Thank you so much to the publisher for sending me an early copy of this book. Christmas books really are the best aren’t they!
Any book that has “perfect for fans of The Holiday” has me sold, with that being my favourite all time Christmas movie
I knew right from the moment Rose and Charlie arrived at the holiday home that there was going to be a happy ending but I loved the journey to them getting there. One of my favourite scenes was the lost dog scene.
This book really did feel like a cozy cup of hot chocolate and I have nothing but high recommendations for it
It is everything you want in a festive novel: lonely hearts, lovers, festive celebrations, happy endings and cute dogs.
Highly recommended and I will be picking more up by this author

absolutely loved this book. 5 stars from me. Definitely recommend. Such a cute story and very well written

Really enjoyed this cosy Christmas romance ❤️‍🔥 very similar to the holiday and wonderfully written for a cosy Christmas read , highly recommended #seasonalreading

A lovely Christmassy read about two people who want to escape Christmas this year but end up double booked for the same cottage. Loved the characters Rose and Charlie and how the helped each other discover the joy of Christmas again

A quirky story but hard to be believable, a beautiful setting, fun characters helped to make it a more interesting, though it wasn’t the Christmas feel good romance I’d been hoping for. Sadly not for me.

I’ve not read many winter holiday stories this season, and I’ve been even slower to get ’round to reviewing them, but here’s one for those of you who don’t mind reading about Christmas past the beginning of January. Our two protagonists have their own individual reasons for wanting to spend the holiday season away from anyone who might be celebrating it this year, and there are also a set of subplots about family reconciliations, as well as a pair of cute dogs. Throw in an isolated cottage and a quaint village, and you pretty much have all the main tropes covered.

Rose used to love spending Christmas with her family, until her boyfriend died in an accident on Christmas Eve – while driving to their favourite seaside spot, where he was planning to propose to her. She’s spent the years since with just her dog for company, turning down all invitations from relatives, friends, and colleagues. This year, however, Rose’s home seems too bleak, and she makes a snap decision to visit the holiday cottage that once belonged to her grandmother and is now an AirBnB run by her estranged cousin.

Charlie is preparing for his first Christmas since his ex took their young daughter to live overseas with her new partner. Wanting to get away from all reminders of his fractured family, he takes up a friend’s offer of a stay in their friend’s holiday cottage and sets off for Donegal with his dog. On arrival, he finds the cottage has been double-booked, with both halves of the couple who manage it having promised to let it out of season as a special favour.

Rose offers to let Charlie keep his booking for the tiny one bedroom cottage, since he arrived first, but car problems leave her unable to return to Dublin. So they agree to share the cottage and take turns sleeping on the sofa, while the other resident has the bedroom. At first, the pair communicate mainly by leaving notes for each other, while their dogs become fast friends, but slowly they start to unfreeze – at least until the inevitable misunderstandings occur. In trying to resolve them, both Rose and Charlie have to take a good look at all the other issues in their lives and are able to help those around them repair other communication breakdowns too.

I liked all the background family relationships – along with Rose’s memories of her grandmother – more than the relationship between Rose and Charlie; however, the descriptions of the village and its inhabitants also added to the charm of this story. I particularly liked Charlie’s sister and her daughter and found them to be far more engaging and likeable than Charlie himself. Overall, this book gets its grade for the people, places, and dogs, rather than for the central romance.

⭐️ 4 ⭐️

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

This Christmas is a lovely festive read. The book is well-written, and I was pulled into the story from beginning to end. The characterisation is good, with a relatable cast and realistic dialogue  — I loved Rose; it did take a while for Charlie to grow on me, but he got there in the end.
 
A heartwarming and enjoyable read. Was it predictable? Yes, but who cares? It’s Christmas!

Thank you to Netgalley for this arc! I appreciate the privilege of reading it and experiencing the world the author has created!

what a good book to get into it goes at a slow pace of a double booking on a cottage everything is fine and then something brill turns up with a mix up start to a happy ending for all

3.75 stars
This was a lovely festive read. It's definitely perfect for fans of The Holiday
It was a lot more heartfelt and touching than I expected it to be, which was a nice surprise. And both main characters are dealing with their own issues when they unexpectedly have to share the same space.
It was a little slow in parts, which is why I couldn't give it any higher than 4 stars and it was a bit predictable. But sometimes that's all you're looking for in a book like this.
I will, however, be looking out for what Emma Heatherington does next.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This Christmas is a cute, cosy Christmas Novel. The holiday meets the flare share when there’s a double booking on the cottage meaning Charlie and Rose have to share it together. It’s so heartwarming how both characters are struggling with personal issues in their life but they end up finding comfort and happiness in each other over Christmas. However, it was also really funny in places which made it the perfect Christmas/December read. Definitely recommend reading this at Christmas.

Predictable but lovely nonetheless, this was a perfect cosy festive read. The classic trope of two strangers forced to spend lots of time together and ultimately fall in love after a series of obstacles? I'm in.

A lovely festive read which I meant to read in December but, forgot about it. This was a fabulous bookerfect for that time of year. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This wasn’t the cheeriest of Christmas reads, a difficult one for me as I prefer something mote uplifting around Christmas time, as I don’t find it easy myself.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

Great read. Not a Christmas time feel good book, but a book that will touch on grief and sadness. Could t read it quick enough, it mad me laugh and cry, which I really like a book that can pull at emotions

Thank you for giving me an opportunity to read it before publication

3/5 stars only cause of the dogs.

I was fully prepared to fall in love with this book - double booked cottage, Christmas holidays and the start of a new chapter for our protagonists.

But it was such a drag and disappointment. Both Charlie and Rose were so incredibly mediocre. Their appearances were supposedly so captivating but I barely remember what they were each supposed to look like. They just gave off such pathetic vibes as people. So boring in their self-described despondency. The grief each of them was dealing with felt pretty shallow and of their own making. It was so hard to empathise with either of them. And how did they fall in love if they were in such dire emotional states? It was such a miss for me as a story that had a lot of promise.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me an ARC for my honest review.

If you're looking for a cheery, festive read, this is not the book for you! That being said, this is the perfect book if you're looking for a story that has a bit of romance, a bit of Christmas, and two people trying to overcome their loneliness and grief while staying in an overbooked cottage in Donegal. Both Rose and Charlie are trying to escape Christmas for different but heartbreaking reasons. Unbeknownst to the others, they are given the go ahead to spend Christmas in a cosy cottage in a secluded area of a small village in Donegal. They try their hardest to keep out of each other's way, but without realising it, they actually help each other find a way past their hurt and grief.

I laughed, cried, and cried a little bit more throughout this book. I started it just after Christmas and finished it within a couple of days. A lovely story of hope after loss and one I will probably read again in the future.

This was an emotional read with some heavy topics including grief. I liked the setting and the characters but I did find it to be a bit “insta lovey” which isn’t a trope I generally enjoy. However, it was enjoyable and the ending was great.

I love a good Christmas book. This one was so romantic and gorgeous. Such a feel good story that was a perfect for that time between Christmas and new year

Cutest and coziest Christmas story. I absolutely adored it. It transported me to the most magical and wonderful time of the year. Love love love.