Wow! This book is absolutely amazing. The descriptions are so touching and vivid. As soon as I started reading it I couldn't put it down. I recommend this book to every other reader out there.

This was a lovely Christmas romance. Leading characters Rose and Charlie both have really strong, emotional background stories that made their longing to escape Christmas wholly convincing. The hurt and loss that contrived to keep them exploring their feelings for each other was also very believable.
It's a real art to take grief as the main theme of a romance and yet make the story sufficiently light to keep the warm glow of a seasonal setting to the forefront for the reader all the way through. This author does it admirably
The setting was as Christmassy as it can get, with snow-covered cottages, cosy pubs, Christmas fayres and carol singing. I loved the two dogs in the story, too! A warm and ultimately joyful festive read.

This is the first book I have read by this author and I’m really glad I requested it from NetGalley.

The feel of the story is not particularly Christmassy considering the title, but it was a winter warmer of a tale. Rose and Charlie were both lovely protagonists and I really enjoyed the alternating chapters between their POV. Both dreading Christmas for different reasons, both forced upon each other by festive fate.

I really enjoyed finding out the reasonings behind their initial Scrooge like behaviour, and finally seeing them both warm to the holiday season.

A great read!

This Christmas is a heartwarming Christmas read. Rose decides to get away for the Christmas break after a tragedy and books to stay at an air bnb cottage. On arriving Rose finds that the cottage is double booked by another guest Charlie who also is running away from his life circumstances. Unfortunately Charlie booked the cottage first so is allowed to stay but when Rose has car trouble she has nowhere else to go . Rose and Charlie determine it’s only one night together in this unconventional arrangement but when the mechanic fails to get the part and snow begins to fall Rose finds herself having to stay. Can Rose and Charlie survive Christmas together and can they help fix each other?

This book is beautiful and gave me vibes of my favourite Christmas film the holiday with snow and festive fun . It also tackles more serious issues like grief and loss in a sensitive way. I really enjoyed this book and if you like good feel Christmassy small town romances with forced proximity with a happy ending give it a go !

A charming Winter tale of love and loss. A double booking at Christmas at a remote cottage with loads of festive charm and great descriptions. Very relatable characters and enough intrigue to keep me engaged. A quick wintery read.

I can see quite clearly why this has been likened to The Holiday. Both of our main characters have suffered like those 4 and while you will need a box of tissues and possibly a little anger management during the read, the ending is just as heart-warming and filled with resolution and joy as that movie.
The writing for this story is so easy to read, it's broken down into chunks by each day and then the story is told from both Rose & Charlie's perspective alternating by chapter.
The development of these main characters is such that you will laugh, cry & get angry for them as the story progresses and their issues with life become revealed. Understanding why these two are trying to escape the festive season is key to this story and seeing them starting to understand each other as well as themselves is beautiful.
The effect they have on the characters around them is interesting to read and keeps the story flowing nicely so that we get to have a really well rounded appreciation for who each of our lead characters are.
I'm sure you can tell I really enjoyed this read and I will be looking out for more by this author in future.

If you want a cosy Christmas story where you hudle up with a blanket and a cup of hot chocolate then this is the book for you.
This is an emotional journey about the two main characters in why they find Christmas a difficult time but with friendship and care, the story unfolds and is wonderfully heartwarming.
There are some brilliantly witty lines thrown in that made me laugh.
Overall a great cosy story.

This Christmas by Emma Heatherington is a cute and festive romcom.

Rose is looking for solitude again this Christmas. Charlie's Christmas won't be the same without his daughter so he plans a get away for the festive season. However there is a double booking at the holiday cottage and they end up having to share.

The forced proximity trope usually creates some steamy tension and banter between the characters. While it was there I felt that the pace was too slow and the repetitive thoughts of the characters hindered moving the plot forward. The ending was really sweet and heartwarming though.

I did love the location of this novel. A small town, blanketed in snow definitely added the festive feels and created a cosy Christmas vibe.

Overall this was a pleasant, heartwarming story. Thank you Netgalley, Random House UK and Cornerstone for providing me with a review copy.

A lovely moving festive read, a bit of a slow starter but worth persevering with, such a beautiful emotional read. Touches on themes of grief and loss.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

In the past Rose, loved Christmas, until the year when something happened in her life. Since then she’s not visited her family for the festive season.

As well as Rose, Charlie also isn’t looking forward to Christmas on his own.

