don't spend Christmas alone but with each other, almost! Charlie is not at all keen to acknowledge Rose and insists they text each other if they are to share the cottage together. They also each have a dog which is a nice touch.

Difficult to say more without giving too much away. It isn't too Christmassy that you need to save it to the holiday season, in fact due to some of the issues raised I was glad I hadn't read it at Christmas.

Before I begin my review, can we please take a moment to appreciate this gorgeous cover? I love it so much. It just sets my reading tone/mood right!

So on to the review, as someone who doesn’t celebrate Christmas, this book certainly had me hyped up for it. I love a good, cozy forced proximity type of setting/premise. Right from the get-go you can tell that Rose and Charlie are meant to be. Some characters just click together. They were both trying to escape Christmas and somehow fate brought them together. If that doesn’t scream soulmates, I don’t know what will.

Although the pacing of the book felt slow at some instances, I still enjoyed it thoroughly. Their backstories may have been tragic, but that still did not stop them from seeking love and comfort. They were each other’s solace and I loved the development of their relationship. This book is perfect for the upcoming holidays/celebration.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was kindly sent this book by the lovely @centurybooks and I’ve never been so glad to read a Christmas book in October! It was easy, lighthearted (despite both Rose and Charlie’s backstories) and the setting was unreal. As a Belfast girl who has visited lots of Donegal it was just lovely reading about the area they were staying and made me immediately want to book into Granny Mollys cottage. This book was magical and it absolutely made me feel warm inside. This is the perfect Christmas read to snuggle down with this Winter. In fact I would quite like a Tenerife edition of their story next 😬 I would 100% recommend picking this one up!!

Two strangers. One cottage. A Christmas they’ll never forget.

Rose used to love Christmas until the year everything changed and she hasn’t been home to visit her family for the holidays since. Charlie is facing his first Christmas alone. For some it’s the most wonderful time of the year, but for Rose and Charlie they are both seeking comfort and seclusion. Rose escapes to a lovely cottage in Donegal with her beloved dog George, but when she arrives and Charlie opens the door, it’s clear the cottage has been double booked. Both had planned for a Christmas alone, but will they now spend this festive season together?

I really enjoyed this book. It certainly gets you into the festive spirit. I can highly recommend you curl up with this and a hot chocolate. Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK Cornerstone and the author for the chance to review.

This is such a cute and heartwarming story, perfect read for a cold and rainy day to put you in a holiday mood!
It started a bit slow, then felt rushed sometimes, but I enjoyed the characters and how their story evolved. Recommended!

Thank you to the publisher who provided me with an e-copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a sweet holiday romance! It is roughly the same premise as the movie The Holiday (one of my favorites) so I knew it would be a fun read. Rose and Charlie both have sad backstories and are trying to heal over the Christmas season. When they find themselves having to share a cottage, their connection begins to grow. I will say that it took me a little time to get into the story (the beginning felt a bit slow to me) but once I was in I was invested. Also, it really gets you in the holiday mood! Thank you to Emma Heatherington, Random House UK, Cornerstone, Penguin, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and of course the author for gifting me this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Oooh this book (swoon) captured my heart and is such a perfect festive read that gave me all the feels (reminds me of the film The Holiday). Although there were a couple of points (started off a bit slow and then just when it got into it felt really fast paced and rushed a bit) it is one of those typical cheesy, magical, festive, feel good rom com read and was a pleasure to read.

Rose and Charlie are two strangers trying to escape Christmas. Each with their own troubles and heartbreak, they book a quaint cottage in rural Donegal, only for a double booking to leave them spending Christmas with each other.
It turns out to be a Christmas that they'll never forget.
This Christmas is a heartfelt, emotional read that will leave you feeling happy and satisfied.
I'll admit, this book started off very slow for my tastes, and I considered not finishing it at one stage, but I'm so glad I carried on, because I eventually fell in love with both Rose and Charlie, and I was so moved by each of their stories, particularly Rose for all she'd gone through.
A thoroughly enjoyable read for the upcoming Christmas season. Cosy up with a warm blanket, some Christmas music and this book - you won't regret it!
Many thanks to the publishers and to Netgalley for allowing me to arc read This Christmas.

This is the first book I've read from Emma and I absolutely loved it.

Charlie and Rose have past heartache and traumas. I did really feel for them both and wanted to jump into the book and give them both hugs.

There's all the emotions and a heartwarming story about two lonely people. Plus it gives all the Christmas feels.

A cosy, poignant and heartwarming story about two lonely people and how their life can change.
There's the magic of Christimas and there's emotions and moviment moments
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine