Rainy day? Great.. grab yourself a blanket, hot chocolate, [or drink of choice] light some candles, set the atmosphere and snuggle up with the cosiest book you'll ever need this Christmas.
I will be recommending this to everyone to add to their Christmas tbr lists.

Two people thrown together through a double booking, both wanting nothing more than to hide away from Christmas in solice. Two people that couldn't be more different however find comfort and peace and a way to heal with each other.

This book was heartwarming and emotional and honestly it had some really funny moments... I absolutely love the texting and whiteboard rule and that bought along some funny conversations between the pair.

I devoured this in one sitting and already know I'm going to re-read this book over the festive period.

Huge thank you to netgalley & the publisher for the E-Arc.

This was my first Christmas read of the year. This cosy, winter cottage book was made for people like me. I live in a country that has a summer Christmas, much like Charlie's daughter in the book.
So for Emma Heatherington to provide such a cosy, snowy, winter cottage Christmas feeling was an utter delight.
I loved imaging being in beautiful Donegal.

I found that although both characters had their own sad reasons for wanting to spend Christmas alone, the story never got too heavy. I had empathy for them but never felt bogged down by them. The characters were very likable and I felt their gentle chemistry.

This was a perfect Christmas read for me, a beautiful location, a cosy cottage and sweet characters that had a captivating development in their stories that left me with pleasant feelings.

This book would be a perfect festive read. Rose and Charlie were both beautifully written characters each with their own reasons for wanting to get away from Christmas celebrations.

I loved the setting in Donegal I have many happy memories of visits here and they were brought back when I read of familiar places and the unique charm and way of life that I enjoyed there.

I don’t often read romantic books and although this one was a bit predictable for me I really enjoyed the gentle beautifully written story. This book had a feel good factor, reinforcing that moving on is difficult but is possible . I recommend this book for your Christmas reading stack.

A really lovely festive read. When Rose decides she wants to be on her own again for Christmas she books a cottage at the the last minute only to find its double booked and Charlie has already settled in leaving them with a problem but when they have no option other than to share over the holidays things don't go well as neither ot them want to celebrate the festive season.Its full of warmth and charm and everything you want in a Christmas story very emotional at times and will they become friends and hopefully start to heal and enjoy life again.

Rose and Charlie, both dealing with Christmas-related pain and loneliness, plan to spend the holiday season alone. Rose escapes to a cottage in rural Donegal to find solace, while Charlie faces his first Christmas without his loved ones.

However, when they discover that their holiday rental, Seaview Cottage, has been double-booked, their plans for solitude are disrupted. Faced with the unexpected company of a stranger, they must decide whether to spend the holiday season together. "Seaview Cottage" promises a heartwarming story of two individuals finding comfort and companionship during a time of year that holds painful memories for them.

I adore a Christmas book so I was very excited to read This Christmas. I loved getting to know Rose and Charlie, I thought they were both very likeable in their own quirky way and it was lovely that they both had dogs (another thing I'm a big fan of!) and I enjoyed digging deeper into why they were running away from Christmas.

Charlie's rules for living together added a funny element to the story and I had a lot of laughs along the way, peppered with a few tears at the sad bits.

A well written, easy to read book with great characters, some disasters, a bit of Christmas spirit, some tense relationships, a couple of tears and a happy ending is just what I needed. Really enjoyed this one.

A brilliant addition to the "double booked" romance theme with some truly endearing characters, loveable hounds and both comedic and heartbreaking circumstances. It covers grief in its multitudinous forms, from loss to estrangement and family breakdowns and though these are deep, solemn experiences, the overriding message is of hope, kindness and transformation. Perfect messages for Christmas

I don’t often read romantic books.
What a lovely gentle and very enjoyable story about two people who escape to a cottage in Donegal to avoid Christmas as it is difficult for them, only to find that the cottage is double booked.
A well written story, that I just couldn’t put down.

I must admit it took me a few chapters to get into this book but I persisted and it paid off. Rose and Charlie have double booked a country cottage in order to escape Christmas. However there is a lot of actions and activities that mean they have to spend time together but separate at the cottage. I must admit it got cheesy in places but then it’s Christmas. Each chapter is focused on either Rose or Charlie Thanks to Emma and her publisher. Thanks also to NetGalley.