For others, they’re looking forward to the magical tune of year but, these two just want fo be on their own.

So, Rose book to stay in a cottage in Donegal with her dog George. On arrival, she finds that it’s not empty, but Charlie is already there, meaning it’s been double booked.

As they both wanted a Christmas alone, will they now have to spend it together?

I highly recommend this book.

Rose wants to get away for christmas. She isn't ready to celebrate it yet but a mix up means she won't be alone. Charlie too was seeking a quiet christmas alone but instead they would together. Could this be what they both need?

Aww what a lovely story. This is my first festive read this year and it was a good one. It does deal with grif and broken families so at times its quite heavy and yet it handles it well. It focuses more on the aftermath and how to move on especially at the hardest times. The plot is well written and beautiful. Its a steady build to the expected but perfectly done ending. I love the final scenes and where everyone ended up. Charlie was a great support and I like that there wasn't a big misunderstanding as often happens in these stories. A touching festive read.

I enjoyed reading this and found it a bit more than 'just a Christmas book'. It had a good story to it as both Rose and Charlie are looking to hide away for Christmas but end up booked into the same cottage after a misunderstanding. As they are snowed in, they have no option but to work out a solution so they can each have their own solitude without talking too much to each other! Communication by post it notes made me laugh!
Definitely worth a read!

Rose doesn’t like Christmas anymore after losing her partner. This year she decides to book a cottage and get avoid everyone.

Charlie is having his first Christmas alone and decides ti get away from it all.

It appears they may not be spending it alone at all after the cottage is double booked.

A heartwarming story that was funny and perfect winter read.

Rose dreads Christmas. It reminds her of her boyfriend who was killed in an accident on Christmas Eve and she blames herself for the accident. She thinks everyone blames her for it and avoids her family and his family at Christmas.
Charlie doesn't want to see anyone this Christmas. His ex-girlfriend has had a whirlwind romance, got married and whisked his small daughter off to Tenerife to live. She has also decided that whilst they are settling, contact should only be once a week.
Rose and Charlie book end up booking Rose's Grandmothers old cottage for the Christmas break. There is a history in Rose's family and this causes upset. Will they be able to tolerate each other until the New Year, or will one of the crack.
An entertaining light read.

Imagine the movie "The Holiday" and that's the vibe we have going on here. It's a totally different story, but it comes with the same emotions and turns and I found my jaw dropping at one point.

Get this book in, ready for a cosy read near to Christmas: you won't be disappointed. If you can manage it, book the hot chocolate and log fire, too 😃

Rose and Charlie are both looking to escape into solitude this Christmas and both think they’ve booked the secluded, cosy, Seaview Cottage. Calamity and romance ensues when they agree to share.

A delightful, Christmas romance, reminiscent of The Holiday; a hug of a book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Cornerstone for my review copy.

What a wonderful, warm, heartfelt Christmas story, plenty of misunderstandings, heartbreak and love, Rose and Charlie have found one another and hopefully will enjoy many more christmasses in the future

Rose, about to spend the third Christmas as a widow, decides to go away for Christmas to a place that will heal her soul and remind her of happier times. She wants to be alone and miserable so as not to ruin anyone else's day.
Meanwhile, Charlie, is trying to come to terms with his life changing forever..
Both of them are broken. Both of them want peace and solitude. Both of them have booked a special place that they have to share if they want to stay...
It was really funny reading about the things that happened while they were trying to cohabit the holiday cottage, and how things changed between them.. There were lots of funny moments!.
A great book that will melt your heart at Christmas!!
Many thanks to Random House UK for the chance to read this arc copy via Netgalley.
#Netgalley, #randombooksuk, #emmaheatheringtonwriter.

Rose used to love Christmas, but since the death of her partner, it is just too painful to be reminded of happier times. On a whim, she decides to book a cottage over the holidays. Only to find the cottage has been double booked. Charlie is also suffering from heartbreak as his only child has been taken to live abroad by her mother. Two people, both suffering from heartbreak, the Christmas season is upon them. Can they find something to make life feel like it is worth the living? Overall, an ok book.

4.5 stars
A beautiful romance filled with such emotion. Granny Molly’s cottage sounded wonderful and the lighthouse and setting, the perfect hideaway.
I loved the slow burn chemistry between Rose and Charlie - both so lost in their own grief, it was lovely seeing them both realise they weren’t alone. Marion and Rusty are great additions to the cast- and some of their interactions were hilarious.