Even though this book was predictable to say the least, I thoroughly enjoyed reaching the inevitable conclusion! I loved the setting and the characters were most believable. Recommended.

Thank you to Netgalley, Randomhouse UK, Cornerstone and Penguin for the e-arc.
I love reading books set at Christmas as they make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside and I can read them at any time of the year and still love them. Having said that, I can find some of these books quite cheesy. I am happy to say This Christmas was not one of those books - I absolutely loved everything about This Christmas.
The past few Christmases have been very difficult for Rose so she books a stay at the remote Seaview Cottage over the Christmas period to spend some time on her own. Charlie is not looking forward to Christmas this year and has booked a week at Seaview Cottage for a Christmas break in isolation. Unfortunately the owners of Seaview Cottage did not inform each other of their respective bookings and Rose and Charlie are forced to spend the lead up to Christmas together, despite wanting to spend time on their own.
Emma Heatherington is a great scene setter as I imagined I was at Seaview Cottage with Rose and Charlie and, as I was reading, I wanted more than anything for it to be December as I felt so Christmassy. Rose and Charlie's characters were complex and so likeable. Watching them open up to each other as the days went on was so heartwarming. I can't wait to read more by Emma Heatherington.

This would make a wonderful festive film it has all the right qualities to work on a big or little screen. And it is just so good.

It's about two people determined the only way they can get through Christmas this year by being alone - up until the point they end up having both booked the same holiday cottage.

I enjoyed getting to know Rose and Charlie, and learning just why it is they are trying to avoid Christmas. And in being at Seaview Cottage, I loved seeing how they gradually changed.

Charlie is convinced they need rules to live by including only texting each other and not having actual conversations if it can be helped. But I'm sure you can guess how that went!

They are both characters at times I wished I could reach out and give hugs to. I felt for them but was also rooting for them to start healing. At times it almost broke my heart, and others I was definitely smiling.

Ultimately this definitely had a feel good factor and the ending is utter perfection.

Another truly fabulous Christmas book from this author.

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

Charlie and Rosie, two complete strangers, are forced to share a holiday cottage at Christmas in the wilds of Co Donegal. Both however are grieving due to recent tragedies in their life and intended to isolate themselves over the holiday season. Ithasn't worked out like that and they will now have unwanted company.

This is both a heartwarming and heartbreaking book at the same time. I was totally drawn into the story and found myself routing for both lead characters all the way through the book. I desperately wanted them both to be happy .
It is a wonderful book to read at any time but especially at Christmastime. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

⚠️cw: bereavement, grief, emotional abuse, mentions of suicidal ideation and alcoholism, trauma ⚠️
Rose and Charlie are both dealing with losses in their lives and need an escape from Christmas festivities. When a double-booking causes them to find themselves sharing a remote cottage over the holidays, they can't help but find solace in each other.
This was definitely a grower. I found the start a little slow with a lot of nebulous hints at trauma that seemed to be there solely to add mystery rather than to hit impactful emotional beats. Charlie's situation didn't make much sense to me. Surely he had parental rights? Again, while his moments with his daughter were written sensitively (and truly broke my heart), I struggled to find it plausible in real life. That said, once Charlie and Rose actually started to open up, I was able to ignore the plot niggles. Both characters grew on me and I really felt for each of them. Charlie in particular was a sweetheart, and I ADORED his relationship with his sister. There were some lovely moments with Rose and Charlie sizing each other up, and I loved the way the attraction grew, particularly in the chapters in and after the pub. There were also some funny moments, particularly in the texts and notes that they left, and I liked that they were so supportive of each other when they eventually talked openly.
Despite a few inconsistencies, this was an ultimately uplifting Christmas romance about two lonely people learning to live (and love) again with a wonderfully satisfying ending.

Overall Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Heat Rating:
Emotional Rating: 💔🤔😬💓😢🤦🏻‍♀️💓💔🤬💓😂💓🤔💔😬🥰🤬💔💓🙈🥰💓🥰👏🏻🥰😢🤬👏🏻😢🥰💓😭🥰💓

*Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to leave an honest review. This Christmas is published on 31st August 2023 in the UK*

First of all thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for this Arc book.

This follows 2 strangers, Rose and Charlie, who end up in a cottage in rural Donegal for Christmas and have to share thanks to a double booking. Both have reasons for wanting to spend Christmas alone but they agree to share and Charlie sets some ground rules where they only communicate via whiteboard and texts. As they days go on they start communicating more and find themselves enjoying each other’s company.

I am not going to lie this was a very slow burner but once it got going it was very enjoyable. I loved the characters and the storyline. A little bit predictable but still a very sweet little Christmas themed book.

This was the cutest, cosiest Christmas story and I will be recommending to everyone that they add this to their Christmas tbr!

The storyline contained tough themes, both main characters struggling with their own personal lives and hiding away over Christmas, but they find comfort and happiness in each other and learn how to heal with each others support.

It was so emotional and heartwarming and really funny in places (the bra scene had me laughing out loud!!)

There's snow, and Santa and Christmas decs and music and just that feel good atmosphere that you're meant to have at Christmas. It's made me crave the holiday festivities (September isn't too early to put up a Christmas tree is it?)

It slowed down a little in the middle, but compared the the book as a whole, it really didn't take much from the experience.

Overall, a wonderful love story to warm you up this winter.

Thank you so much to NetGalley UK and Random House for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the invite to read This Christmas.

I think this is such a beautifully written book with two likeable characters who want to avoid Christmas. They find themselves double booked in a cottage and have to make the best of an awkward situation. I could really relate to Rose and her feelings mainly because her loss at Christmas mirrors my own. I felt such empathy for her and I think Emma Heatherington is spot on with describing her thoughts, feelings and emotions. The story takes place in the run up to Christmas and I found this book to be an absolute pleasure to read. There are some lovely moments between Rose and Charlie as they come to terms with their situation and gradually a friendship develops. But can it become more? I love the authors writing style, it is wonderfully descriptive and I pictured the characters and their surroundings in my mind when reading. The story flowed seamlessly and I liked that it was told in turn through Rose and Charlie's perspectives. Both have valid reasons to avoid Christmas and at times the writing really touched my feelings and emotions in the best way. I loved the ending, it was very fitting and gave perfect closure for Rose and Charlie. Overall, a great Christmas, feel good, very heartwarming read that I really enjoyed. If you like romances I think you'll enjoy this book, I certainly did and would recommend this.

‘This Christmas’ by Emma Heatherington was a achingly beautiful novel that tugged at my heartstrings and touched me in so many ways. The story reminded me how important it is to love and live without regret and to open your heart to new possibilities, no matter how terrifying they may be. ‘This Christmas’ follows Rose Quinn and Charlie Sheerin as they navigate heartbreak and each other (with the help of their adorable dogs) during the happiest time of the year, at a picturesque cottage in a beautifully snowy Irish town. One of my favorite summer reads, ‘This Story’ will leave you with heaps of emotion and a craving for Christmas more than anything else!

Rose books a last minute Christmas holiday to Seaview Cottage to get away from her memories of Michael, who passed away 3 years ago on Christmas Eve. Charlie also books a last minute holiday to Seaview Cottage to escape Christmas now that his daughter has moved to abroad with her mum. When Rose's car breaks down and the part will take a few days to arrive, they're forced to share the tiny cottage (along with their respective dogs) for a few days instead of the solitude they both were seeking.

A lovely story set in Donegal, with believable characters dealing with different losses in their own ways.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin for a free copy in return for an honest review.

What is nicer than a holiday romance read, reading one in September!! It's safe to say that this book put me into a festive mood and I love that!

Two strangers find themselves having to share a holiday home for Christmas. Both of them are dealing with loss and can't face Christmas around friends and family. They each want their solitude, but instead find themselves together and despite being determined to stay away from each other they soon find themselves wanting to be in each other's company.

Is it the "most romantic love story since The Holiday", maybe not, but it is definitely a mostly feel-good story that made me smile, laugh, cry and has me wishing Christmas was closer!

It's a sweet romance so if you are hoping for some steamy bedroom action this won't be the book for you. Instead, there are some touching romantic scenes, a little passion, and some crying on shoulders.

To make this a perfect holiday romance for me would be for there to have been a little less angst. Don't get me wrong, having the couple both have issues to deal with works well, but I like my holiday romance to be a little more cheery.